Category: MLB

Late night LaMonte comes through again in Giants 6-5 win

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San Francisco Giants Brandon Belt slides in safely after Lamonte Wade Jr hits an RBI single in the top of the ninth as San Diego Padres catcher Austin Nola comes up empty handed at Petco Park in San Diego on Tue Sep 21, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Brandon Belt might have scored the biggest run of his big-league career, when it was needed the most for the San Francisco Giants.

Belt scored on a single by Lamonte Wade, Jr., with one out in the top of the ninth inning, helping the Giants to a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres in game one of a pivotal three-game series at Petco Park.

This was a win that the Giants so desperately needed, as they held on to their slim one-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers, who defeated the Colorado Rockies 5-4 in 10 innings at Coors Field.

Wade, Jr., came with the big hit just out of the reach of Fernando Tatis, Jr., at shortstop and Belt just beat the throw of Tommy Pham, when Austin Nola was unable to hold to the ball at the plate.

This was the 13th hit in 19 at-bats for Wade, Jr., in the ninth inning or later and has now defeated the entire National League West in the 9th inning.

Belt singled with one out off of Giants closer Mark Melancon, then Buster Posey singled Belt to second and then Wade, Jr., came up with another big hit in the late innings.

Melancon was able to regroup and get Kris Bryant to ground into a double play to end the inning; however, the Giants regained the lead.

Tyler Rogers came on to close out the game for the Giants, and it did not get off to a good start, as Brandon Crawford committed a fielding error on a ball hit by Wil Myers, but then Rogers got Tatis, Jr., to strikeout looking for the first out of the inning to bring up Jake Cronenworth, who singled to put runners on first and second to bring up Manny Machado with the game on the line.

Machado hit a ground ball to Belt, who threw to Crawford for the second out and then got Machado at first base by a step to end the game and give the Giants their 98th win of the season.

Things got to a rousing start for the Giants, as Tommy La Stella led off the top of the first inning and the game with his sixth home run of the season.

After that, it became the Padres home run show, as Machado hit his 25th home run of the season onto Western Metal Supply Company building to tie up the game in the bottom of the first inning.

The Padres took the lead in the bottom of the second inning, as Tatis, Jr., gave the Padres the lead when he singled off of Kevin Gausman to score Trent Grisham.

Machado then hit his second home run of the game in the bottom of the third inning that increased the Padres lead up to 3-1, it was the 26th home run for Machado. Pham then increased the lead up to 4-1 a few batters later, as he hit his 15th home run of the season.

The Giants began to make a comeback that eventually gave them the lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning.

Wilmer Flores cut the Padres lead in half, as he singled to left field to score Evan Longoria and send Mike Yastrzemski to second base, who then scored on a Buster Posey sacrifice fly.

Crawford then got the Giants even in the top of the sixth inning, as he doubled to the opposite field to score Bryant and then Yastrzemski hit a sacrifice fly to give the Giants the lead to score Crawford.

Once again, the Padres tied it up in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Nola hit his second home run of the season and that setup the heroics by Wade in the top of the ninth inning.

Gausman went only four innings, allowing four runs on nine hits, did not walk a batter and struck out three; however, he allowed three home runs and turned the ball over to the bullpen.

Camilo Doval gave up a single in his only inning of work, then Zack Littell gave up the game-tying home run to Nola in the bottom of the sixth inning and that would be the last hit allowed by the bullpen until Rogers gave up the single to Cronenworth in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Doval, Jose Alvarez, Dominic Leone, Tony Watson, who pitched a perfect eighth inning, striking out two on his way to his sixth win of the season and then Rogers picked up his 13th save of the season, despite allowing a single and a huge strikeout of Tatis, Jr., for the first out of the bottom of the ninth inning.

NOTES: This was the Giants 49th win of the season on the road, good enough for their sixth best road record in team history and have 13 out of their last 15 games on the road.

With two more wins, the Giants will reach the 100-win plateau just seven Giants teams in franchise history have won 100 games: 1904 NY Giants (106), 1905 NY Giants (105), 1912 NY Giants (103), 1962 SF Giants (103), 1993 SF Giants (103), 1913 NY Giants (101) and 2003 SF Giants (100).

UP NEXT: Giants will send Scott Kazmir to the mound on Wednesday night, as he looks for his first win of the season, while the Padres will send Vince Velasquez to the hill, as he looks for his fourth win of the season.

