Earthquakes shutout Timbers 3-0 for first win of season

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

By: London Marq

SAN JOSE, Calif. — After being trounced five goals to none in their last match by the table-topping Los Angeles Football Club, the San Jose Earthquakes found themselves four games into the regular season without a win. Without doubt it has been a disappointing start to this season and the Quakes hope to make some winning adjustments as they hosted the Portland Timbers at Avaya Stadium Saturday. Both Portland and San Jose entered play without win, providing both teams with an opportunity to get their first three points.

Right out of the gate, San Jose looked like a different team as they found each other for offensive chances early and demonstrated better communication than we’ve seen from them so far this year. The improvement in play had Portland on the back foot early. San Jose was having success moving the ball deep in the wide areas and in the 15th minute Cristian Espinoza put dribbled the ball down the goal line and passed the ball into the goal box where Shea Salinas was waiting for the easy score to put the Quakes up 1-0 early.

Portland responded by being more physical on the ball and San Jose matched their intensity. Between the 26th and 28th minutes, a yellow card was handed out to both teams. The game would remain throughout as 29 total fouls and four total yellow cards were dealt by the referees.

San Jose would continue to be effective in the wide offensive areas. In the 33rd minute, Quakes striker Danny Hoesen slammed the ball into the net after Timbers goalkeeper Jeff Attinella had the ball bounce off his feet.  It was Hoesen’s first start of season and with it came his first goal of the campaign as well. The Quakes weren’t done scoring either. Just a minute later, midfielder Cristian Espinoza made a run after intercepting a pass and slotted the ball low into the near corner right past Attinella.

Portland would have their chances to bulge the net as well. In the 55th minute, Portland was awarded a penalty after a handball in the box. Portland striker Diego Valeri would step up to take it, but Quakes goalie Daniel Vega would be equal to it and keep the Timbers scoreless. San Jose was a few inches away from scoring a fourth goal by hometown favorite Nick Lima, but the goal was called back after a replay review ruled that Espinoza was offsides.

No goals would be scored in the second half and the Quakes would win their first match of the season. Quakes coach Matias Almeyda and the team were all smiles during the postgame activities. Hoesen expressed that it felt great to get the win, but there was still much work to do. Almeyda made some excellent adjustments starting three players–Hoesen, winger Shea Salinas, and defender Florian Jungwirth–for the first time this season. With any luck, the adjustments and success will translate when they are on the road next week, taking on the Houston Dynamo.

Final: San Jose defeated Portland 3-0.

Up Next: San Jose takes on Houston next Saturday at 12 pm PT.

Bergen gets first win and Joe gets first hit in Giants’ 6-4 win over Rays

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — With another loss looming on the horizon, Brandon Belt put a stop to that with one swing of the bat.

Belt hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, helping the San Francisco Giants to a 6-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays before a crowd of 31,828 at Oracle Park.

In their first nine games this season, seven of the nine games have been decided two runs or less.

The big fifth inning made a winner out of Travis Bergen, who faced one batter in the top of the fifth inning.

It was the first major league victory for Bergen, in his fifth major league appearance out of the bullpen.

Not only did Belt make a big play with his bat, but he also made one with his glove in the top of the sixth inning, as he made diving stab on a Daniel Robertson hit ball that Belt snared and threw to Sam Dyson, who ran over to cover at first base.

That was the second best defensive play of the day, as Kevin Pillar made a diving catch in the top of the fifth inning that saved a run.

Joe Panik got the eventual game-winning rally started in the bottom of the fifth inning, then Connor Joe picked up his major league hit and then Steven Duggar hit a two-run double that gave the Giants the lead for good.

Following the Duggar double, Belt launched a two-run home run to the opposite field for his third home run of the season.

The Rays got on the board in the top of the first inning, as Ji-Man Choi doubled in Tommy Pham, who walked with one out in the inning.

Duggar tied up the game in the bottom of the third inning , when he hit a sacrifice fly that scored Pillar and then Belt singled in Panik.

Giants starter Jeff Samardzija went 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking just one and striking out four.

