Sears pitches A’s to first win over Astros in 2024; Oakland gets two run 3-1 win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s reliever Mason Miller delivers to the Houston Astros line up in the top of the ninth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat May 25, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, May 25, 2024

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland, California

Houston Astros 1 (23-29)

Oakland Athletics 3 (22-32)

Win: JP Sears (4-3)

Loss: Spencer Arrighetti (2-5)

Save: Mason Miller (10)

Time: 2:24

Attendance: 10,617

By Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND–JP Sears gave the A’s six solid innings, as they finally beat the Astros for the first time this season with a 3-1 win on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum. 

Following an unbelievable 11-inning marathon win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, the A’s were stymied by Justin Verlander, as they lost the series opener last night. JP Sears would make the start on this Saturday afternoon as Oakland looked to win their first game against the Astros this season. 

Sears hit Jose Altuve with a sweeper to start the game, but he immediately got Kyle Tucker to ground into a double play. Yordan Alvarez thenl lol grounded out to short to end the inning. 

Spencer Arrighetti made the start for Houston, and the A’s were ready for him. Abraham Toro singled on a ground ball up the middle and into center field, and JJ Bleday walked. Brent Rooker then pulled a double down the left field line to knock on both Toro and Bleday and give the A’s a 2-0 lead. 

“For Brent, he’s continuing off the year he had last year,” said Manager Mark Kotsay. “He’s becoming a more complete hitter. He’s reduced some of the strikeouts, [his] two-strike approach is better, and he’s putting the ball in play more often. That’s one of the first balls in three years of managing that I’ve seen go by [Alex] Bregman down the line, so you don’t see that happen that often. It was a good sign for us to get on the board…..our offense hasn’t been able to get us a lead early, and thus having those two runs to go out and finish a game off was nice.”

Both pitchers threw 1-2-3 innings in the second. Mauricio Dubon singled for Houston and stole second base with two outs in the top of the third inning, but Sears got Altuve to ground out to short to end the inning. Arrighetti, meanwhile, pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the third. 

Seth Brown reached on an infield hit and sole second to start the bottom of the fourth. Kyle McCann then walked, and the A’s had runners at first and second with nobody out. However, the A’s were unable to extend their lead, as Arrighetti proceeded to strike out the side to end the inning. 

Things took a bit of a weird turn in the top of the sixth when Dubon hit a ground ball to short, and Max Schuemann threw the ball over the head of first-baseman Tyler Soderstrom. The ball bounced up against the netting behind the camera well at the end of the Astros’ dugout, and the umpires awarded Dubon second base. 

“From my viewpoint in the dugout, I couldn’t tell if the ball hit the pad [in front of the camera well], or if it had glanced over the pad and then hit back behind the camera well and bounced back out,” said Kotsay. “I thought it hit the pad, came out front, hit the security guard and was still in play.”

Kotsay had the play reviewed after a conversation with Home Plate Umpire Jeremie Rehak, but replays confirmed that the ball indeed bounced off the netting.

“Once [the ball] goes over that green pad [in front of the camera well], the ground rules are it’s out of play,” said Kotsay. “[Jeremie] tried to convince me of that, but I had to go with my replay guy, and we got it wrong. It’s on me.”

Dubon advanced to third on a fly out to right by Altuve. Kyle Tucker knocked in Dubon with a sacrifice fly to put the Astros on the board. Sears got through the rest of the inning without any further damage, and he would be done after giving up just a run and two hits over six innings. His strong performance was in large part due to his slider and sweeper. 

“[My] slider was good today,” said Sears. “I threw some good fastballs in [to] kinda the keep guys off the slider, and I also threw some good sinkers to get some quick outs there in the middle innings…..I [also] had a lot of good defense behind me…..it was a good efficient day [for me].”

“Through April, we had all five guys in the rotation, and in May, we’ve lost four of the five,” said Kotsay. “JP’s coming off a year where he made all 32 [starts], and I know that he’s determined to do that again. That’s his mindset, so it’s nice to see him go out and have a good start, and we’re gonna continue to just lean on him.”

Sears was pulled despite the fact that he had only thrown 68 pitches.

“Our bullpen’s been amazing,” said Kotsay. “At that point, we’ve had tons of success with Adams, Erceg and Miller. We had it lined up for our leverage jobs, so JP did his job…..I have a ton of confidence in those three guys lining up and getting the job done.”

“I’m just trying to focus on being ready to go every five days and just whatever I can do to get my body and my arm feeling good,” said Sears. “[What I’m] learning this year is when to take my days as far as being lighter on my body, and when to do a little bit more. I also think [Pitching Coach Scott Emerson] and [Kotsay] have done a job of just trying to use me as much as they can, but maybe not push as much quite so early. I feel like I definitely could’ve gone more today, but that’s just how the game is…..I know that those guys there coming in behind me have got some good stuff, so I felt all the confidence in the world [in them].”

