Giants Homer Happy Again: SF sets team record in 16-6 romp over the White Sox

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By Morris Phillips

On three occasions, the Giants have transformed into an unforgiving row of home run sluggers. On three other occasions, they’ve been just as noticeably quiet offensively.

At 3-3, the Giants have survived an opening week against formidable opponents in New York and Chicago because of the homers with the opening home stand against the Royals and Dodgers on tap.

What can expected going forward?

“From start to finish, we kind of kept the gas pedal down from an offensive perspective,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “That’s going to be critical to our success long-term.”

According to Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi, this season’s team would again be among the industry’s best at hitting home runs, even without Aaron Judge or Carlos Correa. Zaidi’s proven himself correct as the Giants lead MLB with 15 home runs after six games. The only troubling aspect is that 12 of those have come in just two games, most recently Thursday afternoon in the 16-6 rout of the White Sox.

“They just didn’t miss the pitches they were looking for,” Chicago’s Seby Zavala said. “A couple balls down the middle, and they didn’t miss today. They didn’t miss much this week.”

“Every mistake we made, they squared it up,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “I don’t know if that’s who they are or they came in hot, I’m not sure. We’ll find out.”

On Thursday, starter Lance Lynn was left despondent by allowing a first inning blast to Michael Conforto and a second inning job to Blake Sabol. With the Giants already comfortably ahead 6-3 in the fifth, Mike Yastrzemski touched Lynn with a two-run shot to go.

Later against a beleaguered Sox bullpen, Wilmer Flores and J.D. Davis also went deep.

“These guys have power and can hit the ball in the air, and this is the type of stadium that’s going to reward them for taking good swings,” Kapler said.

Lynn allowed eight runs, nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. For the Giants, starter Alex Wood allowed three runs and was lifted when allowed the first two batters of the fourth inning to reach. Jakob Junis came on for Wood, and chaos subsided during his four scoreless innings that earned him the win.

The Giants hit seven homers on Monday, one on Wednesday, and five more Thursday to tie a team record for home runs in a series that dates back to 1961.

The Giants were without Brandon Crawford, with Thairo Estrada in his place at shortstop. That resulted in a pair of mishandled balls that hurt Wood’s cause but didn’t diminish the overall product, which was overwhelming.

The Giants open their home schedule on Friday afternoon with Alex Cobb facing Kansas City’s Brad Keller at 1:35 pm.

Oakland A’s off day report: A’s open 7 game road trip Friday night in Tampa Bay

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Oakland Athletics’ Jesus Aguilar watches his three-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the eighth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Apr 5, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s have won two and lost four in the first six games of the season. Oakland played a competitive and entertaining three-game series with the Cleveland Guardians. The A’s could have won all three games but lost two in extra innings. Here are some facts about the team’s performance so far this season.

The A’s pitching staff has the fourth-highest ERA in Major League baseball. They have thrown six wild pitches, which is the second-worst. The A’s defense has committed one or more errors in the first six games. It is the longest season-opening streak by an A’s team in the last 47 years.

The offense could have done more in the series against the Angels. The A’s did score eleven runs last Monday against Cleveland. They beat Cleveland Tuesday night 4-3 but lost on Wednesday 6-4. In that game, Oakland managed four hits. Fortunately for the A’s, two of the hits left the yard.

The A’s are on the road for the first time in 2023. Oakland will face the Tampa Bay Rays for three and then play four with the resurgent Baltimore Orioles.

The Rays have won all six games to start the season. The Rays finished third in the tough American League East Division with a record of 86-76. It will be challenging for Oakland this weekend. On Friday, the A’s will send lefty Ken Waldichuk to the hill to face the Rays.

Waldichuk lost his first start against the LA Angels last week. He is 0-1 with an ERA of 9.53. His opponent will be Zach Elfin. Elfin was with the Philadelphia Phillies last year. Elfin won his first start, and his ERA is 1.80. He went five innings and allowed three hits and one run.

On Saturday, Shintaro Fukinami pitches for the Green and Gold. Fujinami had a nightmarish outing against the Angels last Saturday. Fujinami made it through the first two innings unscathed. In the third inning, the roof caved in as the Angels scored 11 runs in the frame.

Fujinami was charged with nine runs. His ERA is an astounding 30.86. Lefty Jeffrey Springs pitches for Tampa Bay. Springs had a great first start. The 30-year-old lefty went six innings and allowed no runs and no hits.

