Aces one win from WNBA championship, beat Sun, 85-71

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Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson (22) in front of Connecticut Sun center Jonquel Jones (35) during a WNBA game on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo Credit: Sports Radio Service/Shawn McCullough)

By Shawn McCullough

LAS VEGAS–The Aces took a commanding two games to zero lead in the best of five WNBA Finals with an 85-71 win over the Connecticut Sun at Michelob Ultra Arena.

“I don’t see any banners, I don’t see any balloons,” said Aces head coach Becky Hammon. “We haven’t won anything yet.”

WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson led all scoring with 26 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for the Aces.

“We aren’t’ done yet and we have things to take care of,” said Wilson on going up 2-0 in the series.

Wilson has averaged 25 points per game so far in the WNBA Finals.

“She is so explosive right now,” said Sun head coach Curt Miller. “It has been really impressive.”

Guard Courtney Williams led the Sun with 18 points, while center Jonquel Jones added 16 and pulled down 11 rebounds.

Aces Chelsea Gray scored 21 points, while Kelsey Plum added 20.

“Chelsea Gray is one of the smartest basketball players,” said Hammon. “Her IQ is ridiculous.”

Gray also dished out eight assists.

“What sets me apart is my willingness to be great,” said Gray. “I want to make others better.”

The Aces and the Sun will play game three of the best of five series on Thursday in Connecticut.

“We have another opportunity,” said Jones. “We are going home in front of our fans.”

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces shot 51.6% from the field.
Las Vegas went just 6 for 26 from three-point range.
The Aces got just 11 points off the bench.

Game Starters:

C – 41 Kia Stokes
F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 0 Jackie Young
G – 10 Kelsey Plum
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

None.

Rangers win thriller in walk-off 8-7; Sixth loss for A’s in seven games

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The Texas Rangers Mark Mathias is greeted by teammates at the plate after swinging for a game winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the visiting Oakland A’s in the first of a two game series at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington on Tue Sep 13, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s and the Texas Rangers played a very entertaining game Tuesday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Both teams had no trouble solving the slants of two lefty starting pitchers. Rangers’ starter Cole Ragans went four-plus innings and allowed eight hits and seven runs.

The A’s Ken Waldichuk lasted five innings. Waldichuk allowed eight hits and five runs. Seven of the eight hits were for extra bases. The Rangers had six doubles, one home run, and a single. Texas tied the game in the seventh and won on a walk-off home run to win 8-7.

Oakland drew first blood in the top of the first. With two out, Chad Pinder singled. Pinder went to second on a wild pitch. Ragans then walked Shea Langeliers. The next hitter, A’s first baseman, Dermis Garcia, belted his third home run to give Oakland an early 3-0 lead.

The Rangers weren’t fazed. They put two on the board in their half of the first. Former A’s shortstop Marcus Semien led off with a double. Waldichuk retired the next two hitters. Adolis Garcia doubled to drive in Semien. Third baseman Josh Jung also doubled to drive in Garcia. The A’s led 3-2 

The A’s scored three times in the top of the fourth. With one out, Jonah Bride and Sheldon Neuse singled. Nick Allen’s double drove in two. Cristian Pache singled to give Oakland a 6-2 lead. 

The A’s made it 7-2 in the top of the fifth. Chad Pinder led off the inning with a double. Rangers’ manager Tony Beasley brought in lefty Taylor Hearn to pitch. Hearn Retired Langeliers for the first out. Garcia doubled to drive in Pinder. 

The Rangers plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Waldichuk was tagged for back-to-back doubles by Marcus Semien and Mark Mathias. Waldichuk retired Nate Lowe for the first out. Adolis Garcia blasted his 25th homer to make it 7-5 after five. Waldichuk was done for the night. He allowed six doubles, one home run, and one single in his five innings. He threw 82 pitches.

The Rangers tied the game in the seventh. Austin Pruitt was on the hill for Oakland. Marcus Semien led off the inning with his third double of the night. It was the first time in Semien’s career that he had three doubles in a game. The next hitter, Mark Mathias, homered to make it 7-7.

