Category: Uncategorized

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Ballpark Deal between A’s and Tropicana in Vegas could fall through

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Tropicana Hotel is under construction even if the Oakland A’s deal fall through Bally’s plans to continue working on the property. The Tropicana towers are scheduled to be demoed by April 2025 ballpark or no ballpark according to reports. (Photo by Sports Radio Service on Fri Apr 8, 2024)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Things are changing around for the Oakland A’s and owner John Fisher. The price on the Tropicana ballpark in Las Vegas has gone up 20% according to developers, those working on the project in Las Vegas and according to Alex Espinoza at the Rickey Blog.

#2 Already Fisher is trying to get $500 million to pay for his share of the construction costs which he was looking for investors to help him out with there has been nothing but crickets since that was announced about a month ago. The cost of building the ballpark goes up every day every week as there is no plans on the drawing board how this is going to get started.

#3 It was also reported that Las Vegas developers and investors say that is very unlikely that Fisher will sign a binding stadium agreement and makes a deposit for $100 million for the Tropicana ballpark unless he can find partners or investors to help pay for the deposit which Bally’s who runs the Tropicana can not afford to pay the $100 million.

#4 The report continues saying that John Fisher needs to get a new partner for construction because Balley’s needs to complete construction on the project. Bally’s needs to have the deposit from Fisher and the A’s or the A’s loses it’s authority to develop the Tropicana site and the ballpark. Which would mean the A’s would have to start the process all over again.

#5 The report continues that the Tropicana will continue to be demolished but it hasn’t nothing to do with the ballpark. The deal between Bally’s and the A’s could fall through and the A’s who are out of Oakland at the end of the 2024 season are supposed to start playing interim games in Sacramento on artificial turf starting in 2025 that scenario could also turn ugly if the players complain about playing on turf.

Jeremiah Salmonson is podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

w

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Giants Ramos, Webb; A’s Miller, excited to be All Stars; Braves Ozuna an All Star for third time; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb (left) and catcher Patrick Baily (right) discuss strategy against the Atlanta Braves during Webb’s last outing on Thu Jul 4, 2024 at Truist Field in Cobb County GA. Webb has been selected to represent the Giants with teammate Heliot Ramos at the 2024 All Star Game in Arlington. (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury didn’t get a chance to ask you about the San Francisco Giants All Star selections with Heliot Ramos and Logan Webb. Ramos is hitting .299 with 63 hits, 12 home runs, 41 RBIs. Webb is 7-6, ERA 3.09. Talk about the season they’re having.

#2 Oakland A’s reliever Mason Miller has been selected to represent the Oakland A’s at the All Star Game. Miller is 1-1, ERA 2.39 has been lights out in relief and has consistently thrown over 100 MPH to opposing hitters to get 14 saves.

#3 For the third time Atlanta Braves Marcell Ozuna will be participating in the 2024 All Star Home Run Derby. Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr will be making his first appearance at the Home Run Derby. Ozuna and Witt were already to scheduled to play in the All Star Game but were selected for the Home Run Derby.

#4 Maybe it would have been better for former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Raul Mondesi has been sentenced in the Dominican Republic for corruption. Mondesi was mayor of the Dominican town of San Cristobal. Mondesi was sentenced six years and nine months for embezzling up to $5 million during his time as mayor between 2010-2016.

#5 New York Mets Pete Alonso will participate in his fifth straight home run derby. Alonso is trying to win for a third time. Alonso says that if he wins he plans to help donate to the Wounded Warrior Project and Tunnel of Towers and help refurbish amateur baseball fields.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Ramos and Webb represent Giants at All Star Game; Slater dealt to Reds

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos was selected with teammate pitcher Logan Webb for the 2024 All Star Game in Arlington Texas. The selection was announced Sun Jul 7, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 Marko, just wanted to open the show asking about your reaction to Heliot Ramos and Logan Webb selected to represent the Giants at this year’s All Star Game.

#2 The Giants dealt outfielder Austin Slater to the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. Slater hit .200, 18 hits and one home run. Was the main reason for dealing for Slater a lack of hitting and hitting for average. Did you see this move coming and were you surprised?

#3 Marko, going into the Cleveland series the Giants knew they would have their hands full as the Guardians had a home series record of 11-0-1 so far this season.

#4 Michael Conforto hit a two run home run but it wasn’t enough as the Giants have now lost seven of their last eight day games.

#5 The Giants return back to San Francisco to host the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night for a 6:40pm PT first pitch. The Jays will be starting Yusei Kikuchi (4-8, ERA 4.12) vs. the Giants Blake Snell (0-3, ERA 9.51).

