The International Food Court of Baseball

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San Francisco Giants Jung Hoo Lee excited after hitting a home run off New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rondon. Lee is one of the many great international pitchers in Major League Baseball (AP file photo)

By Tony the Tiger Hayes

San Francisco – Jung Hoo Lee may have struck out with the bases loaded to end the bottom of the 7th inning in Monday night’s 1-0 loss to the visiting Padres, but

there’s no question the addition of the dynamic South Korean center fielder has created a ripple of good vibes throughout Giants land.

After missing the majority of his U.S. rookie season to injury in 2024, The former KBO All-Star has been particularly impressive this season as San Francisco’s leading batter and catalyst for numerous early season victories in media hot spots.

In Lee’s first ever appearance at Yankee Stadium the Korean matinee idol stung a trio of home runs, igniting a mini-media frenzy.

Back home in the City by the Bay, Lee, with his winning personality and ever present smile, has become the most popular Orange & Black starting player.

The creation of the “Jung Hoo Crew”rooting section has been a popular addition to the Oracle Park experience, giving local baseball fans and a growing number of Lee fans traveling from South Korean a chance to gather in force.

The quirky thing is… though Lee is fully Korean, grew up in South Korea and lives in South Korea in the off season. He was actually born in Nagoya, Japan.

At the time of his birth on 8/20/98 Jung Hoo’s father – Lee Jeong-beom – a great ballplayer in his own right was playing for the Chunichi Dragons of the Japanese major leagues.

In 1964 LHP Masanori Murakami of Japan became the first Japanese native to play major league baseball when he debuted with the Orange & Black.

Of course international talent is nothing new to the Giants franchise. In 1956 when the club was still based in New York City, the Giants introduced the first ever native of the Dominican Republic, infielder Ossie Virgil, to play in the Major Leagues.

The Giants tradition of scouting and signing players out of Latin America countries was especially continued after the club relocated to San Francisco in 1958, with an abundance of signings coming out of in particular the D.R. and Puerto Rico.

Ranging from Aruba to Saudi Arabia – players, coaches and managers born in 21 different foreign countries have represented the San Francisco Giants.

Now, natives from the countries of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Venezuela could compile virtual All-Star teams for the Giants, but we’ve decided to take one representative – and one only – from each of the 21 countries to make up a club – complete with starting rotation, bullpen and bench players to compile a roster.

We think you’ll find the results intriguing.

Starting Pitcher – Dominican Republic

Juan Marichal 1960-73.

So many fabulous San Francisco Giants hail from the small island nation of the Dominican Republic, including the famous Alou brothers and current starting shortstop Willy Adames. But not only is Marichal the greatest player from the D.R. in Giants history, he’s unquestionably the most dominant pitcher in Giants west coast history.

The Laguna Verde native broke in with the Orange & Black in 1960 with a dazzling complete game one-hitter vs. visiting Philadelphia and never looked back. The “Dominican Dandy” tormented opposing batters in his 14 seasons with San Francisco. Marichal’s 191 victories were the most by any pitcher in the 1960s, as the stylish, high-kicking righty was a 20-game winner six times that decade. He impressively struck out more than 200 batters and posted an ERA under 2.50 in each of those half-dozen campaign. Marichal established a franchise record with 26 victories in 1968.

In 1983 Juan was voted into baseball’s Hall of Fame. His iconic no. 27 was retired by San Francisco that decade. And when Pac Bell Park was christened in 2000, an extraordinary bronze statue depicting Marichal’s trademark pitching delivery was unveiled.

Notable Fellow Countrymen: Felipe, Mateo, Jesus Alou. Moises Alou, Juan and Jose Uribe.

Catcher – Mexico

Alex Trevino – 1985

The Giants have fielded a number of top Mexican-American ballplayers, including three-time World Series champion reliever Sergio Romo and the slugging infielder Darrell Evans. But the number of native born Mexicans to suit up for the Bay-based Orange & Black has been surprisingly slim.

A personal favorite is RHP Migel Puente, who briefly appeared in the big leagues with San Francisco in 1970. Puente’s entire MLB career consisted of just six games, but one of those contests was a dominant complete game pitching performance in a 7-1 road win over the World Champion New York Mets (5/8/70).

But we selected catcher Alex Trevino of the last place 1985 Giants as our representative from Mexico.

With a pitiful 100 losses, the ‘85 Giants rank as the worst club of the San Francisco era. But Trevino, a journeyman backup to starting receiver Bob Brenly that season had a pretty decent season, batting .250 and socking a career high six home runs, in 57 games.

The following season the Monterrey, Mexico native was traded to the Dodgers for the fantastic Puerto Rican OF Candy Maldonado in one of the best Giants trades of the past 40 years.

In a side note, Trevino is widely credited as the first Latino ballplayer to request a tilde be added to his name of the back of his uniform.

