Category: MLB

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Latino Power–Guerrero Jr. Tatis Jr., and Acuna Jr.

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The Toronto Blue Jays Teoscar Hernandez (right) get a hug from teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr after Hernandez hit a three run homer against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston on Sun Jun 13, 2021 (AP News photo)

The Toronto Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr hitting .344 with 21 home runs is seen here taking off after connecting with the baseball (CBS Sports file photo)

Latino Power: Guerrero Jr. Tatis Jr. Acuña Jr.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–Out in Toronto, in San Diego and Atlanta, play three of the most talented players in the game today, the three are MVP-franchise-caliber players. They have one thing in common, they are exciting in everything they do, great talent and flair all rolled into one.

These are the type of players that get the attention of the new baseball generation of young fans. More than launch-angle, and exit velocity and everything else that is served on a plate for fans today, these are the player’s baseball needs. These three are among the real “influencers” that promote the game and can bring the type of attention that many say baseball is lacking behind the NFL and NBA.

Toronto’s first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 22 years old, batting .344 with 21 home runs and 55 runs-batted-in (on top of most offensive departments in MLB) just on his third year in the majors.

His dad Vladimir Guerrero a superstar who was inducted as a LA Angel to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2018 and who could hit any pitch, wherever it was thrown, plus owned a Clemente-type of arm from right field, taught his son Guerrero Jr. how to play the game since he began to walk.

Anytime you asked Guerrero about Jr., his face broke out in a smile. Guerrero Jr. personality seems to be like his Hall of Fame father, happy-go-lucky type of player with talent that some would say is on loan from God. During this past winter he shed 42 pounds.

When his father visited Angel Stadium after his induction into the Hall of Fame he came to the Fox Sports Spanish broadcast and told us, when asked why his son was not there Sr. said he didn’t wanted his son there, that he was better to continue playing baseball in the minor leagues.

Fernando Tatis Jr., 22 years old. He is the San Diego Padres shortstop. He who signed a deal with the Padres for $330 million with a full no-trade provision through 2028, the phrase “Slam Diego” has been coined at PETCO Park since this young man arrived which has created a kind of contagious excitement that has never been seen there.

The Padres hope to win a World Series this year; they are the only major league team in California with no World Series hardware. His real Padre, Fernando Sr. who was a third-baseman for 11 years, owns a unique MLB record; he hit two grand slams in the same inning while playing for St Louis at Dodger Stadium in 1999.

I would not be surprised if Junior duplicates that record. What story would that be, there is no limit to this kid talent. At the time of this article Fernando Tatis Jr. was hitting .279 with 19 home runs and 55 runs batted in.

Ronald Acuña Jr. Atlanta Braves right fielder, he is 23 years old and the “veteran” among the trio. Acuña Jr. has been playing with the Braves for four years. In 2019 he ended the season hitting .280 with 41 home runs and 101 RBI.

This season, as of today, he was hitting .292 with 18 home runs and 39 RBI. Acuña Jr. is one of the elite players in the game in the town where the great Hank Aaron once played to my liking, Aaron is the legitimate Home run king.

There is another young player today that people have to watch all the time, Shohei Othani, the Japanese phenom is doing something that has not been done since Babe Ruth, he can pitch and he can hit, and do both very well.

Last week he hit a home run to right center field at Angel Stadium, estimated to be 470 feet which his manager Joe Maddon said “That’s the farthest ball I’ve ever seen hit here” and continued “I’ve never seen one hit there before”. Maddon served as bench coach for manager Mike Scioscia in the early 2000, winning a World Series in 2002. He had spent over 30 years with the Angels organization. Now he is back as their skipper

These are the players that can bring people to baseball. Othani is in town for three games starting tonight against the Oakland Athletics. The A’s hold a two-game lead on top of Houston in the AL West, but the Angels now in third place are red hot (even without Mike Trout) and have won six games in a row and are only six games out of first place, with a lot of baseball left this season.

See you at the park!

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s show resilience take three of four from Royals

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Oakland A’s starter Chris Bassitt is having himself quite a season picking up his seventh straight win on Sun Jun 13, 2021 with a win over the Kansas City Royals at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 The Oakland A’s (40-27) showed no signs of giving up in this series the A’s have won nine of their last 11 games and took three of four from the Kansas Royals (30-34) for a 6-3 victory at the Oakland Coliseum on Sunday.

#2 Once again the A’s proved attacking early putting up runs early and getting good pitching in the later innings wins in Sunday’s game as they scored once in the first, twice in the second and once again in the third.