Join Marko for the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Six run forth gives Ballers 14-9 win over Wheelers at Raimondi Park

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

There were plenty of Oakland Ballers at Raimondi Park in West Oakland who picked up a five run win over the Yolo High Wheelers on Sun Jul 7, 2024 (photo by the Oakland Ballers)

Yolo High Wheelers ((18-21) 040 050 000 9 9 2

Oakland Ballers (24-18) 004 611 20x 14 15 2

Time: 3:40

Attendance: 1,103

Sunday, July 7, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

WEST OAKLAND–Turnabout is fair play. What goes around comes around. History repeats itself, the first time as tragedy; the second as farce. Choose your cliché, this weekend’s battles royal between the Pioneer League’s two most recent entries had it.

Saturday afternoon, the Oakland Ballers fell behind their rivals from Davis 4-0 in the second inning. Yolo added two runs in each of the following three frames to amass a seemingly insurmountable 10-0 lead when the Ballers came to bat in the bottom of the fifth. They put a four spot on the board then and tacked on six more in the seventh to even the score only to run out of steam and fall 13-10.

That was a tough loss and a tough act to follow.

But the Ballers bounced back this Sunday afternoon, winning going away, 14-9, in ways that frequently harked back to Saturday’s debacle.

It started with another fearsome fourth run top of the second, which was particularly unsettling because the Wheelers also had posted a quartet of second inning tallies not just on Saturday, but on Friday as well. Sunday night’s featured a solo home run by Yolo’s DH, Justin Kirby, two singles—one of them on a bunt—, a double, and a misplay Myles Jefferson, usually a shortstop but playing second today.

It originally had been scored a hit but after much discussion was reclassified as an error. It was fitting that the game would end with Jefferson, who was moved back to his normal position in the top of the eighth, would pull off a beautiful play at short, for the game’s final out.

But the worm turned Sunday. Oakland answered Yolo’s attack with a counter offensive that evened the score in the third. A Payton Harden single, followed by an Austin Davis double off the left field wall and Trevor Halsema’s sac fly to left kick started the Oakland comeback. It continued with two way player JP Gates, in his designated hitter mode singled to left and trotted home on Dondrei Hubbard’s tying home run. That blast would be voted the play of the game.

It certainly changed the nature of the contest, but there was more to come. Instead of petering out, Oakland’s offense picked up in the fourth where it had left off in the third, sending ten men to the plate . The B’s began by clogging the base paths with one out, chasing Yolo starter JC Ariza from the mound, replaced by Jacob Stobart.

He walked Davis, putting the Ballers up by a run. With the count 2-1, Gates swung and connected for a two run single to right. Stobart plunked Hubbard. Noah Martínez smacked a two bagger to right, plating Gates and Hubbard. Now it was Oakland who had two digits in the R column.

Nightmare visions of Saturday’s squandered comeback briefly appeared in the visitors’ fifth, when five High Wheelers crossed the plate. Brayland Skinner walked, stole second, and took third on a wild pitch by Oakland’s starting pitcher, Christian Cosby, arguably the ace of the staff, having started the day with a record of 4-1, 4.79, which in the Pioneer League are Cy Young numbers.

Brylin Marine, Yolo’s batting leader, ground out to short but drove in Skinner, for Yolo’s fifth run. Bobby Lada’s double and a free passes to Brandon Blackford and Kirby loaded the bases and set the scene for Yolo’s last hurrah, a grand slam by Kirkland Banks. It came on the last of Cosby’s 118 pitches. Cosby was charged with nine runs, six earned, on seven hits, three walks, and a wild pitch. He struck out 10.

The Ballers added a superfluous but reassuring run in each of the fifth and sixth innings, and two final tallies in the seventh.

After Cosby’s departure, one out short of earning (by the skin of his teeth the win), the Ballers used three relievers. None of them permitted any Yolo runs. The eventual winner, Zach St. Pierre, threw 26 pitches in two hitless innings to gain his first win against two losses. Conner Richardson gave up a hit in 1-1/3 frames, in which he threw 33 pitches. Carson Lambert’s 17 pitch one hit ninth closed the book on the High Wheelers.

The crew from Davis also sent four hurlers to the mound. Following Ariza (3-1/3 IP, seven runs, all earned; seven hits (one out of the park); three walks, and a hit batter, all on 70 pitches) were Stobart (1-1/3 innings, four runs, earned, three hits, two walks, and a strikeout on 26 pitches); Kris Anglin (a hit in two thirds of an inning, 17 pitches; and Noah Estrella, who allowed Oakland its last three runs, all earned, in 2-2/3 innings, in which he gave up four hits and walk on 41 pitches).

