Author: Sports Radio Service

Barracuda take down Reign 4-2

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The San Jose Barracuda were able to skate ahead of the Ontario Reign at the Toyota Performance Center in El Segundo on Sun Apr 25, 2021 (@ sjbarracuda photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

EL SEGUNDO, Calif-The San Jose Barracuda created a new line and it paid dividends right away as they upended the Ontario Reign on 4-2 on Sunday afternoon at the Toyota Performance Center.

San Jose snapped its two game losing streak and earned its third straight road victory. They swept the season series 4-0 against their SoCal division rival. Ontario has lost six straight on home ice (0-4-2).

Ontario (10-18-4-0) drew first blood on the power play in the first period. Akil Thomas’ shot from the left slot was saved by ‘Cuda goalie Alexei Melnichuk but the rebound leaked out to Martin Frk who buried a wrist shot under the crossbar into the back of the net for his second goal of the season at the 12:16 mark.

San Jose (13-11-4-2) answered back immediately just seven seconds later. Scott Reedy won the ensuing faceoff at center ice over to Jake McGrew who raced down the right wing and whistled a wrist shot off the far post past Reign goalie Jean-Francois Berube for his third goal of the season.

With Joachim Blichfeld called up to the San Jose Sharks, ‘Cuda head coach Roy Sommer put together the line of Reedy, McGrew and Jayden Halbgewachs. Each member of the newly formed line each had a goal in the game as they had a hand in 75% of San Jose’s goals. The lined combined for eight total points.

The Barracuda gained its first lead of the game just over two minutes later. A turnover by the Reign at its own blueline led to a shot by McGrew that Berube couldn’t corral. Reedy crashed the net and jammed home the rebound past Berube for his fourth goal of the season at the 15:47 mark.

Ontario out shot San Jose 13-7 in the opening 20 minutes.

San Jose went up 3-1 early in the second period. The ‘Cuda kept sustained pressure inside the Reign’s zone. Jaycob Megna collected the puck at the left point and fired home the puck past a screened Berube for his second goal of the season at the 7:15 mark. Megna snapped a 19-game goal less draught.

Ontario cut the lead to a one-goal game late in the second period with its second power play goal of the game. Alex Turcotte lasered a wrist shot from top of the circle on the left side past Melnichuk into the right corner for his third goal of the season at the 16:10 mark.

The Reign had a 22-15 edge in shots at the end of 40 minutes.

The Barracuda scored an insurance goal early in the third goal and took control of the third period. Once again the line of McGrew, Reedy and Halbgewachs created the much needed offense.

McGrew threw a shot in on net from the right slot. Reedy’s rebound attempt was saved by Berube, but Halbgewachs cashed in on the second chance right at the doorstep of the crease as he lifted the puck over the sprawled out Berube for his fifth goal of the season at the 4:22 mark.

Melnichuk (5-6-3) finished the game stopping 33 of the 35 shots he faced to earn the victory. Berube (4-9-2) made 18 saves on 22 shots in the losing effort. He was 0-2 versus the ‘Cuda this season.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 0-for-3 on the power play. Ontario went 2-for-3.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Reedy 2) McGrew 3) Halbgewachs.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns home to host the Bakersfield Condors on Tuesday 4/27 at 6:00pm at Solar4America Ice.

NBA podcast with Joe Hawkes: Kings and Warriors tip off Sunday night at Chase Center

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Stephen Curry (30) of the Golden State Warriors exudes with teammates in their victory over the Denver Nuggets on Fri Apr 23, 2021 at the Chase Center in San Francisco (invisalign photo)

On the NBA podcast with J Hawkes:

#1 Joe since are playing .500 ball, the Golden State Warriors (30-30) have gone 2-2 and in their most recent win was against the Denver Nuggets (38-21) 118-97. The Warriors remain at the doorstep in ninth place in their battle to catch and surpass the eighth place Memphis Grizzlies.

#2 A lot of where the Warriors are at wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for Stephen Curry who had scored for over 30 points a streak that ended against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night in Washington.

#3 Curry again during Friday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets was his old self again scoring 32 points and a huge part of the Warrior victory.

#4 12th place in the NBA Western Conference the Sacramento Kings who snapped a nine game losing streak last week Sun Apr 18th against the Dallas Mavericks have won two of their last three games. The Kings defense has had a tough time trying to shut down opponents.