#3 In the series guys that have been having some good at bats , Mark Canha, Matt Olson, Matt Chapman and like you said Ramon Laureano is coming soon..

#4 Tony Kemp has been on base and was walked three times on Sunday he’s also helped out in the series with some solid base running.

#5 Barbara, Shohei Otani and the Los Angeles Angels (33-32) are back at the Oakland Coliseum to open up a series with the A’s on Monday night. starting pitcher for the Angels Dylan Bundy (1-6 ERA 6.16) and for the A’s Sean Manaea (5-2 ERA 3.09).

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Diamondbacks and Giants open up four game series tonight at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Alex Wood hopes that he won’t have to give up the ball to manager Gabe Kapler as seen here in Tue Jun 1, 2021 photo when Wood pitched against the Los Angeles Angels. Wood gets the start tonight at Oracle Park against the Arizona Diamondbacks (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 The Washington Nationals (27-35) came out early getting early runs one in the first and three in the second that helped them towards a 5-0 win over the San Francisco Giants (40-25)

#2 Giants Johnny Cueto showed signs of struggling to start Sunday’s contest at Nationals Park. Cueto pitched five plus, giving up nine runs and four earned runs.

#3 The Nats certainly got help at the plate from left fielder Kevin Schwarber who connected for two home runs including a three run homer in the first inning.

#4 The Nats also got brilliant starting pitching from Joe Ross who pitched eight innings surrendering five hits and throwing nine strikeouts to shutout the Giants.

#5 The Giants come home to face the Arizona Diamondbacks (20-46) on Monday night the D-Backs will start Matt Peacock (2-3 ERA 5.24) and the Giants will start Alex Wood (5-3 ERA 3.79) a 6:45pm PDT start at Oracle Park in San Francisco

Join Morris for the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Home Run Happy: A’s stay hot in June with 6-3 win over the Royals

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The Oakland A’s Matt Olson (28) gets a forearm bash from teammate Elvis Andrus (17) after hitting a fifth inning home run against the Kansas City Royals at the Oakland Coliseum Sun Jun 13, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–The 2021 A’s don’t miss many opportunities. When an opponent comes in limping, the A’s make sure they don’t get medical attention.

The A’s improved to 9-2 in June by defeating the Royals 6-3 on Sunday at the Coliseum. The A’s got big afternoons from their biggest names–Matt Olson and Chris Bassitt–in drubbing Kansas City, losers of 8 of 9 and 24 of 38 after an exemplary 16-9 start to their season.

Olson homered twice to back Bassitt, who pitched into the sixth inning, allowing five hits and two runs to win his seventh, consecutive decision. Bassitt survived a scary moment when he was hit by a batted ball and found himself face down on the turf in pain. Trainer Nick Paparesta and manager Bob Melvin nervously approached Bassitt, but the A’s ace popped up slowly and didn’t need to leave the game.

“It hit me in the perfect spot. That may sound weird,” Bassitt said. “It didn’t affect me at all.”

The Royals didn’t affect Bassitt much either. Nicky Lopez, who delivered the batted ball to Bassitt’s side also had an infield hit for an RBI single. An inning later, in the third, Andrew Benintendi touched Bassitt for a solo shot to close the A’s lead to 3-2. But Bassitt cruised from their and departed in the sixth due to his elevated pitch count, which hit 104.

Kris Bubic surrendered both of Olson’s home runs and one to Matt Chapman. That had the lefty headed to the showers in the fifth, trailing 5-2. The former Stanford pitcher has allowed nine home runs in his last four starts, after not allowing any over his first six starts of the season.

The A’s improved to 40-27 on the season, and maintained their two-game lead on the second-place Astros in the AL West. Hot Anaheim visits the Coliseum starting Monday with six consecutive wins under their belts. The Angels reside in third place in the division, but have climbed above .500 for the first time this season at 33-32.

Dylan Bundy faces the A’s Sean Manaea in the series opener at 6:40pm on Monday. Bundy failed to win any of his first 10 starts of the season, falling to 0-6, before he won his most recent start at home against the Royals. Manaea has thrown 15 innings in June, winning both of his starts via shutout while allowing just six hits.

Schwarzer homers twice in Nationals win 5-0

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Washington Nationals slugger Kyle Schwarber (12) gets congratulations after his home run from teammates Trea Turner (7) and Juan Soto (22) in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Nationals Park in DC on Sun Jun 13, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Kyle Schwarber just love to hit San Francisco Giants pitching and he showed why in the series finale for the Washington Nationals.

