Big fight at the Oakland Coliseum: Guard pulls hair and punches fan video taped by fans

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Photo: Screenshot From Video By Shane Siegrist

By Jerry Feitelberg and Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–How bad does things have to get for either the last place Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants who played at the Oakland Coliseum last night not the kind of publicity either team would want. It was in the upper deck at the Coliseum that things got out of control Monday night between a security guard and a fan. The incident was video taped by five different fans as the guard was pulling the hair of the fan before the other guards came in and restrained the guard. The video showed once the punch was thrown by the woman guard and other security guards and fans started mixing it up with punches and exchanging words.

In watching the video tape the guard was throwing down and the other fans and guards were intervening as it would appear on the video. The third party contract security company which remained unnamed their guards in the brawl will be part of an investigation by the Oakland A’s. The A’s have promoted a environment condusive to a family atmosphere and with both the San Francisco Giants in Oakland playing their cross bay rival the A’s. There could have been some bad blood between fans in that respect.

The Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers during past pre season football games had some serious altercations with fans fighting in the stands which led to neither team facing each other in pre season in recent years. The A’s president David Kaval wanted to promote the ultimate family fun experience at the Coliseum which includes taking the tarp off the third deck where the brawl took place last night. The tarp had been up on the third deck for several years and it was taken off for this season. Seats sell for $15 in the third deck.

Knowing Kaval he and the A’s do not want this kind of bad publicity after the A’s have worked hard to bring and enhance the fan experience at the Coliseum. After the first mix up the security guards left that section of the third deck only to come back a second time and exchange words with the fans again. The guards left again and came back a third time according to witnesses and the police had been called to the area by that time and then words were exchanged again and a fan threw a beer at the security guard who initiated the punching of the fan earlier.

That guard reportedly according to other fans had to be restrained again. As far as if police were making an assessment was concerned that is still in the works as the A’s and the A’s security try to sift out what happened. The video might tell all or part of the story. The Giants and A’s meet again at the Coliseum for game two of the series Tuesday night what security arrangements that are being made for that section of the Coliseum has not been decided.

Jerry Feitelberg and Morris Phillips are covering the A’s and Giants at the Oakland Coliseum during this home at home series at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Bullpen melt down: Giants see fifth inning lead evaporate in loss to the A’s

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Oakland Athletics’ Chad Pinder, left, scores past San Francisco Giants catcher Nick Hundley during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Monday, July 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–A 3-2 lead in the fifth inning isn’t nirvana, but for the Giants on Monday night in Oakland it was as good as would get. A leaky bullpen took it from there, offering free passes and hittable pitches to an A’s team itching for an opportunity.

If you’re Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy, where can you turn?

In the opener of the Bay Bridge Series, the first three relievers summoned by Bochy allowed at least one run. Josh Osich walked a pair of batters, and loaded the bases while recording just one out. George Kontos followed, and his third pitch was grooved. Marcus Semien sent Kontos’ fastball in the middle of the plate beyond the centerfield wall for a grand slam.

Two innings later, Kyle Crick and Hunter Strickland offered Oakland the cherry on top, and they gladly accepted. Matt Joyce singled and Khris Davis walked courtesy of Crick. Then Strickland allowed a two-run, two-out knock to Ryon Healy.

The final damage? The Giants’ pen allowed six runs on five hits, including one game-altering grand slam, and six walks. Six walks?

“In the major leagues that shouldn’t happen and that’s what did us in,” Bochy said of the walks. “Of course the grand slam, that made it a steep uphill climb for us. But we have to control the ball better. We have to get better in the bullpen.”

Four games into the worst road trip in a season of bad road trips, the Giants’ bullpen has allowed 11 earned runs in nine innings, lost three times, and recorded no saves despite four opportunities. That’s bad.

By comparison, the A’s bullpen, depleted by a trade and John Axford’s release, has strung together 11 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in the last two days. In that same span, the Giants have a pair of painful losses. From the Giants’ perspective, it’s not a good comparison.

