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López’s brace help Earthquakes snap winless streak in 3-2 win over FC Dallas

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San Jose Earthquakes captain Jackson Yueill (#14) celebrates with Hernán López (#23) after the first of two goals scored by López against FC Dallas in the Quakes 3-2 win at Pay Pal Park on Wednesday OCT 2, 2024. (San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Hernán López picked a great time to record his first MLS multi-goal game.

López scored two goals as the San Jose Earthquakes held on late to defeat FC Dallas 3-2 on Wednesday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose won for the first time in their last six matches. FC Dallas has lost three of their past four matches and with the loss were eliminated from playoff contention in the Western Conference.

It was the Hernán show on a hot muggy night in the South Bay. With temperatures still in the 90’s at game time, the Man of the Match recorded his first brace in a Quakes uniform since the Argentine midfielder signed with the club back in April of this year.

Earthquakes interim head coach Ian Russell flipped his lineup around going with a 4-2-3-1 formation that saw Bruno Wilson and Oscar Verhoeven inserted into the back line and fullback Paul Marie upfront with López and Cristian Espinoza.

“It’s been a tough season, but these fans deserve a win,” said Russell on how good the win felt. “The team deserves a win. So, I said [to the team], ‘Just enjoy tonight.’ The game did feel pretty comfortable. We looked dangerous on the break. The last four or five games have been pretty dangerous on the break, but this one, we finished our chances.”

San Jose (6-23-3-21-points) drew first blood in the 14th minute. Wilson, who cracked the starting lineup since injuring his hamstring against NYCFC on May 31st, found López down the middle from the right wing. López spun around, made one touch with the ball before firing a left-footed shot past FC Dallas goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer to the lower left side of the net from 25 yards out for his fifth goal of the season.

FC Dallas (10-15-7-37 points) leveled the match in the 41st minute. Paul Arriola chipped a ball into the middle of the box where the ball bounced off the chest of Petar Musa over to unmarked Alan Velasco who beat ‘Quakes goalkeeper Daniel with a left-footed shot for his second goal of the season.

The match was headed toward a draw until the late match magic from López who scored his second goal in the 79th minute. A collision between two FC Dallas defenders created a turnover San Jose took advantage of. Amahl Pelegrino dribbled the ball down the left wing before centering the ball back into the middle. López controlled the ball before chipping it over Maurer just inside the right post for his sixth goal of the season.

“I was happy to score tonight. Obviously, the season hasn’t gone our way, but being able to finish the season strong, we’re happy to see that and I’m thrilled with the victory … Obviously, you’d like to score three goals, but I wasn’t able to do that. I’m just very happy to be able to score two goals at home. … I was able to dedicate those goals to my mother and my father and my family,” López said.

Jeremy Ebobisse, who came in as a sub in the 63rd minute for Jack Skahan, gave San Jose an insurance goal that ended up proving to be the game winner just four minutes later. Once again, a turnover by FC Dallas in the middle of the pitch led to a Quakes counterattack. Niko Tsakiris intercepted a pass that freed Ebobisse up the pitch. A give and go between Ebobisse and Tsakiris led to the veteran striker finishing a left-footed shot with authority into the back of the net for his sixth goal of the season.

FC Dallas, with their season on the line, didn’t go down quietly. Bernard Kamungo earned a penalty kick after VAR reviewed Wilson’s foul for knocking down Kamungo inside the box in the 89th minute. However, Daniel made a diving save knocking the bound out of bounds on Jesús Ferreira’s penalty attempt right before stoppage time.

Sebastien Ibeagha made it a one-goal game in the 90th minute when he headed in a corner kick from Sebastian Lletget into the far corner of the net for his second goal of the season. FC Dallas had one last chance to score the equalizer in the fourth minute of stoppage time but Kamungo’s bicycle kick from inside the box sailed just high over the net.

Daniel made three saves on four shots on goal to earn the victory. Maurer made one save on five shots on target in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with four corner kicks. FC Dallas had five.

Pellegrino’s 79th-minute assist was his second in MLS play and fourth in all competitions, running his goal contribution total to nine in MLS play (7g/2a) and 11 in all competitions (7g/4a).

Tsakiris recorded the first assist in his MLS career in the 83rd minute; it was his second assist and goal contribution in all competitions (0g/2a).

Espinoza’s assist of López’s 14th-minute goal was his 14th of the season in MLS play, lifting him to a tie for sixth on the overall league leaderboard. The assist also puts him now at 18 goal contributions in MLS play (4g/14a) and 21 in all competitions (5g/16a).

