Timbers edge Earthquakes 2-1 climb up to 8th in Western Conference

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Portland Timbers foward Cristhian Paredes battles San Jose Earthquakes defender Tanner Beason for a loose ball at Providence Park on Wednesday SEP 20, 2023. (Portland Timbers)

by Marko Ukalovic @MarkoUkalovic

Providence Park continues to be a house of horrors for the San Jose Earthquakes.

The Portland Timbers continued its dominance on their home turf against the ‘Quakes as they held on for a thrilling 2-1 victory on Wednesday evening.

Portland has won three matches in a row and are on a five-match point streak (4-0-1). San Jose had its three-match point streak snapped with the loss. The Timbers climbed up to eight place in the Western Conference with 39 points, one point behind the ‘Quakes who currently are in seventh place.

San Jose still has not been able to break the Providence Park curse as they have not won in 17 straight MLS matches in Portland with a record of 0-13-4.

Portland (10-11-9-39 points) controlled the majority of the possession in the first half as they spent the first half inside the San Jose’s zone generating quality scoring chances.

Late in the first half, San Jose (10-10-10-40 points) finally gained possession inside Portland’s zone attempting to take momentum away with a goal before halftime.

However, an errant pass led to a quick counterattack by the Timbers. Bryan Acosta got loose down the right wing before he centered a pass over to Cristhian Paredes who beat ‘Quakes goalkeeper Daniel to the far side with a sliding one-timer for his second goal of the season in the third minute of stoppage time right before halftime.

Portland doubled its lead in the 58th minute when Evander found himself at the right place at the right time. Sebastian Blanco’s shot attempted pinballed off two ‘Quakes defenders inside the box right over to Evander and the Brazilian midfielder chipped the ball over Daniel into the back of the net for his team leading ninth goal of the season.

‘Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez immediately brought in Cade Cowell and Nico Tsakiris to bring in some fresh legs and energy to the offensive attack.

San Jose cut the deficit in half two minutes later when Jeremy Ebobisse lofted a pass from left to right over to Cristian Espinoza. The Argentine striker’s one-timer was saved by Timber’s goalkeeper David Bingham but the subsequent rebound was buried home by Matthew Hoppe for his first career MLS goal and first in a ‘Quakes kit.

Hoppe, who made his first start for San Jose, was moved to central midfielder when the Cowell and Tsakiris were subbed in as wingers, a position he grew up playing up until he was a teenager.

“Growing up my whole life, I played midfielder up until the age of 16 or 17 (years old),” said Hoppe after the match. “Then I moved on up to the striker role. So, I’m comfortable in the middle and I told Luchi (Gonzalez) that. There was some good takeaways from today and you just have to build it towards the next game.”

Despite the offensive push from San Jose late in the match, Portland was able to hold down the fort and escape with three points in a crowded race for the top nine in the Western Conference.

“We knew it was going to be difficult, this is a hard place to get points. We knew that coming in. We embraced it in our prep. We talked about enjoying it. Enjoying this environment and the pressure of these last games. I thought we could be better in the attacking third. We scored a rebound goal. We need more of those and a little bit more determination and final action that I know we have in us,” Gonzalez said.

Bingham finished the match with one save on two shots on net to earn the win. Daniel made four saves, including a diving one off of a free kick by Evander from just outside the box in the 25th minute to keep the game scoreless at the time, on six shots on goal in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with five corner kicks. Portland had six.

Portland leads the overall series 17-6-10.

Cowell became the youngest player in MLS history to earn 100 MLS appearances.

Out of the 10 wins by Portland, eight of them have come at home.

The announced crowd at Providence Park was 21,518.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts Nashville SC on Saturday 9/23 at 7:30pm at Pay Pal Park.

