SJ Earthquakes leave Philly with a point, end match with a 1-1 draw against the Union

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Photo: @SJEarthquakes

By Alexandra Evans

The San Jose Earthquakes (1-2-1) searched for a win against the Philadelphia Union (1-1-2) on Saturday after coming off of three consecutive losses against Sporting Kansas City, Club Léon, and New York City FC. Neither a win nor a loss occurred against Philadelphia as the game ended in a 1-1 draw at the Talen Energy Stadium Saturday. 

The action was minimal in the first 45 minutes of the match, with the exception of a yellow card for the Union’s David Accam and a goal from Quakes’ Magnus Eriksson at the 37-minute mark, assisted by Danny Hoesen. The Union had nine shots compared to the Quakes’ four, and they had possession of the ball for 57% of the first half. Still, the Quakes were up 1-0.

Following the Quakes’ loss to NYCFC, Eriksson told an MLS reporter: “There are a lot of players in this locker room that hate to lose. Still, we’re going in the right direction.”

Yeferson Quintana received a yellow card 11 minutes into the second half (56-minute mark overall). Defender Shea Salinas replaced Joel Qwiberg for the Quakes at the 58-minute mark, as well as Ilsinho for David Accam on the Union at the 63rd. One minute later, Alejandro Bedoya scored the Union’s first goal (assisted by Fafa Picault) to tie the game 1-1.

After 90 minutes, the game ended with a score of 1-1. The Union heavily exceeded the Quakes in both shots (22 versus nine) and possession of the ball (63% versus 37%). Nonetheless, San Jose did not go home pointless.

Up Next: The Quakes return home at Avaya Stadium on Saturday, April 14 to host the Houston Dynamo. Kick off is at 7:15 p.m. PT. 

Barracuda sweep home-and-home series with 7-3 win over Heat

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Barracuda (31-26-4-4), with their backs against the wall, received the game-winning goal from defenseman Julius Bergman seven minutes into the third period, where they scored four unanswered goals, to defeat the Stockton Heat (32-27-2-4) 7-3 and swept the home-and-home series on Saturday afternoon at the SAP Center. The Cuda’s current three-game win streak have their playoff hopes still hanging by a thread.

Ivan Chekhovich, playing in only his third game for San Jose, skated down the left boards, and passed it back to the right slot where Bergman fired a shot top-shelf in the left corner beating Heat goalie David Rittich (7-5-0) for his 10th goal of the season at the 7:12 mark of the third period. Rourke Chartier received the secondary assist.

“Got a great pass in the middle,” said Bergman on eventual game winning goal. “Just trying to find a hole. Shot it there and it went in.”

San Jose continued its hot streak on the power play. Adam Helewka fed a pass down low to Alex True, who then sent a cross-ice pass through the crease over to Middleton. His shot ricochet off Dalton Prout’s skate into the net past Rittich. Middleton’s sixth goal of the season came at the 6:44 mark of the first period.

Stockton would answer back before the fans had a chance to sit back down in their seats. Just 13 seconds later, Oliver Kylington pinched in from the point as Brett Findley sent over a cross-ice pass that found Kylington all alone in the right slot and he snapped a wrist shot past Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau (21-14-4) for his sixth goal of the season.

Stockton would take the lead after a pretty tic-tac-toe goal scored by Emile Poirier. Mike McMurtry skated along the right board and fed the puck over to Ryam Lomberg. Lomberg one-timed a pass between his legs over to Poirier, who quickly shot the puck past Bibeau for his sixth goal of the season at the 15:03 mark.

Rittich made two point-blank saves with under two minutes left in the period on shots by Nick DeSimone and Rudolfs Balcers to keep the score 2-1 heading into the first intermission. San Jose outshot Stockton 12-4.

Chartier breakaway attempt was stopped by Rittich midway the second period. Bibeau stopped a point-blank chance on a 2-on-1 less than a minute later.

