Author: Sports Radio Service

Collins takes down Stephens in three set classic to highlight Day 4 of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic

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8-5-21—DANIELLE COLLINS RETURNS A SERVE DURING HER THREE SETS VICTORY OVER SLOANE STEPHENS ON MONDAY EVENING AT THE MUBADALA SILICON VALLEY CLASSIC. Courtesy of Sports Radio Service

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE–Danielle Collins is not afraid to be emotional on a tennis court.

She rode a wave of emotion in coming back from a one set deficit to defeat Sloane Stephens in a three set victory 3-6 6-4 6-3 that was the crescendo of Day 4 at the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic at the San Jose State University Tennis Complex.

Stephens seized the momentum early when she won five straight games, three to finish off the first set and the first two of set two. Collins then turned the tables and won the next three to gain the momentum on her side.

“It was a really hard fight,” said Collins after the match. “I just really had to lock in to what I was doing. Take it point by point because it was hard at times, mentally and physically.”

Collins became emotional during the second set being upset at herself when she hit the net or hit a ball out of bounds. She then used that same emotion to win three straight games after the third set was tied at 2-2. Screaming at the crowd after each point she won, firing herself up as she closed out the match.

“Sometimes I get really locked in and I’m not doing that. And then I realized in the third set I’m like oh ok, I’m getting really fired up now. Where was this in the second set or even some of the points in the first set. I guess when it really matter I was able to get myself fired up” Collins said.

Number one seed Elise Mertens of Belgium defeated France’s Kristina Mladenovic in a difficult three set battle 6-2 4-6 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals on Friday.

After cruising through the first set only losing two games, Mertens faced a challenging test from Mladenovic who battled to even the match after going ahead 4-3 in the second set.

Mertens relied on her ability of having a strong return game. Mertens was able to outlast her opponent as she finished off the match winning the last two games.

“I think in the second set she (Mladenovic) started to fill the ball a little bit better. I just tried to struggle through. I think it was important to win the last ball and just keep fighting like I did today and hopefully my level (of play) will be a bit higher tomorrow.”

Second seeded Elena Rybakina of Russia need one set to get going before dispatching American Claire Liu in a three-set victory 2-6 6-0 6-2 victory finishing off the afternoon portion of the schedule.

Rybakina powered her way past Lui in the last two sets with huge serves that were to hot too handle for Lui. Rybakina fastest serve hit 116mph on the radar gun and she averaged over 100mph throughout the match.

“The serve was much better in the second set and third (set),” said Rybakina. “In the second set I focused a bit more on my serve. Overall it was a good match, a good win for me. I’m looking forward to the next one.”

Rybakina takes on Collins in the featured evening quarterfinal match on Friday at 7:00pm.

In the opening match of the day Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva won a hard fought three-sets battle over Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 3-6-7-4 6-3.

Putintseva played with lots of emotion during the match. After losing the first set in which saw Tomljanovic take control early in the set, Putintseva used a combination of her patent drop shot and strong backhand to keep Tomljanovic running up and down the court.

No one broke serve in the second set until Putintseva did it at 5-5. The next two games featured good rallies with both games going back and forth before Putintseva was able to even the match.

“It was so close,” said Tomljanovic regarding the tightly battle second set. “I had so many chances to break in that second (set). It was a 40-love game at four all. She played well, but (the) little things made the difference.”

In the third set Putintseva was relentless with her backhand and never looked back after going up 5-2. Despite being frustrated with herself and with the crowd at times (she paused her serve during the third set to yell at the crowd “Shut up!”), she kept the pressure on Tomljanovic, which proved to be too much for the Aussie.

“It seems like a bad week but I played some good tennis and I can definitely take a lot of positives out of today. It’s the first tournament in the US Open swing so I’m not going to dwell too long (over the loss) and I don’t have time to anyway. So I want to get back out there next week (in Montreal) and take what I did and turn it into a positive,” Tomljanovic said.

