Category: MLB

A’s rack up ten runs in first two innings blowing out the Orioles 19-8

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Photo courtesy of Oakland Athletics.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

OAKLAND- After dropping the first game the A’s looked to rebound against a tough Orioles team Saturday evening.

On the mound for the Orioles was lefty Cade Povich who was sporting a 1-2 record with a 4.05 era. For Oakland it was right-hander Luis Medina starting with a 1-3 record and 4.80 era.

The A’s offense heading into this game had been sputtering with a .182 batting average over their last six games and had a rough outing yesterday against these same Orioles.

Today ended up being quite the different story as Oakland offensively had one of its best games all season.

It all started with a three-run blast from Brent Rooker who launched one 414 feet getting his 18th hr of the season.

After a quiet second from the Orioles the A’s had one of their best offensive innings of the season.

Once again the offense was started with a three-run blast but this time it came off the bat of Max Schuemann who got his fifth of the campaign.

Povich gave up another two hits after that forcing Orioles manager to have to go to his bullpen as he brought in right-hander Dillon Tate.

Tate wouldn’t fair much better as the A’s proceeded to load the bases followed up by a single from Shea Langeliers making it 7-0.

Zack Gelof then doubled making it officially a laugher with the score now 9-0. Brett Harris singled as well before the inning was out tacking on another run just for the little extra cherry on top.

The following inning Baltimore looked like they might try to make things interesting as they got the bases loaded with nobody out. However Medina was able to pull through getting the next three batters out in quick succession.

With Tate still on the mound the punishment continued as Langeliers launched an absolute nuke to left field. The two-run homer was Langeliers 17th of the season making it a 12-0 ball game.

The Orioles managed to sneak in a run in the fourth as Austin Hays got Jordan Westburg home on a sacrifice fly.

Baltimore made another pitching change in the fourth as left-hander Cole Irvin came into replace Tate.

Once again the A’s ate up another Orioles pitcher as Tyler Nevin popped one over the left center field wall getting his sixth homer of the season on a solo shot. Andujar then made it 14-1 on a single to left field.

Medina would be replaced in the sixth by left-hander Jack O’Loughlin who has only pitched seven innings so far this season but has yet to give up a run. Luis finished the game pitching five innings giving up six hits and only one earned run with three K’s.

The sixth inning saw more domination from the A’s as Andujar doubled brining home two runs making it 16-1. Rooker then almost homered but his hit was caught by the left fielder but the hit was deep enough to get another run home.

Baltimore would gets it’s first long ball of the game off the bat of Adley Rutschman as the all-star got his 16th homer of the season making the score 17-4.

In the eighth the Orioles managed to tack on a few more runs making it 17-6 but the A’s followed it up with a homer from Kyle McCann making it 19-6.

The last run of the game came off the bat of Ryan Mountcastle who homered making it 19-8 but the rally ended there.

Medina secured the win in today’s game while Povich took the loss.

While everyone had a great game for the A’s Brent Rooker not surprisingly was the standout as he had three hits in four at bats with four RBI’s.

The last time the A’s put up double digits against a team this season was on June 1st when they beat the Braves 11-9.

The A’s will look to have another dominant performance when they close out the series against the Orioles tomorrow at 1:07 p.m. The announced starters for tomorrow’s game are Mitch Spence for the A’s and Grayson Rodriguez for the Orioles.

Giants Lose Game Two In Cleveland Guardian Series 5-4

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Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor (left) can’t get the the throw as the San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman (right) slides safely at home in the bottom of the fifth inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Sat Jul 6, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After winning game one in this series 4-2, San Francisco was looking for a second win in their series with the Cleveland Guardians but had to settle for a 5-4 loss to even up this series. Each team came away with six hits in the game.

San Francisco did not score until the fifth inning which got them right back in the game after trailing 4-0. The Giants scored three runs in the fifth inning. Cleveland got an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth and that was it for the Giants who did score one more run in the seventh inning but it was too little too late. San Francisco will be looking to win the rubber match to finish off this series Sunday.

