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

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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

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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

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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).

Sharks new era begins with introduction of Ryan Warsofsky as 11th head coach in team history

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San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier (left) poses with new head coach Ryan Warsofsky (center) with Sharks president Jonathan Becher at Warsofky’s introductory press conference at SAP Center on Monday JUN 17, 2023. (Sports Radio Service)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE—The San Jose Sharks introduced their newly hired head coach Ryan Warsofsky at an introductory press conference on Monday afternoon on the north concourse of the SAP Center.

Warsofsky replaced David Quinn who lasted just two years behind the bench for San Jose. Warsofsky was an assistant coach under Quinn and was in charge of the penalty kill and defense.

Warsofsky becomes the youngest active NHL head coach at 36. He says he plans to get to know the players mentally before thinking about hockey. He emphasized that, due to his age, he feels he can connect with the pressures that social media has on the new generation of hockey players. 

“We’re very excited to announce Ryan as the 11th head coach of the San Jose Sharks,” said Sharks general manager Mike Grier. “His track record of success at nearly every level of hockey as a head and assistant coach speaks for itself. Ryan knows our existing group well, has the respect of the players who he will be working with, and will be a great teacher for the young players who will be joining our organization.”

Warsofsky was emotional throughout his opening statement as he choked up periodically as he thanked all the people who helped him get to his current position as the Sharks head coach, including past coaches he’s worked with and his family. One in particular was good friend Rob Cancannon.

“I emailed the guy when my first year was done at Curry. It was an assistant job that opened in South Carolina in the ECHL. Rob Concannon, who’s here,” Warsofsky said. “I emailed him, and 10 minutes later, he called me, [which] changed my life forever. He’s got some sprinkled dust down there because he’s hired three NHL head coaches, Jared Bednar and Spencer Carberry. He’s one of my great friends, and I love you, Rob,” Warsofsky said.

When asked what type of style the Sharks will play under his guidance, Warsofsky said he wants to his team to play not only with an edge but also as an entertaining product as well.

“We want to be fast. We want to get on teams. There will be a very distinct look of what our team looks like. I can tell you that right now. I think fans will leave our building and say, wow, that was a fun team to watch, win or lose,” Warsofsky said. “The opponent will say, man, that was a tough team to play against. I think there’ll be some changes structurally for sure. But I think you’ll be proud of the team that we put on the ice. It will be clean. It’ll be structured. There will be an effort that will be distinct throughout the whole building.”

Warsofsky said he was excited about getting to coach all of the Sharks up and coming prospects including Will Smith, Filip Bystedt and the 2024 number one overall pick, who the Sharks have the first time in franchise history, which is expected to be Macklin Celebrini out of Boston University who just turned 18 two days ago.

Warsofky’s familiarity with the current Sharks lineup and his ability to connect with the players is what won him over with Grier and Sharks president Jonthan Becher.

Warsofsy joined the Sharks as head coach of the Chicago Wolves (AHL). He led the Wolves to the AHL’s best regular-season record with a 50-16-5-5 record (.724%) in 2021-22 and captured the 2022 Calder Cup, his second Calder Cup Championship, earning a 14-4 record over four different series during the playoffs. The year prior in his first stint with Chicago, Warsofsky guided the team to the third-best record in the league (21-9-1-2), but the AHL did not hold a formal playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his two seasons, the Wolves amassed a 71-25-6-7 record and the team’s penalty kill ranked in the Top-10 twice (2021-22, fifth; 2020-21, ninth) and the power-play ranked fourth in 2020-21.

Prior to his time with Chicago, Warsofsky worked with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) for two seasons. He started as an assistant coach in 2017-18 and helped the team capture the Calder Cup 2017-18, overseeing the top penalty killing unit in the League (86.6%). The following year in the abbreviated season, he was named as the League’s youngest head coach (31) on July 10, 2019 and guided the team to a 34-22-5-0 and ranked third in both power-play and penalty kill percentage.

As head coach in the AHL with Chicago and Charlotte, Warsofsky earned a 105-47-11-7 record (.671%).

Warsofsky also worked with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays for five seasons, including two seasons as head coach/director of hockey operations (2016-2018) after starting as an assistant coach. In his two seasons at the helm, South Carolina posted an 88-44-10-2 record and the team advanced to the Kelly Cup Final in 2017. Warsofsky has also worked as an assistant coach in the NCAA with Curry College for one season (2012-13).

