Category: MLB

MLB The Show podcast with Jim On Bases: Angels struggling for post season spot could spell exit for Ohtani; Rays Wander on restriction list; plus more news

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Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws to a San Francisco Giants batter during a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP News file photo)

On the MLB The Show podcast with Jim On Bases:

#1 Los Angeles Angels are headed south as they have now lost three of their last ten games and their playoff hopes are sinking fast here in the home stretch of the season. The Angels owner Arte Moreno said he’s determined to keep two way star Shohei Ohtani for next season. Without a whiff of post season the chances of that look slimmer by the day and Ohtani could be shopping over the winter?

#2 Franco Wander the Tampa Rays shortstop before Monday’s night’s game here at Oracle Park was put on the restricted list for social media post involving a 14 year girl in the Dominican Republic the Dominican’s legal age of consent is 18 years old. Wander is on the restriction list for the rest of this road trip the Rays currently are in a three game series with the San Francisco Giants.

#3 Former Miami Marlins owner Jeffery Loria voiced his displeasure in an interview with the Miami Herald. Loria who owned the team before selling it to former New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter whose group owned the team from 2017-2022. Loria said that Jeter destroyed the public art at Loan Depot Park including a home run sculpture that lit up and sprayed water and had animated Marlins spins around the sculpture. Jeter also fired former Marlins and baseball greats Christian Yellich, Tony Perez, Andre Dawson who were team community and representatives as well as former manager Jack McKeon when he took over.

#4 Cleveland Guardians base runner Jose Ramirez who slide into second base as Chicago White Sox second baseman Tim Anderson stood over him and Ramirez got up and jawed with Anderson both squared off. Ramirez’ suspension was reduced from three games to two games. Ramirez will serve the two game suspension this Saturday and Sunday missing games against the Tampa Bay Rays.

#5 Can the San Francisco Giants figure things out as things could get tougher on the schedule as the Giants face the Tampa Rays this weekend, then go to Atlanta and Philadelphia and return to San Francisco to host the Braves and Reds starting Aug 18th.

Jim on Bases joins Sportstalk for the MLB The Show podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Kapler says Bailey is bringing big things; Giants open 3 game set with Rays tonight

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San Francisco Giant Patrick Bailey heading home after hitting a two run home run in the bottom of the tenth inning against the Texas Rangers on Sun Aug 13, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 The San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey belted his sixth home run of the season on a walk off two run blast in the bottom of the tenth inning to edge the visiting Texas Rangers 3-2 on Sunday at Oracle Park.

#2 The win helps Giants reliever Camilo Doval’s blown save in the top of the ninth inning when the Giants had a 1-0 lead but the Rangers tied up the game on a ground ball to Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford who threw to first base and a runner came in and scored from second base to make 1-1.

#3 The Giants in the bottom of the tenth inning were looking to try and end it with a ghost runner on board Patrick Bailey hit one high and deep to left field and it landed in the bleachers for the walk off two run home run for a one run 3-2 in.

#4 Giants manager Gabe Kapler said that Bailey been bringing the big moments, made the big plays and has done a great job handling the pitching staff.

#5 Starting pitchers for Monday night’s contest at Oracle Park as the Giants open a three game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. For the Rays Tyler Glasnow (5-3 ERA 3.15) and for the Giants Ryan Walker (4-1 ERA 2.40) a 6:45pm PT first pitch.

Join Marko for the San Francisco Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s try and put sweep in DC behind them, Open series in St Louis tonight at Busch

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Oakland A’s hitter Zack Gelof thanks to the good Lord for slugging a top of the first inning home run against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in DC on Sun Aug 13, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 Barbara, the Washington Nationals picked up their their third sweep in as many as their last seven series. The Oakland A’s fell victim to the Nats on Sunday in a Washington come back game 8-7 in DC.

#2 The Nationals down five runs came back to score six runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the A’s. It was the first time since Sep 3, 2019 that the Nationals had come back from run deficit when the scored seven runs to beat the New York Mets 11-10.

#3 Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that the Nats are relentless they don’t their out of it playing hard for 27 outs and said their never out of it.

