Author: Sports Radio Service

A’s fall again swept in two game series by Mariners 5-1

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Seattle Mariners Abraham Toro (13) gets congratulated by teammate Kyle Seagar (15) after both scored on a Luis Torrens two run single in the top of the third inning that proved to be the gamer as the Mariners sweep the Oakland A’s on Tue Aug 24, 2021 at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News photo)

Seattle 5 – 11 – 1

Oakland 1 – 8 – 0

By Lewis Rubman

Tuesday August 24, 2021

OAKLAND–Things haven’t looked-or at least felt-this dismal for the Oakland A’s (70-57) since they began the season with six straight losses against the Astros and Dodgers. Objectively, the team isn’t out of contention. After all, today is the first time since April 16 that the A’s haven’t occupied a play off qualifying position in the standings chart. But three straight blown late inning leads are not the stuff championship dreams are made of. The A’s took another dive again losing their eighth out of ten games this time to the Seattle Mariners (69-58) 5-1.

Oakland came out of the chute strong. After Mark Canha led off by lining out to first, Starling Marte, Matt Olson, and Mitch Moreland, playing first and leaving DH duty to Matt Olson, jumped all over Mariner starter Chris Flexen (10-5, 3.65 going into the game) with singles, each to a different outfielder, to put the home team up, 1-0. But Josh Harrison flew out to left, and Matt Chapman, back in the line up, struck out swinging.

One run leads have not been particularly encouraging to Oakland fans these days, and this one didn’t last long. With one out in the second, Cole Irvin, who brought a 9-11, 3.57 record with him to the mound at game time, surendered a double to Luis Torrens, followed by singles to Tom Murphy and Jarred Kelenic, and, just like that, the teams were tied at one.

It didn’t stay that way long. An Andrus to Harrison to Moreland 6-4-3 double play wiped out Haniger’s lead off walk in the Seattle third. Undaunted, Kyle Seager singled to right, and Abraham Torro lashed a line drive that hit the right field fence on a one hop for double, with Seager going to third.

DH Luis Torrens brought both of them home with a clean single to right. When Tom Murphy, the M’s catcher, walked on a 3-2 count, the work day began early in the Oakland bull pen. But Irvin settled down enough to retire Jarred Kalenic on a ground out to Harrison, leaving the visitors’ advantage at 3-1.

Nonetheless, Deolis Guerra came out of the pen to start the fourth. The three runs Irvin had allowed were all earned; they came on seven hits and two walks. He threw 66 pitches during his brief tenure on the mound; 40 of them counted as strikes. After the game, Bob Melvin said that he had removed his starter as a precautionary measure involving a hip issue.

Guerra stayed in the game for three innings, over which he struck out five Mariners while walking only one. That was the only base runner he allowed. Of his 48 pitcches, 32 were in the strike column. AJ Puk took over for him to start the seventh.

After the A’s took their early and short lived lead in the first, it took them until there were two outs in the bottom of the seventh to get another runner as far as second base. The runner was Elvis Andrus, whose curving line drive landed just inside the left field foul line before bouncing into the corner while the A’s shortstop cruised to second.

Flexen then walked Canha, and that completed the day’s chores for the Seattle starter. Marte swung on Drew Streckenrider’s first offering and flew out to Haniger in right.

Flexen’s line was 6-2/3 innings of one run ball. That run was earned. He allowed six hits and one walk and hit one batter while striking out five. His pitch count was 105, including 66 strikes. When the dust settled, he was the winning pitcher, with a record of 11-5, 3.54.

Puk shut the Mariners out in the seventh but, after striking out Toro and Torrens to open the next frame, gave up a single to the weak hitting Tom Murphy, an RBI to the even weaker hitting Jarrede Kelenic, and an RBI single to the non threatening Dylan Moore.

After that, Yusmeiro Petit, making his 500th big league appearance, induced an inning ending fly out to center from Crawford. When the Mariners came up in the top of the ninth, still leading 3-1, Burch Smith was on the bump. Two line drives and a fly ball to center field later, he was back in the dugout as the A’s took their last licks against Streckenrider.

Chapman and Kemp went down meekly, a strike out and fly to left center, respectively. But Sean Murphy kept a flicker of hope alive for the downtrodden Athletics by lacing a double down the left field line. Andrus’ ground out to short stranded him there.

