Ramon Laureano’s grand slam propels the A’s to a 6-2 win over the Rays

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By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s ended the 10-game road trip with a 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday afternoon. The A’s finished the road trip with a 6-4 record and return home to face the Seattle Mariners Friday night.

The A’s veteran lefty Brett Anderson pitched well again on Wednesday. Anderson gave the A’s 6 1/3 innings and allowed seven hits and two runs. The Rays’ Yonny Chirinos also pitched well. The young man from Venezuela gave the Rays six innings of work. He allowed two runs and seven hits.

The A’s put one on the board in the top of the fourth. A’s DH Khris Davis led off the inning with a double. He tagged and went to third on Stephen Piscotty’s fly ball to centerfield. Ramon Laureano drove in Davis on an infield single. The A’s added a run in the sixth when Matt Olson took Chirinos deep with his eleventh big fly of the season. The A’s led 2-0 after six.

Anderson started the seventh inning. He was effective all game long as he mixed his pitches well and kept the hitters off balance with fastballs, sliders, and changeups.

With one out, Rays’ centerfielder Guillermo Heredia singled. Former San Francisco Giant Christian Arroyo walked. Ryan Christensen, who was managing, the club as manager Bob Melvin was tossed for arguing balls and strikes with the home plate umpire, brought in Liam Hendriks to pitch. Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz double to drive in Heredia with the Rays’ first run. Arroyo stopped at third. The A’s walked Austin Meadows, who is leading the AL in hitting, to load the bases. Rays’ right fielder Avaisal Garcia reached on a fielder’s choice. Marcus Semien fielded the ball, and since there was a force play at any base, he looked to get the out at third. Chapman wasn’t covering the base, and that forced Semien to try to get the out at second. The throw was just a hair late. Arroyo scored to tie the game.

The A’s regained the lead in the top of the eighth. Matt Olson led off with a single. Davis struck out. Piscotty walked. Rays’ reliever uncorked a wild pitch to advance Olson and Piscotty. The Rays walked Robbie Grossman to set up an inning-ending double play. The Rays brought in lefty Colin Poche to pitch to Ramon Laureano. The strategy failed as Laureano hit his ninth home run of the year to put four on the board.

The A’s called on Lou Trivino to pitch the eighth. Trivino gave up three hits, but the Rays failed to score. Blake Treinen retired the Rays to preserve the win for the A’s.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s improve to 35-34. The Rays are now 41-26 and fall 1/2 game behind the New York Yankees in the race for first place in the AL East.

Liam Hendriks was credited with the win, and his record is now 3-0. He also received credit for his first blown save. Adam Kolarek was the losing pitcher for Tampa Bay.

Up Next: The A’s are off on Thursday. They resume play Friday night when they meet the Seattle Mariners for a three-game set at the Oakland Coliseum.

Longoria’s double wins it for the Giants 6-5

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By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Evan Longoria came up with the biggest hit of the night at the most opportune time.

Longoria hit a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning, propelling the San Francisco Giants to a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres before a crowd of 28,535 at Oracle Park.

Longo came thru in a big way, said Bruce Bochy.

The seventh inning got underway, as Brandon Belt came off the bench to pinch hit for Mark Melancon and walked against Trey Wingenter. Joe Panik then singled Belt to third, and after Mike Yastrzemski flew out to Hunter Renfroe in right field, Longoria smashed a double off the left field wall to score both Belt and Panik and on the throw home, Longoria went to third.

Joe did a great job running, and I thought the base running was very good tonight, said third base coach Ron Wotus.

Pablo Sandoval then drove in Longoria with an insurance run, as he hit a sacrifice fly to center field.

Fernando Tatis, Jr., took the first pitch he saw from Tyler Beede and put it into the Garden over the centerfield wall in the top of the first inning to give the Padres an early 1-0 lead.

Following the Tatis, Jr., home run, Josh Naylor and Eric Hosmer both singled and it looked like it was going to be a short night for Beede.

That would be on the contrary, as following the Hosmer single with one out in the inning, Beede began to settle and retired the next 11 batters until Wil Myers led off that fateful fifth inning with a walk against Beede.