#4 The A’s simply fell apart in the ninth inning allowing six runs to score as reliever Trevor May allowed three earned runs and three hits and two walks. May was relieved by Kirby Snead who gave up a hit and a walk.

#5 The A’s open up a three game series in St Louis tonight at Busch Stadium in St Louis. Starting for the A’s JP Sears (2-9 ERA 4.23) for the Cardinals Mike Mikolas (6-8 ERA 4.20) first pitch 4:45 pm PT.

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

Bailey’s two run homer saves Giants in 10th inning defeats Rangers 3-2

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San Francisco Giants Patrick Bailey has his hand raised for being the gamer in the top of the tenth inning after clouting his sixth home run of the season against the Texas Ranges at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Aug 13, 2023 (AP News photo)

Texas (7-48). 000 000 001 1. – 2. 8. 0

San Francisco (63-55) 100 000 000 2. – 3. 10 1. (10 innings)

Time: 2:30

Attendance: 35,648

Sunday, August 13, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Things have not gone well for your San Francisco Giants since they returned to the bay area a little over a week ago. Their record was 61-49 when they crossed the Bay Bridge to face the moribund Oakland Athletics on August 5.

Even with today’s thrilling 3-2 come from behind extra innings win over the American League West leading Texas Rangers, they stand at 63-55, 8-1/2 games behind the Dodgers, who still were playing Colorado when the Giants’ game ended, in the NL West.

Logan Webb started the game for San Francisco at 9-9, 3.38. He has four deliveries in his arsenal, a change up, that he throws 38.6% of the time, a sinker (36.8%), a slider (21.2), and a four seamer, just to keep ’em guessing (3.4%). The 26 year old righty threw over 100 pitches in each of his previous outings, a win in Phoenix and a no decision in Anaheim.

He exceeded the century mark this afternoon, throwing 107 pitches, 75 of them strikes, and again once more wasn’t involved in the decision. He threw 8-2/3 innings and yielded only one run. It was earned but posthumous and came on an error of judgement by, of all people!, Brandon Crawford. Webb gave up six hits and a walk while striking out six. His balance sheet now reads, 9-9, 3.26)

Dane Dunning, two years older than Webb and also right handed, came to work at 9-4, 3.21 for the season and 20-22, 4.08 lifetime. This was his first appearance against the Giants. It was a magnificent one. He threw 106 pitches, 76 for strikes in seven innings of outstanding work.

Dunning allowed only one run, earned, on a homer that was one of the seven hits he gave up. He didn’t issue a single wak and struck out a dozen. All he earned for his hard work was a no decision that left his record at 9-4, 3.1).

Webb pitched himself out of trouble in the two opening frames, and Michael Conforto gave him the comfort of a one run lead to work with by leading off the home half of the second with a 408 foot blast over the center field wall off a 90.8 mph sinker. It was Conforto’s 15th round tripper and 54th RBI of the season.

Webb needed to get one more strike on JP Martínez to finish up a complete game shutout. But Martínez doubled, and Camilo Duval was called in to finish the job. He got Ezequiél Durán to hit a grounder to short that Crawford backhanded. He unwisely threw to first; Durán beat it out, an dMartínez ran home with the tying run Bailey threw Durán out trying to steal second, but it was too late.

José Leclerc pitched a scoreless eight. Estrada led it off with a double, but The Curse of the Leadoff Double stranded him there. Aroldis Chapman relieved Leclerc for the home ninth. He struck out the first batter he faced, and then Ramos doubled off the Levi’s Landing wall. But Chapman recovered to strike out Austin Slater, pinch hitting for Crawford, and Wade.

Duval got out of the top of the 10th with only a run scored, but it was ugly. Zombie runner Durán went to third on Josh Smith’s Texas League single and scored on a balk with Semien at the plate. It took a pitcher’s best friend to hold the damage to that one run.

The Rangers went to their closer, Will Smith, for Giants’ tenth. He fanned Estrada and Pederson, and so it was up to Bailey to keep the game alive with Wade as the plaed runner on second and two out. The rookie came through! He shot a no doubter over the left field, landing 355 feet deep. It came on a 1-1 four seamer that came in a 92.8mph and left at 107.3 mph. It made Bailey 2 for 4 in the game and was his sixth home run of the year.

