Author: Sports Radio Service

146th Preakness Steaks: Rombauer out hustles Midnight Bourbon

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Rombauer the winning horse crossing the finish line at the 146th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Sat May 15, 2021 (photo from @PreaknessStakes)

By Jessica Kwong

Rombauer outran Midnight Bourbon and controversy stricken Kentucky Derby victor Medina Spirit to win the 146th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Saturday evening.

Medina Spirit had appeared likely to win the second leg of the Triple Crown after taking first place at Churchill Downs two weeks ago, which was tainted by a positive test for a steroid post-race.

Both Medina Spirit and Midnight Bourbon, the early favorite, broke well early and Medina Spirit led into the first turn. Midnight Bourbon took over the lead as the horses went into the frontstretch. However, Rombauer made a late charge in the final yards and claimed victory by four lengths.

Rombauer, ridden by jockey Flavien Prat, finished in 1:53.62 and paid $25.60 on a $2 bet to win. Midnight Bourbon, at 3-1 odds, came in second while Medina Spirit, at 2-1 odds, finished third.

It was Prat’s second victory in a Triple Crown race. Prat won the Kentucky Derby in 2019 riding Country House, after Maximum Security was disqualified due to interference, so Saturday was a different feeling for him.

“There’s so much history behind these races, and to win one is great, and to win the Preakness is even better,” said Prat.

Rombauer’s trainer Michael McCarthy captured the honor in just his first appearance in the Preakness and said he was “so proud of this horse, everybody involved.”

“It just goes to show you that small players in the game can be successful as well,” McCarthy said.

Medina Spirit’s trainer Bob Baffert in a statement before the race on Saturday reiterated that his colt’s Kentucky Derby victory was “the result of the horse’s tremendous heart and nothing else” and that ‘there was never any attempt to game or cheat the system.” Medina Spirit cleared three rounds of drug testing on Friday heading into the Preakness.

Here is the Preakness 2021 finishing order:

1.Rombauer

2.Midnight Bourbon

3.Medina Spirit

4. Keepmeinmind

5. Crowded Trade

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Matt Harrington

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NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2021 image from You Tube

On NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs:

#1 Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals have a best of seven series going as we speak game one already started the Bruins are coming off a regular season record of 33-16-7 and the Washington Capitals (36-15-5) both equally talented teams. Ironically the Caps just by the Bruins in the last game of the regular season on Tuesday night.

#2 The New York Islanders who have one of the best records in the NHL (32-17-7) face off on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Penguins (33-15-7). The Islanders lost to the Bruins in their last game of the season in overtime 3-2. Despite the loss the Isles can bring with the likes of sharp shooters Anthony Beauviller and Matthew Barzal.

#3 In the closing days of the regular season the Minnesota Wild (35-16-5) took two games from the Anaheim Ducks but in their last two games to close the season lost two straight to the St Louis Blues by any measure the Wild could have their hands full as they open the best of seven with the Vegas Golden Knights (40-14-2) the Knights finished off their last regular season game walloping the San Jose Sharks (21-28-7) 6-0.

#4 The Tampa Bay Lightning (36-17-3) closed out their regular season with the playoff opponent the Florida Panthers (37-14-5). The Panthers took two from the Lightning how much was that mostly from playing the third and fourth lines, bench players, and young prospects than using their first and second lines?

#5 Matt talk about how a Stanley Cup Finals scenario would work with a Canadian team and a US team were to meet in the Finals but with borders closed won’t be able to play against each other.

Join Matt for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcasts each Saturday, Mary Lisa Tuesdays, and Len Shapiro Wednesdays it’s All NHL Playoffs All the time

Oakland Takes Game One In Minnesota Series 6-1

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Oakland A’s Ramon Laureano (22) gets the fist bump from A’s third base coach Mark Kotsay (7) after hitting a solo shot against Minnesota Twins pitcher Matt Shoemaker in the third inning at Target Field in Minnesota on Fri May 14, 2021 (AP News photo)

Oakland Takes Game One In Minnesota Series

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the Oakland A’s took on the Minnesota Twins in their second series this season. In their first series this year the A’s swept. The second and third games of the series were one run games, the third a walk-off in the tenth inning.

The A’s still sit atop the American League West at 23-16 while the Twins are near the basement of the American League Central with a 12-23 record. In today’s game the A’s welcomed back Chad Pinder after being out with a knee injury. The A’s got some key hitting and runs to overcome the Minnesota Twins in this first game of the three game series in Minnesota with a 6-1 win.

