Category: MLB

A’s Squander Healthy Lead Falling to the Reds In a Walk Off 10-9

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The Oakland A’s JJ Bleday gets congratulated in the dugout after hitting a top of the fourth inning home run against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark on Thu Aug 29, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (58-76) had a huge lead, 6-1, going into the bottom of the fourth inning. The Cincinnati Reds (64-70) rallied in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings taking a 7-6. It was tough going on the mound for the A’s who loaded the bases a number of times walking in runs.

Oakland did take a 9-7 lead in the top of the ninth but closing pitcher Grant Holman loaded the bases and the Reds walked away with this game 10-9. Lawrence Butler had another excellent game with three home runs.

The A’s got early runs much as they had in the game two. In the first inning, Oakland scored two runs. Seth Brown who has had a terrific series singled Brent Rooker home for a 1-0 lead. Daz Cameron came to the plate and grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop allowing JJ Bleday to score. Oakland extended their lead in the second inning with a Lawrence Butler two run home run (428 feet). After two innings, the A’s had a 4-0 lead.

Not to be outdone, the Reds Will Benson connected for a home run to center (438 feet) in the third inning and Cincinnati was on the board 4-1.

Oakland continued to grind away and unloaded a couple more home runs in the fourth inning. Two solo home runs came off the bats of Lawrence Butler , his second of the game (407 feet) and JJ Bleday (407 feet) giving the A’s a 6-1 lead.

Oakland’s J.T. Ginn started to struggle a bit in the fourth inning giving up a home run to Tyler Stephenson. It was a solo shot but Oakland still had a 6-2 lead. It all came apart in the fifth inning for Ginn loading the bases and walking a run in. Elly De La Cruz grounded out to first and Dominic Smith scored. The Reds had begun to make a move trailing 6-4.

Cincinnati scored another run in the sixth inning. Joe Boyle had relieved Ginn but he also loaded the bases and walked in a run. The Reds continued to chip away at the A’s lead now trailing 6-5.

T.J. McFarland relieved Boyle having to deal with a bases loaded situation and he also walked in a run in a disastrous sequence and this game was tied 6-6. There had been a huge momentum shift when the Reds’ Jonathan India sacrificed into a double play and Dominic Smith scored giving Cincinnati their first lead of the game 7-6. It had been a three run inning for the Reds in a crazy reversal of fortune.

When it began to look grim for Oakland, Lawrence Butler came to the plate to start off the ninth inning and slugged a 427 foot home run to tie up the game 7-7. Butler had really put on a show on this road trip.

JJ Bleday was also having a stellar day already with four hits and he did not disappoint hitting number five and the A’s had runners on second and third with no outs looking to take the lead. Seth Brown who was also having a terrific day knocked a single bringing Brent Rooker and JJ Bleday home taking back the lead 9-7. Oakland had hit four home runs three of them off the bat of Lawrence Butler.

This game went into the bottom of the ninth inning and it was in the A’s court. They needed their defense to step up and close out this game. Oakland pitcher Grant Holman would get his first opportunity to complete a save.

He walked the first at bat, and then went on to load the bases. Tyler Stephenson singled Rece Hinds home and the Reds trailed 8-9. Cincinnati walked off this game when TJ Friedl singled both Elly De La Cruz and Stephenson home. The final score was 10-9 and the Reds had avoided the sweep.

It was a horribly disappointing game for the A’s. They fought hard to get back into the game with some memorable performances from Lawrence Butler, JJ Bleday and Seth Brown. The team finished the game with 14 hits. There was a real letdown on the mound today loading the bases over and over. This was a horrible pitching game starting in the fifth inning and it just went south from there.

On the bright side Lawrence Butler is the first player in MLB with two three-homer games in one season since Aaron Judge accomplished that last year. He is the 25th player in Major League history to do so. As far as A’s history goes Butler is just the second player with two three-homer games in one season since Geronimo Berroa in 1996.

Game notes: Thursday the A’s took on the Reds in game three of their series looking for a sweep and couldn’t seal the deal. It wasn’t easy and what makes it even more difficult is the fact that this series is on the road the A’s had a lead and let it get away.

A’s starter JT Ginn went five innings, allowing four hits and four earned runs. Red starter Julian Aguiar pitched four innings allowing ten hits and six runs and despite getting lit up the Red managed to catch the A’s for a one run win.

The A’s will continue their road trip traveling to Texas for a three game series with the Rangers that will get underway on Friday night. JP Sears will take the mound for Oakland looking to take game one of the series. Sears will bring his 4.35 ERA and his 10-9 win/loss record to start game one. The Rangers will be looking to Jon Gray for a win in the opener. He comes in with a 5-5 win/loss record and a 4.32 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 PM.

