That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Athletics and Giants at the All Star Break– The cellar dwellers.

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June 29, 2017 AP File Photo:  Oakland Athletics shortstop Franklin Barreto (1) smiles in the dugout prior to a Major League Baseball game between the Houston Astros and the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX. The Astros won the game 6-1…Trask Smith/CSM (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

OAKLAND–How many predicted than arriving at the 2017 All Star break the Oakland Athletics would have a better record than the San Francisco Giants? So is the case. Although, it really doesn’t matter, they are both last place teams.

The A’s at this time are a much more exciting team to watch than the Giants. Their influx of young talent makes their fans fill with hope of Ryan Chapman, Franklin Barreto, and Matt Olson and all the young and talented players they have come up from the minors.

Also the Athletics have home run power, Khris Davis, Yonder Alonso, Ryon Healy; they can all hit dingers with the best of them. The Giants cannot say the same. Not that they had much power during their three World Series titles 2010-12-14 because they were never a power driven team, but they had pitching, a great bullpen, which they still do not have even though they did signed Mark Melancon, plus they had very good defense and enough hitting to make them winners.

So we are now at the All Star break. The Athletics are in last place in the AL West with a 39-50 record, and 21 games out of first place, occupied by the Houston Astros who are running away with the division.

The Giants are also in the cellar, in the NL West with a 34-56 record, 27 games out of first place; the Giants won-lost record is the second worst in the major leagues, only Philadelphia 29-58 are below the Giants. The bad news for the Giants doesn’t stop there. We all know for years and years if the Giants do not win the pennant their fans are happy that the Dodgers also do not make it. But not this season. The Los Angeles Dodgers have the best record in all of baseball at the break with an incredible 61-29 cruising in first place with a 7.5 lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks. So this could be a season where the Dodgers win the World Series and the Giants finish last in their division.

With 530 consecutive sellouts the Giants fans are flocking to AT&T Park, and enjoying the painful games. Some fans are in denial, some do not want to see reality, and they want to live in the past during the good years of three World Series titles. And that is all good, fans pay good money to see their team so they can enjoy even a terrible season.

What are the A’s and Giants going to do before the 31st of this month (deadline for trades)? We know that the Athletics are always active before, during and after July each season, so Sonny Gray, Yonder Alonso, Jed Lowry, Santiago Casilla and others that have value could be Adios very soon.

How about the Giants? Cueto is probably going to pack and move to an American League team, Hunter Pence could be gone as well as Eduardo Nunez, or there could be some surprises. There could be a few players that are Adios Pelota!! The Giants need people that can hit the ball out of the park and drive in lots of runs. The crew they currently have is not getting any younger. We know that ATT Park is not a home run hitting paradise, but visiting teams have no problem hitting home runs there, but not the team that plays 81 games there, Would the Giants trade a “healthy” Madison Bumgarner? I think all is possible. The Giants also have the money to load up again, trade and sign some big names if they wish to do so. The chemistry they enjoyed with this bunch is not there anymore. And if it is broken you must fix it.

Finally. There is one piece of news that might be the most positive for the Oakland Athletics and it has nothing to do with trading or signing players. That will be when they announce the location of their new “baseball only” new ballpark in Oakland.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Angels TV Spanish talent, the A’s radio Spanish talent, and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Still the King: Mariners Hernandez brings A’s first half to a quiet end

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Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez turns and lets out a yell after striking out Oakland Athletics’ Jed Lowrie to end the top of the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 9, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

By Morris Phillips

One of the worst pre-All Star break runs in Oakland A’s history wouldn’t be complete without a contribution from King Felix.

Consider the A’s first half complete.

The 31-year old Felix Hernandez has maintained a hex on the A’s for more than a decade, winning 24 times in 45 career starts, a roll that continued on Sunday with the Mariners 4-0 win in which Hernandez and four relievers shut down the A’s, allowing just two hits.

The A’s concluded the first half with a 39-50 record, the ninth-worst record at the break in the team’s Oakland history. Despite winning four of five coming in, and Hernandez attempting to reinvent himself after a string of injuries, the A’s and their nemesis experienced deja vu once Hernandez took the mound on Sunday.