In doubles action, the American duo of Coco Vandeweghe and Cathy McNally defeated the Russian/Ukrainian team of Valeria Savinykh and Dayana Yastremska as Yastemska retired due to a medical condition. McNally and Vandeweghe were leading 6-4 6-5 at the time. They earned a spot in the doubles semifinals.

Friday’s Singles Quarterfinals Lineup: Matches begin at 11:00am

Daria Kasatkina vs Magda Linette

Elise Mertens vs Yulia Putintseva

Ana Konjuh vs Shuai Zhang at 4:30pm

Daniel Collins/Sloane Stephens vs Elena Rybakina at 7:00pm

Giants come back in 9th and 10th innings to edge D-Backs 5-4

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San Francisco Giants third baseman and centerfielder Kris Bryant hit for two doubles on Thu Aug 5, 2021 at Chase Field in Phoenix against the Arizona Diamondbacks which led to four runs in the ninth and a run in the tenth for a comeback win (photo from USA Today)

By Jessica Kwong

At Chase Field on Thursday afternoon, the San Francisco Giants (69-40) were scoreless and trailed the Arizona Diamondbacks (34-76) by four in the ninth inning. They mustered up four runs, tying the game and winning in a remarkable 5-4 comeback in the tenth inning.

The last time that San Francisco won a game when trailing in the ninth inning by four or more runs was when some of the best to every play the game, Barry Bonds, Will Clark and Matt Williams, were in the lineup.

In the ninth, the first five Giants hitters reached against relievers Taylor Clarke and Tyler Clippard. Then LaMonte Wade Jr. finished turning things around for San Francisco with a two-out, two-strike, single to tie the game.

Giants third baseman Kris Bryant, who was responsible for the game-wing RBI, said, “We had no business winning that game.”

“Their starter really shut us down for what looked like could have been nine innings,” Bryant said. “But I’ve been a part of a few teams that do well later in the game with their backs against the wall and this team definitely has it.”

At the start of the ninth, Bryant, Brandon Crawford and Alex Dickerson chased Clarke from the game with three consecutive hits. Clippard stepped up and Donovan Solano and Brandon Belt contributed a hit and a single.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said, “for most of the game, we didn’t see that strength, that relentlessness.”

“But all it takes is one inning,” he said. “We always talk about how important the big inning is and that really is about grinding out one at-bat after the other and we saw a lot of those late in the game.”

With Thursday’s victory, the Giants improved to 69-40 at the top of the NL West, four games ahead of the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers and seven-and-a-half games over the San Diego Padres.

The Giants start a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Friday. First pitch is at 5:10 p.m.

— _

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Rangers always put on tough show against A’s; Series starts Friday at Coliseum

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The Oakland A’s Matt Olson swings for a tenth inning double that scored runs for a walk off two bagger against the San Diego Padres on Wed Aug 4, 2021. Olson leads the A’s for average at .277 as the A’s host the Texas Rangers Fri Aug 6, 2021 at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Oakland A’s (61-48) host the Texas Rangers (39-68) and regardless where the Rangers are in the standings they always seem to be up for Oakland the A’s did take two out of three from the Rangers the last time the two clubs met Jul 9-11.

#2 Previous to the Jul 9-11 match up in Texas the Rangers took two out of three from the A’s at the Oakland Coliseum Jun 29-Jul 1. So you never know how a series with the Rangers will turn out.

#3 The Rangers and A’s open a four game series starting on Friday night the A’s top hitters Matt Olson .277, Jed Lowrie .259, Mark Canha .256, and Tony Kemp .251 can provide some offense. Matt Olson certainly did with a 10th inning double against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday afternoon.

#4 The Rangers top hitters Adolis Garcia .254, Isiah Kiner-Falefa .253, Willie Calhoun .254, and Nate Lowe .249, the Rangers last in the AL West struggling having won four of their last ten games.

#5 The Rangers will start Mike Foltynewicz (2-10 ERA 6.00) he’ll be matched up against the A’s starter Chris Bassitt (11-3 ERA 3.28) a 6:40pm first pitch at the Oakland Coliseum.