Three Ballers had multi-hit games. Two way Gates led the way, going five for five. Move over, Ohtani! Noah Martínez went three for four; Davis, two for five. Davis, Gates and Martínez doubled. Hubbard, Martínez, and Jaylen Smith hit four baggers for the home team.

Kirkland Banks and Kyle Guerra, with two apiece, had multi-hit games for the High Wheelers. Each of them also homered. Bobby Lada and Banks banged two baggers. Marine, who went one for five, extended his streak of consecutive games reaching base safely to 25.

After their usual Monday day off, the Ballers will open a new six game home series, beginning Tuesday the ninth at 6:35 against the last place Great Falls Voyagers

Lopez plays hero as Earthquakes snap losing skid with 1-0 shutout win over Fire

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Hernán López was the Man of the Match as he celebrates his fourth goal of the season with his teammates as the San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Chicago Fire 1-0 at Pay Pal Park on Sunday JUL 7, 2024. (San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Hernán López is starting to live up to the hype.

The Argentinian striker scored the match’s lone goal in the 49th minute and it proved to be the game winner as the San Jose Earthquakes walked off the pitch at Pay Pal Park happily after a 1-0 shutout victory over the Chicago Fire on Sunday afternoon.

San Jose won for the first time in its last nine matches since defeating the Colorado Rapids 3-2 back on May 11th as it snapped a six-match losing streak. Chicago has lost three out of its last four matches.

López’s heroics were set up by fellow country man Cristian Espinoza. After receiving the ball inside his own defensive zone, Espinoza sent a perfect long ball out to López that split two defenders. López raced ahead along the left wing and fired a shot to far corner of the net beating Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady for his fourth goal of the season.

“We needed to win tonight. The [California] Clásico was disappointing. Then our game against St. Louis. I thought we were pretty flat coming out. So I thought we were on the front foot all night. Deserved the win. Just really happy with how our players responded,” Interim head coach Ian Russell said.

It was the first goal they scored in two over 5 halves of play and the first lead since the Rapids game back on May 11th as well.

Russell implemented a 5-3-2 type of formation where he had Benji Kikanovic play a defensive right wing back position while at the same time having Kikanovic press up high on the attack when the Earthquakes had possession.

“Just physically very fast,” said Russell regarding Kikanovic. “He can do it over and over. He’s not a guy that needs five minutes to recover. Very good in the air, works extremely hard. His defending has gotten a lot better over the last few years. I think he’s got a really high ceiling. He’s still young, so just really excited. He’s a guy that never complained, just does his business. He’ll do anything for the team.”

Chicago (5-11-6-21 points) began the match with a quick shot on net by forward Hugo Cuypers in the fourth minute, but ‘Quakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough was in the right position to grab both hands on the ball for his first save of the match.

Yarbrough had a bit of a mishap with the ball in the 23rd minute with it getting behind him after attempting to clear the ball out of danger, Rodrigues, who had one of his best defensive games of the season, bailed him out by backtracking and clearing the ball out of the box.

“Rodri (Rodrigues) is a classic defender. I love having him on my team in that backline. I love the confidence that he has. He loves taking risks, and I admire that. Today he had an excellent performance. We were frustrated, especially in the back. … And so to see tonight that all the hard work being put in paid off on a night like today, especially speaking specifically about Rodri, I’m basically so happy for the guy. I know he’s going to go home tonight and have a relaxed night, and he’s going to enjoy the day off tomorrow. Then he’s going to come back Tuesday ready to go again. We all have to, but Rodri is a dude who I love having in the back line and I love that no matter how things are going. I love the confidence that he shows to try to play this style regardless of what’s going on,” Yarbrough said.

San Jose (4-16-2-14 points) also had chances early on in the opening 45 minutes. López’s first shot attempt sailed wide right in the ninth minute and then two minutes later Jackson Yueill’s left footed shot was saved by Brady.

The Earthquakes came close in the 25th minute to breaking the seal when Kikanovic’s headed went over the right side of the net. Their best chance to get the first goal of the game in the first half came in the last minute of stoppage time when Rodrigues’ shot hit off the crossbar.

Chicago thought they had scored the equalizer in the 71st minute after Hugo Cuypers cleaned up the rebound off of a Thomas Barlow shot that caromed off the crossbar over to Cuypers who headed the ball into an empty net. However, after a VAR review, it was determined that Barlow was offsides on the play.

“We’ve had a lot of those close ones kind of go the other way. So in that moment, it was a relief that that happened. … I think it gave the players a little relief, and then we’re able to make some changes after that to kind of slow them down with it,” Russell said.

