Category: Uncategorized

by Jerry Feitelberg

News flash- The A’s have recalled former Cy Young pitcher, Barry Zito, from Nashville.

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-It was a weird game, but in the end somebody went home happy and someone went home sad.

Todd Frazier hit his 34th home run of the season to lead off the top of the 10th inning, as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the San Francisco Giants 9-8 before 41,044, the 397th consecutive sellout at AT&T Park.

The game went into extra innings after the Giants scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie up the game.

Despite allowing those three runs in the opening frame, Chris Heston struck out the side in the first two innings on his way to striking out eight in five innings of work.

Brandon Phillips got the Reds on the board in the first inning, as he singled in Jason Bourgeois, who led off the game with a four-pitch walk against Chris Heston.

After a Todd Frazier strikeout for the second out of the inning, Ivan De Jesus, Jr., tripled to score Joey Votto and Phillips.

Buster Posey continues to swing a hot bat, as he tied the game with just one swing of the bat, when he took a John Lamb pitch and put it into the left field bleachers for his 18th home run of the season.

Jarrett Parker hit his first major league home run leading off the bottom of the fifth inning, as he hit a solo home run off of Ryan Mattheus.

The Giants added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Marlon Byrd reached on a throwing error by De Jesus, Jr., and then Brandon Belt doubled down the right-field line; however he was thrown out when he went to far off of second base.

Despite playing the string, the Reds would not give up, as they scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to take the lead for the second time on the evening.

Phillips singled in Jay Bruce, who advanced to third on a two-base throwing error that retired Bourgeois at the plate. The Bourgeois play at the plate was challenged by Bruce Bochy, and after a two minute 30 second replay, the call was reversed.

Phillips then singled in Bruce to tie up the game, and then the Reds took the lead when De Jesus walked. Ramon Cabrera extended the lead, as he hit two-run single to Phillips and Frazier.

Things got dicey in the bottom of the eighth inning, as the Giants got two on with two out and Bruce Bochy sent Madison Bumgarner up to pinch hit for Jeremy Affeldt against Reds closer Aroldis Chapman.

After going down 0-2, Bumgarner eventually drew a walk against the left-hander that included multiple pitches that topped the 100 mile per hour range.

Chapman then hit Ehire Adrianza to load the bases to score Posey. Chapman was able to regroup to strikeout Alejandro De Aza to end the threat.

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND-It maybe a new season, but it seems like the Oakland Raiders are in the same old rut that they have been in since the 2003 season.

Andy Dalton found tight end Tyler Eifert for two touchdowns, while Jeremy Hill added two more on the ground and the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Raiders 33-13 at the Coliseum.

Eifert, who missed all but one game with an elbow injury during the 2014 season caught nine passes for 104 yards on the afternoon.

Things went from bad to worse for the Raiders from early on, as Derek Carr left the game before the end of the first half with an injury to his hand and never returned.

The Raiders avoided being shutout in their first season opener since the 2006 season, as they scored two meaningless touchdowns late in the game, trailing the Bengals 33-0.

After seeing the Raiders start the season by going three-and-out, the eighth consecutive season that they started a season by going three-and-out or committing a turnover, the Bengals took advantage.

Dalton moved the ball easily down the field, and Hill ended the Bengals initial drive of the 2015 season with a three-yard touchdown run to end the 11-play drive.

Eifert score in the waning seconds of the first half, as the Bengals ended the first half leading the Raiders 30-0.

Carr went 7-for-12 for 61 yards passing before leaving the game with an injured hand that was suffered when Carr attempted to throw a stiff arm to Bengals cornerback Adam Jones. X-rays on Carr’s hand were negative.

Matt McGloin replaced Carr, and threw two touchdowns to fullback Marcel Reece to make the score a little closer.

“It’s the first game. We can’t cry right now,” said Michael Crabtree. “We got 15 more games. It’s the first game. We lost bad. We’re going back to the lab.”

