Category: MLB

Behind the Dodgers and Giants joint decision to cancel Wednesday’s game

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–The momentum moving through the sports world Wednesday was swift and wide-ranging. In Lake Buena Vista, Florida, the Milwaukee Bucks decided not to take the floor for Game 5 of their NBA Playoff versus Orlando. The other four NBA teams on the schedule soon followed suit. Then the WNBA, MLS, tennis champion Naomi Osaka, the Milwaukee Brewers and three other MLB teams cancelled their scheduled games and events.

At Oracle Park, the conversations started with Mookie Betts texting family members who informed Betts that several teams and players were not playing in protest of the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The Dodgers superstar was preparing to play in Wednesday night’s Dodgers-Giants game. After the texting, he changed his mind, informing his teammates and manager that he would be sitting out.

“I can’t play,” Betts said.

Clayton Kershaw, the team’s senior member and a vocal critic of inequality and police brutality, questioned whether the rest of the team should play without Betts. Kershaw, the scheduled starting pitcher Wednesday was soon in agreement with manager Dave Roberts, reliever Kenley Jansen and Betts: the Dodgers were not going to play.

“We made a collective group decision to not play tonight, to let our voices be heard for standing up for what we believe is right,” Kershaw said. “That’s what it comes down to.”

The Dodgers never took the field for batting practice. The Giants did, but the conversations were taking place, most importantly between team president Farhan Zaidi and manager Gabe Kapler. Last month, Kapler made headlines by being the first MLB manager to kneel during the playing of the national anthem.

Soon those talks included GM Scott Harris and team player rep Tony Watson. Other Giants warming up spoke in small groups. Batting practice was cut short and the team retreated to their clubhouse.

Shortly after 6pm an announcement was made: the Giants were in agreement. They also would not play Wednesday night.

“Some things I think are just bigger than sports, and I don’t think it should require athletes needing to boycott playoff games to remind us Black lives matter and that police brutality is unacceptable and that systemic racism needs to be eliminated,” Kapler said. “What I believe in most is speaking out and taking strong action based on your beliefs. I’m aware that the Bucks and now some other NBA teams are doing that, and I have the utmost respect for the players who are refusing to be silent about issues that are bigger than sports.”

Shortly before the scheduled first pitch at 6:45pm, the teams released a joint statement:

“Throughout our country’s history, sport has been a powerful vehicle towards change. The Dodgers and Giants proudly join our players in the shared goal for a more equitable and just society.”

Roberts, the first African-American manager in the history of the Dodgers also spoke about the postponement.

“Black athletes right now to make a stand and choose not to play tonight is one thing,” Roberts said. “But Black people been fighting this fight for centuries. And for the white brothers to come in and support the Black men in this game, it’s much more powerful.”

Betts is the only African-American player currently on either teams’ rosters, reinforcing the universal condemnation of the events in Wisconsin, and police brutality in its total scope, including the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.

In all, only the NHL completed its full schedule on Wednesday. Several MLB games went off as scheduled, but games involving the Reds and Brewers, and the Mariners and Padres were called off. Also several black players pulled out of games that were played. That list included the Cubs’ Jason Heyward, the Cardinals’ Dexter Fowler and the Rockies’ Matt Kemp.

The teams have announced they will make up the game on Thursday, as part of a doubleheader that starts at 1:05pm. Both games of the twin bill are scheduled for seven innings.

 

A’s have just enough offense to beat Rangers 3-1

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

The Oakland A’s Ramon Luareano scores on a wild pitch in the top of the sixth inning for a 2-1 A’s lead at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington on Wednesday night against the Texas Rangers (photo from sports.yahoo.com)

By Jerry Feitelberg

As people know, baseball is a strange game. One night the ball is flying out of the park. The next night, hits are hard to come by. On Wednesday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, the A’s struggled to put runs on the board.

The Rangers’ young lefty, Kolby Allard, did not allow a hit for the game’s first five innings. Somehow, in the top of the sixth, the A’s put two runs on the board with just one hit. The A’s starter, Mike Fiers, also pitched well. Fiers went six innings and allowed three hits and one run, which was unearned. The A’s added a run in the eight to win 3-1.

