Cain’s career ends with a heartbreaking loss to Pads 3-2

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain raises his arms walking to the dugout after pitching in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in San Francisco. Cain made his final start after announcing his retirement. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-On the day where Matt Cain pitched the final game of his 13-year career, he was not able to get the win.

Austin Hedges hit a two-run double with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, as the San Diego Padres came back to defeat the San Francisco Giants 3-2 before a crowd of 40,394, at AT&T Park.

Down to his last strike, Hedges hit a ball over the head of Hunter Pence in right field to score Christian Villanueva and Cory Spangenberg.

Cain was sharp in the final start of his career, and was in line for the win; however, the bullpen was unable to hold the lead that Pence gave them in the bottom of the third inning.

Pence narrowly beat out a Carlos Asuaje throw to first base that Pablo Sandoval to score from third base, as the Giants took a 1-0 lead.

Pence drove in Ryder Jones with a single in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Giants a 2-1 lead.

Cain went five innings, allowing just two hits, while striking out five and left to a standing ovation from the fans.

Not only did Cain receive a standing ovation from the fans, but every member of the Giants staff and players hugged 32-year old right-hander. The Padres also showed their respect, as they applauded for their longtime rival as he left the field for the final time.

Reyes Moronta blew the save in the top of the sixth inning, as he gave up the game-tying home run to Wil Myers.

It was the 30th home run of the season for Myers, becoming the first Padres player to top the 30-home run plateau since Chase Headley did so when he hit 31 in 2012. This was the sixth home run of the season for Myers.

Jhoulys Chacin pitched six strong innings in his last game of the season for the Padres, as he gave up one run on five hits, walking two and striking out six. Chacin finished the season with a record of 13-10.

During his career, Cain was a part of 109 no-decisions since 2005, which ranks as the third-most in the major leagues during that period. In 44 of those 109 games, Cain left the game with the lead

Not only did Cain receive a standing ovation from the fans, but every member of the Giants staff and players hugged 32-year old right-hander. The Padres also showed their respect, as they applauded for their longtime rival as he left the field for the final time.

Cain is just the fourth player to play at least 10 years and just wear the Giants uniform, joining Jim Davenport, Scott Garrelts and Robby Thompson.

Even though he did not fare in the decision, Cain ended his career with a 10-game losing streak, the longest of his career and the longest by a Giants pitcher since Rod Beck lost 11 in a row from August 21, 1995 thru April 29, 1997.

The right-hander ended his career at AT&T Park with a record of 60-60 in 179 regular season games.

NOTES: Johnny Cueto will close out the season for the Giants, as he takes the mound one last time, as he looks for his ninth win of the season. Like the Giants, the Padres season will come to a close on Sunday as well and they will send Luis Perdomo to the mound in the season finale.

The ninth inning loss was just the fourth loss of the season by the Giants after they entered the eighth inning with a lead. Coming into the game, the Giants were 49-3.

Rangers end seven game losing streak beating the Athletics 5-3 Friday night

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a's nunez hr

by Charlie O. Mallonee

Game 160 is in the books for the Oakland Athletics and it will go into the loss column as the Texas Rangers won the game 5-3. After falling behind early in the game, the A’s fought their way back into the contest but could not overcome the Rangers five-run lead.

The end of a dream

The Athletics (74-86) went into the final four-game series in Texas with the goal of catching the Rangers in the standings and finishing the season in a tie for fourth-place in the American League West. The only way that could happen was for the A’s to sweep the series in Arlington. That cannot happen now and the A’s will finish alone in last place in the West.

Perez gets his revenge

The A’s chased Martin Perez from the game last Sunday in Oakland when they scored five runs off him in the bottom of the fifth-inning. Perez went to the showers after 4.2-innings on the mound and was tagged with the loss as the Athletics completed a sweep of the Rangers.

On Friday night, Perez worked 6.0 — innings giving up three runs (all earned) off five hits. He walked two and struck out two A’s. Perez allowed one home run.