Game recap: It was not the start that the Giants had hoped for; it was a very rough first inning for the team. Bo Naylor grounded out to third allowing Steven Kwan to score for the early 1-0 lead. Cleveland went on to score two more runs in the same inning. Angel Martinez scored when Jhonkensy Noel sacrificed and Jose Ramirez scored off a Tyler Freeman single for a great Cleveland start leading 3-0.

The Guardians took up where they left off in the second inning extending their lead. Steven Kwan had his second hit of the game, a home run to center for a 4-0 Cleveland lead. San Francisco needed to get some offense going. Through two innings, the Giants only had a couple of hits. Jorge Soler doubled in the first inning and Austin Slater had a hit in the second.

The Giants had a couple of runners on base in the third inning and they would go on to load the bases in the top of the fifth inning and with Tyler Fitzgerald at the plate San Francisco had a great opportunity get on the scoreboard.

Fitzgerald singled to center and Heliot Ramos and Jorge Soler both scored and the Cleveland lead had been cut in half. San Francisco scored again in the fifth in thanks to a couple of steals and a Guardian throwing error from second baseman Jose Martinez. Matt Chapman stole home and the Giants trailed by a single run 4-3 and were right back in the game.

The Guardians would hit an insurance run in the sixth inning, a home run off the bat of Jhonkensy Noel, Cleveland’s second long ball of the game taking a 5-3 lead. San Francisco would answer in the seventh inning when Matt Chapman scored off a Michael Conforto double continuing to trail by a run 5-4.

San Francisco went into top of the ninth inning with one last chance to either tie or take the lead in this game. With two gone, Matt Chapman came to the plate, San Francisco’s final chance for a comeback. Chapman walked and Michael Conforto came to the plate and hit a slow roller for the final out and game two went to the Guardians 5-4 to even the series. Each team had six hits in this game.

Game notes: Saturday afternoon the Giants continued their series at Progressive Field with the Guardians after winning game one of the series Friday night 4-2. The Giants Michael Conforto hit a two run double in the first inning of game one getting the Giants on the board early.

San Francisco was looking for another win in game two to get back to the .500 mark. Kyle Harrison took the mound for the Giants and dropped his record to 4-4 and raised his ERA to 4.24. The Guardians starter Logan Allen went 4.1 innings, gave up three hits and two earned runs and is 0-1, ERA 5.46.

The rubber match of this series will be played at 10:40 AM PT Sunday with San Francisco looking to walk away with the series. Starters for the Giants Hayden Birdsong (1-0, 4.66) and for the Guardians Carlos Carrasco (3-6, 5.21) at Progressive Field.

A’s can’t stop Orioles in 3-2 loss; Baltimore’s Saurez was dealing keeps Oakland off balance

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Baltimore Orioles Albert Saurez was dealing against the Oakland A’s here he pitches in the bottom of the sixth at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Jul 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

Baltimore (56-32). 120 000 000. 3 8. 1

Athletics (33-55). 100 000 100. 2. 5. 3

Time: 2:28

Attendance: 9,654

Friday, July 5, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–Fresh from having shot down the fallen Angels in three straight ambushes, the ambulent Athletics took aim at the high flying Orioles at 6:40 this warm Friday evening. The birds were an AL East leading 55-32 when Hogan Harris (1-2, 3.18 at the time) threw his first pitch for the 33-54 A’s. The game ended at 9:08 with Baltimore holding on for a squeaker of a 3-2 win and Harris’ record fallen to 1-3, 3.22

Hidden behind Harris’s lackluster 1-2 won record at game time were a decent ERA of 3.18 and three no decisions that came about because the bullpen had blown the save. His appearances with the A’s this year have alternated with a couple of stints with AAA Las Vegas, with whom he went 1-2, 7.67.

This time, after a couple of rocky innings, Harris settled down and did an adequate job of holding the O’s to three runs, two of them earned, over five frames. He gave up five hits and three walks while striking out four. 60 of his 103 pitches went into the books as strikes.

Starting with the left hander Harris, the Athletics used five pitchers, alternating left, right, left down to the bitter end. Tyler Ferguson relieved Harris to open the visitors’ sixth and managed to keep the Orioles off the board. TJ McFarland did the same job more crisply in the seventh.