Four consecutive losses have saddled the Giants with baseball’s worst record, at least for now, worse than the Phillies. The Giants probably won’t lose 100 games, becoming the second club in the San Francisco era to do so, but it’s a possibility.

If so, something has to give. General manager Bobby Evans spoke last week of retaining the team’s core, in part due to the numerous, prohibitive contracts, and in part due to the accomplishments of that core. But that same group has baseball’s worst record since last season’s All Star break, more than a full season of baseball.

Needless to say, tough decisions are looming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A’s Semien belts grand slam leads A’s to victory in Game One of the Bay Bridge Series with the Giants 8-5

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by Jerry Feitelberg

Oakland- There was a huge crowd on hand at the Oakland Coliseum Monday night to watch the A’s play the San Francisco Giants in the first of the home and home four-game series. The A’s and the Giants played a very entertaining game as the A’s found a way to send the Giants down to defeat as Oakland won by a score of 8-5.

The A’s sent righty Paul Blackburn to the mound Monday night. Sonny Gray was supposed to start, but he was traded to the Yankees just before the trade deadline expired. Blackburn pitched into the seventh inning. He went six and 1/3rd innings and allowed five runs and eight hits. The A’s bullpen did the job and was able to preserve the win for Blackburn. The Giants’ Matt Cain pitched just five innings, and he allowed six and just two runs. Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy removed after the fifth inning as he was very close to the 100-pitch limit.

The Giants drew first blood in the top of the first inning. With two out, Brandon Belt doubled to right field. Buster Posey singled to drive him in with the first run of the game. The lead didn’t last long as the A’s scored twice in their half of the inning. Cain walked Matt Joyce who was leading off for Oakland. Semien singled to put men on at first and second with no out. Jed Lowrie followed with a single to drive in Joyce with the tying run. Semien moved to third on the play. Semien scored when Khris Davis lined out to deep left field. The A’s lead 2-1 after the first inning.

The Giants regained the lead in the fourth. With one out, the Giants hitters came through with four consecutive singles to tally two runs and lead 3-2.  The attack featured singles by Posey, Crawford, Jae-Gyun Hwang, and Carlos Moncrief. For Moncrief, it was his first hit in the big leagues and his first RBI. Blackburn retired Hundley and Hernandez to end the threat.

In the bottom half of the sixth inning, the A’s regained the lead. Lefty Josh Osich was now pitching for the Giants. He walked A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell to start the inning. Rajai Davis, pinch hitting for Jaycob Brugman, doubled to left to put men on at second and third. Osich walked Matt Joyce to load the bases. Bochy decided to replace Osich with righty George Kontos. It turned out to be a fateful decision as Semien sent a Kontos fastball over the fence in left-center field for a grand slam. It was Semien’s fourth homer of the year and the second grand slam of his career, and it propelled the A’s into a 6-3 lead.

The Giants rallied in the seventh to drive Blackburn out of the game. The Giants put together four hits and plated two more runs. Carlos Moncrief led off the inning with a double. He then made a blunder on the base paths as he took off for third on a ground ball that went directly to Blackburn. Blackburn threw to Semien, and they tagged Moncrief out after a short rundown. Nick Hundley reached on the fielder’s choice. Gorkys Hernandez and Denard Span singled to drive in Hundley. Brandon Belt Singled to drive in Span. Liam Hendriks was now pitching for the A’s, and he had to face the Giants’ best hitter, Buster Posey. Hendriks won the battle as he was able to strike Posey out.

The A’s score two more in the bottom of the eighth to give them a three-run cushion heading into the ninth inning. A’s manager Bob Melvin called on Blake Treinen to close out the game, and after giving up a single to Hundley, he was able to retire the next three Giants to preserve the win for Blackburn and earn his first save as a member of the Oakland Athletics. The A’s win 8-5.