A’s drop second game to M’s 5-2; Fall 3 games back in Wild Card race

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Down the rabbit hole the Oakland A’s third baseman Matt Chapman gives chase for gloving a foul ball but can’t reach it over the tarp near the stands hit by the Seattle Mariners Jake Bauers in the top of the fourth inning at the Oakland Ring Central Coliseum on Tue Sep 21, 2021 (AP News photo)

Seattle 5 – 9 – 0

Oakland 2 – 6 – 1

By Lewis Rubman

Tuesday September 21, 2021

OAKLAND–Today is the last day of the summer of ‘21, and, with their 5-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners, the A’s look ready to say good bye to both the season and their chances of playing in the post season.

The game started well for the home team. With two down in the first, Matt Olson blasted a slow hanging curve from Marco González 416 feet from home plate and over the right field fence for his 37th home run of the year, giving the A’s an early 1-0 lead.

Big ball giveth, but small ball taketh away. After striking Jarred Kelenic out to open the second, the Athletics´starter, Paul Blackburn, hit Jake Bauers with a pitch. Blackburn then gave up a hit ‘em where they ain’t single to right by Tom Murphy, against whom the A’s employed a quasi shift, with Josh Harrison stationed just to the right of second base.

Jake Fraley hit a sharp bouncer to Olson at first, whose throw to Elvis Andrus forced Kelenic at second. AAndrus’s relay was late, so Fraley was safe at first. Meanwhile, Bauers advanced to third. Dylan Moor struck out to end the inning, but not before Blackburn threw a pick off attempt past Olson, which allowed Bauers to race home with the tying tally.

Kelenic opened the Mariners’ fourth with a triple to right center. Umpire Ryan Wills called him out at third, but a video review showed that he was well and truly safe. Blackburn fought back, striking out Bauers and Murphy before walking Fraley on a 3-2 pitch in a plate appearan;ce that had many of the earmarks of a semi-intentional walk.

After all, Moore, who was up next, came into the game with a .182 batting average and had struck out in his only other at bat. He whalloped a triple that a leaping Canha couldn’t pull down in front of the 7-Up sign. A single to center by JP Crawford, and the A’s were down 4-1. Blackburn finally retired the M’s with a pop fly to second by Ty France.

Blackburn had, by then, delivered 83 pitches in four innings, which was all was to throw tonight. He had been touched for four runs, three earned, on six hits, a walk, and a hit batter. He struck out five. 48 of his pitches were strikes.

Starling Marte brought the A’s a bit closer when, leading off in the fourth, he snuck a high fly over the center field fence at the 400 foot marker. It was his 15th dinger of the year and his fifth for Oakland, González quickly disposed of the two Matts, Olson and Chapman, but Gomes and Pinder singled, putting the potential tying runs on base. Canha hit a hard shot that staggered Crawford, but the Seattle shortstop recovered fast enough to throw the hustling Canha out at first.

Sam Moll, who had pitched a scoreless eighth against the M´s on Monday night, relieved the departed Blackburn when the A’s took the field in the fifth. He retired the side on three strike outs and a hit batter. He gave up a single too Fraley in the sixth but caught the Seattle left fielder trying to steal, 1-3-6, and didn’t let anyone else reach base.

Yusmeiro Petit took over mound duties for the green and gold in the top of the seventh. Crawford greeted him with a double that bounced off the left center field wall between the 7-Up and Rickey Henderson Field signs. He stayed on second when Andrus made a beautiful play on France’s hard bounder that looked like it was going to go into left, but he advanced to third on Seager’s grounder to Olson. Chapman made a nice. plaly on Haniger’s grounder to save Petit’s bacon.

González left the game after finishing his sixth frame. He threw 99 pitches, 62 for strikes, and allowed two runs, both earned, on four hits, half of which were solo home runs, and a walk. Casey Sadler, his replacement, set the A’s down 1, 2, 3 in the home seventh.

Jake Diekman pitched the eighth for Oakland. He walked Murphy but struck out Kelenic, Bauers, and Fraley.

Paul Seward, who earned his ninth save of the season with a shutout ninth inning against the A’s, pitched the eighth for Seattle tonight. He gave up a two out double to the no longer slumping Marte before conceeding a walk to Olson, whoich put the tying runs on base for Chapman. He left them there, fanning on a 1-2 93 mph fast ball.

