Oakland A’s Preview: Look who’s back (now for Seattle)! Alonso in the short two-game series between the A’s and the Mariners

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Former Oakland Athletics first baseman Yonder Alonso (17) swings a bat during batting practice before a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, on August 4, 2017, played at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA He was dealt to Seattle during the series. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND- The Oakland A’s have an off-day on Monday. They finished the short five-game road trip to San Francisco and Los Angeles with a record of three wins and two losses. The A’s resume play Tuesday night in Oakland against the Seattle Mariners.

The Mariners beat the Kansas City Royals on Sunday to remain one game above the .500 mark with a record of 57-56 and are in second place in the AL West. The Mariners trail the Royal by a game and a half in the race for the second wild card spot. The Mariners made a move on Sunday as they acquired the A’s first baseman and All-Star, Yonder Alonzo. The Mariners claimed Alonso off waivers and then made a deal that sent outfielder Boog Powell to the A’s. Alonso will platoon with former Athletic Danny Valencia. The A’s announced that they will recall Matt Olson from Nashville. Olson will get more playing time at first base now that Alonso is gone.

The pitching matchups for the short two-game series will feature Kendall Graveman(2-3, 4.96 ERA) pitching for the A’s and the Mariners will have Ariel Miranda (7-5, 4.41 ERA) doing the honors for Seattle. Graveman did not have a good outing against the Giants last Thursday in San Francisco. He lasted just two innings, and it looked as if Graveman was pitching batting practice. It was his first start since May 19th, and there was no doubt that there was a little rust on the arm but Graveman just could not get loose, and he did not have a lot of velocity on any of his pitches. On Wednesday, Jharel Cotton (5-8, 4.96 ERA) is on the hill for the A’s and the veteran Yovani Gallardo(5-8, 5.48) will go for the M’s. Both of these pitchers have been struggling this season, and the A’s hope is that Cotton will find the magic that he showed last season when he arrived in Oakland in the trade with the Dodgers for Rich Hill and Josh Reddick. The Mariners’ Gallardo has been around the block several times, and he is hoping to do better as the Mariners need him to get them a win so they can possibly move up in the race for the Wild Card.

The A’s are now committed to the youth movement. Matt Chapman, Ryan Healy, Mark Canha, Marcus Semien, Bruce Maxwell and Chad Pinder along with the veteran Khris Davis all made significant contributions in the 11-10 win over the Angels on Sunday. The A’s may make other moves before the end of the season. There is no information available if the put Jed Lowrie, Matt Joyce, and Rajai Davis on waivers.  The young guys will see most of the action the remainder of the season.

The Mariners, on the other hand, are a veteran team with several All-Stars. The offense is led by second baseman Robinson Cano. Cano is hitting .272 with 19 dingers and 75 RBIs. Kyle Seager at third, Jean Segura at short, and Danny Valencia and Yonder Alonzo handling first base give the Mariners a good infield, and each of the hitters has a lot of pop in their bats. The outfielders are Ben Gamel, Jarrod Dyson, and Guillermo Heredia.  Gamel came to the Mariners from the Yankees and is hitting .303. Carlos Ruiz and Mike Zunino handle the catching. Nelson Cruz, who is having another productive season, is the DH and his batting average is .272 with 24 homers and 84 ribbies. Cruz has an on base percentage of .365 and a very high OPS (on base plus slugging) of .882.

The A’s pitchers will have their hands full trying to slow down the Mariners offense, and the same could be true for the Mariners as the young A’s players have a lot of power and the A’s play much better at the Coliseum than they do on the road.

The pressure will be on the Mariners as they are fighting for a spot in the playoffs while there is absolutely no pressure on the A’s. The A’s are building for the future. The starting rotation has been hard hit by injury and the trade of Sonny Gray to the Yankees. The A’s have several new faces in the bullpen due to trades and injury. The new guys will also be auditioning for the future.