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Chiefs Mahomes highest paid player in NFL; Browns RB Chubb will be tough to replace; plus more news

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The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Pat Mahomes encourages fans to voice their cheers in Jacksonville against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville on Sun Sep 17, 2023. Mahomes signed the NFL’s biggest contract on Tue Sep 19, 2023 (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Jessica:

#1 Jessica, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Pat Mahomes became the highest paid player in NFL history getting a $210.6 million four year deal Mahomes passes up Baltimore Ravens quarterback’s deal of $208 million which pays LaMar Jackson through 2026.

#2 Jerome Ford is the featured running back now for the Cleveland Browns after running back Nick Chubb got a season ending knee injury on Monday Night Football against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Chubb had to be carted off the field. Ford carried 16 times for 106 yards. Browns head coach Jeff Stefanski said you can’t replace a running back like Chubb and said everybody has to do a little bit more.

#3 New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll whose Giants are coming off a win against the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday after getting crushed at the Meadowlands the week before by the Dallas Cowboys 40-0. Daboll is trying to avoid benching Saquon Barkley who suffered an ankle injury from last Sunday’s game. Daboll said he hasn’t ruled Barkely out of the line up for Thursday night yet or not.

#4 New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson said that the 14 game losing streak against the New England Patriots is unacceptable. Wilson said on ESPN’s Bart and Hahn show that it’s time that things change around here. Wilson said he’s 0-2 against the Patriots. The Jets host the Patriots this Sunday and Wilson and the Jets will have their chance to snap that long skid.

#5 After playing in just 18 snaps the New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams is out with a hamstring injury according to Saints head coach Dennis Allen. Williams left in the first half. The Saints are without running backs Alvin Kamara currently on a suspension and Kendre Miller is inactive. The Saints are now down to a practice squad running back Tony Jones Jr.

Join Jessica for Headline Sports every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Four run 7th does in Giants in 7-1 loss to D-Backs in Arizona; SF drops further back in NL Wild Card by 3.5 games

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Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023

Chase Field

Phoenix, Arizona

San Francisco Giants 1 (76-76)

Arizona Diamondbacks 7 (81-72)

Win: Merrill Kelly (12-7)

Loss: Logan Webb (10-13)

Time: 2:30

Attendance: 16,848

By Stephen Ruderman

Photo courtesy of Rob Schumacher of the Arizona Republic

PHEONIX–The Diamondbacks completed a short two-game sweep of the Giants, further dashing the Giants’ already-dwindling playoff hopes. Arizona took game two on Wednesday 7-1 at Chase Field.

After dropping Tuesday night’s series opener, the Giants needed a win to stay afloat in the wild card race. They came into Wednesday’s game three games back of the Chicago Cubs for the third wild card, and three and a half games back of the Diamondbacks for the second wild card.

Giants Manager Gabe Kapler turned to his ace, Logan Webb, and Webb would be opposed by Merrill Kelly. LaMonte Wade stepped in, and led off the game with a home run in the first inning and just like the first inning Tuesday night, the Giants scored and struck first. 

However, the Diamondbacks struck back in the first off Webb, Corbin Carroll led off the bottom of the first inning with a base-hit; stole second; and got to third on a ground ball. With two outs, Christian Walker stepped in and hit a chopper to third that Giants’ third-baseman J.D. Davis charged, but couldn’t get Walker in time, which tied the game at 1-1.

Kelly set the Giants down 1-2-3 in the top of the second, and Webb pitched a quick and quiet bottom of the second. The Giants wasted an opportunity in the top of the third, and then the Diamondbacks pounced in the bottom of the third.

Geraldo Perdomo grounded out to start the inning, but Corbin Carroll then singled; stole second; and advanced to third when Patrick Bailey’s throw sailed into center field. Katel Marte walked, and Tommy Pham just beat out the back end of a 6-4 fielder’s choice, which allowed Carroll to score and the Diamondbacks to take the lead. Christian Walker singled, and Alek Thomas doubled in Pham to give the Diamondbacks a 3-1 lead.

From there, Merrill Kelly was on cruise control, as he pitched 1-2-3 innings in the fourth, fifth and sixth, and set down 11-straight batters he faced. As for Webb, he escaped trouble in the bottom of the fourth, and pitched quick and scoreless fifth and sixth innings. Webb ended up giving up just three runs over six innings, but like much of the season, the run support was not there.

