Warriors find a way to eliminate the Rockets in Game 6

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By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors, playing without two of their stars, DeMarcus Cousins and Kevin Durant, found a way the defeat the Houston Rockets 118-113 Friday night in Houston. Most of the pundits, excluding this writer, picked the Rockets to win Game 6 and force a deciding Game 7 on Mother’s day in Oakland. The “experts” felt that the Warriors could not win with Kevin Durant. Durant was averaging a smidge over 36 points a game and how were the Warriors going to pick up the slack. The Warriors bench had not produced much in the playoffs this year. Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr knew that he could not let his starters play all 48 minutes. He needed the bench to come through and did they ever. The Warriors motto is “Strength in Numbers,” and the bench led by Kevon Looney, Shaun Livingstone, Quinn Cook, Jordan Bell, and Jonas Jerebko all contributed to the Warriors victory and they did it in a hostile environment.

The Rockets, for the past year, were hoping to avenge last year’s demise in the Western Conference Finals against the W’s. Their star point guard, Chris Paul, injured his hamstring and did not play in the last two games. Paul was healthy, and they felt they had the advantage as Durant was not able to play for Golden State. What the Rockets didn’t count on was the fact that the Warriors know how to win. They won a championship in 2015 without Kevin Durant. They almost repeated in 2016 and did not have Durant. The W’s won the last two championships with KD, and, hopefully, they will win their third in a row with Durant as a teammate. The Warriors knew they had to find a way to stop the Rockets offense. They had to play strong defense, rebound, make steals, block shots, and not turnover the ball. They did everything right except they were a bit sloppy as they turned the ball over 17 times.

The Warriors and Rockets played a very competitive first half. The Rockets won the first quarter by one-point to lead 28-27. The Warriors offense in the first quarter was driven by Klay Thompson, Kevon Looney, and Draymond Green. The Warriors won the second period by a point, and the game was tied at 57 at the of two-quarters of action. Steph Curry did not score a single point in the first half. He committed three fouls and spent a lot of time on the bench. Klay Thompson led the W’s with 21. Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, and Kevon Looney each had 8. Shaun Livingston had 6. The Rockets’ attack was led by James Harden’s 19. Chris Paul added 11. Hot-shooting Eric Gordon was held to 4. The Warriors knocked  down7 threes while Houston made 8. The Rockets shot 10 more free three than the Warriors to keep them in the game.

The Warriors were hoping to get Steph going in the third quarter. The Rockets planned to double team both Steph and Klay and force the other Warriors to make the shots. The lead changed hands several times in the period. The Rockets increased the lead to six 74-68, but the W’s met the challenge and tied it at 77. The Rockets led by one 83-82 when they went on a 4-0 run to finish the period leading 87-82.

It all came down to the last 12 minutes of play. The Rockets led by five and had the crowd roaring their support. Would it be possible for The W’s to catch the Rockets? Could they put enough points on the board to win? Would Steph Curry lead them to the win? All those questions were answered. The Warriors refused to fold. The Rockets could not put Golden State away. The W’s tied the game at 97 when Steph made a two-point bucket. The took the lead for good when Kevon Looney made a huge bucket. Steph followed with a three, and the Dubs led 102-97. The Rockets’ James Harden hit a three, and it was a two-point contest 102-100. Curry was a one-man wrecking crew at this point. Steph made a duce and a trey and the Warriors were up 110-104 with 36.1 seconds left to play. Kevon Looney blocked a shot, and the ball went Golden State. The Rockets fouled Steph, and he made both free throws. Harden countered with a three. The Rockets kept fouling Steph, and he kept making free throws. The Warriors held off Harden and Paul to win 118-113, and they again ended the Rockets’ season.

Game Notes and stats- The Warriors outscored the Rockets 36-26 in the fourth quarter to overcome the five-point deficit at the end of three. Steph Curry scored 16 points in the final five minutes of the game. He scored 23 points in the fourth quarter and 33 points in the second half.

The Warriors resume play Tuesday night at Oracle Arena when they face the winner of the Denver Nuggets- Portnad Trailblazers series.

Steph led the W’s with 33. He made four threes in 11 tries. Klay had 27, and he made 7 three. Draymond Green had 8 points, 10 boards, and 7 assists. Andre Iguodala played well on offense as well as defense. He had 17 points, and he made five threes. Kevon Looney had 15, Shaun Livingston 11. The rest of the bench added 8. The W’s shot 49.4% from the floor. The had 35 boards and 10 offensive rebounds.

James Harden led the Rockets with 35. Chris Paul 27, P.J.Tucker 15, Clint Capela 10 points and 10 boards, Eric Gordon 9. Austin Rivers also had 9. The key to the win was not letting Eric Gordon, and Austin Rivers knock down threes.