Espinoza also became the first player in Earthquakes history to have three straight seasons with 10 or more assists in MLS play (2022: 14; 2023: 13; 2024: 14 and counting).

San Jose is 30-22-22 in the overall series with FC Dallas.

UP NEXT: San Jose plays their regular season home finale on Saturday 10/5 against Real Salt Lake at 7:30pm at Pay Pal Park.

Oshoala come through again for Bay FC defeat Seattle in 1-0 shutout at Pay Pal Park

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“There she is” as Bay FC’s defender Abbey Dahlkemper (13) presents forward Asisat Oshoala (8) who scored the match’s only goal against the Seattle Reign at Pay Pal Park in San Jose on Sun Sep 29, 2024 (Bay FC X photo)

By William Espy

SAN JOSE–Bay FC is back on the road, this time they were in the Pacific Northwest to take on the Seattle Reign who have massively underperformed this season after making it to the NWSL Final last season. Meanwhile Bay FC is currently sitting in 9th place in the NWSL, even on points with Racing Louisville but outside of the final playoff spot due to goal differential.

A win would make them the sole team in eighth place. With Alyssa Malonson out with injury, Maddie Moreau started at left-back while Penelope Hocking took Rachel Hill’s spot in the starting line up for her first start with Bay FC. Asisat Oshoala scored the game’s only goal in the 27th minute to help defeat the Seattle Reign at Pay Pal Park in San Jose on Sunday.

Bay FC Starting XI: Rowland, Moreau, Dahlkemper, Menges, Dydasco, Boade, Bailey, Pickett, Oshoala, Kundananji, Hocking

Seattle Starting XI: Dickey, Latsko, McClernon, Barnes, Glas, Athens, Quinn, So-Yun, Crnogorcevic, Huitema, King

The game started off with back-and-forth end-to-end action but neither team was able to generate quality scoring chances. Seattle got a couple of corners early in the first half, but were unable to create anything from the set pieces.

Afterwards, Bay FC had a couple of corners of their own but they weren’t able to take advantage either. Lauren Barnes went down for Seattle in the 22nd minute and Seattle initially signaled for a substitution, but waited to see if Barnes could continue. Moments later Asisat Oshoala was taken out inside of the box by Phoebe McClernon.

Oshoala was awarded a penalty, and despite some protests of offside by Seattle, the call remained the same. She’d convert on the penalty, scoring her sixth of the season and making it 1-0 for Bay. Quinn nearly tied it around the half hour mark, but Katelyn Rowland made a save, tipping it over the crossbar.

McClernon gave away the ball to Rachael Kundananji in her own box, handing Bay FC a dangerous opportunity but she was unable to convert. Kundananji did go down following the play with an apparent knee injury, but remained in the game.

Kundananji took another knock in the 42nd minute when her and a Reign player both went up for a header and both made contact with one another’s heads. She quickly returned to the game. Kundananji had another quality chance off of a pass from Oshoala in stoppage time, but Dickey made the save.

Tess Boade was involved heavily in the play as well, starting the whole process. Maddie Moreau fired a late shot as well, it was saved right before the final whistle blew to end the first half.

Barnes was taken off for Jordyn Bugg to start the second half for Seattle. The Reign appealed for a penalty when a shot deflected off of Abby Dahlkemper’s arm, but her hands were clasped behind her back, making it impossible for her to do any more to prevent a handball.

A few minutes later, Kundananji had an opportunity to make it 2-0. A pass to Hocking would’ve allowed for an easy tap-in, but instead Kundananji took a shot which went wide of the goal. After that play, Hocking was replaced by Hill. Caprice Dydasco was shown the game’s first yellow card in the 58th minute.

Oshoala went down momentarily after that, but remained in the match. Dahlkemper was having a fantastic game defensively, blocking quite a few shots over the course of the night. Even though Seattle had a dominant lead in possession, they weren’t getting any quality chances as they were spending a majority of their time in the defensive zone since Bay FC didn’t allow them to create any offense.

Besides the one chance early, Rowland didn’t have much action over the course of the match, at least not until late. Seattle got their second shot on target of the night in the 85th minute, but it went directly to the goalkeeper.

They applied a bit more pressure on Bay FC’s defense heading into extra time. Oshoala got behind the defense in the 95th minute, but she was taken down inside the ball and not awarded a penalty. Despite a late push by Seattle, Bay FC was able to hang on to win 1-0.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Snell throws six innings of shutout ball; SF defeats KC 2-0 at Kaufman

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San Francisco Giants Jerar Encarnacion slides home safely scoring on a Grant McCray triple in the top of the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kaufman Stadium on Sun Sep 22, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 San Francisco Giants starter Blake Snell struck out nine Kansas City Royals hitters in six innings of work and the Giants swept the Royals in a three game series with a 2-0 shutout Sunday.

