Category: Uncategorized

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, May 8, 2014

The Oakland Athletics had Thursday off and start a three-game home interleague series against the Washington Nationals.

On Sunday, the A’s will host their 16th annual Breast Cancer Awareness Day to honor those who have courageously battled breast cancer. In a pregame ceremony, more than 350 Bay Area breast cancer survivors will form a symbolic human pink ribbon on the field. A breast cancer survivor raffle will determine who throws out the ceremonial first pitch.

For the 11th straight year, the Athletics will donate $5,000 as part of “A Gift of Faith” grant to Pink Access Foundation in memory of Faith Fancher, the late KTVU Channel 2 reporter.

Pink Access Foundation is a Bay Area nonprofit organization that raises funds to fight cancer in disadvantaged communities.

Proceeds from the sale of commemorative pins, hats, pink jerseys and head ribbon pendants, an A’s autographed quilt raffle tickets, and varied fan and sponsor support will benefit the American Cancer Society.

Since 1990, the Athletics have raised more than $1.3 million to assist with breast cancer education and research.

By Jeremy Harness

Well, at least there’s one team in the Bay Area that is able to beat LA.

The Giants shook off the sting of the Pittsburgh loss pretty quickly. When you think about it, however, it’s not like they had a whole lot of time to think about it, either.

Following the Wednesday defeat to the Pirates at PNC Park, the Giants flew across the country in time to meet the Dodgers in Los Angeles Thursday night. The lack of a layoff certainly paid off for the Giants, as they came back to beat the Dodgers, 3-1, in 10 innings.

The Giants got a great outing from starter Ryan Vogelsong, who went 7 1/3 innings and gave up only a run on five hits against a potent Dodgers lineup.

“He threw the heck out of it,” Brandon Hicks said of Vogelsong. “I thought for a while that he was going to throw a no-hitter. He had it going tonight.”

He got a huge save from his bullpen after he gave up a pinch-hit single to Chone Figgins in the eighth. Jeremy Affeldt made a great fielding play to get Dee Gordon while Santiago Casilla got Yasiel Puig swinging after a long battle at the plate to end the inning.

Casilla was not done, however. With closer Sergio Romo warming up in the bullpen, Casilla went through the heart of the lineup and had considerable help in doing so. Shortstop Brandon Crawford made a fantastic diving stop to nail Hanley Ramirez while Hicks ranged well to his right in shallow right field to get Adrian Gonzalez.

The righty finished off the inning himself, as he struck out Matt Kemp to send the game into extra innings.

The Giants had a big opportunity in the 10th inning, as Angel Pagan and Hunter Pence each reached base with one out, forcing reliever Jamey Wright to have to pitch to Buster Posey.

Posey worked the count to 3-0 before Wright fought back to get it to 3-2, with Posey fouling off a couple of pitches before coaxing a walk out of Wright to load the bases.

Hector Sanchez capitalized for the Giants by launching one to the warning track in right field, plenty deep enough to score Pagan from third, before Brandon Belt brought Pence in with a single through the left side of the infield to give the Giants a 3-1 lead.

The Giants had trailed 1-0 in the seventh inning before Hicks, who has quickly been known to get the big hit, connected for a solo home run off Dodgers starter Josh Beckett, who himself had a great performance in giving up only that one run on five hits over 6 2/3 innings.

by George Devine, Sr.

By George Devine, Sr.

As a hometown crowd in Oklahoma City chanted “MVP! MVP!” at Kevin Durant, he and his Thunder teammates overcame the Los Angeles Clippers to tie the second round playoff series at a game apiece. The final score of 112-101 represented the home team’s surge in the third and fourth quarters, but it was a tight contest until halftime and beyond., with L.A. leading at one point in the second period.

Durant — who received his MVP trophy before the game — was the crowd’s favorite, and the top scorer with 32, 17 of those points in the first period. Russell Westbrook was just behind him with 31, contributing 10 boards and 4 assists. Serge Ibaka and Thabo Sefoloska — typically a defensive standout — had 14 each.

For the Clippers, J.J. Redick had 18 points despite being guarded effectively. by Sefoloska. Blake Griffin had 15; Chris Paul led his teammates by scoring 17, and contributed 11 assists.

