Category: MLB

Fallen Angels: A’s rally in 6th and 7th innings to sweep Halos 10-6 at Coliseum

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland Athletics’ Tony Kemp, right, watches his two-run single that scored Ryan Noda and Zack Gelof during the seventh inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Sep 3, 2023 (AP News photo)

Los Angeles (64-73).    000 300 102 – 6.  9. 2

Oakland (42-95).          000 004 60x -10 10 1

Time: 3:09.    

Attendance: 12,425

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The moribund Las Vegas bound Oakland Athletics picked up their fourth win in eight games last night in a thriller in which five relievers followed up a strong start by Paul Blackburn to preserve a one run home team triumph.

This Sunday afternoon, Oakland started with Kyle Muller, the Braves second round pick in the 2016 draft. He was 1-5, 7.67 in his 14 big league appearances of the season, all of them with Oakland and 12 as a starter, when he threw the first pitch at 1:07 warm and clear Sunday afternoon.

After Muller threw his 78th and last pitch, Muller was on the hook for the loss. He’d allowed three runs, all earned, on five hits, one for the distance, a walk, and a wild pitch. Although it’s not a pitching statistic, it’s noteworthy that he committed one error.

Muller escaped with a no decision and now has a record of 1-5 ERA 7.62. It was the second time through the lineup that did Muller in. In spite of that, the A’s gained the fifth win in nine contests with a sixth run outburst in the seventh frame that lifted them to 42-95.

.The visitors from Orange County also went with a southpaw, Tyler Anderson, who had a game time record of 5-6, 5.58. He looked bad in his last start, an August 29th 12-7 loss in Philadelphia in which he gave up six runs, all earned, on seven hits, and three walks.

Before today, his lifetime record against Oakland was 3-0, 0.79. He was great for five frames, Then he fell apart and ended up with a no decision for 5-1/3 innings, in which he allowed three runs, all earned, on three hits, three walks, and a wild pitch. 52 of his 81 offerings  counted as strikes. His record now stands at 5-6, 5.55.

Things fell apart for the A’s in the top of the fourth. Muller had been breezing along, having allowed only a hit and a walk to the first 12 batters he faced, Then Randal Grichuk singled to left, and Eduarado’s Escobar’s sixth home run of the year, a solid fly that cleared the left center field wall into the bleachers and carried 406 feet, drove him home and put LA up, 2-0.

Zack Gelof made a spectacular leaping catch of Michael Stefanic’s line drive that was headed to right field to keep the bases empty and record the second out. But Mickey Moniak singled to right center and got to third when  Muller’s pick off throw went under Noda’s glove and deep into foul territory. Moments later, Chad Wallace smacked a two bagger to right center and it was 3-0, Los Angeles.

The Angels’ lead was in jeopardy in the bottom of the frame. Oakland loaded the bases with none out on walks to Gelof, Ryan Noda, and Brent Rooker. Then designated hitter Carlos Pérez went down swinging for the second time in as many at bats, and Jordan Díaz fouled out to first. That brought up Shea Langeliers, who consummated the blown save by fanning on a 2-2 count.

Muller didn’t come out to pitch the fifth. Adrián Martinez did.

It took a video review of the call at first base on Gelof’s leadoff grounder to third in the fourth for the  A’s to get their first hit. Noda ended Anderson’s bid for a shutout with a 406 foot blast into the center field seats for is 13th home run and  44th and 45th RBI of the year, bringing the A’s to within a run of the visitors.  Carlos Pérez followed with a single to left that drove Anderson to the showers.

Right hander Andrew Wantz entered the game, a move Oakland countered by sending Seth Brown to the plate to hit for Jordan Díaz. Brown responded with his 13th home run, a huge blast over the center field fence into the alley in front of the Holy Toledo sign. The Athletics now led 4-3. Aledmys Díaz followed that tough act to follow with a drive off the left field auxiliary scoreboard. He died on third, but Oakland was back in the game.

Back in the game, but no longer in the lead for long. Luis Rengifo sent a 392 foot over the right center field fence with one down in the top of the seventh to tie things up at four. Out went Martínez. In came Francisco Pérez. Up came Ohtani. Pérez fanned him and got Drury out on a fly to right to end the inning. 

