Category: MLB

The Ryan Walker Era Doesn’t Come With Frills and Extras

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Ryan Walker embraces opportunity and upward mobility. But he’s not ascending with thoughts of adding an entourage, theme music, or a mood-setting game entrance.

Instead, Walker’s setting the tone with his sinker and the maintenance of his low-key demeanor. Yeah, he’s got a beard and a hint of swag, but no, he’s not Brian Wilson 2.0 or Sergio Romo.

He’s Ryan Walker, selected by the Giants in the now-defunct 31st round of 2018 draft, and he doesn’t pontificate. Actually, he mumbles a bit. And he’s the Giants’ new closer in place of the demoted Camilo Doval.

“I was really excited for the opportunity,” Walker said. “I never really thought this could happen.”

What’s happened is quite unlikely. Beyond Walker being drafted so late, four years passed before he got his big league promotion. And when he arrived in San Francisco, his ceiling was being a setup man, or so he thought.

But the Giants started to think differently when Walker’s sinker, slider combination showed refinement, and his strikeout numbers increased. The final step was harnessing his control and lowering his walk rate.

Then the unforseen happened when Camilo Doval struggled to the point he went from National League All-Star closer in 2023 to Pacific Coast League reclamation project. First, the fans built a groundswell of support for Walker–along with disdain for Doval’s shortcomings–and team president Farhan Zaidi and manager Bob Melvin shockingly followed suit.

“Could we have put (Doval) in a lesser role?” Melvin pondered. “I don’t know that it would help. I think that some of the issues that he needs to work on would be easier to do somewhere else than the big leagues. He’s an All-Star. We expect him to come back and be an All-Star.”

Melvin also stated Walker’s case beyond his effective sinker, slider combo that mirrors Saturday’s starter, Logan Webb.

He’s pretty good,” Melvin said prior to Saturday’s game. “Probably had our toughest role in that he would come in with guys on base all the time, and a lot of times go out for the next inning.”

Walker’s been described as a pitcher who sets the table with his sinker, which tops out at 97 mph, and confounds hitters with his slider at 84 mph. Called on to protect a 3-1 lead, the right-hander threw nine sliders and nine sinkers, and struck out Dillon Dingler and Javier Baez to end the game. Walker also ramped up the tension by allowing two of the first three hitters, Gio Urshela and Bligh Madris, to reach, giving the 28-year old a true first test as closer.

“Awesome. Nerve-racking,” he said.

Already this season, Walker has compiled a major-league leading 59 appearances, including eight in which he’s pitched more than an inning. Even more appealing, he has 73 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings work. His 2.20 ERA is half of what Doval built up, and he’s all business.

Could Walker take this once-in-a-baseball-life opportunity and run with it?

He could. Just don’t expect him to expound on his good fortune in a show of self-promotion.

Giants rally for 3 runs in 6th; Webb holds off Tigers for 7 innings in 3-1 win

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The San Francisco Giants Brett Wisley slugs a sixth inning two run RBI double against the Detroit Tigers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Aug 10, 2024 (AP News photo)

By William Espy

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Giants (61-58) hosted the Detroit Tigers (55-63) in the second game of a three-game series on Saturday afternoon in front of a sold-out crowd at Oracle Park. Prior to the game, they hosted their 2014 World Series reunion.

With organizational legends in attendance, the modern Giants had some pressure on their shoulders. Logan Webb was on the mound for the Giants to start the night, while Alex Faedo started for the Tigers. The Giants picked all the runs they needed in the bottom of the sixth scoring three times for a 3-1 win Saturday.

The Tigers’ night started with three batters coming up, and immediately getting out allowing Webb to escape the first inning with only seven pitches thrown. The Giants on the other hand, immediately evened up with pitch count with just their first batter, as Tyler Fitzgerald fought his way to a full count before eventually being walked by Faedo.

The second batter of the night Heliot Ramos also drew a walk, putting the visitors in a tough spot early into the game. Faedo got one out when Michael Conforto struck out, but once again walked Matt Chapman, loading the bases for the Giants with just one out. The Tigers escaped the inning though, as a broken bat pop out from Patrick Bailey and a flyout by Mark Canha ended the inning, stranding all three runners.

The second inning started the same as the first, with three up and three down for the Tigers, this time on just 12 pitches for Webb. The Tigers made a pitching change for the bottom of the second, with Brant Hurter entering the game, who would give the Giants the same fate, three up, three down.

After a third straight inning without a base runner for the Tigers, the Giants needed to take advantage of their defensive play and get on the scoreboard early to avoid a similar outcome to the night before, when the difference-maker was a walk-off single by Mark Canha in the bottom of the ninth.

A win is a win, but the Giants needed to take advantage of their strong performances early to avoid unnecessary drama. They were unable to make anything happen in the bottom of the third though, and to this point, neither team had been able to record a hit.

That quickly changed though, as the Tigers got the first hit of the ballgame in the top of the fourth, when a dribbler by Akil Baddoo allowed him to out-run the throw. He advanced to second on a groundout to second base, giving the Tigers a runner-in-scoring position with just a single out. The Giants would get the next two batters out though, stranding Baddoo at second.

