Category: MLB

A’s Record Their Second Straight Shutout 2-0 blank Halos

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Oakland A’s starter Chris Bassitt delivering a pitch against the Anaheim Angels in the first inning on Fri Jul 30, 2021 at Angels Stadium (AP News photo)

A’s Record Their Second Straight Shut Out 2-0

By Barbara Mason

Thursday night the Oakland A’s started a four game series against the division rival Los Angeles Angels. The first game of the series was a good one for the A’s winning by the score of 4-0. Starting pitcher Frankie Montas recorded 10 strikeouts for Oakland. It was also a nice start for Starling Marte. The A’s took full advantage of some Angel errors in this game.

Friday night both teams were back at it with Chris Bassitt taking the mound for Oakland and for Los Angeles it was Patrick Sandoval. Neither team would score until the fourth inning. Oakland was first up on the scoreboard. Mark Canha walked with the bases loaded giving the A’s a 1-0 lead that would prevail into the seventh inning. Bassitt who has been consistent all year long lead the A’s with a 2-0 shutout in Anaheim.

There was not much offense for Oakland with Elvis Andrus, Sean Murphy and Jed Lowry coming in with singles through six innings.

Sergio Romo would relieve Bassitt to start the eighth inning. Chris Bassitt had seen seen seven innings of action. For Romo it was a quick three up three down inning.

The A’s would extend their lead in the eighth inning when Matt Chapman homered to center for 402 feet giving Oakland a 2-0 lead. Once again the A’s the bases loaded in this game and did not capitalize. This is happening far too much this season.

Lou Trivino would come into to try and save the game for the A’s. in the ninth inning. Trivino had a great inning giving the A’s a second straight shut out, their tenth of the season. The final score was 2-0.

The series will continue tomorrow, an afternoon game. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05.

MLB podcast with Larry Crino: Bryant joins Giants; Rizzo to Yankees; Twins Berrios to Toronto; plus more

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The Chicago Cubs Anthony Rizzo who hit a two run home run against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field was dealt to the New York Yankees on Thursday night (AP News photo)

MLB podcast with Larry:

#1 Washington Nationals are dealing and pitcher Max Scherzer who pitched the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers trying to make that push to win the NL West just behind the San Francisco Giants and hope that having someone like Scherzer in the rotation help make that difference.

#2 It’s a fire sale or at least that’s what the Chicago Cubs want it to be, they were as predicted sellers trading Kris Bryant and two minor leaguers to the San Francisco Giants for right hander Calib Kilian and outfielder Alexander Canario.

#3 The Minnesota Twins traded Jose Berrios to the Toronto Blue Jays for two Twins propects and are looking to deal Bryon Buxton and Josh Donaldson. In this instance these players would help a club. For the Twins this would be a fire sale as the Twins are in last place in the AL Central 17 games out of first place.

#4 The New York Mets have a 78% chance of making the post season and they are considering dealing third baseman JD Davis. He could help a could club he has 25 hits, 4 homers, and is hitting .325. As of Friday night the Mets are still trying to find a taker for Davis.

#5 The Cubs kept busy who sent Javier Baez and Trevor Williams to the New York Mets. The Mets sent first round draft pick Pete Crow-Armstrong to the Cubs.

Larry does the MLB podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants acquire Cubs Bryant in big move during trade deadline

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Former Chicago Cub Kris Bryant watches the flight of his home run at Wrigley Field as he joins the San Francisco Giants on Fri Jul 30, 2021 (photo from pantagraph.com)

On the Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 The San Francisco Giants is a big move picked up Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant who will be playing the hot corner as regular third baseman Evan Longoria is on the 60 day injured list.

#2 Longoria got injured when he collided with teammate and shortstop Brandon Crawford and suffered a shoulder sprain and has been out since June 5th

#3 The Cubs picked up a right hander Calib Kilian and outfielder Alexander Canario in exchange for Bryant and two minor leaguers. Bryant who will be a free agent at the end of this season might be at the crossroads of whether he would want to come back to the Cubs or will he stay with the Giants that is yet to be seen.

