A’s catch fire, slug their way to four-game sweep of the Astros

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Oakland Athletics’ Marcus Semien (10) and Boog Powell celebrate Powell’s two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. The A’s won 10-2, and swept the four-game series. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)

By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–Dallas Kuechel’s post game comments weren’t meant to be a slight to the A’s nor were they necessarily disingenuous. But they definitely needed a disclaimer, that being the pitcher speaking was responsible for runs 31 through 35 of Oakland’s weekend-long, 41-run onslaught that lead to the most unlikely sweep of any in baseball this season.

“It just so happened that they hit some mistake pitches,” Kuechel explained. “They weren’t hitting quality, quality pitches. When we were making quality pitches, that’s when we were getting outs. But when you throw the ball down the middle or hang a breaking ball, major league hitters are going to do that.”

“It’s just a combination of a bunch of things and whether they’re a lot of little small things or just one big thing, they can get you in a hurry, just like today.”

Today, and Saturday–in both ends of a doubleheader–and in the later innings on Friday. In other words, Kuechel may have relayed his part of the story, but after four wins, 41 runs, 13 extra-base hits in Saturday’s doubleheader, four home runs on Sunday, Kuechel probably only has a limited grasp of what went on.

For starters, the Astros have owned the A’s and had a fleeting shot at sweeping all 10 games at the Coliseum between the clubs this season when they arrived on Friday. Then after the Astros built a 7-3 lead in the opener, the A’s tied it in the eighth, and won it in the ninth.

That broke Houston’s seven-game win streak, one day after the A’s ended an eight-game slide. Then all counterintuitve hell broke lose on Saturday.

The A’s sent shots all over the place, the Astros hurlers couldn’t find the plate, issuing five–yes, five–bases-loaded walks. Suddenly, after losing 12 of 15 to their least-preferred opponent, the A’s whipped the Astros three straight.

But four straight? Kuechel’s mastery over the A’s this season was rare and complete, with the Astros’ ace sporting a 3-0, 0.83 ERA record. Faced with the path of more of the same from Kuechel, or more hits and runs to cap the weekend, the A’s boldly chose the latter, scoring in double figures for a third straight game and winning the finale, 10-2.

“I’m not saying it was unexpected, but the fashion we did it in was pretty impressive,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said.

“These are all things that define these young guys,” said starter Kendall Graveman, who allowed one run on five hits in six innings, and got the win. “And in a sense, they don’t know no better. It’s, ‘let’s go play ball and give it our best effort.'”

 

 

49ers Still Have A Very Long Way To Go; Lose 23-3 In Season Opener

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer (2) passes against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

By: Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA CA–The beginning of the 2017 NFL season didn’t go as planned for the 49ers, as they were completely manhandled by the Carolina Panthers 23-3.

“It was disappointing, whether it was the first, last, or any one I have in the rest of my career, it was disappointing. I don’t think that it mattered that it was the first. Anytime you lose in that way; it’s frustrating and disappointing. I’ll feel it all day today and all night [and I’m sure our players will too], and come back tomorrow and see how we can improve,” head coach, Kyle Shanahan commented on his pro debut.

Sunday’s home opener stayed scoreless for the first 11 minutes of the game until the 49ers lost Reuben Foster to a right ankle injury. The rookie linebacker laid on the turf for an eternity before the cart took him off the field. Foster took all of the 49ers’ momentum with him into the locker room.

After the game, Shanahan reported that all of the x-rays came back negative and that they were holding Foster off the field for precautionary reasons. Foster mentioned, “it’s not that horrible. I’ll be back soon, very, very, very soon”.

On the very first play without Foster, Panthers quarterback, Cam Newton connected with Russell Shepard for a 40-yard touchdown pass giving Carolina the 6-0 lead.

Newton finished the game throwing 14 of 25 for 171, two touchdowns and an interception.

While Foster did step back onto the field, trying to work on his injured ankle, he would not return to the game. Just like Foster, the 49ers mojo also failed to make a comeback, as the Panthers owned San Francisco the rest of the game.

Graham Gano knocked three field goals through for the Panthers from 39 yards, 36 yards, and 20 yards respectively.

Newton threw his second touchdown pass of the day in the third quarter when he connected with Jonathan Stewart on a screen pass to the right side. Stewart did all the work on the nine-yard scoring play.

Stewart split carries with Christian McCaffrey, who made his return to the Bay Area in his NFL debut, with five catches for 38 yards and 13 carries for 47 yards, but he was also stripped of the football once by Rashard Robinson.

After the game, McCaffrey and former roommate at Stanford, Soloman Thomas shared a few words of encouragement while trading jerseys from their professional debuts.

