Hernandez comes up big in Giants’ 3-2 win over Rockies

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Photo credit: @elbee37

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Gorkys Hernandez and maybe the San Francisco Giants are unsung heroes thus far during the 2018 season.

Hernandez walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, helping the Giants to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies before a crowd of 36,070 at AT&T Park on Tuesday night.

After Pablo Sandoval struck out for the first out of the inning, Brandon Crawford came up with his third hit of the night. Crawford proceeded to steal second base, then losing pitcher Adam Ottavino intentionally walked Joe Panik.

Austin Slater was unable to move the runners over, as he struck out for the second out of the inning; however, Ottavino was unable to get that elusive third out, as he walked pinch hitter Alen Hanson and then Hernandez to give the Giants their third win in a row and sixth in eight games on this 10-game home stand.

The Rockies attempted to tie up the game in the top of the ninth inning, as Tom Murphy came up with bloop hit and he was able to get second base, when no one was covering the base, but Sam Dyson got Gerardo Parra to strikeout for the third time in four at-bats.

Dyson was then able to induce DJ LeMahieu to ground into a game-ending double play, but it did not come without some looking into by the umpires. Rockies manager Bud Black challenged the close play at first base, as Black thought that LeMahieu was safe; however, after a 36-second replay review, the play stood and the Giants got their 14thwin of the month against nine losses.

Chris Iannetta then walked following the Parra strikeout that sent the Giants bullpen scrambling, as Will Smith immediately got down there to start throwing

Ian Desmond gave the Rockies a 1-0 in the top of the second inning, as he took a Derek Holland offering and put it into the left field seats.

Hernandez got the Giants on the board, as he hit his 10thhome run of the season, as he led off the bottom of the third inning against Chad Bettis.

Coming into the season, Hernandez’s previous career high for home runs in a season was three, when he played for the Miami Marlins in 2012. During the 2017 season, Hernandez went to the plate more times than player in the major leagues without hitting a home run.

The defense of Brandon Belt kept the score 1-0 in the top of the third inning, as he snared a Charlie Blackmon line drive and immediately stepped on first base to get LeMahieu to complete the double play.

Holland went 6.2 innings, allowing one run on six hits, walking two and striking out eight, as he was replaced by Reyes Moronta with two outs in the top of the seventh inning after he was able to get Bettis to sacrifice for the second out of the inning. Moronta got out of the inning, as he was able to strikeout LeMahieu for the final out of the inning,

LeMahieu would be the only batter that Moronta would face, as Sunday’s hero, Pence came on to pinch hit for Moronta and came up with an infield single and stayed fair, as he hit off the third base bag to stay fair. The hit by Pence was the second in a row allowed by Bettis, as Slater led off the inning with a sharp single to left field.

Slater got a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning started, as he singled off of Chad Bettis to lead off the inning.

Following the Slater single, Bettis then gave up an infield single to Hunter Pence that stayed fair, as it hit off of third base. After a sacrifice bunt by Hernandez, and an intentional walk to Buster Posey, Bettis was replaced by Adam Ottavino.

McCutchen then hit a sacrifice fly to Parra in left field, and Slater slid underneath the Murphy slide to give the Giants the lead.

Bettis went 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, walking four and striking out four and like Holland, he did not fare in the decision.

Unfortunately, the usual lights out Giants bullpen was unable to hold the late lead, as Mark Melancon gave up a single to Trevor Story and then scored the tying run, when Desmond came through in the clutch for his second RBI of the game, as he doubled just out of the reach of McCutchen in right field. Melancon was then replaced by Tony Watson, who was able to get out of the jam, as he got Carlos Gonzalez to ground out to end the inning.

The Rockies tried to get a rally started in the top of the fifth inning, as Carlos Gonzalez and Tom Murphy each singled to lead off the inning, but Holland settled down to get Parra and Bettis out on strikes and then Holland got LeMahieu to fly out to Hernandez in center field to end the threat.

Bettis also got out of a mini-jam in the bottom of the second inning, as he gave back-to-back singles to Brandon Crawford and Joe Panik, but Bettis then regrouped to get Slater out on strikes and then Holland grounded out to Bettis to end the inning.