#2 With the loss the Royals moved to second place in the AL Wild Card and holds the tie breaker as they won the season series over the Detroit Tigers 7-6.

#3 Snell was on he allowed two hits and no Royals runner was able to pass first base. Snell is 5-0 in his last 14 starts with a 1.23 ERA.

#4 Snell credited his change ups for retiring Royals hitters 1-13 when he threw a first strike.

#5 The Giants opened up a three game series in Arizona on Monday night. The Giants will start RHP Hayden Birdsong (4-5, ERA 4.74) starting for the Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (3-3, 5.09) at Chase Field in Phoenix.

Marko Ukalovic does the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

St. Louis City’s early goals hold up against Earthquakes in 2-1 win

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St. Louis City forward Joao Klauss and San Jose Earthquakes defender Tanner Beason race for a loose ball during St. Louis City’s 2-1 win over San Jose at Pay Pal Park on Saturday SEP 21, 2024. (St. Louis City SC)

by Mark Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — St. Louis City scored two goals in the first 15 minutes of the match and held on to edge the San Jose Earthquakes in 2-1 victory on Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose has lost three out of its last four matches and still has not earned a point against St. Louis in four matches. St. Louis City has have won two out of its last three matches.

St. Louis City (6-11-13) drew first blood in the fourth minute. Marcel Hartel sent a cross from along the right sideline into the middle of the box. Jannes Horn quickly touched it over to an unmarked Cedric Teuchert who buried a right footed shot into an open net for his fourth goal of the season.

Thanks to a controversial call, the visiting team doubled its lead in the 13th minute. Joao Klauss chipped a ball near the box where Rodrigues took down Hartel while trying to clear the ball. After VAR review the play was ruled a penalty. Hartel finished off the penalty when he hesitated before kicking the ball to the left side of the net past ‘Quakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough for his second goal of the season.

“If it’s that close and it wasn’t called (a penalty) in live play, and it was not super clear, I don’t know why you’re giving a penalty. I’m surprised they (VAR) even called (down to the referee) ‘hey there’s a potential penalty.’ Again it didn’t even look like (the foul) was in the box. Even on replays, so why are you giving one,” ‘Quakes interim head coach Ian Russell said.

San Jose (5-22-3) had its first quality scoring chance in the 27th minute. Niko Tsakiris started a counterattack inside the St. Louis zone with an interception. Tsakiris found Cristian Espinoza along the right wing. Espinoza crossed the ball into the middle where a trailing Hernan Lopez’s one-timer was stoned away by St. Louis City goalkeeper Roman Buerki.

Then in the 32nd minute, another turnover by St. Louis led Lopez to spring Jeremy Ebobisse on a partial breakaway. Ebobisse’s right-footed shot was knocked up and over the net by Buerki. The resulting corner kick bounced over to Rodrigues, but his turnaround attempt didn’t muster much power and was easily controlled by Buerki.

San Jose finally broke through to cut the lead in half in the 40th minute. Espinoza found Ebobisse along the right slot and Ebobisse sent a touch pass out to Carlos Akapo to the right side of the box. Akapo centered the ball back to Ebobisse who beat Buerki with a left footed shot to the lower right corner of the net for his fifth goal of the season.

“The point of the game is to get three points,” said Ebobisse regarding the frustration of the outcome. “To be dominant or have more opportunities and not convert, it’s ok if it happens once or twice a year. If it’s happening several times, and then the games that you are out played you’re not able to steal points, you end up in the situation that we’re in right now.”

The Earthquakes had a chance for the equalizer in the 69th minute when Tanner Beason sent a long ball from inside his own zone that took a favorable bounce out to a Jack Skahan. Josh Yaro bodied Skahan inside the box resulting in Skahan’s shot just wide of the net.

Espinioza gave the Quakes their best chance to even the match in the 76th minute when he received the ball from San Jose captain Jackson Yueill, but his shot between two St. Louis City defenders from eight yards out was gobbled up by Buerki.

Buerki stopped four of the five shots he faced to earn the victory. Yarbrough didn’t make a save during the match with both shots on target were goals in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: Each team finished the match with four corner kick each.

San Jose is 0-4 against St. Louis City in all the time series.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels north of the border to take on Montreal on Saturday 9/28 at 4:30pm at Stade Saputo.