Schwarber hit two home runs, to give him three in the four-game series and the Nationals shutout the Giants 5-0 to gain a split in the four-game series at Nationals Park.

Johnny Cueto was victimized twice by Schwarber, as he led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run to give the Nationals a quick 1-0 lead for Bay Area native Joe Ross, who graduated from Bishop ODowd in Oakland.

Schwarber made it two home runs in as many at-bats, as he launched a three-run home run off the second deck in the bottom of the second inning to break the game wide open.

Not only was Schwarber, as he hit 2-for-4 with four runs batted in, but Josh Harrison went 4-for-4 on the afternoon with a run scored.

Ross went eight innings, allowing just five hits, walking no one and striking out nine, as he improved to 3-6 on the road.

Cueto went just 5.1 innings, as he gave five runs (four earned), giving up nine hits, walking three and striking out two and he also committed a fielding error in the bottom of the second on a bunt by Victor Robles that sent Alex Avila, who singled to lead off the inning. After Ross sacrificed to Brandon Belt, Schwarber hit his second home run of the game off the façade of the second deck.

Starlin Castro came up with the final run batted in of the game, as he doubled off of Cueto with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. It was the second of back-to-back doubles, as Harrison doubled to left field.

Cueto was pulled in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he walked the bases loaded and was replaced by Jose Alvarez.

The left-hander was able to get out of the after one pitch, as Soto grounded into a double play to end the inning.

In the four-game series, the Giants were shutout twice and could muster only three runs against the Nationals, and despite the futility at the plate, they were able to get out of Washington with a split.

NOTES: Following Saturdays win, Caleb Baragar, who picked up the save in the second game to gain the split was optioned to Sacramento.

By becoming the first National League team to win 40 games this season, this is the third time in Giants history that were the first to win 40 games and the previous two times that it happened, the Giants reached the World Series, as they did it in 1989 (lost to the Oakland As) and 2014 (defeated the Kansas City Royals).

UP NEXT: Neither the Giants nor the Arizona Diamondbacks have announced starters for Mondays opener at Oracle Park.

Giants Wade wins it in night cap with hit in extra innings 2-1

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San Francisco Giants baserunner Curt Casali who scored the winning run in the eighth inning on LeMonte Wade’s single claps in the second game of a doubleheader at Nationals Park in Washington DC on Sat Jun 12, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Playing in the area where he grew up for the first time as a major leaguer, LaMonte Wade, Jr., came up with the biggest hit of the game.

Wade hit a single in the top of the eighth inning, helping the San Francisco Giants to a 2-1 victory over the Washington Nationals, giving them the split of the doubleheader and the Giants became the third team in the major leagues and first in the National League to 40 wins, as they join the Chicago White Sox (40 wins) and the Tampa Bay Rays (41 wins).

The native of Baltimore, who went to the University of Maryland, just across the District line in College Park drove in Curt Casali, who was on second base to start the inning.

After a wild pitch by Kyle Finnegan sent Wade to second, Donovan Solano hit a ground ball that saw Trea Turner throw to Josh Harrison; however, Wade, Jr., slid underneath the tag. Brandon Belt then walked to load the bases with nobody out.

Wilmer Flores pulled the ball into left field and it dropped for a single to easily score Wade, Jr., from third base, and the bases stayed loaded.

The Nationals finally retired a batter, as Ryan Zimmerman made a nifty bare-handed play at first base and threw to Yan Gomes at home for the first out of the inning to retire Belt.

Prior to the Wade, Jr,, single, Mike Yastrzemski came up with the last hit for the Giants in the top of the third inning, when he doubled off of Jeffrey Rodriguez, as he batted for Conor Menez, who started the game for the Giants.

Ryne Harper then came on to replace Finnegan, as he got Mauricio Dubon to ground into a force play that saw Starlin Castro throw to Gomes to get Belt for the second out of the inning. Harper was able to get of the jam, as he got Austin Slater to fly out to Kyle Schwarber to end the inning.

Menez, who went the first two innings for the Giants, allowed just one hit and struck out one before Gabe Kapler went to the bullpen, in this second game of the doubleheader.

Following Menez, Kapler sent Jarlin Garcia, Dominic Leone, Zack Littell, Tyler Roger, Jake McGee each went one inning and finally Kapler called on Caleb Baragar to close it out, and it was an interesting bottom of the eighth inning.