José Soriano relieved Wantz to open the home seventh. Lawrence Butler pinch hit for Ruíz and grounded out to short. Then the bottom fell out for the Angels. Gelof singled to left. Nola hit a bounder to the mound; Soriano threw it into center field for an error on the fielder’s choice, and now the A’s had runners on the corners.

A base on balls to Rooker loaded the sacks. Tony Kemp pinch hit for Pérez and singled to center, driving in Gelof. Rooker scored on center fielder Moniak’s errant throw, which also allowed Kemp to advance to third.

The Angels challenged Kemp’s placement at the hot corner, but a video review confirmed it. Langliers then doubled to right, plating Kemp and Brown, who had been granted an intentional pass. José Marte relieved the beleaguered Soriano and yielded a single to Aledmys Díaz, sending Langliers to third before Allen ended lined  out to third, but Butler continued the attack with an infield single that brought Langliers in with the A’s 10th run. They  led, 10-4 when Gelof flew out to end the inning.

Dany Jiménez hurled a perfect top of the eighth for the A’s, and Kolton Ingram shut the A’s down in their half of that inning.

Kirby Snead entered the game to mop up in the ninth for Oakland, but Trevor May was warming up in the bullpen by the time a one out Chad Wallace single, two walks, a passed ball and Rengifo’s single had made it a 10-6 game with Ohtani at bat and a runner on first.

The mighty Ohtani struck out for the second straight time. Rengifo went to second on Snead’s second wild pitch of the frame. Snead then walked Drury, and May, who had earned the save on Saturday, in to face Grichuk. Mike Moustakas pinch hit for him and fanned on three pitches.

Pérez was the winning pitcher and now has a record of 1-1, 5.23. Soriano got tagged with the loss, dropping him to 0-1, 4.36. May earned his 17th save and brought his ERA under 4.00.  It’s now 3.99.

When this afternoon’s last out was recorded, the Athletics’ won-lost record had climbed to 41-95, 301   Depressing, but not in the class of the  Cleveland Spiders who on this day in 1899 lost 6-3 at Cincinnati and fell to 19-104, .183 on their way to a mind boggling all time major league record of 20-134, .1 30.

The modern era’s worst team was the New York Mets, who in 1962 finished their inaugural season at 40-120, .250. September 3 found them in Pittsburgh for a double header at Forbes Field, where they lost both games. They dropped the opener, 2-0, and were edged in the nightcap, 5-4. The losing pitcher in the second contest was Roger Craig. Humm, baby.

The Toronto Blue Jays come to town Monday, Labor Day, for the first of a three game series. That game on Monday will feature Oakland’s Ken Waldichuk (2–7, 5.92)  and Toronto’s José Berríos (9-10, 3.70) as the probable starters first pitch at 1:07pm PT.

MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O: Dominguez youngest Yankee to hit HR; Impact of Angels waving 5 players; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

New York Yankees’ Jasson Dominguez, in his first at-bat in the majors, hits a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston (AP News photo)

On the MLB podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Jasson Dominguez became the youngest player in New York Yankees history to hit a home run at age 20 and 206 days in his first MLB game and first at bat. Dominguez was the first Yankees since Aaron Judge to hit a home run in his first at bat since Aug 13, 2016.

#2 The Los Angeles Angels waived six players on Thursday and manager Phil Nevin told the call ups to go out and have fun. It wasn’t too much fun for the Halos on Friday as this revamped team got whipped by the last place Oakland A’s 9-2 and the Angels dropped game two of the series on Saturday 2-1 .

#3 How about Angels shortstop Kyren Paris who made his MLB debut on Friday and batted ninth. Paris was thrilled playing in Oakland where he grew up in Oakley (48 miles from the Coliseum). “To play right here in the Coliseum is going to be special,” Paris said.

#4 Jose Altuve Houston Astros infielder is injured again he left Friday night’s game against the New York Yankees with a bruised left leg. Altuve was hitting leadoff and grounded out and walked back to the dugout gingerly and was assisted by the trainer to the clubhouse.

