Category: MLB

A’s walk-off wonders once again in 5-4 win over the Angels

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By Morris Phillips

The A’s game notes made it very clear: the Angels weren’t likely to prevail despite being locked up with Oakland, tied 4-4 in the late innings on Sunday.

And all that statistical momentum built up by the first-place A’s didn’t even take account how poor the Angels have been in close games this season. Accordingly, Mark Canha’s sacrifice fly in the 10th inning chased home Franklin Barreto in the A’s 5-4 win at the Coliseum.

“We’ve lost that game five times this year, maybe six,” said Angels’ manager Joe Maddon. “We’ve had leads and gave them up. And I am not banging on the pitching. Overall, we pitched pretty well today. It sticks in my mind losing some games with leads late. We just have to be better at that.”

The A’s became the first American League team to 20 wins, and at 20-9, their 4 1/2 game lead over the Astros in the division looms large in a shortened, 60-game regular season. The visitors fell to 9-20, as 2020 is trending toward a major disappointment for the high-priced Angels.

The game notes produced by the perpetually tuned-in Mike Selleck before each A’s game are always filled with statistics, numerical trends and historical perspective. But when the A’s are cooking, as they are now with the second-best record in baseball, the notes can be downright intimidating for advance scouts and opposing managers.

The A’s are experiencing one of their five best starts to a season in their East Bay history, and late game proficiency and heroics are at the root of it all. The A’s are 5-0 in extra innings after Sunday, and they’ve hit 15 homers in the seventh inning or later, third best in MLB. Add to that, the Oakland bullpen, with the trio of Jake Diekman, Joakim Soria and Liam Hendriks leading the way, has 10 saves so far this month, already their largest total in August in the last 15 seasons.

Want more? The A’s are 13-4 in their home ballpark, and one of two teams (Braves) that haven’t lost this season on a Sunday, a record that improved to 5-0 on Sunday.

So when the A’s rid themselves of Angels’ starter Dylan Bundy, trailing just 4-3 in the sixth, things figured to get better in a hurry. Against the beleaguered Angels bullpen, they did.

Two pitches in, Stephen Piscotty’s RBI single off reliever Mike Mayers pulled the A’s even.

Earlier the Angels got a big three-run homer from Shohei Ohtani, who has struggled with his bat ever since he was shut down earlier this month from pitching due to forearm tightness. But their 4-2 lead would stagnant as Mike Trout, whom Angels beat writers tweeted hasn’t looked like himself lately, went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts while leadoff hitter David Fletcher and rookie number seven-hitter Jo Adell went 0 for 4 and 0 for 5 with three strikeouts respectively.

The A’s bullpen shut the door with 5 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Frankie Montas as J.B. Wendelken, followed by the previously mentioned trio, allowed just two singles.

Hendriks managed the greater degree of difficulty in the 10th, retiring Jason Castro, Andrelton Simmons and Fletcher without letting placed baserunner Adell advance.

“They keep shutting the door with that new extra-inning rule,” Canha said of the bullpen. “When you do that, it’s huge. Going into the bottom half just having to score one takes pressure off the offense and makes the job a little bit easier.”

The A’s won for the first time without the benefit of a home run. They had homered at least once in 23 of their first 28 games. Instead, they went small–and clutch–with four, two-out RBI and five knocks with a runner in scoring position.

The A’s open a four-game set in Texas on Monday, the first leg of a 10-game trip that continues through Houston and Seattle.

Yastrzemski comes up big on his birthday in Giants sweep; SF beats Arizona 6-1

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Yaz big base knock: The San Francisco Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski belts a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks to contribute to the Giants 6-1 win at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Aug 23, 2020 (photo from mysanantonio.com)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-What a weekend for Mike Yastrzemski at both home plate and in the playing field.

Yastrzemski, who made a tremendous catch in the top of the sixth inning in Saturdays night victory, came up big in the bottom of the sixth inning in Sundays finale, as he hit a solo home run and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-1 to complete the three-game series sweep, their first sweep of the 2020 season.

The catch by Yastrzemski on Saturday night came on the 81st birthday of his grandfather Carl, who made a share of great catches with the Boston Red Sox from 1961-1983 and today is Mikes 30th birthday and he celebrated by hitting his 7th home run of the season.

With the victory, the Giants have now won six in a row after losing five in a row and are now 5-0 on their current home stand.

Once again, the Giants starting pitching came up huge, as one night after Tyler Anderson threw a complete game three-hitter, Trevor Cahill went 5.1 innings, allowing one run on just one hit, walking two and striking out eight; however, he did not fare in the decision.

After Cahill was replaced by Caleb Baragar, David Peralta hit a sacrifice fly to Yastrzemski right near the 365-foot mark and the State Farm sign in right-center field that scored Kole Calhoun from third base.

Calhoun walked to lead off the inning, and a Cahill strikeout of Ketel Marte, Starling Marte doubled Calhoun to third base and then Peralta tied up the game with his sacrifice fly.

Alex Dickerson broke the game open in the bottom of the seventh inning, as he hit a three-run home run and then Pablo Sandoval drove in the sixth and final run of the game, as he singled in Brandon Belt in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Evan Longoria got the Giants on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he doubled to right field to score Belt.

The Giants bullpen, who was roughed up against the Oakland As and in the first game against the Los Angeles Angels continued to pitch well, as the quartet of Baragar, Tony Watson, Tyler Rogers and Jarlin Garcia pitched the final 4.2 innings, allowing no runs on four hits, walking just one and striking out two.

Despite giving up the game-tying sacrifice fly to Peralta, Baragar picked up his third win of the season against just one loss.

Joey Bart picked up a single, as he continues to impress after just being in the big leagues for four games. Bart made a tremendous catch, as he fell to the ground off the bat off of former Giants catcher Stephen Vogt.

Through his first four games in the big leagues, Bart is hitting .333, as he is 4-for-12 at the plate with three doubles.

NOTES: After last nights victory, Hunter Pence was designated for assignment by the team and to replace Pence on the roster, Sam Coonrod was activated from the 10-day injured list.

The team was not done with transactions, as the team acquired infielder Daniel Robertson from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later. Robertson spent three seasons with the Rays, hitting .231 with 91 runs scored, 32 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs and 72 RBI in a total of 237 games and he will report to the Alternate Training Site.

UP NEXT: Following their first off day since August 13, the Giants will begin a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning on Tuesday night, when Johnny Cueto will take the mound versus Julio Urias.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A’s vs Giants World Series? Why not, it’s 2020!

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Amaury discusses the possibility of a 2020 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s on That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary (pinterest.com image)

A’s vs Giants World Series? Why not, it’s 2020!

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

In a year like this 2020, we can expect the unexpected. Yes, the Athletics are one of the top tier teams to make it all the way, while the Giants are definitely not on that same tier of team, but this is 2020, so you must throw logic out the window.

The last time the Giants went to the Fall Classic was as recent as 2014 when they beat Kansas City in seven games. The A’s have waited since 1990, when they lost to the Cincinnati Reds in a four-game sweep.

2020 is the perfect storm of a year, for these bay area teams to met again, Most memorable the last (and only time) they met in a World Series in 1989,that was stopped by the largest earthquake in recent history, the Loma Prieta 6.9 intensity earthquake.

Maybe destiny has it, that our two bay area professional teams will only make it under those circumstances. However, compared to 1989, this 2020 is in a class by itself.

More than likely the A’s will make it far and the Giants who are currently hot on a 5-game winning streak and will just vanish and try to salvage the season and play not to end in the cellar in a 60-game season.

The A’s do not have it that easy. Tomorrow they open their longest road-trip of the season, a 10-game show that takes them to Texas to play with both clubs in that State and then all the way up north to Seattle for three more games.

The A’s are one of the most complete teams in MLB this season, they are atop of the AL West and their only real threat -not to win the division- is the Houston Astros.

Good luck to both teams, and see you in the World Series!

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

Anderson throws a complete game in Giants 5-1 victory

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The San Francisco Giants Tyler Anderson throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks for a complete game a rarity in MLB on Sat Aug 22, 2020 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (photo from abcnews.go.com)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Joey Bart came within inches of his first major-league home run, but he is probably happier with the outcome of the game.