#5 The Kings in their last game Wednesday picked up a 128-125 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves and they had big help from leading scorer De’Aaron Fox with 30 points and Buddy Hield with 29 points. The Kings play the Warriors in San Francisco on Sunday night set the stage for the Kings chances in this one.

Join Joe Hawkes for the NBA podcast each Sunday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Super League idea didn’t last long; Met’s deGrom doing it all; plus more

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European Super League looks like a memory as fans, players, managers, governments, and sponsors alike were up in arms about the money grab (image from The Sports Chief)

On Headline Sports podcast with Jessica:

#1 Jessica, talk about the proposed European Super Soccer League an idea that was hatched but failed. It would have taken 12 of the richest teams in professional sports and made them an exclusive league. It was a venture hatched by American business billonaires who thought of the idea and they would make a lot of money out of it.

#2 The European fans who are pretty sophisticated politically once they caught win of the idea they proactively protest in the streets outside of their local stadiums, even surrounding team buses and hanging banners against the Super League idea.

#3 There are some players in Major League Baseball who just unstoppable and the New York Mets (9-8) pitcher Jacob deGrom is one of them on Friday night against the Washington Nationals (8-11) he struck out 15 hitters and improved his batting average to .545 helping his own cause with two hits and an RBI.

#4 The red hot Oakland A’s (14-8) cooled off with a loss to the Baltimore Orioles Sunday 8-1. Previously they were tearing up the American League and won two of the first three games against the Orioles. Their 13 game win streak came to end in Baltimore. The A’s have been getting great starting pitching and the bullpen has either held opponents to a minimum amount of runs or just shutting them out for wins.

#5 The New York Yankees (9-12) who are fourth in the American League East they have won three of their last four games after losing six straight games. During the six game losing streak they just were getting the key hitting which recently looks like they’ve turned that around.

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

Webb triples and throws a gem in Giants win 4-3

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San Francisco Giants edge the Miami Marlins at Oracle Park in San Francisco taking three out of four on Sun Apr 25, 2021 (@ SFGiants image)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Logan Webb was a one man wrecking man crew in the finale of the four-game series for the San Francisco Giants.

Webb hit a two-run triple in the bottom of the second inning and tossed seven innings of three-hit ball, as the Giants defeated the Miami Marlins 4-3 before a crowd of 7,572 at Oracle Park.

The triple by Webb was just the second hit of his career, and it drove in the second and third runs for the Giants.

It was the first triple for a Giants pitcher since June 21, 2013 when Tim Lincecum tripled off of Ricky Nolasco of the Marlins at what was then called AT&T Park.

Webbs triple off of losing pitcher Paul Campbell went over the head of Adam Duvall and bounced all the way to the 415 mark in the right-center, an area appropriately named Triples Alley.

On the triple, Tommy La Stella and Mauricio Dubon easily scored from first and second base respectively.

Flores walked and then La Stella singled, then Dubon got the Giants on the board, as he singled to give the Giants 1-0 lead and then Webb extended the lead.

Flores was forced to leave the game after he walked in the second inning, due to Feeling Under the Weather.

Jason Vosler took over Flores at third base, and went 1-for-3 in his second major league game. Vosler picked up his first major league hit in the bottom of the fifth inning off of Richard Bleier.

Webb went seven innings, allowing zero runs on three hits, walking three and striking out eight in his first ever appearance against the Marlins.

Curt Casali was attempting to tie Ed Phelps of the 1903 Pittsburgh Pirates, but that all ended when Jesus Aguilar launched a two-run home run off of Matt Wisler in the top of the eighth inning. Casali was trying to become the first catcher ever to accomplish the feat with six different pitchers.

Tyler Rogers closed out the game for the Giants, but it was with a little drama at the end. Rogers gave up a run on three hits, and was able to get Jazz Chisholm, Jr., to ground out to La Stella at second base to end the game.

Brandon Belt drove in the fourth and final run of the game for the Giants, as he hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth inning that scored Mike Yastrzemski from third base.

NOTES: Belt took the collar on Sunday afternoon, ending his streak of 31 straight games of reaching base against the Marlins, dating back to July 19, 2014.

All 22 of the Giants games this season have been decided by
four-runs-or-fewer…according to Stats, LLC, it’s the Giants’ longest stretch to open a season since 1997 when they played 23 straight games decided by four-runs-or-less.