Game Notes- First of all, as mentioned earlier, the A’s traded pitcher Sonny Gray for three prospects. The A’s obtained outfielder Dustin Fowler, pitcher James Kaprielian, and shortstop/outfielder Jorge Mateo. Fowler is recovering from a knee injury, and Kaprielian had Tommy John Surgery and won’t be available to next year. Mateo is playing in Double-A ball and is tearing up the league. The A’s also announced that they traded super sub, Adam Rosales, to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The A’s activated Chad Pinder from the 10-day DL. Pinder had been out since June, 23rd due to a strained left hamstring. Pinder was inserted into right field in the ninth inning, and he made a tremendous running catch to help the A’s win. Kendall Graveman will pitch for Oakland Thursday night. Graveman has missed a substantial amount of time due to a shoulder injury.

Oakland hit three doubles, the fourth consecutive game in which the A’s have hit at least three. It was the second time this year that they have hit three doubles in four consecutive games.

The A’s improved to 48-59 while the Giants drop to 40-67. Blackburn was the winning pitcher, and he is 2-1. Josh Osich took the loss, and he is 3-2.

Time of game was three hours and 26 minutes. The A’s had the second largest crowd of the season as 38,391 watched the Green and Gold beat the Orange and Black.

Game Two of the series will be at the Oakland Coliseum Tuesday night at 7:05 pm. Sean Manaea ( 8-5, 3.82 ERA ) will pitch for Oakland, and the Giants will have former Athletic Jeff Samardzija ( 5-11, 4.85 ERA ) will handle the pitching chores for San Francisco.

San Francisco Giants Podcast with Morris Phillips: After getting swept in LA Giants want to win A’s home at home series

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain throws against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Monday, July 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

On the Giants Podcast with Morris:

1 The Giants open a two game series in Oakland tonight with the A’s. Lot going on in this series with both teams in last in their respective divisions the Giants really want to win this series

2 Giants coming off a sweep in LA it was that third game a tie by Yasiel Puig that forced the game into extra innings where the Dodgers won in a walk off in 11 innings to sweep San Francisco

3 Coming off a sweep and going in a home at home with the A’s for four games will the Giants get to have the opportunity take out their frustrations out on the A’s

4 The Giants start the series tonight with Matt Cain and the A’s Paul Blackburn duel. Sonny Gray of the A’s was suppose to start but was called away as he was dealt to the New York Yankees for three prospects.

5 Lastly Morris will be covering three of the four game series but with both teams in last place will they come? You bet both the Oakland Coliseum and AT&T Park will be filled with fans as the Bay Area love the Bay Bridge series.

Morris Phillips covers both the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s and does the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Dodgers Farmer wins it in dramatic fashion with two run walk off double in 11th beats SF 3-2

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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Justin Turner, center, scores the winning run on a double by Kyle Farmer as San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey, left, reaches for an off-center throw while Corey Seager celebrates during the 11th inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 30, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

By Jeremy Kahn

LOS ANGELES-Kyle Farmer was making his major-league debut, and this will be definitely a game that he will never forget for the rest of his big-league career.

Farmer lashed a two-run double down the right field line off of Alberto Suarez to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a dramatic come-from-behind victory by the final score of 3-2 over the San Francisco Giants before a crowd of 53,495, the fifth sellout of the season at Dodger Stadium.

The rookie is the first player in team history to pick up a walk-off hit in his major-league debut, and he is the third player in team history to have a walk-off hit for his first career hit. The last player to accomplish the feat was Darren Dreifort on May 27,1994 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and prior to Dreifort, it was Greg Brock on September 5, 1982 also against the Pirates (according to STATS, LLC)

The victory gave the Dodgers a series sweep and their 31st come-from-behind win on the season. It is the first series sweep by the Dodgers over the Giants since August 31-September 2, 2015.

It is the eighth straight victory for the Dodgers, and their 14th series sweep of the season, their most series sweeps in a season since 1976.

