Headline Sports with Charlie O: Shohei says interpreter scandal has brought team together; Giants-Cards Negro League tribute in Birmingham: plus more news

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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani rounds third base after hitting his 175th career home run a solo shot in the bottom of the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles Fri Apr 12, 2024

On Headline Sports with Charlie O:

#1 Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani has said that when it comes to his teammates they speak the language of baseball. Ohtani mentioned after learning about his interpreter stealing some $16 million from to cover gambling debts it has brought Ohtani and his teammates closer together.

#2 Charlie, got to ask you about the Rickwood Field MLB tribute to the Negro Leagues it’s an upcoming on Jun 20, 2024. The Tribute game will feature the St Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants and it will be played on Birmingham Alabama home of the Birmingham Alabama how important is this game as a tribute to so many black players during the Negro League years?

#3 On Saturday it was a long day for Detroit Tigers third baseman Zach McKinstry and his teammates. McKinstry playing third base committed a three base error when Minnesota Twins Ryan Jeffers hit a ground ball that went through his legs that allowed three runners to score. Later Tigers manager AJ Hinch called on McKinstry to come into pitch as the Tigers had already used five pitchers. McKinstry walked Manuel Margot with one runners on. McKinstry then gave up a home run to Matt Wallner which then accounted for six of the Twins 11 runs that McKinstry was responsible for.

#4 More Twins news you might remember Carlos Correa who couldn’t sign on with either the New York Mets or San Francisco Giants at the beginning of the 2023 season and later got on with the Twins. The Twins shortstop Correa was placed on the ten day injured list on Saturday due to a right oblique strain. Correa was seen clutching his right side during an at bat. Correa teammate Byron Buxton said it was like a gut punch watching Correa having to leave the game.

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

Navarro’s brace paces Rapids in 3-0 shutout win over Earthquakes

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Colorado Rapids forwards Calvin Harris (#14) and Kevin Cabral (#91) celebrate Miguel Navarro’s (#9) first goal of the game during the Rapids 3-0 sin over the San Jose Earthquakes at Pay Pal Park on Saturday ARP 13, 2024. (Colorado Rapids)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Miguel Navarro scored two goals as the Colorado Rapids cruised past the San Jose Earthquakes in a 3-0 shutout victory on Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose has lost three matches in a row and seven of its first eight matches. Colorado has points in its last three matches with the win.

Colorado (3-2-3) drew first blood in the first 10 minute of the first half. Navarro drew a penalty kick in the eighth minute when he had possession inside the box. Navarro attempted to go around ‘Quakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough but Yarbrough tripped Navarro to the ground resulting in the penalty foul.

Navarro made a hesitation move before firing the ball past Yarbrough for his first goal of the match and third goal of the season in the 10th minute.

The Earthquakes (1-7) responded with two quick scoring chances in the 13th and 15th minute by Cristian Espinoza. Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffan stopped both of Espinoza’s attempts with diving saves to keep San Jose from answering with the equalizer.

The rest of the opening 45 minutes featured missed opportunities by San Jose. Shots from Jackson Yueill in the 29th minute and Ahmal Pellegrino in the 39th minute sailed high and over the net resulting in a goal kick.

“We didn’t find a way to put our shots to create more danger with our shots and score them,” said ‘Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez on his team’s lack of goals on the night. “They did. (The score) 3-0 doesn’t reflect the stats, 3-0 reflects what they did effectively.”

The Rapids doubled its lead in the 60th minute when Navarro scored his second goal of the match. Keegan Rosenberry sent a cross into the middle of the box. The ball pinballed off of Rodriguez and then Calvin Harris before Navarro poked home the loose ball into the back of the net to complete his brace and team leading fourth goal of the season.

Gonzalez made a sweep of changes in the 62nd minute as he tried to infuse some energy into his offensive attack as he brought in Preston Judd, Jack Skahan and Benji Kikanovic for Pellegrino, Jeremy Ebobisse and Alfredo Morales.

Cole Bassett put the game away with his second goal of the season in the 80th minute. Navarro found Bassett along the right wing and the Rapid midfielder dribbled in from outside the box into the middle before depositing the ball into the lower left corner past Yarbrough with a left footed shot.

“It’s frustrating when you’re creating opportunities and they’re just not falling your way,” ‘Quakes midfielder Niko Tsakiris echoed his coach’s sentiment. He continued, “I think there were moments tonight that I think we were had good form and in good rhythm. We’re looking to build off of those moments.”