Bleday 4 hits today

Giants Birdsong touched for five runs, Brewers Civale blanks SF’s dead offense over seven shutout innings, as Brewers take series with 6-0 win

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Milwaukee Brewers starter Aaron Civale was dealing against the San Francisco Giants throwing a combined two hit shutout at American Family Park in Milwaukee on Thu Aug 29, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024

American Family Field

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

San Francisco Giants 0 (67-68)

Milwaukee Brewers 6 (77-56)

Win: Aaron Civale (5-8)

Loss: Hayden Birdsong (3-4)

Time: 2:14

Attendance: 30,920

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants’ offense went dead Thursday, as Aaron Civale pitched a two-hitter over seven innings, and the Brewers got to Hyden Birdsong for five runs in a 5-0 win in the series finale in Milwaukee.

After a big 5-4 seesaw win for the Giants in the series opener on Tuesday, the Brewers exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning Wednesday night for a 5-3 win to even the series. The Giants were knocked back to .500 at 67-67, as well as a season-high six and a half games back of the third wild card in the National League.

Thursday, the Giants had a chance to win this series on the road against a powerful Brewers’ team. The Giants had an opportunity to get on the board early against Brewers’ starter Aaron Civale in the top of the first inning.

A one-out walk to Tyler Fitzgerald and a two-out base-hit by Michael Conforto put runners at the corners for Matt Chapman. Civale struck Chapman out swinging at a cutter on the outside corner, and the Giants had already wasted a golden opportunity right off the bat.

Hayden Birdsong took the ball for the Giants in the bottom of the first, as he was coming off a start in Seattle on Friday, in which his lack of control knocked him out after four innings. Birdsong threw 80 pitches, and 41 of them were balls. Brice Turang led off the inning with a base-hit to left field, but Birdsong retired the side in order while striking out a pair to end the inning.

Civale threw a one, two, three inning in the top of the second, and then Birdsong would run into trouble in the bottom of the second. First, Grant McCray, who has been impressing with his defense since being called up, robbed Wily Adames of a base-hit with a diving catch in shallow center to start the inning.

Unfortunately, Garrett Mitchell followed that up with a home run to right-center. Birdsong was not out of the woods yet. A walk to Gary Sanchez and a double by Joey Ortiz put runners at second and third with one out, and Blake Perkins knocked Sanchez in with a sacrifice fly to center.

The Giants were unable to do anything with a two-out base-hit by Fitzgerald in the top of the third, and Birdsong ran into more trouble in the bottom of the third. William Contreras drew a walk with one out, Adames singled him over to third two batters later.

Mitchell came up to the plate with runners at the corners and two outs. With a 1-2 count, Birdsong threw a fastball up and away for ball two, and Adames took off for second. The throw from catcher Patrick Bailey, who was activated off the Injured List today, went to shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald, and as Adames backed away and started retreating back towards first, Contreras took off for the plate. For whatever reason, Fitzgerald threw the ball to third, as Contreras scored to make it 3-0, and Adames retreated back to first.

Fitzgerald could have thrown home, but what he really should have done was start running towards Contreras to get him stuck in a rundown. Fitzgerald has been a great story for the Giants this season, but he made a mental mistake, something that has become far too common with analytics people running organizations and baseball people shoved out and unable to teach players basic fundamentals in their development.

Civale threw another one, two, three inning in the top of the fourth, and Birdsong just couldn’t stay out of trouble, as the Brewers rallied once again in the bottom of the fourth. Birdsong retired the first two men he faced, but walks to Perkins and Turang forced him out of the game.

Bob Melvin brought in Sean Hjelle, and he drew a rude welcome from Jackson Chourio, who lined a double off the end of the bat into the corner down the right field line to knock in a pair and make it 5-0. Contreras then singled on a ground ball that got through into left field, and Chourio scored to make it 6-0.

For Birdsong, his struggles with his control and just overall continued, as he gave up five runs and four hits over three and two thirds innings, while walking four and striking out six. He threw 92 pitches, and just 49 of them were strikes.

After a leadoff walk to Jerar Encarnacion to start the top of the fifth, Civale retired the side in order, and the Giants would not get another base-runner for the rest of the game.

Civale went seven shutout innings, as he gave up just two hits, walked two and struck out seven. Left-hander Aaron Ashby, the nephew of former right-handed starter Andy Ashby, then threw a pair of one, two, three innings in the eighth and ninth.

As for Giants’ pitchers today, Hjelle pitched a scoreless inning in the bottom of the fifth, and Landen Roupp pitched three shutout innings. The six and seventh were rocky for Roupp, as he got out of a pair of jams. However, he finished his day nicely with a one, two, three bottom of the eighth.

Aaron Civale got the win, and Hayden Birdsong took the loss.

The Giants have been knocked back under .500, as they fall to 67-68. The Giants are now seven games back of the Braves, who will begin a four-game series Thursday night in Philadelphia against the Phillies.

The Giants will now return home for a six-game homestand with three against the Miami Marlins, and three against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Giants will begin their series against the Marlins tomorrow.