With Gomes on second base to start the inning, Castro got the Nationals on the board, as he doubled off the centerfield wall. Following the Castro double, Baragar then hit Victor Robles on the shoulder to put runners on first and second with nobody out.

Josh Bell came off the bench to pinch hit for Harper, as he hit a fly ball to Slater that saw Castro advance to third base and Robles tagged up and went to second base; however, he went to second base, but dove past the base and began to run towards third base, where he was immediately tagged out for the second out of the inning.

Baragar then got Turner to pop out to Solano at second base to give the Giants the victory and a split of the doubleheader.

It was the first save of the season for Baragar, who gave up a run and one hit, as he saw his earned run average fall to 0.49 on the season.

McGee struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh inning to pick up his second win of the season

UP NEXT: Johnny Cueto will close out the series and the road trip, as he will take the mound for the first time since Sunday, when he went 4.1 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits, walking two and striking out four and saw his record fall to 4-2 on the season. Berkeley born and Bishop O Dowd (Oakland) graduate Joe Ross will take the hill for the Nationals, as he looks for his third win of the season.

A’s pour it on with 5 run 8th inning defeat Royals 11-2 in a laugher

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Kansas City 2 – 5 – 0

Oakland 11 – 14- 0

By Lewis Rubman

June Saturday, June 1 2021

The Oakland A’s Tony Kemp slides in at home in front of Elvis Andrus after Matt Chapman hits a two run double in the second inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Jun 12, 2021 (AP News photo)

OAKLAND–While the Oakland A’s (39-27) and Kansas City Royals (30-33) were taking batting and fielding practice before this afternoon’s game, the city of San Leandro paid tribute to one of baseball’s unrecognized heroes of the game by dedicating the local Little League and Senior Leagues field in that city to Lou Profumo and unveiling a plaque that identifies the place as Lou Profumo Field. The A’s rallied in the bottom of the eighth inning for five runs and pretty much put the kibosh on the Royals for a 11-2 win.

It’s a small park in a small city, but Lou, who had a short career as a pitcher in the minor leagues during the 1950s and ’60s, played a major role in the development of hundreds, if not thousands of children and young adults who went on to live productive lives while enjoying and nourishing the game.

He coached youth baseball and women’s softball, worked to maintain the playing fields of the east bay area, and, as San Leandro councilmember Victor Aguilar put it, “He helped close the equity gap for those who could not afford to play.”

He’s a frequent welcome participant at the meetings of the local SABR chapter and the Pacific Coast League Historical Society, where he shares the knowledge and experience he’s gathered in his long and fruitful life, both horizontal across the baseball globe and vertical, in his deep roots here in the bay area.

In spite of all of the baseball industry’s faults and problems, the game of baseball continues to thrive, thanks to the work and dedication of people like Lou. That last sentence isn’t quite right. There are thousands of people like him, but there’s really no one like Lou Profumo.

In order to reach the Coliseum in time for today’s game, I couldn’t attend the ceremony to honor him and his contributions. I hope these inadequate notes can provide a measure of appreciation to that shown him in this morning’s ceremony.

At the Coliseum, the A’s hosted a less intimate pre-game gathering, this one held to celebrate African American Heritage Day. The different types of tribute–the grass roots and the institutional, the individual and collective–can be complimentary, as they were today.

After the last two night’s battles between Oakland and Kansas City, there’s a temptation to skip the first six innings and start paying attention in the top of the action-filled seventh. But ball games begin at the beginning and not always in the big inning.

This game began with James Kaprielian (2-1, 3.08) toeing the rubber for the 38-27 Athletics. He lost his most recent start, the first L he received as a major league hurler, but he had pitched pretty well in that losing effort, having allowed only two runs over five innings in Coors Field, where ERAs go to boom in the rarified air and spacious distances betweeen outfielders.

Kansas City (30-32) countered with Jackson Kowar, making only his second big league start. He was their compensation round draft pick, in exchange for the loss of Lorenzo Cain, in 2018 and rose quickly to the top. He was, however, creamed in his MLB debut five days ago at the Big A, where the Angels disposed of him after just two thirds of an inning in which he yielded three hits on four runs, two walks, and three wild pitches. His pitch count was 39. That he started today, five days after that inauspicious outing, is a sign that the Royals still think highly of him.

Kowar’s first inning this afternoon wasn’t the nightmare he suffered in Anaheim, but he did allow Oakland to take a 1-0 on Mitch Moreland’s sacrifice fly almost to the left center field wall, which plated Tony Kemp, who had singled to right and advanced to third when Matt Olson also singled to right.