“He’s one of my best friends in the world. He was my roommate and teammate at Stanford and for us to both go in the first round and play against each other in the first game was pretty special,” Thomas added.

There were a few seldom bright spots for the Niners, including a great interception by Jaquiski Tartt grabbing the ball out of the air with one hand while falling to the ground. The pick made up for getting burned on Shepard’s touchdown, in which, he was beaten on the coverage.

Pierre Garcon led the way for the 49ers offensively with six catches for 81 yards but was unable to find his way to paydirt. Brian Hoyer threw 24 of 35 in his San Francisco debut for 193 yards while throwing one interception.

The offensive line was of significant concern heading into Sunday and for a good reason. Sunday’s game showed why, as the internal line struggled, failing to protect Hoyer, who was sacked four times for 27 yards.

The 49ers have the next week to find a way to repair the glaring holes in their game, as they open up their NFC West portion of their schedule in Seattle, who looks to rebound after a dreadful performance in Green Bay.

Oakland A’s Commentary by London Marq: Fans like the idea of bringing back the traditional doubleheader

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Oakland Athletics’ Matt Olson, right, celebrates with Ryon Healy (25) after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Houston Astros, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By London Marq

OAKLAND–On September 9th, The Oakland Athletics host a doubleheader with the AL West leading Houston Astros. Doubleheaders in professional baseball have been popular since around the since the 1880’s. Originally used to make up games cancelled by weather conditions. Today though are seemingly used up make scheduling/traveling easier and make up rained out games.

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey we’ve seen numerous sports teams on the southern United States cancel or reschedule games. In the MLB no team has been more effected than the Houston Astros. The were unfortunate to have homes games not only postponed, but some were moved to neutral sites. Others turned into double headers, such as the first game in Houston after Harvey had passed.

Controversy ensued when the Texas Rangers refused to swap home games with the Rangers in light of their post season chances. While easy criticism was made of the Rangers choice, from a competitive standpoint it does make sense. Houston already had the benefit of having the best record in the division while the rangers were trying to catch up.

The Athletics Astros doubleheader was a scheduled double header. That is to say that without the tragedies of Mother Nature, they were set to play two games yesterday no matter what. That means that there is an extra day that players have to play twice, which doesn’t make much since if you are really trying to save a small handful of days over the course of a season.

Due to the weather, the Astros schedule was already jumbled. I argue that that they are put at a competitive disadvantage, due to all of the circumstances already. Having a scheduled double header leaves less room for alterations to the schedule. This is why doubleheaders are important and should be used in need only.

Major League Baseball should extend the regular season and only implement double headers when games on the schedule cannot be played or fit into the schedule. You can retain teams home-field advantage this way. And if games need to be postponed longer than just a few days, you can create double headers by attaching them only future series.

The double-header may be apart of baseball history to be preserved. The way we choose to preserve it however, should benefit the teams playing.

London Marq does them all commentary, baseball coverage, and San Jose Earthquakes coverage, at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Road woes continue, Giants fall to White Sox 8-1 in laugher

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Chicago White Sox’s Avisail Garcia, center, scores past San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey, left, as home plate umpire Eric Cooper looks on during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

By Ana Kieu

The San Francisco Giants closed out the three-game series with a brutal 8-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on Sunday.

Giants ace Madison Bumgarner faced the White Sox for the first time in his career. He was matched up against rookie Carson Fulmer, who made his second start of the season.

The Giants got off to an early start as Jarrett Parker sent a fly ball to center for a 1-0 lead at the top of the second inning, but the White Sox poured in the runs in the bottom of the second inning. A throwing error by Mac Williamson allowed Kevan Smith and Rymer Liriano to score on Yolmer Sanchez’s two-run line-drive double. Tim Anderson hit a ground ball single to left. Fresh off a cycle, Jose Abreu jacked a two-run home run for his 30th of the season. The White Sox jumped to a 5-1 lead to end the inning.

Avasail Garcia scored on an RBI double by Matt Davidson, extending the White Sox’s lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning.

A wild pitch by Albert Suarez allowed Sanchez to triple for a 7-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Abreu smacked his 31st home run of the season to expand the White Sox’s lead to 8-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Fulmer put in a hard day’s work with six innings, three hits, one run, three walks and nine strikeouts. The White Sox had Sunday’s game from start to finish, winning the series with a lopsided 8-1 victory at home.

Notes
White Sox placed left handed starter Carlos Rodon, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, on the 10-day disabled list.

Giants right handed reliever Mark Melancon will undergo surgery for his forearm next week. He’ll miss the rest of the season.

