Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: 49ers missing a good number of Pro Bowl players due to injuries; Raiders host struggling Panthers today; plus more news

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San Francisco 49oers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (1) takes a leap against Minnesota Vikings Camryn Bynum (24) and linebacker Ivan Pace (0) on Sun Sep 15, 2024 at US Bank Stadium. Samuel is out with an injury and will miss Sun Sep 22, 2024 in Los Angeles against the Los Angeles Rams. (AP News photo)

On Headlines Sports podcast:

#1 The San Francisco 49ers are coming off a 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings last week and face the Los Angeles Rams today in the Southland. The 49ers have two injuries running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Tight end George Kittle is out with a hamstring injury and Nick Bosa is out for the Rams game as he hurt his rib during practice Thursday or Friday.

#2 The Las Vegas Raiders are coming off an impressive win over the Baltimore Ravens 26-23 in Baltimore. The Raiders tied with the Ravens at 23-23 got a game winning field goal from kicker Daniel Carlson who booted a 38 yard field goal with 27 seconds left for a 26-23 win. The Raiders now face a struggling Carolina Panthers team at Allegiant Stadium today. The Panthers are 0-2 and the Raiders are 1-1. How much do you see home field advantage for the Raiders being a key today?

#3 Charlie these are not your 1959 Go Go Sox as the Chicago White Sox lost their 119th game of the season tying the 2003 Detroit Tigers who finished at 43-119. The Sox need one more loss to tie the all time worse losing record in a season held by the 1962 New York Mets. Can they do it?

#4 The Washington Nationals demoted All Star shortstop CJ Abrams after he stayed out all Friday morning at a Chicago casino. Nats manager Dave Martinez had to bring the bad news to Abrams that he was being demoted because of breaking team curfew. Abrams was the lead off hitter on Friday’s game and went 0-3 with a walk and one strike out. Martinez said he’s a good guy and he’ll work his way back.

#5 Here it is Charlie the final week of the A’s in Oakland and after next Thursday they would have played their last game ever in Oakland. Reality has set in for fans, players, media, A’s front office staff, and employees at the Oakland Coliseum.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

St. Louis City’s early goals hold up against Earthquakes in 2-1 win

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St. Louis City forward Joao Klauss and San Jose Earthquakes defender Tanner Beason race for a loose ball during St. Louis City’s 2-1 win over San Jose at Pay Pal Park on Saturday SEP 21, 2024. (St. Louis City SC)

by Mark Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — St. Louis City scored two goals in the first 15 minutes of the match and held on to edge the San Jose Earthquakes in 2-1 victory on Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose has lost three out of its last four matches and still has not earned a point against St. Louis in four matches. St. Louis City has have won two out of its last three matches.

St. Louis City (6-11-13) drew first blood in the fourth minute. Marcel Hartel sent a cross from along the right sideline into the middle of the box. Jannes Horn quickly touched it over to an unmarked Cedric Teuchert who buried a right footed shot into an open net for his fourth goal of the season.

Thanks to a controversial call, the visiting team doubled its lead in the 13th minute. Joao Klauss chipped a ball near the box where Rodrigues took down Hartel while trying to clear the ball. After VAR review the play was ruled a penalty. Hartel finished off the penalty when he hesitated before kicking the ball to the left side of the net past ‘Quakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough for his second goal of the season.

“If it’s that close and it wasn’t called (a penalty) in live play, and it was not super clear, I don’t know why you’re giving a penalty. I’m surprised they (VAR) even called (down to the referee) ‘hey there’s a potential penalty.’ Again it didn’t even look like (the foul) was in the box. Even on replays, so why are you giving one,” ‘Quakes interim head coach Ian Russell said.

San Jose (5-22-3) had its first quality scoring chance in the 27th minute. Niko Tsakiris started a counterattack inside the St. Louis zone with an interception. Tsakiris found Cristian Espinoza along the right wing. Espinoza crossed the ball into the middle where a trailing Hernan Lopez’s one-timer was stoned away by St. Louis City goalkeeper Roman Buerki.

Then in the 32nd minute, another turnover by St. Louis led Lopez to spring Jeremy Ebobisse on a partial breakaway. Ebobisse’s right-footed shot was knocked up and over the net by Buerki. The resulting corner kick bounced over to Rodrigues, but his turnaround attempt didn’t muster much power and was easily controlled by Buerki.

