49ers Handle New Orleans Saints 16-10 in Second Pre-Season Game

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) is under pressure from San Francisco 49ers defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (middle) and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott in first half action at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara on Sun Aug 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco 49ers (1-1) beat the New Orleans Saints (1-1) in their second pre-season game 16-10. Brock Purdy played three series but a larger number of starters did not take the field which included Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Nick Bosa. It is not known if they will be available to play in the final pre-season game due to numerous injuries that persist right now.

The new kickoff rule that has been put in place could have played a role but with all the injuries it is something that every team is dealing with so they had better get it straight.

New Orleans played their starters with Derek Carr at the helm and the 49ers dealt with a pretty good defense led by Cameron Jordan and Anfernee Orji. Wide receiver Chris Olave no doubt gave San Francisco a run for their money.

Game recap: There was no score at the end of the first quarter but the Saints had put together an impressive drive going into the second quarter. Carr and company had driven down inside the ten yard line for a first and goal.

Carr had completed seven of nine passes for 47 yards. New Orleans went for it on fourth down on the 1/2 yard line and scored the touchdown. Taysom Hill the Saints “swiss army” scored. The Saints can depend on this guy who can play any offensive position and he is a good one. They had finished off an extended drive that had started on their own five yard line for the early 7-0 lead.

San Francisco drove downfield in the second quarter coming up short and was forced to kick the field goal. Jake Moody took the field kicking a 47 Yd Field Goal giving the 49ers their first points of the day. San Francisco quarterback Joshua Dobbs was perfect going six of six for 48 yards putting San Francisco in field goal range. It was a nice drive for the 49ers.

Saints young quarterback Spencer Rattler got his chance under center coughing up the ball on the fourth snap and San Francisco gobbled it up taking possession. Rattler got sacked and couldn’t hang onto the ball and the 49ers were in business.

49ers quarterback Joshua Dobbs drove inside the ten yard line for a San Francisco first and goal and a chance to take the lead in this game. A couple of penalties later, the Niners were looking at a third and goal and were eventually forced to kick another field goal. Jake Moody kicked his second field goal of the game for 24 yards.

The Saints were unable to make much of an impact on their next possession. San Francisco took over on downs and had a near perfect two minute drive to end the half. Dobbs drove the team inside the ten yard line for a first and goal. On fourth and goal, Dobbs took the ball into the end zone himself giving San Francisco a 13-7 lead at the half.

Despite four incomplete passes from the Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler in the third quarter the Saints were able to get within field goal range. Kicker Blake Grupe made a 52 yard field goal and the Saints were within three points of San Francisco trailing 13-10.

The score remained 13-10 going into the fourth quarter. San Francisco held the Saints throughout the final quarter and tacked on their third field goal for the final score of 16-10. Jake Moody kicked a 36 yard field goal mid-way through the quarter. Moody had been perfect the entire game.

Game notes: Sunday evening the 49ers hosted the Saints at Levi Stadium. This was the 49ers second pre-season game after dropping their first to the Titans last Saturday 17-13. There had been some practices scheduled this week but they were unfortunately called off due to injuries.

Fans will be able to see a few Brock Purdy series and Fred Warner and the defensive starters who remain healthy may also be seen since they were warming up pre-game but there are a slew of starters that are banged up and did not play. As it turned out Fred Warner would not play along with Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Nick Bosa to name a few. In all there were a dozen players who did not take the field.

The 49ers will take on the Las Vegas Raiders in their final pre-season game which will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas next Friday night with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Las Vegas Aces Return to Form Beating Los Angeles Sparks 87-71

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The Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby (50) gets her shot blocked by the Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Sun Aug 18, 2024 (photo by Las Vegas Aces)

By Barbara Mason

The Las Vegas Aces (17-9) struggled through the first quarter against the Los Angeles Sparks (6-21) but began to turn it all around in the second quarter. It was full speed ahead as the fourth quarter wore on as A’Ja Wilson and the Aces put the hurt on the Sparks. Wilson celebrated another double double finishing with 13 rebounds and 34 points.

Game recap: Her focus was to slow down the Sparks and she was more than convincing getting stop after stop. They had really turned yesterday’s loss around playing some solid ball in today’s game particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

Las Vegas just could not get on top of this game in the first quarter and the game was tied after the first ten minutes of play at 21. The Aces started to turn it around in the second quarter taking a 44-37 lead at halftime winning the second 23-16.

Las Vegas has been typically a second half team and they did win the third quarter 20-16 extending their lead 64-52. They had really turned this game around with discipline and tenacity something they had been lacking against New York Saturday.