Hernandez walked three, struck out a season-best eight, and threw 100 pitches in subduing the A’s for six innings. It mattered little that Hernandez has struggled this season, spending nearly two months inactive due to shoulder bursitis. In just his fourth start since coming off the disabled list, Hernandez pitched as if it were old times.

“That’s absolutely the best we’ve seen him all year,” Mariners’ manager Scott Servais said. “He was locked in, had all his pitches working. He just had a different look about him today and that’s what guys that have had the career he’s had, they can turn up the dial a little bit.”

The A’s were limited to Matt Joyce’s double in the third inning, and Jaycob Brugman’s single in the fifth while facing Hernandez. The quartet of relievers following the King were even more stingy, gifting the A’s with a pair of walks, and no hits.

The A’s came into the first half finale, hitting just .197 in their previous 10 games, a stretch hardly masked by the perfume of four wins in their previous five games.

 

Ellis wins it in the 11th with two run pinch hit HR 10-8, Marlins sweep Giants

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Miami Marlins’ A.J. Ellis swings for a two-run home run off San Francisco Giants’ George Kontos in the eleventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 9, 2017, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Wouldn’t you know that the player to come up with the eventual game-winning hit for the Miami Marlins would be a former member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

A.J. Ellis hit a two-run pinch hit home run in the top of the 11th inning, helping the Marlins to a 10-8 win over the San Francisco Giants before a crowd of 41,516, the 530th consecutive regular season at AT&T Park.

It was the first pinch hit home run of Ellis’ career.

The win by the Marlins completed their first three-game series sweep over the Giants in San Francisco since May 1-3, 2012.

Giancarlo Stanton added his second home run of the game just two batters later, his 26th home run of the season. To go along with his home run in the top of the fifth inning, it was the 23rd multi-home run game of Stanton’s career.

In all, Stanton reached six times on the afternoon, as he walked twice, was hit by a pitch, singled and hit those two home runs.

Things were looking good for the Giants in the early going, as Brandon Belt doubled to lead off the bottom of the second inning and then Brandon Crawford launched a two-run home run into the right-center field seats that was measured at 418 feet, Crawford’s longest home run since the 2015 season.

Just one-half inning later, the Marlins tied up the game, as Stanton was hit by a Johnny Cueto pitch and then scored on a Christian Yelich double. Yelich advanced to third on Belt’s throwing error, when Nick Hundley was unable to catch the throw. Marcell Ozuna then tied up the game on a double to score Yelich.

Stanton untied with one swing of the bat in the top of the fifth inning, as he hit a opposite field home run into the right field seats that was measured at 443 feet.

Nick Hundley tied up the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he hammered his fourth home run of the season.

The Marlins took the lead for good in the top of the seventh inning, as they scored four runs in total to take a 7-3 lead.

Stanton reached base for the fourth time today, as he walked to lead off the inning, then Yelich picked up his second double of the afternoon that sent Stanton to third base. After a Ozuna walk to load the bases, ended Cueto’s day.

Justin Bour then gave the Marlins the lead for good, as he hit a two-run single. After a Martin Prado ground out, J.T. Realmuto singled to score Ozuna. The final run of the inning came on a JT Riddle sacrifice fly to score Bour.

Denard Span doubled in Conor Gillaspie to narrow the lead down to three, and that was the beginning of the comeback.

The Giants scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, as they led off the inning with three straight singles that saw Crawford drive in Hunter Pence. After a groundout by Jae-Gyun Hwang, Hundley singled in Belt. The Giants tied up the game, as Miguel Gomez picked up his first major league hit to score Crawford.

In all, Cueto went six innings, allowing six runs on six hits, walking six and striking out two; however, due to the Giants comeback, Cueto did not fare in the decision.

Jose Urena pitched five innings, allowing three runs on five hits, walking just one and striking out three. Like Cueto, Urena did not fare in the decision.

NOTES: Cueto is set to start on Friday when the Giants begin a quick three-game road trip to San Diego against the Padres.

Buster Posey is the Giants lone All-Star for the 2017 season. This will be the fifth All-Star appearance for Posey, and this will be his third consecutive start at catcher for the National League. He is the first NL catcher to start in three straight All-Star games since Mike Piazza started in six in a row from 1994-1999.

