NBA podcast Michael Roberson Thu Apr 3, 2025: Finger gun pointing has NBA calling for an investigation on Grizzlies Morant; Sixers Embiid expected out 6 weeks; plus more news

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Memphis Grizzlies Jo Morant (middle) watches the game against the Utah Jazz in the first half at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tue Mar 25, 2025. The NBA is investigating Morant for making a finger gun gesture toward the Golden State Warriors bench on Tue Apr 1, 2025 in Memphis (AP News photo)

NBA podcast Michael Roberson Thu Apr 3, 2025:

#1 Michael, the NBA had called for an investigation into Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant who used his hands to mimic shooting a gun at the Golden State Warriors bench on Tuesday night. The league also is investigating a report that the Warriors Buddy Hield gestured before Morant’s finger guns. NBA officials said they spoke to Morant and Hield on Wednesday.

#2 The Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is prepared to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The 76ers say they will reevaluate Embiid’s knee in six weeks and will make a determination if he has fully recovered. Embiid for the last few weeks has been trying to solve his knee problems that has been hampering him for more than one year.

#3 Carmelo Anthony has been elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for the class of 2025. Anthony was a six time All NBA selection and broke in when he was the third overall 2003 draft choice by the Denver Nuggets. That draft also saw LeBron James going to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Dwayne Wade getting picked fifth for the Miami Heat.

#4 Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx owner Glen Taylor has agreed to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez having 100% ownership of the NBA And WNBA teams at the cost of $1.5 billion. Taylor and the Lore-Rodriguez groups had agreed on the price back in 2021. The agreement entails that Taylor would not appeal an arbitrators ruling that favored Lore-Rodriguez on the sale of the team contract.

#5 The amazing turn around of the Warriors Stephen Curry who scored 52 points against the Grizzlies on Tuesday night after Curry suffered a pelvic contusion. Watching Curry you would have never know he had suffered such an injury?

Michael Roberson does the NBA podcasts Thursday nights at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips: Giants off to a hitting start; SF home opener Friday at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos (17) is thrilled about hitting a double off the Houston Astros in the top of the second inning at Daikin Park in Houston on Wed Apr 2, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips:

#1 San Francisco Giants Wilmer Flores, Luis Matos and LaMonte Wade Jr all hit home runs as the Giants defeated the Houston Astros 6-3 at Daikin Park in Houston on Wednesday. The win help complete a three game sweep.

#2 This is the fourth time that Flores has hit a homer this season and has hit only four last season in 71 games. Flores is tied with a pretty good circle of hitters for home runs Aaron Judge, Kyle Tucker, and Seiya Suzuki for second most home runs in MLB.

#3 Flores didn’t waste anytime getting things started in the first inning with his home run in the top of the first putting the ball in the left field seats off Astros starter Framber Valdez. The Matos home run was a blast to center field and made it 3-0.

#4 The Giants Heliot Ramos hit a double with an out and now has a six game extra base streak going that started this season. Ramos tied former Giant Felipe (1963). Ramos’ double scored two runs to make it 5-0.

#5 The Giants return from their road trip to host the Seattle Mariners at Oracle Park in San Francisco for a 1:35pm PDT first pitch. Starter for the Mariners Bryce Miller 0-1 ERA 4.76 for the Giants Justin Verlander 0-0 ERA 3.60.

Join Morris for the Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Minor League action: SJ Giants best Ballers 5-2 at Municipal Stadium Wednesday

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Battle of the Bay promotional image hangs on the fence at Municipal Park in San Jose before Wed Apr 2, 2025 game between the Oakland Ballers and San Jose Giants (San Jose Giants X photo)

Oakland Ballers—2 San José Giants—5

Time: 2:22

Attendance 2,843

April 2, 2025

By Lewis Rubman

SAN JOSE’–Baseball has a long tradition of in-season exhibition games, complimenting the pre-season variety. In the days before teams travelled by plane, the two major leagues would travel by overnight train between games in their informal eastern and western divisions, based respectively in the Eastern and Central Time zones.

These big league teams would stop off in the afternoon and play, often against their local farm clubs. Even after those whistle stop exhibitions, for which the players weren’t paid, ended, midseason contests between local major league teams remained popular.