Irvin was charged with the loss, and his record now stands at 9-12, 3.68. The save went to Streckenrider, his sixth

Oakland dropped to four games behind Houston, who will play Kansas City tonight, in the division race. Seattle trails the A’s by a single game. The Athletics will have a day off tomorrow before opening a four game series against the Yankees. Thursday’s starters the Yankees will go with Jameson Taillon (8-4 ERA 3.94) for the A’s James Kaprielian (7-4, 3.25) to start the first game of that series a 6:40 first pitch at the Oakland Coliseum.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Stephen Curry’s parents divorce; A’s Marte stealing fans hearts and bases

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Dell Curry and Soyna Curry are divorcing which turned out to be a very public split with all the headlines on Tue Aug 24, 2021 (USA Today file photo)

On That’s Amaury’s podcast:

#1 Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry and Philadelphia 76ers Seth Curry parents Dell and Soyna Curry are divorcing in a very public split that was well covered on Tuesday.

#2 Was A’s centerfielder Starling Marte a big base stealer when he played in Miami?

#3 Marte Leads the A’s in stolen bases with 17 and it took 19 games after arriving in Oakland July 28th for him to build up the total. Manager Bob Melvin is executing on Marte’s talent to steal bases.

#4 Former A’s players Sal Bando, Eric Chavez, Joe Rudi, director of player development Keith Lieppman, and clubhouse manager Steve Vucinich will all be inducted into the A’s Hall of Fame as the class of 2022.

#5 In other baseball news Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz was put on the team Covid-19 injured list. Cruz was hitting .195 in 24 games since joining the Rays on July 22 coming from the Minnesota Twins.

#6 The Detroit Tigers Miguel Cabrera became the 28th MLB player to hit 500 home runs. Cabrera did it against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s lead play by play Spanish announcer heard on flagship station 1010 KIQI LaGrande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

M’s comeback rally in 9th for 5-3 win; A’s drop seventh out of ten games

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The Seattle Mariners Jake Bauers points the way to victory hitting a two run single in the top of the ninth as the Mariners get a three run rally past the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News photo)

Seattle 5 – 10 – 1

Oakland 3 – 6 – 0

By Lewis Rubman

Monday August 23, 2021

OAKLAND–After two consecutive days of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, just how dire are the straits the Oakland A’s (70-56) find themselves in? Let’s look at what the statistically informed folks at fangraphs have to say on the topic.

They give the Athletics a 7.4% chance of winning the AL West pennant and a 23.2% chance of securing a wild card berth. That figure jumps to a 30.6% chance of getting into the playoffs and falls to 8% and 3.4% forsurviving the division and championship series, respectively before dropping to a 1.6% shot at taking the World Series.

By contrast, fangraphs gives the Rays, Yankees, White Sox, and Astros at least a 96% chance of winning the AL playoffs. They figure that the White Sox are 99.9% sure of making the playoffs.

So the situation’s not hopeless, but let’s enjoy the A’s games, rejoycing and suffering with the green and gold without making any plans for October.

Tonight’s contest between Oakland and the Seattle Mariners (68-58), who, with the wind at their back have won nine of their last 13 games and came into the Coliseum only three games behind the Athletics in the race for second place in the AL West, was a hard fought struggle that the visitors ended up winning, 5-3. In spite of the stirring end to the game, it seemed a rather humdrum affair after the frenzy of the weekend epic battles between Oakland and San Francisco.

The attendance was 4,140. The Athletics sent Paul Blackburn to the mound, making his second appearance of the season. His first came on August 18, the day he was called up from Las Vegas and resulted in a 3-2 loss to the White Sox in Chicago, where the A’s righty allowed three runs, all earned, and five hits in only five and a third innings of work.

Seattle’s starter, southpaw Marco Gonazales, brought a four decision winning streak and a 5-5, 4.10) record with him. Matt Chapman was a last minute scratch, owing to a left foot contusion he suffered against the Giants Sunday afternoon. Josh Harrison played third and batted sixth in his stead.

The A’s ran off to a 1-0 advantage in the first, with Mark Canha and Matt Olson executing a one out double steal that led to the former’s scoring on Yan Gomes’s ground out to second. Gomes exended the home team’s lead with a solo home run with one out in the fourth. It was his 12th round tripper of the year and third as an Athletic. It travelled 398 feet into the left field seats and came on a 79 mph change up.