After the fifth inning jam was thwarted by Holland, the Rockies put together another attempt at a rally in the top of the sixth inning, as Nolan Arenado walked and then Story singled with one out; however, Holland was able to end the threat, as he got Desmond to strike out for the second time in a row and then Gonzalez grounded out to Crawford, who on the other side of second base in the shift to end the Rockies second threat in a row.

NOTES: Madison Bumgarner goes for his second win in a row, as he takes the mound on Wednesday for the Giants, while the Rockies will send Kyle Freeland to the hill and looks to improve on his 7-6 record.

Jeff Samardzija went four innings, allowing six runs on seven hits (two home runs), two walks and six strikeouts in his third rehab start. Samardzija threw 88 pitches, 53 for strikes.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Rockies will meet again on Wednesday night at 7:15 pm PDT.

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: A’s turnstiles keep turning with call ups from Nashville; Can A’s get the Environmental Impact protection to expedite building a new park?

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usatoday file photo: Oakland A’s Franklin Barreto is hoping to continue his hitting surge like he demonstrated over the weekend in Chicago.

On the A’s podcast with Charlie:

An incredible volume of players are going from Nashville to Oakland. The recent placement of Matt Chapman going on the D.L. and bringing up second baseman Franklin Barreto and moving Jed Lowrie to third. The A’s and many other Major League teams have been dipping into their farm systems.

Also, a look at the Environmental Impact Protection Report similar to what the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings used to build their arenas and the A’s would like to use that same statute to expedite getting in their new location and speed up ground breaking for a new park.

How practical is the idea to move the A’s Triple A affiliate Nashville and have the Sounders to maybe rename the Oakland Oaks and have them share the Coliseum with the A’s? The A’s love to save money. This might be an idea that owner John Fisher would like and team vice president Billy Beane would like to get a call ups from just calling down the hallway at the Coliseum.

Charlie O covers the Oakland A’s home and away each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s get another come from behind win with 9-7 victory over Tigers

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by Jerry Feitelberg

Who are these guys? They sure don’t hit like this when they are playing in Oakland, but when the A’s on the road, they become fearless as any lead their opponent may own is not safe. The A’s overcame a 5-run deficit in Chicago to win. On Monday, they rallied to beat the Tigers, and they waved their magic wands again Tuesday night as the A’s came back from a six-run deficit to beat the Tigers 9-7.

The A’s starter, Frankie Montas, gave up six runs in just three innings of work. The Tigers scored four in the first and two in the third, and things didn’t look good for the Green and Gold. The A’s offense woke up in the fourth inning as they were able to put three on the board. Jed Lowrie started the rally with a single. Tigers’ starter Blaine Hardy retired Khris Davis for the first out. Matt Olson reached on a fielder’s choice. Lowrie was out at second. Stephen Piscotty reached on first baseman John Hicks’ error to put men on at first and second. Mark Canha hit a ball that went for a ground rule double. Olson scored the A’s first run. Jonathan Lucroy followed with another double to drive in Piscotty and Canha. The A’s trail 6-3 halfway through the fourth inning. Detroit increased the lead to 7-3 when they plated one in their half of the fourth.

The A’s scored three more in the top of the fifth. Hardy walked Marcus Semien to start the frame. Chad Pinder homered to make it a 7-5 game. Jed Lowrie, who has regained his hitting stroke, hit a solo home run to close the deficit to one 7-6.

The A’s relievers did their job and kept the Tigers off the board the rest of the way. The A’s offense tied the game in the seventh. Louis Coleman was now pitching for Detroit. Semien led off with a single. Matt Joyce reached on a fielder’s choice. Semien was out at second. Lowrie and Khris Davis walked to load the bases. Matt Olson grounded out 6-3 to drive in Joyce with the A’s 7th run.

