Oakland Loses A Tough One To The Twins 5-4

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The Minnesota Twins Miguel Sano exults after hitting a three run home run versus the Oakland A’s and pitcher Jake Diekman in the eighth inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sat May 15, 2021 (AP News photo)

Oakland Loses A Tough One To The Twins 5-4

By Barbara Mason

Saturday afternoon the Oakland A’s took on the Minnesota Twins in game two of their three game series. The A’s prevailed in the first game of the series 6-1 yesterday in a home run derby, four in all. Ramon Laureano, Sean Murphy, Stephen Piscotty and Mark Canha all knocked balls out of the park in the win.

Matt Olson would pick up where Mark Canha left off yesterday and knocked a 420 foot blast in the first inning. Seth Brown was on base giving the A’s the early 2-0 lead.

The Twins would cut that lead in half in the bottom of the first inning. Garlick singled, Donaldson doubled and Cruz grounded out to second driving Garlick home.

The A’s increased their lead in the third inning when Laureano singled and Mark Canha who was on third scored for a 3-1 count.

Going into the fifth inning Oakland would continue to deposit into the second deck of Target Field. Mark Canha would hit his second home run of the series. The A’s now led by the score of 4-1.

The game got tense in the seventh when the Twins loaded the bases. Oakland was able to get out of the inning when Matt Chapman made a great catch in foul territory for the third out ending the Minnesota bid

Things took a disastrous turn in the bottom of the eighth inning. Sano would homer with Polanco and Refsnyer on base and just like that, the Twins took a 5-4 lead. Petit who had relieved Irvin was pulled and Diekman came into the game. With one swing of the bat this game took an ugly turn for the A’s.

The A’s were unable to provide any further offense and the Twins had really pulled the rug from under the A’s. It was a real disappointment for Oakland after controlling seven innings and to let it go in the eighth inning.

Tomorrow the A’s will take on the Twins in the final game of the series. First pitch is at 11:10.

146th Preakness Steaks: Rombauer out hustles Midnight Bourbon

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Rombauer the winning horse crossing the finish line at the 146th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Sat May 15, 2021 (photo from @PreaknessStakes)

By Jessica Kwong

Rombauer outran Midnight Bourbon and controversy stricken Kentucky Derby victor Medina Spirit to win the 146th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Saturday evening.

Medina Spirit had appeared likely to win the second leg of the Triple Crown after taking first place at Churchill Downs two weeks ago, which was tainted by a positive test for a steroid post-race.

Both Medina Spirit and Midnight Bourbon, the early favorite, broke well early and Medina Spirit led into the first turn. Midnight Bourbon took over the lead as the horses went into the frontstretch. However, Rombauer made a late charge in the final yards and claimed victory by four lengths.

Rombauer, ridden by jockey Flavien Prat, finished in 1:53.62 and paid $25.60 on a $2 bet to win. Midnight Bourbon, at 3-1 odds, came in second while Medina Spirit, at 2-1 odds, finished third.

It was Prat’s second victory in a Triple Crown race. Prat won the Kentucky Derby in 2019 riding Country House, after Maximum Security was disqualified due to interference, so Saturday was a different feeling for him.

“There’s so much history behind these races, and to win one is great, and to win the Preakness is even better,” said Prat.

Rombauer’s trainer Michael McCarthy captured the honor in just his first appearance in the Preakness and said he was “so proud of this horse, everybody involved.”

“It just goes to show you that small players in the game can be successful as well,” McCarthy said.

Medina Spirit’s trainer Bob Baffert in a statement before the race on Saturday reiterated that his colt’s Kentucky Derby victory was “the result of the horse’s tremendous heart and nothing else” and that ‘there was never any attempt to game or cheat the system.” Medina Spirit cleared three rounds of drug testing on Friday heading into the Preakness.