Rays opener Ryne Stanek went two innings, and striking out two before giving way to Jalen Beeks, who also pitched two innings.

Ryan Yarbrough pitched three innings, allowing four runs on four hits, walking one and striking two.

NOTES: This was the smallest crowd to see a Giants game at home since September 1, 2010, when the Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 2-1 before just 31,186.

Also, it was the smallest crowd at a Giants game in the month of April since April 27, 2010 against the Philadelphia Phillies, a game that the Giants won 6-2 in front of 31,792.

The Giants are now 8-6 all-time versus the Rays, and 3-2 at Oracle Park. This is the Rays first trip to San Francisco since the 2002 season, when the Giants swept the Rays.

As for the Rays, this was the 1,700th road game in team history, and they are now 718-982 all-time away from Tropicana Field since the team was founded in 1998.

UP NEXT: Drew Pomeranz makes his Giants debut as a starter at Oracle Park on Sunday afternoon, while the Rays will send Yonny Chirinos to the bump in the series finale.

Barracuda upend Griffins in OT 5-4

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — In a wild game that went back and forth between two teams looking ahead to the playoffs, the San Jose Barracuda came back from a two-goal deficit to win 5-4 in overtime over the Grand Rapids Griffins in the home season finale on Saturday afternoon at SAP Center.

With the win, San Jose now has 81 points on the season and not only are they four points ahead of San Diego for second place in the Pacific Division, but are also just two points behind Bakersfield for the top spot. If Colorado were to lose against Chicago later on tonight, San Jose would clinch its fourth consecutive playoff berth.

Antti Suomela led a three-on-one odd man rush after poking the puck away in the Cuda zone. He skated down to the left slot and sent a cross-ice pass to a wide-open Luaks Radil, who slammed a one-timer past Griffins goalie Pat Nagle (0-0-1), making his debut for Grand Rapids, for the game-winning goal and his fourth of the season at the 2:39 mark.

“It was really important for us to get the two wins (this weekend),” said Radil. “I feel like we have to keep going and keep working like that. (We have) three games left I think, then it’s (time for the) playoffs and we’ll see what happens.”

San Jose (36-21-3-4) drew first blood halfway through the first period. Ivan Chekhovich skated down the left boards and center a pass over to Dylan Gambrell, who chipped it in over Nagle for his 19th goal of the season at 10:56 mark. TJ Hensick received the secondary assist.

The Cuda line of Gambrell, Hensick and Chekhovich were the best offensive line this weekend as they were involved in three of the eight goals scored against Grand Rapids.

“I think tonight it really showed,” said Gambrell. “Just a lot of communication. We’re kind of finding each other, supporting each other really well. Hopefully we can continue to develop that chemistry.”

“They’ll bring you out on the ends of your seats,” said Cuda head coach Roy Sommer. “They got a lot of offense. They all think the game so well. It’s a pretty line to watch and could be a new line for us come playoff time. That looks like a line to be reckoned with.”

Grand Rapids (38-24-6-4) evened up the game on the power play toward the end of the opening 20 minutes. Axle Holmstrom was able clean up a rebound with a backhander past Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau (14-13-5) on a shot by Colin Campbell for his 12th goal of the season at the 18:04 mark. Filip Zadina were credited with the secondary assist.

Shot were even at eight apiece between the two teams as they headed into the first intermission.

Grand Rapids took advantage of a five-on-three power play to take their first lead in the second period. Dennis Chowlowski sent a pass over to the left slot to Carter Camper who wristed a centering pass over to Chris Terry, who buried the puck past Bibeau for his team-leading 29th goal of the season at the 5:38 mark.

The Griffins went up 3-1 on a short-handed gift delivered by the Cuda. Zadina was able to chip the puck out of the their own zone that led to a breakaway opportunity for Campbell, who skated in and hit the crossbar with shot and . Defenseman Nick DeSimone tried to control the puck with his glove, but inadvertently knocked the puck into the net underneath Bibeau. Campbell was credited with an unassisted goal for his eighth of the season at the 12:54 mark.