“We’re all disappointed that we haven’t been able to support Webb with run support,” said Kapler. “It doesn’t take away from the excellent season that he’s had. [With] the innings that he’s been able to pile up, [as well as the] games he’s been able to keep in, he’s just been one of the best pitchers in baseball, and I don’t think that’s disputable.”

Michael Conforto laced a double down the right-field line to start the top of the seventh and give the Giants a chance. However, Luis Matos flew out to center, and Patrick Bailey moved Conforto to third on a ground out to second.

Wilmer Flores pinch-hit, and drew a walk, and that did it for Kelly, as Diamondbacks Manager Torey Lovullo brought in Ryan Thompson to face Thairo Estrada. Estrada proceeded to strike out, as he lunged at a pitch in the dirt to end the inning, and it was another opportunity wasted for the Giants.

Ryan Walker came in for Webb in the bottom of the seventh, and the Diamondbacks made the Giants pay. Carroll and Marte led off the inning with back-to-back home runs, as for Carroll, it was his fourth hit of the day, and that would not be all for Arizona. 

Pham struck out swinging, but Christian Walker doubled to get another rally going. Alek Thomas struck out looking, and after Lourdes Guriel walked, Sean Hjelle, who was brought up this morning from Triple-A Sacramento, was brought in to replace Walker. Gabriel Moreno and Emmanuel Rivera each knocked in a run with back-to-back singles. That capped off a four-run inning for Arizona, as they opened their lead to 7-1.

Mike Yastrzemski drew his third walk of the game in the top of the eighth, but the Giants were unable to do anything with it. Hjelle pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth, and then Kyle Nelson came in to set the Giants down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth.

The Giants fall back to .500 at 76-76, as they have lost five of their last six to start this road trip. They have also gone 5-25 in their last 30 road games dating back to July 19. The Giants’ also fall to four and a half games behind the Diamondbacks, who won the season series, and thus hold any potential tiebreaker. The Giants are three and a half games back of the third wild card, the Cubs and the Marlins lost their games Wednesday night.

“The math is not on our side,” said Kapler. “Every game [left] is one that we have to win.”

The Giants’ season is now on life support, as they are three and four games back of the final wild card spot with 10 games to go. Things won’t get any easier, as they will be heading to Los Angeles for a four-game series, which will also be the final road series of the year for the Giants.

Notes:

  • The Giants have placed Alex Cobb on the 10-Day Injured List, and he will be out for the remainder of the season. Cobb has been pitching with an injured right hip over his last several starts. However, Cobb Left Tuesday Night’s game in Phoenix against the Arizona Diamondbacks after throwing two balls to start the bottom of the third inning. It was his first first start in eight days. Cobb made the All-Star Game for the first time in his career, but he has struggled since August, going 1-4 with a 6.18 ERA in his last eight starts. Ryan Walker was also placed on the Injured List, and Kyle Harrison and Sean Hjelle were called up to take their places.
  • Brandon Crawford left the game in the third inning due to right hamstring tightness. Manager Gabe Kapler said it could be an IL situation.
  • Giants Director of Pitching Brian Bannister, who has been with the team since 2020, is expected to join the Chicago White Sox Front Office next season.

Mariners beat A’s 6-3 to sweep three-game series at Coliseum

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Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh, middle, is congratulated by Teoscar Hernandez (35) after hitting a home run as Oakland Athletics catcher Tyler Soderstrom, right, looks on during the fifth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Sep 20, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Seattle Mariners spoiled rookie pitcher Joey Estes’ Major League debut Wednesday afternoon. Estes went 4.2 innings, allowing six runs and six hits. Five of the six hits were for extra bases, two doubles, and three home runs. The Mariners, behind George Kirby’s seven innings, holding the A’s three runs, beat the A’s 6-3 to sweep the three-game series.