Mitch Haniger wiped that lead off the board in the top of the sixth. After JP Crawford singled to center on a full count to open the frame, Seattle’s DH blasted a 79 mph curve by Blackburn into the left field seats for his 29th dinger of the year, knotting the score at two all.

After retiring Kyle Seger and the red hot Ty France, Blackburn retired for the evening, giving way to Andrew Chafin, who had been bady burned in Saturday afternoon’s heart breaking loss to the Giants. Blackburn’s numbers for tonight indicated a compitent, though not excellent, performance.

He allowed two runs, both earned, in 5-2/3 innnings, allowing five hits but not walking anyone although he uncorked a wild pitch. The threw 85 pitches; 30 were balls. Chafin allowed a full count swinging bunt single to the streaking Abraham Toro before getting Jake Fraley out on a grounder to second.

Oakland pulled ahead in the bottom of the sixth, even though they wasted an opportunity when Marte unwisely tried to extend a one out single to right and got thrown out at second by Jake Bauers . One pitch later, Olson deposited his 32nd home run of the year over the right center field fence.

Gonzales didn’t come out for the home seventh. In his six inning stint, he gave up three runs, all earned, on five hits and, like Blackburn, no walks. He struck out two, and of his 90 pitches, 59 were strikes. His replacement, Erik Swanson surrendered a lead off two bagger to Lowrie. Swanson retired Harrison, Seth Brown, pinch hitting for Pinder, and Sean Murphy to end the threat.

Sergio Romo took over mound duties for Oakand, facing the top of the Mariner line up to start the eighth. He set them down in order, striking out Crawford and Haniger before Marte caught Seager’s fly on the warning track in center.

Seattle brought on Anthonhy Misiewicz to hold the margin between the M´s and the A´s to a single run in the home half of the eighth. He accomplished this in spite of Canha´s reaching first on a throwing error by third baseman Seager. What saved him was the 4-6-3 pitcher’s best friend Olson hit into.

Lou Trivino entered the game in the top of the ninth, looking for the 22nd save that had eluded him Saturday. It eluded him again tonight when Ty France took him deep with a 394 foot home run to right center, his 16th round tripper of the year and tying the score.

The equally torrid Toro followed that with a single to center and advanced to third on Fraley’s resounding double off the left centerfield wall. Trivino came back and struck out Jarred Kalenic and Cal Raleigh, both of them swinging.

But, with the count 2-2 on the ninth place batter, Jake Bauers,. who two innings earlier had thrown Marte out at second, lined a two run producing single to left, lending Trivino’s fruitless labors of the night and brining on Deolis Guerra, who closed out the inning

Paul Sewald, who saved Seattle’s come from behind victory last night in Houston by striking out three Astros with the bases loaded in the tenth, pitched the bottom of the ninth for the M’s. He struck out only one Athletic, Harrison, to end the game and earn his 11th save.

Misiewicz got the win, his fourth against four defeats. His ERA stands at 4.08. Trivino took the loss and was charged with a blown save.

Bleary eyed and bushed, the two teams will meet Tuesday afternoon at 12:37. It will be Cole Irvin (9-11, 3.57) on the mound for the boys from the bay and Chris Flexen for the squad from the sound.

Giants head to Big Apple to meet the Mets after winning three game series in Oakland

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San Francisco Giants starter Sammy Long will get the start Tue Aug 24, 2021 against the New York Mets at Citi Field in Flushing NY for the first of three games (photo from knbr.com file)

By Morris Phillips

San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb said he wasn’t surprised a bit after Donovan Solano hit a hit a go ahead home run in the top of the eighth inning to help defeat the Oakland A’s on Sunday 2-1. Solano in the eighth was pinch hitting for LaMonte Wade Jr who had hit a pinch hit game winning home run against the A’s on Saturday.

Solano in Sunday’s eighth inning thought back to Wade’s Saturday afternoon at bat and got a little charged up in an opportunity situation. “I just happened to look at my stats and saw that I had only 28 RBIs and I was like, OK, it would be nice for me to get up to 30” said Solano. The home run was Solano’s sixth home run of the season.

