Belt and Hundley’s two-run home runs help the Giants beat the Dodgers 4-1 to avoid sweep

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

With the end of a three-city, 10-game road trip that went from Washington, D.C., to Miami and finally onto Los Angeles, the San Francisco Giants saw their own beds in sight.

Nick Hundley and Brandon Belt each hit two-run home runs, helping the Giants to a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The win by the Giants, salvaged the three-game series over their longtime rivals and they ended their road trip with a 4-6 record.

This was the fourth three-city road trip for the Giants, who have played more than half of their road games and now return for a 10-game home stand beginning on Monday night. The Giants have one more three-city road trip from August 13-23, when they will travel to Los Angeles, Cincinnati, before ending in New York.

Hundley gave the Giants an early 2-0 lead, as he launched a Caleb Ferguson pitch into the left field pavilion in the top of the first inning.

Belt stretched the Giants up to 4-1, as he hit his first home run since coming back an emergency appendectomy on June 2. It was the 12th home run for Belt.

Chris Stratton went six innings, allowing one run (none earned), while giving up just three hits, walking one and striking out three.

Ferguson went five innings, allowing four runs on just two hits, walking one and striking out sic, as he looks for that elusive first major league win.

The Giants bullpen quartet of Will Smith, Mark Melancon, Tony Watson and Hunter Strickland pitched the final three innings, as they allowed one hits and struck out eight. Strickland got the final two outs of the game to pick up his 14thsave of the season.

Andrew McCutchen picked up the only other hit of the game for the Giants, who are now 7-6 on the season versus the Dodgers.

NOTES: Andrew Suarez will make his second career start against his home town team, the Miami Marlins on Monday night, while the Marlins will counter with Caleb Smith.

Buster Posey sat out the finale of the road trip, as Hundley took his place and gave the Giants an early lead.

Brandon Crawford will miss the next three games, as he will join his wife Jalynne in Arizona, as she will give birth to their fourth child. Crawford will rejoin the team on Thursday night, when the Giants will open a four-game series against the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Marlins’ Game 1 is scheduled for Monday night at 7:15 pm PDT.

Don’t give in: The A’s keep fighting in dramatic, 6-5 win over the Angels in 11 innings

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By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–After a rough week, and after a rough, first eight innings on Sunday with just three hits, as well as their continued struggles against suddenly superior AL West competition, the A’s struck back.

And lo and behold, the Angels–beset by injuries and saddled with a shaky bullpen–capitulated.

The A’s came up with a pair of runs in the ninth to tie, and Jonathan Lucroy’s game-winning hit scoring Jed Lowrie in the 11th to beat the Angels, 6-5.

“On the homestand, we had some good teams coming in here. We were trying to make up for that Astros series,” Lucroy said.

The win allowed the A’s to capture the three-game series on the heels of an embarrassing three-game sweep at the hands of the World Series champion Astros. After the twists and turns of the first 72 games of the season, the A’s are 36-36, the 13th time their record has landed at .500. The A’s concluded a 5-5 home stand, and they’re 15-14 over their last 29 games. All the symmetry hasn’t left the A’s in good position within their division. They trail the first-place Astros by a season-high 11 1/2 games after Houston won their 11th in a row, a 7-4 win over the Royals on Sunday.

The win allowed the A’s to disrupt their season-long, late inning pattern of winning when leading, and losing when trailing. Prior to Sunday, the A’s were 0-33 when trailing after eight and 31-0 when leading.

Oakland starter Daniel Mengden pitched more effectively than he did in his previous two starts, battling into the sixth inning where he departed trailing 4-2. Mengden allowed a combined 12 earned runs to the Rangers and Astros in his first two June starts, then gave up solo shots to veterans Chris Young and Albert Pujols on Sunday. But when Mengden could have unraveled, he didn’t. In the sixth, after Pujols’ shot gave the Angels the lead, Mengden uncorked a wild pitch with runners at first and third, allowing Andrelton Simmons to score. But Mengden recovered, striking out Martin Maldonado with a runner in scoring position before he was lifted for reliever Yusmeiro Petit.

“I’m just missing spots,” Mengden explained. “But we know we are in every game. With a few good at-bats, we’re right there.”

Those good at-bats did take place until after Andrew Heaney departed. The Angels’ starter finished eight innings, striking out eight while walking one. At one point, he retired 13 of 14 A’s batters. But things unraveled when he departed.

The Angels used five relievers, and four allowed a base hit, and three issued at least one walk. Blake Parker entered first and allowed a leadoff home run to Marcus Semien that trimmed the Angels’ lead. But Parker couldn’t settle down, walking two of the next three hitters.