New York had its Mayor’s Cup Series, in which the Dodgers and Giants vied alternatively against the Yankees and in which bonus babies like Sandy Koufax, who otherwise would have languished on the bench, got a chance to see some big league action.

(In the early 1950s, a player who received a signing bonus north of $4,000 had to remain on his team’s 25 man roster for two full seasons or be placed on waivers). The bonus baby rule was dropped after the 1957 season, just before the Dodgers and Giants moved west.

Locally, after the A’s moved into The Town in 1968, we had our Battle of the Bay, in which fans of the Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants took mid-season time off from the pennant races to give often literal meaning to that moniker. Those days seemed to be gone forever.

But in a stroke of marketing genius, the Giants’ low single A California League farm team in San José and Oakland’s unaffiliated Ballers of the MLB’s partner Pioneer League, faced each other this evening in an exhibition match in which the Giants easily crushed the visitor’s from the east bay, 5-2, The score belies the game’s one sidedness.

The home team’s play was crisp; the visitors’ wan’t. No Baller hurler lasted more than an inning; the team was behind once Walker Martin blasted a solo home run to right in the bottom of the first. . Tyler Lozano’s solo shot to left knotted the score briefly in the top of the second, but the Giants forged ahead in the home fourth, and the closest Oakland came to scoring after that came when they left the bases loaded in the top of the ninth. The image that perhaps best represents the Ballers’ unreadiness for prime time is the two runners who fell gratuitously to the basepaths, one early, the other late in the game.

It was a lively crowd for what was publicized as an historic occasion. That might have been an exaggeration. But this first meeting between an affiliated minor league baseball club and a member of what’s called a partner league may prove to be a turning point in the relationship between the MLB, MiLB combine—what used to be called Organized Baseball—and its grass roots.

The game was played under California League rules, eliminating the confusion caused by those of the Pioneer circuit, which include a complex system of ball and strike calls and allowing re-entry to players temporarily removed from action.

A true amalgam, this was both a pre- and an in-season set to. For the teams on the field, it occurred at the end of spring training for one and at its very start for the otherl San José opens its regular season this coming Friday in Modesto, Oakland’s spring training starts in about a month. Its regular season opener won’t take place May 20. That probably explains the qualitative difference in their performances.MLB began official play on March 18 in Tokyo and on the 27th state side.

As of this writing, no official box score has been released. By my reckoning, the Ballers used nine pitchers, with Mac Lardner taking the loss. Since Charlie McDaniel, San José’s starter, was on the pitcher of record when the Giants went ahead for the last time, but didn’t pitch after that, the winner would have to be the scorer’s decision. To the best of my knowledge, that decision is TBA.

Reign edge Barracuda 3-2 in tightly knit contest

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San Jose Barracuda forward Ethan Cardwell (#56) crashes the net trying to score on Ontario Reign goalie Phoenix while Thomas Bordeleau (#17) watches from the crease at Tech CU Arena on Wednesday ARP 2, 2025. (Joey Cascarano/Sport Shots)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Aatu Jamsen scored the eventual game winning goal in the second period as the Ontario Reign defeated the San Jose Barracuda 3-2 despite getting outplayed for the majority of the game on Wednesday evening at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose has lost four games in a row and are tied for the fifth spot with the Calgary Wranglers in the Pacific Division after the Wranglers 4-3 win over the Tucson Roadrunners tonight. Ontario has won three games in a row and clinched a playoff berth as they are four points behind the Colorado Eagles for the top spot in the division.

Ontario (39-22-3-1-82 points) scored two goals in the opening 32 seconds of the first period. Both goals were a result of turnovers inside the Barracuda zone. First Samuel Fagemo intercepted a clearing attempt by Cuda goaltender Gabriel Carriere and found Andre Lee out in the slot and Lee buried a wrist shot top shelf for his fifth goal of the season at the :20 mark.

Then 12 seconds later a giveaway by Danil Gushchin led to Glen Gawdin feeding Martin Chromiak who fired a one-timer past Carriere for his 14th goal of the season. It could not have a been a worse start for San Jose.

San Jose (32-24-5-4-73 points) cut the lead in half with a short-handed goal just under five minutes later. Patrick Giles, who made his Cuda debut, intercepted a pass from Caleb Jones in the neutral zone. Giles skated in and beat Reign goaltender Phoenix Copley Cuda with a wrist shot to the stick side for his sixth goal of the season and first in a Barracuda sweater.

