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Tigres UANL eliminate Earthquakes from League’s Cup with 1-0 clean sheet

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Tigres UANL’s Rafael Carioca gets ready to mark San Jose Earthquakes Jackson Yueill before a corner kick during a League’s Cup match at Pay Pal Park on Sunday July 30, 2023. (Nico Burgueno/El Show International)

by Marko Ukalovic

It was a learning lesson.

Liga MX’s Tigres UANL needed just one goal to defeat the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 in both team’s final League’s Cup group stage match on Sunday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose, which did not register a goal in both of its matches, were eliminated from the League’s Cup tournament going 0-2 in the group stage competition. Tigres advanced to the knockout round, along with the Portland Timbers, winning both of its matches.

Tigres, one of the best teams in the Mexican league Liga MX, showcased their talent and skill with an attack that consisted of players Andre-Pierre Gignac, Luis Quiñones and Mexican national team member Diego Lainez.

The team from south of the border also enjoyed a home field advantage despite the match being on the road as the majority of the sold-out crowd were cheering for them throughout the match.

San Jose controlled play in the opening 10 minutes of the match. Miguel Trauco set up Cristian Espinoza in the 11th minute as Espinoza dribbled into the middle of the box, but his shot attempt sailed wide right of the net.

Tigres began to take control of the match in the 15th minute as they gained possession. The eight-time Liga MX champion drew first blood in the 19th minute. Quiñones centered a ball from the right wing over to Fernando Gorriarán who one touched the ball past ‘Quakes goalkeeper Daniel with a low right footed shot.

“I’m really liking this tournament a lot”, said Tigres head coach Róbert Siboldi as his team continues on to the knockout round. “So far, we’ve had some thought and closed games. We’ve seen high intensity matches thus far. I like how MLS teams play, because they give it all on the pitch. They’re always looking to score, attack and make transitions. These Leagues Cup games have been dynamic and entertaining matches for fans. I’m surprised that all these MLS teams have put forward their best players. It’s been a really great competition.”

Tigres kept the Earthquakes on their heels the rest of the first half as they dominated possession 58%-42%.

San Jose, who needed to win by a two-goal margin in order to have advanced to the knockout stage, had chances in the second half but weren’t able to cash in their opportunities and Tigres were patient with counter attacks in the second half.

“I am sad for the guys because I thought our players left everything on the field. I’m really proud of them. I thought we showed some high-level concepts, ideas, play, combinations, and pressing against one of the best teams in Central, North, and South America. It’s disappointing not to get the result here at home in front of our fans, they had amazing energy. It just made it a great environment, a great event. If we keep showing that attitude, personality, that confidence to play, things will bounce our way in our league,” ‘Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez said.

Ayo Akinola made his ‘Quakes debut in the 71st minute. Akinola was acquired on loan from Toronto FC this past Tuesday in attempt to inject new life into the ‘Quakes offense that needed a booster shot. He showcased his power when he blasted a shot way up into the stands in the 85th minute.

“Ayo (Akinola) is still needing integration; he’s only trained maybe three times with the group. He’s adapting to San Jose now, that is going to take time so these next few weeks will be really good for him. I think he already showed he’s got some physical qualities in terms of hold up, turning defenders. He’s got power and speed. He’s versatile and he’s young and has a lot of room to still improve. I think he is going be a good addition to our depth in what we need to compete the rest of the season,” Gonzalez said.

The best chance for San Jose to score the equalizer came late in the match at the 88th minute. Espinoza centered a corner kick into the middle of the box and Carlos Akapo’s header was robbed by Tigres goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman with an outstretched one-handed save to the chagrin of the Quakes faithful.

Guzman stopped all four shots on target to earn his first clean sheet of the tournament. Daniel made two saves on four shots on target in the losing effort.

Gonzalez said San Jose will get back to training this week but plans to give the players some extra time off during the month off before their next match. He also hopes to do some team-oriented activities outside the pitch for some team bonding.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with 10 corner kicks. Tigres UANL had seven.

The Earthquakes faced their first Liga MX team since defeating Cruz Azul 2-0 in an international exhibition held at PayPal Park on Oct. 7, 2021.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns back to MLS action when they visit the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday 8/20 at 7:30pm at BC Place.