Brewers edge Giants 3-2; Contreras gets 3 hits, Mitchell takes SF deep

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Milwaukee Brewers Joey Ortiz belts a seventh inning triple against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Sep 10, 2024 (AP News photo)

Milwaukee (83-61). 200 001 000. 3. 9. 0

San Francisco (71-74) 100 001 000. 2. 4. 1

Time: 2:07

Attendance: 25,096

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

San Francisco, CA

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Rookie righthander Landen Roupp celebrated his 26th birthday this chilly Tuesday evening by making his first major league start. It came against the National League’s central division runaway leaders, the Milwaukee Brewers.

After a rocky opening frame, in which he surrendered two runs, Roupp kept the visitors off the board until he was relieved by Tristan Beck, with the Giants trailing, 2-1. The Brew Crew won, 3-2, and Roupp was charged with the loss.

Regardless of the outcome, the rookie can be proud of his performance. He lasted five innings and allowed five hits, four of them in the fatidic first, and didn’t issue a single walk. 47 of his offerings were counted as strikes.

His record now is 0-1, 3.44. San Francisco used three other hurlers. Tristan Beck gave up a 411 foot home run to Garrett Mitchell on the first pitch he threw on relieving Roupp, and that was the deciding blow of the game. Beck surrendered another two hits in his two innings on the mound. Sean Hjelle and Taylor Roger pitched an inning apiece, the former allowing one hit and the latter two walks.

Roupp’s opposite number, Aaron Civile, began the season with Tampa Bay, where he went 2-4, 5.07. After being traded to Milwaukee on July 3 he was 3-2, 3.88 until today, a combined mark of 5-8, 4.62. Like Roupp, he yielded two runs, but the Brewers’ starter left with a lead and so was never in danger of being charged with the loss.

Both runs he allowed in his 5-1/3 innnings on the mound were earned. They came on three hits, one of them a homer, and a walk. 20 of his 68 pitches were balls. Civile was the winning pitcher, making his overall record 6-8, 4.57.

He was followed by DL Hall, who walked one and struck out another in his 1-2/3 innings of work, Trevor Megill (one K in one inning), and Devin Williams, who earned his 10 save, with a one hit, one walk, two strike out ninth.

Milwaukee’s two runs in the first came on a first pitch leadoff double to right, followed by an RBI single to right by William Contreras, who advanced to third on another single to right, this one by Jake Bauers. It was Mitchell’s solo blast off Beck that gave the Brewers the deciding run

San Francisco’s two tallies came in the first and sixth innings. Mike Yastrzemski walked to start the home half of the first. Héliot Ramos forced him out at second with a ground out to third and, after Michael Conforto was caught looking at a third strike, scored on Matt Chapman’s double off the Chevron advertisement in the left field corner.

Yastrzemski’s 346 foot leadoff home run off a 76mph Civale curve in the sixth brought the Giants their second and last run. It was round tripper #14 for the year.

The Brewers almost made it 4-2 when Joey Ortiz doubled to right center and reached third when Giants’ second sacker bobbled the throw he would have relayed to Chapman. Ortiz tried to score on what would have been a wild pitch by Beck, but Patrick Bailey recovered the ball and threw Ortiz out at home. Milwaukee challenged the call, but it was upheld.

Blake Snell, on whom the Giants had pinned their hopes when they signed him during spring training, is scheduled to start Wednesday’s evening’s 6:45 game. But it’s too late for the King Street Repertory Players’ version of Waiting for Lefty.

Colin Rea (12-4, 3.72) will be on the hill for Milwaukee. The series will conclude on Thursday evening with Frankie Montás 6-10, 4.69_ on the mound for the Brewers and Hayden Birdsong (3-5, 5.19) facing them for the Giants.

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s open 9 game road trip starting in Houston Tuesday

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Oakland rightfielder Lawrence Butler (4) chases down a Detroit Tigers Spencer Torkelson fly ball to the wall in the top of the fifth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Sep 8, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 The Detroit Tigers Trey Sweeny had four hits including a home run and Tigers pitcher Ty Madden struck out seven hitters as the Tigers landslided the A’s 9-1 at the Oakland Coliseum.

#2 Madden and reliever Beau Brieske combined on a no hitter into the fifth inning. Brieske pitched the first inning and Madden put in five innings of work giving up five hits, one earned run and struck out seven.

#3 Sweeny saw the ball well Sunday with four hits and a walk as the lead off hitter. The Tigers had themselves a rally in the eighth inning with six runs.

#4 The A’s Lawrence Butler broke up the no hitter in the fifth inning with a hit and now has an 18 game hitting streak. Butler has been raking.