The Warriors again showed the world that they are champions. They refused to fold. They could have, and nobody would have criticized them as they were without two All-Stars. They made the shots when they had to. They played defense in the fourth quarter. They did what they had to do to win.

 

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: As much snow balls as there were runs and hits in Rox 12-11 win Thursday

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sfgate.com photo: Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado is congratulated as he returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run off San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Derek Holland in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 9, 2019, in Denver.

On the Giants podcant with Michael Duca:

#1 If you like a lot of runs, this was your ballgame. The Giants paid the Colorado Rockies a visit to Coors Field on Thursday for a 12-11 Rockies win.

#2 The snow at Coors was an afternoon that would give goosebumps to chill fans trying to warm up during cold hockey nights in Canada, but this was Denver in May, did the snow give the hitters an advantage as pitchers might had a hard time to stay warm and hit their spots?

#3 The Rockies’ Nolan Arenado got a home run in the first and three hits to contribute to the cause. Arenado got on base five times. Arenado hit a ball that was ruled a foul in the second inning, which would have been his second home run and 11th of the season.

#4 Ian Desmond and Mark Reynolds poured it on with a home run each. Both teams keep swinging away in the snow and 40-degree weather.

#5 The Giants open up a three-game series Friday night against the Cincinnati Reds at Oracle Park in San Francisco for the Reds, who were almost swept by the Oakland A’s in Oakland for the Reds Luis Castillio (3-1, 1.97 ERA) and for the Giants Derek Rodriguez (3-4, 5.75 ERA).

Join Michael Duca each Friday for the Giants podcasts heard at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Conference Finals podcast with Joe Lami: Sharks’ DeBoer didn’t underestimate Avs; Bruins getting it done on the power play

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nbcsports.com file photo: San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski (8) and the St. Louis Blues’ Vince Dunn (29) battle for the puck as the two teams meet Saturday night for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals at SAP Center in San Jose.

On the NHL Stanley Cup Conference Finals with Joe Lami:

San Jose Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer, after things settled down after the Sharks’ Game 7 victory on Wednesday night against the Colorado Avalanche, said the Avalanche were a team that handled a tough Calgary Flames team and got through them in the first round and it gave him some concern having to face Colorado.

While it gave DeBoer pause, he said he was proud of the job that the Sharks did in taking the second round against the Avalanche. Winning the second series without team captain Joe Pavelski, how both Brent Burns and Erki Karlsson both contributed with strong offensive performances. Burns and teammate Tomas Hertl combined with nine goals and 14 points.

The Boston Bruins held it together on Thursday night in Game 1 of the third round with a three goal win 5-3 over the Carolina Hurricanes, mostly because of the power play. The Bruins’ Marcus Johansson and Patrice Bergeron scored power play goals in 28 seconds. The Boston Bruins forward Charlie Wagner commented on the NHL Network that the Bruins took advantage of the power play, getting that huge 5-4 advantage gets them in their other end and they found their way to the back end of the net.

The Bruins, with their 5-3 win and having a 1-0 series lead, go to Game 2 on Sunday and the Bruins feel good to be on their home ice for this second game. Joe says the Bruins the huge favorite to take this series in five or six games.

Joe Lami does the NHL Stanley Cup Conference Finals podcast each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants fight through snow, but comeback falls just short in 12-11 loss to Rox

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

The old saying is that “April showers bring May flowers.” Well, it’s the month of May and it was snowing in Denver Thursday afternoon.

In fact, the first-pitch temperature was a chilly 39 degrees, and the Colorado Rockies used that to their advantage in the early going, knocking around Derek Holland for seven runs in the first two innings, an explosion that was highlighted when Nolan Arenado and Mark Reynolds hit back-to-back homers off Holland on consecutive pitches in the midst of a snow flurry.

The Giants, however, came back valiantly to make it a two-run game after the fourth inning and then tied it in the sixth on Tyler Austin’s three-run homer off Colorado reliever Bryan Shaw.

Colorado, however, pushed the lead back to three when it scored a trio of runs in the bottom of the sixth.

That lead would stand until the top of the ninth, when the Giants made one last stand, and they came within a batter of tying the game. Brandon Crawford knocked in Kevin Pillar with a double, and then Crawford himself was singled in by Joe Panik to bring the Giants to within a run.

However, the rally was ended when Steven Vogt struck out, and the Giants fell 12-11 to end the road trip on a sour note.

The Giants will now head home to face the Cincinnati Reds for a three-game weekend series that starts Friday night at Oracle Park.

A’s lose in finale vs. Reds 3-0

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Oakland A’s were hoping to win Thursday’s game and sweep the three-game set from the Cincinnati Reds, but that didn’t happen.

