Category: MLB

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: San José chances of Expansion are better than Oakland; 5 San Jose Mayors send letter to MLB Commissioner

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San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan sent a letter this week signed by Mahan and four previous San Jose Mayors to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred that the South Bay is not San Francisco Giants territory and that MLB should allow an expansion team to come San Jose and the Giants should no longer have territory rights to San Jose and the South Bay (The Business Journals photo)

San José chances of Expansion are better than Oakland

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

OAKLAND–Five of San Jose’s mayors send Commissioner Rob Manfred a letter asking MLB to permanently suspend territorial rights seeking an opportunity for an expansion team. Matt Mahan, the Mayor of San José, and four of his predecessors Sam Liccardo, Chuck Reed, Ron Gonzales and Tom McEnery — wrote in the letter that Santa Clara County territorial rights should not belong to San Francisco Giants.

With the Oakland A’s move to Las Vegas, the San Francisco Giants will be the one team playing in a market with the largest population, in the country, over 7.5 million people in the nine-county Bay Area. Ironically the Oakland A’s gave the San José territorial rights away in 1992 to the San Francisco Giants, who were ready to leave Candlestick Park for Florida.

The A’s intentions were for the Giants to stay in the Bay Area by building a new park in San José. San José is not only the most populous city in the Bay Area with over 1 million residents, more than San Francisco and Oakland but also with Silicon Valley, a major technology hub in California.

However, back in 1992 San José’s Silicon Valley was very young and the south bay city had not become the financial power that it is today. 2023 is another story. According to Consumer Affairs ranking the median household income in the City of San José is $126,377 per year.

Santa Clara County/San José is a thriving dynamic city headquarters to some of the largest technology companies in the world, as well as the home of the NHL San José Sharks and the MLS San José Earthquakes and the San José Giants, the California League Class Single – an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

The letter by the San José current and previous Mayors is a very good move into the possibility of the south bay city getting an expansion team. San José still a city growing, with tremendous potential and definitely should be taken seriously by Major League Baseball to rival such other cities seeking an expansion team like Nashville, Portland, Charlotte and possibility others.

Baseball is a summer sport, San José offers the best warm weather consistently over Oakland and San Francisco. Located is the southernmost part of The Bay, San José does not share the marine layer or the fog.

In the next few years BART will be able to complete the loop around the bay, and extend their service from the Berryessa station into downtown San José. Also, Cal-Trains, VTA, Amtrak all come thru/to San Jose. I believe San José is the biggest threat to Oakland in getting an expansion team, because of its size and less economic and social problems.

While it is very early in the process of MLB expansion teams, a “problem” that the Office of the Commissioner believes cannot even get started until the Oakland A’s and Tampa Bay Rays have new stadiums/cities to play in, there should be no doubt that San José is a serious player and can easily push Oakland’s plans to oblivious, if those plans are to get an expansion team.

This is not the 1968 San José that Dionne Warwick sang about her big hit “Do You Know the Way to San José”, because today everybody knows the way to San José.

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

A’s off day report preview: A’s open three game series against Yankees at Coliseum Tuesday night

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Oakland A’s starter Paul Blackburn gets the start against the New York Yankees on Tue Jun 27, 2023 at the Oakland Coliseum (San Francisco Chronicle photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s (20-60) finished the six-game road trip to Cleveland and Toronto with a record of one win and five losses. After a seven-game winning streak, the A’s have lost ten of the last 11 games. Many of the games were competitive.

The A’s lost four one-run games in a row. The team showed signs of improvement. However, in the last two losses to the Toronto Blue Jays, the A’s showed much work still to be done. The A’s lost 7-3 on Saturday and were routed 12-1 on Sunday.

The A’s are off on Monday as they prepare to start a six-game homestand against the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox. The Yankees entered the 2023 season with high hopes. The Yankees last won a World Series in 2009.