Join Jerry for the Oakland A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Men’s basketball Team USA beat Australia 97-78; Needs to beat France to win gold

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Team USA’s Kevin Durant (right) driving against Australian player (left) led Team USA with 23 points on Thu Aug 5, 2021 in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics (photo from cbssports.com)

On Headline Sports podcast with Tony R:

#1 Team USA pulled off a huge victory against Team Australia 97-78 on Thursday it had to be a very satisfying for head coach Gregg Poppovich.

#2 Australia is one of the most highly competitive teams in Olympic basketball the Australians came in pushing for their first gold medal but the US provided enough offense to stay ahead of the Australians.

#3 For Team USA a lot was riding in this one they were coming off a tough loss to France 83-76 on July 26th and it was a must win against the Australians on Thursday. USA must beat France in their next match up to win gold.

#4 Top players that provided some offensive depth for Team USA was the Brooklyn Nets Kevin Durant and Jrue Holiday. Durant finished with 23 points and Holiday with 11.

#5 Before we sign off we wanted to get a Las Vegas Raiders question in quarterback Marcus Mariota has been looking good in camp head coach Jon Gruden says he threw four incredible passes on practice do you see him trying to get the starting job or it’s Derek Carr all the way?

Join Tony R for Headline Sports podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Earthquakes duel to a 1-1 draw with Timbers

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The Portland Timbers Diego Chara (21) gets away from a San Jose Earthquakes defender at Providence Park in Portland on Wed Aug 4, 2021 (photo from oregonlive.com)

by Marko Ukalovic

The San Jose Earthquakes battled to a 1-1 draw with the Portland Timbers on Wednesday evening at Providence Park.

San Jose has a six-game point streak (1-0-5) and have 18 points in the Western Conference. Portland snapped its two-game losing streak and sit in eighth place in the Western Conference, two points ahead of the Quakes.

San Jose (4-7-6) drew first blood in midway through the first half. Cristian Espinoza received a long ball along the right side. He serviced the ball into the middle of the box where Timbers goalie Steve Clark made a diving attempt but wasn’t able to corral the ball and the rebound leaked out to the left where Chofis buried the ball into an open net for his fourth goal of the season, tying him with Cade Cowell for the team lead, in the 24th minute.

Portland 6-8-2) scored the equalizer in the final minute of stoppage in the first half. A corner kick floated into the box where Bill Tuiloma headed towards the right corner and Felipe Mora was able to deflect it into the net past Quakes goalie JT Marcinkowski for his team leading fifth goal of the season.

Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda made his first substitute change right after halftime and brought in midfielder Jackson Yueill, who played in his first Quakes action since July 3rd when he left to join the US Men’s National Team for the Gold Cup.

“It’s been a while,” said Yueill. “It’s nice to be back with the team and with the group and it’s nice to be playing again with everyone. When I came in, [Matias] told me to do what I normally do, get comfortable again, get familiar with the team again and try to bring some energy and calmness to the game. Just go out there and play and get reacquainted with everyone. It’s fun to be back with everyone and I think the tie on the road is a good point.”

Almeyda put in three fresh legs in the final 10 minutes of the match with the intention of trying to score the go ahead goal when he inserted Chris Wondolowski. Andy Rios and Carlos Fierro.

San Jose had their best chances in stoppage time thanks to the second yellow card issued to Diego Chara in the third minute of stoppage time which resulted in a red card and automatic ejection. Chara stepped on the foot of Yueill when tried challenging for the ball near the D-line.

In the final minute, Fierro sent in a cross over to Yueill, whose shot was stoned away by Clark. The Quakes last chance came on a corner kick in the final seconds of the game but they weren’t able to convert having to settle for one point on the night instead of three.

“It makes me very happy for the players and for the whole team. Our intention is for everyone to run and play. That goal reflects our intentions. We want every player at San Jose to identify with the style. Those goals are always a prize. I think we’ve had similar instances in which we controlled the match but were just missing the finish that could have potentially won us the match tonight,” Almeyda said.