Notable Giants Countrymen: Puente, RHP Miguel Del Toro

First Base -Puerto Rico

Orlando Cepeda – 1958-65

You can’t talk Puerto Rican baseball without the “Baby Bull” Orlando Cepeda in your opening sentence.

Cepeda was the first future Hall of Famer to debut as a San Francisco Giant, batting fifth and playing first base and in the first MLB game ever played in San Francisco (4/15/58).

The colorful slugger made an immediate first impression when he slugged a solo home run in the fifth inning of the 8-0 win over the visiting Dodgers.

Cepeda would go on to win Rookie of the Year honors and remain a ferocious slugger in the heart of the Giants lineup though mid -1965 when he was shockingly traded to St. Louis.

Cepeda would eventually reunite with the Giants organization some 30 years later. When he was voted into the HOF in 1999, Cha Cha” entered the hallowed shrine repping the Orange & Black.

Notable fellow Giants countrymen: IF Jose Pagan, LHP Jonathan Sanchez, OF Angel Pagan

Second Base – Honduras

Mauricio Dubon – 2019-22

Ideally, we would put the colorful longtime Giants infielder and Spanish play-by-play broadcaster Tito Fuentes as our all foreign second sacker. But Tito’s Cuban designation has a more pressing need in the starting rotation.

Like Fuentes, Dubon was a colorful and exciting Giants player, but his erratic play wore down team brass and was bounced from the club after parts of four seasons.

The Honduran hustler quickly became a fan favorite after debuting with San Francisco in mid-2019. After batting .279 with 4 homers in just 28 games. The club aggressively club tabbed Dubon – who spent his teen years in nearby Solano County as a future star. But the 2020 pandemic stalled Dubon’s progress and by mid-2022 after a series of bone-head base running blunders he was gone.

Dubon would go on to thrive in Houston- winning a World Series with the Dusty Baker helmed club in 2023.

Notable fellow Giants countrymen: none.

Shortstop – Columbia

Edgar Renteria – 2009-10

Renteria wasn’t here for a long time, but he was here for a good time.

A World Series title was the furthest thing from the Giants or this former five-time All-Star’s mind when Renteria signed with San Francisco prior to the 2009 season.

Heck, following embarrassing 2008 seasons on both ends, each party was just looking to shed their prime seats on the struggle bus.

But within the breadth of only two campaigns, the union would procreate San Francisco’s first ever World Series Championship with the Columbian shortstop leading the charge.

Rentería began 2010 hot as a firecracker, but the 37 year-old was injured and unavailable for much of the season. But when the shadows grew long across the infield, baseball’s best ever Columbian was ready to pounce. Late in the season, Edgar delivered a speech, explaining his exit from baseball was near and he wanted the Giants to make the playoffs.

Renteria would start 11 postseason games that season – saving his best for last. He started all five World Series games vs. Texas, batting .411, with two home runs and six RBI. Renteria capped the Giants victorious World Series run with a knee buckling three-run seventh inning home run off the Cliff Lee in Game 5 to win the Fall Classic for San Francisco. Renteria was named the World Series MVP.

Notable fellow Giants countrymen: INF Donovon Solano

Third Base -Venezuela

Pablo Sandoval – 2008-2014, 2017-20

The Giants proud relationship with Venezuelan ballplayers dates back to their New York time line – but the Orange & Black connection with the island with the most Ms. Universe winners really took a foothold in the club’s Third & King era.

But the player who connected the most on the field and with fans is undoubtedly Sandoval.

The happy-go- lucky “Kung Fu Panda” broke in with the Giants in 2008, batting a fat . 345 in 41 games. The personable Panda would go onto become an all time McCovey Cove favorite, bopping 135 career round trippers for the Bay City franchise.

Sandoval was a clutch contributor to all three Giants World Series championship clubs in the 2010s, especially in 2012 and ‘14.

After being benched for much of the 2010 postseason in favor of Juan Uribe, Sandoval refused to take a seat in 2012. In Game 1 of the World Series, pudgy Pablo delivered a devastating gut punch to vs. Detroit, crushing three home runs in the 9-3 victory. The zaftig slugger added another long ball later in the series and ended up with an awesome .500 batting average (8-for-16) in the four game sweep, making him the unanimous choice for MVP.

After recording the final out of 2014 World Series clinching victory, the Panda – who started all seven games, batting a lusty .429, took an ill-advised free agent contract with Boston. But after washing out with the Red Sox, the prodigal son returned to McCovey Cove in 2017.

Notable fellow countrymen: OF Gregor Blanco, 1B Andres Galarraga, IF Marco Scutaro.

Left Field – Nicaragua

Marvin Benard, 1995-03

Though hardly a perfect ball player, Benard stories is one of best rags to riches tales in west coast Giants history.

Only one of handful of Nicaragua natives to play big league ball, Benard was a 20th round draft pick of the club who not only over came great odds just to reach the big leagues, but thrived for years at the games highest level.

