Category: Uncategorized

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND-Trying to hold on to their slim playoff hopes, the San Francisco Giants turned to a pitcher with no playoff experience with the team.

Billy Burns hit a two-run home run off of Mike Leake in the bottom of the third inning, as the Oakland A’s defeated the Giants 5-4 before a crowd of 36,067, the fifth sellout of the season at the Coliseum. This was the A’s first win over the Giants this season after the Giants swept the A’s at AT&T Park from July 24-26.

Eric Sogard got the A’s on the board in the bottom of the second inning, as he hit into a Fielders’ Choice that scored Danny Valencia from third base after he led off the inning with a double off of Leake.

Sonny Gray pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits, while walking two and striking out seven and raised his record to 14-7.

Leake went six innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walking two and striking out three and saw his record fall to 10-10.

Matt Duffy gave the Giants a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as he hit a long home run to left-center field that nearly hit the camera man standing in his well.

Billy Butler hit his 14th home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend the A’s lead up to two runs.

That lead would be cut in half in the top of the seventh inning, as Jarrett Parker hit a home run into the second deck above the luxury suites in right-center field. The home run was measured at 474 feet.

Josh Reddick singled in Sam Fuld in the bottom of the seventh inning after Fuld singled to leadoff the inning.

Closer Sean Doolittle got the final four outs of the game, as he picked up his second save of the season.

Things did get dicey for Doolittle and the A’s in the top of the eighth inning, as Duffy reached on a Fielders’ Choice, Brandon Crawford singled after Buster Posey flew out for the second out of the inning, then Marlon Byrd singled in Duffy and then Parker walked to load the bases. Doolittle was able to get Mac Williamson to pop out to Stephen Vogt for the final out of the frame.

Despite popping out to end the inning, Williamson picked up his two first hits of his major league career and ended up going 2-for-4 on the night.

By Jeremy Harness

The late, great Yogi Berra once said that “it ain’t over till it’s over,” but……..

After the Giants’ bullpen blew yet another lead and was directly responsible for their second loss in a row, a 5-4 walk-off defeat at the hands of the San Diego Padres, the team is in a near-impossible spot right now.

A night after Jake Peavy was victimized by his relievers after a dominant performance, Madison Bumgarner was denied his 19th win of the season after going seven strong innings and leaving with a 4-3 lead.

Sergio Romo took the ball in the eighth but gave up a run-scoring double to Matt Kemp, the second time in as many nights that he has surrendered a lead.

In the ninth, Michael Broadway took over for Romo and promptly yielded a leadoff double to Derek Norris, and then after Melvin Upton, Jr. sacrificed pinch runner Travis Jankowski over to third, Alexi Amarista sent one near the warning track in left to bring in Jankowski and send the Giants packing.

“It shows you how tough it is to get a win sometimes,” Bochy said of Bumgarner. “He did all he could. (But) give (the Padres) credit, they fought back and had a couple of big hits.”

To make things worse, the Dodgers came back from an early deficit to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, and by virtue of their win the Giants’ loss, their magic number to clinch the National League West is down to three. Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs are one win – or one Giants loss – away from locking up the final NL wild-card spot.

By Jeremy Harness

In the World Series-winning years, the Giants’ bullpen got big outs in crucial games. On Wednesday, they did the exact opposite, as the shoddy relief was the key ingredient in a 5-4 loss to the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

Jake Peavy tossed six shutout innings and left the game holding a 2-0 lead, as he stifled his former team in giving up only four hits while walking only one batter and striking out four.

However, things got messy almost right away when the ball was taken out of Peavy’s hand. Cory Gearrin took the ball in the bottom of the seventh and immediately gave up a single and a walk without getting anyone out. Josh Osich took over and struck out the next two batters, but then he surrendered a double to Yangervis Solarte to score both runners and tie the game.

The Giants went back on top in the eighth with Jarrett Parker’s solo homer, but Sergio Romo, who has been very good out of the bullpen with a 2.92 ERA entering Wednesday, surrendered a two-run double to Travis Jankowski to give the Padres a one-run lead.

The Giants appeared to be firmly in the driver’s seat in the top of the ninth, as Buster Posey reached on right fielder Matt Kemp’s fielding error, and Brandon Crawford went the other way down the left-field line to put runners on second and third with nobody out against perennial All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel.

All the Giants had to do at this point is make contact a couple of times, and the lead was theirs once again. However, they couldn’t even do that, and for at least a half an inning, they got away with it.

Mac Williamson, who had his first major-league at-bat at the time, and Kelby Tomlinson each struck out. Trevor Brown appeared headed down a similar path, but Kimbrel bailed the Giants out by uncorking a wild pitch that nearly missed Brown’s head and ricocheted off the backstop. Posey reacted very quickly and was able to beat Kimbrel’s tag to the plate to tie things up.

It was not to be, however. George Kontos surrendered a one-out double to Kemp and then intentionally walked Melvin Upton, Jr. Two batters later, Jedd Gyorko singled off Santiago Casilla to score the winning run and drop the Giants further down in the National League West standings.