Steffan (3-2-3) stopped all six shots on target to earn his first clean sheet and third win of the season. Yarbrough (1-6) let in three shots on target in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with 10 corner kicks. Colorado had seven.

San Jose is 32-27-19 in the all-time series against Colorado.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels down south to Los Angeles to take on the Galaxy on Sunday 4/21 at 5:15pm at Dignity Health Park.

San Jose Sharks Lose Final Home Game Of The Season 6-2 To Minnesota Wild

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San Jose Sharks goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (29) is laid out as the Minnesota Wild left winger Liam Ohgren (28) scores his first NHL goal in the second period at SAP Center in San Jose on Sat Apr 13, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, April 13th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

SAN JOSE – Final home game of the season for the San Jose Sharks (19-52-9) and it’s a sold out night as the Sharks host the Minnesota Wild (38-33-9). The crowd for fan appreciation night anticipating on a Sharks win was in for a disappointment has the Wild landslided the Sharks 6-2 at SAP Center.

Game recap: In the first period the energy was high and that wasn’t just from the fans in the arena, it was with the teams too. Wild were on the board first, a rebound shot from Matt Boldy, his 28th of the season. 1-0 Wild. Sharks tied it up with a blue line slap shot from Jan Rutta. Granlund got his 45th assist this season with the apple to Rutta, 1-1. With three minutes left in the opening period, Minnesota took the lead after a laser wrist shot from Declan Chisolm, 2-1 Wild and at intermission the crowd was ready for more action.

Not much in the second period until the final six minutes. Liam Ohgren scored his first points of the season in a Wild sweater with a clean up rebound shot, 3-1 Minnesota. Mario Ferraro closed the gap with a one timer goal, 3-2 Wild still up. In the final minute Kirill Kaprizov scored two goals and the first one went off the skate of Mackenzie Blackwood, but the second one was a power play goal that wasn’t debatable. At the final intermission Wild lead 5-2. 

Third period the Wild put the nail in the coffin when Marcus Johansson scored his third goal in 29 games, 6-2 Wild. 

Game notes: Last game on Thursday the Sharks got a big 3-1 victory against the Kraken in Seattle. Devin Cooley made a career-high 49 saves, second-most by a Sharks goaltender this season and third-most by a NHL netminder in his first career road win since 1955-56. Luke Kunin (1g, 0a) netted his second goal in the past three games. Kyle Burroughs (1g, 0a) and Fabian Zetterlund (1g, 0a) each also lit the lamp in the win. Mikael Granlund (0g, 1a) became the first Sharks forward since 2015-16 to post a 10-game point streak. William Eklund (0g, 2a) tallied his sixth multi-point game of the season and Henry Thrun (0g, 2a) added his second multi-point effort in the past three games. It was the Sharks’ first-ever road win at Seattle. SJS Goals: Kunin (11), Burroughs (2), Zetterlund (22). 

Next game for the Sharks will be April 15th in Edmonton against the Oilers.

Stanford Cardinal basketball podcast with Michael Roberson: VanDerveer says moving to ACC was not reason for retirement

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Stanford Cardinal head coach Tara VanDerveer seen here celebrating with her players her 1202 career victory becoming the winningest head coach in NCAA history on Fri Jan 19, 2024 at Maple Pavilion in Palo Alto. VanDerveer met with the media on Wed Apr10, 2024 at Maples Pavilion to announce her retirement. (AP News file photo)

On the Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael R:

#1 Michael, One of the things that Stanford Cardinal head coach Tara VanDerveer pointed out at her last press last Wednesday was she was not retiring because the ACC. Matter of face VanDerveer said that was a motivating factor for her to stay if anything.

#2 The Cardinal are going through big changes from the end of the Pac 12, to the portal transfers, and losing graduating stars Cameron Brink and Hannah Jump and of course dealing with NIL that has taken over the sport.

#3 VanDerveer mentioned that the changes that have arrived has been exhausting for her and it’s become more of a 24 hour job rather than before you would show up in the morning practice and on game days practice and get ready for the game. Now it’s that and constantly off floor basketball decisions but still that wasn’t the reason why she was retiring.

#4 VanDerveer revealed that her real reason for retirement was her mom at 96 years old is someone that she wanted to spend time with, being with her dogs and going water skiing. After awhile VanDerveer realizes as she says “this is not a dress rehearsal, this is your real life” VanDerveer is now 70 years old.