“I’ve got to get ahead with better pitches. Go out there and one pitch, one run, I gotta regain my focus. I can’t have a four-pitch walk right after that,” Parker admitted.

Cam Bedrosian came on needing only to record the final out, but he surrendered the game-tying base hit to Mark Canha. Jake Jewell started the 11th, but allowed a leadoff single to Jed Lowrie, then hit Khris Davis on the first pitch with an errant curveball. And Eduardo Paredes failed to throw strikes on five of his first six pitches before Lucroy’s game-winner one-hopped the centerfield wall.

Of the 15 players currently on the disabled list for the Angels, relievers Kenyan Middleton and Blake Wood are lost for the season, and Jim Johnson, who was woefully ineffective as an Athletic in 2014, landed on the list last week with lumbar strain. Top option Justin Anderson couldn’t go on Sunday after throwing 28 pitches Friday night. So when the 11th inning opened, manager Mike Scioscia turned to Jewell in just his second major league appearance, then Paredes, who dragged a 7.15 ERA to the mound.

The A’s concluded a stretch of 20 home games in their last 25 with Sunday’s win. Now they hit the road for 27 of their next 35 games starting Tuesday in San Diego.  Paul Blackburn will make that start opposed by the Padres’ Eric Lauer.

 

Aces lose to streaking Mercury 92-80

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20180617 - A'ja Wilson 11

Photo credit: Shawn McCullough, Sports Radio Service

By Shawn McCullough

Diana Taurasi and Brittany Griner combined for 52 points as the Phoenix Mercury won their eighth straight game beating the Las Vegas Aces 92-80 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Sunday night.

A’ja Wilson scored 21 points and pulled down 11 rebounds while Kayla McBride scored 20.

Wilson, in just her 12th professional game, learned in-game from facing Griner and adjusted as the game progressed.

“I had to knock a couple down in front of her, then I could use my versatility,” said Wilson.

Griner did have very good things to say about Wilson.

“She’s an awesome player,” said Griner.  “I would be very shocked if she doesn’t get rookie of the year. She’s just going and scoring. I am excited to see how she grows.”

Getting two wins during their recent four game road trip gave the young Aces momentum.

“The road trip was really good for us to get wins on the road and we carried some momentum,” said McBride.  “We are still learning, still growing and trying to get better.”

“We are getting better,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer.  “We are still very young, but we are learning. I am seeing great progress.”

The Aces are now 3-9 on the season and next travel to Seattle to play the Storm on Tuesday.

The Aces next home game will be on Friday, June 22nd against the New York Liberty at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 1 Tamera Young
C – 19 JiSu Park
G – 21 Kayla McBride
G – 10 Kelsey Plum

Giants sign No. 2 draft pick Joey Bart to record-setting deal

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Photo credit: @sfgiants_fanly

By: Ana Kieu

The San Francisco Giants officially launched the Joey Bart era on Sunday afternoon.

Bart was the Giants’ second overall draft pick in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft. The 21-year-old previously played college baseball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

According to MLB.com, Bart signed a $7.025 million bonus. Bart’s pre-draft slot figure was $7,494,600.

Bart was the first catcher selected by the Giants in the MLB Draft since Buster Posey, a former fifth overall pick, in 2008.

History is on the Giants’ side. Aside from Posey, their previous second overall pick, Will Clark (first baseman), helped provide a much-needed boost to the struggling franchise in 1985.

Although Bart is known as a catcher, Giants’ scouting director John Barr said that the right-handed hitter has plenty of athleticism to switch positions if necessary.

The Giants will introduce Bart on Monday in their series opener versus the Miami Marlins.

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum: Giants’ Longoria out 6-8 weeks; Twins’ Sano sent down to single-A; Crash Davis–Will O’s let Davis have worse season ever?

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photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco Giants hitter Evan Longoria grimaces after being hit in the hand last Thursday in Miami is expected back in action 6-8 weeks following hand surgery.

On the MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 Giants’ Evan Longoria to miss 6-8 weeks after hand surgery.

2 Twins send Sano to Single-A, Buxton to Triple-A for rehab-plus.

3 Will the Orioles let Chris Davis have worst season by a regular ever?

4 Astros are red-hot on their current road trip.

5 Old-Timer’s Day at Yankee Stadium – Yanks know how to do it!

Daniel Dullum does the MLB The Show podcast each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Will the Giants Trade Bumgarner?

