Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: Texas’Eovaldi just kept mowing A’s down by the dozen; Howard Terminal proposal expires today

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Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien, right, tags out Oakland Athletics’ Shea Langeliers on a steal attempt during the second inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu May 11, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Daniel the Oakland A’s just couldn’t figure out Texas Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi who sat down A’s hitters with 12 strikeouts.

#2 Eovaldi is putting up some Cy Young numbers he now has a scoreless streak at 28 2/3 innings pitched improving to 5-2 ERA 2.70.

#3 Former Oakland A’s infielder Marcus Semien haunted his old club slugging a home run his seventh of the season and improving his average to .289.

#4 Daniel, Thursday night’s crowd was Oakland second smallest crowd of the season with only 2,949 in attendance. The news that the A’s will be locating at the Tropicana hotel and casino site in Las Vegas has turned off a few more fans and some fans even had a whole section to themselves on Thursday night.

#5 Daniel, the Port Commission hearing regarding the Oakland A’s Howard Terminal project and that proposal has expired today. During the hearing members of the public some expressed objections to building at the port mainly because of loses of port jobs and an A’s land grab and those in favor say that the idea of building there would mean jobs and the A’s would profit there and would not impact jobs at the port.

#6 The Texas Rangers (23-14) who at the top of the AL West and led by manager Bruce Bochy will match up against the A’s just underway at the Oakland Coliseum. Starting pitcher for Texas Martin Perez (4-1 ERA 3.66) and for the A’s left hander Ken Waldichuk (4-1 ERA 4.66)

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Memories of Oakland – (2nd in a Series) The 1979 Athletics

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Former Oakland A’s infielder Mario Guerrero circa 1979 once recorded a 45 and was told by the author to keep his day job (photo from Amazon.com)

Memories of Oakland – (2nd in a Series) The 1979 Athletics

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The similarities between the 1979 Oakland A’s and the 2023 Oakland A’s are truly remarkable. The 1979 team ended last (7th place) with a 54-108 record. Their attendance was 306,763, an average of 3,984 per game, the worst since the days in Philadelphia. It involves, (a) Owners, (b) City of Oakland, (c) poor performance on the field (d) very low attendance (e) one of the lowest payrolls in Major League Baseball and (f) a future Hall of Fame player.

That season Charlie O Finley nearly sold the team to buyers who would have relocated to New Orleans, but back then the City of Oakland had smarter representatives and much more community-minded than today and the city refused to release the A’s from their lease with the Oakland Coliseum.

A year later in 1980, Finley was forced to turn to local buyers and sold the A’s to Walter Haas, Jr., president of Levi Strauss & Co for $12.7 million. This 1979 A’s team had many colorful personalities.

I remember Mario Guerrero, who played shortstop whose hobby was singing, as he gave me a copy of his 45rpm recording in Spanish of “A Mi Manera”, the classic Frank Sinatra “My Way’ one of his many big hits. When I listened to Mario’s version I had nothing but to tell him, “do not quit your day job”, he was a good guy but not a good singer. He took it well and laughed all the time with me about it.

Tony Armas had an arm from right field. Many used to say his arm was raw and not educated, but he was one of their best players and in Spring Training he (who was shy) would give me some great interviews. His good friend on that team was Dwayne Murphy who played center field.

Mitch “The Rage” Page. Who can forget him? He hustled all the time and played with a lot of passion and then there was catcher Mike Heath, Wayne Gross at third base and guys on the mound like Matt Keough and Mike Morgan and many others with personality.

Rickey Henderson. That was the brightest note in 1979 playing left field as a rookie, very fast who would go on to steal 1,406 bases, current record. After a 25 year career with various teams (including the Yankees) he seems to always come back to Oakland where he had four different stints from 1970 to 1998.

He is “The Hall of Fame” player of that 1979 team. Rickey was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2009. When the team was in a hitting slump, he would get a free pass to first, steal second ( and maybe third) and then score of the sac fly. That became known as “The Rickey Run”. Rickey. Nothing more needs to be said.

