Category: MLB

Angels bounce back beat A’s 5-3 to even series

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout (27) celebrates in the dugout after scoring off of a triple hit by Brandon Drury during the first inning against the Oakland A’s at the Big A in Anaheim Tue Apr 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Los Angeles Angels evened the four-game series at one apiece Tuesday night at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. The A’s sent Mason Miller to the hill to start for the Green and Gold. Miller made his Major League debut last Wednesday in Oakland when he faced the Chicago Cubs.

On Tuesday, Miller had a rough first inning. The Angels scored four times in the inning. Miller threw 39 pitches and didn’t look sharp. However, A’s manager Mark Kotsay let Miller stay in the game. The young hurler pitched well the next three innings and allowed just one hit and no runs.

The A’s, trailing 4-1, scored a run in the fifth and one in the sixth to make it a 4-3 game. Kotsay called on Adam Oller to pitch the sixth inning. Oller pitched two innings Monday night and kept the Angels off the board. Tuesday night was a different story. Oller gave up three hits, and the Angels plated an insurance run. Oller almost got out of the jam, but the A’s could not complete an inning-ending double play. The Angels win 5-3

The A’s drew blood in the first inning for the second night. With one out, first baseman Ryan Noda walked. Angels’ starter Griffin Canning struck out Brent Rooker for the second out. Jace Peterson tripled into the right field corner to drive in Noda with the A’s first run.

The A’s lead 1-0 halfway through the first inning. The A’s starter Mason Miller had a tough inning. The young flamethrower struck out Taylor Ward for the first out. Angels’ superstar Mike Trout hit a 101-mile-an-hour fastball deep into the right-field corner for a double.

Miller retired Shohei Ohtani for the second out. Miller walked Anthony Rendon. Brandon Drury, who had two home runs in Monday’s game, lined a rifle shot to centerfield that got by Esteury Ruiz for a triple. Trout and Rendon scored. Luis Rengifo singled to drive in Drury. Rengifo then stole second and scored on Gio Urshela’s single. The Angels lead 4-1. Miller threw 39 pitches in the inning.

The A’s crept closer in the top of the fifth when leadoff hitter Shea Langeliers blasted a 408-foot home run over the fence in left field. The ball had an exit velocity of 108 mph. The A’s now trail 4-2.

The A’s continued to chip away at the Angels’ lead. In the sixth, Brent Rooker started the rally by hitting a ground-rule double. The Halos’ skipper Phil Nevim made a pitching change. He brought in lefty Aaron Loup to pitch. Loup retired Jace Peterson and Jesus Aguilar.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay had Jordan Diaz pinch hit for Conner Capel. The rookie came through with a double down the left field line to drive in Rooker with the A’s third run. Oakland trails 4-3. The Angels got the run back in the bottom of the frame. Adam Oller was now pitching for the A’s.

With one out, Gio Urshela singled. The next hitter, catcher Matt Thaiss singled, and Urshela stopped at second. Oller got shortstop Zach Neto to hit a ground ball to third. The throw to second erased Thaiss, but the relay to first did not get there on time, and Neto was safe. Taylor Ward singled to drive in Urshela with the Angels’ fifth run. The Halos lead 5-3 after six.

The Angels’ bullpen did not allow the A’s a run in the game’s last three innings. Aaron Loup, Matt Moore, and Carlos Esteves allowed the A’s two hits in the last three innings to secure the win for LA 5-3.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s are now 5-19. The Angels improved to 12-12.

The line score for Oakland was three runs, six hits, and no errors. The big hit for the A’s was Shea Langeliers fifth dinger of the season.

The Angels’ line was five runs, ten hits, and no errors. 

The line for Mason Miller was four innings pitched, five hits, four runs, six strikeouts, and one walk. Miller took the loss. 

The Angels Griffin Canning was the winning pitcher. Canning went five-plus innings. He allowed four hits and three runs. Carlos Esteves earned the save.

Game three of the series will be played Wednesday night in Anaheim. The A’s will be sending Luis Medina to the hill. Medina recalled from the Las Vegas Aviators, is right-handed, and will be making his Major League debut. Lefty Patrick Sandoval will pitch for LA.

