A’s outlast Angels 7-4, win series

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s downed the LA Angels Thursday night to bounce back from a very tough loss on Wednesday. The A’s got off to another good start. The A’s led 6-1 midway through the fifth inning. The Angels made it 6-3 in their half of the fifth when Mike Trout homered with a man aboard. A’s manager Bob Melvin must have thought it was deja vu all over again. The Angels rallied from a 7-1 deficit on Wednesday to beat the A’s. The Green and Gold did not want to suffer another defeat like that on Thursday.

The A’s put three on the board in the top of the fourth. Stephen Piscotty started the rally with a single. He went to second when the Angels’ catcher Dustin Garneau committed an error by mishandling a pitch from Tyler Skaggs.  Three more singles and two sacrifice fly balls put the runs on the board. The Angels got one back in the bottom of the inning. Singles by Shohei Ohtani, Kole Calhoun, and David Fletcher loaded the bases for the Angels. Brian Goodwin drove in Ohtani with a sac fly to Ramon Laureano in center field. The A’s led 3-1.

The A’s plated three more in the fifth. Chad Pinder and Matt Chapman walked to get things going for Oakland. Khris Davis singled to drive in Pinder. Chapman and Davis advanced to second and third on Calhoun’s throwing error to the plate. Angels’ manager Brad Ausmus removed Skaggs from the game and brought in Jaime Barria to pitch. Piscotty’s fly ball to shallow left field was caught by Brian Goodwin. Goodwin’s throw slipped off his hand and Chapman scored. Davis went to third on the error. Laureano drove in Davis with a sac fly to left field. The Angels responded with two in their half of the fifth. Mike Trout hit his 16th bomb of the season with a man aboard to make it 6-3.

Piscotty hit a solo homer in the seventh, and the Angels scored one in the bottom of the ninth. The A’s won 7-4.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s are now 31-31 for the year. The Angels drop to 30-33. Mike Fiers went six innings and allowed seven hits and three runs. He is now 5-3. Tyler Skaggs absorbed the loss and is now 4-6.

The A’s bullpen did their job Thursday night. Melvin used Ryan Buchter, Liam Hendriks, Lou Trivino, and Joakim Soria. Soria was nicked for a run in the ninth.

The A’s line score was seven runs, nine hits, and no errors. The Angels’ line was four runs, nine hits, and three costly errors.

Up Next: The A’s are on their way to Texas to play three with the Rangers starting Friday night. Lefty Brett Anderson (6-4, 3.95 ERA) goes for Oakland and Texas will send righty Lance Lynn (7-4, 4.50 ERA) to the hill.

Game time will be at 5:07 pm.

Aces blow out Dream, 92-69

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Aces

Photo credit: Las Vegas Aces

By Shawn McCullough

In the Aces last loss to Connecticut, head coach Bill Laimbeer didn’t see effort from his starters. He got it tonight.

The Aces never trailed to the Dream in the game in a 92-69 win at State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta.

Six Aces scored in double digits including Liz Cambage, who led the team with 15 points and added seven rebounds.  Cambage was still on a minute restriction, playing just over 19 minutes.

A’ja Wilson added 11 points, while Kayla McBride went 3 for 4 from the three-point line, scoring 13.

With the win, the Aces improved to 2-2 on the season heading into a game in New York against the Liberty on Sunday.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

  • The Aces shot 51.3% from the field, while Atlanta shot just 33.3%.
  • The Aces committed 21 turnovers now in back-to-back games.
  • Former Aces forward Nia Coffey scored 11 points for the Dream.
  • Only 2,630 fans were in attendance.

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: Adjusting to Hit Against the Shift

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Photo credit: chicagotribune.com

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

During the last 10 years or so, the shift has taken over, which was something that was an oddity. Harry S .Truman was the President of the United States when during the summer of 1946, Cleveland Indians Manager Lou Boudreau witnessed three Ted Williams hit three home runs during the first game of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox. Which was very interesting because the shift never stopped a ball that went over the fence for a home run. But Boudreau was sick and tired of Williams pulling the ball to right field, so he decided to put four infielders between first and second. During that time only one player came to the plate with that defensive alignment. Therefore, it was called the “Ted Williams shift” for many years.

The Houston Astros are one of the teams that have used the shift the most. Nothing rare to see a left-handed hitter, that could be hitting .236 to see Yuliesky Gurriel at first-base, Jose Altuve the second baseman playing between first and second in short right field, shortstop Carlos Correa playing between second and first, to the right of Altuve and their regular third-baseman Alex Bregman playing just behind second base. Right-handed hitters also hit with the shift with frequency like Atlanta’s Freddy Freeman, and that is why he is a .300 hitter.

