Category: San Francisco Giants

D-Backs take 3 of 4 from Giants with 9-3 victory

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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Paul Goldschmidt follows through on a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, April 6, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Wednesday, April 5, 2017

PHOENIX, Ariz. – San Francisco’s season-opening series came to a disappointing end Thursday night, when Arizona won 9-3 on the strength of back-to-back homers by David Peralta and Paul Goldschmidt.

Ex-Diamondback Aaron Hill opened the scoring with a solo home run to left in the top of the third inning. In the fourth, Brandon Belt scored on Brandon Crawford’s single to left. Crawford was thrown out trying to take second, but the Giants led 2-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, Peralta and Goldschmidt connected on back-to-back bombs off Giants starter Jeff Samardzija (0-1), tying the game at 2-2.

Buster Posey’s RBI double to the left-field corner drove in Hunter Pence, putting San Francisco ahead 3-2. But the D-Backs surged ahead to stay with four runs in the sixth inning and three more in the eighth.

Jake Lamb hit a three-run, 408-foot homer to right-center, and Jeremy Hazelbaker added an RBI single in the sixth for the Diamondbacks.

Arizona tacked on three more in the eighth on A.J. Pollock’s two-run double to left-center and an RBI double by Peralta.

Samardzija worked 5 1/3 innings in his first 2017 start, giving up six earned runs on eight hits, but also struck out nine and walked two. Hunter Strickland and Ty Blach finished up.

D-Backs starter Robbie Ray didn’t last much longer, going 5 2/3 innings. He struck out six, walked three, gave up three earned runs on three hits and wound up with a no-decision. Reliever Jorge De La Rosa threw 1/3 of an inning to get the win, Randall Delgado bounced back from a horrendous outing on Opening Day and earned a hold, as did Andrew Chafin. J.J. Hoover finished the night with a scoreless ninth.

The Giants season-opening road trip continues to San Diego, where they open a three-game series against the Padres.

DOMINGUEZ SUSPENDED

Giants minor league pitcher Jose Dominguez was suspended for 142 games Thursday, following his second positive test for banned substances under baseball’s minor league drug program.

Dominguez, 26, is on the Giants’ Triple-A Sacramento roster. He tested positive for metabolites of Stanozolol, according to the commissioner’s office.

Dominguez received a 50-game suspension in September 2009 for testing positive for Stanozolol, and received a 25-game ban in November 2012 for an unspecified violation.

Sports Headlines Podcast with Tony Renteria: Will Raiders cough up $800k for back pay on parking lot fees? Will Lynch have skittles in Oakland? Cotton rocked Wednesday waits for next outing

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Tony Avelar, Associated Press photo: Oakland Coliseum parking lot site of the city of Oakland who says Raiders owe for revenue since 2013

On the Sports Headlines podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 The City of Oakland says the Oakland Raiders owe revenue for parking fees that was withheld and the city of Oakland wants it’s money. The city says the Raiders owe around $800,000 and the Raiders say they aren’t paying. The city says the Raiders owe $25,000 per game since 2013 and that if the Raiders don’t pay the city will kick the team out before it’s lease expires in 2019. The city will allow the team to play at the Oakland Coliseum until the end of the 2017 but if the missing parking revenue is not met the city will ask the Raiders to leave leaving the 2018 and 2019 up in the air as the team prepares to play in Las Vegas by 2020.

#2 Will Marshawn Lynch come out of retirement to join the Oakland Raiders? Lynch is still Seattle Seahawks property and has not played since 2015 but talk has been he would consider coming back and joining the Raiders. Lynch went to school in the East Bay at Cal Berkeley and might like to play a season or two before calling it a career. Keep those skittles on the backburner Lynch might return just yet.

#3 The Oakland A’s starter Jahrel Cotton had a rocky start on Wednesday night against the LA Angels in a 5-0 loss. He struggled surrendering five runs and eight hits. Was it a matter of Cotton having butterflies in his season opening debut, was he off balance, was it just a matter of the Angels saw his pitches and connected. Tony fills us in.

#4 The Sacramento Kings finish up their season this week in Los Angeles as they face the Clippers on Wed Apr 12th. Tony takes a look back on the 2016-17 season and tells us what was his most memorable moment covering the Kings.

#5 The San Francisco Giants have struggled through the first through two of the first three games with the Arizona Diamondbacks but Tony says it’s nothing to worry about it’s an early passing phase and the Giants will be back as they complete this road trip and get ready for their home opener on Mon Apr 10th.

