Category: MLB

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Padres Arraez placed on 7 day concussion IL; Braves Strider hurt again out on 15 day IL; plus more MLB news

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San Diego Padres Luis Arraez is laid out after colliding with Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubon (left) as Padres first base coach David Macias (46) and the Houston Astros trainer checks on Arraez in the top of the first inning at Daikin Park in Houston on Mon Apr 21, 2025 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1  The San Diego Padres have placed Luis Arraez on the seven day concussion injured list on Monday. Arraez got into a scary collision with Houston Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubon at first base. Arraez was laid out and had to be carted off the field and taken to the hospital but came back to the ballpark after the Padres 3-2 win. Talk about taking one for the team.

#2 If it’s one thing it’s another for the Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider. Strider was who returned from elbow surgery and had not been in a game since April 5, 2024. Strider in his last game pitched five innings in a 3-1 loss giving up two runs on April 16th. Strider on Monday strained his right hamstring while playing catch on Monday and is now on the 15 day injured list.

#3  Cleveland Guardians pitcher Triston McKenzie has been designated for assignment on Monday. McKenzie had been suffering from arm injuries had made 30 starts in 2022 when he went 11-11 with a 2.96 ERA. McKenzie had a 11.12 ERA in four appearances this season. McKenzie a right hander since April 16 when allowed four runs against the Baltimore Orioles.

#4 After playing in 32 minor league games the Sacramento Athletics have called up first baseman Nick Kurtz. Kurtz the A’s No. 4 overall pick in last season’s draft will be activated on Wednesday. The A’s will face the Texas Rangers left hander Patrick Corbin on Tuesday and would like to see Kurtz get some at at bats to see if he add some punch to the line up.

#5  San Francisco Giants infielder Casey Schmitt is on the 30 day IL suffering from a grade 2 left oblique strain. Schmitt who underwent an MRI Monday was diagnosed by Dr. Ken Akizuki and the Giants orthopedist has scheduled Schmitt for evaluation for this weekend. Schmitt was hitting in the batting cage last weekend in Anaheim when he got injured putting him on the ten day IL.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

Giants score a run in each of last four innings to beat Brewers 5-2

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Monday, April 21

Oracle Park San Francisco

By Lewis Rubman

Milwaukee 12-11) 020 000 000 2 6 1

San Francisco (15-8) 010 011 11x 5 8 0

Time: 2:30

Attendance: 31,758

Although your San Francisco Giants started off on their recently completed grueling ten day tour of New York, Philadelphia, and beautiful downtown Anaheim like a house on fire, they cooled down when the weather got heated up in Orange County. The Giants started their homestand on Monday night with a 5-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night.

Sunday’s game, which began with Jason Verlander’s first satisfying start and ended with Ryan Walker’s sudden loss of control (with a little help from Lázaro Díaz behind the plate) to peter out with a 5-5 record for their paschal peregrination, this chilly Monday evening, in the first of a three game series against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Giants chose as their starter their current ace, Robbie Ray, who has a tendency to get into trouble early but right himself before the damage is irreparable.

Ray ran true to form, coughing up a couple of runs to fall behind, 2-0, but allowing the visitors only a single additional tally for the remainder of his five innings on the mound, leaving with the score knotted at two.

The runs he surrendered were earned, and they came on five hits, including ninth place batter Caleb Durbin’s two inning dinger that accounted for all of Milwaukee’s scoring. Ray threw 92 pitches in his abbreviated start; 37 of them were balls.

Ray struck out four and lowered his ERA from 4.19 to 4.07. Hayden Birdsong, originally a starter, but blossoming as a middle reliever, got the win, holding the brew crew to one hit and two walks in three frames. He, too, threw a lot of pitches, 49 (19 balls) while retiring four opponents on strikes.

He now owns a record of 1-0, 1.38). Wrapping up the victory and earning his third save on the season was Camilo Doval, trying to redeem his lost promise, and looking good, being credited with strikes on six of the seven pitches he threw in a hitless ninth.