Doval was charged with a blown save but credited with the win. His record now is 4-3, 2.36. Will Smith (4-1, 3.30) was the losing pitcher.

The Tampa Bay Rays will be here tomorrow, Monday, for a 6:45 start. Neither team has announced its pitching plans.

Nationals edge A’s for three game sweep 8-7 at Nationals Park; Six run comeback in ninth gets Nats win

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The Washington Nationals celebrate after Jeter Downs hit a walk-off single during the ninth inning to defeat the Oakland A’s at Nationals Park in DC on Sun Aug 13, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Sunday afternoon the Oakland A’s (33-85) finished off their three game series with the Washington Nationals (53-66) getting swept in three games 8-7 at Nationals Park in DC. Washington won the first two games of this series and the A’s couldn’t avoid the sweep. In Saturday’s game, Oakland had the lead going into the eighth inning but an ninth inning home run gave Washington a walk off win 3-2.

Sunday game recap: The A’s got going in the first inning taking a 3-0 lead. Oakland’s Zach Gelof hit a solo home run followed by a two run homer from Seth Brown.

The Nationals had one run in the first inning but the A’s continued to score runs. They scored four more runs, one in the third, one in the fifth and a couple in the seventh inning extending their lead to 7-2. Going into the ninth inning, the A’s had ten hits.

Zach Gelof had his second home run of the game in the fifth inning. He had three hits in the game and both Seth Brown and Aledmys Diaz had a couple of hits. The Oakland offense was clicking on all cylinders in this game.

The A’s had the bases loaded in the ninth inning with one out. They came away empty leaving three runners stranded. They were three outs away from the win in the bottom of the ninth.

A’s pitcher Trevor May would try to close out this game. He got into deep trouble loading the bases with one out. The Nationals scored twice in the inning. Washington brought two runners home with two outs and May was have a rough time finishing this game. He loaded the bases once again and he was finished.

Kirby Snead would relieve May and try to get that final out. With the bases loaded Snead walked Domenic Smith and Keibert Ruiz scored. The Nationals were within two runs of a tie 7-5. That tie came to be when Nick Allen couldn’t stop an Alex Call bullet and two runners scored.

This was a crazy turn of events for Oakland. In an unbelievable comeback the Nationals celebrated a six run ninth for a second walkoff in a row. The final out was the elusive out for Oakland, it never came. This was a disastrous loss for the Green and Gold.

The turning point in this game was of course the ninth inning. The A’s had the bases loaded in the ninth inning and came away empty and that was another huge factor in this loss. The failure on the mound was glaring and a lot of credit goes to the Washington offense as well.

Monday the A’s will travel to St. Louis for a three game series with the Cardinals. JP Sears will take the mound for Oakland with a 2-9 win/loss record and a 4.23 ERA. For St. Louis Miles Mikolas will get the nod with a 6-8 win/loss record and a 4.20 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 4:45 PM.

MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O: SRS’s Amaury speaks out on A’s ownership; Orioles announcer Brown back after suspension; plus more

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Oakland A’s broadcaster Amaury Pi Gonzalez said in a recent interview that if Oakland A’s owner John Fisher sold the team there would be a parade in Oakland the following week (photo provided by Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

On the MLB The Show Podcast with Charlie O:

#1 One of the biggest quotes coming out of the San Francisco Chronicle interview with Oakland A’s broadcaster Amaury Pi Gonzalez on Thursday saying, if A’s owner John Fisher sold the team there would be a parade in Oakland next week, also saying that Fisher was not professional for the way he relocated the A’s and that he didn’t want the A’s to leave Oakland he wants them to stay. The interview has gone viral in the baseball community on social media.

#2 Baltimore Orioles broadcaster Kevin Brown’s suspension ended on Saturday in time for him to broadcast the Orioles and Seattle Mariners game. Brown was suspended five games for negative comments regarding the Orioles loosing records in previous seasons. The Orioles are in first place this season. Brown also said that the Orioles have had a losing record against the Tampa Bay Rays. The fans during the suspension chanted “Free Kevin Brown” and owner John Angelos received lots and lot of emails regarding the Brown suspension that became a national story.