The Giants have been doing pretty well with pinch hit home runs Solano’s was the team’s 14th of the season. On Sunday Austin Slater who has two pinch home runs in his own right this season, Slater as a pinch hitter in Sunday’s game walked with two outs and later would score after Solano’s two run homer.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler shared some of the credit to Slater for his patience at the plate going from a 1-2 count to a base on balls. “Donovan is going to get all the credit and glory for the homer, which he should, but don’t sleep on how huge that at bat from Austin Slater was” said Kapler

The pinch hit home run has become such a epidemic with San Francisco hitters that even the home run from Wade Jr on Saturday and the home run from Solano on Sunday marks the second time in San Francisco history since 1961 that the Giants have hit into go ahead pinch home runs.

Wade nor Solano had never hit a pinch hit home run until their weekend series with the A’s. The home run by Solano tied the 2001 Giants for pinch home runs and the most since the 1974 Giants. The Giants 187 home runs for the 2021 season leads all Major League teams. The nine runs by the Giants were home runs off A’s pitching to help take two out three from the A’s.

The Giants open a three game series against the New York Mets starting on Tuesday night at Citi Field in Flushing. The Giants will start Sammy Long (1-1 ERA 5.72) who will go up against the New York Mets righty Tylor Megill (1-2 ERA 3.21) a 4:10pm (PDT) first pitch.

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s new stadium talks on the table; A’s Blackburn gets the call Monday night

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Oakland A’s starter Paul Blackburn (58) will pitch Mon Aug 23, 2021’s opening game of the two game series against the Seattle Mariners at the Oakland Coliseum (file photo from whitecleatbeat.com)

On the A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Oakland A’s president David Kaval said on Friday the team is still negotiating with the city of Oakland and the city’s latest proposal to build a $12 billion stadium and infrastructure at Howard Terminal at Jack London Square.

#2 Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff said that talks continue. In July the Oakland city council approved a amended non binding term sheet. Kaval told the media before last Friday night’s game at the Coliseum that the A’s are keeping talks open with the city and are looking for a mutual agreement to continue talks.

#3 In Las Vegas the A’s have looked at several locations in South Nevada Henderson, the site of their triple A affiliate Summerlin, and in the Las Vegas proper. The A’s who are looking for a downtown setting at Howard Terminal in Oakland would they consider a non downtown or non strip setting in Vegas?

#4 The A’s are coming off a tough series with the San Francisco Giants you’ve had a chance to attend the series could you share any of your perspectives from that series?

#5 The A’s open a brief two game series with the Seattle Mariners at the Oakland Coliseum on Monday night the M’s will start Marco Gonzalez (5-5 ERA 4.10) and for the A’s Paul Blackburn (0-1 ERA 5.06) for a 6:40 pm PDT start.

Join Barbara Mondays for the Oakland A’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: DeSclafani back on IL with ankle discomfort; Wood had a good win streak going

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Anthony DeSclafani will return to the 10 day IL because of continued discomfort in right ankle after a bullpen session in Oakland (San Francisco Examiner file photo)

On the Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 Marko, Giants pitcher Anthony DeSclafani’s ankle had discomfort working a bullpen session in Oakland on Sunday under the watchful eye of manager Gabe Kapler and will return to the 10 day IL.

#2 Giants manage Gabe Kapler said he realized that DeSclafani couldn’t work the way he used to prior to the ankle injury and it’s hopeful he misses just one start.

#3 Giants pitcher Alex Wood who lost on Friday night to the Oakland A’s 4-1 lost his first game in nine games and the Giants were 11-0 with Wood pitching. Did Wood look like he was wearing thin after going five innings on Friday.

#4 LaMonte Wade Jr helped the Giants with a two run home run as a pinch hitter in the top of the ninth off A’s reliever Lou Trivino which proved to be the game winner on Saturday. Wade has just simply been clutch for the Giants this season.

#5 Giants have the day off Monday before taking on the New York Mets for a three game series on Tuesday night at Citi Field, starting pitcher for the Giants Sammy Long (1-1 ERA 5.72) and for the Mets Tyler Megill (1-2 ERA 3.21) a 4:10pm PDT first pitch.