“I think we’re just having fun,” said Bibeau regarding his the Cuda’s three-game win streak. “I don’t think we’re thinking too much about (getting into the) playoffs right now. Everyone is playing well right now and we’re just having fun.”

San Jose tied it up after a shot by True ricochet off Rittich right to Colby McAuley, who tapped in a rebound into the empty net. McAuley skated into the middle of the slot, fed a pass over to True, who fired a shot on Rittich that went back to McAuley for his fourth goal of the season at the 14:09 mark. Radim Simek received the secondary assist.

Emerson Clark gave the Cuda the lead when he scored off a mad scramble in front of the net. Tim Heed’s shot trickled all the way through to the net, Manny Wiederer poked at the puck twice in front of Rittich before the puck squeezed out to a crashing Clark who punched it home for his ninth goal of the season at the 16:01 mark. Noah Rod received the secondary assist.

Colin Smith tied the game up on a 3-on-2 rush. Dillion Dube started the rush at center ice, fed a pass over to the left slot to Morgan Klimchuck, who fired a pass over to a wide-open Smith in between the circles, who snapped home the puck past Bibeau for his ninth goal of the season at the 4:07 mark of the third period.

True gave the Cuda a two-goal lead at the 9:41 mark when McAuley skated in from the red line, went through two Heat defenders and passed over to a wide-open True just to the right of the crease, who buried the puck into an empty net for his 13th goal of the season.

Balcers made his way into the goal party as he danced his way all the way up to an empty net, with Rittich pulled for an extra attacker, for his team leading 22nd goal of the season at the 17:47 mark to give the Cuda 6-3 lead.

Sasha Chmelevski completed the scoring on a 2-on-1 break with Adam Helewka. Helewka skated in, fed a pass over to Chmelevski, who made a nice move around Rittich and slid the puck into an empty net for his second goal in three games at the 18:47 mark.

“We got a lot of juice in the our lineup right now,” said head coach Roy Sommer. “With the kids that we brought in and they’ve played really well and made a big difference.”

Bibeau had another strong showing in net, making 21 saves on 24 saves to earn the victory. Rittich made 27 saves on 32 shots, suffering the defeat.

GAME NOTES: San Jose went 1/2 on the power play. It was the eighth consecutive game the Cuda have scored a power-play goal.

Stockton went 0/2. They were 0/8 in the two-game series.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda travel to Bakersfield to take on the Condors on Wednesday, April 11 at 6:30 pm PT.

NHL Podcast with Matt Harrington: Ducks making a bid for second tonight; If Sharks win tonight, they’ll finish second in Division; Pens get a shutout against Sens

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photo from bayareanewsgroup.com: Sharks forward Evander Kane (9) takes a shot against the Vegas Golden Knights in a game at SAP Center in San Jose on March 22.

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 The Anaheim Ducks Jakob Silfverberg made all the difference in Friday night’s game with a goal and two assists with the win. The Ducks can clinch a second spot in the Pacific Division if the San Jose Sharks lose to Minnesota tonight in San Jose.

#2 The Sharks coming off an important 4-2 win past the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday snapped their four-game losing streak and want to hold onto the home ice advantage and need tonight’s game with Minnesota badly.

#3 The Pittsburgh Penguins Sydney Crosby and Jake Guentzel took shots against the Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson for goals and Pittsburgh goalie Casey DeSmith stopped 34 shots to shutout the Sens 4-0.

#4 The St Louis Blues’ Patrik Berglund got a hat trick with three goals and got the go-ahead goal in the third period as the Blues go onto beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1.

#5 The Tampa Bay Lighting continued to win with Nikita Kucherov reached 100 points for the 2017-18 season and is the second NHL player to reach 100 points. Kucherov’s points helped the Bolts beat the Buffalo Sabres 7-5.

