Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) celebrates teammate Brand Marchand (63) overtime game winning goal to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Fri May 9, 2025 (AP News photo)
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast Mary Lisa:
#1 The Florida Panthers got the game winning goal in overtime from Brad Marchand who scored on a deflected shot at 15:27 as the Panthers picked up their first win in the Eastern Conference semifinals 5-4 to cut the Toronto Maple Leafs lead 2-1.
#2 The shot by Marchand hit the Leafs Morgan Rielly and ended up going over Toronto goaltender Joseph Woll for the goal. It was one four goals that ended up being a ricochet going off an opposing player two for each team.
#3 For Florida Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, and Jonah Gadjovich all scored. The Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky saved 27 shots and Evan Rodrigues got two assists. The Panthers who lost the first two games of this series have gone 13-2 in their last 15 playoff games in overtime.
#4 The Leafs John Tavares scored twice and Matthew Knies and Reilly also had a goal apiece. Leafs goaltender Woll stopped 32 Florida shots.
#5 Game 4 is Sunday at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise. The Leafs have a chance to go up two games 3-1 but the Panthers who have home ice can tie the series up 2-2 and take the series tie for game 5 back to Toronto.
Brent Rooker on Friday in the game against the Yankees (Photo: Athletics on X)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
WEST SACRAMENTO–“We’re excited to be here for the next three years playing in this beautiful ballpark, but also being able to watch some of the best players in baseball, whether they be Athletics players or Aaron Judge and others, launch home runs out of this very intimate, the most intimate ballpark in all of Major League Baseball, for the next three years.”
That was A’s owner John Fisher during his press conference last year, speaking about the team’s temporary home at Sutter Health Park. On Friday, the A’s welcomed Aaron Judge and the Yankees for the first of a three-game series. But instead of Judge launching balls out of the yard, it was Jasson Dominguez who carried the load for New York. Dominguez, who had never recorded a multi-homer game in his career, hit three home runs—including a grand slam.
The Yankees handled the A’s with ease in a 10-2 victory, jumping out to a quick lead and never looking back.
A’s starter Osvaldo Bido gave the club five and a third solid innings but struggled to execute a few key pitches. His toughest stretch came in the third inning, when he gave up back-to-back homers to Paul Goldschmidt and Dominguez. Bido allowed eight hits and four runs (three earned), walked two, and struck out six.
The A’s offense didn’t show up until late. Jacob Wilson drove in Max Schuemann with an RBI single in the eighth inning to make it 10-1. In the ninth, Lawrence Butler—who has been in a slump—added an RBI single off the right-field wall that scored Shea Langeliers. That would be all for the A’s, who dropped the series opener to New York, 10-2.
The bullpen had a rough outing. Hogan Harris allowed four runs on four hits across two innings, striking out two and walking two. Elvis Alvarado made his MLB debut and pitched the final 1.2 innings, surrendering two runs on two hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
Despite boasting a strong road record (13-7), the A’s continued their struggles at home. Asked by John Shea about the team’s home woes, manager Mark Kotsay said, “Can’t explain it right now, John. I can’t explain it.”
Bido was tagged with the loss and now sits at 2-3 with a 4.75 ERA. The win went to Yankees starter Will Warren, who is now 2-2 with a 4.75 ERA.
The A’s will look to bounce back on Saturday afternoon in game two of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM PST in West Sacramento. J.P. Sears (4-2, 2.93 ERA) is slated to start for the A’s against Yankees lefty Carlos Rodón (4-3, 2.96 ERA).
Note of the night: Nick Kurtz continues to take good at-bats and had two more hits tonight, including a ringing double to right-center field that left his bat at 113 MPH.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Jordan Hicks pitches against the Minnesota Twins in the bottom of the first inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on Fri May 9, 2025 (AP News photo)
By Barbara Mason
The San Francisco Giants (24-15) lost the first game of their series with the Minnesota Twins (19-20) 3-1. It was a disappointing game for the Giants having only three hits in the entire game. Matt Chapman hit a solo home run but that would be the only run of the game for San Francisco. The Giant’s bats were just not connecting at all in Friday’s game in a lackluster effort from San Francisco.