Ray’s opposite number, the Brewers’ newly acquired Quinn Priester, Pittsburgh’s first round draft choice in 2019 and now with his third team since making his big league debut with the PIrates in 2023. From there he went to Boston in ’24 and then on to Milwaukee this March. He toed the rubber with a too good to be true mark of 1-0, 0.90 and left after four innings at a more down to earth but still outstanding 1-0, 1.93.

He, like Ray, allowed two runs, both earned. They came on four safeties and an equal number of walks. Priester was followed by a parade of five relievers over the game’s remaining four frames. They were Nick Mears, Grant Anderson, charged with the loss that dropped his numbers to 1-1,3.38.

The run came on Wilmer Flores’s 309 foot solo home run over the Hanwha Insurance sign in left center field. Jared Koenig (2/3 of an inning), Joel Payamps (1/3), and Craig Yoho (1), gave up a run apiece, except for Payams, who faced only one batter, Matt Chapman, who ended the Giants’ rally in the fifth with a fly to the warning track in dead center field.

Wilmer Flores and Tyler Fitzgerald were the only Giants to have multi-hit nights. The former hit the tie-breaking and ultimately game winning home run, and the latter managed to scratch out a pair of infield single. Matt Chapman did some nifty fielding, as did Patrick Bailey. Mike Yastrzemski, 이정후 (Jung Hoo Lee), whose seventh inning triple drove in one time Brewer Willy Adames, in the seventh, LaMonte Wade, Jr., and Bailey had one hit apiee.

The teams will go at it again Tuesday, evening at 6:45. Southpaw José Quintana (2-0, 0.71) will start against starboarder Jordan HIcks (1-2, 6.04)

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips: Giants Walker not too shaken up after Angels 4 run pile on; SF now just 2 games back of Padres in NL West

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Los Angeles Angels Jo Adelle second from right celebrates his winning double that beat the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the ninth inning at Angels Stadium in Anaheim on Sun Apr 20, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Morris taking a look at Sunday’s tough loss in Anaheim the Los Angeles Angels Jo Adelle hit a three RBI double that in four run ninth inning that beat the San Francisco Giants 5-4 for a walk off hit at Angels Stadium.

#2 San Francisco closer Ryan Walker was trying to shut the door but was credited with a blown save that saw the four run ninth ending with the one run loss. It was just a tough way to end the game for the reliever with just one pitch.

#3 After losing a tough note like that and losing two out of three to the Angels do you see other clubs picking up on some of the Giants weak spots or the Angels for example just got a lucky break getting a walk off double like that?

#4 The Giants concluded their road trip with the Angels that saw them going 6-4. The Giants are now just two games back of the first place San Diego Padres in the NL West playing the next 11 of 13 games at Oracle Park gives the Giants a shot at moving into first place. For Monday night the Brewers are starting RHP Quinn Priester (1-0 ERA 0.90) the Giants going with LHP Robbie Ray (3-0 ERA 4.19). On Tuesday night the Brewers will be starting RHP Freddy Peralta (2-1 ERA 1.91) for the Giants RHP Logan Webb (2-1 ERA 2.40)

Morris does the San Francisco Giants podcasts at his normal time slot Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason: A’s open homestand with Rangers Tuesday; A’s hoping to improve on home record

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The Milwaukee Brewers Christian Yelich slides behind the Sacramento A’s catcher Shea Langeliers scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning at American Family Park in Milwaukee on Sun Apr 20, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:

#1 The Milwaukee Brewers (12-10) Rhys Hoskins went three for five with a home run and four RBIs. The Brewers set a franchise record with nine steals as it wasn’t even close as the Brewers won in a 14-1 laugher.

#2 The Brewers Logan Henderson struck out nine hitters in his big league debut. The Sacramento A’s (10-12) had been going well before Sunday’s game where they had won four out of their last five games and were getting around .500 but were just helpless in this loss at American Family Park.

#3 A’s starter Jefferey Springs was lit up Sunday he pitched 2.1 innings, giving up five runs and six hits, four earned runs, three strike outs and one home run.