Marko is filling in for Morris Phillips who does the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The Gods of Baseball are with the Giants

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Donovan Solano connects for a two run homer in the eighth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Aug 22, 2021 (AP News photo)

The Gods of Baseball are with the Giants

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–I was the Spanish play by play man for the Giants back in June 1997. I called that very first Inter league game, from what was then, The Ballpark at Arlington, Texas, and the Giants won that historic game. Later MLB re-structured their format to make is a “regional affair”, i.e, A’s vs. Giants, Yankees vs. Mets, Cubs vs. White Sox, Dodgers vs. Angels. It has been a great success, when the teams that play in the same area, in the case of NY and Chicago within their own city limits. It is no different here in the Bay Area.

The A’s and Giants concluded their last head-to-head series of the season. The Giants beat the A’s in June taking two out of the three games at Oracle Park and the Giants repeated the doses, beating the A’s at Oakland in two of the three games. If you watch enough baseball in your life, you know when there is something going on, where a team can’t make much wrong.

The only way we would see these two Bay Area teams again this year, would be another World Series, like 1989, but hopefully with no earthquake in the middle. I can never forget 1989, and specially that World Series as I was broadcasting A’s radio from an auxiliary box almost next to the roof at Candlestick Park during that October 17 around 5:05PM, and how the Athletics where better that the Giants, before and after that strong Loma Prieta earthquake.

The San Francisco Giants are the biggest surprise this 2021 season. Nobody could have predicted this type of season for a team, that although their front office never mentioned the R word, “rebuilding” because that word signifies, loosing for a while until you can win again and is not popular with your fan base.

Rebuilding never sells tickets, especially in the Bay Area. As simple as that. Their three veterans (all in the infield) Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, and Brandon Crawford visited Ponce De Leon Fountain of Youth in the off-season, Crawford is having one of his best years at the plate, where he had struggled in recent years, his glove has never been an issue.

An assortment of journeymen and young players have combined to provide Giants fans with an unexpected thrill as a winning season on the way to 100 victories. How far the Giants will go this season nobody knows, the Dodgers had more injuries than a Vietnam US Army battalion in 1966 yet they are right there. But there is no doubt who is the Manager of the Year and Executive of the Year in the National League.

The Oakland Athletics are not a surprise. They were picked to either win the division again or contend with Houston Astros, again, and that is exactly what is happening. The A’s brain-power made some very good strategic trades before the deadline acquiring Starling Márte, Yan Gomes, Josh Harrison and Andrew Chaffin.

The four made an instant impact with Bob Melvin ballclub. Especially the veteran Márte who is leading off at the top with 39 stolen bases in baseball this year. He came at the moment they needed that infusion of talent, especially after center-fielder Ramón Laureano was suspended for 80 games for the use of PED.

With the situation of the wild card nowadays figuring big during the last six weeks of a season, right now the hot Yankees have kidnapped that first wild card spot and put the Athletics in a precarious situation as they might have to fight in two fronts, trying to catch Houston for the division and having the troops to survive the Wild Card Assault, Boston in right behind the A’s. The teams fighting for the two wild card spots. Melvin says he doesn’t worry about the other teams, and he should not, he is correct, he is managing one team, which is his responsibility.

As far as the Giants protection from the Gods of Baseball, during the last two games which they won. Manager Gabe Kapler used a pinch-hitter, and they both delivered the winning blow. On Saturday Lamonte Wade Jr. came off the bench and hit a two run home run against A’s closer Lou Trivino in the top of the ninth as they beat the A’s 6-5.

On Sunday, the A’s were winning the game 1-0 until the eighth inning, when Kapler used his magic wand again and sent Donovan Solano to the plate as a pinch-hitter. Seconds later Solano hit a home run to left field with a runner on for the final 2-1 win. Every move the Giants manager made worked.

Whatever the last month and a half of the season has in store for us will be fascinating for these two Bay Area rivals.