Game recap: The Twins scored the first run of the game in the first inning taking a 1-0 lead. Trevor Larnach singled lead-off hitter Byron Buxton home and the Twins would continue to add to their lead in the fourth inning. Carlos Correa singled Ty France home but was thrown out at second base stretching. After four innings the Twins had a 2-0 lead.
Minnesota tacked on one more run onto to their tally scoring another run in the fifth inning. Buxton singled ( his second hit of the game) and Harrison Bader was able to reach home plate on a Heliot Ramos fielding error taking a 3-0 lead.
Minnesota’s Chris Paddack was having a solid game while the Giant’s Jordan Hicks had already allowed seven hits. Going into the top of the seventh inning San Francisco had some work to do. Hicks was relieved in the bottom of the seventh inning after having pitched six innings. He was relieved by Kyle Harrison.
The Giant’s were able to get up on the scoreboard in the seventh inning when Matt Chapman hit a solo home run to left center. San Francisco had pulled to within two runs, 3-1. This season San Francisco had been having some success coming from behind but they were running out of time having only two more innings to do so in this game.
The Twins threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning. Harrison Bader stole second base and with two outs and the top of the Minnesota batting order was on deck and coming to the plate. Byron Buxton was intentionally walked and another score rested on Trevor Larnach. San Francisco relief pitcher Kyle Harrison struck him out and it was on to the eighth inning.
The Giants desperately needed some hits with only two more innings left to make any sort of impact. With only three hits in the game, the San Francisco offense was really struggling. Besides the Chapman home run, only Heliot Ramos and Christian Koss had hits both of them singles. Minnesota starting pitcher Chris Paddack had a great 7.1 innings with Louis Varland finishing off the eighth inning. Paddack went three and out in the first five innings of the game.
San Francisco relief pitcher Harrison had a great couple of innings dismissing the Twins in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Giants were three outs away from losing the first game of this series.
The Twins Danny Coulombe would try and close the game for Minnesota. He has not allowed a run this season. Mike Yastrzemski and Willy Adames both struck out and Jung Hoo Lee flied out and that was the ball game with Minnesota winning the first game of the series 3-1. Twins pitcher Chris Paddack had finally won his first game of the season.
Game notes: After winning their last series beating the Cubs the Giants traveled to Minnesota to take on the Twins. The Giants couldn’t get enough offense to take this first game of the series and lost by a two run margin. The Twins had a great series to start the week sweeping the Baltimore Orioles, coming into this game with a lot of confidence. That confidence carried over as the Twins starter Paddock had a three hitter going into the eighth inning on Friday night.
Saturday’s game will feature San Francisco’s Logan Webb on the mound. He has a 4-2 win/loss record and a 2.61 ERA. The Twins will be looking to win another game in this series starting Joe Ryan. He has a 2-2 win/loss record and a 2.93. Two very good pitchers should make this game a good one. San Francisco will be looking to get their offense going and tie up this series. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 4:15 PM.
Former Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton talks with umpire Mike Estabrook between innings in a game against the San Diego Padres at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Sat May 3, 2025. Shelton was fired by the Pirates on Thu May 8, 2025. (AP News photo)
MLB podcast Michael Duca Fri May 9, 2025
On the MLB podcast Michael Duca:
#1 Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton was fired Thursday after Shelton had a tough April and the Bucs couldn’t get on track falling to last place in the NL Central. Pirates general manager Ben Cherrington replaced Shelton with bench coach Don Kelly. Shelton becomes the first big league manager to get fired this season. The Pirates on a seven game losing streak and have a losing record of 12-26. Shelton had managed the Pirates since 2019.
#2 Los Angles Dodgers two way superstar Shohei Ohtani could have signed a 15 year deal with the Dodgers and retired at the age of 44. Ohtani didn’t want to take any risks by signing a lengthy deal and face declining skills according to Ohtani agent Naz Balelo. Ohtani has a 10 year $700 million deal the largest in pro sports.