Marcinkowski finished the evening with three saves on four shot. Clark made seven saves on eight shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose had four corner kicks. Portland had six.

Chara, with the red card, will be suspended for the next Timbers game.

San Jose is unbeaten in five consecutive road matches (1-0-4). It marks the team’s longest unbeaten run as visitors since the final four road matches of the 2012 season (3-0-1).

The Quakes earned their first point at Providence Park since Sept. 7, 2014, snapping an eight-game losing streak at the venue.

The Quakes are now 5-14-9 all-time vs. Portland, including a 0-10-4 record on the road.

UP NEXT: The Earthquakes return to San Jose to host LAFC on Saturday 8/8 at 4:00pm at Pay Pal Park.

Giants Take Game Three in Diamondback Series 7-1

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San Francisco Giant starter Kevin Gausman throws to the Arizona Diamondbacks line up in the first inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Wed Aug 4, 2021 (AP News photo)

Giants Take Game Three in Diamondback Series 7-1

By Barbara Mason

Wednesday night the San Francisco Giants and the Arizona Diamondbacks clashed in Game three of their four game series. The Giants took game one 11-8 in 10 innings. Arizona answered in game two winning that game by the score of 3-1.

Giant starter Kevin Gausman set the tone by throwing six innings giving up six hits and one run and delivering eight strike outs. Gausman pitched well enough that he could have gone the distance. He was followed by relievers Jay Jackson, Tony Watson, and Jose Alvarez who shut the D-Backs hitters down for the rest of the game.

The Giants and Diamondbacks had a slow offensive start in the first three innings for both teams. The Giants broke through in the fourth inning when Donovan Solano homered giving San Francisco the slim lead 1-0.

The Giants would extend their lead in the sixth inning when two Arizona errors allowed 2 runs. Tommy LaStella and Alex Dickerson both scored in thanks to those error. Arizona would score a run in the inning when Cabrera singled driving in David Peralta and after six innings the score was 3-1 in favor of San Francisco.

The Giants broke this game wide open in the seventh inning scoring four runs. Buster Posey doubled, and Dickerson hit a homer with two runners on base. Posey’s doubled allowed Lamonte Wade Jr. to score and after seven complete innings the Giants had a 7-1 lead.

There was not much going on for either team in the eighth inning. Going into the ninth inning, the Giants were three outs away from the win. San Francisco dispatched the Diamondbacks in short order and came away with the 7-1 win.

Tomorrow San Francisco will try to win game four and win this series. First pitch is 12:40 PM.

Zhang outlasts Keys in wild finish at Day 3 of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic

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8-4-21–ZHANG SHUAI OF CHINA REACTS TO A POINT SHE WON IN HER STRAIGHT SETS VICTORY 7-5 7-6 OVER AMERICAN MADISON KEYS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE MUBADALA SILICON VALLEY CLASSIC AT THE SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY TENNIS COMPLEX. Courtesy of Sports Radio Service.

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE–It’s not every day a match ends on a challenge call.

That’s how Zhang Shuai was able to claim a straight sets victory 7-5 7-6 (7-5) over third seeded Madison Keys in the featured evening match on Day 3 at the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic at the San Jose State University Tennis Complex.

With the second set tied at 6-6 and in a tiebreaker, Zhang was up 6-4 when Keys returned a shot down the left sideline that was called in. Zhang challenged and the replay showed the shot was indeed out and the call was overturned giving Zhang the tough fought victory.

Zhang’s return game was her key weapon against Keys, whose powerful serve (the highest was clocked at 112 mph) kept her in the match.

Zhang’s challenges also affected the outcome of the first set. Keys won two games in a row to tie it up at 5-5 and seize the momentum. However back-to-back errant calls by the same linesmen resulted in overturn calls that Zhang challenged and won. Her challenges allowed her to regain the momentum and finish off the first set.

“I think I was really really lucky,” said Zhang, who had won five of her six challenges during the match. “I felt those calls were in and maybe if I don’t challenge, then I lose the set 7-5 or 7-6.”