The only baserunner he allowed came on an error by Zack Gelof. Austin Adams set the guests from Charm City down in order in the eighth. Scott Alexander survived a bases loaded situation in the ninth, riding The Curse of the Leadoff Double to keep the A’s alive only to see them succumb as Craig Kimbrel earned his 22nd save of the year.

The thumbnail biography of Baltimore’s starting pitcher, Albert Suárez , in the team’s media guide should have been printed by Rand McNally. The 34 year old righty has pitched professionally in Princeton, NJ; Wappinger Falls, NY; Port Charlotte, FL; Bowling Green, OH; Charlotte, NC; Montgomery, AL; Little Rock, AK; Sacramento, San Francisco, and San José, CA; Reno, NV; Tokyo; and Daegu, South Korea.

The media guide gives us his lifetime ERA through 2023 in the US minor leagues (3.65), the Japanese major leagues (3.00); the Korea Baseball Association (3.04), and MLB (4.51). It should have told us his GPS. He was 4-2, 2.43 for the Orioles when he toed the rubber in the bottom of the first this evening.

Suárez turned in a fine performance tonight. breezing through six innings while 86 pitches, 63 for strikes, and permitting two runs, both earned, to cross the plate. They came on four hits, two of them home runs, and but one walk. He notched a half a dozen Ks and improved his basic stats to 5-2, 2.48. He was followed on the mound for Baltimore by Jacob Webb, Yannier Canpo, and Kimbrel.

The victorious Orioles feather their nest in the first two innings; after that they were scoreless. They went ahead with an unearned run in the first when Gunnar Henderson, who had led off with a single, moved on to second when Adley Rutschmann grounded out to third, stole third, and kept on running after Shea Langliers’ throw sailed into left field. They picked up another two runs on back to back doubles by Jordan Westburg and Austin Hays, a throwing error by Harris, and four walks. All those walks made both runs earned.

The green and gold on the board with Miguel Andújar’s 408 foot solo home run off an 84 mph cutter from Suárea and another solo shot, this one by Langliers, in the seventh that had Baltimore’s Colton Cowser leaping over the center field fence in a vain attempt to bring it down

The series will continue with two afternoon games this weekend. Both are scheduled to start at 1:07. Saturday’s probable starters are Luis Medina (1-3 , 4.80) for the Athletics and Cade Povich (1-2, 4.05) for the Orioles. For Sunday, they’ll be Mitch Spence (5-4, 4.15) and Baltimore’s Grayson Rodríguez (10-5, 3.45).

Giants grind out huge 4-2 win in Cleveland

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Michael Conforto hits a key double for two RBIs in the top of the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Fri Jul 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

Friday, July 5, 2024

Progressive Field

Cleveland, Ohio

San Francisco Giants 4 (44-45)

Cleveland Guardians 2 (54-32)

Win: Ryan Walker (5-3)

Loss: Tanner Bibee (7-3)

Save: Camilo Doval (17)

Time: 2:57 (:26 rain delay)

Attendance: 36,769

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants came into Progressive Field, and fought to grind out a big 4-2 win against one of the best teams in Baseball in the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night.

The Giants have gotten hot since they came back to beat the Chicago Cubs last Monday, as they have won seven of their last ten. They’ve also done this against good teams. They took two of three from the Dodgers, and they also took two of three from the Braves.

Now, they were headed to Cleveland to take on a young and powerful Guardians’ team, who came into Friday night with the best record in the American League, and the second-best record in all of Baseball at 54-31. The Giants would be up against Tanner Bibee, who has had a solid season with a 7-2 record and an ERA of 3.47.

A 26-minute rain delay pushed the start of this game back. Once the tarp was cleared, the Giants were ready to go against Bibee in the top of the first inning. Jorge Soler reached on an infield hit to start the game; LaMonte Wade drew a walk; and the red-hot Heliot Ramos lined an opposite-field base-hit to right field to load the bases.

Patrick Bailey put the Giants on the board with a sacrifice fly to center to knock in Soler. Matt Chapman walked to reload the bases, and Michael Conforto shot a hanging curveball from Bibee over the glove of Guardians’ right-fielder Daniel Schneemann out in right-center to knock in a pair and make it 3-0.