Oakland took the lead for good in the ninth. Matt Joyce led off with a double and scored on Lowrie’s single. With one out, Matt Olson singled to send Lowrie into scoring position. Detroit brought in Warwick Saupold to pitch to Dustin Fowler. Fowler singled to drive in Lowrie with an insurance run, and A’s close Blake Treinen worked his magic once again as he set the Tigers down in order to earn his 19th save of the year and the A’s win 9-7.

Game Notes- With the win, the A’s improve to a season-high 4 games over the .500 mark with a record of 42-38. They also moved into third place in the AL West a game ahead of the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels lost to Boston 9-1 on Tuesday night.

The Tigers lost their seventh game in a row and are now 36-44 for the year.

Chris Hatcher gave up a run in the fourth inning, but Emilio Pagan, Ryan Buchter, and Blake Treinen stopped the Tigers cold the rest of the way. The win went to Buchter(2-0), and the save went to Treinen. The Tigers’ Shane Greene took the loss for the second game in a row.

Jed Lowrie was the hitting start for the A’s with four hits, and he raised his batting average to .288. He now has 13 homers so far an 53 RBIs. The A’s hit two more home run in their 27th consecutive road game which is a Major League record.

The A’s are now 6-2 on the 10-game road trip. Sean Manaea (7-6) will pitch for Oakland Wednesday night, and Mike Fiers (5-4) will be on the hill for Detroit. The game will start at 4:05 pm on Wednesday at Comerica Park in Detroit.

San Francisco Giants Feature: Butch Metzger–He Was a Giant?

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allsportsauctions.com photo: 1973 jersey of former San Francisco Giant Butch Metzger

BUTCH METZGER — He Was a Giant?

By Tony ‘Le Tigre’ Hayes

Butch Metzger — RHP — 1974 — #48

Sure, the Giants were steamrolled by the meat-grinding Reds and Dodgers mega teams of the 1970s, but the decade that brought us Watergate and neck ties as wide as Van Ness Avenue was not a total disaster for the Orange & Black.

The ’70s SF Giants looked cool – a good portion of that era’s crew sported corkscrew perms, gravity defying Afros and droopy Fu Manchu mustaches.

But more impressive, the cash depleted farm system of the Orange and Black of the ’70s amazingly managed to produce a steady stream of future stars.

The group included hitters Chris Speier, Garry Maddox, Dave Rader, Jack Clark, Chili Davis and pitchers Gary Lavelle, Bob Knepper and Ed Halicki.

More prominently, the Giants system produced three official NL Rookies of the Year Award winners in the ’70s: OF Gary Matthews (’73), RHP John Montefusco (’75) and RHP Butch Metzger (’76).

Wait. Butch? Who?

You mean the guy who sawed off parts of three fingers by mistake? No, that was late 1980s Giants SS Roger Metzger.

Say you don’t remember RHP Butch Metzger’s record setting 1976 season when he dazzled the Senior Circuit with a 11-4 record 2.92 ERA and 16 saves.

That’s because Metzger’s ROY campaign came as a Brown and Yellow outfitted member of the San Diego Padres – two full seasons after a blink and you missed it Giants cameo.

Why Was He A Giant?
Metzger was drafted by SF in the second round of the June 1970 draft out of Kennedy high school in Sacramento.

After a 12-10, 4.72 season at Triple-A Phoenix in 1974, Metzger, 22, was promoted to the big leagues.

He made his MLB debut as a Giants reliever at Atlanta on 9/8/74.

After the first three Braves reached base off Giants starter Ron Bryant to begin the 5th, Metzger was summoned. He retired Dusty Baker on a fly ball and exited the inning unscathed.

He finished his lone Giants season with at 1-0, 3.55 in 10 relief outings.

Before and After
Metzger had just fully digested his Thanksgiving dinner when word came on 12/6/74 that he had been dealt to San Diego with 2B Tito Fuentes in exchange for utility man Derrel Thomas.

Metzger would spend most of 1975 in the minors before breaking camp with San Diego in 1976. Still technically a rookie, Metzger was phenomenal for another wise miserable Padres club.

He would appear in a rookie record 77 games. In addition, Metzger would win his first 10 decision of the campaign to begin his career a composite 12-0 – tying a big league record.