Internationally, Warsofsky served as an assistant coach to Team USA’s 2023 World Championship staff, helping guide the team to a fourth-place finish at the tournament. 

Yubo’s hat trick the difference in FC Cincinnati’s 4-2 win over Earthquakes

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FC Cincinnati’s Obinna Nwobodo (#5) lifts up Yuya Kubo (#7) in celebration after one of Kubo’s three goals of the match against the San Jose Earthquakes at Pay Pal Park on Saturday JUN 15, 2024. (FC Cincinnati)

by Marko Ukalovic

It was a night Yuya Kubo will not forget.

The Japanese reserve midfielder scored his first career hat trick as FC Cincinnati defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 4-2 on Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park.

FC Cincinnati snapped its two-game losing streak and have won seven of its past nine games. San Jose are winless in its past five matches.

San Jose (3-11-2-11 points) had scoring chances in the 22nd and 33rd minute of the first half. First, Espinoza centered the ball into the box, but the ball deflected off the foot of Amahl Pellegrino wide left. Then in the 33rd minute Espinoza centered a ball from right to left over to Hernan Lopez, who quickly fed it out to Jeremy Ebobisse in the middle of the box, but Ebobisse’s attempt sailed high over the net.

FC Cincinnati’s (11-3-3-36 points) leading goal scorer Luciano Acosta had two scoring chances in the 29th and 32nd minute of the opening 45 minutes but both of his attempts both were shot over the net.

FC Cincinnati drew first blood in the 53rd minute thanks to a gift from the Earthquakes. Tanner Beason’s pass attempt was intercepted by Pavel Bucha and the Czech midfielder dribbled into the box before firing a right footed shot past Quakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough for his second goal of the season.

San Jose responded with the equalizer three minutes later. A shot from Vitor Costa just outside the box was initially saved by FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano who dove to his right. Lopez cleaned up the rebound with a right footed punch into an open net for his fourth goal of the season.

The field opened up as the two teams traded chances after both goals were scored. Pellegrino raced down the left side from midfield in the 60th minute one-on-one with Matt Miazga. Pellegrino’s attempted chip toward the net was blocked out of bounds by Miazga for a San Jose corner kick.

“We lost our organization,” said ‘Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez on his team getting beat on the transition in back-to-back games. “That’s my responsibility as a coach in exercising that and improving that. Especially now that it’s hurt in consecutive games.”

The ‘Quakes gained its first lead in the 72nd minute. Costa sent a home run pass from just beyond midfield that found Espinoza inside the box along the right wing. Espinoza made a move to the inside before burying a left footed shot past for his fifth goal of the season.

FC Cincinnati scored the equalizer six minutes later. Acosta sent a long ball out to the middle of the pitch to Yuya Kubo, who came on as a sub for Serigo Santos in the 64th minute, who won a one-on-one race with Beason before depositing the ball past Yarbrough for his first goal of the match and fifth of the season.

The visiting team regained the lead two minutes later. thanks to some impressive play inside the box. A give and go between Acosta and Gerado Venezuela found its way to the foot of Kubo who tapped it home for his brace and sixth goal of the season.

FC Cincinnati put the game away in the 87th minute with an insurance goal. Acosta picked up his third assist of the match when he sent a ball up to Kubo who got behind the ‘Quakes defense as he finished off his hat trick with a shot right between the legs of Yarbrough for his seventh goal of the season.

“They’re dangerous. If you give Lucho (Luciano) Acosta half a second, he plays a one-touch ball behind Kubo and that’s what they’re capable of,” Gonzalez said.

Celentano made six saves on seven shots to earn his ninth victory of the season. Yarbrough made two saves on nine shots on goal.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with 10 corner kicks. FC Cincinnati had three.

San Jose is 1-2-0 against FC Cincinnati in the all-time series.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts the Portland Timbers on Wednesday 6/22 at 7:00pm at Pay Pal Park.

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Nevada may not sit still for A’s barnstorming ideas

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Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Mary Beth Sewald and Oakland A’s owner John Fisher at a preview regarding the A’s move to Las Vegas on Wed Jan 24, 2024. Sewald might be in for a disappointment after it was learned the A’s plan to play 10% of their home games away from Las Vegas (file photo by the Nevada Independent)

On the Oakland A’s Relocaton podcast with Daniel:

#1 Not only are the Oakland A’s relocating after this season to Sacramento in 2025 and Las Vegas in 2028 once they land in Vegas they plan to play ten percent of their home games in different locations for the purpose of marketing the team.

