Dodgers hit three home runs in 10-3 rout of Giants

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By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — David Freese did something that is rarely seen at Oracle Park, an opposite field home run by a right-handed batter.

Freese launched a three-run home run in the top of the third inning, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers even up their three-game series with a 10-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants before a crowd of 32,017 at Oracle Park.

It was only the 51st home run by a right-handed batter to right field, and the second this season, as Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres hit one on April 10, 2019 against Dereck Rodriguez.

Left that one up a little bit, said Drew Pomeranz.

The Freese home run was close at first, as it looked like it went off the top of the wall; however, it hit the tin roof in right field.

We heard it hit the tin, said Bruce Bochy.

Despite giving up a run in the bottom of the second inning to San Fernando Valley native Kevin Pillar, Walker Buehler pitched an admirable game for the two-time defending National League Champions.

Buehler went 5.1 innings, allowing three runs, on six hits, walking just one and striking out six on his way to his third win of the season without a loss.

The Dodgers blew the game wide open in the top of the sixth inning, as they scored six runs off of Ty Blach, who was recalled from Sacramento after the Giants placed Derek Holland on the 10-day injured list, retroactively to Saturday.

Blach went 3.1 innings in relief, allowing seven runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out one. He also gave up two home runs in those 3.1 innings.

The seven runs allowed by Blach were the most by a Giants reliever since Matt Cain gave up eight runs in just 0.2 innings on August 27, 2017 against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

Chris Taylor hit a two-run double with the bases loaded that scored Cody Bellinger and Freese, and then Austin Barnes doubled to centerfield to score Max Muncy and Taylor.

After Buehler flew out for the second out of the inning, Enrique Hernandez launched a two-run home run into the left field bleachers.

Pillar, who grew up in West Hills, singled to center off of Buehler, to score Brandon Belt, who walked to lead off the bottom of the second inning.

Pomeranz went just four innings, allowing three runs on three hits, walking two and striking out three, as he was saddled with his third loss of the season against one win.

The Giants attempted to put together a rally in the bottom of the sixth inning, as they scored two runs, with the help of Buster Posey and Brandon Belt.

Joe Panik led off the inning with a base hit, then after a strikeout of Yangervis Solarte, Posey doubled in Panik and then Belt tripled to right-center field to easily score Posey from second base.

Justin Turner finally got his first home run of the season, as he launched a solo home run just out of the reach of Pillar in straightway center field to lead off the top of the seventh inning.

Buster Posey extended his hitting streak up to seven games, and 9-for-26 during the streak.

NOTES: Once again, the first inning was not good for the Giants, as they are now 11-for-97 (.113) with five walks in the opening frame.

Gerardo Parras assist on Monday night gave him four on the season, tying him for the most in the National League with Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers. As a team, the Giants lead the major leagues with 11 outfield assists.

Thru their first 30 games of the season, the Giants have not hit a home run in the first three innings. This is the most games in a row that a team has failed to hit a home run in the first three frames since the 1991 St. Louis Cardinals went 34 in a row, and that season, the Cardinals ended up hitting only 68 home runs as a team.

With three more home runs tonight against the Giants, the Dodgers now have 52 home runs on the season, trailing only the Milwaukee Brewers, who have hit 57 on the season.

A.J. Pollock was placed on the 10-day injured list by the Dodgers with elbow inflammation, and the team recalled infielder Matt Beaty from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Beaty made his major-league debut in the top of the eighth inning, and singled to center off of Blach.

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner heads to the mound in the series and home stand finale on Wednesday night for the Giants, while Hyun-Jin Ryu will take the mound for the Dodgers.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s waterfront ballpark no longer just a dream

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Barbara Mason filling in for Amaury Pi-Gonzalez on That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 How important is it for the Oakland A’s to have received Legislative approval on two bills SB293 and AB1191 to build at Jack London Square’s Howard Terminal?

#2 The park will be privately financed, which will have affordable housing, commercial properties and retail. This is a moment that A’s president David Kaval and the A’s have longed for.

#3 The A’s will be the only remaining team left in Oakland after the Golden State Warriors and Oakland Raiders move. Everything after last week’s legislative meetings regarding the A’s new ballpark had fallen in place, and after the meetings, it looks much better than before for the A’s to start their move to Howard Terminal.