After Myers walked, Beede was able to get Austin Hedges to fly out for the first out of the inning, Myers then stole second and then pitcher Chris Paddack picked up his first major league hit, as Brandon Crawford cut the ball from going into the outfield.

Tatis, Jr., then picked up his second hit of the game, as Joe Panik made a great play to knock the ball down; however, his flip to Crawford went awry and Myers scored easily from third base.

Beede then got Josh Naylor for the second out of the inning, but was lifted for Trevor Gott after he walked Manny Machado.

Then came the play that epitomized the Giants season in a nutshell, as Hosmers comebacker to Gott knocked his glove off his hand and threw it to first, where Hosmer was called safe; however, with the runners going on anything, both Paddack and Tatis, Jr., scored to give the Padres the lead.

Looked like we were taking infield there, said Bochy.

Crawford would have made the play had I let the ball go through, said Gott.

Gott was able to get out of the inning, as he struck out Hunter Renfroe to end the inning.

The Giants took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Pablo Sandoval led off the inning with a single and then went to third on a Stephen Vogt single. Vogt was thrown out at second base, and then it looked like Paddack would get out of the jam, when he got Crawford to ground out back to him; however, Tyler Austin tied up the game with a single that scored Sandoval and then Steven Duggar got involved in the game.

Duggar launched a two-run home run onto the Levis Landing to give the Giants a two-run lead.

Paddack, who went five innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking one and striking out six; however, he did not fare in the decision.

On the other side of things, Beede is still looking for that elusive first major league win, as he went four and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs on five hits, walking two and striking out a career-high seven.

I felt great, but there was some tough luck, said Beede.

Mark Melancon pitched a perfect seventh inning, as he struck out two and picked up his third win of the season.

Ian Kinsler made it a one-run game in the top of the eighth inning, as he hit his eighth home run of the season off of Tony Watson.

Will Smith came on in the top of the ninth inning, and nailed down his 15th save of the season in 15 opportunities to even the home stand at two games apiece with four to go. Smith struck out two, including Tatis, Jr., to end the game.

NOTES: Smith tied Craig Lefferts for the longest save streak to start a season with those 15 saves, Lefferts held the record of 15 from 1989 until Rod Beck broke it in 1994, when he saved 28 in a row.

Beedes previous career high of six was set also against the Padres on April 15, 2018 at Petco Park.

This was the teams 15th win of the season by one run, and the 15-6 record in one-run games is the best in the major leagues.

It was the 16th come-from-behind win for the Giants this season.

The 85-degree temperature at first pitch was the hottest at first pitch since June 14, 2001 against the Anaheim Angels.

It just the third time since the Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958 that they were three straight games of 80 degrees or higher. It also occurred on June 29, 30 and July 1 of 1996, and also August 31, September 1 and 2 of 2017.

That was the first lead-off home run of Tatis, Jrs. career and the second lead-off home run of the season for the Padres, Manuel Margot led off the April 14 game against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a home run at Chase Field.

Over their last six games, the Giants are 5-for-37 with runners in scoring position and have left 36 runners on base in that span.

UP NEXT: Shaun Anderson will take the mound in the finale of this brief two-game series on Wednesday night for the Giants, while Joey Lucchesi takes the mound for the Padres

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Check the Ball? On Pace for 6,513 Home Runs

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Photo credit: @SportmaniaM

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

It used to be the Home Run was the most exciting play in the game of baseball, but at this pace, the 2019 MLB season is becoming so much of a routine event that it’s like “an intoxication of eating too much candy”. Last season, there was a total of 5,585 home runs hit among all 30 teams, but that is not the record for a single season. The record for a single season was established in 2017 with 6,105. Today, we are on a pace for 6,514 or more.

On Sunday, the Washington Nationals hit four straight home runs off of pitcher Craig Stammen. It was the ninth time in MLB history a team has hit back-to-back-to-back-to-back homers. On Monday, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies hit 13 home runs at Citizens Bank Park. The D-Backs finished with eight home runs while the Phillies hit five for the new major league record.

A major league ball is supposed to weight between 5 and 5 1/4 ounces. Nowadays, pitchers throw harder than ever, and hitters have the launch angle mode, which is the perfect storm as managers really do not have to use a lot of strategies. It is all about Earl Weaver’s favorite play, the three-run homer. The game has changed and the ball has also “changed”.