The Rangers’ relievers, lefties Taylor Hearn and Brook Burke, allowed the A’s just one hit in the last four innings of the game. The A’s A.J.Puk pitched well in the seventh and eighth. A’s manager Mark Kotsay brought in Joel Payamps to pitch the ninth.

Payamps retired Semien for the first out. The next hitter, Mark Mathias, sent the Rangers’ fans home with smiles as he hit his second home run of the night to win it for Texas 8-7.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s are now 51-91. Texas improved to 62-80. 

The line score for Oakland was seven runs, ten hits, and no errors. Texas’ line was eight runs, eleven hits, and no errors. The Rangers hit seven doubles, three home runs, and just one lonely single. It was quite an impressive display of power. 

Dermis Garcia doubled and homered to drive in four runs. Chad Pinder had three hits for Oakland. The hitting stars for Texas were Marcus Semien, with three doubles, and Mark Mathias, with a double and two home runs.

The A’s and Texas have played 18 times this year. Texas leads 11-7. 

Lefty J.P.Sears (5-2, 3.33) goes for Oakland on Wednesday. Dane Dunning (3-8, 4.39) will pitch for Texas.

The time of the game was 2:41. 14,916 people watched a very entertaining game.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: A’s open two game series tonight in Arlington against Rangers

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The Oakland A’s will be sending out starter Ken Waldichuk (64) for Tue Sep 14, 2022’s contest in Arlington against the Texas Rangers (White Cleat Beat file photo)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, the Oakland A’s had the day off on Monday and get ready for the Texas Rangers tonight at Arlington. The A’s are coming off a win on Sunday defeating the Chicago White Sox convincingly 10-3.

#2 The A’s were in need for the win they were on a six game homestand which they had up to Sunday lost every game at home and salvaged Sunday’s game with a six run fifth inning.

#3 The A’s were able to get some help from Ramon Laureano who hit two home runs after replacing rightfielder Chad Pinder.

#4 Pinder was ejected for arguing about a ball he hit that hit the leftfield chalk line as to it being fair or foul it was ruled foul and on his way to the outfield Pinder expressed his truest feeling to third base umpire Edwin Moscosco who ejected Pinder.

#5 A’s are in Arlington Tuesday night and will start Ken Waldichuk (0-1, 3.60) and for the Rangers Cole Ragans (0-2, 3.80) a 5:05pm PDT first pitch.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez whose the Spanish play by play radio voice for the Oakland A’s on flagship station 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Las Vegas Raiders podcast with Rich Perez: Raiders licking wounds from week 1; Vegas preparing for Arizona in Sunday’s home opener

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The Kansas City Chiefs kept the pressure up on Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) here is Murray after one of the Chiefs sacks on Sun Sep 11, 2022 in Glendale. The Raiders host the Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sun Sep 18, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Raiders podcast:

#1 Rich, how much would you say that the Los Angeles Chargers defense played a role in keeping the Raiders out of the end zone and protected the lead all the way as the Raiders closed within five points at the end.

#2 Devante Adams just couldn’t carry the Raiders on his back on offense Adams for the afternoon caught ten passes, for 141 yards and one touchdown.

#3 Rich talk about that second quarter that the Chargers had they scored twice and the Raiders didn’t have an answer in that quarter how concerned did Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels have to be during that quarter.

#4 Rich did it appear to you that Raider quarterback Derek Carr had enough time to throw and help get the Raiders the lead?

#5 The Raiders host the Arizona Cardinals this Sun Sep 18th at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for week 2. The Cardinals took a tough loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Glendale 44-21 a lopsided affair. The Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray threw for 193 yards, went 22 for 34 and two touchdowns.

Join Rich Perez for the Las Vegas Raiders podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Scott Alexander, save us from ourselves!: Weary, cranky Giants record eventful 3-2 win over the Braves

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–The adjectives surrounding the disappointing 2022 Giants–streaky, weary, cranky, engaged–collided Monday night in an eighth inning pitching change that said everything about the club’s mindset entering the final weeks of a trying season.

What’s clear? They’re not calling it in.

The Giants built a three-run lead, and almost squandered it in the tumultuous eighth, only to emerge with a 3-2 win over the NL East-contending Braves. The Giants’ third straight win after a five-game slide was improbable, to say the least, given their circumstances.