Frankie Montas took the mound for this game and for the Twins it was Matt Shoemaker who got the nod . Montas had a nice showing in his last game and Oakland was looking for another great showing in this one.

It was a quiet first and second inning for both teams. Ramon Laureano got Oakland up on the board with a homer in the third inning. The A’s had the early 1-0 lead.

Oakland made more noise in the fifth inning with a second home run by Sean Murphy driving Seth Brown home and giving the A’s a 3-0 lead. Oakland was not finished and in the sixth inning Stephen Piscotty homered bringing Matt Chapman home. With a 5-0 lead Oakland was cruising.

Minnesota got on the board in the sixth inning when Josh Donaldson hit a solo home run, his team trailing 5-1.

Burch Smith would relieve Montas in the bottom of the seventh inning. Smith would get out of the inning with Minnesota leaving runners stranded on second and third.

Oakland had their fourth home run in the eighth inning courtesy of Mark Canha and now led 6-1. They now had 51 home runs for the season which is the second most in MLB.

The final score was 6-1. Tomorrow’s game, game two of the series will start at 1:05 PT as the A’s look for their second win against Minnesota

Grizzlies hang on late to upend Kings 107-106

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by Marko Ukalovic

MEMPHIS, Tenn–Terence Davis had a chance at the end of the game to play the hero but his deperation three-point attempt at the buzzer rimmed out as the Memphis Grizzlies held on by the skin of its teeth to defeat the Sacaramento Kings 107-106 on Saturday evening at FedEx Forum.

Memphis have won five games in a row, including the two-game sweep over the Kings, and head into Sunday’s finale showdown with the Golden State Warriors with eight place in the Western Conference on the line. Sacramento has lost two in a row and three out of its last five games.

The Kings (31-40) entered the game tying a NBA record for futility. This is the 15th consecutive year they will miss the post-season, a record they now share with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Memphis (38-33) looked to have wrapped up the game with 46.5 seconds remaining in the game when Killian Tillie made a three-pointer to put the Griz up 105-99. However, their poor free throw shooting down the stretch (missing seven of its final ten) kept the Kings in it to set up Davis’ chance at the buzzer.

Louis King came off the bench and was the Kings leading scorer with 27 points on 10-16 shooting, including 2-5 from beyond the arc. Center Damian Jones led the starters with 17 points on six of seven shooting and 10 rebounds.

Justise Winslow led the Grizzlies in scoring with 25 points on 9-19 shooting, including 4-6 from three point land. Tillie and Xavier Tillman each chipped in with 16 points.

Memphis jumped out to a 29-25 lead after the first quarter as Winslow got off to a good start with 10 points in the first quarter. Jones kept the Kings afloat with his 10 points in the opening 12 minutes.

Sacramento went on a 13-0 run in a two-minute stretch starting at the 7:58 mark of the second quarter to go up 49-42. They closed out the half with a four-point lead 57-53.

Memphis started the third quarter cold and the Kings took advantage outscoring the Grizzlies 5-0 in the first 2:10 to extend its lead to nine, their biggest lead of the game at 62-53.

Down by nine points, the Griz finished the final 6:49 of the third quarter on a 16-6 run to go up 79-76 heading into the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter went back and forth with four lead changes and the biggest lead for either team was just five points by Memphis.

The game featured more of a G-League lineup than an NBA lineup. Memphis were without seven of its players including Jonas Valanciunas, Grayson Allen, and Sean McDermott. While Sacramento, who have been hit hard by the injury bug, were without stars Harrison Barnes, De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton and Marvin Bagley III.

GAME NOTES: Sacramento finished 15-21 on the road this season.

Buddy Heald, who has been dealing with ankle injury, was in the starting lineup and finished with 11 points and five assists.

UP NEXT: The Kings finish the regular season at home as they host the Utah Jazz on Sunday 5/16 at 6:00pm at Golden 1 Center.

Pirates Polanco’s 11th inning sac scores winning run 3-2

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By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Friday, May 14, 2021

Gregory Polanco’s 11th inning, bases loaded sacrifice fly gave Pittsburgh a 3-2 win over San Francisco Friday night at PNC Park in what started out as a pitching duel – all of the scoring occurred after the seventh inning.