The Aces were dominating from beyond the arc and A’Ja Wilson kept this game in hand in the paint making her presence known throughout the game and with less than six minutes left in the game had yet another double double with 11 rebounds and 27 points.

She was all over the court keeping this game in check. The fourth quarter saw Las Vegas take a stranglehold on the game and while the Sparks continued to fight, the Aces refused to let their foot off the pedal. Any move that Los Angeles made was answered by Las Vegas throughout the fourth quarter and with less than three minutes left in the game the Aces had an 82-68 lead. The final was 87-71.

It was a frustrating loss for the Sparks who managed the game fairly well in the first half but came apart in the second particularly in the final minutes of the game. Las Vegas surged in those final minutes and there was no stopping them. A’Ja Wilson finished with 13 rebounds and 34 points. Kelsey Plum had 18 points and Jackie Young had an improved game with ten points although we have seen a lot more from her and that is yet to come.

Game notes: After a loss Saturday to the Liberty, a pretty convincing Liberty win 79-67, the Aces turned around and beat the Sparks at Michelob ULTRA Arena Sunday afternoon. The Aces got back into the form that they had just prior to heading over to Paris for the Olympics. Saturday’s loss was tough, the team was just out of sync. The Aces had a slow start to the season but had really turned it on after the first few weeks of the season really amping it up playing some impressive basketball.

Wednesday evening the Aces will have their hands full with back to back games against the Minnesota Lynx the first game in Las Vegas and the second game Friday night in Minnesota. Las Vegas winning those games could shake up the standings at bit although there is still a lot of basketball still to be played.

This will be a challenging assignment for the Aces and they will need all hands on deck. There is no doubt they have the talent to pull this off. It all begins this Wednesday evening as the series gets underway with tipoff scheduled for 6:30 PM. This game will air on ESPN.

Oakland A’s game wrap: Giants two homers in 10th beats A’s 4-2 in Bay Bridge Series Split

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Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay (center) argues with plate umpire Emil Hernandez (82) after getting tossed for questioning a pitch in the top in the eighth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Aug 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

San Francisco (63-63). 000 000 100 3. 4. 9. 1

Athletics (53-71). 000 001 000 1. 2. 8 0. 10 innings

Time: 2:42

Attendance: 32,727

August 18, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The Sacramento Athletics of Las Vegas made what probably will be their last appearance of their brief 54 year tenancy of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum this warm and sunny Sunday afternoon in what Peter Gammons once correctly called the best stadium in major league baseball by falling to the San Francisco Giants, 4-2, in ten innings Sunday.

For the second time in this two game series between a pair of severely flawed teams the starting pitchers gave outstanding performances. The San Franciscan had begrudged the existence of their transbay rivals ever since Horace Stoneham colluded with Walter O’Malley to strip New York of its two National League franchises discovered that Charles Finley had bereft Kansas City of its claim to be a major league city by spiriting its representative in the American League off to the East Bay. You can call the A’s imminent departure for Sacramento and Las Vegas KC’s Revenge. This afternoon’s come from behind San Francisco victory sealed the deal.

The A’s sent JP Sears, at 10-8, 4.32 at game time, their winningest pitcher to the mound. This was his 25th start of the season. Seven of them came in July and August, months in which he went 6-1, 2.91. He performed well this afternoon, shutting the Giants out for six innings before Héliot Ramos sent an 82 mph change up 448 feet into center field to tie the game at one all.

The blast was Ramos’s 18th round tripper of the year. That was the only tally Sears allowed at the end of his 7-2/3 innings on the mound. He surrendered seven hits without a base on balls while striking out nine.

Sears also made a difficult and significant play in the top of the fourth when he turned Mark Canha’s pop between the mound and the third base foul line into a 1-3 double play. The Athletics used three other pitchers; the first two were effective.

Tyler Ferguson closed out the eighth by fanning the Giants’ DH, Jenar Encarnación, whose tenth inning home run would drive in the winning run. Mason Miller struck out two of the three batters he faced in retiring the side in order in the ninth.

It was Dany Jiménez, fresh off the injured list, who gave up three runs to the five Giants he faced in the tenth and was charged with the loss that left him 1-3, 3.65. In addition to Encarnación’s two run round tripper, his second four bagger of the year.

It traveled 399 feet into center field. Michael Conforto, pinch hitting for Casey Schmitt, who had followed Encarnación in the Giants batting order, gave San Francisco an insurance run with his 13th homer, a shot that cleared the fence in right.

The Giants took the field looking up once more at the .500 plateau and placing their hopes in the finally hitting his stride southpaw Blake Snell (2-3, 3.91 but 2-0, 0.99 with an 0.62 WHIP and opponents’ batting average of .097 in his last seven starts. He kept the A’s off the board for 4-2/3 innings, when the A’s notched their first run after Daz Cameron singled to left and advanced a base on Brent Rooker’s single to right.