Here is the Preakness 2021 finishing order:

1.Rombauer

2.Midnight Bourbon

3.Medina Spirit

4. Keepmeinmind

5. Crowded Trade

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Matt Harrington

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NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2021 image from You Tube

On NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs:

#1 Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals have a best of seven series going as we speak game one already started the Bruins are coming off a regular season record of 33-16-7 and the Washington Capitals (36-15-5) both equally talented teams. Ironically the Caps just by the Bruins in the last game of the regular season on Tuesday night.

#2 The New York Islanders who have one of the best records in the NHL (32-17-7) face off on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Penguins (33-15-7). The Islanders lost to the Bruins in their last game of the season in overtime 3-2. Despite the loss the Isles can bring with the likes of sharp shooters Anthony Beauviller and Matthew Barzal.

#3 In the closing days of the regular season the Minnesota Wild (35-16-5) took two games from the Anaheim Ducks but in their last two games to close the season lost two straight to the St Louis Blues by any measure the Wild could have their hands full as they open the best of seven with the Vegas Golden Knights (40-14-2) the Knights finished off their last regular season game walloping the San Jose Sharks (21-28-7) 6-0.

#4 The Tampa Bay Lightning (36-17-3) closed out their regular season with the playoff opponent the Florida Panthers (37-14-5). The Panthers took two from the Lightning how much was that mostly from playing the third and fourth lines, bench players, and young prospects than using their first and second lines?

#5 Matt talk about how a Stanley Cup Finals scenario would work with a Canadian team and a US team were to meet in the Finals but with borders closed won’t be able to play against each other.

Join Matt for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcasts each Saturday, Mary Lisa Tuesdays, and Len Shapiro Wednesdays it’s All NHL Playoffs All the time

Aces fall to Storm in opener, 97-83

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Las Vegas Aces’ Liz Cambage (8) tips-off against Seattle Storm’s Breanna Stewart to start the first half of a WNBA basketball game and their season Saturday, May 15, 2021, in Everett, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

By Shawn McCullough

The new look Las Vegas Aces lost their season opener to the defending WNBA champion Seattle Storm, 97-83, in Seattle, WA.

“It was a good first game for us to get our feet wet, but this is one that we know is a learning experience,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer.

The Aces had just one starter, A’ja Wilson, who was in the starting lineup last season. 

“We have been playing with each other for maybe a week,” said Wilson.  “It’s just team chemistry.  We need to come together.”

Wilson finished the game with 24 points and five rebounds.

After sitting out the 2020 season, center Liz Cambage returned to the Aces and added 16 points.

“I had a lot of jitters tonight and I came out a bit nervous,” said Cambage.  “I want to do my best for this team.”

Former Los Angeles guard Chelsea Gray made her Aces debut, scoring seven points.

Guard Jackie Young moved into a starting role this season going 6 for 15 from the field for 12 points.

With the loss to Seattle, the Aces have now lost four straight games to the Storm dating back to last season’s WNBA Finals.

Las Vegas will next have a rematch with the Storm in Seattle on Tuesday night.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

  • The Aces shot 43.8% from the field and went 3 for 12 from three point range.
  • Las Vegas turned the ball over just six times.
  • The Aces scored just 14 points in the second quarter.


Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Warriors hang on to slip by Pelicans 125-122; Poole leads with 38 points for W’s

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The Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole (3) shoots against the New Orleans Pelicans guard Eric Bledsoe (right) and center Willy Hermangomez bottom at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Fri May 14, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors (38-33) won their fifth straight game, downing the New Orleans Pelicans (31-40) 125-122 Friday night at the Chase Center. The Warriors currently reside in eighth place in the Western Conference. The Memphis Grizzlies, with the same record as the Warriors, meet on Sunday to determine which team will be the number eight team.

A loss to the Pelicans and a Grizzlie win Friday night would not have changed the importance of Sunday’s game. The Warriors’ head coach, Steve Kerr, decided to rest his three best players Friday night. Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins watched the game from the bench.

The Pelicans, in 11th place in the conference, were eliminated from the playoffs last week. Their head coach, Stan Van Gundy, rested Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Steve Adams. Zion Williamson broke his finger last week in the second game against the Warriors, and he is done for the year.