Crabtree and rookie Amari Cooper each led the Raiders with five receptions, while Cooper gained 47 yards and Crabtree gained 37 yards.

NOTES: Aldon Smith, who signed with the Raiders on Friday, picked up a solo tackle, an assist and one quarterback pressure.

Charles Woodson, who is in his 18th season left the game on the final series of the game with a shoulder injury.

This was the Bengals first ever win in Oakland after losing the 10 previous times.

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, September 13, 2015

By losing 12-4 to Texas on Sunday, the Oakland Athletics became the first American League team to clinch a losing record. The A’s, division champions in 2012 and 2013 before reaching the postseason as a wild card last year, are 61-82.

With the victory, the Rangers maintained their 1-game lead over Minnesota in the AL Wild Card race, and trail AL West-leading Houston by 1 1/2 games. The Rangers (75-67) and Astros (77-65) start a key four-game series Monday in Arlington.

Adrian Beltre drove in five runs with a pair of home runs, and Shin-Soo Choo added another homer, his 18th of the season, to back winning pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez (3-5). Rougned Odor tacked on a three-run homer in the eighth inning for Texas.

This was Beltre’s 27th career multi-home run game.

The Athletics had two bright spots in the loss. One was Danny Valencia’s two-run triple; the other was rookie catcher Carson Blair hitting a home run for his first major league hit.

Oakland starter Felix Doubront (3-2) worked 4 1/3 innings, and struck out five, but also gave up seven runs on seven hits.

The Athletics road trip continues to Chicago, where they open a four-game series Monday against the White Sox. Sonny Gray starts on Monday, seeking his 14th win.

A’s NOTES: Relief pitcher Edward Mujica strained his right hamstring covering first on a infield grounder in the fifth inning. … C Stephen Vogt, who has been our for a week dealing with a groin injury, played catch in the outfield before the game.

By: Joe Lami

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—

Giants’ pitcher Mike Leake did it all on Sunday’s 10-3 win over the San Diego Padres.  The Giants continue to roll, as the win completes the three-game sweep of the Padres. It’s the ninth sweep of the season for San Francisco.

After a shaky first two innings that saw three runs on two triples and a home run, he settled down and got into the zone. Leake finished the days pitching 6+ innings, surrendering three runs on four hits and striking out two.

Travis Jankowski hit the lone home run for the Padres, which came in second. It was his first career home run. It wasn’t a cheap one either as he hit it to the power alley in right field, over the bricks, left of the 365 mark. Jankowski was called up last month and played in 17 games entering Sunday contest.

However, it wasn’t just Leake’s pitching that led to his first win since July 28th and as a Giant, he had a great day at the plate as well, highlighted by a three-run homer in the second inning. For Leake, it’s his second homer of the year and sixth of the season. He’s also the fourth Giants’ pitcher to go yard this year, giving the pitching staff a total of eight on the year, the most by any pitching staff since the 2006 Cubs. 

Leake brought it upon himself, as he only received six runs of support in his five starts as a Giants entering, but the home run was a huge lift and turned things around for San Francisco.

“He did a really nice job and finally settled down. We know he’s a threat at the plate and helped win his own game today,” added Giants’ manager, Bruce Bochy.

The bats continued to go for the Giants, as they added to their lead, scoring two runs in each of the fifth, seventh, and eighth innings taking advantage of bad pitching and defense from San Diego.

Giants’ center fielder, Angel Pagan, had a huge day on the bases with three steals on the day.  Pagan only had six steals on the year entering Sunday but exploded with the career high. He’s the first Giant to steal three bases successfully in a game since Gregor Blanco did it on May 14th of last year against the Braves.

Bochy later added “You can really see the difference, Angel’s finally healthy”.

The Giants were unable to make up any ground on the Dodgers, as LA defeated the Diamondbacks 4-3 on Sunday. San Francisco still sits seven games back of Los Angeles in the National League West.