Madison Bumgarner is set to make his fourth and final rehab start on Monday night, as he will take the mound for the San Jose Giants against the Modesto Nuts at San Jose Muni. Bumgarner is expected to throw around 90 pitches.

The Giants are seven for their last 31 with runners in scoring position, an average of .226.

MLB Podcast with Daniel Dullum: Francona to undergo heart procedure; Judge on his way to All Star game; A’s new CEO

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photo from 95.7 the Game: A’s new CEO Chris Giles was instrumental in helping the San Francisco 49ers building Levis Stadium

On the MLB Podcast with Daniel:

1 Indians manager Terry Francona undergoes heart procedure, won’t be managing American League in the All-Star Game

2 Aaron Judge breaks Yankees’ 80-year-old rookie home run record

3 Athletics hire Chris Giles as Chief Operating Officer

4 MLB looking at limiting catcher’s mound visits, pitch clock, adjustment on strike zone

5 BoSox shopping for third baseman while Panda is on minor league rehab assignment

6 Twins sign 44-year-old Bartolo Colon, sent him to Triple-A Rochester

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

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Athletics scratch out a 4-3 win over Mariners Saturday night in Seattle

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by Charlie O. Mallonee

Oakland puts it together in the top of the ninth inning

ms healy double
Healy hits game winning RBI-double

In the top of the ninth inning on Saturday night, the game between the A’s and Mariners was tied 3-3. Seattle replaced Nick Vincent with Edwin Diaz on the mound.

Rajai Davis led the inning off by legging out an infield single on a ball hit to third baseman Kyle Seager. That brought a visit from the Mariners’ pitching coach but Diaz remained in the game.

Matt Joyce went down on strikes but Davis moved up by stealing second base on the strike three pitch. Marcus Semien then flied out to left field for the second out of the inning.

Seattle then decided they did not want to pitch to All-Star first baseman Yonder Alonso who had hit his 20th home run of the year earlier in the game so they intentionally walked him.

That brought A’s DH Ryon Healy to the plate. With a count of 0-2, Healy hit a line drive into right-center field that bounced into the stands for a ground-rule double. Davis scored but Alonso — who would have scored easily — by rule had to hold at third.

Jed Lowrie grounded out to first to end the inning and the A’s took a 4-3 into the bottom of the ninth.

The Athletics called in Santiago Casilla from the bullpen

Casilla induced Kyle Seager to fly out to left field for the first out and then struck out former Athletic Danny Valencia for second out of the inning.

Just when it looked like it would be an easy close for Casilla, Mitch Haniger hit a double to center field and the M’s had the tying run just 180-feet away from home plate.

After a coaching visit, Casilla was able to get Jarrod Dyson to fly out to left field for the final out of the game.

For Casilla, it was save number 15 of the season.

Chris Smith made his first MLB start for the A’s (BTW he is 36-years old)

ms smith

The A’s pitching staff is literally the walking wounded. Pitchers have moved on and off the disabled list on a regular basis. On Saturday night, the A’s had to turn to a 36-year old pitcher who had made 63 appearances in the major leagues but had never started a game.

Chris Smith made the start and even though he did not figure into the decision, Smith did the job he was asked to do by the Athletics. He worked 6.0-innings giving up three runs (all earned) on three hits. Smith struck out four Mariners and walked just one. He did allow one home run while throwing 97 pitches (55 strikes).

The A’s bullpen gave Smith the support he needed. Ryan Madson, Sean Doolittle and Santiago Casilla worked one-inning apiece and allowed no runs on one hit combined over those three innings. Doolittle picked up the win as he was pitcher of record in the top of the ninth when the A’s took the lead.

Top performers for the Athletics

  • Ryon Healy — had a 2-for-4 game including what proved to be the game-winning RBI-double in the top of the ninth inning. It was his 19th double of the year and his 52nd RBI. Healy also scored a run in the game.
  • Yonder Alonso — the All-Star first baseman hit his 20th home run of the season in the third inning off Seattle starter Andrew Moore. Alonso also lifted his RBI total to 43.
  • Marcus Semien — continued to show he is ready to be back on the field and be productive for the A’s. Semien hit his first home run of the season in the fifth inning off Moore. He 3-for-13 in the series with three RBI.

