San Jose Barracuda podcast Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda two points behind Firebirds; SJB-CVF match up Tuesday at Tech CU

San Jose Barracuda defenseman Jake Boltmann (94) and Henderson Silver Knights forward Mitch McLain (75) jostle in front of San Jose goaltender Laurent Brossoit (93) at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson NV on Sat Apr 11, 2026 (Henderson Silver Knights photo)

San Jose Barracuda podcast Marko Ukalovic:

#1 How will Filip Bystedt, who leads the Barracuda in points and goals this season, impact the offensive matchup against the Firebirds’ defense?

#2 Can Oliver Wahlstrom continue to be a scoring threat against Coachella Valley after contributing key goals in previous meetings between the teams?

#3 What role will Quentin Musty play in generating scoring chances for the Barracuda in this late-season matchup?

#4 How important will defenseman Luca Cagnoni be in transitioning the puck and supporting the Barracuda attack against the Firebirds?

#5 Could Kasper Halttunen be a difference-maker for San Jose with his offensive upside in this matchup against Coachella Valley?

Marko Ukalovic podcasts the San Jose Barracuda Mondays for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Golden State Warriors podcast David Zizmor: Warriors and Clippers match up for play in Wednesday in LA

Los Angeles Clippers forward John Collins (20) takes a shot against Golden State Warrior center Kristaps Porzingis (7) at the Intuit Dome Ingelwood on Sun Apr 12, 2026 (AP News photo)

Golden State Warriors podcast David Zizmor:

#1 In the second meeting between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers and the same clubs facing each other in a play in on Wednesday how much of an advantage does it give each team to get familiar how they stack up against each other?

#2 How will Stephen Curry handle the Clippers’ perimeter defense, and can he create enough scoring opportunities against their top defenders?

#3 What impact will Draymond Green have on both ends of the floor, particularly in setting up the offense and defending the Clippers’ key scorers?

David Zizmor does the Golden State Warriors podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast Charlie O: Dodgers and Muncy on a run; Pitching injuries strike Astros, Braves, and Jays; plus more news

Los Angeles Dodgers Max Muncy hits a walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Fri Apr 10, 2026 (AP News photo)

MLB The Show podcast Charlie O:

#1 How did Max Muncy’s three-home-run Friday night power the Los Angeles Dodgers to a dramatic walk-off win?

#2 Are early-season pitching injuries putting contenders like the Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, and Toronto Blue Jays in danger?

#3 The Sacramento A’s starter Jeffery Springs took a no hitter into the seventh inning on Thursday the A’s defeated the New York Yankees 1-0. The A’s turned around and won two in a row from the New York Mets and won five straight games Wednesday through Sunday and moved into a first place tie with the Texas Rangers.

#4 What impact will Craig Kimbrel’s call-up have on the Mets’ bullpen moving forward? Kimbrel pitch an inning giving up a hit and striking out two on Saturday despite the Mets getting beat by the A’s 11-6.

#5 Did the Phillies’ back-to-back homers from Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper signal a turnaround defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3. The Phils had lost two out of three in San Francisco before returning to Citizens Bank Friday.

Join Charlie O for MLB The Show podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Finish Season With Loss To Trailblazers 122-110; Sac closes out campaign with 22-60 record

Sacramento Kings guard Nique Clifford looks to pass around Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

By Barbara Mason

Sunday evening the Sacramento Kings (22-60) finished off their 2025-26 season losing to the Portland Trail Blazers (42-40) 122-110. The Kings had the high score for the game. Precious Achiuwa had a double double with 27 points and 11 rebounds.

Despite the loss, Maxime Raynaud and Nique Clifford had double digits, Clifford with 24 points. Next big date for the Kings will be the NBA draft later this year.

Game recap: After the first 12 minutes of play this game was tied at 33. The Kings were hanging in this game until the second quarter when Portland really turned the game around outscoring the Kings 44-24. At the half the Trail Blazers had a 77-57 lead and it sure looked like Portland was in total control of the game.