The A’s still had their 2-1 lead going to the bottom of the sixth. Brown and McCann both singled to start the inning, and that ended the day for Arrighetti. Astros Manager Joe Espata brought in Tayler Scott. Soderstrom struck out swinging for the first out, and Zack Gelof got Brown to third on a fly out to center. It was then up to Daz Cameron, who knocked Brown in with a base-hit to left to make it 3-1.

Austin Adams came in for Sears to start the seventh. Adams gave up a base-hit to Jeremy Peña. However, Adams started experiencing neck tightness and had to leave the game. Kotsay brought in Lucas Erceg, who got through the inning unscathed. 

Peter Mushinski pitched a scoreless bottom of the seventh for Houston. Erceg stayed in for the top of the eighth and gave up a leadoff single to Dubon. Erceg also threw a wild pitch, and after striking Altuve out looking, he was done. Scott Alexander came in and got through the remainder of the inning. 

Seth Martinez came in and threw a scoreless bottom of the eighth for the Astros. 

Closer Mason Miller came in for the ninth and did his thing, as he struck out the side to close it out in his first outing following his rough 11th inning on Thursday against the Rockies.

“It was a great day for Mason to get back out, [and] he wanted to get back out,” said Kotsay. “For him to go show that he’s got a bounce back in him and that he wasn’t fazed by the results of Thursday, it was a great sign from a young closer.”

The A’s have their first win of the year over the Astros, as they improve to 22-32. They will now have a chance to take the series with a win Sunday. Starting pitcher for the Astros RHP Ronel Blanco (4-0, 2.09) for the A’s RHP Aaron Brooks (0-1, 4.15). First pitch will be at 1:07 p.m.

Giants rally for 5 runs in tenth inning defeat Mets 7-2 at Citi Field

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

New York Mets baserunner Tyrone Taylor is called safe on a stolen base as the San Francisco Giants second baseman Brett Wisely gets the ball too late in the bottom of the seventh inning at Citi Park in New York on Sat May 26, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK. — The San Francisco Giants continued their streak of coming back from behind in another thrilling win over the New York Mets, 7-2, at Citi Field on Saturday afternoon.

San Francisco’s victory in extra inning came after their comeback win in the Friday night series opener in which they hit their third consecutive grand slam and reached .500.

Giants manager Bob Melvin admitted, “We seem to have a little here for the dramatic here recently.”

“Look, it’s just kind of what we’re doing now. We talk about it every day, is it’s the 27th out. Until then every bat means as much in the first as it does in the ninth,” said Melvin.

“We’ve come back, bigger numbers than one, so all it takes is one big hit to get a run but it is the talk in the dugout late in the games is, here we go again.”

In the first inning, Starling Marte hit a home run on a fly ball to left field to put the Mets up 1-0.

The Giants went hitless for five innings until the sixth when Patrick Bailey, who hit the grand slam on Friday night, singled on a line drive to left field and allowed Brett Wisely to score, tying the game at 1-1.

In the seventh inning, Brett Baty hit a home run on a fly ball to right field and put New York up 2-1.

San Francisco answered back in the ninth as LaMonte Wade Jr., who was experiencing hamstring discomfort, singled on a sharp line drive to right field and Ryan McKenna scored and tied it at 2-2, taking the game into the 10th inning.

“We’re just a resilient team, that we’re never out of the game,’ said Wade Jr. “Pitchers keep us in it and us hitters you know we’re trying to get that back and the last week it’s been pretty good.”

WIsely then singled on a sharp ground ball to right field and Curt Casali scored, giving the Giants a 3-2 lead. Bailey walked, putting the Giants up 4-2. Then Mike Yastrzemski tripled on a fly ball to left field and Luis Matos, Thairo Estrada and Bailey scored, giving the Giants a 7-2 lead.

“This team is so resilient no matter if we’re down five, down one, we’re going to battle every at-bat,” said Wisely. “It’s been proven the last four games. With the game on the line, you get pretty excited.”

New York failed to earn any more runs.

The Giants (27-26) play the final of the three-game series against the Mets (21-30) on Sunday with first pitch at 10:40 a.m. PT. Starting pitchers for Sunday’s contest for San Francisco RHP Logan Webb (4-4, ERA 3.03) and for the New York Mets former Giants LHP Sean Manaea (3-1, ERA 3.11) first pitch 10:40am PT.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Since Lee’s season ending injury Giants have regrouped

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants Brett Wisely scored in the top of the sixth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Park in New York on Sat May 26, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen:

The San Francisco Giants got off to a tough start at the beginning of the season and I said at that time that they’d turn it around but I gave up a couple weeks ago. When Jung Hoo Lee got injured for the rest of the season I thought that could be the end of the season.

I couldn’t claim I told you so anymore and since all those Giants injuries it’s great to see all those guys come up and we saw the guys make a splash last June and they have a good young core of young players like Luis Matos, Heilot Ramos, Marco Luciano, and Casey Schmidt. The Giants have a good young core.

