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Giants finally back up to .500 for first time since May 31 after solid outing from Webb and home runs lead to 4-1 win over Nationals

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San Francisco Giants Tyler Fitzgerald right on dugout steps is congratulated by Matt Chapman (left) after hitting a home run against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in DC on Mon Aug 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

Monday, Aug. 5, 2024

Nationals Park

Washington, D.C.

San Francisco Giants 4 (57-57)

Washington Nationals 1 (51-62)

Win: Logan Webb (9-8)

Loss: Patrick Corbin (2-12)

Save: Camilo Doval (21)

Time: 2:22

Attendance: 14,674

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants have finally gotten back to .500 for the first time since May 31, as home runs by Tyler Fitzgerald and Matt Chapman carried them to a 4-1 win over the Washington Nationals in the first game of this four-game series in D.C.

The Giants came into our nation’s capital winners of seven of their last nine. However, something has greatly eluded them this season. That has been their ability to get back to .500. The Giants came into tonight 2-11 when they’re just a game under .500, and they haven’t even been at .500 since May 31.

Monday night was looking to be the Giants’ best opportunity to get back to .500 in a while. They were up against the veteran left-hander, Patrick Corbin, who came into tonight 2-11 with a 5.88 ERA. Plain and simply, he’s having a terrible season, and the Giants needed to take advantage of that.

Indeed the Giants did take advantage of Corbin’s abysmal season, and they did so right off the crack of the bat. The first crack of the bat in this game to be exact, as Tyler Fitzgerald, who was in the leadoff spot Monday night, started the game with a home run to left field.

It’s just remarkable what Fitzgerald has been able to do. This was his 12th home run of the season, and his 11th in 17 games. Barry Bonds, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Jim Ray Hart, Walker Cooper and Mel Ott are the only Giants who have hit 11 home runs in 17 games.

Another reason this was the Giants’ best opportunity to get back to .500 was that they had their ace, Logan Webb, on the mound. After a rough appearance in the All-Star Game and start to his second half, Webb threw a complete game shutout against the Oakland A’s last Wednesday, and he looked to build off that Monday night.

Webb started his night with a 1-2-3 bottom of the first inning and a scoreless bottom of the second. Corbin pitched a scoreless top of the second, but the Giants rallied against him in the top of the third.

Mike Yastrzemski doubled to start the top of the third, but after Fitzgerald lined out and Mark Canha grounded out, Yaz was still standing at second. Michael Conforto then walked, and that brought up Matt Chapman, who hit a high and towering three-run home run down the left field line. It was an absolute blast that went almost all the way to the back of the seats out in left.

Webb and the Giants had a 4-0 lead, and Webb responded by pitching a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the third. After Corbin threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fourth, Webb ran into his first jam in the bottom of the fourth.

Luis Garcia Jr. walked with one out and stole second base to put a runner in scoring position for the Nationals for the first time Monday night. James Wood walked with two outs, as Washington had a rally for free going. However, Webb got Travis Blankenhorn to ground out to third to end the inning.

Patrick Corbin ended up going six innings, as he pitched scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth to end his night. Webb pitched through a two-out double in the bottom of the fifth, and he retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the sixth, but he ran into trouble with two outs.

Keibert Ruiz walked and advanced to second on a balk called by First Base Umpire Dan Merzel. Wood, who was at the plate when the balk was called, then shot a base-hit into right-center to score Ruiz and put the Nationals on the board.

Blankenhamp singled Wood over to third to bring up the tying run to the plate, and that did it for Webb. Ryan Walker came in for the Giants and got Alex Call to fly out to right to end the inning, as the Giants kept their 4-1 lead going to the seventh.

As for Webb, he was solid. He gave up just one run and four hits over five and two thirds innings. However, with a pitch count of 95, he got winded out a bit, and as a result, he struggled in the sixth.

Jacob Barnes pitched a 1-2-3 top of the seventh for the Nationals, and Walker stayed in for the Giants to throw a scoreless bottom of the seventh.