Matt Olson is he first-baseman for the Oakland Athletics. Olson is the 6’5″ and 230 lb cleanup hitter for the A’s. He has hit 142 home runs since his debut with the team in 2016. Yet, he has bunted looking for a base hit a few times this season to the opposite side of the shift for him the left side.

“Honestly, I think it’s always in play unless it’s kind of late in the game and I’m a tying or go-ahead run, something where driving the ball would be big for us,” said Olson.

And why not? I need to mention that there are major league players than can hit to the opposite field with frequency like I have recently seen more players with power like Olson trying to get on base with the bunt. A bunt hit today is breaking news and should be reported by Wolf “Breaking News” Blitzer on CNN. The bunt is healthy when used to be an integral part of the game, whose purpose is to get on base and score. Baseball historians say that the bunt was invented by Dickey Pearce, who played seven seasons with the New York Mutuals, Brooklyn Atlantics and St. Louis Brown Stockings. The bunt was not common until the 1880’s and then it was integrated in the 20th century as part of baseball strategy.

Thousands of home runs are hit in today’s game,specially with a “new”and lighter baseball it is common to see the balls going over the fences 420,430 feet or more. It would be ironic if the bunt is making a comeback but what is not ironic but a reality, is that power hitters with very low batting averages are trying to do more than just hit home runs and that is to bunt when they have the shift right in front.

Can the bunt have a revival in 2019? Maybe not, but we are seeing it with more frequency, and I do not mind especially when and if it works. Not only a sacrifice bunt, but a bunt for a base hit against the shift. Although home runs will never be boring and most fans love it.

The bunt? Let’s face it, it is a beautiful thing. By the way, the best I ever seen here in the Bay Area when it came to the art of bunting is Dagoberto “Blanco” Campaneris, a three-time World Champion shortstop for the Athletics from 1972-74.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez is a pioneer of Spanish broadcasting in the Bay Area and has been broadcasting in the major leagues since 1979 for radio and television. He is currently on KIQI 1010AM/990AM Oakland Athletics Spanish radio network, covering the Bay Area and Sacramento/Stockton. Amaury got his start with A’s owner Charlie O. Finley.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Four lead changes ends up in Halos’ 10-9 win over A’s

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Photo credit: @KPODFM

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The A’s lead by 7-5 until the Angels came back to take a 8-7 lead, but the A’s, who never give up, scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning to take a 9-8 lead over the Angels. It ain’t over til it’s over and the Angels rallied scoring two runs to get by Oakland 10-9.

#2 Khris Davis is swing the bats like he’s never been out of the game with an hit and an RBI. Bob Melvin has to be glad Davis is back in the lineup.

#3 The Angels reliever Ty Buttrey gave up two runs to help the A’s to the lead. Buttrey pitched 1,2 innings, three hits and two runs for the loss.

#4 A big offensive night for Marcus Semien with three hits, two runs and three RBIs.

#5 A’s and Texas Rangers open their series on Friday night in Arlington. The A’s have not yet announced a starter and the Rangers have starter Lance Lynn (7-4, 4.50 ERA). It’s the A’s and Rangers Friday night at Globe Life Park.

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

Stanford unveils men’s basketball schedule

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Photo credit: gostanford.com

By: Ana Kieu

Nine home games, including a December 29 matchup with Kansas at Maples Pavilion, highlight Stanford’s 13-game nonconference men’s basketball schedule for the 2019-20 season. The Cardinal will play 11 games in the Bay Area, including a game at the new Chase Center in San Francisco.

The challenging slate includes six matchups with teams who appeared in the postseason last year, highlighted by the Dec. 29 date with Kansas. The Jayhawks, who won 26 games and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season, will make their second ever appearance on The Farm.

Stanford will play in the inaugural Al Attles Classic at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The Cardinal will face San Diego as part of a quadruple header, scheduled for December 21 at the new home of the Golden State Warriors.

For the first time in 36 years, Stanford will play nine nonconference games at Maples Pavilion during the regular season. After playing more road games than home contests in one of the nation’s toughest nonconference schedules a year ago, the Cardinal will leave the Bay Area for just two of its 12 nonconference games. Stanford will be at home the first five weekends of the season (including Friday evening), including a season-opening six-game homestand.

The 2019-20 campaign begins Wednesday, Nov. 6 against defending Big Sky Champion Montana. The season-opening homestand also includes Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, Santa Clara, Maryland Eastern Shore and William & Mary.

