Phils Lively wins in his debut 5-3; Call up holds Giants to a run and four hits

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Philadelphia Phillies’ Ben Lively in action during a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, June 3, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

By Jeremy Kahn

After a series-opening 10-0 victory on Friday night, the San Francisco Giants turned to Johnny Cueto to the mound against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday afternoon.

Unfortunately, it was a pitcher, who was making his major-league debut came out on the winning end.

Ben Lively pitched seven strong innings, allowing one run on four hits, walking three and striking out none and the Phillies hung on to defeat the Giants 5-3 at Citizens Bank Park.

Lively became the first Phillies starter to win a game since Jeremy Hellickson on April 27. Prior to being recalled to the Phillies, Lively was 6-1 with a 2.40 earned run average in Triple-A.

Tommy Joseph tied up the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he hit a solo home run to left field.

Phillies centerfielder Odubel Herrera drove in three runs in a four-run seventh inning, helping the Phillies to end their five-game losing streak. It was just the seventh win in the last 33 games for the Phillies, who have the worst record in the major leagues.

Orlando Calixte drove in the first Giants run of the afternoon in the top of the second and that would be the only run that Lively would allow in his major-league debut.

The Phillies scored their final four runs of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Maikel Franco singled to lead-off the inning, and went to third on an Andrew Knapp single that ended Cueto’s afternoon.

Hunter Strickland, who is waiting hear the decision on his six-day suspension came on to replace Cueto and immediately gave up a single to Freddy Galvis to score Franco with the eventual game-winning run. Cesar Hernandez singled and then Herrera doubled to break the game wide open.

Cueto gave up three runs on eight hits, striking out nine and did not walk a batter, as his career record fell to 1-5 against the Phillies.

The Giants scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning, as Brandon Crawford singled and then Aaron Hill singled in Crawford to narrow the Phillies lead down to 5-3. Jeanmar Gomez got Nick Hundley to groundout to end the game.

NOTES: Matt Moore takes the mound for the Giants in the series finale, while Hellickson takes the mound for the Phillies.

Hunter Pence could return to the Giants either on Sunday in the finale, or on Monday in the series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

MLB Podcast The Show with Matt Harrington: A’s rock Nat’s and Oakland native Ross 10-4; Nats Harper requests trade to Cubs pronto

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Oakland Athletics’ Jed Lowrie celebrates after hitting a two run home run off Washington Nationals’ Joe Ross in the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 3, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

On the MLB The Show Podcast with Matt:

The Washington Nationals Bryce Harper said today that he would be interested in taking his talents to the Windy City. Harper who is serving a three game suspension for fighting after getting beaned in the hip last Monday from San Francisco Giants pitcher Hunter Strickland. Harper said he would be interested in going to Chicago. The problem is the Cubs have a crowed  outfield already. Harper has one more year on his $21.64 contract for 2018 and is looking for a $400 million contract when if he could sign with the Cubs. Besides the Cubs love the idea of a Harper and Kris Bryant line up but cost and a crowded outfield could hold the deal up.  The Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets have also expressed interest in Harper.

The Oakland A’s who were struck down for two straight Thursday 8-0 to Cleveland and back in Oakland to Washington in a 13-3 laugher Friday night. The A’s lost Friday to the Nats even with Washington star Bryce Harper out of the line up. The Nats touched up A’s starter Andrew Triggs for nine hits, six earned runs, and three strikeouts. The Athletics just simply couldn’t figure out Nats starter Stephen Strasburg who went seven and gave up two runs and four hits.

Saturday it was a different story former Oakland O’Dowd High School student Joe Ross who started Saturday’s contest against the A’s for the Nats. It was not the kind of introduction he was expecting in his second start for Washington. In the bottom of the first inning he was tattooed for two two run homers the first was from Jed Lowrie who hammered one to right with Chad Pinder on base with a full count to put the A’s on top 2-0 and then came up Ryon Healy who went deep center for a two run blast scoring Yonder Alfonso in front of him putting the A’s up 4-0.

The A’s who wound up winning the contest Saturday 10-4 thanks to some key hitting and a great start of the game also got some pitching from starter Daniel Mengden who improved his ERA to 10.13 he pitched 4.2 innings, six hits, four runs. He didn’t get the decision but A’s get the win.

