Category: Oakland Athletics

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2024: The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum–(Part V) – Rickey’s 939

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Rickey Henderson of the Oakland A’s hoists his 939th career stolen base for the Oakland Coliseum crowd to see. Rickey is the subject of That’s Amaury News and Commentary. (photo from ebay)

2024: The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum (Part V) – Rickey’s 939 —

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Since 2024 is the last year that the A’s will play at the Coliseum, I have highlighted the great moments that took place there in this series of articles. Over the decades, I have given my opinion on who is the best player ever to have worn an Oakland Athletics jersey, and I have spoken about it and written about it in two languages.

That guy is Rickey Henderson. On May 1, 1991, during a warm and muggy afternoon at the Coliseum, Rickey made history as he broke Lou Brock’s 938 stolen base record. The A’s were facing the New York Yankees. Rickey tried to steal second base in the first inning, but Yankee catcher Matt Nokes made a perfect throw, and Rickey was out.

In the fourth, Henderson made another try. It was a different outcome. He reached base on an error and took second on a Dave Henderson single. Rickey took off, and he had stolen third base, no doubt about it, with his typical head-first slide. That was his 939 stolen base, breaking Lou Brock’s record.

Rickey stood up and lifted the base over his head, and seconds later, he said, “I am the greatest of all time”. A’s equipment manager, Frank Ciensczyk, brought out a replacement base. Rickey and his mother, Bobbie and Lou Brock all join the recently crowned stolen base king on the field around third base. They all share hugs with Rickey.

Then Rickey talked to the crowd (36,139). “It took a long time, huh?” and finished by saying, “Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today I am the greatest of all time.” The first thing that surprised me was that Rickey has shown no humility. It sounded like what the great Muhamad Ali (in Boxing) used to say: that he was the greatest of all time. However, Rickey was saying a statement of fact; it just happened.

He just became the King of Steal; Rickey also personally thanked Lou Brock, who has been in the Bay Area for a while, following Rickey Henderson each at-bat, when he got on base, and especially when he went for a steal. Lou Brock was a class act; he passed in 2020. He was patient while waiting for baseball history to be made, and he witnessed Rickey Henderson’s outstanding achievement.

I covered that game and will remember it forever. Rickey Henderson went on to play for another 12 years, with various teams amassing 467 more steals. Today, Rickey Henderson remains the undisputed King of Steal in the history of Major League Baseball, with 1,406 stolen bags.

Note: Today, the active player with the most stolen bases is Starling Marte on the New York Mets, who in his 13-year career has 350 steals. Marte, born in the Dominican Republic, is 25 years old. Quote: “I’d walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball. -Rickey Henderson..

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Royals hit three home runs in 3-2 win over A’s to salvage game in series

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Kansas City Royals Bobby Witt Jr connected for a go ahead home run in the top of the eighth inning as the run stood up and helped the Royals avoid being swept by the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu June, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland, California

Kansas City Royals 3 (42-34)

Oakland Athletics 2 (28-49)

Win: James McArthur (3-4)

Loss: Vinny Nittoli (0-1)

Save: Chris Stratton (4)

Time: 2:23

Attendance: 8,753

By Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND–The A’s were unable to get the sweep, as the Royals hit three home runs, two by Freddy Fermin, and beat Oakland 3-2 to take the series.

It hasn’t been the best of times for the A’s. After a six-game winning streak got Oakland back to .500 on May 4, following a 20-4 blowout of the Miami Marlins, they went on to go 9-31 in their next 40 games. They then hit rock bottom with a nine-game losing streak that was snapped Tuesday night with a 7-5 win over the Royals.

The A’s won again last night 5-1 to win back-to-back games for the first time since their six-game winning streak. Thursday, they looked to make it three in a row with Mitch Spence on the mound on this cool and beautiful partly cloudy afternoon at the Coliseum. 

Spence pitched a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, and the A’s came to bat in the bottom of the first against the Royals’ veteran right-hander, Seth Lugo. JJ Bleday drew a one-out walk, but Lugo got Miguel Andujar to ground to short for a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Freddy Fermin hit a home run to left field with one out in the top of the second to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead. MJ Melendez followed Fermin’s home run with a double to left, and Dairon Blanco reached on an infield hit that hit off the glove of spence and died out in the middle in the middle of the infield.

The Royals were looking to add on, as they had runners at first and second base with one out for Garrett Hampson. Spence was then able to settle down, as Hampson popped out to second on an infield fly, and Kyle Isbel struck out swinging to end the inning.

The A’s went down 1-2-3 in the top of the second, as did the Royals in the top of the third. Zack Gelof lined a base-hit out to left-center for Oakland’s first hit of the game to lead off the bottom of the third, but Kyle McCann immediately followed that up by grounding into a double play. Aledmys Diaz singled with two outs, but he would be left at first.

The game was going along quite quickly, as it took just 35 minutes to get through the first three innings

Fermin hooked a ball down the left field line for his second home run of the game with one out in the top of the fourth to make it 2-0 Royals. Just like in the top of the second, Melendez followed up Fermin’s home run with a double, but like the top of the second, Spence escaped further damage.

Andujar singled with one out in the bottom of the fourth, but Brent Rooker grounded into Oakland’s third double play of the afternoon to end the inning. Spence and Lugo both pitched 1-2-3 innings in the fifth, and even though the game had slowed down a bit, both pitchers were on in what was a pitcher’s duel.

Spence retired the first two men he faced in the top of the sixth, but Fermin singled the other way to right for his third hit of the game, and Melendez worked a 12-pitch plate appearance into a walk. At that point, Mark Kotsay got his bullpen going, but Spence struck Blanco out looking on a cutter just off the outside to end the inning and his day.

Spence was solid this afternoon, and though the 12-pitch walk may have taken him out of this game earlier than he would have liked, he still gave the A’s everything he needed. Spence did give up six hits, but he limited the Royals to two runs over six innings, while striking out seven.

“I’m starting to get confidence in the rotation,” said Spence. “[I’m] just trying to do the best I can. If the A’s see me in the rotation, then I’ll be in the rotation.”

Max Schuemann singled off Lugo with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, and Bleday walked, and the A’s had a two-out rally going. However, Andujar flew out to left to end the inning.

The new pitcher for Oakland in the top of the seventh with Vinny Nittoli, and he struck out the first two men he faced en route to a 1-2-3 inning. Lugo also struck out the first two men he faced in the bottom of the seventh, but he wouldn’t be so lucky with two outs. 

Lawrence Butler doubled, and Zack Gelof tied the game with a home run to center. The A’s were now looking to do even more. Kyle McCann drew a walk, and Kotsay had Abraham Toro pinch-hit for Aledmys Diaz. Royals Manager Matt Quataro then brought in James McArthur.

Toro ripped a double down the right field line. Right-fielder Dairon Blanco picked it up in the corner and got it in to the second-baseman, Adam Frazier. A’s Third-Base Coach Eric Martins surprisingly waved in McCann, who was thrown out by a mile at the plate by Frazier’s relay.

It was a brand-new game at 2-2 going to the eighth, as Nittoli came out for another inning. However, Bobby Witt Jr. immediately greeted Nittoli with an absolute bomb to left to put the Royals back ahead.

Schuemann walked off McArthur to start the bottom of the eighth, but he was picked off at first base. That proved to be costly for Oakland, as they got runners to the corners with two outs, but left-hander Angel Zerpa came in and got pinch-hitter Tyler Nevin to ground out to short to end the inning.

T.J. McFarland pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the ninth, and Zerpa was back out to try and convert the four-out save in the bottom of the ninth.

Lawrence Butler reached on a bobbled ground ball by Witt at short to start the inning, and Zack Gelof was called out on a slider right at the knees by Home Plate Umpire D.J. Reyburn for the first out. Kotsay then brought up Shea Langiliers to pinch-hit for catcher Kyle McCann, and even though Gelof was the one called out, McCann had some words for Reyburn from the dugout and was promptly ejected.

“The zone was good; DJ was doing a good job all day,” said Kotsay. “It’s just the emotion of the game.”

Langeliers singled Butler over to second, and that prompted Quatato to bring in Chris Stratton. The A’s were in perfect position, as they had runners at first and second—the tying run at second, and the winning run at first—with one out. However, Stratton got pinch-hitter Daz Cameron and Max Schuemann to both fly out, and the Royals held on to win 3-2. 

James McArthur got the win; Vinny Nittoli took the loss; and Chris Stratton picked up his fourth save of the year.

The A’s fall to 28-49, and they will welcome the Minnesota Twins to the Coliseum for three starting Friday night. Joey Ested (2-2, 5.97 ERA) will make the start for Oakland in the series opener Friday night, and he will be opposed by Chris Paddock (5-3, 5.25 ERA). First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s just miss sweeping Royals; Oakland opens three game series with Twins Friday

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Kansas City Royals Freddy Fermin slugs a top of the fourth inning home run one of his two home runs against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Jun 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 The Kansas City Royals (42-34) jumped to a 2-0 lead in Thursday afternoon’s game at the Oakland Coliseum scoring a run in the top of the second and another in the top of the fourth and got Freddy Fermin hit two home runs in each of those innings.

#2 The Royals Bobby Witt Jr hit the go ahead home run in the top of the eighth a solo shot that broke the tie.

#3 The Oakland A’s (28-49) mustered two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning which tied the game Zack Gelof’s home run contributed to the two run seventh but the A’s fell a run short.

#4 Gelof has now hit a home run in three straight games Thursday’s home run was a two run blast.

#5 The A’s will open up a three game series against the Minnesota Twins on Friday night. Starting pitcher for the Twins RHP Chris Paddock (5-3, ERA 2.25) for the A’s RHP Joey Estes (2-2, ERA 5.97) first pitch 6:40pm PT at the Coliseum. The last time the two teams met earlier this month the Twins swept the A’s in four straight games.

Jerry Feitelberg does the A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Medina picks up first victory after 11 months of waiting A’s defeat Royals 5-1 at Coliseum

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Luis Media Oakland A’s starter delivers to the Kansas City Royals in the top of the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Jun 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

Kansas City (41-34). 000 010 000. 1. 8. 1

Athletics (28-48). 002 000 21x. 5. 8. 0

Time: 2:35

Attendance: 4,557

Wednesday, June 19

Oakland, CA

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The temperature cooled off for this Wednesday evening’s game between the Kansas City Royals and the barn storming Athletics, but the green and gold didn’t. They defeated KC for the second time in a row, this time by four runs, 5-1.

Luis Medina, the Athletics’ starting pitcher, came to the organization at the 2022 trading deadline, when he, along with Cooper Bowman, JP Sears, and Ken Waldichuk in exchange for Frankie Montás and Lou Trivino.

He made it to the majors last year, when he went 3-10, 5.42. He’s had his troubles this season. He was on the injured list until June 2 and had gone 0-2, 5.87 before his 6:42 game opening pitch. His first start after rejoining the team had been his best; he hurled 5-2/3 frames of two hit ball, allowing one run, which was unearned, in a no-decision against the Braves in Atlanta.

Wednesday night’s win was first career appearance against the Royals and left him with a season record of 1-2, 4.71. He lasted 5-2/3 innings, leaving after throwing 88 pitches, 54 for strikes, with a 2-1 lead and a runner on first. He’d allowed six hits and two walks, and the run he was charged with was earned. He struck out three Royals.

Medina was followed by TJ McFarland, who closed out the sixth, Dany Jímenez took care of the Royals, allowing a single before an around the horn double play closed the books on KC for the inning. Austin Adams yielded a double, and that was it for them in the eighth. Mason Miller earned his eighth save and second in two days. Tonight he gave up a walk while striking out two and inducing an infield popup.

The starting pitcher for Kansas City, southpaw Cole Ragans, has had a checkered career. He’s undergone two Tommy John surgeries and lost the 2020 season to the COVID pandemic. He came to the Royals a little less than a year ago in the trade that sent Aroldis Chapman to the Texas Rangers. Ragans went a combined 7-5, 3.47 last year and was the AL Pitcher of the Month in August.

This season, he was 4-4, 3.14 when he toed the rubber in the bottom of the first. When he left the field for the clubhouse showers after six innings, the 26 year old had yielded a pair of runs, both of them earned, on four hits, four walks, and two wild pitches. His total pitch count was 102, 65 of which met the scoring definition of a strike, i.e. they were called strikes by the umpire, the batter swung on them and missed, or there was contact with the bat. With the loss, his record dimmed to 4-5, 3.13.

John Schrieber, Dan Altavilla, and Chris Stratten also pitched for the visitors.

The Athletics took advantage of Ragans’ wildness in the bottom of the third to go ahead, 2-0. Max Scheumann led off with a four pitch walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. JJ Bleday filled the void at first by drawing another walk.

Then Miguel Andújar delayed his swing to send an opposite field single to right that drove in Schuemann and sent Bleday to third. Brent Rooker’s single to left brought in Bleday with the second tally. Andújar further burnished his credentials by throwing Salvador Pérez at second when the KC catcher tried to stretch his lead off single to left. It was an excellent night for Andújar, who went three for five, boosting his batting average to .330.

Wildness cost Medina as well. He walked Nelson Velásquez to begin the visitors’ fifth. A wild pitch to Kyle Isbel, the next batter, gave Velásquez second base as a gift, and he scored on Bobby Witt, Jr.’s down the line double to left. Witt got halfway to the plate on another wild pitch, but Medina got Vinny Pasquantino to fly out to center, allowing the A’s to escape the episode still leading, but now by a thread, 2-1.

The green and gold tacked on. another two runs with Schreiber on the mound in the seventh. He walked Schuemann with one down. Bleday forced him at second but beat the throw to first. Kansas City claimed that Schuemann had committed a baseline violation, but the review crew in New York disagreed. Back to back singles by Andújar and Nevuins brought them home.

It looked as though Zack Gelof hadn’t completely broken out of his slump when he faced Altavilla in the bottom of the eighth. The A’s second sacker had whiffed twice and grounded out in three at bats, he took a 2-1 offering 434 feet deep to center for his second home run in two days and seventh for the season, making it a 5-2 lead for the A’s and ending Altavilla’s night.

Who’d have thought it? The A’s will go for the sweep Thursday, at 12:37 sending Mitch Spence (4-3, 3.95) against Seth Lugo (10-2, 2.40).

Geloff’s three run homer crucial as A’s end 9 game skid against Royals 7-5 at Coliseum

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s Zack Geloff connects for a three run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at the Oakland Coliseum on Tue Jun 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

Kansas City (41-23). 020 010 020. 5. 7. 2

Athletics (27-48). 202 300 00x 7 11. 1

Time: 2:16

Attendance: 7,013

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–Before the game began on this warm and breezy Tuesday evening, the Coliseum observed a moment of silence to reflect on the death this afternoon at the age of 93 of baseball inmortal Willie Mays.

The barnstorming Athletics had returned to their temporary base camp in Oakland after a disastrous tour of San Diego and Minneapolis-St. Paul in which they extended their two game losing streak to a season high nine, just in time to put a halt that free fall, defeating the Kansas City Royals, 7-5, in a game that almost slipped away from them at the end.

The Athletics had engaged in a flurry of transactions earlier in the day. They recalled outfielder Lawrence Butler, who started tonight’s contest in right field, batting eighth, from Las Vegas. He went one for three, with a double and a run scored. They also promoted Tyler Nevin from the Aviators. He, too, was in today’s lineup, playing third and batting in the seventh position. He, too, went one for three with a two bagger. Those additions had their counterpoint in JD Davis’s designation for assignment and outright release of the perennial prospect Seth Brown.

Southpaw Hogan Harris (0-0 2.49 at game time) had gone five innings in his most recent start, six days earlier in Petco Park, where he left with a no decision after allowing three runs, only one of which was earned, in a 5-4 loss to the Padres. He lasted five innings and gave up three runs, two of them unearned, again this evening. He allowed four hits, one for the distance, and two free passes. 62 or his 100 pitches were considered strikes. Harris got the win, his first of the year, and now is 1-0. 2.37. Vinny Nittalli replaced him to start the sixth and set the side down in order before yielding to Austin Adams for the seventh, who benefited from The Curse of the Leadoff Double, stranding pinch hitter Adam Frazier on second by retiring his next three batters in order. Lucas Erceg, who returned from the IL last Wednesday, took over in the eighth. He was less successful, getting touched for two runs in two thirds an inning. Scott Alexander and Mason Millere kept the Royals at bay for the rest of the game.

Kansas City sent Alec Marsh, their second round choice in the 2019 draft, to the mound. His first big league appearance was last June 30, and he finished that season at 3-9,5.69. He had a decent 5-3, 3.63 record this year when he threw the first of his 76 pitches. He left, trailing 7-2. All seven runs were earned; they came on seven hits, one of them a home run, and two walks. He logged four strikeouts.He was the losing pitcher; his won-lost record fell to 5-4 while his ERA ballooned to 4.37.

The A’s jumped out ahead in their half of the opening frame. JJ Bleday followed Max Schuemann’s leadoff walk with a double to center that drove the Athletics’ shortstop home. Miguel Andújar’s fly to right allowed Bleday to advance to third, whence he scored on Brent Rooker’s sacrifice fly to left.

Schuemann, whose base on balls had opened the gates for the A’s two tallies, opened them for KC’s two tying runs in the top of the second. He let a two out grounder by Freddy Fermín past him for an error. On the next pitch, Nick Lofton took a 92mph four seamer 394 feet deep that just got past Bleday’s glove and into the alley behind the NBC Sports California sign in center to tie the score at two. They went ahead in their next turn at bat. Zacl Gelof led off with a single to left, stole second, and moved on to third on Schuemann’s infield single. Bleday then banged his second consecutive two bagger, this one too rith, plating Gelof and advancing Schuemann to third. He came home on Andújar’s single to the left side of the infield. Marsh proceeded to fan the next three Athletics he faced. Bobby Witt, Jr. made nice plays on the two infield hits, but who ever said baseball was fair?

There was nothing tainted in the three runs the Athletics scored in the fourth and what drove Marsh to the showers. KC’s starter walked Nevin. Butler smacked a double to left center that put two runners in scoring position. Gelof, who seems to be emerging from his slump, then deposited a three run four bagger into the second level seats in left field for his sixth home run of the year. That’s when Sam Long relieved Marsh and, in spite of a single by Andújar and a double by Rooker, ended the inning without further scoring.

Dan Altavilla worked a scoreless bottom of the fifth, in which Nevin celebrated his return to the show with a double to right.

The Royals managed a pair of runs off Erceg in the top of the eighth, loading the bases on singles by Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Pérez and a walk to pinch hitter MJ Meléndez followed by an RBI groundout by Fermín and another by Lofton. That brought in Scott Alexander to put out the fire.

After Alexander put the Royals down 1,2,3 in the top of the ninth, it was Miller time. Mason Miller, who had blown a save in his last appearance, earned his 13th save with a perfect frame.

We’ll see Wednesday, if the A’s have mended their ways or if this was just a momentary halt in their collapse. Luis Medina (0-2,5.87) is scheduled to throw the first pitch at 6:40. The Royals’ Cole Ragans (4-4, 3.14) will take the mound for Kansas City.

Oakland A’s podcast with Augie Mesenburg: A’s injury updates; Oakland opens up series with Royals Tuesday

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s outfielder Esteury Ruiz who hit a home run on Wed Apr 17, 2024 against the St Louis Cardinals remains out with a left wrist sprain (AP file photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Augie:

#1 Augie The A’s added LHP Brady Basso as a 27th man during Sunday’s doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Basso is a number 18 MLB pipeline. Basso had started in 11 minor league games and has an 5.01 ERA with 54 strikeouts and 13 walks.

#2 Ross Stripling who has a right elbow flexor strain. Stripling whose on a throwing program will work on throwing for more distance and will not be ready until he can throw off the mound.

#3 A’s pitcher Kyle Mueller who has left shoulder tendinitis started his throwing program since Jun 6th. Mueller’s next step is to throw off the mound and there is no sure time when that is supposed to take place. Mueller preformed well in relief had an 3.48 ERA in 13 games.

#4 The A’s are really missing Esteury Ruiz in the line up. Ruiz as you may recall led the American League in stolen bases last season. This season it seems like Ruiz who got sent down at the beginning of the season and then was brought back up has been suffering from a left wrist strain. Ruiz’ return to the line up is still no known.

#5 The A’s open a three game series with the Kansas City Royals starting Tuesday night at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s are on a nine game losing streak and recently were swept in a four game series against the Minnesota Twins. The Royals are second in the AL Central and have lost six of their last ten games. How do you see these two teams matching up for this series?

Augie Mesenburg is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com and is a reporter for 1080 KWAI Honolulu

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: JD Davis designated for assignment; Soderstrom has got his swing going

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s third baseman JD Davis (5) was given re-assignment and outfielder Lawrence Butler was called up from triple A Las Vegas on Mon Jun 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, the Oakland A’s are coming off a four game swept by the Minnesota Twins. Which included a doubleheader on Sunday which they got close in the second game of the doubleheader losing by a run 8-7.

#2 The A’s doubleheader sweep in Minneapolis handed the A’s their ninth straight loss and you knew changes would be eminent as the A’s announced on Monday they have designated third baseman JD Davis for assignment. The A’s have recalled Lawrence Butler from Triple A Sacramento.

#3 Davis journey to Oakland started when he won an arbitration case against the San Francisco Giants for $6.9 million. Under baseball rules arbitration isn’t fully guaranteed until opening day or unless Davis and the Giants had agreed to terms. The Giants had elected to release Davis and paid him $1.1 million upon his release while they had signed third baseman Matt Chapman.

#4 A’s first baseman Tyler Soderstrom who has been seeing the ball well has hit five solo home runs and is making good contact. Soderstrom is hitting .250, 21 hits and five home runs.

#5 Amaury talk about the series coming up as the A’s host the Kansas City Royals. Despite the Royals having lost six of their last ten games they’re a team to be on guard for they have it good on both hitting and pitching. Starting pitcher for the Royals RHP Alex March (5-3, ERA 3.63) for the A’s LHP Hogan Harris (0-0, ERA 2.49) first pitch 6:40pm PT.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Get Swept By the Minnesota Twins 8-7 In An Offensive Marathon

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s third base coach Eric Martins (3) congratulates JJ Bleday (33) for his top of the third inning solo home run in the second game of the doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sun Jun 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (26-48) fought back in game four of their series with the Minnesota Twins (40-32) tying this game up three times. They hit a couple of home runs and finished the game with 11 hits. Tyler Soderstrom has shown up beautifully.

He has hit four home runs in a seven-game span. He shares that milestone with some heavy hitters the likes of Jose Canseco, Reggie Jackson, Jimmie Fox and Mickey Cochrane. This is the A’s ninth loss in a row the longest this season coming up short in this one 8-7 another one-run loss.

Sunday evening the A’s played the second game of their double header with the Twins and couldn’t avoid the sweep getting edged by one run. Oakland had a loss in the first game 6-2 of the doubleheader and the A’s ended up dropping all four games. The A’s are on a nine game losing streak and return back to the Coliseum on Tuesday night.

Game recap: Joey Estes took the mound for game four with a 5.97 ERA. The Twins Chris Paddack was on the hill for Minnesota. Neither pitcher lasted long in a marathon of hits for both teams in the early innings. Estes went 2.2 innings allowing eight hits, six earned runs and only two strikeouts. Paddack went 2.1 innings allowing five hits, five earned runs and no strikeouts. Not a great outing for either pitcher.

Royce Lewis got this game going hitting the first home run of the game, a two-run shot in the first inning to take the early 2-0 lead. The second inning was a wild affair with each team scoring three runs.

In the top of the second, Seth Brown doubled reaching third on two errors by the Twins that allowed Daz Cameron and Tyler Soderstrom to score. Zack Gelof came to the plate and he also hit a double and Seth Brown scored giving the A’s a 3-2 lead. That lead was short-lived when Trevor Larnach hit a three run home run taking back the lead 5-3.

The A’s apparently wanted in on the action hitting two home runs in the third inning. JJ Bleday and Tyler Soderstrom both hit solo home runs to tie up this game at five apiece. Minnesota took back the lead in the bottom of the third off an Austin Martin double and Carlos Santana scored for a 6-5 Twins lead. Both teams were enjoying a great offensive effort.

Minnesota would tack on another run in the 6th inning. Carlos Correa who was having an incredible series singled Royce Lewis home extending their lead to 7-5. Again Oakland would have to play catchup. The A’s made up those two runs tying the game back up at seven in the seventh inning. Tyler Soderstrom singled JJ Bleday home and Shea Langeliers singled Miguel Andujar home and it was a whole new ball game.