Jordan Poole and Mychal Mulder were in the starting lineup at the guard position. Juan Toscano-Anderson was the other bench player getting a starting assignment. The teams played a very fast-paced and entertaining first quarter. Mychal Mulder was channeling Curry as he knocked down five threes in the first quarter. Jordan Poole paced the Warrior offense with 14 points. The Warriors outscored the Pelicans 41-32 at the end of the first 12 minutes of action.

The Warriors continued to shoot well from the floor. Kent Bazemore, along with Nico Mannion, helped keep the pressure on the Pelican defense. The Warriors outscored the Pelicans 34-25 in the quarter to finish the first half leading 75-57. Mychal Mulder made his sixth three of the game in the quarter and finished the first half with 20 points. Jordan Poole led the team with 24.

Kent Bazemore had 13, and Nico Mannion added nine. The Warriors shot 60% from the floor. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Pelicans with 11. Willy Herangomez had 10, Eric Bledsoe 9, and Jaxson Hayes 7. The Pelicans shot 45% from the floor.

The Pelicans coach, Stan Van Gundy, must have had a heart-to-heart talk with his team about playing defense during the halftime break. The Pelicans turned the tables on the Warriors in the third quarter. Their offense came alive as they put 33 points on the board while holding Golden State to 24. Jordan Poole injured his ankle midway in the quarter. He went to the locker room and had his ankle iced. The Warriors finished the third quarter leading 99-90.

The Warriors were able to maintain the lead for most of the fourth quarter. In his first game in over a month, Eric Paschall was a catalyst keeping the Pelicans at bay. Mulder hit a two-pointer to put the Warriors ahead 112-101. They led by eleven 119-108. It was at this point that the Warrior offense went ice cold.

The Pelicans made stop after stop and were able to go on a 12-0 run to take the lead 120-119. The Warriors went three minutes and 39 seconds without scoring. Eric Paschall broke the spell with a basket to put the Warriors ahead 121-120.

The Pelicans answered with a basket of their own to lead 122-121, with 25.9 seconds left. Jordan Poole hit a basket that took just four seconds of the clock. New Orleans has 21 seconds to find a way to beat the Warriors. They tried, but the Warrior defense held. The Warriors had control of the ball. The Pelicans fouled Poole with 0.1 seconds left. Poole made both free throws, and the game was over. The Warriors win 125-122.

Game Notes and Stats: With the win, the Warriors are 39-33 for the year. The Pelicans are 31-40. The Memphis Grizzlies beat the Sacramento Kings in Memphis 107-106 to remain in the ninth spot. The winner of Sunday’s game will play the Number seven team in the conference. The Number nine team will play the Number ten team.

Jordan Poole and Mychal Mulder had career-highs in scoring Friday night. Poole finished with 38 points, four rebounds, and six assists. Jordan knocked down four threes. Mulder’s line was 28 points, two rebounds, one assist, and was seven-for 13 from downtown.

Other Warriors in double figures were Kent Bazemore with 14, Eric Paschall had 12 points and four rebounds, Nico Mannion 11 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Juan Toscano-Anderson almost had a triple-double. His numbers were nine points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. The Warrior shot 49% from the floor. They made 17 threes in 39 tries. 

The Pelicans’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker had quite a night with 30 points. He connected on four threes. Naji Marshall had a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Willy Hernangomez had 10. Wenyen Garland had 14, and Jaxson Hayes had 19.

The Warriors meet the Memphis Grizzlies Sunday afternoon at the Chase Center. The game will start at 12:30 pm.

Oakland Takes Game One In Minnesota Series 6-1

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Oakland A’s Ramon Laureano (22) gets the fist bump from A’s third base coach Mark Kotsay (7) after hitting a solo shot against Minnesota Twins pitcher Matt Shoemaker in the third inning at Target Field in Minnesota on Fri May 14, 2021 (AP News photo)

Oakland Takes Game One In Minnesota Series

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the Oakland A’s took on the Minnesota Twins in their second series this season. In their first series this year the A’s swept. The second and third games of the series were one run games, the third a walk-off in the tenth inning.