Keys was plagued by numerous unforced errors in the second set. The native of Rock Island, Illinois, who opened up the second set winning four of the first five games, thought she didn’t not play her best tennis on this evening.

“To lose kind of on a really close call sucks,” said Keyes after the match. “But like I said, I gave it everything (I had) and kept fighting till the end. That’s all you really can do when your tennis (game) isn’t a 100 percent there.”

Zhang is now 5-2 in her career against Keys.

Ana Konjuh continued her climb up through the tournament. She entered the tournament as a wild card and now has played her well in the quarterfinals on Friday after her straight sets 6-1 6-4 victory over ninth seeded American Alison Riske.

“I really love it here (in San Jose),” said Konjuh. “I have family here, my cousins (who live here), so it’s not really all about tennis. I get to have dinners with them, (I’m able) to get my mind off of things. So it’s really nice to be back here.”

The 23-year native of Dubrovnik, Croatia, used a powerful serve and a strong backhand to control of the first set as she only lost one game. The second set featured more a battle as Riske didn’t go down quietly as she held serve at 5-4.

In the end, Konjuh was too much to handle for Riske who played well at this year’s tournament.

“I think the key was to play on her forehand, her high balls today. So I had to include my forehand as well. She made some mistakes in the first set but overall I played the match pretty well,” Konjuh said.

In other singles action, Poland’s Magda Linette defeated sixth seeded Petra Martic of Croatia in straight sets 7-5 7-6 (7-5) in an entertaining opening match the started the day off.

Fourth seeded Daria Kasatkina of Russia defeated France’s Caroline Garcia in three sets 3-6 7-5 6-3. Kasatkina and Linette advanced to the quarterfinals on Friday.

Youth ruled in doubles action on Day 3. The American duo of Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery made history in their straight sets victory 6-3 6-2 over the Netherlands team of Pattinama Kerkhove and Rosalie Van Der Hoek. The teenage sensations became the youngest duo to ever play at the tournament. Their combined age of 34 years, 192 days (Krueger is 17 years old and Robinson is 16 years old) set the new mark that used to belong to the American duo of Mary Joe Fernandez and Marianne Werdel-Witmeyer that had a combined age of 34 years, 301 days. They are the youngest to compete at a tour event since 2020.

In other doubles action, the American Duo of Cathy McNally and Coco Vandeweghe defeated the team of Erin Routliffe of New Zealand and Aldila Sutjiadi of Indonesia in three sets 6-4 1-6 10-5.

Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada and Luisa Stefani of Brazil defeated American Kaitlyn Christian and Australian Arina Rodionova in three sets 7-5 3-6 12-10. Ellen Perez of Australia and Czech Republic’s Kveta Peschke defeated the team of Elixane Lechemia of France and American Ingrid Neel in straight sets 6-3 6-2.

A’s score twice in 10th for comeback walk off on Padres 5-4

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Jubilation at the Oakland Ring Central Coliseum as Matt Olson (right) is congratulated by teammate Tony Kemp (5) after hitting a game winning double in the bottom of the tenth on Wed Aug 4, 2021 afternoon to split a two game series with the San Diego Padres (AP News photo)

San Diego 4 – 11 – 0

Oakland 5 – 7 – 0 (10 innings)

By Lewis Rubman

Wednesday August 4, 2021

OAKLAND–After Tuesday night’s disappointing 8-1 loss to the San Diego Padres (62-48), the Oakland A’s (61-48) went into Wednesday’s game against the Padres five and a half games behind the Astros in the race for the AL Western Division flag.

Winning that pennant has to be Oakland’s main goal if they are to have any hope of making it into the post season; three teams, the Yankees, Mariners, and Blue Jays are breathing down their necks, all three games or less behind the green and gold in the battle for the second wild card slot.

This afternoon’s contest, a thrilling 5-4, 10 inning triumph for Oakland, began as a tight pitcher’s duel, with the teams locked in a 1-1 tie after the first three innings. I like to consider this the opening act of the three act drama with 17 or 18 scenes that is a well constructed game of baseball. This afternoon’s contest had an epilogue.