The Dodgers are now 74-31 on the season, and finish the month of July with a 20-3 record, their highest win percentage (.870) in team history.

On the other hand, this was the eighth time this season that the Giants have been swept and are now 18-38 on the road.

With the victory, the Dodgers are now 34.5 games ahead of the Giants, the largest lead ever in the history of a rivalry that goes all the way back to 1890, when the Dodgers were founded.

Joe Panik gave the Giants the lead in the top of the 11th inning with a single off of eventual winning pitcher Pedro Baez to score Kelby Tomlinson, who singled to lead-off the inning.

With a chance to lengthen the lead, Buster Posey grounded into a double play to end the threat and the inning.

Cory Gearrin pitched the 10th inning, where he allowed a hit before giving way to Suarez, who was unable to hold the lead.

Conor Gillaspie, who hit a three-run home run in the National League Wild Card game to give the San Francisco Giants the win over the New York Mets last October did it again in the series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The pinch-hit home run landed in the right field seats just out of the reach of Yaisel Puig in the top of the eighth inning to break a scoreless tie.

It was the second pinch hit home run of the season for Gillaspie and the seventh pinch hit home run of his career.

It looked like the pinch-hit home run by Gillaspie would hold up and the Giants would get the win; however, Sam Dyson was unable to hold onto the lead.

Chase Utley led off the inning with a pinch-hit single, then stole second and scored on a Puig single.

Dyson was able to regroup, and get the next two batters. He then walked Corey Seager intentionally to get to Justin Turner, who singled off the glove of Gillaspie and Brandon Crawford was able to keep it from going into the outfield that would have allowed Puig to score the winning run.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Cody Bellinger flew out to Gorkys Hernandez in left field and the game went into the 10th inning.

It was another huge game for Seager, who went 3-for-4, and finished the series against the Giants going 8-for-12, a .667 average.

Seager ended the month by going 30-for-90 with eight double, six home runs and 14 runs batted in.

Madison Bumgarner, who pitched seven innings, allowing zero runs on five hits, walking just one and striking out seven and was saddled with a tough no-decision.

Hyun-Jin Ryu did not fare in the decision either despite pitching an outstanding game for the Dodgers, as he went also seven innings, and his line was the exact same as Bumgarner’s. Ryu went seven innings, allowing zero runs on five hits, walking just one and striking out seven.

The only difference in their line score was the fact that Bumgarner threw 14 more pitches than Ryu, 99-85.

The Dodgers backed up Ryu by turning five double plays on the evening, including one, where Enrique Hernandez caught a Brandon Crawford fly ball and threw a seed to Austin Barnes to get Joe Panik for the third out of the top of the seventh inning.

Things got interesting in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Hunter Strickland walked three batters, including an intentional walk to Cody Bellinger; however, Strickland was able to get out of the inning, as Barnes flew out to Hunter Pence to end the threat and the inning.

NOTES: Matt Cain takes the ball on Monday night, as the Giants open up the Bay Bridge series against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Sonny Gray will take the mound for the A’s.

The six double plays hit into by the Giants are the most by the team since they hit into seven on May 4, 1969 against the Houston Astros at the Astrodome.

Home of the walk-off: A’s send Twins to defeat with a game-ending homer for the second, straight day

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Minnesota Twins pitcher Bartolo Colon works against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 30, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Morris Phillips 

OAKLAND–Somewhere near the three-hour mark of Sunday’s series finale between the Twins and the A’s, the stalemates appeared pretty much entrenched.

No movement on the scoreboard, and no movement on the trade front. Sonny Gray, scratched from his scheduled start with speculation high that the A’s young ace would be dealt prior to Monday’s deadline, was still sitting in the Oakland dugout quietly pulling for the only big league club he’s known to summon some extra-inning dramatics.

A weird scene? Indeed, but at the three-hour mark this one had already qualified as strange ballgame.