The Cuda responded less than a minute later on the same power play. Cavan Fitzgerald sent a cross-ice pass from the right point over to the left, where Kyle Wood wired a shot off the pads of Nagle. Jayden Halbgewachs cashed in on the rebound just to the left of the crease for his 13th goal of the season at the 13:50 mark.

The Cuda scored the equalizer just over a minute to start the third period. Chekovich wont a battle along the right boards, fed a pass over to Gambrell who danced around back into the middle of the slot, and made a sweet back hand pass over to a wide-open Hensick who tapped in the puck into an empty net for his sixth goal of the season at the 1:10 mark.

Grand Rapids regained the lead on a delayed penalty call four minutes later. Giavani Smith sent a pass back to the point, where Libor Sulak rifled a shot top-shelf into the upper right corner past Bibeau for his fifth goal of the season at the 5:17 mark.

Once again, the Cuda would not go down gently. Captain John McCarthy won a battle behind the net, tipped a pass over to Halbgewachs, who centered the puck out in front of the crease, where Vladislav Kotkov was waiting and buried a point-blank shot past Nagle for his first-ever professional goal of his career at the 8:07 mark.

Bibeau finished the game with 25 saves on 29 shots to earn his 15th victory of the season. Nagle made 20 saves on 25 shots in his debut in suffering the defeat.

“The guys some character,” said Bibeau on how the team was able to come back and win. “(We) scored a power play goal. The third period was a wild period too but we found a way to stay on top so that’s all that matters.”

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1/5 on the power play. It is the sixth straight game the Cuda have scored a power play goal. Grand Rapids was 2/4. It snapped a string of 24 consecutive penalty kills by San Jose over their past six games. San Jose’s penalty kill is now ranked 8th in the AHL.

San Jose went 3-0-1-0 against Grand Rapids this season and are 5-1-0-2 all time.

The announced attendance for the final home game of the regular season was 4,286.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda head down to San Diego on Wednesday, April 10 to take on the Gulls in a Pacific Division battle at 7:00 pm at Pechanga Arena.

NHL Podcast with Matt Harrington: CBJ’s clinch with 3-2 win over Rangers; Hawks bulldoze Stars 6-1; Ducks win Freeway game over Kings 5-2; plus more

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Photo credit: @BlueJacketsNHL

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Friday night’s NHL action: The Columbus Blue Jackets clinched for the postseason as they defeated the New York Rangers 3-2. Jackets netminder Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 25 of 27 shots and the Jackets. The Jackets’ Ryan Dzingle and Artemi Panarin had a coach goal each in the third period to put the CBJs over the top.

#2 In a game that was not even close, the Chicago Blackhawks poured it on the Dallas Stars 6-1. The Hawks’ Patrick Kane scored twice, Dominick Kahun, Chris Kunitz, Dylan Strome, and Slater Koekoek all scored a goal each for Chicago.

#3 The Anaheim Mighty Ducks got a mighty win over the Los Angeles Kings by three goals on Friday night 5-2. The Ducks’ Carter Rowney started things off with a goal in the first period, Korbinian Holzer and Daniel Sprong had a goal each in the second period, Sam Steel and Jakob Silfverberg scored one a piece in the third period for Anaheim.

#4 Saturday, the Tampa Bay Lighting (62-16-4) and the Boston Bruins (43-24-9) in the NHL Game of the Week. These two titans have been battlers all season long. The Bolts are the winningest team in the NHL and the B’s have been one of the top teams all season.

#5 The Vancouver Canucks are in St. Louis later Saturday night. Elias Pettersson likes to light the lamp. At 20 years old, he leads the Canucks with 65 assists and 27 goals for the Blues’ Ryan O’Reilly leads the team with 75 points and Vladimir Tarasenko leads St. Louis with 32 goals.

Matt Harrington does the NHL podcast each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Forget the Sharks’ recent funk, playoffs a whole new kind of season

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Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks

On the Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 The Edmonton Oilers fell on top of the San Jose Sharks’ Timo Meier on Thursday night at Rogers Place, the Old Rexall building. Meier went in the x-ray room after the game to take a look at his left wrist. Meier most likely will be in tonight’s game at SAP against the Colorado Avalanche.