Eduardo Salazar came in for Washington in the top of the eighth. A single by LaMonte Wade and a double by Michael Conforto put runners at second and third with nobody out for the Giants. However, the Giants who have become home run happy in the last few days, were unable to add to their lead, as Salazar retired the side to end the inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Nationals did the exact same thing the Giants did in the top of the inning. Garcia singled and Ruiz doubled off left-hander Taylor Rogers to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Taylor then Wood and Blankenhorn out swinging, both on three pitches.

Bob Melvin then pulled Taylor Rogers for Tyler Rogers. Tyler got Call to fly out to right to end the inning, so the eighth inning was the exact same for both teams. A leadoff single, followed by a double, and then the side was retired without anybody scoring.

Jose Ferrer threw a 1-2-3 top of the ninth for the Nationals, and Melvin brought in his closer, Camilo Doval, for the bottom of the ninth. Doval had been snakebit since his blown save in Pittsburgh on May 21, so drama was expected.

However, Doval surprised us all by striking out the side to close out the game in a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth. It was Doval’s first 1-2-3 inning since July 2.

Logan Webb got the win; Patrick Corbin got the loss; and Camilo Doval got his 21st save of the season.

This was a real team effort, but the fact that the Giants are home run happy again meant that they are still wasting a fair amount of opportunities with runners in scoring position. That will have to change if this team wants to make a serious run at the Playoffs.

The Giants are indeed back at .500 for the first time since May 31, as they improve to 57-57. They remain four and a half games back of a playoff spot, as the Padres and Diamondbacks are tied for the second wild card, and they are in a virtual tie with the Braves, who hold the first wild card by a percentage point.

The Giants and Nationals will be right back at it in the second game of this series Tuesday night. Hayden Birdsong (3-0, 2.97 ERA) will be called back up to make the start for the Giants, and he will be opposed by left-hander MacKenzie Gore (6-9, 4.54 ERA).

With a win, the Giants would be over .500 for the first time since their offday on May 30. First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m. in D.C., 3:45 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Braves 60-51 —

*2. Diamondbacks 61-52 —

*3. Padres 61-52 —

Mets 59-53 1.5

Pirates 56-55 4.0

Cardinals 57-56 4.0

GIANTS 57-57 4.5

*Denotes tiebreaker. Tiebreaking procedures taken into effect.

Giants News and Notes:

Blake Snell was awarded with the National League Player of the Week after his no-hitter in Cincinnati on Friday. That should come as no surprise, and it was very much well deserved.

Some bad news. Wilmer Flores, who had been dealing with tendinitis in his right knee throughout much of the season, will undergo a non-surgical Tenex procedure on his right knee Tuesday in Los Angeles.

A Tenex procedure is minimally invasive, and it uses ultrasound to treat chronic tendon pain.

The Giants have yet to announce a timeline for Flores’ recovery.

Berry’s late goal lifts Galaxy to 2-1 win over Earthquakes in League’s Cup

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Los Angeles Galaxy forwards Ricky Puig and Diego Fagundez celebrate Fagundez’s first half goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during a League’s Cup match at Pay Pal Park on Wednesday JUL 31, 2024. (Los Angeles Galaxy)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Ownage is ownage in the battle of California.

Miguel Berry scored the game winning goal in the 89th minute to secure a place in the round 16 for the Los Angeles Galaxy in a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes in a League’s Cup match on Wednesday evening at Pay Pal Park.

Los Angeles is 4-0 against San Jose this season, including the League’s Cup match.

San Jose finished group play with two points in group play as they beat Chivas de Guadalajara on penalty kicks last Saturday at Levi’s Stadium. Los Angeles opened its League Cup group play with three points and advanced out of the group stage no matter their result with Chivas on Sunday. The Earthquakes can still advance out of the group stage if the Galaxy defeat Chivas in regulation.

‘Quakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough, who made the start in place of Daniel, made two excellent saves in the ninth minute. First, he made a diving save on a header attempt by Gabriel Fortes and seconds later made a point-blank save with his neck off a rebound attempt by Ricky Puig.

“It’s going to be sore tomorrow but right now we’re ok,” Yarbrough said with a smile after the match.

Ahmal Pelegrino had San Jose’s first scoring chance in the 18th minute when his right footed shot from the center of the box was saved by Galaxy goalkeeper Novak Micovic.

Carlos Gruezo had a golden opportunity to give San Jose the lead in the 21st minute when the ball squirted out to him inside the middle of the box but his shot from 12 yards was grabbed by Micovic.