The A’s took an early lead against Joe Musgrove, the Friars’ right handed starter who came to the mound with an impresive ERA of 2.94 to offset his unprepossessing won-lost record of 7-7. Jed Lowrie opened the second inning by blasting his 12th home run of the year, a 379 foot drive to right off a 90 mph cut fast ball.

Frankie Montás coughed up that slender lead in the following frame, allowing a lead off leg double to slow footed catcher Victor Caratini, who scored on Adam Frazier´s single to center after Montás had struck out the two intervening Padre batters, Jake Marisnick and Tommy Pham.

The tide turned in San Diego’s favor at the start of the second act, innings four through six. The Padres took the lead in the top of the fourth. With one out, Eric Hosmer singled to right. Jurickson Profar hit a liner that just cleared the glove of a leaping Olson and landed in right for a single that sent Hosmer to second. Trent Grisham then smacked a line drive against the right center field wall that rebounded past the centerfielder, Marte.

That drove in Hosmer, but Laureano fielded the elusive pellet and, combined with Josh Harrison’s fast and accurated relay, nabbed Profar at the plate, 9-4-2. That valiant play went in vain, as the pesky Caratini, who opened the day batting all of .226, singled to left, plating Grisham with the Friars’ third tally.

The second act, and with it Montás´s appearance, ended with San Diego still ahead, 3-1. The A’s starter threw 86 pitches in his afternoon’s work; 60 counted as strikes. All three runs he allowed were earned, and they came on eight hits. He struck out eight friars and didn’t walk any one.

Oakland’s had a new man on the mound to start the third and final act. Andrew Chafin, acquired from the Cubs on July 26, held the Padres to a single in the seventh before passing the ball to Jake Diekman in the eighth, who pitched a scoreless eighth and gave way to Yusmeiro Petit for the ninth inning. He yielded a two out double to Grisham but still held the Padres scoreless.

The seventh inning also brought a new pitcher to the mound for the visitors. Pierce Johnson relieved Musgrove, who, in six innings of brilliant work, had held the home team to a single run on only two hits, although he did issue three wallks and hit two Oakland batters.

One of them was the human bull’s eye, Mark Canha, whom he plunked on a full count in the first. Musgrove’s pitch count was 99. 40 of those were balls. Drew Pomeranz set the A’s down in order in the eighth.

Mark Melançon took the mound in the ninth for the visitors, looking for his 33rd save. Laureano greeted him with a double down the left field line to culminate a ten pitch at bat. Lowrie made the first out, taking a cutter for a called strike three.

Harrison sent a sorching ground ball to the right side of the infield of which Profar made a diving grab and beat the A’s second baseman to first for out number two while Laureano advanced to third. Murphy walked on four pitches, bringing up Chapman. Melvin called on Tony Kemp to run for Muphy.

Chapman hit a grounder to short, and Kemp beat Cronenworth’s throw to second, allowing Laureano to score and bringing Andrus to the plate with the tying run second and the winning run on first with two outs. Yan Gomes pinch hit for him and lined a single to center, bringing in Kemp with the tying run. We now were in extra innings.

Lou Trivino, who had converted his last 10 save opportunities relieved Petit with Ha-Seong Kim pinch running for Caratini, the placed runner on second, and Wil Myers batting for Marisnick. Myers grounded out short to first, sending Kim to third.

The shortstop, by the way, was Chapman, Kemp having stayed in the game, playing third. Chapman couldn’t handle a Tommy Pham’s grounder, and the error allowed Kim to score the run that put San Diego ahead 4-3.

It fell to Tim Hill to protect San Diego’s slender lead with Canha the placed runner on second and Marte at bat. Marte singled to right, sending Canha to third. Matt Olson lifted a fly to right that Myers, who remained in the game, seemed to have trouble finding in the sun. The ball bounced off the wall for a double, scoring Canha and Marte. with, respectively, the tying and winning runs.