By: Joe Lami

SAN JOSE, Calif.—

Around 9,000 Sharks fans showed up to SAP Center at San Jose on Saturday, as the Sharks hosted their first ever rookie game at the tank. With this move, the Sharks follow suit of many of the Canadian teams that allow fans experience to the rookie games in person.

The fans went home happy, as the Sharks beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-1, thanks to a great goaltending performance by undrafted Joel Rumple.  Rumple, who played his college hockey for the Wisconsin Badgers, earned the second star in the win as he was able to shut down the Ducks’ offensive bombardment.

A couple of takeaways to take from the rookie game are the Sharks have a few very promising prospects.

Joonas Donskoi stole the show for the Sharks, as he lit the lamp twice earning the first star in the process. Donskoi was one of the older players to play in the game, making it hard to call him a rookie at 23 years old going against 18, 19 and 20-year-olds. The fin started his professional career for Karpat of the Finnish league.  Last year, he finished with 49 points in just 58 games. His play reminds a lot of current Shark, Melker Karlsson. Karlsson came over from the Swedish league last season and earned 24 points in 53 games during his rookie season with San Jose. Donskoi has the best shot out of any of the rookies to make the Sharks this year and can very well be 2016′s version of Karlsson for team teal.

Rourke Chartier also had a great performance for San Jose. He scored on a wicked wrist shot from the top of the left circle. Barracuda coach, Roy Sommer, said after the game that Chartier was his favorite player on the ice. Chartier, just a 19-year old, could challenge for a roster spot this year. The fifth round pick from the 2014 draft is also eligible for one more season with Kelowna of the WHL does hurt his chances, however.  He scored 82 points in 58 games last year for the Rockets.

San Jose’s most popular prospect, Nikolay Goldobin, finished the game with an empty-net goal and an assist. His assist was a beauty, as he earned the helper on the Chartier tally. Goldobin made a play at the right side-wall and was able to make a cross-ice pass to the tape of Chartier, who fired it into the top left corner of the net. Goldobin is rumored to have one of the best chances for rookies to make the Sharks, but is still very young and has a lot to do to prove he’s NHL ready.

Goldobin is unyielding on the puck and has great pursuit of the puck.  He constantly moves in the offensive zone trying to create himself a lane to gain time for his great shot. He’s put some weight on, as he looks a lot bigger than he did at camp in July. However, the biggest hole in his game is still on the back end. Goldobin constantly over pursues the puck and is terrible when it comes to defensive position. He needs to learn how important position can be in the NHL. He needs to learn how to take away passing lanes rather than playing the puck when it’s nowhere near him. Luckily, last night the Sharks got away with a few of his mistakes but come regular season when NHL veterans are on the attack, they won’t get away with them. His offensive presence is outstanding, but it’s going to be his play in his own end that will keep him off of the Sharks’ roster to start the year. If he can prove he can improve his defensive game, there’s no doubt he will be a Shark in the near future.

Jeremy Roy, San Jose’s second-round selection in this year’s draft, was the last of the rookies that impressed me on Saturday. Roy did a great job shutting down the Ducks. He was constantly facing Nick Ritchie, the Ducks top prospect and Roy completely shut him down. There was one play that comes to mind, as Ritchie received the puck all alone at the blue line and would have been able to dance his way on net, but Roy got back and was able to poke the puck away. Roy had a few sneaky shots, as he is known as a two-way defenseman, but his strength is definitely on the back end. He reminds a lot of Marc-Edouard Vlasic with his play as he will be the pillar of the Sharks’ blue line a few years down the road. There is zero chance he makes the roster this year, as he is only 18 years old. It was announced earlier on Sunday that the Sharks and Roy have agreed on his three-year entry level deal.

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, September 12, 2015

Despite losing 5-3 to the Oakland Athletics Saturday at Globe Life Park in Arlington, the Texas Rangers didn’t lose any ground in the American League Wild Card race.

Despite losing to the A’s, possessors of the AL’s worst record, the Rangers remain 1 ½ games behind Houston in the AL West, and one game ahead of Minnesota for the second wild card slot.