Alex Cobb was the focal point for the first seven innings by scattering six singles and no walks. Cobb’s performance was critical as he was the only member of the team’s contingent to avoid a trying night of travel back from Chicago that saw the team arrive at SFO airport at 4:18am.

At 4:18am, Cobb was undoubtedly tucked away and asleep at his Bay Area home, as it’s common protocol to send the pitcher designated to start a home stand on an earlier flight, insuring him a regular night’s rest. In this case, that rest was apparent.

Also avoiding the difficult travel after a head-scratching Sunday night game on ESPN between two teams that have been eliminated from post-season contention was Willie Calhoun, a Vallejo native who posted credible numbers in his 41 games at Triple-A Sacramento since being acquired from the Rangers.

It was Calhoun that got the Giants ignited with an RBI hit off the bricks in right that scored Brandon Crawford with the game’s first run. Luis Gonzalez followed with a RBI single that gave the Giants a second-inning lead on Braves’ starter Spencer Strider.

Head scratching could describe the Giants’ breakthrough against Strider, unquestionably the hottest pitcher in the National League with a 6-1 record in his previous eight starts, including 16 strikeouts against the Rockies on September 1. Strider posted his typical strikeout numbers with nine but uncharacteristically allowed a season-high nine hits. He departed after the Giants scored an unearned run in the fifth trailing 3-0.

“For those guys to get a few hours of sleep, wake up, do their routines and go out there and get three runs off probably one of the better pitchers in all of baseball and play the type of defense they did, just gutsy,” Cobb said.

Zach Littell, not John Brebbia, was the first reliever to appear in the eighth and the departure from manager Gabe Kapler’s normal bullpen deployment created chaos. Littell allowed the first four Braves he faced to reach (two singles, a double and a four-pitch walk to No. 9 hitter Robbie Grossman) and the Giants’ cushion vanished.

Littell recovered by inducing the run-producing Austin Riley to hit into a double play and–in that moment–felt he had regained ownership of the inning.

Kapler felt otherwise and in a typical decision rooted in left-right matchups summoned Scott Alexander. As only the myriad of ballpark cameras can capture, the Oracle Park crowd was witness to the angry exchange of the baseball with Littell offering a few words to Kapler as he departed with the manager and catcher Austin Wynns left stunned.

“I wanted Olson,” Littell said afterwards, referring to the ensuing Braves’ batter. “Not that I pitched well enough to deserve it.”

“Obviously he’s a competitor and wanted to finish that inning. And I think it was just his wanting me to know that he wanted to finish that inning,” Kapler said. “We discussed it and it and he knows when I come out to get the ball he needs to put the ball in my hand and we’ll talk about anything later.”

The hero in the maelstrom? Alexander, who induced an inning-ending flyout, then returned for the ninth, and recorded the four-out save.

Oakland A’s Preview: A’s and Rangers open up two game set in Arlington on Tuesday

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By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s, suffering from their worst season since 1979, have 21 games left on the schedule. They are on the road for two with the Texas Rangers and four with the Astros in Houston. They return home for three with the playoff-bound Seattle Mariners and three with the National League first-place New York Mets. Oakland travels to LA for three with the Angels and three more with the Mariners. The A’s finish the season hosting the Angels for the final three games of the year. The A’s are 51-90 so far this season. They must win twelve of the last 21 games to avoid 100 losses. It will not be easy as they play three teams heading for the playoffs; the Astros, the Mariners, and the Mets.

The schedule has them playing two against the Rangers for the final time this season. The guys that hang out at Globe Life Field are tied with the Angels for third place in the AL West. Both teams own a 61-69 record. Neither team has lived up to expectations this year. Both teams have fired their manager midway through the year. The Angels dismissed Joe Maddon and replaced him with Phil Nevins. The Rangers fired Chris Woodward and named Tony Beasly as the interim manager. Both the Angels and Rangers spent heavily to improve the team. Money did not do the trick.
On the other hand, Oakland traded away several of its top players to reduce payroll. Gone are Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Mark Canha, Chris Bassitt, Sean Manaea, Jake Diekman, Sergio Romo, Starling Marte, Yan Gomes, and Josh Harrison. The A’s released three veterans midway through the season. Gone are Jed Lowrie, Stephen Piscotty, and Elvis Andrus. The A’s have used 60 players, including 28 rookies and 19 rookie pitchers. They have the worst record in baseball. Their team batting average is .217. The A’s are trying out players that they think will be on the roster in 2023. They have two veterans that may be shopped over the winter. They are catcher Sean Murphy and outfielder Ramon Laureano.