Tony Renteria does the Sports Headlines each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

San Francisco Giants Wednesday game wrap: Giants fall short in 8-6 loss to Snakes

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San Francisco Giants’ Matt Moore wipes his face as he pauses on the mound on his way to giving up three runs during the fifth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, April 5, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Wednesday, April 5, 2017

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Arizona used production from each end of its batting order, took advantage of timely San Francisco errors, and held off the Giants 8-6 in the third game of their NL West season-opening series at Chase Field.

Taijuan Walker (1-0) gave up four earned runs in six innings, but shut down the Giants when he needed to while picking up his first win as a Diamondback. Walker struck out seven, walked one and gave up seven hits.

“I didn’t have very good command on my fastball; it wasn’t moving very well the first three innings, but my last three innings, it was moving pretty well,” said Walker, who was acquired from Seattle in the off-season.

“It was just nerves, really, being the first start of the season,” Walker added. “I was kind of amped up, but after the third inning, I felt really good.”

Fernando Rodney retired all three hitters he faced in the ninth to earn his first save of the season, and first for Arizona.

Matt Moore (0-1) took the loss for the Giants, now 1-2. In 5 1/3 innings, Moore struck out three, walked two and three of the six runs he surrendered were unearned.

The Giants had a 4-1 lead going into the bottom of the fifth, but the D-Backs scored three unearned runs to tie the game. Arizona surged ahead in the sixth when pinch-hitter Jeremy Hazelbaker delivered a one-out RBI double.

Brandon Belt hit his first home run of the season, a one-out line drive to the right field seats, that extended San Francisco’s lead to 4-1. But in the bottom of the fifth, Belt’s first error of the season allowed the D-Backs to score twice in a three-unearned run rally.

With one out, Owings doubled, Paul Goldschmidt walked, and both moved to third and second, respectively, on a double-steal. Jack Lamb’s sharp chopper down the first base line was mishandled by Belt, allowing Owings and Goldschmidt to score. Yasmany Tomãs followed with a double to plate Lamb, tying the game at 4-4.

“It helps when you have one of the best offenses in the league,” Walker said. “We’re always going to be in it because our offense is so good.”

Arizona surged ahead in the sixth when Chris Iannetta singled and scored from first on Hazelbaker’s double into the right field corner. That prompted Giants starter Matt Moore’s exit. He was replaced by Cory Gearrin, who gave up an RBI single to Pollock.

“Matt had good stuff and threw pretty good,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He got a bad break in that fifth inning with two outs and nobody on.

“Belt catches that ball 99 percent of the time. That was a momentum changer there and we couldn’t stop it.”

In the bottom of the seventh, Arizona added two more runs on an RBI single by Brandon Drury and a run-scoring double by Nick Ahmed.

San Francisco loaded the bases with one out in the top of the eighth on consecutive singles by Posey, Crawford and Nunez. Pinch-hitter (and former D-Back) Aaron Hill drew an RBI walk off reliever Andrew Chafin, driving in Posey.

Panik struck out, but Chafin’s replacement, Tom Wilhelmsen, threw a wild pitch that allowed Crawford to score before Chris Morrero flied out to center to end the threat.

Rodney retired Gorkys Hernandez, Belt and Pence in order to record his first Diamondback save.

“I felt good about the eighth,” Bochy said. “We had the bases loaded with some good hitters up there. We just couldn’t get that extra hit to get us over the hump. But (the D-Backs) battled when we tried to get back in it.”

The Giants manufactured the first run of the game in the top of the second inning. After Eduardo Nuñez singled and stole second, Joe Panik hit a sharp grounder to short, where Nick Ahmed weighed his options and chose to throw home when Nuñez rounded third. Nuñez slid head-first under Ahmed’s high throw, giving Panik an infield RBI single.

“Eduardo showed how fast he can really be. He’s electric,” Bochy said. “His speed makes it tough for the third-base coach to judge whether or not to send him on a ball hit to center.”

Arizona pulled to within 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Chris Owings. With one out, A.J. Pollock doubled and scored when a low liner to center by Owings was trapped by Hernandez.

“They’re getting good at-bats,” Bochy said of the D-Backs. “But we’ve helped them. They’re a tough lineup. They battled well, our guys battled well. It was a hard-fought game. We had a 4-1 lead and couldn’t hold it,”

Bochy said he would try to get some of his regulars some rest in the series finale on Thursday.

“Aaron Hill will start at second, we don’t know about (Denard) Span (hip injury) and I’ll check with Buster,” Bochy said.

Right-hander Jeff Samardzija makes his first start for San Francisco in the series finale, facing D-Backs lefthander Robbie Ray.