Benard was an outfield starter in four of his nine big league seasons – all spent with the Giants. In 1999, the Giants final campaign at Candlestick Park, Benard topped the Orange & Black in batting, compiling an excellent .322 average in 121 contests.

In 2000, Benard became the first Giants batter Pacific Bell Ballpark, (flying out to right field) as San Francisco’s first ever lead off hitting in the park’s ribbon cutter (4/11/00).

In his Giants career, Benard was a .271 batter, whacked 54 home runs and drove in 260 runs. An accomplished base stealer, Benard pilfered 105 bags in his San Francisco career, leading the club in base nicks in 1999-00.

Notable fellow Giants countrymen: 1B David Green

Center Field- Japan

Jung Hoo Lee – 2024-current

A .340 hitter in seven seasons with the Kiwoom Heros of the KBO, the Giants signed

On December 14, 2023, Lee signed a six-year, $113 million contract with San Francisco. He is the current starting center fielder for the Giants batting .277, 6, 31.

Notable fellow Giants Japan born: Murakami, OF Nori Aoki.

Right Field – Jamaica

Chili Davis – 1981-87

Despite Jamaica’s infatuation with baseball’s cousin sport of cricket, Davis is one of only a handful of big leaguers – and the only Giant – born on the tropical island.

It was in Los Angeles where Chili moved with his family at the age of 10 where he fell in love with baseball.

Davis brought that passion for the sport with him to Candlestick Park in 1981 when the Giants promoted the heralded switch-hitting rookie to the major league roster.

Though he initially struggled to find his footing at the game’s highest level, Davis bloomed into a two time All-Star with the Orange & Black, including an appearance at the last mid-summer classic held at the ‘Stick in 1984.

A powerful batter with speed, Chili batted .267, boomed 101 home runs and drove in 418 runs in his seven seasons in the City by the Bay before departing via free agency.

In 1987, Chili was a main cog in the Giants first NL West winning club since 1971, crushing 24 home runs, which at that juncture was a career high.

Davis later part of three World Series title teams with Minnesota (1991) and the New York Yankees (1998-99). Chili’s career 350 home runs with five clubs ranks as the seventh most all-time by a switch hitter.

Notable Fellow Giants Countrymen: None (Only notable Giants Killer Devon White.)

Coming in Parts Two. More pitchers, reserves and coaches and managers, including the only Giant actually born in South Korea.

Ballers just get by Jackalopes 4-3

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photo image by Oakland Ballers

Grand Junction Jackalopes (2-8) 002 100 000 3 9 0

Oakland Ballers (6-4) 110 100 10x 4 5 0

Time: 2:53

Attendance: 1,628

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–It was an anomalous night this Friday at Ernie Raimondi Field. The thermometer read in the 70s, but a brisk wind led many of the 1,628 paying customers to layer up, only to take their extra layer off once the wind died down and then put it back on after sunset.

The sky was a brilliant blue that was smeared with the black smoke of a fire that burned behind the left side of the field, moving towards center, always, the PA announcer told us, at a safe distance from our West Oakland venue.

For the first half of the see-saw (or teeter totter if you’re a left coast native) contest, the scoreboard was a vast wasteland, devoid of information). The Ballers’ first run of their 4-3 squeaker victory over the tough luck Grand Junction Jackalopes crossed the plate in the person of a batter who had struck out.

It came on the feet of Tremayne Cobb, Jr., who was held hitless for only the second time this season. (The first occurred Wednesday). Grand Junction’s Johnnuelle Ponce, put the interlopers ahead 3-2 in the top of the fourth with a blast over the left center field fence that brought his BA up to .100. He was his team’s designated hitter. The visitors outhit their hosts by a working day, i.e. nine to five. My mother told me there’d be days like this….

Oakland’s unconventional first inning began with Cobb’s reaching first after striking out swinging at a wild pitch, reaching second on Lou Helmig’s groundout, stealing third, and trotting home on Christian Almanza’s single.

The B’s tacked on another talley in the second, again on their own fleet feet and the the poor control of Brock Gillis, the Jackalopes’ starter. Esai Santos, who’s been coming into his own recently, opened the frame with a walk, pilferred second, took third on a wild pitch, and then scored on another one.

Meanwhile, Reed Butz, opening night’s winning hurler for the Oaklanders, was breezing along. That breeze died down in the third. Zeb Roos smacked a one out double to right, Alex Pimental wrangled a walk, and Kendal Foster moved him up to second with a single to right center that brought Roos home with Grand Junction’s first run.

The two baserunners pulled off a double steal, which set the scene for catcher Mason Minzey’s sacrifice fly to left that allowed Pimental to waltz home with the tying run. Sic transit gloria mundi.