The A’s sent Chris Bassitt to the hill, while the Reds had Tanner Roark on the mound.

Bassitt pitched well, but not well enough as the Reds’ hitters hit two home runs and the Reds’ pitchers held the A’s scoreless to win 3-0. Bassitt pitched 7 2/3 innings. He had trouble with Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez. Suarez touched Bassitt for two doubles and a home run.

Meanwhile, Roark went six innings and allowed no runs and three hits. He picked up his third win of the year.

The Reds put two on the board very quickly in the first inning. With one out, Reds’ third baseman Eugenio Suarez doubled. Derek Dietrich then took Bassitt deep for his 10th round-tripper of the year. The Reds led 2-0.

The Reds added a run in the top of the third when Eugenio Suarez, who doubled in the first, blasted his 11th dinger of the year into the seats of left field. The Reds led 3-0 in the middle of the third.

The Reds hurlers allowed the A’s six hits and no runs. They were able to salvage the finale of the three-game series.

Game Notes: The A’s won the series 2-1.

The Reds will be staying in the Bay Area as they play the Giants in San Francisco for three games starting Friday.

The A’s fall to 17-22. The Reds improve to 16-22.

The A’s line score was no runs, six hits, and one error.

The Reds’ line was three runs, eight hits, and one error.

Time of game was two hours and 36 minutes and 19,694 fans were at the park watching the game.

Up Next: The A’s will host the other Ohio team, the Cleveland Indians, for three games this weekend. Time of first game will be at 6:37 pm.

A’s manager Bob Melvin will have Frankie Montas on the mound, and the Indians will counter with righty Cody Anderson.

There will be a fireworks show after the game.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Red Legs exhibit more hustle in tight ball game with A’s on Wednesday night

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Photo credit: bleacherreport.com

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry:

#1 After getting no hit by A’s pitcher Mike Fiers last Tuesday night, the Cincinnati Reds put a little more step into it on Wednesday night at the Oakland Coliseum and with four runs in the top of the second.

#2 Not too many hitters on the A’s remember Sonny Gray from when he used to pitch for the A’s, but he wasn’t a mystery as he got touched up and pitched 4.1 innings, six hits, three runs earned, five walks and three strikeouts.

#3 A’s starter Brett Anderson went six innings, five hits, four earned runs, and no strikeouts. The Reds scored twice in the second and twice in the fifth.

#4 At one time, the A’s were starting to get concerned about Jurickson Profar, who was struggling on defense, but Tuesday, he made a fine defensive play during the no-hitter, and on Wednesday, provided the A’s with two runs, two hits, and an RBI. Profar has looked pretty good in this series.

#5 The A’s and Red conclude this three-game series on Thursday afternoon. For the Reds, Tanner Roark (2-1, 3.82 ERA), and for the A’s, Chris Bassitt (1-0 ERA 2.12).

Jerry covers Oakland A’s baseball and does the A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs/San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa and Jerry Feitelberg: Sharks win! It’s off to round 3 with the Blues

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Photo credit: @ESPNStatsInfo

On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs/San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa and Jerry F:

#1 Getting an early jump in hockey is not such a bad idea, and on Wednesday night at SAP Center, it was a plan that worked together as the Sharks scored twice in the first period and followed up with a goal in the second. It was all they needed to get by the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 to move onto round three.

#2 Joe Pavelski, who missed most of the series due to a concussion from a game 7 crosscheck vs. Vegas, returned and scored a goal in Game 7 and all goals counted in this close one. Did it look like Pavelski never missed a step?

#3 Tomas Hertl has been a Godsend in this series. He had a game where he scored just enough goals for the Sharks win scoring two goals.  In Game 7 on Wednesday, he scored again. He has had a spectacular series against Colorado.

#4 Then there’s Joonas Donskoi, who also contributed with a goal in Game 7. Mary Lisa talks about the kind of series Donskoi had.

#5 It’s onto the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where the Sharks will play host to the St. Louis Blues on May 11th for Game 1. For the Blues, watch for Jaden Schwartz, the St. Louis left winger has scored 11 points and had eight goals in the postseason and Alex Pietrangelo, who leads the Blues in assists with nine.

Mary Lisa covers San Jose Sharks and does the Sharks podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Warriors hang with Rockets to take series lead; Sharks’ Pavelski a big influence that inspires; plus more

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Photo credit: @warriors

On the Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 The Golden State Warriors kept in step with the Houston Rockets with a 104-99 win. A game that went right down to the wire, which shows the Rockets dropped the first two of this series and came back to even it up, but the Warriors won Game 5 on the home floor.