#3 San Francisco Giants pitcher Ross Stripling showed catcher Blake Sabol an article on his phone when they were in Anaheim to play the Angels last week showing that Sabol would be part of a package to get Angels two way player Shohei Ohtani. Stripling said to Sabol, ” Sabes, I love you but we would have to do this” Sabol said “Yeah I get it.” Ohtani would fetch up to $600-800 million after this season on the free agent market. The Dodgers and Angels are the front runners in the Ohtani sweepstakes.

#4 The Giants who nearly signed Carolos Correa for $350 million for 13 years as the Giants nearly introduced Correa to the media before finding out that he failed a physical. Then failing another physical with the Mets eventually signing $200 million with the Minnesota Twins. Correa in 109 games with the Twins has hit .230, 15 home runs, and has 54 RBIs. Has Correa underperformed the Twins expectations?

#5 The Los Angeles Dodgers long awaited ceremony for pitcher Fernando Valenzulea arrived on Friday night when the Dodgers retired his number. Fernando Fever arrived in the Southland in 1980 when Valenzuela arrived pitching for the Dodgers until 1990 and playing for Angels, Orioles, Padres, before retiring with the Cardinals in 1997. Fernando in case many of you don’t know is a class act, he acts like a regular guy and not this legendary figure, the honor the Dodgers gave him was well deserved.

Join Charlie O for the MLB The Show podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants trounced by Rangers 9-3 on ’90s night, and drop fourth-straight

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Texas Rangers’ Mitch Garver who had three RBIs against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Aug 12, 2023 (USA Today photo)

Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Texas Rangers 9 (70-47)

San Francisco Giants 2 (62-55)

Win: Grant Anderson (2-1)

Loss: Alex Cobb (6-3)

Time: 2:44

Attendance: 33,112

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants’ offense sputtered again, as Rangers beat the Giants on 90s night at Oracle park, 9-3, to hand the Giants their fourth-straight loss, and their sixth loss in their last seven games.

Alex Cobb, who has struggled in the second half since his All-Star Game appearance, made the start for the Giants, and his struggles continued. Cobb got Marcus Semien to fly out to left field to start the game, but Corey Seager then hit a home run to straightaway center to put the Rangers on the board.

The Giants responded in the bottom of the first inning. Rangers starter Andrew Heaney set down the first two men he faced, but Wilmer Flores doubled, and Patrick Bailey singled him in, as the throw from Rangers left-fielder J.P. Martinez appeared as if it was going to get Flores at the plate, but it skipped in front of the catcher, Mitch Garver, which allowed Flores to score.

Cobb survived a two-out double in the top of the second, and the Giants appeared as if they were going to strike in the bottom of the second. Luis Matos walked to start the inning, and got to third on a long single off the right field wall by Michael Conforto.

Heliot Ramos then walked to load the bases with nobody out, but Mark Mathias struck out swinging, and Bruce Bochy surprisingly pulled Heaney from the game for Grant Anderson. Anderson then got Austin Slater to ground into a 3-6-1 double play to end the inning, as it was another opportunity wasted by the Giants.

The teams traded scoreless innings again in the third, as Cobb pitched a 1-2-3 inning, and Anderson pitched through a leadoff infield hit by Thairo Estrada.

Alex Cobb then faltered in the fourth. Nathaniel Lowe led off the inning with a base-hit, followed by an infield hit off the bat of Ardolis Garcia. Garver then singled to knock in Lowe and give the Rangers the lead, and Martinez singled to load the bases. Ezequiel Duran hit a sacrifice fly to center; Josh Smith walked; and Leody Tavares singled to knock in the third run of the inning and extend the Rangers lead to 4-1.

Michael Conforto hit a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the fourth to make it 4-2, but the Rangers loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth, and that prompted Gabe Kapler to pull Alex Wood.

In his last five starts since July 20 in Cincinnati, Wood has gone 0-2 with a 6.58 ERA, as he has given up 19 runs over his last 26 innings.