The team’s matched runs in the fourth, one a piece. Ponce’s round tripper to left center gave the Jackalopes a brief advantage. When Butz issued a free pass to Roos, the next batter he faced, his work for the evening was finished, leaving the B’s starter with a line of three runs, all of them earned, on five hits, including Ponce’s dinger, four walks, and couple of Ks. His truncated outing of 3-2/3 cost him 98 pitches and left him with a no decision.

In the home half of the frame, Cobb once more scored without benefit of a hit. He walked, and that ended Gillis’s unhappy mound tenure. He’d thrown 87 pitches and, after Tai Atkins, his replacement had allowed the runners he’d inherited to score, was charged three runs, all earned, in 3-2/3 innings. He struck out three B’s, a feat that couldn’t quite offset his three wild pitches.

Once Gillis had retired to the showers, Zach deVito, Ayan Alger, and Reese Miller took the mound for an inning each. Alger was the only one to allow a hit, two of them, in fact, and one of them was enough to score the winning run, Davis Drewek’s seventh inning home run over the left field fence. That made Alger the losing pitcher, and his balance sheet now stands at 0-1

Following Butz’s departure , a trio of Oakland relievers shut out the Jackalopes on four hits, one against each of Carson Lambert (2-1/3 IP), Connor Richardson (1-1/3), the eventual winning pitcher, and two off of Connor Sullivan, who earned his second save of the season.

Roos and Isaac Núñez had multi-hit games for Grand Junction, each with two. No Baller got more than one hit.

The weekend phase of this six game series begins Saturday at 4:35 and will conclude on Sunday, June 2. It’s been an exciting series, and the next two days promise more excitement. After that, the Ballers will leave on a two week road trip, returning to Ernie Raimondi Field on June 17.

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic Mon Jun 2, 2025: Matos hits game winning home run Sunday is demoted on Monday

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong works on the Miami Marlins lineup at Loan Depot Park on Sun Jun 1, 2025 (AP News photo)

SF Giants podcast Marko Ukavolic Jun 2, 2025:

#1 The San Francisco Giants took two of three games from the Miami Marlins over the weekend and have won four out of their last six games. The Giants have been playing around .500 ball.

#2 Taking a look at Sunday’s game the Giants got home run production from Luis Matos who hit a three run home run that helped beat the Miami Marlins 4-2 at LoanDepot Park in Miami.

#3 Matos home run was one to marvel he hit 390 feet to left center and it was enough to give the Giants a good front and a 4-0 lead.

#4 The Giants didn’t score after the Matos home run noting that the Giants have not scored in 14 games in a row after scoring four or more runs. They have been hurting for offense.

#5 The Giants open up a three game series starting tonight with the San Diego Padres RHP Stephen Kolek (3-1 ERA 4.11) the Giants will be starting RHP Landen Roupp (3-4 ERA 3.54) first pitch slated at 6:45pm PDT.

Join Marko Ukalovic for Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

https://soundcloud.com/sports-radio-service/san-francisco-giants-podcast-marko-ukalovic-mon-jun-2-2025

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason Mon Jun 2, 2025: A’s open 7 game homestand tonight versus Twins

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Sacramento A’s baserunner Denzel Clarke (right) dives back into first base ahead of the tag of Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Ernie Clement (22) at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sun Jun 1, 2025 (Canadian Press via AP)

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason Mon Jun 2, 2025

#1 Before we get into yesterday’s game and the weekend series let’s take a step back and see just what transpired during the month of May. How did the A’s season take a turn and what can be done?

#2 Sunday the A’s were looking to avoid another sweep after losing the first three games of the series.

#3 Were there any bright spots in this disappointing series and how can this team begin to turn things around?

#4 The Blue Jays really played hard the entire series and it resulted in a series sweep. Addison Barger had a great game yesterday starting the fireworks in the eighth inning to seal the win.

#5 Monday the A’s will be looking for a fresh start to the month of June taking on the Twins in another four game series. Luis Severino will take the mound for the A’s struggling with a 1-4 win/loss and the Twins Joe Ryan will be a challenge with a 5-2 win loss record and a 2.57 ERA.

Barbara Mason does the A’s podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Falter Late in Toronto 8-4 After Early Punch

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Sacramento A’s Luis Urias (17) connects for a two run RBI double in the top of the fifth inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sun Jun 1, 2025 (Canadian Press via AP)

A’s Falter Late in Toronto 8-4 After Early Punch

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics came out swinging at Rogers Centre Sunday afternoon, jumping to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Lawrence Butler drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on Tyler Soderstrom’s groundout. Jacob Wilson and Brent Rooker followed up with singles, but the early spark soon cooled. The green and gold’s bats fell silent in key moments, stranding runners and squandering the chance to build on that opening punch losing to the Blue Jays 8-4 at Rogers Centre.