#4 How much would you agree that it’s almost like four on one when the Houston Rockets play the Golden State Warriors particularly during the postseason? It’s the Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green vs. the Rockets’ James Harden.

#5 The San Jose Sharks are in a 1-1 series tie with the Colorado Avalanche. The Sharks opened the series with a 5-2 win and dropped game two 4-3. In all, the Sharks have battled in each of the games and did it without their team captain Joe Pavelski, whose recovery from being knocked out in round one, Game 7 against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Barbara Mason is filling in for Amaury Pi Gonzalez for That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: A’s crumbled after great start, which has Melvin concerned after four losses

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On the Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie:

#1 The Oakland A’s opened up Monday night’s game with four runs after two innings and the start of the contest looked promising. The A’s Jurickson Profar started things off with a second inning, two-run single.

#2 It didn’t last long as Profar committed an error when he couldn’t handle an inning-ending double play ball in the third and the Boston Red Sox went on to score six runs.

#3 The loss now is the A’s fourth in a row as they dropped the first of three to the Sox to open the series. How concerned is manager Bob Melvin with a lot more of this road trip left?

#4 Profar is hitting just .165 and has been struggling, but the A’s need him at second base as they don’t have many choices at the moment. Do they stay with him or start to scout for another second baseman?

#5 The A’s will start Aaron Brooks (2-2, 5.33 ERA) and the Red Sox Rick Porcello (1-3, 7.43 ERA). Porcello had to have five starts to get his first win and Brooks got his second win after pitching five innings in good outing against the Rangers.

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

Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor: Is this series about four guys vs. one guy? Is Harden going to do all the heavy lifting?

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bleacherreport.com photo: “Who me?” James Harden of the Houston Rockets protests a foul call during Game 1 of the Rockets and Golden State Warriors matchup at Oracle Arena on Sunday night.

On the Golden State Warriors podcast with David:

#1 Is this going to be another series where it’s four or five guys against one guy were talking about the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson against the Houston Rockets’ James Harden?

#2 Warriors up 1-0 in the series. Did that first game represent an indicator of who the Warriors are and could this series be a walk in the park for Golden State?

David Zizmor does the Warriors podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic to host ATP legends

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By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic will add a new twist in 2019 when it plays host to four men’s tennis legends as the Invesco Series makes a one night stop at the tournament on Saturday, August 3.

The Invesco Series is a legends tour event that features three one-set matches consisting of two semifinals and one final. The line-up for the San Jose event is one of the best of the legends season and includes 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick, 1989 French Open champion Michael Chang, 10-time ATP tour winner James Blake and 11-time tour singles champion Mark Philippoussis.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to host this legends tour event,” said Vickie Gunnarsson, Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic Tournament Director. “We are always looking at ways to bring new experiences to the event and having a chance to see the best women’s tennis players in the world along with these tennis legends is something you don’t get to experience that often.”

The Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic will take place July 29 to August 4, 2019 on the campus of San Jose State University. The player field is once again shaping up to be one of the best of the summer hard court season with two-time Grand Slam champion Garbiñe Muguruza, two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka and 2017 US Open junior champion Amanda Anisimova already committed to play.

Entering its second year in San Jose, the heart of Silicon Valley, the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic is a week-long WTA tennis event that combines the worlds of tennis and technology together in a celebration of sports and entertainment.

This year the stadium will feature covered seating on the West side of the venue allowing for a more comfortable, shaded viewing experience. These highly sought-after seat locations will go quickly, so get your tickets now.

Featuring a 28-player singles draw as well as a 16-team doubles draw, the tournament brings the best female tennis players in the world to the Bay Area. Owned and operated by IMG, the tournament also serves as the opening women’s event of the US Open Series.

Co-founded by the legendary sportswoman, visionary and activist, Billie Jean King, the tournament was first played in 1971. Its list of past champions reads like a “who’s who?” of women’s tennis including Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Andrea Jaeger, Monica Seles, Martina Hingis, Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters.

Week-long and Finals Weekend ticket packages for the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic are on sale now.