Game 3 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PDT at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

By Jeremy Harness

The Warriors have fired head coach Mark Jackson after three seasons at the helm, amid internal strife and strife.

The firing comes after the Warriors finished a season during which the team won 51 games and made the playoffs for a second straight year before losing to the Los Angeles Clippers in seven games.

According to numerous reports, the reason behind the dismissal was the fact the Jackson did not get along with team management, particularly owner Joe Lacob.

Jackson had issues with some of his assistant coaches in the past season, including Brian Scalabrine, whom Jackson re-assigned to the Warriors’ D-League affiliate due to “differences in philosophy.”

Regarding the short list of candidates, the Warriors are reportedly looking at Steve Kerr as well as Stan Van Gundy.

By Jeremy Kahn

In one of the most bizarre ways to lose a game it happened to the San Francisco Giants in the second game of their four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Sterling Marte tripled off the right field wall, Hunter Pence got the ball into Ehire Adrianza, who in turn threw to Pablo Sandoval; however the throw form Adrianza got by Sandoval and Marte attempted to score from third base.

Originally, Marte was called out by home plate umpire Quinn Walcott; however after the play was reviewed via instant replay, the call was reversed and the Pirates ended up winning the game 2-1 at PNC Park.

Adrianza was charged with a throwing error on the play that got by Sandoval.

The win ended the Giants six-game winning streak, their longest win streak of the short 2014 season and it also gave Tim Hudson probably one of the hardest losses of his major league career.

Hudson went 8.2 innings, allowing two runs (one of them earned), walked one and struck out five, as he saw his record fall to 4-2 on the season.

Adrianza gave the Giants a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, as he hit a sacrifice fly that scored Brandon Belt from third base.

That would be the lead for all of one-half inning, as Tony Sanchez grounded out to third base that scored Marte from third base.

Charlie Morton pitched an outstanding game for the Pirates, as he went eight innings, allowing one run on just three hits, walking one and striking out three; however he did not fare in the decision.

Tony Watson pitched one inning of two hit ball, also struck out a batter and upped his record to 3-0 on the 2014 season.

By George Devine, Sr.

The Oklahoma City Thunder had a couple of things going in their favor for the first game of Round 2 in the NBA playoffs. For one thing, they were on paper a stronger team than the Los Angeles Clippers. For another, they had home court advantage. But the Clippers dominated throughout the evening — at one point in the second quarter leading by 24 — and won 122-105.

In the visitors’ favor was their gritty capture of Round 1 in seven games, all but one of them close, against the Golden State Warriors. In addition, they had faced and moved on from the controversies surrounding embattled team owner Donald Sterling. Moreover, they responded positively to the singular leadership skills of coach Doc Rivers.

Chris Paul led the scoring for Los Angeles, with 32 points including 8 treys, a career record. In addition, he contributed 10 assists. Blake Griffin was good for 25 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds. Jamal Crawford had 17 points and J.J. Redick 12. The Clips shot 54.9% and were 51.7% on three-pointers. Their free throw percentage was well below NBA standards, at 56.7%, and they made 9 turnovers, half as many as the home team. 23 of L.A.’s points were from the 18 turnovers by the Thunder.

Russell Westbrook scored 29 points for OKC, but committed 6 of the turnovers. He also had 4 boards and 4 assists. Kevin Durant scored 25 and also had 4 rebounds and 4 assists, but committed 3 of his team’s turnovers. Serge Ibaka was good for 12 points and 6 rebounds.

Game 2 in the series, also at Oklahoma City, is set for 6:30 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, May 7.

By Jeremy Kahn

Brandon Crawford entered Sunday afternoon’s game for the San Francisco Giants with just one home run, and when the game was over, his day ended with three home runs.

Crawford, for the first time in his major league career hit two home runs, as the Giants defeated the Atlanta Braves 4-1 at Turner Field.

With the victory, the Giants won for the fifth consecutive game and completed their first three-game sweep against the Braves in Atlanta since 1988.

Madison Bumgarner won for the first time since April 11, as he went six solid innings, allowing an unearned run, three hits and struck out nine, as he evened his record at 3-3 on the season.