GIANT JOTTINGS: Arizona won a video challenge on an apparent double play in the third inning, when Brandon Drury was called out on a close play at first. The call was reversed. Time of the review was 1:08. … Paul Goldschmidt stole his 100th career base on a double steal in the fifth inning. … D-Backs reliever Jorge De La Rosa turned 36 today. It’s the second time in his career (2014 while with Colorado) that he’s pitched on his birthday. … Brandon Belt’s home run was his first against Arizona since April 8, 2014 (at AT&T Park). … After 1,526 games as an infielder, Giants INF Aaron Hill made his first appearance as an outfielder Thursday. … San Francisco is hitting .192 (5-for-26) with runners in scoring position in the first two games. … When Arizona won Sunday’s season opener despite giving up a pair of homers to Madison Bumgarner, it was the first a team did that since Minnesota handed Kansas City a 6-5 loss at Metropolitan Stadium on July 7, 1969, when the Royals’ Jim Rooker hit a pair of roundtrippers. … An announced crowd of 14,675 watched the game with the roof open for the third straight game. … Our colleague Michael Duca reported on Facebook that this year’s MLB Opening Day was the first since 1885 that did not include either Connie Mack or Vin Scully. Mack’s final season as manager of the Philadelphia Athletics – 1950 – coincided with Scully’s first season as a Brooklyn Dodgers announcer.

TAGS: San Francisco Giants,Arizona Diamondbacks,Sports Radio Service,Connie Mack,Vin Scully,Daniel Dullum

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Dedication to former N.L. executive Katy Feeney; plus all the latest that’s Giants

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Katy Feeney in her office at Major League Baseball’s headquarters in 2012. (Jessica Foster / MLB Photos)
Associated Press

By Michael Duca

SAN FRANCISCO–This is the first opening day since 1885 where neither former Philadelphia A’s manager Connie Mack or former Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully have been actively involved in MLB. It’s also the very first opening day since 1918 that it did not include a member of the Stonham family. Charles Stonham who owned the New York Ginats in 1919 then his son Horace Stonham took over to own the Giants in 1936 and owned them until 1976. Then his son in law Chub Feeney was president of the National League and then Chub’s daughter Katy Feeney was executive of MLB until she past last Sunday.

That was a terrific loss for baseball I wanted to take a moment to get that in because Katy was a special person she had done the scheduling for baseball for years.  She worked club relations and always ran during post season the media scrum in the back of the game and did it with kindness, sweetness, a smile, and a gentility that will be missed.

Michael has much more on the Giants podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants bats come alive, including Cueto’s, in win over Snakes 8-4

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San Francisco Giants’ Hunter Pence, middle, celebrates with Brandon Crawford, left, after Crawford hit a home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 4, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Tuesday, April 4, 2017

PHOENIX, Ariz. – On the mound and on the basepaths, Johnny Cueto was getting it done Tuesday for San Francisco.

Cueto’s dash home from second was one of many highlights in a five-run fifth inning Tuesday, as the Giants pounded out an 8-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

“It’s not easy,” Cueto said through Giants interpreter Erwin Higueros. “But I’m just happy everything worked out for me tonight.”

Last season, Cueto (1-0) was 18-5 with a 2.79 in his first season with San Francisco. He’s 10-3 in 14 career starts against the D-Backs. Cueto gave up four earned runs on six hits and two walks in five innings, but also struck out five.

Plus, Cueto was 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.

“I feel very happy about those wins, but it wasn’t by myself. It’s a team effort with all of the guys,” Cueto said. “They help me a lot.”

“That had to be one of his top games offensively,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Cueto. “He helped us out with the bat, running the bases. He was moving pretty good, wasn’t he?”

The Giants used a 15-hit attack and, besides the eight runs, stranded 13 runners. Hunter Pence and Joe Panik each had three hits, while emergency starter Gorkys Hernandez, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford and Eduardo Nunez each collected two hits.

Brandon Crawford extended San Francisco’s lead to 4-2 in the top of the fifth, greeting D-Backs reliever Randall Delgado with a towering drive just inside the right-field foul pole for his first home run of the season.

Crawford’s blast provided the spark for San Francisco to bat around, sending 10 hitters to the plate in the fifth. Cueto drove in a run when he reached on an infield error to extend the rally, and scored from first when Gorkys Hernandez hit a two-RBI single.

“I took off running really hard, it was on my own,” Cueto said. “Then they told me to slow down – it’s the second game of the season – but my instincts took over.”

