Giants win on Mets’ costly error in extra innings

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — What in the name of Timmy Lupus or Rudi Stein happened in left field during the San Francisco Giants game versus the New York Mets?

Alex Dickerson scored the only run of the game when Dominic Smith could not catch the Pablo Sandoval what would have been the third out of the inning, and the Giants defeated the Mets 1-0 in 10 innings in front of 32,861 at Oracle Park.

Dickerson, who led off the inning with a walk off of losing pitcher Jacob Rhame and sped all the way around the bases when the ball dropped in front of Smith. The throw from Smith was cut off Pete Alonso, and his throw was up the line and the Giants dugout went into celebration mode for the second night in a row.

This was the seventh straight win for the Giants, who have reached the .500 mark for the first time since they were 68-68 on August 31, 2018.

Not only is this seven straight wins for the Giants, but it is also 10 out of 11 and also 14 out of their last 16.

Jacob deGrom and Tyler Beede were in a pitchers duel until the entire time that the two were in the game at the same time.

In all, Beede went eight innings, allowing zero runs on three hits, walking one and striking out five and his record is remains at 3-3 on the season.

On the other side of things, deGrom went seven innings, giving up zero runs on three hits, walking three and striking out 10 and did not fare in the decision.

This was the 38th time in deGroms career that he reached double figures in strikeouts and the sixth time this season.

The Giants did not get a rally started until the bottom of the sixth inning, as Beede helped out his own cause, when his single dropped in between Robinson Cano, Amed Rosario and Michael Conforto.

Beede was then retired, as Brandon Belt hit into a force play and then Austin Slater walked to give the Giants their first of having multiple runners on base at the same time. Unfortunately, the mini-rally was short lived, as deGrom regrouped to strikeout Pablo Sandoval and Stephen Vogt consecutively to end the inning.

Things got interesting in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Brandon Crawford led off the inning with a walk, then went to second when Mike Yastrzemski dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt. Crawford then went to third on a Kevin Pillar fly out, but the inning ended when Joe Panik flew out to center to end the inning.

After getting the first two outs of the eighth inning, Beede then allowed a runner to reach base, as Jeff McNeil was hit by a pitch on the elbow; however, Beede got out of the jam, as he got Conforto to fly out to Pillar in center field to end the threat.

NOTES: Overall, the Giants are 13-2 in the month of July, and are 27-15 since June 1.

They also raise their record in extra inning games up to 8-2 during the 2019 season.

The last time that the Giants won games via the walk-off in extra-inning games was on April 13, 2014 versus the Colorado Rockies (10 innings) and April 15, 2014 in 12 innings versus the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Overall, the last time that the Giants went walk-off in back-to-back games on consecutive days came on April 23 and 23, 2015 against the Dodgers, and both games ended with identical 3-2 scores.

The last time that the Giants won a game without a run batted in was on June 25, 2011 against the Cleveland Indians at Oracle Park, and it was the ninth time in the 61 years that the Giants have played in San Francisco.

UP NEXT: Jeff Samardzija takes the mound on Saturday afternoon for the Giants, as he looks to raise his record up to 8-7 on the season and the Mets will send Walter Lockett to the mound, as he looks for his major league victory.

Davis Turns Corner, A’s Top Twins 5-3

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Matthew Harrington

After a move down the batting order, Oakland A’s DH Khris Davis is starting to show signs of life again. Friday night at Target Field in Minneapolis “Khrush” knocked in two runs on two hits as the A’s beat the Twins 5-3. Liam Hendriks picked up his seventh save of the season and Marcus Semien hit his 15th home run of the season. Marwin Gonzalez went deep for the Twins.

Semien put the Green and Gold on the board early, taking Minnesota ace Jake Odorizzi’s third pitch of the game out of the park for a 1-0 lead. After Odorizzi bounced back for two outs, Mark Canha singled and Ramon Laureano walked to bring Davis up to the plate.

Davis entered the game hitting .167 over his last 15 games, and was moved down in the batting order earlier in the week. He laced a single off Odorizzi in a 1-1 count to plate Canha for a 2-0 lead before Minnesota had even taken its first cuts.