“There was only one Rickey Henderson in baseball,” said George Steinbrenner, former Yanks chairman. “He was the greatest leadoff hitter of all time.”

In 1979 Julio González was my broadcast partner as the A’s carried all home weekend games, plus other selected games on BOX 19, to our left was Larry Baer, now a top executive with the SF Giants, he was a student at Cal and was broadcasting weekend games, since the A’s owner never contracted a commercial radio station, he gave the rights for $1 to the Cal Berkeley campus radio station. Yes, 1979, was a year to remember.

(Port of Oakland) The A’s lease with the port of Oakland for the site, where the baseball team hoped to build a multi-billion dollar waterfront ballpark and surrounding development, named Howard Terminal, is set to expire today, Friday May 12, 2023.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Red-hot Schmitt, Cobb lead Giants past Diamondbacks 6-2

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San Francisco Giants’ Casey Schmitt (6) is congratulated for his two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Thu May 11, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Thursday, May 11, 2023

PHOENIX, Ariz. – With his teammates cheering him on in the San Francisco Giants’ clubhouse, rookie shortstop Casey Schmitt was trying to sink some golf putts into a paper cup following the Giants’ 6-2 win over Arizona on Thursday.

The impromptu putting competition didn’t go so well. Baseball, apparently, comes easier to Schmitt than golf

“I’m not a good putter,” Schmitt said. “There’s something about golf, I can’t get it. I’m going to have to practice!”

Putting might be the only thing Schmitt isn’t doing well of late. He played a solid shortstop while continuing to swing a hot bat on Thursday, going 4-for-4 with three runs batted in, raising his batting average to .667 after three games.

“I think he’s done really well since he’s come up,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “His shortstop play has been really impressive. Arm strength, big hits, and extreme power, like that ball he hit to left field, A lot of timely moments for Casey so far.”

The 24-year-old Schmitt admitted that he never envisioned a start like this for his major league career.

“I’m just going out there and playing baseball,” Schmitt said. “This is just amazing. I’m just taking it all in and enjoying it. Right now, I’m just having fun and whatever happens, happens.”

San Francisco jumped to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on Schmitt’s second home run of the season, a two-run shot measured at 443 feet to left following a one-out walk to Michael Conforto.

“I watched it and I was hoping it would stay fair, then I saw it get to the upper deck,” Schmitt said of his second home run since being called up from Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday.

“It’s not so much the home run, but that he just keeps on producing,” Kapler said. “I know it’s been just a couple of games, but he’s made a significant impact. We’re lucky to have his production and I’m sure he’s enjoying every minute of this.

“He provides a lot of momentum in the clubhouse, and the players in the clubhouse are feeding off of his energy right now. … He’s loose, he’s young, and he takes things as they come. He has a simple approach to the game, doesn’t overthink things, and has an easygoing demeanor that has served him well so far.”

Giants starter Alex Cobb (3-1) worked 7 1/3 shutout innings with three strikeouts and two walks, throwing 104 pitches. Cobb lowered his ERA to 1.70.

“This is what we saw from him most of the time last season,” Kapler said of Cobb. “He was one of the best pitchers in baseball when he was on the field, and when we need plays behind him, it made him better.

“I think what we’re seeing is, the defense is allowing him to go deeper into games. You use fewer relievers, you tax your bullpen less, and you put less pressure on the offense when you make plays like that behind a pitcher like Cobb.”

The Giants added four more runs in the top of the ninth. After J.D. Davis led off with a single and Conforto walked, Schmitt drove a double to left-center, scoring Davis. Joey Bart followed with an RBI single, and, when LaMonte Wade Jr. reached on a fielder’s choice, a throwing error by D-Backs second baseman Ketel Marte allowed Schmitt to score.

Bryce Johnson’s sacrifice fly to left gave San Francisco a 6-0 lead.

The Diamondbacks threatened in the bottom of the ninth. Pavin Smith singled and Christian Walker walked, both scoring on a one-out single by Dominic Fletcher, chasing Giants reliever Cole Waites.

Camilo Doval struck out Gabriel Moreno and Alex Thomas in a non-save situation to end the game.