There was a question of whether or not Cueto touched the plate on the play, but the Giants pitcher insisted he did, saying, “

“He was moving pretty good, wasn’t he?” Bochy asked. “He could be my pinch-runner. I may have to race he and Shark (Jeff Samardzija); that might be a close one.

“That might have taken something out of him,” Bochy continued. “He did a nice job, but his count jumped up (94 pitches).”

Asked which of the other Giants starters he could beat in a race, Cueto said, “Samardzija is the fastest, then Bumgarner, so I think I’m the fifth-fastest!”

Hernandez, filling in for Denard Span (sore hip), was 2-for-5 with four runs batted in.

“Gordys wasn’t scheduled to play, but we had to inset him in the lineup and he did a terrific job,” Bochy said. “Four RBIs, gives you great defense. He got a couple of big hits.

“What really helped Gordys was this spring, when he went over to the minor league side and got some more at-bats. He got his timing back, and now you’re seeing the guy we got last year.”

Bochy added, “The bench plays such an important role in your season, and those guys need to come through for you. It makes it easier to rest guys and softens the blow of losing a regular.”

Brandon Belt doubled in a run to finish the damage against Delgado, who was replaced by Archie Bradley two batters later.

Arizona battled back in the fifth with a two-run homer by Lamb into the right-center field swimming pool.

Cueto didn’t think he had tired at that point, explaining, “I think I left a couple of pitches up high, and I paid the price for it.”

Bradley, meanwhile, did his part to try and keep the D-Backs in the game, striking out seven in 3 1/3 scoreless innings.

Though the Arizona roof fell in on Delgado, it was D-Backs starter Patrick Corbin (0-1) who took the loss. Corbin gave up three runs – two earned – on seven hits in four innings.

A two-RBI single by Hernandez put San Francisco ahead 2-0 in the top of the second. Singles by Eduardo Nunez, Joe Panik and Johnny Cueto loaded the bases with one out. Cueto pulled back from a bunt attempt and pushed a drive past Goldschmidt.

“I just felt that (Goldschmidt) was coming up too close to me, so I decided to swing away,” Cueto said.

“When he pulled back on the bunt, he couldn’t have chopped a ball better over Goldschmidt’s head,” Bochy said. “That’s something we work on and Johnny did a great job on that.”

Hernandez then delivered a slow-floating bloop single to shallow right field, falling between D-Backs second baseman Brandon Drury and right-fielder David Peralta.

In the Giants third, Buster Posey reached on an error, went to third on Brandon Crawford’s double to left-center, but was caught in a rundown between third and home on a bouncer to short by Nunez. Crawford scored San Francisco’s third run on a sacrifice fly to right by Chris Marrero.

Paul Goldschmidt put the Diamondbacks on the board when he led off the fourth with a line drive home run to left, his first of the season. After Jake Lamb walked and Drury singled, Chris Owings singled to left, driving in Lamb with the D-Backs’ second run.

The series continues Wednesday, with left-hander Matt Moore on the mound for San Francisco, facing D-Backs’ right-hander Dijuan Walker.

“This was a good bounce-back game for us after losing a tough opener,” Bochy said. “To come back and play well like this, it was a good game for us.”

GIANT JOTTINGS: The Giants are opening their regular season in Phoenix for the fourth time in the last six seasons (also 2012, 2014 and 2015). … Elias Sports reports that when P Madison Bumgarner struck out 11 on Sunday, it was the most by a Giants pitcher on Opening Day since the mound was moved to its present distance of 60 feet, six inches in 1893. …
Paul Goldschmidt tied ex-Giant Steve Finley for second place on Arizona’s all-time hit list when he homered in the fourth inning. Finley collected 847 hits as a D-Back. Goldschmidt also needs one steal to reach the 100 home run/100 stolen base club for first basemen. … Jake Lamb’s home run into the swimming pool was the 32nd-ever by a D-Back, 56th overall. … Torey Lovullo is the third Diamondbacks manager to win in his debut. The other two were Bob Brenley (April 3, 2001 vs. L.A. Dodgers) and Kirk Gibson (July 2, 2010 vs. L.A. Dodgers).

TAGS: San Francisco Giants,Johnny Cueto,Brandon Crawford,Gorkys Hernandez,Arizona Diamondbacks,Sports Radio Service,Daniel Dullum

Brain trust: Melancon processes blown save in his Giants’ debut

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AP17093015063393

By Morris Phillips

Mark Melancon is the thinking man’s athlete, not unlike a computer in how he forms and remembers pitch sequences that more than often get big league hitters out on their final at-bat of a game.

