Category: MLB

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Cuban Players in the All Star Game-No Embargo or Blockade here

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Tampa Bay Rays Yandy Diaz has been selected to the 2023 American League All Star Team in Seattle (Tampa Bay Times photo file)

Cuban Players in the All Star Game — No Embargo or Blockade here-

That’s Amaury News and Commenatary

By Amaury Pi-González

In 1960 de US government placed an embargo on Cuba’s communist regime after the government nationalized US-owned companies and offered zero compensation. Later Fidel Castro’s government also nationalized Cuban citizens-owned businesses.

Castro declared himself and his government a Marxist-Leninist. The great exodus of Cubans began around that time. Cuba is the leader in baseball in Latin America even before Castro (crazy about baseball) was even born.

Because he eradicated all professional sports in the island, including baseball, he did not make baseball more popular as the government sponsored all sports, as the Soviet Union was doing, but most of the Cuban players that were playing then in the Major Leagues and also in Cuba, like Luis Tiant, Octavio (Cookie) Rojas, Camilo Pascual, Pedro Ramos, and Tony Taylor.

Mike Fornieles and many others who love the game of baseball left in the next few years. Castro forgot that these Cuban players although they loved the game they also loved the freedom to play in the Major League. That freedom was denied by the Cuban dictatorship.

Esteban Bellán, born in La Habana, Cuba, was the first Latin American baseball player to play in a North American professional league when it was formed in 1871 with the Troy Haymakers. Today, 63 years after the US-Cuban embargo, which also affected Cuban players because the Cuban government prohibited them from traveling outside and playing in the US, a total of at least five Cuban players have been selected for this 2023 MLB All-Star Game on July 11 at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park.

These are those Cuban players, Yandy Díaz (Tampa Bay), Yordan Alvarez (Houston Astros) who should be back from the injured list, Randy Arozarena (Tampa Bay), Adolis García (Miami Marlins), Lourdes Gourriel (Arizona Diamondbacks, Luis Robert Jr. (Chicago White Sox). Others like, Yonnier Cano (Baltimore Orioles) could be in Seattle as well the possibility of Jorge Soler of the Miami Marlins.

In 1968 a total of six Cuban players went to the All Star Game at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. In 2014 at Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota four Cubans were selected. Today there are over 20 Cuban-born players in the major leagues.

They have suffered along with the Cuban people the lack of freedom in their country of birth. The great majority had to escape the island in very dangerous circumstances. Some when playing outside of Cuba, defected and asked for political exile, like Oakland A’s Aledmys Díaz.

Many had no choice but to leave their families behind as they chose their dream, like the majority of baseball players all over the world, to play in the Major Leagues. All-Star Game: This July 11th at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. A’s outfielder-DH Brent Rooker was selected to represent the Oakland A’s.

Rooker had an excellent first half of the season, however anybody that follows the A’s, for this whole first half knows that rookie Esteury Ruíz has been the most productive and exciting player for Mark Kotsay’s team. Brent Rooker has played in72 games, average of .243 with a team leading 14 Home runs and 41 runs batted-in.

Esteury Ruíz is the A’s everyday center fielder and makes all the plays, and then some, he has played 83 games with 33 RBI, top in doubles for the team with 19 and has stolen 42 bases which is #1 in the major leagues.

Rooker has played for Minnesota and Kansas City prior to arriving with the A’s, he is not a rookie. Ruíz playing, in his very first season in the major, he is a rookie and could be a serious candidate for Rookie of The Year.

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

Alonso two run homer puts Mets over the top defeat Giants 8-4

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San Francisco Giants Thario Estrada takes a swing at a New York Mets pitch in the top of the seventh inning at Citi Park in New York on Sun Jul 2, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK. — The San Francisco Giants fell 8-4 to the struggling New York Mets and allowed them to win their first series in a month at Citi Field on Sunday night.

San Francisco won game 1, but fell in the last two of the three-game series as they continue what has arguably been their toughest travel schedule this season.

The Giants got the first run, in the third inning when Thairo Estrada grounded into a forced out and Bryce Johnson scored.