The Giants slipped to 23-15, still leading the National League West by 2 games over San Diego. The Pirates are in last place in the NL Central, 7 games out of first place.

Pittsburgh brought in Luis Oviedo (1-1) to face the Giants in the top of the 11th. After Brandon Crawford was placed at second, Mauricio Dubon flied out to center, moving Crawford to third. Austin Slater delivered a base hit to right, plating Crawford with the go-ahead run.

With Caleb Baragar (2-1) on the mound for San Francisco, the Pirates forged their game-winning rally. Michael Perez was placed at second and scored on Adam Frazier’s triple to right, tying the game at 2-2. After Kevin Newman popped out to short, Bryan Reynolds and Will Craig were both intentionally walked.

Polanco followed with a sacrifice fly to center, driving in Frazier with the winning run.

Crawford broke the scoreless deadlock with a solo home run in the top of the ninth, putting San Francisco up 1-0. The Pirates responded with an RBI single by Bryan Reynolds that sent the game into extra innings.

Frazier led off the Pittsburgh ninth with a single, moved to third on Newman’s single and scored when Reynolds singled to right.

Giants starter Kevin Gausman struck out 12 without a walk, giving up one earned run on five hits. Closer Jake McGee was charged with his second blown save of the season, and Tyler Rogers threw a scoreless 10th.

Miguel Yajure surrendered one hit in his five-inning start for the Bucs, with four strikeouts and a walk. Sam Howard, David Bednar and Richard Rodriguez each threw a scoreless inning in relief.

Johnny Cueto (2-1, 3.52) starts for San Francisco on Saturday, facing the Pirates’ Tyler Anderson (3-3, 3.05).

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda prepare for elimination game Tuesday

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The San Jose Barracuda and Henderson Silver Knights battled on Tue May 11, 2021 at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas for the final regular season game (@sjbarracuda photo)

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The San Jose Barracuda (15-15-4-2) closed out their regular season dropping a two goal game to the Henderson Silver Knights (24-12-0-0) 3-1 last Tuesday night at the Orleans Arena

#2 Barracuda goalie Zach Sawchenko had a tough loss allowing two goals and facing 29 shots in the loss

#3 The Barracuda’s Evan Weinger scored San Jose’s only goal with just 20 seconds left in the second period.

#4 The Barracuda’s Maxim Letunov got an assist on Tuesday and now has points in three consecutive games.

#5 The Barracuda are in a single elimination play in game to determine who gets the fourth seed on May 18 at Irvine

Join Marko for the Barracuda podcasts Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Why this team continues to be so successful

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The San Francisco Giants Anthony DeSclafani delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thu May 13, 2021 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 San Francisco Giants (23-14) are having a good roll right now with one of the best records in baseball if you have to point to one thing that has working for them what would you say it is?

#2 When Giants manager Gabe Kapler first took over the team last season he had his doubters but here in 2021 he pretty much has met all the criteria and the team has a 2.5 game lead in the NL West and has won seven of their last ten games.

#3 Michael talk about everybody hitting on this ball club and no exception for Steven Duggar who hit a solo shot on Thursday to help the Giants get a 3-1 win.

#4 Once again starting pitching and the bullpen has been pulling out all the stops with starter Anthony DeSclafani who pitched five innings one hit and five strike outs.

#5 The Giants play game two of this four game series tonight at PNC Park let’s talk about the pitching match ups for the Giants Kevin Gausman (3-0 ERA 1.97) and for the Pittsburgh Pirates (15-22) Miguel Yajure (0-1 ERA 8.31).

Join Michael for the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason: Kings to play out the string two games left in the season

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Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) shoots against Sacramento Kings center Richaun Holmes (22) in the first half of action in Memphis on Thu May 13, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the Kings podcast with Barbara:

#1 The Memphis Grizzlies (37-33) eliminated the Sacramento Kings (31-39) on Thursday night to put the final touches on any chance for the Kings to get post season.

#2 The Kings put together a effort in the home stretch winning five out of their last six games before losing the Grizzlies on Thursday night the effort was there but they fell short in the standings.

#3 Barbara, It seems like a different player every other night to lead the team in scoring for Thursday it was Justin James who lead with 31 points.

#4 For Kings head coach Luke Walton it was an on and off campaign which included a nine game losing streak and this recent five out of six game wins to just miss the post season for the head coach.

#5 Kings vs. Grizzlies go at it again tonight at Memphis for game two of the series the Kings certainly will play for pride now and try to move into the win column tonight.

