Road trip begins on a high note as Giants defeat Nationals 9-5

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

What a nice start to a three-city, 10 game road trip for the San Francisco Giants against a tough Washington Nationals team.

Andrew McCutchen got the offense going in the first inning, as he hit his third home run of the week that matched his season total and the Giants defeated the Nationals 9-5 at Nationals Park on Friday night.

Andrew Suarez did not go the minimum five innings, as he was pulled from the game with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning after the Nationals cut the Giants once 6-2 lead down to 6-4.

Suarez went 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walking one and striking out five, before way to Reyes Moronta.

The Giants extended the lead to 3-0 in the top of the second inning, as Alen Hanson continues his hot hitting since coming off the disabled list, as he singled to right field that scored Pablo Sandoval. Hunter Pence then extended the lead, as he doubled in Hanson.

Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg lasted just two innings before he was forced to leave the game with inflammation in his shoulder, and will undergo an MRI on Saturday. Strasburg gave up three runs on five hits, walking no one and striking out two, as he fell to 6-6 on the season.

Gorkys Hernandez continues his hot hitting, as he hit a two-run two run home run in the top of the fourth inning that gave the Giants a 5-0 lead.

The Nationals finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Suarez gave up a two-run home run to Juan Soto that landed in the Giants bullpen just out of the reach of Pence, who attempted to make a home run saving catch.

Brandon Crawford remains hot, as he doubled to left field that scored McCutchen to give the Giants a 6-2 lead in the top of the fifth inning.

Wilmer Difo began the Nationals comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he singled to lead off the inning against Suarez. After Pedro Severino flew out for the first out of the inning, Adrian Sanchez singled and then Trea Turner walked to load the bases for Bryce Harper, who was the tying run.

Harper singled to right field to score both Difo and Sanchez, which marked the end of the night for Suarez.

Reyes Moronta replaced Suarez, and was able to get Anthony Rendon to fly out to Hernandez in centerfield and then Mark Reynolds fouled out to Hanson at third base to end the threat. That was it for Moronta, who picked up his second win of the season.

Matt Adams got the Nationals within one run in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he singled off of former Nationals reliever Mark Melancon.

The Giants broke the game wide open in the top of the seventh inning, as Sandoval singled in Joe Panik, who doubled to right field to lead off the inning. Following the Panik double, Buster Posey singled and then after McCutchen made the first out of the inning, Crawford was hit by a pitch that loaded the bases.

Sandoval then followed Crawford to the plate, and singled to centerfield to score Panik from third base. Evan Longoria, who did not start, came off the bench to pinch hit for Hanson and hit a sacrifice fly that scored Posey and then Hunter Pence put the finishing touches on the scoring, when singled to right field to score Crawford.

NOTES: Dereck Rodriguez will make his second major league start on Saturday, as he takes on Gio Gonzalez.

Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija both threw in the bullpen prior to the game. Samardzija, who is out with right shoulder tightness will throw one more bullpen session and then throw to hitters or make a rehab start. Cueto is likely to throw two more bullpen sessions and then a batting practice before returning from inflammation in his right elbow.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Nationals meet again Saturday at 9:05 am PDT.

NHL Stanley Cup review podcast with Len Shapiro: In the final analysis for the Knights, the Caps just shut their game plans down

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@Golden Knights photo: The Vegas Golden Knights’ Pierre-Edouard Bellemare bags his equipment for the summer saying before leaving, “probably the best experience of my life.”

On the NHL Stanley Cup podcast review with Len:

Len goes over the takeaways from this season’s NHL Stanley Cup Finals first-year franchise team the Vegas Golden Knights and the season they had. The Knights were just out-gunned and out-played in game 5.

The Knights and the Capitals tied up the game twice on Thursday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but in the end the Knights were just no match for the Caps, who won four straight games to win the Stanley Cup. Len also talks about playoff MVP Alex Ovechkin. Also, how the Caps just simply shut down the Knights’ game plan to take them out of the finals.

Len Shapiro did the NHL podcast reports throughout the 2017-18 NHL season for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Surging Giants face tough road test

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

The Giants had a fantastic first week of June, and they have used that momentum to get themselves right back into the National League West race.

Now comes the hard part.

The Giants have won five of their last six games, all of them played inside of AT&T Park, and as a direct result, the Giants are back to .500 and are only 1 ½ games behind the NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks, the team they just took two of three from this week.