The time of the game was two hours and forty-seven minutes. There were 26,971 fans on hand to see the Angels win.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Difficult to build Sports stadiums in Bay Area

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Las Vegas Aviators Field could be the Oakland A’s interim home while their stadium is being built on the Las Vegas Strip with a ready date of 2027 (photo from lasvegassun.com)

Difficult to build Sports stadiums in Bay Area

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Is it just a “coincidence” that Oakland has lost three professional teams in the last 5 years? Or does anybody here question Oakland’s politicians’ leadership?

Oakland is on its way to losing their third professional league team in the last five years, Raiders, Warriors, Athletics. The Bay Area has always been a difficult place for teams to build stadiums/arenas. Many factors, like very expensive to build anything here, also the lack of land/location availability, plus a very sensitive area for environmental issues which always take preference in the Bay Area.

In 1992 Bob Lurie, owner of the San Francisco Giants agreed to sell the Giants to a Florida group that would relocate the team to Tampa Bay. That same year, the A’s ownership under Walter Haas, gave the San José territorial rights to the Giants, who were thinking of building a stadium in San José, they never did. Years later after failed elections, the Giants build their own park (inaugurated in 2020) mostly with private money.

  • 49ers could not build in San Francisco: The San Francisco 49ers with a great history and tradition, with five Super Bowl titles, could never build a new park in San Francisco. In 2014 they packed their helmets and move to Santa Clara, where they build their current home, Levi Stadium. So, the San Francisco 49ers play in Santa Clara, but that is “small potatoes” because the Warriors have played since 1971 at Oakland and now San Francisco and they are still The “Golden State” Warriors, so if they win another NBA title I suppose it will be a State win?
  • Oakland A’s could not build in Oakland for 20 years. The A’s proposed Howard Terminal Park is a very nice plan, next to the water in Oakland, 35,000 seats in what was going to be a revitalization of the city of Oakland, a $12 billion project. But now, that plan looks like a thing of the past, and a trivia question for future generations after last week A’s announced they have a binding agreement to buy 49 acres of land a mile from the Strip in Vegas where they hope to build their $1.5 billion half-dome stadium. Las Vegas is a growing city now looking to its third pro-league sports team, NHL Golden Knights and NFL Las Vegas Raiders. With time, they will probably welcome the NBA and MLS teams to their gambling town, with time, it will happen. In Las Vegas, the A’s are being promised half a billion dollars from the state of Nevada for their new ballpark.

Who is to blame for the Oakland A’s leaving the Bay Area, the owners of the Oakland A’s, the City of Oakland politics, climate change? Whatever your opinion there are facts to be presented to the jury; as the City of Oakland precedent is not a good one when it comes to sports franchises, that (and the jury) must take into consideration.

Oakland is not a city ran with great competence and good results for its citizens, all you have to do is watch the news every day.

The Verdict: What comes first, the chicken or the egg? 2022 A’s attendance was the lowest in all of major league baseball. Why fans are not attending? The owners do not put any money on the field to keep their stars, they rebuild every few years and it is a vicious cycle, very tough for any fan to keep involved with the team, plus it has been 34 years since the last time the team won a World Series.

Oakland A’s fans are good loyal fans. Fans do not attend? Well, they can only take so much and the City of Oakland Mayor said they wanted to keep negotiating with the A’s, until when, the year 2500? This could be a hung jury because there is enough guilt on both sides, seems the City of Oakland and the Oakland Athletics deserved each other. In this case, the perfect divorce. Case dismissed.

Note: A question often asked: Where will the A’s play while their new ballpark is build in Las Vegas? A’s President Dave Kaval said last week that the team has an option with the Howard Hughes Corporation, which own the Aviators, to play at Las Vegas ballpark for the 2025 and 2026 seasons with 2027 the target date to inaugurate their new ballpark a mile from the strip.

What this means, is that more than likely the 2024 season for the A’s could be played at the Oakland Coliseum. 2024 is the last year of the lease with the Coliseum. However, that could also change since the A’s are 50% owners of the Oakland Coliseum.