The M’s put two runs on the board at the top of the second. With one out, Tye France reached on Jordan Diaz’s fielding error. It was Diaz’s second error of the game. The next hitter, Dominic Canzone, homered to give the Mariners an early lead, 2-0.

Zack Gelof, leading off in the fourth, sent George Kirby’s pitch over the wall in center field to bring the A’s within a run of tying the game. The Mariners still lead 2-1 heading into the fifth inning. 

The M’s big boys put four more runs on the board in the fifth to take a 6-1 lead. Hit by one of Estes’ pitches in the third, Julio Rodriguez exacted a degree of revenge by blasting his 31st home run of the year. The next hitter, catcher Cal Raleigh, who doubled in the first, homered for the 29th time to give the M’s a 4-1 lead. Seattle scored two more.

With one out, Eugenio Suarez doubled. Estes hit first baseman Ty France with a pitch. A’s manager, Mark Kotsay, removed Estes from the game. Adrian Martinez came in to pitch. The first batter Martinez faced, Dominic Canzone, who had homered in the second, doubled to drive in both runners. The M’s led 6-1 halfway through the fifth inning.

With two out in the bottom of the sixth, the A’s rallied to make it a 6-3 game. Seth Brown singled for the second time, and the A’s best power hitter this season, Brent Rooker, sent George Kirby’s 97 mile-per-hour out of the park. For Rooker, it was his 27th big fly of the year. 

Neither team scored in the final three innings. Seattle wins 6-3.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s are now 46-106. They own the worst record in baseball. They have lost seven in a row and are sixty games under the .500 mark. They are close to exceeding the 1979 A’s team that lost 108 games, a team record.

The Mariners are now 84-68—the M’s kept pace with the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. The Astros are just 1/2 game ahead of the Rangers and the Mariners in the race for first place in the AL West.

The Line score for Oakland was three runs, eight hits, and two errors. Joey Estes was the losing pitcher. The 21-year-old Estes was the fifth A’s pitcher this year to debut in 2023. Estes’ line was 4.2 innings, allowing six runs, five earned, six hits, three of which were home runs, two walks, and two strikeouts. Estes threw 90 pitches, 60 were strikes.

The Line for Seattle was six runs, eight hits, and no errors. George Kirby was the winning pitcher. Kirby’s record improved to 11-10.

Julio Rodriguez. Cal Raleigh and Dominic Canzone homered for Seattle. Canzone had a double and a home run and drove in four runs. 

Zack Gelof and Brent Rooker homered for the A’s. Rooker had two RBIs. 

The A’a are 0-6 on the ten-game homestand. Oakland will host the Detroit Tigers for four games starting Thursday night. Luis Medina (3-9 ERA 5.56) will pitch for Oakland. The Tigers will send lefty Tarik Skubal (6-3 ERA 3.25) to the mound to face the A’s. The game will start at 6:40 p.m at the Oakland Coliseum.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Home season almost over as A’s get swept again; Four game series with Tigers starts Thursday night at Coliseum

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Oakland Athletics pitcher Joey Estes, left, reacts after allowing a home run to Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh, right, during the fifth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Sep 20, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 5602 fans came out to see the Seattle Mariners sweep the Oakland A’s in three games. Wednesday afternoon was no exception in the series as the M’s came out and just had another offensive afternoon with a 6-3 win

#2 The Mariners in the top of the second saw Dominic Canzone belt a two run home run to give Seattle a 2-0 off A’s rookie pitcher Joey Estes.

#3 In the bottom of the fourth the A’s Zack Gelof crushed his 13th home run of the season off M’s starter George Kirby to close the score to one run 2-1.

#4 It was the top of the sixth the M’s put some distance between them and A’s starter Estes. Julio Rodriquez hit a 389 foot home run to center right, Cal Raleigh followed up hitting a 398 foot home run to right field to make it 4-1 and the M’s Canzone hit a double to left field scoring Ty France and Eugenio Suarez making it 6-1.

#5 In the top of the sixth the A’s Brent Rooker hit his 27th home run of the season a 410 foot belt to deep center scoring Seth Brown and the A’s cut the lead in half 6-3.