New York had the bases loaded and Pete Alonso walked and Francisco Alvarez scored, tying the game at 1-1. Then Jeff McNeil singled on a ground ball to second base and Brandon Nimmo and Tommy Pham scored due to a fielding error by shortstop Brandon Crawford, boosting the Mets up 3-1.

In the fourth inning, Mark Canha hit a home run to left center field and put the Mets up 4-1. Pham hit a fly ball to second base and Minno scored, making it 5-1 Mets.

After game 2, Giants manager Gabe Kapler said that the team recently has not been able to score runs early on, while putting together “pretty good at-bats later in the game”. That continued to be the case on Sunday.

In the seventh inning, Blake Sabol hit a homer to center field and Joc Pederson scored, cutting the Mets’ lead to 5-3. It was Sabol’s third at-bat against right-handed pitcher Jeff Brigham this year, and he got his revenge after being struck out twice.

“Was able to hold up on the sweeper down and in and I think he was thinking the same thing like, I think I can get him again up and away and was able to get the barrell there,” said Sabol. “So definitely a confidence boost and at that point it was a big one for the team, kind of got things going you know, we’re right there, one more swing away from taking the lead.”

Then J.D. Davis hit a line drive to right field and Estrada scored, making it 5-4. But the Mets fought back. Starling Marte hit a fly ball to left field and Alonso scored, lifting New York up 6-4.

Alonso hit a homer in the eighth inning and Pham scored, expanding the Mets’ lead to 8-4.

Giants right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling allowed no runs in two innings pitched in his first start since May 17. Alex Wood followed him and allowed five runs, four of them earned, in 1 2/3 innings pitched.

“I just had a hard time getting the grip,” said Stripling, explaining that his hand felt “sticky with the humidity”. He said not being able to strike his speed “was the main culprit here”.

The Giants arrived in New York early morning Friday after a three-game series in Toronto and fly back home Sunday night and go straight into a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners.

Asked if the travel schedule may be a factor in the team’s performance, Kapler said, “I think it’s a good opportunity for us to show some toughness here, right?”

“Certainly the travel has not been easy and thinking this leg of travel is going to be equally challenging and just like, a really good opportunity for us to step up and be tough through it and then be together through it,” Kapler said.

“We gotta go get rest on the plane as much as we possibly can and these guys got to rest up and get back to the ballpark.”

The Giants (46-38) return home to host the Seattle Mariners (40-42) for a three-game series starting on Monday. First pitch is at 6:45 p.m. PT.

A’s can’t come back or sweep Chisox at Coliseum in 8-7 loss

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The Chicago White Sox Zach Remillard slides into third base under the glove of Oakland A’s third baseman Jace Pederson in the top of the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Jul 2, 2023 (AP News photo)

Chicago (37-49). 005 002 100. – 8. 12. 0

Oakland (23-63). 002 010 022. – 7. 10 2

Time: 2:56

Attendance: 12,107

Sunday, July 2, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The 2023 Oakland Athletics, in their never ending struggle to attain mediocrity, lost an 8-7 squeaker against the Chicago White Sox this afternoon before a gathering of 12,107 fans whose numbers were augmented by the youngsters whose parents took advantage of the kids get in free Sunday. That tipped the balance of cheering in favor of the for now home team.

The visitors didn’t announce who their starting pitcher would be until well after 11:00 o’clock, when they gave the nod to Touki Toussaint, Arizona’s first round draft pick in 2014. Chicago claimed him off waivers from Cleveland on June 20. He had been 0-1, 4.91 for the Guardians and 0-0, 2.84 for the Chisox for an overall record of 0-1, 3.60.

Touissant lasted 3-2/3 innings on the mound for the Chisox today. The A’s scored two runs, both earned, against him He allowed three hits, walked four batters, hit one with a pitch, of which he threw 8r5, 46 for strikes. He wasn’t involved in the decision and saw his season long ERA rise to 3.95.

Paul Blackburn, the A’s best hurler in 2022 (which is damning him with faint praise, although he really is a good pitcher), was back on the mound, making his seventh start since returning from the IL on May. 29. He picked up his first win in his last start before today, allowing the only run (it was earned) in the A’s 2-1 triumph against the Yankees.