#4 Bryant is hitting .267, with 18 home runs and 51 RBIs he certainly can be expected to help the Giants at the plate.

#5 Bryant knows something about the post season he was on the 2016 Cubs Worlds Championship team his rookie season when the Cubs snapped their 108 year drought of not getting a World Series Championship.

Join Michael Fridays for the Giants podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants host old skipper Dusty and former NL team Houston Astros tonight in SF

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Houston Astros and manager Dusty Baker are headed to Oracle Park in San Francisco to open a three game series against the San Francisco Giants on Fri Jul 30, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 Marko, I know you take every chance you could take to see and talk with former San Francisco Giants manager Dusty Baker who is over in the American League manager with the first place Houston Astros.

#2 The Astros get booed wherever they go but still for Giants fans there has to be a special place in their hearts for Dusty who was a former player, coach and manager that led this team to the 2002 World Series and had so many great memories in the Bay Area.

#3 Marko taking a look at this past week’s Dodgers series at Oracle Park the Giants taking the rubber game on Thursday 5-0 after getting landslided on Wednesday night 8-0 it had to be an important come back for the club.

#4 Talk about Brandon Crawford in Thursday’s game coming off the oblique strain injury he didn’t look like he missed a step opening up in the first inning with a two run double against Dodger starter David Price.

#5 The Astros will be starting Framber Valdez (6-2 ERA 2.97) going up against Giant starter Kevin Gausman (9-4 ERA 2.21) tell us how you see this match up to open up the three game series tonight at Oracle.

Marko Ukalovic filled in for Michael who does the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Marte debuts for A’s; Forst says Luzardo can do well with Washington

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Former Oakland A’s pitcher Jesus Luzardo who left for the Washington Nationals has a lot of baseball left in him says A’s GM David Forst. Luzardo is 23 years old and hopes to make that adjustment going to a National League team (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 The Oakland A’s general manager David Forst said the A’s had sent down Jesus Luzardo down to triple A affiliate Las Vegas before he was traded to the Washington. Forst said Luzardo wasn’t performing but has a lot of baseball of ahead of him at 23 years old.

#2 Forst said the team was focusing on the 2021 season and the A’s are trying to catch the Houston Astros and win the division as one of their goals and said sometimes you have to give up on good players.

#3 Forst said that adding Starling Marte to the line up give the team a bat. Marte whose hitting over .300 is an upgrade and that he’s a great clubhouse guy. Marte’s contract with the Marlins is up at the end of this season and is seen as a rental. The Marlins will pay the remainder of Marte’s $4 million contract.

#4 Marte has played center for the Marlins and started at center on Thursday night to open up the Angels series in Anaheim. He’s facing American League pitching now will that be an adjustment for the Marte or opposing pitchers who don’t see him very much when he was with Miami?

#5 The A’s will be starting Chris Bassitt (10-3 ERA 3.46) and he’ll be opposed by the Angels Patrick Sandoval (3-4 ERA 3.52) talk about how you see this match up at the Big A tonight this actually could be a pitching duel.

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

A’s take the first game of four-game set from LA Angels 4-0

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Oakland A’s starter Frankie Montas throws to the Los Angeles Angels line up in the second inning at Angels Stadium in Anaheim on Thu Jul 29, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s behind Frankie Montas’ outstanding performance beat the Los Angeles Angel 4-0 in Anaheim Thursday night. Starling Marte, acquired in a trade with the Miami Marlins, was in centerfield for the Green and Gold. Ramon Laureano moved over to right.

The A’s won the game 4-0. After 11 hits in each of the last two games against the San Diego Padres, the A’s hitters hit one double and three singles. The A’s picked up the win as the Angels beat themselves. Dylan Bundy’s wildness in the first inning allowed the A’s to score three runs.

The only hit was Ramon Laureano’s two-run double. The fourth run came across the plate due to a throwing error by Jose Quintana. The Angels had three hits and three errors in the game.

 The Angels’ starter, Dylan Bundy, did not get off to a good start. He hit A’s leadoff hitter Mark Canha with a pitch to get the game going. Bundy then walked Marte and Matt Olson to load the bases. A’s second baseman drove in Canha with the A’s first run on a ground out. Laureano doubled to drive in Marte and Olson. The A’s put three on the board with just one hit. 

Bundy settled down and did not allow the A’s another hit until the fifth inning. With one out and a man on first, Marte singled to move Mark Canh to second. Angels’ manager Joe Maddon ended Bundy’s night when he brought in lefty Jose Quintana to face Matt Olson. Quintana struck out Olson and Lowrie to end the inning.

The A’s plated a run in the top of the seventh. With a man on first and one out, Mark Canha singled, sending Elvis Andrus to third. Andrus scored when Jose Quintana’s pickoff throw to first got by Angels’ first baseman Phil Gosselin. The A’s led 4-0.

Montas went seven innings and allowed three hits and no runs. He struck out ten hitters. He threw a season-high 109 pitches and won his ninth game of the year. Sergio Romo pitched a scoreless eighth, and Lou Trivino retired the Angels 1-2-3 in the ninth to preserve the win. Oakland wins 4-0.

Game Notes and Stats: With the win, the A’s are now 58-46 for the year. They trail the Houston Astros by five and 1/2 games in the race for first place in the AL West. The Angels are 51-51.  

The Angels were without three of their best players Wednesday. Three-time AL MVP, Mike Trout, was still not available due to a leg injury. Third baseman Anthony Rendon is still on the 10-day IL with a hamstring injury. First baseman, Jared Walsh, who has hammered the A’s this year, is also on the IL. Another A’s tormenter, David Fletcher, went hitless in four trips to the plate.

The time of the game was three hours and fourteen minutes. !8,631 fans watched the Halos fall to the A’s.

The A’s will send Chris Bassitt to the hill Friday night. Lefty Patrick Sandoval will handle the pitching chores for the Angels. The game will start at 6:38 pm.

Giants shut down the Dodgers, anticipate their rivals making the biggest moves at the trade deadline

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–The Padres have the flashiest moves, reportedly those will include a deadline deal for Max Scherzer within the next 24 hours.

The Dodgers are the current World Champions, talented, and looking to add a piece or two to keep them on top.

The Giants aren’t saying or doing much, but they’ve got the most wins, the most remaining home games, and after Thursday’s reaffirming 5-0 win, the respect of the Dodgers.

“We have so much respect for those guys. Obviously, that’s a very good ballclub,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “They’ve earned this right now, up to this point. And they played better the last seven games, clearly. All we can do is turn the page, get ready for Arizona and try to play good baseball. That’s the only focus right now that we have. We’ve still got a ways to go.”

A ways to go is down to 60 remaining games in 2021, only three of those against the Dodgers. The third-place Padres are six games behind the Giants and they have 10 of their final 19 games against the division leaders. How do you handicap this race? Quite obviously, credible cases can be made for each of the two challengers, Los Angeles and San Diego, especially with the Giants more an more likely to stand pat at the deadline.

Could the Giants surprise with their lineup of champs a half decade removed along with aging wonders Johnny Cueto, Evan Longoria, Darin Ruf? More and more, it feels like we’re about to find out.

First place is a good position to be in,” Brandon Crawford answered when asked what should the Giants do next. “We could always add pieces, there are some guys that are available that could probably help us. But we have the best record in baseball so we’re doing things pretty also. If we add, great. If we don’t, great.” 

The Giants did what they needed to do Thursday. Leveling the season series with the Dodgers at 8-8 after losing the first four, and six of the first nine is huge. The Giants jumped out quick with Crawford coming off the injured list and driving in two runs in his first at-bat. The opening rally was pure opportunism, and the Giants drew three walks from Dodgers’ starter David Price then saw Crawford bounce a winner down the third base line as he clearly looked to take advantage of the defensive shift that conceded the third base line with Justin Turner playing in the shortstop hole.

“Walking three guys in that first inning, that puts myself in a tough spot, puts our team in a tough spot as well,” Price said. “Crawford did a good job of staying inside that fastball. He shot it down the third-base line. That was a big hit for them.”