#2 Daniel, this idea is not go over too well with Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Steven Hill who pushed for the A’s move to Vegas now only to learn that 10% of the scheduled home games will be played elsewhere and take away that revenue from the City of Las Vegas?

#3 How much of this idea can infuriate not only Hill but also the Nevada State Legislature who is giving the A’s and Bally’s $380 million in public funds to help pay for the Tropicana ballpark?

#4 The A’s could very well be liking the idea of making Sacramento their permanent home. A’s owner John Fisher could be looking at working with Sacramento Rivercats owner and Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive towards the idea of building and MLB park in Sacramento and getting out of the Las Vegas deal by entertaining the 10% home away from home idea?

#5 The idea of the A’s getting out of Vegas and MLB approving it would relieve Fisher from trying to come up with his share of the construction costs at $500 million and it would give Las Vegas an opportunity to still use the $380 million of public funds towards a MLB expansion team.

Daniel Dullum does the Oakland A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Negro League records integrated with MLB podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Josh Gibson moves into No. 1 spot in key records

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Josh Gibson who formerly played with the four Negro League teams from 1930 to 1946 including with the Homestead Grays (photo from the National Baseball Hall of Fame)

Negro League records integrated with MLB podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Stephen, Josh Gibson’s home run record is listed as somewhere between 150-200 but it is believed that Gibson hit up to 800-1000 home runs but there no records kept at the time to substantiate it.

#2 Gibson one of the greatest hitters of all time is now listed as Major League Baseball’s all time career leader with a lifetime average of .372 Gibson now moves ahead of Ty Cobb who formerly led with .367.

#3 Also Gibson over takes New York Yankees Babe Ruth in slugging percentage at .718 and an OPS 1.177 and passes Babe Ruth at .690 and 1.164.

#4 Some of Gibson’s home runs were hit unofficial games but it’s estimated that he hit a home run per every 16 at bats.

#5 Gibson also played in the Negro Leagues East-West All Star game 12 times. He played in two All Star games in three different years in 1939 at Comiskey Park and Yankees Stadium, in 1942 Yankee Stadium and Griffith Stadium and in 1946 at Griffith Stadium and Yankee Stadium.

Stephen Ruderman is a podcast contributor for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Mets-Giants to conclude 3 game series today in New York

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San Francisco Giants Thairo Estrada (39), Luis Matos (center), and Patrick Bailey (right) all celebrate after scoring in the against the New York Mets in the top of the tenth inning at Citi Park at New York on Sat May 26, 2024 (AP News photo)

On San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 In the top of the tenth inning on Saturday the San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski hit a three run triple that capped the Giants five run rally to help defeat the New York Mets at Citi Field 7-2 Saturday.

#2 The Giants who came back from behind in three straight games down four runs to win were tied at 2-2 with the Mets and in the top of the tenth lit up Met’s ace closer Edwin Diaz. Diaz is a reliver the Mets could count on but the Giants of late have just absolutely have been getting around on the baseball with lots of success.

#3 In the top of the 10th the Giants Brett Wisely led off with an RBI single off Mets reliever Sean Reid-Foley (1-2). Patrick Bailey walked and that set up Yastrzemski’s triple. The Giants in terms of getting timely hitting late in games has been an understatement.

#4 Bailey whose been hitting lights out and who hit a grand slam on Friday got an RBI single in sixth inning . Bailey has been the key in the Giants line up.

#5 For game 3 on Sunday the Mets will be starting Sean Manaea (3-1, 3.11) and for the Giants Logan Webb (4-4, 3.03) first pitch at 10:40am PT at Citi Field that concludes today.

Morris Phillips is a MLB podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Earthquakes squander chances salvage 1-1 draw against Austin FC

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Austin FC forward Sebastian Driussi looks to make a play while San Jose Earthquakes forward Amahl Pellegrino closes in pursuit during the teams’ 1-1 draw at Pay Pal Park on Saturday MAY 25, 2024.

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The posts and crossbar were friends of Austin FC.

The San Jose Earthquakes hit two posts late in extra time as they settled for a 1-1 draw with Austin FC on Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose snapped its two-match pointless streak. Austin FC has points in three consecutive matches.