#2 The Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl was working on a hat trick as he got goals 48 and 49 for the season, but the Sharks covered him well for the rest of the game as the Sharks got away with a close 3-2 win.

#3 The Sharks, with the win over the Oilers, picked up their second win in four games after a nasty seven-game skid. Are they beginning to show some signs of coming out of it?

#4 Joe Pavelski said the Oilers are a team who can get to another level of play and the Sharks need to commit to coming back when they get behind. Melker Karlsson is scheduled to come back and Erik Karlsson is day-to-day.

#5 After tonight’s final regular season game against the Colorado Avalanche, the Sharks will open with home ice for the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights. Len sets this first round up for us.

Sharks podcasts are heard weekly with Len Shapiro Saturdays and Mary Lisa Walsh Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Exhausted, old, and living in the past, the Giants better get used to last place

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photo from nbcbayareasports.com: San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy doffs his cap to the fans at the introduction of the Giants at the home opener at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Friday afternoon vs. the Tampa Bay Rays.

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

There is no guarantee sellout at SBC, Pac Bell, AT&T or Oracle Park anymore for San Francisco Giants fans and the dream of another World Series trophy in the near future is just that — a dream.

Looking at the National League West, there is little doubt that even the Padres have much more life, youth and talent than the aging Giants. You want a good surgeon,with lots of experience to operate on you, but in today’s baseball, youth is what is driving the game, not experience. Giants tried to sign Bryce Harper to a short two-year deal, but truth be said,why would he play in San Francisco, in a ballpark that is anything but a hitting paradise, when he could and did, wound up signing a lifelong contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, who play in a park that is truly a power-hitters dream.

Most teams are getting younger and younger, but the Giants obviously never got the memo, they live on days past,not on the present. Giants are anything but exciting. Their hitting is pathetic, they have no speed, and although their pitching is not bad, they feel a tremendous amount of pressure because when they are down early in a game, they can’t come back.

The most exciting player for the Giants is a guy who is getting paid by the Red Sox. Yes, Pablo Sandoval, who has been relegated to the most difficult job in the game, a pinch-hitter, and he seems to deliver, energize and excite the fans. Sandoval has all the passion that this team lacks.

The Giants made lots of mistakes giving huge contracts to players, whose best years were in the past: Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto Jeff Samardzija, and Evan Longoria. There lies most of the big money on their payroll. They did this to please their fanbase. Loyalty might be very important in politics, when when it comes to baseball? Winning three World Series in 2010, 2012, and 2014 recruited thousands of new Giants fans, but this is the Bay Area, and unless you are the Warriors, who just win, there comes a time where you cannot please your fans.

The Giants have a great propaganda machine in the Bay Area. When the Oakland A’s were winning titles and the Giants were not, the Giants were the favorite team to cover for the media, but I also remember when I could not give away free tickets for the Giants at Candlestick Park.

I was there to call the first ever game at what is today Oracle Park, back in the year 2000. The park was the talk of town, people were going to see the beautiful new facility, and even people that have never seen a baseball game, I remember a tourist family in SF from Italy that I met as they were walking to the park, just to be there. 10 years later, the people were going to see a championship team. The park is already 19 years old.

I looked at all the rosters in the NL West, and I just could not find a team inferior to the Giants starting this 2019 season.

It is early, yes, and although it might seem like a pessimistic look at these Giants, I am truly a realist, I like to look at the half of the glass that is full, rather than the half that is empty, but at this time, the Giants are empty. The Dodgers will win the division again, and it should not be even close, but the most interesting team in the NL West are the Padres, not only they signed Manny Machado, but Fernando Tatis Jr., the youngest player in the MLB, is truly an exciting player with great talent, an All-Star shortstop in the making. The Padres have lots of young and up and coming players, and I do not think they are a last place team anymore.