The theme of striking with two outs continued for the Giants as they added single runs in the second and fourth innings. In the seventh, Lamonte Wade Jr. gave the Giants their third RBI double to cap the scoring and send the Dodgers to San Francisco International Airport post haste.

From a pitching perspective, Cueto gave the Giants all the remaining momentum they needed by pitching into the sixth inning and not allowing any runs. Cueto went the entire month of July until Thursday without a win. That put the veteran on the spot as potential spot in the rotation to upgrade. But Cueto’s response was emphatic. The veteran shut the Dodgers down with a greater percentage of fastballs, better performance the first time through the order, which had been an issue. And to top it off, and in support of a blueprint going forward, the 35-year old threw fewer than 80 pitches before he was lifted which maybe the path for him to follow allowing him to ramp up his pitches earlier in starts and not worry about getting as deep in ballgames.

“I kept telling myself that I needed to be very aggressive against these hitters because they’re difficult and hard hitters,” Cueto said after the game through his interpreter.

The Dodgers one shot to make things interesting came and went with Cody Bellinger’s at-bat in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and two outs. But reliever Jarlin Garcia–a name gaining prominence in the team’s pecking order–came on struck out the Dodgers’ slugger on three pitches.

The Giants gave catcher Buster Posey the day off as anticipated, but also did not rule out their iconic player’s return on Friday night against the Astros with his early exit on Wednesday not being ruled due to a concussion. The team said the move was precautionary, and they got good news when that belief was confirmed Thursday.

Kevin Gausman gets the start on Friday against the Astros in a matchup with Framber Valdez.

Giants Cueto pitches shutout ball into the sixth; SF pen mops up for 5-0 win over LA

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San Francisco Giants starter Johnny Cueto leaves after pitching five plus innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu Jul 29, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Johnny Cueto for the most part looked like he could have gone further as starter for the San Francisco Giants but was lifted in the sixth inning as he was throwing shutout ball against one of the best line ups in the majors the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The bullpen came in and finished off the Dodgers as the Giants secured the win in the second game of the four game series at Oracle Park for a 5-0 shutout. Cueto struck out five, walked two giving up four hits. He got great help from relievers Jarlin Garcia,  Dominic Leone, Tyler Rogers and Jake McGee.

Garcia, Leone, Rogers and McGee pitched 3 1/3 innings of perfect ball not giving up a single hit and kept the Dodgers off balance to complete the Giants 12th shutout of the 2021 season. The Giants offense started the game scoring two in the first and one in the second that got them a good jump on the Dodgers starter David Price after the Dodgers on Wednesday night shutout the Giants in a laugher 8-0.

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford looked like he didn’t miss a step after coming back from an left oblique strain injury. Crawford was responsible for the two runs in the first inning after hitting a two run double. The Giants also got hits from Wilmer Flores, Austin Slater, LaMonte Wade Jr who each got RBIs.

The Giants win puts them three games in front of the second place Dodgers in the National League West. The Dodgers who have one of the best hitting line ups as the Giants know from Wednesday night’s experience have been shutout three times this season.

Dodgers manager and a former Giants player himself Dave Roberts said after the game that San Francisco is a very good ball club, “We have so much respect for those guys, obviously they’re a very good ball club. They’ve earned this right now to this point.”

A former National League team the Houston Astros who is first in the American League West are next to face the Giants at Oracle Park. The Astros will be starting Framber Valdez (6-2 ERA 2.97) against Giant starter Kevin Gausman (9-4 ERA 2.21) a 6:45 pm PDT first pitch.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s obtain Marte for Luzardo; dealing isn’t over yet before trade deadline

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Starling Marte and his new A’s cap fits just fine as Marte and the A’s who clobbered the San Diego Padres on Wednesday afternoon Jul 28, 2021 at Petco Park in San Diego (photo from mlb.com)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry, the A’s were really interested in obtaining Texas Rangers Joey Gallo’s service but Gallo is now a New York Yankees as of Wednesday night. Had the A’s were able to get Gallo he would have added more punch into the Oakland line up.