A one-out triple in the top of the fifth by Parker Meadows put some major pressure on the Giants. The next batter Dillon Dingler hit a groundball to the shortstop Fitzgerald who attempted to throw Meadows out at first, but was unsuccessful and the visitors took a 1-0 lead. That would be the only damage the Tigers could do though, as the Giants were able to get out of the inning.

Mike Yastrzemski got the Giants’ first hit of the night to open up the bottom of the fifth inning. That seemed to open the floodgates for the home team though, as Jerar Encarnacion hit a single, which advanced the runner to third and advanced to second himself on an E7.

A double by Brett Wisely brought both of them home, and it quickly went from a 1-0 deficit to a 2-1 lead for San Francisco. Hurter had a strong performance, but it seems he was left out too long. A single up the middle by Heliot Ramos drove in Wisely, extending the Giants lead to 3-1 and at this point, the Tigers had some movement in the bullpen.

The Tigers should’ve gotten out of the inning on a groundball by Chapman to short, but Javier Baez bobbled the ball, and the throw was still in time despite the error, but Bligh Madris was unable to cleanly make the catch and dropped the ball.

If either one had done their part correctly, they would’ve escaped the inning, but now Patrick Bailey had an opportunity to make them pay. He’d end up grounding to Baez, who would cleanly make the play this time, and a toss to Colt Keith at second got them the out.

A two-out double by Justyn-Henry Malloy showed some life for the Tigers, it seemed like Meadows was going to drive in the run with a blooper over Chapman’s head, but a sensational jumping catch robbed him of the hit to end the inning.

In a bit of a mind-boggling move, Hurter came out to start the bottom of the sixth inning as well. He had played well, but overall it seemed like he was being hung out to dry. He got through the inning without issue though. He had thrown 76 pitches through five innings, which was more than enough for the young reliever. At this point, it seemed certain that he was done for the night and wouldn’t be back for the seventh.

A two-out single by Baez was the Tigers’ only offense for the top of the seventh inning, and as expected they had a new pitcher enter the game for the bottom half of the inning, Shelby Miller. Fitzgerald immediately got on base with a leadoff single, putting pressure on the new pitcher immediately. He then stole both second and third base, while in the meantime Heliot Ramos struck out. Ultimately it wouldn’t lead to anything, as the Tigers would hold the Giants without a run.

Right-handed submarine pitcher Tyler Rogers entered the Giants to start the eighth inning. Chapman once again made a phenomenal play on a ground ball by Colt Keith, showing he still has his Gold Glove ability. Rogers did his job effectively, with the Tigers once again having a three up, three down inning.

Lefty Joey Wentz took the mound for the Tigers in the bottom of the eighth. Patrick Bailey got on base to lead off the inning after the ball went through Gio Urshela’s legs at third base. Canha popped out to first, then Yastrzemski got his second hit of the night putting runners on first and second. A fielder’s choice got the second out of the inning and Wisely stepped up with two outs and runners on the corners. Wisely would strike out swinging to end the inning.

With Camilo Doval no longer in the big leagues, newly promoted closer Ryan Walker entered the game in the top of the ninth inning. After a flyout by Urshela to start the inning, Walker walked Madris, giving the Tigers a base runner with one out.

Meadows followed that up with a single to left field, putting the tying run on first. Dingler struck out looking, bringing up Baez as the Tigers’ last chance to get back into the game. He’d strike out swinging, and the Giants walked away with a 3-1 victory and lead the series two games to none.

A Brilliant Mason Miller shuts the door Oakland edges Toronto 1-0

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Oakland A’s pitcher Osvaldo Bido delivers against the Toronto Blue Jays in the bottom of the first inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sat Aug 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Saturday the Oakland A’s (49-69) were looking to get the offense warmed up and tie up the series and Brent Rooker ended up providing all the offense the A’s would need with his 29th home run of the season as the A’s defeated the Toronto Blue Jays (54-63) 1-0 . Osvaldo Bido took the mound for the A’s and Yariel Rodriguez started for the Blue Jays.

It was a three up three down for Rodriguez and Bido handled the Blue Jays in the first inning allowing a single hit from the ever dependable Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Other than the single, he dismissed the first, second and fourth at bats going into the second inning. It was good start for Bido.

There was a little bit of traffic in the second for Toronto. Ernie Clement reached first base on an infield single but that would be it for the Blue Jays. Bido had another good inning. Oakland would have to muster a whole lot more offense going into the third inning. The A’s productivity had wavered in their past few games and they were looking to turn it around as this game progressed.

Oakland’s leadoff hitter Max Schuemann walked in the third inning with Lawrence Butler at the plate. Butler grounded into a double play followed by a Miguel Andujar ground out and that would be all for the Athletics. They were struggling through the first three innings which put a lot of pressure on Bido who through three innings had handled the Blue Jays offense beautifully.

After four innings both pitchers had done a spectacular job. Oakland had been held to three hits and the Jays had been held to two. This had turned into a pitchers duel and now the question remained; who would crack first.

After a review in the top of the sixth inning it was determined that with two outs, Brent Rooker had indeed hit the ball out of the field of play. The ball hit the top of the wall and bounced back on the field.

Rooker had hit a home run, his 29th of the season, giving Oakland the first run of the day and the lead 1-0. That would be it for Rodriguez who finished 5 2/3 innings allowing five hits and one earned run.