Tuesday’s game starts at 7:05 pm at the Coliseum and Wednesday’s game will be at 12:35 pm. The A’s will welcome in the Baltimore Orioles for four games starting Thursday night.

 

Oakland travels to Arizona for preseason opener Aug 12th

Published on by jhawkes51Leave a comment

AP Photo File: Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) applauds during an NFL football training camp on Saturday, July 29, 2017, in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND — The Raiders gear up for 2017 preseason with a road trip to the Valley of the Sun to take on the Arizona Cardinals Saturday night Aug. 12, with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m. PT from University of Phoenix Stadium. This marks the third time in seven years that the Silver and Black open up the preseason schedule on the road, as they opened the 2016 preseason in Arizona last season and in Minnesota for the 2014 preseason.

This also marks the fifth time in seven years that Oakland and Arizona meet in the preseason, with the Raiders taking last year’s preseason opener 31-10.

The Raiders will be a team that will score a lot of points this season with Derek Carr throwing to his talented wide receivers in Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper. Oakland was the sixth-ranked offense with Carr throwing for 3,937 yards and 26 touchdowns (to just 6 interceptions) in 2016.

Cooper and Cooper each had 1,000-yard receiving seasons last year.

Add in a physical running back in Marshawn Lynch to an already deep running back stable with Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington to go along with free agent addition Jared Cook and holdover Clive Walford to sure up the tight end position, the Silver and Black will be a feared offense in 2017.

With left tackle Donald Penn a training camp holdout over his contract, I wouldn’t expect to see Carr and the first-team offense play no more than a series or two as the point of the preseason is to find your team’s identity, see which rookies can be contributors to an NFL team, and most importantly, keep your starters healthy.

Carr who signed a five-year, $125 million contract extension with the organization during the offseason and is coming off a broken fibula last season, is the most important Raider the team has to keep healthy with all of the Super Bowl hype surrounding the team heading into the season.

The reigning Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year in defensive end Khalil Mack and the defense look to improve a unit that finished 26th in the league last season despite Mack registering 11 sacks, five forced fumbles, and an interception that returned for a touchdown.

Overall defensively, Oakland already has the majority of their starting lineup intact with the exception of middle linebacker, and possibly cornerback opposite of David Amerson.

Rookie Marquel Lee and second-year pro Tyrell Adams battling for the starting job at middle linebacker. Lee is currently ahead of Adams on the team’s depth chart in training camp and should start in Oakland’s first preseason game but should see a lot of action.

Lee is one of 30 rookies who should see their first live action in an NFL game.

Nine-year veteran Sean Smith is being pushed hard for his starting spot at cornerback by fourth-year player TJ Carrie and rookie Gareon Conley. Carrie has passed Smith on the Raiders depth chart in training camp after lining up with the starting 11 over the weekend in Napa.

Conley hasn’t practiced yet due to shin splints and off the field issues, is playing catch up.

Arizona lost to the Dallas Cowboys 20-18 in the NFL’s Hall of Fame Game last Thursday as both teams held out most of their starters.

Former 49ers starter/backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert completed 11-of-14 passes for 185 yards leading Arizona to touchdowns on their first two drives.

 

 

 

 

 

Raiders Report: Sean Smith falls behind TJ Carrie on depth chart

Published on by jhawkes51Leave a comment

AP Photo File: Oakland Raiders cornerback Sean Smith stands on the field during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

NAPA — In football when a guy signs a four-year, $38 million contract ($20 million guaranteed) to play one of the NFL’s toughest positions, cornerback, you better be good and produce because you’re being paid starter’s money.

Sean Smith could be in trouble of losing his starting job after signing with Oakland two offseasons ago.

According to NBC Sports Bay Area Raiders Insider Scott Bair, Smith has fallen behind backup TJ Carrie on the depth chart at training camp and hasn’t worked with the starting 11 the past three days in favor of Carrie. Smith lined up at outside cornerback with the second team on Friday and Saturday, but was used as a hybrid linebacker/safety covering tight ends in sub packages on Sunday and at slot corner when the offense went to four wide receivers Bair further reported.