The Giants have posted a 7-1 (.875) record in day games so far, this season, the best day record in the major leagues.

UP NEXT: After winning three out of four against the Marlins, the Giants will open a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies on Monday night and Anthony DeSclafani will take the mound in the opener, while the Rockies will send Austin Gomber to the hill.

The Marlins will continue their three-city road trip and head to Milwaukee, where left-hander Trevor Rogers will take the mound for the Marlins and the Brewers will counter with Corbin Burns.

The Number Thirteen Proves Lucky For Oakland; A’s beat O’s at Camden 7-2

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Oakland A’s starter Chris Bassitt and the A’s bullpen does it again with fine pitching in helping get Oakland their 13th straight win this time against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Sat Apr 24, 2021 (@Athletics photo)

By Barbara Mason

Those Green and Gold Surfers continue to ride the wave and it seems like that wave has in no way crested. These guys just continue to win in every way possible. They out-slug opponents, they win with great performances on the mound, they win the close the ones and the walk offs. It’s just been a wild ride for these guys ever since they turned the early season slump around and have not looked back.

The A’s took on the Baltimore Orioles in the second game of their series this afternoon and took no time getting up on the scoreboard. In the first inning the red-hot Matt Olson singled to shallow right scoring Mark Canha who was on base. After one full inning the A’s led early by the score of 1-0.

The second inning was another good one for Oakland. Canha singled to left allowing runners Moreland and Andrus to score. The A’s now led 3-0. They did not let their foot off the pedal. Olson doubled to deep left and Canha scored extending their lead to 4-0 The importance of an early lead was due to the forecast of rain which did materialize later in this game.

The Orioles got up on the scoreboard in the second inning but it was Jed Lowrie who blew this game apart for Baltimore in the fourth inning. He homered to right with two runners on base and just like that the score was 7-1.

The Orioles scored in the bottom of the fifth inning but that was all the stingy A’s would allow. The final score was 7-2.

It was a great outing for pitcher Chris Bassitt. The pitching was great throughout this game with Bassitt, relief from Kolarek and closing work from Guerra. So the A’s had their 13th win in a row playing better ball than they did in Game One.

Can they extend this winning streak tomorrow? First pitch will be at 10:05 as the A’s go for another sweep. Be sure to tune in, join the fun and see if Oakland can continue to ride the wave.

Marlins come-from-behind to get win 5-2

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The Miami Marlins Jesus Aguilar gets congratulated after belting a tie breaking two run homer in the top of the ninth against San Francisco Giant reliever Gregory Santos at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Apr 24, 2021 (@ Marlins image)

By Jeremy Kahn

All things pointed towards another win for the San Francisco Giants, but a funny thing happened to hearing I Left My Heart in San Francisco.

Jesus Aguilar hit a tie-breaking two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning off of Gregory Santos in the top of the ninth inning, helping the Miami Marlins to a 5-2 victory over the Giants at Oracle Park.

Corey Dickerson added a triple that scored Garrett Cooper and then Cooper scored the final run of the inning, when Jon Berti hit a sacrifice fly for his second run batted in of the evening.

Berti put the Marlins on the board in the top of the seventh inning, when he hit his first home run of the season off of Giants starter Kevin Gausman.

Austin Slater gave the Giants a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, when he grounded out to third base to score Alex Dickerson and on the play, Buster Posey advanced to third base.

Unfortunately, the potential big rally came to screeching halt, when Mauricio Dubon lined to Jazz Chisholm, Jr., who threw to Berti at third base to complete the double play to get Posey to end the inning.

Gausman picked up the no decision, as he went eight innings, allowing one run on just two hits, walking one and striking out 11.

Pablo Lopez pitched a great game for the Marlins, as like Gausman, he did not fare in the decision. Lopez went six innings, allowing one run and also allowed two hits, walking just one and striking out seven.

The Marlins bullpen was just a little bit better, as they allowed only one run on three hits over the final three innings to secure the victory for Dylan Floro, who pitched the eighth inning for the Marlins.

Closer Yimi Garcia came on in the bottom of the ninth inning in a non-save situation and gave up a solo home run to Mike Yastrzemski, and double to Brandon Belt before getting Alex Dickerson to fly out to left field to end the game.

NOTES: Belt went 2-for-4 on the night, as his streak reached 31 straight games of reaching base against the Marlins, dating back to July 19, 2014.