After JJ Bleday’s ground out forced Rooker at second, Miguel Andújar drove in Cameron with a single to right. That run scoring play, however, ended the inning because Mike Yastrzemski’s throw cut down Bleday at third.

The Athletics loaded the bases against him with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but last year’s Cy Young winner pitched his way out of the jam. Snell continued to contain the A’s lineup unit he exited after seven innings having surrendered six hits, allowed two walks, and hitting one batter.

He notched 10 Ks, and, like Sears, had to settle for a no decision. The outing brought his ERA down to 3,67. Tyler Rogers threw a perfect eighth, and Ryan Walker gave up nothing but a single in the ninth. He got the win, making him 8-3, 2.10, after yielding two runs, neither of them earned, after zombie runner Lawrence Butler scored when Max Schuemann reached base on an error by Brett Wisely, now playing second following Conforto’s insertion into the lineup.

Sean Langliers made a spectacular catch of Yastrzemski’s safety suicide bunt attept with runners on the corners and one away in the San Francisco fifth.

The Athletics benefited from a video review of what originally had been called a second inning double by Encarnación was ruled a single and thrown out attempting to advance, The play went 7-4, Andújar to Gelof.

Schuemann;s single to left in the third frame, the Athletics’ first of the game, ended shortstop’s 16 at bat hitless streak.

Monday the 19th, the A’s will face Tampa Bay, where the Giants would have moved if Walter Haas hadn’t saved their bacon by yielding Oakland’s territorial rights in the south bay, a debt that the current Giant ownership has conspicuously failed to repay.

Right hander Joe Boyle (2-5, 7.39) will start for the A’s; fellow righty Taj Bradley (6-7, 3.49) will toe the rubber for the gang from St. Petersburg. Say what you will, the Coliseum, even in its current deteriorated condition, beats Tropicana field hands down.

Home run-happy Giants pull out dramatic 4-2, 10-inning win in final Bay Bridge Series game

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San Francisco Giants Mark Canha cracks his belt against the Oakland A’s in the top of the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Aug 18, 2024 in the final Bay Bridge Series game (AP News photo)

Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland, California

San Francisco Giants 4 (63-63)

Oakland Athletics 2 (53-71)

Win: Ryan Walker (8-3)

Loss: Danny Jimenez (1-3)

Time: 2:42

Attendance: 32,727

By Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND–The Giants’ home run-happy offense was not able to get Blake Snell, who made another strong start, a win, but they were able to pull off a 4-2 win in 10 innings at the Oakland Coliseum to win a thrilling and emotional most-likely final-ever game of the Bay Bridge Series on Sunday.

Sunday was set to be the final ever game of the Bay Bridge Series. The two Bay Area rivals with so much history would play this final game on a perfectly-sunny but sad afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum.

I have said words like “most likely” and “set,” because while it seems the A’s are leaving Oakland at the end of the season, this thing has been such an epic embarrassment that you never know what will happen.

Right now, the plan is for the A’s to move to Las Vegas with the three-year pitstop in Sacramento. However, with the fact that John Fisher has still yet to show that he has the dough to cover his part of the new stadium, as well as the fact that there will need to be serious conversations about playing on artificial turf in the heat of Sacramento, anything could happen.

The Giants came in four games back of the Braves for the third wild card spot in the National League. The A’s were once again looking to play spoilers after they shut out the Giants 2-0 in the series opener yesterday. The Giants were also looking to avoid getting swept in Oakland for the second year in a row.

Left-hander JP Sears made the start for Oakland, and he got the day started with a one, two, three inning in the top of the first. Blake Snell, coming off a strong 11-strikeout performance in his start against the Braves last Monday, took the ball for the Giants. Snell, too, started his day with a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the first.

Sears then threw three-straight scoreless innings. Funny thing is that Sears faced the minimum in all three, but none of them were one, two, three innings.

Snell threw another one, two, three inning in the bottom of the second, and he retired the first eight men he faced overall. Max Schuemann lined a base-hit to left-center field for the A’s first hit with two outs in the bottom of the third, but Daz Cameron struck out swinging to end the inning. Snell also gave up a two-out base-hit in a scoreless bottom of the fourth.

The Giants finally got something going against Sears in the top of the fifth, as Matt Chapman and Jerar Encarnacion both got seeing-eye base-hits to put runners on the corners with one out. However, this was the Giants, so the question was how they would waste this one.

Well, let me tell you. Casey Schmitt laid down a bunt, and when he bunted in the error in foul territory right behind him, A’s catcher Shea Langeliers raced to make an incredible sliding catch. Patrick Bailey then flew out to center, and of course the Giants’ snakebit offense wasted this golden opportunity.