The Rangers scored an unearned run in the bottom of the third. With one out Shin-Shoo Choo singled. Fiers walked Rangers’ first baseman Danny Santana to put men on at first and second. The Rangers attempted a double steal. A’s catcher Sean Murphy’s throw to second sailed in centerfield, allowing Choo to score. The Rangers lead 3-1 after three.

Allard, who had been fantastic for the first five innings, lost his mojo in the top of the sixth. With one out, Allard walked Marcus Semien and Ramon Laureano. Stephen Piscotty, hitting third, singled to drive in Semien to tie the game.

Allard Walked Mark Canha to load the bases. Rangers’ manager Chris Woodward, brought in Luis Garcia to pitch. With Matt Olson at the plate, Garcia uncorked a wild pitch. Laureano scored to give the A’s the lead 2-1. It was a strange inning. It featured four walks, a single, and a wild pitch.

The A’s added an insurance run in the top of the eighth. Three straight singles by Piscotty, Canha, and Olson loaded the bases with no out. Rangers’ reliever Jonathan Hernandez hit Robbie Grossman with a pitch to drive in Piscotty.

Joakim Soria, Jake Diekman, and Liam Hendriks each pitched an inning. The relievers did not allow a hit as the A’s won 3-1

Game Notes- With the win, the A’s are now 22-10 for the year. They lead the second-place Houston Astros by four and 1/2 games in the race for the AL West division crown. The Rangers are now 11-19.

Liam Hendriks recorded his tenth save of the year. Fiers improved to 4-1.
The game featured a lot of strikeouts and walks. Neither team hit a home run. The A’s hitters struck out eleven times and received six walks. The A’s pitchers struck out twelve and issued three walks.

Khris Davis continues to struggle at the plate. Davis has not regained the form that he had in his first three seasons with Oakland. The slugger is hitting just .158 for the year. Ramon Laureano’s woes continue.

Laureano’s average dropped to .208. Matt Chapman almost had the night off. Chappie, who struck out three times in each of the first two games with the Rangers, was on the bench Wednesday night.

Chappie escaped a severe injury Tuesday night when he was hit with a pitch. As Chappie turned to get away from the pitch, the ball hit his batting helmet bill. A’s manager Bob Melvin inserted him into the game in the ninth as a defensive replacement. Chappie made a great defensive play to end the game. He made a bare-handed stab of a slow roller and his throw to first retired Nick Solak for the final out.

The A’s line was three runs, five hits, and one error. The Rangers’ line was one run, three hits, and their defense committed three errors.

The A’s and Rangers meet Thursday again at Globe Life Field. The game will start at 3:37 pm. Chris Bassitt (2-1, 2.97 ERA) will pitch for Oakland. Jordan Lyles (1-3, 9.25 ERA) goes for the Rangers.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Trade Dealine Monday A’s should do “Nada”

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Matt Olson (28) is all the reason to do the forearm bash with teammate Mark Canha (20) after clouting a two run homer in the fourth inning of the Oakland A’s second game of the three game series at Globe Life Ballpark in Arlington on Tuesday night the Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos waits behind the plate (photo from sfgate.com)

Trade Dealine Monday: A’s should do “Nada”

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

The Oakland Athletics should not be busy when the trade deadline arrives on Monday the 31. Why should they? They are set at every position, including second base, shared by Tony Kemp and Chad Pinder. Their starting pitching is set and their bullpen is one of the tops in baseball.

In previous seasons the A’s have added a pitcher or two, most recent lefty reliever Jake Diekman, acquired mid-July last year in a trade with the Kansas City Royals. It is very improbable that the A’s are going to add to their bullpen, via acquisition or trade.

Of all the regular position players in the team, there is one rookie playing the catching position. Sean Murphy, for a few years he was the catcher of the future for the A’s and in 2020 he got the opportunity. Last year Murphy divided time between the minors and the majors. He launched 15 home runs in a total of just 61 games.