Arizona starter Tommy Henry (1-1) gave up five hits, two earned runs and two walks while striking out two. Fletcher went 3-for-4.

Righthander Ryne Nelson (1-2, 6.00) will start for the Diamondbacks on Friday. Kapler said the Giants have decided on a starter for Friday, but wasn’t ready to announce who it is.

GIANTS JOTTINGS: With mild temperatures for early May, the roof was open at Chase Field – 88 degrees at game time with a slight breeze blowing toward right. … OF Austin Slater was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring, OF Bryce Johnson was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento … The Giants are currently in a stretch of playing 12 of 16 games at home, the exception being this weekend’s four-game series in Phoenix. It’s also San Francisco’s first road trip this season that doesn’t require adjusting to a different time zone. Most of Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time. … The Diamondbacks have spent 23 total days this season either in or tied for first place in the NL West. … The announced attendance was 15,582, with competition from the Phoenix Suns hosting the Denver Nuggets in the NBA West semifinals next door.

Kyle Harrison unable to get first Triple-A win, as River Cats lose tight one 5-2

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photo from @RiverCats

Kyle Harrison unable to get first Triple-A win, as River Cats lose tight one

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–The River Cats let one get away from them late, as the Salt Lake Bees beat them by a final of 5-2 in game three of their six-game series.

Kyle Harrison, the Giants’ top prospect, made the start for the River Cats, and struck out the side through a one-out walk in an 18-pitch top of the first inning. The River Cats got runners to first and second off Bees’ starter, Luis Ledo, in the bottom of the first, but were unable to come through.

Harrison pitched a 1-2-3 top of the second, but was shaky again in the third, as he pitched through a pair of walks. Sacramento got on the board in the bottom of the second, when Bees’ second-baseman, Michael Stefanic, kicked a ground ball off the bat of Ford Proctor, and then threw to third to check on the lead runner, Shane Matheny, only for the ball to sail into the River Cats’ dugout, allowing Matheny to score. Tyler Fitzgerald led off the bottom of the third with a solo home run to left to make it 2-0 River Cats.

Harrison started off the top of the fourth by striking out Kevin Padlo for his seventh strikeout of the night, but he then ran into more trouble. Harrison hit Stefanic with a pitch, and then gave up a double to Jordyn Adams, which put runners at second and third with one out for Salt Lake.

Bees’ catcher, Zach Humphreys, then came to the plate, and had an automatic pitch clock violation strike called on him, which caused Bees’ manager, Keith Johnson, to come in from his spot in the third base coach’s box and get ejected by home plate umpire, Tanner Moore.

Johnson had a few words for the first-base umpire and crew chief, Jacob Metz, as well, and then proceeded to slowly walk off the field. Humphreys then hit a triple to right-center field to tie the game and knock Harrison out of the game.

Melvin Adon escaped further damage in the fourth, and pitched through a one-out walk in the fifth. Drew Strotman then came in for the River Cats in the top of the sixth, and pitched a 1-2-3 inning, but he crumbled in the seventh, as the Bees exploded on him for three runs.

Tyler Cabbage knocked in David Fletcher with a one-out triple; Stefanic knocked in Cabbage with a base-hit; Adams singled Stefanic to third and then Adams stole second, which allowed Stefanic to steal home on the throw.

The eighth and ninth innings went by with little drama, as Jonathan Holder struck out Patrick Bailey swinging to end it.

Luis Ledo got his first win of the year, and improves to 1-0; Drew Strotman takes the loss, and falls to 1-4; and Jonathan Holder picked up his first save of the year. The River Cats fall to 17-19; remain tied for second place; and fall three games back of the Reno Aces in the Pacific Coast League West.

Game four of the series will be tomorrow night at 6:45, as the left-hander, Kenny Rosenberg will take the mound for the River Cats, up against the right-hander, Keaton Winn, for the Bees.