Blake Snell, Robbie Ray and Alex Cobb are all expected to return to the Giants’ rotation soon, but until they do, there will be some more bullpen games. Friday night was one of them, and the left-handed flamethrower, Erik Miller, was the opener.

The first batter Miller would face in the bottom of the first was the American League batting average leader, the scrappy young outfielder, Steven Kwan. Kwan came into tonight hitting .367, and he is having the type of season that has not been common in Baseball in the Three True Outcomes Era.

Kwan hit a fly ball down the left field line that hooked foul and was headed out of play, but third-baseman Matt Chapman made a running catch and ended up on the tarp afterwards. It was reminiscent of a catch that Nolan Arenado made against the Giants at then-AT&T Park back in 2015 when tumbled onto the tarp to make a catch.

Anyway, Miller ended up pitching a scoreless inning, and Bibee settled with a 1-2-3 top of the second. Spencer Bivens, who made the start and got the win in a strong five-inning performance against the Dodgers on Sunday, came in for the bottom of the second, and he ran into trouble.

David Fry grounded out to third to start the inning, but Andres Gimenez singled to right, and Schneemann walked. The Guardians had runners at first and second with one out, but Bivens was able to take control. Bivens struck Gabriel Arias swinging, and he got Bo Naylor to ground out to end the inning, as he got out of it unscathed.

Both pitchers pitched 1-2-3 innings in the third, and the Giants would be back in action in the top of the fourth. Conforto led off the inning with his second double of the night, and he got to third when Brett Wisely reached on an error by shortstop Gabriel Arias.

Nick Ahmed then laid down a safety squeeze that was made harder by the fact that he got a curve that was up and in from Bibee, which caused Ahmed to bunt the ball up in the air. The ball landed just fair on the first base line, and Conforto scored to make it 4-0.

Josh Naylor led off the bottom of the fourth with a towering home run to center field to put the Guardians on the board. Fry and Gimenez then both singled to put runners at first and second with nobody out.

Once again, Bivens was able to regain control in a jam. He got Schneemann to fly out to center, and he got Arias to ground into a double play to end the inning.

Bibee and Tim Herrin combined to throw a scoreless top of the fifth, and left-hander Taylor Rogers pitched through a two-out double in a scoreless bottom of the fifth. Herrin struck out the first two men he faced in the top of the sixth. Ahmed walked, and then Guardians Manager and Former Giant Stephen Vogt brought in Cade Smith, who got out of the inning.

Randy Rodriguez came in for the bottom of the sixth, and he was in trouble right away Josh Naylor lined a base-hit to left to start the inning, and Fry doubled to left to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Gimenez got Naylor in with a sacrifice fly to right to make it 4-2, and Schneemann walked.

Bob Melvin then brought in Ryan Walker, who was able to get out of the inning with the Giants’ lead still at 4-2. Smith threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the seventh, and Walker worked through a one-out walk to pitch a scoreless bottom of the seventh.

Sam Hentges came in to throw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the eighth for Cleveland, and submariner Tyler Rogers came in for the Giants in the bottom of the eighth. Fry grounded out to short to start the inning, and then Gimenez reached on a seeing-eye single along the third base line.

Schneemann grounded into a force out that second-baseman Brett Wisely took a gamble on by trying to get the lead runner at second for the second out of the inning. Bryan Rocchio then lined a double down the right field line to put the tying runs on second and third with two outs.

A Giants’ pitcher had to escape yet another jam, and that is precisely what Rogers did. Bo Naylor grounded out to second to end the inning, and the Giants kept their lead going to the ninth.

Nick Sandlin pitched a scoreless top of the ninth for the Guardians, and Melvin brought in Doval to try and convert the save in the bottom of the ninth. However, as Doval has done many times this season, he made things dramatic.

Kwan led off the inning, and he reached on an infield hit, when he hit a ground ball to Wade at first, but Doval was late in breaking for the bag. Angel Martinez walked, and the Guardians had runners at first and second with nobody out.

The Guardians were threatening again. Jose Ramirez struck out swinging for the first out, and up came Josh Naylor, who was up to do one thing and one thing only: hit one out. However, Naylor grounded to double play to end it.