San Jose finally broke through to cut the lead in half in the 40th minute. Espinoza found Ebobisse along the right slot and Ebobisse sent a touch pass out to Carlos Akapo to the right side of the box. Akapo centered the ball back to Ebobisse who beat Buerki with a left footed shot to the lower right corner of the net for his fifth goal of the season.

“The point of the game is to get three points,” said Ebobisse regarding the frustration of the outcome. “To be dominant or have more opportunities and not convert, it’s ok if it happens once or twice a year. If it’s happening several times, and then the games that you are out played you’re not able to steal points, you end up in the situation that we’re in right now.”

The Earthquakes had a chance for the equalizer in the 69th minute when Tanner Beason sent a long ball from inside his own zone that took a favorable bounce out to a Jack Skahan. Josh Yaro bodied Skahan inside the box resulting in Skahan’s shot just wide of the net.

Espinioza gave the Quakes their best chance to even the match in the 76th minute when he received the ball from San Jose captain Jackson Yueill, but his shot between two St. Louis City defenders from eight yards out was gobbled up by Buerki.

Buerki stopped four of the five shots he faced to earn the victory. Yarbrough didn’t make a save during the match with both shots on target were goals in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: Each team finished the match with four corner kick each.

San Jose is 0-4 against St. Louis City in all the time series.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels north of the border to take on Montreal on Saturday 9/28 at 4:30pm at Stade Saputo.

Judge blasts 425 ft homer, Vlope and Stanton homer as Yanks go to work on A’s 10-0 at Coliseum

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New York Yankee Aaron Judge (left) is congratulated by Giancarlo Stanton (27) after hitting a top of the seventh home run against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Sep 21, 2024 (AP News photo)

By William Espy

The Oakland A’s hosted the New York Yankees for the second game of their three-game series on Saturday night. It’s going to be the last time that the Bronx Bombers play a series at the historic Coliseum, but it got off to a rough start for the A’s as they lost Friday’s game 4-2 in front of a crowd of 33,198.

Saturday night didn’t fare much better for them either, as they lost in dominant fashion as the Yankees drove in ten runs in a statement victory over the home team.

Things got off to an immediately rough for the A’s, as two singles to start the night by Gleber Torres and Juan Soto put starting pitcher JP Sears in a tough spot right out of the gate. Aaron Judge drew a walk on the next at-bat, loading the bases before the A’s had recorded a single out.

Giancarlo Stanton grounded into a double play, but Torres scored and Soto advanced to third. Jasson Dominguez singled to left field, driving in Soto before he stole second base. The next batter Jon Berti struck out, stopping the bleeding for the time being.

In the bottom of the first, the A’s got a couple of base runners but were unable to do much with it. Anthony Volpe hit a solo home run to start the second inning, extending the Yankees’ lead to 3-0 but that would be all of the offense the visitors could get going in the inning.

The bottom of the second was almost identical to the first for the A’s. The top of the third saw even more dominance from the Yankees’ offense, as singles by Soto and Judge set Stanton up to hit a three-run blast, doubling the Yankees’ lead and making it 6-0. After that, the Yankees would get a couple of more hits but they’d be stranded in scoring position.

Jacob Wilson got a lead-off single in the bottom of the third, advancing to third over the course of the inning but Oakland would be unable to capitalize as the next three batters would all be retired. Sears had his best inning of the night in the top of the fourth when New York had three batters up, and three down, but the offense still wasn’t helping them get back in the game in the bottom of the inning. Jon Berti would get the only hit for either side in the fifth inning with a single, otherwise it was fairly uneventful.

Brandon Bielak took over on the mound for Oakland to start the top of the sixth inning. He’d give up a single to Torres, but otherwise, the Yankees wouldn’t generate any offense. Shea Langliers doubled with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, but JJ Bleday flew out to end the inning and stranded Langliers in scoring position.

Oakland wouldn’t be as lucky in the top of the seventh though, as lead-off hitter Judge hit his 54th home run of the year to make it 7-0 in favor of the visitors. The next two batters, Stanton and Dominguez would both walk.

Stanton would eventually score on a fielder’s choice though. Eventually, Bielak would load the bases after Oswaldo Cabrera and Jose Trevino drew walks and then the pitcher’s night came to an end. Hogan Harris came into the game and immediately surrendered a single to Torres, who scored two runners, making it 10-0.

The A’s would go three-up, three- down in the bottom of the inning. At this point, both teams started making some defensive substitutions as it was clear that the Yankees were going to take the game.