Not just a thrower, the premiere closer in the National League over the previous four seasons, has a fastidious routine, a philosophy on how to get hitters out, and more than a decade of experience in the closer’s role dating back to his freshman year at the University of Arizona.

So after Sunday’s meltdown in the season opener in which he retired the first two hitters he faced, then allowed hits to the next four and lost the game, it’s simply back to work, and back to tried and true methods for Melancon.

“It’s something that’s just part of the job,” Melancon said of his letdown against the Diamondbacks.  “I’m sure I’ll go over it 100 times and keep the good and get rid of the bad.”

Melancon first spoke to the Giants on November 8, less than two weeks after the Cubs finished their magical run to the World Series title.  On December 5, he agreed to his then record $62 million deal with the Giants, the first free agent closer to sign a deal this off-season.

The Giants needed a guy they could trust after a franchise-record 30 games were blown in 2016.  And Melancon, again methodical in his approach to free agency, just as he is on gameday, recognized the appeal of San Francisco, after he had bounced around from the Yankees in his 2009 big-league debut to the Astros, Red Sox, Pirates and Nationals in the succeeding seasons.

Consequently, a marriage this well bonded doesn’t fall into a rocky stage overnight.  Thus, the club and its treasured acquisition go back to work on Tuesday.

Here’s a look at Melancon’s meteoric rise to prominence starting with his trade to Pittsburgh in the off-season prior to the 2013 season.

In 2013, Melancon starts the season as the Pirates’ setup guy following his trade acquisition from the Red Sox. After closer Jason Grilli is injured, Melancon assumes his role and saves 16 games. During this period, the pitcher credits catcher Russell Martin for giving him the unyielding belief in his best pitch, a mid-90’s cutter.

In 2014, the Pirates trade Grilli to the Angels, giving Melancon the permanent closer’s role.  He converts 33 of 37 save opportunities.

In 2015, Melancon leads the NL with 51 saves, and makes his second All-Star appearance.  He wins the NL reliever of the year award.

In 2016, the Pirates trade Melancon to the Nationals with his impending free agency.  Melancon helps the Nats capture the NL East crown.  He converts 47 of 51 save chances for the Pirates and Nationals combined.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Despite blown save Melancon is the real deal

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Arizona Diamondbacks Jeremy Hazelbaker, left, scores a run as San Francisco Giants’ Mark Melancon, second from right, and catcher Buster Posey, right, walk away from home plate during the ninth inning of an Opening Day baseball game Sunday, April 2, 2017, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks defeated the Giants 6-5. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–While it’s disappointing that the Giants didn’t get their first win of the season it’s 162 games you move on obviously if they win you can point to creating momentum with the opener and how important it is to try and start the season on the right track. You just couldn’t get it better in baseball than this. Their back to work on Tuesday after having a day off on Monday in Arizona. What is disappointing they spent that money and they didn’t get that immediate reinforcement from their new star closer Mark Melancon.

It’ll be interesting to see that first save for him and in my mind he’s the guy I know Melancon’s make up, I know his method and he’s really going to be exactly what they need but he obviously wasn’t his first time out. Melancon has the goods he’s the legit closer that San Francisco picked and let’s go back to when this decision was made they had Adroldis Chapman on the free agent market in the off season and Giants got Melancon and are very happy to pick him up.

Morris Phillips does the San Francisco Giants podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

MLB Podcast The Show with Matt Harrington: A’s open up Monday night against the Angels; Giants Melancon gets first blown save of 2017

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On the MLB Podcast The Show with Matt Harrington:

#1 Giants pitcher Jeff Samardjiza had quite an outing on Friday night going five innings of shutout ball against the Oakland A’s in the Giants win

#2 The Giants who swept the A’s during the Bay Bridge series got some excitement from Nick Hundley who hit a grand slam home run off A’s starter Andrew Triggs on Sunday

#3 The A’s got a help in the third inning on Saturday from Marcus Semien off Giant starter Ty Beede. Semien got a hit off Beede but Beede pitched a decent ball game in his own right striking out four of six hitters

#4 The A’s had the day off Sunday but that might not be a good thing as they would like to get the bad taste of losing the three game Bay Bridge series to the Giants out of their mouths. They ‘ll get their chance Monday night at the Oakland Coliseum on opening night against the Los Angeles Angels

#5 The Giants opened their season in Phoenix and Giants starter Madison Bumgarner not only was pitching a gem but he hit couple homers in his own right but closer Mark Malencon couldn’t hold the Diamondbacks and gets his first blown save of 2017 as the D-Backs come back down 5-4 to win it in the ninth 6-5. Maybe Mad Bum should have went the distance.