The Giants are the first team since the 1932 St Louis Cardinals to win three straight games on the road coming back from a four run deficit. The Marlins did it but at home against the Giants in 1999. It was 92 years ago back in 1932 when the Cardinals did it can you believe that?

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

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Mary Lisa: Oilers take game 1 on McDavid’s double OT goal; Beat Stars 3-2 in series opener in Dallas

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Edmonton Oilers center Conner McDavid (center left) thanks teammate defenseman Evan Bouchard for the assist as McDavid scored the game winning goal in the second overtime in game 1 of the third round of the Stanley Cup Western Conference Finals at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Fri May 24, 2024 ( The Canadian Press via AP photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 The Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars were battling in game 1 on Thursday like it was the 7th game of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. No one was giving in a game that went double overtime that saw the Oilers Conner McDavid score 32 seconds in the second overtime.

#2 McDavid on the goal took a redirected pass from Evan Bouchard and shot it past the Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger for the winner.

#3 McDavid said after the game regarding scoring the game winner, “It was nice to score in overtime. A big goal, great play by [Bouchard] as usual,” said McDavid. “You’ve got to win tight games. We’re down to the final four teams.

#4 McDavid said you don’t get to the Final Four without being a great team. The Oilers had their close series with the Vancouver Canucks in order to get to this third round against the Stars. The Stars who are no slouch just couldn’t finish in game 1.

#5 Oilers and Stars match up again tonight for game 2 at the American Airlines Center for a 5:00pm PT face off. It’s almost expected that this will be another game where the neither the Oilers or Stars will give in an inch on the ice.

Join Mary Lisa for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Astros Verlander passes Maddox with 9 K’s now 10th on strike out career list; A’s defeated 6-3 at Coliseum

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Houston Astros Justin Verlander delivers to the Oakland A’s line up in the bottom of the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri May 24, 2024 (AP News photo)

Houston (23-28). 000 600 000. 6. 12. 1

Athletics (21-32). 100 010 100 3. 10 0

Time: 2:31

Attendance: 9,676

Friday, May 24, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–With their 6-3 loss to the visiting Houston Astros tonight, the A’s record dipped to 21-31. All the damage was done in the fatidic fourth frame.

Like the Giants, who are having problems with their late signing of the reigning Cy Young winner, Blake Snell, the Astros have a future Hall of Famer in Justin Verlander who’s feeling the effects of a late start to the season, having spent the first three weeks of it on the IL.

His game time season’s record of 2-2, 3.97 was not what you’d expect of an all time great. His lifetime record going into today was 259-142, 3.25 with 3,368 strikeouts and 939 walks. Against the then Oakland A’s it was 16-8, 2.84 with 193 Ks and 47 walks. But he looked good Friday night.

To give you an idea of how good Verlander was, here’s what Baseball America said of him when entered the show 19 years ago;

“Verlander might have the best pure stuff in the draft, and looks like a good bet to go in the first three picks. Dozens of scouts, crosscheckers and scouting directors turned out in mid-April when Verlander faced off against Justin Orenduff, and Verlander was dominant as he punched out 16 batters and flashed consistent mid-90s heat.

The dominance continued all spring, with a 7-5, 3.19 record and 145 strikeouts in 99 innings. He broke his own Old Dominion season strikeout record of 139, set last year, and his 421 (and counting) career strikeouts are a school and Colonial Athletic Association record.

He has a lean, lanky frame with long arms and legs, and room for added strength. He has a tall, upright delivery with a lighting-quick arm, and a fastball that tops out at 99 mph with hard run and sink. He complements it with a curveball that has good late depth and sharp bite, and a deceptive changeup that has fastball arm speed and late fade and sink. Verlander’s biggest obstacle is his lack of command. He rushes his body and lands on a stiff front side as he struggles to repeat his delivery.”

He pitched a strong six innings Friday night, holding the A’s to a couple of runs, only one of them earned. That came on JJ Bleday’s leadoff home run in the fifth, a 391 foot shot to right that was his eighth round tripper of the season.

The veteran hurler allowed another seven hits but no walks, although he plunked Brent Rooker. He added nine strikeouts to his Hall of Fame credentials. With the win, his balance sheet for ’24 now stands at 3-2,, 3.60. The visitors also used Bryan Abrreu, who gave up a solo home run to JJ Bleday. in the seventh, Ryan Pressly in the eighth, and Josh Hader, who earned his seventh save, in the ninth

Miguel Andújar, whom the Athletics called up from Las Vegas and batted cleanup today, also showed great promise at the start of his career, but he never lived up to it He came in second in the voting for the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year, having hit .297 in 149. games for the Yankees.

The winner was Shohei Ohtani. Although the six foot, 210 pound Dominican playeð in parts of six more major league seasons, he never exceeded 27 games in any of them. The A’s claimed him from the waiver list last November 6 and signed him to a one year contract. He went three for four and drove in two runs tonight.

The Astros didn’t start out playing like a team that had won 10 of its last 14 games, which is what they were, coughing up an unearned run in the bottom of the first on a dropped pop fly by shortstop Jeremy Peña, who was driven in on Andújar’s single in what was his first major league at bat of 2024.