#3 Michael, very sad news on the passing of former 1984 Detroit Tigers star Chet Lemon who died on Thursday at his home in Florida. Lemon a three time All Star outfielder and went to the 1984 World Series with the Tigers was 70 years old. Lemon’s wife Gigi said he was sleeping on the sofa and not responsive. Lemon suffered from a rare blood disease for the last 30 years and had a number of strokes that left him unable to walk or speak. Lemon was also a former Chicago White Sox.
#4 Michael, after watching to uncut video of 20 year old fan who fell from the top of the 21 foot wall at PNC Park in Pittsburgh and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition remain in pain and said that he broke everything. Kavan Markwood gave his first interview to TribLive news on Wednesday and said he still hasn’t seen the video yet.
#5 Michael kind of a fun question that viewers wanted to asked you, new Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago was he a Cubs or White Sox fan? Robert Provest the Pope’s former name was born in the Bronzeville neighborhood in the South Side of Chicago. He grew up in the South suburbs in a town called Dolton. He maintained his ties to the city. Question 2 What Chicago baseball team would Pope Leo XIV pray for to win and do you see him returning to Chicago to meet his fellow Chicagoians?
Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) puts the biscuit in the basket against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adam Hill (33) in overtime in game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs second round on Thu May 8, 2025 (AP News photo)
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast Len Shapiro:
#1 Tom Wilson scored a goal and picked up an assist. The Capitals also got scoring help from Connor McMichael and John Carlson. The Capitals are the number one seed in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference and with the win they have tied up the series 1-1.
#2 The Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson stopped 27 shots and another 16 in the third period as the Capitals defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 in Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Second Round at Capital One Arena Thursday night.
#3 Leon Draisaitl scored the game winning goal at 15:20 in the overtime stanza to help the Edmonton Oilers defeat the Vegas Golden Knights at the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to take a 2-0 lead in the second round of the Western Conference Stanley Cup Playoffs.
#4 In order for the Knights to get back into this series they virtually will need to win two games in Edmonton and the way the Oilers have been going at it that’s a long odds shot. The Oilers can finish this up even with a split in Edmonton going back to Vegas for a game 5?
#5 In the Eastern Conference you have Toronto and Florida with the Leafs in front 2-0. How do you see the rest of this series playing out.
Former New York Mets pitcher Livan Hernandez (61) seen here pitching in 2009 (San Diego Union file photo)
Latino Major League Players’ Diet
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi Gonzalez
Although things have changed in the major leagues regarding nutrition for the long baseball season, Latino Players also get used to that same special diet for the long season. It takes them time to adjust to life in the United States because moving from a Latin American country to the US is usually a significant cultural change.
Lifestyles are different, especially in the major leagues, the top professional baseball league in the world. And let’s face it, we all have to eat. Liván Hernandez comes to mind when he arrived from Miami after he pitched for his first three seasons.
He came and pitched for the San Francisco Giants. I first met him, he was always asking me about restaurants and especially Cuban food, which is easy to find today in some big cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and other places like the San Francisco-San José-Oakland Bay Area.
Still, in some trips to Kansas City, Cincinnati, and many other places, you do not see much variety of ethic foods. Liván always laughs when I told him that Armando, my grandfather in Cuba, used to say to me, when I was a kid, “Uno come para vivir, no vive para comer” Translation: “We eat to live, not live to eat”.
Liván is retired, and he loved, I mean loved to eat. Liván played in the major leagues for 17 seasons; his last season was 2012. He pitched for 10 different teams, and he once confessed to me that he had a weight problem, which is not unusual for Latino players.
Fernando Valenzuela was another player who had a long fight with his weight; however, because it is a long season, he needs to be there for the whole enchilada. Born in México, Fernando told me he did not mind his weight. However, I usually converse well with Liván, who comes from Cuba.