Matt has more on the MLB The Show podcast take a listen below at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Quakes down early; Valeri hits back of the net for Timbers as Portland ends winless streak

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~ Photo credit: San Jose Earthquakes

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ Diego Valeri scored twice Friday as the Portland Timbers ended their longest winless streak of the season with a 2-0 win over San Jose Friday.

All the Timers really needed was Valeri’s 50th minute goal, as the Quakes became shorthanded in the 37th minute.

Darwin Ceren was ejected after receiving his first yellow in the 36th minute.

Portland took advantage, making no substitutions during the game, outshooting San Jose 22-6 and had double the possession time.

The only Quake to have more than one shot in the game was Tommy Thompson, who produced the team’s only shot on goal.

Valeri scored again in the 94th minute.

It was Portland’s most goals since April 29. They had gone five games without a win, which started when San Jose shut them out 3-0. The Timbers last had a clean sheet March 12.

Game notes: Zarek Valentin had the assist on Valeri’s first goal. San Jose keeper David Bingham was forced to make a season-high six saves. The Quakes, who suffered another two goal loss, are still winless at Portland all time (0-7-3). San Jose next plays Sporting Kansas City June 17th at 6pm.

A’s Surrender 5 Homeruns in 13-3 loss to Nats; loses pile up for last place AL West team

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Washington Nationals’ Michael Taylor, right, celebrates with Jose Lobaton after hitting a home run off Oakland Athletics’ Andrew Triggs in the second inning of a baseball game Friday, June 2, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Matthew Harrington

OAKLAND–No Bryce Harper, no problem for the Washington Nationals Friday night in Oakland. Without their cornerstone slugger, the Nationals teed off for five homeruns in a 13-3 rout of the Oakland Athletics. All nine of Washington’s starters collected a hit and an RBI in the lopsided affair. For Oakland, Matt Joyce and Yonder Alonso each went deep.

A’s starter Andrew Triggs (5-5, 3.36 ERA) has rode his slinging sidearm approach to an exceptional season, but Friday was a bump in the road for the long-reliever-turned-starter. Going head-to-head with Stephen Strasburg, Triggs found himself down 2-0 heading into the bottom of the third after giving up homers to Michael Taylor and Daniel Murphy. Joyce would tag Strasburg for a two-run homer, his sixth of the year, in the bottom of the third to tie the game, but the wheels fell off entirely for Triggs in the fourth.

Triggs two-seamer to Anthony Rendon caught too much of the plate, giving Washington’s third baseman a ringing double to open the inning. Matt Weiters went back-to-back, plating Rendon to give the Nats a 3-2 lead. Triggs got two outs but a deflected grounder to Jed Lowrie wound up in center field for an RBI single for Trea Turner. Jayson Werth walked, then Daniel Murphy singled home Turner for a 5-2 edge.

The single chased Triggs from the game after just 3 2/3. Frankie Montas, the new Oakland reliever, gave up a single to Ryan Zimmerman that plated inherited runner Werth to close the book on Triggs with six runs allowed. Montas would depart the game after getting the last out, making way for Zach Neal.

Neal struggled mightily in his 3 1/3 innings of mop-up duty. He allowed 7 runs on nine hits including a solo homer to Werth, the first long ball of Brian Goodwin’s career on a two-run shot in the top of the seventh and a  three-run dinger from Rendon in the top of the 8th.

The runs were more than enough to back Strasburg  (7-1, 2.91) and his 7 innings of four-hit ball. The former first overall pick fired seven strikeouts to only three walks in the win. Deposed closer Blake Treinen pitched a perfect eighth, but opened the ninth with Alonso’s solo shot. After the first baseman’s 15th homer, Treinen surrendered two more hits before escaping the ninth and wrapping up the blowout.

Oakland sends Daniel Mengden to the mound hoping for a long outing after a 3 1/3 inning appearance against the Cleveland Indians May 29th. Washington counters with youngster Joe Ross. The Nats will be without Harper again Saturday for his role in the Memorial Day fracas with the San Francisco Giants. His suspension ends in time for Sunday’s contest.