Matt Harrington does the MLB podcasts each weekend at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants Sunday game wrap: D-Backs spoil Bumgarner’s big 2-HR Opening Day with 9th inn comeback 6-5

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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chris Owings (16) celebrates his walk-off single against the San Francisco Giants with David Peralta, left, and Daniel Descalso (3) in an opening day baseball game Sunday, April 2, 2017, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks defeated the Giants 6-5. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, April 2, 2017

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The roof was open at Chase Field for the Opening Day matinee Sunday, and maybe it was all that sunshine that agreed with Madison Bumgarner.

The Giants’ starter hit his 15th and 16th career home runs, helping his own cause. In the end, though, it wasn’t quite enough.

“I was hoping his spot would come up again so he’d get one more at-bat so he could go for three,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “That’s a big day when your pitcher hits two homers and pitches the way he did. That’s what makes it tough to not come away with a win.

“You have to give the other team credit sometimes. They certainly came back on us.”

Chris Owing’s RBI single with two out in the bottom of the ninth off new Giants closer Mark Melancon gave an announced sellout crowd of 49,016 something to cheer about, as the Diamondbacks edged San Francisco 6-5.

“I’m really proud of how we battled,” Pollock, who was 3-for-5 with a two-run homer, said. “Bumgarner was throwing perfect-game stuff – it was as good as he’s ever looked. For us to scratch and claw…Nick getting that pinch hit; we got a lot of clutch hits. It was awesome.”

With two out in the Arizona ninth, Melancon (0-1) failed to nail down the elusive third out for a possible first save as a Giant. Jeff Mathis doubled, was replaced by pinch-runner Jeremy Hazelbaker, and pinch-hitter Daniel Descalso delivered an RBI double, scoring Hazelbaker. Pollock followed with a single to center, moving Descalso to third.

After Pollock took second on defensive indifference, Owings singled to right, driving in Descalso with the game-winning run.

Pollock said it was also good to get Torey Lovullo his first major league managerial win.

“It was awesome for him, and I’m sure it’s something he’ll remember for a while,” Pollock said.

Bumgarner, 2-for-2 with a walk, became the first pitcher ever to homer twice on Opening Day, and the first Giant to hit two home runs in a season opener since Barry Bonds did it in 2002, according to the Giants Media Department. He threw seven innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits while fanning 11 with no walks.

“His stuff was really good,” Bochy said. “Breaking ball, everything. To throw like that on Opening Day was quite impressive.”

“I felt good, it was the best I’ve felt in a long time,” Bumgarner said. “Obviously, I’d like to come away with a win, but that’s how this game works sometimes.

“I think it was a pretty well played ballgame and unfortunately we came out on the losing side today.”

Bochy originally had Bumgarner penciled in the 8-slot on the San Francisco batting order, but changed his mind and had his ace right-hander hit in the usual No. 9 spot for pitchers.

Bumgarner led off the fifth with his first home run of the season, a line drive to left-center off Arizona starter Zach Grienke that put the Giants up 2-0. With one out in the seventh, Bumgarner went yard again, breaking a 3-3 tie with a drive to left-center that D-Backs leftfielder Yasmany Tomãs not only didn’t chase, he didn’t move or turn around to watch.

“I try to be pretty level-headed and keep things on an even keel,” Bumgarner said. “It’s obviously something pretty special to have a chance to have that to happen, but my job out there is on the mound – that’s where my main concern is at.

“Sometimes a pitcher’s bat can determine the outcome of a game, and we certainly had that today. But (the two homers) is something you look back on when you’re done playing. Right now, I’m not really concerned about it that much.”

In turn, Arizona used the long ball to tie the game at 3-3 against Bumgarner in the bottom of the sixth. Jeff Mathis tripled with one out and scored on pinch-hitter Nick Ahmed’s base hit. A.J. Pollock homered to left, driving in Ahmed.

“Bum wasn’t tiring,” Bochy said. “He felt fine, went right back out and threw a nice inning.

“These guys are human, you know. We forget that sometimes. They’re going to give up some runs occasionally.”

The Diamondbacks offered a rude welcome to Giants reliever Derek Law and re-tied the game at 4-4 on Paul Goldschmidt’s RBI single. After A.J. Pollock and Chris Owing hit back-to-back singles, Goldschmidt hit a slow bouncer to left that eluded the reach of Brandon Crawford and Eduardo Nuñez, driving in Pollock.