Over 100,000 people paid to see the A’s host the Giants this weekend at the Oakland Coliseum.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish play by play announcer for Oakland Athletics baseball on flagship station 1010 KIQI LaGrande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Warriors Green said Kerr acted like 2018 argument with Durant didn’t happen; Raiders-Rams joint practice turns into slugfest

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Second round of joint practice between the Los Angeles Rams and Las Vegas Raiders on Thu Aug 19, 2021 was more like the second round of a prize fight as punches and helmets were thrown and players trying to break it up (photo from the Orange County Register)

On Headlines with Jessica:

#1 Jessica, Golden State Warrior Draymond Green and former Warrior Kevin Durant are passing off the blame for for a very public argument they had on the bench during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers in 2018. Green hosting a podcast called Chips by Bleacher Report said the argument led to Durant leaving and it was head coach Steve Kerr and general manager Bob Myers fault and Green said that Kerr “acted like it didn’t happen”

#2 The blame game by Green and Durant are baffling because it was Green who shouted at Durant during a time out about a botched play that led to Green telling Durant to leave the team if he wasn’t going to sign a contract extension. Green’s outburst was seen on national television and later Kerr suspended Green for one game and Durant did leave for Brooklyn after the Warriors lost the NBA Finals to Toronto.

#3 Jessica, how bad are these practices and scrimmages with other teams. Some might think it’s a bad idea when the two teams meet each other in practice the week before the game. The Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Rams were no exception on Wednesday when bad blood led to helmet throwing and punches thrown.

#4 Raiders head coach Jon Gruden was asked what his message was that he had no message that there was a lot of “trash talking, it was sickening, it’s just stupidity. I’m done with that. It’s just child’s play to me.” Pre season is in it’s second week and there is a long season to go don’t be too surprised to see more these types of scrapes in practices.

#5 Jessica, how heartbreaking is for the Jets after losing free agent defensive end Carl Lawson ruptured his Achilles tendon. The injury took place during a joint practice between the Green Bay Packers and Jets during a red zone run during Thursday’s practice. The players took a knee in prayer for Lawson as he was attended to by the medical staff.

Jessica does Headline Sports podcasts every other Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Solano pinch-hit home run gives the Giants the series; Giants edge A’s 2-1 Sunday

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A very jubilant San Francisco Giants Donovan Solano rounding the bases in the top of the eighth inning at the Oakland Coliseum after hitting a two run home run against the Oakland A’s on Sun Aug 22, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND-Donovan Solano came through in a pinch just like LaMonte Wade, Jr., just one day earlier.

Solano hit a pinch hit two-run home run off of A.J. Puk in the top of the eighth inning, giving the San Francisco Giants a 2-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics before a crowd of 30,345 at the Coliseum.

Austin Slater led off the inning with a walk, and then Solano hit the first pitch he saw from Puk and put it into the left field seats much to the delight of the Giants fans at the Coliseum.

Tyler Rogers came on to pitch the eighth inning for the Giants, and got out of the jam despite the fact that he allowed two hits in the frame.

Jake McGee closed it out for the Giants, as he picked up his 28th save of the decision, despite the fact that he allowed a double to Josh Harrison with one out in the inning. McGee was able to come back and get Matt Chapman to fly out to Darin Ruf for the second out of the inning and then got pinch hitter Chad Pinder to strikeout swinging to end the game.

Dominic Leone pitched a perfect seventh inning, striking out two and saw his record increase to 3-2 on the season.

The Giants are now 80-44 on the season, their second-best record thru 124 games since moving to California in 1958. Only the 1993 team, that went 83-41 thru the same amount of games was better than this team.

With the win, coupled with the New York Mets 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, and the lead for the Giants in the National League West increased to 2.5 games over the Dodgers.

The Athletics finally got on the board in the bottom of the six inning, as Tony Kemp led off the sixth inning with a double, and then scored on a Mark Canha singled, Canha took second on the throw home, and it looked like it was going to be a big inning for the Athletics, Sterling Marte reaching on a fielding error by Brandon Crawford; however, the umpires got together and conferred about it, Canha was called out for getting hit on the foot and Marte was then awarded a single instead of reaching on an error.

Webb was able to get out of the jam, despite the fact that Marte stole second, as he got Matt Olson to pop out and then Jed Lowrie grounded out to Webb to end the inning.

Despite not being involved in the decision, Webb pitched a great game, as he went six innings, allowing one run on five hits, not walking a batter and striking out seven.

Frankie Montas was lights out for the Athletics, as he went seven innings, allowing only two hits, walking only two and striking out nine and like Webb, Montas did not fare in the decision.