Ryan Burr came in relief of Rodriguez finishing off the inning for Toronto. Bido continued his great work in the bottom of the sixth inning with a three up three down going into the seventh inning of this one run game.

Bido finished six innings of work with two hits, no runs, one walk and five strikeouts. He was relieved in the seventh inning by Scott Alexander.

Alexander finished off the seventh inning with a strikeout and now Oakland would be looking for an insurance run or two in the eighth inning. When they needed it most, the Oakland offense fell flat.

The A’s had two runners on base in the top of the ninth inning but Abraham Toro hit into a double play. Oakland would bring in Mason Miller to try and finish off this game and tie up this series.

It was “Miller Time”. George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Spencer Horwitz all suffered the same fate at the hands of Miller. Everyone of them struck out and that was the ball game 1-0 in favor of the Athletics.

Game notes: Friday the A’s dropped game one to the Blue Jays by the score of 3-1. Oakland had six hits in the game but game one was not a great one for the A’s offensively. They had the one home run from Darell Hernaiz but it was a lackluster showing for the most part. The A’s were competitive through the seventh inning but in the eighth inning Toronto scored their third run of the game which sealed the win for the Blue Jays.

Sunday, the A’s will play in the rubber game of this series. JP Sears will take the mound with a winning 9-8 win/loss record and a 4.35 ERA. A familiar name, Chris Bassitt will start for the Blue Jays. He has a 9-10 win/loss record and a solid 3.95 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 10:37 AM.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Doval demoted to triple A Sacramento; Reliver just couldn’t get tracked

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Camilo Doval San Francisco Giants reliever on Sun Jun 16, 2024 throws down an ice chest after a rough outing against the Los Angeles Angels at Oracle Park in San Francisco was demoted to triple A Sacramento on Fri Aug 9, 2024 (NBC California TV still)

On the SF Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris, talk about the struggles that Giants reliever Camilo Doval had as Doval was demoted on Friday night to triple A Sacramento.

#2 Doval as opposed to his All Star season he had in 2023 in 46 relief appearances had cooled off with a raised ERA and career worst 4.70.

#3 Asked about what is expected from Doval for his path to get back the show Giants manager Bob Melvin said, “When you’re a guy like him, you don’t expect to hear that, so he’s processing it right now and hopefully he takes it the right way and gets back here and does the role that he’s done in the past very successfully,”

#4 Doval has 22 saves in 27 opportunities what Melvin and the Giants are looking at he’s allowed 42 hits and of the 25 runs he’s surrendered 23 which were earned runs. Do you see this demotion an effort to try and settle him down?

#5 You saw him throw the ice chest in the dugout after being lifted on Sun Jun 16th, he was no doubt frustrated and even after that incident he still couldn’t get tracked. What are some of the things that he needs to work on in Sacramento.

#6 Morris, talk about reliever Ryan Walker and his role as the closer now. Walker as of Saturday is 7-3, ERA 2.24 and is expected to do some impressive work in the closing role.

Morris Phillips is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants return to cold and foggy San Francisco for big 3-2 win over Tigers; Canha comes through with RBI sac fly in 9th

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Mark Canha(16) of the San Francisco Giants gets the waterworks after hitting a walk off sac fly to score Michael Conforto for the gamer against his old teammates the Detroit Tigers at Oracle Park in San Francisco in the bottom of the ninth on Fri Aug 9, 2024 (AP News photo)

Friday, Aug. 9, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Detroit Tigers 2 (55-62)

San Francisco Giants 3 (60-58)

Win: Tyler Rogers (2-4)

Loss: Jason Foley (3-4)

Time: 2:28

Attendance: 33,037

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants returned home after an insane day and incredible win in Washington, D.C. Thursday to beat the Detroit Tigers Friday night thanks to three sacrifice flies, including a walk-off sacrifice fly by Mark Canha, 3-2. 

The Giants won one helluva 10-inning game played under the gun, as everyone was trying to get out of Washington, D.C. before Tropical Storm Debby hit. The Giants were able to get out of town, and returned to the cold and foggy confines of San Francisco.

It has always felt great for players to get back to San Francisco after a trip to the hot and humid conditions of the Midwest and East Coast during the Dog Days of Summer. However, considering everything that went down Thursday, there’s a very good chance that the Giants got in very late, and thus, they would have some jetlag Friday night.

Friday night, the Giants would kick off a seven-game homestand with a 2012 World Series rematch against the Detroit Tigers on this cold and foggy night at Oracle Park. Left-hander Robbie Ray took the mound for his fourth start of the season, and he pitched a scoreless top of the first inning to open things up.

Giu Urshela led off the top of the second with a double to left field. Urshela got to third on a wild pitch, and he scored on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Vilade to put the Tigers on the board.

The Tigers went with the bullpen game Friday night, and Beau Brieske was the opener. Brieske was solid over three no-hit innings against a tired and jet-lagged Giants’ offense, as he struck out five. 

Ray pitched a scoreless top of the third, and he pitched his first 1-2-3 inning of the night in the top of the fourth. Former Dodger Kenta Maeda came in, and he threw three perfect innings from the fourth through the six.

Javier Baez doubled to lead off the top of the fifth, and then he stole third and scored on an error to make it 2-0. Ray escaped further damage in the top of the fifth, and he was able to get out of a jam in the top of the sixth unscathed.