Michael Roberson is a Stanford Cardinal beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers: Cooley’s 49 saves keys Sharks in win in Seattle

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The San Jose Sharks goaltender Devin Cooley tries to reach for the loose puck as the Sharks defenseman Jon Rutta (84) and defenseman Mario Ferraro (38) look on in the third period at SAP Center in San Jose on Fri Apr 12, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers:

#1 Troy, what an event, what trip to Seattle no one would have expected the San Jose Sharks (19-51-9) to come away with a win at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle against one of the Sharks toughest foes the Seattle Kraken (33-32-13) and yet the Sharks came away with a two goal in 3-1.

#2 Troy also the Sharks took advantage of the Kraken mistakes scoring twice 51 second apart and something like capitalizing on a team’s mistakes can help you win games.

#3 It was the Kraken’s last home game in Seattle for the regular season the Kraken had been playing .500 hockey winning five of their last ten games. The Sharks meanwhile had been struggling they have lost five of their last ten games.

#4 Troy the two goals in the third period were key for the Sharks and Cooley kept the Kraken out of the net. The Sharks got a rare road win and the last time the Sharks and Kraken met was back on Mon Apr 1st when the Kraken got a 4-2 win in San Jose.

#5 The Sharks face off against the Minnesota Wild (37-32-9) for a 7:30pm PDT here at SAP Center to close out the Sharks regular season. The Sharks would like nothing more than to close out the home season with a win at SAP Center.

Troy Ewers covered the 2023-24 San Jose Sharks for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Barracuda lose home finale 2-1 to Stars with Blumel’s game winner in OT

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San Jose Barracuda forward Filip Bystedt (#21) battles for the puck along the boards with Texas Stars defenseman Christian Kyrou (#25) in the second period during the Barracuda-Stars game at Tech CU Arena on Saturday APR 13, 2024. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE —Matej Blumel scored two goals, including the game winner with 3:11 left in overtime to give the Texas Stars a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Barracuda in the ‘Cuda’s regular season home finale on Saturday afternoon at Tech CU Arena.

Mavrik Bourque found Blumel in the middle of the ice and the Stats forward beat ‘Cuda goalie Magnus Chrona with a wrist shot for his second goal of the game, his team leading 30th of the season at the 1:49 mark of the overtime session.

San Jose finished 2-1 on its final regular season homestand and never won three games in a row during the season. Texas snapped a two-game losing streak as they stayed in fourth place in the Central Division.

The opening frame was scoreless but a physical one as both teams threw checks against each other in the first 20 minutes. San Jose had a small edge in shots as they outshot Texas 12-11. Neither team drew a minor penalty.

San Jose (23-33-10-4) drew first blood early in the second period on an abbreviated power play. Filip Bystedt intercepted a clearing attempt by the Stars. Bystedt found Danil Gushchin down low in the right wing and the rookie forward’s point-blank shot inside the crease got behind Stars goalie Remi Poirier and sneaked its way into the back of the net for his 20th goal of the season at the 5:14 mark.

Gushchin’s goal tied him for the team lead in points with 54 points alongside Nathan Todd.

Texas (33-31-4-2) had four power play opportunities in the middle frame but weren’t able to figure out ‘Cuda goalie Magnus Chrona who, like in the first period, stopped all 11 shots he faced, including a one-timer by Kyle McDonald during the Stars’ third chance with the man advantage.

The Stars finally broke through on its fifth power play opportunity early in the third period that carried over from the end of the second period. Derrick Pouliot found Blumel in the right slot and the Texas forward beat Chrona with a one-timer to the short side for his first goal of the game, his 29th, to even the score at the 1:12 mark.

Poirier (17-15-4-1) finished the game stopping 29 of the 30 shots he faces to earn his 17th win of the season. Chrona (6-16-7) made 38 saves on 40 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-2 on the power play. Texas was 1-for-5.

San Jose has lost all 10 games that went into overtime this season. They went 2-2 against the Stars in the season series.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Blumel 2) Gushchin 3) Poirier.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels down to the desert for its final two games of the regular season with a weekend series with the Tucson Roadrunners on Friday 4/19 at 7:00pm at the Tucson Convention Center Arena.

Giants’ bats come to life for Logan Webb in much-needed win over Rays 11-2 at Tropicana

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb delivers a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the bottom of the first inning at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg FL on Sat Apr 13, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, April 13, 2024

Tropicana Field

St. Petersburg, Florida

San Francisco Giants 11 (6-9)

Tampa Bay Rays 2 (8-7)

Win: Logan Webb (1-1)

Loss: Ryan Pepiot (1-2)

Time: 2:27

Attendance: 17,411

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants’ offense came to life to give their ace, Logan Webb, some rare run support, and to give the Giants themselves a much-needed win, as they hammered the Tampa Bay Rays 11-2 in St. Pete.