During Spring Training this is what Manager Bob Melvin said about Murphy. “We have been waiting for ‘Murph’ for a couple of years now,” and continued. “We have to keep him healthy” – he has dealt with some knee injuries and hasn’t had a full workload – but this is the type of a guy a catcher [turned] manager waits for.

The A’s continue their longest road-trip of the season, ten games. At Arlington vs. Rangers where they are playing a long 4-game set, then three (3) during the weekend at Houston vs. Astros, followed by three (3) more at Seattle vs. Mariners. Returning to Oakland for a seven (7)game home stand beginning September 4 against San Diego Padres for three (3) and the Houston Astros for four (4).

Super-utility Chad Pinder was placed on paternity leave as the team recalled outfielder Seth Smith. Pinder was batting .200 with two home runs and six runs batted in 17 games. Melvin has used Pinder and Kemp at second base, and without Pinder, he could also use young Luis Barreto at second base. 25-yeard old A’s catcher Jonah Heim made his major league debut last night at Arlington He got his first hit in the A’s 10-3 win over the Rangers. The A’s are “locked and loaded”to use an old Army term.

A day like today: August 26, 1980. George Brett strokes four singles and a double in five at-bats when the Royals edge Milwaukee at County Stadium, 7-6. The Kansas City third baseman’s 5-for-5 performance raises his league-leading batting average to .407. George Brett ended the season with a .390 average.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez can be heard on the Oakland A’s Spanish flagship station 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Solano with walk-off gives Giants their seventh win a row 10-8 in 11th

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The San Francisco Giants Brandon Belt heads on home after a three run home run in the first inning off of Los Angeles Dodger starter Julio Urias on Tuesday night at Oracle Park in San Francisco. The game wound up going 11 innnings when Donavon Solano hit a two run homer for the gamer. (photo from ap news)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Donovan Solano ended the game with one swing of the bat and gave the San Francisco Giants a huge victory.

Solano hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the 11th inning, giving the Giants an incomparable 10-8 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, their seventh win in a row. This was the first career walk-off home run of Solanos career.

Mike Yastrzemski, who was 0-for-6 at the plate scored the tying run, as Evan Longoria singled to right field and then Solano ended it, when he launched a Dennis Santana pitch into the left field bleachers to give them the victory.

Justin Turner gave the Dodgers the lead for the second time in as many innings, as he beat out a dribbler back to the mound and no one was covering at first base. The Turner single scored Will Smith, who started the inning at second base and then went to third on a Corey Seager ground out.

Things got weird when the new rule of a runner on second base when extra innings begin bit both teams in the rear end.

Turner was on second base when the top of the 10th inning began, and then reached third on a passed ball by Joey Bart, and then scored on a Bart throwing error that gave the Dodgers a 7-6 lead.

Since Bart made the last out for the Giants in the bottom of the ninth inning, he went to second when the bottom of the 10th inning began.

Bart went to third on a Steven Duggar ground out, and then Brandon Crawford struck out for the second out of the inning, Mauricio Dubon hit a ground ball that Turner fielded at third base; however, he was unable to recover and get Dubon at first to end the game and Bart scored the tying run.

Brandon Belt tied up the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, as he hit his second home run of the game off of Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen.

Max Muncy gave the Dodgers an early 3-0 lead, as he slammed a three-run home run onto the right-center field arcade in the top of the first inning.

That lead did not last long, as Belt tied it up in the bottom of the first inning, as he hit the first pitch saw from Julio Urias and planted it into the center field bleachers.

It was a tough night for Giants starter Johnny Cueto, who lasted just four innings, allowing six runs on eight hits, walking just one and striking out six, as he did not fare in the decision

Urias also went four innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walking three and striking out six; however, he also did not fare in the decision.

Muncy, who got the Dodgers on the board in the top of the first inning, added another RBI in that third inning, as he walked against Cueto with the bases loaded to score Turner from third base. Turner singled after the Seager home run, then Cody Bellinger doubled Turner to third base and then scored on a wild pitch by Cueto.

Seager gave the Dodgers a 4-3 lead in the top of the third inning, as he homered off of Cueto for what looked like the game-winning run until Belts heroics in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Joc Pederson gave the Dodgers a three-run lead when he doubled to right field to score Bellinger.