Wilson, the rookie sensation, was in the middle of it all, finishing the day with four singles and a stolen base, bringing his total swipes to five this season. The 24-year-old continues to show why he leads all rookies in batting average, now sitting at a dazzling .345, and is second in the majors in total hits. He showcased his versatility with a sacrifice fly in the eighth, tacking on a fourth run that gave the A’s a short-lived cushion. But that promising start would unravel in the bottom of the eighth, when the Jays’ bats turned the tables in brutal fashion.

Soderstrom’s ejection in the third inning, following a called third strike that saw him exchange words with home plate umpire Tom Hanahan, forced Logan Davidson to step in at first base. Davidson would find himself in the thick of a messy eighth that defined the day’s outcome. After the A’s built a 4-2 lead with Luis Urías’ two-run double in the fifth, the Toronto lineup waited for its chance to pounce.

The Athletics’ pitching staff, already known for a shaky 5.68 ERA this season, couldn’t hold back the Jays’ late surge. Justin Sterner, who entered in the eighth, faced the nightmare scenario. A catcher’s interference call against Willie MacIver put George Springer aboard, and the Jays wouldn’t waste the opportunity. Alejandro Kirk singled, and pinch-runner Alan Roden came in. That’s when Addison Barger turned the game upside down, smashing a three-run homer that soared beyond the right center fence, erasing the A’s lead and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

By the time Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drilled a two-run double to center, Toronto had seized an 8-4 advantage, and the A’s hopes had vanished. Grant Holman’s pickoff error only added salt to the wound, as the Jays kept piling on. For a moment, it looked like the Athletics would halt their five-game losing streak. Instead, they were left to ponder what might have been.

Earlier in the game, Denzel Clarke had shown flashes of excitement with a single and stolen base in the fourth, while Brent Rooker, riding a hot streak that has him slugging .800 since May 22, added two more singles to his tally. Drew Avans also made his mark, helping to keep Toronto’s outfielders honest with a sharp lineout and alert baserunning.

On the mound, starter JP Sears was steady if unspectacular. He worked five innings, giving up two runs and scattering six hits before giving way to the bullpen. The A’s relievers have struggled this year, and today was no exception. After Mitch Spence gave up a run-scoring single to George Springer in the fifth, the relievers combined to yield six more runs in the final four innings.

The loss extends the A’s skid to six games, deepening an already rough patch in which the green and gold have dropped 16 of their last 17 contests. The club’s record now sits at 23-36, just one game better than their mark after 59 games last year. Their May woes, highlighted by a 7-21 record, second worst in the majors, have seeped into June, as the Athletics continue to search for answers and a way to snap out of this tailspin.

As the A’s head back to West Sacramento the theme of the day remains painfully clear: a promising start, a sputtering finish. For the Athletics, another day on the road brought another gut-punch ending. The A’s will try and turn the page, but for now, it’s another long night for a team searching for something to hold onto.

It’s also a long flight from Toronto to Sacramento as the A’s will open a homestand on Monday night against the Minnesota Twins. For the Twins RHP Joe Ryan (5-2 ERA 2.57) for the A’s Luis Severino RHP (1-4, ERA 3.89) first pitch 7:00pm at Sutter Health Park.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Giants Get Past Marlins, Win 4-2, Taking the Series

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San Francisco Giants Luis Matos smacks a three run home run in the top of the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park in Miami on Sun Jun 1, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (33-26) won their series over the Miami Marlins (23-34) winning game three 4-2 Sunday. Giant’s pitcher Hayden Birdsong had a great game going 5 1/3 innings. Heliot Ramos had a couple of hits, one of them a three run home run which turned to be the winning play of the game.

Game recap: The Giants got on the board in the third inning for a 1-0 lead. The very dependable Wilmer Flores grounded out to second with Ramos on third scoring the first run of the game.

The 1-0 lead did not last long, in fact in the very next inning, the fourth inning San Francisco put up some insurance runs when Ramos hit a home run to left center with Casey Schmitt and Patrick Bailey on base and the Giants had a nice 4-0 lead that would persist into the bottom of the sixth inning.

Miami finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning scoring one run. Otto Lopez singled Xavier Edwards home from second base and the score was 4-1 in favor of the Giants.

Through seven innings, San Francisco had five hits, and the Marlins also had five hits. The huge fourth inning for San Francisco put them in a great position to win this series. Hayden Birdsong finished a solid game going 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits but only giving up the one run. His ERA now stands at 2.37 in a good outing. He was relieved by Ryan Walker who got San Francisco out of the sixth inning.

The Giants got on base via a walk in the top of the seventh inning but nothing more. Jordan Hicks would take over on the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning. Hicks walked the first batter he faced Eric Wagaman, but struck out Connor Norby and just when things were looking like they had settled he walked Liam Hicks.

Jordan Hicks forced manager Bob Melvin’s hand when he walked a third runner Javier Sanoja, loading the bases with only one out. Tyler Rogers came in to try and get the Giants out of this inning. He was facing the top of the batting order Xavier Edwards who singled Wagaman home and this game was a 4-2 tally with two outs. Rogers got the third strikeout with minimal damage.

