Category: Uncategorized

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, April 17, 2014

The AL West Division leading Oakland Athletics had Thursday off as they prepare to face a couple of division foes as part of their upcoming homestand.

Houston visits the Coliseum for a weekend three-game series, followed by a three-game weekday set as Texas makes its first visit of the season to the Bay Area.

On Saturday, A’s fans will receive a Josh Donaldson bobblehead, and the first pitch will be thrown by Marcos Garcia, brother of Diego Garcia, a lifelong A’s fan who was killed by a drunk driver this past offseason.

A’s fans will also have an old fashioned doubleheader to look forward to on Wednesday, May 7, when Oakland hosts Seattle. The first game starts at 12:35 p.m., and the second game starts 30 minutes later. The extra game was rescheduled from an April 4 postponement.

The team reports that fans holding April 4 tickets can redeem the paid value to another A’s home game during the 2014 regular season, including the May 7 doubleheader (subject to ticket availability).

As a thank you to fans that were inconvenienced by the April 4 postponement, the Athletics are offering a four complimentary tickets per account to a game during the May 5-7 Seattle series. Those fans will be sent an email outlining instructions to redeem their tickets. The deadline to redeem those April 4 tickets is Wednesday, April 30, at 11:59 p.m.

Comcast SportsNet California will televise both games of the May 7 doubleheader.

By Tony Renteria

The Sacramento Kings (28-54) ended the 2014 season by losing to the Phoenix Suns (48-34) on a warm Wednesday night Sleep Train Arena.  The Kings took a lead into the fourth quarter but they were unable to hold on and lost 104-99.

The Kings were led by rookie Ben McLemore who scored 31 points and chipped in five rebounds and five assists. DeMarcus Cousins did not play, Isaiah Thomas and Rudy Gay played limited minutes.

The Suns head into the playoffs behind reserve guard and rookie Archie Goodwin who scored 29 points.

The Kings will look toward the draft and free agency to add to a roster that has potential for 2015.

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Hector Sanchez came up as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the ninth inning, and stayed in the game for Buster Posey and everyone is glad he did stay in the game.

Sanchez lined a single to right-center field in the bottom of the 12th inning off of Brandon League to score Brandon Crawford from third base, as the San Francisco Giants came back to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 before a sellout crowd of 42,469 at AT&T Park.

Crawford singled to center field with one out, advanced to second on a wacky ground out off the bat of Brandon Hicks, that bounced off of Juan Uribe at third, over to Hanley Ramirez at shortstop, who in turn threw to Adrian Gonzalez at first base for the second out of the inning.

After a wild pitch by League that allowed Crawford move to third base, Sanchez delivered the game-winning hit that sent the remaining Giants fans home happy.

Justin Turner hit a Javier Lopez pitch up the middle just past Crawford and into centerfield with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead over the Giants.

The Turner basehit off of Lopez scored Uribe, who doubled to leadoff the inning against Jean Machi.

It was the second run of the evening scored by Uribe, as he got the Dodgers on the board in the top of the second inning with one swing of the bat.

Uribe hit a solo home run off of Tim Lincecum with two outs in the top of the second inning to get the Dodgers on the board.

In all, Lincecum went five innings, allowing just that one run on five hits, did not walk a batter and struck out five on the evening.

Josh Beckett also pitched five innings for the Dodgers, as he did not allow a run, just two hits, walked five and struck out four.

The Giants blew multiple chances to get on the board, as they left the bases loaded in both the fourth, fifth and tenth innings respectively.

It must have been something in the air, as the Dodgers also left the bases loaded in the top of the fourth inning against Lincecum.

After a Hunter Pence single to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning, Michael Morse hit what looked like to be a sure fire double play; however Hanley Ramirez’s throw to Dee Gordon at second base was low and Pence was safe at second.

Pence then advanced an extra 90 feet, as reliever Chris Withrow’s pitch got by Tim Federowicz, while Morse stayed on first.

That was a huge 90 feet that Pence advanced, as Brandon Crawford then hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield and Pence jogged in from third base without a throw to tie up the game.

In honor of the 67th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball, all on-field personnel wore Robinson’s number 42 that was retired by Major League Baseball in 1997.