Snell threw a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the fifth, and then Sears threw another non one, two, three inning where he faced the minimum in the top of the sixth.

The A’s had their rally of the day against Snell in the bottom of the sixth. Daz Cameron and Brent Rooker both singled to put runners at first and second with one out, and JJ Bleday grounded into a fielder’s choice to move Cameron over to third.

That brought up Miguel Andujar, who took a high fastball from Snell and lined a base-hit the other way to right to knock in Cameron for the game’s first run. Bleday tried to take third, but right-fielder Mike Yastrzemski threw a perfect strike to nail Bleday to end the inning.

The home run-happy Giants would strike back against Sears in the top of the seventh. Heliot Ramos led off the inning with an absolute bomb that hit off the blocked off doors where they attach bleachers for football games out in left-center. After getting shut out yesterday, this was the first run the Giants scored in this series.

The Giants had tied the game at 1-1, but Snell ran into trouble again in the bottom of the seventh. Tyler Nevin singled with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Zack Gelof walked, and A’s Manager Mark Kotsay had Seth Brown pinch-run at second for Nevin.

Darrell Hernaiz then walked to load the bases with one out. The Giants had action going in the bullpen, as Snell was on the ropes. Max Schuemann struck out swinging for the second out, but Snell fell behind 3-0 to Cameron.

Snell threw a fastball right at the top of the zone that Home Plate Umpire Emil Jimenez called for strike one. Kotsay and the A’s dugout were livid, and they let Jimenez know just how they felt. Cameron took another fastball for strike two, and then he grounded out to second to end the inning. Snell got out of it, and the Giants escaped disaster, as the game stayed tied at 1-1.

It was also the end of the day for Snell, who had another strong outings. Snell went seven innings; gave up just one run; and struck out ten.

It was off to the eighth, as Sears came back out. Mike Yastrzemski stepped in to lead off the top of the eighth, and after Sears’ first pitch to Yastrzemski was clearly inside for a ball, Kotsay kept yelling at Jimenez. At that point Jimenez ran Kotsay, and the A’s manager came out to get his final say before departing.

After McCray doubled with two outs, Sears was done. Tyler Ferguson came in, and he struck out Tyler Fitzgerald to end the inning.

Submariner Tyler Rogers came in to throw a one, two, three bottom of the eighth, and A’s Closer Mason Miller came in for a one, two, three top of the ninth. Bob Melvin brought in his interim closer, Ryan Walker, for the bottom of the ninth, and Walker pitched through a one-out single to send this game to the tenth.

Dany Jimenez came in for Oakland in the top of the tenth, and former A Matt Chapman was the runner at second. Jerar Encarnacion stepped up to the plate to lead off the inning, and on the first pitch, he hit a leadoff two-run home run to right-center to give the Giants a 3-1 lead.

Melvin then sent Michael Conforto to pinch-hit for Casey Schmitt, and Conforto made it back-to-back with a home run to right to make it 4-1.

Melvin left Walker in for the bottom of the tenth, and Lawrence Butler was the runner at second for the A’s. Schuemann led off and hit a ground ball right to Brett Wisely, who had just come in to play second, and the ball went under Wisely into right-center, which allowed Butler to score to make it 4-2.

Ryan Walker walked Abraham Toro on four pitches, and Brent Rooker lined a base-hit to left to load the bases. Now the A’s had a chance to win it with Bleday coming up to the plate.

Giants Pitching Coach Bryan Price came out to speak to Waker, and it seemed to work. Walker struck Bleday out looking. Miguel Andujar struck out swinging, and Shea Langeliers came to the plate with two outs. Walker struck Langeliers out swinging on three pitches, and Walker had pulled a houdini act to close this one out.

Ryan Walker got the win, and Dany Jimenez took the loss.

If this was indeed the final-ever game of the Bay Bridge Series, it had a fitting ending. The Giants won in a ten-inning thriller; Matt Chapman, who played for the A’s from 2017 to 2021, scored the go-ahead run; and Bob Melvin, who managed the A’s from June 2011 through the end of the 2021 Season was the winning manager for the Giants.

“It’s said,” a visibly-emotional Melvin bluntly said after the game.

Melvin led the A’s to some incredible moments. In 2012, the A’s were five games back of the Texas Rangers in the American League West with ten games to go. The A’s came back to win the division, and they clinched in on an epic final day of the Regular Season on Oct. 3.

Melvin led the A’s to three-straight playoff appearances from 2012 to 2014, as well as another three-straight playoff appearances from 2018 to 2020. He grew up in the Bay Area, and he managed on both sides of the bay. He knows just as much as anyone how much this rivalry means to the Bay Area, and how much the A’s mean to Oakland.