Three Texas relief pitchers worked one inning each and allowed no runs and no hits in their time on the mound. The relievers worked the principle of the “Goose Eggs” to perfection. By allowing no runs in their three innings of relief work, they preserved the win for Perez.

Nunez chased Perez from the game

In the top of the seventh inning, Perez walked the leadoff batter Khris Davis. He then gave up a single to Ryon Healy that allowed Davis to move up to second base. That brought rookie Renato Nunez to the plate who took a 1-2 Perez fastball over the wall in right-center field for a three-run home run — the first of his MLB career. Unfortunately for the A’s, that would be the end of their scoring for the night.

Alcantara takes the loss

a's alcan tex

Raul Alcantara made another start for Oakland on Friday night. He struggled in his 4.1-innings of work. Alcantara allowed four runs (all earned) on five hits. He walked two, struck out two and allowed one home run. Alcantara (1-2) was tagged with the loss.

The A’s used four relief pitchers. Moll gave up a run while Castro, Casilla and Coulombe were able to post “Goose Eggs”.

Texas was efficient at the plate

a's andrus

The Rangers scored five runs off nine hits while leaving six runners on base. They were 2-for-3 with runners in scoring position.

  • Shin-Soo Choo tied a career high by hitting his 22nd home run of the season with a runner on base raising his RBI total to 78.
  • Elvis Andrus hit his 43rd double of the year.
  • DH Nomar Mazara went 2-for-4 with two RBI and run scored. He raised his RBI total to 99 for 2017.
  • Rookie Willie Calhoun — who was born in Vallejo — went 3-for-4 in the game with an RBI.

A’s with the bats

  • Jed Lowrie broke the all-time Oakland record for doubles in a season when he hit number 48 off Perez Friday night. Jason Giambi was the previous record holder with 47.
  • The A’s scored three runs on seven hits while leaving seven men on base.
  • Oakland went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

Up next on Saturday

The A’s will send right-hander Daniel Gossett (1-4, 6.81) to the hill to face the Rangers RHP Andrew Cashner (7-4, 3.42). First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.

Photos by USA Today Sports Andrew Dieb

Stratton thrives for spot in 2018 rotation

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Chris Stratton works against the San Diego Padres during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-What a nice night for the San Francisco Giants to get some offense, especially with 100 losses looming on the horizon.

Well, with their 8-0 victory over the San Diego Padres, the Giants’ chances to lose 100 games is nil, as the team won their 63rd game against 97 losses.

The 1985 Giants remain the only team in team history to ever lose 100 games in a season, and the next season, the Giants won 79 games and in 1987, they won their first National League Western Division Championship since 1971.

Chris Stratton pitched a great game, as he went 6.2 innings, allowing zero runs on six hits, while walking two and striking out seven and the right-hander finished the 2017 season with a record of 4-4.

Buster Posey got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning, as he drove in Joe Panik, who singled with one out in the inning. Brandon Crawford then drove in Posey with a single and then Pablo Sandoval made it three run scoring hits in a row, as he doubled in Crawford for the third and final run of the inning.

All was quiet on the Shores of McCovey Cove until the bottom of the fourth inning, when the Giants erupted for four runs to extend their lead up to 7-0.

Panik got the party started in the bottom of the fourth inning, as after Nick Hundley and Stratton made the first two outs of the inning, Hunter Pence began a streak of five straight Giants players to reach base.

It was a big night for Panik, as he went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and a run batted in.

Hunter Pence singled then Panik doubled him in, then Posey hit his second of three doubles to score Panik and then Crawford singled in both Denard Span, who walked and Posey.

The Giants added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Posey hit his third double of the night that scored Pence.

All three of Posey’s doubles ended with a run scoring, as the Giants got their biggest run differential win since June 2, when Ty Blach shutout the Philadelphia Phillies 10-0.