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Photo credit: @Covers

By: Amaury Pi-González

Will the San Francisco Giants trade Madison Bumgarner? Many Giants fans would give an answer like “Never, preposterous!” or something of that sort. But it’s understandable as they are fans and they would probably react with emotion to the glorious past of one of the most successful pitchers in the MLB postseason.

Though, the Giants are in a very interesting situation. Although, they are not far from first place in a very feeble NL West division where everybody–except the Giants and Padres– have occupied first place at one point in the 2018 season so far.

That being said, the clock is ticking. The trade deadline is on July 31st, just a couple of weeks after the MLB All-Star Game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. Bumgarner could be the finishing touch to postseason regulars like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and vice versa. Bumgarner could be that guy with the postseason experience to bring one of those teams a World Series title.

Remember what the Houston Astros did late last season? They picked up Justin Verlander at the end of the season and Verlander gave the Astros that extra push to win their first ever World Series. So there is a precedent for this, Bumgarner could be the next Verlander this October!

Let’s face it: This is a last go around for this Giants’ roster with guys like Bumgarner, Crawford, Posey, Pence, and Belt that have gone to the October Dance; but it doesn’t seem they have enough to make it this year.

To me, the Giants look like maybe another .500 club in a 2018 season where there are a handful of super teams like the Astros, Red Sox, Yankees, Nationals, and maybe Dodgers, but a majority of teams are currently stuck in mediocrity.

The NL West is not the best division in baseball and might not be this season. In life, timing is everything.

So what is the limit for the Giants on trading Bumgarner for some young players? That is the question. The Yankees are loaded with young talent and some of that young talent has developed faster than they have imagined. The Yankees could be the perfect trading partners with the Giants for a Bumgarner deal. The Yankees are in the American League East, so Bumgarner will not be able to face the Giants on a regular basis unless if there’s an unlikely situation where the Giants will meet the Yankees this October in the World Series.

Things can turn around very quickly in baseball and I am sure the Giants are hoping that their team will wake up soon and put out a good winning streak even if it is not 15 in a row. The Giants have played over half of the road games already, so they have plenty of games left at cozy AT&T Park. It seems they cannot catch a break, Brandon Belt has returned while Evan Longoria has left with a broken hand and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.

Pablo Sandoval is doing whatever he can, but he is not a regular anymore and most of his hits are batting left-handed. Gorkys Hernández has exceeded expectations, but he is not a regular. Samardzija and Cueto have been hurt this season. And, to be fair, when was the last time the Giants had their rotation together this season? Never.

Bumgarner made his first start two months and weeks into the season, Cueto will not be back until the MLB All-Star Break and Samardzija has not found his groove yet. Although personally I was never high on “The Shark,” who signed with the Giants in 2015 on a five-year contract for $90 million. He owns a career record of 69-91 with a 4.16 ERA, and his best year with the Giants was 2016 when he won 12 and lost 11. Amigos, that is one expensive contract.

I like Bumgarner. He is a great competitor, but he is the biggest bait for trade that could make an aging club, younger and maybe more competitive in the future. The clock might be running out sooner that many believe on this 2018 Giants.

As far as trading Bumgarner and getting some good, exciting prospects go, it might be like the famous #1 Elvis song in 1960, “It’s Now or Never.”

Dodgers’ duo of Hernandez and Kemp top Giants again 3-1

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Photo credit: @LosAngeles_NC

By Jeremy Kahn

Once again, the long ball was the difference in the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Kike’ Hernandez hit a two-run home run off of Madison Bumgarner in the bottom of the fifth inning, helping the Dodgers to a 3-1 victory over the Giants at Dodger Stadium on Sunday night.

The home run by Hernandez helped Alex Wood to his second win of the season, as the left-hander went 5.2 innings, allowing just one run on five hits, while walking two and striking out two.

The win gave the series to the Dodgers for the first time this season, and the season series between the longtime rivals is 6-6.

The two teams will not face each other until a three-game series at Dodger Stadium beginning on August 13, and the Dodgers will not face the Giants at AT&T Park until the last three games of the season from September 28-30.

Hernandez’s home run was the ninth extra base hit in 33 at-bats in his career against Bumgarner, including four home runs.

Bumgarner went six innings allowing three runs on five hits, walking four and striking out three, as he lost for the second time in his three starts this season after recovering from a broken left pinkie that he suffered in his final start of spring training against the Kansas City Royals.

Bumgarner also gave up a solo home run to Matt Kemp in the bottom of the first inning, as the Dodgers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead.