This blow could prove to be the fatal one, as the Los Angeles Dodgers won Wednesday, dropping their magic number to clinch the division to five. Things do not look any better in the wild-card scenario, as they now face a 9 ½-game deficit there.

By Jeremy Kahn

Trevor Brown was inserted into the San Francisco Giants starting lineup after Buster Posey was a late scratch, and the rookie made most of the opportunity to start.

Brown picked up his first two major league hits and threw out a runner, as the Giants defeated the San Diego Padres 4-2 at Petco Park.

It was a run scoring double by Brown in the top of the fifth inning that gave the Giants the lead for good, and Angel Pagan added a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning.

Brown’s double scored Ehire Adrianza with the initial run of the evening for the defending World Champions, who are holding on to their playoff lives by the skin of their teeth. Coupled with the Los Angeles Dodgers loss at home to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Giants are now six games behind the Dodgers with 12 games remaining in the season.

Brandon Crawford drove in the Giants second run of the evening in the top of the seventh inning, as he drove in Alejandro De Aza.

Cory Spangenberg got the Padres on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he hit a solo home run off of reliever George Kontos.

Pagan finished the scoring for the Giants in the top of the seventh inning, as he hit his third home run of the season just out of the reach of right fielder Matt Kemp.

Brett Wallace got the Padres within two in the bottom of the seventh inning, as he hit his fifth home run of the season.

Chris Heston pitched the first 4.1 innings for the Giants, allowing just two hits, while walking five and striking out seven.

Kontos got the win after pitching 1.2 innings in relief, while Hunter Strickland, Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla finished the game. It was the 35th save of the season for Casilla.

Tyson Ross pitched six innings for the Padres, allowing two runs on four hits, while walking two and striking out 11 in the loss.

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND-On a hot day at the Coliseum, Derek Carr sent everyone wearing Silver and Black home with a smile on their face.

Carr found Seth Roberts in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown pass with 26 seconds remaining, as the Raiders came back to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 37-33 before 53,500 at the Coliseum.

The touchdown pass completed a huge day for Carr, as he went 30-for-46 for a career-high 351 yards, three touchdowns.

Carr is the first Raiders quarterback in team history to top the 300-yard mark more than once in his first three years with the team.

Amari Cooper caught seven passes for 109 yards, while Michael Crabtree pulled down nine catches for 111 yards and they are the first Raiders pair to top the 100-yard mark in the same game since Denarius Moore and Darius Heyward-Bey against the San Diego Chargers on January 1, 2012.

Cooper caught the first touchdown of the afternoon, as he got by his coverage and scampered 68 yards to the Ravens just 2:11 into the game. It was the first touchdown of Cooper’s two game career.

Latavius Murray scored his first touchdown of the season from one yard out, as he scored his third career touchdown.

Things did not start well for the Ravens, TJ Carrie forced a fumble and Curtis Lofton recovered the fumble.

After taking a 30-20 lead in the fourth quarter, the Raiders fell behind after Justin Tucker hit a 31-yard field goal to give the Ravens a 33-30 lead.

Things did not good following the field goal, as Carr threw what looked like a game-clinching interception by Will Hill III, but he was called for defensive holding and the drive continued and on the next play, Carr found Roberts.

Joe Flacco got one more shot at victory, but Neiko Thrope intercepted the Flacco pass and the Raiders escaped with a four-point victory.

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, September 20, 2015

Houston came up with a much needed victory in its quest to remain in the playoff race as the Astros defeated Oakland 5-1 Sunday at Minute Maid Park.

Combined with Texas’s loss to Seattle, the Astros pulled back to within 1 ½ games of first place in the AL West, and hold a 2 1/2-game lead over Minnesota and the Los Angeles Angels for the second AL Wild Card berth.

The Astros used the long ball to get the job done. Colby Rasmus homered in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 1-1, and George Springer belted a two-run home run in the fifth to put Houston ahead to stay at 3-1.

Rasmus hit his second home run of the day in the eighth off reliever Barry Zito to tack on the last two Astros runs.

Oakland led 1-0 in the top of the second Danny Valencia led off with a single and scored on Marcus Semien’s RBI double.

Collin McHugh (17-7) scattered four hits, struck out eight and walked two in eight innings for the win. Aaron Brooks (2-4) went seven innings for Oakland, giving up the first two Houston home runs among seven hits.

After taking Monday off, the Athletics host a three-game series against Texas.

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

Like many Hollywood Sequels, Gray-Kazmir II failed to live up to its billing. Almost two weeks ago, Oakland Athletics ace Sonny Gray bested former teammate and mentor Scott Kazmir in a 4-0 victory. Saturday night in Houston, neither hurler factored into the decision, a 10-6 win for the desperate Astros (78-71).