Wilmer Flores singled to start out the top of the eighth inning but next at bat Matt Chapman hit into a double play. Willy Adames also singled but Schmitt struck out and that would close out the top of the inning.

Giant’s pitcher Erik Miller came into the bottom of the eighth inning. The Marlins really got something going in the bottom of the eighth. With one out Wagaman hit a double and the Marlins had two runners on second and third base, Ramirez and Wagaman with one out.

The Giants bullpen got really busy and that was it for Miller. Camilo Duval came to the mound to try and save the inning. He loaded the bases and with two out and was faced with a serious situation but came through striking out Sanoja and getting out of the eighth inning. San Francisco had hung onto their 4-2 lead when it could have ended very badly.

The Giants went quietly in the top of the ninth inning. Luis Matos singled and then stole second base, to no avail, when Ramos grounded out for the third out. It would be up to Camilo Doval to save the game for San Francisco.

He faced the top of the Marlin batting order and gave up a single to first batter Xavier Edwards who had his fifth hit of the day. Jesus Sanchez grounded into a double play and the Giants were one out away from the win. Doval got the out, the save and the Giants got not only the win but the series win.

A win is a win but we finally saw the San Francisco offense step up but one thing turns around and something else struggles and that was the bullpen Sunday. They really had a tough time but Doval saved the game. San Francisco finished with five hits although the Marlins outhit them with nine. Again Kudos to Hayden Birdsong who pitched a great game.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon the Giants beat the Marlins in game three to take the three game series 2-1. The Giants won the first game of the series 2-0 but then dropped game two to Miami 1-0. San Francisco came out ahead with a 4-2 on Sunday. Giants starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong pitched 5.1 innings, five hits and one earned run gave up one earned run and struck out five. Marlins starter Ryan Weathers pitched six innings, allowed five hits, four earned runs, walked three, and struck out seven.

They will take this win into San Diego where they start their series with the Padres Monday. This will be a battle for second place in the National League West. One game separates the two teams in this four-game series. Logan Webb will have another go on the mound after having struggled in his last outing. He has a 5-5 win/loss record and a 2.82 ERA. Stephen Kolek will start for the Padres with a 3-1 win/loss record ERA 4.11. First pitch Monday is scheduled for 6:45 PM.

Undefeated Lynx Survive Valkyries’ Big First Half, Win 86-75 At Chase Center

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Believe me when I tale you. It was a tale of two halves.

The expansion Valkyries, in their biggest test to date, delivered an exemplary first half to lead the undefeated Lynx, 52-51. But the second half disintegrated into a massive tutorial as the visitors in a full display of their championship aspirations took control.

“We don’t mind pain,” coach Natalie Nakase said pointedly. “I told you we’re killers. If you’re not feeling pain then that’s a problem.”

The 86-75 result kept the visitors as the only undefeated team (7-0) in the WNBA. But it also kept the Valkyries (2-4) engaged, and striving to reach their potential as opposed to being frustrated by an 0-3 stretch against last season’s two finalists.

The next move for Nakase and her team? An already typical, laborious stretch at their Oakland practice facility in preparation for Thursday’s game in Phoenix against the Mercury.

“Just stay together,” Veronica Burton said when similarly asked about frustration. “That’s this league, that’s this season. The W is hard. There’s a reason we’re all here, and I think each player has experienced a certain level of pain or hardship. That’s allowed us to bounce back and just use it as motivation as well. Stay connected off the court. Teams that stay together succeed typically in this league.”

The Valkyries’ 52 points in the first 20 minutes was all hustle and resolve as their 45 percent shooting didn’t headline the effort as much as did their 35 shot attempts and 14 of 16 shooting from the foul line. To be the fair, the experienced Lynx didn’t renounce the fast pace, but they didn’t settle in immediately either.

The highlight of the half was the 12-2 run thay gave the Valkyries a brief 36-34 lead. Kate Martin took over during that stretch, scoring 11 of her career-best 14 points in her first five minutes floor.

But while the Valkyries individually platued and dipped, the steady Napheesa Collier ran the evening, finishing with 24 points, 11 rebounds and four assists that almost appeared understated. Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride efficiently supported Collier with a combined 36 points, including five made threes. Collier appeared completely healthy after missing the previous game with right knee soreness.

The first 13 minutes of the second half saw the Valkyries score just eight points and trail 75-60 with 6:58 remaining. Martin failed to score, with all of her 14 coming in the first half. But Burton came up with much of her team-best 21 points in a furious, late rally that sliced a 22-point Lynx lead to 11 with 1:56 left.

Janelle Salaun and Carla Leite, the Valkyries’ promising pair of rookies from France, both struggled with just five combined points in 31 minutes on the floor.