Neither team would be able to produce any offense for the remainder of the game, and the Yankees would walk away with a 10-0 victory in a game where they absolutely demolished their opposition. The final game between the Yankees and A’s at Oakland Coliseum will take place on Sunday, as the A’s look to find a way to get a win in the series and avoid a sweep.

Florida State Says No To Cal Staying Undefeated, Wins 14-9 in Tallahassee

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By Morris Phillips

Cal knows how hard going 4-0 in the ACC is now.

Host Florida State wasn’t much better than they were in an 0-3 start, but this time, they didn’t fall behind, and they didn’t go away in a tense, gritty 14-9 win over the Bears.

D.J. Uiagalelei completed 16 of 27 passes for 177 yards, with the biggest connection coming with 11:08 remaining.  The 35-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Khi Douglas was the play of the game, allowing the Seminoles to regain the lead after they trailed for the first time, 9-7 late in the third quarter.

“I just tried to give him a good ball. Ja’Khi made him miss early. He had a good release and got separation, I just had to put a good ball, and he did the rest,” Uiagalelei said.

“When you play a team like Florida State with that much talent, you can’t make mistakes and expect to win,” coach Justin Wilcox said. “We had plenty of opportunities and couldn’t capitalize on it. They did, so they deserve credit for that.

Cal’s playmakers–quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Jadyn Ott, back from an injury absence and Mason Starling–played well, but playing well didn’t include scoring a touchdown.

Cal kicker Ryan Coe converted three of five field goal attempts, but four was the magic number. Coe missed from 36 yards in the third quarter after Cal ran 15 plays and put FSU on their toes to start the second half.

Coe missed again from 38 yards with 6:07 remaining while converting from 25, 29, and 51. Had the first year specialist converted either of his misses, Cal’s penetration on both of their concluding drives would have afforded Coe an opportunity to give Cal the lead with little time left.

Linebackers Cade Uluave and Teddye Buchanan combined for 20 solo tackles as Cal made sure the Noles would go a fourth consecutive game with no more than 21 points. Cal forced six FSU punts, and the Noles converted 7 of 17 third down opportunities. Nohl Williams added to Cal nationally-leading interception total of ten with his second quarter pick.

“We don’t want to be at this point scoring 14 points, but at the end of the day, a win is a win,” Uiagalelei said.

“We can’t dwell on this,” Uluave said. “We just have to put our head down and keep going.”

Patrick Payton keyed Florida State’s defense with three sacks and three more tackles for loss yardage. Payton’s pressure and the Doak Campbell Stadium crowd noise contributed to Cal’s offensive line woes. The Bears suffered two critical penalties in the red zone for a false start and delay of game.

The Bears’ first taste of ACC play and Cal’s first visit to Tallahassee seemed to measurably flummox both squads. Coe’s missed kicks and Cal’s 10 penalties displayed the visitors’ nerves. But the home crowd was subdued by Cal’s measured attack and consistent effort on defense.

The Bears host first place Miami and familiar face, quarterback Cam Ward on October 5 at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley.

Wade and Chapman homer, and Landen Roupp gets first big league win in Giants’ 9-0 rout of Royals; KC extends losing streak to six

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San Francisco Giant Michael Conforto is caught in a run down with Kansas City Royals catcher Freddy Fermin throwing to third baseman Maikel Garcia (11) after Conforto tried to score on a fielders choice hit by Grant McCray in the top of the sixth inning at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City (AP News photo)

Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024

Kauffman Stadium

Kansas City, Missouri

San Francisco Giants 9 (76-79)

Kansas City Royals 0 (82-73)

Win: Landen Roupp (1-1)

Loss: Brady Singer (9-12)

Time: 2:14

Attendance: 24,189

By Stephen Ruderman

LaMonte Wade and Matt Chapman both hit two home runs, as the Giants’ offense exploded in a 9-0 win over the Royals on a hauntingly-beautiful late Saturday afternoon in Kansas City.

After an exciting and tense 2-1 win last night, the Giants looked to keep playing spoiler against the struggling Royals. With severe weather moving into Kansas City, this game was moved up two hours. It was a warm and humid afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. It was partly cloudy, and the sun was out at the start of the game.

Royals’ starter Brady Singer retired the first two men he faced in the top of the first inning. LaMonte Wade then came up, and he hit a home run down the right field line to give the Giants an early 1-0 lead.