Frankie Montas: First pitcher in Athletics history to throw 7+ scoreless innings, allow ≤ 2 hits, strike out 9+, and NOT get a win, this according to Doug Kern.

Buster Posey walked to lead off the top of the fourth inning, but when then caught stealing, when Yan Gomes threw to Olson, who threw to Kemp to tag out Posey and that would be the last rally of the game for the Giants until the Solano two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning.

Mike Yastrzemski picked up the final hit of the game for the Giants until the Solano home run in the top of the eighth inning, as he singled off of Montas in the top of the fifth inning.

The Giants next baserunner was not until Slater reached via the walk in the top of the eighth inning, just prior to the Solano pinch hit home run.

Over the final two innings, the Athletics were unable to get any runners across the plate, despite the fact that they had runners on second and third in the bottom of the eighth inning, when Marte doubled to right field that sent Canha to third after he hit into a force play; however, Rogers was able to get out of the jam, as he got Olson to ground out to end the inning.

NOTES: When Solano came up with the pinch-hit home run in the top of the eighth inning, it was the 14th pinch hit home run of the season for the Giants, tying the 2001 team for the pinch-hit home runs in a season. The 14 pinch-hit home runs by the Giants are the most in the Major Leagues.

The Wade pinch-hit home run on Saturday afternoon was the first of his career, while seven of his 16 home runs this season have given the Giants the lead or tied up the game (six go-ahead, one game-tying). Wade also ranks second on the team in go-ahead RBIs with 16 and game-winning RBIs with 10 and trails Brandon Crawford in both categories.

The Solano home run in the top of the eighth inning, was the 187th by the team this season and they retook the Major-League lead from the Toronto Blue Jays.

During the Bay Bridge Series this weekend in Oakland, the Giants hit six home runs, while the Athletics hit zero.

The Giants are the first team in MLB history to hit pinch hit HRs in the 8th inning or later to erase a deficit and take a lead in back to back games, this according to Sportsradar.

Prior to the game, they were a few roster moves for the Giants. Evan Longoria was placed on the COVID IL, while Reyes Moronta return to the team after his rehab assignment. And optioned to Sacramento.

Sammy Long was recalled from Sacramento, as was Jay Jackson and Anthony DeSclafani was placed on the 10-day IL (retro to August 19) with right ankle inflammation.

UP NEXT: After a day off on Monday, the Giants will open a three-game series against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Sammy Long (probable) will open the series against Tylor Megill on Tuesday.

Raiders win with tough last second stop 17-16 over Rams

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Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Marcell Ateman (88) scores a second half touchdown and is congratulated by Derek Carr (4) with Matt Bushman (84) is background against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sat Aug 21, 2021 (AP News photo)

RAIDERS WIN WITH A TOUGH LAST SECOND STOP 17-16

By Rich Perez

Las Vegas Media and Sports Radio Service


LOS ANGELES, CA-The Las Vegas Raiders rolled into SoFi Stadium, home of the Rams, with a huge chip on their shoulder after some rough practices all week with the Rams at their practice facility. Winning with a new look… defensive style 17-16.

Raiders RB Trey Ragas started the scoring with a rushing Touchdown that led to a 7-0 lead which the Raiders held for much of the first half before the tables turned on Raiders QB Nate Peterman who was intercepted in the second quarter, leading to a Rams drive to tie the game. The Rams would add another three points to go into the half leading the Raiders 10-7.

The second half was dominated by the play of rookie out of Illinois Nate Hobbs,Hobbs had an interception and added several top plays to ignite the Raiders defense to key stops of the Rams offensive surges. Nate Peterman led the Raiders on two key second half drives, in which the Raiders went up 17-10 with ten unanswered points.

Rams running QB Bryce Perkins played a very tough fourth quarter and made some key drives to bring the Rams back into the game, eluding a would be sack on 4th and 6 on the 15 to gain a key first down, then scoring on a key fourth and Goal with a well executed pass to the corner of the end zone to make the game 17-16 Raiders. The extra point attempt was a two point conversion, in which the fade route failed as the Raiders defense held up to secure the win 17-16. 

Next week the Raiders (2-0) will play in Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, against the San Francisco 49ers next week. That will wrap up the pre-season and lead to the Monday night 9/13 opening night showdown vs the Baltimore Ravens in Las Vegas, NV.