Colorado goes Coors, Rockies nip the Giants 9-8

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Photo credit: @Rockies

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO — Those top-of-the-order guys that were stymied by Madison Bumgarner and the Giants’ bullpen on Wednesday, showed up big for the Rockies at AT&T Park on Thursday.

DJ LeMahieu capped his three hit, five RBI day with a game-winning, two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning, and the Rockies rallied to beat the Giants, 9-8.

Nolan Arenado hit his 19th homer, and Trevor Story racked up three hits as the Rockies snapped the Giants’ streak of 15 games in which their starting pitcher allowed three runs or less.

Chris Stratton began the afternoon looking for his ninth win, but only lasted four innings, allowing eight hits and five runs.

The Giants scored twice in the eighth to take the lead, giving Sam Dyson a chance to record the final three outs, but the Giants’ closer allowed LeMahieu’s home run to left field with a runner aboard. The Giants fell to 36-2 in games they led after eight innings.

“Tough one when you have a lead in the ninth and we couldn’t hold on to it,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “Sam was just a little bit off.”

“I felt like we got some big outs, and some big hits and it turned into a win. We just got to keep it going,” LeMahieu said.

The Giants finished their homestand 7-3 and failed to win eight times on a homestand for the first time since 2012. They travel to Arizona and Colorado on a six-game trip beginning Friday night.

List of 1-0 home run walk-offs in Giants history

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Photo credit: @sfgiants_fanly

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — When Brandon Crawford took a Harrison Musgrave pitch and planted it onto the right field arcade to send everyone happy, it was not the first walk-off this season for the San Francisco Giants.

The Crawford home run in the bottom of the ninth inning that gave the Giants a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies. It was the Giants’ sixth walk-off win this season.

Andrew McCutchen came up with the first walk-off of the season, and did so in dramatic fashion, as he hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the 14th inning to give the Giants a come-from-behind 7-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Just three days later, McCutchen was at it again, as he singled in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Giants a 5-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Nick Hundley got in on the act on April 30, as he singled in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Giants a 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres.

Crawford picked up his walk-off of the season on June 6th, as he singled in the bottom of the 10thinning to propel the Giants 5-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

This past Sunday, as the Giants trailed the San Diego Padres, Hunter Pence hit a two-run double just out of the reach of Eric Hosmer, to give the Giants a huge 3-2 victory over the Padres.

Crawford joined the walk-off club for a second time on Wednesday night, as he took the Musgrave pitch and put it for the 1-0 victory.

The Crawford home run on Wednesday night marked just the seventh time in team history that a home run ended the game with the score between tied at zero.

Bobby Thomson was the first Giants player to snap a scoreless tie with a walk-off home run, as he did it on April 30, 1953 against the Milwaukee Braves at the Polo Grounds.

Ten years later, on July 2, 1963, Willie Mays put an end to a pitcher’s duel at Candlestick Park, as he took a Warren Spahn pitch in the bottom of the 16th inning and put it into the seats to give the Juan Marichal the victory.

Just three years later, Mays did it again on August 12, 1966, as he gave the Giants the victory the Houston Astros.

A little over a year later on September 22, 1967, Tom Haller put an end to the game, as he won the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

It would be almost nine years before Bobby Murcer sent the Candlestick faithful home happy, as he turned the trick against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 16, 1976.

Steve Decker was the last Giants player to snap a 0-0 tie with a home run, as he did so on April 21, 1991 against the Houston Astros.

Crawford joined that club last night with his walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Giants the win.

The last National League shortstop to accomplish this feat was Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs, who did it against the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 17, 1960 at Wrigley Field.

A’s beat the Tigers 4-2 to sweep the 4-game series

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Photo credit: mercurynews.com

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s, led by the hitting of Jed Lowrie and the pitching of lefty Sean Manaea, defeated the Detroit Tigers 4-2 at Comerica Park on Thursday afternoon. The A’s did not hit any home runs, but they scored three times in the third and once in the fourth to defeat the Tigers’ Michael Fulmer.

Manaea did not appear to be in sync in the first inning. He issued his only walk of the game to the Tigers’ leadoff hitter Jeimer Candelario. He settled down and retired Jose Iglesias for the first out. The Tigers’ leading hitter, right fielder Nick Castellanos, blasted his 11th dinger of the year over Stephen Piscotty’s outstretched glove to give the Tigers an early 2-0 advantage. Manaea regained his composure and held the Tigers scoreless in his next five innings of work. Manaea was hoping that the A’s offense would get going and get him a win.

The A’s offense did what Manaea wanted. In the top of the third, they put together five singles and plated three runs. Marcus Semien and Chad Pinder singled to start the rally. Mark Canha blooped a single to right to drive in Semien. Pinder went to third on the play. Lowrie continued his hot hitting and torment of the Tigers with a single to drive in Pinder with the second run of the inning. Canha advanced to third. A’s designated hitter Khris Davis singled to drive in Canha to make it a 3-2 game.