Sergio Romo came in to try to keep the A’s in. the game but gave up a home run on a hanging slilder that Parker parked in the right field seats.

A pinch hitting Jed Lowrie greeted close Drew Steckendrider with a leg double through the shift to right. Kemp lined out to center, but when Canha, the human dart board reached first after being hit by a pitch, Oakland again had the potential tying runs on base, this time with one out and Seth Brown at the plate, He hit into a 4-6 force out, leaving it up to Andrus, hitless so far after a six game hitting streak. He popped out.

González, who got the win, is now 9-5, 4.01. The save went to Streckenrider, his 10th. Blackburn, 1-3, 5.17, took the loss.

The teams are now tied for second place in the AL West at 81-69. They will do battle Wednesday at 6:40. Cole Irvin (10-13,3.94) and Chris Flexen (12-6, 3.66) will be the probable starters.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: A’s get after it as Wild Card tightens; Will Sergio Romo return for 2022?

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Oakland A’s reliever Sergio Romo has struggled in his last few outings and blew a save on Sun Sep 19, 2021 in Anaheim will he return for 2022? (file photo Fox Sports)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Oakland A’s are just two games back in the loss column behind two very tough customers the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL Wild Card race with 13 games left for Oakland to go.

#2 The bullpen has been a subject of much discussion and A’s reliever Sergio Romo has struggled as of late and had a blown save against the Angels on Sunday despite the A’s winning. Romo had a line of 1/3, three hits, two runs, one earned and threw ten pitches.

#3 Amaury, Romo is a Bay Area favorite is 1-1 ERA 4.42 and he’s had some trouble closing the door in games but with a strong finish to the regular season do you think he may have a shot at returning for 2022?

#4 In recognition of Hispanic Heritage month Sep 15-Oct 15 Romo appeared on NBC Bay Area regarding his Mexican Heritage saying his big moment in his pride of being of being of Mexican decent came in 2013 when he wore the Mexico uniform in the 2013 World Classic saying, “Seeing your name, your last name — my parent’s last name — my family’s last name, just understanding where, you know, where my family’s come from and to see it ‘there.’ ”

#5 Amaury, It’s game two of this four game series tonight at the Coliseum as the Mariners will start Marco Gonzalez (8-5 ERA 4.05) and the A’s will start Paul Blackburn (1-2 ERA 4.94) a 6:40 pm PDT

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead announcer for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio flagship station 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and does News and Commentary Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

M’s 3 run third holds up in 4-2 win over A’s; Oakland two games back in Wild Card

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Seattle Mariners Kyle Seager belts a two run double in the third inning against Oakland A’s starter Sean Manaea at T Mobile Field in Seattle on Mon Sep 20, 2021 in the first of a four game series (AP News photo)

Seattle 4 – 10 – 0

Oakland 2 – 7 – 0

By Lewis Rubman

Monday September 20, 2021

OAKLAND–Tonight, the A’s opened their current, final home stand of the 202 1 season, a skein of seven games against Seattle and Houston, knowing full well that each contest will be vital to their chances of surviving to play in the post season.

Fangraphs gives them a razor thin chance of 1.5% of seizing the division crown out of the faltering hands of the Atros. Their chances of winning the wild card game go up to 8.5%. (Houston’s chances are rated at 0.5, but that’s because the folks at Fangraphs don’t think that they’ll have to participate in that particular crap shoot). They’ve got a 10% shot at making the playoffs.

Oakland’s out of division rivals, the Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Yankees all have better chances than Oakland of getting past the wild card stage, ranging from 28.9% for the Bronx Bombers to 88.8% for the Box, with Toronto at 70.6%. Seattle, going into the fray two games behind the green and gold, may well finish higher than the home town when all is said and done, but Fangraphs still gives them only a 0.8% shot at a necessary but not sufficient wild card win.

Tonight’s results, a. 4-2 win for the M´s, featured a masterly pitching performance by journey man starter Tyler Anderson and bought his team to within one game of A’s in the battle for second place in the AL West.

The Mariners opened the scoring in the top of the third. Tom Murphy hit Manaea’s first offering on the frame to the center field wall, where Starling Marte corralled it in front of the 400 foot marker for the first out. Dylan Moore, JP Crawford, and Ty France followed with sharply hit singles that brought Moore, the number nine batter, around to record the game’s first tally.