Houston took advantage of Cy Young hopeful Gray early for a trio of runs in the bottom of the first, but the Green and Gold used the next three innings to rough up their former teammate. Jake Smolinski blasted a homer with no one on in the bottom of the second, while A’s shortstop Marcus Semien ripped a solo shot of his on in the 4th. Mark Canha chased Kazmir, a mid-season acquisition by Houston from Oakland, with a two-strike, two-out run-scoring single to tie the game.

The Athletics (64-85) handed Gray a significant lead in the top of the 5th, plating three runs off Kazmir’s replacement Vincent Velasquez. Smolinski, Carson Blair and Craig Gentry all plated runs for Oakland in the inning. Gray did his part in the bottom half of the inning, coughing up singles to Jose Altuve and George Springer before bouncing back with a force out and a double play to escape unscathed.

Gray struggled to open the bottom of the 6th, allowing a leadoff double to Colby Rasmus and a one-out RBI single to Luis Valbuena, He left the game with a 6-4 lead after 5 1/3 innings of 8-hit, 2 strikeout ball. Reliever Drew Pomeranz retired pinch-hitter Chris Carter, usually an Athletics menace, but couldn’t retire Matt Duffy who doubled to put Houston within a run at 6-5.

An inning later Evan Gattis provided the crushing blow, launching a first-pitch offering from Fernando Rodriguez (4-2, 4.08 ERA) just over the wall in right. Gattis’ 26th homer of the season came with two men on base, handing Houston a 8-6 lead. Max Stassi would hit his first long ball of the season in the bottom of the 8th inning for a 9-6 lead. Springer’s sacrifice fly with two outs in the inning would account for the final run, also off Otero, in the 8th.

Chad Qualls (3-4, 3.91) picked up the win for Houston after pitching a scoreless 6th. Will Harris, Tony Sipp and Luke Gregerson also had scoreless appearances for the Astros, a club that now finds itself 2.5 games back of Texas for the American League West lead and 1.5 games ahead of the Angels for the final Wild Card.

Houston sends 16 game-winner Collin McHugh and his 4.05 ERA to the mound in Sunday morning’s finale. Bob Melvin’s athletics counter with Aaron Brooks, the centerpiece of the Ben Zobrist trade. The 25-year-old righty is 2-3 on the year.

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, September 19, 2015

A big night from quarterback Kevin Hogan and running back Remound Wright sparked Stanford to a 41-31 Pac-12 football win over No. 6 Southern California Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Hogan completed 18 of 23 passes for 279 yards and touchdown passes to Austin Hooper and Devon Cajuste. It was the first win for Hogan over the Trojans in his Cardinal career.

Wright rushed for 41 yards, but scored three times on 1-yard runs. Christian McCaffrey led the Cardinal ballcarriers with 115 yards on 26 attempts.

Stanford (1-1 overall, 1-0 Pac-12 North), won its second straight game after dropping its season opener at Northwestern. USC (2-1, 0-1 Pac-12 South) allowed the Cardinal to rack up 474 total yards while losing to Stanford for the fourth time in their last five games at the Coliseum.

Hooper caught four passes for 79 yards, McCaffrey and Dalton Schultz each caught three passes, and Cajuste and Trenton Irwin had two receptions each for Stanford.

Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler tossed two touchdown passes to Steven Mitchell Jr. and JuJu Smith-Schuster snared another. Kessler completed 25 of 32 passes for 272 yards.

USC jumped to a 14-7 first-quarter lead, but the Cardinal rebounded and took a 24-21 lead into the locker room with a pair of touchdowns in the last 3:53 of the first half.

Stanford travels to Corvallis, Oregon, next week to face Oregon State in a Pac-12 North Division Friday night contest.

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-It looks like the odd year theory for the San Francisco Giants not making the playoffs is not too far away from coming true.

David Peralta singled in A.J. Pollock in the top of the first inning, as the Arizona Diamondbacks made it two in a row with a 6-0 victory over the Giants before a crowd of 41,206,the 400th consecutive sellout at AT&T Park.

This was the second consecutive shutout for the Diamondbacks, and this was the first time that the Giants have been shutout in back-to-back games since July 28 and 29, 2012 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

This as the 14th time this season that the Giants have been shutout this season, and the fifth time versus the Diamondbacks.

The Diamondbacks added two more runs in the top of the second inning, as Chris Owings singled in Phil Gosselin and then Ender Inciarte singled in Owings three batters later.

Patrick Corbin pitched a great game for the Diamondbacks, as he went seven innings, allowing zero runs on five hits, walking none and striking out five.

On the other side of things, Mike Leake lasted just three innings, allowing three runs on eight runs and walked one.

Corbin helped out his own cause in the top of the fifth inning, as he singled in Gosselin; however he was thrown out trying his single into a double.

Inciarte added another run batted in, as he singled in Pollock in the top of the sixth inning, as the leadoff hitter Pollock singled, stole second and went to third on a Trevor Brown throwing error.

Yusmeiro Petit was not his usual solid self, as he went two innings, allowing one runs on five hits.

Matt Cain made his second career appearance out of the bullpen and gave up one run in one inning of work. This was Cain’s first relief appearance since May 16, 2006 against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.