Belt cut the Dodgers lead down to two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he doubled in Longoria, who led off the inning with a single.

It was a big night for Belt and Longoria, who went a combined 8-for-10 at the plate with two home runs with six runs batted in.

The Giants loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Longoria and Belt each singled and then Solano reached on a fielding error and then Bart grounded into a double play that scored Longoria from third base. Bart was originally called safe; however, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts challenged the call and it was reversed after a short review. Unfortunately, came the rally to a screeching halt, when pinch hitter Pablo Sandoval struck out to end the inning and the threat.

In the victory, the Giants bullpen, which has been under a lot of scrutiny after blowing late leads recently, seemed in tip top shape, as they pitched the final seven innings and the combination, of Andrew Suarez, Trevor Gott, Wandy Peralta, Sam Coonrod, Shawn Anderson Caleb Baragar Jarlin Garcia, Tyler Rogers and Sam Selman gave up two runs on four hits, walked four and struck out seven in relief of Cueto. Selman, who pitched the 11th inning, won his first game of the season.

NOTES: Brandon Belt’s 9th-inning game-tying HR off Kenley Jansen is the 1st game-tying HR by a Giants player vs the Dodgers in the 9th inning or later since Mark Lewis on July 12, 1997 in LA. 1st at HOME since Barry Bonds on June 20 that season. Both off Todd Worrell. Thank you Sarah Langs for that note.

Andrew McCutchen came up with the last Giants walk-off home run against the Dodgers on April 7, 2018 off of Wilmer Font. In that game, McCutchen went 6-for-7 against Dodgers pitching.

UP NEXT: Kevin Gausman will take the mound on Wednesday night for the Giants, while the Dodgers will counter with Clayton Kershaw.

A’s get back on winning track win a laugher 10-3 over Rangers

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

By Jerry Feitelberg
The A’s bounced back to beat the Texas Rangers 10-3 Tuesday evening at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The A’s scored four runs on two two-run home runs. They scored a run in the fourth without the benefit of a hit. In the seventh, they scored five runs on just two singles and a double. Each team had eight hits, but the A’s scored ten times compared to Texas’ three.
A’s lefty Sean Manaea won his second game of the year. He struggled earlier in the season. Manaea went five innings and gave up six hits and three runs. Only one run was earned. The A’s bullpen allowed just two hits and no runs over the last four innings.

The Rangers scored the first run of the night in the bottom of the second. Designated hitter Jose Trevino doubled with one out. Shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled to drive in Trevino to make it 1-0. The A’s tied the game in the top of the third. Rangers’ starter Kyle Gibson walked Tony Kemp and Jonah Heim to put men on at first and second with no out. Marcus Semien hit into a 5-4-3 double play. Kemp went to third on the play. Kemp scored when Gibson uncorked a wild pitch.

Oakland took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth. With one out and Mark Canha on first, A’s first baseman, Matt Olson, slammed his tenth big fly into the deep right-centerfield. The ball went 453 feet. Oakland added two more in the fifth. A’s second baseman started the inning when a pitch hit him on the back of his left foot. Marcus Semien hit his fifth dinger of the year to make in 5-1. Texas scored twice in their half of the inning. Manaea hit Rangers’ catcher, Robinson Chirinos, with a pitch. Kiner-Falefa singled. Marcus Semien committed a fielding error that allowed Yadiel Rivera to reach safely. Manaea struck out Leody Tavares for the second out. Left fielder Nick Solak singled to drive in Chirinos and Kiner-Falefa. Manaea retired Todd Frazier to end the inning. Both runs were unearned—the A’s lead 5-3 after five.
In the top of the seventh, the A’s broke the game open. They had two singles, a bases-clearing double, two walks, a hit batter, and an unusual fielder’s choice. Tony Kemp singled to get the rally going. Catcher Jonah Heim, playing in his first Major League game, singled to send Kemp to third. On the next play, Semien hit a sharp ground ball to Rangers’ third baseman Todd Frazier. Frazier threw home to get Kemp. Kemp was caught in a rundown. Somehow, Kemp was able to slide back into third base safely. It was unbelievable as he eluded Frazier’s attempt to tag him out. The A’s now had the bases loaded with one out. Robbie Grossman walked to drive in Kemp. Mark Canha was hit by a pitch to force in Heim, and the bases were still loaded. A’s right fielder Stephen Piscotty doubled to left to clear the bases. The A’s lead 10-3.
The A’s relievers, T.J.McFarland, Lou Trivino, and Jordan Weems, kept the Rangers off the board to preserve the win for Manaea.