Sunday’s game will feature James Kaprielian against the Rays’ Drew Rasmussen. Kaprielian lost his first game, and his ERA is 9.00. Rasmussen pitched well last week as he went six innings and allowed two hits and no runs.

The Rays have some young players that are doing well right now. The Infield features Yandy Diaz at first base, Brandow Lowe at second, Wander Franco at shortstop, and Isaac Paredes at third base. Diaz has two homers and six RBIs so far this year. Wander Franco is 22 years old. Franco is hitting .417 and has two dingers and seven ribbies. Left Fielder Randy Arozarena is also hot. Arozarena is hitting .364 with one homer and six RBIs. Center fielder Jose Siri is hitting.333 with two homers and eight RBIs.

The A’s would like to take two out of three from the Rays. The A’s must improve in all three areas to accomplish their goal. The starting pitchers must go deeper into the game. The bullpen must not be overworked so early in the season. The A’s offense must get going, and the defense must stop making errors. It will be a very long season if the A’s cannot improve.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants home opener against Royals Friday; No starter announced for SF against KC

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San Francisco Giants’ Blake Sabol reacts after striking out swinging during the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago on Wed Apr 5, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Giant podcast with Michael:

#1 Michael, On Wednesday the San Francisco Giants returned from their Tuesday off to face the Chicago White Sox. White Sox starter Dylan Cease started the game with a cold and had problems finding the plate.

#2 Cease must have found himself pitching five innings surrendering one run, one hit, five walks and eight strikeouts not bad for Cease who had some control problems to start out the game.

#3 The White Sox Tim Anderson got thrown out for arguing that he got quick pitched and was not ready to get back into the batter’s box, the pitched called a strike tell us what happened with Anderson in that ejection.

#4 The Giants lost by four runs 7-3 and starter Logan Webb was touched up in five innings for four runs and nine hits, and four strikeouts. Was Webb’s performance troubles based on loss of command or the Sox just seeing his pitches well and putting on a good offensive game.

#5 Starting pitchers for the Giants home opener on Friday at Oracle Park for the Kansas City Royals Brad Keller for San Francisco starter is Alex Cobb. First pitch slated at 1:35pm.

Join Michael Duca for the Giants podcasts Thursday mornings at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Wiesblatt’s first career hat trick powers Barracuda to 6-3 win over Gulls

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San Jose Barracuda forward Ozzy Wiesblatt was the number one star in his team’s 6-3 win over the San Diego Gull at the Pechanga Arena on Wednesday APR 5, 2023. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN DIEGO — It was a night to remember for Ozzy Wiesblatt.

The rookie forward scored his first ever professional hat trick as the San Jose Barracuda shot down the San Diego Gulls 6-3 on Wednesday evening at the Pechanga Arena.

San Jose gained a point on the Tucson Roadrunners, who lost to the Henderson Silver Knights in a 5-4 shootout, and trail four points behind for the seventh a final playoff spot in the Pacific Division with four games remaining. San Diego has lost eight of its last nine games as it sits in the anchor of the division.

San Diego (20-45-2-1-43 points) drew first blood early in the first period. Chase Priskie scored his sixth goal in a Gulls uniform when he beat ‘Cuda goalie Aaron Dell with a slapshot from the point at the 4:42 mark. Dylan Sikura and Benoit-Olivier Groulx set up Priskie’s 10th overall goal of the season.

San Jose 29-33-1-5-64 points) evened the score late in the opening frame. Shakir Mukhamadullin’s shot from the point was cleaned up by Artemi Kniazev with a backhander past Gulls goalie Gage Alexander for his fifth goal of the season at the 14:16 mark.

The Barracuda took control of the game in the second period scoring even strength goals. Adam Raska set up Danil Gushchin in the slot and the rookie forward spun around and wired a wrist shot past Alexander for his 18th goal of the season at the 5:31 mark.

Gushchin has been a busy guy as he’s been up and down between the Sharks and the Barracuda and has scored in back-to-back games for ‘Cuda head coach John McCarthy.

Wiesblatt scored his first goal of the contest at the 12:27 mark. Nikolai Knyzhov set up Wiesblatt with a back pass at the left point and the former 2020 first round pick of the Sharks sniped home a wrist shot for his fourth goal of the season.

San Jose scored its fourth unanswered goal 59 seconds later with Gushchin’s second goal of the game. The native of Yakaterinberg, Russia skated along from the right boards back up to the point before sending a seeing-eye wrist shot past a screened Alexander for his 19th goal of the season. Mukhamadullin picked up his third assist on the play, recording his first ever multi-point game.