Blake Snell (2-3, 3.76 ERA), who is coming off a rough start in Seattle on Saturday, will take the ball for the Giants, and he will be opposed by Adam Oller (1-1, 5.23 ERA) on Friday night at Oracle Park. First pitch will be at 7:15 p.m.

Giants News and Notes:

Patrick Bailey went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in his return from the IL.

To make room for Bailey on the 26-Man Roster, catcher Andrew Knapp was designated for assignment. Knapp had just been acquired last Friday, and he went 1-for-6 in three games for the Giants with a pait of strikeouts.

Matt Chapman played in his 1,000th-career game Thursday. However, it was nothing special, as like Bailey, Chapman went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Giants need change

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San Francisco Giants team president Farhan Zaidi how safe is his job? He most likely will be evaluated by season’s end based on how the Giants finish in September. (SF Chronicle file photo)

Giants need Change

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Although their home base is San Francisco, the Giants hopes for a postseason in 2024 are fading “faster than a New York minute.” They are the “forever”.500 team. The Giants traded Jorge Soler and right-handed reliever Luke Jackson in late July to the Atlanta Braves.

Soler was the only certified slugger the Giants had in their lineup. Their offense is as average as any team, but that is not enough to compete, as it ranks 16th among all 30 MLB teams. There is no tie in baseball; if you can’t score, you can’t win, even if you have the best pitching in the world, and if you want to win the tight games, you need a bullpen as good as the starting rotation, and they do not have that type of bullpen this year.

When they traded Jorge Soler and pitcher Alex Cobb in late July. This was your typical salary dump. Thursday, they put second-baseman Thairo Estrada and relievers Taylor Rogers and Tyler Mazek on waivers. They could not lure great profile players like Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Carlos Correa. The Giants were never in the class to compete in a division with three very good teams: the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks, and the Padres.

With 28 games left (including today in Milwaukee), the Giants are 6.5 behind the third Wild Card, the Atlanta Braves. On top of the Giants, on the way to catch the Braves also the Cubs and the Mets, and just 1/2 game behind the Giants, in that bunch, the St Louis Cardinals.

To navigate these numbers in their favor, the Giants need a sensational September charge, but that, for a .500 baseball team, 67-67 is very unlikely. They have not shown they have that team. Even with a strong starting rotation, they will have to deal with Robbie Ray out for 15 days IL. Bob Melvin is one of the best managers in the game, but he is not a magician. The best Jockey in the world cannot win the race if his horse is limping.

Giants need change. Changes should be on the way. One thing is certain, The president of Baseball Operations, Mr. Farhan Zaidi, will soon seek a new job.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Brewers rock Harrison for 5 runs in bottom of fifth, Giants fall short in 5-3 loss, drop 6.5 back of 3rd in NL Wild Card with 28 games left

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Milwaukee Brewers Jackson Chourio reaction after hitting a RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at American Family Park in Milwaukee on Tue Aug 27, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024

American Family Field

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

San Francisco Giants 3 (67-67)

Milwaukee Brewers 5 (76-56)

Win: Freddy Peralta (9-7)

Loss: Kyle Harrison (6-7)

Save: Devin Williams (6)

Time: 2:43

Attendance: 23,247

By Stephen Ruderman

A five-run bottom of the fifth inning for the Brewers did Kyle Harrison and the Giants in, as despite the offense scoring three runs late, they ultimately fell 5-3 in Milwaukee to fall to six and a half games back of the third wild card with 28 games to go.

So far this road trip has been loss-win-loss-win. After losing two out of three to the Mariners in Seattle over the weekend, the Giants hit three home runs and a manufactured run enroute to a big 5-4 win in the series opener at American Family Field Tuesday night.

The Giants came into Wednesday night a game over .500 at 67-66, and five and a half games back of the Braves for the third wild card spot in the National League. That means win-loss-win-loss would not cut it. They had to start stringing together as many wins as possible, and they really had to start consistently hitting with runners and scoring position.

The Giants would be up against Freddy Peralta, who made the start for the Brewers Wednesday night. LaMonte Wade led off the game with a walk, but two batters later, Michael Conforto grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Kyle Harrison took the ball for the Giants, as he made his first start since his six-inning performance against the Chicago White Sox last Monday. Harrison started his outing tonight with a scoreless bottom of the first inning.

The game went along smoothly over the first four and a half innings, as Peralta set 14 of the first 17 hitters he faced, and Harrison gave up just one hit retired 12 of the first 14 men he faced. Harrison was also helped out by an incredible play by shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald in the bottom of the second, as well as a great catch by Michael Conforto in the bottom of the third.

Harrison made it 13 out of 15 when struck Rhys Hoskins out looking on a slurve to start the bottom of the fifth. Andrew Monasterio walked and stole second base, but Harrison struck Joey Ortiz out swinging for the second out.

Harrison was cruising, but all of the sudden out of nowhere, he just fell apart. Sal Frelick walked, and Jackson Chourio broke the ice with a base-hit the other way to right field, which knocked in Monasterio to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead.