Matt Harrington is covering the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs with the San Jose Sharks at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Kings surprise Grizzlies with a 94-93 win at the buzzer on the road in Memphis

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Kings vs MEM final

by Charlie O. Mallonee

Just 6.4-seconds remained on the clock in the fourth quarter in Memphis when the Kings called timeout. Dillon Brooks had just buried a 25-foot 3-point jump shot to give the Memphis Grizzlies a 93-92 lead. The Kings were in need of a quick miracle if they were going to leave the home of Graceland with a victory.

Sacramento inbounded the ball and it ended up in the hands of Bogdan Bogdanovic – who had suffered a horrible shooting night – with 1.5-seconds to go in the game. “Bogie” drove on the bucket and pulled up from 16-feet out to sink a two-point basket that gave the Kings a 94-93 advantage. Memphis called an immediate timeout.

With 1.1-seconds to go in the game, the Grizzlies attempted to inbound the ball at midcourt but – yes, you guessed it – Bogdanovic was there to make the steal and the Kings would win the game 94-93.

The King’s record improved to 26-54 on the year while the Grizzlies dropped to 21-58 for the season.

It really wasn’t a very exciting game

Bogi vs Mem
Bogdanovic – Kings star of the game Photo: @SacramentoKings

As exciting as the ending was, the rest of the game was not that thrilling. In fact, the game was really very boring much of the time. The Kings did not hit a 3-pointer (0-for-6) in the first half. They went just 2-for-6 from the free throw line.

The Grizzlies most notable starter was Ben McLemore to go with the Brooks brothers (no not the suit guys) and two other players you have probably never heard of or have seen in an NBA box score before.

Memphis is in full “tankathon” mode. They currently have the second-worst record in the NBA and could be in contention for the number one draft pick if the ping pong balls would fall the right way. The Grizzlies have lost four games in a row and are 2-8 in their last 10 games. Still, they appeared to want to beat their old coach Dave Joerger on Friday night on their home court.

The Kings certainly started slow and really should be in “tankathon” mode. Sacramento has no first-round draft pick in 2019, so their 2018 selection has to a great one – a home run if you will. Their only goal should be to move up in the lottery standings, but on Friday night winning for their coach versus his former team seemed to take over other goals. But until the fourth quarter, it was really a boring contest.

Coach Joerger looked happy after the game

Dave Joerger did have a look of satisfaction on his face after his team delivered a win to him in Memphis on Friday night. Joerger was the Grizzlies head coach for four seasons and the win appeared to be a bit of sweet revenge for the Kings head coach who would no doubt deny its importance.

The win also had to please Zach Randolph – who was given the night off – and Vince Carter who both played for Memphis before joining the Kings.

Top Performances

Kings starting 5 Mem

Kings

  • Willie Cauley-Stein was the Kings leading scorer with 18 points in the game. He also grabbed eight rebounds, made three assists, made two steals and blocked two shots.
  • Buddy Hield scored 14 points coming off the bench to go with a team-high six assists and five rebounds.
  • Justin Jackson had another solid game scoring 13 points in almost 30-minutes on the floor. Jackson shot 5-for-10 overall and 3-for-6 from behind the 3-point line. His 3-pointer with 17.2-seconds to go in the game gave the Kings the lead and the momentum to keep them in the game.
  • De’Aaron Fox put 13 points in the book shooting 5-for-13 from the field. He also hauled in six rebounds and dished out four assists.
  • Two-way player JaKarr Sampson also had a very nice night as a starter posting 11 points and pulling down six rebounds in just over 24-minutes of playing time.

Grizzlies

  • It was a huge night for the “Brooks Brothers” in Memphis on Friday. MarShon scored a game-high 23 points to go along with eight rebounds. Dillon put up 16 points and distributed six assists in the Grizzlies losing effort.
  • Ivan Rabb recorded a double-double by scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
  • Kobi Simmons and Omari Johnson scored 11 points each in the game.

Up Next

Sacramento

The Kings play their final road game of the season on Monday night in San Antonio.

Memphis

The Grizzlies host the Pistons in their home finale on Sunday.