Stanford’s only trip outside the Bay Area during nonconference play is a trip to Kansas City to compete in the Hall of Fame Classic. The Thanksgiving-week tournament (November 25-26) also features Oklahoma, Butler and Missouri, with specific matchups to be announced at a later date. The evening prior to the games, Cardinal great Todd Lichti (1985-89) will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

The December slate includes four games, all in the Bay Area. The Cardinal will host UNC Wilmington December 1, matching head coach Jerod Haase with his college teammate at Kansas in UNCW head coach C.B. McGrath. Stanford earned a 72-59 victory against UNCW in Wilmington last season.

The lone true road contest of the nonconference schedule is a December 14 matchup in the South Bay against San Jose State. The Cardinal defeated the Spartans 78-73 at home last season.

Continuing the Bay Area theme, Stanford will host San Francisco December 17, completing a three-game series with the Dons.

The nonconference slate concludes with Kansas, completing a four-game series with the Jayhawks. Stanford dropped a 90-84 overtime thriller at Allen Field House last season. The December 29 matchup marks Kansas’ first trip to Stanford in 56 years. The Cardinal earned a 69-64 victory over the Jayhawks on December 23, 1963 in their only other visit to The Farm.

The Pac-12 portion of the schedule, along with game times for all games will be announced in September, once television agreements are finalized.

Season ticket membership renewals begin in mid-July, the only opportunity for season ticket members to guarantee their seats for the full home schedule, receive loyalty pricing (9-10% off the regular price), early access to discounted tickets for all regular season home events and enjoy a growing list of other membership benefits. To learn more about 2019-20 memberships, including placing a deposit to secure seats as a new season ticket member, call (800)-STANFORD (option 2).

ICYMI: SJSU celebrated Football Operations Center in groundbreaking ceremony

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Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — It was another historic day for San Jose State Athletics as the Spartans celebrated the first step in preparing the east side of CEFCU Stadium for the construction of the future home for the Spartan football as well as men’s and women’s soccer with the removal of the first row of bleachers in section 125 in a groundbreaking ceremony.

The new Football Operations Center, set to complete construction in 2023, will house new locker rooms for football; men’s and women’s soccer; a 150-seat auditorium; coaches’ offices; position-specific classrooms; stadium game-day suites; general reception area; shared-used dining hall; and a state-of-the-art athletic training room that will be accessible to all student-athletes.

Over $24 million in gifts, pledges, irrevocable estate gifts and departmental revenue streams have been secured in support of this project. Several naming opportunities within the facility are available for alumni, fans and friends to invest and help Spartan football and Spartan Athletics build championship-caliber programs.

Construction of the new operations center will consist of three phases: the removal of benches and bleachers on the east side of the stadium, the actual construction of the building and then replacing the east side with new concession stands and amenities.

Construction timeline
Prior to 2019 season: Removal of benches and bleachers on east side.
Following 2019 season: The east side of the stadium infrastructure will be relocated and the rest of the east side of the stadium will be torn down.
During the 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons: The Football Operations Center will be under construction.
Prior to the 2023 season: The east side will be rebuilt with the return of bleachers, concession stands and amenities.

The groundbreaking ceremony featured guest speakers addressing the crowd of Spartan athletes, donors, fans and staff. Among the speakers were San Jose State University President Mary A. Papazian, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Marie Tuite, head football coach Brent Brennan, football operations center major donor Larry Solari, current football student-athlete Cade Hall, and a special appearance by legendary Spartan alumnus and former NFL Super Bowl-winning head coach Dick Vermeil.

To make a donation to our new facility, please click here

SJSU men’s basketball conference schedule begins on December 4, 2019

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Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State men’s basketball’s 18-game Mountain West schedule will start off on December 4 at home against reigning conference champion Utah State, according to the conference’s master schedule for the 2019-20 season.

The Spartans, led by third-year head coach Jean Prioleau, will be play each conference opponent home and away with the exception of San Diego State at home and Wyoming on the road. SJSU’s bye dates are Saturday, January 18 and Wednesday, February 5.

Game dates are subject to a one day move to Tuesday or Sunday to accommodate the conference’s national and regional television partners. Tip off times, as well as media coverage information, for all conference games will be announced at a later date.

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

Frazier homers late to give Mets a 7-3 victory over the Giants

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Photo credit: @Mets

By Jeremy Kahn

NEW YORK — Todd Frazier gave the New York Mets the win on one swing off the bat against Mark Melancon.