#5 Charlie, we wanted to get a chance to ask you about MLB keeping the pitch clock for post season which time framed the hitter and the pitcher for the regular season and how you see the clock impacting the post season. Also the league will not use the ghost runner for the post season. So we might be able to see a 12 or 13 inning game yet.

Join Charlie O for the MLB podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Roots Lose 1-0 To Sacramento Republic FC From A Penalty Shot

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Defenseman Memo Diaz of the Oakland Roots and the defense tried as hard as they did couldn’t stop the Sacramento Republic FC getting shutout at CSU East Bay in Hayward on Sat Sep 2, 2023 (@oaklandrootssc photo)

Saturday, September 2nd, 2023

By Troy Ewers 

Hayward, CA – In CSU East Bay, the Oakland Roots take on NorCal rival Sacramento Republic FCin their first game of September as we approach the final stretch of games this regular season. Oakland Roots looked to rebound from their heartbreaking loss last week, August 26th. Oakland currently sits in fourth place in the West and the battle for a playoff run continues.

The game started with Sacramento immediately getting on the board after Juan Herrera converted a penalty shot with a shot off the right foot to the bottom left of the net, 1-0 Sacramento. The rest of the first half was a slow half due to many penalties, 17 in total (10 for Sacramento and 7 for Oakland). The teams went even on shots on goal with two, but Oakland was still behind as the first half whistle blew.

The second half was a match with no change of pace, but there were more shots for both sides, a total of 22 for both squads and after an even possession match up this game ended with the same score we started with three minutes in.

This certainly wasn’t the result Oakland sought out for, but it’s something they have to recover from going into their next match. That next match for the Roots will be in Las Vegas against Las Vegas FC, September 9th. Hopefully the Roots can shake off the last two losses and regain their momentum.

Giants avoid shutout with ninth-inning double in 6-1 loss to Padres

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Kyle Harrison, right, waits to face the next batter as San Diego Padres’ Xander Bogaerts, left, rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

By: Mary Anne

The San Francisco Giants continued their series against the San Diego Padres on Saturday. The Giants lost to the Padres 6-1 at Petco Park. San Francisco fell to 70-66, while San Diego improved to 64-73.

The Giants’ starting lineup featured Austin Slater, Thairo Estrada, Wilmer Flores, Mitch Haniger, Patrick Bailey, J.D. Davis, Paul DeJong, Casey Schmitt, Wade Meckler, and Kyle Harrison. Harrison (1-1, 4.70 ERA) took the loss after pitching 5 2/3 innings and giving up six hits, six earned runs, two walks, five strikeouts, and four home runs.

The Padres got on the board first. Juan Soto homered on a fly ball to center field for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

The Padres tripled their lead in the bottom of the second inning. Xander Bogaerts homered on a fly ball to center field for a 2-0 lead. Gary Sanchez homered on a fly ball to center field for a 3-0 lead.

The Padres doubled their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Garrett Cooper homered on a fly ball to left center field. Juan Soto and Xander Bogaerts scored for a commanding 6-0 lead.

The Giants wrapped up the scoring in the top of the ninth inning. Austin Slater doubled on a sharp line drive to Fernando Tatis Jr. Casey Schmitt scored to cut the Padres’ lead to 6-1. Wade Meckler went to third base.

Notes
Wilmer Flores achieved a career-high 20 home runs in the Giants-Padres game Friday.

Up Next
The Giants and Padres will finish their series on Sunday at 1:10 p.m. Pacific. Alex Cobb (7-5, 3.57 ERA) will start for the Giants, while Seth Lugo (5-6, 3.67 ERA) will start for the Padres.

A’s edge Angels 2-1 for two wins in a row at Coliseum

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland Athletics’ Brent Rooker hits a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Sep 2, 2023 (AP News photo)

Los Angeles (64-72). 100 000 000 – 1. 6. 0

Oakland (41-95). 000 200 00x – 2 1. 0

Time: 2:31

Attendance: 13,709

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The press box was jammed, though not jam packed, Saturday afternoon with members of the Japanese media, who had come to see Shohei Ohtani, who still is a draw, even when he’s confined to the role of designated hitter.