 

 

Chapman Error, Five-Run Seventh Inning Helps Angels Stun A’s 13-9

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Matthew Harrington

The Oakland A’s bullpen surrendered eight runs, turning a 6-1 lead into a 13-9 loss Friday night to the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium The A’s mashed five homers, but Daniel Gossett couldn’t escape the fourth inning after allowing five runs. A’s manager Bob Melvin’s bullpen struggled to close out the contest over their 4 2/3 innings. Shohei Ohtani hit his third homer of the season and Justin Upton launched a three-run shot for the Halos. Los Angeles starter Parker Bridwell didn’t escape the second inning.

Oakland carried a 9-7 lead heading into the seventh inning, but the Angels scored five to take the lead. Andrelton Simmons singled and Jefry Marte doubled off reliever Ryan Buchter to put two runners in scoring position with no out. Ohtani grounded out without plating a run, then Matt Chapman made a sensational snare of a Martin Maldonado liner to the third baseman’s right to keep both runners from advancing.

Melvin went to his bullpen, calling on closer Blake Treinen and his blazing fastball to close out the Angels’ threat. The new school method of bringing your closer in at a moment of high leverage, despite the inning blew up in the A’s face when Matt Champman’s throw on a Zack Cozart grounder went errant, allowing Simmons and Marte to score and tie the game. Treinen issued a free pass to perennial threat Mike Trout to put runners on first and second, but Justin Upton golfed a 96 mph 3-2 sinker to deep center field for a three-run jack and a 12-9 Angels lead.

Treinen (0-1, 0.00 ERA) would be tagged with the loss, but all runs in the seventh were unearned, thanks to the Chapman error. Santiago Casilla would allow another run in the bottom of the eighth on a wild pitch.

Parker Bridwell was on his way to a lopsided loss before the rally. Jed Lowrie hit a solo homer in the top of the first for a 1-0 edge. Matt Chapman scored on a wild pitch in the second, then Stephen Piscotty scored on a sacrifice fly. Matt Joyce hit a two-run homer, while Marcus Semien went back-to-back for the 6-0 lead.

The Angels got a run back in the bottom of the second, thanks to their two-way phenom Ohtani. The DH took a fastball from Gossett deep for his third homer of the season. Ohtani will also pitch on Sunday.

The Angels rallied for four more runs off Gossett in the bottom of the fourth on RBI hits by Simmons, Valbuena and Maldonado. Matt Chapman took Cam Bedrosian deep in the top of the fifth inning with Matt Olson on base to give Oakland back an 8-5 lead, but Simmons would knock in another run off Yusmeiro Petit in the bottom of the fifth and Liam Hendriks would walk Ohtani with the bases loaded for a 8-7 A’s lead.

Matt Olson took former A’s closer Jim Johnson deep in the top of the fateful seventh inning, hitting his second homer of the season to give the A’s the 9-7 edge before the collapse by the pen in the bottom of the inning. Johnson (1-0, 1.42) vultured the win by pitching in the inning before the breakout.

Game Notes: The A’s get some reinforcements Saturday, with recent waiver claim Trayce Thompson, brother of hoopster Klay, expected to join the team.

Gossett is expected to be sent down in a corresponding move with the A’s not needing a fifth starter in the rotation due to three off days in two upcoming weeks.

They’ll send Andrew Triggs to the mound for Saturday night’s tilt in Southern California. The right-hander is 0-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 7 K’s from his April 2nd start against Texas. The A’s won that game 3-1.

The Angels send JC Ramirez and his seven-plus ERA to the hill.

Up Next: The A’s and Angels meet again Saturday night at 6:07 pm PT.

Barracuda keep hope alive as they cool off the Heat 6-2

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

Desperate times call for desperate hockey. The San Jose Barracuda (30-26-4-4) gave their fading playoff hopes a shot in the arm as six different goal scorers powered the way to a  6-2 victory over the Stockton Heat (32-26-2-4) on Friday evening at Stockton Arena.