Luckily, for the A’s, Yonder Alonso would provide a straightforward and satisfying ending–after four hours and six minutes of baseball.

Alonso sent Tyler Duffy’s first offering in the 12th inning over the right field wall to win it, and complete the A’s methodical climb from a 5-0, fourth inning deficit. The 6-5 win enhanced the A’s reputation for late ballgame dramatics despite their being positioned 22 1/2 games out of first place in the AL West.

Sort of like a tantrum-engulfed toddler wailing loudly in a crowded room, the swinging A’s are capable of demanding your attention.

“Once you get a few of them (walk off wins), I don’t want to say you expect it, but you have a good feeling about it happening again once we get to the dugout and have a chance to win,” manager Bob Melvin said.

The A’s won for the ninth time–and second day in a row–on their final at-bat of the day.

The momentum swings in this one ran the range from subtle to stark starting with the Twins’ two-homer, first inning off Jharel Cotton. Thrust into the starting role when Gray was scratched, and fresh from the disabled list, Cotton continued two, disturbing trends by allowing the two bombs, and walking five. The walks were distributed across Cotton’s brief, 78-pitch outing, and visibly frustrated the young pitcher, but Melvin still saw positives.

“He just got a little bit out of sync. He threw some really good changeups at times, good pitches, but he just couldn’t get into a rhythm,” Melvin said. “I thought his stuff was pretty good, it just didn’t translate into outs.”

In contrast, Cotton’s adversary on the mound, Bartolo Colon was Old Steady, making his 516th big league start which lasted into the seventh inning. Colon has hinted at an imminent retirement, but the decision wasn’t in connection with Sunday’s outing. Colon allowed eight hits and a walk, and departed with a 5-3 lead.

Home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi complicated things for Colon, Cotton and both lineups with his inconsistent ball and strike calls. The Twins Brian Dozier got the worst of it. After his first inning home run, he struck out five times, and fussed with Cuzzo throughout. Dozier was around for the finish, but Miguel Sano was not. After fanning for the third time in the 11th, Sano paused, then exploded, throwing his bat down, prompting Cuzzi to issue his ejection.

While Cotton and six Oakland relievers compiled 15 strikeouts, they also issued eight walks, helping make the latter innings hectic with the Twins threatening to push across the go-ahead run. But that’s where the A’s defense kicked in with Khris Davis making a pair of high-difficulty catches, and Matt Chapman’s heads up tag play at third that prevented Max Kepler from reaching the base with one out in the ninth.

The beleaguered A’s bullpen was dialed in, throwing 8 1/3 scoreless innings after Cotton allowed all five Minnesota runs.

Gray’s status remains undetermined at press time, but if he’s moved to the Yankees, it will follow weeks of intense negotiating with the Yankees protecting their high-level prospects and the A’s insisting that one or two be included in any deal. If nothing else, stubborn negotiations, and a relatively small number of deals consummated to date by all of the clubs leave room for the possibility that Gray won’t be moved at all.

If 4pm Monday passes without a trade of Gray, he’s expected to make his rescheduled start against the Giants in the Bay Bridge Series opener. Matt Cain, looking to avoid a 10th loss on the season, will pitch for the Giants.

 

San Francisco Giants report: Stories from the road with correspondent Jeremy Kahn

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AP File Photo: Jeremy Kahn’s road trip started with the San Francisco Giants second baseman Joe Panik (12) leaps over a sliding Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes (15) as Panik tries to keep the throw to second from going to center field in the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Fri July 28th, Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. Photographer: Peter Joneleit. (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

By Jeremy Kahn

LOS ANGELES-During my 15 years of covering the San Francisco Giants, I have had the opportunity to cover the Giants not only at home but on the road as well.

Starting the 2010 World Championship season and continuing today, I take one road trip a year and I love being on the road for that one week or one weekend, as it is this weekend in Los Angeles.

Actually, covering games on the road preceded the 2010 season, as I covered a game each at Shea Stadium, the home of the New York Mets from 1964-2008 and at Citizens Bank Park, the current home of the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2007 season.