Secure your seats today to see the best professional women’s tennis players in the world compete for one of the oldest and most prestigious titles on the WTA tour.

To purchase tickets go to www.MubadalaSVC.com or call 1 (866) 982-8497

ABOUT THE MUBADALA SILICON VALLEY CLASSIC
The Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic is the longest-running women-only professional tennis tournament in the world and is the first women’s stop of the US Open Series. Owned and operated by IMG, the WTA Premier event features a 28-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles draw with total prize money of $876,183.

ABOUT MUBADALA
Mubadala Investment Company actively manages a worldwide portfolio supporting the vision of a globally integrated and diversified economy, through sustainable returns to its shareholder, the government of Abu Dhabi. In March 2018, Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC) joined the group. Mubadala’s US $225 billion portfolio spans five continents with interests in aerospace, ICT, semiconductors, metals and mining, renewable energy, oil and gas, petrochemicals, utilities, healthcare, real estate, defense services, pharmaceuticals and medical technology, agribusiness and a global portfolio of financial holdings. Mubadala is a trusted partner, an engaged shareholder and a responsible global company that is committed to ethics and world-class standards.

For more information about Mubadala, please visit www.mubadala.com.

ABOUT THE US OPEN SERIES
Now in its 16th season, the world’s best players on the WTA and ATP Tour are coming together for the US Open Series. Linking seven summer WTA and ATP Tour tournaments to the US Open, the US Open Series serves as a true “regular season” of hard court tennis. Featuring a cohesive schedule, the series centralizes the way tennis is viewed in North America, across multiple television and digital platforms. Fans will see today’s top champions go head-to-head with tomorrow’s emerging stars, as storylines develop throughout the summer season. Each tournament also engages its local community with a variety of outreach initiatives, including grass-roots youth tennis clinics and activities.

ABOUT IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media, operating in more than 30 countries. The company manages some of the world’s greatest sports figures and fashion icons; stages hundreds of live events and branded entertainment experiences annually; and is a leading independent producer and distributor of sports and entertainment media. IMG also specializes in sports training and league development as well as marketing, media and licensing for brands, sports organizations and collegiate institutions. IMG is part of the Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG) network.

ABOUT SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY
The founding campus of the 23-campus California State University system, San Jose State provides a comprehensive university education, granting bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in 250 areas of study–offered through its eight colleges. With more than 33,000 students and nearly 4,370 employees, San Jose State continues to be an essential partner in the economic, cultural and social development of Silicon Valley and the state, annually contributing 10,000 graduates to the workforce. The university is immensely proud of the accomplishments of its more than 260,000 alumni, 60 percent of whom live and work in the Bay Area.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Bruce Maxwell with the Acereros de Mexico

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By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Ex-Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell is playing baseball with the Acereros de Monclova (Steelers) in Mexico. Maxwell hopes that he will be noticed by a major league scout and a return to the major leagues.

In 2017, Maxwell took a knee during the National Anthem in Oakland. To this day, he is the only major league player to do so, but things got more complicated for the catcher when he was later was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Eventually, the A’s let him go after the 2018 season, a season where they won 97 games and made it to the one-game wild card playoff against the New York Yankees.

During his three years in Oakland (2016-18), Maxwell played in 127 games, recorded a combined .240 batting average, five home runs and 42 runs batted in. The A’s obviously expected more productivity. The German-born catcher is looking for another opportunity and a fresh start. I think wverybody deserves a second chance since it is not like today’s major leagues are super-rich with great catchers. The Philadelphia Phillies’ J.T Realmuto is in his prime, while the St. Louis Cardinals’ Yaider Molina and the San Francisco Giants’ Buster Posey are nearing the end of their respective careers.

Maxwell is 28 years old. He is working in Mexico to impress a major league team. I hope he succeed and can return to play for one of the 30 teams in the majors.

As of today, Maxwell’s club Monclova is 14-7 for third place in the Norte (North) Division and two games behind Tijuana.

Longoria’s Big Hit a Difference-Maker: Giants rally to beat the Dodgers, 3-2

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO — The intensity of the North-South rivalry was eerily missing from Oracle Park from the start. Then the Dodgers’ Kenta Maeda kept the Giants in check for five innings, supporting what Clay Bellinger’s been doing all season.