San Jose (3-10-2) drew first blood in the 10th minute. Cristian Espinoza led a rush down the right wing. The Argentine forward crossed the ball over to the left side where Jeremy Ebobisse blasted a left footed shot top-shelf into an open net for his co-leading fourth goal of the season.

The Earthquakes had a chance to double its lead twice in a two-minute span less than halfway through the opening 45 minutes. First in the 21st minute, a turnover inside the center of the box by an Austin FC defender found its way to the foot of fullback Vitor Costa but Costa’s shot attempt gobbled up by Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver, who made three saves in the first half.

Then two minutes later, Ebobisse found Hernán López along the right wing but López’s right footed attempt hit the right side of the net as San Jose had Austin reeling inside its own zone.

Austin (6-4-5) slowly started gaining momentum late in the first half as San Jose were issued for two yellow cards with Bruno Wilson and Espinoza being carded for fouls a minute apart in the 41st and 42nd minute.

Austin took advantage of a questionable foul by Carlos Gruezo just outside the box to the right side. Owen Wolff’s free kick was headed into the back of the net past ‘Quakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough by Brendan Hines-Ike in the 45th minute for his first goal of the season giving Austin the equalizer just before halftime.

“100 percent!” said Yarbrough when asked if the team was more angry than disappointed in not earning the extra two points at the end of the match. “I want to win every game. When you’re at home with your fans, I know it’s not cheap for families of four or five that come to watch us play. And playing the way we did tonight and not being able to give them three points, which I feel like they deserved, and we deserved, it’s a frustrating feeling.”

San Jose controlled the play in the second half generating chances as they had the pitch tilted on Austin’s side for the rest of the game. In the 61st minute, López had a scoring chance inside the box but his shot went way wide left of the net. Then in 72nd minute Espinoza dribbled inside to the center of the box before firing wide right with his shot attempt.

The Earthquakes came within inches of scoring the game winning goal in the first minute of stoppage time. The ball fell to Espinoza near the edge of the goal, but his shot hit off the right post. On the ensuing rebound, López’s attempt from hit off the crossbar.

“When we play with this urgency, and this desire to push the game and attack, I know we’ll earn points and win more games over the course of time,” ‘Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez said.

Yarbrough had one save on two shots on target to earn his second draw of the season. Stuver made six saves on seven shots on target.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with eight corner kicks. Austin FC had one.

San Jose is 2-1-6 against Austin FC in the all-time series.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels out the Big Apple to take on New York City FC on Friday at 4:30pm at Yankee Stadium.

A’s win unbelievable 11-inning thriller 10-9 over Rockies to take series

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Oakland A’s Daz Cameron watches the flight of his home run ball in the bottom of the ninth to tie up the ball game 5-5 at the time against the Colorado Rockies at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu May 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, May 23, 2024

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland, California

Colorado Rockies 9 (16-33)

Oakland Athletics 10 (21-31)

Win: Brandon Bielak (1-0)

Loss: Peter Lambert (2-3)

Time: 3:12

Attendance: 6,886

By Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND–The A’s fought and came out of an unbelievable 11-inning thriller on top, as they came back from two separate four-run deficits, and they scored five runs in the bottom of the 11th inning to beat the Colorado Rockies by a final of 10-9.

After dropping a tough one in 12 innings Wednesday night, the A’s hoped to bounce back with a series win over the Rockies in what was shaping up to be a casual Thursday afternoon affair at the Oakland Coliseum. It was a beautiful day for a ballgame, as busloads of kids who are getting out of school came to take in this one.

Joey Estes would take the mound for Oakland Thursday afternoon, and he would have a rough time getting things going in the top of the first inning.

Ezequiel Tovar hit a double to left-center field to start the ballgame. Jake Cave struck out swinging, and Ryan McMahon lined out to JJ Bleday out in left-center, but when Bleday through the ball back to second base, he ended up throwing the ball all the way into the Rockies’ dugout on the first base side of the Coliseum, which allowed Tovar to score the game’s first run.

The good news for the A’s was that the bases were empty with two outs. However, the Rockies kept things going, as Elehuris Montero doubled to left, and Brenton Doyle knocked in Montero with a double of his own to make it 2-0. It was the second day in a row that the Rockies scored two runs in the top of the first inning.