Following a tough 2-1 loss at the Trop last night, in which the offense went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base, the Giants sent their ace, Logan Webb, who has severely suffered from a lack of a run support to the mound. Webb would be matched against the right-hander Ryan Pepiot

LaMonte Wade Jr. singled with one out in the top of the first, and after Jorge Soler struck out, Michael Conforto lined a double down the right field line to score Wade. Webb threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the first, as he set down the first five men he faced.

The Rays got to Webb for a run in the bottom of the third when Jose Siri scored on a double play ball off the bat of Yandy Diaz. The Giants struck back with two outs in the top of the fourth when Thairo Estrada hit a long home run to left to put San Francisco back ahead.

Webb pitched a scoreless bottom of the fourth, and Pepiot set down the first two men he faced in the top of the fifth. However, Jung-hoo Lee lined a double to right, and Wade hit a home run to right-center to make it 4-1. Like the fourth, Pepiot retired the first two batters, and the Giants worked some two-out magic.

Webb pitched a 1-2-3 shutdown bottom of the fifth, and Rays Manager Kevin Cash brought in Chris Devenski for the sixth. Devenski walked the bases loaded to start the inning, and Mike Yastrzemski, who has been off to a brutally-slow start at the plate, singled on a ground ball to right to score a pair and pad the Giants’ lead at 6-1. Patrick Bailey hit an opposite-field ground-rule double down the left field line to knock in a run and make it 7-1.

The Giants’ offense had finally come to life, but they were not done yet. Jorge Soler hit an absolute bomb just to the left of straightaway center with one out in the top of the seventh, and Thairo Estrada hit a two-run shot to left with two away for his second home run of the game.

Webb pitched through a single and a walk in the bottom of the seventh, and that would be it for the Giants’ ace. Webb gave up six hits over seven innings, and while he didn’t have his greatest outing, he was able to wiggle his way out of trouble. Most importantly, he had some real run support today.

“[We got] a good solid seven innings out of him,” said Manager Bob Melvin.

With the Giants up 10-1 and the game a blowout, Cash opted to have his starting catcher, Ben Rortvedt, pitch the top of the eighth. The Giants loaded the bases off Rortvedt with a double by Bailey and a pair of walks, but Rortvedt escaped the inning unscathed. It wasn’t a 1-2-3 inning,k but it certainly wasn’t the worst-pitched inning for a catcher.

Nick Avila came in for the Giants in the bottom of the eighth and surrendered a run. Rortvedt stayed out for Tampa in the top of the ninth, and Matt Chapman led off the inning with a home run to left to make it 11-2. Erik Miller came in and pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to close it out.

The Giants’ offense clicked on all cylinders, as Wade, Chapman and Bailey all had two hits. Thairo Estrada led the way with a 3-for-4 day with a pair of home runs.

“I didn’t make many adjustments,” said Estrada, through interpreter Giants Spanish Play-by-Play Announcer Erwin Higueros. “I just kept my same adjustment, which is just looking for a good pitch to drive.”

Believe it or not, the Giants hit five home runs today after not hitting a single home run in their prior seven games. Their last home run came off the bat of Patrick Bailey at Dodger Stadium 10 days ago on April 3.

“Certainly the homers help[ed],” said Melvin, who said this was a win the Giants needed. “Scoring first in the first inning, that was big for us too. Then to be able to add on, especially in the middle innings, guys on base, got some big hits, hit some home runs. So it’s a much better feeling today for sure.”

“The conversation was all about going game-by-game, at-bat-[by]-at-bat, see your pitch,” said Estrada. “The season is just starting, we have 162 games and we knew we were going to get out of this bad slump.”

Not only did Logan Webb finally get some run support, but he also finally got his first win of the year. Ryan Pepiot took the loss for Tampa.

“We’re happy with the win,” said Estrada. “I mean, especially the way the offense worked, Webb did a great job. Seems like everything worked for us today.”