The rare error from Matt Olson with runners on second and third in the bottom of the second pushed across a Twins run. An inning later, Gonzalez hit his 11th homer of the season with Nelson Cruz on base to take a 3-2 lead off Chris Bassitt. Bassitt (7-4, 3.96 ERA) would hang on for the win with five innings of two-earned-run ball on five hits.

He’d be the beneficiary of a Matt Olson RBI single in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game. Davis’ second RBI single of the game an inning later off reliever Ryne Harper (3-2, 3.18 ERA) would give Oakland the 4-3 lead. Chad Pinder would single in a run off Harper as well for the 5-3 final.

Ryan Buchter pitched 1 1/3 scoreless for Oakland (56-42), Joakim Soria added an inning and Liam Hendriks went 1 2/3 to nail down his seventh save against one of the toughest lineups in the majors. The Twins (59-37) will look to bounce back with All-Star Jose Berrios on the hill Saturday while Oakland counters with Brett Anderson.

Aces fall on the road to Storm, 69-66

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Photo credit: Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces rallied from being down eight points at halftime, but fell short 69-66 against the Seattle Storm at Alaska Airlines Arena.

Liz Cambage led the Aces with 16 points and 14 rebounds, while A’ja Wilson added 11.

Las Vegas was plagued by 21 turnovers and shot 41.9% from the field.

The loss snapped a five game winning streak for the Aces which took them to the top of the WNBA standings.

The Aces fell to 11-6 on the season and will next return home to start a three game home stand starting against the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

  • Liz Cambage scored in double figures for the 47th straight time, which is the longest active streak in the WNBA (16 points).
  • The Aces got 20 points off the bench.
  • The Storm shot just 27.8% from the field.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 21 Kayla McBride
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 10 Kelsey Plum

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Hall of Fame weekend is their World Series

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Photo credit: espn.com

By: Amaury Pi-González

In Cooperstown, New York this weekend six players will have the weekend of their lives with their families, friends and fans as their names will be engraved into immortality in alphabetical order: Harold Baines, Roy Halladay, Edgar Martínez, Mike Mussina, Mariano Rivera and Lee Smith.

Cooperstown is a beautiful small town that’s best known as the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

For the greatest Hall of Fame in all American sports, this is their World Series, their Superbowl, their Olympics and their World Cup altogether. Dozens of living inductees will be on hand to welcome the new class of six. The last time I visited Cooperstown, it was part of a vacation to the east coast in November 2009. From the Bay Area by plane to Miami and then up to New York, where I bordered a train from Penn Station to Albany, NY. There, in Albany, I had a rental car awaiting and from there I drove to Cooperstown, driving through beautiful green rolling hills country. The whole trip takes about 5 hours and I recommend to anybody that has the time to do it. It is truly a nice relaxing trip. Cooperstown reminds me of the movie “Back to the Future” with old brick buildings and where you feel it is 1952 all over again.

Two of the six players that will be inducted have a direct connection with the Bay Area. Harold Baines, who played with the Oakland A’s from 1990 to 1992, played a total of 22 years for various clubs, ending with 2,830 games, 2,886 hits, 1,628 runs batted in, 384 home runs and a solid .289 batting average. A designated hitter for a great part of that stellar career.

Mike Mussina attended Stanford University where he pitched for three years. He was one of the most consistent pitchers in the majors for 18 years (10 with the Yankees and eight with the Orioles). He won 270 and lost 153 with a 3.58 ERA, 2,813 strikeouts and 57 games completed in 3,562 innings pitched.

The other four will be Roy Halladay, whose family will be accepting in his behalf. He died on November 2017 as his small private plane crashed in the Gulf of Mexico. Halladay won two Cy Young Awards hurled a perfect game plus a no-hitter during playoffs with Philadelphia. 16 years with Toronto and Philadelphia, won-lost 203-105 with a 3.38 ERA who also completed 67 games. Roy “Doc” Halladay was one of the last pitchers that everybody expected to complete the game he started. I can only imagine if he was with us, what would Doc say about the new craziness by some teams to use an “opener” which is a man that would be scheduled to pitch only the first inning.