The NHL California Golden Seals Seals ended up playing nine seasons in California before relocating to Cleveland in the mid-1970s, but their beginnings go all the way back to the early 1960s when they were a minor league team in the now defunct Western Hockey League known as the San Francisco Seals.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: A’s might sell source; A’s have deal with contractors to build Vegas park ; Kings Fox hopes to be in game 5 line up

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s owner John Fisher could be considering selling the A’s according to a source, the A’s despite low attendance are making money this season and could sell to an owner who could keep the team in Oakland (file photo SF Gate)

On That’s Amaury podcast:

#1 Amaury, Oakland A’s owner John Fisher amongst all the negative publicity of moving the team to Las Vegas and having crowds of 3,000 to 6,000 fans on average per game is actually making money is considering selling the team according to news reports on KRON 4 and Scott Ostler at the San Francisco Chronicle.

#2 Ostler who did not name any of the groups who are interested in buying the A’s said that he heard from a source that is reliable that Fisher would consider selling the team as the cost and value of the team continues to increase. Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob expressed interest in buying the team and that’s a standing offer.

#3 On Monday MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred apologized to Oakland fans saying he’s really sorry for any hurt the A’s fans are feeling but it’s not Fisher’s fault. The city of Oakland couldn’t get a deal done in a timely fashion. In the same breath Manfred said that Vegas will present a real revenue enhancing opportunity.

#4 Turning to the NBA the Sacramento Kings De’Aaron Fox has fractured his finger on his shooting hand. Fox lead all scorers in game four during Sunday afternoon’s game against the Golden State Warriors with 38 points and has been a crucial player in the Kings line up. Fox injured the tip of his left index finger. It’s got to be an impact when you lose your leading scorer.

#5 With Fox the Kings have not ruled him out of the line up for game five on Wednesday and cold wear protective covering over his index finger. If Fox suffers more pain the next two highest scorers Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray will need to step up. Fox is one of the guys who got the Kings this far it’s been quite a ride for Sacramento but without Fox it’s a sure test for the Kings.

#6 The Green Bay Packers have dealt quarterback Aaron Rogers to the New York Jets. Rogers quarterbacked for the Green Bay Packers for 18 seasons and will wear No. 8 instead of No.12 which was formerly worn by Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namith who gave his consent for Rogers to wear the number. Rogers declined and will wear the No.8 which he wore when he quarterback at Cal.

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

A’s win slugfest hit 5 homers defeat Angels 11-10 in tenth inning

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Oakland Athletics’ Jesus Aguilar (99) celebrates in the dugout with teammates after hitting a home run during the first inning against Los Angeles Angels at the Big A in Anaheim on Mon Apr 24, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s and Angels played a wild one Monday night in Anaheim. The game saw eight home runs hit. The A’s blew a 7-2 lead but came back from an 8-7 deficit to tie the game in the ninth. The A’s came back in the top of the tenth inning scoring three runs to take a 11-8 lead. In the bottom of the tenth the Angels scored twice but came up short as the A’s defeat the Halos 11-10 at the Big A in Anaheim.

The A’s scored three in the tenth but had to hold their breaths as the Angels scored two and had the tying run at second base with the three-time AL MVP, Mike Trout, coming to bat. The A’s reliever, Jeurys Familia, found a way to get Trout out. He labored through the tenth but, somehow, received credit for the save. 

The A’s starter Ken Waldichuk pitched well for the first five innings. The A’s offense put seven runs on the board in the first three innings. Brent Rooker and Jesus Aguilar hit back-to-back home runs in the first and third innings.

It may have been the first time in A’s history that two players achieved that feat. The big hit in the second inning was Kevin Smith’s three-run blast. Things went south for the A’s in the sixth as the Angels sent ten men to the plate and scored five runs to tie the game. Here’s how the scoring went in the game.

The A’s put two runs on the board in the top of the first. Back-to-back home runs by Brent Rooker and Jesus Aguilar gave the A’s an early 2-0 lead. The home runs came after two were out in the first.