This was in contrast to the 12,709 paying customers sprinkled around the stands on a warm but overcast afternoon in the once magnificent Oakland Coliseum. The game was a beauty, a hard fought 2-1 Oakland victory over the visitors from Anaheim.

Paul Blackburn, Oakland’s starter, was 3-4, 3.93 when he came to work but had more encouraging numbers for his last seven starts, 2-2, 2.36. When Kirby Snead relieved him to start the sixth, Blackburn had thrown 86 pitched, 51 of which counted as strikes.

Blackburn allowed one run, which was earned, on four hits and three walks, one of them intentional, while striking out four. Blackburn earned his fourth win against as many defeats and lowered his earned run average to. 4-4, 3.81. Trevor May handled the Halos in the ninth.

Spencer Patton replaced Snead after the lefty hurled a scoreless sixth, followed by Dany Jiménez, who got through the eighth without yielding anything more dangerous than a walk to Randall Griechuk, whom the Angels had put on the waiver wire but took back when no one claimed him.

Angels manager, Berkeley alum Phil Nevin also chose a right hander to start for his team, Griffin Channing, a veteran of four big league seasons. This was his 18th start of the season, and he brought a 7-4, 4.38 record to it, 4-2, 3.32 over his 10 previous starts.

He features a four seamer, which he uses 35% of the time, slider (32.4%), change of pace (19.9%), curve (12.1%), and a very occasional (0.6%) sinker. He lasted six innings, yielding to Aaron Loup, who pitched a perfect seventh, and Andrew Wantz, who shut the A’s out in the eighth, allowing only a single to right.

Canning faced 22 Athletics batters and threw 89 pitches, 61 going as strikes. He allowed a pair of runs, both earned, on four hits, including a costly two run homer. He didn’t allow a single walk and struck out eight. He was charged with a tough loss, and his record now stands at 7-5 4.30.

The Angels took an early lead, loading the bases with one out in the top of the first. on walks to the first two batters Blackburn faced, rookie Nolan Schanuel, who now has reached base safely in all of his first 12 major league games, and Ohtani.

After Brandon Drury went down swinging, a single to center by Mike Moustakas loaded the bases. Luis Rengifo lofted a fly to shallow right; Nick Allen made a nice, tumbling catch of it, and the sacrifice fly brought in Schanuel with the game’s first run.

Oakland threatened in the bottom of the second after Seth Brown’s one out double to right, but Jordan Diaz fanned, and Mickey Moniak corralled Díaz’s towering fly to the center field wall

They broke through in the fourth. Ryan Noda lined a one out opposite field single down the left field line. Then Brent Rooker sent a 436 foot shot over the left center field wall for his 23rd round tripper of the year. The one and two change up came in at 89.7mph and left at 106mph. I guess that’s why Canning throws that pitch only 0.6% of the time.

The move to replace Snead with Patton in the seventh was not a successful one. Eduardo Escobar hit a leadoff single to right and stole second. Patton issued back to back walks to Kyren Paris and Schanuel. Meanwhile, Andrew Velázquez, running for Escobar, stole second and was thrown out trying to steal third. This brought up Ohtani with runners on first and second and one out.

It also brought Sam Long, a lefty, out of the bullpen to face the Halos’ left handed DH, who popped an infield fly to short. Then Brandon Drury flew out to Lawrence Butler in left center. The A’s had dodged the Angels’ bullets.

Trevor May went to the mound in the visitors’ ninth trying to protect a 2-1 lead and earn his 16th save in 19 attempts. He issued a lead off walk to Velázquez, who went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Paris, who went to third on Schanuel’s ground out to first.

Once more Ohtani came up with a chance to undo the A’s advantage. Once more Ohtani received an intentional walk. May then came through by getting Drury one more to fly out to center.

Saturday afternoon’s win leaves Oakland 41-95, 3.01, which looks good when compared with the record of the ill-fated Cleveland Spiders on this day in 1899, 19-102, 1.57. They were idle that day but still had 33 games left in the season, which they finished at 20-134, .130. That’s one record for futility that the A’s won’t match this year.