#5 The open a nine game road trip to Houston, and to Chicago to face the White Sox for three and the Cubs for three. The A’s will open a three game series in Houston. A’s starter RHP Osvaldo Bido (5-3, 3.41) for the Astros Spencer Arrighetti (7-12, 4.82) at Minute Maid Field on Tuesday at 5:10pm PT.

Barbara does the Oakland A’s podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Langeliers hits two homers one for a walk off edge M’s 5-4 at Coliseum on Labor day

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Oakland A’s Shea Langeliers gets the Gatorade treatment while interviewing on the Oakland Coliseum PA system talking about his walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth run against the Seattle Mariners On Mon Sep 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

Seattle (69-69). 201 001 000. 4 6 0

Athletics (60-78) 004 000 001. 5 5 0

Time: 2:40

Attendance: 12,167

Monday, September 2, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–It was a clear 73 degrees in Oakland when the famous disappearing act scheduled to open any year now in Las Vegas after a two or three year out of town opening in Sacramento took the field against the Seattle Mariners at 4:07 this Labor Day afternoon.

Two hours and 40 minutes later, the stadium lights still were on but the sun still was out, and the A’s had won, 5-4, on a stunning lead off, walk off home run by Sean Langeiers that landed just inside the left field pole, 418 feet deep. It came off a 79mph sweeper from Austin Voth.

The Mariners had sailed off to an early lead on Cal Raleigh’s 382 foot home run a third of the way up the staircase behind the A’s Community Fund sign to the right of the 367 foot sign in right field. JP Crawford, who had walked to open the game, was on first, so the A’s were in the Mariners’ wake, 2-0, before their first at bat. Two frames later, the M’s put another run on the board, Victor Robles defeated The Curse of the Leadoff double by stealing third and scoring on Julio Rodríguez’s sacrifice fly to left.

That three run lead in the third evaporated before the ending had ended. Lawrence Butler smacked a two out double to right center. Brent Rooker followed with a drive down the left field line for another two bagger, driving in Butler. Bleday worked a walk, and Langeliers launched his first long ball of the contest, his 24th of ’24, a 400 foot drive off an 89 mph Logan Gibert slider that gave the A’s a 4-3 lead.

Seattle knotted things up in the top of the sixth. With A’s starter Osvaldo Bido still on the mound, Julio Rodríguez began the frame with a single to right and promptly stole second. He stayed put when Raleigh grounded out to third but moved on to third when Randy Arozarena bounced out to second and crossed the plate on Justin Turner’s single to left.

The M’s almost took the lead in their half of the eighth. Michel Otáñez, who was pitching for the A’s, issued back to back one out walks to Justin Turner and Jorge Polano. At this point, Leo Rivas entered the game to pinch run for Turner at second.

Pinch hitter Dylan Moore went down swinging and Rivas was called out attempting to steal third. That would have ended the threat, but the relay crew in New York thought otherwise and overturned the call. Otáñez then bore down and caught Mitch Haniger, who had pinch hit for Josh Rojas two innings earlier, looking at a called strike three.

That set the scene for Langeliers’ dramatic walkoff in the bottom of the ninth.

The Athletics used five pitchers in their pursuit of the win. Osvaldo Bido went 5-1/3 innings and faced 23 batters, who reached him for four runs, all earned, on six hits, one of which went yard, and a walk. 31 of his 91 offerings were balls.

The no decision left him at 5-3, 3.52. The other four hurlers held the M’s scoreless over the remaining 3-2/3 frames. TJ McFarland allowed the Mariners a walk to close out the top of the sixth. Grant Holman struck out two and walked one in the seventh.

Otáñez struck out two and walked an equal number in the hairy eighth, and Tyler Ferugson garnered his third win against two losses by fanning all three batters he faced in the visitors’ half of the ninth.

Seattle used four moundsmen in their losing cause. Logan Gilbert allowed four runs, earned, on four hits in his six inning stint. He struck out nine and granted one free pass, throwing 95 pitches, 61 of which counted as strikes, ending the day at 7-10, 3.19).

JT Chargois and Collin Snider each faced the Athletics for an inning. Neither gave up a hit. The former fanned two; the latter, one, and also issued a walk. All you need to know about Austin Voth’s brief appearance is in the first paragraph of this report.

Justin Gray, picked up off waivers from the Marlins, made his major league debut today. He went 0 for 3 and made a pair of snazzy plays at third base.

The A’s goTuesday, at 6:40 with JT Ginn(0-0, 5.19) against Seattle’s Luis Castillo (11-12,3.65) in the second of this four game series.