NOTES: Matt Cain will make his final start of his 13-year major league career on Saturday afternoon, as he will face Jhoulys Chacin, who is looking for his 14th win of the season.

This will be the 331st and final start for Cain in his career, the second most in San Francisco Giants history behind Juan Marichal who made 446 starts for the Giants.

On the 63rd anniversary of Willie Mays famous catch in Game One of the 1954 World Series, Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert Manfred announced that the World Series MVP Award will be renamed the Willie Mays World Series Most Valuable Player, this is effective with the 2017 World Series.

San Francisco Giants honor Hundley wins Willie Mac Award

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AP File Photo: San Francisco Giants’ Nick Hundley signals to the infielders during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks defeated the Giants 4-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-In his first year with the San Francisco Giants, Nick Hundley was awarded the most prestigious award that the organization gives out.

Hundley received the 37th annual Willie Mac Award, as voted on by Giants players, coaches, training staff, clubhouse staff, the fans and Willie McCovey himself.

The backup catcher is hitting .246 with nine home runs and 34 runs batted in, while appearing in 99 games this season. Hundley started 63 games behind the plate, while 32 of his 69 hits on the season have been for extra bases.

Hundley is the eighth player in the history of the award to win it in his first season with the team, joining the likes of Mark Leiter, Shawon Dunston, Benito Santiago, David Bell, Marquis Grissom, Mike Matheny and Bengie Molina.

Here is a list of all the winners.

1980 Jack Clark

1981 Larry Herndon

1982 Joe Morgan

1983 Darrell Evans

1984 Bob Brenly

1985 Mike Krukow

1986 Mike Krukow

1987 Chris Speier

1988 Jose Uribe

1989 Dave Dravecky

1990 Steve Bedrosian

1991 Robby Thompson

1992 Mike Felder

1993 Kirt Manwaring

1994 None

1995 Mark Leiter

Mark Carreon

1996 Shawon Dunston

1997 J.T. Snow

1998 Jeff Kent

1999 Marvin Benard

2000 Ellis Burks

2001 Mark Gardner

Benito Santiago

2002 David Bell

2003 Marquis Grissom

2004 J.T. Snow

2005 Mike Matheny

2006 Omar Vizquel

2007 Bengie Molina

2008 Bengie Molina

2009 Matt Cain

2010 Andres Torres

2011 Ryan Vogelsong

2012 Buster Posey

2013 Hunter Pence

2014 Madison Bumgarner

2015 Matt Duffy

2016 Brandon Crawford

Javier Lopez

2017 Nick Hundley

San Francisco 49ers Podcast with Joe Lami: 49ers have shown flashes but need to put one in the win column

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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has his eyes on the play during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, September 17, 2017, in Seattle, WA. The Seahawks won the game 12-9. (Terrell Lloyd via AP Images)

On the 49ers Podcast with Joe:

1 Despite losing their last three games Joe talks about the 49ers showing some signs of improvement

2 They played a tough game at Levis Stadium Thursday Sep 21st rallying in the second half for 24 points in 26 plays.

3 In the rally how much credit does 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer get

4 Joe talks about how much planning that head coach Kyle Shanahan had to put in to makes some of the plays work

5 The 49ers are all set for action for this Sunday in Arizona Joe talks about how he likes this match up

Joe Lami is a beat writer for San Francisco 49ers football and Daniel Dullum will be filling in for Joe this Sunday in Arizona at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Headline Sports Podcast with London Marq: Taking a look at MLB’s post season teams and whose favored to win it

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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig leaves the batter’s box on a home run while San Diego Padres catcher Austin Hedges, right, and starting pitcher Clayton Richard watch during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

On the Headline Sports Podcast with London:

London takes a look at each Major League team to see how they’ll fair in this year’s post season. Amongst those that London will take a look at:

American League

1 Cleveland

2 Houston

3 Boston

4 New York Yankees (wild card)

5 Minnesota (wild card)

National League

1 Los Angeles

2 Washington

3 Chicago

4  Arizona (wild card)

5 Colorado (wild card)

London Marq does the Headline Sports Podcast each Friday for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Categories MLB