MLB The Show podcast Charlie O Sun Jun 1, 2025: Ohtani and Judge both homer in Yanks-Dodgers WS rematch; LA’s Betts returns after fracturing toe; plus more MLB news

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Shohei Ohtani the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar watches the flight of the baseball in the sixth inning for his 22nd NL leading home run against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Fri May 30, 2025 (AP News photo)

MLB The Show podcast Charlie O Sun Jun 1, 2025:

#1 In the 2024 World Series rematch on Friday the Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani and the New York Yankees Aaron Judge both homered in the first inning. It’s like the perfect scenario between both teams on the big stage. The Yankees are the winningest team in the AL and the Dodgers tied for second best record with three other team in the NL.

#2 The Dodgers Mookie Betts stubbed his toe in a dark bathroom but the injury isn’t enough to keep him off the ballfield. Betts stubbed his toe against a wall while walking in a dark bathroom on Wednesday. Betts fractured the toe and missed only Thursday and Friday’s games and was back in the line up on Saturday.

#3 After being out with a left knee injury Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout returned to the line up on Friday night. Trout who normally plays in the outfield was the designated hitter against the Cleveland Guardians and hammered a fourth inning base hit for his only hit of the game in four at bat attempts. Trout said that despite striking out in two at bats he felt good on his return. Saturday Trout went 3-4 so he’s getting his groove back in the DH role.

#4 Things continue to get rougher for the last place Colorado Rockies who lost their ninth out of their last ten games this time to the New York Mets 4-2. The Mets Francisco Lindor had himself a game hitting a homer from the left and right sides. Juan Soto snapped his 0-17 slump with a RBI double.

#5 The Sacramento A’s have now lost 15 of their last 16 games. They have shuttled players from their Las Vegas affiliate to Sacramento to see if they can tweak what’s wrong but A’s manager Mark Kotsay is still looking for solutions. It’s been since the first week of May that the A’s at one time were just one game from moving into first place in the AL West but have fallen back into the cellar now some 8.5 game off the pace.

Join Charlie O for the A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Ballers get an edge on Jackalopes for 4-3 win Friday

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Oakland Ballers celebrate a one run win over the Grand Junction Jackalopes on Fri May 30, 2025 at Raimondi Park in West Oakland in Pioneer League action (Oakland Ballers X image)

Grand Junction Jackalopes (2-8) 002 100 000 3 9 0

Oakland Ballers (6-4) 110 100 10x 4 5 0

Time: 2:53

Attendance: 1,628

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–It was an anomalous night this Friday at Ernie Raimondi Field. The thermometer read in the 70s, but a brisk wind led many of the 1,628 paying customers to layer up, only to take their extra layer off once the wind died down and then put it back on after sunset.

The sky was a brilliant blue that was smeared with the black smoke of a fire that burned behind the left side of the field, moving towards center, always, the PA announcer told us, at a safe distance from our West Oakland venue.

For the first half of the see-saw (or teeter totter if you’re a left coast native) contest, the scoreboard was a vast wasteland, devoid of information). The Ballers’ first run of their 4-3 squeaker victory over the tough luck Grand Junction Jackalopes crossed the plate in the person of a batter who had struck out.

It came on the feet of Tremayne Cobb, Jr., who was held hitless for only the second time this season. (The first occurred Wednesday). Grand Junction’s Johnnuelle Ponce, put the interlopers ahead 3-2 in the top of the fourth with a blast over the left center field fence that brought his BA up to .100.

He was his team’s designated hitter. The visitors outhit their hosts by a working day, i.e. nine to five. My mother told me there’d be days like this….

Oakland’s unconventional first inning began with Cobb’s reaching first after striking out swinging at a wild pitch, reaching second on Lou Helmig’s groundout, stealing third, and trotting home on Christian Almanza’s single.

The B’s tacked on another tally in the second, again on their own fleet feet and the the poor control of Brock Gillis, the Jackalopes’ starter. Esai Santos, who’s been coming into his own recently, opened the frame with a walk, pilfered second, took third on a wild pitch, and then scored on another one.

Meanwhile, Reed Butz, opening night’s winning hurler for the Oaklanders, was breezing along. That breeze died down in the third. Zeb Roos smacked a one out double to right, Alex Pimental wrangled a walk, and Kendal Foster moved him up to second with a single to right center that brought Roos home with Grand Junction’s first run.

The two baserunners pulled off a double steal, which set the scene for catcher Mason Minzey’s sacrifice fly to left that allowed Pimental to waltz home with the tying run. Sic transit gloria mundi.

The team’s matched runs in the fourth, one a piece. Ponce’s round tripper to left center gave the Jackalopes a brief advantage,. When Butz issued a free pass to Roos, the next batter he faced, his work for the evening was finished, leaving the B’s starter with a line of three runs, all of them earned, on five hits, including Ponce’s dinger, four walks, and couple of Ks. His truncated outing of 3-2/3 cost him 98 pitches and left him with a no decision.