#4 The Brewers take the three game series two out of three. The Brewers went to work early scoring four in the first, and rallied later in the game for five more runs in the seventh. A’s pitching just couldn’t hold the Brewers.

#5 The A’s went 4-2 on this last road trip and are 8-4 on the road overall. The A’s come home to open a three game series at Sutter Health Park on Tuesday. The A’s are 2-7 at home and host the Texas Rangers who are first in the AL West at 13-9 and lead second place Seattle by one game. Starting pitchers for the Rangers LHP Patrick Corbin (1-0 ERA 3.86) for the A’s Osvaldo Bido (2-1 ERA 2.61) first pitch slated for 7:05pm PDT.

Barbara Mason does the A’s podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Angels Pull Off Shocker Beating Giants In a Walk off 5-4 at the Big A

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San Francisco Giants starter Justin Verlander had a better outing on Sun Apr 20, 2025 but the relief pitching collapsed in the late innings as the Los Angeles Angels scored four runs in the ninth for a comeback win at the Big A in Anaheim (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

When it looked as if Justin Verlander would have his first win as a San Francisco Giant(14-8) it all fell apart in the ninth inning. The Los Angeles Angels (11-10) pulled off a late game rally beating San Francisco in a walk off 5-4. It was a complete shock with closer Ryan Walker stumbling from very close to the start of the inning. He walked a runner, allowed a couple of singles, hit Zach Neto driving in a run, loaded the bases twice and then the dagger double driving in three runners for the walk off. It was a complete disaster.

Game recap: This game was a pitching duel through the first four innings. Justin Verlander faced a huge challenge in the fourth inning when he loaded the bases via a Taylor Ward double followed by two walks. With two outs, Verlander went to work striking Logan O’Hoppe out and that was the inning getting out of a sticky situation and keeping Los Angeles off the scoreboard.

Hits were few and far between for both teams until the fifth inning. San Francisco was the first team up on the scoreboard taking a 1-0 lead. Willy Adames singled Heliot Ramos home as the Giants broke through for the first score of the game. The San Francisco lead was short-lived, however, when the Angels tied up the game in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run off the bat of Zach Neto.

The Giants extended their lead in the sixth inning hitting their first home run of the game, a two run homer giving San Francisco a 3-1 lead. Sam Huff knocked a long ball to center with David Villar on base. This was Huff’s first home run of the season.

Mike Trout came to the plate in the bottom of the sixth hitting a bullet that was miraculously corralled by Jung Hoo Lee in center field. Lee’s catch not only prevented a base hit but also had everything to do with keeping Verlander on the mound. Trout went on to strike out, his second strikeout of the game.

This game went into the seventh inning. With two outs the Giant’s Wilmer Flores came to the plate still in search of his first hit of the series. Flores walked and a least got on base but Luis Matos fouled out and the game went on to the bottom of the seventh inning.

After six innings Justin Verlander was relieved by Camilo Doval in the bottom of the seventh inning. Verlander had a great game allowing two hits, one earned run, two walks and six strikeouts now with a great chance to win his first game of the season.

Getting out of the fourth inning with the bases loaded and going on to pitch for two more innings had to be one of the highlights in this game along with the miracle catch we saw Jung Hoo Lee make in the sixth inning.

Neither team scored in the seventh inning. Through seven innings the Giants had seven hits, the Angels two. San Francisco’s Tyler Fitzgerald walked in the top of the eighth inning and the Giants had a base runner with no outs.

Fitzgerald advanced to second with Sam Huff walking and the Giants were threatening with two runners on base. The bottom of the batting order had set it all up for the top of the batting order with Heliot Ramos at the plate with only one out. Ramos hit into a fielder’s choice, Huff was thrown out at second and the Giants had runner’s at the corners. Willy Adames singled Fitzgerald home and the Giants had extended their lead to 4-1. The inning ended with a Jung Hoo Lee line out.

The Giants went quietly in the ninth inning and it would be up to Ryan Walker to finish off the Angels. It didn’t go quite as planned with Los Angeles putting two runners on base Mike Trout and Jorge Solar, with one out.