He went 5-1/3 innings then. Today, he threw five innings and gave up an equal number of runs, all of them earned, on six hits, four walks, and a hit batter. He struck out five. His pitch count was 97, 40 of them balls. Blackburn took the loss, and his record now is 1-1, 4.50.

Chicago batted around in the top of the first on a lead off walk to Seby Zavala, who eventually scored Tim Anderson’s sacrifice fly, and a single by Eloy Jiménez, who drove in Andrew Benintendi, who’d singled and gone to second on a passed ball. (Shea Langliers already had made a throwing error).

They picked up another tally when Blackburn hit Gavin Sheets with a pitch with the bases loaded. Zach Remillard followed that with a two RBI single to left before Blackburn finally fanned Zabala to end the onslaught.. He had thrown 69 pitches in three innings, and the A’s were behind, 5-1,

The Athletics got back a couple of runs in their half of the frame, but they ran themselves out scoring more. When Tony Kemp hit a one out single to left, he drove in Conner Capel, who had opened the inning with a walk.

Tyler Wade, who had reached on a bunt single, got thrown out by a mile trying for third. A walk to Noda, Bledays’s getting hit by a pitch, and another walk to Brown brought Kemp across the plate and left the sacks still filled with A’s. But Jace. Peterson grounded out to short, and Oakland still trailed, 5-1.

Capel’s walk and a single by Wade sandwiched between a couple of outs in the A’s fourth to Aaron Bummer being brought in to face, and retire, Kemp to maintain Chicago’s three run margin.

The green and gold resumed their attack in the fifth frame, Noda touched him for a leadoff broken bat single to left and scored on Bleday’s authoritative double to center.

Richard Lovelady, reinstated from the 15 day injured list this morning, relieved Blackburn to start the top of the sixth. He gave up a run on a leadoff double to left by Remillard, who advanced to third on Bleday’s fielding error, and scored on Benintendi’s sac fly to center.

Tim Anderson’s single to center made that run count as earned and heralded Lovelady’s replacement by Rico García. He walked Luis Robert, Jr. before giving up an RBI single to Jímenez that made it, 7-3, Chicago. Both runs were charged to Lovelady.

Jake Burger’s 18th home run of 2023 led off the top of the seventh. That run was charged to García’s account. But he retired the next three White Sox he faced. It now was 8-3 in favor of the pale hose.

Tony Kemp led off the home seventh against Kenyan Middleton. He and the two A’s that followed him returned to the dugout without reaching base. Bryan Shaw retired Brown and Peterson in the home eighth before surrendering a double to Langlliers and a 441 foot round tripper to center field by the A’s courtesy all star, Brent Rooker, his 14th of the year, that closed the gap to 8-5.

That set the scene for Sam Long to try to keep the A’s within striking distance of the Chisox in the ninth, which he did, ending the inning with a pick off-caught stealing of Clint Frazier, who had entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh.

Gregory Santos let the A’s get close in the bottom of the ninth. A one out single by Kemp. A two out double by Bleday to make it 8-6. A single to right by Brown. 8-7. And then Peterson flew out to right, and that was it.

Aaron Bummer was the winning pitcher and now has a record of 3-1, 3.65. Santos was credited with hi first save.

The Athletics, at 23-63, .267 still have a better won-post percentage than the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, who finished that year at 20-134, .130 and were 12-49, .197 on July 2. The 1962 New York Mets, who hold the modern record for worst season, wound up at 40-120, .333 and were 21-54, 280 at the end of play on July 2.

The Royals defeated the Dodgers this afternoon, 9-1. KC now is 25-59, 298. At least for the time being, the team that’s been rooted in Oakland since 1968 still owns the worst record in the history of major league baseball.

The Athletics will be on the road from now until the end of the all star break. They’ll play Detroit in the motor city on July 4. JP Sears (1-6, 4.43) will face a pitcher to be decided. The contest is scheduled for 3:40 PDT.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Medina gets win and run support against White Sox at Coliseum

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Aledmys Diaz (12) the Oakland A’s shortstop throws to first base after forcing the Chicago White Sox Zach Remillard (left) at second base at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri Jun 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Even though the Sox got a run on A’s starter Luis Medina in the first inning, the rest of his outing was a shutout where even when Chicago would load the bases, Medina would escape the inning and still have the calmness and confidence to keep going.