The Giants improve to 6-9, and they will try and take the series with a win tomorrow morning. Blake Snell will return to where his major league career started for the first time since his trade from the Rays to the Tampa Bay Rays following the 2020 Season. First pitch will be at 1:40 p.m. in St. Pete, and 10:40 a.m., a morning start, back home in San Francisco.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa: Sharks home finale tonight against Wild; Celebrini favored to join Sharks as top draft pick

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Seattle Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak (24) tries to put the puck in the net as the Sharks goaltender Devin Cooley (1) look back in the second period at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Thu Apr 11, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 Mary Lisa, Macklin Celebrini’s father Rick made it clear that he’s excited that Celebrini has a great shot at going to the San Jose Sharks as the number one draft pick. Fans in San Jose are excited about the prospect of Celebrini joining the Sharks and possibly changing the direction of the team who has struggled the last two seasons.

#2 The Sharks had a long long season finishing like last season in last place. They play their last home game of the season tonight against the Minnesota Wild at SAP Center and it’s another off season to regroup and see what direction their going for next season.

#3 You look at the job that goaltender Devin Cooley has done in net with a win he stopped the mighty St Louis Blues back on Apr 6th in overtime with 34 saves and allowed two goals in the Sharks one goal win 3-2.

#4 Mary Lisa, in Seattle last Thursday Cooley once again kept the Sharks in it with some great work between the pipes stopping 49 shots and allowing just one goal. Cooley once again impresses in his second outing.

#5 Last home game for the Sharks with the Wild game is a sell out. The Wild are sixth in the NHL Central at 37-33-9 and have lost their last two games. The Sharks are looking to start MacKenzie Blackwood in net tonight talk about how you see this match up.

Join Mary Lisa Saturdays and Len Shapiro Thursdays for the NHL Stanley Cup podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

#2

#1

A’s hitters baffled by Nats pitcher MacKenzie with 11 K’s in 3-1 loss

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Washington Nationals pitcher MacKenzie Gore pitches into the bottom of the fifth inning against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Apr 13, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, April 13, 2024

Washington (6-7). 010 010 001. 3. 10 0

Athletics (6-9). 000 000 100. 1 8. 0

Time: 2:35.

Attendance: 3,330

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the baseball fans today. The forecast was for unseasonably low temperatures and thunderstorms between noon and one o’clock. Cloudy weather was forecast for the rest of the afternoon, except for more thundershowers between 3:00 and 5:00. That kind of put a damper on the Athletics’ recent surprisingly successful past, in which they had won five of their previous six contests.

Joe Boyle (1-1 ,8.22 at game time) threw the first pitch at 1:07. He would throw 85 more before leaving after five innings, trailing 1-0. The tally he allowed was earned in what turned out to be a 3-1 loss to the visitors, but the predicted thundershowers never materialized, and the youngster pitched rather well.

Boyle yielded five hits and a walk over five full innings, allowing but a single run, which was earned, on five hits and a walk, striking out five. His pitch count reached 86, 51 of them being considered strikes. He took the loss, and now stands at 1-2, but lowered his ERA to 5.68.

“I thought Boyle was good today,” said Manager Mark Kotsay. Obviously, we always know that the pitch count’s going to get run up with him. He’s more of a strikeout guy. He had five today, and only one walk, which is a good sign. I thought he did his job really well.”

The forecast for MacKenzie Gore, Boyle’s opposite number on the team from the nation’s capital, was mixed but promising. Here’s what the Washington Post’s Barry Svrluga had to say about him on April 2:: …even after a somewhat uneven outing in [the Nats’ home opener] this much is obvious: He can do things with a baseball most people can’t.”

Svrluga went on to comment, “So that’s what the 2024 season is about for Gore, the Nationals’ gifted but developing left-hander: taking that arm talent and squeezing results from it. His stat line from his first start of the season …. was decidedly middling. His stuff is not. The trick: getting the outcomes to match the ability about 30 more times.”

Gore pitched well in his 5-2/3 inning mound tenure. Derek Law replaced him and left after retiring Gelof and Davis and allowing a single to Tyler Nevin and a walk to JD Davis. The starter had shut the A’s out on four hits and a walk. He struck out 11 of the 19 batters he faced and,with the win, improved his record to 2-0, 2.81.

Washington took the lead in the top of the third. Zack Gelof made a beautifully smooth play to rob Riley Adams of a hit that was heading towards right field. Jacob Young followed with a hard line drive that bounced off Boyle and caroomed over to Gelof for an infield single. After a quick check up, Boyle stayed in the game and surrendered a triple down the right field line to bring in Young and put Washington up 1-0.

Kyle Muller replaced Boyle for the sixth and gave up another run on doubles to left center by Winker and García. Muller pitched three innings in total.