So, this brings us to Tuesday night’s game with the Texas Rangers. The Rangers gave huge contracts to Marcus Semien and Corey Seager before the start of the 2022 season. The Rangers were hoping to challenge the Astros for the AL West crown. The Rangers forgot to get pitching. They have guys who can hit the ball out of the park but need pitching. To contend, Texas, like all the teams in the playoffs race, needs three basic things: good hitting, good pitching, and good defense. It’s called strength up the middle. The Rangers have several core players to build around. They include Nate Lowe, Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Adolis Garcia, and Jonah Heim. These guys can play. Rookie Bubba Thompson is hitting .296 and could be a player for Texas.

The A’s will be looking to see if players like Nick Allen, Cristian Pache, Jonah Bride, Dermis Garcia, Cody Thomas, Skye Bolt, and Cal Stevenson fit into their plans for 2023. Will the A’s keep veteran players like Tony Kemp, Chad Pinder, Sheldon Neuse, and Seth Brown? So, let’s look at the starting pitchers for the next two games.

On Tuesday, The A’s will send rookie lefty Ken Waldichuk to the hill to face the Rangers. Waldichuk will be making his third start. He is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA. In his last start against a very powerful Atlanta Brave lineup, Waldichuk went five and 1/3rd innings. He allowed three hits and three runs. His only problem was that two of the hits left the park. The Braves won the game 7-3. The Rangers will send their rookie lefty Cole Ragans to the mound. Ragans is 0-2 with a 3.80 ERA. Ragans has yet to win his first game in the bigs.

On Wednesday, lefty J.P.Sears will be looking to rebound from his tough outing against the Chicago White Sox last week. Sears and Waldichuk came to Oakland in the trade that sent Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino to the New York Yankees. Sears lasted two innings and allowed eight hits and six runs. Three of the hits were home runs. Righty Dane Dunning will pitch for Texas. Dunning has faced the A’s twice this year. On May 29th, he went four and 1/3rd inning and allowed seven hits and three runs. Dunning did not figure in the decision. He beat the A’s on August 18th. Dunning went six innings in that game and allowed four hits and two runs. He got credit for the win.

The Rangers want to finish in third place in the AL West. The A’s want to get any wins to avoid losing 100 or more games. The Rangers are 11-6 against the A’s this year. The odds favor the Rangers, but as they say in baseball; “You never know”

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Can Cal handle Notre Dame in first road game of the season

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The Cal Bears Jaydn Ott takes a dive into the end zone for six points against the UNLV Running Rebels on Sat Sep 10, 2022 at Cal Memorial Stadium in Berkeley (AP News photo)

On the Cal Bears podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris, the Cal Bears scored twice on the UNLV Running Rebels 14-0 at Cal Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday doing most of the damage in the first quarter.

#2 Talk about running back Jaydn Ott’s touchdowns scoring one on the ground and one from a pass know what he can do what impact will he have on the Cal offense.

#3 Morris, talk about the Cal defense with three fourth quarter stops that didn’t allow UNLV to score in second half.

#4 Talk about Jack Plummer’s afternoon throwing 278 yards going 28-39, one touchdown and one interception.

#5 Cal heads to Notre Dame and the Fighting Irish who have lost two of their first two games and will be battling Cal who is 2-0. Can Plummer handle the Notre Dame pass rush and how do you see the Cal offensive game for this one next Saturday.

Join Morris for the Cal Bears podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants Win Second In a Row Against Chicago 4-2

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San Francisco Giants hitter Thairo Estrada smacks a top of the fourth inning single against the Chicago Cubs on Sun Sep 11, 2022 at Wrigley Field in Chicago (AP News photo)

Giants Win Second In a Row Against Chicago 4-2

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (67-73) finished off their three game series with the Chicago Cubs (58-82) Sunday evening. Saturday the Giants offense came to life with 11 hits scoring five runs and winning game two 5-2.