One thing that we have learned in the later games of this season is that there is no “quit” on this team, they battle until the very end. These young players play hard and they never give up. By the end of the third quarter the Kings had cut the Trail Blazers lead nearly in half.

Going into the final quarter Portland had a 96-84 lead. Clifford and Achiuwa were shooting lights out. Clifford with 20 and Achiuwa with 22 points. Raynaud also had double digits shooting for 15 points.

If nothing else these guys will bring incredible energy, skill, and scoring ability to next year’s roster. The rally the Kings mounted at the end of the third quarter fell apart as the final quarter wore on.

Just when it looked as if all was lost, the Kings fought back pulling to within 11 points 103-92. With eight minutes left in the game the Kings pulled to within nine points 104-95 but that would be as close as they would get and that was the finish of the 2025-26 season for the Sacramento Kings.

The Kings Precious Achiuwa finished with the game high, a double double, 27 points and 11 rebounds. Nique Clifford had 24 points and Maxime Raynaud with 21 points.

Game notes: A season like no other has finally come to an end for the Sacramento Kings. Everything that could go wrong did and the Kings went into probably every game this season short-handed. If not every game pretty darn close to every game.

Since the start of 2026 a lot of the younger players got a rare opportunity to start games and they reaped the benefits. While Maxime Raynaud has been starting for awhile now, Nique Clifford, Devin Carter and Daeqwon Plowden have gotten a lot of minutes and the improvement they have shown has been impressive.

The Kings now look ahead to the upcoming 2026-27 season but before that the draft lottery at the end of May will be of great interest to the future of the team. Of course no team wants to finish with one of the three worst records of the season but those teams have the best chance at a first round draft pick.

Sacramento will not be in that group but they do have a 22-60 record and after Sunday night’s game and a finish to their season. They took on the Trail Blazers in their final game of the season ending with a loss Sunday. The Trail Blazers are tied for eighth place with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers beat the Golden State Warriors Sunday night 115-110 and the Clippers came away with a big win.

Stay connected for upcoming Kings news and an important one to keep all eyes on will be the upcoming NBA draft. On May 10 the NBA draft lottery will take place. The date for the NBA draft will be announced at a later date most likely sometime in June.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Mason Miller, a closer with Cy Young Award potential

San Diego Padres relief pitcher Mason Miller exhalts after shutting down another team in the closer role (San Diego Union photo)

Mason Miller, a closer with Cy Young Award potential

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

On July 2025, the San Diego Padres acquired closer Mason Miller, together with starter J.P Sears, from the Oakland A’s. As of today, April 13, 2026, Mason Miller has saved four (4) of the ten games won by the Padres.

During the 2024 All-Star Game, representing the Oakland A’s, Miller pitched in relief. He did not save the game, but earned the win for the American League, and during that game, he threw the fastest pitch in All-Star Game history (103.6 mph) since pitch-tracking began in 2008, and struck out batters like Shohei Ohtani.

By the way, Miller was the sole A’s representative during that All-Star Game held at Arlington, Texas. He entered in the fifth inning and was credited with the victory, becoming the first rookie to win an ASG since 1954. Who threw the fastest pitch in All-Star Game history prior to Mason Miller? Aroldis Chapman had previously held the record with a 103.4 mph fastball.

Since last season the San Diego Padres reliever is as dominant thrower as there is in the game, consistently hitting over 104 mph in 2025 and also set a Major League record in ther 2025 playoffs with a 104.5 strikeout which is the fastest postseason pitch of the tracking era, at 37 years of age, his best years are ahead,he has cool head and is a very unasuming player, I remember covering him with the A’s, he did show one thing from the beginning,confidence.