San Diego stopped the bleeding 33 seconds as Groulx lasered in a wrist shot from a tough angle for his 17th goal of the season at the 13:59 mark.

Wiesblatt recorded his second goal of the game late in the middle frame on a penalty shot. Ozzy skated in from left wing, paused before burying a wrist shot past Alexander for his fifth goal of the season at the 17:41 mark. It was the third penalty shot goal in franchise history for San Jose.

Priskie scored his second goal of the game with a power play tally 59 seconds into the third period. Sikura set up Priskie who beat Dell with a one-timer from the left slot for his 11th goal of the season.

Wiesblatt completed his hat trick at the 7:23 mark when he cleaned up a wraparound attempt from Kyle Criscuolo right in front of the crease for his sixth goal of the season.

Dell finished the game stopping 15 of the 18 shots to earn his the victory. Alexander made 35 saves on 41 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-3 on the power play. San Diego went 1-for-1.

The Three Stars of the Gamer were: 1) Wiesblatt 2) Sikura 3) Gushchin.

UP NEXT: San Jose return home for their final two home games of the season as they host the Colorado Eagles on Friday 4/7 at 7:00pm at Tech CU Arena.

Dallas Beats Kings in Final Minutes 123-119 To Stay Alive For Playoff Berth

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Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) drives the ball against Sacramento Kings guard Davion Mitchell (15) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas at American Airlines Arena on Wed Apr 5, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Wednesday night the Sacramento Kings (48-32) took on the Dallas Mavericks (38-42) at American Airlines Center. The Kings have secured their spot in the playoffs and are chasing 50 wins with a possibility of 51 wins when all is said and done heading into the playoffs. The Mavericks picked up the win against the Kings playing desperately to stay alive for a 123-119.

The Mavericks have a distinctly different future. The Mavericks are currently in 11th place in the Western Conference and will be fighting for a play in spot. Dallas does not have any injured players and the Kings are very close to full strength. Bench player Matthew Dellavedova underwent surgery to repair a fractured index finger. There is no timetable right now for him. Two teams with vastly different agendas.

The two teams battled throughout the first quarter. After the first 12 minutes the Mavericks had a slim lead 28-27. Keegan Murray had a quiet opening quarter but he really began to heat up in the second quarter. He had eleven points at the half with two triples.

The teams two power houses De’Aaron Fox and Luca Doncic both finished the half with 17 points. Domantas Sabonis had a terrific first half with seven rebounds, eight assists and 14 points. The Kings outscored the Mavericks in the second quarter 44-32. They led at the half 71-60 with a lot of ball still to play.

After an amazing game against the Hawks on Sunday Kyrie Irving had a quiet first half in this game with 6 points. It was a far cry from the 41 points he scored against the Hawks Sunday but it was only one half of basketball.

The Mavericks came roaring back in the third quarter outscoring the Kings 32-21 taking the lead mid-way through the quarter. The teams traded the lead in the final minutes of the quarter. The game was tied at 92 after three.

Kyrie Irving got hot in the second half and with 6:09 left in the game had shot for 24 points. Tim Hardaway Jr. also had 24 points and Luca Doncic does what he typically does and that is control the game shooting for 29 points. Dallas was fighting for their playoff lives and they were playing like it.

Kyrie Irving scored 19 points in the final twelve minutes and willed his team to a 123-119 win keeping them alive although barely. The Kings were hoping to administer the last rites in Dallas but the Mavericks were on fire in the second half and refused to go away.

The Kings did not have the fourth quarter magic that we have seen so often this season. Fox finished with the high score shooting for 28 points. Every starter finished with double digits and Sabonis had yet another triple double with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.

Friday night the Kings will be back home taking on the Golden State Warriors at Golden One Center. This will be yet another team that is fighting for position in the playoffs. The Warriors do not want to have to end up in a play in game and so this is a critical game for them. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm.

Dallas Beats Kings in Final Minutes To Stay Alive For Playoff Berth

Guardians down A’s in ten innings 6-4

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Cleveland Guardians’ Steven Kwan watches his RBI single during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Apr 5, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND– The Oakland A’s (5-2) and the Cleveland Guardians (2-4) met in a matinee Wednesday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum. The teams had split the first two games played. The Guardians won Monday night 12-11 in the innings, and the A’s won a walk-off Tuesday night, 4-3.