He always told me that the first thing that impressed him (aside from the salaries and nice and big stadiums) in the major leagues and in the United States was that he could eat anything he wanted at any given time.
Luis Tiant, also Cuban, told me he didn’t mind to be a little overweight because it is a long season, and he needed the strength to go the distance. Major League Baseball players nowadays require a diet of carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats to fuel their very long, demanding season.
Drink lots of liquid during hot summer days. They also need to prioritize hydration and electrolyte balance. A typical baseball player’s diet includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and fish., however, rice and beans and other Latin food is also popular during the season for Latino players.
The three players were pitchers in the major leagues, but I have also spoken with other Latino players throughout the years, not pitchers, and they always love to talk about food. Some even like to cook at home or at least be their wives ‘sous chef “.
Luis Tiant and Ferrnando Valenzuela passed in 2024. Liván Hernández is retired from pitching, but runs a Baseball Academy in Miami(Hialeah), Florida.
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.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
New York Yankees Aaron Judge swings for a single against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on Sat May 3, 2025. Judge and the Yankees head to Sacramento to face the A’s for a three game series starting Fri May 9, 2025 (AP News photo)
Sacramento Athletics podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:
#1 What an afternoon at Sutter Health Park as the Sacramento A’s who had a 5-0 lead on Wednesday over the Seattle Mariners watch that all go away. The M’s Leody Taveras slugged a two RBI single in his Seattle debut.
#2 Taveras ended up scoring later when Dylan Moore got a hit that scored Taveras that gave the M’s the lead and eventual win coming back from a five run deficit to win the game 6-5.
#3 The A’s at one time needed just one win to tie M’s for first place after beating the Mariners on Monday night 7-6 in 11 innings put them one back. It was on Tuesday night the A’s couldn’t seal the deal to tie the M’s for first losing 5-3 and going back to two games. Their loss on Wednesday now sets them back three games.
#4 The Mariners are hot with the two out three wins in the series they have now won their ninth straight series. The A’s were getting close in the two games they lost but the Mariners reached deep down and made comebacks to beat the A’s.
#5 It’s back to the drawing board as the A’s will host Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees on Friday night after taking Thursday off. Starting pitcher for the Yankees RHP Will Warren (1-2 ERA 5.65) he’ll be opposed by the Athletics Osvaldo Bido RHP (2-2 ERA 4.71) first pitch 7:00pm PDT at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento.
San Francisco Giants Wilmer Flores celebrates with teammates after scoring on a Christian Koss single in the top of the fourth inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Wed May 7, 2025 (AP News photo)
On the San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips:
#1 San Francisco Giants pitcher Robbie Ray had another brilliant outing going six innings, allowing three hits and one run, two walks and five strike outs in the Giants win over the Chicago Cubs 3-1.
#2 Ray picked up his second win in a row on Wednesday he’s rolling. Relief pitcher Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers retired three hitters amongst them to open the door for closer Ryan Walker who finished off the Cubs for the win.
#3 Talking about Walker he picked up his seventh save so it looks like thing are coming together?
#4 The Giants had that wild game last Tuesday night scoring nine runs in the top of the 11th inning to defeat the Cubs 14-5. The bats are making noise.
#5 San Francisco heads to Minnesota to open a three game series on Friday. at Target Field in Minneapolis. The Giants are just 1.5 game back of the first place Los Angeles Dodgers. Starting pitcher for the Giants Friday Jordan Hicks (1-3 ERA 6.03). The Twins are fourth in the AL Central at 17-20. How do you see this series?
New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) blocks a pass from the Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (right) in the second half at TD Garden in Boston on Wed May 7, 2025 (AP News photo)
NBA Playoffs podcast Michael Roberson:
#1 The New York Knicks were down 20 points but big help from Mikal Bridges. For the second night in a row Bridges stole the ball for a game ending steal and the Knicks once again came away with a razor close 91-90 win to take a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
#2 The Knicks Jalen Brunson scored 17 points and hit two free throws and did it all with just 12.7 second left in the game. Every basket counted in this game for the Knicks to pull this one off.