#6 The A’s open a four game series on Thursday night against the Detroit Tigers. Starting for Detroit Tarik Skubal (6-3 ERA 3.25) and for Oakland right hander Luis Medina (3-9 ERA 5.56) first pitch at 6:40pm PT at the Oakland Coliseum.

Jerry Feitelberg is Oakland A’s reporter at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal with Jerry Feitelberg: Taylor trying to right Stanford ship and prepare for Arizona for Saturday

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Stanford head coach Troy Taylor disputes a call during the first half against the USC Trojans on Sat Sep 9, 2023 in Los Angeles, the Cardinal went onto loose to the Sacramento State Hornets on Sat Sep 16, 2023 at Stanford and host the Arizona Wildcats on Sat Sep 23, 2023 at Stanford Stadium (AP News photo)

On the Pac 12 podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 The Stanford Cardinal (1-2) continued their struggles as they were beaten by the Sacramento State Hornets (3-0) 30-23. Former Hornets head coach and current Stanford head coach Troy Taylor was beaten by his former team the Hornets for the Cardinal second loss in week 3.

#2 The Hornets had a key second quarter scoring two touchdowns against the Cardinal and coming away with a 20-14 lead at the half.

#3 Hornets quarterback Kaiden Barnett refused to loose as he threw for 279 yards, going 21-33 for one touchdown and two interceptions. Barnett once again leads the Hornets to another win and Sacramento State goes up 3-0.

#4 The Cardinals on the other hand continues to struggle executing the red zone they have seen the worst of times this season getting whipped by the USC Trojans in week 2 56-10 and losing by a touchdown last Saturday to the Hornets.

#5 It’s week 4 for Stanford as they try and regroup, try and get a game plan to prepare for the Arizona Wildcats who dominated in their two wins this season beating Miss State 31-24 on Sat Sep 9th and UTEP on Sat 16th, 31-10. Do you see the Cardinal with their hands full this Sat with the Wildcats at Stanford Stadium?

Jerry Feitelberg is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Golden Gate Fields podcast with Augie Mesenburg: After extension is this it for Golden Gate Field race track

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Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze, right, riding Two Step Cat crosses the finish line to win his 10,000th race at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif., Jan. 1, 2008. Golden Gate Fields announced that it has extended horse racing and instead of closing in October 2023 will close July 2024. (AP file photo)

Horse Racing podcast with Augie Mesenburg:

#1 Augie, how encouraging has it got to be for horse racing fans, employees, and front office staff that Golden Gate Fields in Albany/Berkeley has extended it time instead of closing up shop in October extending it to June?

#2 Augie, I know I asked you off the air but is there anyway you see that Golden Gate Fields can avoid closing it’s doors permanently or is 1st Racing set on closing the long time track down.

#3 Aidan Butler the Chief Executive of Golden Fields said the track will be applying for race track dates for the summer of 2024.

#4 Butler and First Racing said it’s certain that July will be the last month of horse racing at Golden Gate Fields if there is no miracle to save the track.

#5 Augie, you had the chance to work with everyone at the track over the years the jockeys, trainers, owners, fans, front office people and from their perspective how surprising did this news come and how dependent are the employees on working at Golden Gate Fields?

Augie Mesenburg was a former employee at Golden Gate Fields and is a business representative for the Golden Gate union employees

San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers: Troy forecasts how Sharks players will do for upcoming season

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San Jose Sharks’ Logan Couture (39) scores on Winnipeg Jets goaltender David Rittich (33) during overtime in Winnipeg on Mon Mar 6, 2023. Couture had 27 goals for the Sharks last season. (Canadian Press photo via AP)

On the San Jose Sharks podcast:

#1 Troy we’ll take a look at each key player on the roster and get your take on how you see them doing for the season, center Logan Couture last season had 27 goals, 40 assists, 67 points

#2 William Eklund lots is expected out of Eklund who played only eight games, scored two goals and had one assist.