The Bronx Bombers have been in the playoffs several times since then but have yet to be able to get to the big prize, the World Series. The Yankees’ biggest star, Aaron Judge, the current AL Most Valuable Player, is on the injured list with a torn ligament in his toe.

Judge, a Northern California native, is out of action until August 1. The injury jinx has wreaked havoc on the Yankees’ pitching staff. The Yankees signed form San Francisco Giant starter Carlos Rodon as a free agent. Rodon had a terrific season in San Francisco last year.

This year, Rodon has yet to throw a pitch for the pinstripes. Lefty Nestor Cortes, who pitched well in 2022, is also on the IL. Frankie Montas, acquired by the Yanks from the A’s at the trading deadline, is out until September first. Reliever Lou Trivino, another former Athletic, is out for the season.

The Yankees are currently in third place in the AL East Division. The Yankees are 43-35 and are nine and 1/2 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays. The Toronto Blue Jays are ready to catapult into third place as they trail the Yankees by just 1/2 game.

Several key players on the Yankees’ roster are having a down year. Third baseman Josh Donaldson was benched for the last three games against the Texas Rangers. Donaldson, a former Athletic and 2015 MVP with the Toronto Blue Jays, is hitting a minuscule .125 with six home runs and eight RBIs.

Donaldson has hinted that 2023 may be his last season in baseball. Another player having a down year is DJ LeMahieu. LeMAhieu is a career .294 hitter. This year, he is hitting .230 with seven homers and 25 RBIs. The Yankees hope he can find his stroke against the A’s pitching staff.

Another player with disappointing numbers is big Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton, in his career, has hit 384 home runs. H’s career batting average is .263. This year, Stanton’s numbers show that his batting average is below the Mendoza line at .194. Stanton has six home runs and 14 RBIs. These numbers are different from what the Yankees need to win.

The players to watch in the series will be first baseman Anthony Rizzo, Second baseman Glyber Torres, Shortstop Anthony Volpe, and centerfielder Harrison Bader. Rizzo’as average is at .270, and he has hit 11 dingers and driven in 37. Rizzo, a left-handed hitter, has been helped by baseball’s ban on the shift.

Glyber Torres is at .246 with 12 home runs and 30 RBIs. Volpe, in his rookie season, is also under the Mendoza line. His average is just .196. He does have some pop in his bat, as he has slugged ten home runs and knocked in 28.

Yankees’ skipper Aron Boone has several players to play in left or right field. Jake Bauers can play in either position. Billy McKinney or Isiah Kiner-Falefa may see action this week.

The starting pitchers for Tuesday night’s game are the Yanks Jhonny Brito(4-3, ERA 4.89) going against the A’s Paul Blackburn (0-0, ERA 4.21 ). Domingo German (4-5, ERA 5.10) will go for New York on Wednesday. Former Yankee JP Sears(1-5, ERA 4.10) will pitch for Oakland. Clarke Schmidt (2-6, ERA 4.32) will be the Yankees’ starter on Thursday. The A’s have yet to announce their starter.

The Yankees’ bullpen will feature Clay Holmes as their closer. Ron Marinaccio and Michael King have also recorded several saves. Other pitchers that will see action in the series are Jimmy Cordero, Albert Abreu, and Nick Ramirez.

The A’s and the Yankees have been playing each other since 1901. The Yankees, in the early days, were known as the Highlanders. The Yankees have had a long tradition of winning. They have won forty American League Championships and 27 World Series. The A’s are tied with the Boston Red Sox with nine World Series rings in their storied existence. The A’s have won 13 AL Pennants.

This year has been an exceptionally down season for the A’s. The team has a record of 20 wins and sixty losses. The team’s pitching could have been better. The starters own an ERA of over seven. The bullpen should be known as the arson squad. The A’s have a run differential of -224. The second-worst run differential in baseball is the Colorado Rockies’ -123.