Game Notes- with the win, the A’s improved to 21-10. The Rangers are now 11-18. The A’s have a four-game lead over the Houston Astros in the race for the top spot in the AL West.
The A’s, as a team, are hitting just .225. They rank 25th in that department. They are eighth in baseball in home runs. They are hitting .215 with runners in scoring position. They struck out ten times Tuesday night and have struck out 311 times so far this year. Matt Chapman struck out three times for the second night in a row.

Chad Pinder was not with the team as he is on paternity leave. The A’s recalled Seth Brown to take his place.
Game three of the four-game series will be played Wednesday night at Globe Life Field. The game will start at 5:05 pm.
Mike Fiers (3-1, 5.81 ERA) will go for Oakland. Lefty Kolby Allard will be on the hill for Texas.

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Giants Pence says he understands the move; NBA news from Orlando

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giant outfielder Hunter Pence loses the ball in the lights at Dodger Stadium and Giants starter Johnny Cueto loses his bid for a no hitter on Aug 8th’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pence was given his unconditional release Sat Aug 22 before the Angels-Giants game at Oracle Park. (sfgate.com file photo)

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara:

#1 One thing you could say about the departure of former Giants outfielder Hunter Pence he understood the move by Giants manager Gabe Kapler after Pence hit .096, started the season 0-23 and lost a fly ball in the lights at Dodger Stadium a play that broke up pitcher Johnny Cueto’s no hitter.

#2 Pence left the team with class saying that he knew the time was coming and that he knew he had to bring more to the table than what he was.

#3 Pence said that the pandemic was first and foremost concern right now over baseball that being released by the Giants is not as important as other people’s health and he was really more focused on that.

#4 Turning to the NBA after losing four straight playoff games to the Boston Celtics the Philadelphia 76ers fired head coach Brett Brown on Monday. The 76ers general manager Elton Brand indicated there will be more front office changes. Critics of Brown said that the 76ers didn’t use Ben Simmons enough.

#5 The Milwaukee Bucks who are some 1,000 miles away playing in a bubble in Orlando shared their feeling about Kenosha Wisconsin resident Jacob Blake who was shot in the back seven times by police as Blake was trying to get into his car, Blake survived but is paralyzed. The Bucks George Hill said that the police are disappointed they didn’t kill Blake because they wanted him dead and Hill added thank God he’s alive.

Barbara Mason does Headline Sports Tuesday nights at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: A’s play game 2 in Texas; Giants open up in LA tonight

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Manaea will try for his second quality start as he throws tonight against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington in game two of the series (sfchronicle.com file photo)

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

#1 Amaury talk about the two pitches that plate umpire Jim Reynolds missed on Sunday calling for balls that was thrown by A’s pitcher Liam Hendriks on Angels hitter Juan Castro. The first pitch was right down the middle and the second was in the upper strike zone both taken for called balls by Reynolds.

#2 On the A’s scoreboard before the Angels-A’s game on Sunday at the Oakland Coliseum when the starting line ups were normally announced by A’s PA announcer Amelia Schimmel the A’s replaced her with videos of the players family members announcing their number, name and position, for Marcus Semien his two small sons Isaiah and Joshua, for Matt Chapman his parents introduced him, and for pitcher Chris Bassitt his wife Jessica, daughter Landry and dog Ashley.

#3 The A’s before coming into Texas on Monday night have won four of their last five games going 4-1 for taking two games from Arizona and two out of three from the Angels they seem like their they’re getting timely hitting from Matt Chapman, Matt Olson and Stephen Piscotty.