They are, however, still in the running against the 1962 New York Mets, the gold standard for ineffectiveness in the modern era. The not yet Amazin’s squeaked by Bobby Shantz and the Cardinals in Sportsman’s Park, 4-1, to raise their record to 35-103, .254, just a tad better than the 40-120, .250 at which they finished their season in hell.

Sunday, the Angels, who, by the way, are trying to get a new stadium, will send left hander Tyler Anderson (5-6,5.58) against an as yet unnamed Oakland pitcher.

MLB podcast with Augie Mesenburg: Will Oakland Coliseum grow weeds and foliage after A’s leave in 24?; Which SF Giants team will show up; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

A look at the Oakland Coliseum could the park grow tall grass and weeds after the A’s leave in 2024 (AP News file photo)

On the MLB podcast with Augie Mesenburg:

#1 Can you see the Oakland Coliseum going the way of the old ballparks of yesteryear with weeds and foliage growing after the team has departed. Similar to Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn, Pontiac Silverdome, or the Houston Astrodome once the Oakland A’s leave in 2024?

#2 The San Francisco Giants won big on Thursday 7-2 and then on Friday night got clobbered by the San Diego Padres 7-3 at Petco Park in San Diego. You have to wonder on some days which Giant team is going to show up.

#3 The Los Angeles Angels a team your watching today waved five players four of whom were picked up and fifth player who didn’t get pick up Randal Grichuk is back on the Angels roster because the Angels were on the hook for his salary anyway. The Angels got walloped by the A’s on Friday 9-2 at the Oakland Coliseum.

#4 Augie, with the Angels struggling as they are does that automatically indicate to Shohei Ohtani that it’s time to go shopping.

#5 Arizona D-Backs minor league pitcher Jose Cabrera has been suspended for testing positive for performance enhancers. Cabrera 21 years old is 4-9 ERA 5.28 with 23 starts in class A Visalia and Hillsboro.

Augie Mesenburg is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Covid 19 hits Reds Greene out for 7 days; Phils add Suarez and Pache to expanded roster; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene works against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning Wed Aug 30, 2023 at Oracle Park in San Francisco. Greene was placed on the seven day Covid 19 list by the Reds on Fri Sep 1, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the MLB podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Covid 19 has hit Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene and he has been placed on the seven day Covid list with two other Reds pitchers Ben Lively and Fernando Cruz. Covid 19 cases have been on the rise and it was recommended that vaccines should be taken. The Reds were going good how does loosing Greene, Lively and Cruz impact the Reds.

#2 Stephen, Friday was the first day of the MLB expanded roster as the Philadelphia Phillies added left handed pitcher Ranger Suarez and outfielder Cristan Pache. Suarez had been out 15 days with a right hamstring strain and Pache had been out on the ten day IL with right elbow irritation. The Phils are in the hunt and have to be happy to get Suarez and Pache back on the active roster.

#3 The Los Angeles Angels a club that you will be seeing a little bit later tonight have called up six players to fill open positions infielder Kyren Paris, left hand pitcher Kolton Ingram, right hand pitchers Jimmy Herget, Gerardo Reyes, and Andrew Wantz, and infielder Michael Stefanic. The Angels replaced six players who were place on waivers.

#4 The Cleveland Guardians wasted no time they grabbed three of the waived players from the Angels, left handers Lucas Giolito and Matt Moore, and Rey Lopez. The Cincinnati Reds took outfielder Hunter Renfroe and pitcher Dominic Leone was picked up by the Seattle Mariners.

#5 MLB has opted to keep the pitch clock rules for the 2023 post season meaning the pitcher and the batter will be obligated to abide by the same time frame as they did during the 2023 regular season. MLB will not use the ghost runner for the post season.

Join Stephen Ruderman for the MLB podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Wild week for Braves Aucna Jr as he joins the 30-60 club; Angels mailing it in; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr., right, hits a grand slam as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith watches during the second inning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Thu Aug 31, 2023 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 What a week it’s been for Ronald Acuna Jr he was attacked and thrown down by two Colorado Rockies fans at Coors Field (he came out of it unscathed), he got married, and now he’s a member of the 30-60 club, Acuna also hit a grand slam home run at Dodger Stadium on Thursday.