The A’s can win the series on Sunday and move up in the Wild Card Standings

Oakland (39-49) has won two of the three games in series in Seattle with the victory on Saturday night. A win of Sunday would give a series victory to Oakland and give them their 40th win of the season. That would be a very nice way to into the All-Star Break.

The A’s are currently just 6.5 games out of a Wild Card spot in the American League. In fact, no team in the AL in more than 6.5 games out of Wild Card contention. That should serve as motivation to this young A’s team.

Mariners stars at the plate

  • OF Jarrod Dyson — did everything he could to give his team a victory on Saturday night. He went 2-for-3 at the plate including a home run (5) in the fifth inning off Smith. Dyson also hit a double and upped his RBI total to 22.
  • Jean Segura — continued to be hot in the leadoff spot. He went 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and a run scored. His batting average stands at .355 after the game on Saturday.

Seattle on the hill

  • Andrew Moore — struggled over his 6.0 innings on the mound. He gave up three runs (all earned) on six hits while walking two and striking out two. Moore also issued two home runs which really was his undoing.
  • James Pazos — made his 35th appearance of the season working one inning of perfect baseball from the mound striking out one Oakland hitter.
  • Nick Vincent — worked the eighth inning for the M’s giving up one hit, one walk and striking out two.
  • Edwin Diaz — worked the disastrous ninth for Seattle and was hung with the loss.

Up next

The final game of the series and the final game before the All-Star Break will played on Sunday at 1:10 p.m. PDT.

The A’s will send rookie Daniel Gossett to mound to face the Mariners. He has a record of 1-3 with a 6.23 ERA in his five starts this season. The home run has been a problem for Gossett who has given up seven round-trippers in 26 innings.

Seattle will counter by sending the willey veteran King Felix Hernandez out to make the 368th start of his career. The King is 3-3 this season with a 5.04 ERA in nine starts. He had a no-decision in his last start versus the Royals when gave up five earned runs in five innings.

O’Grady wins debut for Marlins 5-4; Giants ninth inning come back falls a run short

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Hitting a double deep into left, Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (27) in the fifth inning, during a MLB baseball game between the Miami Marlins and the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. Valerie Shoaps/CSM (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-It seems that the new Achilles heel for the San Francisco Giants is the first inning.

Thru the first two games of the series, the Miami Marlins have scored six runs and the two runs that they scored against Jeff Samardzija held up, as they defeated the Giants 5-4 before a crowd of 41,480, the 529th consecutive regular season sellout at AT&T Park.

Dee Gordon led off the inning with a single, went to second on a Giancarlo Stanton ground out and then scored the only run that the Marlins would need on the night, as he scored on a Christian Yelich double. Marcell Ozuna then singled in Yelich to give the Marlins two runs before the Giants even came to the plate.

Chris O’Grady, who was signed to a minor-league contract by the Marlins after he was released by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitched admirably in his major-league debut. O’Grady went 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits, while walking two and striking out four.

O’Grady was pulled by Marlins manager Don Mattingly in the bottom of the sixth inning, after he allowed a double to Buster Posey with one out and then Brandon Belt followed up with a double of his own to score Posey from second base. Crawford added an RBI in the frame, as he cut the Marlins lead down to one, as he grounded out to score Belt.

The Marlins added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning, as George Kontos unleashed a wild pitch that scored JT Riddle from third base. Riddle led off the inning with a double over the head of Denard Span in centerfield.

Despite trailing by two in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Giants tried to mount a comeback, as Crawford walked to lead off the inning, Miguel Gomez struck out for the first out of the inning, then Conor Gillaspie hit a single that sent Crawford to third base. After the Gillaspie single, Span struck out for the second out of the inning to bring up Joe Panik, who singled to score Crawford.

Unfortunately, the comeback up short, as Hunter Pence struck out against closer A.J. Ramos to end the game.

Samardzija went seven innings, as he allowed four runs on nine hits, walking one and striking out five, as he saw his modest two-game winning streak come to an end.