Carrie who is entering his fourth season with the team, and rookie cornerback Gareon Conley are pushing the nine-year veteran for his starting spot in training camp.

Smith played well in most of his 15 games started last season registering 40 tackles (33 solo, 7 assisted), 11 pass defensed and two interceptions, but was notoriously picked on by opposing offenses.

Smith first game with Oakland in New Orleans was atrocious, where he was burned for two touchdowns, one of those scores a 98-yarder to former Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks that got Smith bench thereafter.

According to Bair, opposing quarterbacks had a passing rating of 114.0 against Smith last year, completing 44 receptions on 77 targets for 749 yards and eight touchdowns. There was a seven-game stretch where Smith didn’t allow a touchdown, living up to the big money the Raiders rewarded him with.

But Smith started to struggle down the stretch last season while dealing with a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery.

Now Smith is in an open competition and just because he has a huge contract, doesn’t mean he is guaranteed to be the starter when the Raiders open up the 2017 season in Nashville against the Titans on Sept 10.

Information from the NBC Sports Bay Area was used in this report.

 

ELLIE MAE CLASSIC FINAL ROUND: Piller uses late surge to capture victory

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

montgomeryadvertiser.com photo file: Ellie Mae Classic/Web.com 2017 winner Martin Piller take the trophy at TPC Stonebrae in Hayward on Sunday

By Jeremy Harness

HAYWARD, Calif. – Martin Piller and Brandon Harkins went toe-to-toe for 18 holes on Sunday, and in a tournament that sees plenty of birdies, it was one that made all the difference.

Piller made birdie on the 10th hole while Harkins settled for a par, and from that point, both birdied the 14th and 16th holes, and when Harkins could not make birdie on either of the final two holes, Piller captured the Ellie Mae Classic, his fourth win on the Web.com Tour.

With the victory, he is also expected to be among the top 25 on the Web.com Tour’s money list, as he is projected to jump 81 spots into the 24th position. Meanwhile, Harkins is also projected to be on that list, known on this tour as “The 25.” He is expected to assume the 21st spot while jumping 43 spots to do so.

The leader at the start of the day was Andrew Yun, but the Stanford alum lost ground – and the lead – on the front nine, making a bogey on the very first hole and dropping another shot at the par-4 eighth. After another bogey at the 11th, he bounced back and finished his final round at even-par to finish in a tie for third.

Meanwhile, Piller and Harkins both took advantage, as they both overtook Yun and tied for the lead at the turn with matching scores of 15-under for the tournament.

Harkins did not have a single bogey on his card and ran off birdies at both the par-5 third as well as the par-4 fifth to go two-under on the front nine. To get into the top spot, Piller, whose wife, Gerina Piller, plays on the LPGA Tour, made back-to-back birdies at the second and third and gained another shot at the par-3 sixth and, like Harkins, had an unblemished scorecard.

Piller took the outright lead at the par-4 10th with a birdie while Harkins was forced to settle for a par. The lead would not change hands again.

Harkins quickly had company in the second position. Vince Covello played his way into the mix, blitzing the back nine by playing that side six-under en route to an eye-popping 62 to tie Harkins at 3:30pm PST.

Covello ended up in a tie with Yun at 15-under and stood a chance to win, as he was only one stroke behind Piller when he finished. However, his disadvantage was that he had finished his round while Piller and Harkins still had much of their back nines left to play.

Another guy who made a big charge on Sunday was Michael Weaver, a Cal alum who is nowhere near the top 25 (he began this week ranked 243rd in that category). He didn’t play like it, however, as he fired a six-under 64 to launch himself into a three-way tie for fourth.

He did not record a bogey in the final round and spread his birdies evenly, picking up three shots on the front nine and three more on the back.