This season, he could have the type of season that rivals Cy Young Award-winning starting pitchers, and he could have to contend with some great starters. Miller is an elite high-velocity closer with his 4-seam fastball, which he uses almost 50% of the time; a great slider to go with it, which he throws over 50%; and, for “good measure,” he makes hitters come off their uniforms when he throws a change-up. During his sensational career, Mariano Rivera, the best ever with 652 saves, received votes for the Cy Young Award, finishing in the top-three in voting four times, but never won it.

Today, Mason Miller of the San Diego Padres, the pride of Pittsburgh, PA, is the Rolls-Royce of closers in Major League Baseball. It’s easy to see why his nickname is “The Reaper.”

Quote: “The best pitchers have a short-term memory and a bulletproof confidence.” — Greg Maddux

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

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

San Jose Earthquakes match recap: Quakes extend win record going 6-1-0; SJ defeats Sporting KC 3-1 at Sporting KC Stadium

The San Jose Earthquakes got great ball handling all game long against Sporting KC at Sporting KC Stadium in Kansas City Kansas on Sun Apr 12, 2026 (San Jose Earthquakes X photo)

By William Espy

The San Jose Earthquakes were on the road on Saturday evening, as they visited Sporting Kansas City in Kansas City, Kansas.The Quakes entered the night undefeated on the road and in the midst of an incredible start to the season overall. The Quakes improved their start of the season to a 6-1-0 record with the 3-1 defeat of Sporting KC.

Sporting Kansas City got out to an early lead, as Jacob Bartlett, their hometown kid, was able to beat Daniel to score his first career MLS goal in the 27th minute after a perfectly placed ball by Dejan Joveljic. The 20-year-old midfielders’ first goal, although against the Earthquakes, was a heartwarming moment as he was able to score at the same stadium that he grew up attending to watch matches in his youth.

Jack Skahan evened things up with his first goal since the 2024 season in the 44th minute.

There was a brief halt in play during stoppage time of the first half, as the lights in the stadium shut off momentarily, but play quickly resumed. The game would remain tied heading into halftime.

Skahan scored his second of the night in the 49th minute, making it his first career multi-goal game and the first multi-goal season of his career.

Kansas City’s Shapi Suleymanov picked up the first yellow card of the night in the 54th minute.

Defender Dave Romney would extend the Earthquakes’ lead in the 75th minute. The goal was his first as a member of the Quakes, and first overall since 2023 when he was a member of the New England Revolution. Ironically, both his lone goal with the Revolution and his goal on Saturday occurred with Bruce Arena on the sideline.

The Earthquakes held onto their lead and walked away with a 3-1 victory on the road. The win secured the Quakes second place in the Western Conference for the time being, as they trail only the Vancouver Whitecaps due to a tie breaker

Sacramento A’s game wrap: Kurtz hits Mets where it hurts with HR; Sac gets shutout pitching from Civale in 1-0 series sweep; A’s in first in AL West

Sacramento A’s Nick Kurtz looks upward and gives thanks to the Almighty after slugging his first home run of the season against the New York Mets in the top of the third inning at Citi Field in New York on Sun Apr 12, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK. — The Sacramento Athletics beat the New York Mets 1-0 at Citi Field on Sunday afternoon and swept them for the first time in franchise history.

With their fifth straight victory, the Athletics are in first place in the American League West a half game ahead of the second place Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels. The A’s came away 5-1 on their road trip against both New York teams, after giving up only the first game against the New York Yankees.

Nick Kurtz hit his first homer of the season, a fly ball to right field, in the third inning to put the A’s up 1-0. Kurtz laughed the shot off Freddy Peralta (1-1) after notching 36 home runs last season and the AL Rookie of the Year title.

In the sixth, Francisco Lindor singled on a sharp line drive to center fielder Denzel Clarke but the Mets failed to score a run.

A’s starting pitcher Aaron Civale set the tone early and never let up, working 5.2 scoreless innings while allowing just four hits. After surrendering a leadoff single in the first, Civale settled in and retired 13 consecutive batters at one point, keeping the Mets off balance all afternoon.