The A’s still sit atop the American League West at 23-16 while the Twins are near the basement of the American League Central with a 12-23 record. In today’s game the A’s welcomed back Chad Pinder after being out with a knee injury. The A’s got some key hitting and runs to overcome the Minnesota Twins in this first game of the three game series in Minnesota with a 6-1 win.

Frankie Montas took the mound for this game and for the Twins it was Matt Shoemaker who got the nod . Montas had a nice showing in his last game and Oakland was looking for another great showing in this one.

It was a quiet first and second inning for both teams. Ramon Laureano got Oakland up on the board with a homer in the third inning. The A’s had the early 1-0 lead.

Oakland made more noise in the fifth inning with a second home run by Sean Murphy driving Seth Brown home and giving the A’s a 3-0 lead. Oakland was not finished and in the sixth inning Stephen Piscotty homered bringing Matt Chapman home. With a 5-0 lead Oakland was cruising.

Minnesota got on the board in the sixth inning when Josh Donaldson hit a solo home run, his team trailing 5-1.

Burch Smith would relieve Montas in the bottom of the seventh inning. Smith would get out of the inning with Minnesota leaving runners stranded on second and third.

Oakland had their fourth home run in the eighth inning courtesy of Mark Canha and now led 6-1. They now had 51 home runs for the season which is the second most in MLB.

The final score was 6-1. Tomorrow’s game, game two of the series will start at 1:05 PT as the A’s look for their second win against Minnesota

Grizzlies hang on late to upend Kings 107-106

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by Marko Ukalovic

MEMPHIS, Tenn–Terence Davis had a chance at the end of the game to play the hero but his deperation three-point attempt at the buzzer rimmed out as the Memphis Grizzlies held on by the skin of its teeth to defeat the Sacaramento Kings 107-106 on Saturday evening at FedEx Forum.

Memphis have won five games in a row, including the two-game sweep over the Kings, and head into Sunday’s finale showdown with the Golden State Warriors with eight place in the Western Conference on the line. Sacramento has lost two in a row and three out of its last five games.

The Kings (31-40) entered the game tying a NBA record for futility. This is the 15th consecutive year they will miss the post-season, a record they now share with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Memphis (38-33) looked to have wrapped up the game with 46.5 seconds remaining in the game when Killian Tillie made a three-pointer to put the Griz up 105-99. However, their poor free throw shooting down the stretch (missing seven of its final ten) kept the Kings in it to set up Davis’ chance at the buzzer.

Louis King came off the bench and was the Kings leading scorer with 27 points on 10-16 shooting, including 2-5 from beyond the arc. Center Damian Jones led the starters with 17 points on six of seven shooting and 10 rebounds.

Justise Winslow led the Grizzlies in scoring with 25 points on 9-19 shooting, including 4-6 from three point land. Tillie and Xavier Tillman each chipped in with 16 points.

Memphis jumped out to a 29-25 lead after the first quarter as Winslow got off to a good start with 10 points in the first quarter. Jones kept the Kings afloat with his 10 points in the opening 12 minutes.

Sacramento went on a 13-0 run in a two-minute stretch starting at the 7:58 mark of the second quarter to go up 49-42. They closed out the half with a four-point lead 57-53.

Memphis started the third quarter cold and the Kings took advantage outscoring the Grizzlies 5-0 in the first 2:10 to extend its lead to nine, their biggest lead of the game at 62-53.

Down by nine points, the Griz finished the final 6:49 of the third quarter on a 16-6 run to go up 79-76 heading into the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter went back and forth with four lead changes and the biggest lead for either team was just five points by Memphis.

The game featured more of a G-League lineup than an NBA lineup. Memphis were without seven of its players including Jonas Valanciunas, Grayson Allen, and Sean McDermott. While Sacramento, who have been hit hard by the injury bug, were without stars Harrison Barnes, De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton and Marvin Bagley III.

GAME NOTES: Sacramento finished 15-21 on the road this season.

Buddy Heald, who has been dealing with ankle injury, was in the starting lineup and finished with 11 points and five assists.