Trivino got the win. He’s now 4-4, with an ERA of 1.95. Hill got charged with a blown save (as did Melançon) and the loss, making his recorrd 5-6, 2.90

The A’s have tomorrow off and will return to the Coliseum Friday evening at 6:40 when Chris Bassitt (11-3, 3.28) is scheduled to face the Texas Rangers and Mike Foltynewicz (2-10,6.00)

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: The Race to .400

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The Race to .400

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

In today’s game, batting averages are in the back of the bus, when it comes to hitting. It is all about the launch angle and hitting as many home runs as possible. Boston’s Ted Williams was the last player to end a season hitting .400, when he ended the 1941 season with a .406 average.

That would be inconceivable today. Ironically “the shift” that is a regular part of defensive alignments today, was specially designed for Teddy Ballgame by Cleveland Indians player-manager Lou Boudreau. Then it was called “the Boudreau Shift”, however historians noted that the first to use a shift against Ted Williams was Jimmy Dykes, manager of the Chicago White Sox on July 23, 1941.

Two hall of fame players, which I had the privilege to cover and interview were involved in a race to 400. Rod Carew and George Brett, two great players who were among the best in baseball during the 1970’s and 1980’s.

Kansas City Royals George Brett ended the 1980 season with a .390 batting average; he won a total of three batting titles. Rod Carew ended the 1977 season with a .388 average and won seven batting championships. During that great 1977 season the Panamanian-born Rod Carew of the Minnesota Twins, was the day-to-day story for his country of Panamá.

So much that I remember meeting Iván Molino-Mola who was following Carew across the country, a sports radio reporter for a leading station in Panamá. When the Twins visited the Oakland Coliseum Molino-Mola who had a regular telephone and every time Carew came to bat he would pick it up and send a play by play description LIVE of each at bat.

He told me he was doing that from every city where Carew and the Twins were playing on the road. Carew had captivated his country, just like Japanese superstars Ichiro Suzuki did with Seattle and currently Shohei Ohtani of the Angels are doing with the people in Japan.

Rod Carew was a very quiet player, who usually didn’t give many interviews. I remember when he told me: “yo vengo aqui a jugar no a hablar” trans- “I come here to play not to talk”. I joked with him that I was there to talk, just like hitting was his job, talking into a microphone was mine.

I did get to speak with him a few times. He was pleasant and mild-manner and never wanted to talk about his accomplishments. Over two decades later (years after his retirement) he visited the LA Angels FSN Spanish television booth at Angel Stadium and sat for a few innings as José Mota and yours truly asked him questions about his ordeal.

Carew was there for a press conference prior to the game, which many attended, including yours truly. During that press conference he introduced his surgeons and talked about the massive heart attack he had suffered in 2015 and talked in detail talk about his successful heart transplant.

Rod Carew is one of the biggest sports heroes that were born in the small (about 4 million) Central American country of Panamá, as well as Hall of Fame great closer Mariano Rivera and great boxer and champion of the world Roberto Durán.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez the Spanish play by play voice for the Oakland A’s on flagship station 1010 KIQI LeGrande San Francisco and does for News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Shanahan, Garoppolo remains starting quarterback

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Trey Lance (5) and Jimmy Garoppolo (10) tune up during quarterback drills at the San Francisco 49ers camp in Santa Clara. Will there be a quarterback controversy? 49ers head coach says the job of starter belongs to Garoppolo to start the season. (photo from 49erswebzone.com)

On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 Dee Ford said he’s excited to be back in practice after missing the last 15 games of last season due to a back injury. Ford was offsides on two snaps but was happy to get that old feel again.

#2 Javon Kinlaw made his first appearance in team drills on Monday he had suffered from a swelled up knee from last week. Kinlaw said after practice that the knee feel excellent.

#3 After drills on Monday head coach Kyle Shanahan said that Jimmy Garoppolo remains the team’s starting quarterback and Trey Lance is his back up. Shanahan said there was nothing that Lance did in practice to start talking differently with Jimmy.

Join David for all the latest on the 49ers podcasts Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com