The bullpen continued the effort seamlessly. Hogan Harris, Scott Barlow, and Joel Kuhnel combined to finish the shutout, with Kuhnel locking down the ninth for his second save. It was a clinical performance from a staff that has quietly become a strength during this road trip.

After a slow start to the season, this road trip marks a turning point for the A’s.

The Athletics return home to West Sacramento and welcome the Texas Rangers (7-7) for a four-game series starting on Monday. A’s right-handed pitcher Luis Severino (0-1, 4.50 ERA) will face Rangers right-handed pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (1-2, 7.98 ERA ) in the opener. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. PT.

Giants Offense Sputters Losing Series to Baltimore in Game Three 6-2

Baltimore Orioles Samuel Basallo slugs a two run home run in the bottom of the first inning agianst the San Francisco Giants at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Sun Apr 12, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

It was not at all pretty as the San Francisco Giants (6-10) dropped their series with the Baltimore Orioles (8-7) losing 6-2 on Sunday. The Giants lost by scores of 6-2 Saturday and Sunday and picked up their only win on Friday 6-3.

The Giants struggled at the plate finishing with only seven hits getting a rough start going three and out in the first four innings from starting pitcher Adrian Houser who finished 4 2/3 innings giving up four runs and it was all down hill for the rest of the game. The one bright spot for the Giants were the three hits off the bat of Casey Schmitt, the third hit a solo home run in the ninth inning.

Game recap: Baltimore had a great start in this game taking a first inning lead. Samuel Basallo hit a two-run homerun with Pete Alonso on base for a 2-0 lead. San Francisco really struggled at the plate going three and out through the first four innings of the game, looking for their first hit going into the fifth inning. O’s pitcher Povich was doing a bang-up job in his first outing.

The Giants got their first hit of the game in the fifth inning off the bat of Schmitt. Schmitt scored when Daniel Susac got his third RBI hitting a single and San Francisco had cut the Baltimore lead in half.

In a little over an hour this game was going into the middle of the fifth inning. The impressive pitching of Povich had much to do with how quickly this game was moving. Going three and out through four innings moves a game along very efficiently.

Baltimore pushed their lead out in the bottom of the inning scoring two more runs with two outs. The Orioles Pete Alonso doubled driving Gunnar Henderson and Taylor Ward both home. Henderson and Ward had both singled scoring from first and third. That would be it for the Houser.

He finished 4.2 innings giving up five hits, four runs and a couple of walks. He was relieved by Matt Gage who took over with two Baltimore runners on base but he successfully got out of the inning. With the two runs scored in the fifth inning Povich and the Orioles took a 4-1 lead into the sixth inning.

Baltimore would add one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning taking a 5-1 lead. Coby Mayo singled and Leody Taveras scored from second base.

Through six innings Orioles pitcher Povich only had thrown 78 pitches finishing 6 2/3 innings. In the seventh inning he allowed a couple of hits, a Schmitt single and a Ramos double. He allowed five hits, one earned run, no walks and five strikeouts. He was relieved by Anthony Nunez to finish off the seventh inning.

With no outs Baltimore got a couple of hits in a row off right hand Giant pitchers. The Orioles Alonso and Ward and they were threatening again. There were more changes on the mound for San Francisco as Erik Miller relieved Ryan Walker who had pitched two thirds of the seventh inning.

With one out in the bottom of seventh, Miller was faced with a bases-loaded situation. Miller got out of the inning but he did give up another Baltimore run giving the Orioles a 6-1 lead. Ward had scored on an infield Colton Cowser hit.

This game went into the top of the ninth inning and the Giants were three outs away from losing the game and the series. San Francisco did score in the final inning when Schmitt had his third hit of the game and it was a dandy, a solo home run to left. That would be it for the Giants. San Francisco’s offense never really clicked in this game their season record dropping to 6-10.