Blake Perkins knocked in a pair with a double off the bottom of the wall in left to make it 3-0. William Contreras then hit a home run to left-center, and the Brewers had suddenly gotten to Harrison for five runs on three-straight hits to knock him out of the game.

Harrison was dealing through four and two thirds innings, as he struck out seven, but the sudden onslaught of three-straight hits and five runs made his start a completely different story. Sean Hjelle then came in and got Wily Adames to fly out to end the inning.

Peralta came back out for the sixth and retired the first two men he faced. The Giants then made some noise with two outs when Fitzgerald hit an opposite-field single to right and Conforto walked. However, Heliot Ramos struck out to end the inning, and the Giants wasted another opportunity.

Peralta threw six shutout innings and struck out eight. He retired 17 of the 22 batters he faced.

Austin Warren made his Giants’ debut with a scoreless bottom of the sixth inning, and the Giants would finally have some luck against Trevor Megill in the top of the seventh.

Matt Chapman led off the top of the seventh with a double and advanced to third on a ground out by Mike Yastrzemski. Thairo Estrada finally got the Giants’ first RBI hit with a runner in scoring position since Saturday with an infield hit deep into the hole at third, and Chapman scored to put the Giants on the board.

Warren came back out to throw a scoreless inning in the bottom of the seventh, and Brewers Manager Pat Murphy summoned Jared Koeing for the top of the eighth. Koeing struck out the first two guys he faced, and then the Giants would put a two-out rally together.

Fitzgerald lined a base-hit to center, and Conforto hit an opposite-field double that bounced off the wall in left to knock Fitzgerald in and make it 5-2. Ramos then lined a base-hit to left-center, and suddenly, it was a 5-3 game.

Despite their struggles with runners in scoring position, you still have to give the Giants’ offense credit. They have been resilient and have grinded it out all season. They have never believed they were out of a game, and they were in a good position to pull off a big comeback Wednesday night.

Spencer Bivens got out of a jam in scoreless bottom of the eighth, but Devin Williams thwarted any hopes of a Giants’ comeback with a one, two, three top of the ninth, and the Brewers won 5-3.

Freddy Peralta got the win; Kyle Harrison got saddled with what truly was a sudden loss; and Devin Williams got his sixth save of the year.

The Giants fall back to .500 at 67-67, and with the Braves’ 5-1 win over the Twins in Minneapolis, the Giants are now a season-high six and a half games out of the nearest playoff spot with 28 games to go.

Time is truly now running out for the Giants, and if they want to have any hope of making a last-minute run in September, they need to start winning now.

The Giants can still take the series with a win Thursday. Hayden Birdsong (3-3, 4.57 ERA) will look to be the stopper, and he will be opposed by Aaron Civale (4-8, 4.84 ERA), who will take the ball for the Brewers. First pitch will be at 1:10 p.m. in Milwaukee, and 11:10 a.m. back home in San Francisco.

Giants News and Notes:

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Prior the Giants placed Thairo Estrada, Taylor Rogers and Tyler Matzek on waivers prior to the game. They will be available to any team that wants to pay the remainder of their 2024 salaries.

A’s Pick Apart Reds In Game Two 9-6; Oakland’s Brown hits two home runs in offensive battle

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Oakland A’s Seth Brown (15) hit two home runs in game two of the series, here he is getting congratulated by his teammates after hitting his second home run in the top of the eighth inning at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on Wed Aug 28, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (58-75) won game two in their series with the Cincinnati Reds (63-70) 9-6. The team sailed through the first seven innings but in the bottom of the seventh, the Reds scored 6 runs taking a 6-5 lead. The A’s wasted little time scoring four runs in the eighth and closing out this game. Oakland hit four home runs in this game and Mason Miller celebrated his 24th save of the season.

Game recap: Oakland did not waste any time getting up on the scoreboard and they did it via the home run. In the first inning, the A’s first at bat Lawrence Butler sent the ball out of the park for the early 1-0 lead.

The second and third innings were quiet for both teams but in the fourth inning, Oakland got back to the long ball. Seth Brown hit a 430 feet home run taking a 2-0 lead but as this game progressed, the A’s just continued to extend their lead. In the sixth inning Brent Rooker hit the A’s third solo home run of the game for a 3-0 lead.

Oakland scored two more runs in the seventh inning taking a 5-0 lead. Max Schuemann hit a sacrifice to center and Daz Cameron scored. In the same inning, Lawrence Butler grounded into a fielder’s choice to second driving in Zach Gelof.

When it seemed as if the A’s had it all going on, the Reds started making a run much as they did in last nights’ game. Five hits later, the Reds had erased the 5-0 Oakland lead and the score was 5-3 in favor of the A’s.