Up Next
The Giants return to AT&T Park to host the rival Dodgers. Game 1 between the two teams is on Monday night at 7:15 p.m. PST.

MLB Podcast with Daniel Dullum: Cleveland extends win streak to 17; Yanks feeling the heat Twins, Rangers, and Angels closing in; Stanton teeing off again for Fish

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Miami Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton celebrates in the dugout after scoring against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in Atlanta. Miami won 7-1. (AP Photo/John Amis)

On the Podcast with Daniel:

1 Indians hot streak continues, now at 17 straight wins

2 Yankees lead tight AL Wild Card race, ahead of Twins, Rangers, Angels

3 Diamondbacks winning streak snapped at 13, Dodgers lead in NL West down to 10

4 Giancarlo Stanton hits 54th homer, on pace with ’99 McGwire, ’01 Sosa
5 Hurricane Irma’s effect on MLB schedule

Daniel does the MLB Podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Categories MLB

NCAA Football Podcast with Michelle Richardson: Notre Dame’s Kelly hasn’t turned a corner one bit; Paterno and Sundusky talked of allegations says ex assistant coach

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Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly discusses call with officials during NCAA football game action between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Georgia defeated Notre Dame 20-19. John Mersits/CSM. (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

On the NCAA Podcast with Michelle:

#1 Is Brian Kelly head coach at Notre Dame on the hot seat after losing to Georgia but also going off on a reporter post game

#2 A CNN report came out saying that former Penn State head coach Joe Paterno had knowledge of former assistant coach Jerry Sundusky’s activities according former assistant coach Mike McQuery who said he heard Paterno and Sundusky talk about the allegations before
#3 Talk about the Miami-Florida State game being pushed back three weeks due to Hurricane Irma
Michelle does the NCAA Football podcasts every other weekend at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Trojans overpower Stanford in Pac-12 football opener 42-24

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USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold (14) has plenty of protection to make a pass during the fourth quarter of a game against the Stanford Cardinal, on September 9, 2017, played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, September 9, 2017

No. 6-ranked Southern California extended its winning streak to 11 games Saturday, routing No. 14 Stanford 42-24 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, in the Pac-12 football opener for both schools.

Southern California also snapped a three-game losing streak against the Cardinal (1-1, 0-1) in the Golden State’s private university rivalry. It was also USC’s 11th consecutive win at the Coliseum.

Coming into the game, Stanford had won eight of its last 11 games against the Trojans.

Deonlay Burnett and Steven Mitchell each hauled in a pair of touchdown passes for the Trojans (2-0 overall, 1-0 Pac-12). USC quarterback Sam Darrold completed 21 of 26 passes for 316 yards, and the Trojans finished with 623 total yards.

Ronald Jones II scored a touchdown in his ninth straight game while rushing for 116 yards. Freshman Stephen Carr added 119 rushing yards. The Trojans amassed 307 rushing yards.

The Cardinal, who haven’t played since their game in Australia against Rice, were led offensively by quarterback Keller Chryst an running back Bryce Love. Chryst threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns, while Love ran for 160 yards, including a 75-yard TD run.

USC pulled away when an 11-yard touchdown pass from Darrold to Mitchell capped a 90-yard drive with 9:42 to play in the third period. Three minutes later, J.J. Arcaga-Whiteside’s touchdown reception kept Stanford close, but the Trojans answered with Jones’ second TD run.

Next week, Stanford wraps up its three-game season-opening road swing with a trip to San Diego State.

Let’s Play Two Day in Oakland: Game Two A’s win 11-5 to sweep Doubleheader

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment
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Chad Pinder celebrates his second HR of the night Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

by Charlie O. Mallonee and Jordan Chapin

The Oakland Athletics had not swept both ends of a doubleheader since September 22, 1998 when they did it against the Detroit Tigers. The A’s ended that drought on Saturday as they swept the doubleheader from first-place Houston Astros (86-56).

Oakland won the second game 11-4 after having won the first game 11-1. You are not reading a typographical error. The last-place Oakland Athletics (62-80) just outscored the Houston Astros — the team with best record in the American League — 22 to 5 in a doubleheader.

The two victories also mean that the Athletics have won the opening three games of this four-game series with the Astros. No matter what happens on Sunday, the A’s have won this series with Houston.

The Athletics are now 41-33 at home for 2017 season. That means they have matched the Astros home win total for the season. Only Baltimore and Boston have more wins at home in the American League than do the Oakland A’s.

The big problem for the Athletics is they are 21-47 on the road which is the worst road record in the Major Leagues.