Sean Nolin (1-1) got the win for the A’s, limiting the Rangers to five hits, and a solo home run by Mike Napoli, over 5 2/3 innings. Texas right-hander Yovani Gallardo (12-10) saw his five-game winning streak snapped while taking his first loss in nine starts.

Gallardo went 4 1/3 innings and allowed all five Oakland runs in the fifth inning on a pair of home runs – a three-run shot by Mark Canha and a two-run homer by Danny Valencia.

The Rangers’ Shin-Soo Choo extended his hitting streak to 12 games, and teammate Elvis Andrus snapped an 0-21 batting drought by rapping three doubles.

A’s outfielder Billy Burns missed his second game, battling a groin injury. Oakland manager Bob Melvin told reporters after the game that Burns “would probably” miss Sunday’s game.

Left-hander Felix Doubront (3-1) is on the mound for Oakland in the series finale, while Texas counters with right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez (2-5).

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Jake Peavy pitched a game like he knew that the San Francisco Giants playoff hopes were on his shoulders.

It was solid night for Peavy, as he went seven innings, allowing just one run on just two hits, walking no one and striking out two on his way to evening his record at 6-6 on the season and the Giants defeated the San Diego Padres 9-1 before a crowd of 41,621, the 393rd consecutive sellout at AT&T Park.

This was the first time Peavy defeated the Padres in his major league career, as he now is 1-1 versus the team he pitched for from 2002-2009.

The only hits Peavy allowed were to Justin Upton, who hit a 406-foot home run to lead off the second inning, and Upton hit a single with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to stop a streak of 17 in a row retired by Peavy.

With the win, coupled with the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field, the Giants cut the Dodgers lead down 7.5 in the National League West. This was the first time since August 21 that the Giants gained ground on the Dodgers.

The defensive play of the night came just before Upton’s single in the top of the seventh inning, as Angel Pagan took away a sure home run off the bat of Matt Kemp.

Buster Posey continues his quest for another batting title, as he singled in the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the second inning that scored Alejandro De Aza, who led the inning with a single of his own.

Marlon Byrd then drove in the second run of the inning, as he singled in Matt Duffy, who singled after De Aza. Kelby Tomlinson continues to shine as a replacement for Joe Panik, as he reached on a fielders choice in his second consecutive at-bat and then stole second for the second time in as many at-bats. Ehire Adrianza then walked to load the bases, but the rally ended there, when Peavy struck out to end the inning.

Adrianza extended the lead up to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he singled off of Andrew Cashner to score Brandon Belt. Peavy then helped out his own cause, as he singled off of Cashner to score Tomlinson, who singled after Byrd struck out for the second out of the inning.

Cashner went 4.2 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits, while walking five and striking out seven, as he fell to 5-15 on the season.

Brandon Belt scored in the bottom of the seventh inning, as he scored from third base on the third fielders choice of the night by Tomlinson. Jarrett Parker hit a long ground-rule double to right-center to score Tomlinson, and Adrianza stopped at third base after he picked up his second hit of the night.

It was a big night for Byrd, as he went three-for-four on the night.

Cory Spangenberg picked up a hit for the Padres in the top of the eighth inning, as he singled to left field off of reliever Javier Lopez.

Kemp singled off of Brett Bochy in the top of the ninth inning.

Cory Gearrin made his Giants debut in replacing Peavy in the top of the eighth inning, and he responded by getting Derek Norris to ground out to second base and then struck out pinch hitter Alex Dickerson before replaced by Lopez.

NOTES: Matt Cain returned to the active after a rehabilitation assignment with nerve inflammation in his elbow, and Parker was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.

Gregor Blanco is considered day-to-day after being diagnosed with a concussion.

Madison Bumgarner will take the mound on Saturday for the Giants, while Ian Kennedy will take the mound for the Padres.

By Jeremy Harness

Sure, the Giants have stared down sizable deficits in the final month of the season before, and they have come out victorious in the past.