The A’s plated three more runs in the second inning. Aledmys Diaz gets things going by working Jose Suarez for a walk. A’s DH Carlos Perez doubled to left, and Diaz stopped at third. The next hitter, the light-hitting Kevin Smith, sent Suarez’s 82 mph pitch over the wall for a three-run dinger.

The A’s lead 5-0 midway through the second inning. The Angels got one back in their half of the inning. With two out, Angels’ first baseman Brandon Drury homered to make it a 5-1 game.

The A’s continued to play long ball as Rooker and Aguilar hit back-to-back home runs to give the A’s the lead, 7-1, in the third. It was his fifth of the year for Rooker and Aguilar, his fourth.

The A’s have hit five home runs in the first three innings. The Angels struck back in the bottom of the inning. Angels’ catcher Chad Wallach, son of former big leaguer Tim Wallach, homered to left to make it 7-2. It was the seventh home run of the game in the first three innings of play. 

The Angels’ bats came to life in the bottom of the sixth. Leadoff hitter, Mike Trout, reached on an infield single. Shohei Ohtani doubled down the right field line, sending Trout to third. Third baseman Anthony Rendon doubled to left drive in Trout ad Ohtani.

The Angels trail 7-4, and still no one out. Waldichuk struck out Hunter Renfroe for the first out. Waldichuk’s night ended when A’s manager brought in James Kaprielian to pitch. Kaprielian did not start well as he walked Brandon Drury and Luis Rengifo to load the bases. Chad Wallach, who had homered earlier, singled to drive in Rendon with the Angels’ fifth run. The bases are still loaded.

The next hitter, Zach Neto, doubled down the left-field line to drive in two. The game is tied at 7-7, and men are on at second and third. Kaprielian struck out Taylor Ward for the second out. Trout struck out to end the inning. The Angels sent ten men to the plate. They scored five runs on five hits and two walks. 

The Angels took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the seventh. Zach Jackson was now pitching for the A’s. Jackson retired the first two Angels’ hitters. Angels’ right fielder Hunter Renfroe doubled off the wall in right field. Brandon Drury singled to drive in Renfroe with the Angels’ eighth run. The Halos lead 8-7 after seven.

In the ninth, the A’s first two hitters walked. Angels’ skipper Phil Nevin replaced Andrew Wantz with Jaime Berria. The first hitter Barria faced, Conner Capel, singled to right field. Hunter Renfroes’s throw home kept Smith from scoring. The A’s have the bases loaded. Barria then walked Brent Rooker to force in the tying run.

Barria struck out Tyler Wade for the second out. Shea Langeliers’ blast looked like it was going to leave the park. Angels’ left fielder Taylor Ward made a leaping catch to rob Langeliers of a grand slam. The Angels failed to score in the bottom of the ninth. The game is tied at 8-8. 

In the top of the tenth, the A’s scored three times to take an 11-8 lead. Langeliers was the ghost runner to start the frame. Langeleliers went to third on Aledmys Diaz’s fielder’s choice. Diaz was safe at first as the Angels tried to nail Langeliers at third. Shea made it in safely.

The Angels challenged the call, but it was not overturned. Ryan Noda doubled to drive in two. Kemp singled to drive in Noda with the A’s third run of the inning. The Angels kept coming back. Hunter Renfroe was the ghost runner at second base. Brandon Drury, who had homered earlier, blasted his second of the game to make it 11-10.

Familia walked Thaiss and Neto to put a man in scoring position with one out. Familia struck out Ward for the second out. Familia now how to face Mike Trout. Trout grounds out to end the game. The A’s win 11-10.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s are now 5-18. The Angels fall to 11-12. 

The line score for Oakland was 11 runs, 14 hits, and one error. The Angels’ line was ten runs, 13 hits, and no errors. 

Adam Oller pitched two innings and earned the win. He allowed one hit. The losing pitcher was Andrew Wantz. 

The Line for Waldichuk was five and 1/3rd innings pitched. He allowed six hits and five runs. James Kaprielian pitched 2/3rd of an inning and allowed two hits and two runs. 