 

Blach shutouts Phillies for first complete game 10-0; Span swings for five hits and Nunez three hits and three RBIs

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San Francisco Giants’ Ty Blach in action during a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, June 2, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

By Jeremy Kahn

Ty Blach maybe just a rookie, but this rookie is pitching like the veteran he replaced in the San Francisco Giants starting rotation, Madison Bumgarner.

Blach walked three times during the game, and pitched his first complete game and the Giants defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-0 at Citizens Bank Park.

Denard Span picked up his first five hit game as a member of the Giants, as they opened their six-game road trip with a huge win over the struggling Phillies, who have lost five in a row, dropping 26 out of their 32 and are now a major-league worst 17-35 on the season.

As for Blach, it was just another day at the office for the left-hander, as he threw his first complete game, allowing seven hits, not walking a batter and struck out seven on his way to raising his record to 4-2 on the season.

It was the fourth straight win for Blach, who became the first pitcher since Aaron Cook of the Colorado Rockies on October 1, 2009 against the Milwaukee Brewers to walk three times in the same game.

Eduardo Nunez picked up three hits and drove in three runs for the Giants, who won for the first time since Sunday’s 7-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves at AT&T Park, snapping their three-game losing streak.

The Giants led 4-0 by the end of the second inning, as Brandon Crawford hit two sacrifice flies and Nunez came up with a huge two-run double in the sixth, as the Giants blew the game open with a four-run sixth inning.

Not only did Blach walk in his first three at-bats, but he struck out in his final three at-bats against Phillies pitching.

NOTES: Johnny Cueto looks to make it two straight for the Giants, as he takes the mound for a 1:05 (Pacific) start, while the Phillies will right-hander Ben Lively to mound for his major-league debut.

Hunter Pence continues his rehab with Single-A San Jose, and he is 2-for-6 in his first two games.

The contract of Justin Slater was purchased from Triple-A Sacramento, and to make room for Slater, the Giants designated Justin Ruggiano for assignment.

Slater started in right field, and went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.

Warriors get off to a good start as they rout the Cavaliers in Game One 113-91

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Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant dunks against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half of Game 1 of basketball’s NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, June 1, 2017. (John G. Mabanglo/Pool Photo via AP)

by Jerry Feitelberg

Oakland- the Warriors, behind Kevin Durant’s fantastic performance in Game One against the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers, led the Dubs to victory 113-91. The Dubs still smarting from losing the crown last season to Cleveland, were focused on shutting down the Cavs offense. They did just that. They knew that LeBron James and Kyrie Irving would be difficult to handle. Those two players did their thing but the Dubs were able to shut down the rest of the Cav’s players.

Durant and Steph Curry did most of the scoring for the Dubs in the first half. The Dubs took a five-point lead after the first 12 minutes of play. The game was close, and there were several ties. However, the Dubs went ahead by three 27-24 when Steph made a 3-point shot. The Warriors never trailed the rest of the way.  They increased the lead to eight at the finish of the first half of play, leading 60-52. KD was a force as he made six dunks and tallied 23 points. Steph followed with 12. Andre Iguodala added seven. The Cavs’ big three of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love scored 19, 18, and 8 respectively. The Warriors recorded 20 assists in the first half and committed just one turnover. The Cavs turned the ball over 12 times.

The Warriors, as they have done so many times this season, started the third period on a 13-0 run. They outscored the Cavs 33-20  to end the third period with a 21-point advantage 93-72. Steph and KD kept coming after the Cavs. The Warriors defense continued to pressure Cleveland. The Cavs could not mount a comeback as the scored just 19 points in the final period of play and took the loss by a final score of 113-91.

Game Notes and Stats- The Warriors became the first team in NBA history to go 13-0 this deep into the playoffs. The Warriors were 12-0 in the Western Conference, and Cleveland breezed through the East with a record of 12-1. The Warriors have to remain focused on a loss to Cleveland this Sunday would give the Cavs home court advantage for the last 5 games of the series. After  the game Steph Curry said this in response about the win and the game coming up Sunday:”focus what’s in front of you. Finish plays around the rim. Our defense was there for 48 minutes. Win one game-look to Sunday and do it again.”