Ray was a bit shaky Friday night, as he only pitched one 1-2-3 inning, but he still gave the Giants a solid quality outing. Ray gave up two runs and five hits over six innings, while walking five and striking out seven.

The Giants were getting no-hit as the game went to the bottom of the seventh, but that ended when Tyler Fitzgerald lined a base-hit to left-center field off Maeda to start the inning. Heliot Ramos then singled Fitzgerald over to third, and the Giants had runners at the corners with nobody out.

Michael Conforto came to the plate, and he got the Giants on the board with a sacrifice fly to left. Maeda retired the next two, and the game went to the eighth with Detroit still up 2-1.

Landen Roupp, who was called up prior to the game, pitched 1-2-3 innings in the seventh and eighth, and Maeda returned to the mound for the Tigers in the bottom of the eighth.

Mark Canha lined a base-hit the other way to right to start the bottom of the eighth, and he got to third on a base-hit by Brett Wisely. Patrick Bailey then tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center.

Submariner Tyler Rogers came in for the Giants in the top of the ninth, and he threw a 1-2-3 inning. That sent the game to the bottom of the ninth still tied, and the Giants had a chance to win it.

Jason Foley, who came in for Maeda to finish the bottom of the eighth, was back out for the bottom of the ninth for Detroit. Heliot Ramos was the first up, and hit a ground ball up the middle just to the right of second base to second-baseman Colt Keith. However, Keith kicked it, and Ramos was aboard to start the inning.

Michael Conforto walked, and Matt Chapman was hit in the head to load the bases. Thankfully, Chapman was wearing a helmet, and he stayed in the game after he was checked on.

Tigers Manager A.J. Hinch brought in the veteran and former Giant, Shelby Miller. Mike Yastrzemski hit a ground ball to first, and Ramos was out at the plate on a 3-2 fielder’s choice.

The bases remained loaded for Mark Canha, who grew up a Giants fan, and who was playing in his first home game as a Giant in the park he came to as a kid. With the count 2-2, Canha flew out to just shy of the warning track out in left, and Conforto came in to score the winning run for a magical moment that Canha would never forget.

Tyler Rogers was the winning pitcher, and Jason Foley was the loser.

Not a single run scored Friday night on a base-hit, and four of the five runs scored in this game came on sacrifice flies.

It was another big win for the Giants, who have now won 11 of their last 14 games to tie their season-high two games over .500 at 60-58. They are now just two games back of the Mets, who were shut out 6-0 in Seattle Friday night, for the third wild card spot in the National League.

The Giants will try to get to three games over .500 for the first time this season Saturday afternoon. Logan Webb (9-8, 3.42 ERA) will be on the mound for San Francisco, and the Tigers will go with another bullpen game with their opener still to be determined. First pitch will be at 1:05 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

1. Padres 65-52 +3.5

2. Diamondbacks 64-53 +2.5

3. Mets 61-55 —

Braves 60-55 0.5

Cardinals 60-57 1.5

GIANTS 50-58 2.0

Cubs 58-60 4.0

Pirates 56-59 4.5

Reds 56-60 5.0

Giants News and Notes:

  • Closer Camilo Doval was sent down to Triple-A Sacramento following his blown save in Washington yesterday. Doval had been one of the best closers in Baseball over the last two years, and he went to the All-Star Game last year in Seattle.

Doval got off to a great start this season, but after a blown save in which he gave up two earned runs on May 21 in Pittsburgh, things went downhill for him. He gave up four runs in a blown save against the Yankees on June 2, and continued to struggle over the next two-plus months afterwards.

  • Bob Melvin announced prior to the game that Ryan Walker will be the interim closer while Doval gets things together in Sacramento. Walker is 7-3 with a 2.24 ERA this season, and he has shined in some big situations, which has earned him the trust from his skipper to be the closer as the Giants continue to battle through this pennant race.
  • Catcher Jakson Reetz was also optioned to Sacramento. Right-handed reliever Landen Roupp was called back up, and catcher Curt Casali was activated off the Paternity List following the birth of his son, Cole.
  • According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Giants are open to a long-term deal with Matt Chapman. Chapman, who was signed in Spring Training this season, has been great at the hot corner, as well as in the clubhouse. While Chapman was signed to a three-year deal, he does have an opt-out after next season.
  • As the Giants and Tigers square off in this 2012 World Series rematch, the Giants will have their 2014 world champion reunion prior to Saturday’s game. In attendance will be a variety of players, coaches, trainers and front office members from the team that won the Giants’ third world championship in five years.

Former players in attendance will be Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Brandon Belt, Hunter Pence, Joe Panik, Tim Hudson, Michael Morse, Jeremy Affeldt, Gregor Blanco, Travis Ishikawa, George Kontos, Javier Lopez, Jake Peavy, Ryan Vogelsong, Yusmeiro Petit, Juan Perez, Sergio Romo, Andrew Susac, Jean Machi, Ehire Adrianza, Gary Brown, Juan Gutierrez, Chris Heston and Brandon Hicks.

Former coaches in attendance will be Ron Wotus, Dave Righetti, Tim Flannery, Mark Gardner, Shawon Dunston. Taira Uematsu, who is still on the Giants’ coaching staff, will also take part in the ceremony.

Final Thoughts:

For the third time this season, I gave up on this team, and for the third time, they have come right back to prove me wrong. 