Frazier hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning off of Melancon, helping the Mets to a 7-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants before a crowd of 28,857 at Citi Field.

He golfed it out, he is a pretty good hitter, said Bruce Bochy.

Following the Frazier two-run home run, Melancon then gave up a single to Adeiny Hechavarria and then a double to Juan Lagares that saw Hechavarria blow through the stop of third-base coach Gary Disarcina to give the Mets a 6-3 lead.

Jeff McNeil drove in the final run of the game, as he singled to right field to score Lagares. In all, Melancon faced 10 batters in that one inning, giving up four runs on five hits, walking one and did not strike out a batter.

It was a tough no-decision for Shaun Anderson, who went six innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking three and striking out three.

The game did not start well for Anderson, as he gave up back-to-back home runs to lead off the game to Amed Rosario and Dominic Smith.

Thats all you get, said Anderson, concerning the trip to the mound by Matt Herges following the back-to-back home runs.

The pitch to Rosario was a fastball and the pitch to Smith was a slider, according to Anderson.

Anderson joins Roger Mason and Bud Black as the only pitchers in Giants history (since 1958) to allow back-to-back home runs to start a game.

Mason did it on April 13, 1987, as he surrendered back-to-back-to-back home runs to Marvell Wynne, Tony Gwynn and John Kruk in a 13-6 Giants victory at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego.

Black was the last Giants pitcher to give up back-to-back home runs to Jacob Brumfield and Bret Boone of the Cincinnati Reds on August 3, 1994, in a 17-4 Giants loss at Candlestick Park.

Former Giants farmhand Zack Wheeler retired the first eight batters he faced, but he then Anderson on the right forearm with two outs in the top of the third inning; however, he regrouped to get Joe Panik to popup to Rosario to end the inning.
Brandon Belt tied up the game with one swing of the bat, as he hit a two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning. Mike Yastrzemski broke up Wheelers bid at a no-hitter, as he led off the inning with a single.

Pablo Sandoval gave the Giants the lead in the top of the sixth inning, as he launched a 438-foot home run into the second deck of the right field seats. It was the second longest home run of the season for the Giants, behind the 441 foot home run by Tyler Austin.

Reyes Moronta was unable to secure the victory for Anderson, as he gave up a bloop single to McNeil to score Lagares, who led off the inning by walking, then Tomas Nido singled and that was the end of Anderson.

I am pretty pissed about that leadoff walk, said Anderson.

Tony Watson came on to replace Moronta, and the only batter he faced, pinch-hitter J.D. Davis grounded into a double play that ended the inning.

What a job Waddy did, said Bochy.

NOTES: This was the first time since May 9 that the Giants gave up back-to-back home runs in a game. Nolan Arenado and Mark Reynolds turned the trick for the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

As for the Mets, this was the third time in team history that they led off a game with back-to-back home runs. Jose Reyes and Ruben Gotay did it on July 12, 2007 against the Cincinnati Reds, and then on August 16, 2016, Reyes and Asdrubal Cabrera went to back-to-back against the Philadelphia Phillies.

UP NEXT: Following the 4-5 road trip thru Miami, Baltimore and New York, the Giants return home for an eight-game home stand beginning on Friday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Drew Pomeranz will take the mound in the opener for the Giants, while Clayton Kershaw will take the mound for the Dodgers.

Jeff Samardzija will face Rich Hill on Saturday, and on Sunday, Madison Bumgarner will face Walker Buehler before a day off on Monday.

Angels rally from a 7-1 deficit to win a wild one over the A’s 10-9

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Photo credit: @Angel_City_Buzz

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s and the Los Angeles Angels played another wild one at the Big A in Anaheim. The two teams played a nine-inning game that lasted four hours and 13 minutes.

Both teams used an “opener” to start the game. The Angels used reliever Cam Bedrosian for one inning and replaced him with Felix Pena. The A’s Joakim Soria pitched the first inning and was later replaced by Daniel Mengden. This strategy was not successful for either team Wednesday night.

Angels leadoff hitter, Tommy La Stella, homered on the second pitch from Soria to give the Angels an early 1-0 lead. The A’s roughed up Pena for four runs in the second inning. The A’s had two doubles and two singles in the inning to put them ahead. Oakland scored three more in the top of the third to lead 7-1. The A’s put together four singles and a walk to get the runs on the board. The Angels answered with four runs in the bottom of the third. La Stella single to get the rally going for LA. Mike Trout hit his 15th dinger of the year to make it 7-3. Shohei Ohtani singled, and that was followed by a double off the bat of Albert Pujols. Kole Calhoun grounded out to first to drive in Ohtani with the third run of the inning. Pujols scored on David Fletcher’s single. The A’s lead was now 7-5.