Fast forward those three years to 2010, and I was on vacation in New York and I was able to cover a game at Citi Field, the current home of the New York Mets and then two games at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

After leaving Philadelphia, I headed to Washington, D.C., for the third and final leg of my tour and there, I covered the last three games before the All-Star break between the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park against the Giants

Following the 2010 season, where the Giants won their first World Series since 1954, I decided to do this every summer.

I looked at the schedule for the 2011 season and looked at a trip that just stuck out. The multi-city trip began on June 27 with an off day in the Chicago and the games began on June 28 with a day-night doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs at historical Wrigley Field. Despite the sweep in the doubleheader, the Giants and Cubs ended up splitting the four-game series, as the Cubs took the final two games of the series.

My multi-city trip ended with a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, the Tigers home since the 2000 season. During that series, the Giants took out two of three in the series against the team that would see 15 months later in the World Series.

The schedule was the following season always comes out around the second or third week of September, and within minutes of seeing the 2012 season schedule, I knew exactly where I wanted to go on my trip.

This trip took me to San Diego and a series at Petco Park, the home of the San Diego Padres since the 2004 season. After seeing the Giants take two out of three from the Padres, it was on to the next city, which happened to be my hometown of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Dodgers awaited the Giants.

The Giants swept the Dodgers in the three-game series, as they were on their way to their second World Championship in three years.

When the 2013 season began, I saw a trip right around my birthday and it was to two cities I have yet to see a game.

I started in Denver, where the Giants took two out of three against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

After the three-game series and an off-day, the Giants began a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

Like the series in Denver, the Giants took two out of three in Phoenix against the Diamondbacks. This was the first time I had ever seen an indoor game in person, as the roof at Chase Field was closed for the weekend.

The tour continued with my first ever trip to Marlins Park in Miami, a city and a state I had never been to as well.

Yes, the Giants took two of three on this trip to Miami; however, the trip almost ended after the first night, as I suffered a personal tragedy with the passing of my Aunt Maureen, whom I donated my kidney to in May of 2007.

Per the encouragement of my parents, I decided to continue on with the trip and head to Philadelphia after the game on Sunday afternoon.

Yes, I was heading to Philadelphia was my third time in the past eight years; however, I was finally covering the Giants and they took three out of four on their way to their third World Championship in five years.

The 2015 trip took me to the National League Central, where I covered a three-game series at Busch Stadium, the home of the St. Louis Cardinals. As for the series it was not good, as the Cardinals took of three from the defending World Champions.

Like the previous trips, this was a multi-city trip that ended with a four-game trip to PNC Park, the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and this series went to the Pirates, as they took three out of four.

With my trip last season, I headed to the American League East and to two legendary cities and stadiums.

The Giants played a two-game series at the oldest stadium in major league baseball, Fenway Park in Boston, the home of the Boston Red Sox since 1912. Despite the fact that the Giants were swept by the Red Sox, just being at Fenway Park for a game for just priceless.

After an off day, it was on to my second and final stadium of the trip and this was too Yankee Stadium that opened in 2009. The Giants lost two out of three to the New York Yankees; however, being in that stadium was a treat in itself.

This season, it was an easy road trip down to Los Angeles and go to Dodger Stadium, which is where my love for this great sport began way back in 1977.

MLB Podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s close to moving Gray to Yanks, Beltre in 3000 hit club, and A’s announcer Bill King goes to Cooperstown

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Texas Rangers’ Adrian Beltre follows through on a double for his 3,000th career hit which came off a pitch from Baltimore Orioles’ Wade Miley in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 30, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

On the MLB Podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 Reports: Sonny Gray is on the move – just don’t know where quite yet.