The Galaxy drew first blood in the 41st minute. Puig led a counterattack and fed the ball out to Diego Fagundez just to the right of the box. Fagundez broke away from Benji Kikanovic and curled in a shot from 20 yards out into the upper right corner of the net to give Los Angeles 1-0 lead going into halftime.

San Jose gained the momentum in the match after the 60th minute as they pressured Los Angeles inside its own zone and created scoring chances. Pellegrino’s header attempt in the 66th minute went wide left that had Micovic out of position.

The Earthquakes scored the equalizer in the 75th minute. Jackson Yueill intercepted a pass inside the Galaxy zone and found Gruezo along the left wing. Gruezo threaded a pass in between two Galaxy defenders over to Jeremy Ebobisse into the middle of the box. Ebobisse fired a left footed shot past a charging Micovic for his second League’s Cup goal in as many games.

“It was a little disappointing tonight, said Ebobisse regarding the result. “I thought we worked really hard. I thought we created some chances. They’re (Los Angeles) is a good team and they’re going to get their chances as well. But I thought we did enough to at least get the tie. But we’re still alive and we’ll see if we can get through and continue the run.”

‘Quakes head coach Ian Russell substituted Daniel Munie in for Hernan Lopez in the 83rd minute as San Jose went with five fullbacks in hopes of preserving a draw and sending the match to penalty kicks.

The move did not work out as Russell had hoped as just like in the previous four matches, Los Angeles found a way to get the late goal that has plagued San Jose against its SoCal rival this season. Puig sent a diagonal ball over to unmarked Miki Yamane inside the box. Yamane crossed the ball over to Berry who finished off the game winner just inside the left post.

“Unfortunately, the last goal we didn’t pressure on Puig, he hits that diagonal ball (into the box). Yeah, he’s a very good player, you can’t give him time and space, he can punish you for sure,” Russell said.

Kikanovic had a header miss left in the fourth minute of stoppage time as the Quakes weren’t able to score the second equalizer in the match and walked off the pitch with no points.

Micovic made three saves on four shots on goal to earn the victory. Yarbrough made seven saves on nine shots on goal in the losing effort.

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

UP NEXT: San Jose returns to MLS action on Saturday 8/24 against Real Salt Lake at 6:30pm at America First Field.

Webb braves through six innings and gives up four, and Giants’ offense unable to take advantage of Coors Field in 4-3 loss

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San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb is frustrated after giving up a bottom of the fifth inning home run to the Colorado Rockies Ezequiel Tovar at Coors Field in Denver on Sat Jul 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Coors Field

Denver, Colorado

San Francisco Giants 3 (47-52)

Colorado Rockies 4 (36-63)

Win: Kyle Freeland (2-3)

Loss: Logan Webb (7-8)

Save: Victor Vodnik (3)

Time: 2:14

Attendance: 44,178

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants have now dropped the first two games of this three-game series in Coors Field to start the second half, as Logan Webb braved through six innings but gave up four runs, and the Rockies held on for a 4-3 win on Saturday night.

The Giants were looking for a fresh start after a tough loss last night, and there were many reasons to feel better about Saturday night. First of all, their ace, Logan Webb, was on the mound. Second, they were facing Kyle Freeland, who came into tonight with an ERA of 6.00. Plain and simply, Freeland’s having a bad season.

Unlike last night, the sun was out as the game got underway, as Freeland pitched a 1-2-3 top of the first inning. Webb, who gave up three runs in the bottom of the third inning at the All-Star Game Tuesday in Arlington, Texas, had a rough go of things in the bottom of the first.

The Rockies loaded the bases right away with nobody out, and Elias Diaz grounded into a double play to score Charlie Blackmon for the game’s first run—of course, Diaz was not credited with an RBI, because you can not be credited with an RBI under any circumstances if you ground into a double play.

The Rockies got their next run when first-baseman Wilmer Flores made a bone-headed play. On a ground ball off the bat of Brenton Doyle that was headed right for second-baseman Thairo Estrada, Flores, who was playing halfway between first and second dove to his right to field it, and the ball spat out of his glove. The play was ruled an infield hit, and Ezequiel Tovar scored to make it 2-0 Colorado.