“I don’t think it was his best outing, obviously,” said Kapler. “He’s the guy that we’re always depending on. He’s been one of our best pitchers. He’s done a really nice job for us all season. I don’t think it was his best outing, and [hopefully, he can] come back next time and get em.”

Kapler went to Alex Wood, who was coming off a decent four-inning performance on Tuesday against the Angels in Anaheim. J.P. Martinez hit a sacrifice fly to center to knock in Seager and get the run back, and Ezequil Duran singled in Adolis Garcia for an extra run to open their lead to 6-2.

Blake Sabol pinch-hit and walked, and advanced to second on a base-hit by Thairo Estrada to start the bottom of the fifth. Bochy then went to former Giant Chris Stratton, and like the second, the Giants wasted the opportunity, as Stratton set down the next three men in order.

Luis Matos singled to start the bottom of the sixth after a ground ball off his bat took a weird hop off the lip of the infield grass and ricocheted into left field. Michael Conforto walked, and just like the second and fifth, the Giants had two runners on and nobody out to start the inning, but just like the second and fifth, the Giants wasted it and had nothing to show for it.

“We haven’t been as productive as we can be, whether we have the platoon advantages, or we don’t,” said Kapler. “We’re not swinging the bat[s] consistently to put up crooked numbers. We didn’t play good enough as a team; [the Rangers] played very good as a team, and we just weren’t able to counter that.”

Alex Wood meanwhile set down eight-straight following the Duran base-hit in the fifth. Wood pitched a pair of 1-2-3 innings in the sixth and seventh, and he survived a one-out triple off the bat of Duran unscathed in the top of the eighth.

“We had a decent thought that Alex could give us some length today,” said Kapler. “I thought he did a nice job of getting us through the middle innings. It’s not easy to come into that situation; I thought he did a good job.”

Stratton pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh, and Josh Sborz pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth.

Wood then fell apart in the top of the ninth. Despite Wood’s solid innings, the Rangers made hard contact off him, but he finally paid for it in the ninth. Marcus Semien tripled to start the ninth, and he scored on a base-hit by Seager.

Nathaniel Lowe hit a nubber on the first base side, and when Webb went to get it, he fired it down the right field line, allowing the runners to get to second and third. Garcia flew out to right, but Mitch Garver singled in a pair to make it a laugher.

“I certainly wasn’t expecting to throw four-plus, five innings,” said Wood. “[I’m] just trying to go do what’s best for these guys in the clubhouse.”

There was a highlight in the bottom of the ninth, as with one out, Heliot Ramos, who has struggled over the course of two seasons between the majors and Triple-A, hit his first big league home run out to left-center field. Fortunately for Ramos, he was able to get the ball

“I got [the ball] right here,” said Ramos. “I gave up a bat, and two signed. I’m glad [the fan] brought it back. I thought I was going to lose the ball.”

Mark Mathias singled to left, but Blake Sabol was called out on strikes, and Thairo Estrada struck out swinging to end it.

The Giants have now lost four-straight, and six of their last seven, as they fall to 62-55, and their playoff lead in the wild card is now just a game and a half over the Cincinnati Reds.

The Giants will try to salvage a game in the series, as they will send their ace, Logan Webb, to the mound for a 1:05 start.

News and Notes:

Prior to the game, six members of the 1993 Giants gathered for the 30-year reunion of the improbable Giants team that won 103 games, but missed out on the National League West division title in playoffs in what was the final season of the four-team playoff format.

They were joined by the wives of the late Barney Nugent and Rod Beck, and the ceremony was emceed by the Giants’ public address announcer from 1993 to 1999, Sherry Davis, the first woman public address announcer in sports history. This was Davis’ first public appearance since her tenure ended, as well as her first time on the field at Oracle Park.

“These are my guys,” said Davis. “They’re so sweet, and they’re so nice. It’s so nice to see them again after all this time.

Davis also talked about the stress of her first year of 1993.