Joe Panik greeted D-Backs reliever Fernando Rodney (1-0) with a ninth-inning triple to left, then scoring on pinch-hitter Conor Gillaspie’s sacrifice fly to center.

Things didn’t improve for Rodney, who proceeded to give up a single to Denard Span and issue walks to Brandon Belt and Hunter Pence to load the bases. But he got Buster Posey to pop out to shallow right and Crawford to chop a ball in front of the plate that was snagged by catcher Mathis, who, after a brief delay of confusion, tapped the plate for a force play to end the inning.

“We thought that was foul,” Bochy said. “It was hard to tell from where I was, but Crawford certainly thought it was foul. It was one of those balls where the catcher grabbed it fast and (the umpires) didn’t get a good look at it.”

Rodney, the sixth Diamondbacks pitcher, wound up with the win despite giving up one earned run, walking two and throwing two wild pitches. Zach Grienke, Arizona’s starter, threw 98 pitches in five innings, giving up two earned runs on four hits while striking out four and issuing two walks.

San Francisco took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Nuñez led off with a single, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Joe Panik’s sacrifice fly to center.

The Giants got their third run in the sixth when Crawford doubled with one out and scored on a Nuñez single.

Due to a scheduling quirk, the Giants and D-Backs take Monday off before resuming the season-opening series on Tuesday.

“I’d rather not take a day off,” Bochy said.

GIANT JOTTINGS: The passing of former MLB executive Katy Feeney was announced during the game. Feeney served in a variety of positions with the National League, including assistant director of public relations, senior vice president of club relations, and MLB scheduling. Her father was former Giants and NL president Charles “Chub” Feeney, and was the grand-niece of former Giants owner Horace Stoneham. … There were two replay challenges. In the top of the sixth, Arizona challenged a tag play on Eduardo Nuñez that was reversed (2 minutes). In the top of the seventh, the Giants challenged a tag play involving Denard Span that was upheld (1:30). … D-Backs C Jeff Mathis became the first Arizona catcher to collect three hits on opening day since Miguel Montero did it against Colorado in 2011. … Madison Bumgarner is the third Giants pitcher to homer on Opening Day, joining Johnny Antonelli (April 17, 1956) and Larry Benton (April 18, 1929) from the team’s New York days. … Bumgarner’s 11 strikeouts are a Giants Opening Day record, eclipsing Juan Marichal’s 10 in 1962 against the Milwaukee Braves. He’s also the first pitcher to hit two-plus homers and record 10-plus strikeouts in a game since Rick Wise of Philadelphia did it on Aug. 28, 1971.

TAGS: San Francisco Giants,Madison Bumgarner,Arizona Diamondbacks,Opening Day,Sports Radio Service,Daniel Dullum

It really is Springtime in Oakland for the Athletics in 2017

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

by Charlie O. Mallonee

A's logo

OAKLAND–This is not just your usual end of spring training lets get ready for the regular season story. This year is really a new beginning for the Oakland Athletics and their fans for multiple, positive reasons.

Change of ownership and new upper management

John Fisher was always the majority owner of the Oakland Athletics for the past 11 years but no one really knew that fact. Mr. Fisher – who resides in San Francisco – preferred to stay in the background. Lew Wolff – a minority owner – was the managing partner.

During the Wolff era, the main emphasis was building a new stadium for the A’s that would allow them to better compete for the Bay Sports dollars with the Giants and their AT&T complex. There were several attempts and failures:

  • First came the plan to build a baseball park, shopping complex and residential area in Fremont on the west-side of I-880. That plan died a quiet death.
  • Then came the plan to move to San Jose. City officials were behind  the plan and had the land ready across from the SAP Arena. The Giants jumped in and said “over out dead bodies – San Jose is our territory!” In its typical avoid confrontation at any cost fashion, MLB asked the A’s to back off. The City of San Jose filed a law suit but lost in court.
  • The City of Oakland then tried to get Wolff excited about building a waterfront ballpark in the Howard Terminal area near Jack London Square. Wolff never seemed too excited about that location.
  • Finally, Wolff put together a plan to build a new ballpark, business center, shopping and residential complex on the current Coliseum site. That idea never caught traction as Oakland was still trying court the Raiders and Warriors to stay in the East Bay.

It became evident that Mr. Wolff was not going to get the job done. That combined with his age which he said was causing him to slow down made it apparent a change was coming. Many feared it meant a sale and move of the team to another market.

