Category: MLB

Rangers hand A’s their third loss in a row 8-3

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Oakland A’s starter Frankie Montas (47) surrendered five runs in the first inning including a home run to the Texas Rangers Andy Ibanez (77) circling first base at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Mon Jun 21, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s (44-30) arrived in Arlington, Texas, Monday to start a four-game series with the lowly Texas Rangers (26-46) the Rangers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the first inning scoring five runs and it stood up for a 8-3 win at the Ballpark in Arlington.

The A’s played a hard-fought three-game set with the Yankees over the weekend. With just a little bit more good fortune, the A’s could have swept the Bronx Bombers, but things did not go their way in games two and three. The Yanks received a sterling relief performance from Nestor Cortes on Saturday.

The A’s were on the verge of breaking the game open when Cortes entered the game with the bases loaded and no out. Cortes pitched three scoreless innings, allowing New York to chip away at the A’s 4-1 advantage. The Yanks fought back to win 7-5.

In the Sunday game, with men on at first and second with no out, A’s catcher Sean Murphy hit a rocket down the third baseline. Yankees’ third baseman, Gio Urshela, picked the ball up, stepped on third for the first out, fired to second for the second, and the relay to first completed a triple play to end the game.

Monday Night Baseball: The A’s wanted to end the two-game losing streak Monday night against the Rangers. The Rangers had lost six in a row and have found themselves in the AL West basement. The Rangers sent Kyle Gibson to the mound to snap the losing streak.

Gibson did the job as he went four and 1/3rd innings without giving up a hit. The A’s Frankie Montas had a rough first inning. The Rangers put five runs on the board in the first inning. The Rangers went on to win 8-3.

The Rangers, as mentioned above, had no trouble figuring out Frankie Montas. With one out, Brock Holt singled. Rookie Adolis Garcia doubled to drive in Holt with the first run of the game. Joey Gallo walked. Rangers’ first baseman Nate Lowe doubled to drive in Garcia. Gallo stopped at third. The next hitter, Andy Ibanez, hitting about a buck fifty, hit his first home run of the year to put Texas ahead 5-0.

The A’s catcher Sean Murphy homered with one out in the fifth to make it a 5-1 game. The A’s put another run on the board in the sixth. They trailed 5-2 at this point. Montas was still pitching for Oakland. Frankie allowed just one hit in the four innings after the disastrous first frame.

The Rangers tallied three more in their half of the sixth. Montas retired the first two hitters but could not finish the inning. He gave up a single to Willie Calhoun and hit Eli WHite with a pitch.

Rangers’ catcher Jose Trevino ended Montas’ night when he blasted a three-run homer to make it 8-2. The A’s added a run in the seventh, but it was too little, too late. The Rangers win 8-3

Game Notes and stats- With the loss, the A’s are 44-30 for the season. They are now in second place in the AL West and will trail the Houston Astros by one full game as Houston is on its way to a big win over the Baltimore Orioles. The Rangers are 26-46.

Frankie Montas was the losing pitcher. He is 7-7 for the year. His line was five and 2/3rds innings of work. He allowed eight runs, all earned, and nine hits. He struck out six, walked two, and gave up two three-run home runs: the A’s used three relievers, Bedrosian, Guerra, and rookie Domingo Acevedo.

Acevedo made his Major League debut Monday night. He faced four hitters and allowed a single. To make room for Acevedo on the roster, The A’s sent lefty Jesus Luzardo to Triple-A Las Vegas. The A’s want Luzardo to get more work as they intend to use him as a starter later in the season.

The A’s line was three runs, seven hits, and no errors. The Rangers’ line was eight runs, ten hits, and two errors. The teams will play game two of the series Tuesday night at Globe Life Stadium. Lefty Cole Irvin goes for Oakland. Lefty Taylor Hearn will pitch for Texas. The game starts at 5:05 pm. The Game will be televised on YouTube TV.

Offensive Options Aplenty: Giants have what it takes offensively, can their pitching keep pace?

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

A look at the Giants’ roster moves on Monday ahead of their two-game visit to Anaheim to face the Angels show the team has the wherewithal to keep its offensive production at a division-winning level.

Now what can they do to bolster their starting rotation and bullpen?