A’S COME BACK TO SCORE. HR 400′ 89mph slider

Hlongwane’s brace the difference in Minnesota United 2-1 win over Earthquakes

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Minnesota United’s Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Robin Lod and Kelvin Yeboah celebrate “Bongi’s” first of two goals against the San Jose Earthquakes during their 2-1 win at Pay Pal Park on Saturday AUG 31, 2024. (Minnesota United)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Bongokuhle Hlongwane put on a show in the South Bay as his two goals were all Minnesota United needed to defeat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 on Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose has lost three out of its last four league matches. Minnestoa United has won two of its past three league matches with both wins coming against the Earthquakes.

Hlongwane recorded his brace and eventual game winning goal in the 63rd minute. “Bogi” received the ball inside the box after a long throw in. His first two attempts were kept out of the net thanks to San Jose defenders blocking each attempt. However, third time was a charm for Hlongwane as his right footed shot made it into the back of the net for his team leading 9th goal of the season.

“We scored, and they come back and capitalize on a long throw, a set piece, basically. So it’s frustrating. But again, I felt like the players didn’t quit. We tried to get that second goal. We almost did with [Daniel] Munie, actually who was really injured at the time. As long as we’re fighting and trying to equalize late, that’s all we can do,” ‘Quakes interim head coach Ian Russell said.

It didn’t take Hlongwane long to score his first goal of the match as he tallied in the ninth minute for Minnesota. Robin Lod controlled a loose ball and found Hlongwane on a diagonal run for the one-timed finish that beat ‘Quakes goalkeeper Daniel to the left side.

On the flip side for San Jose Ousseni Bouda, who played in his second match since being called up from USL’s Monterey Bay FC, was the Earthquakes best player in the first half as Minnesota United had difficulty trying to contain the young forward.

Bouda scored the equalizer for San Jose in 33rd minute. Amahl Pellegrino headed an aerial ball in the box toward a charging Bouda, whose left-footed strike beat goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair for his first league goal of the season. Bouda also scored in the US Open Cup against the Oakland Roots back on May 7th that proved to be the game winner.

Bouda almost had a second goal of his own three minutes later in the 36th minute off a header but St. Clair made a spectacular diving save to keep the score level as both teams were even at intermission.

“For me, regardless of whether it’s one minute or 90 minutes, this is what I love to do. This is my dream. I love playing for the Quakes. I just want to just give it my all, all of the time, because that’s really all I can control. Whether I miss a chance, or whether I’m in for five minutes and maybe I don’t touch the ball, just always control whatever you control. And I hope that I continue to do that, and then just keep my head down whether I’m scoring hat tricks in games or not, that’s just the mentality I aspire to have,” Bouda said.

Fullback Daniel Munie injured his hamstring late in the second half but because ‘Quakes head coach had already used his five substitutions he put Munie up front with the forwards as he didn’t want to play a man down in the final stretch.

San Jose had one last ditch effort for the second equalizer when Paul Marie came around the right wing and crossed the ball into the middle of the box, but Munie’s right footed attempt sailed high over the net in the third minute of stoppage time.

St. Clair finished one save on two shots on goal to earn the victory. Daniel made four saves in six shots on goal in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with three corner kicks. Minnesota United had eight.

The Quakes move to 5-6-4 (21 GF, 26 GA) in the all-time series against Minnesota United FC and 3-3-2 at home (13 GF, 16 GA). Not counting the two clubs’ clash in the 2020 MLS Is Back Tournament where San Jose was technically the home team but the match was held at a neutral site in Florida, tonight’s loss snapped the Quakes’ home unbeaten streak over MNUFC in San Jose at three games (1-0-2).

Pellegrino stayed hot, notching his second assist of the MLS season on Bouda’s goal. The play also marked his 10th goal contribution across all competitions and fourth in as many total games.

Forward Cristian Espinoza extended his run of consecutive MLS regular-season games played to a current league-high of 102 with his start tonight (Oct. 2, 2021 – present). The streak is not only a Quakes record but the seventh-longest in MLS history. Luis Robles holds the league record with 183 straight appearances (Sept. 29, 2012 – May 12, 2018).

UP NEXT: San Joses heads into the international break before resuming MLS regular season play on Saturday, 9/14 when they travel north of the Canadian border to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Kickoff from BC Place is set for 7:30pm.

In Their Final Season in Oakland, the A’s Are Giving The People What They Want

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By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND—The Coliseum sound system remains on point. In the mid-fifth inning break Tommy Richman’s “The Devil is A Lie” is doing what it does. Later the Foo Fighters, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. And prior to the fifth, Nelly’s “It Must Be The Money” bumped nicely, and thematically touched on the greater issue of the A’s final season in Oakland.