Ross Stripling, starting for the Athletics Friday night, also aroused great expectations, but of a different sort. He retired the first nine Astros he faced before a pair of infield singles in the top of the fourth opened the floodgates and put the ‘tros ahead, 6-1.

The details are onerous, so here’s a brief list of what followed the two scratch hits; Alvarez doubled; Bergman singled; Peña forced Bergman out at second; Singleton singled; Jake Meyers hit a 403 foot, three RBI home run.

There was no more scoring in the frame, and Stripling was lifted after Altuve singled in his second at bat of the inning. The uprooted Stripling had lasted 3-2/3 innings and thrown 61 pitches, 41 for strikes. All of the six runs he allowed were earned, and they came on eight hits.

It goes without saying that he was the losing pitcher. It’s worth mentioning that his record now is 1-9, 5.82. Kyle Muller took Striping’s place and stymied the ‘stros on four hits and a walk until Michael Kelly relieved him with runners on first and second and two down in the top of the eighth. Kelly got the third out, completing his night’s work with one pitch. TJ McFarland shut down the ‘stros, allowing just a base on balls in the ninth.

The A’s will try for their first win against five losses to Houston when they take the field Saturday, at 1:07 in the afternoon. JP Sears (3-3, 4.31) will start for the Athletics, and Spencer Arrighetti (2-4, 7.16) will be on the hill for Houston.

Gotham FC blanks Bay FC 2-0; Fifth loss in last six games for Bay

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Bay FC struggled to get the ball over the goal crease against Gotham FC at Pay Pal Park in San Jose on Fri May 24, 2024 (Bay FC X photo)

By William Espy

SAN JOSE–Bay FC looked to follow up their win against the San Diego Wave with one over the defending NWSL champions, Gotham FC on Friday night. After this game, Bay will have roughly two weeks off before their next game against the Chicago Red Stars at Wrigley Field.

As a result, it was crucial for them to walk away with some points against one of the top teams in the league to build some confidence heading into their break. It wouldn’t be easy though, as Gotham had won three of their last five games entering the night and had gotten at least a single point in each of those matchups. Gotham had a strong defense and Bay couldn’t get offense going in a 2-0 shutout loss at Pay Pal Park. It was Bay’s fifth loss in their last six games.

Bay Starting XI: Rowland, King, Sharples, Menges, Dydasco, Blade, Pickett, Anderson, Kundananji, Camberos, Oshoala

Gotham Starting XI: Berger, NIghswonger, Hiatt, Sonnett, Bell, Sheehan, Martin, Lavelle, Stevens, Ryan, Gonzalez

Bay got an attacking opportunity immediately after kick-off when a breakout pass from their defensive third split through the defense and found Rachael Kundananji.

If she had taken a shot, she may have scored a goal but she stopped and attempted a pass which was broken up. She’s a great team player, there’s no doubt about that but it’s likely Albertin Montoya would’ve preferred her to be a little more selfish in that situation.

Asisat Oshoala was pulled out of the game momentarily for causing an injury delay in the 5th minute but quickly rejoined her team on the pitch. Rose Lavelle had a bit of an injury scare for Gotham in the 12th minute, however, she was able to get up and remain in the game despite some clear discomfort.

Bay was still bringing offensive pressure at this point but had been unable to capitalize despite a few great opportunities. In the 14th minute, Tess Boade and Joelle Anderson tried to pull off a sneaky passing play off of a corner, despite it working pretty well they were unable to get the ball into the goal.

Moments later, Kundananji almost scored off of another corner play when a cross from Emily Menges found her head but it went just wide of the goal post. There was a review initiated by the video assistant referee in the 20th minute for a possible Gotham penalty, it was decided that no foul had occurred though, and play resumed.

Despite playing a standard 4-4-2 formation, Bay FC was rotating players positionally fairly consistently up front. Kundadnanji would occasionally slip from striker to playing the left side of midfield while Boade moved up front and then minutes later they’d swap back.

It left the defense guessing, which is part of the reason it seemed they were able to generate so many chances early in the match. In the 28th, Boade ran out of space when trying to gather a Savy King cross inside the box giving Gotham a goal kick.

If there had just been a couple of more feet, Boade may have been able to get a quality shot off. Early in the 31st minute, Gotham got their best chance of the night when a shot got past Katelyn Rowland but hit the inside of the goalpost.

Moments later though, they’d get an even better one that this time found mesh rather than metal. Ella Stevens slipped through the defense and deflected a centering pass into the goal, although there were initially some concerns of offside from Bay’s defense, the goal didn’t trigger a review.

Less than two minutes later, Rowland was carrying the ball inside the box when she got it taken away from her by an attacking Stevens, who scored her second of the night with an assist to Esther Gonzalez. Despite a strong first 30 minutes for the home team, it just took two strong minutes from Gotham to change the game drastically.