Bart doubled for the third straight game in the bottom of the seventh that allowed Brandon Crawford to advance to third base, then after a Mauricio Dubon walk, Mike Yastrzemski walked to score Crawford with the eventual winning run and the San Francisco Giants made it five wins in a row with a 5-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Tyler Anderson pitched a fantastic game, as he threw a complete game, allowing one run on just three hits, not walking a batter and striking out four and he won for the first time as a member of the Giants.

I told him this (in Summer Camp): If youre dominant, were not going to take you out of the rotation, said Giants manager Gabe Kapler.

The left-hander is only the third Giants pitcher to throw a complete game over the past three seasons, joining Madison Bumgarner and Chris Stratton.

Showing how weird baseball is, when Stratton threw his complete game on September 14, 2018 against the Colorado Rockies, the starting pitcher for the Rockies in that game was none other than Anderson, who went six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, not walking a batter and striking out six in a hard fought 2-0 loss to the Giants.

Anderson gave up a double to the second batter of the game in Ketel Marte; however, Anderson regrouped to get both Starling Marte and ChristIan Walker on ground outs to Crawford to end the inning and the threat.

David Peralta picked up the second hit of the night off of Anderson, as he singled to right field in the top of the seventh inning to score Starling Marte from second base. Marte reached base when the throw from Crawford was too high for Brandon Belt.

Marte then stole second without a throw by Chadwick Tromp, but Anderson was able to get out of the jam, as he got Eduardo Escobar to fly out to Yastrzemski in right field and then Nick Ahmed to ground into a force play to end the inning.

Yastrzemski made the defensive play of the game, as he robbed Ketel Marte of both extra bases and an RBI, as he made a fantastic catch against the chain linked fencing in right field. Just prior to the Yastrzemski catch, Anderson made one of very few mistakes, as he hit Kole Calhoun.

You keep yourself safest when youre fearless, said Kapler about Yastrzemskis phenomenal catch.

The Giants scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning without the benefit of a hit, as Brandon Belt grounded into a double play that scored Yastrzemski from third base.

Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen began the game on a shaky note, as he walked the first three batters of the game and then Belts double play scored Yastrzemski with the Giants lone run until the bottom of the seventh inning, when the game was broken open after three walks and a double by Bart that was nearly a two-run home run.

NOTES: Bart is just the third Giants player since at least 1901 with an extra base hit in each of his 1st career game (Thank you Sarah Langs for that note). He joins Buster Maynard in 1940, and John Bowker in 2008.

Anderson is the eighth pitcher this season to throw a complete game.

Gallen tied a major-league record for most games allowing three or fewer earned runs to start his career (all starts, no relief appearances. Gallen equaled the mark set by Aaron Sele of the Boston Red Sox from June 23, 1993 to April 19, 1994.

Austin Slater was placed on the 10-day injured list with a mild left groin strain that took place in the bottom of the first inning of Friday nights victory. Steven Duggar was recalled from the alternate site to replace Slater.

UP NEXT: Trevor Cahill heads to the mound on Sunday afternoon, as the Giants go for the sweep, while Luke Weaver will go to the mound for the Diamondbacks.

Oakland A’s game wrap: A’s Lose To The Angels 4-3 After a Record 3 Errors

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Oakland A’s pitcher Chris Bassitt who pitched over five innings and gave up six hits and four runs losing his first game of the year now 2-1 (mlb.com file photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s took on the division rival Los Angeles Angels Saturday afternoon in the first of a three game series. Although struggling the Angels have some mighty hitters with Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, David Fletcher and Tommy La Stella leading the group.

Starting pitcher for the A’s was Chris Bassitt, who really struggled against the Diamondbacks this past week, was on the mound. With the bases loaded and 1 out, the Angels Brian Goodwin hit a bullet off Bassitt but lined it into a double play saving a number of runs.

The score was 1-0 in the top of the first inning. David Fletcher had doubled to left to start the game and scored when Mike Trout grounded into a fielders choice. Griffin Canning would be on the mound for the Angels dismissing the A’s in the bottom of the inning.

The game went into the second inning. The Angels had started both innings with doubles, Jordan Adell hitting the second one. He would score when Matt Chapman had a second error for the team. The score was 2-0.

The game would break wide open when Mike Trout came to the plate hitting a deep left field double and two runs would score, Fletcher and Luis Rengifo. The A’s were able to get on the board in the bottom of the second inning when Tony Kemp doubled scoring Mark Canha.