I said at the start of the season that the Giants would get off to a slow and frustrating start over the first two-to-four months of the season and then get it together, but after their brutal 2-5 road trip to start the second half, the Giants were six games under .500 at 49-55 and five and a half games back of the Padres for the third wild card spot.

I just felt that there was no way. The frustrations amongst the players over how Farhan Zaidi was running things were clearly mounting for the third-straight year, and this team seemed poised to collapse just as they did the last two years.

However, something feels different this time, and I really think it’s the manager. Gabe Kapler may have been the most laissez-faire manager in the history of the game. This is the guy who told his players that his preferred way of communication was texting, even if his players were in the same room with him. With the frustrations with Farhan mounting, and a manager that players felt they could not really talk to, the last two years ended in utter disaster, and by the end of last season, Kapler had completely lost the clubhouse.

I don’t know for a fact that Bob Melvin has made the difference this season, but I highly suspect he has. With this team on the verge of collapsing in the second half for the third year in a row, Melvin has been a stabilizing force that has held this team together, and they have turned things around to win 11 of their last 14.

I trashed Farhan for his moves at the Trade Deadline on July 30. He didn’t trade Blake Snell for prospects, and the best he got offensively was Mark Canha. Then on Aug. 2, Snell threw his no-hitter in Cincinnati. Thursday, Canha went 4-for-5 to lead the Giants to their biggest win of the season, and he walked off Friday night with a sacrifice fly.

Farhan knows the Giants most likely have to go to the Playoffs for him to keep his job, and so far his moves have paid off. The Giants are now back at their season-high two games over .500 at 60-58, and they trail the Mets by just two games for the third wild card.

I definitely feel a lot more excited right now, but this team is very streaky, and they have a long 44 games still in front of them. Right now, the Giants are benefiting from having the easiest schedule in Baseball, but the real test of this team is going to come when the schedule gets much more difficult when they go to Seattle on Aug. 23.

When the Giants start their three-game series in Seattle against the Mariners on Aug. 23, they will suddenly have one of the hardest schedules in Baseball the rest of the way with 30 of their final 33 games coming against teams over .500. 

I really do believe in this team’s ability to go to the Playoffs, and the Giants have shown that they can beat the elite teams in Baseball this season, but they really need to continue to take advantage of the easy schedule in front of them over the next 13 days and get a lot of momentum going into what is going to be a very difficult final 33 games.

As of right now, I just don’t know if the Giants are going to go to the Playoffs. This is baseball, and anything can happen, but the one thing I do know is that the offense is going to have to collectively stay hot and keep getting the big RBI hits with runners in scoring position if they want to go to the Playoffs. 

The Giants’ rotation has been solid all season, and with the real Blake Snell finally showing up and Robbie Ray back, the rotation is the best it’s been all season. However, Camilo Doval’s struggles have dampened what has otherwise been a pretty good bullpen. If Doval can get it together in Sacramento and return to his old self, the Giants could suddenly have one of the best seventh-eighth-and-ninth-inning trios in all of Baseball. Ryan Walker in the seventh; Tyler Rogers in the eighth; and the Camilo Doval we know in the ninth will be absolutely lethal

The Giants are a young good team with some growing pains, and they have an offense that is capable of staying hot the rest of the way. All the moves have been made, and this clubhouse has remained strong following the moves at the deadline. They are gelling together and showing what they are capable of.

All we can do at this point is sit back and see what this team does over their final 44 games, but if the offense stays consistent, and if Doval can come back and be his old self, this team will stand a good chance of getting into October Baseball.

A’s Competitive But Drop Game One Against Blue Jays 3-1

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Darell Heraniz is congratulated in the Oakland A’s dugout in the top of the third inning after connecting for a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Fri Aug 9, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (48-69) played a competitive game against the Toronto Blue Jays (54-62) but came up short losing 3-1 Friday night. The A’s had tied up this game in the third inning off a Darell Hernaiz home run but the Blue Jays went on to score two more runs one of them their second home run of the game, a Spencer Horwitz solo homer.

Game recap: The Blue Jays were first up on the board in the first inning taking a 1-0 lead. George Springer hit a long ball to center field for the early lead. Toronto had both Daulton Varsho, who was thrown out trying to reach third, on base and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also on base but Spence got out of the inning with minimal damage.

It was a three up three down inning for Mitch Spence in the second inning and this game went on to the third inning. Darell Hernaiz tied up this game with a blast to left center, a solo shot.

In the sixth inning, the Blue Jays took back the lead 2-1. Alejandro Kirk grounded into a fielder’s choice to third and Guerrero Jr. scored. After the third inning run, the Oakland A’s did not score through five innings and only had four hits and one walk. They did have opportunity but many of their hits came with two outs.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Blue Jays hit their second home run of the game taking a 3-1 lead. Spencer Horwitz homered, a solo shot to right and Oakland had one last chance to make a move in this game in the ninth inning. When it was all said and done, Oakland finished the game with six hits and the Blue Jays extended their’s to ten hits.

Oakland pitcher Mitch Spence went 5 2/3 innings finishing with eight allowed hits, two earned runs and two strike outsl. T.J. McFarland finished the fifth inning. The Blue Jays Jose Berrios went seven innings allowing six hits, one run and had eight strikeouts. A pretty good game for Berrios.