Tyler Stephenson doubled driving Elly De La Cruz home followed by another double from Santiago Espinal driving in Stephenson. It all went downhill for Oakland at that point. Ty France singled Espinal home and the Reds took the lead when Will Benson homered with two runners on base taking a 6-5 lead. It was a disastrous seventh inning for Oakland.

The A’s took care of business in the eighth inning, or should I say Seth Brown did with his second home run of the game driving in JJ Bleday and Shea Langeliers taking back the lead 8-6. They extended their lead when Jacob Wilson sacrificed and Zach Gelof scored; Oakland had fought back after losing the lead in the seventh inning. Through eight innings Oakland had 13 hits and four home runs.

Osvaldo Bido pitched six innings in this game allowing three hits, two runs, no walks with five strikeouts. When he allowed those two runs he was spent and he was relieved by T.J. McFarland. When McFarland started to struggle in the seventh inning giving up a run, Michel Otanez took the mound with dire results. He gave up three hits and three runs but finally got that third out.

Oakland had a clean eighth inning with Tyler Ferguson on the mound going three up and three down. They were again three outs away from winning game two, winning the series and going for a sweep in Thursday’s game three.

Mason Miller would take the mound looking to close out this game in the bottom of the ninth inning. Last night, Miller threw 31 pitches getting out of a sticky situation. Wednesday night he will be looking for a far less dramatic ninth inning.

In fact he will be looking for his 23rd save which will put him in a tie with Huston Street for most saves by a rookie in Oakland’s history. Andrew Bailey is in first place with 26 saves and Miller will be looking to better that with more than a month of baseball still left on the season.

It began to feel eerily like last night and there would be a bit of drama in this game. The Reds got a hit and a walk and with only one out, the tying run was at the plate. Miller went on to strike out Amed Rosario for the second out and dismissed Will Benson for the win 9-6.

Game notes: Tuesday, the A’s beat the Reds in game one of their series after trailing through the first six innings. They had a huge seventh inning in thanks to a couple of home runs, one from Max Schuemann and a second from Lawrence Butler. In Wednesday’s game started Osvaldo Bido who pitched six innings, allowed three hits, two runs, and struck out five. The Reds started Fernando Cruz who went three innings, two hits and one earned run. Bido’s pitching performance kept the Red in check until the seventh inning when the Reds scored six runs.

Oakland played a great game. They took a significant lead in the game, lost the lead in the seventh inning but went on to battle back scoring four runs in the eighth. It was an impressive win and sets the Athletics up for a possible sweep in Thursday’s game.

Winning a series on the road is not easy and Oakland already has that under their belt. First pitch for game three is scheduled for 2:10. Probable pitchers for this game will be J.T. Ginn (0-0, 2.45) for Oakland and for the Reds it will be Julian Aguiar (1-0, 3.60).

Giants hit three home runs and bullpen holds on through wild seesaw game for 5-4 win over Brewers in Milwaukee

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San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski (right) watches the flight of his two run home run in the top of the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Ballpark in Milwaukee on Tue Aug 27, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024

American Family Field

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

San Francisco Giants 5 (67-66)

Milwaukee Brewers 4 (75-56)

Win: Camilo Doval (5-1)

Loss: Joel Payamps (3-6)

Save: Ryan Walker (4)

Time: 2:52

Attendance: 24,354

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants began their toughest stretch of the schedule this season with a big 5-4 win over the Brewers Tuesday night in Milwaukee, as Logan Webb braved through five innings; the offense hit three home runs; and the bullpen came through in a wild seesaw game on Tuesday night.

The Giants are coming off a tough series loss in Seattle, and after having a day off Monday in Milwaukee to think about it, they were back at it against one of the best teams in Baseball in the Milwaukee Brewers.

It was the first time the Giants faced the Brewers this season. The Brewers have been one of the most successful teams in Baseball over the last eight years with six winning seasons and five playoff appearances.

With Brewers’ longtime manager Craig Counsell leaving for the Cubs, there were questions on how well they would do this season. However, the leadership of Manager Pat Murphy, as well as their pitching and defense has carried them to another great season. They came into tonight 75-55, and 10 games up on the Cubs for first place in the National League Central.

There was a lot of severe weather throughout the midwest Tuesday. The game between the Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers just 96 and a half miles down the road in the South Side of Chicago was suspended just four pitches into the game.

The good news is that there is a roof at American Family Field. The storms would not even reach Milwaukee, so they were able to play the game Tuesday night with the rood open. However, it was 85 degrees and quite humid.

Tobias Meyers made the start for Milwaukee, and he began the game with a one, two three top of the first inning. Logan Webb once again had to be the stopper, as he took the ball for the Giants. An error and a walk put runners on first and second with one out for the Brewers in the bottom of the first, but Webb was able to get out of it thanks to a pair of ground balls.

The Giants wasted a leadoff double by Heliot Ramos in the top of the second, and Webb threw a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the second.

The Giants wasted a leadoff double by Heliot Ramos in the top of the second, and they would have a runner at second with nobody out again in the top of the third. Grant McCray walked to lead off the inning and stole second.

