Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Pac 12 players led by Cal and Stanford want to negotiate terms; Kings are on the mat can they get up for Dallas

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(file photo from USA Today) Cal Bears quarterback Chase Garbers (7) seen in this 2019 photo will Garbers and the Cal Bears be back for the 2020 season as negotiations between the Pac 12 players and the league continue over safety issues, pay issues and social issues rights.

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 Barbara how important is that Pac 12 players are under the banner #WeAreUnited with demands that their are better safety measures, social rights issues and Fair Pay to Play in place for players.

#2 The Pac 12 players most who are coming out of Cal and Stanford have 13 player representatives who are asking for better health coverage in the event a player is injured for the season instead of being out on their own for their coverage the university or the Pac 12 for instance will have insurance coverage to help with medical coverage.

#3 Barbara the Sacramento Kings have now lost three straight games in the re-start of the NBA’s regular season in Orlando. It’s getting late early when you lose the first three of a short eight game schedule. The Kings lost to the Dallas Mavericks and lost in overtime 114-110.

#4 As you know numerous reports have come out about Covid-19 infections forcing games to be canceled in MLB. The Marlins had half their club infected and they brought up replacements to take their spots, the Cardinals have players out with Covid, in the bigger picture can someone look at this and say baseball is irresponsible for letting the games continue?

#5 The San Jose Earthquakes fought the good fight going 3-1-1 in the MLS is Back Tournament. The Quakes started the tournament with a scoreless tie against Seattle, then won three straight against Vancouver, Chicago and Real Salt Lake only to lose in the quarterfinals to FC Minnesota.

Join Barbara each Tuesday night for Headlines Sports at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: A’s Luzardo gets the start tonight against Rangers at the Coliseum

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Jesus Luzardo shown here during the A’s spring training camp Mesa Arizona on Feb 13th during pitchers and catchers workouts. Was out on quarantined just before the start of the season and will be getting the start tonight against the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum (AP photo)

On That’s Amaury’s podcast:

#1 Amaury the A’s open a three game series tonight in Oakland against the Texas Rangers with Jesus Luzardo (0-0) getting the start. Luzardo is coming back from being quarantined after testing positive for Covid-19 during baseball summer camp.

#2 A’s manager Bob Melvin is looking forward to seeing Luzardo on the mound tonight. Luzardo has got some bullpen work in going 6.2 innings in relief and has 1.35 ERA, he had walked three and struck out seven.

#3 How huge is it for A’s hitter Khris Davis to have snapped his 0-16 slump which started from opening day. Davis got a sixth inning single. Melvin said that Davis made a hand adjustment during the trip to Seattle over the weekend.

#4 Melvin said that Davis has established himself and that speaks volumes for somebody whose willing to make an adjustment and that Davis is coachable and “looking forward to getting better.”

#5 In the middle of the four game series in Seattle the A’s won the second and third games by just a run does that speak for the bullpen able to hold off the Mariners in the later innings and prevent them from adding runs on the board.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio play by play announcer and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Giants’ rally in the ninth comes up just short in 7-6 loss to the Rockies

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By Morris Phillips

The Giants offense has gone from feeble to fantastic in less than a week, led by early MVP candidates Donovan Solano and Mike Yastrzemski. 

Now if only the Giants’ pitching and defense could make the same dramatic leap.

Currently, the Colorado Rockies are serving up the NL West’s best combination of the critical, baseball elements, the latest example their come-from-behind, 7-6 win over the Giants at Coors Field on Monday.

The Giants jumped out to 4-1 lead in the fifth inning behind Johnny Cueto only to see the Rockies explode for five runs in the sixth to seize control. Colorado added a run in the eighth, then held on when the Giants rallied for a pair of runs in the ninth, leaving the tying run stranded at third base.

In the end, the Giants could only blame themselves and their inability to record big outs, along with less than stellar defense.

“It’s really important we tighten up our play, we play catch and make the plays, particularly in one-run games at a Coors Field,” manager Gabe Kapler said.

Nolan Arenado homered with Charlie Blackmon aboard to cut the Giants lead to 4-3 which ended Cueto’s evening two batters into the sixth. Despite the hiccup, Cueto proved again to be the master of the huge park and its mile high elevation. At that point, Cueto had done his part in a potential sixth team win in his seven starts as a Giant at Coors.

