Montas suspended for 80 games

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @NBCSAthletics

By: Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND — If last night’s walk off A’s win against the Rays was gut wrenching, what MLB announced at 2:02 this afternoon was a kick in the gut. Frankie Montás, the most effective and consistent of the A’s pitchers, has been suspended for 80 games, effective immediately, because the performance enhancing drug Ostarine has been detected in his system.

Barring a successful appeal, he next will be eligible to play in the September 24 game against the Angels in Anaheim. Montás will be ineligible to participate in the post season, if the A’s should manage to go that far. For the moment, that seems unlikely unless Jesús Luzardo and AJ Puk recover rapidly and completely to help the team pull off another miracle.

The A’s front office issued a brief statement that read in its entirety, “The A’s were disappointed upon learning of this suspension. We fully support MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program and we will welcome Frankie back after the discipline has been served.”

San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana Kieu: Here’s your weekly dose of Quakes news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

On the San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana:

1. The Quakes partnered with Telemundo 48 to air three matches in Spanish during the 2019 season.

2. Quakes to host eighth annual Wine and Dine event on August 25th.

3. Nick Lima and the US men’s soccer team got their first Gold Cup win Tuesday, a 4-0 shutout of Guyana.

4. Quakes Academy midfielder Sophie Jones was named Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

5. The Quakes faced LAFC in Los Angeles on Thursday in the US Open Cup’s Round of 16.

Ana does the San Jose Earthquakes podcasts each week for SportsRadioService.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants nearly come back on Dodgers on Thursday night

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @SFGiants

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 The Dodgers nearly did what they did on Wednesday night and run away with a ballgame as the Dodgers started out the game with a 6-0 lead.

#2 The Giants rallied back in the last three innings of the game and nearly tied up the ball game against Dodger pitcher Kenley Jansen.

#3 On a Giant bunt by Tyler Austin up the first base side, Dodger first baseman Cody Bellinger’s throw to third base that Giants baserunner Stephen Vogt was called out. The play was reviewed and it look like Vogt’s foot hit the bag about the same time the ball hit Dodger third baseman Justin Turner’s glove how did Michael see it.

#4 When the Dodgers’ Max Muncy came up to the plate to face Giants starter Madison Bumgarner the Dodger’s scoreboard showed a replay of the home run that Muncy hit off Bumgarner last time the Dodgers were in San Francisco plus the Dodgers played “Under the Sea” and “Smoke on the Water” during the replay.

#5 The Giants are in Arizona for a three-game battle with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Giants will start Jeff Samardzija (3-6) going against the Diamondbacks’ Taylor Clark (1-2).

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

Aces fall at home against Washington, 95-72

Published on by psushawnLeave a comment

20190614 - A'ja Wilson 06

Photo credit: Sports Radio Service/Shawn McCullough

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces’two-game winning streak came to an end in a 95-72 loss to the Washington Mystics at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 28 points while shooting 11 for 14 from the field.

Head coach Bill Laimbeer still understands that although he has a very talented team, they are also very inexperienced.

“What we saw tonight was an experienced basketball team kick the crap out of an inexperienced basketball team,” said Laimbeer. “I thought that Washington played very well. They understood this was a big game. They came into our building and just beat us up left and right.”

“They don’t make mistakes and don’t turn the ball over,” said Wilson of the Mystics.  “That’s the type of team that we can be and that’s what we need to be.  Of course they’re more experienced, of course they’ve been in these situations before, but at the end of the day that’s something that we need to buckle down.”

Liz Cambage score 14 and pulled down six rebounds.

“I have a very powerful energy,” said Cambage. “I try to use that to lift others up and get ready for the game, but right now I need to bring a bit more out of myself and the team at the moment.”

With the loss, the Aces fell to 4-4 on the season heading into a matchup against Cambage’s former team, the Dallas Wings, on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com


Game Notes:

  • Other than Wilson and Cambage, no other Aces player scored in double figures.
  • Kelsey Plum went 0 for 8 from the field, including 0-4 from three point range.
  • The Aces pulled to within six points in the 3rd quarter, but couldn’t get any closer after that.