Ann-Katrin Berger required some medical attention in the 36th minute, giving Bay an opportunity to try to recuperate with a sideline talk from Montoya. The home team’s play got a lot sloppier following the two goals against, they weren’t connecting on their passes the same and although they were still working hard, it was clear that the confidence that they started the night with was gone, or at least significantly lessened. They wouldn’t be able to respond before the end of the half, and Gotham went into the break with a 2-0 lead.

Kundananji collided hard with Berger inside the box, the ball was deflected up high and Kundananji was trying to get her team on the board while Berger jumped up to grab the ball. Berger went down hard, and needed medical attention, as a result, Kundananji was shown a yellow card and truthfully may have been lucky that was all that she was given.

Meanwhile, Berger remained down in serious pain and struggled to walk when she got up. In a great show of sportsmanship though, Kundananji walked over and checked on her once Berger got to her feet. Gotham’s goalkeeper remained in the game, although with how much difficulty she was having, it’s a bit surprising that they left her in as we saw earlier in the night, it just takes a few mistakes to change the trajectory of the match.

The first substitutions of the night came in the 61st minute when Tierna Davidson and Crystal Dunn entered the match for Gotham. In the 68th minute, Anderson, King, and Oshoala came out for Dorian Bailey, Deyna Castellanos, and Alyssa Malonson. More changes came for both sides in the 75th minute, Montoya was looking for some help in the attack, bringing in Rachel Hill for Scarlett Camberos.

Boade got a great opportunity with a run through the defense in the 80th minute, but she was denied by Berger, who appeared to aggravate her injury from the collision with Kundananji earlier in the half and once again needed attention. Castellanos had a great chance to add a goal for Bay in the 86th minute, but her strike went just wide of the goal.

At the end of the 90th minute, Bailey was pulled down inside of the box however Bay wasn’t awarded a penalty to the dismay of the crowd in attendance. Montoya was shown a yellow when a few moments later Bay was called for a foul.

Throughout the night, it seemed like nothing was going their way in that regard and it was clear frustration had set in. As it always does, time would eventually run out. Bay FC wasn’t able to break up Berger’s clean sheet and despite a rough night at the office for Gotham’s goalkeeper, she got the best result she could’ve hoped for when all was said and done.

Whenever facing off against the defending champions, you can’t even give them an inch or they’ll take a mile and that’s exactly what happened on this occasion.

Bailey’s grand slam in 5 run eighth inning rally helps Giants edge Mets 8-7 in New York

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants Patrick Bailey (right) is congratulated by third base coach Matt Williams (left) after hitting a grand slam in the top of the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Park in New York on Fri May 24, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK. — The San Francisco Giants hit their third grand slam in a row to come from behind and defeat the New York Mets 8-7 on Friday night in the first of a three-game series at Citi Field.

It was the first time that the Giants have won three consecutive games after trailing by four or more runs each, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The game also lifted the Giants to .500 for the first time since being 2-2 on March 31, and put them on a trajectory they hope to continue upward.

“We came on this road trip, we were hoping to do something like that. Come home .500, a little bit better. You know we lose a really tough game to start in Pittsburgh which puts us back at three again which didn’t feel too terribly good,” said Giants manager Bob Melvin. “To win three in a row like that in the fashion we did, really good.”

In the first inning, Pete Alonso singled on a line drive to right fielder Mike Yastrzemski and Francisco Lindor scored, giving the Mets the first run of the game.

San Francisco answered back in the second inning as Jorge Soler hit a homer on a fly ball to center field to tie the game at 1-1.

In the third inning, Luis Matos grounded out and Marco Luciano scored, putting the Giants up 2-1.

But the Mets tied the game back up again in the fourth inning at 2-2 when Jeff McNeil singled on a line drive to center field and Mark Vientos scored. Then Tomás Nido went out on a sacrifice fly to left field and Starling Marte scored, putting the Mets up 3-2.

In the fifth inning, J.D. Martinez hit a home run on a fly ball to left center field, expanding the Mets’ lead to 4-2. Vientos followed up with a homer of his own on a fly ball to right center field to boost New York up 5-2.

The Mets had another homer in the seventh inning by Pete Alonso, who hit a fly ball to left field and the lead grew to 6-2.

But San Francisco put up a fight in the eighth inning. Thairo Estrada doubled on a sharp line drive to center field and Yastrzemski scored, cutting New York’s lead to 6-3. Then Patrick Bailey hit a grand slam to right center field, allowing LaMonte Wade Jr, Estrada and Matt Chapman to score and giving the Giants a 7-6 lead.

“I was just looking for something middle down that I could do some damage with and I put a good spin on it,” said Bailey of the grand slam.

San Francisco was not done there, as Yastrzemski in the ninth inning hit a home run on a fly ball to right field and expanded the lead to 8-6. Lindor singled on a sharp line drive to right field and D.J. Stewart scored, to cut San Francisco’s lead to 8-7.