Prior to the game, Giants Hall of Famer broadcaster Jon Miller, and Dodgers Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully, who is in his 65th season with the Dodgers announced the starting lineups.

Also during the on-field ceremony, a letter was read by public address announcer Renel Brooks-Moon via former Giants outfielder Monte Irvin, who was unable to make it to the game.

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Brandon Crawford grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and a fan of the San Francisco Giants, but what he did in the finale of this series was probably extra special.

Crawford hit his first home run of the season off of Rex Brothers, as the Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 5-4 in 10 innings before a sellout crowd of 41,490, the 252nd consecutive sellout at AT&T Park.

It was the first ever walk-off home run for the shortstop, and to make it even more special, the home run landed in McCovey Cove, the 64th Splash Hit since the ballpark opened on April 11, 2000

Tim Hudson pitched 7.1 strong innings, allowing three runs on five hits, walking no one and striking out five; however he did not fare in the decision.

Wilin Rosario got the Rockies on the board in the top of the second inning, he launched a Hudson pitch into the left field seats for his first home run of the 2014 season.

Angel Pagan hit a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning, putting the Giants into the lead and then Pablo Sandoval hit his second home run of the season.

Crawford drove in the Giants first run of the afternoon with a sacrifice fly to center field that score Hunter Pence from third base.

After falling behind the Giants by three runs entering the top of the seventh inning, Rockies newcomer Justin Morneau hit his first home run of the season.

The Rockies got back into the game in the top of the eighth inning, as Nolan Arenado doubled down the left field line, and then D.J. LeMahieu doubled in Arenado, after a groundout by pinch-hitter Brandon Barnes that advanced LeMahieu to third base and then Drew Stubbs singled out of the reach of Sandoval to tie up the game.

With Stubbs on first base, Carlos Gonzalez drove a ball into the hole; however Brandon Hicks was able to snag the ball, regrouped and threw out Gonzalez at first base to end the inning.

Troy Tulowitzki walked to lead off the top of the ninth inning, Morneau then flew out for the first out of the inning and then Rosario hit into a inning-ending double play.

Gregor Blanco nearly pulled off the same exciting play in the bottom of the ninth that Angel Pagan did last May 25, as Blanco almost hit a walk-off inside-the-park home run; however he was thrown out at the plate on a great relay from Cuddyer to LeMahieu to Rosario, who tagged Blanco out at the plate.

Sergio Romo pitched the 10th inning to pickup his first win of the season, allowing a single to LeMahieu, but the second baseman was caught stealing when Buster Posey threw him out after Josh Rutledge struck out.

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, April 12, 2014

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Playing out the string is one of the more difficult tasks in professional sports. It’s the end of a long season, and, usually, there’s nothing to play for.

Fortunately for both the San Jose Sharks and the Phoenix – soon to be Arizona – Coyotes, that string, for this season, is a short one.

In a game both coaches called “a no-hitter,” San Jose struck early and held on for a 3-2 win before an announced crowd of 15,438 at Jobing.com Arena.

The Coyotes were mathematically eliminated from a playoff berth on Friday, when Dallas defeated St. Louis 3-0, ending the Stars’ six-season postseason drought. With the Blues’ win on Friday and Phoenix’s Saturday loss, Sunday’s game between the Stars and Coyotes does little more than fulfill the league’s schedule obligation.

“We’ll be taking a good look at our young guys, and playing for pride,” Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said of his team’s season finale. “That’s about it.”

Sharks coach Todd McLellan said, “I’m glad this one’s over. This was a tough one to watch, with turnovers and the casualness. It was a no-hitter from both teams, which benefited us, obviously, because we get to keep going.

“Now, we get to start working at putting our focus on playoff hockey.”

The Sharks were trying to keep everyone healthy for their Stanley Cup opening round series against the Los Angeles Kings. San Jose finished its regular season with 111 points (51-22-9).

“It’s going to be a great series,” Sharks center Joe Thornton said. “It’s going to be a good, tight, physical series, a good defensive series. We’re looking forward to it.”

In San Jose’s regular-season finale, Joe Pavelski scored twice in the first period – goals Nos. 40 and 41 on the season – to give the Sharks a 2-0 lead.
Pavelski’s first goal, a power play tally 3:43 of the period, came on a wrist shot that beat Coyotes rookie goaltender Mark Visenten while Paul Bissionette was serving a minor for slashing.