#2 On the other side of the coin for the A’s, five innings resulted in five runs. In the second inning Oakland put up four of those five runs.

#3 Jace Peterson hit a sac fly to left field and Aledmys Diaz scored off that to take the lead, 2-1. A Tony Kemp triple would then score Langeliers, 3-1 and then finally Esteury Ruiz hit a sac fly that scored Kemp, 4-1.

#4 It was a bullpen game for the A’s from the sixth inning to the end and they held the White Sox off, but Chicago tried to make it interesting with three runs, including a solo home run by Luis Robert Jr.

#5 Saturday afternoon the White Sox will start Dylan Cease (3-3 ERA 4.04) the A’s have yet to determine a starter. A 1:07pm PT first pitch at the Oakland Coliseum.

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

https://soundcloud.com/sports-radio-service/oakland-as-podcast-with-jeremiah-salmonson-fri-jun-30-2023

NY’s Verlander in return shuts down SF in 4-1 win; Series even at 1-1

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The San Francisco Giants Luis Matos makes the catch against the centerfield padding in the bottom of the second inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field in New York on Sat Jul 1, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK. — San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani was retired after throwing a season-low three innings and allowing the New York Mets to score three homers in an inning, and the visiting team lost 4-1 at Citi Field on Saturday afternoon.

Good things came in threes for the Mets in the third.

Francisco Alvarez hit a home run to center field to put the Mets up 1-0. Immediately after, Brandon Nimmo homered to right field to boost New York up 2-0. Then Francisco Lindor hit a homer to center field to expand the lead to 3-0.

“I made mistakes and I just couldn’t put them away. Got the two strikes with them and yeah just couldn’t put them away, unfortunately,” said DeSclafani of the three-homer inning. “I made bad pitches and they torched them.”

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said that DeSclafani “wasn’t effective” on Saturday.

“We would’ve liked him to have seen him get through five innings for us and (Sean) Manea was prepared to give up some length and the lineup was set up for him to give us that length.”

In the fourth inning, Tommy Pham hit a ground ball to left field and Pete Alonso scored, putting the Mets up 4-0.

It took the Giants until the seventh inning to score a run. Thairo Estrada grounded into a double play and J.D. Davis scored, making it 4-1 Mets.

Kapler said that Mets starting pitcher Justin Verlander “pitched a phenomenal game” giving up five hits, striking out six and not allowing an earned run in seven innings.

“We weren’t able to score runs early on and one thing that I’m noticing is we’re putting together pretty good at-bats later in the game. Historically we do a really nice job in the first couple of innings in the game and right now we’re just a little short in that regard,” Kapler said. “The early parts of games are seemingly not as competitive as they can be and need to be for us to be a great team.”

The series is tied at 1-1 and first pitch for the third and final game is 4:10 p.m. PT.

A’s get edge on Sox in ten innings 7-6 at Coliseum

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Oakland A’s Tyler Wade (left) slides ahead of the tag from Chicago White Sox catcher Carlos Perez (36) at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Jul 1, 2023 (AP News Photo)

Chicago (36-49). 012 000 030. 0. – 6 10 2

Oakland (23-62). 100 011 200 1. – 7. 11.0.

10 innings

Time: 3:20

Attendance: 9,235

Saturday, July 1, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–On Friday, James Kaprielian was the A’s announced starting pitcher for this Saturday’s game against the Chicago White Sox. Yesterday, James Kaprielian also was placed on the 15 day injured list.

That’s at least partially why Kyle Muller took the mound for the at least current home team on this hot and hazy afternoon, during which the Athletics squeaked past the visitors, 7-6, in 10 innings. The haze burned off, but the heat remained. If the double play is a pitcher’s best friend, heat in the Coliseum is a pitcher’s nightmare.

Muller, the Atlanta Braves’ second round draft choice in 2016, was the A’s opening day pitcher this season and after three starts could boast a record of 0-0, 2.53 over 15-2/3 innings with a WHIP of 1.18. It was all downhill after that, and on May 23rd the A’s optioned Muller to Las Vegas in the batter friendly PCL, where he went 1-2, 6.59 before the A’s called up the 25 year old southpaw to start for them this afternoon.