Logan O’Hoppe singled loading the bases and Walker was in deep trouble. Neto came to the plate looking for a second home run and the walk off. He didn’t get the home run but he got hit bringing in a run and an Angels 4-2 lead, the bases remaining loaded.

Jo Adell came to the plate and doubled driving in three runs and that was the ball game. Neto, Soler and Kevin Newman ( who ran for O’Hoppe) all scored with the third run reviewed and deemed a run. The Angels had pulled off a shocker in this 5-4 walk off.

When it was looking so good for a San Francisco win it all fell apart in the ninth inning. It looked like Verlander would clock his first win and the way he pitched he sure deserved a win in this game. It was just a horrible finish for San Francisco closer Ryan Walker.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon under sunny skies the Giants and Angels met in the rubber match of their three game series. Although the first two games of this series had been sell-outs, there was still a nice crowd on hand for game three.

This has been a tight series with the Angels taking game one Friday night 2-0 and San Francisco hanging on for a win Saturday 3-2. Sunday’s game saw a couple of very good pitchers. Giants veteran Justin Verlander who was search of his first win as a San Francisco Giant and Yusei Kikuchi is also looking for his first win of the season. Kikuchi would fare a little better thanks to the Angels making a come back in the ninth inning scoring four runs for the win.

The Giants will now head home for a four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers starting on Monday night at Oracle Park in San Francisco. It is sure to be a quiet flight home Sunday night and will thankfully be a short one. San Francisco will not have long to lament over this loss taking on the Brewers Monday night with first pitch scheduled for 6:45 PM. Robbie Ray (3-0 ERA 4.19) will take the mound for the Giants with a 3-0 win/loss ERA record. The Brewers will start Quinn Priester (1-0 ERA 0.90).

A’s Tap Out Long Before Happy Hour in Milwaukee 14-1

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Milwaukee Brewers Rhys Hoskins high fives teammates in the Brewers dugout after hitting a third inning home run against the Sacramento Athletics at American Family Park on Sun Apr 20, 2025 (AP News photo)

A’s Tap Out Long Before Happy Hour in Milwaukee

By Mauricio Segura

The Athletics’ trip to Milwaukee ended in a forgettable way Sunday, as the Brewers ran wild early and never let up in a 14-1 demolition at American Family Field.

The afternoon unraveled quickly for the green and gold. Starter Jeffrey Springs, who had entered with a 3-1 record, struggled right from the start. A mix of stolen bases, walks, errors, and even a balk saw Milwaukee race out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning alone. Springs lasted just 2.1 innings, tagged for five runs as his ERA swelled to 5.96.

The Brewers smelled blood and kept coming. Rookie Logan Henderson, making his big league debut for Milwaukee, struck out Brent Rooker for his first Major League punchout and retired the side in order in the first. Henderson kept the A’s lineup quiet into the middle innings, picking up a win he will not soon forget.

Meanwhile, the Brewers’ offense turned the game into a track meet. Brice Turang stole three bases, and Milwaukee swiped six overall, exploiting an A’s defense that looked rattled all day. Rhys Hoskins delivered a solo home run and a two-run single, Christian Yelich doubled in another run, and Sal Frelick collected three hits and two stolen bases to fuel the onslaught.

The A’s offense, by contrast, was almost entirely silent. Seth Brown broke through in the fifth with a solo homer, his first of the year, to avoid the shutout. Jacob Wilson continued to be a steady bright spot, collecting two hits to raise his batting average to .342, good for ninth in the majors.

Nothing else went right for the Athletics, who committed two more throwing errors and allowed four unearned runs. By the seventh inning, the Brewers had blown the game wide open with a seven-run frame, burying any hopes of a green and gold comeback.

Despite the ugly loss, the Athletics return home with some positives in hand. They finished their six-game road swing with a 5-2 record and improved to 8-5 away from home this season, tied for the best road winning percentage in the majors. It is a stark contrast to their struggles at home, where they are just 2-7.