A 3-2 walk to Mitch Haniger clogged the basepaths with clean-up hitter Kyle Seager at the plate. He blasted a double to the Rickey Henderson Field sign in left center, driving in Crawford and France while Haniger advanced to third. Drawing strength from adversity, Manaea struck out Luis Torres and got Abraham Toro out on a fly to Canha in left. But the A’s southpaw had seen his pitch count jump from 23 at the end of the second inning to 57 when the Athletics returned to the dugout facing a three run deficit.

Oakland responded to the challenge in their half of the third with back to back doubles by Chad Pinder and Khris Davis, cutting Seattle’s lead to 3-1. Elvis Andrus’s sacrifice bunt to the mound moved Davis over to third, where he was stranded when Marte grounded out to short, making the A’s center fielder 0 for his last 17.

Haniger banged a 92 mph sinker off the Kaiser Permanente sign in right center with one down in the fifth for his second two bagger of the night. Seager’s line drive single to right center brought Haniger with the fourth Mariner run, but Pinder’s throw to Andrus caught the Seattle third sacker trying to stretch his hit into a double. Manaea then made a nice play, going to his right to snatch Luis Torrens’ bouncer and throw the DH out a first, but he didn’t come out to pitch the sixth. That task fell to Domingo Acvedo.

In his five innings of work, the A’s starter surrendered four runs, all earned, on eight hits and a walk. He struck out one Mariner and threw 86 pitches, 58 for strikes.

Acevedo pitched two scoreless innings, allowing a one out double to Crawford in the seventh but nothing else. Sam Moll, recalled yesterday from Las Vegas, replaced him for the eighth.

After throwing seven innings of one run, four hit ball, Anderson was replaced by Diego. Castillo. Seattle’s starter struck out seven and walked one. 66 of his 91 pitches were strikes. The single tally he allowed was earned.

Castillo got Jed Lowrie, hitting for Davis, out on a fly to center, Andrus and Harrison delivered back to back singles to right, and Marte, breaking an 0 for 18 slump, singled the former home while the latter stopped at second. That ended Castillo’s brief outing and brought Paul Sewald into the game to pitch to Olson.

Home plate umpire Rob Drake called him out on an 0-2 slider, much to the displeasure of many of the 4,068 fans in attendance. He then got Chapman out, swinging and missing on an 0-2 93 mph four seamer.

Deolis Guerra came on for the ninth, hoping to keep the score at 4-2 and give Oakland a reasonable chance of a ninth inning comeback. He set the M’s down in order.

Sewald stayed in the game to face Tony Kemp, pinch hitfor Gomes. He flew out to right. Next in line was Canha, who popped out to first. Seth Brown batted for Pinder who took a called third strike over the outside corner.

Anderson got the well earned win, bringing his record to 7-9, 4.01. Manaea took the loss and now stands at 10-10, 4.05. Sewald earned his ninth save of the year.

The A’s will try to resume their winning ways Tuesday at 6:40, with Paul Blackburn (1-2,4.94) taking the mound against Marco González (8-5,4,95).

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: Jefferies out with elbow injury; Bassitt mending very well

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Oakland A’s pitcher Daulton Jefferies has been sidelined with right elbow irritation and has been placed on the Injured List as of Sat Sep 18, 2021 (file photo San Francisco Chronicle)

On the A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Barbara, you have discussed many times on the program about the pitching and bullpen issues of the A’s. The A’s just recently have shelved pitcher Daulton Jefferies with a right elbow injury ulnar neuritis. Jefferies was showing signs of improvement but was put on the IL on Saturday.

#2 A’s manager Bob Melvin said that Jefferies elbow started bothering him after his last pitching performance on Sep 12. Jefferies relieved against the Texas Rangers and went 3 1/3 innings. Melvin said that Jefferies injury didn’t have anything to do with a ligament but was nerve irritation.

#3 Jefferies was supposed to start Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim but was replaced by James Kaprielian who went six innings and gave up two hits and struck out five in the A’s 3-1 win. Kaprielian really saved the day as the A’s cut the lead in the AL Wild Card race down to two games.

#4 A’s starter Chris Bassitt continued his rehab throwing 30 pitches on Saturday mixing them up with fastballs and a mix of other pitches. Bassitt faced switch hitter Skye Bolt. Bassitt also got to throw between innings simulating warms ups. Melvin said “He looked really good out there today.”