The Angels plated three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 8-7 lead. With one out, second baseman Luis Rengifo singled. Mengden walked La Stella to put men on at first and second. It was at this point that A’s manager decided to remove Mengden from the game. Yusmeiro Petit was brought in to pitch. Angels DH Ohtani hit his fifth big blast of the year to put the Angels ahead.

The Angels maintained the lead until the top of the eighth. The A’s scored twice for a 9-8 lead. The A’s rally started when Marcus Semien walked with one out. Matt Chapman singled. That was followed by Matt Olson’s single to drive in Semien with the tying run. Chapman went to third, but Olson was thrown out at second. Chapman scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. The home plate umpire called Chapman out, but the call was reversed after a review. The A’s lead didn’t last long as the Angels tied the game. A’s reliever Liam Hendriks gave up two hits and an intentional walk to load the bases. Melvin brought in lefty Ryan Buchter to face the left-handed hitter Shohei Ohtani. Buchter walked him, and the Angels knotted the score at 9-9.

Lou Trivino, who got the final out of the eighth inning, retired the first two hitters he faced in the bottom of the ninth. Brian Goodwin then singled and stole second. The next hitter, Dustin Garneau, hit a ground rule double that went over Robbie Grossman’s head and bounced over the fence to drive in Goodwin with the winning run. The Angels won 10-9.

Game Notes: The A’s drop to 30-31. The Angels are now 30-32. LA’s line score was 10 runs, 14 hits, and no errors. Oakland’s line was nine runs, 15 hits, and no errors. Lou Trivino took the loss. Hansel Robles earned the win.

A’s hitting stars were Marcus Semien with three hits and three RBI. Jurickson Profar also had three hits and two ribbies. The Angels’ Tommy La Stella had three hits, one of with was a home run. Ohtani had two hits and four RBIs.

Daniel Mengden did not have a good outing. The A’s hurler lasted just 2 1/3 innings. He allowed six hits and six runs. The Angels’ Felix Pena went 1 2/3 innings and the A’s roughed him up for eight hits and seven runs.

Up Next: The A’s and Angels play the rubber game Thursday night in Anaheim. Game time will be at 7:07 pm.

Short-handed Warriors’ effort not good enough, fall to Raptors 123-109

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Photo credit: @Raptors

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors, without Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Kevon Looney, fought a brave, but losing battle against the Toronto Raptors Wednesday night at Oracle Arena.  The Warriors held the lead just once in the entire contest. They led 5-4 early in the first quarter. Toronto took the lead 6-5 and never trailed the rest of the way.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr had to juggle his lineup. He had the veteran, Shaun Livingston, start in place of the injured Klay Thompson. DeMarcus Cousins started for the second game in a row. The Warriors needed Cousins to put a lot of points on the board. Cousins tallied just four points as the Raptors’ Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, and Pascal Siakam manhandled Cousins.

Steph Curry did everything he could to keep his team in the game. Curry ended the night with 47 points. He connected on six threes to keep his team close. Draymond Green with 17 and Andre Iguodala with 11 were the only other Warriors in double figures.

The Raptors had six players in double figures. They also were connecting on three-point shots. Kawhi Leonard led Toronto with 30 points. Danny Green, Kyle Lowry, and Fred VanVleet killed the Warriors as they made 6, 5, and 3, respectively.

The Raptors led 36-29 after the first quarter. They finished the first half leading 60-52. Curry led the Warriors with 25. No other Warrior player was in double figures. The Raptors scored the first six points in the third quarter and the Warriors, as hard as they tried, could not catch up. Late in the third quarter, the Raptors went on an 8-0 run, and they finished the period leading 96-83. It was more of the same in the fourth quarter. They could not get buckets when they needed them. They had shots blocked by Serge Ibaka and Toronto’s defense. The Warriors, without the firepower of Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, could not catch up. The Raptors double-teamed Curry every time he handled the ball. The Warriors were forced to take bad shots. The Raptors won 123-109 to take a 2-3 series lead.

Game Notes: The Raptors shot 52.4% from the floor and held the Warriors to 39.6%. The Raptors were 17 for 39 from 3-point range. The Warriors were 12 for 36. The Raptors made five more threes than the W’s, and that was the difference in the game.

Up Next: Game 4 of the best-of-seven series will be played Friday night at Oracle Arena. The Warriors are hoping the Durant and Thompson will be able to play. Game time will be at 6 pm.