As I said above, while it appears that the A’s are leaving Oakland, the insane logistics of their move to Vegas and their three-year pitstop in Sacramento could leave the door open for a last-minute miracle that could keep the A’s here in Oakland. At this point, we can only hope that will happen.

If this is indeed the end of the Bay Bridge Series, the Giants will end up going 72-76 in the Regular Series Bay Bridge Series dating back to 1997, and they will end up going 32-42 at the Coliseum.

As for the Giants, if they got away with being home run happy, but they should absolutely not rely on home runs for wins. With this much-needed win, they improve back to .500 at 63-63, but they remain four games back of the Braves for the third wild card.

The good news for the Giants is that they’ll have the worst team in Baseball in the 30-95 Chicago White Sox coming into Oracle Park for a three-game set starting Monday night. This will be a must-sweep series for the Giants, who will begin a rough stretch on Friday in Seattle, in which 27 of 30 games will be against teams over .500.

Kyle Harrison (6-5, 4.14 ERA) will make the start for the Giants, and Jonathan Cannon (2-6, 4.02 ERA) will take the ball for the White Sox. First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Padres 70-55 +2.5
  2. Diamondbacks 69-56 +3.5
  3. Braves 66-58 —

Mets 64-60 2.0

GIANTS 63-63 4.0

Cardinals 61-63 5.0

Cubs 61-64 5.5

Reds 60-64 6.0

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Fans saying goodbye to Bay Bridge Series for final time at Coliseum

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Former Oakland A’s Miguel Tejada (left) and Jose Canseco (right) made their final appearances at the Oakland Coliseum after being inducted into the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame on Sat Aug 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

On San Francisco Giants Ruderman:

#1 Stephen, the San Francisco opened up this brief two game series here in Oakland facing A’s starter Osvaldo Bido who no hit them in the six innings of work.

#2 Bido’s no hit bid came to an end when he gave up an infield hit to Grant McCray. It was quite the afternoon of pitching for Bido.

#3 Bido when he left pitched six giving up just the one hit to McCray and struck out six batters.

#4 Bido didn’t allow a baserunner until the fifth inning when he walked Mike Yastrzemski. So Bido was able to keep runners off the bases.

#5 Giants conclude this two games series this afternoon as a left handed Blake Snell (2-3, ERA 3.91) gets the start against the A’s left hand pitcher JP Sears (10-8, ERA 4.32) first pitch at 1:07pm PT.

Stephen Ruderman is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Augie Mesenburg: Giants and A’s close up shop on Bay Bridge Series Sunday at Coliseum

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Oakland A’s pitcher Osvaldo Bido delivers to the San Francisco Giants in the top of the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Aug 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Augie Mesenburg:

#1 The Oakland A’s starter Osvaldo Bido pitched a six innings of no hit ball against the San Francisco Giants at Oakland Coliseum on Saturday night for a 2-0 shutout.

#2 Bido’s no hit bid ended in the sixth inning when Grant McCray got an infield hit that A’s third baseman Darrell Hernaiz barehanded and his throw was too late to get McCray who broke up the no hitter.

#3 Bido’s effort he struck out six hitters and walked two batters. Bido had a good mix of pitches and kept a potent Giants line up off balance for most of the game.

#4 The A’s who had attendance problems in recent years got their biggest crowd on of the season Saturday against the Giants at 37,551 which beat out their previous high of 35, 207 against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sat Aug 3 at the Coliseum.

#5 Giants and A’s play the very last Bay Bridge series here at the Coliseum as the A’s will move to Sacramento next season. The Giants will start LHP Blake Snell (2-3, ERA 3.91) and the A’s will start LHP JP Sears (10-8, ERA 4.32) a 1:07pm PT first pitch.

Augie Mesenburg is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: MLB Players break out the strange bats for Players Weekend; Rangers deGrom to face live hitters soon; plus more news

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Toronto Blue Jays Ernie Clement stands in at the plate with his pencil bat during “Players Weekend” the weekend where players used unusual looking bats on their trips to the plate. (photo by mlb.com)

On Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie wanted to ask you about something kind of fun yet very strange it’s “Players Weekend” Major League players are using bats painted like a giant pencil, lightsabers, team bats, and green colored bats. No doubt this was a marketing ploy to get fans to buy these “freaking bats” as they call them.

#2 You might remember Jacob deGrom who starred with the New York Mets, deGrom who now pitches for the Texas Rangers has been rehabbing and pitched to live hitters for the third time in recent weeks. deGrom hopes to pitch for the Rangers for the first time since June 2023.