Timbers take down Earthquakes 2-0 in League’s Cup match opener

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Portland Timbers Felipe Mora celebrates his goal with his teammates during his team’s 2-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes at Providence Park on Saturday July 22, 2023. (Portland Timbers)

by Marko Ukalovic

The Portland Timbers took advantage of their scoring opportunities in a 2-0 shutout victory over the San Jose Earthquakes in both team’s opening match of the League’s Cup competition on Saturday evening at Providence Park.

‘Quakes Head coach Luchi Gonzalez welcomed back forward Cade Cowell and his captain Jackson Yueill back into the lineup after being away during their Gold Cup duty with the United State Men’s National Team.

Portland (1-0–3 points) drew first blood in the 33rd minute. Jaroslaw Niezgoda set up Evander in the middle of the pitch. The Brazilian midfielder then curled in a blast from 20 yards out into the upper left corner of the net, far out of the reach of ‘Quakes goalkeeper Daniel for his first goal of the competition.

Despite controlling the possession for the majority of the first half, San Jose (0-1–0 points) went into the intermission down by a goal.

“On the road you have to have that extra (killer instinct),” said Gonzalez regarding his team’s lack of scoring. “We were lacking that; we didn’t get on the score sheet. Even though we created in terms of volume, XG-shots and crosses. But we gotta put the shot on target, we gotta get the shot off. We need to put it away.”

The Timbers came flying out of the gate to start the second half with three quick scoring shots on target in the first three minutes, including a shot off the crossbar by Cristhian Paredes in the 48th minute.

“Those adjustments, I think that the guys understood very well, how to do them. And I felt we played really well in the second half. I really felt that the guys who also came in (the second half) with a good mentality and refresh the game as well,” Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese said.

Portland had a chance to double its lead in the 57th minute when Yimmi Chara made a move around a Quakes defender deep inside the box and centered a ball to unmarked Niezgoda whose shot attempt was blocked by ‘Quakes fullback Tanner Beason.

The Earthquakes best scoring chance came three minutes later when Cowell made an impressive run with the ball dribbling through multiple Timber defenders with lots of contact throughout the run. His pass for Cristian Espinoza was too far to handle to create a scoring chance.

The Timbers iced the game in the 86th minute. Marvin Loría led a pass up the middle to Felipe Mora who beat Beason to the ball inside the box. The Chilean striker chipped the ball past Daniel for his first goal of the competition.

Timbers goalkeeper David Bingham finished with a clean sheet stopping all three shots on target. Daniel made two saves on five shots on target in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose had five corner kicks. Portland had zero.

Portland leads the all-time series 19-6-10.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts Tigres UANL in its second League’s Cup match on Sunday 7/30 at 8:00pm at Pay Pal Park.

A’s pitching coughs up two runs in 6th Astros win it 3-1; Noda out on 10 day IL with broken jaw

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Oakland A’s base runner Seth Brown (right) sets up at second base after hitting a double, the Houston Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubon is to the left in the bottom of the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Jul 20, 2023 (AP News photo)

Houston (54-43) 000 002 001. – 3. 5. 0

Oakland (27-72). 100 000 000. – 1. 6. 0

Time: 2:12

Attendance: 4,757

Friday, July 20, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–Ryan Noda played a prominent part in the first two games of the A’s 2-1 series victory of the Red Sox earlier this week. He got the only hit in Monday’s game. His ejection for arguing a called third strike in that game resulted in the ejection of Mark Kotsay.

That, of course, wasn’t crucial in Oakland’s crushing 7-0 defeat, but it was emblematic. His second inning solo homer was enough to defeat the Bosox in the A’s eventual 3-0 victory on Tuesday. He was listed to start on Wednesday but a bad hop in fielding practice hit him on the jaw and he was removed from the line up.

Today he finds himself on the 10 day injured list, although 10 days sounds like an optimistic forecast for his recovery. Jonah Bride was recalled from Las Vegas to replace him, and Seth Brown started at first base in this evening’s game against the high flying, but second place Houston Astros.

Brown went two for four and showed some nifty footwork at the initial sack, but that didn’t keep the Athletics from dropping a 3-1 thriller.

The Athletics’ starting pitcher, Hogan Harris toed the rubber with the unprepossessing record of 2-3, 6.51 but had pitched well in his one appearance against the Astros. He held them scoreless on one hit in his first major league start, which occurred in Minute Maid Park on May 27.

He was outstanding for the first 5-2/3 innings of this evening’s assignment, tonight, allowing Houston only one hit, a second inning single by Chas McCormick. But then Mauricio Dubón and Jeremy Peña sent back to back singles to right, and Kyle Tucker brought them home with a double to left center.