After only two innings the Angels led 4-1. This game started looking real sloppy for Oakland with two errors in the first two innings. Not the way the A’s wanted to start this game. It was a much improved third inning for Chris Bassitt and the A’s. Bassitt’s pitch count was at 63 through three innings which is nothing to write home about but the third inning was quick and strong.

It’s the way the A’s really wanted to start the game. Unfortunately the A’s would go three up and three down and it was on to the top of the fourth inning. It was three up and three down for Bassitt in the fourth inning and it was going a whole lot better for the pitcher.

First up at bat for the A’s turned out to be Matt Chapman’s ninth homer of the season and the score was 4-2. There would be no more scoring for the A’s in the inning. First up in the fifth inning was Mike Trout for the Angels always a scary prospect.

The mantra when he comes to bat, for most fans and and I’ll bet some players, is “please don’t let him connect .” He had a nice hit which was corralled by Marcus Semien and dug out by Matt Olson at first for the out.

A collective deep breath getting by Trout. Otani was next at bat for the Angels. He has struggled mightily with a batting average of .171 and the struggle continued as he struck out. Goodwin would also strike out to end the inning for Los Angeles.

Allen Austin would have a line drive single to start the bottom of the fifth. A double play off a Semien hit emptied the bases. Laureano would have a single followed by an Olson double to deep right that brought Laureano in and the A’s were trailing by a single run 4-3.

Mark Canha would strike out for the third out leaving two runners stranded. Chris Bassitt would leave the game after 5 2/3 innings replaced by Lou Trivino. After a rather shaky start Bassitt really turned things around.

Trivino would quickly finish the top of the 6th inning. Andriese would take the mound, when Canning was pulled, to face Grossman, Piscotti and Kemp. It would be a three up three down for Andriese. The A’s would walk Mike Trout with one out in the top of the seventh followed by a pop fly to left by Rendon.

There would be a pitching change in the inning for the A’s as TJ McFarland took the mound facing Otani. A third error by the A’s got Otani to first base as Trout advanced to second. The Angels would strand a pair when Goodwin pop flied out.

The A’s had three errors in this game which was a huge disappointment for the team. Coming into this game they had only ten errors the entire season. The Angels would finish the four inning with a three up three down and the A’s would have two innings left to either tie or win this game.

We have come to expect miracles from this team and one right now would be nice. Of course they would also have to hold off the Angels in the 8th and ninth innings. The A’s were able to contain the Angels through the eighth and ninth innings.

They had the ninth inning to either tie or walkoff after a three up three down for the A’s in the eighth inning. It was another three up three down for Oakland and the loss 4-3. It was a strange day for the team.

Was it the disgusting air quality or everything that is going on in California– this was without doubt one strange game. For the most part it was sluggish and they all seemed out of sorts. As far as Chris Bassitt.

He really had some interesting things to say at his presser. He is absolutely happy that he will not fact the Angels again. “I am sick of facing Mike Trout,” he said. He said he had a lot of faith in the guys behind him but they certainly let him down today.

I have to say that the highlight of this game was the introduction of the players by family members. This brought a little sunshine to a game that was devoid of anything cheerful. I really feel that the team will bring a whole lot more to the park tomorrow. They know how important winning series are this year and they need to bring all of it to game three—I believe that they will do just that.

Starting pitchers for Sunday: The Los Angeles Angels will start Dylan Bundy (3-2 ERA 2.48) vs. Oakland A’s starter Frankie Montas (2-2 ERA 4.74)

 

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s continue to roll with three straight wins; Face Angels Canning tonight

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The Oakland A’s Stephen Piscotty (25) has been on a tear lately on Friday night he ripped a two run double in the A’s first inning against the Los Angeles Angels to open the first of a three game series (athleticsnation.com file photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah ball players have superstitions how much do the players believe that the A’s Kelly Green jerseys are playing a role in the A’s success?

#2 The A’s have won seven out of their last 11 games they did have a rough patch when they went to Arizona last Monday and Tuesday but have pretty righted the ship with two wins over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday and Thursday and a win against the Angels on Friday with two run double help from Stephen Piscotty .