The leadoff walk to Gordon in the top of the seventh inning by Samardzija was the first walk he allowed since June 16, when he walked D.J. LeMahieu of the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The walk ended a streak of 25.1 innings without a walk.

Justin Bour extended the Marilns lead up to 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning, as he took a Samardzija pitch and put it into the left-field seats, an opposite field home run, his 20th of the season.

The Giants broke thru against O’Grady in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Belt doubled and then after Jae-Gyun Hwang popped out for the second out of the inning, Brandon Crawford singled in Belt.

Stanton got in on the act in the top of the fifth inning, as he doubled to left field and then scored on a Ozuna’s second hit of the game.

Ichiro Suzuki bunted for an out in the top of the ninth inning, while pinch hitting for reliever David Phelps.

NOTES: Johnny Cueto will take the mound on Sunday afternoon in the series finale, while the Marlins will counter with Jose Urena, who is looking for his eighth win of the season.

Prior to the game, Barry Bonds became the 49th Giants to be honored on the teams’ Wall of Fame in front of AT&T Park on the King St. side of the ballpark.

Bonds, who played for the Giants from 1993-2007, hit a major-league record 762 home runs in his 22-year career with both the Pittsburgh Pirates (1986-1992) and the Giants.

Austin Slater was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right groin, and to replace Slater, the Giants have recalled Mac Williamson from Triple-A Sacramento.

MLB Podcast The Show with Matt Harrington: Francona resting after heart related issues; Judge passes DiMaggio for all time rookie HRs; ESPN Sunday Night looking for new announcer

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Cleveland Indians fans sign a ‘Get Well” card for Indians manager Terry Francona before a baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and the Indians, Friday, July 7, 2017, in Cleveland. Francona underwent a procedure Thursday to correct an irregular heartbeat that sidelined him for a few games and will prevent him from managing in the All-Star Game next week. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

On the MLB Podcast with Matt:

1 Cleveland manager Terry Francona who spent part of last week in a Cleveland Clinic monitoring Francona’s heart was released Friday night after suffering what was determined from the heart monitor that Francona was wearing as abnormal readings. Francona 58 was admitted to the hospital Tuesday after suffering from dizziness and doctors said that he was having an irregular heart beat that was accelerated. Cleveland bench coach Brad Mills is filling in for Francona. Mills said that the two have been communicating and Mills has told Francona jokingly to “hurry up and come back.”

2 ESPN play by play announcer Don Shulman is stepping away from the mic from doing ESPN Sunday Night Baseball for personal reasons. Shulman said, “I certainly have mixed emotions about it, but at the end of the day, I chose to strike a better balance between my personal life and professional life. I’m grateful to ESPN for giving me this opportunity.”

3 Friday night was a thriller at Yankee Stadium as Yankees rookie star sensation Aaron Judge whose looking like he’s swinging like another Aaron, Hank Aaron broke Joe DiMaggio’s all time Yankee rookie home run record a record that stood the test of time since 1936. He hit a Bronx Bomber for his 30th home run of the season eclipsing the Yankee Clipper to amazement of the fans, teammates, and the media who got to interview him after the game. The blast was Mickey Mantle-esq a 432 foot blast.

Matt Harrington does the MLB the Show podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

 

 

Kings open the Las Vegas Summer League on Friday with a 89-85 loss to Suns

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by Charlie O. Mallonee

LV score

Summer League is about development

The Las Vegas Summer League is about player development and not about wins and losses. Yes, the players and coaches like to win. The fans love wins, but again the goal is the development of young players.

Teams this season are also looking for players to fill roster slots 16 and 17. These are also known as the “two-way” roster players. These players will make one rate when playing in the G-League (officially the NBA Gatorade League) and the NBA minimum rate when playing for their NBA team.

As of today, the number 16 and 17 roster spots for the Kings are empty.

Players are also looking for roster spots on G-League teams. The Kings G-League franchise is the Reno Bighorns. The NBA is in the process of turning the G-League into a true minor league system to feed players to “the association”.

The bottom line is there are many story lines to watch in Las Vegas over the next 11 days.

The Game

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The game itself was entertaining. It was a close contest that featured some very talented basketball plays and some very ugly, “we are still learning” plays. There were a few “dust ups” and even some technical fouls.