The A’s tacked on an insurance run in the fourth. Stephen Piscotty led off with a single. Jonathan Lucroy hit a slow roller to Tigers’ shortstop Jose Iglesias. Iglesias’ only play was at first. Piscotty made it safely to second. Pinder had his second hit of the game when he doubled to deep centerfield to drive in Piscotty. The A’s led 4-2.

There was no more scoring in the game. Manaea left after six innings of work. He allowed two runs and five hits. He walked one and struck out two. The A’s used Emilio Pagan in the seventh, Lou Trivino in the eighth, and Blake Treinen in the ninth. The relievers did not allow the Tigers a hit. Treinen earned his 20th save of the year. The A’s won 4-2.

Game Notes: The A’s have won their last nine games against Detroit, their longest streak against the Tigers since Lefty Grove and Jimmie Foxx led the Philadelphia Athletics to 10 straight wins over Detroit in 1931. The Tigers have also lost their last nine games played. The A’s improve to 44-38 and are six games over the .500 mark. Detroit falls to 36-46.

Sean Manaea received credit for the win, and his record is now 8-6. Fulmer took the loss, and he is 3-7 for the year.

Jed Lowrie had a single and double in the game including his 24th double. He has driven in 55 so far this year. Lowrie was 9-for-17 in the series. He hit two home runs and had three doubles and drove in at least one run in all four games. It is possible that Lowrie and Treinen will represent the A’s at this year’s All-Star game in Washington, DC on July 17th.

Up Next: The A’s finished the 10-game road trip with a record of 8-2 and will return home to face the Cleveland Indians for three games starting Friday night at 7:05 pm PDT.

Paul Blackburn (1-2, 8.83) will pitch for Oakland, and Trevor Bauer (7-5, 2.44) will go for the Indians.

On Saturday, it will be Edwin Jackson going against rookie Adam Plutko, and Sunday will feature Frankie Montas for Oakland and Mike Clevinger for Cleveland.

Oakland Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria: Will City of Oakland City Councilmen push for lawsuit against NFL and Raiders successfully?

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nbcbayarea.com file photo: Oakland City Councilman Noel Gallo (in photo) and co-City Councilman Rebecca Kaplan with groups “We Stand with Oakland” and Forever Oakland” plan to file a lawsuit against the NFL and the Raiders for failing to not negotiate in good faith with the city to move the Raiders

On the Raiders podcast with Tony:

Oakland City Council members Noel Gallo and Rebecca Kaplan with groups “We Stand with Oakland” and “Forever Oakland” last month were considering discussing filing a lawsuit against the Raiders and the NFL due to the way the Raiders left Oakland to leave for Las Vegas. According to zennie62 a You Tube blogger who has been covering the story has stated a law suit is very likely to be filed against the Raiders and the NFL.

The Raiders have already broke ground in Las Vegas. Gallo and Kaplan are trying to get some attorneys together at no taxpayers cost to Oakland residents. The attorneys would work pro bono to sue the NFL based on the way the Raiders had left Oakland and having to leave for Las Vegas.

Gallo, Kaplan, “We Stand with Oakland” and “Forever Oakland” said that the Raiders didn’t leave the city of Oakland in good faith and the impact of the Raiders leaving takes away revenue from the city of Oakland and it’s also taking away jobs away from the city of Oakland and the Raiders didn’t negotiate in good faith.

Tony Renteria does commentary and podcasts each week on the Raiders at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Aces lose a hard fought battle, fast paced game at home to Dallas Wings 97-91

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McBride working hard
Kayla McBride had a career night on Wednesday night for the Aces Photo: @LVAces

By Charlie O. Mallonee

The Las Vegas Aces and Dallas Wings gave the 5,246 fans at the Mandalay Bay Events Center a full 40-minute show on Wednesday night in the desert. There was no quit in either team as they fought back and forth for the lead. There were 18 lead changes in the contest as Dallas prevailed 97-91 at the final buzzer.

The Aces were led by shooting guard Kayla McBride, who put up a game-high and career-high 38 points in the game. She shot 14-for-22 from the floor and hit 2-of-2 from behind the 3-point line. McBride also went to the free throw line nine times and converted eight of her chances at the charity stripe. She also recorded three assists, three rebounds and two steals in the heartbreaking loss on her home court.

AjA working at the rim
A’ja Wilson had a double-double game for the Aces but is was not enough Photo: @LVAces

Forward A’ja Wilson was the other big contributor for the Aces. The potential All-Star dropped 22 points on the Wings and made it a double-double game by grabbing 15 rebounds. Wilson dished out eight assists and went a perfect 8-for-8 for the free throw line.