Carriere made a huge save at the 7:02 mark when Charles Hudon came in on a breakaway attempt after i intercepting a pass at the Cuda blueline. Hudon dropped the puck back Chromiak, but Carriere stopped the point-blank chance.

The Barracuda evened the game late in the opening frame with its second special team’s goal. While on the power play, a clearing attempt by Ontario’s Taylor Ward caromed off of the referee. Luca Cagnoni picked up the puck from behind the net and tucked home the puck with a wraparound for an unassisted goal, his 14th of the season at the 15:34 mark. Cagnoni has 10 power play goals and leads the league with 32 power play points.

Ontario regained the lead with an even strength goal in the second period. Aatu Jamsen’s initial shot down low near the crease was stopped by Carriere’s skate but Jamsen cleaned up his own rebound to the short side for his seventh goal of the season at the 8:21 mark. Francesco Pinelli and Reilly Walsh were credited with assists.

Copley finished the game stopping 36 of the 38 shots he faced to earn his 22nd win of the season. Carriere made 16 saves on 19 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-5 on the power play. Ontario went 0-for-2.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Copley 2) Jamsen (1G,0A) 3) Cagnoni (1G, 0A).

UP NEXT: San Jose begins a three-game road trip when they take on the Colorado Eagles on Friday April 4th at 6:05pm at Blue FCU Arena.

Headline Sports podcast Jessica Kwong: Pistons and Timberwolves suspend a total of five players over Sunday brawl; Suns Durant expected to be out a week due to ankle injury; Plus more NBA news

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Detroit Pistons forward Ronald Holland (00) and the Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DeVincenzo (0) fight in the first half at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Sun Mar 30, 2025. Both Holland and DiVincenzo along with three other players have been suspended by the NBA for fighting as announced on Tue Apr 1, 2025. (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast Jessica Kwong:

#1 As a consequence of Sunday’s brawl between the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves resulted in suspensions three for Detroit and two for Minnesota the NBA announced on Tuesday. The Pistons center Isaiah Stewart was suspended two games, teammates Marcus Sasser and Ron Holland II was suspended a game each. Minnesota’s Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid were suspended one game.

#2  The Phoenix Suns Kevin Durant sprained his ankle against the Houston Rockets on Sunday and is not expected back during the current three game road swing. The Suns began their trip on Tuesday in Miwaukee, Friday in Boston, and on Sunday against New York to close out the road trip. Durant is expected to miss a week.

#3 If things weren’t tough enough for the New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williams and guard CJ McCollum will be out for the rest of the season. Williamson has a lower back injury that he suffered on Mar 19th against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Williamson will now play less than 30 games or fewer this being the fourth time in the last six years. McCollum was injured on Mar 23. McCollum scored 40 points when he got injured and will go through a rehab program of treatment and rest said the Pelicans.

#4 The Boston Celtics set a franchise record going 6-0 on Monday with a 117-103 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. The Celtics have now won eight in a row overall and are 32-7 and are just two wins away from Golden State’s NBA record. The Celtics had that win streak record snapped getting clobbered Wednesday night 124-103.

#5 The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points, 12 assists, in 27 minutes. The Thunder defeated the Chicago Bulls 145-117 on Monday night for their tenth win in a row. The Thunder are having a great season with a overall record of an impressive 63-12.

Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports podcasts every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Fall to Lowly Wizards In Shocker 116-111

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Washington Wizards guard AJ Johnson (5) dunks the ball as the Sacramento Kings guard Molik Monk (right) looks on in the first half at the Capital Center in Washington DC on Wed Apr 2, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Sacramento Kings (36-40) continue to struggle on the road losing to the Washington Wizards (17-59) 116-111 at the Capital Center in DC. This one was a shocker since the Wizards are the second worst team in the NBA. This loss could not have come at a worst time with the Kings fighting for a play-in spot.

This game really had one scratching their heads. Lately the Kings have struggled with inconsistency and injury but despite all that this was a real stunner. Perhaps Sacramento took the Wizards a bit too lightly and Washington had a great night finishing with 17 shots from beyond the arc. This is only the Wizards eighth home win of the season.

Game recap: The first quarter was about as close as a quarter could get with the Wizards leading throughout the quarter by a point or two. The games was tied five times in the final three minutes of the first 12 minutes of play in a real shocker, in fact, as the quarter came to an end, the game was tied at 26.