Add a couple of walks to that, and the A’s had loaded the bases before Chad Pinder forced Seth Brown, the recipient of Kowar’s second passport, at second. He threw 34 pitches in the process of getting through his first major league complete inning. Kaprielian responded by striking out the three Royals he faced in the top of the second.

The Kansas City bull pen began stirring in the bottom of the second when Chapman’s liner to left rebounded off the fence, driving in Andrus, who has singled, and Kemp who had walked. Two pitches later, Olson drove Chapman in with a double to right.

Roland Bolaños hadn’t had time to warm up properly, but he came in anyway. Kowar, in his 1-1/3 inning stint had served up 57 offerings, 28 of which were balls. He allowed four hits and three walks while striking out one, Skye Bolt, who was spelling Canha in center field.

Bolaños retired Moreland and Sean Muprhy, so Kowar was charged with only four runs, all of them well earned. At game’s end, he was the losing pitcher, with a record of 0-2, 36.00 Kaprielian faced some trouble of his own in the third, but he pitched his way out of it.

Jarrod Dyson’s lead off single to center and a walks to Nicky López brought Carlos Santana to the plate with runners on first and second with two down. The two runners executed a double steal before Santana walked to load the bases with royalty. Kaprielian restored order by getting Benindtendi to pop out to Kemp at second.

An innning later,a one out triple to right center by KelvinGutiérrez and walks to Dozie and Dyson had Kaprielian in a bases loaded jam. He wiggled out of it with a fly to right that Gutiérrez elected not to run on (a tribute to Seth Brown’s arm) and a grounder fielded by Andrus behind second and arriving in Olson’s glove before the speedy López made it to first.

Once Bolaños had retired his sixth consecutive batter by striking Olson out to end the fourth it looked like the Athletics had setled into their familiar pattern of jumping out to an early lead and then holding on for dear life while their bats went cold and their pitching faltered. But Kaprielian’s 1-2-3 fifth held at least the pitching part of that anxiety at bay.

In the bottom of the frame, the A’s allayed the anxiety’s offensive portion. A two out singgle to center by Brown, followed b a walk to Pinder and Andrus’s single to center scored a run and chased Bolaños from the mound. Carlos Hernández squelched the uprrising by striking out Bolt.

Bolaños had done a good job of keeping KC in the game. He allowed that one run in 3-1/3 frames, striking out four and walking two while yielding two hits and had stranded the runner in scoring position he inherited with only one out.His pitch count was 56, with 32 strikes.

Hernández stopped the A’s cold in the fifth, but he wasn’t as effetive in the sixth. After Kemp took a called strike three, Chapman continued to recover his batting stride, taking a 99 mph slider 388 feet deep into the right field stands and upping the Oakland lead to a more comfortable 6-0.

Six shutout innings were enough for Kaprielian on this warm–torrid for Oakland–afternoon. He left after allowing only two hits and four walks to go with seven Ks.

60 of his 95 pitchs were strikes. He eventually got the win Jesús Luzardo, whose seventh inning meltdown two nights ago was one of the most distressing components of that debacle, replaced him and kept the Royals off the board, allowing them only a walk.

He continued his attempt redeem his performance in last Thursday’s sinister seventh when he stayed on in the eighth. That was thwarted, despite Luzardo’s strike out of Pérez, by the 378 foot homer to left that Gutiérrez hit of a Luzardo change up with Santana on base with two out that brought Sergio Romo to the mound to put out the brush fire.

Hernández didn’t answer the bell for the seventh; Josh Staumont shut the A’s out for the visitors that inning. For the eight, it was Wade Davis, whose first pitch resulted in Skye Bolt’s first hit of the season and first major league home run, a 410 foot blast to center.

Before Davis knew what had hit him, Kemp and Chapman singled, and Olson smacked a three run homer to left center, his sixteenth round tripper of the year, raising his RBI totl to 44 and the A’s lead to 10-2. No one got up in the Kansas City bullpen; it was up to Wade to just sponge it up. It turned out that only one more Oakland run crossed the plate, scored by Moreland on Pinder’s sacrifice liner to right.

Cam Bedrosian mopped up for Oakland in the ninth, setting the Royals down in order.

It was a very satisfying vindication for the A’s, who now have bounced back from the affront to their dignity inflicted on them on Thursday. Chapman’s batting seems to have turned the corner, but Luzano’s poor showing is a concern.