For his heroics Metzger was named co-winner of the 1976 NL ROY award, sharing the honor with Cincinnati RHP Pat Zachary.

He Wasn’t Elias Sosa. But…
As a Giant, Metzger pitched a scoreless top of the 10th inning (9/21/74) to earn the his first major league win in an 8-6 win vs. the visiting Reds.

He would go on the win his next 11 decisions to tie Hooks Wiltse’s longstanding MLB record.

Giant Footprint
After ’76, mound success proved elusive for Metzger and he left the pro ranks by the early 1980s.

Though he embarked on a career as a Sacramento firefighter, Metzger kept his pitching toe in the game, playing in hardball senior leagues.

When MLB labor strife forced a player lock out in 1994-95 one of the players who contested for a spot on a never to be fielded replacement Giants squad was a 42-year old Metzger.

Tony the Tiger Hayes looks back on former San Francisco Giants at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose State names Julius Hodge as an assistant basketball coach

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Photo credit: @SJSUAthletics

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — After two seasons as a Santa Clara University men’s basketball assistant coach, Julius Hodge is joining the San Jose State University men’s basketball staff in a similar capacity. Spartans head coach Jean Prioleau made the announcement on Tuesday.

San Jose State will be Hodge’s third position in a coaching career that started at the University of Buffalo in 2015 as the director of player development. In his lone season with the Bulls, Buffalo recorded a 20 win season for the sixth time in school history. Buffalo also defended its Mid-American Conference championship and played in the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history.

Hodge then joined his former NCAA coach Herb Sendak at Santa Clara University as an assistant coach. In his first season at Santa Clara, the Broncos produced their first winning record in four seasons.

“We are extremely excited to have Julius in our program. He played three years in the NBA and he’s well connected around the country. He understands the game of basketball and more importantly, he understands the level of commitment needed to move our program forward. He’s a very well-rounded coach,” said Prioleau.

The 2005 North Carolina State University graduate was a two-time All-American, the 2004 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Year and a two-time All-ACC player. He was a second-team consensus All-America as a junior and an Associated Press honorable mention All-America as a senior.

Hodge was a first round draft pick of the Denver Nuggets and the 20th overall selection in the 2005 NBA Draft. He played for the Nuggets and the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA and overseas in Europe, Asia, and Australia before embarking on a coaching career.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with someone that has the background, character and leadership ability of Jean Prioleau,” said Hodge. “Coach Prioleau is unmatched in his ability to relate, connect and empower young men in their quest to reach their full potential. I am really excited to work with our student-athletes and help them become better young men and achieve a new level of success on the court.”

For Hodge, he is reacquainting himself with the Spartans. In his second major college game of his freshman year at North Carolina State, Hodge was a starter in the Wolfpack’s win over San Jose State in the 2001-02 season-opening BCA Tournament in Raleigh, N.C.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Lowrie headed to represent A’s at All-Star game and a look at MLB All-Star players

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mlb.com photo: Oakland A’s Jed Lowrie, Houston Astros Charlie Morton, and the Atlanta Braves’ Nick Markakis from left to right are in the top five of the mlb.com poll to go to the All Star game out of 30 players.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast with Jeremiah:

Jeremiah is filling in for Amaury this week on the podcast and takes a look at at the most probable top five All Star players polled at mlb.com, which includes:

Jed Lowrie — Oakland A’s — .279, 86 hits, 12 HRs, 51 RBIs

Nick Markakis — Atlanta Braves — .330, 101 hits, 8 HRs, 49 RBIs

Charlie Morton — Houston Astros — 9-1 ERA 2.4

Francisco Cerevelli — Pittsburgh Pirates — .257, 45 hits, 9 HRs, and 36 RBIs

Mitch Moreland — Boston Red Sox — .299, 61 hits, 11 HRs, 39 RBIs

Jeremiah Salmonson is a talk show host at the Oakland A’s radio affiliate AM 950 KAHI in Auburn and is filling in for Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Giant Challenges: S.F. hits critical stretch with a bundle of games against teams with winning records

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By Morris Phillips

During the upcoming series versus the Rockies, the Giants will reach the completion of half their 2018 season. So is this season trending towards a bounceback or another failure similar to that experienced last season?

