Category: Oakland Athletics

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s not enough hitting in first game but got both hitting and pitching in second game

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Oakland A’s pitcher Zach Logue delivers a top of the first inning pitch to the Detroit Tigers in the front game of a doubleheader at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Jul 21, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 The A’s hosted the Detroit Tigers in the first game of the doubleheader got handled 7-2 in a game that they just couldn’t get any hitting.

#2 In that first game the Tigers Javier Baez the designated hitter had his way with A’s pitching with two runs and three hits and help provide some crucial offense.

#3 A’s pitcher Zach Logue whose had his struggles in the starting role pitched six innings, giving up five hits and two earned runs, with four strikeouts.

#4 In the second game the A’s got the pitching and the hitting holding a five run lead and shutting out the Tigers with A’s pitcher Frankie Montas going three innings, two hits and five strikeouts. Montas was proceeded by five relievers who managed to keep the shutout in tack for the 5-0 win.

#5 The A’s coming off a doubleheader split will open up a three game series against the Texas Rangers on Friday night starting pitcher for the Rangers Spencer Howard (1-1, 6.97) and for the A’s Cole Irvin (4-7, 3.21) a 6:40 pm first pitch at the Oakland Coliseum.

Join Jeremiah for the A’s podcasts Thursdays or Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Take Second Game of Double Header 5-0 Oakland Shuts Out Detroit in the night cap

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Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy connects for a bottom of the sixth three run homer against the Detroit Tigers in the night cap of a doubleheader at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Jul 21, 2022

A’s Take Second Game of Double Header 5-0 Oakland Shuts Out Detroit

By Barbara Mason

OAKLAND–After losing the first game of a double header, the Oakland A’s (33-62) took on the Detroit Tigers (38-56) in game two at the Oakland Coliseum.

The A’s lost game one 7-2 but turned the tables on the Tigers big time in the second game. The A’s did not get on the scoreboard until the sixth inning but the A’s and catcher Sean Murphy it was worth the wait. Murphy homered to center with Machin and Laureano on base to take a 3-0 lead.

Stephen Vogt hit a sacrifice and Seth Brown scored to extend their lead to 4-0. Oakland finished off the inning with a Tony Kemp single and another run scored. The A’s would take the 5-0 lead into the ninth inning.

Frankie Montas was on the mound for the A’s and went three innings allowing only two hits and had five strikeouts. He only played the three innings and was pulled when some fatigue seemed to set. There was no pain but the A’s wanted to get him back on the mound slowly.

Lou Trivino closed the game beautifully. He had two strikeouts to finish off the Tigers in the ninth inning, the final score 5-0.

In the sixth inning the A’s had four hits in a row winning their sixth shutout of the season. They had some great at bats in this game. Oakland pitchers had 12 strikeouts. It was a very solid game for the A’s.

The Tigers Garrett Hill was having a great game until the sixth inning. The A’s outhit the Tigers 10-4 which was great to see for A’s manager Mark Kotsay as the A’s needed to start stringing those hits together.

Oakland will be back on the field Friday night at the Coliseum taking on the Texas Rangers. Cole Irvin (4-7) will be on the mound for Oakland. He comes in with a 3.21 ERA. The A’s will face Spencer Howard (1-1, 6.97). First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM PT.

Tigers win front game of doubleheader 7-2; A’s can’t get enough offense again

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Detroit Tigers’ Jeimer Candelario, left, celebrates with Javier Baez after both scored on Robbie Grossman’s two-run double during the third inning in the first game of the doubleheader at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Jul 21, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND- The Oakland A’s (38-55) started the second half of the 2022 season by hosting the Detroit Tigers (32-62) for a rare doubleheader Thursday afternoon. It is a matchup of two teams not having a great year. The Tigers are in fourth place in the AL Central.

The A’s are in the AL West cellar with the worst record in the American League. Thursday’s first game features two left-handed pitchers. Left Zach Logue was hoping to tame the Tigers. Detroit sent Tarik Skubal to the hill. Logue gave the A’s six innings.