Mr. Fisher bought out Wolff’s stake in the team and them began to remake the front office. Michael Crowley – who had been president of the team for 20 years – moved into a consultants role. Dave Kaval – president of Fisher’s San Jose Earthquakes – assumed the team’s top spot in addition to his job with the soccer team.

kaval

Kaval has been through the stadium building process as he oversaw the construction of Avaya Stadium for the Earthquakes. The $100-million complex was completely privately funded.

avaya

Kaval has brought a new sense of enthusiasm to the organization. He is accessible to the fans, press and government officials. He has an openness to new ideas and what seems to be “can do” attitude. For the first in a long time, people are believing the Oakland Athletics are going to get a new place to play.

The A’s are now the only game in town (or soon will be)

Now that the NFL has told Oakland Raiders “to go pound sand” for the second time in 25 years by giving their OK to the team to move to Las Vegas, the A’s are or will soon be the lone occupants of the Coliseum.

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As I sit in the press box and look out at “Mt. Davis” – the ugly monster third deck that was built to entice the Raiders back from Los Angeles – I want to vomit. That view out to center field used to be of the beautiful East Bay hills and BART trains zipping by every few minutes. The stadium felt open and spacious. Now, it feels closed in and crowded by too much concrete.

coliseum before

By the way, the Raiders do not use “Mt. Davis” because they cannot sell enough tickets to fill the seats. It is covered with large tarps baring Raiders logos. When the Raiders move to “Sin City”, the people of the City of Oakland will still be paying off the bonds for that ill-fated stadium alteration. Las Vegas – you might want to keep that in the back of your mind.

The Warriors are headed to San Francisco and a new home just south of the Giants’ AT&T Park.

Guess who that leaves in Oakland? “Holy Toledo!” (that’s for you Mr. King) its the A’s.

Now the A’s have two potential stadium sites. The Howard Terminal/Jack London Square site with the waterfront appeal is still available. The current Coliseum site with its great transportation infrastructure and unlimited development possibilities is now back in play.

Wow! The Oakland Athletics have choices for stadium sites. Who would have predicted that last Fall?

Finally – there is the beginning of a new season and the hope it brings

The MLB season gets underway on Sunday with three games including the Giants at Arizona. (That just chaps my hide. Baseball is supposed to begin of Monday with one day game in Cincinnati – the first professional baseball team – then the rest of baseball begins play on Tuesday).

The Athletics open the regular season on Monday at home with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It will be a four-game series that concludes with a day game on Thursday.

RHP Kendall Graveman (10-11, 4.11 in 2016) gets the call for the A’s and RHP Ricky Nolasco (8-14, 4.42 in 2016) taking the hill for LAA.

The A’s still have some personnel decisions to make. They still have 36 players on the roster as of Saturday. Five of those players (Bassitt, Gray, Mengden, Smolinski and Wendle) are expected to start the season on the Disabled List. So, that means six players remain who have to be sent to the minors or released. These are never easy hours for front office personnel and coaches as they have to decide the fates of players.

Eight relievers in the “pen” to start the season

A’s manager Bob Melvin announced on Saturday the team will start the season with eight pitchers in the bullpen. Melvin said that will be the case until of the starting pitchers have made at least two starts. The “skipper” is anticipating shorter outings until his starters have a little more game experience under their belt.

Another reason for the expanded relief corps is the performance of RHP Frankie Montas. Montas came to the A’s from the Dodgers last season in the Reddick/Hill trade. He was on DL recovering from rib surgery last year. The 100-mph throwing pitcher is on a limited pitch count so the “pen” is a great spot for him right now.

When Sonny Gray returns, Montas is expected to go Nashville and return to working as a starting pitcher. A starting pitcher that throws 100-mph – whew.

Giants win the final Spring Training game 6-3 over the A’s in Oakland

The Giants used the long ball to beat the A’s on Saturday. Nick Hundley crushed a grand slam home run in the 4th inning off A’s starter Andrew Triggs. Hundley ended up with four RBIs in the game to improve his total to 12 for the spring.

Justin Ruggiano hit a two-run homer in the top of seventh inning with Raul Alcantara on the hill for the A’s. All of the San Francisco runs came via the long ball.

Giants RHP Tyler Beede (2-0, 2.03) started the game and picked up the win. He pitched 4.0-innings giving up two runs on five hits. Both runs were earned. He struck out five and walked none. Ironically, Beede did not make the Giants major league roster.

RHP Andrew Triggs (1-3, 8.10) took the loss for the Athletics. Triggs allowed four runs (all earned) on six hits including the Hundley grand slam. He struck four and walked one. Triggs will be on the A’s roster on Monday night when they open the season with the Angels.