Earthquakes run away with 4-3 win over Sacramento Republic FC in fourth round of US Open Cup

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By: Ana Kieu

The San Jose Earthquakes took on Sacramento Republic FC in the fourth round of the US Open Cup at Avaya Stadium on Tuesday night.

San Jose reportedly will treat the US Open Cup as a major trophy.

Quakes forward Chris Wondolowski told SJEarthquakes.com: “To be honest, it could be a preseason game … against anyone, we want to go out and win it … That’s our mentality right now. We want to win the Open Cup. We know it’s five games to win it. We feel that this tournament tests your depth and, even today, it shows where our depth is right now. We are one of the deepest teams I’ve been on.”

Well, it didn’t take long for the first goal of the match. Sam Werner opened the scoring in the second minute to give Sacramento a 1-0 lead.

It didn’t take long for San Jose to tie the match as Magnus Eriksson scored the game-tying goal in the 10th minute.

But San Jose’s lead turned out to be short-lived as Villyan Bijev scored the go-ahead goal to help Sacramento to a 2-1 lead in the 14th minute.

The scary moment happened in the 30th minute when Charalampos Chantzopoulos went down for a brief moment. Fortunately, Chantzopoulos was able to get up on his own and Sacramento got themselves a corner.

There was no fear in San Jose, who bounced back to tie the game once again. Cristian Espinoza leveled it from the spot for a 2-1 lead in the 38th minute. Espinoza capitalized on a penalty kick awarded to the Quakes.

The first half was quite eventful and the two teams went to halftime 2-2.

San Jose made their first substitution of the match in the 55th minute. Vako replaced Florian Jungwirth.

San Jose nearly got a goal in the 62nd minute, but Tommy Thompson’s rocket was unable to get into the net. Sacramento goalkeeper Josh Cohen made a noteworthy save to prevent a potential goal.

San Jose made their second substitution of the match in the 69th minute. Cade Cowell replaced Siam Haji.

Quakes fans breathed a sigh of relief when Stefano Bonomo’s kick went just wide of the net in the 71st minute. Still, Sacramento apparently bragged about their goalkeeper, which was a mind-boggler as San Jose grabbed a 3-2 lead in the 78th minute. Chris Wondolowski’s deflected shot hit the back of the net and Vako capitalized for the better.

San Jose made their third substitution of the match in the 81st minute. Jimmy Ockford replaced Eric Calvillo.

Vako earned his brace in stoppage time. Vako made it 4-2 San Jose in the 91st minute. However, Sacramento made it a one-goal game as Drew Skundrich scored in the 93rd minute, but they were unable to tie the game to force overtime.

The Quakes won 4-3. With the win, San Jose made it to the Round of 16.

Notes
Quakes’ starting lineup 

Up Next
The Quakes host the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday, June 26 at 7:30 pm.

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Will Latin players worry about safety when going home in the wake of the Big Papi shooting?

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On the Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 After Big Papi’s shooting, will other Latin players now be worried and concerned about having to go home for the winter?

#2 It really gives pause for other MLB players who might live in the Dominican Republic, and giving what just happened, they may have to change their habits from going out in public?

#3 The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants rivalry continues last Sunday. The Dodgers’ Max Muncy opened the first inning with a home run and took a long look, which irked Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner and set off some jawing between Bumgarner and Muncy. The Giants open a three-game series with San Diego tonight.

#4 The Boston Bruins saved their season with a convincing win over the St. Louis Blues 5-1 in Game 6 on Sunday in St. Louis that saved the Bruins from elimination.

#5 Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, who coached defense that allowed the most points in Raiders history (457). That was what Guenther said his hardest year in coaching.

Headline Sports and is a freelance writer for Area Grande Spanish papers with Barbara is heard every Tuesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

A’s edge the Rays 4-3 to even the series

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By Jerry Feitelberg

A’s pitcher Mike Fiers gave the A’s six strong innings of work Tuesday night to help the Green and Gold beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 at Tropicana Field. The Rays used an “opener” Ryne Stanek to pitch the first inning. It was the 19th time Stanek had started a game. The Rays brought in lefty Jalen Beeks to pitch in the second.