The Fire kept the pressure on in the final fifteen minutes with chances from Maren Haile-Selassie and Barlow went wide left and wide right respectively a minute apart in the 74th and 75th minutes.

Despite having seven minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half, Yarbrough and the backline held down the fort and kept the Fire from scoring the equalizer.

Yarbrough finished the match with one save to earn his first and the team’s first clean sheet of the season. Brady made three saves on four shots on net in the losing effort.

“We need to try to do something to change what we know we’re capable of. It definitely helps. You know when like today there’s a clean sheet but you’re going into [the] Kansas City [game] next weekend. I want three or four or five in a row. I’ll enjoy the night today, but tomorrow we have an off-day. I’m looking at film right away, seeing what I can improve on and certain things that I can discuss with teammates and do everything I can to make it two in a row. I like that pressure. I like that weight on my shoulders. It’s been a part of my entire career. And you know, hopefully we can make a turnaround,” Yarbrough said.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with seven corner kicks. Chicago had five.

The club’s last shutout in regular-season play occurred on Sept. 9, 2023, in a scoreless road draw against D.C. United.

San Jose is now 15-16-11 against Chicago in the all-time series and 11-6-5 at home.

Quakes forwards Cristian Espinoza and Jeremy Ebobisse started Saturday’s match, extending their MLS-leading active consecutive games played streaks to 96 and 95, respectively.

Ebobisse made his 100th and 101st appearances with San Jose against St. Louis CITY SC last Wednesday and tonight against Chicago Fire FC, respectively.

With his start tonight, Earthquakes midfielder and captain Jackson Yueill passed Shea Salinas in games started for San Jose (184) for third on the all-time club list. The midfielder now only trails Ramiro Corrales (228) and Chris Wondolowski (313).

Midfielder Hernán López scored his fourth goal of the season in 10 MLS starts (12 appearances).

Espinoza notched his 11th assist of the season, tied for 4th in MLS. He is now is the Quakes’ all-time leader in game-winning assists with 15, passing Richard Mulrooney and Shea Salinas (tied, 14). With his assist tonight, Espinoza is only one goal contribution away from 100 for the Earthquakes. Only Chris Wondolowski’s 207 (167g/40a) and Ronald Cerritos’ 108 (61g/47a) are higher totals among San Jose players, past or present.

UP NEXT: San Jose continues its three-match home stand when they host Sporting KC on Saturday 7/13 at 7:30pm at Pay Pal Park.

A’s rack up ten runs in first two innings blowing out the Orioles 19-8

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo courtesy of Oakland Athletics.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

OAKLAND- After dropping the first game the A’s looked to rebound against a tough Orioles team Saturday evening.

On the mound for the Orioles was lefty Cade Povich who was sporting a 1-2 record with a 4.05 era. For Oakland it was right-hander Luis Medina starting with a 1-3 record and 4.80 era.

The A’s offense heading into this game had been sputtering with a .182 batting average over their last six games and had a rough outing yesterday against these same Orioles.

Today ended up being quite the different story as Oakland offensively had one of its best games all season.

It all started with a three-run blast from Brent Rooker who launched one 414 feet getting his 18th hr of the season.

After a quiet second from the Orioles the A’s had one of their best offensive innings of the season.

Once again the offense was started with a three-run blast but this time it came off the bat of Max Schuemann who got his fifth of the campaign.

Povich gave up another two hits after that forcing Orioles manager to have to go to his bullpen as he brought in right-hander Dillon Tate.

Tate wouldn’t fair much better as the A’s proceeded to load the bases followed up by a single from Shea Langeliers making it 7-0.

Zack Gelof then doubled making it officially a laugher with the score now 9-0. Brett Harris singled as well before the inning was out tacking on another run just for the little extra cherry on top.

The following inning Baltimore looked like they might try to make things interesting as they got the bases loaded with nobody out. However Medina was able to pull through getting the next three batters out in quick succession.

With Tate still on the mound the punishment continued as Langeliers launched an absolute nuke to left field. The two-run homer was Langeliers 17th of the season making it a 12-0 ball game.

The Orioles managed to sneak in a run in the fourth as Austin Hays got Jordan Westburg home on a sacrifice fly.

Baltimore made another pitching change in the fourth as left-hander Cole Irvin came into replace Tate.

Once again the A’s ate up another Orioles pitcher as Tyler Nevin popped one over the left center field wall getting his sixth homer of the season on a solo shot. Andujar then made it 14-1 on a single to left field.

Medina would be replaced in the sixth by left-hander Jack O’Loughlin who has only pitched seven innings so far this season but has yet to give up a run. Luis finished the game pitching five innings giving up six hits and only one earned run with three K’s.