This was the second game in a row that Hernandez and Kemp each hit home runs for the Dodgers, who are 21-6 since May 17 and two games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West.

Alen Hanson drove in the only Giants run in the game, as he hit a sacrifice fly that scored Mac Williamson in the top of the fifth inning.

Williamson broke up Wood’s no-hit bid in the top of the fifth inning, as he led off the inning with a left. Joe Panik then singled to center that sent Williamson to third, after Bumgarner struck out for the first out of the inning, Hanson hit a sacrifice fly to Kemp in left field that easily scored Williamson from third base.

That would be the score for a half-inning, as Hernandez hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning that sent the Giants to their fifth loss in their last six games.

Following the Hernandez home run, Justin Turner then hit a ground rule double to right-center field, then Kemp walked; however, Bumgarner was able to stop the bleeding, when he got Yaisel Puig to ground into a force play that ended the inning.

The Giants tried to get a rally started in the top of the ninth inning, as Buster Posey reached on a throwing error by Turner against Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen. After a strikeout to Brandon Crawford the first out of the inning, Jansen walked Williamson, then Joe Panik grounded out to Cody Bellinger that advanced Posey to third and Williamson; however, Jansen was able to get pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval to pop out to Turner for the final out of the game.

Jansen picked up his 17th save of the season, as the Dodgers have won five in a row.

It was another frustrating night on the mound for Bumgarner, as he was not able to get the calls from home plate umpire Dan Bellino.

NOTES: Chris Stratton looks to salvage the series finale for the Giants, as he takes the mound, while the Dodgers will send Caleb Ferguson, as the rookie still looks for his first major league win.

Brandon Belt, who missed the last two weeks after an emergency appendectomy was activated from the disabled list.

To make room for Belt, Pierce Johnson was optioned to Sacramento.

Evan Longoria will have surgery that will insert a pin into his left hand, and the third baseman is expected to miss anywhere from six to eight weeks; however, Longoria is hoping to return after the All-Star Break, when the Giants open a three-game series against the Oakland A’s at the Coliseum on July 20.

Johnny Cueto will throw a live batting practice when the Giants return to San Francisco on Monday, when they open a three-game series against the Miami Marlins at AT&T Park.

Jeff Samardzija pitched three innings for the Sacramento Rivercats against the Red Rock Express at Dell Diamond, and Samardzija could be back soon, according to manager Bruce Bochy.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Dodgers will conclude their rivalry series on Sunday afternoon at 1:10 pm PDT on NSBA and SNLA.

A’s power their way past the Angels 6-4 on Saturday to end the losing streak

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment
Semien HR
Semien hits his sixth HR in the top of the sixth inning Photo: @Athletics

by Charlie O. Mallonee

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics can cross two things off of their to-do list after beating the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 6-4 on Saturday afternoon at the Coliseum. First, they needed desperately needed end a four-game losing streak that began last Tuesday. Task completed.

Secondly, the A’s needed to get a win versus an AL West division opponent. They had lost six straight games to AL West teams and 12 of their last 13 games versus the West. The win on Saturday allows the team to check that off their list as well.

The A’s cannot let down after this victory, but it should prove to them that they are very capable of playing and winning in the Western Division.

Manaea looked unstoppable for four innings

Manaea vs LAA
Manaea looked unstoppable for the first four innings Photo: @Athletics

Sean Manaea made the start for the A’s and his slider was really working for him. The lefty set the Angels down in order for the first four innings. He looked unbeatable especially after Chad Pinder hit a home run to stake Manaea to a 1-0 lead.

Then came the top of the fifth inning. Albert Pujols led off the inning with a single. Martin Maldonado followed up with a single to right field. With runners at first and second, that brought Chris Young to bat. Young was the last minute replacement for Justin Upton who was scratched due to a stiff lower back.

Young HR
Young crushes a HR off Manaea Photo: Charlie O. Mallonee

Young hit a no doubt about it home run to over the left field wall to give the Angels a 3-1 lead. Manaea was able to work his way out of trouble to end the inning, but the mood of the team and fans had definitely changed.

The sixth inning was the Angels’ downfall
The Angels had to use LHP John Lamb — who was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake — to make the start. Lamb gave up a home run to Pinder in the fourth inning and then, Marcus Semien hit his sixth round-tripper of the season off Lamb to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning. That would be all for Lamb, who exited the game with a 3-2 lead.