Both McBride and Wilson played 36-plus minutes for Bill Laimbeer’s Aces in the game.

Diggins-Smith was all over
Diggins-Smith did it all on defense and offense for the Wings in their win Photo: @dallaswings

The Dallas Wings were paced by their point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith, who was on the floor from the opening tip to the final buzzer. She scored a team-high 29 points while distributing eight assists. Diggins-Smith shot a blistering 52.9-percent from the floor (9-for-17) and hit 2-of-6 from 3-point land. She also played some tenacious defense.

8 gave fits all game
Cambage was a major factor on the floor for the Wings against the Aces @LVAces

Center Liz Cambage was also a major presence for the Wings on Wednesday night. She recorded a double-double, putting up 17 points and hauling in 11 rebounds. Cambage also had three assists and two blocked shots. She also was an intimidating force on defense.

As a team, the Wings had four players score in double-figures. They shot 45.7-percent (32-for-70) overall and hit 10-of-28 from behind the three-point line. The Wings converted 23-of-30 (76.7-percent)  opportunities at the free throw line. The posted 32 team rebounds. Dallas had 20 assists and 11 turnovers meeting that 2-to-1 ratio goal.

The Aces had just the two players in double-figures. As a team, they shot 43.7-percent (31-for-71) from the field. They hit 50-percent of their 3-point attempts, but they attempted only eight shots from long distance. The Aces did have an incredible night at the free throw line as they hit 25-of-27 attempts for a 92.6-percent conversion rate. Las Vegas grabbed 36 rebounds (11 on offense). They recorded 24 assists against 13 turnovers.

“We played hard enough to win,” said coach Bill Laimbeer. “I think we’re a little frustrated by the fact that we can’t get over the hump. But at the same time, it’s our fault because we’re doing the little things wrong.

The loss drops the Aces record to 5-11 (.313) on the season and puts them in 10th place. The victory evens the Wings record at 7-7 (.500) and they are now in seventh place in the league standings.

The Aces will return to action on Friday night when they will host the best team in the WNBA — the Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks have an 11-3 record, but are just 4-2 on the road. The Aces need to take advantage of that at home.

The Wings head back to Dallas where they will host the sixth-place Minnesota Lynx (8-6) on Sunday.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca and Morris Phillips: Can Giants play as well on the road as they do at home?

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larrybrownsports.com photo file: San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy would like to get the club’s road record up to .500 by season’s end

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael and Morris:

The San Francisco Giants are now 26-13 at home and the old saying goes if you win two out of three at home and play .500 on the road, you should do alright well the Giants haven’t played .500 on the road the Giants are 16-26 on the road.

If the Giants had played .500 on the road, they would be in first place. Right now, that’s how well they’re doing at home. What’s interesting is why would a veteran team such as the Giants have such disparity in what their doing at home than what they’re doing on the road?

Manager Bruce Bochy scratching his head after the game last night was asked with his veterans should have had better results with the team he has on the road and play maybe a little closer to what their doing on the road. The Giants are on pace to lose 50 road games and they’re on pace to win 50 or 51 home games.

Join Michael and Morris for the Giants podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com each week

Bumgarner sets the tone, Crawford provides the pop in Giants’ impressive 1-0 win over the Rockies

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Madison Bumgarner couldn’t remember his pitch mix, or how often he relied on his terrific slider Wednesday night. The World Series hero didn’t put much stock in his impressive spring training that ended with him breaking a bone in his hand in his final tuneup. And he knew he felt better entering his last two starts–both dominating outings–but he surely didn’t know exactly what it was that had him feeling so good.

What Bumgarner did know was bluntly specific: He needed to do his thing on the mound Wednesday, and his club, the Giants, needed to post a win. With those two things hand delivered, little else mattered.

With Bumgarner dealing, followed by Will Smith and Reyes Moronta and their microscopic ERA’s, then followed by Brandon Crawford’s majestic game-winning homer, the Giants looked like a force Wednesday, one far more impressive than their 42-39 record at the season’s halfway point. But they’ll take it, especially with their key guys doing what they envisioned them doing before the season-to-date took its winding course.

Crawford, who delivered the game-winning blast off Rockies’ Harrison Musgrave, explained the importance of his decisive blow.

“We have a day game (Thursday), so everybody wants to go home,” Crawford said. “You’re excited to get around the bases and get to the guys at home plate. Those are the reasons you play baseball.”

In a game that went scoreless until there was one out recorded in the bottom of the ninth inning, you’re not necessarily going to run home impressed. But this tightly contested ballgame showed off the Giants’ star power and provided a clear example of how the veteran-laden club could impact the National League postseason portrait.