That was Harris’s last frame on the mound. He threw six full innings and yielded two runs, both earned, on four hits, while striking out six. 58 of his 74 offerings went for strikes. He took the tough loss and now is 2-4, although he lowered his ERA to 6.11.

The ‘stros countered with another rookie, the right hander JP France (4-3, 3.71 at game time). This was his first appearance against the Athletics, and a fine one it was. The youngster went 7+ innings and gave up only one run , earned, on six hits and a walk. He also threw a wild pitch and struck out five. His pitch count was 93, with 64 of them counting as strikes. France earned the win His slate for the year now reads (5-3, 3.13)

Brown gave the home team an early lead when he doubled off the left field wall with two out and Tony Kemp, who had walked to open the A’s half of the first and advanced to second on JJ Bleday’s one hop grounder to first, came home.

For a moment in the home fourth it looked like the A’s would double their lead, but Jake Meyers robbed Jordán Díaz of a homer with a leaping grab of his drive that almost cleared the right center field fence, 375 feet from home.

The A’s held on to that lead until Harris’s meltdown in the sixth. He didn’t come out for the seventh,; Freddiy Tarnok relieved him and pitched a scoreless inning, stranding McCormick , who had walked, stolen second, and advanced a base on Corey Julks line out to deep center, at third.

The spirits of the scattering of A’s fans in the stands were raised by rookie Zach Gelof’s two out double in the seventh. But Jace Peterson grounded out to dash those hopes.

Oakland gained a victory of sorts in the top of the eighth when home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt ruled that Tarnok had hit Dubón with a pitch and the video review supported the Athletics’ challenge and turning the HBP into a foul ball.

Bryan Abreu relieved France after Cody Thomas led off the bottom of the eighth with a single to right. He got to second on Aledmys Díaz’s sacrifice, but there he stayed.

Alex Bregman put the game on ice for Houston in the top of the ninth with his 14th home run of the season, a towering 100.6 mph blast, 397 feet to left center with the bases empty. It came on a full count 94.7 mph four seamer.

Astros pitcher Ryan Pressly preserved the 3-1 lead to earn his 22nd save of 2023.

The Tigers beat Kansas City this afternoon, so the Royals now are 28-70 in the race to the bottom. Oakland’s defeat left them at 27-72, .273.

The 1899 Cleveland Spiders, who finished their season at 20-134, .130 were shut out, 4-0, by the Senators in Washington on July 20th. That put their record at 14-67, .173.

The New York Mets of 1962,who ended their inaugural season at 40-120, .250, fell 3-1 to Cincinnati at Crosley Field. Future Giants manager Roger Craig took the loss, which left the Mets at 24-67, .265.

Thursday’s contest at the Coliseum was the first of a four game series. Friday, evening the teams will return to do battle at 6:40pm PT. The ‘stos plan to send southpaw Framber Valdéz (7-6, 2.76) against the A’s, who will counter with another lefty, JP Sears (1-6, 3.99).

Four-Game Split For Giants; SF loses to Reds 5-1 at Great American Park

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San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey (left) sets up to put the tag on Cincinnati Reds base runner Luke Maile (22) in the bottom of the fourth inning at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on Thu Jul 20, 2023 (AP News photo)

Four-Game Split For Giants Losing to Reds 5-1

By Barbara Mason

Thursday afternoon the San Francisco Giants (53-43) were not only looking to get back on track but to also win the series having won the first two games. The Cincinnati Reds (52-46) was aiming to tie up the four game series. The Giants were defeated in the getaway day matinee 5-1 at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati struck first putting two runs up on the scoreboard in the third inning for the 2-0 lead. The Reds Luke Maile homered with Will Benson on base.

The Reds would add to their lead in the fourth inning. Christian Encarnacion-Strand singled Jonathan India home and next up Will Benson doubled. Encarnacion-Strand scored for a 4-0 Cincinnati lead.

The Reds would top it off in the fifth inning with an India single. Jake Fraley scored giving the Reds a 5-0 lead.

Cincinnati would not score for the remainder of the game. This would have been a shut-out for the Reds had it not been for a Wilmer Flores home run in the ninth inning.

It was all Reds in this game as they split the series with the Giants. Cincinnati had 12 hits and the Giants had two. Reds pitchers Andrew Abbott and Derek Law combined for the two-hitter. Abbott went eight innings allowing one hit. Law allowed the one hit and the Flores home run.