Both pitchers threw scoreless innings in the second, and Tyler Fitzgerald put the Giants on the board with a solo home run out to left-center field with one out in the top of the third. Webb narrowly escaped a jam in the bottom of the third, and Heliot Ramos was doubled off at first to end the top of the fourth.

Webb finally pitched his first 1-2-3 inning of the night in the bottom of the fourth, and the Giants were able to put Freeland in a hole in the top of the fifth after Mike Yastrzemski hit a one-out triple. Curt Casali struck out looking for the second out, and up came Fitzgerald.

The first pitch from Freeland to Fitzgerald was a slider at the knees called a ball by Home Plate Umpire Chris Conroy. The pitch was a nut cutter and could have gone either way, but Freeland did not like the call, and he made his frustration with Conroy quite clear when he lightly threw his arms in the air.

After Conroy took his mask off for a light stare at Freeland, the next pitch was a sinker off the outside corner for ball 2. As Freelend continued to stew, Rockies Pitching Coach Darryl Scott came out to calm down the left-hander.

It was expected that Scott would wait for Conroy to come to the mound to toss him, but Conroy stayed behind the plate and kept his mask on, and Scott went back to the dugout without incident. Fitzgerald then hit a double to left to score Yastrzemski and tie the game. Surprisingly, nobody ended up getting tossed at all.

It was a new game heading to the bottom of the fifth. However, the Rockies got right back ahead when Ezequiel Tovar hit a two-run home run to left to make it 4-2.

Freeland retired the first two men he faced in the top of the sixth. Matt Chapman then reached on an error, and Wilmer Flores lined a double out to center to make it 4-3. Webb, meanwhile, pitched a scoreless bottom of the sixth, and both pitchers were done.

For Webb, he braved through six innings, as he gave up four runs and eight hits. Webb also only threw one 1-2-3 inning. Hey, it was Coors Field, and Webb gave it his best.

Freeland’s outing was quite surprising, as he gave up just three runs, two of them earned over six innings. Though Freeland’s success had more to do with the Giants’ offense falling back on their old bad habits than anything else.

Anyway, as the clouds gathered above Coors Field, Nick Mears threw a 1-2-3 top of the seventh for Colorado, and Erik Webb did the same for the Giants in the bottom of the seventh. Mears threw another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the eighth as the rain started to fall, and Sean Hjelle threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth for San Francisco.

Victor Vodnik then came in for the top of the ninth and closed this thing out with a 1-2-3 top of the ninth.

Kyle Freeland got just his second win of the season; Logan Webb took the loss; and Victor Vodnik picked up his third save.

The Giants’ offense has gone dark again. The fact that Kyle Freeland of all people was able to shut them down tonight was bad. Jorge Soler, Luis Matos, Matt Chapman, Thairo Estrada and Curt Casali went a combined 0-for-16. Soler struck out twice, and is once again struggling with runners in scoring position.

The Giants have fallen back to five games under .500 at 47-52, and now they are staring down the barrel of getting swept by the lowly Rockies. Hayden Birdsong (1-0, 3.72 ERA) will make his fifth big league start tomorrow, and he will be opposed by left-hander Austin Gomber (2-6, 4.61 ERA).

Giants News and Notes:

Robbie Ray struck out seven and gave up just one hit over five and a third shutout innings in what was likely his final rehab start for the Sacramento River Cats. He is expected to make his Giants’ debut in the team’s four-game series in Los Angeles next week.

Dynamo get late goal from Steres to up end Earthquakes in 1-0 shutout win

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San Jose Earthquakes striker Jeremy Ebobisse battles for the ball against Houston Dynamo midfielder Artur during the Dynamo’s 1-0 win over the Earthquakes at Pay Pal Park on Wednesday JUL 17, 2024. (Houston Dynamo)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE— Daniel Steres picked a great time to get his first goal of the season.

The Houston Dynamo fullback scored in the 86th minute as his heroics propelled the Dynamo to a 1-0 shutout victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose has lost seven of its last eight matches as it anchors the bottom of the Western Conference. Houston has won three of its past five matches and maintained the eight spot in the conference as it has a four-point lead over 9th place Minnesota United.