Edgar Martínez is one of only two players inducted this year that played their whole career with the same team. The Seattle Mariners from 1987 to 2004. He originally was a third-baseman, but became one of the best pure hitters of his generation as a DH. 2.056 games, 2,247 hits, 309 home runs and 1,261 runs batted in and a combined .312 average. He hit over .300 in 11 of his 18 seasons and he had the eye of an eagle, struck out only 1,202 times in 8,674 trips to the plate. I used to call him “el oportuno” (translation: “the clutch one”) because he was the type of hitter you want with the winning run on base, he will not disappoint.

Lee Smith. About time! This man should have been inducted many years ago. He was a great reliever. During 18 years saved 478 and pitched for Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, NY Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, California Angels, Cincinnati Reds and Montreal Expos.

Mariano Rivera. Born in Panamá, the land of the great Hall of Famer Rod Carew, Rivera was the greatest closer in the history in this position. With a cutter from heaven he saved an incredible 652 games with a 2.21 ERA in 1,115 games,1,283 innings pitched with 1,173 strikeouts. It would be safe to say that this save record is safe and might not be broken during mine, yours, your kids and their kids years unless if baseball invents another crazy rule. Rivera only played for one club, the New York Yankees, from 1995 to 2013. He is a wonderful man who is truly an idol in his native Panamá. Also, a real gentleman. Every time I interviewed Rivera, he conducted himself with great professionalism. We were truly privileged to have witnessed his career.

Congratulations to all! They represent the best of the best.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants have the confidence and wild card in sights, but will they deal MadBum and Smith?

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sfgate.com photo: San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner works against the New York Mets during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 18, 2019, in San Francisco.

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 San Francisco Giants centerfielder Kevin Pillar said that the team has confidence and belief, which would also be a good argument to keep pitchers Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith.

#2 The Giants so far have hit more home runs than at home at Oracle Park and average 5.5 runs on the road to 3.4 runs at home per game.

#3 The Giants are four games over .500 at 27-23 on the road. What best explains why their doing better on the road compared to at home?

#4 Manager Bruce Bochy managed the club a 6-1 road trip in Milwaukee and Colorado. The Giants in a four-game series with the New York Mets where they played to a 16 inning win over the Mets 3-2 on a walkoff single by a Donovan Solano to drive in the winning run.

#5 Hall of Famers Edgar Martinez, Harold Baines, Roy Halladay, Mike Mussina, Mariano Rivera, and Lee Smith. All will be inducted for this year’s class for the 2019 Hall of Fame. Once again, home run king Barry Bonds failed to get elected by getting 59.1% of the vote.

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

Giants extend streak in marathon vs. Mets

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

SAN FRANCISCO – Madison Bumgarner threw what should have been a complete-game statement win, giving up only one run on five hits and stifling a Mets team that rolled into Oracle Park riding a four-game winning streak.

Because the Giants couldn’t figure out how to get a guy home from third with nobody out – twice, mind you – it went into the books as a nine-inning no-decision as his offense let him down once more.

The Giants turned the tables on the Mets in the top of the 10th, when New York put runners on second and third on reliever Will Smith with nobody out. The lefty then put the brakes on the Mets’ rally, striking out the side to keep the game tied at 1-1.

The bats eventually turned around for the Giants, as they sent what was left of the crowd at Oracle Park home happy after Donovan Solano’s single drove in the winning run in a 3-2 win to extend their winning streak to six games.

Bumgarner’s night didn’t get off to the best of starts, as Jeff McNeil drove his first pitch into the left-center gap for a double, with J.D Davis following that right up with a hard single to left, putting runners on the corners with nobody out.

He got out of the inning with minimal damage, although McNeil ended up scoring after Bumgarner induced Pete Alonso into a double play, giving New York a 1-0 lead.

The Giants had their first crack at getting that elusive runner home from third in the second, when Alex Dickerson led off by launching one into the deepest part of the ballpark – a place called Triples Alley located in the gap in right-center – and wound up with a stand-up triple. After Brandon Crawford and Mike Yastrzemski both struck out, Kevin Pillar popped out to end the inning and blow the chance.