In the home half of the frame, Cobb once more scored without benefit of a hit. He walked, and that ended Gillis’s unhappy mound tenure. He’d thrown 87 pitches and, after Tai Atkins, his replacement had allowed the runners he’d inherited to score, was charged three runs, all earned, in 3-2/3 innings. He struck out three B’s, a feat that couldn’t quite offset his three wild pitches.

Once Gillis had retired to the showers, Zach deVito, Ayan Alger, and Reese Miller took the mound for an inning each. Alger was the only one to allow a hit, two of them, in fact, and one of them was enough to score the winning run, Davis Drewek’s seventh inning home run over the left field fence. That made Alger the losing pitcher, and his balance sheet now stands at 0-1

Following Butz’s departure , a trio of Oakland relievers shut out the Jackalopes on four hits, one against each of Carson Lambert (2-1/3 IP), Connor Richardson (1-1/3), the eventual winning pitcher, and two off of Connor Sullivan, who earned his second save of the season.

Roos and Isaac Núñez had multi-hit games for Grand Junction, each with two. No Baller got more than one hit.

The weekend phase of this six game series begins Saturday at 4:35 and will conclude on Sunday, June 2. It’s been an exciting series, and the next two days promise more excitement. After that, the Ballers will leave on a two week road trip, returning to Ernie Raimondi Field on June 17.

A’s Fall Short 8-7 in See-Saw Thriller at Rogers Centre

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Toronto Blue Jays Daulton Varsho (5) who got injured gets tangled with Sacramento A’s third baseman Max Schuemann (12) after hitting a triple at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sat May 31, 2025 (Canadian Press via AP)

A’s Fall Short in See-Saw Thriller at Rogers Centre

By Mauricio Segura

In a game that saw no shortage of drama or fireworks, the Sacramento Athletics were narrowly edged out 8-7 by the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Saturday the loss extends the Sacramento losing streak to five games. It was a classic back-and-forth affair in which both teams showcased power and precision, but ultimately, the green and gold came up just shy of ending their losing skid.

The Athletics wasted no time making noise. In the top of the first, Jacob Wilson and Brent Rooker reached base to set the stage for Tyler Soderstrom, who launched a three-run blast to center field, his 12th of the year.

It was an early statement that the A’s were in no mood to be passive spectators. Soderstrom has been one of the few bright spots in an A’s offense that, despite struggling lately, is still tied for sixth in the league in slugging percentage.

Yet, Toronto didn’t flinch. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled in the bottom of the frame and came home on Addison Barger’s fourth homer of the season. Two walks and a clutch single by Nathan Lukes later, and the Jays had turned a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 lead before the first inning was done.

The second inning offered a glimpse of hope for the A’s. Luis Urías worked a walk, and Denzel Clarke, playing just his seventh Major League game, crushed his first big league homer to left field, retaking the lead at 5-4. Clarke, who was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas last week, has shown promise with his speed and a .263 average in the minors. The momentum felt palpable.

Unfortunately, it would not last. The A’s have been notorious this season for surrendering long balls, and today was no different. Bo Bichette’s solo shot in the bottom of the second tied things at five, marking the 87th home run allowed by A’s pitchers this season, on pace to break the franchise record of 220.

From there, the Blue Jays kept the pressure on. George Springer went deep in the third and fifth innings, his seventh and eighth of the year, highlighting a four-homer day for Toronto. The A’s bullpen, which entered the game with a 6.10 ERA, continued to falter.

Gunnar Hoglund, making his sixth start of the season, gave up six runs over five innings, struggling with right-handed hitters once again, who are hitting .326 against him this year.

The A’s offense did its best to claw back. Brent Rooker, who had been in a mini-slump earlier in May, belted his 13th homer of the season in the ninth, bringing the A’s within a single run. Tyler Soderstrom doubled with two outs, adding to his multi-hit day. But Shea Langeliers, representing the tying run, lined out to second baseman Ernie Clement, ending the Athletics’ rally and sealing another gut-wrenching loss.

Despite the defeat, there were glimpses of the A’s youthful spark. Lawrence Butler added three hits and a stolen base, extending his streak of successful swipes to eight. Wilson, the leading rookie in Major League Baseball for batting average and RBI, collected another hit to maintain his .344 average, continuing his breakout campaign.

For the Athletics, the loss extends their current road losing streak to nine games, matching their longest in three years. They now sit at 23-36, 12 games under .500, and have dropped 15 of their last 16 contests. The green and gold will look to rookie JP Sears on Sunday to stop the bleeding and salvage the final game of the series.

But in a game marked by dazzling home runs and missed opportunities, Saturday’s thriller was another chapter in a season where the A’s have consistently found themselves one swing, or one pitch, away from victory.

The A’s and Jays close out this series on Sunday. Starting pitcher for Sacramento JP Sears (4-6 ERA 5.18) and for Toronto Kevin Gausman (5-4 ERA 3.68) first pitch 10:37 am PDT.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.