Game Two

Daniel Mengden took the mound for the A’s in the nightcap. After being with the big club briefly early in the year, Mengden spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Nashville. The A’s have always had big hopes for Mengden but things have not worked out the way either party would have liked things to go.

Saturday Mengden worked six innings giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits. He struck out four Astros, walked two and gave up one home run. Manager Bob Melvin was pleased with his starter’s performance.

The outing was also Mengden’s longest of the year in the majors. He went just 3.1 and 4.2 innings in his two previous starts at the beginning of the season.

On the hill

Oakland

  • The game got very shaky for the A’s when the bullpen took over in the seventh inning. Sam Moll faced two batters and gave up a double to Carlos Beltran followed by a single to Brian McCann that moved Beltran to third. That was all for Moll who would be charged with an earned run after Beltran scored on a sacrifice fly.
  • Chris Hatcher 1-1) took over for Moll and ultimately picked up the win in the game. He not only shut down the scoring in the seventh, but he pitched a scoreless eighth inning as well. Managers love relievers who can post “Goose Eggs” in the score book.
  • Santiago Casilla worked the ninth inning and also put up a “Goose Egg” (zero runs) on no hits with one strike out and one walk.

Houston

  • Brad Peacock (10-2, 3.05) made the start for the Astros and had the game under control until the sixth inning when the A’s figured him out. Peacock went 5.0-innings giving up two runs (both earned) on five hits while striking out nine. Matt Olson’s two-run home run in the sixth chased Peacock from the game. He did not figure in the final decision.
  • The Astros used four relief pitchers and they all broke the rule of the “Goose Egg”. Each reliever gave up at least one run. Michael Feliz gave up four. It was a bloodbath.
  • Chris Devenski (8-4) took the loss. For those of you who are still into antiquated stats, he was also charged with blown save number six of the season.

In the batter’s box

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Franklin Barreto scores go ahead run in the seventh inning Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

Athletics

  • So many stories — so little time.
  • Boog Powell went 2-for-4 with three Rbi and a run scored
  • Chad Pinder hit two home runs in the game (13,14). One home run tied the game and the other just “Wowed” the crowd.
  • Matt Olson went 2-for-4 with a home run, run scored and two Rbi.
  • Franklin Barreto was 2-for-4 with a triple, Rbi and two runs scored.
  • Oakland scored 11 runs on 14 hits. They were 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The A’s left just four runners on base.
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Boog Powell rounds the bases after his home run Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

Astros

  • Carlos Beltran went 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.
  • Josh Reddick (1-for-3) extended his hitting streak to eight games.
  • Jose Altuve hit his 10th career home run against the A’s in the sixth inning. He was 1-for-4 with two runs and an Rbi in game two.

Star of the doubleheader has to go to the Athletics Matt Olson

The rookie first baseman went 4-for-7 in the two games with a home run (16), a double, two Rbi and two walks. Olson is one of the big reasons the A’s feel their future is very bright.

Sox Abreu hits for the cycle in big win 13-1 over struggling Giants

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Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu (79) reacts after sliding into third base for the triple and hitting for the cycle during the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago White Sox on September 9, 2017 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

By Jeremy Kahn

Going into his final at-bat of the game, all Jose Abreu needed for the cycle was the hardest part of it, a triple.

Abreu, who says his legs were not responding; however, he would not give and got the triple to become the first Chicago White Sox player to hit for the cycle in 17 years and the White Sox demolished the San Francisco Giants 13-1.

The last White Sox player to hit for the cycle was Jose Valentin against the Baltimore Orioles on April 27, 2000.

Abreu hit one of six home runs for the White Sox on the evening, as it was the 13th time in team history that the White Sox hit six home runs in the same game.

He hit his 29th home run of the season off of former White Sox pitcher Jeff Samardzija in the bottom of the first inning, added a double in the bottom of the third, after striking out in the bottom of the fifth inning, Abreu, added a single off of reliever Josh Osich in the bottom of the seventh and got the cycle, when he hit a two-run triple off of Roberto Gomez in the eighth inning.

Asides from Abreu, Tim Anderson, Avisail Garcia and Yoan Moncada also added solo home runs, while Nicky Delmonico hit a two-run home run and Yolmer Sanchez hit a three-run home run.

This was the first trip to the South Side of Chicago since the final week of the 2015 season, as he allowed six runs and eight hits in 5.2 innings.

James Shields went a season-high seven innings, as he retired 17 of the 18 batters he faced before Nick Hundley hit a home run in the top of the seventh inning.

NOTES: Madison Bumgarner closes out the series and the road trip, as he takes the mound on Sunday afternoon, while the White Sox will counter with Carson Fulmer.