The A’s face the Angels again Tuesday night in Anaheim. Starting for Oakland Mason Muller (0-0 ERA 4.15) getting the call for Los Angeles Griffin Canning (0-0 ERA 3.48) The game will start at 6:38 pm

Giants Cobb goes the distance for 4-0 six hit shutout over Cards

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco starter Alex Cobb goes the distance against the St Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Mon Apr 24, 2023 (@SFGiants photo)

St. Louis. 000 000 000 – 0. 6. 1

San Francisco. 000 000 40x – 4. 8 0

Time: 2:20

Attendance: 22,2203

Monday, April 24, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–It was the Gateway City against the team from the Golden Gate tonight at Oracle park when your San Francisco Giants (9-13) duked it out with the (9-14) St. Louis Cardinals in the first of a four game match up.

Before the teams took the field, the Giants announced that Mitch Haniger and Austin Slater had been restored to the active roster after having competed their rehab assignments. Darin Ruf, newly returned from the Mets, was placed on the 10 day injured list with an inflamed wrist, and Brett Wisely was optioned to the River Cats. I assume he took the news philosophically.

The home team went with Alex Cobb and his 0-1,2.79 record to face the Cards. The Giants’ 35 year old righty began his stint on the mound needing only 11 strikeouts to notch his 1,000th K.

Southpaw Jordan Montgomery brought his 2-2, 4.84 mark to the mound for the Redbirds. According to Statcast, he has a repertory of five deliveries, none of which he throws more than 38% of the time. They are, in descending order of frequency, the slider, the curve, the four seamer, the change of pace, and the cutter.

It was was a magnificent pitchers’ duel that the Giants won, 4-0, scoring all of their runs – every single one of them unearned – on a four run outburst in the lucky seventh.

The home team blew a wonderful opportunity to grab an early lead, loading the bases with but one out in the first. But Montgomery rose to the occasion, getting Michael Conforto to pop out to the catcher, Wilson Contreras, and fanning Wilmer Flores.

Cobb didn’t allow a baserunner until Paul Goldschmidt sent a double into the right field corner with one out in the fourth. He died on third, the two batters who followed him grounding out to preserve the scoreless tie.

It took a beautiful grab and throw from the knees by St. Louis third saccker Brandan Donovan to rob Slater of hit on a smash down the line with David Villar and Mike Yastremski on base with two away in the bottom of the fourth to keep the Giants from breaking that impasse.

The Redbirds almost broke through in theier half of the fifth they loaded the bases on an infield single by Tyler O’Neill, Donovan’s clean single to left, and a walk to Tommy Edman. But a beautiful play by Villar on Lars Noobaar’s weak grounder to third put the fifth consecutive goose egg on the St. L. line.

After the Cards’ second baseman Edman bobbled Yastremski’s seventh inning lead off grounder, allowing him to reach first safely, manager Tony LaRussa yanked Montgomery and sent Drew ver Hagen into the fray. The resurgent Joey Bart sent a resounding double into left, sending Yaz to third.

The logical move was for the Cards waa to declare an intentional pass to Joc Peterson, pinch hitting for Slater, which is what they did. With the bases now loaded and nobody out, ver Hagen whiffed Estrada. Haniger broke the tie with a sacrifice fly to right. But you ain’t heard nothin’ yet! With the count 0-2 on him, JD Davis took a 90 mph cut fast ball 380 feet into the left field night, and San Francisco was ahead 4-0.

Montgomery was charged with one run, and it was unearned, in his six inning appearance. He allowed five hits, a walk, and a hit batter. He struck out six batter and threw 107 pitches, 65 for strikes. He deserved a better fate. Ver Hagen wasn’t around for the eighth. Jordan Hicks took care of the Giants that frame.

Cobb set the Cardinals down in order in the ninth, winning the second shut out of his career.

The two teams will meet again at 6:45 tomorrow, Tuesday, evening. St. Louis will send right hander Jake Woodford (1-2 ,6.05) to the hill. The Giants haven’t yet name who will toe the rubber for them.