UP NEXT: The Kings finish the regular season at home as they host the Utah Jazz on Sunday 5/16 at 6:00pm at Golden 1 Center.

Pirates Polanco’s 11th inning sac scores winning run 3-2

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By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Friday, May 14, 2021

Gregory Polanco’s 11th inning, bases loaded sacrifice fly gave Pittsburgh a 3-2 win over San Francisco Friday night at PNC Park in what started out as a pitching duel – all of the scoring occurred after the seventh inning.

The Giants slipped to 23-15, still leading the National League West by 2 games over San Diego. The Pirates are in last place in the NL Central, 7 games out of first place.

Pittsburgh brought in Luis Oviedo (1-1) to face the Giants in the top of the 11th. After Brandon Crawford was placed at second, Mauricio Dubon flied out to center, moving Crawford to third. Austin Slater delivered a base hit to right, plating Crawford with the go-ahead run.

With Caleb Baragar (2-1) on the mound for San Francisco, the Pirates forged their game-winning rally. Michael Perez was placed at second and scored on Adam Frazier’s triple to right, tying the game at 2-2. After Kevin Newman popped out to short, Bryan Reynolds and Will Craig were both intentionally walked.

Polanco followed with a sacrifice fly to center, driving in Frazier with the winning run.

Crawford broke the scoreless deadlock with a solo home run in the top of the ninth, putting San Francisco up 1-0. The Pirates responded with an RBI single by Bryan Reynolds that sent the game into extra innings.

Frazier led off the Pittsburgh ninth with a single, moved to third on Newman’s single and scored when Reynolds singled to right.

Giants starter Kevin Gausman struck out 12 without a walk, giving up one earned run on five hits. Closer Jake McGee was charged with his second blown save of the season, and Tyler Rogers threw a scoreless 10th.

Miguel Yajure surrendered one hit in his five-inning start for the Bucs, with four strikeouts and a walk. Sam Howard, David Bednar and Richard Rodriguez each threw a scoreless inning in relief.

Johnny Cueto (2-1, 3.52) starts for San Francisco on Saturday, facing the Pirates’ Tyler Anderson (3-3, 3.05).

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda prepare for elimination game Tuesday

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The San Jose Barracuda and Henderson Silver Knights battled on Tue May 11, 2021 at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas for the final regular season game (@sjbarracuda photo)

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The San Jose Barracuda (15-15-4-2) closed out their regular season dropping a two goal game to the Henderson Silver Knights (24-12-0-0) 3-1 last Tuesday night at the Orleans Arena

#2 Barracuda goalie Zach Sawchenko had a tough loss allowing two goals and facing 29 shots in the loss

#3 The Barracuda’s Evan Weinger scored San Jose’s only goal with just 20 seconds left in the second period.

#4 The Barracuda’s Maxim Letunov got an assist on Tuesday and now has points in three consecutive games.

#5 The Barracuda are in a single elimination play in game to determine who gets the fourth seed on May 18 at Irvine

Join Marko for the Barracuda podcasts Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Why this team continues to be so successful

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The San Francisco Giants Anthony DeSclafani delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thu May 13, 2021 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 San Francisco Giants (23-14) are having a good roll right now with one of the best records in baseball if you have to point to one thing that has working for them what would you say it is?

#2 When Giants manager Gabe Kapler first took over the team last season he had his doubters but here in 2021 he pretty much has met all the criteria and the team has a 2.5 game lead in the NL West and has won seven of their last ten games.

#3 Michael talk about everybody hitting on this ball club and no exception for Steven Duggar who hit a solo shot on Thursday to help the Giants get a 3-1 win.

#4 Once again starting pitching and the bullpen has been pulling out all the stops with starter Anthony DeSclafani who pitched five innings one hit and five strike outs.

#5 The Giants play game two of this four game series tonight at PNC Park let’s talk about the pitching match ups for the Giants Kevin Gausman (3-0 ERA 1.97) and for the Pittsburgh Pirates (15-22) Miguel Yajure (0-1 ERA 8.31).

Join Michael for the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com