#3 Charlie do you believe MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred’s new rule change for starting pitchers requiring them to pitch six innings with the exception if a pitcher throws over 100 pitches, gives up four or more runs or gets injured. This new rule for pitchers will be implemented starting next season. Will this put a pitcher’s health in jeopardy?

#4 Last Monday a host of cameras and photographers and broadcasters near the left field line where the Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani was throwing and playing catch with intensity. Ohtani made 71 throws with a wide legged spread apart set while the trainer using the radar gun. While it was said that Ohtani will not return as a pitcher this season and he’s been the DH he is making a attempt to return after having two elbow surgeries.

#5 The San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s play what will be their final Bay Bridge series game today at the Oakland Coliseum. Bob Melvin who managed with both the A’s and Giants and broke in at the Coliseum after coming up with Cal Berkeley said he will leave a lot of memories out on the field after Sunday’s game in completed.

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

Las Vegas Raiders podcast with Rich Perez: Minshew and O’Connell just couldn’t convert as Cowboys defeat Raiders 27-12 at Allegiant

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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell warms up on the sidelines before the game against the Dallas Cowboys in week 2 of the pre season at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Fri Aug 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Las Vegas Raiders podcast with Rich Perez:

#1 Rich, defense was the name of the game for the Dallas Cowboys holding the Las Vegas Raiders to just four field goals for the entire game in a 27-12 loss at Allegiant Stadium.

#2 Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell was 14-20 and could only execute 96 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He did struggle as the Cowboys defense were blitzing and forcing O’Connell to run with the ball most of the evening.

#3 The Raiders really needed some offense from their running backs and Zamir White also ran into roadblocks set up by the Cowboys defense. White ran for only 23 yards on four carries something that Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce will need to address in practice this week.

#4 The Raiders defense couldn’t stop Cowboys starter Trey Lance who helped the Cowboys to score ten points in the second quarter and another 14 in the fourth quarter. For Lance he threw 15-23, for 151 yards and one touchdown.

#5 The Raiders now 0-2 in pre season action take on the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant on Fri Aug 23 at 7:00pm PT for the third and final pre season game.

#6 The regular season starts on Sun Sep 8th when the Raiders open up the season in Los Angeles against the Rams and Rich you’ll be on hand for the opener in the Southland.

Rich Perez covers the Las Vegas Raiders and podcasts after every home and away game at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants game wrap: Giants’ offense stays dead, as A’s open most-likely final Bay Bridge series with 2-0 shutout

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San Francisco Giants Tyler Fitzgerald (right) strikes out for the final out as Oakland A’s catcher Shea Langeliers (left) puts the squeeze on the ball behind the plate at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Aug 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum 

Oakland, California

San Francisco Giants 0 (62-63)

Oakland Athletics 2 (53-70)

Win: Osvaldo Bido (4-3)

Loss: Hayden Birdsong (3-3)

Save: Michel Otanez (1)

Time: 2:37

Attendance: 37,551

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants’ offense once again went dead, as the A’s shutout the Giants 2-0 in the opener Saturday of what will most likely be the final Bay Bridge Series at the Oakland Coliseum, and the Giants have been knocked back down under .500.

Saturday began what will likely be the Giants’ final series at the Coliseum, and this weekend would highlight the history between the two Bay Area rivals. Jose Canseco was inducted into the A’s Hall of Fame prior to the game on this mostly-cloudy late afternoon at the Coliseum.  

It was fitting that Canseco was inducted today, as he was of course a big part of the 1989 A’s, who swept the Giants in four games in the historic Bay Bridge World Series that fall. The series was most noted for the tragic Loma Prieta Earthquake that struck right before Game 3 was supposed to begin at Candlestick Park on Oct. 17.

Despite the tragic nature of the quake and the lives that were lost, the fact that many people left work early to either go to the Stick or watch the game on TV kept the freeways mostly empty during rush hour and saved many lives. The series resumed 10 days later on Oct. 27, and prior to the game, the two teams came together to celebrate the Bay Area and honor the lives that were lost in the disaster. 

Canseco broke down during his speech Saturday and described himself as an emotional wreck, as he felt the emotions of this likely final season for the A’s in Oakland. However, Canseco was the very man who ended the honeymoon after a pair of up-and-in pitches from Scott Garrelts caused Canseco to react and the benches to begin to empty in the top of the first inning of Game 3.

With the implementation of Interleague Play in 1997, these two teams created many more memories. Barry Bonds tied Babe Ruth for second place on the All-Time Home Run list with his 714th-career home run on May 20, 2006 at the Coliseum. Nate Schierholtz electrified fans at then-AT&T Park with an inside-the-park home run on June 14, 2009.