Two double plays in five innings showed that Muller’s best friend didn’t desert him, but his stint on the mound, if not a nightmare, wasn’t a pleasant dream. He wasn’t sharp and allowed three runs, all earned, on six hits, one a homer, and four walks. He threw 86 pitches, 54 for strikes, and left trailing, 3-2. He escaped with a no decision and lowered his ERA to 7.79.

For their part, the Chisox went with 27 year old righty Dylan Crease, who came into today with a 3-3, 4.04 mark. In his last nine starts, however, he had gone 1-1, 2.82, with an opponents’ BA of .203. This, with a team that had a season record of 36-48. He toed the rubber hoping to notch his 40th career victory.

He failed in that attempt, leaving with the score tied and a runner on second in the bottom of the sixth. In 5-1/3 innings, he allowed three run, all earned, on six hits and three bases on balls. He struck out five batters. His pitch count reached 87, 54 of which were considered strikes. Like Muller, he got a no decision. His record now stands at 3-3, 4.10.

The green and gold got off to an early lead. Tony Kemp sent a lead off liner that bounced once before hitting the right center field wall between the Coca Cola ad and the line under the State Farm sign that separates balls in play from home runs. JJ Bleday’s sac fly to deep center brought him home.

The South Siders lost no time in erasing that deficit. Eloy Jiménez led off by lifting a 3-1, 88.9mph slider way back into left field, landing 433 feet from home. It was his 11th home run and 35th RBI of the year. Chicago sent seven men to the plate before that frame ended with the score tied at one.

They didn’t stop there. Tim Andersson’s lead off single to left center in the top of the third set the stage for two additional tallies when he and Luis Robert, Jr., who had followed. him with a single to right, were driven in by a single by Jiménez and Andrew Vaughn’s force out, respectively. The Pale Hose now were ahead, 3-1.

The A’s didn’t get another hit after Kemp’s lead off triple until Jordan Díaz and Tyler Wade opened the home half of the fifth with a pair of infield singles. Esteury Ruíz tried to sacrifice them up a base each, but Crease’s throw beat Díaz to third for a force out. Kemp flew out to center, advancing Wade to third.

JJ Bleday hit a hard liner that Zach Remillard made a great dive for but couldn’t hold on to, and Ward scored from third. We went into the sixth with the Chisox ahead, 3-2 and Austin Pruitt on the mound for the Athletics. He set the Chicagoans down in order, as did Lucas Erceg in the seventh.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Jace Peterson doubled to right center and scored on Noda’s two bagger to left center, tying the score at three and sending Crease to the showers, replaced by Gregory Santos. The reliever walked Díaz and surrendered a single to Wade that loaded the bases. Ruíz took. a called third strike for the second out. Then Kemp grounded out to second, ending the threat

Keynan Middleton retired the first two batters he faced in the home half of the seventh, but Seth Brown deposited a slider over the 367 foot sign in right, a shot that travelled 383 feet and Brown’s seventh homer and 20th RBI. Oh, yes, it also put the A’s up, 4-3.

But nothing’s easy in this vale of tears called the Oakland Coliseum. In the top of the eighth with Erceg back on the mound Robert smacked leadoff double to right center, and Jiménez walked. Vaughn was hit by a pitch while swinging at it for strike three and was ruled out after a lengthy rules check. Jake Burger went down swinging the normal way. Carlos Pérez pinch hit for Seby Zavala and line a double down the left field line that scored Frazier and sent Grandal to third.

That brought Sam Long to the mound for Oakland. He granted an intentional walk to Remillard to load the bases and an unintentional one to Benintendi that plated Grandal. Anderson hit a drive into the left field seats that had him circling the bases, but the play was reviewed, and the shot was called foul. Anderson then flew out to right, and the inning ended with the score 6-4, Chicago..

Joe Kelly was the pale hose pitcher in the home eighth. He walked Noda before fanning Díaz and Wade. Ruíz then dropped a double into just fair territory in right; Noda stopped his advance at third. He scored on a balk with Kemp aa the plate. Kemp’s single to first drove in Ruíz, who also had moved up on the balk. Bleday then hit a grounder that Remillard couldn’t handle at second. Pinch hitting Conner Capel flew out to end the inning in what now was a 6-6 tie.