#3 In 79 games played Tomas Hertl scored 22 goals, had 41 assists for 63 points at center.

#4 After seven seasons Kevin Labanc comes into the 2023-24 season playing 72 games last season, scoring 15 goals, 18 assists, with 33 total points.

#5 Center Nico Sturm last season played in 74 games, 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points how do you see him going into camp and what kind of season do you expect him to have?

Join Troy Ewers for the San Jose Sharks podcasts during the 2023-24 season at

Carroll, Marte puts on the double steal as Diamondbacks defeat Giants 8-4; SF drops 3 games back of Wild Card

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The Arizona Diamondbacks Corbin Carroll (right) who stole third comes home on a throwing error slides under San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey’s glove (left) to score in the bottom of the second inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Tue Sep 19, 2023 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023

Chase Field

Phoenix, Arizona

San Francisco Giants X (76-75)

Arizona Diamondbacks X (80-72)

Win: Zac Gallen (16-8)

Loss: Alex Cobb (7-7)

Time: 2:39

Attendance: 26,093

By Stephen Ruderman

PHOENIX–The Diamondbacks dealt the Giants another tough loss to start a crucial two-game set for the two teams at Chase Field in Phoenix, as Arizona won it by a final of 8-4 Tuesday night.

This was the start of the biggest series of the year for the Giants, who came into the game two games back of the Cubs for the third wild card, and two and a half games back of the Diamondbacks for the second wild card. After nearly blowing a 9-0 lead and barely holding on to salvage a game in the four-game series in Denver against the Rockies on Sunday, the Giants were hoping to create some momentum from Sunday’s win.

Alex Cobb, who was pitching for the first time in eight days, made the start for the Giants, as Manager Gabe Kapler lined Cobb and Logan Webb, his two best starters, to start the games in Arizona. Cobb has had a solid season, which included a trip to the All-Star Game in Seattle, and he continued his success when he came within an out of no-hitting the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 29 in San Francisco.

“[I] love it,” said Kapler prior to the game. “Both [Cobb and Webb] are ultra competitive. [They] have been our two most trusted starters now for quite some time, and all [of] that is based on their performance.”

However, Cobb has been dealing with a hip injury, and he has struggled on the road this season. He came into tonight with a road ERA of 5.26, and he had particularly struggled in his previous five road starts coming into tonight, in which he had gone 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA. That was in contrast with Diamondbacks’ starter, Zac Gallen, who came into tonight 11-2 at home with a 2.18 ERA

It was a matchup of All-Stars in Cobb and Gallen, as a decent-sized crowd filled up Chase Field for this Tuesday Night Pennant Race game. Diamondbacks fans showed up, but there was a contingent of Giants fans as well, who showed up, and made noise with chants of “Let’s Go Giants,” just as LaMonte Wade was stepping in to start the game.

The Giants got things going off Gallen early. Wade led off, and hit a line drive to right, where Diamondbacks’ right-fielder, Corbin Carrol, had to made a decision whether to try and catch it or let it fall, but as he decided to field it on a hop, it went by him to the wall, and that allowed Wade to go slide into third with a triple just ahead of the relay throw from second-baseman, Katel Marte.

Mike Yastrzemski then hit a sacrifice fly to left to knock in Wade, as the Giants struck first. Wilmer Flores popped out to the catcher, Gabriel Moreno in foul territory, and then Joc Pederson hit a home run to straight away center that just hit the top of the yellow line above the 407 footmarker.

The Diamondbacks immediately responded off Cobb in the bottom of the first. Corbin Carroll singled the other way to left, and Katel Marte singled Carroll over to third. The Diamondbacks had runners at the corners with nobody out for Tommy Pham, who chopped into a 4-6 fielder’s choice to put Arizona on the board. Cobb then got both Christian Walker and Alek Thomas to ground out to third, as Cobb escaped the inning without any further damage.