“It was nice that the goal came right away in the game,” Pavelski said. “Getting that (40th) goal was cool, but winning this game and going into the playoffs with back-to-back wins is nice. We’ll prepare now for a big challenge that’s ahead for us.”

McLellan said there was “some thought” to giving Pavelski a rest, but noted, “we didn’t have a lot of options.”

“When you look at our forward situation, there was no need to rest him, he was playing well,” McLellan said. “He looked energized.

“We thought about resting Joe, but with Thomas Hertl coming back and the moves we had to make, we didn’t have any extra people. So, (Pavelski) played, he was rewarded for it, and we’re happy for him.”

On the second goal, Pavelski, shooting from the left circle, found a crevice between the pipe and Visentin’s right arm.

“It was nice to get Joe that 40th goal. That’s a big accomplishment,” Thornton said. “It’s nice to get that and build some confidence going into the playoffs.

Phoenix cut the Sharks lead to 2-1 at 10:22 of the second period. Mike Ribiero was parked in the slot, took a feed from Radim Vrbata and flipped it past San Jose keeper Antti Niemi on the glove side. It was Ribiero’s 16 goal of the season.

San Jose made it 3-1 in the opening minute of the third period, when Logan Couture cruised through the slot and used his backhand to redirect a pass from Dan Boyle, beating Visentin, who found himself out of position to handle the shot past his glove side. Boyle also assisted Pavelski’s first goal.

But the Coyotes came back 31 seconds later, when Shane Doan fired a one-timer from the right circle past Niemi on the stick side. Doan’s 22nd goal of the season cut the Phoenix deficit to 3-2.

Niemi shut the door after that, denying the Coyotes the elusive equalizer and finishing with 30 saves – 25 of them in the second and third periods. Visentin, making his NHL debut after being called up from AHL Portland, stopped 29 of 32 San Jose shots.

“We needed Niemi to play a game like that,” McLellan said. “It wasn’t like we cruised though it and I thought he made some great saves.”

The final minute encapsulated the Coyotes’ season. With Visentin pulled in favor of a sixth attacker, Keith Yandle was called for hooking penalty with 14 seconds left in an empty net situation.

SHARK BITES: Joe Pavelski’s 41 goals in a single season is fourth-best in Sharks history, trailing only Jonathan Cheechoo (56 in 2005-06), Patrick Marleau (44 in 2009-10) and Owen Nolan (44 in 1999-2000). Pavelski was tied with Dany Heatley (39 in 2009-10) going into Saturday’s finale. … The Sharks are 62-46-7-9 against the Winnipeg/Phoenix franchise.

(TAGS: San Jose Sharks,Phoenix Coyotes,NHL,Sports Radio Service,Daniel Dullum)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-After seeing what Madison Bumgarner did in the opener of the three-game series, Matt Cain attempted to duplicate the feat; however it was not meant to be.

Troy Tulowitzki drove in the only run of the game with a sacrifice fly to right field in the top of the fourth inning, as the Colorado Rockies defeated the San Francisco Giants 1-0 before a sellout crowd of 41,917, the 251st consecutive sellout at AT&T Park.

Depsite the loss, Matt Cain went a strong seven innings, allowing just that one run, scattering four hits, walking three and striking out eight.

Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval and Brandon Crawford picked up the only three hits for the Giants, as the Rockies were able to shut down the Giants offense.

The first real rally for the Giants came in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Sandoval doubled, Buster Posey then walked; however Michael Morse grounded into a double play and then Hector Sanchez struck out to end the inning.

Crawford doubled with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Brandon Hicks came off the bench to pinch hit for Jean Machi and walked against Rex Brothers.

After a fly out by Angel Pagan, Pence walked to load the bases and then Sandoval came to the plate with a chance to give the Giants the lead; however he struck out on a ball in the dirt to end the inning and the threat.

Brett Anderson started the game for the Rockies, but was forced to leave the game after just three innings due to a contusion on his left index finger.

Anderson gave up just one hit, walking one and striking out two.

Tommy Kahnle, Matt Belisle, Adam Ottavino, Rex Brothers and LaTroy Hawkins combined to allow two hits, walking two and striking out five in relief of the injured Anderson.