Yaz’s Late Game RBI Puts Giants Over Mets 5-4; SF splits series with NY 2-2

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Thairo Estrada celebrating his solo home run. (Photo from San Francisco Giants Instagram)

By Troy Ewers

SAN FRANCISCO–On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, the San Francisco Giants played the New York Mets to end the 4 game series in front of a crowd of 27,271 people. The Giants came away with a 2-2 split in the fourth game of the series in a 5-4 win at Oracle Park. With Alex Wood’s injury, Ross Stripling got the start and his 3.1 innings were where the Mets had the majority of their offense.

Three runs credited to Stripling’s innings and it was the Rogers brothers who had to stop the potential bleeding. The first four innings for San Francisco was what you like to see if you’re a fan of the Giants. Joc Pederson got an RBI in the first which brought in Lamonte Wade Jr., Thairo Estrada hit a solo bomb in the second, and Wilmer Flores (on a pinch hit) and Brett Wisely got big RBIs in the fourth.

By the top of the sixth it was 4-3 Giants after two big standing strikeouts for Tyler Rogers, Francisco Alvarez hit the equalizer for the Mets and New York put a muzzle on this Bay Area crowd in a 4-4 ballgame. Once Tyler Rogers got his fourth strike out and escaped the inning, the Giants knew they had to find some type of energy to put back in the ballpark and after a quiet seventh inning, the hero that stepped up was Mike Yastrzemski who after Pederson got on from a walk, Yastrzemski hit a huge RBI double, his 11th RBI of the season and a clutch moment to silence the critics.

Manager Gabe Kapler called in Camillo Doval to close out and get the save and was one strike away from striking out the side. Scott Alexander would walk away with the win (his second win of the season) for San Francisco and Doval secured his second save of the season. The theme of this game for SF was every time it felt like this game had a chance to get in the Mets favor, the big names on the Giants roster all stepped up.

Hopefully this is the start of a stretch of wins for the black and orange, because the next series is against the St. Louis Cardinals here at Oracle Park and beating NL central goliaths like the Cards is a big boost for the boys in the dugout. The Cardinals will start left hander Jordan Montgomery (2-2 ERA 4.84) the Giants will be going with right hander Alex Cobb (0-1 ERA 2.79) on Monday night with a 6:45pm first pitch.

Loses Continue to Mount For Athletics Lose to Texas 5-2; Loss for Oakland is 9th of last ten games

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s pitching couldn’t keep the Texas Rangers hitting at bay, the Rangers scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning in a three run win 5-2 at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Sun Apr 23, 2023 (@Athletics photo)

Loses Continue to Mount For the Athletics Losing to Texas 5-2

By Barbara Mason

Sunday afternoon the Oakland A’s (4-18) were back on the field in game three of their series with the Texas Rangers (14-7) the A’s dropped a three run decision to the Rangers 5-2 for their ninth loss in their last ten games. Oakland had a horrible loss on Saturday in game two in what was probably their worst game this season getting clobbered 18-3.

The A’s are on shaky ground and if things do not change they could wind up with the worst season record in modern baseball history surpassing the 1962 Mets who won only 40 games that season.

None of their starting pitchers have clocked a win yet this season. They are getting beaten in every way possible whether it be on the mound, hits in a game or defense. It has been an alarming start for the team this year. Last season they finished as the second worst team in baseball and they are on course to finish in last place this year.

It was a tough opening inning for Oakland pitcher Kyle Muller loading the bases. There was a bit of good news, however, when Muller got out of the inning unscathed. This was something he would not want to repeat especially against a team like the Rangers who have a slew of offensive giants.

In the second inning Muller threw a pitch down into Robbie Grossman’s comfort zone only to watch it sail out of the park, a three-run home run giving the Rangers a 3-0 lead.

Texas would score again in the fourth inning; Robbie Grossman sacrificed and Leody Taveras scored giving the Rangers a 4-0 lead.

Oakland would make an appearance on the scoreboard in the fifth inning when Shea Langliers hit a two-run home run. They had cut the Rangers lead in half 4-2.