The Giants announced that LaMonte Wade Jr. and Jason Vosler had been demoted to make room for Darin Ruf and Alex Dickerson, who are ready to return to action following recent injuries. Wade was a surprise given his versatility and production thus far in June, but with a minor league option remaining, he was moved where a struggling Mike Tauchman or Austin Slater might have been candidates.

Meanwhile, the club keeps humming. Six wins in a seven-game homestand with five of those games the team producing double-digit hits have the team batting average above the MLB average for the first time this season at .241 (.239). The team’s calling card–majestic home runs–have continued their record pace, the Giants now are tied for the lead in homers with 107 (Toronto Blue Jays). That combination of numbers, along with a very competitive 3.32 ERA (4th best in MLB) for the team’s staff show that winning close games with big hits is a proven formula. 72 games into the season, the Giants continue to lead the NL West and have the best record in baseball.

But with the Dodgers and Padres breathing down their necks, they can’t afford to stand still. Additions to the pitching staff appear to be the best way to improve the club. Don’t expect anything pricey with so many big ticket players available this offseason, and the Giants ready to pounce with many of their heavy contracts expiring, but an additional starter and a versatile bullpen arm appear to be at the top of the list.

Regarding the starting rotation, two things appear clear: the team won’t be patient with Aaron Sanchez, who has biceps issues, but also a reoccurrence of his blister issues that have slowed his production in recent years. And while the club is ecstatic with the 25-year old Sammy Long, he hasn’t won a rotation spot based on one start and three, encouraging appearances.

And don’t expect much movement roster-wise in the coming two weeks. The Giants have an advantage schedule with two days off surrounding their trip to Anaheim, then home games leading up to the All-Star break starting with a visit from the A’s. Meanwhile, the Dodgers and Padres are beating up on each other in a series that starts tonight in San Diego. If anything, a 70-game start like the Giants have had has increased their patience: they’re unlikely to fade even if they struggle head-to-head with their two division rivals.

The Giants open their two-game set on Tuesday with Anthony DeSclafani facing Andrew Heaney at 6:38pm.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB Time to Retire 21

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The late great Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente (21) doffs his cap after hitting a double for his 3,000 career hit at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh against the New York Mets pitcher Jon Matlack on the last day of the season September 30, 1972 which would be his last career hit he would die three months later in a plane crash. (pinterest file photo)

MLB: Time to Retire No.21

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

In 1997 Major League Baseball retired Jackie Robinson No.42, it was the first uniform retired in history. Robinson recognized as a historical figure in American sports as the first African-American to play in the major leagues. There are “Retire #21” banners at PNC Park seen in Pittsburgh today, that is regarding the wishes of Pirates fans to have Roberto Clemente’s number retired by Major League Baseball

In 1973, the Pirates retired “El Cometa de Carolina” number 21. One year after Clemente disappeared with the DC-3 chartered plane he was taking to Nicaragua to help the victims of that country’s earthquake. In 1998 the Pirates sold the naming rights to locally based PNC Financial Services, PNC Park.

However, public sentiment in Pittsburgh remained to name the new baseball park after Roberto Clemente, but that was not possible. In 1998 the 6th street bridge, which crosses the Allegheny River in downtown Pittsburgh was renamed the Roberto Clemente Bridge.

To my knowledge, Roberto Clemente is the only player in history to have a bridge dedicated to his name. Makes sense in Pittsburgh a city with three rivers, the Allegheny, Monongahela and the Ohio River. There is little doubt that in Pittsburgh Roberto Clemente was always respected and to date he is one of the city’s heroes.

Although the first Hispanic/Latino ballplayer to play in professional baseball in the US was Esteban Bellán (Cuba) in 1871 with the Troy Haymakers of the old National Association, today the National League. Orestes (Minnie) Miñoso (Cuba) was the first Black Latino player in 1949 with the Cleveland Indians.

But it was Roberto Clemente the very first impact player from Latin America, a Hall of Fame player, who played his whole career of 18 years with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1955-1972). Roberto Clemente was the first Hispanic/Latino baseball player inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, NY.

The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame (hhbmhof.com) was founded in 1999 and Roberto Clemente was posthumously inducted in a ceremony where his widow Vera Clemente accepted the induction plaque.

There is a very good case to be made that Major League Baseball should retire No.21. Clemente’s exemplary life, which he gave in helping people from another country during a terrible natural disaster lives forever in the memory of baseball fans everywhere in the world, but especially in Puerto Rico and all of Latin America.