Sunday San Francisco got more production at the plate again to not only win game three but also the series as they defeated the Cubs 4-2 at Wrigley Field.

The first run of the game came in the fourth inning when Thairo Estrada singled and J.D. Davis scored giving San Francisco a 1-0 lead.

In the fifth inning Chicago tied up the game 1-1. Rafael Ortega singled and Zach McKinstry scored on a San Francisco error.

The game remained tied into the seventh inning. Thairo Estrada, who was having an amazing offensive game, hit a solo home run in the inning to take back the lead for the Giants 2-1.

In the eighth inning more long balls for San Francisco. Wilmer Flores homered with Lewis Brinson on base extending their lead to 4-1. This was Flores’ 18th homer of the season. Chicago’s Seiya Suzuki homered in the eighth inning, a solo, but that would be it for the Cubs.

The Giants win their second in a row. They had eight hits in this game continuing to swing the bats very well.

The Giants will be back home for a three game series with the red-hot Atlanta Braves on Monday night. The Braves will be sending Spencer Strider (10-4, 2.69) going up against Giants starter Alex Cobb (5-6, 3.68) a 6:45 pm PDT first pitch at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: Everybody hits on Dave Stewart day as A’s clobber Sox 10-2

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Oakland A’s outifelder Cristian Pache hits a single off the Chicago White Sox in the bottom of the fifth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Sep 11, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Barbara big celebration at the Oakland Coliseum on Sunday as the A’s retired former pitcher Dave Stewart’s number 34 which Dave gave a tremendous thanks every on the dais and all the fans throughout the A’s years.

#2 Tony Kemp the A’s second baseman became the first Oakland lead off hitter to score four runs, hit a home run which actually helped the A’s beat the Chicago White Sox by a huge score 10-3.

#3 The A’s Ramon Laureano slugged two home runs and replaced Chad Pinder in rightfield. The A’s also had Vimeal Machin at third base who hit a two run double in the bottom of the fifth inning.

#4 The A’s held the Sox to only three runs. Starter Cole Irvin pitched seven innings, four hits and three runs.

#5 The A’s now open a two game series against the Texas Rangers at the Ballpark in Arlington on Tuesday night and will start Ken Waldichuk (0-1, 3.60) and for the Rangers Cole Ragans (0-2, 3.80) a 5:05pm PDT first pitch.

Join the voice of Oakland A’s podcasting Barbara Mason Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Raiders fall short in last ditch 4th quarter effort 24-19 to Chargers in Inglewood

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Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Devante Adams (left) goes airborne after making a catch and is caught up with Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Adams Jr (26) in the second half. SoFi Stadium in Inglewood (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

After tying the game in the first quarter 3-3 the Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers battled throughout the contest on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. It had been nine years since Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Devante Adams had played together since college.

Carr hit Adams for an 11 yard pass on the opening drive of the game. It turned out that Adams would be Carr’s favorite target all afternoon throwing to Adams for five completions. Despite Carr and Adams hooking up the Raiders defense couldn’t hold the line in the second quarter as the Chargers scored 14 points.

“We did some good things,” Carr said. “There’s also some things that him and I, we were just talking about in the locker room, the way I see it, the way he sees it, and we’re trying to make that better. So yeah, we had production, but I think that we can be better, and so does he.”

It was a great afternoon for Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had who went 26-34 threw for three touchdowns for 279 yards throwing to wide receivers DeAndre Carter and Gerald Everett.

The Raiders have their work cut out for them as they return to Las Vegas on Sun Sep 18th at Allegiant Stadium to host the Arizona Cardinals and Kyler Murray. The Cardinals have more a will to win after they got beat 44-21 by quarterback Pat Mahomes and the Kansas Chiefs in Glendale. Murray went 22-34, 193 yards and two touchdowns and was relieved by back up quarterback Trace McSorley after the game became lopsided.

Rich Perez is a Raiders beat writer and does the Raiders podcasts Wednesdays and Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com