The were 17 lead changes and the game was tied 14 times. Sacramento’s biggest lead was 6-points while Phoenix held an 8-point advantage at one point. The Suns out-rebounded the Kings 41-39.

The Kings posted 11 assists and turned the ball over 14 times. The Suns turned it over 17 times and had 12 assists. Each team had eight steal.

The Kings had one glaring advantage and it was in blocked shots. Sacramento blocked 9 Phoenix shots while the Suns blocked 4 Kings field goal attempts.

Kings

LV FOX

  • De’Aaron Fox — It was the “D-Fox” show a number of times in the game, but he is the number one draft pick and isn’t that what you want to see? There was a beautiful Kentucky to Kentucky assist to Labbissiere that led to a nice layup. A cross-court pass to Hield let him glide in for an easy two. Fox finished with 4 assists, 5 steals and let’s not forget his 18 points (7-16 shooting). He also demonstrated his breakaway speed multiple times.
  • Justin Jackson — The number 15 overall draft selection did not start the game but he made the most of his 26 minutes coming off the bench. He shot 7-for-11 from the floor (2-4 from 3PT range) for a total of 18 points. Jackson does not demand the ball but puts himself in the right spots to score if the ball comes his way.
  • Buddy Hield — The second-year guard is joining his new teammates in Vegas to tune up for the new season. Hield scored 16 points in 24 minutes of playing time. He shot 6-for-16 but was 0-for-6 from long range. Hield did have two very impressive drives to the bucket which could be a very nice addition to his game.
  • Skal Labissiere — The big forward appears ready to pick up where he left off in April for the Kings. He scored 10 points in 28 minutes. Labissiere was 4-for-9 shooting while adding two blocked shots and one steal.
  • Malachi Richardson — The shooting guard who missed the last part of the season due to injury started the game. He was able to play 24 minutes. Richardson posted 8 points shooting 2-for-7 including a 3-point basket. He looked a little rusty but it will not take him long to get back up to speed.
  • Georgios Papagiannis — The big center got the start and played 28 minutes. His stats speak to the dichotomy that is “Papa G”. He scored no points (0-3 shooting). It is so frustrating watching him not being able to put-back close shots off rebounds. He led all rebounders with 11 and had 2 blocked shots. Papagiannis uses his size so well in those areas. He also added 2 assists and 1 steal. The key is to remember he is still young and under development.

LV Jackson

Suns

  • Marquese Chriss — The Sacramento area native made it hard to watch him because it is obvious that he is developing into the player his was projected to be when he was drafted by and then traded by the Kings. With a bulked up body, he scored 19 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 33 minutes on the floor. Chriss was 5-for-17 shooting but he made his way to the free throw line 13 times where converted 9 shots. He just bulls his way to the basket. When you watch him, keep saying Labissiere, Richardson, Papagiannis, Bogdanovic over and over again because that is who the Kings received in that trade.
  • Josh Jackson — The number 4-overall draft pick had a very nice first game for the Suns as he scored 18 points. The forward from Kansas shot 6-for-17 (0-2 3PT) grabbed 8 rebounds and had 2 assists in 34 minutes of playing time. He even showed that he can make the midrange jumper that the experts say he needs to add to his game.

Up next

The Kings will be back in action on Sunday night when they will play the Memphis Grizzlies. Game time is 7:00 p.m. PDT and can be seen on NBA TV. Memphis is 1-0 after beating the Wizards in their first game.

Images from NBA.com and ESPN

Paxton Stymies A’s for 7-2 M’s Win

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Seattle Mariners starting pitcher James Paxton throws against the Oakland Athletics during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 7, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

By Matthew Harrington

James Paxton fired seven innings of two-hit baseball and Nelson Cruz hit his 300th career homerun as part of a five RBI game to hand the Seattle Mariners a 7-2 lead over the Oakland A’s “First time that ever happened to me,” Cruz said. “So that definitely was special. “That’s special,” Cruz told the Seattle Times. “I’ve come a long way. Not only what I did in baseball in the minors but from where I come from in the Dominican. Never in my dreams did I think about hitting 300 homers in the big leagues.”