Curt Casali struck out looking, but McCray advanced to third on a balk with LaMonte Wade at the plate. Wade then grounded out to second, and McCray scored to put the Giants on the board.

After throwing a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the second, the Brewers got to Webb in the bottom of the third. Brice Turang lined a base-hit to left field, and then Jackson Chourio hit a towering home run to left-center to give the Brewers a 2-1 lead.

The Giants struck back with two outs in the top of the fourth, as Matt Chapman hit a solo shot to right-center, his 21st of the year, to tie the game 2-2. With that home run, Chapman reclaims the team lead in home runs.

After Webb pitched a scoreless inning in the bottom of the fourth, Thairo Estrada nearly led off the top of the fifth with a home run to left-center, but Brewers’ center-fielder Blake Perkins leapt over the wall to take the home run away from Estrada. Not to worry, though; Grant McCray immediately followed it up with an absolute bomb to left to put the Giants back ahead.

Webb pitched a one, two, three shutdown inning in the bottom of the fifth. Surprisingly, Wevv had thrown 97 pitches through five innings, which is quite unusual for him Tobias Myers was done after five innings, and Bryan Hudson came in for the Brewers to throw a one, two, three inning in the top of the sixth.

Bob Melvin had Webb go back out for the bottom of the sixth despite his high pitch count. It would be a move that came back to bite Melvin and the Giants, as Jake Bauers walked and stole second, and Wily Adames hit a long home run to left-center to put the Brewers ahead 4-3.

It was the fourth home run hit in Tuesday night’s game. Three of them were absolute bombs. It also ended the night for Webb.

In five-plus innings, Webb gave up four runs and four hits, while walking three and striking out four. Perhaps, pitching in the humidity in the cheap paper towel jersey he was forced to wear made things more difficult, but to Webb’s credit, he hung in there and still gave the Giants a solid outing.

Melvin brought in Camilo Doval, who struck out the first two hitters he faced. Sal Frelick then doubled with two outs, and Doval walked Joey Ortiz and Turang to load the bases. That brought up Chourio, as the Brewers had a chance to open this game up against Doval, who was once again in a jam. Doval was able to get out of it, as Chourio flew out to center to end the inning.

Murphy brought in Joel Payamps in the top of the seventh, and Matt Chapman led off the inning with a base-hit to left. That brought up Mike Yastrzemski, who hit a home run to right-center, and the Giants re-took the lead.

The Giants led 5-4, as Landen Roupp, who was brought back up prior to the game, was brought in for the bottom of the seventh. Roupp got into trouble thanks to a pair of walks, and Melvin lifted him for Tyler Rogers. Rhys Hoskins stepped up, and he hit a fly ball to deep left-center, but center-fielder Grant McCray made the catch at the warning track to end the inning.

Joe Ross pitched a one, two, three top of the eighth for Milwaukee, and Rogers was back out for the bottom of the eighth. Sal Frelick lined a base-hit to right to start the inning, and Ortiz struck out on a foul tip for the first out.

Turang was up at the plate, and he hit a ground ball to first. When first-baseman Mark Canha threw to second to try to initiate a double play, the throw veered off to the left, but shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald dove to his right to catch it, and he was able to keep his foot on the bag with full control of the ball in his glove.

It was an incredible play by Fitzgerald for the second out, and he very well may have saved the Giants from a complete disaster. With two outs and a runner at first, Chourio struck out to end the inning.

Ross threw a scoreless inning in the top of the ninth, and Melvin brought in his closer, Ryan Walker for the bottom of the ninth. Even with Doval back, Walker will most likely remain the closer for the rest of the season, and he was in Tuesday night to try and notch down his fourth save.

Walker set down the first two men he faced, but Adames lined a two-out base-hit to left. That brought up Blake Perkins, who hit a fly ball deep to right-center, but right-fielder Mike Yastrzemski made the catch at the base of the track to end the game.

Camilo Doval got the win; Joel Payamps got the loss; and Ryan Walker got the save.

The Giants are still overly relying on home runs and wasting opportunities with runners in scoring position. However, they are still playing hard, and they fully believe they can make a run over the final five weeks of the Regular Season to get into the Playoffs. They demonstrated that with a truly-spirited effort Tuesday night.

The Giants are once again back over .500 at 67-66, and they remain five and a half games back of the Braves, who beat the Twins 8-6 in Minneapolis Tuesday night. The Braves gained a half game on the Giants with a 10-6 win in Minnesota Monday.

Kyle Harrison (7-5, 4.00 ERA) will be back on the mound Wednesday night to make his first start for the Giants in nine days. Freddy Peralta (8-7, 3.86 ERA) will take the ball for the Brewers. First pitch will be at 7:10 p.m. in Milwaukee, 5:10 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

Giants News and Notes:

Robbie Ray was placed on the Injured List with a strained left hamstring, and Jordan Hicks was also placed on the IL due to inflammation in his right shoulder. Landen Roupp has been called back up from Sacramento. Right-handed pitcher Austin Warren, who the Giants signed in February, was also called up from Sacramento.