2 Marlins’ Adrian Beltre gets hit number 3,000.

3 J.D. Martinez giving Diamondbacks’ offense an immediate jolt

4 Lou Brock announces he’s cancer-free

5 MLB announces plans for regular season games in Europe by 2019

6 Shout out to Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines, Ivan Rodriguez, John Schuerholz and Bud Selig on Hall of Fame induction. Raines goes in as an Expo.

6 Congrats to Bill King, finally inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame’s broadcasters’ wing

Categories MLB

Oakland A’s Report: Three important stories on King, Gray and a walk-off win

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by Charlie O. Mallonee

The Most Import Oakland Athletics Story of Saturday, July 29, 2017:

Bill King receives the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame

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Thank you Mr. King. Holy Toledo! You made it to the Hall of Fame!

Second Most Important Athletics Story of Saturday, July 29, 2017:

Sonny Gray reportedly has been scratched as the starter for the game on Sunday

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Photo: Bruce Kluckhorn USA TODAY Sports

Multiple sources from USA Today Sports to Bleacher Report and more are reporting that Oakland pitcher Sonny Gray has been scratched as the starter in final game of the series with the Minnesota Twins on Sunday afternoon. With the Major League trade deadline set for Monday, July 31 at 1 p.m. PDT, the anticipation is that a deal involving Gray is in the final stages and his potential new club would want to have him ready to start as soon as possible.

Many of those same sources are pointing to the Yankees as being the final destination for Gray which really comes as no surprise. New York needs a starter to replace Michael Pineda and have been on the hunt since he went to the disabled list. The hang-up seems to be the price the Athletics want for Gray.

As the late, great broadcaster Red Barber used say the A’s know “they are in the catbird’s seat!” They have what the Yankees need plus Sonny Gray comes with two additional years of team control. That is going to come at a price and Oakland wants young, very talented prospects.

The Yankees have one of the most talented minor league organizations in the major leagues. Naturally, they want to give up as little as they have to in order to acquire Gray. It’s like buying a car, everybody has to keep going back to the sales manager to see if they can get it for that price.

If you are an A’s fan, the sad news is by August 1 Sonny Gray will be wearing a different uniform. The good news is you will have some great young talent for team when the new stadium opens in 2021 or so.

Third Most Important Athletics Story of Saturday, July 29, 2017:

Athletics break five-game losing streak and give Melvin win 1000

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Athletics celebrate walk-off victory

The Oakland Athletics ended a five-game losing streak in dramatic fashion on Saturday night when Rajai Davis hit a 1-0 pitch from the Twins Taylor Rogers over the left-center field wall with Adam Rosales on at first to give the A’s a 5-4 walk-off victory. The big crowd of 27,047 on fireworks night exploded with excitement as their team celebrated the win at home plate.

The win was also significant for Athletics manager Bob Melvin as it was the 1000th of his major league career. After the game, he was quick to downplay the milestone but it is one to be celebrated and honored as only 64 other managers have accomplished that feat.

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Oakland Manager Bob Melvin Photo: Sporting News

The A’s jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first-inning thanks to an RBI-double by Ryon Healy that drove Rajai Davis home from second base. The Twins came back and scored two runs on three hits and left the bases loaded in the second inning. A’s starter Chris Smith almost did not make it out of that inning.

Minnesota scored two more runs in the top of the fifth inning when Miguel Sano hit his 24th home run of the season — a two-run shot — down the right field line. That gave the Twins a commanding 4-1 lead.

Ryon Healy hit his second double of the game to lead off the A’s half of the fifth inning. With two out, Yonder Alonso drove Healy home on a single to left-center field. The Twins held a 4-2 after five.

Rookie Matt Chapman breathed hope into the fans when hit a 2-0 pitch from LHP Buddy Boshers deep into the stands in left field for his sixth home run of the season. The round-tripper chased Boshers from the game and closed the gap to a one-run lead for the Twins at 4-3.

After Daniel Coulombe held the Twins scoreless in the top of the ninth, the A’s put Adam Rosales in the game to pinch-hit for Jaycob Brugman. Rosales drew a walk off Taylor Rogers. That brought Davis to bat who ended the game with his fourth home run of the year.