Yet, the A’s would love to upset the Yankees’ apple cart. Yankee fans will be at the Oakland Coliseum to cheer their team to victory. As fans of the 29 other baseball teams know, Yankee fans can be loud, rude, and obnoxious. Hopefully, A’s fans will visit the park to see the games.

San Francisco Giants day off report: Giants Travel to Toronto for Upcoming Series Tuesday

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San Francisco Giants’ Michael Conforto hits a single during the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Park in Milwaukee on Thu May 25, 2023. Conforto leads the Giants in home runs (AP file photo)

Giants Travel to Toronto for Upcoming Series Tuesday

By Barbara Mason

Things for the most part have been going very well for the San Francisco Giants (44-34). Not to long ago the Giants were a number of games under five hundred and they have totally turned that around. They won a series against the San Diego Padres last week and most recently took a series from the division leading Arizona Diamondbacks.

After previous struggles the team is now pulling off come-from-behind wins, they often take early leads; they have an enviable defense not to mention their offense which is cranking on all cylinders. The Giants have moved ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers and look ahead to a series starting this Tuesday with the Blue Jays in Toronto.

Although the Blue Jays are favored, the way this club is playing right now this series could go either way. Toronto’s starting lineup will be a challenge for the Giants with George Springer, Matt Chapman, Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. These guys will keep the San Francisco defense very busy. San Francisco does have some offensive “giants” of their own with Thairo Estrade. J.D. Davis, Luis Matos, Michael Conforto and LaMonte Wade Jr. The team will be without Mike Yastrzemski who is on a 10-day IR with a left hamstring injury.

Starting pitcher for the Giants was undecided at the time of this posting. The Giants Michael Conforto leads the Giants with 12 home runs and a batting average of .285. J.D. Davis has the most RBI’s. Bo Bichette leads the Blue Jays with a .318 batting average and also has 14 homeruns to his credit this season. Toronto will send Kevin Gausman to the mound with a 3.10 ERA and a 7-3 win/loss record.

First pitch for this series on Tuesday is scheduled for 4:07 PM

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Memories of Oakland 1988 No.5 in Series

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Former Oakland A’s outfielder Jose Canseco participates on Juice Night Promotion in Las Vegas had an amazing 1988 season for the A’s (file photo Las Vegas Review Journal)

Memories of Oakland  1988 — — No.5 in Series

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

OAKLAND–1988 was the best-ever season at Oakland that did not produce a World Series title. The Athletics ended the regular season with a 104-58 .642 record, their best since (and to date) since their first season at Oakland in 1968.

Cuban-born slugger José Canseco unanimously won the American League Most Valuable Player, becoming the first ever to steal over 40 bases and hit over 40 home runs (42 home runs and 40 stolen bases), hit for .307 average, and also drove a major league-leading 124 runs. José Canseco was born in Regla, a small fishing town on the other side of Havana harbor.

He came to the United States very young and his Spanish (when I first talked with him) was not good or clear, but he understood more than he speak and has learned since. He was much more tuned in to the American culture than Cuban. During one of my interviews, we spoke about other stuff aside from baseball; he told me his favorite musical group was ‘Foreigner’ a popular American-British rock band.

After he won the Rookie of the Year in 1986, I covered him at the Houston Astrodome for the All-Star Game. I met and spoke to his late father, Jose Canseco Sr., a sales executive in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, for AMOCO Oil Company. As most fathers are, he was a proud papa.

The 1988 World Series matched the AL Champion A’s against the NL Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers beat the New York Mets in seven games during the NLCS to advance to the Fall Classic. Tommy LaSorda’s team won 94 games during the regular season, but in this World Series, the Oakland A’s were heavy favorites.

One of the many reporters that came to California to cover this series was Manolo Alvarez of WQBA radio in Miami; he was doing interviews, and he asked me if the A’s would sweep the series, I told him that was impossible to predict. However, such was the national sports media concept of the A’s as a much more superior team of that of the Dodgers.