His line was six innings, five hits allowed, three runs, and only two earned. Skubal did not allow a hit in his first four innings of work. He worked six innings and allowed two hits and one run. He was the winning pitcher.

The Tigers put two runs on the board in the top of the third. Tigers’ third baseman Jeimer Candelario led off the frame with a single. Logue retired the next two hitters. Tigers’ DH Javier Baez singled, sending Candelario to second. Former Athletic Robbie Grossman doubled over Chad Pinder’s head in leftfield to drive in bother runners. The Tigers lead 2-0 midway through the third inning.

The Tigers did a little more damage in the fifth. With two out, center-fielder Riley Greene singled. Greene advanced to third on a fielding error by A’s second baseman Sheldon Neuse. Robbie Grossman doubled to drive in Greene with Detroit’s third run. The run was unearned.

The Tigers lead 3-0. The A’s put their first run of the game on the board in their half of the fifth. Seth Brown’s pop-up into shallow left field was lost in the sun by third baseman Jeimer Candelario. The ball was untouched, and Brown was credited with a double.

He went to third on a passed ball. Stephen Piscotty’s sacrifice fly drove in Brown. Tarik Skubal had not allowed a hit until the fifth. The run was unearned.

Domingo Tapia was now pitching for Oakland in the seventh. The Tigers’ Jeimer Candelario blasted his seventh homer of the campaign over the wall in center field. Detroit leads 4-1. Alex Lange was now pitching for Detroit.

Seth Brown homered on an 0-2 pitch, leading off the bottom of the seventh. The A’s trail 4-2. The A’s put men on at first and third with one out but failed to score. The Tigers lead 4-2 after seven.

Detroit plated their fifth run of the game in the top of the eighth. Tapia walked Tigers’ catcher Eric Haase. Second baseman Johnathan Schoop doubled to drive in Haase. The A’s failed to score in the bottom of the inning. As the game heads into the ninth, the Tigers are in the driver’s seat with a three-run lead, 5-2.

The Tigers put two more on the board in the ninth. Tigers’ shortstop Zack Short walked to start the rally. Short stole second and scored on a single by Riley Greene. A single by Javier Baez and a walk to Robbie Grossman loaded the bases with no out.

Greene was out at home trying to score on a ground ball to A’s shortstop Nick Allen. Detroit challenged the call, but the call was upheld after the review. Johnathan Schopp drove in the Tigers’ second run of the inning with a sacrifice fly. The A’s went down in order 1-2-3 to end the game. Detroit wins 7-2.

Game Notes- with the loss, the A’s are 32-62. They are now 30 games under .500. The Tigers improved to 38-55.

The hitting star for Oakland was Seth Brown, with a double and a home run. Brown scored both of the A’s runs. The hitting stars for Detroit were Jeimer Candelario with a single and home run. Riley Greene had two hits, Javier Baez three, and Robbie Grossman two.

The line score for Detroit was seven runs, ten hits, and no errors. Oakland’s line was two runs, five hits, and one error.

The day’s second game will see Frankie Montas (3-9, 3.26ERA) going against the Tigers’ Garret Hill (1-1, 5.73 ERA).

The time of the game was 2:58.

Back-To-Back Spectacular: Buxton, Stanton light up the sky and power AL to ninth straight All-Star win

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By Morris Phillips

LOS ANGELES–The National League started fast, and finished smoothly, but that fourth inning was all the destruction needed to end their aspirations.

Giancarlo Stanton and Byron Buxton hit mammoth, back-to-back shots that gave the American League the lead, and they made it stand up, shutting out the host NL team for the game’s final eight innings in a 3-2 win. The first All-Star game at picturesque Dodger Stadium in 42 seasons was over-the-top and full of explosions, but in the end, the American League pitchers shut the door.

Stanton had never experienced a hit in his previous All-Star Game appearances, going 0 for 6. Given that, the response was loud and clear, a two-run shot scoring Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez that traveled 457-feet, longer than any home run hit at Dodger Stadium thus far this season.