Barbara filled in for Jeremiah Salmonson for the Kings podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings eliminated miss playoffs in tough loss to Memphis 116-110

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The Sacramento Kings Buddy Hield (24) drives against the Memphis Grizzlies Dillion Brooks (24) on Thu May 13, 2021 in Memphis (AP News photo)

The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Thursday evening. The Kings were slated to take on the Memphis Grizzlies after playing the Oklahoma City Thunder at home on Tuesday. The Kings beat the Thunder on Tuesday and were looking to keep that momentum going on the road against the Grizzlies. The Kings unfortunately fell against the Grizzlies on Thursday night 116-110 and were officially eliminated from playoff contention. However, before we discuss Thursday’s game let’s revisit the Kings win against the Thunder on Tuesday night.

Flashback Tuesday: The Kings downed the Thunder on Tuesday after falling behind in the first half. The Kings may have had one of the best quarters of the season in the third as they outscored the Thunder 41-18. The Kings with the help of Terence Davis, who has taken a more active role in the absence of key Kings starters, scored 27 points. The Kings beat the Thunder by the final of 122-106.

Thursday night recap: The Kings were set to take on the Memphis Grizzlies for the first game of a back-to-back on Thursday night at 5 PM PST in Memphis.

In the first half, the Kings hung in with the playoff bound Grizzlies. In the first quarter, the Kings were outscored by the Grizzlies 36-32 as Memphis started the game red hot shooting the ball. In the second quarter, the Kings tightened up the defense and outscored the Grizzlies 28-23 to take a 60-59 halftime lead. The Kings would need to seal the deal to keep their playoff hopes alive. However, the third quarter wouldn’t be so kind.

In the second half, it was the third quarter that ultimately did the Kings in. The Grizzlies managed to outscore the Kings 30-23 in the third quarter to take a six point lead into the final 12 minutes of action. If the Kings hoped to keep their season alive they would need a rally. Unfortunately, the Kings didn’t get one. The Grizzlies and Kings both scored 27 points in the final quarter as Memphis downed the Kings 116-110 to end the Kings season hopes. The Kings already had an uphill battle to fight, but Thursday’s loss was the last nail in the coffin. The Kings were led in defeat by Justin James who had a tremendous game scoring 31 points. Dillon Brooks led the Grizzlies with 30 points in victory.

With the Kings eliminated from playoff contention for the 15th cod consecutive years. It is a disappointing end to the seasons hopes for the Kings who came into the year with high expectations.

Up Next: The Kings remain in Memphis to take on Grizzlies for the second night of a back-to-back on Friday at 6 PM PST.

Duggar’s 5th inning home run helps pace Giants in 3-1 win over Bucs

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The San Francisco Giants Steven Duggar is greeted at home plate by Anthony DeSclafani after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning at PNC Park in Pittsburgh against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thu May 13, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

The San Francisco Giants relied on good pitching and Steven Duggar’s first homer in nearly two years to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Thursday night at PNC Park and improve to 23-41 at the top of the NL West.

Starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani in five scoreless innings allowed only one hit, a single by Jacob Stallings in the first inning.

Duggar hit his first home run since June 13, 2019 in Petco Park, to right-center field with one out in the fifth inning off rookie starting pitcher Wil Crowe. It was his seventh career homer in four seasons and broke a scoreless tie.

The Giants had not scored in the first four innings against Crowe. Duggar, who was not on the lineup until Brandon Belt was scratched shortly before first pitch due to left side tightness, stepped up to the occasion.

“You just lock it in, it’s a lot of fun,” Duggar said of the last-minute opportunity to play. “We’re always ready here, so whether you’re off the bench or starting, so a lot of fun tonight and definitely excited to get the opportunity to start.”

After Duggar’s home run, San Francisco had two more runs in the fifth inning to extend their lead to 3-0. Duggar and Mauricio Dubon each had two hits. Tyler Rogers pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his third save.

In five innings, Crowe allowed three runs and six hits with five strikeouts and one walk.

San Francisco nabbed their fifth victory in six games and boosted them to a season-high nine games over .500.

On Friday night, Giants right hand pitcher Kevin Gausman (3-0, 1.97 ERA) will face Pirates left hand pitcher Tyler Anderson (3-3, 3.05 ERA) for the second in the four-game series. First pitch is at 3:35 p.m.

— _