The sixth inning saw more domination from the A’s as Andujar doubled brining home two runs making it 16-1. Rooker then almost homered but his hit was caught by the left fielder but the hit was deep enough to get another run home.

Baltimore would gets it’s first long ball of the game off the bat of Adley Rutschman as the all-star got his 16th homer of the season making the score 17-4.

In the eighth the Orioles managed to tack on a few more runs making it 17-6 but the A’s followed it up with a homer from Kyle McCann making it 19-6.

The last run of the game came off the bat of Ryan Mountcastle who homered making it 19-8 but the rally ended there.

Medina secured the win in today’s game while Povich took the loss.

While everyone had a great game for the A’s Brent Rooker not surprisingly was the standout as he had three hits in four at bats with four RBI’s.

The last time the A’s put up double digits against a team this season was on June 1st when they beat the Braves 11-9.

The A’s will look to have another dominant performance when they close out the series against the Orioles tomorrow at 1:07 p.m. The announced starters for tomorrow’s game are Mitch Spence for the A’s and Grayson Rodriguez for the Orioles.

Chris Sale shuts down Giants’ offense as Braves win middle game 3-1

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale pitches against the San Francisco Giants line up in the top of the first inning at Truist Field in Atlanta on Wed Jul 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Truist Park

Cumberland, Georgia

San Francisco Giants 1 (42-45)

Atlanta Braves 3 (47-37)

Win: Chris Sale (11-3)

Loss: Jordan Hicks (4-5)

Save: Raisel Iglesias (21)

Time: 2:27

Attendance: 38,834

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants’ offense was shut down and limited to just a run by Chris Sale and the strong Braves’ bullpen, as the Braves won the second game of this series 3-1 on another warm and muggy night in Cobb County.

Following a 5-2 homestand for the Giants, which was capped off by a series win against the Dodgers over the weekend, the Giants opened up this challenging road trip with a 5-3 win over the Braves last night. Wednesday night, the two teams would be right back at it at Truist Park.

Veteran all-star left-hander Chris Sale took the ball for Atlanta. Sale, a seven-time all-star, still has it at the age of 35. He came into Wednesday night 10-3 with a 2.70 ERA in his 14th major league season. Sale has done and seen it all, too. He’s gone to seven all-star games, cut the sleeves off jerseys he didn’t like and closed out the Red Sox World Series win over the Dodgers in 2018.

Sale promptly began the night with a 1-2-3 top of the first inning. Jordan Hicks, who has had quite an impressive first season as a starter, took the mound for the Giants in the bottom of the first. Hicks got off to a great start back in April, but he has struggled as of late, giving up a combined eight runs in his last two starts.

Wednesday night, Hicks would have to neutralize a powerful Braves’ offense in a live Truist Park. His night started off nicely with a scoreless inning in the bottom of the first.

Matt Chapman walked to start the top of the second, but Sale then retired the side in order. Austin Riley singled off Hicks to lead off the bottom of the second, and veteran catcher Travis d’Arnaud singled Riley over to second base. That brought up Adam Duvall, who put the Braves on the board with a double to left field.

The Braves had a 1-0 lead, and a chance to quickly add on to it with runners at second and third and still nobody out. Bob Melvin had the infield come in, and it paid dividends, as Forrest Wall and Zack Short both grounded out and weren’t able to get d’Arnaud in from third. Jarred Kelenic struck out swinging, and Hicks escaped any further damage.

Hicks was able to keep the deficit to 1-0, but the Giants went down 1-2-3 in the top of the third. Hicks then settled down to throw a scoreless bottom of the third.

Sale pitched another scoreless inning in the top of the fourth. Wall walked with two outs in the bottom of the fourth and stole third, but Short lined out to Austin Slater in right to end the inning.

The score stayed 1-0 going to the fifth. David Villar and Nick Ahmed both struck out swinging for the first two outs of the top of the fifth, but just as Giants TV broadcasters Dave Flemming and Javier Lopez made note of the Giants being no-hit, Curt Casali singled to right-center to indeed get the Giants their first hit. However, the Giants wouldn’t be able to further make anything of it.

Hicks, meanwhile, retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the fifth, but Marcell Ozuna lined an opposite-field base-hit to right, and Matt Olsen lined a single up the middle to center to put runners at first and second with two outs. Riley then came to the plate, and he doubled to right to score both runners and expand the Braves’ lead to 3-0.

d’Arnaud came up, and he lined a base-hit the other way to right. Braves Third Base Coach Matt Tuiasosopo waved Riley in from third, and the throw from Slater in right was right on the money, but Riley was called safe by Home Plate Umpire Ryan Additon.