Houston (9-7-7-34 points) had the first scoring opportunity in the first 45 minutes. Sebastian Ferreira’s header attempt missed wide left after a corner kick in the 20th minute. Then six minutes later, the Dynamo had its closest chance at breaking the seal when Griffin Dorsey’s shot from the right wing was knocked away by Quakes goalkeeper Jacob Jackson, who made his second start of the season, in the 26th minute.

San Jose (4-18-2-14 points) had two quality scoring chances from Jeremy Ebobisse. First, in the 25th Ebobisse’s header attempt sailed wide left off of a cross from Hernan Lopez. Then in the 39th minute, another header attempt went wide right off of a Cristian Espinoza free kick from the left end line.

It was one of the Earthquakes best defensive games of the season, but they weren’t able to finish the few scoring chances they had.

“I told the guys you know; I thought it was a game where we brought a lot of energy,” said ‘Quakes interim head coach Ian Russell. “We brought a lot of fight and when you do that, you usually win those games, especially at home. I have no complaints when a team will work that hard. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I told the guys (to) continue to do that and we’ll be fine.”

The Quakes best scoring attempt in the first half came from Benji Kikanovic in the 31st minute when his running header attempt from the left wing sailed high over the net off of a free kick from Espinoza from 25 yards out.

Houston fired 13 shots in the first half with five of them on target that were saved by Jackson. Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark didn’t have a face a shot on net in the first half as San Jose only attempted four total shots.

The Earthquakes were awarded a penalty in the 50th minute by referee Natalie Simon when fullback Micael dos Santos tripped Espinoza inside the box. However, after a VAR review it was determined that dos Santos touched the ball first before hitting Espinoza’s foot.

The Dynamo had a good scoring in the 67th minute when Coco Carrasquilla sent a back pass over to Dorsey who kicked it very high over the net despite having a good look on net.

Houston finally broke through with time winding down in the match. McKinze Gaines sent a pass down low near the goal-line to Amine Bassi. The French midfielder then crossed the ball back into the middle of the box where an unmarked Steres one-timed the ball out of the air with his left foot into the left corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Steres came into the match in the 73rd minute as he replaced Dorsey by Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen who wanted fresh legs deep into the match.

“It just comes down to the small details. There’s been a lot of games where we’ve given up goal late (in the match) and it kind of bites us in the ass. We gotta tighten that up. If we don’t, we’re going to keep losing,” Kikanovic said.

Things got chippy when Hector Herrera and Rodrigues had a moment of pushing and shoving after a foul near the left sideline in the fourth minute of stoppage time. No cards were issued by Simon despite the scuffle.

San Jose finished with no shots on target during the match and nine total, while Houston had 22 total shots. Clark earned his six clean sheet of the season despite not having to make a save throughout the evening. Jackson made six saves on seven shots on net in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with five corner kicks. Houston had seven.

San Jose is 10-19-4 in the all-time series with Houston.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels up north to take on Minnesota United on Saturday 7/20 at 5:30pm at Allianz Field.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Aiyuk video watching Commanders practice video; Will Sorenson be one and done as Defensive Coordinator?; plus more

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Defensive Coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers Nick Sorenson worked one season (2023) but could get offers from other NFL teams to join them (USA Today photo)

On the San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor:

#1 The Brandon Aiyuk scenario continues. Aiyuk has reportedly been sharing a video of himself reviewing Washington Commanders practice film. Aiyuk has said that if things didn’t work out with the 49ers he would consider landing with the Commanders.

#2 Defensive Coordinator Nick Sorenson will he stay in San Francisco or will he find success elsewhere. Last season Sorenson replaced Steve Wilks. Sorenson had so much success at defensive coordinator that he led the 49ers defense to the Super Bowl. Do you see any chance of him staying?

#3 Tashaun Gipson the 49er veteran safety said he has accepted his six game suspension for substance abuse. Gipson said “During this offseason I took a supplement one time, which I thought to be completely safe and well within any of the NFL’s policies. It was in no way related to performance, training, or gaining an advantage of any kind at any time. I have competed at this level for a long time, and have nothing but respect for the game and the fraternity of players in it,”

Join David Zizmor for the San Francisco 49ers podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.