It was tough going for San Francisco starting pitcher Alex Cobb. He allowed nine hits and five runs without a single strike-out.

Giant notes: On Wednesday the Cincinnati Reds snapped the San Francisco Giants seven-game winning streak. The Reds held onto a 3-2 lead through the eighth and ninth innings for the win.

The Giants will be taking on the Nationals Friday night in Washington for a three-game series. Alex Wood (4-3 ERA 4.53) will be the starting pitcher for the Giants and Jake Irvin (2-5 ERA 4.96)will take the mound for the Nationals. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05pm PT.

Earthquakes down a man battle to 1-1 draw with LAFC

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The San Jose Earthquakes and LAFC played to a 1-1 draw in a Western Conference match at BMO Stadium on Saturday July 8, 2023. (San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

Sometimes a draw is a win.

The San Jose Earthquakes played with only 10 men for most of the second half but were able to grind out a 1-1 draw with their SoCal rival LAFC on Saturday evening at BMO Stadium.

LAFC are winless in nine of its last 12 matches. San Jose are winless in their last five matches (0-2-3).

‘Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez went a different formation for the first time this season as he went with a 3-5-2 in a move to provide a more attacking style versus LAFC.

“We had some challenges with Jackson (Yueill) being called up (to the US Men’s National team) because of an injury in the Gold Cup (squad),” said Gonzalez regarding the reason for the change of formation. “Based on the circumstances and the challenge, missing some of these six to eight profiles in the midfield, we had to get creative. We had to think about playing obviously a really good LAFC team. in LA and be organized defensively while trying to get attack the ball.”

San Jose (7-7-8-29 points) drew first blood in the 30th minute. Jack Skahan intercepted a pass from LAFC and sent a long ball up to Cristian Espinoza. The Quakes All-Star dribbled down the right wing before cutting inside to the middle and firing a shot past LAFC goalkeeper John McCarthy for his team leading 10th goal of the season.

LAFC (9-6-8-33 points) evened the score when Bouanga drew a penalty on Rodgriguez who stepped on his foot while Dénis Bouanga dribbled down the end line in the 35th minute. Bouanga converted the penalty kick two minutes later with a blast past ‘Quakes goalkeeper Daniel for his team-leading 12th goal of the season.

San Jose lost its starting goalkeeper in the 56th minute when Daniel was given a red card, and an automatic ejection, when he came out to challenge a LAFC breakaway attempt when the ball hit his hand while he was outside the box.

LAFC weren’t able to take advantage of being up a man on the pitch. San Jose held down the fort in the final 34 minutes of the match with the help of back up goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski as they did not a concede a late goal and escaped out of LA with one point.

“We close the game out with a lot of effort, focus and togetherness. It’s an important point,” Gonzalez said.

Both San Jose keepers combined for five saves on six shots. McCarthy made two saves on three shots on target.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with seven corner kicks. LAFC also had seven during the match.

For the first time in the 15 meetings between the two clubs, the match ended in a draw.

San Jose is now 2-17-9 in their last 28 matches on the road.

Midfielder Judson made his 100th MLS appearance when he substituted in for Miguel Trauco in the 67th minute.

LAFC’s Carlos Vela has scored six goals in nine matches versus San Jose.

Jeremy Ebobissee has scored the most goals by a visiting player against the two Southern California teams. 10 goals in 12 matches, including four in six versus LAFC.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday 7/12 at 7:30pm at Pay Pal Stadium.

Big homers from Conforto and Slater propel Giants over Rockies 5-3

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Photo courtesy of San Francisco Giants. Michael Conforto and Joc Pederson celebrate Conforto’s home run on 7/8/23.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

SAN FRANCISCO- The Giants and Rockies duked it out in the second of their three game series with San Francisco coming out on top by a final of 5-3.

Of note in today’s game was the wind as it was whipping around at 26 mph blowing towards the outfield certainly favoring the hitters.

Getting the start for the Giants was right-hander Ryan Walker while the Rockies had right-hander Connor Seabold start.

Walker’s first inning got off to a good start as he sat down the first two hitters but a Ryan McMahon single and Kris Bryant walk suddenly put the pressure on. The Rockies did not pass up on the opportunity as C.J. Cron singled to center field bringing home McMahon and making the score 1-0. After the run Randal Grichuk brought the inning to a close as he grounded out.