#2 The Los Angeles Angels are mailing it in, they waived five players and still couldn’t get under the luxury tax threshold. The Angels took a gamble by waving the five players assuming they all get picked up but left fielder Randal Grichuk was not picked up and the Angels payroll is separating them from the other big spending clubs to the tune of $233 million.

#3 Evidence further showing the Angels are mailing it in they completely fell apart against the Oakland A’s on Friday night with a lack of hitting production and the A’s capitalized on Angels pitching with five runs in the bottom of the fourth.

#4 The Angels aren’t selling themselves on keeping superstar Shohei Ohtani whose been relegated to designated hitter after suffering his UCL injury and could end up getting a second Tommy John surgery. The A’s silenced his bat pretty much on Friday night.

#5 Amaury, the heat is getting turned up on Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco whose being accused of having a social media relationship with a 14 year. A second minor aged girl had said that she had a relationship with Franco since the Jul 17th accusation from the 14 year old which was filed weeks before the story became public. A third girl has come forward and also said she was in a relationship with Franco. The legal age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18 years of age. Franco has not played with the Rays since Aug 12th right here in Oakland. A special prosecutor for the Dominican Republic is investigating.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice of 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

Padres Return Favor Beating Giants 7-3

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Diego Padres’ Juan Soto, right, celebrates with third base coach Matt Williams after hitting a home run during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park in San Diego on Fri Sep 1, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Diego Padres (63-73) turned the tables on the San Francisco Giants (70-65) with a 7-3 win on Friday night at Petco Park in San Diego. The Giants clobbered the Padres on Thursday night 7-2 in game one of the series.

The Giants were the first team up on the scoreboard when Wilmer Flores hit a solo home run in the first inning for a 1-0 lead.

The Padres answered in not only the bottom of the first inning but in the second and third innings. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a two-run home run followed by a Juan Soto solo home run in the first inning taking a 3-1 lead and San Diego was off and running.

The Padres added another run in the second inning taking a 4-1 lead. Trent Grisham singled Luis Campusano home. San Diego did not take their foot off the pedal scoring a couple more runs in the third inning extending their lead to 6-1.

San Francisco started to make a bit of noise scoring one run in the fourth inning when Brandon Crawford sacrificed and Patrick Bailey scored. The score now stood at 6-2 and the Giants were hoping to get their offense in this game going.

Through six innings they had six hits and they did load the bases in the sixth inning with 2 outs and were looking at a golden opportunity to tighten up this game. The Giants were unable to take advantage and add a few more runs to the score and the 6-2 score remained going into the bottom of the sixth. Leaving these runners stranded in the sixth could possibly have a lot to do with the outcome of this game.

San Diego added another run in the bottom of the sixth when Thairo Estrada had a fielding error and Tatis Jr. scored from third base. The Padres now led 7-2.

San Francisco was struggling on the mound from the start. Tristan Beck went 2.2 innings and gave up nine hits (two of them home runs) and six runs with no strikeouts. Alex Wood would relieve Beck in the third inning allowing 3 hits and no runs. He had at least stopped the bleeding through the next three innings.

This game would go into the eighth inning with San Diego still leading 7-2 and San Francisco was down to two innings left to make a move in this game. They were running out of time.

The Giants got something going in the ninth inning. Estrada singled followed by a Crawford single and San Francisco had two runners on base with no outs. Pinch hitter Blake Sabol was hit by a pitch and once again the Giants had the bases loaded.

The next at bat LaMonte Wade Jr. was also hit and the Padres walked in a run. San Diego was having a heck of a time closing out this game. After the walk-in run, the Padres pulled a double play and finished off this game 7-3

Giants post game notes: Thursday night the Giants decisively beat the Padres by the score of 7-2. San Francisco led 7-0 going into the bottom of the eighth inning. The Giants put out a great offensive effort and couldn’t get anymore of that same run production as they had in Thursday’s game in Friday night’s game two. The Padres on the other hand were looking for some payback and it was looking much like Thursday night’s game, the only caveat was that it was the Padres this time who took the early lead and after three innings had a 6-1 lead.