The Giants better get used to last place.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for the Oakland A’s on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Warriors hold off Cavs for 120-114 win

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Photo credit: @warriors

By: Ana Kieu

The Golden State Warriors led wire-to-wire with the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday night and returned to Oracle Arena for a Friday night showdown versus the Cleveland Cavaliers, who lost to the Sacramento Kings 117-104 Thursday.

The Warriors, my friends, held off the Cavs for their second wire-to-wire win 120-114 at Oracle Friday night.

The Warriors’ starting five featured Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andrew Bogut. The game went underway, and former Warrior Nick Young received his NBA championship ring. The Warriors started off the game with a couple of three-pointers for an early lead. The Warriors led 36-26 at the end of the first quarter.

The Warriors stayed in transition mode in the second quarter. The Warriors outshot the Cavs 32-23 to take a 68-49 lead into the locker room at the end of the first half.

Curry hit a three with 9:12 left in the third quarter for his 16,269th point. With his 40 points Friday, Curry passed Paul Arizin (16,266 points) for third on the Warriors’ all-time scoring list. Just Wilt Chamberlain (17,783) and Rick Barry (16,447) are ahead of Curry.

Aside from Curry’s feat, Green also achieved a feat of his own. Green had a new season-high with 20 points. That’s eight-of-13 from the field goal line. The Warriors led 99-84 at the end of the third quarter.

Curry hit his ninth three of the game at the two-minute mark of the fourth quarter. The Warriors held off the Cavs’ late 30-point push for the win by a final score of 120-114.

Curry led the Warriors with 40 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and one block. Green had 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block. Durant had 15 points, five rebounds, eight assists, one steal, and one block. Thompson had 11 points, four rebounds, three assists, and one block. Quinn Cook had 14 points, one rebound, and two assists. Bogut had six points, seven rebounds, and one block. Jonas Jerebko had six points and one rebound. Jordan Bell had four points, two rebounds, two assists, and one block. Kevon Looney added four points and one rebound.

The Warriors remain at Oracle to host the Los Angeles Clippers Sunday at 5:30 pm PT. You can watch the game on NSBA and FSPT.

Barracuda take down Griffins 3-1

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — After a lackluster effort two nights ago, the San Jose Barracuda played like a desperate hockey team and took a another step forward in trying to clinch a playoff spot with a 3-1 victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday evening at SAP Center.

Evan Weinger came in on a three-on-one and found a trailing Jayden Halbgewachs wide open in the middle of the slot and he fired a one timer past Griffins goalie Patrik Rybar for what proved to be the game winning goal at the 8:48 mark of the third period. It was his 12th goal of the season for Halbgewachs and snapped six-game goal-less drought for the speedy forward.

“Playing with a little desperation,” said Halbgewachs. “I mean we want to finish with a run here for second place. Going into the playoffs you gotta make a big push and it all starts right now.”

“Halbs (Halgewachs) has been snake-bit,” said Cuda head coach Roy Sommer.  He’s been in the right spots but they haven’t been going in for him. So it was good to see he got rewarded (tonight).”

San Jose (36-21-3-4) drew first blood early in the first period on a four-on-three power play. Dylan Gambrell fed a pass from the high slot over to the left face-off circle to TJ Hensick, who quickly sent a cross-ice pass through the crease to a wide open Ivan Chekhovich, who blasted a one-timer it past the five-hole of Griffins goalie Patrik Rybar (16-14-5) for a tic-tac-toe goal at the 2:45 mark.

It was Chekhovich’s first goal of the season in his season debut with the Cuda since being called up following the conclusion of his third junior season at Baie-Comeau of the QMJHL.

“I feel really comfortable,” said Chekhovich after being back in the AHL. “Especially to score from the first shot in the first game. I’m pretty excited to be here.”

Chekhovich said the biggest difference between the juniors and the AHL is the speed of the game.

“You have to be aware and be faster. Every player up here are smart (and) you have to be ready.”

Cuda goalie Josef Korenar (22-8-2) was stellar in the opening 20 minutes. He came up with two big saves late in the period, while Grand Rapids was on the power play, including stopping a breakaway attempt by Wade Megan with under two minutes left.