Ryan Walker got the win, and with the Giants’ opener, Erik Miller, going only one inning, the decision on who got the win was at the discretion of the official scorer. Tanner Bibee got the loss, and Camilo Doval picked up his 17th save.

The Giants really had to fight this one out against one of the best teams in Baseball, and they did so beautifully. Plain and simply, it was a big win for the Giants, who have been beating some of the best teams in Baseball, and who have now won eight of their last 11 to improve to 44-45.

The Giants will be right back at it for a late-afternoon game Saturday with the left-hander, Kyle Harrison (4-3, 3.96 ERA), on the mound. Harrison will be opposed by left-hander Logan Allen (8-4, 5.75 ERA). First pitch will be at 4:10 p.m. in Cleveland, 1:10 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast: Nevada Judge says A’s can’t stop Schools over Stadiums petition drive

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Nevada District Court Judge Kristin Luis ruled last week that the Oakland A’s cannot get involved in the Schools over Stadiums vs. State of Nevada lawsuit over stopping the use of public money for an Oakland A’s Tropicana ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip. (photo from Judge Kristin Luis facebook page)

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Nevada District Judge Kristin Luis ruled that the Oakland A’s request to get involved in the lawsuit between the Nevada State Teachers Union and State of Nevada was denied by Luis. The A’s were told last week that the State of Nevada can work out the case on it’s own.

#2 Judge Luis said that the state can work out their issues and that the A’s who are a private for profit organization saying the A’s “represents its own presumably profit-driven interests, will unduly expand the controversy.”

#3 The A’s argued that timelines to get the stadium under construction is at hand. The Tropicana where the A’s want to build on the strip. The plan in October is to start construction on the Tropicana property and in April 2025 to implode the remaining towers. If Schools Over Stadiums prevails with getting the petition drive to put an initiative on the November 2025 ballot to stop the $380 million public funding for the ballpark.

#4 A’s owner John Fisher said he wants have the stadium ready by April 2028. The cost of the stadium is #1.5 billion and the State of Nevada is putting up $380 million towards the park. Fisher is suppose to come up with $500 million of his share of the construction costs no word if that’s happened yet. He hired a Los Angeles investment firm to look for investors no news on that either.

#5 The Las Vegas Stadium Authority have scheduled a meeting for July 18th. Under the State of Nevada SB1 the authorization for the public funding could expire by the end of the year if the A’s have not presented a development and lease agreement in 18 months. That’s eight months ago since MLB approved the A’s move to Las Vegas by a full owners vote in December with 10 months remaining.

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s getting the pitching hoping it overlaps against Baltimore tonight

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Oakland A’s starter JP Sears delivers to the Los Angeles Angels line up in the top of the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Jul 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 The Oakland A’s are getting great pitching out of their starter at least during the Los Angeles Angels series getting back to back shut outs by the same score of 5-0 to sweep the Angels at the Oakland Coliseum.

#2 A’s starter JP Sears pitched five innings allowing 2 hits and striking out six batters after his departure the A’s used four relievers to combine for the four hit shutout.

#3 On offense the A’s Miguel Andujar and Brent Rooker hit back to back RBI singles, also Tyler Soderstrom hit a sacrifice fly to add another run. The A’s were able to put together three runs in the bottom of the third inning and they all stood up in the 5-0 win.

#4 After scoring five or more runs in seven straight games the Angels have cooled off in getting swept by the A’s. They couldn’t figure out A’s starter Joey Estes on Wednesday night and Sears and four different pitchers on Thursday afternoon.

#5 The Baltimore Orioles who are a tough customer come calling Friday night to open a three game series against the A’s at the Coliseum. Starting pitcher for the O’s RHP Albert Saurez (2-4, ERA 2.43) LHP Hogan Harris (1-2, ERA 3.18). The A’s are going to have their hands full as the Orioles are first in the AL East winning six of their last ten games and lead two games over the New York Yankees.