The second quarter saw Washington take a three-point lead 35-32 prompting head coach Doug Christie to take a time-out to re-group. When play got back underway, the Wizards continued to extend their lead taking a 38-32 lead.

At the half, the Wizards had a 55-52 lead. Washington had absolutely nothing to play for while the Kings had everything at stake and playing spoiler was exactly what Washington had in mind.

The Kings had to wake up in the second half or not only continue their road losing streak but just about kiss any hope of a play-in spot goodbye. With the tough schedule that lies ahead of them tonight’s game is a must-win.

The third quarter was even more disappointing than the first two with the Wizards outscoring the Kings 36-21 and leading 91-77. The Wizards were outscoring the Kings from the field 54 to 42 %.

It got even more lop-sided from beyond the arc with Washington outshooting the Kings 41 to 25 % through three quarters. The 14-point Wizard’s lead was their largest of the game. The Kings largest lead through three quarters had been five points and the third quarter had been all Washington. The Wizards were on a roll and it was going to be hard to stop them as their momentum continued to build.

The game would go into the fourth quarter and it was crunch time for the Sacramento Kings. At 7:39 the Kings took a time-out as the reality of a possible loss loomed. They trailed 99-88 and trading shots was not going to result in a win.

They needed stops and some big-time shooting and so far in this game it just was not happening. The Kings pulled to within six points at the seven minute mark 93-99 only to watch the Wizards push their lead back out.

With under five minutes left in the game, the Wizards had a ten-point lead and continued to bleed the clock and finish off possessions with baskets. Every time the Kings got close, the Wizards answered.

With 1:11 left in the game, the Wizards were hanging onto a three-point lead 111-108. This game got even closer with 55.6 on the clock and Washington leading 111-109. The Wizards took a timeout and it worked out beautifully for them but not so much for Sacramento losing to Washington 116-109 in an absolute shocker.

The hight for the Wizards was former Warrior Jordan Poole with 23 points and Bub Carrington had a great game going 5 of 11 from beyond the arc and scoring 19 points. AJ Johnson also scored 19 in the winning effort.

The high for the Kings was DeMar DeRozan with 29 points and Domantas Sabonis turned in another double double with 16 rebounds and 18 points. Zach LaVine had 19 points in the loss. Keegan Murray was 4 of 10 from beyond the arc finishing with 19 points.

Game notes: Wednesday evening the Kings traveled to Washington taking on the Wizards looking for the seemingly non-existent road win. While this is a game that Sacramento will not take for granted there is absolutely no reason for a King’s loss.

They have the offensive weapons needed to put this game away but they have really had some rough games lately falling apart in the final minutes of games, having some poor starts, giving up significant leads, too many turnovers and the list goes on and on. This team should not be fighting right now for a play-in spot. There has been too much inconsistency in these final games as the team struggles to find the answers.

This was only the Wizards eighth home victory of the season and it could not have come at a worst time for the Sacramento Kings. Friday night the Kings will continue on the road taking on the Charlotte Hornets another bottom dwelling team with a record of 19-56.

After what went down Wednesday night all bets are off as to who might win this game. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 4:00 PM with the Kings looking at three more road games which includes the Charlotte game before returning to Golden 1 to finish out their final three games of the season.

Cubs Sweep A’s with Dominant 10-2 Victory in First Day Game at Sutter Health Park

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A’s starter Jeffrey Springs throws in the A’s 10-2 loss to the Cubs on Wednesday afternoon. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO–In what was a week of firsts for the Sacramento A’s, the A’s and Cubs played the first day game at Sutter Health Park on Wednesday. The A’s tried to avoid a sweep by the Cubs on a chilly afternoon, with the first pitch thrown at 12:35 p.m. local time. Unfortunately for A’s fans, they’ll have to wait until the next homestand for the team’s first win at Sutter Health Park. The Cubs defeated the A’s convincingly, 10-2, to complete the sweep in Sacramento.

In a series where not much went right for the A’s, Wednesday proved no different. The Cubs jumped ahead early again, putting up a crooked number in the second inning by scoring four runs off A’s starter Jeffrey Springs. After allowing the runs, Springs was visibly frustrated, seen punching the dugout wall upon returning to the bench. The Cubs continued applying pressure, adding another run in the third inning to extend their lead to 5-0.