The A’s have clinched a tie for this series. They hope to win it tomorrow, when Chris Bassitt (6-2, 3.44) is slated to go against Kris Bubic (1-1,3.32). The Angels will come to town for a three day series starting Monday. After that, the Athletics will take off for a three game series in the Bronx, a four game set in Dallas-Fort Worth, and a three day week end in Oracle Park.

First game of doubleheader: Schwarber provides the offense in Nationals win 2-0

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The Washington Nationals Kevin Schwarber rounds the bases after hitting a first inning home run that would stand up against San Francisco Giants pitcher Kevin Gausman at Nationals Park in DC on Sat Jun 12, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Kyle Schwarber came up with the only offense that the Washington Nationals would need right off the bat against Kevin Gausman.

Schwarber hit a leadoff home run off of Gausman in the bottom of the first inning, helping the Nationals to a 2-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants in the first game of a split doubleheader at Nationals Park.

Gausman lost for the first time this season, as he went four innings, allowing two runs on three hits, walking two and striking out four in his shortest outing as a member of the Giants.

Erick Fedde picked up his fourth win of the season, as he went five innings in his first start since being taken off the injured list due to Covid-19. Fedde did not walk a batter, scattering four hits, not walking a batter and striking out seven in his return to the rotation.

Nationals setup man Kyle Finnegan came on to replace Fedde in the top of the sixth inning, as he gave up a hit and struck out one before giving way to closer Brad Hand, who struck out two, including Austin Slater on a called third strike to end the game.

Josh Harrison put the finishing touches on the scoring for the Nationals in the bottom of the fourth inning, as he doubled to right field to score Juan Soto, who walked to lead off the inning against Gausman.

The Giants could only muster four hits with two coming in the top of the second inning, as Wilmer Flores singled and then Mike Tauchman singled Flores to third base; however, Jason Vosler grounded into an inning ending double play to end the threat and the inning.

Gausman tried to help out his own cause, as he singled to lead off the top of the third inning, but LaMonte Wade, Jr., hit a sacrifice bunt to get Gausman to second base; however, Mike Yastrzemski and Buster Posey each grounded out to the inning.

NOTES: Yastrzemski was activated prior to the game, as he was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list and will be the 27th player for both games of the doubleheader.

The Giants have hit 62 home runs through their first 35 road games, and it is the second most home runs hit in their first 35 games on the road, trailing the 2000 Giants that hit 63 home runs.

Anthony DeSclafani is the first Giants pitcher to have multiple shutouts in a season since Johnny Cueto finished his first season with the team in 2016 with two, and the last Giants pitcher to have more than two shutouts was Jason Schmidt, who finished the 2006 season with three shutouts.

UP NEXT: Conor Menez will take the mound in the second game for the Giants, while the Nationals will send Jeffrey Rodriguez, to the mound after he was recalled from Triple-A Rochester.

Elvis’ single has left the infield; Walk off hit in 9th gets A’s 4-3 victory

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Elvis Andrus jumps for joy as Oakland A’s teammate Seth Brown celebrates Andrus’ walk off single in the bottom of the ninth giving the A’s the one run win over the Kansas City Royals at the Oakland Ring Central Coliseum Fri Jun 11, 2021 (AP News photo)

Kansas City 3 – 9 – 1

Oakland 4 – 8 – 1

By Lewis Rubman

Friday, June 11, 2021

OAKLAND–Following Thursday night’s ill-starred loss to the Kansas City Royals (30-32), the Oakland A’s (38-27), still hanging on to a one game lead over Houston in the AL West, sent southpaw Cole Irwin (4-7, 3.70) to the mound to try to help them even their four game series with the Kansas City Royals that will last through Sunday. The A’s picked up the win in the second of this four game series with a 4-3 walk off single in the ninth by Elvis Adrus to even the series at 1-1 on Friday night.

Irwin’s history against Kansas City goes back to his first big league first game, which took place on May 12, 2019, at Kaufman Stadium, where he held the Royals to five hits over seven innings, allowing only one run. He was pitching for the Phillies, so, in a strange sort of way, his career follows the route of his team, from Philadelphia through Kansas City to Oakland. Perhaps it’s best we not think about where he’ll go next.

Irwin’s waxed hot and cold this season. He went 2-3, 3.67 in April and 1-4, 4.46 in May. In his only June appearance before tonight, Irwin performed the feat of holding the Rockies to one run on five hits over seven innings in the pitchers’ house of horrors that is Coors Stadium.The A’s took that contest, 6-3.