Reliever Wandy Peralta allowed Ryan McMahon’s drive to right that Alex Dickerson bobbled and dropped on the warning track for a triple. Matt Kemp’s single tied it, and subsequent base hits by Chris Owings and David Dahl gave the Rockies a two-run cushion.

Dickerson again contributed to the Rockies’ rally with an errant throw that forced catcher Chadwick Tromp to vacate his position as Kemp and Owings crossed the plate on Dahl’s hit. Kapler penciled in Dickerson for only his second start as a right fielder only to see the decision backfire with the miscues.

“Honestly I bet Dick makes that (catch) 19 out of 20 times,” Kapler said. “The throw, I bet he makes almost every time. There’s no question.”

Home runs by Tromp, Yastrzemski and Dickerson were squandered in the loss. The Giants have hit 10 home runs in their last six ballgames, a stretch in which the team has gone 3-3.

Pitcher Andrew Suarez was recalled before the game, and Andrew Triggs, who had a rough outing on Sunday, was optioned. The Giants have not announced a starter for any of the three, remaining games in Denver, the start of a 10-game, three-city, road trip that continues to Los Angeles and Houston.

Longtime KNBR talk host Ralph Barbieri passed away Monday after a long battle with Parkinson’s. The 74-year old Barbieri spent 28 years at KNBR, the last 15 with co-host Tom Tolbert, and was well known for his razor-sharp wit.

A’s romp all over Mariners in 11-1 laugher

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Oakland catcher Sean Murphy scores on a past ball while Mariners relief pitcher Bryan Shaw stands on home plate late during a disastrous fifth inning for the Mariners. (Ken Lambert / The Seattle Times)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s won their third game in a row downing the Seattle Mariners 11-1. The A’s came to Seattle, hoping to sweep the rebuilding Mariners. They lost the first game but won the next three. It wasn’t easy as the A’s hitters were not moving the line until Monday night. The A’s squeezed out two wins by a 3-2 score on Saturday and Sunday. A’s manager Bob Melvin had to wonder when and if his guys would get the offense going.

The answer would come in the fifth inning of Monday night’s contest. The Mariners put the first run of the night on the board in the bottom of the third. Mariners’ shortstop J.P.Crawford walked. A’s starter, Frankie Montas retired the next two hitters. M’s third baseman, Kyle Seager, doubled to drive in Crawford. The Mariners did not score again. Nor did they get a hit after the fourth inning.

The A’s blew open the game in the top of the fifth. They sent fourteen men to the plate. The Mariners’ Justin Sheffield and Bryan Shaw gave up eight runs, nine hits, and three walks. All the runs came after there were two out in the inning. A’s centerfield Ramon Laureano drove in the first two runs with a single. Chad Pinder drove in two, also. Mark Canha, Khris Davis, Stephen Piscotty all drove in a run. One run scored on a wild pitch.

Khris Davis led off the seventh with his first dinger of the year. Davis finished the night with two hits. He came into the game hitting .045. They added another run and one more in the ninth to win 11-1.

Game Notes- Frankie Montas won his first of the year. He went seven innings and allowed one run and four hits. Frankie struck out nine and walked four. Mariners’ starter, lefty Justin Sheffield lost his second of the season. Mariners’ pitched walked eleven A’s and struck out nine. Ramon Laureano has driven in nine runs so far. Seven of the nine have either tied the game or put the A’s in the lead. The A’s improved to 6-4, and the A’s dropped to 4-7.

The A’s return home to face the Texas Rangers. Lefty Jesus Luzardo will start for Oakland. Lance Lynn will pitch for Texas. The game will start at 6:10 pm.

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Pac 12 players led by Cal and Stanford want to negotiate terms; Kings are on the mat can they get up for Dallas

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(file photo from USA Today) Cal Bears quarterback Chase Garbers (7) seen in this 2019 photo will Garbers and the Cal Bears be back for the 2020 season as negotiations between the Pac 12 players and the league continue over safety issues, pay issues and social issues rights.

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 Barbara how important is that Pac 12 players are under the banner #WeAreUnited with demands that their are better safety measures, social rights issues and Fair Pay to Play in place for players.

#2 The Pac 12 players most who are coming out of Cal and Stanford have 13 player representatives who are asking for better health coverage in the event a player is injured for the season instead of being out on their own for their coverage the university or the Pac 12 for instance will have insurance coverage to help with medical coverage.