Closer Sergio Romo was given the day off after saving the first two games of the series, and Santiago Casilla was able to notch his first save of the season.

Crawford gave the Giants the lead for good in the top of the fourth inning, as he hit a solo home run off of Braves starter Alex Wood. Crawford added a two-run home run off of reliever Jordan Walden in the top of the eighth inning.

It was the fourth straight loss for Wood, who gave up two runs on seven hits, allowing a walk in five innings of work, as the Braves lost for the sixth straight game, their longest losing streak since losing eight in a row in May of 2012.

Once again, the Giants got on the board in the top of the first inning, as Hunter Pence doubled with one out, advanced to third on a Wood wild pitch and scored the initial run of the game on a Buster Posey groundout.

Originally on the Posey groundout, Even Gattis was charged with catcher’s interference, and Pence was forcedd to return to third base; however Giants manager Bruce Bochy look to Rule 6.08c, which allows a manager to take the live play instead of the interference ruling.

Jason Heyward drove in the Braves only run of the game, as he hit a sacrifice fly to tie up the game in the bottom of the third inning.

By Jeremy Kahn

Once again, like in the opener of the three-game series against the Atlanta Braves, the San Francisco Giants were backed up by the long ball and a starting pitcher that wants to make to a statement.

Brandon Belt, Michael Morse and Buster Posey each hit solo home runs, while Ryan Vogelsong pitched his second consecutive strong game and the Giants defeated the Braves 3-1 at Turner Field.

The Giants have won four in a row, and eight out of their last nine, while their opponents, the Braves, who are the reigning National League Eastern Division Champions have lost five in a row, their longest losing streak in two seasons.

By hitting three more home runs in the game, the Giants have now hit home runs in 10 straight games, their longest such streak in nearly four years.

Vogelsong allowed just one run in six innings of work, while giving up five hits, walking four and striking out six, as he won for the first time this season.

A trio of relievers helped nail the victory for the Giants, as Jeremy Affeldt allowed one walk in one inning, Jean Machi pitched a perfect eighth inning and Sergio Romo picked up his ninth save in nine opportunities this season.

Julio Teheran allowed a season-high three runs on just four hits on the evening for the Braves, but unfortunately three of those hits were home runs by Belt, Morse and Posey.

After Belt gave the Giants the lead in the top of the second inning, B.J. Upton doubled the Braves lone run of the night that scored Jason Heyward in the bottom of the third inning.

Posey then led off of the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run which proved to the game-winner, as he is now
6-for-8 versus Teheran in his career.

Morse put the finishing touches on the scoring, as he hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning.

By Jeremy Kahn

Michael Morse and Angel Pagan helped get the San Francisco Giants 10-game road trip off to a great start with two swings of the bat.

Pagan led off the game for the second time this week with a home run, and Morse added a solo blast to the opposite field in the top of the sixth inning and the Giants defeated the Atlanta Braves 2-1 at Turner Field.

With the victory, the Giants have won seven out of their last eight and increase their lead in the National League West to two games over the Los Angeles Dodgers, who lost to the Miami Marlins at Marlins Ballpark by the final score of 6-3.

Tim Lincecum won his second game of the season, as he went six innings, allowing one run on three walks and striking out four.

The win by the Giants spoiled the season debut of Mike Minor, who missed the first month of the season with tendinitis in his left (pitching) shoulder.

Minor allowed both home runs to Morse and Pagan, gave up seven hits, did not walk a batter and struck out four in six innings of work.

Lincecum gave up his only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning after he walked Gerald Laird, went to second on a Jason Heyward single and then scored on a Freddie Freeman RBI single.

Once again, it was the Giants bullpen that huge in the end, as Jeremy Affeldt, Santiago Casilla and Sergio Romo closed out the victory and continued to lead the majors in earned run average with a 1.98 ERA.

Casilla was able to get Chris Johnson to strikeout to end the seventh inning with runners on first and second base, and then retired the Braves in order to end the eighth.

Romo came on in the bottom of the ninth, as he got Evan Gattis and Heyward on groundouts to start the inning, but then B.J. Upton singled and Freddie Freeman walked.

However Romo was able to get out of the jam, as he struck out Justin Upton looking to end the game and pickup his eighth save in as many opportunities this season.