The next shot came in the fourth, as they put together a rally that saw them load the bases with one out. This time, the Giants cashed in, as Pillar lined one into left field, which Davis had to leap to make the catch and save and extra-base hit.

As it stood, Pablo Sandoval, who had led off the inning with a single, tagged up easily from third to tie the game.

The Giants have been especially adept at getting extra-base hits, and they used that to their advantage again in the seventh, as Yastrzemski led off with a triple.

Once again, however, lack of situational hitting on the Giants’ part let them down and kept the game tied. Pillar put the ball on the ground, but he hit it hard and right at third base, forcing Yastrzemski to stay put. The Mets then intentionally walked Joe Panik before Bumgarner – for whom the Giants faithful were on its collective feet in anticipation of his breaking the 1-1 tie – struck out and Brandon Belt flied out.

Twins snap A’s win streak with 6-3 victory

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Photo credit: @morsecode

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s began their seven-game road trip to Minnesota and Houston on a down note Thursday night. The AL Central leaders hit three-home runs to come from a 3-1 deficit to win 6-3 at Target Field in Minneapolis.

The A’s Mike Fiers pitched well again. The A’s putative ace went 6 1/3 innings and allowed six hits and three runs. Fiers was responsible for two runners in the seventh, and when the Twins’ Eddie Rosario homered on the first pitch from Yusmeiro Petit, any chance that Fiers would get a win went down the drain.

The Twins’ Kyle Gibson went seven innings and allowed six hits and three runs and received credit for his ninth win of the year against four losses.

The Twins put the first run of the game on the board in the third inning. Fiers walked big Miguel Sano to start the frame. Jake Cave singled to advance Sano to second. Both runners advanced a base on a sacrifice base. Fiers didn’t help his cause when he uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Sano to score.

The A’s tied the game in the top of the fourth. Ramon Laureano singled and scored on a double by Khris Davis. In the sixth, Laureano singled and scored on Jurickson Profar’s 14th big fly of the season to put the A’s ahead.

Fiers started the seventh by striking out C.J.Cron for the first out. Luis Arreaz doubled, and Sano walked again. A’s manager Bob Melvin brought in Yusmeiro Petit to pitch. The Twins’ manager Rocco Baldelli made a counter-move by bringing in left-handed hitter Eddie Rosario to pinch hit for Jake Cave. Rosario hit the first pitch from Petit into the seats in right-center-field to give the Twins a 4-3 advantage after seven innings of play

The Twins hit two more solo jobs in the eighth. Lou Trivino was now pitching for the A’s, but he gave up homers to Mitch Garver and Cron. Twins lefty reliever, Taylor Rogers, pitched two scoreless innings of relief to earn the save and preserve the win for Gibson

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s drop to 54-42. They trail the Cleveland Indians by one game for the first wild card spot. They are tied for the second spot with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays lost twice to the Yankees, and Tampa is now in a virtual tie with Oakland.

The hitting stars for the A’s were Ramon Laureano with three singles and two runs scored and Jurickson Profar with his 14th home run of the year that gave the A’s  3-1 lead,

The A’s line was three runs, six hits, and no errors. The Twins’ line was six runs, nine hits, and two errors.

Time of game was three hours and 18 minutes.

Up Next: The A’s and Twins play their second game Friday at 5:10 pm PT.

Mountain West basketball championships to remain at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas through 2023

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Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By: Ana Kieu

The Mountain West announced Thursday that the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas will continue to serve as the location for its men’s and women’s basketball championships through 2023.

The league’s Board of Directors approved a recommendation from an ad hoc committee made up of two athletic directors, two Senior Woman Administrators, two men’s basketball coaches and two women’s basketball coaches, which was endorsed by the full directors of athletics group, to return to the Thomas & Mack Center for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Mountain West Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships.

“The Mountain West is pleased to extend its long history of successful men’s and women’s basketball championships at the Thomas & Mack Center,” said MW Commissioner Craig Thompson. “Las Vegas has become a mecca for college basketball in early March and our MW fans have made it clear this is their preferred destination.”