#5 The Seattle Mariners are in Oakland tonight to face the A’s the Mariners starting pitcher Tyler Anderson (6-9 ERA 4.14) and the A’s will go with Sean Manaea (10-9 ERA 3.95) a 6:40 pm PDT at the Oakland Ring Central Coliseum.

Barbara does the Oakland A’s podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The Skinny On The Giants-Dodgers Division Title Race For The Ages: You don’t wanna finish second

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By Morris Phillips

You don’t want to finish second. For the Giants and the Dodgers, winning the NL West is paramount.

Here’s why.

Barring a minor miracle–but also a real possibility–the first postseason meeting of the long time rivals begins on Friday, October 8, a full four days after the regular season ends on that previous Sunday. The best case scenario for both teams: they win the NL West outright, and get all four of those days to rest and set up their Operation World Series ’21 war room in which they align their rotations, rest key regulars and stay out of COVID protocols. Beyond that, the NL West winner would have time to develop a strategy to derail their rival in a seven-game series, then roll two more high-level opponents on their way to a Series title.

Now back to the minor miracle/real possibility that could evaporate one of these two 100 plus-win teams before October 8: a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, the almost certain, second wild card entrant currently riding an eight-game win streak that has all but retired the competition with two weeks remaining in the regular season. What would the Cardinals have to do to pull an upset? Summon the perpetual youth tonic for 40-year old Adam Wainwright and his battery mate, 39-year old Yadier Molina, who would be slotted to pitch and catch the Wednesday, October 6 wild card game as the only pair manager Mike Schildt–or the state of Missouri–would trust in such a situation. In a separate slice of baseball history, Wainwright and Molina have paired as battery mates 298 times. The October 6 clash would see them likely pairing for the 301st time, which ranks fourth in major league history for the most prolific catcher and pitcher pairings.

Wainright (16-7, 2.89 ERA) has a win against both the Dodgers and Giants this season (beating Los Angeles at Busch Stadium on September 8) although he was roughed up in the rematch against the Giants on July 16.

Think the stakes are high in these final two weeks for the Giants and Dodgers? Think higher.

The Giants are trying to secure the apex of their franchise history (which dates back to 1883 as the New York Gothams) by winning a fourth World Series in 12 seasons, a rash of success never accomplished by a franchise that’s won eight titles in 137 seasons.

For the Dodgers, who have had far more success at this level, this would mark some level of redemption after their well-chronicled postseason flame outs beginning in 2013. On the line for the Dodgers: an unprecedented ninth, consecutive division title, back-to-back Series titles, and the fulfillment of their stature as the team widely considered to be Major League baseball’s best.

Currently, the Giants have a one-game lead with 12 games remaining for both contenders. The teams will be on the road this week, and home next week, six road games then six home games. Amazingly, Baseball-Reference–the premiere MLB website chronicling the game’s history and all of its current metrics–favors the Giants to win the division with a 104-58 record, besting the Dodgers, who according to their database, are most likely to finish 103-59.

If you been following this race intently, you know those won-loss figures are extremely conservative and predict that neither team will win at their current clips, which are best described as torrid. The Dodgers since losing six of nine (four of those six losses to the Giants) at the end of July, have won 34 of 45. The Giants have won 13 of their last 17 ballgames after a four-game losing streak spanning the end of August and beginning of September.

Most likely, both managers (Gabe Kapler and Dave Roberts) are hoping for fast finishes with a record of 9-3 or better. For the Giants (97-53) that’s the safe spot. 106 wins should be the number the Dodgers can’t match. Of course, 105 might be just what the doctor ordered for the Dodgers (96-52). Obviously, it’s just that close.

Now for what might happen after game 162 with the caveat that neither of these teams is fearful of playing a big game in the other team’s ballpark. Both have had too much success, and have won too consistently (with pitching) to feel any other way. That’s why one (Los Angeles) or both teams may not scared to finish second, and get ready for the postseason without the burden of overusing their bullpens, starters or key starters.

But here’s why they would.

Playing on Monday–Game 163–burns a critical starter who would otherwise be primed to pitch Game 1 of the NLDS. For the Giants, based on how the rotations are set up (and there’s little reason for either team to dramatically juggle their rotations with the aces in line to pitch the final weekend or on that following Monday) Logan Webb would likely be a one-game playoff starter, Julio Urias (18-3, 2.99, the NL Cy Young favorite) would be most likely for the Dodgers.