KC countered with Brady Singer (3-5, 4.88), their first round pick in the 2018 draft, who made a swift climb to the majors last year, when he went 4-5, 4.05 for the 26-34 Royals. Three of his 12 starts this season were frankly bad, in which he lasted no longer than 3-1/3 innings. In what was arguably his best outing, on April 24 at Detroit he went seven frames, allowing three hits and one run. Six days earlier, he had shut out Toronto at home on two hits over six innings.

Irwin set the first ten Royals he faced down in order but ran into trouble with one out in the top of the fourth. Back to back singles by Carlos Santana and Salvador Pérez brought up clean up and number five hitters Andrew Benintendi and Jorge Soler, both of whom had figured prominently in last night´s fatidic seventh inning Royals rally. Irwin rose to the ocassion and disposed of them with a strike out and a fly to right center.

Singer worked his way out of trouble in the first inning and had to face a runner on second with two out in the following frame, but he sailed through the third. He couldn’t manage that in the home fourth. With one down, Mitch Moreland and Matt Chapman hit back to back doubles to right and left field, respectively.

Then Seth Brown unloaded on a 94 mph sinker that landed in the right field stands, 405 feet from home, from which it had left at the speed of velocity of 105 mph. It was Brown’s ninth home run and 22nd and 23rd RBI of the year, and it put the A’s ahead, 3-1.

It looked as if the seventh inning curse was about to claim its second consecutive victim in the Oakland rotation when Salvador Pérez lifted Irvin’s second pitch of the inning down the left field line for his 15th home run of the year and Benintendi and Soler followed with singles. That was enough for BoMel, who replaced his starter, who now had given up six hits in six innings, striking out four without issuing a base on balls. He had thrown 62 pitches, 46 for strikes.

Yusmeiro Petit inherited the two runners, one of whom, Benintendi, advanced to third on Hunter Dozier’s fly out to right. Petit almost got out of the inning with no further damage, but Elvis Andrus flubbed an attempted backhanded pickup of Michael Taylor’s grounder, allowing Benintendi to narrow the gap to 3-2.

The run, unearned was charged to Irvin. Petit again seemed to have pulled a Houdini when Hanser Alberto hit a grounder right at Andrus … whose soft toss to Lowrie arrived too late to force Taylor out at second. That fielder’s choice loaded the bases. Whit Merrifield´s broken bat soft liner to second finally put an end to the threat.

Jake Brentz relieved Singer to start the bottom of seventth. Singer had pitched well, if not as well as the ill-served Irvin. KC’s starter allowed three runs, all earned, in his six innings of mound duty, during which he threw 104 pitches, 66 for strikes. He yielded five hits and a walk against seven strike outs. Brentz retired the side in order.

Jake Diekman replaced Petit on the hill to protect Oakland’s slim lead in the eighth. He couldn’t. After Carlos Santana grounded out to Lowrie at second, Pérez lofted his second straight four bagger, this time taking an 86 mph slider deep over the left center field fence to knot the score at three apiece.

After walking Benintendi, Diekman struck out Soler and handed the ball over to Lou Trivino to face Dozier, who blooped a single to right center. Benintendi tried to score from first, but was called out by home plate umpire Lance Barksdale, whose decision was upheld on review. The put out went Canha to Olson to García.

Kemp greeted Scott Barlow, the Royals´new pitcher in the bottom of the eighth with a line single off second baseman Merrifield’s gove into right, but he quickly was erased on a 4-6-3 double play from the bat of Olson. Barlow whiffed Lowrie to preserve the tie.

Trivino returned to the hill to open the ninth and gave up a sharp single to center on his first pitch to Gutiérrez and threw three straight balls to Taylor. When Taylor swung at and missed Trivino’s next offering, Jarrod Dyson, running for Gutiérrez took off for second. Umpire Shane Livensparger ruled him out on García’s throw to Andrus, but his call was overruled on review. With no one out and a fast runner in scoring position, Trivino proceeded to strike out Taylor and Hanser Alberto before getting Merrifield to fly out to right.

With Barlow back on the mound, Moreland opened the bottom of the ninth by grounding out to first on his first pitch. Then Chapman, whose bat had come alive earlier in the evening, hit his third straight safety, a double to left, his second of the game. Barlow conceeded a walk to Brown, preferring to face Andrus. Andrus came through. He lined a single to right, and Chapman dashed home with the winning run.