“This is a good role for Kyle,” said Kotsay. He’s had some good outings this season. He worked really hard this off-season. We met early on in the off-season, and talked to him about maybe making some changes to the pitch shape, but he wanted to make a change to his arm angle and raise it up. He’s done a great job, and we’ve seen good results, so [I] tip my cap to Kyle for putting in the work this off-season and showing up and really making a difference right now in his role helping the bullpen out. He’s [had] some good performances so far.”

The A’s cut their deficit in half in the bottom of the seventh. Nick Allen singled off Robert García, who had relieved Gore with two down in the “home” sixth, took second on a wild pitch, and scored on Abraham Toro’s double to left.

Washington used a total of six pitchers. They were, in addition to Gore and Law, Robert García, Jordan Weems, Hunter Harvey, and Kyle Finnegan, who earned his fourth save with a 1,2,3 bottom of the ninth.

TJ MacFarland and Michael Kelly pitched in the top of the ninth for the A’s. The former left with two out and Trey Lipscomb on first with a single to right. The latter gave up a single to Adams and an RBI double to Young that drove the last nail into the A’s coffin. The run was charged to MacFarland.

“The moral of the story is the offense,” said Kotsay. “We need to hit better, and we need to score more runs, because the margin for error is very minimal right now.”

Game Notes: Oakland A’s public address announcer Amelia Schimmel did double duty doing the A’s and Nationals PA announcing on Saturday afternoon and then doing the PA announcing in San Jose at SAP Center at the NHL San Jose Sharks-Minnesota Wild game which started at 7:30pm on Saturday night.

Sunday, afternoon, the A’s will try to salvage a series split. They’ll send lefty Alex Wood (0-1,8.03) to the mound. Washington will go with Trevor Wiliams, a right with a 2-0, 2.61 record. Monday, A’s fans will get a chance to watch Sonny Gray (1-0,0.00) in his old stomping grounds as he pitches for the visiting Sonny Gray.

Durant leads the way with 28 pts and Nurkic puts game away with free throws as Suns beat Kings 108-107

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Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis (23) plays defense against the Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) in first half action at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Friday night in Sacramento. The Kings welcomed the Phoenix Suns into town for the second to last game of the regular season. The Suns were coming off a rest day after last playing on Wednesday night.

The Kings were on the second night of a back-to-back after playing on Thursday night. The Kings lost to the Pelicans on Thursday night 135-123. On Friday, the Kings and Suns tipped off at 7:40 PM PST inside Golden One Center. The Kings lost to the Suns 108-107.

In the first quarter, the Kings defense came out strong. The Kings held the Suns to only 22 points in the first quarter. The Kings came out of the gate with much more physicality than they did in the game a night prior against the Pelicans. The Kings offense would put up 27 points in the first quarter to take the quick lead. The Kings would go into the second quarter leading by five points, 27-25. Domas Sabonis was the Kings leading scorer after the first with 11 points.

In the second quarter, the Kings were able to extend the lead. The Kings outscored the Suns in the second quarter 27-23 to extend the lead to nine points going into halftime. The Kings defense managed to hold the Suns to a sub-50 point first half, only allowing 45 points. The Kings would score 54 points in the first half to take a 54-45 lead into halftime. The Kings were led in scoring in the first quarter by Domas Sabonis, who scored 16 points. Leading the way in the first half for the Suns was Kevin Durant, who scored 18 points.

In the third quarter, the Suns were able to come back and bring the game a bit closer heading to the fourth quarter. The Suns outscored the Kings 33-31 in the third quarter to cut the lead to seven points. The Kings would lead going into the fourth quarter 85-78. Kevin Durant was leading the Suns through three quarters with 24 points. Domas Sabonis was leading the Kings heading into the fourth with 25 points. The Kings would need to find the energy to hold off the Suns in the final quarter of action.

In the fourth quarter, the game took an all too familiar turn for Kings fans. The Kings were up four points with 1:02 seconds left in the game. Domantas Sabonis made an errant pass that was picked off by Bradley Beal and scored at the other end. From that point, the Kings could never regain control of the game. The Kings would go onto lose after turning the ball over on the final possession of the game 108-107. The Kings were outscored in the fourth quarter 30-22. The Kings were led in defeat by Domas Sabonis who scored 25 points. Kevin Durant led the Suns to victory with 28 points.

Up Next: The Kings will stay home for the final game of the regular season on Sunday. The Kings will take on the Portland Trail Blazers at 12:30 PM PST.