And the Giants seven hits to that point might as well have been distant cousins, they surely didn’t interact, or amount to much more than of parade of stranded baserunners.

Down 2-0, a fourth consecutive loss on the season’s biggest homestand of the season-to-date looked like a distinct possibility. Then in the seventh an opportunity surfaced, and Evan Longoria seized it.

Longoria’s three-run double gave the Giants a lead they would grasp tightly in a 3-2 win that especially for the game’s star was a long time coming.

“The rivalry is a big deal, so it’s a big situation there,” Longoria said. “For me and for this team, every one right now is big. We have a lot of work to do.”

The former Tampa Bay Rays’ star has struggled to reach expectations since being traded to San Francisco at the beginning of last season. On Monday, he started the game on the bench for the second, consecutive day in favor of Pablo Sandoval, who has the struggling team’s only batting average of note. But an injury suffered over the weekend wouldn’t allow the Panda to hit right-handed in the sixth after Maeda departed. That issue forced manager Bruce Bochy to insert Longoria in the sixth, as a pinch-hitter following Buster Posey’s leadoff double.

But reliever Scott Alexander induced Longo to fly out, and the Giants remained scoreless through six.

But in the seventh, Joe Panik singled, Yangervis Solarte doubled, and Brandon Belt drew a walk to load the bases, giving Longoria another shot. Facing reliever Dylan Floro, Longoria delivered a bases-clearing double down the left field line to give the Giants a lead.

“We needed a big hit in that game,” Bochy said. “It was good to have somebody deliver for us in a big way.”

Hopefully, Longoria’s big hit gets him going. The third baseman had just six hits and one RBI at Oracle Park in 12 games prior to getting to Floro. The team has contemplated changes everywhere on the diamond, even with few, obvious options, other than inserting Sandoval at first or third.

But Bochy’s continued to tinker with his lineup and his established patterns nonetheless. Starter Jeff Samardzija lasted just five innings Monday as the team’s brass is weary of exposing the veteran starter to opposing lineups a third time through. So despite allowing two hits and no runs, Samardzija was lifted after just 79 pitches. He remains winless against the Dodgers in seven, career starts.

Brandon Crawford, Kevin Pillar and Gerardo Parra started, but hit sixth, seventh and eighth in deference to their anemic batting averages.

On the other end of the spectrum, Bellinger stayed red hot with two hits, knocking in a run in the sixth, and throwing out Crawford at third as he tried to advance on a hit in the second inning. Bellinger leads all MLB hitters in hits, home runs and batting average after 30 games this season.

Los Angeles’ Walker Buehler and the Giants’ Drew Pomeranz are tabbed to start the second game of the series on Tuesday.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giants-Yankees series review; Giants open up series with Dodgers with a bang

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On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 The New York Yankees’ Luke Voit was a one-man hitting machine, going 6-12 in the series against the Giants and went 3-4 on Sunday in the Yankees’ 11-5 win over the Giants.

#2 It seemed all series long that the Giants weren’t going to get anything going and they even had first baseman Brandon Belt playing right field during this series.

#3 The Yankees got strong pitching from their starter Domingo German, who pitched six innings and gave up four runs.

#4 It almost looked like once the Yankees scored two runs in each of the first, second and third innings, they grew their confidence?

#5 It’s game one of the three-game series between The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, for L.A., Kenta Maeda (3-2, 5.20 ERA), and for San Francisco, Jeff Samardjiza (2-1, 3.00 ERA), Monday night at Oracle Park.

Morris Phillips does the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

BoSox big inning sinks A’s at Fenway 9-4

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By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Monday, April 29, 2019

Oakland got off to a good start Monday at Fenway Park, but the Red Sox got off to a better one.

The A’s jumped to a four-run lead after two innings. Boston surged ahead in with a six-run third and stayed there for a 9-4 win. It was the fourth straight loss for Oakland.

Boston returned to the win column after dropping two games to AL East-leading Tampa Bay.