Once again, the Giants played a game, where the game was decided by four-runs-or-fewer, extending the streak up to 21 games, the second longest streak by the Giants to a start a season since 1997, when they played 23 consecutive games in that fashion.

UP NEXT: Logan Webb closes out the series on Sunday afternoon, as he takes the mound, looking for that first win of the season for the Giants. While the Marlins, who look to split the series will send Nick Neidert to the hill.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda and Reign face off in Ontario Sunday

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The San Jose Barracuda and San Diego Gulls faced off last Wed Apr 21, 2021 in San Diego (@sjbarracuda photo)

On the SJ Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The game wasn’t even close Marko the San Jose Barracuda (12-11-4-2) were blown out Wednesday night 6-2 by the San Diego Gulls (21-13-0-0) in San Diego.

#2 The game Wednesday was the last meeting between the Barracuda and the Gulls for the season the Barracuda were 2-3-1 against San Diego.

#3 Tough night between the pipes for Cuda goaltender Steve Harvey (2-3-1) facing 36 shots surrendering five goals.

#4 On the bright side the Barracuda Alex True now has nine goals and 20 points for the season.

#5 The Barracuda are in Ontario Sunday night at 3:00pm to face the Reign. The Barracuda have been playing .500 hockey going 3-3 in their last six games how do you see Sunday night’s match up?

Join Marko for the Barracuda podcasts each Saturday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic Sat Apr 24, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

San Jose Sharks podcast with Matt Harrington: Sharks hope to snap 7 game skid tonight

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The Vegas Knights Shea Theodore (27) reaches out for the puck as the San Jose Sharks Timo Meier (28) is right behind at the T Mobile Center in Las Vegas on Thu Apr 23, 2021 (AP News photo)

#1 The San Jose Sharks (18-23-5) enter tonight’s game at SAP Center against the Vegas Golden Knights (33-11-3)) on a seven game losing streak in the Sharks last game against the Vegas Golden Knights not even close another loss 5-2.

#2 What are some of the things that head coach Bob Boughner must be saying to the club right now going on a long losing streak and trying to find ways to break that long string.

#3 For Sharks goaltender Josef Korenar a tough night against Minnesota facing 39 shots and allowing four. Korenar had a good long run with the Sharks minor league team the San Jose Barracuda but this is the big leagues now how ready is he?

#4 Timo Meier and Tomas Hertl both had a goal each for San Jose it wasn’t enough but they’ve had some good offensive nights for the Sharks this season.

#5 The Sharks face off against the Minnesota Wild (27-13-3) tonight at the SAP Center. The Sharks have lost the last two meetings with the Wild by scores of 3-2 and 5-2 with the Sharks on the current losing streak could they have their hands full tonight?

Join Matt for the Sharks podcasts each Saturday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Earthquakes upend FC Dallas 3-1 in home opener

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San Jose Earthquakes Cristian Espinoza and head coach Matias Almeyda exchange congratulations following the Quakes win over FC Dallas on Sat Apr 24, 2021 at Pay Pal Park in San Jose (@SJEarthquakes photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif- The San Jose Earthquakes scored three unanswered goals en route to a 3-1 win over FC Dallas in its home opener on Saturday afternoon at the newly minted Pay Pal Park.

FC Dallas (0-1-1) almost received a gift in the opening minute where Quakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski lackadaisically made an errant past inside the six-yard box that landed on the foot of Jáder Obrian. Marcinkowski had to recover quickly and make a save. The ensuing corner led to Bressan’s header attempt hitting off the crossbar.

The first five minutes of play was filled with sloppy and mistimed passes for head coach Matias Almeyda’s squad.

San Jose (1-1-0) had not one but two penalty kick opportunities in the first half but weren’t able to capitalize on its first chance.

Obrian fouled Cristian Espinoza inside the D-box with an elbow up high that referee Timothy Ford whistled him for the foul and awarding the first chance.

Espinoza telegraphed his shot as FC Dall goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer kept the ball out of the net in the 19th minute.

Then in the 31st minute a handball inside the D-box by Tanner Tessmann led to San Jose’s second chance from six yards out after a video review.

Oswaldo Alanís buried his opportunity to the right corner past Maurer for his first goal of the season.

The Quakes received a scare in the 37th minute. A shot by Ryan Hollingshead got past Marcinkiwski but running back to sweep the ball around from danger before it crossed the goal line was midfielder Carlos Fierro.

Marcinkowski made a big save in the 41st minute when he came out to challenge an attempt by Obrian and poked checked the ball away before Obrian could shoot it.

The Quakes outshot FC Dallas 4-2 in the first half.

San Jose doubled its lead in the 49th minute. Sophomore forward Cade Cowell slipped a pass over to Espinoza that led to a breakaway. Espinoza redeemed himself as he chipped the ball past Maurer into the lower left corner for his first goal of the season.

Cowell made it 3-0 in the 59th minute for San Jose on a highlight reel of a goal. Cowell received the ball from 10 yards out and fought off one FC Dallas defender. The 17-year old sensation deked out another before putting the ball past Maurer in the left corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

FC Dallas spoiled Marcinkowski’s shutout bid in the 79th minute. Ricardo Pepi cleaned up the rebound off a shot by Andrés Ricaurte as he buried the ball into the back of the net for his first goal of the season.

Captain Chris Wondolowski, who came in as a substitute in the 71st minute, was ejected by Ford on a dubious call at best. His foul on Jose Antonio Martinez at first resulted in a yellow card despite minimal contact on the play. Ford then changed his mind a minute later and issued Wondo’s second red card of his career.

GAME NOTES: San Jose had 3 corner kicks. FC Dallas had 5.

The Earthquakes are unbeaten in seven straight meetings with FC Dallas (W5 D2), their longest current unbeaten run against any opponent. San Jose last went longer without a loss to Dallas during a nine-game run (W2 D7) from 2004 to 2009.

Phelipe replaced Maurer in the 61st minute as Mauarer was injured on the goal by Cowell

UP NEXT: The Quakes host DC United on Saturday 5/1 at 8:00pm at Pay Pal Park.

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Wood dominant in his Oracle Park debut; Giants defeat Marlins 5-3

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The San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski (5) is congratulated by Tommy LaStella (18) at home plate after hitting a two run home run against the Miami Marlins at Oracle Park in San Francisco (Bay Area News Group photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Jazz Chisholm, Jr., gave the Miami Marlins a quick 1-0 lead, but that was all Alex Wood allowed in his Oracle Park debut.

Wood went seven innings, allowing just that one run on just one hit, walking one and striking out seven and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Marlins at Oracle Park.

Chisholm, Jr., took Woods pitch and launched it over the arcade to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead after just one batter.

Mike Yastrzemski continues to break out of his early season funk, as he hit his third home run of the season, a two-run opposite blast that gave the Giants the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning.

Sandy Alcantara fell to 0-2 on the season, as he allowed two runs on four hits in five innings of work, as he also walked four and struck out four.

The Giants broke the game open in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Wilmer Flores singled to center to score Mauricio Dubon.

Yastrzemski then scored his second run of the night, as he scored on a Brandon Belt singled that sent Flores to third.

Darin Ruf drove in the third and final run of the inning, as he hit a sacrifice fly that scored Flores from third.

Things were sailing, as Jake McGee came on in a non-save situation and probably struck out the first two batters; however, Miguel Rojas reached on a Flores fielding error, just the fifth error for the team and then Jesus Aguilar hit a two-run home run that was just out of the reach of Ruf in left field.

McGee then settled down, as he struck out Garrett Cooper to end the game and give the Giants their second win in as many nights.

NOTES: Last night, C Curt Casali caught his fifth straight shutout, becoming the fifth catcher in the modern era (since 1900) with at least five straight shutouts in his starts, joining: Francisco Cervelli in 2015, Chris Hoiles in 1995, Alan Ashby in 1986, Ed Phelps in 1903 (six straight). Casali is also the first to do it with five different starting pitchers, this according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Buster Posey will become the first player in the Giants’ 139-year history to catch 1,000 games…that would leave the Twins as the only one of MLB’s 16 oldest franchises (pre-1960s expansion) without a player who has caught 1,000 games, according to STATS, LLC.

All 20 of the Giants games this season have been decided by four-runs-or-fewer…according to Stats, LLC, it’s the Giants’ longest stretch to open a season since 1997 when they played 23 straight games decided by four-runs-or- fewer.

UP NEXT: Kevin Gausman goes for the series win on Saturday night, as he takes the mound for the Giants, while the Marlins will send Pablo Lopez.