The Giants turned to Landen Roupp, who took the ball for his third big league start. Roupp escaped a one-out double by Bobby Witt Jr. in the bottom of the first, and he escaped another jam in the bottom of the second.

Singer pitched a scoreless top of the second and a one, two, three top of the third. Roupp then pitched another scoreless inning in the bottom of the third.

As the game reached the middle innings, it became overcast for the most part at Kauffman Stadium with a beautiful touch of blue skies off in the distance.

On the first pitch from Singer in the top of the fourth, Wade hit a towering drive down the right field line that went out for his second home run of the day. Matt Chapman, who returned to the team today after the birth of his daughter, Alexandra, came up to the plate.

Chapman got a hold of one, and hit a fly ball deep to center that got out. Wade and Chapman went back-to-back, and it was now 4-0 Giants.

Roupp survived a leadoff ground-rule double by MJ Melendez in the bottom of the fourth, and he pitched another scoreless inning in the bottom of the fifth. Roupp was done after five.

Roupp allowed a base-runner in every inning he pitched, and the Royals had a runner in scoring position in each of the first four innings, but he kept his focus in every single inning to pitch five scoreless. Roupp gave up three hits, and he walked three and struck out three.

Singer pitched a scoreless top of the fifth and retired Wade to start the top of the sixth. Chapman then came up and golfed out a slider at the knees to the Giants’ bullpen in left for his second home run of the game.

It was Chapman’s 26th home run of the year, and he is now four home runs away from becoming the first Giant to hit 30 in a season since Barry Bonds hit 45 all the way back in 2004. He will have seven games left to do it, so while it may be a tall order, it is certainly doable.

Michael Conforto immediately followed up Chapman’s second home run with a double to right, and Tyler Fitzgerald singled him over to third. That ended the day for Singer, and the Royals Manager Matt Quatraro brought in Carlos Hernandez.

Grant McCray reached on a weird fielder’s choice that saw him get to second, while Conforto was out at the plate. Donovan Walton was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Curt Casali singled to left to knock in a pair and make it 6-0. Those would be the only two runs for the Giants to score on something other than a home run.

Mike Yastrzemski then hit a three-run home run to right to make it 9-0. It was the fifth home run of the day for the Giants, and the third for Yastrzemski in the first five games of this road trip.

It was now a blowout, and as you would expect, there would be no drama the rest of the game. Spencer Bivens pitched a pair of scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh, and Tristan Beck threw a pair of one, two, three innings in the eighth and ninth.

Landen Roupp got his first major league win, and this was the second game in a row in which a Giants’ rookie would get their first major league win after Mason Black got his first Thursday night. Brady Singer took the loss.

The Giants have now won four of their last five, as they improve to 76-79. They can now get that first road sweep of the season with a win Sunday. Blake Snell (4-3, 3.31 ERA) will make the start for the Giants, and he will be opposed by the veteran right-hander, Seth Lugo (16-8, 3.08 ERA).

The only question is with the wild weather in Kansas City expected to persist into , whether Sunday or not the game will be played. If it starts on time, first pitch will be at 1:10 at Kauffman Stadium, and 11:10 a.m. back home in San Francisco.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Why MLB Players have not signed off for Sacramento 2025 season yet; Coliseum memories

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Chicago Cubs runner Miles Mastrobuoni (left) is forced at second base by Oakland A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson at Wrigley Field on Thu Sep 19, 2024. The A’s play their last homestand between Sep 20-26 before moving to Sacramento at the end of the regular season. (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, the countdown to closing up the Oakland Coliseum is just five games away each time you come to the park it’s really hard to believe that this ball club you covered for decades will no longer be playing in Oakland anymore after Thursday afternoon?

#2 When you talk about the A’s move to Sacramento it’s almost hard to fathom. I wanted to ask you about the MLB Players Association they have not signed off on playing in Sacramento yet. They have said that playing on artificial turf in 100 degree heat in Sacramento is not something that’s going to work for the health and safety of the players. Could this end up being a hang up that could drag maybe into December?

#3 When you look back on the history of the Coliseum it opened in 1968 with Governor Ronald Reagan throwing out the first ball and the A’s had joined the San Francisco Giants as the second team in the Bay Area ever since that time in good and bad times it was always exciting for baseball fans to know there were two Bay Area teams to see each and every season.