#3 Barbara the Sacramento Kings have now lost two straight games in the re-start of the NBA’s regular season in Orlando. It’s getting late early when you lose the first two of a short eight game schedule. The Kings face the Dallas Mavericks and needs something short of miracle.

#4 As you know numerous reports have come out about Covid-19 infections forcing games to be canceled in MLB. The Marlins had half their club infected and they brought up replacements to take their spots, the Cardinals have players out with Covid, in the bigger picture can someone look at this and say baseball is irresponsible for letting the games continue?

#5 The San Jose Earthquakes fought the good fight going 3-1-1 in the MLS is Back Tournament. The Quakes started the tournament with a scoreless tie against Seattle, then won three straight against Vancouver, Chicago and Real Salt Lake only to lose in the quarterfinals to FC Minnesota.

Join Barbara each Tuesday night for Headlines Sports at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Solano providing some offense; Longoria seeing the ball well; plus more

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The San Francisco Giants Evan Longoria on Saturday night against the Texas Rangers belts a double in the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco. (AP photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 The Giants Donavon Solano has stepped up big he came up with a huge two RBI hit in the third inning for a total of three RBIs in Saturday night’s game at Oracle Park to help pace the Giants to a big 7-3 win past the Texas Rangers.

#2 The Giants on Evan Longoria has been connecting he had a two run double, scored a run, with three hits against the Rangers on Saturday. Longoria has been key in the line up.

#3 Morris you don’t see it too often brothers Tyler Heineman of the Giants and Scott Heineman of the Texas Rangers were at home plate before Saturday’s game exchanging line ups and going over ground rules with the umpires Tyler said he would be happy to see Scott line out hard in four at bats.

#4 Giants manager Gabe Kapler inspite of the recent struggles of Hunter Pence is sticking with him to pinch hit or field when needed. Pence has now gone 0-23 through Saturday night. Pence did get a triple on Sunday snapping the longest slump in the majors this season.

#5 The Giants who completed their home stand against the Rangers over the weekend are in Colorado tonight to open a four game series. The Rockies have been going well and will be a tough customer in Coors Field for this series.

Morris does the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

MLB podcast with Larry Crino: Reds Votto out with Covid-19; Astros Osuna out with arm injury; plus more

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(AP file photo) Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto was placed on the IL due to Covid-19 related symptoms.

On the MLB podcast with Larry:

#1 The Cincinnati Reds Joey Votto was placed on the IL for Covid-19 related symptoms last week the Reds Mike Moustakas was placed on the IL due to symptoms appealed and won and came back after three days, Nick Senzel missed three games even though was never was put on the IL.

#2 Larry were going to go through a list of another type of injury that has been plaguing the big leagues and that’s arm injuries and we’ll start with the Houston Astros Roberto Osuna who is out with arm discomfort and needs to have an MRI done.

#3 Larry another series canceled over the weekend with the St Louis Cardinals announcing they have three staff members and one player out with Covid-19 related symptoms. The Cards were supposed to face the Milwaukee Brewers. The series will be rescheduled.

#4 The Yankees and Phillies have rescheduled their games due to the Covid outbreak the Yankees will host the Phils Aug 3rd and 4th and the Phils will host the Yankees 5th and 6th.

#5 Seeing how things are right now in hindsight wouldn’t it have sensible to have bubbles in the Cactus League in Arizona and the Grapefruit League in Florida and had bubbles.

Larry does the MLB podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

No Frustration When You Win: A’s slip past the Mariners 3-2 at T-Mobile Park

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By Morris Phillips

The pandemic-truncated season doesn’t allow much time for teams to figure things out. But the A’s bought themselves a few extra measures with an unlikely, 3-2 win over the Mariners on Sunday.

The A’s are in mental quarantine, having hit just .175 over their last six games while scoring a measly 16 runs and enduring a three-game losing streak.

But they won the last two, they’re back over .500, and they just might get their full allotment of 51 more opportunities to look more like their true selves.

Ramon Laureano’s two-out, three-run homer in the fifth was all the offense the A’s could muster, but they made it stand up in a one-run win. The big moment was set up by two, subtle pieces of good fortune.

Former A’s starter Kendall Graveman was cruising for Seattle, but after two seasons removed from action due to Tommy John sugery, Graveman isn’t going to throw 25 plus pitches in the fifth inning of any start in 2020. Frustration had set in as well as that 25th pitch turned into a well-placed, infield single from Marcus Semien, the A’s struggling leadoff man hitting below .200 coming into the at-bat.