Trevor May was called on to halt the White Sox in the top of the ninth. Robert singled to left. Jiménez popped out. Vaughn was hit by a pitch. Robert was caught trying to steal second, May to Kemp to Peterson. Chicago challenged the call, but it was confirmed. May struck Burger out to preserve the tie.

Reynaldo López was assigned the task of preservation for Chicago in the Oakland ninth. Although he allowed a walk and a single he succeeded.

Shitaro Fujinami faced Grandal with Burger the zombie runner at second as we went into extra innings. He retired Grandal and the Sox’ Carlos Pérez before plunking Remillard. Then Benintendi whiffed, and the A’s gained the enormous advantage of starting their half of the 10th with Wade at second and needing only one run to. win.

Kendall Graveman was on the mound. He struck out Ruíz on a foul bunt with two strikes. Kemp flew out to left; Wade held second. Remillard bobbled Bleday’s grounder to second and threw errantly to first. Díaz flew around to home. Both calls were confirmed on review. The crowd went wild … on chants of “Sell the team!”

Fujinami got the win. He’s now 4-7, 9.57. Graveman, now 4-1, 300, was the losing pitcher.

Sunday, the two rivals will face each other in the final game of this three set series. Paul Blackman (1-0, 3,77) will be Oakland’s starting pitcher. Michael Kopech (3-7, 4.08) will play that role for Chicago. Game time is set for 1:07.

A’s Score Seven Runs Beat White Sox 7-4 at Coliseum Friday; Oakland wins third game in last seven

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The Oakland A’s Esteuery Ruiz (1) steals second base while Chicago White Sox Elivis Andrus (1) waits for the late throw at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri Jun 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Troy Ewers

OAKLAND–On a Friday in front of 14,181 fans. The Oakland A’s (22-62) played the Chicago White Sox (36-48) and Luis Medina of the A’s faced off against Tanner Banks of the White Sox and Medina put on a stellar performance in his five innings.

Even though the Sox got a run on Medina in the first inning, the rest of his outing was a shutout where even when Chicago would load the bases, Medina would escape the inning and still have the calmness and confidence to keep going.

On the other side of the coin for the A’s, five innings resulted in five runs. In the second inning Oakland put up four of those five runs. It started with Shea Langeliers hitting an RBI single that scored JJ Bleday to tie the game, 1-1.

Jace Peterson hit a sac fly to left field and Aledmys Diaz scored off that to take the lead, 2-1. A Tony Kemp triple would then score Langeliers, 3-1 and then finally Esteury Ruiz hit a sac fly that scored Kemp, 4-1. Also Ruiz got his 41st stolen base in the first inning making him a MLB leader in stolen bases.

The fifth run was a Carlos Perez solo home run and this was his fifth home run of the season, 5-1 A’s. It was a bullpen game for the A’s from the sixth inning to the end and they held the White Sox off, but Chicago tried to make it interesting with three runs, including a solo home run by Luis Robert Jr.

The threat of a comeback for Chicago never phased the A’s, because they got two insurance runs in the eighth inning and the game ended with a score of 7-3, Oakland A’s win!!!

Saturday’s game is the second of the series and on the hill is Dylan Cease of the White Sox (3-3, 4.04) and it’s unknown at the time who’s pitching for Oakland. First pitch 1:07pm PT.

Bailey goes deep for 3 run shot puts Giants over Mets 5-4 in nail biter

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The San Francisco Giants Patrick Bailey connects for an eighth inning home run to take the lead over the New York Mets at Citi Park in New York on Fri Jun 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK. — In his first game in the Big Apple, Patrick Bailey hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning to boost the San Francisco Giants to a 5-4 victory over the New York Mets at Citi Field on Friday night.

“Today was flat-out excellent,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said of the first in the three-game series. “So definitely fair to get excited about tonight.”

In the first inning, Jeff McNeil doubled on a line drive to left fielder Blake Sabol and Francisco Lindor scored, putting the Mets up 1-0.