However, the A’s showed signs of life in their half of the third inning when Brent Rooker blasted a two-run homer to left field, scoring Lawrence Butler and cutting the deficit to 5-2.

Unfortunately, that was all the offense Sacramento could muster. The A’s were held scoreless for the remainder of the game, while the Cubs continued adding runs to turn the matchup into a blowout under the Sacramento sun.

Springs lasted just three innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Cubs hitters stayed hot, scoring three more runs in the fourth inning off A’s reliever Mitch Spence, who surrendered three hits over two innings pitched.

Angel Perdomo allowed the final two runs of the game during his one and one-third innings of work, giving up one hit. The remaining A’s bullpen—Leclerc, Ferguson, and Miller—combined for two and two-thirds scoreless innings to close out the afternoon.

The A’s were swept by the Cubs, losing Wednesday’s finale 10-2.

Up Next: The A’s travel to Denver to take on the Rockies on Friday at 1:10 p.m. PST. They’ll play three games in Denver before returning home. Friday starters for Sacramento RHP Osvaldo Bido 1-0 ERA 1.80 vs. Colorado who has not named a starter.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The Athletics traded Latino Player and American League record holder

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Former Oakland A’s 2023 base stealing leader Estuery Ruiz was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wed Apr 2, 2025. The A’s will be getting right hand pitcher minor leaguer Carlos Duran (AP News file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

The Athletics traded Latino Player and American League record holder

By Amaury Pi-González

Esteury Ruíz, the speedy outfielder for the A’s who established the current American League record for stolen bases by a rookie in 2023 with the Oakland A’s, is now wearing the blue and white uniform of the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

In return, the Dodgers shipped to Sacramento Minor League right-handed Carlos Durán. Although I have not spoken with Esteury since his departure, I wish him nothing but the best, a hard working and good young player who at least is lucky to leave the A’s and going to the best team and organization in baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers, a much more cohesive system with young players will probably benefit young Dominican and make him a better player.

It has been challenging for the A’s organization to keep a good Latino player long enough to be identified by the A’s fans. The latest that comes to mind was Cuban Yoenis Céspedes, who was happy playing for the A’s in Oakland, as he always told me and in one occasion when the A’s asked me to interpret for him in front of a group of Oakland A’s fans. Céspedes played the first three of his eight-year career in the major leagues with the Athletics. For the A’s, the Céspedes story is nothing new.

It is difficult for a good Latino players to stay with this organization. In 2003 Miguel Tejada (Dominican) was traded, because the team claimed they could not afford him because they were a “small market team”,an excuse for saying they actually do not want to spend the money for good players.

The Bay Area is not a small market if you call an area with 7 million people “small” (at the time Tejada was traded) it was a two-team major league market, Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants. This past season, during an A’s player reunion, the last one at Oakland, Miguel Tejada came to our KIQI 1010AM Bay Area-KATD 990AM Sacramento broadcast booth at the Oakland Coliseum.

He told me during an interview during the game, “siempre me gustó jugar aqui en Oakland, estos son buenos fanáticos” trans-:”I always enjoyed playing here in Oakland, these are good fans”.Miguel Tejada won the AL MVP in 2002 while playing for the Oakland Athletics. He was a six-time All-Star and the MVP for the 2005 All-Star Game, earning two Silver Slugger Awards in 2004 & 2005.

Decades before Miguel Tejada, another Latino shortstop played for the A’s, Dagoberto Blanco (Campy) Campaneris, from Cuba, he played shortstop for the A’s during their dynasty of three-World Series championships. 1972-73-74. During his 19 seasons in the majors, Campy played 9 seaons with the Oakland A’s.

In the Bay Area, San Francisco, Oakland, and San José, have a large Hispanic population of about 30%, represented at least 20% in every county, including the affluent Marin County, the least in proportion. As far as Media market, the Bay Area ranks #5 in the country.

The A’s present home is Sacramento, which is the #20 media market in the country, but ‘there is more!’ After Sacramento, in about three years, they keep going backward (as planned) to Las Vegas, which is the #40 media market in the United States. I believe this is unprecedented in the history of Major League Baseball, maybe in the history of all pro-sports in the US.

For Esteury Ruíz at the end of the day, leaving the A’s and landing with the Dodgers could be the break of his life.