#2 The A’s dealt pitcher Jesus Luzardo to the Miami Marlins for Starling Marte on Wednesday, the A’s are looking for some punch in the line up and at the trade deadline and heading into August they’re looking for a way to move up in the American League West and Marte could provide some much needed offense hitting .306, 71 hits and 7 home runs.

#3 You can have very little doubt that A’s vice president Billy Beane, general manager David Forst, and field manager Bob Melvin want find the right combination to move the A’s into first place in the AL West after acquiring Marte and pitcher Andrew Chafin A’s are looking to shop some more.

#4 Jerry on Wednesday afternoon the A’s bats came alive crushing the Padres 10-4. The A’s didn’t waste anytime kicking it off with four runs in the top of the first inning at Petco Park in San Diego. The A’s are looking to get their pitchers this kind of support with big run production and early.

#5 A’s open up a four game series against Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels at the Big A in Anaheim tonight the A’s will be going with starter Frankie Montas (8-8 ERA 4.34) and for the Angels Alex Cobb (7-3 ERA 3.83) first pitch tonight at 6:38 pm (PDT)

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

Posey hurt, Giants embarassed in lopsided 8-0 loss to the Dodgers

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Wednesday night was a stark reminder that the Giants face a daunting task in attempting to unseat the World Champion Dodgers.

Walker Buehler set the tone, pitching seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits, as the Dodgers cruised to a 8-0 win over the Giants. The Giants remain two games ahead of their rival atop the NL West, with four remaining meetings between the clubs, all at Oracle Park.

Buehler has faced the Giants five times this season, and gone 3-0 with a 0.79 ERA. He’s been dominant, the clear counterpoint to all the upheaval the Dodgers have experienced with their lineup and starting rotation.

“We all know how good he is in October,” manager Dave Roberts said. “The challenge for him, the next level, was to put it together in the regular season. He’s done that to this point. To throw 100 pitches and go deep into games with the consistency, it’s been a big bonus considering all that we’ve had to go through this year.”

“He doesn’t give in much,” Wilmer Flores said of Buehler. “He hasn’t made many mistakes. I got only one mistake, and it was a fly ball. When you’re facing pitchers like that, you have to be ready for that mistake. If you miss it, it’s going to be a long game.”

Anthony DeSclafani struggled for the Giants, allowing four runs in the first three innings, and saw his personal record against the Dodgers fall to 1-8. DeSclafani was challenged from the early stages, allowing six hits while recording just eight outs before manager Gabe Kapler lifted his starter.

The Dodgers added three runs in the seventh, and struggling slugger Clay Bellinger, hitting just .165, homered in the eighth to complete the scoring.

The Giants had registered three, consecutive wins against the Dodgers, all with the winning push coming in the ninth inning. The stretch troubled the Dodgers, especially Roberts, who was ejected in the ninth inning of the first two losses. Having the season series evened at 7-7 was quite shocking to the Dodgers as well after they won the first four meetings, and six of the first nine. A response was likely, and Buehler and a patient group of hitters at the top of the Los Angeles lineup set the tone for a lopsided result.

Buster Posey was dinged by a foul ball behind the plate in the third inning, and was removed from the game in the fourth with concerns of a concussion, although all indications were the move was precautionary. Posey wasn’t expected to be in the lineup for Thursday’s series finale, but he will be evaluated for his availability on Friday when the Astros come to Oracle Park.

Brandon Crawford is expected to come off the injured list and start at shortstop on Thursday, welcome news for the Giants who are also anticipating the return of Brandon Belt, Evan Longoria and Tommy LaStella to bolster a limited infield.

With the trade deadline on Friday, the Giants are likely to examine their starting rotation closely, especially after DeSclafani’s bad outing and his struggles against the Dodgers. Speculation continues that Washington’s Max Scherzer is among the Giants’ targets and that Scherzer may be willing to waive his no-trade clause to join a contender in San Francisco.

On Thursday, the Giants will turn to Johnny Cueto in a veteran matchup with David Price. The duo have combined to win nearly 300 games in their careers with Price registering 154 wins.