Hispanic/Latino player participation in the major leagues today is around 30 percent of all the players, in the United States. A country where Hispanics represent the largest minority between 18-20% of the population, approximately 60 million people. Spanish is the second most spoken language in the United States other than English.

Roberto Clemente as a player was often misquoted, many times made fun of his accent, when he said, quote: “Baseball has been very, very good to me” he said it because he was an honest and humble man, traits that politicians do not understand and rarely can relate to. During the years Clemente played, comedian Bill Dana had a routine that became famous and sort of a catchphrase, when he said in mangled English; “My name is….José….Jiménez”

The words equality, diversity are nice words but they ring hollow if there is no action, MLB retiring Roberto Clemente’s #21 is bound to happen, when? is the question. But there is little doubt that Roberto Clemente is a historic figure in baseball that represents the best of all of us. Time to retire No.21.

Note: The first number retired in history, by a major league team, was by the New York Yankees, No.4, Lou Gehrig on July 4, 1939, the day he made his famous; “Today I Consider Myself”….speech. Players numbers among all major league teams have been retired since then. There is a difference. Teams can retire the number of their players and they cannot be used by other players. But only Major League Baseball can retire a number for all 30 teams.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s and Rangers open four game series tonight in Arlington

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s starter Frankie Montas gets the start against the Texas Rangers tonight to open a four game series at the BallPark in Arlington ( file photo from the Mercury News)

On the A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Barbara, in the second game of the series against the New York Yankees, Yankees third baseman Gio Urshela took a part of the splintered bat in the eye which bounced off and he came out of it alright later hitting the go ahead game home run.

#2 The A’s opened the series in New York on Friday with a win when A’s pitcher James Kaprielian pitched 5.2 innings and picked up the victory 5-3 against his old teammates the Yankees. Kaprielian was the Yankees second round draft choice six years ago and he got to beat his old team to open the series it had to be pretty special for him.

#3 Barbara just checking the injured list the A’s pitcher right hand pitcher J.B. Wendelken who has a strained left Oblique is in Las Vegas for a minor league rehab assignment and Wendelken is looking forward to working his way back into the bullpen setting in Oakland.

#4 Oakland outfielder Stephen Piscotty is suffering from a left wrist injury and will see a specialist in Arizona and has been placed on the ten day injured list. Piscotty is a vital part of the A’s offense and is hitting .217, with 28 hits, four home runs and 11 RBIs so far this season.

#5 The A’s open up a four game series in Texas starting tonight against the Rangers, starting for the A’s Frankie Montas (7-6 ERA 4.21) and for the Rangers Kyle Gibson (4-0 ERA 2.09) how do you see this match up to open the series.

Join Barbara Mondays for the A’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Giants open two game series in Anaheim vs. Ohtani and Angels Tuesday

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani seen here hitting an eighth inning home run off the Oakland A’s on Jun 15, 2021 will be entering the All Star game home run derby in Denver and will be facing the San Francisco Giants Tue Jun 22, 2021 at Angels Stadium in Anaheim (AP News file photo)

On the Giants podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah after having a five game win streak the San Francisco Giants ended the streak last Saturday getting clobbered at Oracle Park 13-6.

#2 Giants starter Alex Wood on Saturday just couldn’t too many past the Philadelphia Phillies line up he pitched three innings giving up four runs and six hits, Wood 6-3 ERA 4.00 was the early innings just a matter of Wood making some mistake pitches or the Phillies coming off a rough loss Friday ready to take some hacks?

#3 Jeremiah, talk about the month that Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford has had he now leads the team in average .244, home runs 16, and RBIs 44 and hit one out on Sunday.

#4 Saturday was Juneteenth and the Giants wore honorary San Francisco Sea Lions jerseys on the 75th Anniversary of the Sea Lions who played in the West Coast Negro Baseball Association.

#5 Tuesday night baseball the Giants are in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels for a brief two game series before returning back to Oracle Park to host the Oakland A’s on Friday night. Jeremiah, the Angels have been going good lately they are 7.5 games behind Oakland and their relying on their star player Shohei Ohtani whose second in home runs in the American League with 21. How do you see this series starting Tuesday night.