The win went to Trivino, who had given up two hits but no runs in 1-1/3 innings, during which 14 of his 20 pitches were strikes. His ERA dropped to 2.40 and he now stands at 3-2 in addition to his nine saves. The loss went to Barlow, who also worked 1-1/3 innings, but he gave up three hits, and that third won did him in. His won-lost record now is 2-2.

Over the weekend, the A’s will complete their four game battle royal with Kansas City. On Saturday, James Kaprielian (2-1, 3.08) will face the visitors’ Jackson Kowar (0-1, 54.00) in a duel of righties, and on Sunday, it will be the right handed Chris Bassitt (6-2, 3.44) who opposes KC’s southpaw Kris Bubic (1-1, 3.32). Both games are scheduled for 1:07.

Starting on Monday the 14th, the A’s will offer Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines at the Coliseum, free of charge, with no appointments or insurance necessary. The A’s press release says, “Individuals are eligible to return to the vaccination clinic for their second dose at a future game and will once again receive a voucher for two tickets to an A’s game.”

This seems to imply that everyone who gets vaccinated at the ballpark will get a voucher, and Dave Kaval’s statement, “We encourage baseball fans to head to the Coliseum to receive a vaccine and then join us for a great day of A’s baseball,” strengthens that implication If you want a vaccination and don’t already have a ticket for the game, you can enter the vaccination clinic, which will be in the Eastside Club, through the BART Ramp.

People 12 years and older are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine as a first or second dose, although those under. 18 receiving the Pfizer vaccine must have consent from a parent or guardian.) Any one under 18 will need a parent or guardians’s consent to get the Pfizer shot.

DeSclafani and Posey lead Giants to shutout victory 1-0

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San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey scored the only run of the game in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington DC Fri Jun 11, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

It was the battery of the San Francisco Giants that supplied the winning punch in the opener of their four-game series against the Washington Nationals.

Anthony DeSclafani threw his second shutout of the season, and Buster Posey supplied the big hit of the game, when he hit a solo home run off of Paolo Espino in the top of the fourth inning and the Giants defeated the Nationals 1-0 at Nationals Park.

DeSclafani was on fire from the get go, as he retired the first nine batters he faced and then Trea Turner pit an end to that streak with a single to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning. He did not allow another hit until Josh Bell doubled off of DeSclafani with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

It was the third career shutout for DeSclafani and third complete game of his career, as he allowed just those two hits, walked just one and struck out eight on his way to his sixth win of the season against two losses.

This was the Giants major-league leading ninth shutout of the season, while the Nationals were shutout for the eighth time this season.

Posey hit a slider off of Espino that landed in the Giants bullpen for his 11th home run of the season.

The 11 home runs by Posey are more than he hit in both 2018 and 2019, and his career-high is 24 home runs in 2012, the year that he won the Most Valuable Player and helped lead the Giants to their second World Series Championship in three years.

Espino came on to replace Nationals starter Max Scherzer in the top of the 1st inning, as the three-time Cy Young Award winner was forced to leave the game after just 12 pitches after he felt a tweak in his groin.

An MRI was taken of Scherzers groin and it turned out to be an inflammation and he considers himself as day-to-day.

Mike Tauchman came up with another huge catch to rob Juan Soto of a potential game-tying home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

It was the second time in three weeks that Tauchman made a game-saving catch, as he robbed Albert Pujols of potential game-winning home run on May 28 at Dodger Stadium.

That was insane huge catch, DeSclafani said. If you dont make that its a tie ballgame and I probably dont go nine.

Espino, who was forced into the game in the top of the first inning went 3.1 innings, allowing the only run of the game on three hits. Following Espino, four more relievers for the Nationals allowed just one hit and retired the final 16 Giants in a row.

NOTES: Prior to the game, the Giants traded Matt Wisler to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for left-handed reliever Michael Plassmeyer, who will report to Double-A Richmond.

According to Giants manager Gabe Kapler, Curt Casali, who is out with a left wrist strain and Mike Yastrzemski, who is out with a sprained right thumb should be reinstated from the 10-day injured list on Saturday. While, Darin Ruf, who is on the injured list with a right hamstring could be back when the Giants return home to face the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Oracle Park. Caleb Baragar, out with inflammation in his left elbow was reinstated from the 10-day injured list.

UP NEXT: Kevin Gausman goes for his eighth win of the season in the opener of a split doubleheader for the Giants, while the Nationals will send Erick Fedde to the mound.