There are three more events in the Web.com Tour’s regular season before the playoffs begin. Even though the top 25 players on the money list at the end of the regular season get their PGA Tour cards for next season, the top 25 players after the playoffs also get in, meaning that 50 players will get their cards for the 2017-18 campaign.

Don’t look at the standings, just play: Giants win, capture series over the Diamondbacks

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment
AP17218790172387
San Francisco Giants’ Gorkys Hernandez, top, dives safely over Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Daniel Descalso on his double during the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. Also pictured is third baseman Jake Lamb (22). (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Don’t even look at the standings. From a Giants-Dodgers’ rivalry standpoint, the view couldn’t be worse from a San Francisco perspective. Consider this, Giants’ fan: the Dodgers have won as many games (43) in their last 50 contests, as the Giants have won all year (112 games prior to Sunday).

Wow.

Given that, keep the perspective on the field, and the Giants looked good there on Sunday, responding quickly to an early deficit, then racing past the Diamondbacks, 6-3. Jeff Samardzija diverted from his heavy strikeout, light walk persona, but still pitched effectively to win his third, consecutive start.

The undesignated company spokesman of the minute, Samardzija gets it. First, he made it clear that trade rumors weren’t for him, he wants to remain with the Giants. Then, he backed it up with wins over the Pirates, A’s and on Sunday, the Diamondbacks. Three straight wins, after the 32-year old pitcher was a loser in 11 of his first 20 starts of the season.

“We have a unique opportunity to get better, and see what some young guys can do,” Samardzija said.  “We want to win ballgames every day. That’s our goal.”

Against Arizona, Samardzija had help in that quest from three of those youngsters in Jarrett Parker, Albert Suarez and Gorkys Hernandez. Hernandez went from mindless to opportunistic in seconds after he doubled in the fifth, and turned the corner looking for three. But by the time Hernandez picked up third base coach Phil Nevin with the stop sign, he was already in no man’s land. But when Daniel Descalso dropped the ball in the run down, Hernandez went over the top of Descalso, which prevented the infielder from grabbing the ball, and got Hernandez back to second base like a gymnast.

“No gymnastics,” Hernandez said with a laugh, when asked if he had a background in tumbling.

Later in the fifth, Nick Hundley’s two-out, two-strike single back through the middle, scored Henandez and Samardzija, increasing the Giants’ lead to 6-2. Hernandez, according to Chronicle beat writer Henry Schulman, the team’s most improved player over the 113 games of this season, could be a dark horse candidate to assume the centerfield job from Denard Span. Hernandez had a double and two runs scored on Sunday.

Parker’s contributions came in two, big slabs, first his two-run homer in the second that gave the Giants their first lead.  And then in the fourth, Parker threw out J.D. Martinez at the plate to maintain the team’s two-run lead. On Saturday, Parker made a nice, sliding catch, and came up with the game-ending base hit in 10th inning. After two rehabs, and three months away from the club, could Parker be making his bid to be the starting left fielder in 2018? Apparently so.

Suarez came on in the seventh, as Bruce Bochy’s third pitcher of that inning, and retired A.J. Pollock to end that frame. Then the usual long man stuck around to get the final, six outs and record his first save. Still ramping it up there in the mid 90’s at the conclusion, Suarez also seems ready for a bigger role. Bochy agreed, but loves Suarez in the role he now fills.

“He saves the bullpen,” Bochy said of Suarez.

The Giants welcome the Cubs on Monday with Matt Moore facing Jake Arrieta at 7:08pm, a slightly earlier start time for the ESPN national broadcast.

 

 

A’s five run rally in eighth edges Halos 11-10; contest ties record for longest nine-inning game in Angels history

Published on by smallforceLeave a comment

Oakland Athletics’ Matt Chapman, right, is congratulated by Mark Canha, left, and Chad Pinder after Chapman and Pinder scored on a single by Bruce Maxwell during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

ANAHEIM– Oakland took the three-game series with a five run rally in the eighth to win 11-10 over the Los Angeles Angels Sunday.