In the bottom of the first the Giants quickly got a response going as after Lamonte Wade Jr. flew out Joc Pederson doubled bringing up Wilmer Flores to the plate. He would fly out as well but Michael Conforto drove a pitch on the outside part of the plate to left field that just got over the wall getting a two run homer and giving the Giants the lead 2-1. Mike Yastrzemski walked as well but Patrick Bailey struck out bringing the inning to a close.

The Rockies got off to a slow start in the second as the first two batters went out quickly but the third batter of the inning was once again a problem for Walker. This time it was catcher and former Giant Austin Wynns who dug out a pitch from below the belt and drove it over the wall in left field tying the game back up at two with a solo homer.

In the bottom of the inning the Giants walked away with no runs as Brandon Crawford grounded into a double play.

The third saw a pitching change for the men in orange-and-black as Alex Wood came in to replace Walker. Ryan finished the game with two innings pitched, three hits, two earned runs, and four K’s.

The third and top of the fourth went by quietly until the bottom of the fourth when Bailey got things going with a lead-off double. Then the other rookie came up to the plate Blake Sabol and he singled to center field brining home Bailey and giving the Giants the lead 3-2. That would be all the runs in the inning though before it ended the Rockies made a pitching change bringing in Brad Hand to replace Seabold. Connor finished with 3.2 innings pitched, seven hits, two earned runs, and three K’s.

In the fifth inning Wilmer Flores doubled though he was originally called out but upon a review the call was overturned. Austin Slater then came in to pinch-hit for Yastrzemski and delivered with a shot to left center field that left the yard bringing San Francisco’s lead to 5-2.

The sixth inning saw more injury troubles for the Giants as Crawford grounded into a force out at second but while he was running to first he looked to be a little shaken up. After another Giant got out Gabe Kapler decided to take Crawford out and replace him with J.D. Davis. Once the game was over San Francisco informed the media that Crawford was dealing with left hamstring tightness.

In the eighth Tyler Rogers came in to replace Wood who exited the game with five innings pitched, three hits, one walk, and three K’s. Rogers had a little bit of an up-and-down inning as he quickly got the first two batters out but then Bryant got a double. Following that up Cron singled and Grichuk who’s been on fire for the Rockies singled as well bringing home Bryant making it 5-3. Thankfully for the Giants Rogers was able to close out the inning by getting Elias Diaz to pop out.

The ninth saw Camilo Doval come in to close out the game and he did just that striking out two and gettting the third batter to ground out getting the Giants the win 5-3.

Wood was given the win while Seabold took the loss.

The Giants will close out the series tomorrow against the Rockies at 1:05 p.m.

Espinoza’s late equalizer saves Earthquakes in 2-2 draw with Galaxy in California Classico

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San Jose Earthquake and Los Angeles Galaxy players battle during a corner kick during their 2-2 draw at Stanford Stadium on Saturday July 1, 2023. (San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic and Titus Wilkinson

PALO ALTO, Calif. — If there is one to describe the California Classico, it’s drama.

So was the case in the 97th installment of the Classico as the San Jose Earthquakes battled to a 2-2 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday evening before an announced crowd of 42,823 at Stanford Stadium.

San Jose is winless in its past four matches. Los Angeles is unbeaten in its past five matches including four straight ties.

San Jose (7-7-7-28 points) had a few quality scoring chances in the first 10 minutes of the match but weren’t able to finish any of them past Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond.

The ‘Quakes controlled possession for most of the first half but it was the Galaxy that struck for the match’s first goal.

Los Angeles (3-9-7-16 points) drew first blood in the 31st minute off a set piece. Douglas Costa’s corner kick was headed into the back corner of the net by an unmarked Raheem Edwards for his first goal of the season.

“We created more danger (than LA did),” said ‘Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzales. “The sloppiness was in the first five to 10 minutes of the second half and they took advantage of that. And we were chasing the game twice.”

The Earthquakes answered in the 42nd minute. Carlos Akapo intercepted a Galaxy clearing attempt inside the box. Akapo centered the ball back into the middle where Jack Skahan one-timed the ball past Bond for his first goal of the season.

The Galaxy regained the lead at the start of the second half. Costa set up Preston Judd in the middle of the box thanks to some lax defense by San Jose. Judd got in behind the defense and beat Quakes’ goalkeeper Daniel with a right footed shot to the left corner of the net for his third goal of the season in the 47th minute.