With runners at the corners, manager Scott Servais summoned reliever Anthony Misiewicz, a lefty facing the right-handed hitting Laureano with two outs. Why a lefty? Maybe Servais was focused on the possibility of lefthanded hitting Matt Olson coming up with the bases loaded, and wanted Misiewicz for the possibility of that task. Instead, the hot-hitting Laureano saw a second, consecutive off-speed sinker, this one in the middle of the plate, and he pounced without having to protect and speed up his bat. Laureano, Oakland’s one in-sync hitter, saw his swing produce a leisurely home run ball that exited at 98 mph.

“A hit would have been great, but a home run is a whole different ballgame,” A’s starter Chris Bassitt said of the support he received from Laureano. “It changed the whole complexion of the game. It was a big sigh of relief for everybody.”

Bassitt would depart after facing three batters in the sixth and after throwing 83 pitches. Leading 3-1 at that point, Bassitt earned the first win of the season for an A’s starter after the first eight starts resulted in an 0-4 record.

The A’s are one of six American League teams with a winning record, along with the Astros, Yankees, Twins, White Sox and the surprising Orioles at 5-3. Oakland maybe the least impressive of the six, but in a season where the top eight will qualify for postseason a winning record is where it’s at, all the style points can be inserted in October and early November. CBS’s Jon Heyman picked the A’s and Braves for an unlikely Fall Classic an he stood with the prediction over the weekend.

So now is not the time to fret over meager batting averages and faulty starters. The A’s have to just hang in there and remain positive.

“Now, we just gotta hit the ball on the barrel and find some holes,” Laureano said.

Frankie Montas faces Justus Sheffield in the finale of the four-game series on Monday.

Aces pull to .500 with 79-70 win over Dallas

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Photo credit: Steve Nesius/AP

By Shawn McCullough

After a tough loss to Phoenix on Friday, the Aces needed a bounce back game and got it with a balanced team effort.

Five players had 10 or more points as Las Vegas beat the Dallas Wings, 79-70, at the IMG Bubble in Bradenton, FL.

“Important win for us, at 1-2, we needed this win very badly,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer.  “Overall our defense was solid.  We’ll take the win.”

Forward A’ja Wilson led the team with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Kayla McBride and Lindsay Allen added 11.

“I am very proud of how we performed tonight,” said Wilson.  “I think that we really found our groove towards the end of the game and that is all that really matters.”

Guard Lindsay Allen re-joined the team after registering an “inconclusive positive result” from a COVID-19 test last week.   She tested negative twice since then and was able to re-enter the bubble.

With the win, the Aces improved to 2-2 heading into their next game on Wednesday against the defending WNBA champions, the Washington Mystics.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

  • The Aces held the Wings to just 36.8% from the field.
  • Las Vegas out rebounded Dallas, 40-30.
  • The Aces were just 3 for 14 from 3-point range.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 35 Angel McCoughtry
C – 4 Carolyn Swords
G – 15 Lindsay Allen
G – 21 Kayla McBride

Sacramento Kings game wrap: Kings need a miracle drop second straight game lose to Magic 132-116

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The Orlando Magic’s Markelle Fultz (20) drives the lane as the Magic dominated the scoring all game long against the Sacramento Kings at ESPN Wide World of Sports Arena in Orlando (NBC Sports photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

The Kings first game in the NBA bubble did not go ask planned. They desperately need a victory to try and keeps their hopes alive for a playoff chance. Unfortunately for Kings fans that wasn’t in the cards.

After losing on Friday night the Kings came on on Sunday looking deflated. The Magic scored the first seven points of the game and did not look back. The Magic managed to put up 44 points in the first quarter to take a commanding lead.

The Magic would score 78 points in the first half while poor shooting from the Kings kept them from making any headway on the deficit. The Kings trailed at one point by 36 points.

The Kings Buddy Hield continued to struggle but his performance was nothing more than a microcosm for the rest of the team. The Kings shot a poor 8-28 in the ballgame from distant which did not help the cause.

All in all the Kings would go in to lose 132-116 and drop the first two games in the NBA bubble. If their was a bright spot in the game it was Harry Giles. Harry, managed to score 21 points to go with eight rebounds in 23 minutes of action for the Kings. You may potentially see him in the starting lineup for the Kings next game.

Up Next: The Kings will take on the mighty Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.