However, in order to make that happen, they have made some serious headway to get within striking distance. That has not happened after the first full week of September, and as a result, the deficit that they face in the National League West has not changed much.

With the NL wild card well out of reach at this point – they are nine games back of both the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs – the Giants’ only hope seems to be in winning their division.

At a time where they need series wins at the very least, the Giants split their four-game series with Colorado before losing two of three on the road to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers are going in the opposite direction and have turned it on in time for the home stretch. Besides sweeping the Giants in a three-game series to begin the month, they took three of four from the Padres while winning two out of three over the Angels to boost their lead to 8 ½ games at press time with only three weeks to play.

It continues to be said, but it is a must that the Giants get it in gear very quickly, starting with a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres, a team that they have had great success against at AT&T Park over the years.

After that series, the Giants will face the Reds and the Diamondbacks at home before hitting the road (well, sort of) to face the Athletics. If the Giants have not made progress by this point, they will most likely be watching the postseason from afar.

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Wednesday, September 9, 2015

PHOENIX, Arizona – If Arizona catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia keeps up his hot hitting, fans will soon start spelling his name correctly. The veteran backstop homered in his second consecutive game, providing the Diamondbacks with their margin of victory in a 2-1 win Wednesday over San Francisco.

Arizona took two out of three games of the series, adding to San Francisco’s disastrous road trip. The Giants (72-68) have lost nine of their last 12 road games, trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by 8 ½ games in the NL West and the Chicago Cubs by 9 in the NL Wild Card.

With one out in the Arizona fourth, David Peralta hit a ground-rule double over the bullpen fence in left. Saltalamacchia, the next batter, followed with a blast into the center field picnic area above the 413-foot marker, his seventh home run of the season.

The Giants cut their deficit to 2-1 in the sixth. Pinch-hitter Alejandro De Aza was hit by a pitch by D-Backs starter Zack Godley, moved to second on a walk to Angel Pagan and to third on Joe Panik’s groundout to second. During Matt Duffy’s at-bat, Arizona reliever Andrew Chafin threw a wild pitch, allowing De Aza to score.

San Francisco had a potential rally snuffed out early in the fifth inning, when Marlon Byrd, after running out an infield single, turned the wrong direction after overrunning the bag. Noticing Byrd’s casual left turn – indicating intent to advance to second – D-Backs second baseman Chris Owings alertly threw to first, where Byrd was tagged out.

The Giants loaded the bases in the seventh but failed to push across the equalizer. Byrd led off with a double, and with two out, Jackson Williams walked and Buster Posey was intentionally walked (and replaced by pinch-runner Mike Leake). But Pagan popped up to shallow left field to end the threat.

Brad Ziegler retired all five batters he faced in the eighth and ninth while earning his 25th save.

Godley (5-1) worked five-plus innings to get the win. He struck out five, walked one and scattered three hits. Randall Delgado, Daniel Hudson, Matt Reynolds and Ziegler held the Giants scoreless over the last three innings.

Chris Heston (11-10) gave up five hits, including Saltalamacchia’s home run, struck out five and walked two, but couldn’t get past the fifth inning.

The Giants return home for a nine-game homestand against San Diego, Cincinnati and Arizona. After taking Thursday off, San Francisco hosts the Padres Friday through Sunday. In order, the Giants’ probables for the San Diego series are Jake Peavy (5-6, 4.41), Madison Bumgarner (17-7, 3.05) and Mike Leake (9-8, 3.70).

GIANT JOTTINGS: RHP Tim Hudson, who homered in Tuesday’s game, is the third Giants pitcher to hit a home run at or after age 40. The first two were Clarence Mitchell (who homered for the New York Giants at 40 on Aug. 2, 1931, against the Boston Braves) and Steve Carlton (41 when he homered on July 21, 1986, at St. Louis). … The Giants haven’t won a road series since taking two of three at Atlanta Aug. 3-5. … Attendance at Chase Field was 20,576.

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