“I just try to focus on the game,” said Korenar. “Breakaways happen, I think it was three of them tonight, but I stopped them. I like it when I get a lot of shots like in the first period.”

Grand Rapids (38-24-6-4) striked for the equalizer early in the second period. Libor Sulak skated down the right boards and threw the puck at the net that redirected off of Troy Loggins’ stick past Korenar for the rookie’s first career goal in his second game with the Griffins at the 4:06 mark.

San Jose outshot Grand Rapids by a slim margin of 10-9 in the middle frame, but headed into the second intermission tied up at 1-1.

Grand Rapids put on the pressure with Rybar pulled for an extra attacker with under a minute left in the final period and threw a flurry of shots at Korenar, who stood strong to close out the game without any further damage by the Griffins.

Kyle Wood iced the game with an unassisted empty-net goal with 34 seconds left for his sixth goal of the season.

“I wasn’t too happy about Wednesday (against San Diego),” said Cuda head coach Roy Sommer. “Too many passengers and not enough guys on the bus. But tonight different story. I thought all four lines contributed. Our goaltender was real good for us. We got a goal at the right time.”

Korenar made 24 saves on 25 shots to earn his 22nd win on the season. Rybar made 27 saves on 29 shots in suffering the defeat.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1/3 on the power play. Grand Rapids was 0/4.

Forward Lukas Radil was in the lineup for San Jose after being reassigned by the San Jose Sharks.

Cuda forward Jon Martin was not disciplined by the AHL for his major penalty for spearing on Wednesday night against San Diego. He was a healthy scratch tonight.

The announced attendance was 5,422.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda take on the Griffins in the home season finale on Saturday, April 6 at 1:15 pm at SAP Center.

NHL podcast with Joe Lami: Sharks break out with 3-2 win over Oilers; Bruins’ Halak stops 26 shots for 3-0 shutout of Wild; Preds score 3 unanswered goals for 3-2 win; plus more

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Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks

On the NHL podcast with Joe:

#1 Gustav Nyquist of the San Jose Sharks got it figured with a goal in the second period at 18:48 to break a 2-2 deadlock in Edmonton for a 3-2 win on Thursday night. The Sharks have now won two in their last four games after suffering a long seven-game losing streak.

#2 Boston Bruins goaltender Jaroslav Halak stopped 26 shots against the Minnesota Wild in a 3-0 shutout. Bruins goals from Joakin Nordstrom, Bradon Carlo, and Connor Clifton.

#3 The Vancouver Canucks scored two goals from Niklaus Granlund and Tanner Pearson in the first period against the Nashville Predators, but the Preds came right back with three unanswered goals, a goal in the second period from Colton Sissons and two in the third from Nick Bonino and Ryan Johansen for a 3-2 Nashville win.

#4 It took overtime to do it, but the Colorado Avalanche got by the visiting Winnipeg Jets 3-2 when the Avs’ Eric Johnson score the game-winning goal in OT at 1:49. The Avs head to San Jose for a Saturday night game with the Sharks at SAP Center.

#5 The Arizona Coyotes got a three-goal win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night 4-1. The Yotes got goals from Richard Panik in the first period, two goals from Derek Stepan in the second period, and from Oliver Eckman-Larsson in the third period.

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

 

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Astros McHugh throws well against A’s; Oakland’s Montas effort not enough to win

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Photo credit: ESPN

On the A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

If you look at the job that Oakland A’s starter Frankie Montas did on Friday night he didn’t do all that badly he made it into the fifth inning almost into the sixth inning and he was charged with all three Houston Astros runs in the 3-2 loss. Montas drops his record to 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA.

Which isn’t bad for Montas considering his line on Friday was five innings, seven hits and two earned runs. The offense was shutdown by Astros pitcher Colin McHugh (1-1) 2.45 ERA. McHugh went six innings, three hits, with four strikeouts.

McHugh has a long history of pitching well against the A’s line up and McHugh used to be a starter and a reliever for Houston. So it wasn’t a surprise that the A’s lost the first game of this trip to Houston but by that much one run.

Jerry is a beat writer for the Oakland A’s and does the A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com