“That’s probably one of the hardest balls I’ve seen hit from the on-deck circle,” Buxton said. “I don’t even know if you can put it in words how hard he hit the baseball. So for me to see him in person, be on the same team, finally be up close, it was like, ‘Wow.’ You know, like, I literally sat down.”

Buxton sat down, but immediately got up and did the same thing Stanton did. Again facing the Dodgers’ Tony Gonsolin, Buxton sent a line drive down the left field line that measured 425-feet.

Eight AL relievers followed, none more impressive than Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase who struck out the final three hitters of the ballgame on 10 pitches. Houston’s Framber Valdez pitched a scoreless third inning and earned the win. And Stanton was named the game’s MVP, a nice addition to his award’s shelf that also includes a Home Run Derby win.

The AL pitching staff retired 20 NL hitters in succession at one point, only the fourth time that many consecutive batters have been retired in All-Star competition.

The local stars both got All-Star moments with the Giants’ Joc Pederson getting two at-bats, striking out twice, in his return to Dodger Stadium. The A’s Paul Blackburn pitched a scoreless, fourth inning earning a hold.

Shohei Ohtani, the game’s singular two-way star earned his moment with a leadoff single as the game’s first batter. But Ohtani then got caught sleeping by the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw, who picked off Ohtani creeping away from first base.

Alex Manoah, a rising pitching star for Toronto, struck out the side in the second inning while keeping a running commentary on the mound as he was mic’d up for Fox Sports.

Mookie Betts had a first inning RBI for the NL, and Paul Goldschmidt homered in the first after Manny Machado hit into a double play, which could have short circuited a bigger inning for the hosts.

Albert Pujols and Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera each got pinch-hit at-bats without success, although Pujols sent a drive to the warning track that was caught. Pujols and Cabrera were commissioner’s picks as outgoing All-Stars.

Next year’s All-Star Game will be held in Seattle, which means more late afternoon shadows and likely another low-scoring game. Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez will be under hometown pressure to repeat his outstanding performance in the Home Run Derby.

Soto Doesn’t Turn Down Home Run Crown: Nationals’ slugger wins Derby over impressive Rodriguez

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Winner of the 2022 Home Run Derby before the All Star Game at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles the Washington Nationals Juan Soto is shown taking a hack during the contest on Mon Jul 18, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Morris Phillips

LOS ANGELES–These days with baseball sluggers more capable, and itching to show their wares, you’ve got to do a little more to win the T-Mobile Home Run Derby.

Just ask Julio Rodriguez. The Mariners’ 21-year old, breakout star hit 81 homers, knocked off the two-time defending champion Pete Alonso, and still came up short–by one home run–as Washington’s Juan Soto captured the title at Dodger Stadium on Monday night.

The 23-year old Soto vowed he would win it, but he would have been surprised to know that he would have to get past fellow Dominicans Rodriguez and Albert Pujols to do it. Both Rodriguez and Pujols were surprise advancers as sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Corey Seager both took early exits.

Rodriguez started the competition with 32 homers against Seager, as he took advantage of not only his power but the positioning of the sun and shadows to start the event. He then came back and eliminated Alonso with 31 homers, as the defending champ could never seem to string together big flies and gather momentum. Alonso was eliminated with just 23 homers despite earning the full minute of bonus slugging.

Meanwhile, Soto gained momentum as the event progressed, first knocking off the Guardians’ Jose Ramirez, then taking down Pujols, who was the surprise, first round winner over Schwarber. By the third round, and Soto’s third as the finishing competitor already knowing what his opponent had done. Against Rodriguez, Soto patiently pursued the younger sluggers’ 18 blasts, and then made up the final four home runs needed in his bonus minute.

“It feels amazing. It feels tiring. I just tried to concentrate to square off the balls because I know I have the power,” Soto said.

Speculation is that Soto will be traded after turning down the Nationals’ offer of $440 million dollars over 13 seasons. That move, which will likely involve a bid or inquiry from the Giants, could happen in the coming weeks.

“Right now I’m not even thinking about it. I’m a champion, and I will be a champion for the Nationals,” he said.