Ryan Feltner made the start for Colorado and pitched a scoreless bottom of the first. The A’s threatened off Feltner in the bottom of the second, when J.D. Davis singled to start the inning and Kyle McCann doubled him to third with one out.

Daz Cameron flew out to right for the second out, but it wasn’t deep enough for Davis to try and score. However, when the throw from Rockies’ right-fielder Jake Cave sailed by catcher Jacob Stallings, fans at the Coliseum expressed their displeasure at Davis for not scoring. Max Schuemann then struck out swinging to end the inning, and the A’s came up empty handed.

As for Estes, he settled down. In fact, when he got Jacob Stallings to ground out to end the top of the first inning, that started a streak of 13-straight guys that Estes retired.

Seth Brown doubled to lead off the bottom of the fourth, and the A’s ended up loading the bases with one out. However, like the bottom of the second, the A’s would waste this opportunity as well. Cameron and Schuemann each flew out, and the Rockies kept their 2-0 lead going to the fifth.

Estes’ streak came to an end when Tovar hit his second double of the game to lead off the top of the sixth. Cave then lined a single to right to put runners at the corners with nobody out.

Things then got weird when McMahon hit a high soaring pop up to shallow center field that drew in a whole group of A’s defenders. Shortstop Max Schuemann dropped the ball, which then deflected to right-fielder Seth Brown, who threw to second-baseman Zack Gelof to get cave on the force play. Tovar came in to score to make it 3-0 Rockies.

The play was ruled a 6-9-4 fielder’s choice and an RBI for McMahon. Ironically, the fact that Cave was thrown out at second is most likely what gave McMahon an RBI, as had everybody been safe, the play would have likely been ruled an error on Schuemann, and McMahon would not have gotten an RBI.

Montero came up and also hit a pop up, this one to left, and left-fielder Daz Cameron, who initially broke back, came in and couldn’t get it on the dive. This one would be ruled a hit. Doyle hit another pop up, but this one would be caught by Schuemann at short for the second out.

Stallings then lined a base-hit to left. McMahon was waved in, and Cameron’s throw to the plate appeared as if it was going to make it a close play at the plate. The throw was cut off by third-baseman Abraham Toro, who threw to the shortstop, Schuemann, who was covering third, to nail Montero to end the inning. McMahon crossed the plate before the final put was made, so the run scored, and it was 4-0.

The weirdest part of that inning was the fact that Estes only threw 10 pitches that entire inning. No at-bat in that inning lasted more than three pitches.

Feltner responded by throwing a shutdown 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the sixth. Estes then came back out for one last inning in the top of the seventh and threw a 1-2-3 inning.

The game was going rather quickly, as Victor Vodnik came in for Colorado in the bottom of the seventh, and the A’s finally got something going. Kyle McCann led off the inning with a double to right. Cameron reached on an infield hit to put runners at the corners, and Schuemann lined a base-hit up the middle to center to score McCann and put the A’s on the board.

Scott Alexander came in for Oakland in the eighth and threw a 1-2-3 inning. Seth Brown singled off Tyler Kinley with one out in the bottom of the eighth, and Davis hit a home run to left-center to make it a one-run game at 4-3.

Michael Kelly pitched a 1-2-3 inning for Oakland in the top of the ninth, and the A’s came up for one last shot in the bottom of the inning against Jalen Beeks.

Daz Cameron, who was called up just this morning from the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, and who heard the news this morning from Tacoma, Washington and had to catch an early morning flight from Seattle, hit a home run to left-center in his A’s debut to tie the game to start the bottom of the ninth.

“Have you ever heard of ‘snap, crackle, pop?’ That’s exactly what it feels like,” said Cameron. “Popping a ball off the really fat part of the bat…..it was a good feeling.”

It was quite a day for Cameron, who was playing his first major league game since Aug. 7, 2022, when he was a member of the Detroit Tigers.

“He’s been killing Triple-A,” said Manager Mark Kotsay. “[He took] a 5:30 flight from Seattle to Oakland [and was] in the lineup. I met him midway through my workout this morning, [I] told [him] he was in the lineup and he just kinda blank stared me and didn’t realize what was going on, because I was pretty intense at that moment. So it’s always that way, but for him to come through [with] a big homer to tie it in the ninth, it was great to see from him.”