It was a quiet sixth and seventh inning but it got boisterous in the eighth inning when Texas would load the bases. Relief pitcher Sam Moll was one strike away from saving the inning but walked the batter to load the bases. He then through a wild pitch and the Rangers scored extending their lead 5-2.

The A’s have not won a series this year, their pitchers have not won a start and they now sport a miserable 4-18 season record. This game was a loss but it was competitive unlike yesterday’s game. Oakland did face ace Texas pitcher Jacob DeGrom. DeGrom struck out 11, with no walks and 3 hits. The A’s had 5 hits in this game.

Monday evening the A’s will travel to Los Angeles to take on the Angels. The A’s will start Ken Waldichuk (0-2 ERA 7.65) for the Angels Jose Saurez (0-1 ERA 9.26) First pitch is scheduled for 6:38 PM.

MLB podcast with Charlie O: Was Scherzer suspension too excessive?; Mad Bum out at Arizona but LA might be interested; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer pleads his case that has clean hands in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wed Apr 19, 2023, but umpires ruled he had a sticky substance on his hands after he was ordered to wash his hands and was suspended for ten days by MLB (AP News photo)

On the MLB podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie O, Last Wednesday at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, New York Mets Max Scherzer said that he was supervised by an MLB official when he was ordered to wash his hands during his last start to remove what the umpiring crew termed as “sticky substance” apparently that didn’t work he was tossed from the game and hit with a ten day suspension in your view Charlie O was this a justified ejection and suspension?

#2 Scherzer sat on the MLB Players Association representatives during the last contract negotiations and he’s been active with the players union is it a conspiracy to say that their might be some retribution from baseball for his union activity?

#3 The Arizona Diamondbacks released pitcher Madison Bumgarner on Friday. Bumgarner had been struggling going 0-3 ERA 10.26. The Dodgers might be interested in his services. The Diamondbacks are on the hook for $34 million remaining on his five year contract. There is this and next season remaining on the deal.

#4 Can you believe how the Chicago Cubs Drew Smyly’s no hit perfect game ended when Smyly went to field a grounder in between home and the mound hit by the Los Angeles Dodgers David Peralta Cubs catcher Yan Gomes flipped over Smyly’s back. Smyly lost his balance and ended up on the ground holding the ball but it was too late as Peralta was on base and the perfect game was no more.

#5 Can’t leave out the toughest story of the week the announcement of Oakland A’s team president David Kaval announcing the moving of the team to Las Vegas. Kaval announcing on Wednesday night the A’s have a binding agreement at the old Wild Wild West location at Tropicana and I 15 to build a new A’s park. First Charlie how heartbreaking is this for Oakland and the Bay Area?

Charlie O does the MLB podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Rangers Slam Oakland 18-3; A’s 8th loss in last nine games

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Shintaro Fujinami (11) reacts in the dugout after being relieved in the third inning. Fujinami pitched just over two innings and got lit up for seven hits and eight earned runs against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life in Arlington on Sat Apr 22, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Saturday evening the Oakland A’s (4-17) took on the Texas Rangers (13-7) in game two of their three game series it was not the same winning result they had in game 1, in game 2 the A’s faced an avalanche of runs losing 18-3 . On Friday night the A’s had a great game with some outstanding pitching from JP Sears winning the game in the ninth inning. Pinch hitter Jordan Diaz hit his first big league homer in the ninth inning that broke the 4-4 tie handing the A’s a much needed win, breaking a seven-game losing streak.

Saturday game recap: The A’s took an early lead in the first inning of this game 1-0. Jordan Diaz hit a single driving in Esteury Ruiz for the first score of the game. Carlos Perez sacrificed flied and Diaz scored extending the A’s lead to 2-0. Oakland had the bases loaded in the inning but only came away with the two runs.

This was a tough break for the A’s. They had missed a huge opportunity in the opening inning and against the Rangers those opportunities do not come along very often. When they do you have to jump on them because missing them can totally change the direction of a game especially against a team with the offense that the Rangers have.