Jeremiah Salmonson filled in for Morris Phillips for the Giants podcasts heard every Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants bash up on the Phillies 11-2 in the rubber match, take series

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants slugger Wilmer Flores hits a solo home run in the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies it was one of two home runs for Flores in the contest on Sun Jun 20, 2021 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Giants belted four more homers and Sammy Long made the most of of his first career start as they crushed the Philadelphia Phillies 11-2 on Sunday afternoon at Oracle Park.

The Giants won the three-game series, finishing 6-1 on their seven-game homestand and have won five of its last six games. The Phillies have lost four of their past six games.

Sammy Long (1-0) made his first start of his professional career after his first two appearances came in after an opener had started the game.

“I thought in the second inning he made a great adjustment and started throwing more strikes,” said Giants manager Gabe Kapler on Long. “As the game went on he started to feature his curve ball more. His stuff continued to stay strong throughout the outing and I felt good about letting him go a little deeper in the game today.”

Long was brilliant over six innings, giving up only four hits while striking out six with just one walk to earn his first major league win. Long had a strong cheering section of family and friends sitting in the lower box area. His only mistake was a fastball up in the zone that JT Realmuto hit for a two run homer in the third inning.

“Having them there adds a little bit more of emotion,” said Long on his strong family support in the stands. “I try to keep that under wraps but I feel them there. I feel the energy that they bring. It’s a special deal being so close to home and do it in front of them.”

The Giants (46-26) busted out the lumber as they have been all season long. Their four home runs of the day improved their total to a Nation League leading 107. They are tied for the major league lead with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Willmar Flores went 4-4 with two solo home runs and has six on the season. His 22 RBI on the season has him tied for fifth on the Giants along with Alex Dickerson. He extended huis hitting steak to nine games.

“I think he’s (Flores) a great offensive player. His process has been excellent. He’s always prepared whether he’s starting a game of coming off the bench. We’ll expect that from him going forward as well,” Kapler said.

Mike Yastrzemski gave the Giants an early lead in the first inning with his ninth home run of the season, a two-run shot into the arcade in right field off Phillies (34-35) starter Zach Eflin. He scored on a wild pitch in the seventh inning.

Brandon Crawford continues his hitting terror and being the best hitter in the Giants lineup. He hit his team leading 16th home run of the season in the third inning, a two-run shot to centerfield, that gave the Giants a 5-2 lead at the time. He barley missed his second home run of the game in the eighth inning when he long drive to centerfield bounced off the top of the wall back into the field of play. His 2-4 afternoon with four RBI, gave him 47 on the season, which also leads the Giants.

“I’m trying to put a good swing on the ball every at bat to help out team win, not necessarily get All-Star votes,” said Crawford regarding if his recent success is helping him get more votes by the fans for the mid-summer classic.

Steven Duggar added an RBI double in the sixth inning.

Elfin (2-6) went five innings giving up seven runs (six earned) on nine hits, striking out six and walking none in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: Right handed pitcher John Brebbia was returned from his rehab assignment and reinstated from the 60-day injured list prior to today’s game. Left handed pitcher Connor Menez was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento following yesterday’s game and right handed pitcher Aaron Sanchez was transferred to the 60-day IL.

San Francisco have not lost consecutive days at Oracle Park since May 21-23 when they were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Giants are now 20-6 this season following a loss.

The announced attendance was 18,265. This was the last home game that had a limit of 50% capacity. The ballpark will be at 100% capacity when the Giants host the Oakland A’s for a three-game series starting on June 25th.

UP NEXT: The Giants travel down south to take on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Tuesday at 6:35pm at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The pitching matchup with be Anthony DeSclafani vs Andrew Heaney.

Yankees force historic game ending triple play in 2-1 win over A’s

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s designated hitter Sean Murphy hits into a historic game ending triple play from a pitch thrown by New York Yankee reliever Aroldis Chapman in the top ninth inning. The Yankees took two of three from the A’s in the series at Yankee Stadium in New York on Sun Jun 20, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK–The Oakland A’s wasted starting pitcher Sean Manea’s career-high 11 strikeouts in a 2-1 loss on Father’s Day to the New York Yankees who delivered a game-ending triple play.

Matt Olson hit a home run on a fly ball to center field in the first inning at Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon, putting the A’s up 1-0 and off to what appeared to be a good start.