Initially, and through May and June, that music could have been the high point. The protests and the anger at A’s management could have been the low point. Now, as August gives way to the final September, the A’s surprising play on the field is the overriding theme.

The youthful, talent-challenged A’s could surprise and post a winning record at the Coliseum in their final season. They sit at 33-33 with 15 home games and five opponents remaining, and people want to see what they’re going to do, how they’re going to finish.

“Look at Bido, he pitched a great game,” Jerry Albright commented, from his choice seats right behind third base and home plate. “JP Sears is hitting his stride. Mason Miller’s been great.”

“We’re happy,” Albright continued. “We’re much happier.”

Albright is a true A’s fan. All he needs is green and gold uniforms in front of him, and at least one guy sitting near him to talk baseball. On Thursday afternoon, with just 5,142 people in the park, Albright had what he needed. And when I approached, I had to interrupt his enthusiasm for his team, and how swell they dispatched the Rays to even a competitive four-game series.

Albright’s taking his game to Sacramento in 2025. Two teams playing a full schedule on field turf in a burdened Triple-A stadium doesn’t compute to him. But he needs his team, and Amtrak will get him where he needs to be.

“We’re going to Sacramento,” he said. “We’re A’s fans. What are you going to do?”

Ten rows in front of Albright, reliever Jim Ferguson is anticipating his son Tyler’s entrance into the game as the A’s newly-minted setup man. Ferguson grew up loving Catfish Hunter, and his first game in the building was in the initial season in 1968. After raising Tyler in Fresno, and watching him pitch in Las Vegas, Phoenix with Diamondbacks, and a few other west coast ballparks, Jim Ferguson is back off Hegenberger Road, and he like Albright, appears to be in his element.

“Tyler’s coming in now,” he tells me in anticipation of the eighth.

The 31-year-old Ferguson worked fast and effectively. He needed just 12 pitches to retire the Rays despite surrendering a walk to Josh Lowe. Jim appeared satisfied after spending consecutive days in the park and getting to see his favorite pitcher work for six or so minutes.

“When I was here in May, we weren’t playing great ball, but we’ve made strides,” Tyler Ferguson said after the game.

Phil Peters, a few more rows closer to the A’s dugout, and joined by bookend friends, both wearing “Sell” t-shirts, was grumbling about the $50 seats and $30 parking. His guys fussed as well about not being able to change their seats when plenty of seats were obviously available. 

“There’s no one here. I’m here because I love baseball. It’s just sad,” Peters said.

The fans speak with their emotion. The players play. The actions aren’t similar, but the dynamic works. In a stadium where the sound system is the loudest thing, Mason Miller and Brent Rooker are the best things.

Lawrence Butler, JJ Bleday, Shea Langeliers, and JP Sears are stars as well in an environment that could be described theatrically. It’s a dense story, and Thursday’s winning pitcher Osvaldo Bido, Joey Estes, Zach Gelof, and Max Schuemann are scene stealers, too. Daz Cameron, Mitch Spence, and Tyler Nevin are promising actors. They, too, could one day be stars.

This is a story people want to see develop. But it’s leaving town, not for Broadway, but to some regional theater in mid-America.

The A’s open an engagement with Milwaukee on Friday. The slumping Mariners and Tigers open September, and the Yankees and Rangers close the home slate starting September 20.

This isn’t a promotional piece, but promotion is sorely needed. Oakland’s team, the A’s deserves a steady, stable audience.

Ray strikes out nine over six strong innings, Giants make it three-straight with 4-1 win over White Sox

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San Francisco Giants starter Robbie Ray struck out nine Chicago White Sox at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Aug 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Chicago White Sox 1 (30-97)

San Francisco Giants 4 (65-63)

Win: Robbie Ray (3-2)

Loss: Davis Martin (0-2)

Save: Ryan Walker (2)

Time: 2:20

Attendance: 28,766

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants have taken advantage of their easy schedule to get back on track, as Robbie Ray struck out nine over six strong innings, and the Giants beat the White Sox 4-1 to win their third-straight on Monday night at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

The Giants beat the White Sox 5-3 Tuesday night after the White Sox got the tying run to second base with two outs in the top of the ninth. It was a game that was much closer than it should have been against the historically-bad White Sox, but at least the Giants were able to get the win.

Tuesday night, the Giants looked to make it three-straight with Robbie Ray on the mound on this Tuesday night at Oracle Park. Ray started the night off with a one, two, three top of the first inning. White Sox’ starter Davis Martin also started his night with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the first.

Ray threw another one, two, three inning in the top of the second, and then the Giants got something going against Martin in the bottom of the second. Matt Chapman and Mike Yastrzemski singled to put runners at the corners with one out.