Texas sure did change the direction of this game from the first inning to game’s end. They tied up the game in the first 2-2 and it was then that the beat down began. Texas scored five runs in the second inning now leading 7-2. Adolis Garcia got the party started with a 2-run homer. Marcus Semien, Josh Jung and Leody Taveras all scored in the second inning.

The Rangers added four more runs in the third inning. Josh Smith, Semien scored and more from Garcia hitting a two-run home run to extend the Rangers lead to 11-2.

Garcia hit his third home run of the evening a two-run homer in the fifth and the A’s now trailed 13-2.

Oakland did score one more time in this game. Jesus Aguilar hit a solo home run in the eighth inning. By the eighth inning Texas had a strangle hold on Oakland 16-3. The final was 18-3. The Rangers had hit four homers in this game and had outhit the A’s 18 to 7.

I was rough start for Oakland pitcher Shintaro Fujinami. He is 0-4 with an ERA of 14.40 and only 12 strikeouts. He only went 2.1 innings in this game. The A’s went through four pitchers in the game and the relief pitchers that followed Fujinami did not fare much better.

Oakland will take on the Rangers tomorrow in game three of this series. After a loss like this, it will be tough to put this game behind them. Kyle Muller (0-1 ERA 7.23) will take the mound for the A’s. He has not won a game this year. The Rangers will counter Jacob deGrom (1-0 ERA 3.48) First pitch is scheduled for 11:35 AM.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s after 2024, where do they Play?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Las Vegas ballpark could be the home of the Oakland A’s for the 2024 season. The A’s minor team the Las Vegas Aviators and the A’s could end sharing the park starting 2024 until the A’s stadium is ready in 2027 (photo by the Las Vegas Review Journal file)

A’s after 2024, where do they Play?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

A’s fans are very upset, after the announcement a few days ago by Dave Kaval that the A’s are buying land, have a binding agreement in Las Vegas to build their new ballpark. This is a wound that will take time to heal to all the people in the bay area, especially Oakland and the east bay.

On one hand many fans were under the impression the team was still working with the city of Oakland, as Kaval has said many times “we are working on parallel plans”, but on the other hand for anybody following this soap opera, the possibility of the team leaving was greater than 50%. Honestly, I was not surprised.

According to Kaval the plan is to inaugurate the new park in Las Vegas in 2027. But many are asking the question: where will the A’s play after 2024 when the lease with the Oakland Coliseum expires. Where will the A’s play in 2025 and 2026, while they are building the new park?

Oracle Park the home of the Giants could be one option, but it is unlikely. MLB will have to work on a big schedule modification. At the Oakland Coliseum. Extending the Coliseum (what happened to the Raiders) when they were waiting for their new park.

This is a possibility, if both sides agree to terminate the lease early. But this whole story has not been distinguished by people agreeing in much. At Aviators park in Las Vegas. Dave Kaval said the Aviators will remain in Las Vegas, the Aviators are their AAA affiliate and they could possibly play regular season games there while they build their new park close to the strip. Aviators Park is located in Summerlin, a suburb of Las Vegas with a capacity of 10,000.

If you think both teams, Aviators and A’s could not play close by, I remind you that currently the Minnesota Twins have their Triple A affiliate in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and have played their home games at CHS Field since 2015, which is 10 minutes away from Target Field in Minneapolis home of the major league Twins.

Ex A’s and Hall of Fame player Reginaldo Martínez (Reggie) Jackson recently told the NY Post “what was the city of Oakland thinking?” And mentioned that they had already lost the Raiders and the Warriors and now the Oakland A’s. Two weeks ago Reggie predicted “they will not have a team in Oakland”.

Commissioner Fred Manfred wanted the A’s to leave Oakland and he knows the baseball owners are in agreement. The chances for Oakland to keep the A’s were never good. Baseball historians will have the task to record this moment in history. Once is all said and done, the A’s will become the first franchise in baseball to have played in four different cities; Philadelphia, Kansas City, Oakland and Las Vegas all keeping the same name of Athletics.

Perhaps the most famous move of major league teams happened on May 29, 1957, when National League owners voted unanimously to allow the Brooklyn Dodgers to relocate to Los Angeles and the New York Giants to San Francisco.