But the sixth inning turned out to be devastating for the A’s. Gary Sanchez ruined Manea’s gem with a two-run double on a sharp line drive to center fielder Ramon Laureano, allowing Clint Frazier and Aaron Judge to score and putting the Yankees up 2-1. The A’s challenged the tag play but the call on the field was upheld.

In the ninth inning, the Yankees closing pitcher Aroldis Chapman allowed back-to-back walks and was not able to find the strike zone. The lefty seemed to be examining his pitching hand and a trainer looked at it, but he stayed in. New York bailed Chapman out and turned a triple play on Sean Murphy’s ground ball to finish Oakland off.

“There couldn’t have been a more – routine’s not the word, but triple play set-up,” Olson said of the triple play. “Shitty luck, tough way to lose.”

Manea threw only fastballs and changeups. He dominated the Yankees for most of his 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on three hits and two walks. His sinker averaged two miles per hour faster than average and generated 17 swings and misses.

Attendance at Yankee Stadium was 27,807, several thousand more than Saturday and Friday, when it accommodated fans in full capacity for the first time since the pandemic.

With losses on Sunday and Saturday, the A’s are 44-29 and still hold the top spot in the AL West.

The A’s continue their 10-game road trip with the first in a four-game series against the Texas Rangers on Monday. First pitch is at 5:05 p.m.

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Kluber no hitter was last one, MLB checking balls and often; Urshela avoids serious damage after bat splinters; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The New York Yankees pitcher Corey Kluber was the last pitcher to throw a no hitter back on May 19th since then no hitters have stopped. There has been a cloud of suspicion if baseballs have been doctored with the spider tack substance which MLB is on the lookout for (AP News file photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Jessica:

#1 Major League Baseball has been watching out for pitchers trying use the sticky substance Spider Tack on the baseball but have not noticed anything suspicious of late.

#2 For awhile baseball was seeing no hitters pitched at a faster rate than usual with six no hitters on a pace to set an all time record but there has not been a no hitter thrown since the New York Yankees Corey Kluber threw one back on May 19th.

#3 Gio Urshela the Yankees third baseman was very lucky after getting having a broken bat splinter hit him in the eye which bounced off his eye. Ursehla felt some pain but was able to go on and later hit a go ahead home run which turned out to be the winner.

#4 New York Mets starter Jacob deGrom threw for three innings of perfect baseball before he was lifted for shoulder trouble. deGrom improved his ERA 0.54, with 111 strikeouts in 67 innings. deGrom was disappointed he couldn’t stay in the game.

#5 Here’s something different the Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani will be in the home run derby. Ohtani who also pitches will enter the derby he currently holds second in the American League leaders for home runs with 21 home runs. Ohtani is the most highly touted player in the game who can pitch and can hit.

Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports every other Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Rhys Hoskins uses career-high six RBIs to bring home Phillies win 13-6

Published on by smallforceLeave a comment

Philadelphia Phillies’ Rhys Hoskins, second from right, gets a three run home run in the seventh inning scoring ahead of Hoskins Ronald Torreyes, left, and Luke Williams, second from left at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Jun 19, 2021 (AP News photo)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ June 19, 2021

~ Philadelphia’s Hoskins, a native Californian, had two home runs in a 13-6 rout, halting what would have been the San Francisco Giants’ longest winning streak of the season. 

On the day of Juneteenth, now officially recognized as a federal holiday, the host team Giants paid homage by donning uniforms like the San Francisco Sea Lions wore, playing in the West Coast Negro Baseball Association. 

The scoring began right away with both teams trading off equal amounts of runs once San Francisco got on the board, until the bottom of the third.

Two was not Giants’ starting pitcher Alex Wood’s number to start off the game. After a strikeout took him to two outs, he intentionally walked Bryce Harper and a wild pitch moved runners to second and third. With two strike counts, Wood then unintentionally walked Andrew McCutchen to load the bases and hit rookie Alec Bohm to put a number on the scoreboard. The first marked an over 30 pitch count for Wood.  

San Francisco replied with run support as LaMonte Wade also led off with a single and Mike Yastrzemski followed with a home run to take the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first. 

To start the second, Wood got two outs but then Odubel Herrera reached base due to a throwing error by second baseman Donovan Solano. Teammate Hoskins took advantage as he sent the ball soaring for his first home run as the Phillies’ retook the lead. 

Both teams used two-run doubles and RBI singles to put together three-run innings in the bottom of the second and top of the third. 