In Saturday’s game three the Giants will have two left-handers going at each other. Kyle Harrison will take the mound for San Francisco after a solid game in his debut at Oracle last Monday night. He was dominant in that game striking out the first five batters he faced. He’s 1-0 and ERA is 1.86. The Padres are going with Blake Snell with a 11-9 win/loss record and a 2.60 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 5:40 PM.

A’s kick off home series against Angels with offensive explosion 9-2

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo courtesy of Oakland Athletics Twitter. Ruiz, Butler, and Rooker celebrate in center field their victory over the Angels.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

OAKLAND- The A’s started their three-game home series against the Angels on a great note with a 9-2 win.

Tonight for the A’s was Glen Burke pride night at the coliseum and the attendance was 12,073.

Getting the start for the A’s was J.P. Sears who heading into this game had a 2-11 record and 4.73 era. While the Angels had Patrick Sandoval get the start who coming had a 7-10 record with a 3.89 era.

Making his major league debut tonight for the Angels at shortstop was 21 year-old Kyren Paris. He was drafted in 2019 and was picked in the second round at 55th overall.

The first went by smoothly for Sandoval while Sears had some troubles as he gave up a double and walked one but was able to get out of the inning allowing no runs.

Quickly though Sandoval found his pitch count getting high as by the end of the third inning he had already thrown 63 pitches. That pitch count was indicative of a lot of early at bats that consistently went to full counts and occasionally resulted in walks given up.

The defense for the A’s was clicking early as they turned two double plays before the fifth inning had even occurred.

The fourth saw Oaklands offense come alive as Brent Rooker lead things off with a double. Jordan Diaz followed that up with a single putting runners on the corners with only one out. The other DÍaz got a double bringing home Rooker and getting the A’s on the board. The momentum didn’t stop there as Nick Allen got another run in on a sac fly and Esteury Ruiz singled putting runners on the corners once again.

After the hit by Ruiz that ended the night for Sandoval who was replaced by Jimmy Herget. The stat-line for Sandoval is probably one he’ll want to forget as he only went 3.2 innings giving up five hits, five earned runs, and three walks.

Herget wasn’t able to stop the bleeding as Zack Gelof kept the lineup moving with a two-run double making it 5-0. Trying to keep adding on Ryan Noda came in to pinch hit for Carlos Pérez but he ended up lining out to end the fourth. Noda would stay in taking Pérez’s spot at first base.

The Angels in the sixth made another pitching change as Gerardo Reyes came in to replace Herget who was only making his sixth appearance of the season.

In the following inning the A’s made a change on the mound as well as Lucas Erceg came in making his 41st appearance. Unlike Sandoval, Sears had a stellar outing pitching six innings, giving up no earned runs, and striking out three. Erceg also got some help from the defense as they turned another double play their third of the game.

Looking for insurance the A’s got another run from Jordan Diaz who made it 6-0 with a double. The run came in the seventh with Jamie Barria pitching now for the Halos.

The eighth would see another new pitcher as Sean Newcomb came in to pitch for the A’s who was making only his fourth appearance of the season.

Newcomb would run into some trouble as Shohei Ohtani reached on a pitch-clock violation and then Brandon Drury got a double making it 6-1.

With Barria still on the mound for the Angels Allen got a single and then Ruiz absolutely crushed a 2-0 pitch to left field making it 8-1. It was Ruiz’s third home run of the season and exited the field at 104.1 mph. A Gelof double kept things going and Noda followed it up with a double of his own extending their lead to 9-1.

To close things out the A’s called on Spencer Patton and the first batter he faced took him deep to left field as Tyler O’Hoppe got his sixth home run of the season. Patton was able to fight through the early mistake and closed the inning out giving up only the one run.

Of note tonight was Jordan Diaz who went 3-4 with an rbi and Ruiz who went 3-5 with two rbis and a home run. Getting the win was J.P. Sears which improves his record to 3-11 and Sandoval took the loss bringing his record to 7-11.

The second game of this home series against the Angels happens tomorrow at 1:07 p.m.