#4 The San Francisco Giants are in the middle of a six game win streak with three in a row from the Angels and three in a row from the Diamondbacks and getting set to open a three game set with the Dodgers starting Tuesday night at Oracle Park.

#5 The starting pitchers for tonight for the Los Angeles Dodgers Julio Urias (2-0 ERA 2.74) and for the San Francisco Giants Johnny Cueto (2-0 ERA 4.35)

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio lead play by play talent on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Led by Yaz the MVP candidate, Giants are contending at compressed season’s midpoint

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

A week ago, the Giants were on life support, victims of too many ninth inning collapses in a short period of time. The prognosis? Take your medicine and get healthy for 2021.

A week later, and the Giants are sitting pretty, tied for seventh in an expanded, eight-team post-season pool that’s heated and refreshing.

How’s that? Well, in a 60-game season things happen fast. Fast like six-game winning streak fast.

Ok then, are the Giants any good, or is this smoke and mirrors?

That answer’s complicated, but let’s take a look.

Through 30 games–half the pandemic-truncated season–the Giants are 14-16, just six days after they were 8-16 and stuck in last place. Their schedule, unique given the uneven, 7/3 and 6/4 home/away splits for their four NL West opponents along with the sequence of the 60 games, has been especially harsh.

How harsh? The Giants have played 14 home games thus far, compared to a combined 11 games at Dodgers Stadium and Coors Field, both notoriously rough venues for visitors.

Given that, their schedule eases considerably in the second half starting with 19 of their remaining 30 games at Oracle Park or the Oakland Coliseum, which means just 11 more dates attached to hotel rooms, COVID restrictions, and the heightened, antsy atmosphere of being on the road in 2020.

The final 10 games? All locally, starting with three in Oakland, then the final seven at Oracle Park against the Padres and Rockies.

The expanded playoff field will take the top two finishers in each division plus the teams with the two best remaining records in the National League. While the Giants are competing for those final spots with the Cardinals (who have only played 17 games), Marlins and Mets, they don’t play any of those three teams, all of whom have horribly backloaded schedules due to COVID cancelations. Instead, the Giants will see either the Padres, Rockies or Diamondbacks in 20 of their remaining 30 games, allowing them to focus on climbing within the NL West and finishing second or third, both of which appear to be playoff spots at the moment.

The Giants boast one of the NL’s best offenses averaging nearly five runs per game, and nearly seven runs per game at home. So if you’re trying to envision how the Giants can win games down the stretch, start with the bats. In fact, in a recent development (in the last week, really) the Giants have an eye-popping 92 extra-base hits, 18 above the National League average. They’re third in doubles, second in triples and fourth in home runs with 38.

(If those numbers aren’t mind-numbing for Giants’ fans still stuck in the Bruce Bochy torture era, no numbers are.)

The pitching staffs the Giants will face aren’t imposing outside of the Dodgers and A’s, who are first and fifth respectively in terms of fewest runs allowed. The other four, remaining opponents have staffs with numbers at or well below the major league average, including the Mariners and D’Backs, who have been especially generous. Those four opponents with standard to substandard pitching account for 24 of the final 30 Giants’ game dates.

Offensively, the Giants have stars who not only reside among the league leaders statistically, but in many cases, lead the league. Austin Slater, currently on the injured list (and without enough at-bats to qualify) has an NL-best OBP of .458. Donovan Solano, despite cooling off recently, is hitting .363 with 33 hits.

And the Major League’s top offensive performer at the half way point, the unlikely MVP candidate who’s 30-years old with just 137 big league games under his belt?

Mike Yastrzemski.

The unassuming Yaz has a 309/.429/.645 slashline with 28 runs scored, 34 hits and 22 RBIs in 30 games. But there’s more: he’s second among all MLB performers in walks, triples, runs scored and tied for second in extra-base hits. In the complicated Wins Above Replacement (WAR) category, Yastrzemski has one peer: the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts.

Did we mention Joey Bart?

Giants fans, there’s only one requirement: stay tuned.