Now the Giants will hit the road for a 10-day trip that starts tomorrow in Washington, a city that is buzzing from the NHL’s Capitals winning the Stanley Cup on Thursday. Meanwhile, its baseball team, the Nationals, isn’t playing too bad, either.

The Nationals currently own a 35-25 record and are in a tie atop the National League East with the Atlanta Braves. They have won seven of their last 10 games, but those three losses came against the Braves in a four-game series played last week. They rebounded nicely, however, by sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays in a two-game series.

The Giants will start the series on Friday at Nationals Park with Andrew Suarez (2-4) on the mound against Washington righty Stephen Strasburg (6-5).

Dereck Rodriguez (1-0) picked up his first major-league win on Sunday, giving up a single run to the Phillies in a 6-1 victory, but he will have a daunting task on Saturday when he goes up against Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez (6-2).

To cap off the series, southpaw Derek Holland (3-6) will most certainly have his hands full as he faces righty Max Scherzer (10-1).

A’s score three in the sixth for 4-1 laugher of Royals; Blackburn gets a win

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Photo credit: @Gloves_And_Bats

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — Oakland A’s starter Paul Blackburn was activated off the 60-day DL and made his first start of the year. Blackburn, who missed a lot of time last year due to an injury and suffered a right forearm strain in spring training, was very impressive in his return to action Thursday night against the Kansas City Royals. Blackburn went six innings and allowed just three hits.

The only run the Royals scored came in the third inning when shortstop Alcides Escobar homered. The A’s rallied for three runs in the sixth, and the bullpen shut down the Royals offense as the A’s won the game 4-1.

The A’s tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when Matt Olson blasted his 13th homer of the year over the 388-foot marker in deep right center field. The blast traveled 414 feet. Olson has nine homers in his last 23 games.

In the bottom of the sixth, the A’s put together four hits and a walk that produced three runs and ended Jason Hammel’s night. With one out, A’s DH Khris Davis singled. Hammel walked Matt Olson to put men on at first and second. Matt Chapman hit a towering fly ball to center. Royals’ center fielder Paulo Orlando appeared to have trouble determining where the ball was going to come down. He seemed to be twisting and turning to find the ball, but when he did locate the ball, it was too late as the ball hit the wall for a double. Davis scored, and Olson stopped at third base. Marcus Semien singled to drive in Olson, and that was followed by Stephen Piscotty’s third single of the game to drive in Chapman with the A’s third run of the inning and the fourth of the game. The A’s led 4-1 after six.

A’s manager Bob Melvin used Lou Trivino in the seventh, Yusmeiro Petit in the eighth, and Blake Treinen in the ninth. The relievers did their job to secure the win.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s improve to 32-31. Blackburn won his first game since August 22, 2017, against the Baltimore Orioles. Blackburn is 1-0, and has a 1.50 ERA. Jason Hammel’s record dropped to 2-6.

The A’s line was four runs, nine hits, and no errors. The Royals’ line was one run, four hits, and no errors. It was the Royals’ fifth loss in a row.

To make room for Blackburn on the roster, the A’s optioned catcher Bruce Maxwell to Nashville.

Time of game was two hours and 18 minutes and a sparse crowd of 7,967 fans were on hand to see Blackburn’s return to Oakland.

Up Next: Game 2 of the four-game series will be played Friday night at the Coliseum. Frankie Montas (2-0, ERA 0.64) will pitch for the A’s, and Jakob Junis (5-5, ERA 3.62) will go for Kansas City. Game time is at 7:05 pm PDT.

Kevin Durant will re-sign with the Warriors this summer

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Photo credit: deadspin.com

By: Ana Kieu

As basketball fans wait for the Friday night tipoff for Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Golden State Warriors fans got some good news as All-Star forward Kevin Durant confirmed in an interview with Rachel Nichols of ESPN that he’ll re-sign with Oakland this summer.

Right now, Durant is wrapping up his first year of a two-year, $51 million contract with the Warriors that includes an opt-out clause for the 2018-19 NBA season.

Durant told ESPN, “I’m planning on staying with the Warriors, and we’ll figure the rest out.”

Durant accepted $10 million less than what he could’ve earned in a maximum salary during the 2017-18 NBA season. There weren’t any incentives for Durant to take a reduction in pay, but he took it anyways.

Durant has been the difference maker on the Warriors. Well, at least in Game 3 anyway. In case you missed it, the 29-year-old recorded 43 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. 12 of those 43 points came from three-pointers from 30-plus feet.