Jeremiah Salmonson does the Oakland A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Strong start from Webb leads Giants to series win over Braves with 4-2 win

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San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb deals to the Atlanta Braves line up in the bottom of the first inning at Truist Field in Atlanta on Thu Jul 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, July 4, 2024

Truist Park

Cumberland, Georgia

San Francisco Giants 4 (43-45)

Atlanta Braves 2 (47-38)

Win: Logan Webb (7-6)

Loss: Charlie Morton (5-5)

Save: Camilo Doval (16)

Time: 2:24

Attendance: 40,672

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants beat the Braves 4-2 at Truist Park behind another strong start from their ace, Logan Webb, to take the series on Thursday night.

The Giants won the series opener 5-3 on Tuesday night, but they were stymied by Chris Sale and the Braves’ bullpen in a 3-1 loss Wednesday night. Thursday night, they had a chance to take the series on a warm and muggy overcast night in Cobb County.

40-year-old Charlie Morton, who took the ball for Atlanta Thursday night, has seen it all. Morton first came up with the Braves in 2008, and has since bounced around with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Houston Astros, the Tampa Bay Rays and now back with the Braves. 

Morton closed out the Astros’ first world championship back in 2017, as he pitched the final four innings of Game 7 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium. Morton was the starting pitcher and took the loss for the Rays in Game 3 of the 2020 neutral site World Series against the Dodgers in Arlington, Texas; and he broke his right fibula making the start in Game 1 of the 2021 World Series as a member of the Braves against his old team, the Astros, in Houston. 

Morton came into tonight 5-4 this season with a 3.89 ERA, and he got off to a solid start Thursday night with a scoreless top of the first inning. Giants’ ace Logan Webb took the mound for San Francisco, and immediately ran into trouble in the bottom of the first.

Jarred Kelenic singled on a ground ball up the middle and into center field to lead off the inning, and Ozzie Albies doubled off the top of the wall in right to score Kelenic and give the Braves an early 1-0 lead. Matt Olson lined a one-out base-hit to move Albies to third, and Autin Riley got him in with a sacrifice fly to left to make it 2-0.

Both teams went down scoreless in the second, and both pitchers threw 1-2-3 innings in the third.

LaMonte Wade singled to center to lead off the top of the fourth, and Heliot Ramos stayed hot with a two-run home run to straightaway center to tie it at 2-2. Patrick Bailey struck out looking for the first out, and then Matt Chapman hit a solo home run to the first row out in left-center to give the Giants a 3-2 lead.

The Braves almost re-tied the game off Webb in the bottom of the fourth. Olson walked to start the inning, and then he was thrown out at the plate trying to score all the way from first base on a double by Riley. Webb proceeded to get out of the inning unscathed.

Both pitchers threw 1-2-3 innings in the fifth, and the Giants would extend their lead off Morton in the top of the sixth. Ramos singled to start the inning, and was out at second when Patrick Bailey hit into a fielder’s choice. 

Chapman, who put the Giants ahead with his home run in the fourth, hit a check swing chopper for a weird double down the right-field line that scored Bailey to make it 4-2. 

Webb pitched a scoreless inning in the bottom of the sixth, as did Grant Holmes for Atlanta’s in the top of the seventh. Webb pitched another scoreless inning to cap off his night in the bottom of the seventh. Webb provided the Giants with another big outing, as he gave up two runs and struck out six over seven innings.

Holmes was assisted by a great diving catch from left-fielder Forrest Wall in a scoreless top of the eighth, and the much-underappreciated Tyler Rogers did his job with a nine-pitch 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth. 

Aaron Bummer came in to throw a scoreless inning in the top of the ninth for Atlanta, and Camilo Doval came in to try and convert the save in the bottom of the ninth. Marcell Ozuna reached on an infield hit to third to start the inning, but Doval retired the side in order, and the Giants held on 4-2 to win the series.

Logan Webb got the win; Charlie Morton took the loss; and Camilo Doval picked up his 16th save.

Funny thing: The Giants had six hits Thursday night, and they all came on two-hit nights by LaMonte Wade, Heliot Ramos and Matt Chapman.

In addition to winning another series against the strong team, the Giants have now won seven of their last 10 to improve to 43-45. 