Hawkins picked up his second save of the season, as he was able to retire the Giants in order in the bottom of the ninth inning.

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Madison Bumgarner not only pitched a good enough for his second win of the 2014 season, but he helped out his own cause at the plate.

Bumgarner drove in the first run of the game with a long sacrifice fly to left field that Carlos Gonzalez caught at the left-center field wall, but it was the at-bat in the bottom of the fourth inning that shocked the crowd at AT&TPark.

The 24-year old hit a Jorge De La Rosa offering deep into the left field bleachers in the bottom of the fourth inning for his third career home run, and first career grand slam and the San Francisco Giants came back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Colorado Rockies by the final score of 6-5 before a sellout crowd of 41,707, the 250th consecutive sellout at AT&T Park.

It was the first grand slam by a Giants pitcher since Shawn Estes connected for one on May 24, 2000.

“It felt pretty good,” said Bumgarner about the swing that he connected on the grand slam versus De La Rosa to give the Giants.

The last time was Bumgarner hit a grand slam was while he was in the minor leagues.

Bumgarner’s grand slam came after Pablo Sandoval singled to lead off the inning, Michael Morse then walked, after fly out to centerfield by Hector Sanchez, then Brandon Belt struck out for the second out of inning, Brandon Hicks then was hit by a pitch to load the bases, then Brandon Crawford walked to score Sandoval and then Bumgarner launched the first pitch he saw from De La Rosa into the left field bleachers to give the Giants a 6-3 lead.

Crawford led off the inning with a triple into the big part of the ballpark that is known as Triples Alley, a whopping 421 feet from home plate.

Bumgarner pitched six innings, allowing four runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out seven and won for the second time this season without a loss.

His counterpart, De La Rosa pitched 4.1 innings, allowing six runs, scattering just four hits, walking two and striking out six, as he fell to 0-2 on the young season.

While Josh Rutledge was being picked off at first base by Bumgarner, who threw to Belt and in turn threw to Crawford, who tagged out Rutledge, Brandon Barnes was scoring from third base.

Barnes led off the game with a single off of Bumgarner, advanced to third on a single by Rutledge and then scored while Rutledge was picked off.

Carlos Gonzalez then gave the Rockies a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning, as he planted a Bumgarner offering into San Francisco Bay, also known as McCovey Cove that scored Rutledge just in front of him.

Rutledge singled for the second time in as many at-bats, and then Gonzalez sent one into the water for his fourth home run of the season.

Sergio Romo came in top of the ninth inning, and proceeded to strike out the side for his third save of the season.

By Morris Phillips

Somewhere near the intersection of the circling seagulls and the empty seats, it got away from the Giants on Thursday.  Too little offense after the fifth inning, not enough good pitching early and shoddy defense throughout and the Giants fell short, losing to Arizona 6-5 in 10 innings. 

“We just let the game get away,” manager Bruce Bochy said.  “Especially when you come back the way we did.”

The Giants fell into a first-place tie with the Dodgers with the loss, as the NL West rivals have been scintillating on the road, and not so good at home thus far.  The Giants dropped two of their first three at AT&T Park as the questions regarding their starting rotation continued, while their offense has been surprisingly productive. 

Ryan Vogelsong gave up a pair of runs in both the second and third innings before settling in and pitching into the sixth inning.  Miguel Montero’s two-run double off Vogelsong in the third put Arizona up 4-1, but the Giants clawed right back.   After single runs in the third and fourth, Michael Morse delivered a two-run double into the right-field power-alley to give the Giants their first lead, 5-4.

But that would cap the Giants’ scoring as four Diamondbacks’ relievers shut the door over the final five innings.  The Giants didn’t help themselves in the field either as they committed three errors, including Pablo Sandoval’s airmail job on a throw in the eighth inning that sailed over first baseman Brandon Belt and allowed Gerardo Parra to score the tying run.

“He got into rush mode there,” Bochy said of Sandoval’s errant throw.

The D’Backs pushed across the game winner in the 10^th off Yusmeiro Petit when Tony Campana singled home Chad Pennington with two outs. 

The Giants return to the park on Friday to take on the Rockies with Madison Bumgarner facing Jorge De La Rosa at 7:15pm.