Reliever Noe Ramirez entered the game and hit the first batter he faced — Chad Pinder. Jed Lowrie flied out to center for the first out of the inning. DH Khris Davis walked. Rameriez then hit Matt Olson for his second hit-batsmen of the inning. With the bases loaded, Stephen Piscotty hit a blistering single up the middle that drove Davis and Olson home to score. When the inning ended, the A’s led the game 5-3.

Oakland would add one more run in the seventh inning on a Jed Lowrie RBI single.

The top of the ninth inning got a little exciting
Blake Treinen was brought in to close out the game in the top of the ninth. It was his first time on the mound in six games and he looked a little rusty.

The A’s closer gave up a run (earned) on one hit while walking two and striking out one Angels hitter. The situation did not become desperate, but it was not as clean of a close as the team would have liked it to have been.

Bob Melvin’s postgame comments

In the Batter’s Box
Oakland (35-36)

  • Chad Pinder had a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate for the A’s. He was just a double short of posting a cycle on Saturday. Pinder’s home run was his sixth of the season and he recorded his 14th RBI. Pinder hit his first triple of the year in the game.
  • Marcus Semiem hit his sixth HR to pick up his 27th RBI of the year.
  • Stephen Piscotty raised his RBI total to 29.
  • Jed Lowrie now has 43 RBI which is keeping close to the leaders in the majors
  • The A’s scored six runs off six hits and recorded six RBI. Their batters struck out eight times.
  • The A’s left six men on base while going 2-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

Los Angeles of Anaheim (38-33)

  • No batter for the Angels had a multi-hit game.
  • Chris Young picked up the big hit with his 3-run home run in the fifth inning. That upped his RBI total to 10.
  • Mike Trout and Albert Pujols each recorded a hit.
  • The Angels scored four runs on six hits while striking out six times.
  • The Angels left four men on base and went 2-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

On the Hill
A’s (Streak: Lost 1 game; 4-6 in last 10)

  • The win went to starting pitcher Sean Manaea, who is now 6-5 on the season. It was his first win since back in May. Manaea worked 6.0-innings giving up three runs (all earned) off four hits. He walked one and struck out four. He did give up one home run.
  • Treinen earned the save (15) but struggled to get there.
  • Petit and Trivino each worked an inning of scorless relief.

Angels (Streak: Lost 1 game; 5-5 in last 10)

  • John Lamb who made the start did not figure into the decision.
  • Noe’ Rameriez (2-3) was charged with the loss.
  • Jake Jewell was used for one inning of relief by the Angels and it was his Major League debut.

Up Next

The Angels and A’s will close out  this three-game series with the “rubber game” of the match on Sunday at 1:05 pm PDT. The Angels will start LHP Andrew Heaney (3-5, 3.68) -who will the third lefthander to start for LA in this series. The A’s will counter with RHP Daniel Mengden (6-6, 3.90).

big foul
Foul territory is tough to cover at the Coliseum Photo: Charlie O. Mallonee

MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O: From Oak to Ok–A’s Murray will rejoin A’s next year; Giants looking to get tracked with road win tonight

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photo from normantranscript.com: The Oakland A’s Kyler Murrray joined the A’s for workouts on Saturday at the Coliseum. Murray signed with the A’s to play on the club next season as he will join the Oklahoma Sooners as quarterback in August for the 2018 NCAA season

On the MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O:

Today’s opponent for the Oakland A’s, the Los Angeles Angels, came in Friday night with a five-game losing streak, which they ended and the A’s extended their four-game losing streak to four in the loss to the Angels.

The A’s will try and reboot and get game two of this home three game series today at the Coliseum today. The A’s got a little pick me up when Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray was selected and worked out with the team over the weekend. Murray said he would quarterback at Oklahoma and after football season Murray will be back swinging the bats for the A’s for spring training in February.

Murray has a deal worth over $4 million with Oakland and his contract allows him to play football and go to school at Oklahoma which would be during August through early January.

San Francisco Giants update: The San Francisco Giants’ road problems continue after they dropped the opener of their three-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night 3-2 at Dodger Stadium. The Giants are suffering on offense and couldn’t rally on Friday night.

The Dodgers are fighting to get into first place and they know the Giants are in a world of pain, losing four of their last five games, and are out their All-Star caliber players: pitcher Johnny Cueto and third baseman Evan Longoria with injuries.

The Giants were missing Brandon Belt due to an appendix surgery. Belt is scheduled to be suited up at Dodgers Stadium tonight and he was on a roll before he had to have the surgery. Belt made a fast recovery and is anxious to start swinging the bats.

Charlie O does the A’s podcasts weekly and is filling in for Matt Harrington on the MLB podcast today at http://www.sportsradioservice.com