The 4 hours, 12 minute game tied the Angels record set August 25, 1998 and broke the record for longest nine-inning home game in franchise history.

Bruce Maxwell brought in the game tying and game winning run, ending a 0-for-11 run.” Of the long and hot day game, he replied, it was “…more of mental stability, than it is physical…” and deadpanned, “…felt like I was sitting in an oven, at Thanksgiving, but it could be worse. It could be 12 degrees and freezing.”

The eighth inning was almost over, with the score 10-5 and the A’s left to their final at bat. However, Oakland got six straight baserunners for the second time in a row to take the lead. Two of the runs came against Blake Parker, snapping a 27-game streak and the three remaining versus closer Bud Norris.

The win went to Josh Smith, the loss Norris and Blake Treinen earned the save.

Some of A’s Manager Bob Melvin comments were, “there’s just no quit,” “they like to play,” and “an all-around team win.”

According to Susan Slusser from the San Francisco Chronicle, Oakland had a …”record season-high 18 hits, 10 extra-base hits. First series win at Anaheim since June 23-26, 2016.” The A’s hit three home runs and the Angels two. Both teams had hits in each inning except the last, the only 1-2-3 inning, leaving 10 runners on base overall.

Los Angeles came close to their own rally. C.J. Cron had a one-out double in the eighth. A wild pitch from Santiago Casilla got Andrelton Simmons on his left side. Casilla then later loaded the bases with a walk, but was able to prevent any damage.

Oakland’s Chad Pinder went 4-for-5 with a home run, three runs and two RBIs. Teammate Mark Canha reached home plate this whole successful series with his three-run blast.

The Angels scored for the first time this series when Yunel Escobar hit a leadoff home run. Sean Manaea recovered well though, as he got the next three outs against Mike Trout (strikeout), Albert Pujols and Cron.

Until the A’s rally, every time they scored, Los Angeles had an answer. The Angels had two runs come by errors. Four runs originated from walks

Manaea got Escobar out the second time around, but gave up a home run to the man behind him, Trout with his 999th career hit.

Each team used their whole lineup and scored four apiece in the fourth inning.

Oakland finally broke through pitcher Ricky Nolasco with their first of six straight baserunners. After a one out double by Pinder, Mark Chapman doubled him home to cut the lead to 2-1. Nolasco then walked Maxwell. Canha then gave the A’s their only lead before the end with a three-run homer, continuing his success this series. It was his first long ball since May 20.    

Manaea did not help matters thought, as two walks and a single loaded the bases in the bottom inning. Juan Graterol re-tied the game by clearing the diamond partly with a two-run double. Then Cliff Pennington brought in Shane Robinson and on an error by Jaycob Brugman, Graterol scored to make it 6-4. This brought in Simon Castro to pitch.

Oakland tried again in the fifth. After a leadoff double, Nolasco was replaced too by Cam Bedrosian. Ryon Healy scored from third on a wild pitch to make it 6-5.

Los Angeles got the run back in the bottom and more. Simmons hit a one out double and was able to score on a single by Kole Calhoun. Calhoun then scored on a groundout

In the sixth, the A’s had two two-out singles but Yusmeiro Petit closed it out with his third strikeout of the inning.

Two leadoff walks by Oakland’s Liam Hendriks turned into runs in the bottom to put the A’s into a 10-5 hole.  

The A’s then tried to knock their way back into the game, equaling the Angels’ four runs, and adding one more. It started with a solo shot from Pinder in the seventh and a two-run blast by Khris Davis in the eighth. Davis’ shot came with two outs and was the first of the five run eighth.

Daniel Coulombe, Smith, Casilla and Treinen held Los Angeles to two hits in 3 and ⅓ innings.