Gallen struck out the side in a 1-2-3 top of the second, and then things unraveled for Cobb with two outs in the bottom of the second. With Gabriel Moreno, who had been hit by a pitch, at first, Geraldo Perdomo hit a doink double along the left-field line to advance Moreno to third. That set things up for Corbin Carroll, who laced a double off the end of the bat down the left-field line to knock in both runners and give the Diamondbacks their first lead of the night.

It did not stop there. After Katel Marte walked, he and Carroll attempted a double steal, and the throw from Patrick Bailey to third was dropped by third-basemen Wilmer Flores, who then threw the ball away as he tried to nail Carroll at the plate. Not only did Carroll score, but Marte came in to score all the way from first as well, as a four-run second gave the Diamondbacks a 5-2 lead.

The Giants wasted a leadoff single by Thairo Estrada in the top of the third, and then Alex Cobb re-aggravated his hip after throwing two balls to Alek Thomas to start the bottom of the third, which caused him to have to leave the game. Cobb was succeeded by Alex Wood, who ended up pitching a 1-2-3 inning.

“[Cobb] gave us everything he had,” said Kapler in his postgame press conference. “He was unable to get through the outing today, and we had to get him out of there.

“I thought it was something I could pitch through,” said Cobb. “The pain is definitely something you can tolerate, but it starts affecting everything else.”

The Giants wasted a leadoff single by Wilmer Flores in the top of the fourth, and the Diamondbacks made them pay in the bottom of the fourth. With Wood back out on the mound, Jace Pederson led off the inning with a double, followed by Geraldo Perdomo, who reached on an infield hit.

Carroll was hit by a pitch, and that loaded the bases for Marte, who knocked in a pair on a ground ball base-hit to left-center, though he was thrown out at second trying to stretch it into a double.

Mitch Haniger led off the top of the fifth with a base-hit, but the Giants would not waste this one. Patrick Bailey struck out looking, but Brandon Crawford snuck a ground ball just to the left of second-baseman Katel Marte, and into right for a base-hit, which moved Haniger over to third.

Thairo Estrada walked to load the bases, and that brought up Wade, who hit a deep fly ball to right that was caught, but knocked in Haniger to cut the deficit to 7-3. Yastrzemski fell down 0-2, but he worked a walk to load the bases.

Wilmer Flores then walked to make it a 7-4 game. That brought up the potential go-ahead run in Joc Pederson, who was called out on strikes by Home Plate Umpire Adam Beck to end the inning, as he stuck around to argue, but was spared being thrown out of the game.

Alek Thomas tripled to left-center, just out of the reach of Yastrzemski, to start the bottom of the fifth, and he scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Moreno, as the Diamondbacks got one of their runs back to make it 8-4.

Gallen was relieved by Miguel Castro, who pitched a 1-2-3 top of the sixth. The Diamondbacks strung a pair of two-out hits off Wood in the bottom of the sixth, but they were unable to add to their lead. The Diamondbacks brought in the lefty, Andrew Sealfrank, for the seventh, and he pitched a scoreless inning, as did Wood, who pitched through a one-out hit and a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh.

Kevin Ginkel then came in for Arizona in the eighth. Ginkel set down the first two men he faced, but after Joc Pederson drew a two-out walk, Michael Conforto came up and hit a towing fly ball to center field, but Alek Thomas made an incredible catch just in front of the wall to snatch any remaining hopes the Giants may have had tonight right out of thin air. Scott Alexander came in for San Francisco to replace wood in the bottom of the eighth, and pitched a scoreless inning.

Diamondbacks Manager Torey Lovullo brought in his closer, Paul Sewald, in for a non-save situation in the ninth, and Sewald pitched a 1-2-3 inning to close the Giants out.

The Giants fall to 76-75, and also fall to three games back of the Cubs for the third wild card with 11 games left to play.

“You look around the league, and see other teams took care of business,” said Cobb.

Logan Webb (10-12 ERA 3.31) will make the start in what is a must-win game Wednesday afternoon, as the Giants can not afford to keep falling, especially with a four-game series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers starting on Thursday. Arizona will start Merrill Kelly (11-7 ERA 3.45). First pitch 12:40pm PT.