About Trades: Jesse Chávez, pitcher, is the most traded player in MLB history, traded a total of ten times.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame

Giants Beat Astros In Series Sweep 6-3 at Daikin Park

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By Barbara Mason

San Francisco Giants Wilmer Flores rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run against the Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez in the top of the first inning. Flores is greeted by third base coach Matt Williams (9). (AP News photo)

San Francisco’s Wilmer Flores continues to hit those deep balls with teammates Luis Matos and LaMonte Wade Jr. chiming in Wednesday hitting a couple of their own as they beat the Houston Astros in a sweep, 6-3 in the finale at Daikin Park in Houston.

The Giants finished the game with six hits and six runs and it doesn’t get any better than that. It has been a great start for San Francisco who now will head home to Oracle with a 5-1 record.

Game recap: San Francisco could not have asked for a better start in this game. They got started early and kept the pressure on the Astros from the get go. Wilmer Flores continued the great series he has been having hitting a home run in the first inning with Willy Adames on base taking a 2-0 lead.

There was no letdown for the Giants hitting their second home run of the game in the second inning off the bat of Luis Matos, a solo shot giving San Francisco a 3-0 lead. There was more from San Francisco in the same inning when Heliot Ramos doubled base runners Tyler Fitzgerald and Mike Yastrzemski home and the Giants had struck again taking a 5-0 lead.

The Astros got on the board in bottom of the second inning scoring one run. Zach Dezenzo singled Jeremy Pena home for their only run of the game so far still trailing significantly 5-1. Although early in the game the Giants were putting up a great offensive effort against Astro pitcher Framber Valdez which is not an easy task. Valdez did have five strikeouts but he did allow four hits and five earned going five innings.

Houston scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning cutting the Giants lead more than in half 5-3 giving the Astros new life. Yordan Alvarez singled base runners Jose Altuve and Chas McCormick home. Houston still had four innings left to do some more damage but needed their defense to keep the Giants off the board in the later innings.

The Giants had five scoreless innings but struck again in the eighth inning with a LaMonte Wade Jr. home run, San Francisco’s third deep ball of the game. Relief pitching kept the Astros off the board for the final four innings and the Giants had their first sweep of the season 6-3.

Even though the Astros had more hits in the game than San Francisco they did not capitalize on those hits and their season record fell to 2-4. San Francisco now has a 5-1 season record as they now head home for their home opener on Friday night. This will be an especially special game for fans as they not only celebrate their first home game of the season but also 25 years at Oracle Park.

San Francisco starting pitcher Landen Roupp had a good game with a lot confidence. He has a great curve ball although as the innings wore on that pitch at times became predictable thus allowing those runs from the Astros. He allowed four hits and three earned runs with eight strikeouts.

Game notes: Wednesday the Giants took on the Astros in game three of their series getting the sweep after winning games one and two. On the mound for the Giants was Landen Roupp who pitched effective baseball against the Astros. The Astros starter Framber Valdez pitched five innings giving up four hits and five runs. The Giants have had a great start on this young season and kept it going in this series.

Going home to Oracle for the home opener on Friday, the Giants will welcome the Seattle Mariners to San Francisco for a three game series. The festivities are slated to start at 1:35 PM in a day-game matchup with 40,000 plus fans on hand.

Seattle will start Bryce Miller 0-1 ERA 4.76. For San Francisco Justin Verlander 0-0 ERA 3.60 looking for a better start than he had against the Reds in the 3-2 loss last Saturday, not the debut he wanted.

Golden State Warriors podcast David Zizmor: Warriors battle Lakers for fourth spot in NBA West Thursday night in LA

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Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) in the first half in Memphis on Tue Apr 1, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor:

#1 Stephen Curry scored a whopping 52 points, had 12 three pointers, and the Golden State Warriors (44-31) defeated the Memphis Grizzlies (44-32) on Tuesday night.

#2 Curry had 16 of 31 from the floor and made 12 of 30 shots long range and had 12 three pointers tying his season high. Not bad considering he came off that pelvic contusion.

#3 The Warriors travel to Crypto.com Arena to tip off with the Los Angeles Lakers 45-29 at 7:00pm PDT. The Lakers are fourth in the NBA Western Conference.

Join David Zizmor for the Warrior podcasts Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com