Next up, the Athletics will open a six-game homestand starting Tuesday against the defending champion Texas Rangers. Osvaldo Bido, who has posted a 2.61 ERA in his first four starts, is scheduled to take the ball.

The loss drops the A’s to 10-12 overall.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Mickey Mantle Rookie Card – The One that Got Away

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photo of 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle mint condition card that sold for $12.6 million (photo by Heritage Auction HA.com)

Mickey Mantle Rookie Card – The One that Got Away

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Mickey Mantle is as iconic an American sports figure as ever. Mantle played in 20 All-Star Games, retired in March of 1969 with 536 home runs, and won seven World Series with his Yankee team. His #7 uniform was the most famous number 7 in history.

The #7 is indeed the luckiest number for him. During a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium in 1969 (the year he retired), the Yankees retired his famous #7 uniform. I lived in New York after being discharged from the US Army and attended that game alone. I never forgot that in the middle of that doubleheader, they drove Mantle in a golf cart around the outfield as he waved at fans in a sold-out stadium. I remember it as a sunny, very hot, and humid day in the middle of summer in the Bronx.

Number 7, already retired, wearing a suit, spoke, and got a long ovation from the fans. To me (always an American League fan), at a time when each league just played inside its league and only met against National League teams in insignificant Spring Training games or during the World Series in October, Mickey Mantle was the best player I ever saw.

His power as a switch-hitter is legendary to this day. Mantle could hit a ball from the right side of the plate 450 feet and later during the same game, hit one from the left side of the plate 455 feet. Both home runs. For me, he was the man.

I probably bought thousands of baseball cards. In those days, they all came with a bubble gum inside; the company was Topps. I was not old enough to ever get hold of the Mickey Mantle Rookie card. I never witnessed him playing in the 50s.

But I know and remember that everybody in the 1960s wanted to get their hands on that rookie card, his first season, 1952. In 2022, a mint-condition 1952 Mickey Mantle Topps card sold for $12.6 million at an Auction in Dallas, Texas.

I always dreamed of getting my hands on that card, for me, that was the card the One that Got Away, but I’d collected and traded many cards when I was more focused on baseball as a fan, and in New York, I thought everybody was collecting them in the late 1960s. Even though the Mets were born in New York, people have been looking for that Mantle rookie card.

Although I watched Mantle play, I was never lucky to find that famous rookie card; I kept the program from that hot, humid day at Yankee Stadium when they retired his number 7 in the middle of a doubleheader. It is not worth millions like the rookie card, but for me, it is worth a lot because I was there, and I will take that memory of that day to my grave.

2025 seems like a different world and planet, with the internet and people watching a game on their cell phones. It has been generations since baseball cards were “the hobby” for many kids and adults nationwide. As my Mamá used to tell me, these adults were “the guys that never grew up.”

Mickey Mantle was an absolute superstar, idolized by men and women alike. He was the biggest playboy in New York, much bigger than Joe Namath. I had the privilege of meeting him in person, not when he was playing but years later when he and Joe DiMaggio were broadcasting Yankee games for the Yes Network, New York, and during a Yankee series against the A’s at the Oakland Coliseum to play the Oakland Athletics, sometime in the early 1980s.

Early in 1995, doctors discovered that Mantle’s liver had been severely damaged by alcohol-induced cirrhosis and hepatitis C, and he had an inoperable liver cancer.

Quote: “If I knew I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself” -Mickey Mantle.

HABANA CUBA RESTAURANT 387 So.First Street San José Suite 109 –Tel(408) 998-2822. Say hello to Habana Cub Restaurant owner Jennifer and tell her Amaury sent you.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

Headline Sports podcast Marko Ukalovic: Yanks Williams struggling in relief role; Braves Verdugo off to a hitting start in first two games; plus more MLB news

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Atlanta Braves Alex Verdugo (8) is greeted at by Braves manager Brian Snitker (43) after scoring a third inning run against the Minnesota Twins at Truist Field in Cobb County GA on Sat Apr 19, 2025 (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast Marko:

#1 After joining the New York Yankees pitcher Devin Williams doesn’t look like the All Star thrower he was when he pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers last season. The Tampa Bay Rays Brandon Lowe’s two run single off Williams was part of a four run rally. The Rays Jon Aranda hit a two run homer in the tenth against Yoendrys Gomez for extra measure to defeat the Yankees 10-8 that snapped the New York five game win streak.