The Giants challenged the play, and while we didn’t see it on the telecast, the umpires in the Major League Baseball Command Center in New York saw Casali tag Riley on the helmet before his hand touched home plate. The call was overturned, the scored stayed 3-0 Braves going to the sixth.

Perhaps, it would be a change in the fortunes for the Giants. The now-red-hot Jorge Soler led off the top of the sixth with a double to right. Soler moved over to third when Slater grounded out back to Sale for the first out of the inning. Heliot Ramos struck out looking, but Matt Chapman doubled to left to put the Giants on the board.

Former Brave Luke Jackson, who was part of the Braves’ Night Shift Bullpen when they won the World Series in 2021, came in for the Giants in the bottom of the sixth. An infield hit by Dovall, and a throwing error by Jackson on a chopper back to the mound by Wall put runners at the corners for Atlanta with nobody out.

Just as Hicks had to work out of a runner-at-third, no-one out jam in the bottom of the second, Jackson would have to pull off that same Houdini act in the bottom of the sixth. Jackson was given some help when Wall was caught trying to steal second.

With a drawn-in infield, Duvall was thrown out at home for the second out when Short reached on a fielder’s choice to short. Kelenic then struck out swinging to end the inning, and Jackson was able to keep the deficit at two going to the seventh.

Sale was done after giving up just a run and three hits while striking out nine over six innings A.J. Minter then came in for Atlanta and threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the seventh, and Sean Hjelle did the same for the Giants in the bottom of the seventh.

Joe Jimenez pitched a 1-2-3 top of the eighth for the Braves, and Hjelle came back out for his second inning of work to throw a scoreless inning in the bottom of the eighth. Matt Chapman singled off Braves’ closer Raisel Iglesias with one out in the top of the ninth, but Iglasias pitched a scoreless inning, regardless, to close out the Braves’ 3-1 win.

Plain and simply, the Giants were limited to only one run, because they ran into some really good pitching tonight. You can’t blame the offense for this one.

Chris Sale got the win; Jordan Hicks took the loss; and Raisel Iglesias picked up the save. The Giants fall to 42-45, and they will have another chance to take the series in the rubber match Thursday night.

Giants’ ace Logan Webb (6-6, 3.12 ERA) will take the mound Thursday night, and he will be opposed by the longtime veteran, Charlie Morton (5-4, 3.89 ERA). First pitch will be at 7:20 p.m. in Cobb County, and another stoner-friendly 4:20 p.m. start for Giants’ fans who want to get high back home in San Francisco.

Galaxy spoil Earthquakes 50th anniversary party with 3-0 shutout win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Ricky Puig entered the game as a substitute in the second half of the 101st California Classico against the San Jose Earthquakes at Stanford Stadium on Saturday JUN 29, 2024. (Los Angeles Galaxy)

by Marko Ukalovic

PALO ALTO, Calif. — On a night where the San Jose Earthquakes were celebrating the team’s 50th anniversary, the Los Angeles Galaxy played party poopers with a 3-0 shutout victory in the 101st California Classico on Saturday evening at Stanford Stadium.

San Jose has lost five matches in a row. Los Angeles has won four matches in a row and continued to hold on to second place in the Western Conference.

This was the first match with interim head coach Ian Russell at the helms as he took over for Luchi Gonzalez who was relieved of his duties this past Monday. Gonzalez had led a team that had lost a potential of 20 points in matches they had leads in.

“We have a lot of respect for him,” Earthquakes captain Jackson Yueill said on the team playing their first game under Russell as the head coach of the team. “He brings a calm energy, but he wants to press, he wants to play, he wants to be dynamic. So, guys are still eager to make their marks, still make something of this season. It’s the Cali Classico, so it’s an important one. We’re here to play for him.”

Los Angeles (11-3-8-41 points) had the first scoring chance of the match early on in the eighth minute. An odd man counterattack led to a shot attempt by Joseph Paintsil that was easily handled by ‘Quakes goalkeeper William Yabrough.

San Jose (3-15-3-12 points) had scoring chances a minute apart in the 20th and 21st minute by Jeremy Ebobisse and Hernan Lopez that went wide left. Then in the 23rd minute a ball centered in the box was headed on the net by fullback Daniel Munie but Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy made a point-blank save.

The match opened up in the final 15 minutes of the first half. Each team had quality chances to break the seal. Ebobisse received the ball inside the center of box from 10 yards out. After moving past a Galaxy defender, Ebobisse’s left footed shot sailed high over the net. A minute later a shot from the left wing inside the box by Amahl Pellegrino was thwarted away by McCarthy.