#4 This last Oakland A’s team showed a lot of grit this season and had players who have a great future in Major League Baseball with hitters like Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker, JJ Bleday, Shea Langeliers, and Seth Brown. These guys competed and gave some of the best teams in baseball fits.

#5 Amaury you’ve been calling A’s games out of the Coliseum since the 1970s you’ve had numerous broadcast partners and working with some of the best Spanish radio broadcast talent in baseball had to really give you something to really look back on over the years.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Bedard says he’s ready for his sophomore year with Blackhawks; Utah’s Guenther thrilled about 8 yr deal; plus more news

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Chicago Blackhawks Connor Bedard (88) skates against the New Jersey Devils on Jan 5, 2024 in Newark NJ. Bedard says he’s excited about his second year and looking forward to the 2024-25 season (AP file photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 The Chicago Blackhawks Connor Bedard says he more than ready for this upcoming season. Bedard says he’s rested, relaxed and ready to go. Bedard says he’s ready coming in, he said the excitement was there last season and he’s more relaxed this season.

#2 Dylan Guenther was signed to an eight year deal with the Utah Hockey Team. Financial teams were not disclosed. Guenther a 21 year forward is entering his third season of his three year entry level deal. Guenther said this was a happy day for he and his family. Guenther who played with the Arizona Coyotes last season had 17 goals, 18 assists and 35 points.

#3 It didn’t take long for the Chicago Blackhawks number two draft pick defenseman Artyom Levshunov is slated to be out with a foot injury for the next four weeks. That could change sooner than expected it was reported that Levshunov could be skating soon. Bedard said it was bad that the season started like this for him. The Hawks are anxious to get a look at Levshunov.

#4 New York Rangers Igor Shesterkin is starting the season in his fourth season. Shesterkin says he has one more year on his contract and he doesn’t care about that he’s hoping to work out a four year contract with the Rangers. Shesterkin said that he hopes to stay in New York but could become a free agent after this season.

#5 The Ottawa Senators and the National Capital Commission announced that they are close to completing a deal in principal with a ten acre parcel in the LeBraton Flats District in downtown Ottawa. The Senators had been playing 15 miles outside of downtown and will relocate downtown. The new arena would be just 1.24 miles from the Canadian Parliament building. Len location, location, location finally for the Senators who have been in Ottawa since 1997.

Join Len Shapiro for the NHL podcasts Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa: Couture injury will keep him out, but will remain team captain; Thornton #19 sweater to be raised in rafters this season

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San Jose Sharks Logan Couture (39) future is not known as he battles an injury that he has had since last season. Couture could very well end up sitting out most or all of the season again this year. (@Logancouture X photo)

On the SJ Sharks with Mary Lisa:

#1 The San Jose Sharks who play their first pre season game are concerned about all the injuries they’ve had in camp. But we’ll start with Logan Couture who missed a majority of last season. Tried to recover from an off season injury he had before last season and just couldn’t get tracked.

#2 Couture in the off months went home in July to spend some time with his family wanted to rehab and start skating but has put that idea off for now as he tries to work his Osteitis which is giving him pain in the groin area.

#3 Couture 35 has two years left on his contract is not sure if he’ll play again and it’s a question if Couture can return and play at an NHL level again?

#4 Couture said that he would like to return to play hockey which he had done all his life but cannot in the last 15 months he could face the prospect of retiring. Sharks general manager Mike Grier says that Couture will remain team captain no matter what happens.

#5 It’s going to be a great send off for former Sharks Jumbo Joe Thornton. Thornton will have his #19 sweater raised and hung in the rafters at SAP Center in San Jose this season. It’s got to be a thrill and a moment for Thornton who played for the Sharks from 2006-2020.

Mary Lisa does the Sharks podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Yanks Cole was dealing, Soto was swinging in 4-2 10 inning win over A’s at Coliseum

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New York Yankees starter Gerrit Cole pitched nine innings and struck out seven batters in their win over the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum Fri Sep 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

New York (AL, 80-64). 000 010 000 3. 4. 8. 0

Athletics (67-87). 000 100 000 1. 2. 3. 0. 10 innings

Time: 2:36

Attendance: 23,426

Friday, September 20, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–There were some chants of “Let’s go, Yankees” this crisp Friday evening at the Coliseum, but there also were boos for Aaron Judge and plenty of unexpectedly loud and assertive urgings of “Let’s go, Oakland.”