Game notes: Friday the A’s went into a three game series with the Blue Jays at Roger Centre in Ontario. Oakland is coming off a series win over the Chicago White Sox winning the third game after trailing for most of the game. The A’s scored three runs in in the seventh inning to win the game and the series.

The Blue Jays just won a series from the Baltimore Orioles at home. Last Saturday against the Yankees, pitcher and Friday’s starter Jose Berrios gave up six runs in what was unquestionably one of his worst outings this season.

The A’s Friday night wanted an upset after coming on strong after the break going 11-7 the second best in the AL. Oakland was the underdog and indeed lost in a two run game. Despite that they have won some impressive games from the Dodgers and the Giants.

They have also won series off the Angels and the Astros, much of it due to some great pitching. Mitch Spence has turned things around on his last three outings while Jose Berrios has not been good at all in the month of July posting a 6.08 ERA.

Berrios fortunately had turned the tables on the A’s with some decent pitching on Friday going seven innings allowing just the one home run to Hernaiz in the third inning. A’s starter Mitch Spence went 5.2 innings pitched well enough to win but didn’t get the run support.

Saturday the A’s will be looking to tie up this series in game two. Osvaldo Bido (9-8, ERA 4.35) will take the mound for the Athletics. For the Blue Jays, Yariel Rodriguez will get the nod. He has a 1-4 record and a 3.96 ERA. First pitch for game two is scheduled for 12:07 PM PT and will air on NBC Sports California.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Will AASEG’s take over at Coliseum give Oakland a chance at getting an expansion team?

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FILE – Fans walk outside of the Oakland Alameda Coliseum before a baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants in Oakland, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. The Oakland Athletics have reached a tentative agreement to sell its half of the Coliseum to a private Black development group for $125 million. The Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, announcement paves the way for the African American Sports & Entertainment Group to build in a long neglected part of the San Francisco Bay Area city. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu,File)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 With the Oakland A’s selling their half of the Oakland Coliseum to the African American Sports Entertainment Group (AASEG) can the Coliseum property now be developed to house a major league franchise or will the Coliseum be a location that will not attract future sports franchises?

#2 AASEG plans to build a giant sports and entertainment complex on the Coliseum grounds. So far the pro soccer teams Oakland Roots and Oakland Soul have committed to play there. It’s very unlikely that Oakland as Mayor Sheng Thao was hoping for will get a Major League Baseball franchise. East Oakland is somewhere MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred does not want to return to and after as Manfred said Howard Terminal was over and done with Manfred decided to move the team out of Oakland.

#3 AASEG was created to enhance the economic path to equality for the black community which is the goal for East Oakland. If AASEG can successfully build a giant sports and entertainment complex at the Oakland Coliseum and lure just one professional sports franchise they would have made a start to turn things around but after losing the Raiders, Warriors and now the A’s it’s looking like a long shot to impossible.

#4 The Oakland A’s after losing two out of three to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Coliseum turned around and took two out of three from the Chicago White Sox. The Sox ended their 21 game losing streak on Tuesday night.

#5 The A’s open up a three game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night. Both teams are in last place. The Jays have won four of their last ten games and the A’s five of their last ten. How do you see the beginning of this road trip.

Join Jeremiah Salmonson for the A’s podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2024 The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum- (Part X) ‘A’s 20-game winning streak

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Miguel Tejada former Oakland A’s shortstop was part of the 2002 A’s team and huge part of the A’s history (USA Today file photo)

2024 The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum- (Part X) ‘A’s 20-game winning streak

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

According to Major League Baseball archives, the longest American League winning streak is 22, held by the 2017 Cleveland Indians. In 2022, the Cleveland Indians changed their name to Cleveland Guardians. The Oakland A’s are second with a 20-game winning streak. In 2022, A’s players Miguel Tejada, Mark Mulder, and Tim Hudson, among others, were in Oakland as the A’s honored that great 20-game winning streak team.

Dominican shortstop Miguel Tejada said the 2002 winning streak is among the most incredible memories of his 16-year career in the major leagues. Tejada, who was an All-Stat six times, a two-time winner of the Silver Slugger Award, and the prominent league leader in runs batted in 2004, played for the Athletics from 1997 to 2003, then went on to play for the Orioles, Astros, Padres, and Giants.

Miguel Tejada won the 18th consecutive games of that 20-game record-setting streak when he hit a walk-off home run at the Oakland Coliseum over the left field fence from a pitch thrown by Twins Eddie Guardado. “Nunca se me olvidará ese momento” trans-“I will never forget that moment”. Ironically, it will also be the Twins, not in Oakland but in Minnesota, on September 6 when they shut out the A’s to end that winning streak. Manager Art Howe was part of the ‘Moneyball’ A’s that broke an American League record by winning 20 contests in a row.

The most incredible winning streak in Athletics history, from Philadelphia to Kansas City to Oakland, belongs to Oakland. The streak began in Oakland and ended in Minnesota. It began at Oakland on August 13 against the Blue Jays and lasted until September 6 when they beat the Twins in Minnesota, 20 consecutive in the win column.