Giants, A’s make “in character” picks to kickoff the 2022 MLB Draft

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By Morris Phillips

LOS ANGELES–With the 30th pick in 2022 MLB Draft, the Giants wanted value and impact. They appeared to get it with the surprise pick of two-way player Reggie Crawford.

Rated lower than a first-rounder by most touts, Crawford has played two seasons at the University of Connecticut before missing the 2022 season because of Tommy John surgery. That’s the risk component. On the upside, Crawford throws 99 mph gas and has home run power in his 6’4,” 235-pound frame.

Originally drafted by the Royals in 2019, Crawford opted for college, and was so impressive, he received clearance to transfer to powerhouse Tennessee for this season. Now, Crawford will choose between the Volunteers and the Giants, who are expected to see if they can get the slugger/pitcher inked without stepping out of the $2.49 million slot financially. If Crawford likes the money and prestige of being a first-rounder, he’ll join the Giants. If not, he’ll attend Tennessee and re-enter the draft pool next year of the year after.

Either way, Crawford is an intriguing pick for his high potential, and the hope that he will overcome his injury history. For the Giants, the pick again signals their preference for college-experienced players early in the draft.

The Giants drafted pitcher Carson Whisenhunt in the second round of the draft which was also conducted on Sunday. Whisenhunt is a 6’3″ power thrower who was suspended for the entire 2022 season for using performance-enhancing drugs which he says were in a supplement he took. Whisenhunt’s freshman year at East Carolina saw him throw 62 innings and strike out 79 batters.

The A’s selected Daniel Susac with their initial pick, number 19, a catcher with a growing reputation for his skills behind the plate along with power-hitting acumen at the plate. Susac is the brother of former Giant Andrew Susac and is orginally from Sacramento before he took his collegiate game to Arizona. This past season Susac had 12 homers, and 19 doubles in 64 games for the Wildcats.

The A’s were scared off from Susac due to the other successful catchers they have in their system including Sean Murphy at the Major League level, and Shane Langeliers and Tyler Soderstrom in the minor leagues. The A’s feel they took the best talent available and despite Susac’s comfort behind the plate, they will likely entertain the idea of position switch if Susac is the slugger they envision.

“I’m not only going to try to get the most out of myself but I’m going to try to get the most out of all my teammates,” Susac said. “I’m gonna bring a great bat while also being a great defensive player. I take pride in trying to be a well-rounded player.”

The 2022 MLB Draft continues Monday and will encompass 20 rounds along with compensatory picks as agreed upon in the current collective bargaining agreement.

A’s end first half with victory and series win over Astros 4-3

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Oakland A’s Stephen Vogt connects for an RBI single for the game winning run against the Houston Astros in the top of the eighth inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

With the score tied a t 3-3 in the top of the eighth at Minute Maid Field in Houston the Oakland A’s Stephen Vogt got a pitch he liked and smoked it for a tie breaking single that helped get the A’s their first series win against the Houston Astros 4-3. It would be the A’s third series win of the season.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay said in the press game presser “That’s a good win right there,” Kotsay said. “Win a series against this team. Battle back from being down 3-0, shows a lot of character and a lot of fight.”

The Ramon Laureano cracked a his eighth home run of the season as the A’s well below .500 head into the All Star break 32-61. The A’s had lots to be pleased about at the close of the first half winning six of their last 11 games which is improvement considering their struggles since going 10-8 to start the season.

Kyle Tucker and Jeremy Peña both homered for the Astros but it wasn’t quite enough to keep up with the A’s. The Astros finish the first half of the season in first place in the American League West at 59-32 with the second best record in baseball behind the New York Yankees.

Still the losing the last game of the first half was a disappointment for Astros manager Dusty Baker who really wanted to end the half on a good note, “It is disappointing,” Baker said. “It seems any time we had a miscue, they took advantage of it. It was a tough one to lose. We wanted to go into the break on a positive, and now, we don’t have much choice other than to regroup and get it back together when we start against the Yankees.”