Game Starters:

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

Giants’ epic comeback gets cut short by Dodgers

Published on by jeremy2878Leave a comment

Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

Thursday night’s game at Dodger Stadium got off to a rather-funny start but finished in thrilling fashion indeed.

After some major-league trolling of Giants starter Madison Bumgarner by the Dodgers – more on that later – the Dodgers jumped out to a 6-0 lead, and it appeared to be a carbon copy of what the previous two games looked like.

The Giants, however, mounted a tremendous comeback in the last three innings but came up painfully short in a 9-8 loss that wrapped up a four-game series in Southern California that saw the Giants win only the opening contest.

They put four runs on the board in the top of the ninth and even had the tying run on second base with nobody out against closer Kenley Jansen.

That was when a bit of controversy took shape. Tyler Austin laid down a nice bunt down the first-base line, and first baseman Cody Bellinger whipped around and fired to third to nab Stephen Vogt. However, the play was reviewed, and replays appeared to show Vogt’s foot reaching third as the ball hit third baseman Justin Turner’s glove.

However, Vogt was ruled out, and the played a huge role down the stretch. The next batter, Buster Posey, hit a sharp liner that center fielder Alex Verdugo ran down near the warning track, and the runners were forced to retreat back to first and second, respectively.

Had Vogt been ruled safe, he would have likely tagged up from third and tied the game. As it stood, Brandon Belt’s liner to right found Kyle Garlick’s glove and ended the game.

Thursday night marked Bumgarner’s first start in Los Angeles since his blowup at Max Muncy after the latter touched him up for a home run at Oracle Park last week, and the Dodgers were clearly ready for him.

As Muncy stepped up to the plate against Bumgarner, the team was happy to show on its jumbotron screen in center field that the last time he had faced the left-hander resulted in a 426-foot shot that is now 25 feet under water in McCovey Cove.

The Dodgers’ PA staff went on to play “Under The Sea,” which was a hit song on the soundtrack of “The Little Mermaid,” before playing Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water.”

Muncy continued his ownage of Bumgarner, as he singled in a run in the first inning to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.

Earthquakes unable to move on in U.S. Open Cup

Published on by smallforceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

By Pearl Allison Lo

LOS ANGELES– The Southern California team advanced in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 as the Los Angeles Football Club defended its turf 3-1 Thursday.

LAFC was 7-0-1 at home before this game and will move on to face the Portland Timbers (who shut out the Los Angeles Galaxy 4-0) in the Quarterfinals match July 10.

San Jose is now 0-4-0 all-time versus LAFC. However, for facing the number one team in MLS, the Quakes held their own, especially in the first half score wise, and scored their first goal at Banc of California Stadium.

LAFC’s Diego Rossi had a goal and an assist. Keeper Pablo Sisniega made eight saves and San Jose’s Andrew Tarbell six.

“The keeper made a couple great saves, and changed the game in that sense…they finished their chances and have that killer instinct,” remarked Quakes’ Captain Chris Wondolowski.

LAFC controlled the first third possession-wise, bur Vako picked up right where he left off in U.S. Open Cup Play, after scoring his second goal in the 91st minute versus Sacramento Republic Tuesday the previous week. Jackson Yueill found an opening for the ball to send it upfield to Cristian Espinoza, who passed to his left to Vako who was then able to score in front of his defender near Sisniega in the 7th minute. It was another statistical contribution in the tournament for Espinoza, who scored in the 38th minute last game.

In the 20th minute, Wondo had a header that went off Sisniega’s fingertips and into the net, but Wondo was offsides.

Rossi had a one-on-one battle near goal in which he and the home crowd thought he got fouled.  

Rossi finally broke through the defense with a diagonal kick to tie the game up in the 35th minute. Lee Nguyen got the assist.

Latif Blessing narrowly missed in the 40th minute after it went off Tarbell’s fingers.

Vako and Rossi both led the first half with three shots apiece. San Jose had four shots on target compared to one for LAFC.

Rossi delivered the ball and Adama Diomande gave LAFC its first lead in the 60th minute when he sped to get around Tarbell, resulting in the goal.

Espinoza almost single-handedly took back the goal in the 63rd minute after a long pass, but was stifled by Sisniega.