The Giants are a little of both so far, but the compressed schedule leading toward the July 17 All-Star Game and the two weeks after the break offer the Giants their biggest challenge yet. Only six of the next 28 games come against a team with a losing record currently. Those six–against the slumping Rockies–come in the next nine games. And the Rockies at 38-40 aren’t a certainty to stay below .500 or provide the Giants with a lesser challenge than the Diamondbacks, Cardinals, Brewers, Mariners, A’s and Cubs will over this stretch.

For a team hoovering around .500, a tough stretch like this separates the real contenders from the half-season pretenders. The Giants, playing better as of late, could be either one. What’s apparent is the urgency laced into this stretch of games for a team that hasn’t distinguished itself by being one of nine National League teams currently with winning records.

The biggest advantage the Giants will have is playing at AT&T Park where they have won 12 of 15. Seventeen of the upcoming 28 are at home where the Giants have compiled the NL’s best home record thus far (24-13).

On the field, starting pitching has been the club’s biggest asset of late. Without the veteran presences of Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija, Giants’ starters have allowed three runs or fewer in 13 straight contests.

On Tuesday, the Giants welcome the Rockies and their starter, Chad Bettis. Derek Holland (5-7, 4.48 ERA) gets the ball for the Giants.

A’s rally to nip the Tigers 5-4

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by Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s began a four-game series Monday in the Motor City against the Detroit Tigers. The A’s purchased the contract of the veteran hurler, Edwin Jackson, from Nashville earlier in the day. Jackson tied a major league record by playing for his 13th Major League team. The only other player was Octavio Dotel. Dotel also made a stop n Oakland in his Major League journey. Jackson was making his first start of the 2018 season and did very well for his new team. Jackson went 6 innings and, allowed six hits, one run, no walks, and seven strikeouts. “It’s always good to be wanted,” Jackson said. “When I can’t find a team that wants to bring me in, then I guess it’ll be time to sit down. But until then, I like to come out. I like to compete, to have fun. I feel like I still have something in me and that I can bring value to a team.”

The Tiger’s starter Jordan Zimmerman also pitched very well. Zimmerman and Jackson engaged in a pitchers’ duel. The only run that Jackson allowed came in the bottom of the fourth. The Tigers put the first run of the game on the board this way. Designated Hitter Victor Martinez led off the bottom of the fourth with a single. First baseman John Hicks reached on a fielder’s choice when Jackson was not able to cleanly field Hicks’ bunt. Jackson was charged with an error, and the Tigers had men on at first and second with no out. Jackson then had to face the Tigers’ most dangerous hitter, Nick Castellanos. Castellanos doubled to drive in Martinez with the Tigers’ first run. The A’s trail 1-0 after four complete.

Zimmerman did not let the A’s score in the fifth. Tigers’ manager Ron Gardenhire removed Zimmerman after the fifth and turned the game over to the bullpen.

Neither team scored in the sixth. The seventh inning was a different story. The A’s tied the game when right fielder Stephen Piscotty sent a Louis Coleman pitch over the fence for his 8th of the year. Nick Castellanos hit a three-run blast off A’s reliever Lou Trivino to send the Tigers ahead 4-1.

The A’s refused to fold. They plated three runs in the top of the eighth. Khris Davis started the rally by getting hit by a pitch. Piscotty doubled to send Davis to third. Marcus Semien hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Davis with the A’s second run. Jonathan Lucroy singled to drive in Piscotty and Lucroy scored when Franklin Barreto doubled to left center to tie the game.

The A’s took the lead for good when Jed Lowrie hit his 12th home run of the year off Shane Greene. Blake Treinen pitched the ninth and allowed just one hit to preserve the win for Oakland and earned his 18th save in the process. The A’s win 5-4.