As for A’s fans, they had their memories too. Eric Byrnes hit for the cycle at then-Pacific Bell Park on June 29, 2003. Another memorable moment for A’s fans was when Derek Norris walked off the Giants at the Coliseum with his first major league home run on June 24, 2012.

One memory that both teams’ fans will never forget was when Barry Zito and Tim Hudson squared off at the Coliseum on Sept. 26, 2015, as the two pitchers wound down their careers. Zito, Hudson and Mark Mulder constituted the Big Three, which played a vital part in the A’s success in the early 2000s. 

Zito then signed a seven-year deal with the Giants prior to 2007. After five brutal seasons across the A’s in San Francisco in which he drew the ire of Giants’ fans, he won the love, admiration and respect of the fans when he played a massive role in the Giants’ world championship in 2012.

Hudson signed with the Giants prior to 2014 and made his mark in the Giants’ world championship this season. Zito had re-signed with the A’s for the 2015 Season and was back with the Green and Gold after spending most of the season with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.

Neither pitcher went very far on Sept. 26, but that game proved to be quite special for Giants’ outfielder Jarrett Parker. Parker hit three home runs that afternoon with the third being a grand slam en route to a dramatic 14-10 win for a Giants’ team that was grinding down the stretch with a roster of minor leaguers to defend their title.

The two teams created many more memories, and fans hoped that perhaps there could be some final memories created this weekend. The Giants looked to build off a desperately-needed win over the Braves on Thursday. The A’s have not had the greatest season, but they have been playing solid ball this second half, as they came into today 22-14 in their last 36 games.

The A’s were relishing in their role as spoilers, and they were going to make things difficult for a struggling Giants’ game that snapped a four-game losing streak with their win Thursday. Osvaldo Bido made the start for Oakland Saturday, and he got things started with a 1-2-3 top of the first inning.

Hayden Birdsong got off to a great start in his first six big league starts, as he went 3-0 and didn’t give up more than three runs in any of those starts. However, after the Nationals pounded him for seven runs on Aug. 6 in Washington, D.C., he struggled against the Tigers at Oracle Park on Sunday. 

Birdsong, like Bido, started his afternoon with a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the first. This game turned into a pitcher’s duel, as through four innings, the A’s got just one hit off Birdsong, and the Giants didn’t get a single base-runner against Bido. Mike Yastrzemski drew a two-out walk in the top of the fifth to be the Giants’ first base-runner of the day, but Patrick Bailey then flew out to right field to end the inning.

Birdsong had pitched much better Saturday, but the A’s loaded the bases against him with one out in the bottom of the fifth. Lawrence Butler then put the A’s on the board with a sacrifice fly to center. It would end Birdsong’s day, and it was an unfortunate end, but he still had a strong start Saturday, as he gave up just a run and three hits, and he struck out five over four and two thirds innings.

The A’s led 1-0 going to the sixth. With one out in the top of the sixth, Grant McCray got the Giants’ first hit with a swinging bunt. Tyler Fitzgerald then walked to put runners at first and second with one out. However—you guessed it—the Giants were unable to come through and wasted it.

Spencer Bivens, who finished the bottom of the fifth, was back out for the bottom of the sixth, and he ran into trouble. Miguel Andujar doubled to left with one out, and he scored two batters later on a two-out base-hit off the bat of Seth Brown to make it 2-0.

Left-hander Scott Alexander, who pitched for the Giants the last two seasons, came in for Oakland in the top of the seventh. With one out, two former A’s made some noise. Matt Chapman walked, and Mark Canha lined a base-hit to left to put runners at first and second. However, just as they did in the sixth, the Giants wasted this golden opportunity in the seventh.

Jordan Hicks came in for San Francisco in the top of the seventh and survived a two-out jam to keep the deficit at 2-0 going to the eighth. 

As the sun broke through the clouds for the top of the eighth, McCray started the inning by lining a base-hit to right-center, and then he alertly took second, as A’s center-fielder JJ Bleday casually fielded the ball. However, it would just be another wasted opportunity for the Giants, as Grant Holman and T.J. McFarland combined to retire the side in order.

Erik Miller threw a scoreless bottom of the A’s, and with the fact that A’s Closer Mason Miller had to convert a six-out save on Thursday, Mark Kotsay went to rookie Michel Otanez instead for the top of the ninth. 

Otanez struck out the first two he faced in the top of the ninth. However, Canha extended the game with a swinging bunt, and Patrick Bailey walked to put runners at first and second for the potential go-ahead run in Casey Schmitt. 

The Giants had already wasted opportunities in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, so of course they were going to do the same in the ninth. Schmitt struck out on three pitches, and the A’s won 2-0.