“That’s a heck of a midfield. It’s probably one of the best midfields in the league. I’m proud of our guys to respond. To not give up, push the game till the end. We would’ve liked to have gotten that third goal. So, I’m proud of my guys in terms of fighting and responding. And showing our fans we don’t give up,” Gonzales said.

It was a sloppy start to the second half for San Jose as they weren’t sharp with their passes that led to counter attacks for Los Angeles.

San Jose scored the equalizer in the 81st minute. Jackson Yueill sent a pass up to Christian Espinoza who shot the ball from just outside the box and it deflected off of the shoulder of Chris Mavinga and past an outstretched Bond for Espinoza’s team leading ninth goal of the season.

“I think it shows that we’re a resilient team,” said ‘Quakes captain Yueill. “We’re a team that doesn’t want to put our heads down. I’m proud of the guys for the effort, the attitude, the response. Overall, we’ll take this (point) and learn from it and get ready for next week.”

The drama happened near the end of the match as a controversial penalty was called in the 89th minute by referee Ramy Touchan when Daniel Aguirre was knocked down inside the box. However, after a VAR review Touchan overturned the call and San Jose escaped a potential disastrous ending.

“I saw it live, I saw it up on the large screen in the stadium and then on the replay after,” said Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney. “Once you make the call, there’s an extraordinary threshold that it takes to change that call back once you made that call. The reality is a player with his first leg fouls the player and his knee catches a little bit of the ball after he fouls the player. I just don’t understand it.”

Gonzalez substituted “energy guys” late in the second half with Benji Kikanovic and Ousseni Bouda. They subs brought fresh legs in a final attempt to get the game winning goal in stoppage to no avail.

Bond finished with two saves on four shots on target. Daniel made four saves on six shots in earning the draw along with Bond.

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

Los Angeles leads the all-time series against San Jose 42-33-18. San Jose is 5-2-3 against Los Angeles at Stanford Stadium.

Tonight’s attendance marked the 8th most attended match this season in MLS. San Jose has played in two of the top 10 most attended matches in the league. The other was when they visited Atlanta and played in front of a crowd of 67,538.

UP NEXT: San Jose visits LAFC on Saturday 7/8 at 7:30pm at BMO Stadium.

Úlfarsson’s brace in the second half power Dynamo to 4-1 win over Earthquakes

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Thunder and lightning delayed the match between the Houston Dynamo and the San Jose Earthquakes at Shell Energy Field on Wednesday JUN 21, 2023. (Houston Dynamo)

by Marko Ukalovic

Thor and mother nature provided the thunder and lightning in Houston.

The Houston Dynamo’s Thorleifur Úlfarsson scored two goals coming off the bench in the second half in a weather delayed match that helped propel his team to a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on a stormy Wednesday evening at Shell Energy Field.

San Jose had its five-match unbeaten streak snapped. Houston vaulted over San Jose into fourth place in the Western Conference standings with its third straight victory.

The match started out as a nightmare for San Jose with Houston scoring two goals in the first five minutes of the match. Tanner Beason’s telegraphed pass was intercepted in the middle of the box by Amine Bassi, who kicked the ball past ‘Quakes goalkeeper Daniel for his team leading eighth goal of the season in the third minute.

Two minutes later, Houston (8-7-3-27 points) Nelson Quiñónes centered a ball into the middle where unmarked Corey Baird buried the ball into the back of the net for his third goal of the season.

“We didn’t show up tonight,” said ‘Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez. “We didn’t compete tonight. It just was not a good night for us, and we know we are better than this. It’s about moving forward quickly and showing a response for our fans and families on Saturday against St. Louis CITY SC. They are a very difficult to play, and they beat us last time, and now we want to show our response in multiple ways on Saturday. We have the capacity to do that.”

San Jose (7-6-6) responded just before the halftime in the 41st minute on a set piece. Christian Espinoza’s free kick from the right wing was headed in by an unmarked Carlos Akapo into the far corner of the net. It was the fullback’s second goal of the season.

During the 61st minute of the match was delayed by lightning as the teams and fans headed for cover. The delay lasted two hours and 10 minutes before it was safe for the players to return to the field and resume the final 30 minutes of the second half.

Úlfarsson, who substituted in the 74th minute, made an immediate impact as Héctor Herrera made a touch pass to the man known as ‘Thor’ and he bent in a left footed shot perfectly into the left corner of the net for his first goal of the match in the 77th minute.