Fiers got off to a rocky start as the second hitter in the Rays’ lineup, Tommy Pham, blasted his ninth of the year to give the Rays an early 1-0 lead. Fiers settled down and kept the Rays off the board until the fourth inning. With two out, Fiers walked Rays’ shortstop Willy Adames. Centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier singled to send Adames to third. Adames scored when Tampa pulled off a successful double steal. A’s catcher Josh Phegley tried to throw out Kiermaier stealing at second. His throw was a bit high. A’s second baseman Jurickson Profar had to go up and get the throw to prevent it from going into centerfield. Adames was able to score on the play. The Rays lead 2-0.

The A’s put a run on the board in the top of the fifth. Profar singled to get the rally going. Profar went to second on a passed ball and scores on Chad Pinder’s single.

In the sixth, the A’s scored three times to take the lead 4-2. With one out, Matt Chapman reached on an error. Matt Olson followed with his 10th home of the year. The next hitter, Khris Davis blasted his 14th.

The A’s used Liam Hendriks in the seventh and Lou Trivino in the eighth. Neither pitcher allowed the Rays a hit.

Blake Treinen was called in to pitch the ninth. Treinen committed a cardinal sin as he walked the leadoff hitter, Brandon Lowe. Treinen struck out Yandy Diaz for the first out. Ji-Man Choi hit into a fielder’s choice for the second out. Lowe was safe at second. Willy Adames singled to drive in Lowe. Treinin then retired Kiermaier on a ground ball to Matt Olson for the final out. The A’s won 4-3.

Game Notes: The A’s evened their record at 34-34. The Rays fell to 41-25.

Fiers improved to 6-3 for the year. Treinen earned the save.  Fiers’ line was 6 innings, 3 hits, and 2 runs. The losing pitcher for Tampa Bay was Emilio Pagan. Pagan entered the game in the sixth inning

The A’s line was four runs, seven hits, and no errors. The Rays’ line was three runs, four hits, and one error.

Up Next: The A’s meet the Rays Wednesday morning at 9:10 am. Lefty Brett Anderson (6-4, 3.98 ERA) will pitch for Oakland. Tampa has not announced its starter.

Time of game was two hours and 47 minutes. 11,132 people watched the A’s win.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Warriors squeak by to live another day as Durant leaves arena on crutches

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Warriors On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Warriors and Raptors played to a one-point contest 106-105 with the Warriors keeping themselves alive in the Finals trailing Toronto 3-2 in the series and they did it without Kevin Durant towards the end of the game.

#2 An unlucky shot by the Raptors’ Kyle Lowry that didn’t go in ended up forcing a Game 6 and a possible elimination game for Toronto.

#3 But it was a big offensive night for the Warriors’ Stephen Curry, who led Golden State with 31 points, followed by splash brother Klay Thompson, who finished with 26.

#4 The big question is will Durant be able to return for Game 6 and how badly do the Warriors need him back in the lineup considering risking more damage to his already injured calf?

#5 So Game 6 will definitely wind up being the last home game ever for the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena, a building they played in since 1966.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Very possible Big Papi was a target of a hit; Resting comfortably in Boston hospital

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ap photo: Fans at walk past a photograph of Boston Red Sox’s David Ortiz before a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Oct. 1, 2016.

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast with Amaury Pi-Gonzalez:

Big Papi (David Ortiz) is the face of those World’s Championships Boston Red Sox teams who won three World Series. In the Dominican Republic, he’s almost like a God, he could probably run for president and win. Let’s face it, Ortiz can run for president and win. Ortiz is an idol and the bad guys know that Ortiz had money there are kidnapping and robberies there and there really isn’t any solid proof why he got shot, but his publicist said that this was a hit job.

I have talked to Dominicans and it looks like a hit job it was premediated and these two guys came on motorcycles and they stopped by the bar restaurant that Big Papi was seated at. They shot Ortiz in the back and the other friend, whose a famous news anchor in the Dominican Republic, Ortiz was with.