From the electrifying clinching home run by Scott Hatteberg for the 20th consecutive win against Kansas City on September 4, 2002, to all the cast of players from Barry Zito, who won the American League Cy Young that season, to shortstop Miguel Tejada won the league’s Most Valuable Player Award to Manager Art Howe. 2002 Oakland A’s were among the most exciting teams in history, prompting Hollywood to make “Moneyball” released in 2011.

Moneyball – Film synopsis: Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), the Oakland A’s general manager, one day has an epiphany: Baseball’s conventional wisdom is all wrong. With a tight budget, Beane must reinvent his team by outsmarting the richer ball clubs.

Joining forces with Ivy League graduate Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), Beane prepares to challenge old-school traditions. He recruits bargain-bin players whom the scouts have labeled flawed but have game-winning potential. Based on the book by Michael Lewis.

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

Giants win insane 9-5 game in 10 innings to escape tropical storm and take series in D.C.

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San Francisco Giants Jerar Encarnacion heads home after a tenth inning bunt single by Brett Wisley against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in DC on Thu Aug 8, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024

Nationals Park

Washington, D.C.

San Francisco Giants 9 (59-58)

Washington Nationals 4 (52-64)

Win: Camilo Doval (4-1)

Loss: Robert Garcia (2-4)

Save: Camilo Doval (23)

Time: 3:26 (2:02 rain delay)

Attendance: 12,423

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants battled through one helluva game in D.C. that featured two rain delays and went 10 innings to pull off their biggest win of the season, as they won it 9-5 to win this four-game series against the Nationals and get back over .500 for the first time since the end of May.

As the Giants tried to get back over .500 for the first time since an off day on May 30, today’s game would be played under unusual circumstances. With Tropical Storm Debby closing in on Washington, the game was moved up four hours, and there was an urgency to get this thing in. However, with spotty storms out ahead of the main storm itself, that was going to make things quite difficult.

They were already up against the clock in this one. Little did anyone know just how crazy this game would be.

It was a matchup of left handers. DJ Herz took the ball for the Nationals, and the red-hot Tyler Fitzgerald would lead things off. Fitzgerald went hitless last night, but he wasted no time today, as he lined a double to left field to start the game.

Michael Conforto and Matt Chapman both walked with one out, and that brought up Mark Canha. Canha worked the count full, but on the payoff, he was wrung up on a changeup a few inches off the plate by Home Plate Umpire Stu Scheurwater.

It was a call that would most likely have not been made if this game was not up against the clock, but Scheurwater most likely wanted hitters to swing the bat today. Bob Melvin, who Scheurwater threw out after a foul tip call on April 21, let Scheurwater know just how he felt, and Melvin was tossed out of the game.

The Giants were able to get a run when Jerar Encarnacion walked following Melvin’s ejection, but the Giants certainly felt that they should have had at least two runs.

Kyle Harrison made the start for the Giants, and the Nationals responded in the bottom of the first. Alex Call walked with one out and stole second. With two outs, Keiburt Ruiz fisted a base-hit to left field, which scored Call to tie the game.

Herz pitched a scoreless top of the second, and Harrison threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the second. After Michael Conforto singled to start the third, the rains came, and the tarp was pulled onto the field.

The game resumed, and after Canha singled with two outs in the top of the third, Mike Yastrzemski put the Giants back ahead with a ground rule double to left-center.

Harrison then threw a scoreless innings in the bottom of the third and fourth, and Eduardo Salazar did the same in the top of the fourth. After Jacob Barnes threw a scoreless inning for Washington in the top of the fifth, the Nationals made some noise in the bottom of the fifth.

Luis Garcia lined a base-hit to center to start the bottom of the fifth and stole second. Jacob Young sacrificed Garcia over to third, and CJ Abrams got Garcia in with a sacrifice fly to right to tie it at 2-2.

After Abrams’ sacrifice fly, Harrison was out of the game. Harrison did alright through four and two thirds innings. He only threw 61 pitches, but sitting through the rain delay earlier most likely shortened his outing, as that can take a toll on starting pitchers.

Sean Hjelle finished the bottom of the fifth for the Giants, and Barnes threw another scoreless inning in the top of the sixth. Jordan Hicks came in for the Giants in the bottom of the sixth, and pitched through a base-hit and a walk for a scoreless inning.

The game then started to somewhat move along, as former Giant Derek Law pitched a scoreless top of the seventh for the Nationals. Erik Miller was brought in for the bottom of the seventh. Ildemaro Vargas would be the first hitter Miller would face. Vargas hit a fly ball to deep left field, and left-fielder Michael Conforto leapt up at the wall to take away a home run from Vargas. For Miller, he ended up pitching a 1-2-3 inning. Despite all the scoreless innings, there didn’t seem to be that many 1-2-3 innings in this one.

The rain started to come down again as the game moved to the eighth. Canha led off the top of the eighth against Law and hit a sharp ground ball to third that hit off the glove of Ildemaro Vargas, and Canha reached on an infield hit. First Base Umpire and Crew Chief Mark Carlson called for the tarp, and the game went into its second rain delay.

Law voiced his displeasure with Carlson. Perhaps Law wanted the delay before the inning started, but he would just have to settle for it coming after Canha’s infield hit.

Law was back out after the second delay ended, and he ended up throwing a scoreless inning. Ryan Walker then threw a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the eighth.