Espinoza’s fifth shot attempt in the 76th minute left two Quakes sprawled in the grass.

Captain Carlos Vela then made his mark in front of an already hyped crowd. He maneuvered his way to the front of the net as Tarbell went the opposite direction in the 85th minute to make it 3-1. Tristan Blackmon was credited with the helper.

“We weren’t clinical enough,” noted Wondolowski, but also in reply to the 5-0 drubbing from their opponents on March 30, “we’re not scared of anyone anymore.”

Up Next: Vako led with six shots, followed by Espinoza’s five and Vela and Rossi with four apiece. San Jose will now travel back home for the regular season to play host for two games, starting with the Houston Dynamo Wednesday at 7:30 pm.   

Chapman homers in 9th to help A’s to 5-4 walk-off win

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Photo credit: @nbcbayarea

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The A’s came back from a 4-1 deficit with two out in the ninth to beat the Rays 5-4 at Oakland Coliseum on Thursday night. Thursday’s hero was A’s third baseman Matt Chapman. Chappie came to the plate with two on and two out, with the A’s trailing 4-2, and came through with his 17th home of the year. The blast sent the A’s players onto the field to congratulate Chapman, and 12,351 fans went home with smiles on their faces.

The two starters, the Rays’ Charlie Morton and A’s Frankie Montas, pitched exceptionally well. Morton baffled the A’s for 6 1/3 innings allowing just four hits and one run. Montas was better. Frankie gave the A’s eight innings, and allowed one run and four hits. It was probably the best outing of the year for Montas. It was a no-decision for both. Each team’s destiny laid in the hands of the bullpen. A’s closer Blake Treinen gave up three runs, and appeared to be the losing pitcher. The A’s offense saved him as they scored four times off Rays’ closer Diego Castillo was 7-for-7 in save opportunities this year.

The A’s drew first blood in the bottom of the fifth. The Rays’ Charlie Morton had been motoring along allowing just one hit in the first four innings of the game. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Jurickson Profar took Morton deep over the 362-foot marker in right-center. It was Profar’s 10th of the season and the A’s led 1-0.

The lead didn’t last long as Tommy Pham blasted his 13th of the year to tie the game. Montas didn’t get rattled, and he retired the next two hitters. He has given up one run and four hits through six innings of work.

Things went south for Oakland in the top of the ninth. Ryan Christenson, filling in for Bob Melvin, elected to bring in Blake Treinen to pitch the ninth. Montas had been dominant for eight innings and had allowed but one run and four hits. His pitch count was at 93 and Christenson could have sent Frankie out to start the ninth. Christenson didn’t, and the move backfired on the A’s. Treinen, who has control issues all season, walked the first two hitters he faced. The Rays then pulled off a double steal to put men at second and third with no out. Avisail Garcia singled to drive in Tommy Pham with the Rays’ second run. Brandon Lowe stopped at third. Ji-Man Choi singled to drive in Lowe. Garcia went to third and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Willy Adames. The Rays scored three runs on two walks, two hits, three stolen bases, and a sacrifice bunt. The Rays led 4-1 midway through the ninth.

The A’s were not done. They rallied to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The Rays’ closer committed a closer’s cardinal sin: He walked Robbie Grossman leading off. Grossman advanced to second on a wild pitch. Profar walked to put men on at first and second with one out, Beau Taylor, pinch-hitting for Josh Phegley, struck out. Marcus Semien, with his 16-game hitting streak on the line, singled to drive in Grossman with the A’s second run. Profar and Semien advanced a base when Kevin Kierman mishandled the ball for an error. Rays’ manager Kevin Cash opted to pitch to Matt Chapman. Had the Rays walked Chappie, Castillo would have had to throw to the left-handed Matt Olson. The decision to pitch to Chapman cost the Rays the game as Chapman blasted his 17th home run of the year. The A’s walked off with a 5-4 win.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s are now 40-36. The Rays dropped their fourth in a row and are 43-32. The Rays are now 4 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the race for first place in the AL East.

Marcus Semien extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a single in his last at-bat in the ninth. Jurickson Profar and Matt Chapman homered for the A’s. Tommy Pham homered for the Rays.

Chapman’s home run was his second walk-off home run of the season and the second of his career.