#3 The A’s really were relying on starter Sean Manaea to have a good outing on Thursday night and he came through going 5.1 innings and gave up five hits and one run.

#4 Talk about A’s hitting Matt Chapman hit his seventh home run and Matt Olson hit his ninth homer off the Diamondbacks on Thursday night they’re getting some run production with the long ball. Chapman got a double and run scored on Friday night against the Angels .

#5 Jeremiah talk about tonight’s pitchers going for the Angels Griffin Canning (0-3 ERA 4.70) and for the A’s Chris Bassitt (2-0 ERA 2.93)

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Lots of promise, lot of expectations for Bart at catcher

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On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 How important is it to have Joey Bart behind the dish he’s been the anticipated player who they’ve been expecting to come up.

#2 How do you see Bart’s future coming to the big leagues comparing to the great career Buster Posey had?

#3 The Giants have won three of their last four games during the Angeles series and Bart came up with the club during the Angels series would you say it was no coincidence that Bart presence has the club turned around?

#4 His bats in his first game with the Giants on Wednesday he was one for three with a double and went one for four on Thursday night and Friday like you mentioned he got his first big league RBI, it’s early but how do you see him facing big league pitching at the plate?

#5 Talk about the pitching matches for tonight at Oracle for the Diamondbacks right hander Zac Gallen (0-0 ERA 2.40) and for the San Francisco Giants left hander Tyler Anderson( 0-1 ERA 4.84)

Michael Duca does the Giants podcasts every other Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Oakland A’s game wrap: Olson and Piscotty’s key hits helps in A’s 5-3 win over Halos; Sixth win out of eight games for A’s

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By Jeremiah Salmonson

The Oakland A’s are flying high. Having swept the two game series against the Arizona Diamonds the last two days, the A’s were set to welcome the struggling Los Angeles Angels.

The A’s sent starter Mike Fiers (2-1) to the hill as the Angels countered with Andrew Heaney (1-1).

The A’s got off to a quick start in the bottom of the first with a Marcus Semien solo home run. It was Semien’s fourth home run of the year as he has struggled offensively out of the gate this season. The A’s didn’t stop there, they managed to score two more runs on a Stephen Piscotty double to jump to an early 3-0 lead.

The next scoring wouldn’t come until the top of the fifth inning when Anthony Rendon hit an RBI single to get the Angels within two runs with a score 3-1 A’s. The A’s immediately answered back in the bottom of the fifth inning on a Matt Olson RBI double and Stephen Piscotty RBI single. The A’s then had a 5-1 lead going into the sixth inning.

Mike Fiers pitched 5.1 innings giving up three runs on seven hits. He struck out three and walked three.

Andrew Heaney went 4.2 innings giving up five runs on six hits. He struck out six and walked two.

With the starters out of the game the Angles managed to score two more runs in the top of the sixth. The Halos were shut out the rest of the way. Liam Hendricks brought it home with his ninth save of the year. The A’s won it 5-3 taking the winning streak to three in a row and capping six wins out of their last eight games.

The A’s take on the Angles again on Saturday at 1:10 PM PST in Oakland.

The Angels will send to the hill Griffin Canning a left hander (0-3 ERA 4.70) against A’s right hander starter Chris Bassitt (2-0 ERA 2.93).

 

 

 

Flores and Longoria each go deep in Giants win 6-2

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By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Evan Longoria reached a milestone, but it was Wilmer Flores who came up with the biggest hit of the game.

Flores hit a two-run home run off of Robby Ray in the bottom of the fifth inning, helping the San Francisco Giants to a 6-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oracle Park.

It was the team leading seventh home run of the season for Flores, and it was also the third straight game that he hit a home run. Flores added a single in the bottom of the seventh inning to boost his average up to .326 on the season.

Just two innings prior to the Flores home run, Longoria reached a historical milestone, as he became the 150th player to ever hit 300 home runs in a career.

Logan Webb, who did not fare well in his last outing against the Oakland As on Sunday afternoon, as he lasted 4.1 innings, allowing three runs three hits, walking five and striking out five in a 15-3 As victory; however, against the Diamondbacks, he pitched a great game.

Webb went seven innings, a new career high, allowing two runs on five hits, not walking a batter and struck out a career-high eight on his way to his second win of the season.