#2 The Atlanta Braves Alex Verdugo said he’s not taking credit for the Braves going 2-0 since being recalled this week. Verdugo got four hits and scored two runs on Saturday night against the Minnesota Twins for a 4-3 win. Verdugo in those two games has been the key to the Braves line up so far.

#3 Forget baseball the face of baseball two way star Shohei Ohtani and his wife Mamiko Tanaka have announced the birth of their child on Saturday. “I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy beautiful daughter,” Ohtani wrote in an Instagram post. “To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents.”

#4 Toronto Blue Jays right hand pitcher Jose Berrios was suspected Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh was tipping his pitches to the Mariners bench. When Raleigh was walking back to the dugout Berrios let Raleigh know what he thought of it. The Jays lost to the Mariners 8-4 in 12 innings on Saturday. Berrios said “people are trying to fight with us in the field, I don’t respect that. I don’t like that.”

#5 Marko, how do you explain the Sacramento A’s having baseball’s second best road record at 8-4 and a home record of 2-7. The A’s picked up their fourth win in five games on this current road trip against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. Are they having a tough time at Sutter Health Park or are the visitors just pumped and ready to win in Sacramento?

Marko Ukalovic filled for Charlie O who does Headline Sports podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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Giants Hang on To Level Series Beating Angels 3-2

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San Francisco Giants starter Landon Roupp was brining the heat against the Los Angeles Angels at the Big A in Anaheim on Sat Apr 19, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (14-7) took game two of their three game series with the Los Angeles Angels (10-10) 3-2. They had taken a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth inning.

It all changed thanks to Angel slugger Mike Trout who knocked two home runs out of the park and very nearly hit a third in the ninth inning. San Francisco stubbornly hung onto the one-run lead through the three final innings and came away with the win.

Game recap: Friday, the Angels took a 2-0 lead early in the game; Saturday it was the Giants who got the early lead in the first inning 2-0. Matt Chapman who had been quiet in game one hit a two run home run with Willy Adames on base, a great start.

The Giants built on that lead in the third inning when Willy Adames singled Mike Yastrzemski home but Adames was thrown out at second base trying to advance. Going into the fourth inning San Francisco had a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth inning Mike Trout came to the plate, always a threat. He made good on that reputation hitting a 435 ft home run to left and the Angels were on the scoreboard. Trout struck again in the sixth inning, another solo home run and Los Angeles was within one run of the Giants 2-3.

Angels starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks finished five innings allowing four hits and three earned runs, two walks and only one strikeout. He was relieved by Reid Detmers who pitched 2.2 innings allowing one hit with two strikeouts. Ryan Johnson finished off the top of the eighth inning for the Angels and would try to do more of the same in the ninth inning.

San Francisco pitcher Landen Roupp had struck out nine batters through seven innings. He had allowed the two runs with five hits and only one walk. His command was impressive. He was relieved in the bottom of the eighth inning by Tyler Rogers who would try to protect the San Francisco lead. Rogers did a great job with a three up three out inning going into the ninth.

Leading by a single run, San Francisco badly needed an insurance run or two. They only had a single hit in the top of the eighth inning off the bat of Jung Hoo Lee as the Giants were still clinging to the 3-2 lead.

The ninth inning was more of the same for San Francisco three up and three down. Heliot Ramos lined out, LaMonte Wade Jr. flied out and Wilmer Flores grounded out. The Giants were living on the edge trying to hang onto the one run lead.

Giant’s closer Ryan Johnson would face the heart of the Angel lineup in the bottom of the ninth inning; the first batter at the plate Mike Trout who without doubt had the power to deliver a hat trick.

He very nearly had a third home run that was fielded by Jung Hoo Lee for the first out. In fact Johnson thought that ball was out of the park and you could see the relief on his face when it stayed in.