Oakland Raiders Podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Raiders make another try at the win column in Denver after last Sunday’s debacle in Washington

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Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch (24) rushes during the NFL game between the Oakland Raiders and the Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Maryland. Scott Taetsch/CSM (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

On Oakland Raiders Podcast with J Hawkes:

#1 The Raiders certainly let down Sunday night 27-10 in Washington

#2 On the offensive side of the ball Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins was named NFL Player of the Week after a 365 yard performance against the Raiders

#3 How frustrating was it for the Raiders defense to get at Cousins it seems like he had all night to throw the ball

#4 Cousins is so popular not only in Washington but in the nation. He’s been trending big on the social networks, TV and on radio

#5 The Raiders 2-1 take another shot at it again this time their in Denver against the Broncos who are also 2-1

Joe Hawkes Beamon covers the Oakland Raiders in Denver this Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

San Jose Barracuda Thursday post game wrap: Condors line up to find back of the net blank Cuda in pre season opener 6-0

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sjbarracuda.com photo: San Jose Barracuda goaltender Antoine Bibeau (34) was kept busy all night facing a barrage of shots in a 6-0 loss in Bakersfield in Thursday night’s first pre season game

by Marko Ukalovic

The opening game of the pre-season wasn’t a pretty sight for the San Jose Barracuda as they were blanked by the Bakersfield Condors 6-0 at Rabobank Arena. San Jose couldn’t complain about not getting their chances. They received 4 power plays in the first period only to come up with what the Condor left on the rock. Overall they failed on 5 power play opportunities during the game.

Newly acquired goaltender Eddie Pasquale (1-0) stopped all 17 shots he faced in route to the shut out. Pasquale led the Grand Rapids Griffins to the Calder Cup Championship last season. The Condors are hoping to get that kind of quality goaltending out of Pasquale this season.

The Condors got on the board at 13:51 of the first period when Braden Christoffer back handed in a rebound while being left alone after Barracuda goalie Antoine Bibeau initially stopped Ben Betker’s shot from the left point. Bakersfield added to its lead at 14:38 as Keegan Lowe beat a screened Bibeau through the five-hole along the right half-wall, and then the Condors completed the three-goal first when Josh Currie ripped a shot from close range over the blocker of San Jose’s netminder after receiving a below the goal-line feed from Zach O’Brien. San Jose was outshot in the first 20 minutes 14-to-11.

The carnage continued for Bakersfield in the second period, adding two more goals to go up 5-0. First, Dana Tyrell tipped an Evan Polei shot at 4:26 and then Lane Bauer ended Bibeau’s night and gave Bakersfield a 5-0 lead at 6:06. Down 5-0, San Jose looked to push back physically as Bryan Moore dropped the gloves with 6-foot-5 defenseman Ryan Mantha at 6:47, and then San Jose’s Josh Thrower threw punches with Istvan Sofron at 13:43. Bibeau lasted just 33 minutes and 43 seconds after allowing five goals on 22 shots.

In the third, goalie Stephon Williams worked the final six minutes and 17 seconds of the frame. Williams was forced to make a handful of stellar saves, but Condors’ Kyle Platzer made it 6-0 with a backhand-to-forehand move on a breakaway down the right wing at 11:07. Williams allowed one goal on 14 shots.

NEXT UP: The Barracuda take on the Stockton Heat on Saturday, Sept. 30 at SAP Center at 1:30 p.m for their second and final pre-season game.

San Francisco Giants report: 100-loss mark is still reachable for Giants

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Photo credit: San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants)

By Jeremy Harness

 SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants can make some history this weekend, but it’s surely not the kind they were looking for.

 See, they currently sport a 62-97 record, which is at press time the worst record in the entire major leagues, and they have a three-game series against the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park this weekend to close out the series.