Game Notes- Edwin Jackson was impressive in his first start as an Athletic, He gave A’s manager Bob Melvin six innings and allowed one run and six hits.”For most guys, it’s tough to go to a new team in the middle of a season. There can be some nerves and some uncomfortableness being with a new team,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “This is probably the last guy that you worry about that, being that it’s his 13th team. He seemed real comfortable when he came out of the bullpen, seemed really comfortable when he took the mound. That has a lot to do with experience.” Yusmeiro Petit, Ryan Buchter, Lou Trivino, and Blake Treinen finished the game for the A’s. Trivino gave up the home run to Castellanos but was the pitcher or record when the A’s took the lead for good. Trivino is now 6-1. Treinen, as mentioned earlier, earned his 18th save.

The A’s are now three games over the .500 mark with a record of 41-38. The Tigers drop to 36-43.

Stephen Piscotty and Jonathan Lucroy were the hitting stars with three hits apiece. The A’s homered in their 26th consecutive road game which is a Major League record.

The A’s announced that they activated lefty Ryan Buchter off the 60-day DL and added Edwin Jackson to the 40-man roster. Nick Martini was returned to Nashville, and reliever Liam Hendriks was designated for assignment.

Game two of the series will be played Tuesday night in Detroit at 4 pm. Righty Frankie Montas (4-1) will go for Oakland, and the Tigers will counter with lefty Blaine Hardy (3-1).

 

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Pence buys some time from Giants shopping with game-winning two-run double

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

On the SF Giants podcast with Morris:

There was so much talk about shopping Hunter Pence that it sounded like it was good as gold that he was going to get traded. Pence’s two-run RBI double might have saved his job for now in a Sunday game that won it for San Francisco.

The Giants have improved on the homestand with a 5-2 record with three more games left with Colorado starting Tuesday night. The Rockies are in fourth place in the NL West. Morris will tell us how he sees this series coming up. Giants outfielder Austin Jackson’s name had come up as being shopped by SF, but the Giants are concerned like Pence giving up Jackson–they could eat a lot of his contract.

Morris Phillips covers Giants baseball for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Woulda Been Mo Better: A’s Set MLB Record, But Lose in Chicago, 10-3

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By Morris Phillips

Chicks, fans and home run hitters dig the long ball. The baseball gods–and the won-loss column–prefer a more well-rounded approach to the grand old game.

Just ask the Swinging A’s.

On the day the A’s established a modern-day, Major League record by hitting at least one home run in 25 consecutive road contests, they found little to celebrate as the White Sox took it to them, 10-3, at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Much of blame for the lopsided loss fell at the feet of Paul Blackburn, who cruised through four innings before running into trouble in the fifth. Blackburn allowed six hits and five runs in that frame, then saw his second pitch of the sixth inning exit the ballpark at 115 mph off the bat of Daniel Palka. Needless to say his hanging change up to Palka offered little mystery.

“I was executing my pitches well,” Blackburn said. “Except to six batters in the fifth and one leading off the sixth.”

“He was good for a while this time and had one real tough inning,” manager Bob Melvin said of Blackburn. “He’s still trying to find his way a little bit consistently.”

Blackburn fell to 1-2 with an unsightly ERA of 8.83 in four starts. In Oakland, where many are given the opportunity to succeed, but few are given a lengthy rope to fail, Blackburn would normally be forced to figure out his issues at AAA Nashville. But the A’s are strapped, and Blackburn will probably make his next scheduled start on Friday at the Coliseum against the first-place Indians.

In terms of the current standings, splitting a four-game series against a team that’s 25 games below .500 does little for the A’s postseason outlook. But as a team still three games above the break-even point, they have a profile, it’s just not very compelling at this point. The A’s are 11 games back of the Astros in the AL West, and 6 1/2 games behind the Mariners, the second wild card at this juncture. Winning on Sunday would have given them an additional distinction: holding the AL’s sixth-best record to themselves when the top-five have–at least for now–run away from the pack.

And the home runs? Yeah, they’re helpful, and they give the youthful A’s an identity, but in terms of wins and losses, maybe not so much. The A’s won 14 of the 25 games in their record stretch. Good, but not great.

“It certainly would have been a little better if we won the game,” Melvin said when asked about the home run record.

The A’s start a four-game set in Detroit on Monday.