The Giants’ Brandon Belt sent a baseball splashing into McCovey Cove to mark the game’s first tie. This inning also initiated the first of both starters’ exits and ensuing zeroes on the scoreboard. Ranger Suarez came in for Philadelphia starter Aaron Nola after he walked Solano on 10 pitches.  

Despite protests by Wood, Dominic Leone entered the game in relief to begin the fourth.

The multiple-inning tie remained until the Phillies’ Ronald Torreyes broke it in the sixth with a solo home run. Hoskins made it 8-6 with a RBI double. 

Philadelphia scored their most runs in an inning in the seventh with four. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases. After a mound visit with pitcher Conner Menez, he was able to get two outs with one runner scoring on a sacrifice fly. Hoskins then fully cleared the bases with a three-run home run to double his teams’ lead over San Francisco to 12-6. 

In the top of the eighth, a 2-1 count marked Harper’s helmet being nicked by Menez’s throw, as it flew off Harper’s head. Harper remained at home plate.

The bottom of the eighth saw a delay due to the pitching mound being repacked for Phillies’ pitcher Archie Bradley. 

Against Philadelphia’s five relief pitchers, the Giants’ hitters struck out seven times and were held to two hits.

Up Next: San Francisco looks to rebound and decide the series on Father’s Day tomorrow Sunday at 1:05pm. 

Urshela takes splinter in the eye for Yanks then goes yard; Yankees even series with A’s win 7-5

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Quick recovery after getting hit with a piece of a splintered bat the New York Yankees Gio Urshela hit a eighth inning go ahead home run off Oakland A’s pitcher Jesus Luzardo at Yankee Stadium in New York on Sat Jun 20, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK–The Oakland A’s had their seven-game winning streak – the longest active in the league – snapped on Saturday afternoon by a relentless New York Yankees team that won 7-5 at Yankee Stadium. Yankees third baseman Gio Urshela in the second inning swung at a pitch that splintered his bat and Urshela said a piece of the bat bounced off his eye and didn’t stick, “I saw just the piece of wood come into my eye.” said Urshela “I didn’t even see the ball and where I was running. Just my eye, started to feel like a little pain. Thank God (I was OK).”

A’s right-handed pitcher Chris Bassitt held the Yankees to two runs in six innings and had five strikeouts. Urshela hit a two-out RBI single off Bassitt and Gary Sanchez hit a homer.

Tony Kemp, a star of Friday’s 5-3 A’s victory, hit a home run on a fly ball to right center field in the first inning to put the A’s up 1-0. Matt Chapman hit a homer on a fly ball to center field in the fourth inning to extend Oakland’s lead to 2-0. But Urshela singled on a sharp line drive to center field and allowed Aaron Judge to score, cutting Oakland’s lead to 2-1.

In the fifth inning, Matt Olson singled on a sharp ground ball to center field and Elvis Andrus and Mark Canha scored to boost the A’s to 4-1.

But the Yankees rallied starting in the sixth inning, with a homer by Gary Sanchez that cut the A’s lead to 4-2. In the seventh inning, Judge singled on a sharp line drive to Canha and Clint Frazier scored, narrowing Oakland’s lead to 4-3. Giancarlo Stanton singled on a ground ball to right field and Judge scored, tying the game at 4-4.

In the eighth inning, Urshela hit a home run on a fly ball to center field to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead. LeMahieu singled on a line drive to left field and Tyler Wade and Clint Frazier scored, lifting New York to 7-4.

Oakland’s Ramon Laureano in the ninth inning singled on a ground ball to right field and Canha scored to cut New York’s lead to 7-5, but it was too little too late.

Oakland’s bullpen was unable to hold on to their late lead. Right-handed pitcher Burch Smith allowed one run and left in the seventh inning with two outs and a runner. Right-handed pitcher Yusmeiro Petit filled in but LeMahieu struck a single off him.

A’s manager Bob Melvin said that he used the relievers who were available and was going to use Petit in the lineup.

The A’s lost for only the third time in 16 games this month. They dropped to 34-3 when holding the lead after seven innings.

Saturday’s attendance was 23,985, slightly lower than Friday night which was the first time that coronavirus attendance limitations were lifted at Yankee Stadium.

First pitch for the third and final game in the split series is Sunday at 10:05 a.m.