Rangers Eovaldi 12 K’s A’s for career high in 4-0 shutout

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Texas Rangers’ Nathan Eovaldi pitches against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning at Oakland Coliseum on Thu May 11, 2023 (AP News photo)  

Texas (23-14). 000 012 100. – 4. 7. 0

Oakland (8-31). 000 000 000 – 0. 3 0

Time: 2:16

Attendance: 2,949

Thursday, May 11, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–After snapping their season high two game winning last Sunday, your Oakland Athletics lost four straight games and came home today with a record of 8-30, .211, in hot pursuit of the 1899 Cleveland Spiders’ 20-134 (.130), the worst record in major league history.

Sarcasm aside, the major news about the A’s concerns their wheeling and dealing on the Las Vegas real estate market. Speaking of Vegas, Oakland added a couple of Aviators to their roster today. One of them was Luis Medina, who had pitched one big league game before he took the mound as the Athletics’ s starter this evening, That was on April 25, when he gave up eights hit and five runs in a 5-3 loss to the Angels. (The other Vegas call up was fellow right handed starter Zach Neal).

Thursday night, Medina began brilliantly and faded into mediocrity after four innings of work. The first hit he allowed was a triple to Nathaniel Lowe with two out in the top of the fourth. It would have been a single had it not been for JJ Bleday’s ill advised attempt at a diving watch.

That play resulted in an earned, but undeserved, run. When he left after the sixth inning, the youngster had been charged with three runs, all earned, on five hits. He didn’t walk anybody but threw two wild pitches. He had three strike outs to his credit, and 50 of his 87 pitches were counted as strikes. He brought his ERA down to 8.18. He also took the loss in the Athletics’ 4-0 defeat by the Rangers

The Rangers’ starter was more experienced than Medina. Evan Eovaldi is a 33 year old veteran now in his 13th season of MLB ball. His best season came in 2021, when he was named to the AL all star team as a Red Sox and fiinished fourth in the voting for the Cy Young award. He brought a career record of 71-70, 4.13 and a season’s mark of 4-2, 3.22 in his duffle bag with him to the decaying monument to seasons past on the banks of the River Nimitz.

Eovaldi was in fine form tonight. He came as close as you can to throwing a complete game , 8-2/3 innings.

The rookie and the veteran put kept each other’s team off board until the top of the fifth when, with Josh Jung on first with a lead off single and one down, Medina unleashed a wild pitch to Jonah Heim, allowing Jung to reach second. Medina almost dodged the Rangers’ bullet by striking out Ezequiel Durán, but Leody Tavares smacked a clean single to center to put the possee from the Lone Star State in the saddle, 1-0.

Medina weakened considerably after that. Marcus Semien led off the sixth with a resounding home run, his seventh, to left. It came off a 2-2 four seamer and travelled 403 feet before landing beond the left center field fence.

Fellow ex-Athletic Robby Grossman followed with double to right and moved on to third on Nathaniel Lowe’s fly to the foot of the warning track in right field. He came hone onb a wild pitch to Adolis Garcia. Two outs later the A’s came to bat in the bottom of the sixth trailing 3-0.

It was 4-0 when they came up in the bottom of the seventh. Sam Long had relieved Medina and surrendered a lead off double Jonah Heim, who eventually scored from third on third on a failed 3-6-1 double play attempt on Josh Smith’s grounder to Noda. Long stayed in the game through the eighth, yielding to Austin Pruitt at the start of the ninth. He held Texas to an infield single.

Oakland kept fighting until the end. With two out in the bottom of the ninth Esteury Ruiz deposited a double in the left field corner, and Noda walked. That brought Will Smith in from the bullpen to strike out Rooker and earn earn his seventh save of the season.

The series continues tomorrow, Friday, at 6:40. The Rangers’ Martín Pérez (4-1, 3.86) will go against Oakand’s Ken Waldichuk (1-2, 7.25)

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Len Shapiro: Hurricane win in OT to put away New Jersey 3-2

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Carolina Hurricanes’ Jack Drury (18) and New Jersey Devils’ Ondrej Palat (18) work along the boards during the first period of Game 5 at Carolina on Thu May 11, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Len:

#1 Len, the Carolina Hurricanes clinch for the third round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs with a win over the New Jersey Devils in Carolina Thursday 3-2 in overtime.