#2 The San Jose Sharks advance to the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 7 was a squeaker in a 3-2 win. The Sharks had to be inspired after their team captain Joe Pavelski came out of the IL after suffering a concussion in round one, Game 7 and went out in Game 7 of the second round against the Avalanche and scored a goal.

#3 The Oakland A’s, who had a game delay because of lighting issues on Tuesday night; then on Wednesday night, the game with the Cincinnati Reds went extra innings. Either way you look at it there were no short games in this series.

#4 There are four quarterbacks who could replace quarterback Derek Carr for 2020. What are the reasons why he would be leaving and what do you think of the four quarterbacks who could replace him?

#5 The San Francisco 49ers signed offensive lineman Wesley Johnson, Johnson spent time with five teams and signed with the 49ers for a one-year deal. Johnson played with the Detroit Lions and the Miami Dolphins for 10 games last season.

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

 

A’s needed 13 innings to edge Reds 5-4

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Oakland Athletics beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 Wednesday evening. The game went 13 innings and was ended when Stephen Piscotty hit his first career walk-off home run.

A’s starter Brett Anderson struggled in the second inning. He gave up four runs and four hits. He also issued two walks. However, he settled down and gave the A’s six innings of work and allowed just one more hit before exiting the game.

The A’s bullpen did not let the Reds put another run on the board the rest of the way. The A’s were down 4-2 when they rallied to score two in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game. The Reds’ Sonny Gray, who was the A’s ace until 2017, lasted 4 1/3 innings and he was charged with four runs (three earned).  Gray is 0-4 with the Reds this season.

The A’s plated two runs in the bottom of the first against their former teammate Sonny Gray. Gray walked A’s leadoff hitter, Marcus Semien. The next hitter, Jurickson Profar, who drove in the A’s two runs Tuesday night, sent Gray’s 3-1 pitch over the fence in right-center field to give the A’s an early 2-0 lead. It was Profar’s fourth tater of the season.

In the top of the second, the Reds sent 10 men to the plate and put four runs on the board to take the lead 4-2. Anderson walked the first two hitters he faced, and the Reds followed with four hits to score four runs.

The A’s tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Marcus Semien walked to start the inning. Jurickson Profar hit into a fielder’s choice. Matt Chapman singled and Kendrys Morales, who was pinch-hitting for Khris Davis, also singled to load the bases.

Reds manager David Bell removed Gray from the game and replaced him with lefty Amir Garrett. Garrett struck out Matt Olson for the second out. Stephen Piscotty singled to shallow right, Profar and Chapman scored on the play. Morales went to third, and Piscotty stopped at second. Ramon Laureano struck out to end the inning, The game was tied 4-4 after five innings.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the 13th. Both bullpens did their job as they stymied the hitters for the next eight innings. The game ended when A’s right fielder, Stephen Piscotty led off with a walk-off home run to give the A’s the 5-4 win.

Game Notes: Jurickson Profar hit his second home run of the series in the first inning. Piscotty hit his fifth to lead off the 13th to send the 9,096 fans in attendance home happy.

The A’s improve to 17-21, and the Reds fall to 15-22.

Up Next: The A’s go for the sweep of the series Thursday afternoon at 12:37 pm. Chris Bassitt will be seeking his second win of the year. He will be opposed by the Reds’ Tanner Roark.

Giants-Rox postponed by rain

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Jeremy Harness

The Giants’ workday was cut short Thursday, when inclement weather washed away any possibility of the Giants and Colorado Rockies playing a baseball game at Coors Field.

The game will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader on July 15, as the original series opener was originally scheduled with a night game on that day. This series will conclude in Denver Thursday afternoon.

Following the conclusion of the series at hand, the Giants will head home and will welcome the Cincinnati Reds to Oracle Park for a three-game weekend series that begins Friday night. Meanwhile, the Reds will not have to travel very far, as they are currently in the middle of a series across the bay in Oakland against the A’s.

With the baseball game safely out of the way, Bay Area fans got to zero in on more significant games for this time of year. For example, the NHL’s San Jose Sharks were able to advance to the Western Conference Finals by skating past another Colorado team, the Avalanche, by virtue of a 3-2 win at the SAP Center.

Meanwhile, the NBA’s Golden State Warriors are now one game away from reaching the Western Conference Finals for a fifth straight year by beating the Houston Rockets inside of Oracle Arena, which is slightly more lively than Oracle Park these days.

The Giants and Rockies are nowhere near reaching the postseason at this point, however. In fact, they have identical 16-20 records heading into Thursday afternoon’s series finale, which qualifies as a tie for the National League West cellar.

On a positive note, they are only 7 ½ games out of the top spot in the division, with more than four months left in the regular season.