The Galaxy finally drew first blood on a counterattack in the 37th minute after the Earthquakes failed to get a shot on target off of a corner kick. Gabriel Pec possessed the ball from midfield down the right wing and crossed the ball into the middle and Paintsil beat Yarbrough with a left-footed shot from 15 yards for his sixth goal of the season.

“I think that’s what frustrating,” said Russell regarding his team outplaying Los Angeles in the first half yet were down heading into the intermission. “You see the score line. If you didn’t watch the game, and you see the score 3-0 you think oh man they didn’t play well. I was very happy with a lot of the game. But then there’s again a big mistake that keep on hurting us and we got to fix those.”

Los Angeles threw a dagger through the hearts of San Jose in 72nd minute. A shot from Riqui Puig from outside the box went past the outstretched reach of Yarbrough off the right post. The rebound went to an unmarked Dejan Joveljic who headed the ball into an empty net for his team leading 12th goal of the season.

Mauricio Cuevas put the cheery on top for the Galaxy in the first minute of stoppage when he finished off a great cross into the middle of the box from Miki Yamane for his first goal of the season. Cuevas came into the match in the 86th minute when he subbed for Diego Fagundez.

McCarthy stopped all five shots on target to earn the clean sheet. Yarbrough made four saves on seven shots on target in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with five corner kicks. Los Angeles had six.

The Earthquakes honored the 50th anniversary of the team with a special celebration at halftime that included past players, coaches and staff from over the team’s 50-year history, including Quakes legend Paul Child.

The announced attendance was 40,844.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels out to the Midwest to take on St. Louis CITY SC at 5:30pm at CITYPARK.

Rodriguez’s late goal lifts Timbers in 2-1 win over Earthquakes

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Portland Timbers striker Jonathan Rodridguez scores the go-ahead goal against the San Jose Earthquakes goalie Jacob Jackson and Paul Marie at Pay Pal Park on Wednesday JUN 19, 2024. (Portland Timbers)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Earthquakes took on the Portland Timbers on Wednesday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose is winless in its past six matches/with the win/tie snapped its five-match winless streak. Portland extended its points streak to five matches/had its four-match point streak snapped.

Portland (6-7-6-24 points) drew first blood in the 22nd minute thanks to a big blunder by ‘Quakes goalkeeper Jacob Jackson, who made his first career MLS start. A back pass from to Tanner Beason to Jackson wasn’t controlled by the young goalkeeper. Evander came storming in and deflected the ball off of the former New England Revolution keeper before depositing it into an open net with a left footed volley for his co-leading eighth goal of the season.

San Jose’s (3-13-2-14 points) Vitor Costa was guilty of offsides twice that derailed two scoring chances first in the 13th minute that wiped out a potential goal and the other in the 30th minute where his shot attempt sailed high and wide over the net.

The Earthquakes didn’t generate a shot on goal in the opening 45. The closest the came to scoring the equalizer was in the 39th minute. A centering pass into the middle of the box from Cristian Espinoza was deflected away from Jeremy Ebobisse by Dario Zuparic who would have had an easy tap in into an open net.

San Jose opened up the second half with the equalizer goal five minutes in off of a set piece. Espinoza’s corner kick was deflected out of the box onto the foot of Paul Marie, who came in off the bench for the injured Carlos Akapo in the 18th minute, and the French fullback blasted a laser of a shot from 23 yards out into the upper corner of the net beyond the outstretched reach of Timber’s goalkeeper James Pantemis for his second goal of the season.

“It’s like this theme that continues to haunt us in terms of a good 60 or 70 minutes. Right there we could be winning, because of how we are imposing. We actually are defending well, we lose in a moment, we lose organization,” ‘Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez said.

The ‘Quakes has a glorious chance to gain its first lead of the match three minutes later. Hernan Lopez found Amahl Pellegrino all alone in the middle of the pitch. Pellegrino dribbled in one-on-one with Pantemis, made a move around the goalkeeper to the left side before missing wide left and over the net with his shot attempt.

Portland regained the lead in the 72nd minute. Evander chipped in a ball from just outside the box and Jonathan Rodriguez got behind Marie near the left post and headed the ball past Jackson for his seventh goal of the season.

“I don’t know maybe you and I share the same feelings,” said Marie when asked if the lack of communication has led to his team conceding goals late in the match. “I feel like we start to be over positive on one side and getting stretched out with nobody in the middle. I feel like that’s what happened in New York, last game and this game.”

Pantemis made one save on two shots on goal to earn the victory. Jackson made two shots on four shots on goal in the losing cause.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with eight corner kicks. Portland had two.

San Jose is 6-22-10 against Portland in the all-time series.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels down south in a battle of California as the take on LAFC on Saturday 6/22 at 7:30pm at BMO Stadium.