The A’s offense was in snooze land for the game’s first seven innings. Oakland’s hitter managed just one single off the Guardians’ starter, Hunter Gaddis. Cleveland scored two runs in the sixth and two in the seventh. The A’s found a way to tie the game in the eighth.

A Ryan Noda solo homer and a three-run jack off the bat of Jesus Aguilar tied the game. The A’s had a chance to win the game. Alas, things went south in the tenth as Cleveland scored twice, and the A’s failed to counter. Cleveland downs the A’s 6-4.

The Guardians drew first blood in the top of the sixth. A’s starter Kyle Muller held Cleveland scoreless for the first five innings. Muller recorded the first two outs in the sixth. Muller then hit Cleveland’s third baseman Gabriel Arias with a pitch. Myles Straw singled. There were two men on with two out. Guardians’ catcher Cam Gallagher doubled to drive in both runners. Cleveland leads 2-0. 

levllThe Guardians added two more runs in the seventh to go ahead 4-0. The A’s offense for the first seven innings was one hit. Things changed in the eighth. A’s first baseman Ryan Noda led off the eighth with his first Major League home run to make it 4-1.

The Guardians’ reliever Tim Herrin walked Tony Kemp and Aledmys Diaz. The next hitter, Jesus Aguilar, hit his first home run as an Oakland Athletic to tie the game at 4-4. Neither team scored in the ninth.

Cleveland scored two runs in the top of the tenth. With men on at first and second, A’s reliever Zach Jackson uncorked a wild pitch. Both runners advanced a base. Will Brennan grounded out, and ghost runner Andres Gimenez scored on the play. Steven Kwan singled to drive in Myles Straw with the sixth run of the game for Cleveland. Emmanuel Clase held the A’s scoreless to preserve the win for the Guardians.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s are 2-4. The Guardians improved to 5-2. 

A’s starter Kyle Murray went five and 2/3rd innings and allowed two runs and four hits. He struck out five and walked three, one intentionally. He threw 95 pitches; 62 were strikes. Adrian Martinez, Dominic Acevedo, Jeurys Familia, and Zach Jackson pitched in relief. Jackson took the loss.

The Guardians also used five pitchers. Hunter Gaddis went six innings and allowed one hit. Reliever Eli Morgan, the fourth pitcher of the day, was the winning pitcher. Emmanuel Clase earned his second save of the year.

The time of the game was two hours and 58 minutes. 4930 people watched the A’s lose their fourth game of the young season

The A’s are going to Tampa Bay to play the Rays for three games starting Friday night. Lefty Ken Waldichuk will go for Oakland while the Rays will counter with righty Zach Elfin. The game will start at 3:40 pm.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitlelberg: A’s can’t get out of tenth Guardians score twice in 6-4 win

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Oakland A’s Ryan Noda (49) gets a warm welcome in the A’s dugout after hitting his first home run of the season against the Cleveland Guardians in the bottom of the eighth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Apr 5, 2023 (@Athletics photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry, Cleveland Guardians pitcher Hunter Gaddis pitched six innings without giving up a run to the Oakland A’s surrendering only one hit and four strike outs leaving with the Guardians in front 2-0 at the Oakland Coliseum.

#2 The A’s line up one through nine just struggled all game long to spray the ball outside of a Ryan Noda home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Cleveland pitching for the most part had them off balance.

#3 It was a tough go for A’s starter Kyle Muller in the sixth who got charged with two runs when reliever Domingo Acevedo came in and gave up a two run single for Cleveland’s first two runs of the game.

#4 The A’s in the bottom of the eighth down 4-1 had two runners on and the tying run at the plate Jesus Aguilar took Guardians pitcher Jim Herrin deep to left field at the 362 mark to tie the game 4-4.

#5 Jerry tough top of the tenth inning for the A’s as the Guardians Steven Kwan singled to score Myles Straw and Will Brennan grounded to short allowing Andres Gimenez to score to put the Guardians in front by two runs 6-4 for the win.

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

San Francisco Giants game wrap: Lackluster Offense Hurts Giants Losing To White Sox 7-3

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb throws against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago on Wed Apr 5, 2023 (AP News photo)

Lackluster Offense Hurts Giants Losing To White Sox 7-3

By Barbara Mason

Wednesday afternoon the San Francisco Giants (2-3) took on the Chicago White Sox (233) in game two of their three games series which winds up Thursday afternoon. Monday the Giants won a convincing game beating the White Sox 12-3. The White Sox evened the series in Wednesday’s game at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago 7-3.