The 1988 World Series began at Dodger Stadium, but Game #1 was the most memorable. The A’s took the lead in the second inning with a blast by José Canseco to straight-away center field, which hit one of the NBC cameras for a home run; it looked like the A’s with their ace Dave Stewart on the mound could do no wrong. Stew pitched eight complete innings and allowed three runs. But the whole story of this classic was settled in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Manager Tony LaRussa brought in Dennis Eckersley to close the game, but a pinch-hit home run by Kirk Gibson, who could not start the game because of injuries, provided for one of the most improbable and iconic moments in World Series history, as Eck threw one slider after another, and at the end, one landed in the right field seats for a walk-off home run and a come-from-behind thrilling victory by the underdog Dodgers by 5-4.

We were talking how “lay back” are Dodger fans, but after than Gibson home run it felt like Dodger Stadium went 1,000 feet up in the air. This World Series went five games, and the Dodgers won it, one of the big upsets in the history of World Series. Oral Hershiser won 2 games and was declared the MVP.

He was celebrating during that decisive game five at the Oakland Coliseum. Previously for game No.3 at the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum, Mark McGwire hit a walk-off home run from reliever Jay Howell and won 2-1.

The only game won by the A’s. 1988 was the first year of the three consecutive trips to the Fall Classic for Tony LaRussa’s Athletics; they would have to wait for next year and during an Earthquake to beat via sweep their Bay Area rival, San Francisco Giants in 1989.

Unfortunately for A’s fans Kirk Gibson is a name that will live in infamy, Gibson is to A’s fans, what Yankee Bucky Dent is to Red Sox fans.

While the A’s still have five years to play in their new ballpark in Las Vegas, which they hope to inaugurate for the 2028 season, José Canseco beat the A’s to Las Vegas. For a few years now, José owns and runs a Car Wash and Mini-Mart a couple of blocks from the strip in Sin City, sometimes he is there to sign autographs and to meet with fans. To read more on the car wash: https://sportsradioservice2013.wordpress.com/tag/jose-canseco/

Diamondbacks Avoid Sweep With 5-2 Victory Over The Giants

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San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey catches a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte during the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jun 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Troy Ewers

SAN FRANCISCO, CA– With a crowd of 35,766 fans on this beautiful Sunday afternoon, the first place in the NL West Arizona Diamondbacks got a win to avoid a sweep in this three game series against the second place San Francisco Giants on Sunday 5-2.

The two men on the mound Ryan Nelson of Arizona and Anthony DeSclafani of San Francisco faced off and the Diamondbacks got on DeSclafani early. In the first inning Christian Walker extended his hitting streak to ten games with an RBI double that scored Ketel Marte making it 1-0 for Arizona.

The second inning was no different for DeSclafani as a Jake McCarthy single would score Alek Thomas, but the inning would end right after that with DeSclafani picking off McCarthy at first, but the damage was done, 2-0 D-Backs.

The next three innings the pitchers kept the bats quiet, but in the sixth inning the Giants woke up and finally got on the board with a J.D. Davis single that scored Thairo Estrada making the game 2-1. This had the Giants fans ready for the comeback victory, but in the eighth inning Ketel Marte hit a two run home run off Tristan Beck and that was the insurance Arizona needed to take it home.

JD Davis hit another single that scored Estrada to make it 4-2, but the damage was done, especially after a baserunning mistake by Blake Sabol that stopped the rally dead in its tracks. In the ninth Perdamo hit a single to score Longoria and insure a victory, but the Giants didn’t go out quietly.

A Matos single and long Slater at bat which included two deep foul balls and ended in a walk, would ignite the crowd into a roar to hopefully lead their Giants to victory, but Estrada grounded into a fielder’s choice and the game was over.

With the win for Arizona and they secure 2.5 games above the Giants in the NL West. Not all negatives to look at for the Giants coming out of the game, they finish the homestand with a 5-2 record.