#2 Jasper Fast scored on a deflected pass from by Jesperi Kotkaniemi at 7:09 on a power play in the overtime stanza to help the Hurricanes to advance to the third round of the playoffs.

#3 This game was for the ages, New Jersey were fighting for their lives to try and stay in the playoffs down 1-3 and the Hurricanes needed this game to put away New Jersey to advance. It was a battle though all three periods with New Jersey scoring a goal in each of the first and second periods and the Hurricanes scoring twice in the second period and none in the third period for a 2-2 tie.

#4 The Devils and Hurricanes neither scored in the third period and had to play the overtime stanza to decide the game. Both goalies New Jersey goalie Akira Schmid stopped 36 of 39 shots and Frederik Anderson stopped 27 of 29 shots for the Hurricane.

#5 Len, it was a hard fought game between the two teams despite New Jersey being down to an elimination game 1-3 they fought for their lives but the Hurricanes had some good defense from the third period and Fast put the game away with his deflected goal in overtime to advance Carolina. No doubt about it New Jersey knew the pressure was on.

Join Len Shapiro for the NHL Stanley Cup playoff podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s hope to end four game skid against Rangers at Coliseum

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Oakland A’s starter Kyle Muller delivers against the New York Yankees in the bottom of the first inning at Yankee Stadium on Wed May 10, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 New York Yankees (21-17) rookie Anthony Volpe slugged his first MLB grand slam home run at Yankee Stadium off the Oakland A’s (8-30) to help in an 11-3 laugher on Wednesday afternoon. The win gives the Yankees a three game sweep over the A’s.

#2 Jerry, the A’s absolutely got bombarded by the Yankees in the bottom of the fifth for seven runs as A’s starter Kyle Muller got lit up for six runs, five hits over four innings for his third regular season loss.

#3 Muller also gave up four runs in the bottom of the first inning and the Yankees show signs of rocking the A’s pitching early.

#4 This was the Yankees first three game win streak of 2023 and the A’s extended their losing streak to four games. The Yankees had struggled and the A’s continue to struggle.

#5 The A’s open a four game series at the Oakland Coliseum hosting the Texas Rangers, the Rangers will start right hander Nathan Eovaldi (4-2 ERA 3.22) and the A’s have not determined a starter for Thursday night.

Join Jerry for the A’s podcast Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Warriors Beat Lakers 121-106 to Stave off Elimination, Force Game 6

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Photo credit: @warriors

By: Mary Anne

Wednesday night was do-or-die for the Golden State Warriors, who hosted the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals. The Warriors beat the Lakers 121-106 at the Chase Center.

There was star power in the building, as NBA on TNT analyst and former NBA player Baron Davis rang Wednesday’s bell ahead of Game 5. That said, Golden State was good to go.

The Warriors’ starting five featured Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, and Draymond Green. Curry scored from downtown to get the Warriors going early in the first quarter. Curry and Green weren’t the Splash Brothers, per se, but the two were the first-quarter kings. The Warriors led 32-28 after the first quarter.

The Warriors continued to pour in the points in the second quarter. Jordan Poole took in the basket to score a layup, Andrew Wiggins provided an offensive spark, and Gary Payton II was so good in scoring in the paint. The Warriors led 70-59 at the half.

The second half saw a superb statistic. Stephen Curry passed Mark Jackson for 22nd most assists in NBA playoff history. Jackson is a former NBA player who played point guard for the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, and Houston Rockets. Jackson also served as the Warriors head coach from 2011 to 2014.

Andrew Wiggins continued to deliver his offensive energy, and the Warriors led 93-82 after three quarters.

The Warriors came in hot in the fourth quarter. Andrew Wiggins was a key offensive player from start to finish, while Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green all contributed offensively.

The Warriors survived a win-or-go-home Game 5 for a 121-106 victory.

Stephen Curry led the Warriors in scoring with 27 points, three rebounds, eight assists, and one block.

Andrew Wiggins recorded 25 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and one steal. Draymond Green scored 20 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block.

Gary Payton II had 13 points, six rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Jordan Poole had 11 points, one rebound, and four assists. Klay Thompson had 10 points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two blocks. Moses Moody had six points and four rebounds. Jonathan Kuminga had five points, one rebound, and one assist. Kevon Looney had four points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block.

Donte DiVincenzo added two rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

The Warriors head to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers in Game 6 on Friday at 7:00 pm Pacific.

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Ohtani could go for $600 million with Dodgers; Braves Fried on 15 day IL with hamstring injury; plus more

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Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani watches his solo home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Sunday, April 30, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports with Jessica Kwong:

#1 Jessica, lots of talk about the possible free agency of Los Angeles star Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani is expected to enter free agency and amongst some of the top teams that will seek him out are the Los Angeles Dodgers who could offer Ohtani up to $600 million. Ohtani a two way star shows on signs of slowing down as he enters the last year of his deal with the Angels.

#2 The Atlanta Braves Max Fried has entered the 15 day IL with a strained left forearm. In April Fried was on the IL for with a hamstring injury missing two weeks which included opening day.

#3 New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer continues to battle injuries. Scherzer was unable to start on Tuesday night because he was suffering from neck spasms. Scherzer will continue to rehab as the Mets have now lost four of their last five games and recalled David Peterson to make a start.

#4 The Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Ankeotokounmpo said that he is forever grateful for former Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer. The Bucks who were a favored first place team lost to eighth place Miami Heat. The Bucks became the sixth NBA team to lose to an eighth place team in post season play.

#5 Jessica, the New York Knicks did stave being eliminated and picked up a crucial win defeating the Miami Heat 112-103 on Wednesday night to cut the Heat’s series lead 3-2. The Knicks got scoring help from Jalen Brunson who led with 38 points and RJ Barrett who followed up with 26 points.

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

Manaea’s 2nd Inning Collapse Too Much For Giants To Comeback From in 11-6 loss to Nats

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San Francisco Giants starter Sean Manaea (52) surrenders a three run homer in the top of the second to the Washington Nationals Riley Adams (left) at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed May 10, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Troy Ewers

SAN FRANCISCO–Day game here in San Francisco and it’s the final game of this three game series with the San Francisco Giants (16-20) and Washington Nationals (16-21), series at 1-1. Tuesday night Logan Webb got the W and the debut of Casey Schmitt was the topic of conversation. Wednesday though, was a different conversation as the Nationals came away in an 11-6 laugher at Oracle Park.

On the mound was Sean Manaea and a quick 1-2-3 inning provided some hope from Giants fans, but that would change the very next inning. A four run inning, three of those runs came off a Riley Adams home run and the wheels would fall off for Manaea from there.

The third inning was an avalanche, two walks, an error, two hits would force a pitching change and Tristan Beck would replace Sean Manaea, but at that point the damage was already felt, 8-0 in the third inning. Tristan Beck’s outing would hold it down for the next five innings, even though he allowed another two runs, but was still the bandage to lessen the bleeding.

On the offensive side for the Giants, the ball just wasn’t finding any gaps, in the beginning, but they weren’t being struck out. The final two innings seemed like the canteen in the middle of the desert with Conforto and Lamonte getting big late game home runs making the game 11-6, but the canteen was a mirage and the hole they dug themselves was too deep to climb out of.

Nationals take the game and the series and the Giants see the Diamondbacks next series.The starters Josiah Gray and Sean Manaea leave here with a different confidence level and some changes on the stat sheet. Josaiah Gray leaves with a 3-5 record and Manaea leaves with a 1-2 record.

As for Casey Schmitt, his debut has two games in the bag were the positives you want to see as a manager and it creates a “good” problem when Crawford comes back and hopefully once Mike Yastrzemski comes back this lineup catches his stride.

The Giants open a four game series at Chase Field in Arizona starting Thu May 11 starting pitcher for the Giants not announced and for the Arizona Diamondbacks lefthander Tommy Henry (1-0 ERA 5.17) first pitch at 6:40 pm PT.