Chicago got on the board early when first baseman Andrew Vaughn doubled driving in Luis Robert Jr for the first run of the game and the early 1-0 lead. Gavin Sheets was next at bat and singled Andrew Benintendi home. Vaughn attempted to also score but was thrown out at home to end the inning.

The Giants hit a homer in the second inning off the bat of J.D. Davis for the single run in the inning. Chicago continued to hold the early lead 2-1.

The third and fourth innings were quiet for both teams, but In the fifth inning the White Sox scored a couple more runs. Hanser Alberto singled to left bringing Otto Colas home to extend their lead 3-1. Luis Robert Jr. would add to their lead doubling to right and bringing Elvis Andrus across home plate. Chicago had a 4-1 lead through five innings.

The White Sox didn’t let up going into the seventh inning. Yoan Moncada singled to right and Hanser Alberto scored followed by a Sheets single that brought both Benintendi and Robert Jr. home for a 7-1 Chicago lead.

The Giants continued to struggle on offense but they put together a rally in the ninth inning. Joc Pederson doubled bringing Michael Conforto and Wilmer Flores home but that was all there was for San Francisco.

It was a tough day for the Giants not able to generate much offense which has been a problem in this young season. San Francisco only had four hits in the game while Chicago had a solid offensive day with 13 hits. Despite having nine walks it just wasn’t enough for San Francisco to win this game.

Thursday the Giants will play the rubber game hoping to win this series. Starting for San Francisco Alex Wood matching up against the White Sox Lance Lynn First pitch is scheduled for 11:10 am.

Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor: Kuminga and Lamb make up difference for injured Thompson

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (11) drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) and guard Moses Moody during the first half at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Tue Apr 4, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast with David:

#1 The Warriors did not have Klay Thompson available Tuesday night. Thompson was a late scratch due to tightness in his lower back. Steve Kerr had Jonathan Kuminga and Anthony Lamb in the starting lineup and that made the difference for the missing Thompson in the Warriors 136-125 win.

#2 The Warriors had five players in double figures. Curry paced the offense with 34 points, five rebounds, and six assists, and Curry made six threes. Poole had 30 points, two rebounds, and four assists, and Poole made five threes. Green had quite a night.

#3 Andrew Wiggins won’t return on the floor soon coach Kerr said that Wiggins will get into practice shape and he’ll most likely be saved for the post season to avoid injuries during the closing days of the regular season.

#4 The Warriors have two games left in the regular season. Both games are on the road. The Warriors meet the Sacramento Kings Friday night in Sacramento for a 7:00 pm PDT tip. 

Join David Zizmor for the Warriors podcast each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Roots’ 3 goals prove to be too much for El Farolito as Oakland wins U.S. Open Cup 3-0 in second round matchup

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Photo From Oakland Roots Instagram Bryan Tamacas setting up for the Roots

By Troy Ewers

This second round of the U.S. Open Cup match was in the CSU East Bay Campus Hayward, California as the Oakland Roots hosted El Farolito and the theme for this Tuesday night game was the first half goals and second half yellows coming up with a 3-0 shutout at Hayward State. In the first half it was obvious who the clear dominant presence on the pitch was and it was Oakland.

The Roots scored three goals in the first 24 minutes and each one involved either Johnny Rodriguez, Wolfgang Prentice, or both. Johnny Rodriguez scored the first goal off a header and he’s scored in every game where the Roots have put up a point this season.

Wolfgang Prentice would score the next two goals, one assisted by Ethan Kohler and the other one by Johnny Rodriguez giving him a big two point night. As the half would come to a close, a penalty by Oakland’s Joseph Nane caused a penalty shot that was capitalized on by El Farolito.

Ricardo Delgado Araujo converted the penalty shot with a shot to the bottom left corner and even though that was all the scoring for the game. The intensity never fell off. seven yellow cards and one red card would make this a little chippy.

El Farolito’s four yellow cards and one red card gave them a disadvantage, because the momentum stayed in Oakland’s favor for those last 45 minutes. Only negative moment this half for Oakland was Drew Murray’s injury, no current updates at the moment.

The game ended 3-1 with the Roots getting a big win and this Saturday, they’re back on the road to Indianapolis to face Indy XI in a USL regular season matchup. Each game has shown Oakland getting better and better, first game a loss, second game a draw, third game a goal victory, and now a two goal victory.

Each game showcasing Oakland’s ever growing chemistry and willingness to go to the trenches for 90 minutes and if they can keep this fire blazing then the season can only get more and more entertaining.