Game notes: It was a beautiful day at Oriole Park at Camden Yards for game three between the Giants and the Orioles. After winning the first game of the series Friday 6-3, San Francisco dropped game two 6-2 and lost the series to the O’s dropping game three 6-2 Sunday. Giants starter Andrian Houser got touched up early in the game pitching 4.2 innings, five hits, four earned runs, two walks and three strikeouts. For O’s starter Cade Povich 6.2 innings, five hits, one earned run and five strike outs.

The Giants will now travel to Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati for a three-game series with the Reds. Probable pitchers for game one will be Robbie Ray who comes into this game with a 2-1 win/loss record and a 2.08 ERA. For the Reds Brady Singer will probably get the nod. He has a 0-1 win/loss record and a 7.71 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 3:40 PM PDT Tuesday evening.

Canucks take it to the limit in six shootout rounds 4-3 over the Sharks; Playoff hopes shrink

Igor Chernyshov celies his first goal vs Canucks on April 11, 2026 at SAP Center (Sharks Media, Getty Images)

By Fernando Abarca

SAN JOSE, Calif–The San Jose Sharks continued their push in the Western Conference wild-card race Saturday night, hosting the Vancouver Canucks in their final home game of the season. Although mathematically the Sharks playoff contention is almost gone with a 4-3 loss in the six round shootout, San Jose looked to extend its momentum and deliver one last memorable performance for the home crowd on Fan Appreciation Night at the SAP Center.

The Sharks struck first midway through the opening period. Off a faceoff in the offensive zone, Macklin Celebrini helped generate possession before Igor Nyzhnyshov capitalized, slipping past the Canucks’ defense and beating the goaltender to give San Jose a 1-0 lead at 8:00 of the first.

The score remained unchanged through the rest of the period, with both teams trading chances but unable to break through. Vancouver found its equalizer in the second period thanks to a costly mistake. Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov mishandled a puck cleared from Vancouver’s defensive zone, leaving the net exposed and the defense scrambling. Marco Rossi took advantage of the miscue, scoring into the open net to tie the game 1-1.

San Jose responded quickly. Tyler Toffoli finished off a well-executed offensive sequence, with assists from Sam Dickinson and Michael Misa, restoring the Sharks’ lead at 2-1 midway through the second period.

Vancouver answered late in the frame on a power play. Filip Hronek unleashed a heavy slap shot that Askarov initially stopped, but the puck slipped through his grasp and landed in front of the crease, where Jake DeBrusk buried the rebound to even the score at 2-2.

Sharks answered again, and Celebrini recorded another point with an assist, and Igor Chernyshov scored another goal, to take the lead again. Vancouver wanted to make this game more complicated with another power-play goal just a second before the Sharks came back to full strength, and Canuck’s Teddy Blueger in front of the net scored the third of the night, taking this game to OT.

In OT, the Sharks took it to the limit in a fifth round of penalty shootout, but the Sharks were unable to seal the deal at home and ultimately, the Canucks took the win in the last game at home.

Despite this loss, the Sharks have not been officially eliminated from playoff contention. Mathematically, the Sharks still have a chance. However, their faith does not lie solely in the men in teal. With this 4-3 score, the team closed out their home schedule, rewarding their supporters with a hard-fought win and a glimpse of the team’s developing core heading into the future.

Now, the Sharks go on the road to close out the season vs. Nashville, Chicago, and Winnipeg.

SF Giants game wrap: A Strange Turn and a Quiet Finish as O’s defeat Giants 6-2 at Camden Yard

San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb grimaces after the Baltimore Orioles went to work on him. Webb’s line six innings, five hits, four runs, three walks, and six strikeouts at Camden Yard in Baltimore on Sat Apr 11, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

The Giants did not get blown off the field, which may have made this one even more irritating. For a while, they looked steady, sharp, and very much in position to keep their good stretch rolling. Heliot Ramos drove in a run in the second inning with a two-out single, then brought home another with a groundout in the fourth. That gave San Francisco both of its runs, and it briefly felt like the club had enough control to push this game in its own direction.