Game notes: Escobar had to leave the game with a right intercostal strain, will need a MRI and was replaced by Kaleb Cowart in the seventh. Before the game, Seattle made a waiver claim for Oakland All-Star Yonder Alonso in exchange for former A Boog Powell, which will give Matt Olson from the minors a chance to play. The end of this three-game series marks the end of Oakland Matt Joyce’s two-game suspension for uttering a gay slur during Friday’s game. The A’s will see Alonso again at their next game Tuesday at 7:05pm.

Donald Penn, Raiders remain at odds over contract

Published on by jhawkes51Leave a comment

AP File Photo: Oakland Raiders quarterback Connor Cook passes as tackle Donald Penn (72) blocks against the Denver Broncos in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

NAPA, Calif — Donald Penn remains a holdout at Raiders training camp and he doesn’t appear to be budging anytime soon.

Appearing on Inside Training Camp Live, NFL Network’s Michael Silver said he spoke with the 34-year-old Penn and noted that the left tackle is adamant on his intent to remain away from training camp until the Raiders reward him with a new contract that will pay him in the top-10 among left tackles in the league.

“He is holding firm,” said Silver. “He said we are in a holding pattern, basically. This is not something that should be a surprise to the Raiders it’s something that was broached at the combine and they’ve been aware that Donald Penn, and I happen to agree with them, is underpaid based on productivity.”

Penn started all 16 games last season, and has started 48 straight games for Oakland the last three seasons.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, Penn allowed just 28 quarterback pressures in 676 pass-blocking snaps in 2016 and surrendering just one sack. But that one sack led to quarterback Derek Carr’s season-ending leg injury.

Silver also spoke with Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie, who compared Penn’s holdout as a family squabble, per Inside Training Camp Live.

“He said, listen, I love Donald Penn, he is a Raider, this is a family dispute. Sometimes in a family you have dispute. McKenzie believes they can work something out,” Silver said. “Reggie McKenzie very confident that something will get done.”

Oakland does have depth at left tackle with veteran Marshall Newhouse and rookie David Sharpe, but are they adequate enough to protect Carr’s blindside in a potential Super Bowl run this season after finishing 12-4 with an AFC Wild Card berth a season ago?

Penn is set to make $5.8 million in the final year of his contract.

Information from the NFL Network was used in this report.

MLB Podcast with Daniel Dullum: Sandoval gets double in his first game back with SF; A’s Joyce gets two day suspension from MLB

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Arizona Diamondbacks’ J.D. Martinez slides safely into third base with a triple as San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval takes the late relay during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)

On the MLB Podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 The Panda is back! Pablo Sandoval gets call-up from Triple-A

2 MLB suspends A’s OF Matt Joyce two games for using gay slur towards fan

3 Rockies surging again in NL Wild Card race; AL Central, East races tighten

4 Dodgers just ran off the best 50-game stretch in MLB history

5 With the non-waiver trade deadline passed, will there be more deals between now and September 1 – the deadline for postseason eligibility?

Join Daniel Dullum each Sunday for the MLB Podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Categories MLB

San Jose Earthquakes Saturday game wrap: Ureña, Wondolowski find the back of the net in Quakes fourth consecutive win at home 2-1

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

sjearthquakes.com photo: Marco Ureña and Chris Wondolowski  who both scored goals for the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night at Avaya Stadium edged the Columbus Crew as the Quakes keep their home winning streak going at four

By London Marq

SAN JOSE–Though the San Jose Earthquakes are one of Major League Soccer most storied franchises, success over the past few seasons has waned away from the San Jose football club. With a win tonight against Columbus Crew 2-1 Saturday night at Avaya Stadium, success may be back on the docket. Following a mid-season coaching change due to the teams less than satisfactory start to the season, the Quakes have found their stride. Under rookie coach Chris Leitch, play has at a higher level consistently and wins have begun to string together.

The Columbus Crew currently hold the sixth and final playoff spot in the East and are eager to hold that position. This match, a true test for San Jose against a team desperately trying to maintain contention. Given the circumstances, this match is the most important one of the Quakes season so far. A win would vault them from seventh in the west to fifth and well into playoff contention for the latter part of the season.