Ortiz is resting in a Boston hospital resting after a long surgery. Doctors reportedly removed part of his spleen and liver and it has been reported that Ortiz is not out of the woods yet. Eventually, Ortiz will have to go through therapy and then he will probably have therapy for his mental well-being after going through something like this. One of the two suspects who fell of their motorcycle was caught by witnesses and beaten before police came and arrested him and he had confessed to the crime.

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: Pitching of Rays’ Morton was worth his salt; A’s get clobbered 6-2

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Photo credit: @Rays

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Charlie Morton stayed undefeated with a 6-2 win over the visiting Oakland A’s at Tropicana Field. Morton improved his record to a perfect 8-0, 2.10 ERA.

#2 The Rays improved their overall record in first place in the AL East, a half game up on the New York Yankees.

#3 The Rays also have won six of their last seven games and are the hottest team in baseball 41-24.

#4  The exhausted A’s didn’t get into Florida until 3 AM for the 7 PM game. The A’s, who played in Texas on Sunday, had their flight delayed and got out very late for the Tampa Bay touchdown. The team’s plane got damaged, which caused their flight even further. They played a doubleheader on Saturday before leaving Texas on Sunday and manager Bob Melvin said the team had five straight power naps.

#5 A’s starter Mike Fiers (5-3, 4.76 ERA) and the Rays will start Ryne Staneck (0-1 ERA 2.78) , the Rays are getting the best consistent pitching in baseball right now.

Charlie O does the A’s podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Bumgarner’s Last Act In S.F.?: If so, it’s quintessential MadBum

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By Morris Phillips

Madison Bumgarner’s Giants career hasn’t entirely been about winning.

Yes, the Giants’ ace was around for all three World Series titles, and he became the Series MVP for the ages in 2014 for his incredible starting and relief performances against the Royals.

Bumgarner also won 18 games in 2014 and 2015, a remarkable feat of consistency, given the seasons bookended his grueling 2014 postseason.

And–as we were reminded of on Sunday afternoon–Bumgarner has battled the Dodgers tooth and nail for a decade.

In 34 career starts against the hated Blue, Bumgarner is 15-13 with a 2.52 ERA. But he hasn’t beaten the Dodgers in any of his last seven appearances.

It’s unlikely that the Giants’ ace remembers any of the wins, only the 13 losses, and definitely the last seven meetings without a win as well. That’s just who Bumgarner is, and his level of competiveness.

“He’s as competitive as anybody I’ve ever seen,” said Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow of Bumgarner.

In Sunday’s 1-0 loss to the Dodgers, Bum’s reaction to Max Muncy’s first inning home run was priceless. Angry and combative, Bumgarner yelled at Muncy, demanding he circle the bases with no dramatics.

Muncy, clearly enjoying the moment, gestured and yelled back, as he circled the bases. The Dodgers’ slugger would later say Bum could retrieve the home run ball from the Bay if he didn’t appreciate his celebration. Muncy’s quick wit won him supporters on social media.

But Bumgarner wasn’t swayed, justifying his confronting Muncy with a simple statement bathed in his old-school mentality.

“They want to let everybody be themselves. Let me by myself — that’s me, you know?” Bumgarner explained.

With the trade deadline approaching,  Bumgarner has precious few days left as a Giant. Increasing the bittersweet nature of the iconic player being dealt are the underwhelming offers being fielded by GM Farhan Zaidi. Losing one the faces of the franchise in mid-season for a pittance isn’t very dignified, so much so that Zaidi recently reiterated that Bumgarner would not be moved unless the return is significant.

Keeping Bumgarner would be bad business, moving him removes a key presence in the clubhouse, so there’s no victory there. Watching him battle every fifth day for a club that scuffles to score runs is hard to endure too.

Hard on Bumgarner, the team, and the fans.

So the end may be near, but the appreciation for one the game’s biggest winners is unrelenting. Manager Bruce Bochy issued his thanks on the occasion of his 1,000th managerial win as a Giant on Thursday.

“What he’s done here, and I wouldn’t say what he’s done for me, it’s been an honor to manage this man,” Bochy said. “He’s done so much for the Giants organization and he’s helped put rings on our fingers and he’s still going strong. He’s one of my all-time favorites and that’s pretty obvious.”