They will now head to Cleveland to take on a very powerful young Guardians’ team in a three game series that will start at Progressive Field Friday night. Tanner Bibee (7-2, 3.47 ERA) will make the start for Cleveland, and the Giants will go with a bullpen game. First pitch will be at 7:10 p.m. in Cleveland, 4:10 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

Giants News and Notes:

  • Blake Snell pitched five-no hit innings against the Reno Aces in his rehab start for the Sacramento River Cats Wednesday night at Sutter Health Park. Snell allowed just one base-runner, a walk, while striking out nine. Snell could feasibly return to the Giants’ rotation when they come back home next week.
  • Mike Yastrzemski left Thursday night’s game in the fifth after getting hit in the right elbow by a pitch from Charlie Morton an inning earlier in the top of the fourth. Yastrzemski’s elbow was swollen, but x-rays came back negative, and he is listed as day-to-day.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants-Braves battle for rubber game tonight in Atlanta

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San Francisco Giants catcher Chris Casali (18) puts the tag out on the sliding Atlanta Braves Austin Riley (27) in the bottom of the fifth inning at Truist Field in Cobb County GA on Wed Jul 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 The Atlanta Braves Chris Sale allowed only three hits in six innings of work picking up his 11th win of the season as the Braves evened the three game series with the San Francisco Giants at 1-1. The Braves with a two run 3-1 win at Truist Field on Wednesday night.

#2 Michael with the win Sale moved into a tie with the Kansas City Royals Seth Lugo for the most wins with 11. Sale in 2018 had a win total of 12-4.

#3 The Giants had a tough time trying to solve Sale who held them to four hits with the help of four relievers.

#4 Giants starter Jordan Hicks threw a good ball game Wednesday night but the team absorbed the loss. Hicks went five inning, allowed eight hits, three earned runs, and struck out six. Well pitched game but tough game to lose.

#5 Giants try it again they’ll start RHP Logan Webb 6-6 ERA 3.12) and for the Braves RHP Charlie Morton (5-4, ERA 3.89) first pitch 4:20pm PT Thursday night at Truist Park in Cobb County.

Michael Duca does the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s sweep Angels and win three-straight for first time in two months; Sears and Oakland blank LA 5-0

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Oakland A’s catcher Kyle McCann (left) throws to first base to put out the Los Angeles Angels Kevin Pillar in the top of the fifth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Jul 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, July 4, 2024

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland, California

Los Angeles Angels 0 (36-50)

Oakland Athletics 5 (33-56)

Win: JP Sears (5-7)

Loss: Roansy Contreras (1-1)

Time: 2:38

Attendance: 11,956

By Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND–The A’s have finally won three in a row for the first time in two months, as JP Sears pitched five shutout innings, and the A’s completed their sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 5-0 win.

Coming into Thursday, the A’s had not won three in a row since they won six-straight at the beginning of May. Today, on this warm and beautiful Fourth of July at the Oakland Coliseum, the A’s had a chance at their first three-game winning streak in two months.

The left-handed finesser JP Sears made the start for Oakland. Sears got off to a decent start in April and May, but he struggled through a brutal June, 0-3 with an ERA of 7.94. Thursday, he was going against the fourth-place Angels in his first start of a new month, which gave him a chance to reset.

Sears started off the afternoon with a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, and Angels’ starter Roansy Contreras pitched a scoreless bottom of the first. Contreras did get some help from Angels’ center-fielder Kevin Pillar, who leapt over the fence in right-center field to take away a home run from JJ Bleday for the first out. Both pitchers then threw 1-2-3 innings in the second.

Sears had retired the first six men he faced, but he ran into trouble in the top of the third. Zach Neto singled to right to start the inning, and Jo Adell walked with one out. Neto advanced to third base when Nolan Schanuel lined out to right for the second out, and Kevin Pillar was hit by a pitch to load the bases. That brought up Taylor Ward, who flew out to center to end the inning.

Brett Harris walked to lead off the bottom of the third for Oakland. Bleday walked with one out, and that brought up Miguel Andujar, who flared a single to left to knock in Harris and get the A’s on the board. Angels’ left-fielder Taylor Ward overran the ball, and that allowed the back runners to reach second and third.

Brent Rooker grounded a base-hit to left field to score Bleday and make it 2-0, and Tyler Soderstrom made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly to center.