“It was the most exciting year [of my career], but it was also the most stressful,” Davis said. “I faced a lot of opposition, but I [had] a lot of support. It was a very stressful year for me, but it was wonderful. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

A’s Give Up Lead In the Ninth-Fall to the Nationals 3-2; Fourth loss in five games for Oakland

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Oakland Athletics right fielder Lawrence Butler (22) warms up before the game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, in DC (AP News photo)

A’s Give Up Lead In the Ninth-Fall to the Nationals 3-2

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (33-84) couldn’t hold onto a ninth inning lead and once again fell to the Washington Nationals (52-66) 3-2 at Nationals Park in DC on Saturday.

The Nationals got the first run of the game in the second inning, a fielders choice to third allowing Ildemaro Vargas to score giving Washington the early 1-0 lead.

Oakland took the lead with a home run in the third and sixth innings. JJ Bleday homered to center a 432 feet shot for the 1-1 tie. In the sixth inning Brent Rooker gave Oakland the lead 2-1 hitting s home run to right center field. The A’s had an opportunity to extend their lead in the seventh inning with two runners on base but left them both stranded.

A’s starting pitcher Luis Medina went 4.0 innings allowing four hits but limiting the damage to one run.

Oakland held onto the lead into the eighth when it began to unravel. With no outs the Nationals loaded the bases. The A’s relief pitcher Angel Felipe walked two runners and Jake All bunted. Washington tied up the game 2-2 when Lane Thomas singled and Stone Garrett scored. Washington left two runners stranded to end the eighth inning.

It was a three up three out ninth inning for the A’s and the Nationals were looking for the walkoff. It was a very brief ninth inning. Keibert Ruiz knocked the ball out of the park, a 391 feet shot to right giving the Nationals the come from behind win.

It was a tough loss for Oakland who came so close but could not hang onto the lead. It all came apart in the eighth inning and the A’s weren’t able to produce badly needed defense in the eighth inning.

A’s post game notes: Friday night the Oakland A’s began a three -game series with the Washington Nationals. The game started out well for Oakland leading 2-0 going into the second inning. It all fell apart for the remainder of the game for the A’s. The Nationals tied up the game 2-2 in the second inning. They went on to score in four of the next six innings winning the game 8-2.

Sunday the A’s will be looking to avoid a sweep in game three. Ken Waldichuk will take the mound for Oakland with a 2-7 win/loss record, ERA 6.30. Trevor Williams (5-7 ERA 5.00) will get the nod for Washington. First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 AM.

Rangers get all the scoring they need in two run sixth edge Giants 2-1 at Oracle

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Texas (69-47). 000 002 000. – 2. 6. 1

San Francisco (62-54) 000 001 001. – 1. 3. 0

Time: 2:19

Attendance: 35,689

Friday, August 11, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, center, walks out of the dugout for batting practice for the team’s baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in San Francisco. (AP News photo)

SAN FRANCISCO–Before tonight’s battle began, the buzz centered around Bruce Bochy’s coming back to the bay (the terrafirma – or should I call it the terratremula?– side, that is). The ex Giants’ skipper, who guided the ragtag teams of the early 2010s to upset World Series championships in 2020, ’12, and ’14, had come out of retirement for this season, at the helm of the AL West division leading Texas Rangers.

He’d been in the east side of the bay for a three game series with Oakland, where his charges had their eight game winning streak broken by losing the last game of the series.

The last time he was the visiting team’s manager at Oracle Park was in 2006 when his San Diego Padres defeated their hosts, 10-2. Tonight’s crowd gave him a rousing standing ovation when his picture appeared on the jumbotron before the lineups were announced. And again when it showed a welcome back slide show between halves of the third.

Bochy’s team won a squeaker, 2-1.

The Giants, struggling to stay in the National League wild card race after going 0-2 in Oakland and 1-2 in Anaheim, chose the bullpen route for the third consecutive time. Friday night’s opener was Scott Alexander (6-2, 4.01) at game time, who had been chased from the mound in the first inning on Tuesday before he could get a man out, but not before he had given up three hits, which resulted in three runs. He did better in his one inning of work tonight, allowing only one base runner (on a walk) and striking out two. Ross Stripling came on in the second for his turn as follow up man.