Medina picks up first victory after 11 months of waiting A’s defeat Royals 5-1 at Coliseum

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Luis Media Oakland A’s starter delivers to the Kansas City Royals in the top of the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Jun 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

Kansas City (41-34). 000 010 000. 1. 8. 1

Athletics (28-48). 002 000 21x. 5. 8. 0

Time: 2:35

Attendance: 4,557

Wednesday, June 19

Oakland, CA

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The temperature cooled off for this Wednesday evening’s game between the Kansas City Royals and the barn storming Athletics, but the green and gold didn’t. They defeated KC for the second time in a row, this time by four runs, 5-1.

Luis Medina, the Athletics’ starting pitcher, came to the organization at the 2022 trading deadline, when he, along with Cooper Bowman, JP Sears, and Ken Waldichuk in exchange for Frankie Montás and Lou Trivino.

He made it to the majors last year, when he went 3-10, 5.42. He’s had his troubles this season. He was on the injured list until June 2 and had gone 0-2, 5.87 before his 6:42 game opening pitch. His first start after rejoining the team had been his best; he hurled 5-2/3 frames of two hit ball, allowing one run, which was unearned, in a no-decision against the Braves in Atlanta.

Wednesday night’s win was first career appearance against the Royals and left him with a season record of 1-2, 4.71. He lasted 5-2/3 innings, leaving after throwing 88 pitches, 54 for strikes, with a 2-1 lead and a runner on first. He’d allowed six hits and two walks, and the run he was charged with was earned. He struck out three Royals.

Medina was followed by TJ McFarland, who closed out the sixth, Dany Jímenez took care of the Royals, allowing a single before an around the horn double play closed the books on KC for the inning. Austin Adams yielded a double, and that was it for them in the eighth. Mason Miller earned his eighth save and second in two days. Tonight he gave up a walk while striking out two and inducing an infield popup.

The starting pitcher for Kansas City, southpaw Cole Ragans, has had a checkered career. He’s undergone two Tommy John surgeries and lost the 2020 season to the COVID pandemic. He came to the Royals a little less than a year ago in the trade that sent Aroldis Chapman to the Texas Rangers. Ragans went a combined 7-5, 3.47 last year and was the AL Pitcher of the Month in August.

This season, he was 4-4, 3.14 when he toed the rubber in the bottom of the first. When he left the field for the clubhouse showers after six innings, the 26 year old had yielded a pair of runs, both of them earned, on four hits, four walks, and two wild pitches. His total pitch count was 102, 65 of which met the scoring definition of a strike, i.e. they were called strikes by the umpire, the batter swung on them and missed, or there was contact with the bat. With the loss, his record dimmed to 4-5, 3.13.

John Schrieber, Dan Altavilla, and Chris Stratten also pitched for the visitors.

The Athletics took advantage of Ragans’ wildness in the bottom of the third to go ahead, 2-0. Max Scheumann led off with a four pitch walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. JJ Bleday filled the void at first by drawing another walk.

Then Miguel Andújar delayed his swing to send an opposite field single to right that drove in Schuemann and sent Bleday to third. Brent Rooker’s single to left brought in Bleday with the second tally. Andújar further burnished his credentials by throwing Salvador Pérez at second when the KC catcher tried to stretch his lead off single to left. It was an excellent night for Andújar, who went three for five, boosting his batting average to .330.

Wildness cost Medina as well. He walked Nelson Velásquez to begin the visitors’ fifth. A wild pitch to Kyle Isbel, the next batter, gave Velásquez second base as a gift, and he scored on Bobby Witt, Jr.’s down the line double to left. Witt got halfway to the plate on another wild pitch, but Medina got Vinny Pasquantino to fly out to center, allowing the A’s to escape the episode still leading, but now by a thread, 2-1.

The green and gold tacked on. another two runs with Schreiber on the mound in the seventh. He walked Schuemann with one down. Bleday forced him at second but beat the throw to first. Kansas City claimed that Schuemann had committed a baseline violation, but the review crew in New York disagreed. Back to back singles by Andújar and Nevuins brought them home.

It looked as though Zack Gelof hadn’t completely broken out of his slump when he faced Altavilla in the bottom of the eighth. The A’s second sacker had whiffed twice and grounded out in three at bats, he took a 2-1 offering 434 feet deep to center for his second home run in two days and seventh for the season, making it a 5-2 lead for the A’s and ending Altavilla’s night.

Who’d have thought it? The A’s will go for the sweep Thursday, at 12:37 sending Mitch Spence (4-3, 3.95) against Seth Lugo (10-2, 2.40).