The loser of Game 163 would then host the Wild Card game Wednesday and assume the challenge presented by the Cardinals. Then after burning two prime starters, they would open the NLDS as the visitor on Friday.

Does the second place scenario offer a reasonable path for success? Sure, for either of these balanced clubs. But potentially, playing eight, consecutive Dodgers-Giants games doesn’t set you up to play exceptional baseball for three weeks–against two, more formidable opponents–after that.

So, in conclusion… if 2021 is your year, the “your” part starts now.

And the quote of the weekend from Kris Bryant of the Giants: “I feel like we’ve been playing great baseball, and they have been matching us. That’s annoying.”

On Tuesday, the Giants open up a three-game set in San Diego against the frustrated, fussing, faltering Padres with Kevin Gausman facing Joe Musgrove. Gausman will be pitching with four days rest, Musgrove with five.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Charlie O: Belt seeing ball well; Wood looks like he never missed a step great start on return

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San Francisco Giants slugger Brandon Belt arrives in the dugout after hitting a forth inning two run home run against the San Diego Padres on Mon Sep 13, 2021 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie, the Giants in this last homestand split four with the San Diego Padres and won the three game series from the Atlanta Braves. Both clubs could give the Giants fits but manager Gabe Kapler had to be pretty happy with the way they played.

#2 Brandon Belt has been on a tear lately on he nearly hit two home runs on Thursday clearing the fence once and hitting into a double that look like it had the distance. Later in the game in the sixth Padres right fielder Jurickson Profar caught a Belt drive in deep right center.

#3 You have to hand it to the Giants pitching staff on Saturday for the fine piece of work they turned in getting a great start out of Alex Wood who just came out of Covid 19 quarantine and pitched three innings four strike outs, Wood was followed by six relivers who combined to shut out the Atlanta Braves on Saturday 2-0.

#4 Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto’s rehab from an elbow injury is coming along Cueto played catch for the second day in a row throwing some 120 feet. The Giants are hoping to see him back out on the hill on Sep 27 and 28th he will be throwing in bullpen sessions and looking past Sep 27 the Giants would like to get him ready for post season.

#5 Former San Francisco Giants owner Bob Lurie was on hand to be honored on the Giants Wall of Fame. Lurie who saved the Giants from moving to Toronto in 1976 when he purchased the team with the late Bud Herseth. Later Lurie sold the team to the late Peter Magown and the late Walter Shorenstein at the end of the 1992 season preventing the Giants from moving to Tampa Bay. Giants CEO Larry Baer said of Lurie, “Bob’s fingerprints are all over Oracle Park”

Charlie O is filling in for Morris Phillips for the Giants podcasts heard Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Win, Late Drama Included For Free: Miscues late almost ruin 3-2 win over the Angels

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By Morris Phillips

Yeah, yeah, the A’s bullpen… but here’s a twist: this time Lou Trivino was the hero with a warm, Southern California breeze sprinkled in.

Trivino came on to record the final five outs of the game–without allowing a hit or a walk–after the Angels scored a pair of ninth inning runs to break up a shutout authored by starter Frankie Montas and Jake Diekman, who combined to put the home team asleep for eight innings, allowing just one hit.

The A’s secured a 3-2 win in Anaheim to sweep the series–and keep their playoff hopes alive–when Mark Canha singled, and Jed Lowrie followed with a sacrifice fly to score placed runner Matt Olson in the top of the 10th.

Winners of five straight, the A’s still face daunting odds to pass the Yankees (who lost Sunday) and either the Red Sox or Blue Jays (both who won) to secure one of the two wild card spots. Among the biggest of the A’s challenges: they’re in the midst of a 16-games in 16-days stretch that won’t digest any easier after Sunday’s heart stopper.

But before all of what come’s next, the A’s have to be proud of themselves for what was accomplished in Anaheim. Not only did they complete a road sweep, they finished 15-4 in the season series against the Angels, a domination of a division rival that’s almost a prerequisite to gaining a playoff berth these days. But not only that, the A’s stood up to Shohei Ohtani, who was terrific, firing darts across the plate for eight innings.