The key moment happened with the tying run at third base. Vientos hit a slow chopper and Chapman threw the ball off balance to Wade Jr. at first base. Wade Jr. fell backward but had his foot on the bag. The play went under review but the call was upheld, giving the Giants the victory.

“I think it’s the most excited I’ve ever gotten after a play, just the situation, obviously, and how these last four games have been going, it’s just been crazy games,” said Chapman. “To have a walkoff play on defense like that with the bases loaded, game on the line, I think that’s probably the best one for sure. I kind of surprised myself a little bit there.”

Game two of the series at Citi Field is on Saturday with first pitch at 10:40 a.m. PT. Starting pitchers for the Giants RHP Jordan Hicks (4-1, 2.38) for the Mets RHP Luis Severino (2-2, ERA 3.48) for game 2 of the series.

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s might sell their half of Coliseum to AASEG; No use for A’s since their leaving Oakland

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sky view look at the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Complex in Oakland which the property has been purchased 50-50 by the Oakland A’s and the other half by the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (photo by ABC Sky 7 News)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Things are changing quickly at the Oakland Coliseum as East Bay developer African American Sports and Entertainment Group or AASEG will be buying 50% of the Oakland Coliseum property from the city of Oakland at the cost of $105 million. The Oakland A’s are leaving the Coliseum for Sacramento after they complete the 2024 season on September 30th.

#2 For the city of Oakland the money is considered a Godsend as the city is bleeding in budget deficits to the tune of $177 million. The $105 will be a good comb over to save city services and job cuts.

#3 AASEG will have half ownership that includes the Oakland Arena. The Arena has been hosting Disney Ice Shows and concerts. There is no doubt that AASEG will put the arena to good use. Once it takes over. They were hoping for a WNBA team but with San Francisco getting a WNBA team that may not happen now.

#4 With the departures of the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas, the Oakland A’s to Sacramento and later to Las Vegas, and Golden State Warriors to San Francisco AASAEG hopes to bring back some life back to both the Arena and the Oakland Coliseum. The Oakland Roots and Oakland Soul soccer teams plan to share the Coliseum for pro soccer in 2025. The big questions how much the A’s will go along with some of AASEG’s dreams, plans and ideas?

#5 The city originally want to sell the entire site to the A’s. The A’s were on board at the time of buying the Coliseum in whole but once they decided to move to Las Vegas they purchased just half of the Coliseum. The big question now lies with AASEG owning half of the Coliseum property and the A’s the other half and if Las Vegas and Sacramento falls through could the Coliseum get back into the picture again?

Daniel Dullum does the Oakland A’s Relocation podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s scratch 5 runs in 11th inning to come back and defeat Rockies 10-9 at Coliseum

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s Tyler Soderstrom second from left is walked with the bases loaded and forces in the tying run Zack Gelof as the A’s defeat the Colorado Rockies in 11 innings at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 For the second consecutive game the Colorado Rockies and Oakland A’s battled in extra innings. On Wednesday night the Rockies got a two run home run from Ryan McMahon for the game winner in a 9-5 decision that ended in 12 innings. On Thursday’s matinee the Rockies and A’s traded leads and ties with the A’s down 9-5 in the bottom of the 11th coming back to score 5 times to win it 10-9 at the Coliseum.

#2 The Rockies struck in the first inning scoring two runs and added another two runs in the top of the sixth inning for a 4-0 lead and it looked like the A’s were going to go down quietly.

#3 The A’s would rebound with a run in the bottom of the seventh, two runs in the last of the eighth and tying it up in the bottom of the ninth at 4-4 forcing extra innings. In the tenth the Rockies and A’s both scored a run each to tie it up once more 5-5.

#4 The Rockies in the top of the 11th rallied scoring four runs and once again overtaking the A’s 9-5. The shocking part about it was the Rockies touched up one of the best relievers in baseball Mason Miller who gave up three hits and three earned runs which would have been Miller’s first blown save of the season if the A’s didn’t come back later for the win.

#5 The A’s reached way down in their heart of hearts and answered back with a five run rally to defeat the Rockies 10-9 in the bottom of the 11th inning. The game winner came when Tyler Soderstrom walked with the bases loaded scoring Zack Gelof from third base.

#6 The A’s open up a three game series with the Houston Astros tonight at the Coliseum. The Astros will be starting RHP Justin Verlander (2-2, ERA 3.97) for the A’s RHP Ross Stripling (1-8, ERA 5.19). Verlander with lots of experience and success. Of late Stripling has been taking loses can Stripling get a rebound against a Verlander?

Join Jeremiah for the A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s win unbelievable 11-inning thriller 10-9 over Rockies to take series

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s Daz Cameron watches the flight of his home run ball in the bottom of the ninth to tie up the ball game 5-5 at the time against the Colorado Rockies at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu May 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, May 23, 2024

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland, California

Colorado Rockies 9 (16-33)

Oakland Athletics 10 (21-31)

Win: Brandon Bielak (1-0)

Loss: Peter Lambert (2-3)

Time: 3:12

Attendance: 6,886

By Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND–The A’s fought and came out of an unbelievable 11-inning thriller on top, as they came back from two separate four-run deficits, and they scored five runs in the bottom of the 11th inning to beat the Colorado Rockies by a final of 10-9.