The Thomas & Mack Center, which holds several world-class events each year, including NBA Summer League, National Finals Rodeo, concerts and boxing matches, has hosted the Mountain West Basketball Championships in 17 of the Conference’s 20 years.

The 2020 MW Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships will take place March 1-7, 2020 at the Thomas & Mack Center. Tickets are now on sale via each institution’s athletic box office.

“Las Vegas has had a long and storied history with the Mountain West,” said LVE President Pat Christenson. “Since its inception, we have hosted the annual basketball championships 17 times at the Thomas & Mack Center. We are proud to be able to extend our partnership through the 2023 tournament.”

“We couldn’t be more pleased to be hosting the MW Basketball Championships through 2023,” said TMC Executive Director Mike Newcomb. “We have a great history and relationship with the Mountain West and to be able to continue to host the championships is a great opportunity for The Thomas & Mack Center, UNLV and the city of Las Vegas.”

About the Mountain West
From its inception in 1999, the Mountain West has been committed to excellence in intercollegiate athletics, while promoting the academic missions of its member institutions. Progressive in its approach, the MW continues to cultivate opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the highest level, while fostering academic achievement and sportsmanship. Now in its 20th year, the MW has been assertive in its involvement with the NCAA governance structure and has taken a leadership role in the overall administration of intercollegiate athletics. The MW membership is comprised of 11 all-sport members: the United States Air Force Academy, Boise State University, Colorado State University, Fresno State, University of Nevada, University of New Mexico, San Diego State University, San José State University, UNLV, Utah State University and University of Wyoming. In addition, the University of Hawai’i and Colorado College participate in the MW as single-sport members in football and women’s soccer, respectively.

San Jose State men’s basketball announces 2019-20 schedule

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Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San José State men’s basketball’s return to the hardwood is officially set for November 6 as the Spartans travel cross country to take on Hofstra in Hempstead, New York. The 2019-20 season opener is one 12 nonconference games scheduled to be played in addition to the 18-game Mountain West schedule previously announced.

Highlights of the San Jose State’s nonconference slate includes four matchups against Pac-12 opponents. The Spartans will hit the road for contests at Arizona (11/14) and UCLA (12/1) and will also face off with Oregon State on November 27 in Las Vegas, Nevada as part of the Las Vegas Classic. SJSU will also play host to the Stanford Cardinal on December 14.

“We are excited to get the season underway,” head coach Jean Prioleau said. “We’ve got a great schedule that features a lot of tough matchups that will provide our team with some challenges, and we look forward to accepting those challenges.”

Tip off times, as well as media coverage information, for all conference and non-conference games will be announced at a later date.

Fans can begin purchasing online ticket renewals in the latter part of July.

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O for Jerry Feitelberg: 6 home runs for A’s, but is the ball really juiced?; Bailey makes debut

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Photo credit sfgate.com: Oakland Athletics’ Mark Canha, right, is congratulated by third base coach Matt Williams (4) after hitting a home run off Seattle Mariners’ Tommy Milone in the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 17, 2019, in Oakland, Calif

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O for Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 Is the ball juiced? There were six home runs hit during the A’s-Mariners game in Oakland on Wednesday afternoon.

#2 A’s hit six home runs Wednesday from Jurickson Profar 12th and 13th, Mark Canha 14th and 15th, Chad Pinder 8th, and Ramon Laureano 19th. In this lineup, you just never know who is going to get a base knock, but on Wednesday, it was everybody.

#3 A’s starter Homer Bailey debuted for Oakland pitching six innings, two earned runs and six strikeouts. He might be what the doctor ordered for the A’s rotation.

#4 The Mariners have had a rough trip so far in Anaheim. They got no hit on Tyler Skaggs night. the odds were not with them that night, then in Oakland, the Mariners getting swept in a two-game series by a hot A’s club. Most likely will be sellers at the trade deadline.

#5 A’s head to Minnesota for a four-game series starting on Thursday night at Target Field. For the A’s, Mike Fiers (9-3, 3.61 ERA), and for the Twins, Kyle Gibson (8-4, 4.03 ERA).

Catch the A’s podcast with Charlie O for Jerry Feitelberg Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com