Brandon Crawford singled on a line drive to center field and Sabol scored, tying the game at 1-1 in the second. In the bottom of the inning, Omar Narvaez hit a sacrifice fly to center field and Tommy Pham scored, allowing the Mets to regain a 2-1 lead.

But the Giants tied it again in the fifth inning when Wilmer Flores hit a home run to center field. San Francisco challenged a stadium boundary call but the call on the field was upheld. McNeil doubled to left field on fan interference and Brandon Nimmo scored, putting the Mets up 3-2.

It was a Giants fan responsible for the interference, and Blake Sabol went over to console him and gave him a fist pump.

“I felt bad for the kid there you know, he had a whole stadium booing him,” said Sabol. “I think he was just a kid excited at a baseball game.”

Giants starting pitcher Alex Cobb said Sabol is “a puppy, he’s got a big heart”.

In the sixth inning, Pham hit a homer to left field and expanded the Mets’ lead to 4-2.

Then Bailey hit his big homer to give San Francisco the lead. That wasn’t all he contributed, though. In the ninth in the catcher position, Bailey threw to shortstop Casey Schmitt as Starling Marte was caught stealing.

“Probably one of his quicker moves and fortunate the fast ball off, I was able to get a good throw,” Bailey said of the play.

The Giants (46-36) got their eighth win of the season when trailing at the end of the seventh inning. Meanwhile, the Mets (36-46) suffered their 13th blown lead loss this month which is the most in the majors in June.

Game two takes place on Saturday with first pitch at 1:10 p.m. PT. Giants right-handed pitcher Anthony DeSclafani (4-7, 4.28 ERA) is set to face right-handed pitcher Justin Verlander (2-4, 4.11 ERA).

Giants Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short Against Toronto Losing 2-1

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Toronto Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt was dealing agianst the San Francisco Giants. Bassitt went six innings, three hits and 12 strikeouts at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Thu Jun 29, 2023 (@ESPNStatsInfo photo)

Giants Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short Against Toronto Losing 2-1

By Barbara Mason

Thursday evening the San Francisco Giants (45-36) finished off their three game series against the Toronto Blue Jays (45-37) and were defeated by the Blue Jays 2-1.

The winner the Blue Jays came out on top in this three game series winning it two games to one.

Going into the sixth inning neither team was able to put up much offense. In the bottom of the inning everything would change for the Blue Jays. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would knock a Keaton Winn pitch out of the yard with Brandon Belt on base and Toronto took a 2-0 lead.

This game would go into the ninth inning with San Francisco’s last chance to rally. Patrick Bailey doubled and Blake Sabol singled him home, the score now 2-1. With two outs the Giants were down to their final strike with Brandon Crawford at the plate. The Giants rally in the ninth inning came up one run short.

San Francisco had five hits in this game but it was the Guerrero two run home run that made the difference in this game. This was a bit of a pitching duel between Keaton Winn and Chris Bassitt. Bassitt had been struggling but he came to play in this game giving up only three hits with 12 punch outs in an outstanding start through six innings. Winn allowed three hits giving up two runs and only three strikeouts. This was his first start.

Post game notes: The Giants took game one 3-0 and Toronto was the victor in game two with a 6-1 win to tie up the series. Thairo Estrada was a huge factor for the Giants in the game one win with two RBI’s handing San Francisco their 13th win in their last 15 games.

In Game Two the Blue Jays George Springer set the tone with the first of four Toronto doubles putting the stops on the Giants ten game road winning streak. Springer’s double came in the first inning and going into the second inning the Blue Jays had a 5-0 lead. The Jays came away a 6-1 winner on Wednesday night.

The Giants now travel to New York to take on the Mets who are having terrible struggles. They have only won three of their last 12 games and have fallen into fourth place in the NL East with a record of 36-44. They are 17 games out of first place. Alex Cobb will take the mound for San Francisco. He has a 5-2 win/ loss record and a 3.09 ERA. Carlos Carrasco will get the nod for the Mets with a 2/3 win/loss record and a 6.19 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PM.