KD led the way with six dunks in the first half, He made some three-pointers, assisted other players, and took down some boards. KD finished the night with 38 points, 8 assists, and 8 rebounds. “We could have played a lot better than we were tonight but in the Finals, you het a “W”, we’ll take it.” Durant also remarked: (I) Try to play as hard as I can….but it’s not me against the Cavs it’s the Golden State Warriors against the Cleveland Cavaliers.”

Steph Curry finished with a double-double. He had 28 points, 10 assists and 6 boards. No other Warrior was in double figures. Draymond Green had nine, Zaza Pachulia 8, Andre Iguodala 7. The Dubs bench outscored the Cavs bench 24-21. The Cavs’ LeBron James also had a double-double with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists. Kyrie Irving tallied 24, an Kevin Love added 15 points and he took done 21 rebounds.

The Warriors tied a NBA Finals record low with just four turnovers. The Cavs committed 20.

Game One went to the Warriors and the battle betwwen KD and LeBron was fun to watch. Acting head coach Mike Brown had this to say about the two players: “those are two big household names. So we know you guys (the media) and the fans are going to want to see that and pick up on it. I’m sure LeBron thinks he can play better, and you tip your cap off to KD.”

Game two of the series will be at Oracle Arena Sunday night. Game time will be at 5 pm.

Extra Dribbles commentary: Warriors rise up at home to take Game 1 of NBA Finals

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Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half of Game 1 of basketball’s NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, June 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND, Calif — Kevin Durant scored a game-high 38 points and was clearly the best player on the court as Golden State finished tied for an NBA Finals record-low four turnovers in taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-7 NBA Finals with a 113-91 win Thursday night in Game 1 in front of a sold out Oracle Arena crowd over the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers.

Game 2 is Sunday at 5:00 p.m. PDT back at Oracle Arena on ABC.

This match-up marks the first time in NBA history that two teams have met each other in the Finals in three consecutive seasons.

Durant finished the game 10-of-18 from the floor to go along with eight assists and eight rebounds in his first NBA Finals game since Game 5 of the 2012 series against the Miami Heat as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Miami denied Durant and the Thunder a championship by taking the championship in five games and it took Durant five years to get back to the NBA’s ultimate stage.

Durant and the Warriors got anything they wanted in the paint, outscoring the Cavaliers 56-30 inside. There were times that Cleveland’s defense just parted the seas for a Durant dunk as the defense would collapsed on Golden State’s deadly shooters, allowing Durant to easy access to the basket.

”I think the start of the game, we were a little too anxious and we missed some layups, we gave up some open shots,” Durant said after the game. ”I think we just locked in from the second quarter on.”

Golden State would outscore Cleveland 53-38 in the second half to go along with 31 assists for the game.

Stephen Curry was locked in for Game 1, scoring  28 points with six 3-pointers on 11-of-22 from the field. Curry added 10 assists and six rebounds for a Warriors that improved to 13-0 during the playoffs this year.

LeBron James poured in 28 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists for Cleveland, who had 20 turnovers in Game 1. James’ southern California home was vandalized and had the N-word spray painted on the gate on Wednesday.

“At the end of the day, we had 20 turnovers,” James said. “We got to clean that up.”

James’ teams drop to 1-7 all-time in Game 1s of the NBA Finals.

The Cavaliers’ forward is making his league-record seventh Finals appearance this year.

Kyrie Irving scored 24 points on 10-of-22 shooting from the field, while Kevin Love finished with 15 points and a game-high 21 rebounds. Love shot 4-of-13 from the field.

The Warriors had a 60-52 lead at halftime thanks in large part to the 27-9 fastbreak edge and committing just one turnover in the first half.

Curry’s 14 points in the third quarter prove to be the difference-maker for Golden State Thursday night.

Golden State out-shot Cleveland (42.5-percent to 34.9-percent) for the game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

NBA Finals/Golden State Warriors Game 1 Commentary: Warriors establish why this series could go four or five games

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Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots against Golden State Warriors guard Shaun Livingston (34) during the second half of Game 1 of basketball’s NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, June 1, 2017. (Kyle Terada/Pool Photo via AP)

by Barbara Mason

It was the night that basketball fans everywhere had been waiting for. It was a week that seemed far longer than only 7 days, more like a lifetime. Fans filed into “Roaracle” Arena for Game One as the Golden State Warriors took on the Cleveland Cavaliers, meeting in the finals for the third time in a row.