Even LeBron James had something good to say about Durant’s stellar performance on Wednesday night.

James told ESPN, “Kevin Durant is one of the best players I’ve ever played against, that this league has ever seen.”

Durant and his business partner Rich Kleiman are expected to go over the possible contract scenarios at the end of the Warriors’ postseason run.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Bochy on Crawford, “You couldn’t ask for a better hitter”

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sfgate.com file photo: San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford had a break out month of May and has started out June with an extra innings game winning base hit on Wednesday afternoon against the Arizona Diamondbacks

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:

The Giants’ run of six wins out of their last seven shows the team has come together like no other time of the season. Giants’ shortstop Brandon Crawford has had a great month of May and continues with a game-winning hit on Wednesday a 10th inning RBI single.

Manager Bruce Bochy said of Crawford, “We couldn’t have asked for a better hitter up there.” The Giants head on a nine-game road trip starting tonight in Washington. The Giants have a road record 12-20 and are looking to improve their record. With what’s happened lately, can the Giants do it?

Hunter Pence made his return on Wednesday with a hit in one at-bat. How much of an impact will he make now that he has returned?

Giants podcasts with Michael Duca and Morris Phillips are heard every week during the Giants season at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports with Tony Renteria: Warriors can very well sweep in four games; Curry could have an night off and W’s still win

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@warriors photo: Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant takes the jumper who piled on 43 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena Wednesday night in game 4

Headline Sports podcast with Tony:

#1 The Warriors Stephen Curry had a off night with just 11 points and it was like one hand tied behind the Warriors back and they still were able to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night in game 3 110-102 at Quicken Loans Arena to take a 3-0 series lead.

#2 With Curry having an 11 point night the rest of the team’s starters Kevin Durant 43 points, seven assists, and 13 rebounds, Draymond Green, JaVale McGee and Klay Thompson each scored 10 points

#3 The Cavaliers who fell eight points short in the loss just couldn’t get over the hump at home past the Warriors. LeBron James scored 33 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds Kevin Love scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and Rodney Hood contributed 15 points off the Cavs’ bench.

#4 From Tony’s point of view when it comes down to it for game four on Friday night does Tony see the Warriors getting a sweep past the Cavs in Cleveland to end the finals.

#5 Green passed former LA Laker Wilt Chamberlain’s for rebounds for 923 rebounds in 100 games as Chamberlain had the 922 mark.

Tony does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsadioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Don’t Mess with Texas as Colon gets most wins by a Dominican pitcher, tying Marichal

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Photo credit: @BR_MLB

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry:

#1 Since pitching a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox, Oakland A’s starter Sean Manaea has struggled. He had a 7.18 ERA in his last six starts and in the six starts before that, he had an 1.03 ERA.

#2 Manaea went 5.1 innings with four hits, two runs, four walks and two strikeouts, against Texas in Tuesday night’s 7-4 loss.

#3 The A’s faced the Texas Rangers on Wednesday and got crushed 8-2. The Rangers starter Bartolo Colon got his 243rd win, tying Juan Marichal’s record for wins the most by a Dominican pitcher.

#4 Colon went five innings, six hits, and gave up two runs. The Rangers’ bullpen held the A’s to no runs for the rest of the ball game and the A’s continued to struggle at the plate.

#5 The A’s are back home Thursday night against the Kansas City Royals to open a four-game series at the Oakland Coliseum after coming off Texas’ two-game sweep. The A’s are looking for their luck to change.

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

Biggest Yet: Hanson, Crawford led Giants to dramatic 5-4 win over the D’Backs in 10 innings

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–A two out, two-run pinch-hit homer in the ninth to tie. One run in the tenth to win.. against the first-place Diamondbacks on getaway day?

Yes, it was unquestionably the Giants’ best win of the season so far.  And one that will be hard to top no matter which path the club takes in the remainder of 2018.

Alen Hanson’s game-tying homer off closer Brad Boxberger was so clutch and dramatic, it may have earned the utilityman a role with the club for the foreseeable future. It was so unfathomable, the entirety of AT&T Park paused as the ball approached the bricks in the right field pavilion, then lost it when the ball landed.

Biggest moment, best hit, best win. This one had the feel.

“Great win for us,” manager Bruce Bochy said.