In the bottom of the eighth once again the tie was broken when the Twins Jose Miranda homered for Minnesota’s third home run of the game. The Twins had taken back the lead in this see-saw game. Through eight innings the Twins had 14 hits and the A’s had 11. There had been three ties in this game in a most productive offensive effort for both teams. The A’s could not muster any offense in the ninth inning and lost their ninth game in a row 8-7.

The hitting that we saw from Oakland was encouraging with the 11 hits but the team has lost so many one run games in the late innings lately. Having to come from behind so often is discouraging for this team. Oakland has now figured out a way to get back into games and now they need to close out those games.

Oakland will have the day off . They begin a three-game series Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals at the Coliseum. Probable pitchers will be Hogan Harris for the A’s with a record of 0-0, 2.49 ERA and Alec March for the Royals with a record of 5-3, 3.63 ERA. First pitch for the Tuesday matchup is scheduled for 6:40 PM.

A’s-Twins rained out; playing two on Sunday

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Minnesota Twins Target Field in Minneapolis was inudated with rain forcing the cancelation of the Oakland A’s-Twins Sat Jun 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Saturday, June 15, 2024

MINNEAPOLIS – Though Saturday morning’s rain had let up by the scheduled start time of 1:10 p.m., more showers were on the way, and the AL game between the Oakland Athletics and Minnesota Twins was postponed.

The game has been rescheduled as part of a day-night split admission doubleheader for Father’s Day on Sunday at Target Field. The first game will start at 1:10 p.m. (11 a.m. Pacific) and the second game is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. (4:40 p.m. Pacific).

Though it was not raining when the decision to call the game was made at 1:45 p.m., rain resumed falling by 2 p.m., as the National Weather Service reported at radar indicated a storm was approaching the Twin Cities.

For the re-scheduled double-header, the Athletics are expected to start right-hander Joey Estes (2-2,4.78) in the first game, and left-hander JP Sears (4-5, 5.02) in the second game. Then Twins are expected to go with a pair of right-handers – Bailey Ober (5-4, 5.13) and Chris Paddack (5-3, 4.79).

After Saturday’s storm system rolled through the Twin Cities on Saturday, an extreme heat advisory is issued for Sunday, A daytime high of 92 degrees is in the forecast, with a heat index of 100.

The Athletics are looking to snap a seven-game losing streak – 10 of their last 12 and 13 of their last 16. Oakland dropped a heartbreaker on Friday, losing 6-5 in 10 innings to the Twins. The A’s have been walked off in three of their last four games.

Oakland has two positive notes from Friday – Shea Longeliers hit the A’s first grand slam of the season, and leads MLB catchers with 13 home runs. Closer Mason Miller is tied for 10th in saves with 12, tops for MLB rookies. Miller’s 12 saves is fourth-best by an Oakland reliever.

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s have escape clause out of Las Vegas

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Rending of the Armadillo ball park the Oakland A’s plan to build at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino expected to be finished by 2028 at Tropicana and Las Vegas Blvd on the strip. (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 The Oakland A’s have an escape clause out of their 30 year deal at the Tropicana if the A’s were to be taxed. The idea of not taxing the A’s is to keep them in Las Vegas for the 30 years commitment.

#2 The Clause is that if the A’s are taxed different than any other business the will have an out. For example if you go to a show in Vegas your taxed 9% but if you go to a sporting event there is no sales tax on the ticket.

#3 You might recall last year during the Nevada State Legislation A’s team president David Kaval was asked if the A’s were willing to pay the tax. Kaval did not give a yes or no answer but said he and the A’s do not contemplate getting taxed. If A’s players or opposing players are taxed the A’s can exercise the right to move from Las Vegas.

#4 During last year’s presentation to the State Legislature Steven Hill who was one of the key sportspersons to sell the idea of moving the A’s to Vegas said that the projected annual profit the A’s will bring in the neighborhood of $1.3 billion. Most economists have said that is optimistic over reach.

#5 Lastly it should be noted that the Bay Area will be hosting World Cup and the Super Bowl in 2026. What does that say in the face of it for a market this size the sixth largest as the A’s walk away from the Bay Area after this season and will play three years in the 35th TV market in Sacramento and move to Las Vegas in 2028 the 40th sized market.

Daniel Dullum does the Oakland A’s Relocation podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com