Osvaldo Bido got the win; Hayden Birdsong took his first tough-luck and third-career loss; and Michel Otanez picked up his first big league save.

I can keep saying the same thing over and over about the Giants’ offense, but we all can see with our eyes that they just can’t buy a crucial hit with runners in scoring position right now. They are just floundering as the clock begins to wind down on the Giants’ already-slim playoff chances this year.

The Giants have now dropped five of their last six, as they fall back to under .500 at 62-63—so much for winning 100 games—and four games back of the Braves for the third wild card. They will look to get back to .500 again and split the series with Blake Snell (2-3, 3.91 ERA) on the hill Sunday. JP Sears (10-8, 4.32 ERA) will take the ball for Oakland in what will most likely be the final-ever game of the Bay Bridge Series.

First pitch will be at 1:05 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

1. Padres 70-54 +4.5

2. Diamondbacks 69-55 +3.5

3. Braves 65-58 —

Mets 64-59 1.0

GIANTS 62-63 4.0

Cardinals 61-62 4.0

Cubs 61-63 4.5

Reds 60-63 5.0

A’s Bido takes no hitter into sixth; A’s two runs stands up to defeat Giants 2-0

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Oakland A’s starter Osvaldo Bido in the top of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Aug 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

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Athletics (53-70). 000 011 00x. 2. 6 0

Time: 2:37

Attendance: 37,551

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The Athletics have been obscenely promoting this evening’s encounter with their soon to be erstwhile Trans Bay rival, the San Francisco Giants, as celebration of past Bay Bridge Series past and the culmination of a glorious tradition. The was a doozy in which five Athletics pitchers combined to shut the Giants out on four hits to the departing A’s two runs on six hits to defeat the Giants 2-0 at the Oakland Coliseum on Saturday.

The pregame festivities centered around the induction of the members of the 2024, and last, class of the Oakland Athletics Hall of Fame. The honorees were José Canseco, Terry Steinbach, Miguel Tejada, Dick Williams, Bill King, seven years after the major league HOF had awarded him the Ford Frick Award for broadcasting excellence, and Eddie Joost. Canseco was effusive in his praise of Tony LaRussa, the man who called him “the village idiot.”

The A’s starter, Osvaldo Bido, went 4-2/3 innings before allowing his first base runner. It came on a walk to Mike Yastrzemski after Bido had thrown 67 pitches. In the next frame, the Giants touched him for their first hit, a swinging bunt in front of the mound that the athletic Grant McCray beat out for a single.

That was the only safety Bido allowed in his six innings of work that got the win and improved his record to 4-3, 3.40. He walked two and struck out six of the 21 batters he faced. His final pitch count was 91,with 58 considered strikes.

Scott Alexander relieved him to open the top of the sixth and, in spite of walking Matt Chapman and Mike Yastrzemski, escaped he seventh unscathed, thanks to Grant Holman, a right hander whom the A’s had promoted Saturday from Las Vegas and was making his major league debut.

The youngster came through, needing only four pitches to shut down the threat by getting a pinch hitting Casey Schmitt to ground out to Gelof at second. Holman gave up a leadoff double to fellow rookie Grant McGray and struck Tyler Fitzgerald out looking in the visitors’ eighth before TJ McFarland replaced him to face the left handed La. Monte Wade, Jr., who popped out to short.

The slumping right handed batter Héliot Ramos followed with a ground out to Darell Hernáiz at third. TJ Righty Michel Otáñez struck out Michael Conforto and Matt Chapman for a quick two outs in the top of the ninth.

Next up was one time Athletic Mark Canha, who worked a full count before scratching out an infield single, 1-3. Patrick Bailey also worked a full count. Otáñez walked him, putting the tying run on base and the potential leading run, in the person of Casey Schmitt, at the plate. Otáñez fanned him to earn his first save.

San Francisco’s rookie starter, Hayden Birdsong couldn’t match Bido’s performance, but he acquitted himself well, going 4-2/3 innings and allowing one run, earned, on three hits and an equal number of free passesand throwing 78, of which 30 were balls.

The Giants used three relievers. Spencer Bivens finished up the fifth and got one out in the sixth. He allowed the A’s’ second run, which was earned and came on JJ Bleday’s one out double down the left field line and Seth Brown’s single to right. Jordan Hicks allowed a single and a walk in the seventh, and Erik Miller allowed a walk and struck out two in the the eighth.

Seth Brown went three with an RBI. Lawrence Brown went one for three, also with one run batted it

The A’s will try to repeat their success Sunday, afternoon afternoon at 1:07, in a battle of southpaws. JP Sears (10-8, 4.32) for the Athletics and Blake Snell (2-3, 3.91) for the Giants.