The Giants are back to .500 again. 31-31, the 13th time they’ve evened their record so far this season. But this time, they finally stood up to Arizona, while capping a terrific, 5-1 home stand.

Until the ninth inning, the Giants were competitive, but inexorably facing a tough defeat. Chris Stratton, looking for his eighth win, was stingy again, but gone in the fifth. Paul Goldschmidt–who had two hits off Stratton–got two more hits after his departure, both scoring runs, and the Diamondbacks appeared safe, leading 4-2, and needing just three more outs.

But Boxberger, looking for his 14th save, and the D-Backs, 29-0 when leading after the eighth inning, came up one out short, because of Hanson.

Through translator Edwin Higueros, Hanson explained his success that has led to six doubles, five home runs and 18 RBI in his first 19 games as a Giant.

“Last year I basically spent the whole year pinch-hitting,” Hanson explained. “I don’t let the situation intimidate me.”

Convinced he would see at least one pitch to drive from Boxberger, Hanson did on the 0-1 pitch that grabbed too much of the plate, and was sent over the right field bricks.

“He killed us this series,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said of Hanson, who had a hit in all three games of the series, despite not starting any of the three.

In the tenth, the table was set when center fielder Jarrod Dyson couldn’t snag Andrew McCutchen’s drive that eluded his glove at the base of the center field wall. Dyson later admitted he saw it initially, but lost in the sun.

That was the only moment the Diamondbacks wished they had back. In the fifth, they loaded the bases, but Will Smith struck out Alex Avila to end the inning. In the sixth, Goldschmidt was thrown out at the plate, the victim of Pablo Sandoval’s perfect throw from first base. And in the tenth, David Peralta’s deep drive danced around the foul pole. Later in that inning, Ketel Marte and Nick Ahmed couldn’t give Arizona a lead with two baserunners aboard.

The Giants’ bullpen–with Reyes Moronta, Tony Watson, Ty Blach (two innings) and Hunter Strickland following Smith–held up, or escaped, depending on your point of view.

The Giants open a 10-game road trip in Washington D.C. on Friday night. Andrew Suarez will be opposed by the Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg in that one.

 

 

 

 

Durant carries Warriors to 110-102 win over Cavs; Golden State one game away from third NBA title in four years

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Photo credit: @NBAJumpshot

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Wednesday, June 6, 2018

LeBron James’ triple-double wasn’t enough, as another lethal third-quarter rally sparked the Golden State Warriors to a 110-102 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loan Arena on Wednesday night.

The Warriors are up three-games-to-none in the best-of-seven series. In NBA playoff history, teams down 3-0 are 0-for-131.

Kevin Durant bagged a game-high 43 points along with with seven assists and 13 rebounds. He also hit 15-of-23 from the field, including 6-of-9 3-pointers, while making all seven of his free throws.

Draymond Green, JaVale McGee and Klay Thompson each scored 10 points. Stephen Curry was held to 11. Green had nine assists and Curry added six assists for the Warriors, who can wrap up their third championship in four years on Friday.

As a team, the Warriors shot 52 percent from the field (42-of-81).

James finished with 33 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, but was held in check down the stretch in the fourth quarter. Kevin Love scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and Rodney Hood contributed 15 points off the Cavs’ bench.

Durant’s 33-foot 3-pointer with 49.8 seconds left in the fourth quarter provided the dagger after Golden State surged ahead to stay minutes earlier on Curry’s 3 with 2:20 remaining.

After Curry’s 3-ball put the Warriors up 101-97, James hit a 3-pointer to pull the Cavaliers to within 101-100. But after Durant’s deep 3-ball, James made a layup, but Golden State responded with Green’s spread-offense layup with 25 seconds left, putting the Warriors up 108-102.

The Cavaliers led by as many as 13 in the second quarter, leading 58-52 at halftime. Golden State opened the third quarter with a 15-3 run.

Cleveland regained the lead at 87-86 with 9:47 left in the fourth quarter, and the lead swung back-and-forth for the next seven minutes.

Green passed Wilt Chamberlain for the Warriors’ total playoff rebound record. Green has 923 boards in 100 playoff games, while Chamberlain pulled down 922 playoff rebounds for the Warriors in 36 contests.

James, meanwhile, broke a tie with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and moved into fourth place for most NBA playoff games played (238).

Up Next: It’s do-or-die for the Cavs in Friday’s Game 4 against the Warriors. Tipoff is set for 6:00 pm PDT on ABC.