Monday night, the Giants finally got the timely RBI hits with runners in scoring position in a four-run bottom of the fifth. They weren’t able to do that in the bottom of the second Tuesday night, but Thaiuro Estrada was able to beat out the back end of a potential 5-4-3 double play, and Chapman scored to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

The White Sox had Dominic Fletcher at first with two outs for Lenyn Sosa, who hit a double that bounced off the wall in left-center field. Fletcher was waived in, and he was initially called out at the plate. However, the White Sox challenged the call, which was overturned, and the game was tied.

The Giants loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the third for Heliot Ramos, who walked to put the Giants back ahead. They had the bases loaded with nobody out and a chance to extend their lead, but being the Giants, they were unable to add on.

Both teams went down 1-2-3 in the fourth, and Ray pitched another scoreless inning in the top of the fifth.

Curt Casali led off the bottom of the fifth with a base-hit, and after Tyler Fitzgerald struck out, Martin was done. White Sox Interim Manager Grady Sizemore brought in Fraser Ellard, who immediately walked LaMonte Wade.

That put runners at first and second with one out for Ramos. Ramos knocked in a run with a bases-loaded walk his last time up in the third. Here in the fifth, he lined a base-hit up the middle that scored Casali to make it 3-1. It was the first RBI hit with a runner in scoring position for the Giants Tuesday night.

The Giants were unable to further extend their lead in the bottom of the fifth, but Ray responded with a one, two, three shutdown inning in the top of the sixth. The Giants then wasted an opportunity against Touki Toussaint in the bottom of the sixth.

Ray gave up a one-out base-hit to Gavin Sheets with one out in the top of the seventh. Ray then struck out Korey Lee, but Bob Melvin pulled him for Sean Hjelle, who got Miguel Vargas to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

Ray was good Tuesday night, and much more consistent than Kyle Harrison was Monday night. Ray gave up just a run and three hits, while striking out nine over six and two thirds innings.

It seems like the Giants’ starters have been posting a lot of high strikeout totals in starts recently. That’s because they have, as the Giants are fifth in all of Baseball in strikeouts this season with 1,123.

Toussaint was back out for the South Siders in the bottom of the seventh. Ramos walked to start the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Mark Canha then walked, too, but Matt Chapman grounded into a double play.

The good news was that Ramos was still 90 feet away at third. Mike Yastrzemski got Ramos in with a ground-rule double that got stuck underneath the side wall down the right field line, and that made it 4-1.

Submariner Tyler Rogers pitched a scoreless top of the eighth, which would have been a one, two, three inning had Dominic Fletcher not reached on catcher’s interference to start the inning. Gus Varland then threw a one, two, three bottom of the eighth for the White Sox.

Ryan Walker didn’t pitch two innings last night, and in fact, he didn’t pitch it all last night, which meant he was free to pitch tonight. Walker indeed came in for the top of the ninth, and he struck out the side in a one, two, three inning to close it out.

Robbie Ray got the win; Davis Martin got the loss; and Ryan Walker picked up his second save.

A win is a win, but it would have been nice had the Giants done better than going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position tonight. I am going to keep harping on that, because the Giants getting their act together and getting consistent key RBI hits with runners in scoring position is the only way they will be able to make a run at the Playoffs in September.

The Giants improve to 65-63, but they remain three and a half games back of the Braves for the third wild card. The Braves beat the Phillies 3-1 in Atlanta.

Wednesday, the Giants can get the sweep; win their fourth-straight; and get back to their season-high three games over .500 on a Wednesday getaway game. Giants’ ace Logan Webb (11-8, 3.17 ERA) will make what seems to be a rare start after a win, and he will be opposed by left-hander Garrett Crochet (6-9, 3.61 ERA). First pitch will be at 12:45 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Padres 72-55 +4.0
  2. Diamondbacks 71-56 +3.0
  3. Braves 67-58 —

Mets 65-61 2.5

GIANTS 65-63 3.5

Giants News and Notes:

Patrick Bailey was placed on the Injured List prior to Tuesday night’s game due to a right oblique strain. Catcher Jakson Reetz was called back up.

The St. Louis Cardinals released former Giant shortstop Brandon Crawford. Crawford, 37, was unable to get a major league deal from the Giants, but he got one from the Cardinals and signed during Spring Training. In just 28 games, Crawford hit .169, going 12-for-71 with one home run and just four RBIs.

With the Giants’ connection to their former players, especially those from the world championship teams of 2010, 2012 and 2014, you can’t help but wonder if a potential reunion could be in the works.