Schuemann immediately followed up Cameron’s home run with a base-hit, and with two outs, he stole second. Brent Rooker then drew a walk from Justin Lawrence, but Brown softly lined out to second-baseman Alan Trejo in shallow right-center.

For the second day in a row, the A’s came back to force the game into extra innings. Mason Miller pitched in the top of the 10th, and the Rockies retook the lead on a sacrifice fly to center by Jordan Beck. The inning ended when Elias Diaz pinch-hit for Trejo and lined out to Davis, who very casually stepped on the bag to double off Kris Bryant at first to end the inning.

Lawrence stayed out for the Rockies in the bottom of the 10th. Gelof singled in Brown, the automatic runner, with one out to tie it again. McCann walked, and the A’s had another chance to win it, but Cameron grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

It was now off to the 11th, and Miller came back out for a second inning of work. Cave singled in Diaz, the automatic runner, to put the Rockies back ahead 6-5.

Things then completely fell apart for Miller and the A’s. With Cave at second and Charlie Blackmon at first with two outs, a wild pitch from Miller moved the runners to second and third. Doyle then singled deep into the hole at short to score Cave and make it 7-5. If it wasn’t for the wild pitch, Schuemann would have had an easy force play at second, but with that out of the picture, Doyle was able to beat out the long throw.

“I think [Miller] left a lot of pitches in the middle of the plate,” said Kotsay. “Even though he’s got dominant stuff, there’s going to be days when hitters [hit his stuff] when it’s over the middle…..you’re going to have days like that. Now, it’s about bouncing back for Mason.”

The Rockies continued to add on after Brandon Bielak came in for Miller. Brendan Rodgers lined a double down the left field line to score a pair and open Colorado’s lead to 9-5.

It was the exact same situation as last night. The Rockies scored two in the first inning, and the A’s came back to tie the game and force it into extra innings, but the Rockies were prepared to win another one. It seemed all but over for the A’s, but they continued to fight and refused to give in.

Matt Koch was the new pitcher for Colorado, and Cameron was the automatic runner at second. The A’s showed right away that they were indeed going to keep fighting, as Schuemann led off the inning and lined a double down the left field line to score Cameron and make it 9-6.

Toro singled on a ground ball to right to knock in Schuemann and make it 9-7, and then JJ Bleday tied the game with a home run to right-center.

What was a quick midweek afternoon affair quickly turned into a long and drawn-out thriller. Peter Lambert came in for Koch, and Brown lined an opposite-field base-hit to left with one out. Davis struck out looking for the second out, but on the third strike, Brown stole second. Gelof then hit a ground ball into the whole at short that seemed destined for left field, but Tovar dove to his right to keep it in the infield.

Rockies Manager Bud Black chose to intentionally walk McCann to load the bases, and Kotsay countered by pinch-hitting Tyler Soderstrom for Daz Cameron. It was a bold move to pinch-hit for the man who hit the ninth-inning game-tying home run in his A’s debate, but Kotsay’s move paid off, as Soderstrom walked on four pitches to end it, and the A’s someway and somehow came back with five runs in the bottom of the 11th to win this wild thriller by a final of 10-9.

“These guys in there, they don’t quit, and today’s an example of that,” said Kotsay. “The unity that they’ve stuck together, the teamwork that they’ve created [and] the culture in there came out today…..last road trip, they got together after we left Baltimore and talked about those specific things…..we got off that road trip with a day off, and I know a lot of the guys spent the day together bonding, creating friendship and that unity. I think today was a perfect example of it.”

Brandon Bielak ended up getting the win for Oakland, and Peter Lambert took the loss for Colorado.

The A’s improve to 21-31, and they have won their first series since taking two of three from the Miami Marlins two and a half weeks ago. They will welcome the Houston Astros into the Coliseum for three games starting Friday night. This will be a chance at retribution for the A’s, who were swept out of Houston in four games by the Astros when the two teams met at Minute Maid Park last week.

“We’re gonna enjoy this one,” said Kotsay. “I don’t want to look past this one yet, because it feels too good.”

“We want another opportunity to play [the Astros],” Kotsay continued. “They’ve had our number for a little while…..every series is [a] challenge, but I think [our] guys know where we’re at, and [we have an] opportunity to go out and play against the best.”

Ross Stripling (1-8, ERA 5.19) will be on the mound for the A’s, and he will be up against Justin Verlander (2-2, ERA 3.97) who will be going for Houston. First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m.