 If you do the math, the Giants have a chance to lose 100 games in a season for the first time in quite some time. The Giants have lost 100 games or more only once in franchise history, as the 1985 team went 62-100.

 It was the year that Jim Davenport was fired in midseason and replaced by Roger Craig and finished sixth in the National League West, back when there were only two divisions in each league.

 If history is any indicator, things could quickly be looking up for the Giants. With Craig no longer the interim manager, the Giants quickly righted the ship the next season, finishing 83-79 and a third-place finish in the division before winning the NL West in 1987.

 In the meantime, however, it is not looking good at all, and the Giants do not want it to be historically bad when Sunday comes to a close.

 What is also coming to a close along with the season on Sunday as Matt Cain’s career. The veteran righty has said that he will retire at year’s end, forgoing free agency as this is the final year of his contract. He will take the ball Saturday afternoon opposite Padres right-hander Jhoulys Chacin (13-10, 3.98 ERA).

 Chacin has won his previous two decisions, including an outing last Saturday that saw him shut out the Rockies over six innings and give up only one hit in the process, walking three and striking out six.

 Cain, meanwhile, will just hope to end his career on a high note before his home fans. He has suffered through a 3-11 campaign with a 5.66 ERA. On May 15, he beat the Dodgers by surrendering only a run on five hits, walking three and striking out five to improve his record to 3-1.

 He has not gotten a victory since. And he may need to pull out some of the old magic to keep his team from going to a historic low.

 

Ducks get 3-0 revenge

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Photo credit: San Jose Sharks

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ ANAHEIM– San Jose found themselves on the losing end this time as the Ducks shutout the Sharks Thursday before a 15,439 preseason crowd.

It was the San Jose’s first preseason loss.

Both teams started the preseason when the Sharks shutout Anaheim 5-0. In this game, San Jose had 11 different players and the Ducks had 10.

The game-winner emerged in the third. Chris Wagner scored a wraparound goal at 5:28, aided by Dennis Rasmussen and Korbinian Holzer through Martin Jones’ five hole.

The first period saw two Sharks’ power plays and a 5-1 shot advantage until Francois Beauchemin had Anaheim’s second shot with 8:46 left. By the end of the period though, it was a one shot differential with San Jose leading 6-5.

More confrontation, shots and the first power play marked the second. Shots went the same direction as the first. The period started with the Sharks’ third power play. San Jose’s Joel Ward and the Ducks’ Andrew Cogliano had a scuffle in the second, short of a fight. Jacob Middleton gave the Sharks their first penalty when he cross-checked Corey Perry. Perry’s teammate Kale Kossila came in to defend.

Anaheim started the third period with new goalie Reto Berra. This time the period started with a Ducks’ power play. It became a two-man advantage when Tomas Hertl was called for hooking midway. San Jose killed the power plays but a minute after the last was when Wagner scored. He said, “We picked up a little energy after that goal. We started playing more in their end. We got better as the game went on.”

Anaheim doubled their lead at 16:17. With Jones positioned short side, Antoine Vermette got it into the open net far side. 40 seconds later, Kosila made it 3-0 when he directed the puck into the empty net.

The Ducks’ Head Coach Randy Carlyle felt, “we won the game ugly…scored some dirty goals.”

Timo Meier from the Sharks commented, “We played some good hockey at the end, but we let up a goal and then another one and then it broke down a little bit.” Head Coach Peter DeBoer thought, “Our defensive game was good. I thought Jones was solid. Again, you have to score to win in this league. We looked like we could have played for another hour and a half and not scored a goal.”

Game notes:  Anaheim outshot San Jose 14-9 in the third to win that battle overall 26-24. In Ward’s first action since surgery, he was on the ice for 14:01, had three shots, three attempts blocked and one missed shot. DeBoer said, “I thought as the game went on he go better. We know what he can do. We’ll be working him in.” The Sharks continue preseason with their second game against the Arizona Coyotes Saturday at 7pm.