Yanks route A’s 10-4 win rubber game of three-game series at Coliseum

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Oakland A’s Tony Kemp (5) considers rounding second base as the New York Yankees infielder Anthony Volpe (11) looks for the possible throw at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Jun 29, 2023 (@Athletics photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s met the New York Yankees in a day game on Thursday at the Oakland Coliseum. Both teams, the A’s and the Yankees, wanted to win the rubber game of the three-game series. The A’s had to rebound from having been the recipients of Domingo German’s perfect game Wednesday night. The Yankees beat the A’s 11-0 and wanted to continue putting runs on the board.

Well, the Yankees found their offense again on Thursday as they erupted in the sixth inning to score eight times to break open the game and coast to an easy 10-4 win over the hapless A’s.

The A’s starter, lefty Hogan Harris, was pitching relatively well heading into the sixth. Harris had held the Yankees to just two runs in his first five innings. The A’s scored one in the first, two in the third, and led 3-2 heading into the fateful sixth inning. The Yankees sent 13 men to the plate in the sixth, scoring eight times. The game summary follows.

The A’s jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Tony Kemp led off the inning with a single. Kemp stole second and went to third on an errant throw from Yankees’ catcher Jose Ramirez. JJ Bleday’s sacrifice fly to left drove in Kemp for the score.

The Yankees tied the game with a run in the top of the second. Yankees left fielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa sent one of Harris’ pitches over the wall in center field. Esteury Ruiz tried to make a leaping catch. Ruiz had the ball in his glove, but his momentum crashing into the fence caused the ball and his glove to drop on the other side. 

The A’s plated two runs in the third to lead 3-1. Yankees’ starter Clarke Schmidt walked Ryan Noda and JJ Bleday to start the inning. Seth Brown singled to deep right field to drive in Noda, and Bleday went to third on the play. Carlos Perez’ Sacrifice fly drove in Bleday with the A’s third run.

The Yankees put their second run of the game on the board in the fourth. Harrison Baded doubled to get things going. Josh Donaldson’s ground out sent Bader to third base. Kiner-Falefa drove in BAder with a sacrifice fly. The A’s led 3-2 after four complete.

The Yankees had a huge inning in the sixth. The New Yorkers sent 13 men to the plate and scored eight runs. They had seven hits, one walk, and two batters hit by a pitch. Harrison Bader singled to get the rally started.

Third baseman Josh Donaldson, much maligned by Yankee fans for his poor showing this year, crushed a pitch that went 472 feet off the facing of the second deck in left field. Donaldson’s blast was the eighth-longest home run hit by any player in baseball this season.

Harris retired Kiner-Falefa for the first out. Anthony Volpe singled. A’s manager Mark Kotsay brought in Lucas Erceg to pitch. Erceg hit Jose Trevino with a pitch. DJ LeMAhieu walked to load the bases. Glyber Torres singled to drive in Volpe and Trevino to make it a 6-3 Yankee lead.

The onslaught continued. Erceg hit Anthony Rizzo with a pitch. Giancarlo Stanton doubled to drive in two more. Bader’s single drove in Rizzo with the Yankees’ ninth run and the seventh of the inning. The A’s brought in lefty Ken Waldichuk to pitch. Kiner-Falefa drove in his third run with a single to make it 10-3. The Yankees blew the game open.

The Yankees did not score after the sixth. The A’s scored a meaningless run in the eighth. The Yankees won 10-4 and won the series two games to one.

Game notes: The A’s have lost 12 of the last 14 games played. Their record is now a dismal 21-62. The Yankees improved to 45-36.

Hogan Harris was the losing pitcher. His record is 2-2. Hogan’s line was five and 1/3rd innings pitched. He allowed nine hits, five runs, four earned, walked two, struck out two, and gave up two home runs. Reliever Lucas Erceg did not record an out. He allowed three hits and four runs. 

The line score for Oakland was four runs, eight hits, and one error.

The Line score for New York was ten runs, 13 hits, and one error. 

When a pitch hit Anthony Rizzo in the sixth inning, it was the 212th time he was hit in his career. Only seven other players in all of baseball history have been hit more times.

Seth Brown’s three singles were the only bright spot for the A’s. 

The A’s welcome the Chicago White Sox to the Coliseum for three games starting Friday night. The A’s will send Luis Medina (1-7, 6.84) to the hill Friday night. The White Sox have yet to announce their starter. The game will start at 6:40 pm.