San Jose’s victory along with the Texas Stars’ 3-2 shootout loss to the Rockford IceHogs kept the Barracuda mathematically alive. They will need to win out and need Texas to lose out in order to make the playoffs.

The Cuda would get off to the start it wanted midway through the first period. Manny Wiederer’s wrist shot pinballed off of Heat goalie David Rittich’s (7-4-0) equipment and before he could corral the puck it went his under the right arm into the back of the net. The rookie forward’s eighth goal of the season came at the 9:20 mark. Radim Simek and Noah Rod received assists on the goal.

Stockton generated a couple of scoring chances late in the first period, but weren’t able to get a puck past Cuda goalie Stephon Williams (2-1-0). They outshot San Jose 8-5 in the first period.

A close call early in the second period almost resulted in a goal for Stockton on the power play. A one-timer shot from the point deflected on Williams and off his pads as it was laying in the crease that created a mad scramble in front of the net. The Cuda were able to clear the puck with no harm done.

Noah Rod, playing just his seventh career game, gave the Cuda a 2-0 lead when he scored his first career AHL goal. Rod was able to pounce on a rebound off a Julius Bergman shot and back-handed the puck top-shelf past Rittich at the 9:20 mark of the second period. Emerson Clark received the secondary assist.

Rudolfs Balcers continued his sensational rookie season when he scored his team leading 21st goal of the season after receiving a pass from Rourke Chartier, he was able to collect his own rebound on his initial shot and fired it home past Rittich at the 13:47 mark.

Stockton would get on the board when Mike McMurtry scored his fifth goal of the season exactly a minute later. Emile Poirier’s shot pinballed off Williams and McMurtry punched home the rebound at the 14:47 mark. Ryan Lomberg received the secondary assist.

San Jose regained their three-goal lead just 50 seconds into the third period. Tim Heed, in his fifth game with the Cuda, scored his first goal on the season on the power play. Heed blasted a shot from the right point inside the near post past Rittich. Jacob Middelton and Alex True received assists on the goal.

Williams made a great save while Stockton was on the power play five minutes into the period. He had lost his stick during a mad scramble, but was able to use a defenseman’s stick and reached back across the crease to stop a shot that was headed for an empty net.

Chartier put the game away with his sixth goal of the season at the 13:40 mark. The Cuda had sustained pressure inside the Heat zone as Ivan Chekhovich fed Chartier, who snapped home the puck inside the post. The goal snapped a 12-game goalless drought for Chartier. Balcers received the secondary assist.

Lomberg tipped home the puck past Williams from a shot from the point. McMurtry sent a shot toward the net that Lomberg was able to deflect home for his 10th goal of the season at the 16:40 mark.

Chekhovic iced the game with an empty-netter for his second goal in as many games to close out the scoring at the 17:46 mark. Chartier received the only assist on the goal.

Williams made 22 saves on 24 shots to earn the victory. Rittich made 16 saves on 21 shots in the defeat.

GAME NOTES: San Jose went 1/2 on the power play. Stockton was 0/6.

This was the 10th meeting of the season between the two teams. They play each other twice more in the final four games of the regular season.

Brodie Dupont gave a hard check on Zach Frye that cause some pushing and shoving after the whistle late in the first period.

Heed’s power play goal made it seven consecutive games with a power play goal for San Jose. They are 10/29 in their last seven games on the power play.

With the FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT! Colby McAuley and Luke Gazdic exchanged fisticuffs with less than two minutes left in the game.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda take on the Stockton Heat to close out the home-and-home series on Saturday at 1:15 pm PT at SAP Center.

Kings Press Row Podcast: April 5, 2018, When does the “tankathon” begin?

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press row podcast

hosts Jordan “Chape” Chapin and Charlie O. Mallonee

  • Why did the Kings win in “Laker Land”?

  • What the heck happened to the Kings in PHX?

  • Should the Kings dive into the tank for the rest of the season?