Kyle Finnegan came in for Washington in the top of the ninth. With one out, Tyler Fitzgerald lined a base-hit to left for his second hit of the game. Heliot Ramos walked, and he and Fitzgerald executed a double steal of second and third. Conforto then walked to load the bases, but Chapman struck out for the second out.

The rain started coming down again, and with two outs and the bases loaded, it would be up to Mark Canha. Finnegan got ahead in the count 1-2, and then Canha got a high fastball and lined it the other way to left for a base-hit. Two runs scored to give the Giants the lead, but after right-fielder Alex Call’s throw home went into the camera well, Conforto scored, and it was 5-2.

It was Canha’s fourth hit of the game, and at that point, the biggest hit for the Giants this season. He was originally awarded second base, but upon review, it was determined that that Call made the throw after Canha had reached third—the rule is that the runners advance two bases at time of a throw that goes out of play—and Canha was awarded third.

The Giants were three outs away from their biggest win of the season and getting back to over. 500,, as Camilo Doval came in for the bottom of the ninth. However, with Doval in, it would get dramatic.

The rain kept falling, and it got heavy, as the stadium lights shined off the infield dirt. This was an official game, but with two rain delays already in the books; a tropical storm on its way; and the fact that suspending this game and playing it at a later date would require some drastic shifts in the two games’ schedules, they kept playing.

Doval walked two, but he also got two outs. The left-handed-hitting Luis Roberts was at the plate, and Doval got ahead 1-2. Doval was a strike away, but Roberts took a 1-2 98-MPH cutter at the top of the zone and hit a home run the other way to the corner in left to tie the game. How Roberts hit that ball out the other way through the rain, I’ll never know, but Doval had blown his fifth save of the season.

The Giants were a strike away from their biggest win of the year and getting back over .500, but it was immediately snatched from them out of thick rainy air. Fortunately, Doval was at least able to get this game to the 10th.

As Robert Garcia, who finished the top of the ninth, threw his warmup pitches, the grounds crew at Nationals Park spent several minutes putting new dirt in the infield. The rain had stopped for the most part, and with dry new dirt in the infield, we were a go for the 10th.

Of course, Jerad Encarnacion, who made the final out in the top of the ninth, was the automatic runner at second for the 10th. Yastrzemski led off the inning by hitting a ground ball to short. Encarnacion foolishly took off for third, and was going to get nailed, but the throw from shortstop CJ Abrams was offline, so everyone was safe.

Brett Wisely was up, and Bob Melvin, who had been sitting either in his office or the runway between the clubhouse and the dugout since his ejection in the very first inning all those hours ago—and who I assume was still managing the game under the shadows—put on the safety squeeze. Wisely got the bunt down and reached first, and Encarnacion scored to give the Giants their lead back.

Patrick Bailey also laid down a bunt, and as Garcia attempted to nab Yaz at third, the throw was dropped by Vargas at third. The bases were now loaded, but Garcia retired the next two.

Conforto then came up with two outs, and he blooped a fastball off the fists into left for a base-hit, and two scored to make it 8-5. Joan Adon came in, and Chapman singled to center to score Bailey and make it 9-5

Taylor Rogers would be the man tasked with closing this baby out in the bottom of the 10th, and he threw a 1-2-3 inning to end this insane game.

When it was all said and done, Camilo Doval got the win, despite blowing the save, and Robert Garcia suffered the loss.

You really have to hand it to the Giants for grinding through this game. They scored nine runs without a single home run, and they went 5-for-21 with runners in scoring position.

Considering the circumstances this game was played under; the Giants’ status in this pennant race; and the ups and down of this wild game itself, they truly showed the fight and resilience of a playoff team.

The Giants improve to 59-58, and with the Braves suffering their fifth-straight loss, the Giants now trail the Braves by two and a half games. However, the Mets won their game to leapfrog the Braves for the third wild card spot, so the Giants are three out. A gain of a game would have been nice, but you can’t complain about a gain of a half game.

The Giants return home for a 2012 World Series rematch against the Detroit Tigers in a series that will feature a 2014 Giants reunion. The series will start tomorrow night with Robbie Ray (2-1, 4.40 ERA) taking the ball for the Giants. First pitch will be at 7:15 p.m.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Chapman homers and Snell goes 6 innings in 7-4 win in DC

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San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman (left) get a congratulatory hand shake from third base coach Matt Williams after hitting a home run in the top of the fifth inning at Nationals Park in DC on Wed Aug 7, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Heilot Ramos and Matt Chapman both contributed with a home run a piece in the top of the fifth inning at Washington’s Nationals Park in a three run 7-4 win. Michael talk a bit about the Ramos and Chapman homers.

#2 The homers by Ramos and Chapman broke a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning and it seems the Giants are getting those clutch hits at critical times.

#3 Ramos is swinging hot bat as Ramos hit a home run in second straight game and Chapman nearly scored a cycle he needed just a triple to accomplish it.

#4 The Giants are going well they have won nine of their last 12 games. Mike Yastrzemski also added some run production with a solo home run and an RBI triple. Talk about how Yastrzemski’s offense has made a difference in the line up.

#5 One more thing about Blake Snell he was coming off the no hitter to pitch against the Nationals and on Wednesday and turned out another successful outing going six innings, gave up four hits, three runs, one walk and eight strike outs. He certainly has recovered from his long injury.

Join Michael for the San Francisco Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com