“We certainly felt like we had an opportunity at a second chance going into the last 30 minutes after the delay. The energy of the boys was good in the locker room. They were patient, and we were almost treating it like a second leg. We had the mentality of “Let’s go win the second leg.” But it didn’t happen. I will give full credit to Houston, they were clinical and aggressive. We have to accept that, and we have to move forward quickly,” Gonzalez said.

The Dynamo concluded the scoring when Úlfarsson completed his brace in the 89th minute. Once again Herrera set up Úlfarsson with a cross into the box and the Icelandic striker beat Daniel with a one-timer off the left post into the back of the net for his third goal of the season.

Dynamo goalie Steve Clark recorded the win despite not making a single save during the match as the only shot on target he faced was Akapo’s goal. Daniel made one save on five shots on target in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with six corner kicks. Houston had just one.

Espinoza tallied his sixth assist of his season and 50th of his MLS career, tying Shea Salinas for most assists in Quakes history.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts St. Louis City SC on Saturday 6/24 at 7:30pm at Pay Pal Stadium.

Giants extend win streak to 9 with a walk off walk to defeat Pads 4-3

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San Francisco Giants’ Joc Pederson, right, is congratulated by third base coach Mark Hallberg (91) after hitting a home run against the San Diego Padres during the eighth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Jun 20, 2023 (AP News photo)

San Diego (35-38). 002 010 000 – 3. 10. 0

San Francisco (41-32). 000 100 111 – 4. 8. 1

Time: 2:40

Attendance: 32,060

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–When the Giants finally salvaged one win out of their three game series against the Chicago Cubs that closed out that last home stand, the 12-2 win still left the home team one game under .500. Many of us were willing to write off their chances of being a contender.

Baseball is, as Joe Garagiola says, a funny game; all we know about la pelota is that, as the Cubans put it, it’s round and comes in a square box. San Francisco woke up this morning at 40-32, in second place in the NL West, three and a half games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The San Diego Padres, who many expected to be the Dodgers’ chief competition in the division were the victims Monday night of the Giants’ eighth consecutive win, a 7-4 10 inning thriller, that left the Pads in fourth place at 35-37, eight and a half games behind Arizona.

The orange and black sent Anthony DeSclafani to the mound. His game time ERA of 4.31 is unimpresssive, but. his four wins was second to only Logan Webb’s six on the Giants staff. His six losses tied him with Webb in that department. The Giants picked up their ninth consecutive win over the Padres 4-3 at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tuesday night.

Tonight, DeSclafani was, at best, mediocre. He lasted five innings, in which he surrendered three runs, all earned, on eight hits, one of them for the distance, and a walk. He struck out a half a dozen San Diegans. He threw 88 pitches, 61 for strikes. He ended up with a no decision, but his ERA crept up to 4.38.

The Pads went with 3-3, 4,10 Seth Lugo, making his first start since coming off the injured list, where he’d dwelled since straining his right calf on May 16. The Padres’ game notes inform us that his two, four bases on balls per nine innings put him on the top of the Friars’ list in that category.

Like DeScalfani, he went five frames, but they were more effective than his rival. Lugo held the Giants to three hits, which produced one run, which was earned. He struck out five and walked one, leaving the game with a 3-1 lead. He, too, ended the day with a no decision, but he reduced his earned run average to 3.86.

For the first two innings the only base runner for either team was Fernando Tatís, who lead off the action with an infield single. The Padres changed the nature of the game in the top of the third. Trent Grisham singled to center, and ex-Giant Austin Nola bunted him over to second.

Juan Soto sent a liner to left that plated Grisham and sent Tatís to third. Manny Machado shot a grounder to David Villar at first. His throw home was late. The Manny You Love to Hate had his 29th RBI of the season, and Melvin’s Monks had a 2-0 lead.

They threatened in the fourth as well. With one out, Ha-Seong Kim singled to right and went around to third on Grisham’s long single to the base of the right field foul pole. Rookie catcher Patrick Bailey cane to the rescue. With Nola at bat he threw to fellow rookie David Villar at the hot corner, who threw back to Bailey, who returned the throw to Villar, who tagged Kim out. The rest of the frame was anti-climactic.

San Francisco got their first tally in the bottom of the fourth without the benefit of an RBI. Thairo Estrada led off with a double to right center and moved up a base on JD Davis’s soft single to the mound. Michael Conforto bounced into a 4-6-3 double play that enabled Estrada to score, making it a 2-1 game.