Ohtani struck out ten, utilizing his splitter on more than half of his 108 pitches across eight innings. He was energized, showing great life on his fastball late in the game when he struck out the side in the seventh, and fanned Matt Chapman in the eighth with a couple of the pitches hitting 98 mph. But Ohtani failed to keep Yan Gomes in the ballpark in the third, and Chapman from circling bases in the fourth. The two solo shots were the difference–until the late drama–as Ohtani allowed three other hits and no walks in his the third longest outing of his career.

But Montas was just as good.

The A’s ace in the absence of the miraculously healing Chris Bassitt took full advantage of an Anaheim lineup that was absent of the normal big names with the exception of Ohtani, who he smartly walked twice. Beyond that, Montas struck out seven, walked two others for a total of four, and allowed a double to Brandon Marsh in the third inning with two outs. Montas then shut that down, by issuing a pass to Ohtani, and striking out Phil Gosselin to end the inning.

“When you go up against Ohtani, you know you have to be really good, and he was,” manager Bob Melvin said. “He matched him all the way until both were out of the game and out-pitched him really.”

But as so many baseball games go, the pitching gems didn’t decide it, instead the follies almost did.

Romo, hardly an ideal closer given the lack of velocity on his pitches, was called upon in the ninth, a role he’s assumed following Trivino’s well-chronicled struggles. Almost immediately, Romo fell into straights allowing a double to Gosselin, and an infield single to Jared Walsh after throwing just six pitches. After Luis Rengifo grounded out, but advanced the runners, Jose Rojas delivered a single to left that plated Gosselin. But Seth Brown’s throw to the plate–with Walsh held at third–sailed over Gomes at the plate and to the backstop. That pinned an error on Brown, freed up Walsh, and allowed the Angels to tie the game.

Just that quick–after 10 pitches–Romo was done, and Trivino was summoned. On six pitches, Trivino struck out Max Stassi and Jack Mayfield (both looking) to keep the Angels from grabbing a lead.

“It’s demoralizing to give up the lead,” Melvin said. “You have to go back out there and work for it again and they did. It doesn’t surprise me.”

In the tenth with the lead, Trivino did it again. He got David Fletcher to ground out, Brandon Marsh to ground into a fielder’s choice, wiping out Mayfield, the runner placed at second to start the inning. Then he got Kean Wong to fly out to end it, all done with eight pitches.

In five outings ending September 4, Trivino allowed runs in each appearance, all in games that the A’s ended up losing. That cost Trivino his closer’s role. But this week, he’s been better: despite allowing five hits combined in appearances Wednesday and Friday, he posted two holds and a win.

“Huge for him kind of getting back to what he’s been doing here for the better part of the season,” Melvin said. “Great for us, great for his confidence and obviously the timeliness of it was huge.”

The A’s open up a four-game set with Seattle at the Coliseum on Monday night. Sean Manaea will be opposed by the Mariners’ Tyler Anderson, who’s allowed three home runs and five walks in his two most recent starts and has a 6-9 record on the season.

Rosario goes cycling in Braves victory 3-0

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Eddie Rosario who hit for the cycle for the Atlanta Braves is jubilant after hitting a triple against the San Francisco Giants in the fifth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Sep 19, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Wouldnt you know that it would be a former member of the San Francisco Giants that cost them a big weekend sweep.

Adam Duvall hit a two-run home run off of Anthony DeSclafani in the top of the seventh inning, helping the Atlanta Braves to salvage the finale of the three-game series with a 3-0 victory over the Giants before a crowd of 32,210 at Oracle Park.

Max Fried was absolutely fantastic for the Braves, as he went seven innings, allowing zero runs on three hits, walking just one and striking out five on his way to raising his record to 12-7 on the record and with the win, the Braves will remain in first place over the Philadelphia Phillies.

On the other side of things, the Giants lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers was reduced to one game in the National League with the loss and the Dodgers 8-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark.

It was a huge day for Rosario, who hit for the cycle, as he went 4 for-4 on the afternoon against Giants pitching. Rosario came up in the top of the ninth inning with a chance at the getting the cycle, and got it when he singled off of Kervin Castro. Rosario doubled in the second, tripled in the fifth, homered in the seventh and singled in the ninth to complete only the second cycle since the ballpark opened on April 11, 2000.

This was the fourth cycle of the season in Major League Baseball this season, as Trea Turner, then of the Washington Nationals, Jake Cronenworth of the San Diego Padres and Rosarios teammate Freddie Freeman also hit one and it was the 10th cycle in Braves history.