It was the expected slow start for both teams as they shook off the nerves that a game of this caliber brings even for the most accomplished athlete. That slow start quickly vanished quickly as neither team was able to establish much of a lead, trading the lead back and forth with each possession. With one quarter in the books, Golden State was leading Cleveland 35-30 and by halftime the Warriors had an eight point lead 60-52. Kevin Durant was tearing up the court with 23 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds. Durant had 6 dunks in the half. Steph Curry had 12 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds. LeBron James had 19 points, 4 assists, and 11 rebounds. Kyrie Irving had 17 points, 2 assists, and 1 rebound. Kevin Love was coming up big with 8 points, grabbing 12 rebounds.

Golden State could have put this game away with the 7 turnovers that LeBron James himself committed. The turnover ratio was an amazing 12 to 1 in favor of the Warriors.

The Warriors would start the third quarter with a turnover and it was off to the races for Golden State. The largest lead of the night came with 9:45 left in the third quarter prompting a Cavalier time-out. Golden State came unleashed as the third quarter wore on. Going into the 4th quarter the Warriors were leading 93-72 as they broke this game open. While Klay Thompson and Draymond Green didn’t have a lot of success point wise, their presence alone made them invaluable. The Warriors had to hang on one more quarter to take the first game of this series. The way this team had played through three quarters; they looked unbeatable as they continued to stuff James. They had neutralized “the King.”

The fourth quarter was all Golden State as they took Game One 113-91. Without a doubt Kevin Durant was the best player on the floor finishing with 38 points. If Cleveland cannot protect the ball, it will be a long long series for the Cavaliers. The crucial Game Two will be played on Sunday and the Cavaliers will be looking to steal one at Oracle. Golden State continues their amazing unbeaten streak in the playoffs.

 

Back in cellar, Giants go young; team set for seven game road trip in Philadelphia Friday

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San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy blows a bubble in the dugout during the eighth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, May 31, 2017, in San Francisco. Washington won 3-1. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

By Jeremy Harness

 After a brief winning streak, the Giants have once against hit the skids and have found themselves right back in the cellar of the National League West.

 After getting swept in a three-game series by the Washington Nationals, a series that concluded Wednesday at AT&T Park, the Giants currently share last place with the San Diego Padres with matching 22-33 records.

 The Giants are expected to call up outfielder Austin Slater from Triple-A Sacramento in tome for their three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies that starts Friday night at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park.

 A Stanford product and an eighth-round draft pick, the 24-year-old Slater had been swinging a hot bat for the River Cats, sporting a .322 average with four home runs while driving in 26 runs in 174 at-bats for the Triple-A club this season.

 Slater is expected to get a good look at left field when he starts his big-league career.

 Thankfully for the Giants, the Phillies are not having a very good season, either. In fact, they have the worst record in the National League with a 17-34 mark, so this will be a very good opportunity for the Giants to get back on track.

 And it will also be a great time for Slater to get his feet wet in the major leagues, and also for the Giants to start to see what will become of its young prospects.

 Meanwhile, right fielder Hunter Pence, who has missed the Giants’ past 17 games due to a left hamstring strain, will start a rehab stint with Class-A San Jose on Wednesday. According to reports, he is expected to play five innings on Wednesday and another seven innings on Thursday.

 

Headline Sports Headline Sports Tony Renteria: This one weighs heavy in Golden State’s favor

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) is guarded by Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James during the second half of Game 1 of basketball’s NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, June 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

On the Headline Sports Podcast:

1 In the NBA Finals the Warriors considered the heavy favorites in six game according to Tony R

2 Will LeBron be stuck doing all the heavy lifting he looked overwhelmed in game one

3 How much of a concern will Golden State have with Curry’s elbow in a sheath

4 This is head coach Mike Brown’s debut in an NBA Finals how prepared is he for this contest

5 These two teams meet for the third time in the NBA Finals does Tony see this pretty even or lopsided?

Tony does the headline sports each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

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