We hadn’t heard a mixture like that on the shores of the Nimitz River in years. The balance of decibels shifted dramatically when the visitors broke open what had been a 1-1 tie between the playoff bound Yanks and the Sacramento bound A’s, putting three runs across the plate to take a 4-1 lead and eventually take the game, 4-2. Judge, by the way, went hitless.

JT Ginn, who made his big league debut this past August 21, pitched five strong innings for the Athletics, not outstanding but nothing like what you’d expect from a 25 year old rookie with 0-1, 4.95 record. Ginn allowed one run (it was earned) on four hits and a walk, throwing 78 pitches, 46 for strikes to 18 pinstripers. Ginn wasn’t involved in the decision but lowered his ERA by more than half a run, bringing it down to 4.40.

The A’s bullpen was effective through the regulation nine frames, with Michel Otáñez, Scott Alexander, Tyler Ferguson, and Mason Miller throwing an inning apiece of shutout ball. Alexander yielded the only Yankee hit over that span, and Otáñez and Miller were the only ones in the quartet to issue a walk.

It was TJ McFarland, pitching two thirds of an inning in the 10th, who couldn’t handle the Yankees’ offense, and you really couldn’t blame him. He gave up a lead off single to Anthony Rizzo that sent zombie runner Jasson Domínguez to third.

Juan Soto, pinch hitting for Tristan Grisham, was at bat when Domínguez scored and Cabrera, pinch running for Rizzo, advanced to second on a passed ball. Soto then smacked a two bagger to left, driving in Cabrera.

Jon Berti ran for Soto, and he scored on Anthony Volpe’s single to right. After Alex Verdugo sacrificed Volpe to second, the A’s called on Grant Holman, who stopped the hemorrhage by striking out Gleyber Torres and retiring Austin Wells on a fly to center.

There must be some sort of a jinx on winning the 2023 Cy Young Award. The National League’s winner was Blake Snell,whose travials with the Giants are well known to fans in the Bay Area. The AL winner, Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole, started Friday night. He spent the first 75 games of this season on the injured list, courtesy of an inflamed right shoulder.

Did I mention that he’s a righty? Cole brought a 6-5, 3.97 record to the game—hardly Cy Young numbers—and pitched a beautiful nine innings, needing only 99 pitches (68 strikes) and allowing a measly two hits and a walk.

The A’s managed to score and run, and it was earned. In fact, Gerrit didn’t allow an Athletic to reach base safely until Lawrence Butler opened the bottom of the fourth with a 1-0 single to center. The A’s right fielder paid tribute to Friday night’s bobblehead honoree by stealing second and scoring a Rickie run on Sean Langeliers’ RBI single two outs later.

That brief advantage didn’t last long. Ginn weakened in the top of the fifth and issued a two out walk. Back to back singles by Trent Grisham and Anthony Volpe restored the balance. You already know what happened to upset that balance.

The A’s had a shot at making up for their tenth inning meltdown, but all they could muster was a single tally when JJ Bleday led off by singling the placed runner, Brent Rooker, home with a futile run. Luke Weaver earned his third save by fanning Shea Langliers, Seth Brown, and Zack Gelof to end the game.

The three game series will resume Saturday evening at 6:07pm PT, with a battle of southpaws between the Athletics’ JP Sears (11-11, 4.24) and the Yankees’ Carlos Rodón (15-9, 4.12)

Orlando’s Banda scores matches’ only goal in 1-0 shutout over Bay FC

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Racheal Kundananji, right, and Bay FC nearly earned a surprising point against undefeated Orlando Pride on Friday at PayPal Park in San Jose but came up short in a 1-0 loss (San Francisco Chronicle photo)

By William Espy

SAN JOSE–Bay FC had a massive hill to climb on Friday night when they hosted the unbeaten Orlando Pride in a crucial game. The night marked the first meeting between two key members of the Zambia national team in the NWSL, as Barbra Banda was facing off against Bay FC’s Rachael Kundananji.

Banda currently finds herself second in the NWSL goal-scoring race with 12, behind only Temwa Chawinga of the Kansas City Current who has an outstanding 15 goals. It also marked the return of Marta to the Bay Area, who previously played for FC Gold Pride that participated in the Women’s Professional Soccer league in the early 2010s.

Bay couldn’t afford to drop points despite their opponent’s dominant play this season, as they had just a three point buffer over Racing Louisville for the final playoff spot entering the night. Bay couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net and Banda would score the match’s only goal for a 1-0 win.