DeSclafani went the first six innings and was looking fantastic until he gave a double to Austin Riley that Austin Slater brought back into the ballpark like Steven Duggar did with a ball hit by Jorge Soler. In all, DeSclafani went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits, did not walk a batter and struck out six and his record fell to 12-7 on the season.

Immediately following the Duvall home run off of DeSclafani, Zack Littell came on and was greeted rather unceremoniously, as Rosario made it back-to-back home runs to lengthen the Braves lead.

Unfortunately for the Giants, they were unable to get anything going against Fried, who baffled them on all afternoon.

Former Dodgers outfielder and Bay Area Joc Pederson, who went to Palo Alto High School went 2-for-4 with a single and a double.

With a chance to break the game wide open in the top of the eighth inning, after Ozzie Albies and Freddie Freeman each singled off of Jose Alvarez with one out in the inning, Camilio Doval came on and was able to get out of the jam, as he got Riley to fly out to Darin Ruf in left field for the second out of the inning and then Doval struck out Duvall to end the inning.

Former Giants closer Will Smith came on in the bottom of the ninth inning and retired the Giants in order to get his 33rd save.

NOTES: Eric Byrnes came up with the only other cycle in the history of the 21-year old ballpark, when completed the cycle on June 29, 2003 as a member of the Oakland Athletics, when the ballpark was then known as Pacific Bell Park.

Byrnes went 5-for-5 on the afternoon, with a single, two doubles, a triple and a home run in a 5-2 win over the Giants.

Felix Rodriguez gave up the triple that Byrnes needed in the top of the ninth inning to complete the cycle.

UP NEXT: After an off-day on Monday, the Giants will open their final road trip of the regular season, as they head off on a two-city, six-game road trip to San Diego to face the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night, and then head to Colorado to face the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field beginning on Friday night.

A’s Continue To Roll Past Angels 3-1; A’s now 2 games back in AL Wild Card race

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Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani swings for a broken bat single in the seventh inning Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy watches at Angels Stadium in Anaheim on Sat Sep 18, 2021 (AP News photo)

A’s Continue To Roll Past Angels

By Barbara Mason

After holding on in a very tight game, the Oakland A’s beat the Los Angels Angels in game one of their three game series 5-4. The bullpen, which has really been struggling, had a great game.

In tonight’s game the A’s had James Kaprielian starting the game and the Angels had Jose Suarez on the mound. His ERA is 3.59 and Kaprielian is a 3.83 ERA. The A’s took game two of the three game series on Saturday night 3-1 at Angels Stadium in Anaheim.

The first inning was a very productive one for the A’s. The one thing that we did not see in last night’s game was the long ball and Matt Olson took care of that in his first at bat. He had a solo home run followed by a Mark Canha walk, a Chad Pinder double and a Matt Chapman double. When the dust had settled the A’s had an early 3-0 lead.

The pitching rose to a new level as both pitchers dismissed batters right and left. Both players had very nice performances through six innings.

Due to pitch count Suarez came out of the game in the sixth inning and was relieved by Oliver Ortega who finished off Oakland in the inning.

After six full innings Oakland held their 3-0 lead. There was not a lot of offense for either team after that first inning.

In a surprising move Deolis Guerra came in to relieve Kaprielian in the bottom of the seventh inning. Kaprielian would have faced Ohtani who had already flied out and struck out. Guerra gave up a hit to Ohtani in the seventh inning in Shohei’s third at bat. An apparent double play was reversed and there were two out and two on in the bottom of the inning for the Angels.

Los Angeles did get one run in the inning after the reversed call. The A’s were a bit unnerved after that call. The entire team had left the field when the double play was called by the ref. They managed to pull it back together allowing the one run and still led 3-1 going into the eighth inning.

In six innings Kaprielian allowed two hits and in one inning Guerra allowed three hits. With 90 pitches it would seem that Kaprielian had one more inning in him. The Oakland bullpen had to get through two more innings for their second win of this series.

It was a very nervous ninth inning with the bases loaded for the Angels. With two outs Josh Harrison would leap up and catch a line drive to end the game. This was a critical catch for the A’s. If Harrison doesn’t make that catch this game is tied so a great game for Oakland.

The A’s will play an afternoon game tomorrow in the final game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:07. Frankie Montas will be on the mound for Oakland and in a surprise Shohei Ohtani has the nod for the Angels. His sore arm has healed in record time and so this will be a great matchup.