In the batter’s box

  • Rajai Davis went 4-for-5 on the night including the home run, two runs scored and two RBI. This was the second walk-off home run of his career.
  • Ryon Healy had a 2-for-4 game with both hits being doubles. He now has 21 two-baggers on the season. Healy also had an RBI (58) and scored a run.
  • Matt Chapman went 1-for-4 against the Twins but his one hit was his sixth home run of the year which created his 10th RBI as well.
  • Jed Lowrie broke out of an 0-for-14 hitless streak with a single in the third inning.
  • Minnesota’s Miguel Sano’ had a 1-for-5 game hitting his 24th home run of the year. It was his first home run in a road game since July 1 in Kansas City.
  • Zack Granite went 2-for-4 for the Twins and posted two RBI. That extended his hitting streak to nine games.

On the hill

  • Chad Smith had a rough start for the A’s versus the Twins and really had to work very hard to hang in there for 5.0-innings. He gave up four runs (all earned) on seven hits. He walked three and struck out four. Smith allowed one home run and did not figure into the final decision.
  • The A’s used four relievers in the game: Dull, Casilla, Josh Smith and Coulombe. Each pitched one inning. Each gave up one hit. None gave up a run which was the key to Oakland hanging in for a chance to win the game.
  • The victory went to Daniel Coulombe (2-1) who was the pitcher of record in the ninth inning.
  • Casilla was used to pitch the seventh inning which was a bit of surprise. This does not mean that he has been demoted from the closer’s role.
  • Taylor Rogers takes the loss for the Twins. His record falls to 5-3 and he also records his third blown save of the season.
  • Minnesota used four pitchers in the game.

Up next

The same two teams meet on Sunday in Oakland at 1:05 p.m. RHP — “the ageless one” — Bartolo Colon (2-9, 8.00) is scheduled to go for the Twins, and if the reports are true, TBA will be on the mound for the Oakland Athletics in place of Sonny Gray.

Two notes from disabled list

  • Chad Pinder went 1-for-3 in a rehab start for Triple-A Nashville Saturday. He has played eight games for the Sounds and has gone 5-for-27 including one home run.
  • Kendall Graveman made a rehab start for the Sounds on Saturday. He pitched 4.2-innings allowing four hits, one run (earned) while walking two and striking out five.

San Jose Earthquakes Saturday game wrap: San Jose closer to playoffs with 1-0 win

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sjearthquakes.com photo: San Jose Earthquakes Homegrown defender Nick Lima scores game-winning goal during Saturday night against the Colorado Rapids at Avaya Stadium

By London Marq

The San Jose Earthquakes welcomed in the Colorado Rapids to Avaya Stadium as they try to prove they are better than the standings might suggest. Mere weeks from a mid-season coaching change, the Quakes are making a push for the playoffs many thought impossible.

As of late San Jose has played excellently in their defensive third. Colorado had issues all match finding scoring opportunities. After the full 90, the Rapids only attempted eight shots, with only two threatening the goal. Defensive efforts such as these are exactly what rookie coach Leitch needs from his team if they want to contend in the post season.

The Quakes superb defense played directly into their offense. While they also only had two shots on target, they attempted 15 goals total and drew 11 fouls. The scored in the 59th minute off a corner set piece that fell to the defender Lima well outside the box. Lime put it past the keeper with a beautiful bending long shot. It was the maiden goal of the game and would be good enough for three points in the standings.

The Quakes face Columbus, the team currently sixth in the eastern conference on August 5th. While it will not be a potential championship matchup, it will be a great chance for San Jose to see how they fare against a team currently in the playoffs, if the season were to end today. The Quakes sit one point out of being tied for 6th in the West. Can they make the push between now and the final game of the season on Oct 22nd? If they can continue the good play of late, they’ll be playing into November.