Despite Slow Start A’s Heat Up and Finish With Three Homers Beating Reds 5-4

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Oakland A’s Max Schuemann is not calling his shot but he is celebrating his top of the seventh inning home run against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark on Tue Aug 27, 2024

By Barbara Mason

It was a slow as molasses start for the Oakland A’s (57-75) as they took on the Cincinnati Reds (63-69) at Great American Ball Park. Once they got going they were unstoppable sending three home runs out of the park.

Those homers came off the bats of Max Schuemann, Lawrence Butler and Zach Gelof with two of them two run home runs as the A’s took game one 5-4. Oakland had led 5-1 going into the eighth inning when the Reds rallied and very nearly booked a walk-off. Mason Miller hung tight closing out this game but gave up the most hits the A’s have seen from him this season.

Game recap: The game remained scoreless through the first three innings. A pitchers dual got underway and it was not until the bottom of the fourth inning that the Reds got on the scoreboard taking a 1-0 lead. Ty France singled Tyler Stephenson home for the one-run advantage.

After six innings the score remained 1-0. The Reds had five hits so far in the game and the A’s a single hit through six innings. Oakland had a huge opportunity in the sixth inning. Max Schuemann doubled and both JJ Bleday and Brent Rooker walked, the Rooker walk was intentional.

With the bases loaded, Oakland needed at least a single to tie up this game or possibly take the lead. With two outs, Shea Langeliers struck out and the A’s had squandered a great chance to turn things around in this game. The Athletics needed to get some bat action.

Oakland’s Mitch Spence went 5 1/3 innings allowing five hits, one earned run, three walks and three strikeouts. Michel Otanez relieved Spence in the fifth inning. Red’s pitcher Jakob Junis went four innings before being relieved by Buck Farmer and after Farmer Cincinnati would go through three more pitchers going into the eighth inning.

The A’s bats did get going in the top of the seventh inning. With Seth Brown on base via a walk, Max Schuemann knocked the ball out of the park and Oakland had taken a 2-1 lead. The A’s added to their lead in the seventh when Lawrence Butler knocked a bomb, 444 feet out of the park, with Jacob Wilson on base and Oakland had a 4-1 lead. The crowd at Great American Ball Park grew very silent.

Oakland’s Grant Holman relieved Otanez in the bottom of the seventh inning. Going into the eighth inning, the A’s power outage had turned into a surge that could not be turned off. Zach Gelof hit a home run (424 feet) with two outs giving Oakland a 5-1 lead.

The A’s had not even had a single hit until the sixth inning and then it all turned around for Oakland. The Reds had 1 1/2 innings left in this game to make a move. Cincinnati had the bases loaded in the eighth inning with two outs and the tying run at the plate.

A’s pitcher Tyler Ferguson was really struggling walking in a run and the scored was 5-2. There would be pitching change with the bases still loaded. Ross Stripling would take the mound looking for the third out. Stripling got out of the inning for Oakland.

The Reds had one last chance in the bottom of the inning and they had to deal with the blazing pitches of Mason Miller. Cincinnati handled Miller pretty well with two hits in a row and scoring their third run of the game.

The Reds scored a fourth run and they had put together a great comeback effort 5-4. Oakland was one out away from the win but Cincinnati continued to hit off Miller. With the two outs, they had runners on second and third threatening to walk off this game.

Miller hung tough and had just enough to put this game away for the A’s. The look on Mason Millers face was all you had to see. He was frustrated with the two hits he allowed. It’s something we have not seen all season but it was hopefully a great learning experience for him.

It’s just not reality to expect to go three and out time after time which we have seen more often than not this season from him. The bottom line is that he got the job done and realized his 22 save of the season.

Game notes: The A’s opened up a three game series with the the Reds at Great American Ballpark on Tuesday night. Oakland is coming off a win over the Milwaukee Brewers in a hard fought battle winning 4-3 Sunday afternoon.

The Reds just lost a series to the Pittsburg Pirates this past weekend. The A’s Mitch Spence started for Oakland going 5.1 innings allowing five hits and one earned run. The Reds starter Jakob Junis threw four innings and struck out three hits without allowing hit.

Game two in this three game series is scheduled to start at 3:40 PM in Cincinnati with Oakland looking for a second win after hanging on for the win in game one. Osvaldo Bido (5-3, ERA 0.53) will be on the mound for the A’s. He has three wins in a row under his belt and will be looking for number four. The Reds have not announced a starting pitcher yet.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: With 13 home games left before Sacramento move lots more A’s memories

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Vintage Bert Campaneris circa 1970. Campaneris is a three consecutive time World Series Champion shortstop during the years of 1972-74. (photo from ebay)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury, you’ve been covering the Oakland A’s since the early 1970s. How fortunate is it for you having been able to see the 1972-74 World Championship teams which had so much talent.