Xander Bogarets had the big hit of that six-run rally, sending a game-tying two-run double over the head of A’s centerfielder Ramon Laureano. It was revenge of sorts for Bogarets, who was thrown out by Laureano in consecutive games earlier this season when Oakland took three of four from the Bosox.

Mookie Betts drove in the first run of the big Red Sox rally, followed by an RBI single by J.D. Martinez. Both were set up when A’s second baseman Jurickson Profar bounced a throw to second for an error, and Andrew Benintendi was safe when A’s pitcher Frankie Montas missed the bag when covering first.

Michael Chavis capped the outburst with a two-RBI single.

Chavis added an RBI single in the fifth. Jackie Bradley Jr. also had a run-scoring single in the seventh, and Martinez added a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Oakland did all of its scoring with a four-run rally in the top of the second, sparked by a two-run single by Profar. Josh Phegley followed with run-scoring single, and Matt Chapman doubled in Phegley.

Montas (4-2) was rocked for seven runs — one earned — in 4 1/3 innings.

Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez, who gave up all four A’s runs, fell 1/3 inning short of getting the win, which went to reliever Ryan Brasier (1-0). Matt Barnes came in with one out in the ninth to earn his second save.

Off the field, the A’s placed outfielder Mark Canha on the 10-day injured list with a sprained right wrist. Oakland manager Bob Melvin said Canha would have an MRI on Tuesday.

With Canha headed to the IL, the A’s have only two bench players — outfielder Robbie Grossman and catcher Nick Hundley. In a corresponding move, the A’s recalled lefthander Ryan Buchler (0-0, 7.04) from Triple-A Las Vegas.

Tuesday’s game features a pair of righthanders — Aaron Brooks (2-2, 5.33 ERA) for Oakland, and Rick Porcello (1-3, 7.43 ERA) for Boston.

12 Stanford Cardinal football players to the NFL

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By: Ana Kieu

A total of 12 from Stanford earned opportunities in the NFL over the weekend. Five Cardinal were drafted during the three-day event in Nashville, Tenn., while five more signed as undrafted free agents following the 2019 NFL Draft and two received Rookie Mini-Camp invites.

JJ Arcega-Whiteside • WR
Philadelphia Eagles • Round 2 • Pick 57
JJ Arcega-Whiteside was selected in the second round with the 57th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft on Friday night by the Philadelphia Eagles. A wide receiver from Inman, S.C., Arcega-Whiteside is the first Cardinal selected by the Eagles since Ed Reynolds in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Bobby Okereke • ILB
Indianapolis Colts • Round 3 • Pick 89
Bobby Okereke was selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft with the 89th overall pick on Friday night by the Indianapolis Colts. An inside linebacker from Santa Ana, Calif., Okereke is the first Cardinal selected by the Colts since Henry Anderson in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Bryce Love • RB
Washington Redskins • Round 4 • Pick 112
Bryce Love was selected in the fourth round with the 112th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft on Saturday by the Washington Redskins. A running back from Wake Forest, North Carolina, Love is the first Cardinal selected by Washington since Trent Murphy in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Jake Bailey • P
New England Patriots • Round 5 • Pick 163
Jake Bailey was selected in the fifth round with the 163rd overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft on Saturday by the New England Patriots. A punter from Solana Beach, Calif., Bailey is the first Cardinal selected by the Patriots since the 2015 NFL Draft when Jordan Richards went in the second round.

Kaden Smith • TE
San Francisco 49ers • Round 6 • Pick 176
Kaden Smith was selected in the sixth round with the 176th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft on Saturday by the San Francisco 49ers. A tight end from Flower Mound, Texas, Smith is the sixth Cardinal tight end drafted since 2012.

Miscellaneous
In addition to the five Cardinal draftees, seven others earned opportunities after the draft. CB Alijah Holder signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos while OT A.T. Hall signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Tennessee Titans. OLB Joey Alfieri signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, as did OG Nate Herbig. WR Trenton Irwin was picked up by the Miami Dolphins on a free agent deal as well.

Two Cardinal earned Rookie Mini-Camp invites to bring the total to 12. OG Brandon Fanaika and C Jesse Burkett will attend 49ers camp while Burkett will also have an opportunity to attend camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars.