Aces rally in second half, beat Wings, 89-82

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Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson (22) waits for a rebound during the first half of a WNBA basketball game on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 in Las Vegas. (Sports Radio Service/Shawn McCullough)

By Shawn McCullough

LAS VEGAS–The Aces rallied from down nine points at halftime to beat the Dallas Wings, 89-82, at Michelob Ultra Arena.

“These are the best players in the world, so in the second half, we adjusted,” said guard Alysha Clark.

“We had a lot of turnovers in the second half,” said forward Jackie Young. “We just tightened up in the second half.”

Young led the Aces with 28 points, while guard Chelsea Gray added 20.

“Jackie and Chelsea really imposed their will,” said head coach Becky Hammon.

“I tried to be aggressive from the start and get downhill,” said Young.

A’ja Wilson dropped a double-double, scoring 22 points and pulling down 13 rebounds.

The win was the Aces ninth in a row and Las Vegas improved to a perfect 10-0 at home.

The Aces were without point guard Kelsey Plum, who was out with a non-Covid illness.

“[Kelsey] Plum is a huge deal to us,” said Hammon. “She does some things both offensively and defensively that our other players don’t do.”

With the win, the Aces improved to 16-1 on the season and will head to Dallas on Friday to face the Wings once again.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces shot 46.2% from the field.
Las Vegas went nine for 20 from three-point range.
With a short bench, the Aces got just two points off the bench.

Game Starters:

C – 3 Candace Parker
F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 0 Jackie Young
G – 7 Alysha Clark
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Riquna Williams, Out, Lower Back
Kelsey Plum, Out, non-Covid illness

Cobb Shuts Out Mariners Giants Win 2-0

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Taylor Rogers pitching against the Seattle Mariners at Oracle Park July 5th, 2023 (AP news photo)

Wednesday, July 5th 2023

By Troy Ewers

SAN FRANCISCO-In front of a crowd of 24,108 in San Francisco, the Giants played the final game of their three game series against the Seattle Mariners and the ace for the Giants was Alex Cobb, who pitched a phenomenal game. Six innings, seven strike outs and no runs. Cobb in his last ten games is 9-1 and the Giants are now 12-4 when Cobb is on the hill. San Francisco snapped their four game losing streak and can go into their next series with that monkey off their back.

The game itself wasn’t a plethora of runs, but the two runs scored were big for the Giants. In the third inning Wilmer Flores started the rally with a hit that seemed to be an easy ground out, but the ball hit the bag and went over Jose Caballero’s head and Flores gets a single and Brandon Crawford moved to third, he got on base with a walk. Crawford would then score off of LaMonte Wade Jr.’s sac fly making it 1-0 Giants.

The next score for SF would come in the fifth inning when a routine fly ball is hot by Wade Jr. to center, but Julio Rodriguez dropped the ball and Austin Slater scored for the second and final run of the game. When Cobb left the game in the sixth inning, the Rogers brothers came in for an inning a piece and maintained the shutout for Cobb.

The 9th inning came and it was time for the all star Camillo Doval to take the mound and it was a 1, 2, 3 inning with a strikeout to close out the game. This was Doval’s 25th save of the season and he at this point has the most in the N.L. and the second most in the MLB.

The next game for the Giants is against the Colorado Rockies (pitchers not announced yet).

A’s rout Tigers 12-3; Oakland scores big in 1st, 6th and 8th innings in laugher

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The Oakland A’s Esteury Ruiz swings for a two RBI single in the top sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wed Jul 5, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Wow, the A’s, after beating the Tigers 1-0 on Tuesday, routed the Tigers 12-3 on Wednesday. The A’s offense came to life, and the A’s pitching was outstanding. The team that could muster two hits on Tuesday had 14 hits, including three home runs, that produced 12 runs.

The A’s opener Austin Pruitt worked three innings and retired all nine hitters. Lefty Ken Waldichuk had one of his best outings of the year. Waldichuk took over in the fourth and held the Tigers scoreless until the eighth.

The A’s scored three in the first, one in the third, one in the fourth, four in the sixth, and three in the eighth. In the first, the big blow was Ryan Noda’s ninth home run with a man onboard to give the A’s an early 3-0. In the third, Jordan Diaz singled with one out.

Aledmys Diaz doubled to drive in Jordan with the A’s fourth run. The A’s were pounding Tigers’ starter Eduardo Rodriguez. The onslaught continued when Shea Langeliers blasted a solo home run in the fourth to make it 5-0. Tigers’ skipper A.J. Hinch removed Rodriguez from the game.

The A’s made the game a runaway in the top of the sixth as they put four more runs on the board. With one out, She Langeliers singled and went to second on a throwing error by the Tigers’ third baseman Zack McKinstry. JJ Bleday singled, and Langeliers stopped at third.

Nick Allen walked to load the bases. Tony Kemp singled to drive in Langeliers and Bleday, and Allen went to third on the play. Kemp then stole second. Leadoff hitter Esteury Ruiz singled to drive in Allen and Kemp. The A’s led 9-0 after six.

In the eighth, the A’s put more icing on the cake as they scored three times. With one out, Nick Allen and Tony Kemp singled. Tyler Wade was inserted into the game after Ruiz had to leave with an injury. Wade’s fielder’s choice allowed Allen to score.

Kemp was out at second. Jordan Diaz, who had two singles in the game, blasted a two-run home run into the seats in right field to finish the A’s scoring. The A’s led 12-0 midway through the eighth.

The Tigers finally put some runs on the board in the eighth. Waldichuk had allowed the Tigers just one hit in the first four innings of work. In the eighth, Waldichuk walked the first two hitters. He could not keep his fastball down in the strike zone. Waldichuk regained his composure and retired catcher Jake Rogers for the first out. Waldichuk now had to face Miguel Cabrera.

Cabrera, a sure bet for baseball’s Hall of Fame, doubled to drive in the Tigers’ first run. Jake Marisnick, a former Oakland Athletic, drove in the Tigers’ second run with a sacrifice fly to right field. The Tigers added a run in the ninth.

Game Notes- The A’s won for the fourth time in the last five games and the 13th in the last 26 games. Their record improved to 25-63. This team wants the New York Mets to keep their record of 120 losses in a season. Their record over the last 26 games indicates that the team will continue to improve. The Tigers are now 37-48.

Waldichuk was the winning pitcher. He earned his second win. The losing pitcher was Eduardo Rodriguez.

The A’s line score was 12 runs, 14 hits, and no errors. The hitting stars for Oakland were Jordan Diaz, Esteury Ruiz, Shea Langeliers, Tony Kemp, and Ryan Noda. Diaz had two singles and a home run, Ruiz had two singles and stole his 43rd base, Langeliers had a single and a home run, Kemp had two singles and a stolen base, and Ryan Noda had a two-run blast.

The A’s will be going for a sweep on Thursday. A’s manager Mark Kotsay will send lefty Hogan Harris (2-2 5.17) to the hill for Oakland. Harris will be seeking his third win of the campaign. The Tigers will counter with Michael Lorenzen (2-6 ERA 4.28). The game will start at 10:10 am.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Memories of Oakland (No.6 in Series)  1987 All-Star Game at Coliseum

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Logo from the 1987 All Star Game hosted by the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum (logo from Oakland A’s and MLB)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

On July 14, 1987 the Oakland Coliseum hosted the 1987 MLB All-Star Game. There were two Oakland Athletics on this game representing the American League and both were in the reserves; first baseman Mark McGwire and relief pitcher Jay Howell.

A’s legend Rickey Henderson was in the starting lineup but for the New York Yankees. McGwire won the AL Rookie of the Year in 1987 and went on the establish the current record for a rookie of 49 home runs.

The A’s had three consecutive Rookies of the Year, José Canseco in 1986, Mark McGwire in 1987, and Walt Weiss in 1988. 49,671 were in attendance at the Coliseum for that night’s game won by the National League All-Stars 2-0 over the American League All-Stars in 13 innings; Tim Raines of the Montreal Expos was named the Most Valuable Player. This was the only time since the A’s played at Oakland that the Oakland Coliseum hosted an MLB All-Star game.

Named by the Oakland A’s ownership as part of the Clout Committee, I was privileged to meet with various civic personalities, including the Mayor of Oakland Lionel Wilson as well as others in the community. The All-Star Gala is always a special gathering of community and baseball people, my wife Gail and I sat at a table that included two Twins greats, Kirby Pucket and Tony Oliva.

Prior to the game at the Coliseum, Bay Area Media personality, Rich Lieberman introduced me to the one and only Larry King, who was said to have conducted over 50,000 interviews on radio and television, from Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, Paul McCartney to Margaret Thatcher and thousands in-between.

The Walter Haas ownership of the Oakland A’s did a wonderful job organizing this big event together with the City of Oakland and Major League Baseball, it was a classy well-organized event that made Oakland proud.

There was a time when Oakland was a proud city, as a matter of fact Oakland was once called ‘City of Champions”, with the A’s winning three consecutive World Series in 1972-73-74, the Warriors winning the NBA title in the 1974-75 season and the Raiders winning in 1976 the first of their three Superbowl titles.

It is said that Gertrude Stein, who was raised in Oakland, when later she grew up and became an American novelist, playwright and art collector, and then moved to Paris in 1903 where she lived for the rest of her life once said about Oakland; ”When you get there, there isn’t any THERE there.”

Two years later, after the 1987 MLB All-Star Game, the Loma Prieta earthquake shook the A’s vs Giants World Series, which the As swept in four games. It was felt that it would be inappropriate to have a parade in Oakland for the World Series champion Oakland Athletics.

They did celebrate, though with this subdued celebration (a victory rally) at the Jack London Waterfront and broadcast live by local San Francisco CBS affiliate, KPIX. It would be the last civic celebration by a professional sports franchise in Oakland until 2015 when the Warriors won the NBA title.

I always remember 1987 as a good year for Oakland and a “departing point” for what came later for the Oakland Athletics during the great Tony LaRussa years.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants need to get some runs on M’s pitching to come back in series at Oracle

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The San Francisco Giants starter Keaton Winn delivers a first inning pitch against the Seattle Mariners at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Jul 4, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:

On the Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Seattle Mariners starter Logan Gilbert went the distance on Tuesday afternoon shutting out the San Francisco Giants giving up only five hits and striking out seven hitters. Gilbert had his control and kept hitters off balance all afternoon.

#2 Michael, Logan was so happy with the results of his handy work that he danced a bit and apologized for it later on saying he was just so excited to pitch a shutout and go the distance.

#3 The Mariners got some good hitting out of AJ Pollock who hit a two run blast as the Mariners came out ahead with a six run win. Pollock was key to providing some offense for the M’s.

#4 Michael, Giants manager Gabe Kapler wanted to use Michael Conforto as designated hitter rather than start him in the outfield. Conforto is recovering from his left hamstring injuries when he injured himself last week Wednesday making a catch in the outfield in Toronto.

#5 Game 3 is on tap tonight Michael, the Mariners will start Tommy Milone (0-0 ERA 1.93) and for the Giants righthander Alex Cobb (5-2 ERA 3.12) a 6:05pm PT first pitch. No doubt Cobb is looking for his sixth plus a chance to even the score from Tuesday night’s 6-0 loss.

Join Michael Duca for the San Francisco Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Jim from the On Base Show: M’s Gilbert had great control on Giants line up on Tuesday

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Seattle Mariners starter Logan Gilbert is congratulated by catcher Tom Murphy following shutting out the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Jul 4, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Jim from the On Base Show:

#1 Seattle Mariners starter Logan Gilbert went the distance on Tuesday afternoon shutting out the San Francisco Giants giving up only five hits and striking out seven hitters. Gilbert had his control and kept hitters off balance all afternoon.

#2 Jim, Logan was so happy with the results of his handy work that he danced a bit and apologized for it later on saying he was just so excited to pitch a shutout and go the distance.

#3 The Mariners got some good hitting out of AJ Pollock who hit a two run blast as the Mariners came out ahead with a six run win. Pollock was key to providing some offense for the M’s.

#4 Jim, Giants manager Gabe Kapler wanted to use Michael Conforto as designated hitter rather than start him in the outfield. Conforto is recovering from his left hamstring injuries when he injured himself last week Wednesday making a catch in the outfield in Toronto.

#5 Game 3 is on tap tonight Jim, the Mariners will start Tommy Milone (0-0 ERA 1.93) and for the Giants righthander Alex Cobb (5-2 ERA 3.12) a 6:05pm PT first pitch. No doubt Cobb is looking for his sixth plus a chance to even the score from Tuesday night’s 6-0 loss.

Jim does the Jim On Base Show on You Tube and Facebook and guested for today’s podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Codero suspended for rest of season for domestic violence by Yanks; Angels IL problem; plus much more

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New York Yankee pitcher Jimmy Codero has been suspended for the rest of the 2023 season including the post season for domestic violence. Details of what happened has not been disclosed by the Yankees. Codero’s suspension started immediately according to the Yankees. (AP News photo)

On the MLB podcast with Stephen:

#1 The New York Yankees suspended pitcher Jimmy Cordero for domestic violence. The Yankees in a statement said they are aware of Cordero domestic violence policy violations saying “there is no justification for domestic violence.” Cordero is suspended for the remaining 76 games and the post season. Cordero a 3.86 ERA with 34 strikeouts and ten walks. No details of the domestic violence charge was disclosed.

#2 The Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout is out with a fracture left wrist and was put on the ten day IL, Anthony Rendon was injured after fouling a ball off his left leg and is suffering from a shin contusion and did not suffer an fractures, finally Angels star pitcher Shohei Ohtani will not play in the All Star game due to a blister in his last outing and had a cracked finger nail in his last start.

#3 On Tuesday Chicago Cubs manager David Ross took all he could after the Cubs saw a four run lead and beat the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Park in Milwaukee. There were frustrations in the 11th inning when Cubs first base coach Mike Napoli shouted his disagreement with plate umpire Erich Bacchus on third strike call on Cubs hitter Dansby Swanson. Ross came out onto the field to argue and was also tossed out by Bacchus. The Cubs did come back to win it in 11, 7-6.

#4 Stephen talk about second baseman Thairo Estrada he’s suffering from a left hand fracture that will sideline him from two to six weeks. Estrada was hitting .272 with 79 hits, 9 home runs and 31 RBIs. The Giants will replace him with Casey Schmitt and Brett Wisley at second.

#5 What are the chances? The organization Schools over Stadiums has launched a petition campaign to put a bill on the ballot to stop the state of Nevada from using $380 million in public money to finance a new Las Vegas A’s ballpark at the Tropicana location. The campaign needs over 25,000 signatures in four Nevada districts to get the measure on the ballot and over 1 million votes to end the state’s public funding of the Las Vegas ballpark money Schools over Stadiums say should be used for education.

Join Stephen Ruderman for the MLB podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Troy Ewers: Giants looking to come back from shutout loss against Mariners tonight at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Alex Cobb will get the start tonight Wed Jul 5, 2023 against the Seattle Mariners at Oracle Park in San Francisco. Here is Cobb throwing against the St Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Tue Jun 13, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Troy:

#1 Seattle Mariners starter Logan Gilbert went the distance on Tuesday afternoon shutting out the San Francisco Giants giving up only five hits and striking out seven hitters. Gilbert had his control and kept hitters off balance all afternoon.

#2 Troy, Logan was so happy with the results of his handy work that he danced a bit and apologized for it later on saying he was just so excited to pitch a shutout and go the distance.

#3 The Mariners got some good hitting out of AJ Pollock who hit a two run blast as the Mariners came out ahead with a six run win. Pollock was key to providing some offense for the M’s.

#4 Troy Giants manager Gabe Kapler wanted to use Michael Conforto as designated hitter rather than start him in the outfield. Conforto is recovering from his left hamstring injuries when he injured himself last week Wednesday making a catch in the outfield in Toronto.

#5 Game 3 is on tap tonight Troy, the Mariners will start Tommy Milone (0-0 ERA 1.93) and for the Giants righthander Alex Cobb (5-2 ERA 3.12) a 6:05pm PT first pitch. No doubt Cobb is looking for his sixth plus a chance to even the score from Tuesday night’s 6-0 loss.

Troy Ewers is a MLB beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Everything is contingent on Purdy staying healthy

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is working out in Jacksonville under the watchful eye of his doctor and quarterback coach (USA Today file photo)

On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is predicted to be the team’s franchise quarterback and to have a top of the line productive year this season.

#2 Dave, talk about Purdy and the elbow and how he’s looked in camp and if he’s pain free and recovered from the injury.

#3 It’s been predicted that Purdy can play 15 games throw 3,939 yards, and that he can throw more here in his second season.

Join David for the 49ers podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s need ten innings to beat Tigers 1-0; Oakland’s JP Sears, bullpen shutout Detroit

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The Detroit Tigers Vierling slides in safely with the steal (right) as the A’s second baseman Jordan Diaz (13) gets the drop on the ball in the bottom of the first inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Tue Jul 4, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s, who usually play at the Coliseum on the 4th of July, found themselves at Comerica Park in Detroit to start a six-game road trip. The A’s, who found themselves on the wrong side of a perfect game last Wednesday, appeared headed into a repeat performance. The Detroit Tigers’ lefty, Tarik, Skubal, making his first start since coming off the IL, baffled the A’s hitters. The Tigers pitching staff allowed just a run and it was just enough for the A’s to get by 1-0.

Skubal was perfect for his four innings of work. He allowed no runs, hits, or walks and struck out six. Yogi Berra once said:” It’s deja vu all over again.” The A’s went 32 years before being no-hit last Wednesday. It looked like they would be no-hit again. This time, six days later.

The Tigers brought in Reese Olson to pitch in the fifth. Olson kept the A’s hitless in the fifth and sixth innings. With two out in the seventh, A’s catcher Shea Langeliers broke the spell with a single.

The A’s starter JP Sears pitched his best game of the 2023 season. The lefty, acquired from the Yankees at the trade deadline last year, pitched seven and 1/3rd innings. Sears allowed five hits and no runs. He did not walk a batter and struck out four. Lucas Erceg retired the next two Tiger hitters to end the eighth. Shintaro Fujinami struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth. The game was scoreless after nine innings.

In the tenth, The A’s scored the winning run. Brent Rooker was the ghost runner at second base. A’s manager Mark Kotsay sent Tyler Wade into the game as a pinch-runner for Rooker. Jace Peterson laid down a sacrifice bunt, sending Wade to third.

A’s first baseman Ryan Noda singled to shallow left field to drive in Wade with the A’s first run. They wouldn’t need any more.

Trevor May was brought in to pitch the tenth. Tiger skipper A.J. Hinch replaced ghost runner Miguel Cabrera with Jake Marisnick. May retired Eric Haase and Zack Short. May walked Matt Vierling to put the winning run on first base.

If the Tigers could get a hit, the game would have been tied, and they would have had an opportunity to win. The hitter was Spencer Torkelson. May had his work cut out for him. May did the job as he got Torkelson to fly out to center to end the game. The A’s win 1-0

Game Notes- The A’s won for the third time in the last four games. They are now 24-63. The Tigers dropped to 37-47.

Shintaro Fujinami was the winning pitcher. He is now 5-7 for the year. The Tigers’ Tyler Holton was the losing pitcher. Trevor May earned his sixth save.

The line score for Oakland was one run, two hits, and no errors. The Tigers’ line was no runs, six hits, or errors.

The A’s won the game with two hits. On most days, teams managing just two hits find themselves as losers. Not so in baseball. The pitching for both teams was excellent. Sears did not record the win, but the A’s must be pleased with his performance. Conversely, the Tigers’ pitchers Skubal and Olson were terrific, too. Yet, the A’s found a way to win.

Game two of the three-game series will start at 3:40 pm on Wednesday. Lefty Ken Waldichuk will start for Oakland. Waldichuk is 1-5 and has a 6.78 ERA. Waldichuk has been used as an opener, and it remains to be seen if that will be his role on Wednesday. Lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (4-4, 2.13) goes for Detroit.