The Giants have an off day Monday, but after that go into a three game series against the Toronto Blue Jays (pitchers not yet announced) on Tuesday, who beat the Oakland A’s today 12-1 and the Giants look to have a different fate than their counterparts across the bridge.

Oakland Manhandled By Toronto 12-1

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Oakland Athletics second baseman Jace Peterson (6) throws to first base to put out Toronto Blue Jays’ George Springer after forcing out Jays’ Tyler Heineman (55) during the second inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sun Jun 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

Oakland Manhandled By Toronto 12-1

By Barbara Mason

Sunday afternoon the Oakland A’s (20-60) were looking to win game three in their series with the Toronto Blue Jays 43-36) no such luck as the A’s were whipped 12-1 by the Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The A’s won only one game on the six game road trip.

This game went sideways from the first inning. George Springer hit his 55th career leadoff home run and the Blue Jays were just warming up scoring two runs in the first. By the time the sixth inning roiled around, Toronto had built a 4-0 lead.

The A’s did get on the scoreboard for their lone score in the sixth. Tony Kemp hit a solo home run and that would be it for Oakland. They only had three hits in this lopsided game.

The Blue Jays were leading 7-1 going into the eighth inning. That inning proved to be their most lucrative of the game scoring five runs for the 12-1 final score. Toronto was hitting lights out and they were certainly helped along the way with all the walks that Medina was throwing their way.

Toronto pitcher Yusei Kikuchi stayed in the game for a season-high seven innings. Things did not go so well for Oakland with Luis Medina on the mound allowing four runs, three earned and 4 hits in five innings.

He walked seven batters which was a career -worst. His command was terrible today. In four May games he walked a total of seven so today was an absolute nightmare for him. He was relieved by Ken Waldichuk who did not fare much better allowing 6 hits and six runs in 2.1 innings.

There was not a whole of positives that we can draw from this game. It is one of those games you just want to put behind you.

The A’s will head home for yet another difficult series against the New York Yankees. Game one will be played at the Coliseum on Tuesday night. Paul Blackburn will take the mound for Oakland with a 0-0, 4.21 ERA. The Oakland offense will face Jhony Brito (4-3 ERA 4.89) who will get the nod for New York.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants aim to sweep Diamondbacks concluding series at Oracle Park today

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San Francisco Giants’ Luis Matos (29) is tagged out by Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker (53) on a pick off during the fourth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jun 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 Giants have won 12 out of their last 13 games on a roll and have secured their fourth consecutive series and can pick up their fourth sweep in their last six series.

#2 This team is rolling their 12 wins out of their last 13 games during the Jun 11-24 stretch is tied for their San Francisco best in a 13 game stretch.

#3 The Giants now have the second best winning percentage in baseball behind the Atlanta Braves who are 16-4 .800. The Giants have come back from early deficits winning sic of their last eight games.

#4 The Giants do have a compiled injury list of pitcher Scott Alexander, pitcher John Breddia, pitcher Alex Cobb, infielder Wilmer Flores, outfielder Mitch Haniger, outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, pitcher Luke Jackson and Wade LaMonte Jr.

#5 Giants conclude this three game series with the Diamondbacks and the Diamondbacks are starting Ryne Nelson (3-4 ERA 5.31) and for the Giants Anthony DeSclafani 4-6 ERA 4.38) a 1:05 pm PT first pitch.

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

MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O: MLB hoping to make big European market in roads for London series this weekend; plus much more news

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Chicago Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki practices during a training session ahead of the baseball match against St. Louis Cardinals at the MLB World Tour London Series, in London Stadium on Fri Jun 22, 2023. (AP News photo)

MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The London Series is underway with the Chicago Cubs and the St Louis Cardinals matching up this weekend. It’s got to be an important series with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in attendance as he’s trying to boost the MLB brand in Europe.