NOTES:

Kapler said after the game that Cobb will continue to be evaluated before a decision is made regarding his next start.

Crawford goes deep, Kelenic’s 2 RBIs gives M’s five run win over A’s 7-2

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Seattle Mariners’ Jarred Kelenic, left, celebrates next to first base coach Kristopher Negrón after hitting an RBI single against the Oakland Athletics during the second inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Tue Sep 19, 2023 (AP News photo)

Seattle (83-68). 010 100 401. – 7. 11. 0

Oakland (46-105). 000 000 200 – 2. 6. 1

Time: 2:52

Attendance: 6,294

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–After tonight’s 7-2 drubbing by the Mariners, the A’s probably don’t have even the bittersweet consolation of the also rans of baseball, the schadenfreude that comes from being a spoiler.. Neither the Detroit Tigers nor the Angels, two of Oakland’s rivals in their three remaining series this year, has a mathematical chance of reaching the playoffs.

The third team they’ll face is the Twins, central division leaders, who already have clinched a playoff berth. Oakland might contribute to the bursting of their gonfalon bubble, but I wouldn’t bet on it, although you can be sure that someone in Las Vegas would be glad to take your money.

Paul Blackburn, the A’s starter, now in his seventh year with the club, didn’t begin his big league season until May 29, thanks to a right middle fingernail avulsion that kept him on the IL. He was an unimpressive 4-5 4.14 at game time after two straight starts in which he couldn’t pitch more than three innings.

Blackburn lasted longer tonight, five innings, in which he faced 20 batters and delivered 93 pitches, 60 for strikes. The Mariners scored two runs, both earned, off Blackburn on four hits and a walk. He struck out four. .He was the losing pitcher and now has a record of 4-6, 4.14.

The Mariners feel that Blackburn’s mound rival, Luis Castillo, is a valid Cy Young candidate.. His game time record of 13-7,308 backed by his nine (out of 30) starts of seven or more innings indicate that, even if he doesn’t earn the award, he’s certainly worthy of consideration.

Castillo went seven frames again tonight, keeping Oakland off the board for the first six of them. The two runs he allowed were earned. He threw 99 pitches in all, 68 for strikes, while improving his record to 14-7 3.06.

The Mariners went ahead in the top of the second on a one out double by Eugenio Súarez, followed by Jarred Kelenic’s RBI single. The Athletics might have drawn even in the bottom of the third, but they wasted singles by Esteury Ruiz and Tony Kemp when both of them got thrown out trying to steal second.

Kelenic batted in his second run of the night in the fourth on a single to left that scored Teoscar Hernández, who had been successful in his steal attempt after having drawn a walk. That put Seattle up, 2-0

Lucas Erceg relieved Blackburn in the sixth and shut out the M’s in that episode. Then he struck out Ty France in the seventh before yielding to Easton Lucas, who yielded four runs on an infield single by pinch hitter Sam Haggerty, a double by JP Crawford, an intentional walk to Julio Rodríguez, a Cal Raleigh single, and a wild pitch. At this point, Seattle now led, 6-0.

Oakland made a comeback of sorts in the home seventh. Aledmys Díaz led off with an uncursed double to left and scored on Shea Langeliers triple to center. Tyler Soderstrom’s sacrifice fly to center brought in Langeliers with the Athletics’ second tally.

Not unexpectedly, Lucas didn’t come out to pitch the eighth. Easton Sweet did and yielded nothing more damaging than a walk.

Matt Brash relieved Castillo for the home eighth. With Sweet still on the mound, Crawford’s 16th homer of the year led off the top of the ninth. Seattle didn’t score again, but the A’s had to call on. Francisco Pérez to get the final out.

Eduardo Bazardo made quick work of Oakland in a 1,2,3 bottom of the ninth.

The four game series concludes Wednesday, afternoon at 12:37pm PT, with Joey Estes making his major league debut for Oakland against Seattle’s George Kirby (10-10, 3.37)