After dropping a tough one in 12 innings Wednesday night, the A’s hoped to bounce back with a series win over the Rockies in what was shaping up to be a casual Thursday afternoon affair at the Oakland Coliseum. It was a beautiful day for a ballgame, as busloads of kids who are getting out of school came to take in this one.

Joey Estes would take the mound for Oakland Thursday afternoon, and he would have a rough time getting things going in the top of the first inning.

Ezequiel Tovar hit a double to left-center field to start the ballgame. Jake Cave struck out swinging, and Ryan McMahon lined out to JJ Bleday out in left-center, but when Bleday through the ball back to second base, he ended up throwing the ball all the way into the Rockies’ dugout on the first base side of the Coliseum, which allowed Tovar to score the game’s first run.

The good news for the A’s was that the bases were empty with two outs. However, the Rockies kept things going, as Elehuris Montero doubled to left, and Brenton Doyle knocked in Montero with a double of his own to make it 2-0. It was the second day in a row that the Rockies scored two runs in the top of the first inning.

Ryan Feltner made the start for Colorado and pitched a scoreless bottom of the first. The A’s threatened off Feltner in the bottom of the second, when J.D. Davis singled to start the inning and Kyle McCann doubled him to third with one out.

Daz Cameron flew out to right for the second out, but it wasn’t deep enough for Davis to try and score. However, when the throw from Rockies’ right-fielder Jake Cave sailed by catcher Jacob Stallings, fans at the Coliseum expressed their displeasure at Davis for not scoring. Max Schuemann then struck out swinging to end the inning, and the A’s came up empty handed.

As for Estes, he settled down. In fact, when he got Jacob Stallings to ground out to end the top of the first inning, that started a streak of 13-straight guys that Estes retired.

Seth Brown doubled to lead off the bottom of the fourth, and the A’s ended up loading the bases with one out. However, like the bottom of the second, the A’s would waste this opportunity as well. Cameron and Schuemann each flew out, and the Rockies kept their 2-0 lead going to the fifth.

Estes’ streak came to an end when Tovar hit his second double of the game to lead off the top of the sixth. Cave then lined a single to right to put runners at the corners with nobody out.

Things then got weird when McMahon hit a high soaring pop up to shallow center field that drew in a whole group of A’s defenders. Shortstop Max Schuemann dropped the ball, which then deflected to right-fielder Seth Brown, who threw to second-baseman Zack Gelof to get cave on the force play. Tovar came in to score to make it 3-0 Rockies.

The play was ruled a 6-9-4 fielder’s choice and an RBI for McMahon. Ironically, the fact that Cave was thrown out at second is most likely what gave McMahon an RBI, as had everybody been safe, the play would have likely been ruled an error on Schuemann, and McMahon would not have gotten an RBI.

Montero came up and also hit a pop up, this one to left, and left-fielder Daz Cameron, who initially broke back, came in and couldn’t get it on the dive. This one would be ruled a hit. Doyle hit another pop up, but this one would be caught by Schuemann at short for the second out.

Stallings then lined a base-hit to left. McMahon was waved in, and Cameron’s throw to the plate appeared as if it was going to make it a close play at the plate. The throw was cut off by third-baseman Abraham Toro, who threw to the shortstop, Schuemann, who was covering third, to nail Montero to end the inning. McMahon crossed the plate before the final put was made, so the run scored, and it was 4-0.

The weirdest part of that inning was the fact that Estes only threw 10 pitches that entire inning. No at-bat in that inning lasted more than three pitches.

Feltner responded by throwing a shutdown 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the sixth. Estes then came back out for one last inning in the top of the seventh and threw a 1-2-3 inning.

The game was going rather quickly, as Victor Vodnik came in for Colorado in the bottom of the seventh, and the A’s finally got something going. Kyle McCann led off the inning with a double to right. Cameron reached on an infield hit to put runners at the corners, and Schuemann lined a base-hit up the middle to center to score McCann and put the A’s on the board.

Scott Alexander came in for Oakland in the eighth and threw a 1-2-3 inning. Seth Brown singled off Tyler Kinley with one out in the bottom of the eighth, and Davis hit a home run to left-center to make it a one-run game at 4-3.

Michael Kelly pitched a 1-2-3 inning for Oakland in the top of the ninth, and the A’s came up for one last shot in the bottom of the inning against Jalen Beeks.

Daz Cameron, who was called up just this morning from the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, and who heard the news this morning from Tacoma, Washington and had to catch an early morning flight from Seattle, hit a home run to left-center in his A’s debut to tie the game to start the bottom of the ninth.

“Have you ever heard of ‘snap, crackle, pop?’ That’s exactly what it feels like,” said Cameron. “Popping a ball off the really fat part of the bat…..it was a good feeling.”