Mike Yastrzemski continues to hit the ball well, as he picked up two hits in four at-bats and is now hitting .320 on the season.

Rookie Joey Bart went 1-for-3 with a walk, as he drove in his first career run, as he walked with the bases loaded to score Yastrzemski from third base. Yastrzemski doubled down the left field and then went to third on a Flores single.

Bart doubled for the second evening in a row, as he smashed a double off the right field wall that sent Hunter Pence to third. Pence walked to lead off the bottom of the second inning against Ray.

Things begin did not well for the Giants, as they left five runners in the first two innings; however, for the remainder of the game after those first two innings, the Giants left four.

Tony Watson came on to replace Webb in the top of the eighth inning and gave up a base hit and struck out one.

Tyler Rogers came on to finish the game in the top of the ninth inning, as he allowed a single to Christian Walker, his fourth hit in four at-bats for the Diamondbacks; however, Rogers settled down to get Peralta, Escobar and former Giants catcher Stephen Vogt to fly out to Yastrzemski in right field to end the game.

The Diamondbacks scored their only runs of the game in the top of the fourth inning, as David Peralta doubled to right field to score Walker and then Eduardo Escobar singled to center field to score Peralta.

UP NEXT: Tyler Anderson will take the mound for the Giants on Saturday evening, as they for their fourth win in a row after a five-game losing streak. Zac Gallen heads to the mound for the Diamondbacks, as he looks for his first win of the season.

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Fox NFL cuts ties with Brennaman over homophobic slurs; A look back at former Blue Jay Kevin Pillar’s gay slurs

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Former Fox NFL play by play announcer Thom Brennaman is serving a suspension with Fox Sports Ohio and the Reds broadcast network for homophobic slurs he’s apologized for. This is a photo of Brennaman during happier times (  Cincinnati Enquirer file photo)

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq:

#1 Thom Brennaman who had pretty solid job security with work at Fox doing baseball and football and his play by play work with the Cincinnati Reds has seen decades of broadcast work cave after making a homophobic slur during the Reds at Royals game in Kansas City on Wednesday. Brennaman after being suspended by the Reds and Fox baseball was let go from doing Fox football on Thursday.

#2 In another story Boston Red Sox outfielder Kevin Pillar had used the same word that Brennaman used when Pillar played for the Toronto Blue Jays on May 17 2017 on Atlanta Braves pitcher Jason Motte but like Brennaman immediately apologized for it. Pillar was suspended for two games and returned to play and the incident was quickly forgiven will Brennaman be in different situation than Pillar as he’s already been fired by Fox football broadcasts and it looks as if he will never call a game again for Fox Sports Ohio or for the Reds?

#3 Lastly on this Brennaman said he was deeply sorry for what he said on the telecast but has received criticism for what some say is insincere apology because he apologized to those who write his check out first and never mentioned the LGBTQ community.

#4 London turning to the NBA Playoffs, talk about how you see the match up between the Portland Trailblazers and the Los Angeles Lakers how surprising was it for you to see how the Trailblazers took that first game of this first round from the Lakers on Tuesday night 100-93 and in game two the Blazers just couldn’t shut down the Lakers and LeBron’s game as the Lakers win game 111-88 what was the difference these two contests in stopping the Lakers in game one and just getting beat offensively on Thursday night?

#5 Toronto Raptors team president Masai Ujiri who was pushed after the clinching game of the NBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco by San Francisco Sheriff’s Deputy Alan Strickland on June 13, 2019. Ujiri said he was pushed twice by Strickland because he was black and Strickland was denying him access to the Raptors’ on floor celebration after beating the Golden State Warriors. Ujiri said for no other reason he was pushed twice and told to “get the F— back ” by Strickland. At the time of the incident the Sheriff’s department said Ujiri did not display proper credentials and was being denied access to the floor. Strickland filed a lawsuit against Ujiri, the Raptors, and Maple Leafs Entertainment saying Ujiri shoved him and caused permanent injuries. Video taken from the incident is being argued by Ujiri’s attorneys that Strickland didn’t suffer any swelling and bruising as he claimed on the night of the incident at the hospital. Ujiri has filed a counter suit against Strickland and the Sheriff’s Department for assault.

Catch London on Headline Sports each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com