  • Why haven’t the Kings been playing the tanking game?

  • Who could be the Kings selection in the 2018 NBA Draft?

  • What type of players are going to be available in the draft?

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants offense awakens after Wed’s 10-1 laugher against Seattle; Rain out shortens series to two games with Dodgers this weekend

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Photo credit: @HunterPence

On the Giants podcast with Michael;

#1 The San Francisco Giants are coming off a two game win split with the Seattle Mariners last Tuesday and Wednesday. All the talk has been about the Giants breaking out the bats in their 10-1 win.

#2 Some of the hits were from some of the guys that were expected to get around on the ball and it was a break out for some of those guys

#3 It seemed like they went out and were comfortable at the plate and just played their kind of game on offense

#4 Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto had his second good outing on Wednesday he allowed only one run against the Seattle Mariners in the 10-1 win

#5 The NL Champions the Los Angeles Dodgers are back at AT&T Park they’ve come out with a slow start at 2-5 but never underestimate them they can have a break out series and as Giants manager Bruce Bochy says don’t let that record fool you.

#6 If the Dodgers-Giants are rained out tonight a doubleheader will be scheduled for over the weekend

Michael Duca does the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

SF Giants’ series opener against Dodgers postponed due to rain; make up doubleheader Apr 28th

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Photo credit: sf.curbed.com photo

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — It does not happen to the San Francisco Giants in the Bay Area often, but it happened in the first two weeks of the season.

The Giants’ series opener against the defending National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers is being postponed due to rain.

With the rainout tonight, tomorrow’s game will now begin at 3:05 pm instead of the scheduled 1:05 pm start due to the weather. Derek Holland will start for the Giants, as his home debut will be pushed back one day.

The makeup game between the Giants and Dodgers will now be part of a day-night doubleheader that will take place on Saturday April 28, as the first game will begin at 1:05 pm and the scheduled 6:05 pm game for that night will be pushed back to a 7:05 pm start.

This is the first rainout at AT&T Park since April 12, 2006, when the Giants game against the Houston Astros postponed due to rain. That was the second game in a row that the Giants and Astros were postponed by rain, as the game on April 11 was also postponed.

Since moving into AT&T Park in 2000, this is only the sixth rainout and the second against the Dodgers. The game between the Giants and Dodgers was also was on April 12, 2003.

Other Giants games postponed since moving to AT&T Park came in the first month that the park opened back in 2000, as the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks was postponed due to rain with then President Bill Clinton in attendance. Just three weeks later, the game against the Colorado Rockies was also postponed due to rain.

In the 60-year history that the Giants have been in San Francisco, this is just the 33rd postponement. A game on May 1, 1992 against the Philadelphia Phillies was postponed due to a city curfew.

NHL podcast with Joe Lami: Sharks get key goals late against Avalanche; LA’s Brown four goals just enough to get by Wild; third period goals help Preds edge Caps

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Photo credit: @SportsCentre

On the NHL podcast with Joe:

#1 The San Jose Sharks got some key goals from Logan Couture, Joonas Donskoi, and Thomas Hertl in the third period to get a huge win past the Colorado Avalanche 4-2. The four-game skid is over.

#2 Dustin Brown scored his fourth goal for the LA Kings against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night to help the Kings get by 5-4. The win puts the Kings a point ahead of the Anaheim Ducks in division play.

#3 The Nashville Predators Craig Smith got two goals and Ryan Johansen put away the go-ahead goal in the third period as the Predators clinched for first place in the central divsion 4-3 over the Washington Capitals in Washington on Thursday night.

#4 The Pittsburgh Penguins squeezed out a close contest 5-4 over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Jackets’ Phil Kessel got the overtime goal at 1:06 for the win.

#5 The Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid was a beast on Thursday as McDavid picked up three assists for 106 total points for the season. The Oilers got to meet a very physical Vegas Golden Knights team that has been a very difficult team to beat.

Joe Lami does the NHL podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsrsadioservice.com