#3 Turning to the Oklahoma City Thunder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander erupted for 34 points in three quarter of work against the Denver Nuggets in a 149-106 landslide in game 2 of the Western Conference Finals tying the series at 1-1.
#4 The Thunder who scored 87 points in the first half set an NBA playoff record for the most points in a first half. The previous holder were the Cleveland Cavaliers who did it against the Golden State Warriors with 86 points in game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 9, 2017.
#5 Please tell us your predictions for the Nuggets and Thunder’s next game this Fri May 9 in Denver with this series tied up 1-1 and the Celtics at Knicks for game 3 this Sat May 10th at Madison Square Garden with the Knicks leading the series 2-0.
San Jose Earthquakes striker Amahl Pellegrino celebrates his first half goal teammate Preston Judd during the Earthquakes 2-1 win over the Sacramento Republic at Pay Pal Park on Wednesday MAY 7, 2025. (San Jose Earthquakes)
by Marko Ukalovic
SAN JOSE — The San Jose Earthquakes scored two goals in the first half and hung on to defeat the Sacramento Republic 2-1 in the Round of 32 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday evening at Pay Pal Park.
San Jose snapped their two-match losing streak against Sacramento and advanced to the round of 16 to take on the Portland Timbers on either May 20th or 21st. Sacramento bows out of the tournament after just one match.
“We made a 4-0 game into a 2-1 game. That part is disappointing, but it was positive to see the number of players on the field tonight that we haven’t given a whole lot of minutes and try to make some assessment of where they are.” Quakes head coach Bruce Arena said.
The Earthquakes drew first blood in the second minute of the match. Preston Judd crossed the ball into the middle where unmarked Amahl Pellegrino drilled a right footed shot past Republic goalkeeper Jared Mazzola for his first goal of the tournament.
San Jose doubled its lead in the 44th minute. Nick Lima sent a ball into the middle of the box. Niko Tsakiris made a touch pass off of his knee up over to Judd who beat Mazzola with a low shot for his first goal of the tournament.
“Any time out there I want to play as much as I can, so I don’t want to put myself in a position where I have to go out. … but getting the W is the main thing, and we’re happy about that the most, so now we’re looking forward to the game Saturday,” Judd said.
Sacramento didn’t record its first shot on net until the 68th minute.
Tsakiris played one of his best matches in an Earthquakes kit, creating numerous scoring chances for his teammates throughout the match.
“Tonight, there were moments and opportunities that I felt were open for me and moments where I felt like I could have done better. That’s all part of it. Getting these minutes were valuable for me and for this year. [I’m] just looking to take this and move forward with it,” Tsakiris said.
Jamar Ricketts was given a red card and an automatic ejection in the 83rd minute when he made a dangerous tackle against a Republic midfielder.
The Republic scored in the fifth minute of stoppage when Trevor Aman scored in the final minute of stoppage time when he curled around Quakes goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. for his first goal of the tournament.
GAME NOTES: The Earthquakes now hold a 22-19 all-time record in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play and 19-6 against non-MLS clubs.
The Quakes and Republic have now met six times in the U.S. Open Cup, with the home side winning all six contests. Host San Jose defeated Sacramento in 2014 (2-1), 2015 (2-2 regulation; 6-5 PKs) and 2019 (4-3), while the Republic won in 2022 (2-0) and 2024 (4-3 after extra time).
Hernán López made his first appearance since the second game of the MLS docket on March 1. The midfielder underwent right shoulder surgery March 14. He entered the match in the 66th minute.
Benji Kikanović made his 2025 debut in the 79th minute after undergoing knee surgery in January. The forward was born in San Jose but grew up in the Sacramento area, featuring collegiately for Sacramento State University (2018-19) and scoring nine goals in 34 games.
UP NEXT: San Jose returns to MLS action as they take on the Colorado Rapids on Saturday May 9th at 6:30pm at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