It was quite a day for Cameron, who was playing his first major league game since Aug. 7, 2022, when he was a member of the Detroit Tigers.

“He’s been killing Triple-A,” said Manager Mark Kotsay. “[He took] a 5:30 flight from Seattle to Oakland [and was] in the lineup. I met him midway through my workout this morning, [I] told [him] he was in the lineup and he just kinda blank stared me and didn’t realize what was going on, because I was pretty intense at that moment. So it’s always that way, but for him to come through [with] a big homer to tie it in the ninth, it was great to see from him.”

Schuemann immediately followed up Cameron’s home run with a base-hit, and with two outs, he stole second. Brent Rooker then drew a walk from Justin Lawrence, but Brown softly lined out to second-baseman Alan Trejo in shallow right-center.

For the second day in a row, the A’s came back to force the game into extra innings. Mason Miller pitched in the top of the 10th, and the Rockies retook the lead on a sacrifice fly to center by Jordan Beck. The inning ended when Elias Diaz pinch-hit for Trejo and lined out to Davis, who very casually stepped on the bag to double off Kris Bryant at first to end the inning.

Lawrence stayed out for the Rockies in the bottom of the 10th. Gelof singled in Brown, the automatic runner, with one out to tie it again. McCann walked, and the A’s had another chance to win it, but Cameron grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

It was now off to the 11th, and Miller came back out for a second inning of work. Cave singled in Diaz, the automatic runner, to put the Rockies back ahead 6-5.

Things then completely fell apart for Miller and the A’s. With Cave at second and Charlie Blackmon at first with two outs, a wild pitch from Miller moved the runners to second and third. Doyle then singled deep into the hole at short to score Cave and make it 7-5. If it wasn’t for the wild pitch, Schuemann would have had an easy force play at second, but with that out of the picture, Doyle was able to beat out the long throw.

“I think [Miller] left a lot of pitches in the middle of the plate,” said Kotsay. “Even though he’s got dominant stuff, there’s going to be days when hitters [hit his stuff] when it’s over the middle…..you’re going to have days like that. Now, it’s about bouncing back for Mason.”

The Rockies continued to add on after Brandon Bielak came in for Miller. Brendan Rodgers lined a double down the left field line to score a pair and open Colorado’s lead to 9-5.

It was the exact same situation as last night. The Rockies scored two in the first inning, and the A’s came back to tie the game and force it into extra innings, but the Rockies were prepared to win another one. It seemed all but over for the A’s, but they continued to fight and refused to give in.

Matt Koch was the new pitcher for Colorado, and Cameron was the automatic runner at second. The A’s showed right away that they were indeed going to keep fighting, as Schuemann led off the inning and lined a double down the left field line to score Cameron and make it 9-6.

Toro singled on a ground ball to right to knock in Schuemann and make it 9-7, and then JJ Bleday tied the game with a home run to right-center.

What was a quick midweek afternoon affair quickly turned into a long and drawn-out thriller. Peter Lambert came in for Koch, and Brown lined an opposite-field base-hit to left with one out. Davis struck out looking for the second out, but on the third strike, Brown stole second. Gelof then hit a ground ball into the whole at short that seemed destined for left field, but Tovar dove to his right to keep it in the infield.

Rockies Manager Bud Black chose to intentionally walk McCann to load the bases, and Kotsay countered by pinch-hitting Tyler Soderstrom for Daz Cameron. It was a bold move to pinch-hit for the man who hit the ninth-inning game-tying home run in his A’s debate, but Kotsay’s move paid off, as Soderstrom walked on four pitches to end it, and the A’s someway and somehow came back with five runs in the bottom of the 11th to win this wild thriller by a final of 10-9.

“These guys in there, they don’t quit, and today’s an example of that,” said Kotsay. “The unity that they’ve stuck together, the teamwork that they’ve created [and] the culture in there came out today…..last road trip, they got together after we left Baltimore and talked about those specific things…..we got off that road trip with a day off, and I know a lot of the guys spent the day together bonding, creating friendship and that unity. I think today was a perfect example of it.”

Brandon Bielak ended up getting the win for Oakland, and Peter Lambert took the loss for Colorado.

The A’s improve to 21-31, and they have won their first series since taking two of three from the Miami Marlins two and a half weeks ago. They will welcome the Houston Astros into the Coliseum for three games starting Friday night. This will be a chance at retribution for the A’s, who were swept out of Houston in four games by the Astros when the two teams met at Minute Maid Park last week.

“We’re gonna enjoy this one,” said Kotsay. “I don’t want to look past this one yet, because it feels too good.”

“We want another opportunity to play [the Astros],” Kotsay continued. “They’ve had our number for a little while…..every series is [a] challenge, but I think [our] guys know where we’re at, and [we have an] opportunity to go out and play against the best.”

Ross Stripling (1-8, ERA 5.19) will be on the mound for the A’s, and he will be up against Justin Verlander (2-2, ERA 3.97) who will be going for Houston. First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m.