Bumgarner and Buster Posey, the HOF battery mates, shut down the Rockies’ lineup, allowing two hits, while striking out eight in seven, scoreless innings. When things got tight in the fifth, after Bumgarner walked consecutive batters to load the bases, he struck out Rockies’ pitcher Kyle Freeland to end the inning. Power guys Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story, as well as table-setters Charlie Blackmon and D.J. LaMahieu were completely shutdown. Blackmon’s sixth inning base hit was the only dent the Colorado quartet managed versus Bumgarner.

The Giants have won 12 of 15 at AT&T Park and moved within 4 1/2 games of division-leading Arizona.

A’s continue to roll behind Chris Bassitt’s terrific start in a 3-0 shutout of Tigers

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s beat the Tigers Wednesday evening in Detroit by a score of 3-0. The A’s recalled Chris Bassitt from Nashville to pitch due to the injury to Daniel Mengden. Bassitt was making his fourth start of the season for Oakland. He pitched well in his first start but had two bad games and was 0-3 for the season and had spent a lot of time shuttling between Oakland and Nashville. Bassitt his best game of the year as he went six innings and allowed no runs and just two hits. He struck out five and the only negative was the five walks he issued to the Tiger hitters. Bassitt had to be just as good as Tigers’ starter Mike Fiers also pitched very well.

The game was scoreless until the top of the fourth inning. The A’s put the first run of the game on the board when Matt Joyce led off with a single to get things going. Fiers had to pitch to the A’s hottest hitter Jed Lowrie. Lowrie, who has been on a tear, doubled to right field. A’s third base coach Matt Williams did not hesitate as he did not put the stop sign up for Matt Joyce. Joyce scored, and Lowrie recorded his 22nd double and 54th RBI of the season to give the A’s the lead 1-0.

A’s manager Bob Melvin brought in Yusmeiro Petit to pitch the seventh. Petit did his job and kept the Tigers scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings.

The A’s scored two insurance runs in the ninth. Alex Wilson was pitching for Detroit. With one out, Franklin Barreto reached on an infield single. Josh Phegley followed with a line shot down the left field line. The speedy Barreto scored all the way from first. The next hitter, Dustin Fowler, blasted a ball to that hit high off the right-field wall to drive in Phegley. The A’s led 3-0.

Bob Melvin was not able to use his closer, Blake Treinen, to finish the game. Treinen had worked the last two games. Melvin brought in rookie Lou Trivino to face the Tigers. Trivino set the Tigers down in order to earn his second save of the year.

Game Notes: The A’s are 7-2 on the road trip and go for the sweep Thursday afternoon in Detroit. The A’s improve to 43-38 and are five games over the .500 mark for the first time since the 2014 season. Chriss Bassitt is now 1-3, and he won his first game since the 2015 season. Bassitt missed the 2016 season due to Tommy John surgery, and his recovery was much longer than expected.

The A’s did not hit a home run, and their 27 consecutive game streak of hitting at least one home run in road games came to an end. The 27-game streak is a new Major League record.

“We put home run swings on them,” Melvin said. “We just didn’t get rewarded for them.”

Time of game was 3 hours and 11 minutes and 23,961 fans watched the game.

Up Next: The A’s Sean Manaea will go to the mound seeking his eighth win of the year on Thursday. Manaea’ record is 7-6. He will be opposed by Michael Fulmer. Fulmer is 3-6 and has a 4.17 ERA. The game will start at 10:10 am PDT on MLB Network.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s shuttling players back and forth from Nashville; A’s have an offense that can be improved

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Photo credit: @athletics_fanly

On the A’s podcast with Jerry:

How do the A’s find ways to continue to replace injured players going to Nashville and back to Oakland again and still win games? They were down six runs and came back to beat the Detroit Tigers 9-7 on Tuesday night.

Jed Lowrie was key in the win with a bloop single in the ninth inning, which Lowrie would steal a base then come in and score to win it for the A’s. Lowrie’s had some great at-bats this season. The question is will the A’s trade Lowrie and get some value for him before the trade deadline in July?

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Crawford’s key to Giants making postseason; Crawford heading for an MVP and All Star game

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Photo credit: @carmenkiew

On the SF Giants podcast with Marko:

What a season for San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford, who hit an eighth inning bloop single that put him on the bases to later steal a base, and then scored the go-ahead run to help San Francisco get by the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Crawford has been proving it all year and he’s earned a spot on the NL All-Star Game starting lineup for top vote getter leading as of today by 800,000 votes ahead of all NL second basemen in the running for the starting position.

The Giants’ third baseman Evan Longoria, who had hand surgery, is now doing physical therapy and Longoria is still expected to be back in six to eight weeks. Also, Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija is expected to return to San Francisco soon.

Samardzija suffered shoulder tightness pitched in Triple-A Sacramento, throwing 88 pitches, six runs, seven hits, and two walks, and four innings of work. Marko says this was 88 pitches that gave Samardzija a chance to work on a few things.

Marko Ukalovic does the Giants podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com each Wednesday