Ty Blach will head to the bullpen, while Matt Cain will return to the team on Monday when the team begins an eight-game home stand against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Let’s Play Two Day in Oakland: Game One Athletics crush the Astros 11-1

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment
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Khris Davis hits 100th Rbi of 2017 Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

by Charlie O. Mallonee and Jordan Chapin

“Let’s play two” is the baseball quote made famous by the late, great Ernie Banks. The problem is for most baseball fans is they really have no idea what Banks was referring to when he made that famous statement.

Sure, most baseball fans have heard about day-night doubleheaders where one game is played in the afternoon then the stadium is cleared and the second game is played several hours later as a night game. Of course separate tickets are required for each game.

On Saturday, the Astros and Athletics scheduled a “twin bill” the old fashion way. The first game started at 1:05 p.m. and the second is scheduled to start approximately 45-minutes after game one is over. And, only one ticket is required to see both games.

As Bill King would say, “Holy Toledo!”

Game One

The Athletics needed a strong pitching performance from their starter Daniel Gossett because the pitching staff would be taxed playing a minimum of 18 innings on Saturday. Gossett was trying to bounce back from a less than stellar start last Sunday in Seattle that lasted just 3.2-innings and resulted in Gossett recording his eighth loss of the season.

The problem for Gossett has been the way opponents hit off him after they see him one time through the order. The batting average against Gossett the first time through the order is just .211. The batting average against Gossett jumps to .356 after that first time look at his pitches.

Gossett struck out four Astro hitters and gave up no runs on two hits in the first two innings. In the top of the third, Gossett issued back-to-back walks and the A’s dugout began holding their breath. Gossett then retired Bregman, Altuve and Correa to get out of the inning.

Gossett was able to come out to start the top of the seventh inning but he walked the first batter and Bob Melvin came to the mound to take him out the game. Melvin no doubt had some words of praise for his starter as well. Gossett (4-8,5.02) pitched 6.0-innings giving up just one run (earned) off five hits. He struck out seven and walked just three. The 99-pitch effort by Gossett was most definitely a “quality start”.

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Daniel Gossett exits the game in the 7th inning Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

The Athletics also exploded for 11 runs against the Astros. Houston starter Charlie Morton (11-7, 3.86) was expected to be a real problem for the A’s hitters on Saturday. Morton gave up a double to the Athletics leadoff batter Marcus Semien in the first inning and then proceeded to record three consecutive strikeouts. It looked like it might be a long day for the A’s.

The Athletics (61-80) broke through for three runs off Morton in the second inning and never looked back in the game. The A’s put three more runs up on the board in the sixth inning and then broke the bank with a five-run eighth inning that forced the Astros to use J.D. Davis — an infielder — to close out the game on the mound.

The powerful Astros (86-55) were not able to generate anything on offense. The scored only one run off their five hits.

On the hill

Oakland

  • The A’s relievers did their job in game one holding up their starter Gossett by putting up the coveted “Goose Eggs” in their three innings of work.
  • Ryan Dull and Simon Castro not only allow zero (Goose Eggs) runs in three innings of relief but they allowed not no hits and just one base runner via a walk. That is the perfect scenario for a bullpen to preserve a win.

Houston

  • The Astros pitchers were their own worst enemies in game one of the doubleheader. As a staff they issued 13 base-on-balls and struck out 12.
  • Houston pitchers walked in five of the 11 runs they gave up to the Athletics in game. That will give managers and pitching coaches ulcers and nightmares.
  • The Astros gave up 11 runs on just 11 hits to Oakland

In the batter’s box

Athletics

  • The “2 Matts” had another big game for the A’s. Matt Olson 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and two runs scored. Matt Chapman was 1-for-4 with two runs, one Rbi, one walk and one triple.
  • Boog Powell enjoyed his day with the bat going 2-for-4 posting two Rbi to go with three runs scored.
  • Khris Davis posted his 100th Rbi to become the first Athletic to have back-to-back 100-plus Rbi seasons since Miguel Tejada accomplished that feat in 2002-03.
  • A’s batters walked 13 times in the game and struck out 12 times — that is bat control.

Astros

  • Frankly there are not many highlights for Houston. They were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Houston left six men on base.
  • The big blow for the ‘Stros was Alex Bregman’s double in the fifth inning that drove home the only run for Houston.
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Marisnick goes down on the back end of a 5-4-3 double play Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

Postgame note

Astros catcher Juan Centeno started the game but had to leave the contest in second inning when he took a bat off the back of the head from a hard swing by Matt Joyce. He is being evaluated for a possible concussion.