Rangers snap eight-game losing streak beat A’s 3-2; Falefa homer in second get Rangers the gamer

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Isiah Kiner-Falefa (9) of the Texas Rangers celebrates heading towards the Rangers dugout after hitting a solo home run in the second inning at Globe Life Ballpark in Arlington looking on umpire Lance Barrett (left) and A’s catcher Sean Murphy (right) (photo from sfgate.com)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s started a ten-game rod trip on a sour note. The A’s, winners of four of the last five and eight of the previous eleven, faced the Texas Rangers’ ace, Lance Lynn Monday night, and Lynn did his job allowing five hits and two runs in six and two thirds innings of work. The Rangers won 3-2.

The Rangers snapped an eight-game losing streak Monday night. They limped home after losing two to San Diego and three to the Mariners in Seattle. The A’s always want to get off to a good start on the road by winning the first game.

Alas, that did not happen. Watching the A’s play, the last eight games reminded me of the 2010 San Francisco Giants. That year the Giants won the World Series, but watching the games was “torture.”

The A’s have won, but they have not been able to get their offense going. The A’s had eight hits in the game. They had two hits in the first and two in the ninth. The A’s had three hits in the first two innings and then just three more hits until the ninth.

The A’s drew first blood in the top of the first inning. With two out, A’s DH, Mark Canha, singled to drive in Ramon Laureano to go ahead 1-0. The Rangers plated two in their half of the first to take a 2-1 lead.

A’s right fielder, Stephen Piscotty, led off the second with a 416-foot solo home run to tie the game. The Rangers took the lead for good when Isiah Kiner-Falefa homered to make it 3-2.

The A’s loaded the bases with one out in the ninth. Rangers’ closer Rafael Montero struck out Matt Olson looking for the second out of the inning. He then retired Matt Chapman on a fly ball to right to end the game.

Game Notes- With the loss, the A’s are 20-10 for the season. The Rangers improved to 11-17. A’s starter Jesus Luzardo, after giving up three runs in the first two innings, settled down and pitched into the seventh.

His line was six, and 2/3rds innings pitched, three runs and seven hits. Luzardo is now 2-1. The Rangers Lance Lynn’s line was six innings pitched, two runs, five hits, and eight strikeouts. Lynn is now 4-0, and he owns a sparkling ERA of 1.59.

The A’s struck out 13 times Monday night. Matt Olson and Matt Chapman each struck out three times. Khris Davis, mired in an early-season slump, pinch-hit for Sean Murphy in the ninth. Davis, who has 31 home runs against the Rangers in his career, flew out to right for the first out of the inning.

Sean Manaea (1-2, 6.39) will pitch for Oakland Tuesday night. Kyle Gibson (1-1, 4.73 ERA) will be on the hill for Texas. The game will start at 5:05 pm.

MLB podcast with Larry Crino: Trout rookie card is most expensive card of all time; Nats Strausburg out for season; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Los Angeles Angels 2009 Topps Bowman Chrome Superfactor Mike Trout rookie card fetched for $3.93 million topping the 1909 T-206 Pittsburgh Pirates Honus Wagner card which sold for $3.12 million (photo from beckett.com)

On the MLB podcast with Larry:

#1 Los Angeles outfielder Mike Trout’s rookie grade 9, 2009 Topps Bowman Chrome Superfactor card fetched for $3.93 million during the Golden Auctions on line surpassing the T-206 Honus Wagner card which sold for $3.12 million.

#2 The Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strausburg is done for the 2020 season. Strausburg is suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome and will have surgery it was announced by Nat’s manager Dave Martinez.

#3 The New York Mets who had to cancel three games against the New  York Yankees Friday through Sunday announced that their traveling party were all tested for Covid and all have come through negative. Two Mets players had tested positive during their road trip last week forcing them to cancel the series with the Yankees as the club is waiting word from MLB when they can resume .

#4 Jazhiel Morel a Washington Nationals employee threw two cups of coffee in the face of a convenience store employee in the Dominican Republic. Morel said he would turn himself into the police on Monday.

#5 How rough does it get for the Miami Marlins catcher Francisco Cervelli who will be on the injured list due to a concussion. Cevelli was concussed on Saturday and will be out for seven days.

Join Larry each Monday for the MLB podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com