Sears had himself a 3-0 lead going to the fourth, where he pitched a scoreless inning. Hunter Strickland, who came in to finish the bottom of the third for the Angels, also pitched a scoreless inning. Sears pitched another scoreless inning in the top of the fifth, as did Hans Course in the bottom of the fifth.

Sears would be done after five shutout innings. He gave up just two hits and a walk, while striking out six. However, his pitch count of 95 got to him

Osvaldo Bido ran into a bit of trouble in the top of the sixth after hitting Miguel Sano with one out, and walking Willie Calhoun with two away. However, Sears got Neto to pop up to first-baseball Tyler Soderstrom, who ran along the line to make a nice sliding catch in foul territory to end the inning.

Zack Gelof drew a walk off left-hander Matt Moore to start the bottom of the sixth. Gelof then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. Lawrence Butler walked, but Brett Harris flew out to shallow center, and Gelof was unable to score.

Max Schuemann then laid down a safety squeeze, and Harris scored to make it 4-0. Schuemann was originally called safe by First Base Umpire Andy Fletcher, as Angels’ first-baseman Nolan Schanuel came in and left the bag uncovered, and second-baseman Brandon Drury had to take the throw at first. The call ended up getting overturned.

Austin Adams pitched a scoreless top of the seventh for the A’s, as did Jose Marte for the Angels in the bottom of the inning. Lucas Erceg pitched a scoreless inning in the top of the eighth, and Lawrence Butler homered out to left-center in the bottom of the eighth to make it 5-0.

Tyler Ferguson took the ball in the top of the ninth for Oakland, and he closed this one out with a 1-2-3 inning.

JP Sears gets his first win since May 25, and Roansy Contreras takes the loss. The A’s have indeed won three in a row for the first time since the beginning of May, as they improve to 33-56.

Friday night, the A’s will welcome in a much more formidable foe to the Coliseum in the Baltimore Orioles to start a three game series. Left-hander Hogan Harris (1-2, 3.18 ERA) will take the ball for Oakland, and he will be opposed by the journeyman, Albert Suarez (4-2, 2.43 ERA), who has had himself quite a bounce back season pitching in the major leagues for the first time since 2017.

First pitch at the Coliseum will be at 6:40 p.m.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Orioles Masters of the Draft visit Oakland. Drafted better than Anybody–

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Baltimore Orioles Ryan Hearn (left) and Anthony Santander (right) flex muscles after Hearns solo home run in the top of the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T Mobile Field in Seattle on Wed Jul 3, 2024. The first place Orioles open a three game series against the Oakland A’s on Fri Jul 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

Orioles Masters of the Draft visit Oakland. Drafted better than Anybody–

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–Before this 2024 season started, the Baltimore Orioles were among the few considered favorites to win the World Series. As they open the season this week at Oakland, they are in first place in the powerful American League West. After losing over 100 games in 2018-2019-2021, they have the strength to be an elite team in recent years, especially this 2024 season. How have they done it?

Some of the best players in baseball who are now playing for the powerhouse Orioles were drafted by this organization, and those years of 100-plus games in the lost column are just a thing of the past. Unlike their biggest rivals, the New York Yankees, the Orioles are not known for signing players to multi-year contracts for hundreds of millions of dollars. Today, the Baltimore Orioles are indeed the masters of the Draft.

These stars were all drafted and are playing for the Orioles, as well as their names and years.

(SS) Gunnar Henderson    2019 (2024 All-Star-starting lineup)

(1B)  Ryan Mountcastle    2015

(3B)  Jordan Westburg     2020

(C)    Adley Rutschman     2019 (2024 All Star-starting lineup)

(OF)  Colton Cowser,       2021

(OF)  Austin Hayes          2016

(OF)  Heston Kjerstad     2020

(OF)  Cedric Mullins        2015

(OF)  Anthony Santander 2017

(P)    Lee Keegan Aikin    2016

(P) Grayson Rodríguez  2018

The A’s open a three-game weekend series against the Orioles this Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon at the Coliseum. After Sunday’s game, they go on the road again and will return to Oakland after the All-Star Game recess on July 19 to play the LA Angels again.