#2 You got know many of the greats on those A’s championship teams, Reggie Jackson, Rollie Fingers, Catfish Hunter, Billy North, Jesus Alou, Angel Manguel and Bert Campaneris to name a few.

#3 The A’s have been celebrating past A’s players and had opened their Hall of Fame to honor some of the year’s past stars, Jose Canseco, Carney Lansford, Terry Steinbach, Rickey Henderson and the induction of A’s late manager Dick Williams and former shortstop Miguel Tejada was something special.

#4 One of the great memories some of the A’s teams from 1988-90 that went to three straight World Series under Tony LaRussa who also was there to present his old players at the Hall of Fame induction.

#5 Fast forward to 2024 this may not be a World Series team that’s being fielded by A’s manager Mark Kotsay but this is their last season in Oakland and in the second half of the season they’ve been with a lot of heart and it’s their way to send off this team after so many years at the Oakland Coliseum.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 1010 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Oakland A’s – A September to Remember

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Mount Davis at the Oakland Coliseum will remain tarped off in spite of the final home game of the regular season being sold out on Thu Sep 26, 2024 (You Tube still file)

Oakland A’s – A September to Remember

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

We are a week away from September, and there is no doubt this month of September in Oakland will be one to remember, one for the ages, and one to weep for every true Oakland A’s fan. This is the last September at the Oakland Coliseum for the Green and Gold.

Come September the A’s will be hosting the Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, and Texas Rangers. The very last Oakland A’s baseball game at the Coliseum is scheduled for Thursday September 26 at 12:37. The A’s will then leave for their last road-trip as an Oakland team to close their season September 29 in Seattle.

The Mount Davis/Raiders football seats will not be occupied by fans on that last game at the Coliseum September 26, which has been a sellout for a while and will mark a day of mourning definitely for Oakland, as well as the Bay Area. The A’s relocation ordeal is closer to it’s destination as it seems the inevitable is going to happen, ‘like it or not’ they will play in Sacramento 2025 for three or four years and then move into their new park in Las Vegas, where things are finally looking very good for the A’s in Sin City.

A good friend recently told me, “If the Giants would have been as gracious as the Haas A’s ownership did in the early 1990s, giving San José back their territorial rights to the A’s, it would have been a good outcome, as the A’s would have stayed in the Bay Area. San José is the most populated city in the Bay Area and one of the most affluent areas in the country, with Silicon Valley leading the high-tech industry.

In my opinion the chances of MLB awarding San José an expansion team, are much better than awarding Oakland an expansion team anytime in the future, after the A’s go Adiós. Oakland is not a city that you would call a model of administration or management, their Mayor is about to be recalled, Oakland went through ten Police Chiefs in ten years.

They hired a new Police Chief less than a year ago and ‘The Town’ is not in a “good place” right now. The reputation of Oakland after the A’s leave has been established as a town that cannot keep their Major Leagues sports team. Raiders, Warriors, A’s. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, are by far the most popular professional sports league(s) in the country, and you can make an argument that they are also in the world in their respective sports.

We who lived in the Bay Area back in the 1970’s when at Oakland City Hall there was a sign that read “Oakland City of Champions”, referring to the 1970s when the A’s, Raiders and Warriors were all winning championships, have witnessed the demise of big league professional sports in Oakland.

Oakland, regarding sports, is a punch-line for comedians, and history will not be kind to The Town and what happened to sports there (whichever way you feel on who is to blame) and there is plenty of blame to go-around. But at the end it is not a pretty picture.

Amaury Pi Goznalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s avoid the sweep beat Brewers; Oakland opens up six game road trip in Cincinnati Tuesday

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Oakland A’s closer Mason Miller retired the Milwaukee Brewers in the ninth inning to shut the door on the contest at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Aug 25, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Barbara after getting soundly beat in the first two games of this series the Oakland A’s on Sunday avoided getting swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in a one run win 4-3 at the Coliseum.

#2 The A’s got all their runs in the bottom of the fourth inning scoring four runs all they needed them all as they held up for the 4-3 win.

#3 Former Oakland A’s and now Brewers pitcher Frankie Montas took the loss after walking Shea Langeliers with the bases loaded for the first run, Seth Brown hit a single to right that scored Brent Rooker for two of the first four runs for the A’s.

#4 The A’s got their next two runs on sacrifice flies Daz Cameron’s fly to right scored JJ Bleday and Zack Gelof’s fly to center scored Langeliers and that was enough runs for Oakland to win it.

#5 It’s off to Cincinnati and Great American Ballpark to face the Reds. The A’s on Tuesday will be starting Mitch Spence (7-9, ERA 4.67) the Reds have yet to announce a starter. The A’s are playing .500 ball having won five of their last ten. The Reds have lost seven of their last ten games.

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