Bay FC Starting XI: Rowland, Dydasco, Menges, Dahlkemper, Malonson, Bailey, Pickett, Boade, Hill, Kundananji, Oshoala

Orlando Starting XI: Moorhouse, Abello, Sams, Dyke, Pickett, Gautrat, Angelina, Marta, Adriana, Banda, Doyle

Asisat Oshoala had the first real attacking opportunity for Bay FC in the third minute, but as she attempted to pass it across the box it went directly to a defender. Bay continued sustaining pressure on Orlando for the next minute straight, getting a couple of more chances they were unable to capitalize on before the Pride attempted to launch a counterattack that was also unsuccessful.

Rachel Hill got her first shot of the night in the eighth minute following a fantastic effort to maintain possession after she nearly lost it inside of the box. Hill found Oshoala behind the defense in the 11th minute, but the shot went directly at Orlando’s goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse.

Bay FC was desperately trying to get out to an early lead, but the Pride were doing a great job of fending them off. Angelina went down in some difficulty for Orlando around the 16th minute, with an apparent leg cramp but remained in the game after some attention from the trainers.

Katelyn Rowland made a massive save in the 20th minute and a follow-up shot was blocked by Caprice Dydasco using her face to prevent a goal. Dorian Bailey was tripped up outside of the box in the 26th minute, which gave Bay FC a dangerous free-kick. After a few passes, Emily Menges slipped while running after the ball, turning over possession to Orlando.

Bay was doing a phenomenal job pressuring and frustrating the Pride in the first half. They were regaining possession by force, which was clearly frustrating Orlando’s top players like Marta. It was generating quite a few chances, even though they weren’t able to finish them off.

It was just a matter of time though. This matchup didn’t feel like an unbeaten team against a team barely in the playoff spot, the intensity and competition level felt like two teams at the top of the table against one another.

Banda was getting a few shots off as the game progressed, but they were often rushed due to strong defending by the home side. Moorhouse made another diving save in the 41st minute to keep it scoreless. Despite Bay generating the most chances, it would all be meaningless if the teams went into halftime scoreless.

Oshoala had another great chance in the 44th minute, but Orlando was able to break up the play and prevent her from getting a quality shot off. Neither team would be able to break the deadlock in stoppage time, and they’d head into the break tied at 0. Officially, the statistics from the first half showed that Orlando had been the better team but the eye test showed differently.

The second half started with Orlando taking over control. While Bay FC were getting a few chances, they weren’t getting near as many or as high-quality of ones as they did in the first half. Banda got her most dangerous chance of the night so far in the 58th minute, but a perfect tackle by Abby Dahlkemper was able to knock the ball out of play for a corner kick.

Albertin Montoya made his first change at the hour mark, bringing in Maddie Moreau for Alyssa Malonson. A collision between Kundananji and Cori Dyke ended with Kundananji accidentally stepping on the back of Dyke’s calf, and she went down in some difficulty before being helped off the field by the training staff. Due to the injury, Orlando was forced to make a substitution bringing on Carrie Lawrence in her place, along with a couple of other substitutions.

Around the 70th minute, Moreau was brought down inside the box for what seemed to be a penalty however the referee ruled it a goal kick and play resumed to the dismay of Bay FC. Moreau was shown a yellow card for a challenge on Marta in the 77th minute.

At that point, Oshoala came out for Penelope Hocking. Dahlkemper saved a goal in the 78th minute when Rowland parried the ball, but it landed right in the middle of the box and the defender was able to clear it out.

Bailey was denied on a point-blank shot that Moorhouse saved with her leg while spinning before she landed on top of it. A phenomenal run by Kundananji in the 83rd minute nearly helped Bay take a late lead, unfortunately, once she passed it to Hill, Hill missed the shot just wide.

Banda got Orlando on the board in the 84th minute, Rowland wasn’t able to stretch out far enough to block the shot and the Pride led 1-0 with minimal time remaining. With stoppage time nearly at its end, Bay FC got one final free kick in the 96th minute. Bailey crossed it in, and Orlando cleared it out.

Orlando would ultimately hold on and maintain their lead until they walked away with a 1-0 victory on the road. It was a game that Bay FC could’ve won, but a few mistakes led to defeat. Importantly though, they proved that they have what it takes to hang with the best team in the NWSL which will certainly build confidence for their playoff push.