The A’s return back to the Oakland Coliseum after the All Star Break on Thu Jul 21 for a 12:37pm PDT doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers.

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: Athletics just couldn’t do anything with Astros Verlander

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Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander throws to the Oakland A’s line up in the top of the first inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Sat Jul 16, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason for Charlie O:

#1 Houston Astros (59-31) starter Justin Verlander threw for six innings, six hits and ten strikeouts against the Oakland A’s (31-61) it was a typical classic Verlander performance.

#2 Barbara, you’ve followed Verlander his whole career just his body of work in Detroit could get him nominated on the Hall of Fame ballot and with Houston a slam dunk.

#3 Also the Astro Martin Maldonado contributed with a second inning grand slam for a four run second inning.

#4 The Astros really came back with a vengeance after losing the opening game to the A’s on Friday night.

#5 The A’s and Astros conclude the series today at Minute Maid Field starting pitchers for the A’s To Be Announced and for the Astros Jose Ordorizzi (4-2, 3.38) an 11:10 am PDT first pitch.

Barbara Mason filled in for Charlie O for the A’s podcasts heard every other Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.

A’s see lightning Bolts beat Astros 5-1; Skye Bolt gets 3 RBIs and a home run in Oakland win

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Elvis Andrus of the Oakland A’s gets into the hitting act with a two run RBI single in the top of the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Fri Jul 15, 2022 (AP News photo)

A’s Beat Astros 5-1; Oakland takes first game of series in Houston

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the Oakland A’s (31-60) took on the Houston Astros (58-31) in Game One of their three game series. Cole Irvin took the mound for Oakland and would be facing one of the toughest lineups in baseball.

Houston would be first up on the board in the fifth inning when Chas McCormick scored off a Jose Siri sacrifice for the early 1-0 lead. That would be the first and last score for Houston.

The A’s got going in the seventh inning scoring three times and never looking back. Seth Brown and Chad Pinder both scored when Elvis Andrus singled to right center. A Skye Bolt single brought Andrus home and the A’s had taken a 3-1 lead.

Bolt was not finished and in the ninth inning he hit one out of the park and with Tony Kemp on base Oakland took a 5-1 lead which would prove to be the final.

It was a great outing for Cole Irvin who went six linnings. He had four strikeouts, three hits and one run. Lou Trivino would close out the game and the A’s had beaten one of the best teams in MLB.

The Astros had trouble getting much offense in this game. They were missing Yordon Alvarez, Michael Brantley and Jose Altuve which was a big loss for the team.

Oakland will take on the Astros in game two Saturday. Jared Koenig (1-2) will take the mound for Oakland with a 6.38 ERA. Justin Verlander will get the nod for Houston with a terrific 11-3 win loss record and a 2.00 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 PM PT.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Montas might need more rest before making another start for A’s

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Oakland A’s pitcher Frankie Montas has been giving it his all including in this game on Thu Jun 23, 2022 at the Oakland Coliseum against the Seattle Mariners. Montas is doubtful for the Houston Astros series starting Fri Jul 15, 2022 at Minute Maid Field (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Oakland A’s pitcher Frankie Montas is still questionable for this weekend’s series against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Field in Houston due to his right shoulder inflammation. Montas has thrown in a 25 pitch bullpen session on Tuesday.

#2 Montas left the roation on Jul 3 after pitching just one inning at Seattle feeling the shoulder tightness so as you can see it’s been a long recovery.

#3 The A’s had Thursday off and open the three games tonight with Houston. The question is can Montas physically make the start without feeling any soreness?

#4 A’s infielder Dennis Garcia 24, made his MLB debut on Tuesday against the Texas Rangers in Arlington going 1-2 with a run scored, a hit, and an RBI. The A’s really need his bat to help out with some of the lack of hitting they just haven’t been getting.

#5 A’s starting pitcher for tonight’s game in Houston the A’s will start Cole Irvin (3-7, 3.32) he’ll be opposed against the Astros Jake Odorizzi (4-2, 3.38) a 5:10 pm first pitch.

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