Instead, the offense stalled, the rhythm slipped, and a contest that was still within reach turned into a 6-2 loss. Ramos finished with two hits and both RBI, but the Giants could not find the extra swing that might have changed the shape of the game. Their three-game winning streak ended, and what started as a manageable afternoon slowly turned into one that felt like sand slipping through their fingers.

Logan Webb was not terrible, but he was not sharp enough to survive Baltimore’s growing pressure. He worked six innings, gave up five hits, and allowed four runs. That line tells part of the story, but not all of it. Webb had moments where he looked like the pitcher the Giants trust to settle a game and keep a lead in place.

He also had stretches where Baltimore forced him to pitch from a less comfortable spot. Gunnar Henderson tied the score with a run-scoring groundout early, then pushed the Orioles ahead with a solo homer in the third. Webb kept battling after that, yet the game never quite settled back down for him. When an ace is even a little off, good teams keep poking until something opens. That is exactly what happened here. Webb was not shelled, but he spent too much of the game reacting instead of dictating, and that usually means trouble.

The fourth inning was where the whole thing got weird, and the weirdness mattered. Ramos had just tied the game at 2-2, which should have given the Giants a clean reset. Instead, Baltimore answered with a messy, maddening sequence that seemed to suck the air out of San Francisco’s dugout.

On a ground ball to second, runner Dylan Beavers tried to leap over Luis Arraez and kicked him in the hand. Beavers was ruled out for interference, but because the play was called dead immediately, the batter remained safe at first even though Arraez still completed the throw in time.

That is the sort of baseball rule that can make perfectly sane people want to yell at a wall. The inning continued, Leody Taveras later scored, and the Orioles added two runs in all. Arraez stayed in briefly, got a hit in the fifth, then exited with a right wrist contusion. X-rays were negative, but the moment itself felt like more than a fluke. It changed the tone of the game and left the Giants chasing it.

San Francisco had chances after that, which is what keeps this loss from being dismissed as one of those days when nothing was possible. Things were possible. The Giants simply did not cash in often enough. Chris Bassitt, who had struggled badly in his first two starts of the season, lasted only 4 2/3 innings, allowed seven hits, and threw 89 pitches.

That should have been an opening. Instead, Baltimore’s bullpen slammed the door. The Giants stranded men in scoring position in the fifth and eighth innings and finished 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position. That stat is the kind that tells the truth without needing any decoration.

Seven hits against a starter who was still trying to find himself should have created more damage than two runs. It did not. San Francisco got traffic, but not traffic with purpose. The lineup kept knocking, but nobody came through with the big swing or the sharp line drive that could flip the game back.

Baltimore, meanwhile, got exactly the kind of production the Giants could not match. Jeremiah Jackson was the loudest problem in the room. He finished a triple short of the cycle, doubled home a run in the fourth, and later homered to add breathing room.

Henderson’s solo shot set the tone, Colton Cowser chipped in two hits, and Coby Mayo drove in two runs, first on a forceout and then with a single in the eighth. None of it looked accidental. The Orioles kept stacking useful at-bats, even while dealing with roster trouble.

Adley Rutschman had gone on the injured list with left ankle inflammation before the game, and Ryan Mountcastle exited early with left foot pain, but Baltimore still found enough offense to control the second half of the contest. For the Giants, that part stings too. They were not beaten by a club running at full strength and firing on all cylinders. They were beaten by a team that adapted faster and finished cleaner.

The Giants were not hopeless. They were not lifeless. They just were not good enough in the moments that decide games between capable teams. Ramos did his job. Webb battled. Arraez kept playing through pain until he could not.

But the lineup let a shaky starter escape, the defense got dragged into a bizarre turning point, and the bullpen could not keep the margin frozen long enough for a comeback. Games like this are annoying because they tease you with possibility before shutting the door. The Giants can walk away saying they were in it, and that is true. They also have to admit they left too much unfinished.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.