Tatís restored San Diego’s two run margin almost immediately. He hit DeSclafani’s second pitch of the fifth inning, a 91.3 mph sinker, 408 feet deep, where it landed in the center field bleachers. DeScalfani managed to get through the rest of the inning without allow another run, but he didn’t come out to pitch the sixth. That task fell to Tristan Beck.

Steven Wilson took over mound duties for the Padres in the sixth. Tim Hill replaced him for the seventh. That’s when the Giants’ bats came alive. Austin Slater led off with a pinch hit walk and went to second on Mike Yastrzemski’s single to center.

Luis Matos singled to left to load the bases. Then the offense stalled. Bailey grounded to Machado at third, starting a 5-2 double play. All, however, was not lost. Crawford singled to center. That drove in Yastrzemski and brought the home team closer to the visitors, 3-2. It also resulted in Nick Martínez coming in to pitch for San Diego.

Martínez retired Villar to end the inning but surrendered a leadoff splash hit into McCovey Cove to tie it all up in the top of the eighth. It was Pederson’s eighth home run and 26th run driven in on the year.

Tyler Rogers, the submarining starboard sibling of Taylor, retired the first two Padres he faced and then yielded a single to Soto. The Manny You Love to Hate beat out a grounder to Crawford, whose throw drew Villar off the bag, putting runners on first and second. Rogers and Xander Bogaerts battled to a full count before the Padres’ short stop bounced out to the mound.

Yastrzemski sent Grisham to the warning track in center to trak down the fly ball with which he led off the bottom of the ninth. Matos and Bailey followed with a walk and a single to left that spelled the end of Martínez’s mound tenure and the arrival of Josh Hader. Right handed Casey Schmitt pinch hit for Crawford against San Diego’s southpaw.

The count went to 3-2, including a pitch clock violation ball, before Schmitt received ball four, which loaded the bases. Hader fanned Villar on three pitches for the second out, bringing up Pederson. The count went full. Pederson fouled off a pitch and then took ball four. A. walk off walk.

The third of this four game series will start Wednesday evening at 6:45pm PT with Yu Darvish (5-5, 4.74) going for San Diego against an as yet not named Giant hurler.

Earthquakes get big win on home turf over Philadelphia 2-1

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Photo courtesy of San Jose Earthquakes.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

SAN JOSE- The Earthquakes took on one of the best teams in the east and came out with a hard fought victory 2-1.

San Jose came out tonight with a 4-3-3 formation and with Daniel de Sousa Brito starting in goal. While for Philadelphia they came out in a 3-4-1-2 formation with Andre Blake in between the pipes.

The black-and-blue’s offense got off to a quick start in this match as Cade Cowell received a crisp pass from Jeremy Ebobisse in the midfield. Cowell took the pass and ran with it but with a defender on him he cut back and made a beautiful pass to Ebobisse who was just outside of the box. Ebobisse took the pass and deposited into the left part of the net giving San Jose an early 1-0 lead at just the eight minute mark.

It did not take long for Philadelphia to respond as they got a couple free kicks go their way. Then on a corner kick at the 16 minute mark for Philadelphia Damion Lowe was left wide open out front. He headed the corner home and tied the game back up at one.

At the 29 minute mark of the first half the away team continued the pressure as Mikael Uhre got an attempt on goal that Brito saved. The rest of the first half saw San Jose not get another attempt on net while Philadelphia finished with five.

The second half got started with Brito having to make another save as this time Julián Carranza got a shot on goal.

After the save the Earthquakes got a burst of chances as they got three attempts with all of the missing.

Not long after the rush of offense from San Jose Miguel Trauco received a pass from Carlos Gruezo just outside of the box. Despite the distance Trauco shot an absolute bomb and picking the right corner of the net and giving the Earthquakes a 2-1 lead at the 57 minute mark.

The goal despite firing up the crowd seemed to fire up Philadelphia as well as Uhre once again got another shot on goal.

The rest of the second half saw San Jose just barely holding on as Philadelphia dominated possession and chances.

With only three minutes of added time the Earthquakes were able to hold on to their one goal lead winning 2-1.

The stats in this one favored the away team mostly as possession at the end of the match was 52% to 47% in favor of Philadelphia. The shots on goal showed that as well at 7-2.

The Earthquakes next match will be on Saturday against Portland at home at 7:30 p.m.