#2 The Tampa Bay Rays Wander Franco who has expressed frustration by breaking a bat in the Rays dugout and not running out ground balls was sent home on Thursday night and benched on Friday night was back in the line up on Saturday and admitted that the organization is trying to get control of his frustrations and he admitted making errors that got away from him. Franco is hitting .287 and is in the second season of his $182 million contract.

#3 Charlie what can you say about the Cincinnati Reds that hasn’t already been said. The Red Legs are on a 12 game win streak and Elly De La Cruz’s cycle on Friday night added to the success the club has been having. The Reds are in first in the NL Central by 1.5 games on second place the Milwaukee Brewers.

#4 The Los Angeles Angels enhanced their infield up the middle acquiring Eduardo Escobar from the New York Mets for pitchers Coleman Crow and Landon Marceaux, who were 19 and 20th in the Angels system. Escobar’s $9 million contact will be picked up by the Mets at the pro rated MLB minimum. 2024 is an option year for Escobar.

#5 MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred who is attending the London Series this weekend as we spoke about earlier said that one big turnout for the Oakland A’s on Tue Jun 23 at the Oakland Coliseum doesn’t solve a “decade of inaction” referring to the fans reverse boycott and is waiting for the A’s to submit their relocation application in preparation for an owners vote that requires a 75% yes vote. Eight no votes can turn the tide for the A’s moving to Vegas.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Matos, Bailey, and Schmitt rookies who have changed the clubhouse

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San Francisco Giants’ Luis Matos gestures after hitting a two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jun 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen:

The San Francisco Giants who had a ten game winning streak had it come to an end on Thursday by getting clobbered 10-0 but came right back on Friday and Saturday with win over the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Giants have now won 12 out of their last 13 games.

In the two games on the Giants played those games very well and the Giants ended up on top and it shows and it showed the Giants have what it takes to compete with the best teams in baseball.

As far as pitching is concerned the Giants could very well have the best eighth and ninth inning pitching staff in baseball with relievers Tyler Rogers and Comilo Doval. Rogers throwing the submarine pitch and then there’s Doval with his 100 MPH cutter no better combo than that.

Everyone knows since the Giants have called up Casey Schmitt, Patrick Bailey and Luis Motas and they’ve really solved the chemistry in the clubhouse and a lot of times you could tell in spring training on how things are going to go by the mood of the clubhouse.

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

Oakland Roots Draw Phoenix Rising 1-1

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Johnny Rodriguez beating his opponent off the dribble Photo from Oakland Roots Instagram

By Tony Ewers

In the rivalry game between Oakland and Phoenix, it was a game that was a battle all the way to the final minute where both teams scored their goals in the final ten minutes. It started with both teams having scoring attempts in the first ten minutes, but neither seeing the back of the net as the Roots and Rising Sun play to a 1-1 draw.

Possession was equal 50% as they traded shot attempts through 30 minutes of action. At that point the game saw nothing, but fouls for 10 minutes and from there the back and forth was like that for the remainder of the half with no actual moment where it looked either team had the upper hand.

The second half went more in a defensive direction for the Roots, but in the 82nd minute Dariusz Formella would hit a shot off the right foot in the goal, 1-0 Oakland! The defensive direction of the Roots was working, the Phoenix Rising missed six shots except one.

In the 93rd minute, a header from Manuel Arteaga in the box went past Paul Blanchett and it was the equalizer that sealed this draw for Oakland. This would be the Roots third draw in a row and Coach Delgado says “We’ve been leading in two of those games. Moments of the game, especially when we begin to close out the season – learning how to close out games, starting out well, that’s important.”

This Formella’s sixth goal of the season and second against Phoenix this season and he’s the top goal scorer for the Roots at the moment. The next game for Oakland is next week against Rio Grande Valley Toros and this their second time facing each other.

That game was also a draw, but Oakland needs a win, because the season is moving fast and each team has to kick it in higher gear to secure top spots in the table.