Paxton (7-3) outdueled Sean Manaea (7-5) who hurled seven innings of three run ball, striking out three while surrendering eight hits. Marcus Semien knocked in both Oakland runs. A’s manager Bob Melvin said Manaea effort’s was there but for one double play ball that was miscued extended the inning, “I’ll tell you what, he gave us seven innings when it didn’t look like he might give us four, and he really should have given up one run,” Melvin told the SF Chronicle.

The Mariners singled Manaea to defeat, using back-to-back-to-back singles to give Cruz his first RBI on a run-scoring basehit in the bottom of the first. Though Semien would knock in a pair in the top half of the third inning, a trio of singles would give Cruz another RBI with one out. The next batter, Mitch Haniger would single to load the bases. Kyle Seager’s sacrifice fly would give the M’s a 3-2 edge.

The A’s wouldn’t manage another hit for the rest of the game, struggle to solve Paxton and a trio of relievers. Cruz would take Liam Hendriks deep for three runs in the top of a rocky eighth inning that also saw Seager hit another sacrifice fly for the 7-2 decision.

The A’s will call on Chris Smith to make the Saturday start in place of the injured Jharel Cotton. This would be the 36 year old’s first career star. He is opposed by Andrew Moore, a rookie righty for Seattle.

Fear the Beard, Straily and Marlins sink Giants 6-1

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Miami Marlins pitcher Dan Straily, center, is removed during the ninth inning of the team’s baseball game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday, July 7, 2017, in San Francisco. Miami won 6-1. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-After a 3-2 road trip thru Pittsburgh and Detroit, you would think that the San Francisco Giants would continue that positive road trip at home; however, that did not happen.

Giancarlo Stanton hit an opposite field two-run home run in the top of the first inning, helping the Miami Marlins to a 6-1 victory over the Giants before a crowd of 41,510 the 528th consecutive regular season sellout at AT&T Park.

Dee Gordon led off the top of the first with a single off of Matt Moore, and Stanton planted a Matt Moore into the right field bleachers for his 24th home run of the season.

That two-run home run by Stanton was just the tip of the iceberg for runs and hits for the Marlins in the opening frame.

After Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna each flew out to Denard Span in centerfield, the flood gates opened for the Marlins against Moore, as they added two more runs on four consecutive singles before the Giants even came to bat for the first time.

It turned out to be a huge night for Gordon, who picked up four hit in five at-bats against Giants pitching on the evening.

Moore lasted just 3.1 innings, allowing five runs on 12 hits, not walking a batter and striking out one, as his record on the season fell to 3-9.

On the other side of the diamond, it was a great night on the mound for former Oakland A’s starter Dan Straily, who went 8.1 innings, allowing one run on just four hits, while walking no one and striking out three. With the victory, Straily improved his record to 7-4 on the season.

Denard Span broke up the shutout in the bottom of the ninth inning, as he hit a solo home run that landed into McCovey Cove. It was the 74th Splash Hit by a Giants player since the park opened on April 11, 2000.

The Marlins added another run in the top of the second, as Justin Bour drove in Gordon, who singled to lead off the inning for the second inning in a row.

Joe Panik picked up the Giants first hit in the bottom of the first, but that was it for the bottom of the first.

Brandon Belt led off the bottom of the second inning with a Texas Leaguer down the third base line; however, Belt was thrown out at second base by Marlins third baseman Martin Prado, as he tried to stretch the single into a double.

J.T. Realmuto added a solo home run off of Gearrin in the top of the fifth inning.

NOTES: Jeff Samardzija looks to get the Giants back on their winning ways, as he takes the mound for the final time before the All-Star break. While Don Mattingly will send Chris O’ Grady to the mound, as the left-hander makes his major-league debut.

O’ Grady was 3-5 with a 3.29 earned run average with 15 walks and 54 strikeouts this season. The Marlins signed him to a minor-league contract on May 6.

The Giants recalled Miguel Gomez from Double-A Richmond, and he made his major-league debut as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the ninth inning and flew out to Stanton in right field.

To make room for Gomez on the roster, pitcher Chris Stratton was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.

Ryder Jones was placed on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to July 4 with a right wrist contusion, and Conor Gillaspie was reinstated from his rehabilitation assignment with Sacramento.