Logan O’Hoppe grounded out and the Giants were one out away from leveling the series. The Giants hung on when Nola Schanuel lined out for the third out and that was the ball game. San Francisco was really tempting fate in the ninth inning but a lot of credit to the Giants who held tight and shut the door on Los Angeles.

Game notes: Friday the Giants dropped game one in their series with the Angels at Anaheim Stadium 2-0. What was even more disappointing was that the Giants lost despite an amazing performance on the mound by Logan Webb.

Webb allowed the two runs in the second inning but was flawless for five innings striking out 12 batters which included striking out Mike Trout three times. San Francisco struggled big-time at the plate and got those bats working in Saturday’s game two.

The Giants only had four hits in game one and got a lot more in Saturday’s game. Landen Roupp took the mound Saturday for San Francisco. The Angels started Kyle Hendricks. Roupp went seven innings giving up five hits and two runs. Hendricks pitched five innings four hits and three earned runs.

The rubber game will be played Sunday afternoon on a beautiful 77 degree Easter with first pitch scheduled for 1:07 PM. The Giants Justin Verlander (0-1 ERA 6.75) will give it another go on the mound Sunday now in his 20th season and looking for his first win. The Angels lefty Yusei Kikchi (0-3 ERA 4.13) will start for the Angels. The Giants have struggled against lefties this season and will try to turn that around.

Rooker and Langeliers Stir The Brew in Milwaukee; Athletics even series with 3-1 win

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Sacramento A’s starter Luis Severino (40) delivers against the Milwaukee Brewers line up in the bottom of the first inning at American Family Park in Milwaukee on Sat Apr 20, 2025 (AP News photo)

Rooker and Langeliers Stir The Brew in Milwaukee

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics may have changed addresses but their fighting spirit packed its bags right along with them. Behind clutch home runs from Brent Rooker and Shea Langeliers, the green and gold snuck by the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 Saturday night at American Family Field.

From the first pitch, it was clear that runs would be at a minimum. Both starting pitchers, Luis Severino for the A’s and Chad Patrick for the Brewers, settled in quickly.

Severino, a two-time All Star known for his fiery fastball during his Yankees days, looked sharp. His only blemish came in the third inning when Garrett Mitchell doubled and later scored on a routine groundout by Caleb Durbin to give Milwaukee an early 1-0 lead.

The A’s answered back in the fifth. JJ Bleday and rookie Jacob Wilson sparked the rally with back-to-back singles. Miguel Andujar, a former Rookie of the Year runner-up, laced a double to left field, scoring Bleday and tying the game at 1-1. Andujar, who has been quietly productive since joining the Athletics, continues to show flashes of the player who once roamed the Bronx outfield.

The game turned in the sixth inning with a single swing off of Brent Rooker’s bat. His thunderous sixth home run of the season deep to center, gave the A’s a 2-1 lead. It was a vintage Rooker swing, all muscle and impeccable timing, that left Milwaukee’s outfielders as spectators.

Severino kept mowing down Brewers hitters into the late innings. By the ninth, manager Mark Kotsay turned the ball over to Mason Miller’s triple-digit heater to seal the win. But before Miller could slam the door, Shea Langeliers gave him a little extra cushion with his fifth homer of the year, another blast to center field off reliever Joel Payamps, making it 3-1.

Miller, who touched 102 miles per hour on the radar gun, made quick work of Milwaukee’s final three batters. Brice Turang flied out harmlessly to right. Jackson Chourio, the Brewers’ highly touted rookie, struck out swinging. Christian Yelich, the former MVP, fought but ultimately went down on a foul tip to end the game.

It was a textbook road win for the Athletics: timely hitting, solid defense, strong starting pitching, and a closer who simply overpowers hitters.

For all the talk about the A’s rebuild, nights like this are a reminder that the green and gold have plenty of pieces worth watching. As the team continues to forge its new identity away from Oakland, performances like these give their fans reason to believe that better days are not just in the distant future but already unfolding.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times