The first half of the match was chippy, physical, and entertaining. Between both clubs, ten fouls were conceded and Columbus’s Jonathan Mensah drew a yellow card early. San Jose took nine shots in the opening half. The opening goal was scored from Ureña (SJ). A an excellent piece of skill from near the baseline, left of the goal.

The second half saw Columbus take the pitch with a sense of urgency. Despite their vigor play, the next score was, again, San Jose. A nutmeg pass, from the baseline into the box found star captain Chris Wondolowski who only needed one touch to bulge the net. Columbus would score on a corner kick late, to make the score 2-1. By that point, it was too little, too late. The Quakes had all of the momentum, taking the wind out of their opponents sails.

The Quakes have a 11 games left this season in league play. Their next matchup comes Wednesday in the Lamar Hunt Open Cup Semifinal against Western Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City. A win will gain a berth in the final for the prestigious tournament and also confidence that they can play with any team in the league.

“It would be a great thing,” Chris Wondolowski said, when asked what a win on Wednesday would mean for the teams league play. “You want to be clicking at the time in the year. It’s the final stretch with 11 games left this season. It’s a great opportunity for us to gel.”

It’s an exciting time, no doubt, for the San Jose Earthquakes. They get the win tonight over Columbus Crew.

Quakes win Final 2 – 1

A’s Blackburn leads shutout of Angels 5-0

Published on by smallforceLeave a comment

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

~ (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

~ ANAHEIM– Paul Blackburn (3-1) pitched 6 and ⅔ innings as the Oakland Athletics shutout Los Angeles 5-0 Saturday.

Blackburn threw a career high 112 pitches to new catcher Dustin Garneau who the A’s claimed Friday. Six of Blackburn’s seven starts now have gone six or more innings. His complete line read five hits, no walks and one strikeout for a game score of 73. It was his first start versus Los Angeles.

The last time the Angels were shut out was July 7. No player was able to get more than a single against any of the Oakland pitchers.

On the hitting side, the A’s had timely runs, walks and stolen bases with help from wild pitches/throws. Four of their runs came with two outs.    

Rajai Davis had three stolen bases, Matt Chapman had two walks and Mark Canha had two infield singles that led to runs.

Garneau also lent his bat to the cause with a two-run single in the fourth.  

Technically, with the way the game went, Oakland could have won with the first inning. Davis stole second, third and eventually home on a wild pitch for the game’s first run. Manager Bob Melvin commented, “He’s playing his best baseball here the last month and a half or so and when he’s on the bases, he creates havoc….“  

Davis tried traveling the bases in the third again, but was not as lucky. Skaggs missed first base, but Davis was thrown out then trying to reach second.

In the fourth, with two outs, the A’s got four runners on base. Chad Pinder hit a double, Chapman walked and Canha hit a grounder but no out was able to be recorded, loading the bases. Garneau then made it count with a two-run single to make it 3-0.

Opposing pitcher Tyler Skaggs (1-2), who had not played since April 28, due to injury, was replaced by Kenyan Middleton in the fifth inning. Skaggs threw 83 pitches in four innings, giving up six hits, three runs, two walks, three strikeouts and two wild pitches, ending with a game score of 42. He is now 0-3 versus the A’s.

Oakland tacked on two more in the sixth. With two outs, Chapman and Canha both had another walk and infield single respectively. Kaleb Cowart was unable to make a play at second. Yunel Escobar then tried to get the final out at second when Davis hit, but his throw went into the outfield, scoring Chapman. A double steal by Canha and Davis turned into the second run when Canha was called safe at the plate.

Ryan Dull, Santiago Casilla and Blake Treinen backed up Blackburn the rest of the way with one strikeout and limited the damage to one hit.

Game notes: The rubber match of the series concludes with a day game Sunday at 12:37pm.