Bochy and crew went with the 31 year old right hander Jon Gray, who toed the rubber at 7-5, 3.88. Gray was 2-8, 5.96 against the Giants and 67-61, 4.42 in his overall big league career before tonight. His work tonight was excellent, seven innings of shutout ball, in which he conceded only two hits, both singles. He didn’ walk anyone. His pitch count reached 87 (with only 26 balls). He earned the win and now has a record of 8-5, 3.65.

Both pitchers were in command as the teams traded zeroes until the top of the sixth, when the Rangers broke through with back to back solo homers by Nathaniel Lowe (his 14th, to right) and Mitch Garver (his eighth, to left).

That did it for Stripling; he struck out JP Martínez to end the inning and his tenure. He’d thrown 73 pitches, 47 for strikes, over five frames, allowing five hits and no. walks. His ERA briefly dropped below 5.00, but he left the game with it at 5.10. He was tagged with the loss; his record now stands at 0-5, 5.10.

Ryan Walker put the visitors down in order in the seventh and was pulled for Taylor when Marcus Semien led off the eighth by beating out a grounder to third for a single. The left handed twin emerged unscathed in spite of a passed ball on the third strike to Lowe. (It’s not having been scored as a wild pitch occasioned some questions in the press box).

Aroldis Chapman replaced Gray for the eighth, struck out Conforto and walked Bailey. Mark Mathias, batting for Crawford, fanned, but Chapman unleashed two wild pitches in the process, putting Conforto on third. Matos also went down swinging, and that was the end of the threat.

Luke Jackson was hit hard in the Texas ninth but put the Rangers down while allowing nothing more harmful than a walk.

Will Smith, the Texas closer, looking for his 22nd save in 24 opportunities, gave up a leadoff double to center by Heliot Ramos, who took third Leody Taveras’s throwing error. He scored on a ground out to third by Estrada, but that was all the offense the Giants could muster. Smith got his save and the Rangers, their win.

Saturday, the game will start at 6:05. Alex Cobb (6-3, 3.30) is scheduled to be on the mound for San Francisco. Andrew Heaney (9-6, 4.14) will pitch for the team from Arlington.

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: Did A’s truly censor A’s fans protest last Sunday at Coliseum?

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Oakland A’s fans with Sell shirts at a Apr 28, 2023 game vs. the Cincinnati Reds in the Oakland Coliseum bleachers. The chant “Sell the team” has also caught on in other MLB parks as the A’s relocation to Las Vegas is proving to be not popular with the fans (AP News file photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Daniel last Sunday in the suite bleacher area of the Oakland Coliseum fans were escorted out of a suite by order of a female employee who was wearing A’s employee credentials and ushered the group of fans wearing “Sell” shirts to the elevator and out of the area.

#2 A fan told Sam Warren of the San Francisco Chronicle that the “Sell” shirts were not permitted on the suite level and those fans wearing them had to leave. The A’s stated on Wednesday before the game with the Rangers that “We have no policy against prohibiting ‘SELL’ t-shirts in any area in the ballpark.” said an A’s spokesperson.

#3 The A’s fans had organized a second “reverse boycott” in a game against the San Francisco Giants last Sunday. The A’s and Giants fans were wearing “Sell” shirts in protest of the A’s moving to Las Vegas and wanting A’s owner John Fisher to sell the team to someone who will keep the team in Oakland. Does it strike you that it’s a little suspicious that on Sunday fans are not allowed to wear the “Sell” shirts in the bleacher suites but on Wednesday the fans were welcomed to wear them in the bleacher suites. Do you think all the publicity about this probably changed the narrative?

#4 When the A’s rebroadcasted their Sunday game against the Giants for television it was also reported that the top of the fifth inning where the fans started to chant “Sell the team” was cut off. The broadcast had indicated that there was technical difficulties and the A’s spokesperson said, “We encourage fans to express their fandom.”

#5 Taking these circumstances into account and the A’s say they deny they are not banning any fans with “Sell” shirts on to be prohibited from the bleacher suite level or anywhere else in the park fans have questioned why these fans were escorted out of the suite for the shirts now the A’s say the fans wearing the Sell shirts are welcome to go anywhere in the park with the Sell shirts.

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