Lpu Trivino was the winning pitcher. Trivino worked one third of an inning. Castillo took the loss for the Rays.

Oakland’s line score was five runs, seven hits, and no errors. Tampa Bay’s line was four runs, six hits, and one significant error.

Time of game was three hours and one minute.

Up Next: Game two of the four-game series will be played Friday night at the Coliseum.

Tanner Anderson will be making his third start for the A’s, and the Rays have not announced their starter. Game time will be at 7:07 pm.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s Bassitt had everything working for him on Wednesday; Orioles suffer 8th straight loss; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @NBCSAthletics

On the A’s podcast with Jerry:

#1 The Oakland A’s starter Chris Bassitt sat down the Baltimore Orioles, pitching 5.1 innings of no-hit baseball at the Oakland Coliseum on Wednesday afternoon.

#2 For the lowly Orioles, they suffered their eighth straight loss, sit in dead last place, and are desperate need of both hitting and pitching.

#3 For Bassitt pitching as well as he did, he really had all his pitches working for him and really handled the Orioles in those first 5.2 innings, allowing only two hits.

#4 Bassitt also retired 16 of the 18 batters he faced, saying he felt better in this outing than the last two outings he had.

#5 The A’s open up a four-game series on Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Rays, who lost their last two games against the New York Yankees. The Rays will start Charlie Morton (8-1, 2.37 ERA), and for the Oakland A’s, Frankie Montas (9-2, 2.85 ERA) at the Oakland Coliseum.

Jerry Feitelberg does the Oakland A’s podcast each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Could Pope and Bullock end up as Warriors?; How could 4 people get shot at Raptors parade?; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @WarriorNationCP

On the Headlines Podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 The Los Angeles Lakers, who signed Anthony Davis are looking for more, but so are the Golden State Warriors, who are looking at the Lakers’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Bullock. Will these additions at Golden State fill that void that the Warriors lacked during the final game of the NBA Finals?

#2 Regarding the shooting of four people at the Toronto Raptors parade in Toronto, does this indicate no one is safe anywhere and this could go down again if Toronto was to win again?

#3 The NBA Draft is coming up and the Sacramento Kings are expected to get some of the top picks. Where do they need to start from first?

#4 The Los Angeles Dodgers came back after dropping the first game of this three-game series with convincing wins, thanks to some great offense, On Tuesday night, the Dodgers got a 9-0 shutout and the Dodgers dominated again with a 9-2 win over the Giants on Wednesday night.

Tony Renteria does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Pomeranz continues miserable season, gets pounded by LA, 9-2

Published on by jeremy2878Leave a comment

Photo credit: mercurynews.com

By Jeremy Harness

Drew Pomeranz’s Wednesday night got off to a bad start, and it continued to get worse as the night progressed.

Chris Taylor touched the left-hander up for a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning to give the Dodgers an early lead, and LA would only add to it in the next few innings during a 9-2 victory over the Giants at Dodger Stadium.

The very next inning, Kyle Garlick took Pomeranz deep for a solo shot, and the Dodgers got two more runs on and RBI single and a run-scoring sac fly in the third, which gave them a 6-0 lead, a hole the Giants could not get out of.

The Giants tried to make a game out of it, as Tyler Austin and Mike Yastrzemski both went deep – in the fourth and sixth innings – but they were mere solo homers and did not put a dent into what had been a commanding lead.

Pomeranz only lasted 4 1/3 innings on Wednesday, giving up seven runs on nine hits, walking one and striking out four and serving up those three home-run balls. The subpar outing – which have been plenty for Pomeranz this season – boosted his ERA to 7.09 after only three months.

Aside from the two homers by Yastrzemski and Austin, the Giants’ bats fell into their customary deep sleep, despite starter Rich Hill having to leave the game after the first inning with discomfort in his pitching forearm. He is scheduled for an MRI on Thursday and has been subsequently placed on the injured list.

The Giants managed just two more hits against a slew of Dodgers relievers, and no Giant got any more than one. After a promising four-game winning streak, the Giants have fallen back into their losing ways, and they now sit in the NL West cellar with a 31-41 mark, 17 ½ games out of first place.