Earthquakes beat Cruz Azul in 2-0 shutout friendly

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San Jose Earthquakes get a shutout in a late evening friendly match at Pay Pal Park in San Jose over Cruz Azul (photo from @SJEarthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

The San Jose Earthquakes scored two goals in the second half as they shutout Liga MX’s Cruz Azul 2-0 in an International friendly on Thursday evening at Pay Pal Park.

Cruz Azul has a 2-1-3 record and is currently in sixth place in Liga MX’s Torneo Apertura 2021, the first of two championships during the 2021-2022 season. The historic club won the most recent championship (Torneo Clausura 2021) after finishing with a league-best 13-2-2 record and winning all three of its playoff matchups.

Cruz Azul has won nine Liga MX championships, with its title earlier this year the club’s first since 1997. Additionally, Cruz Azul has won six Concacaf Champions League titles, four Copa MX titles, three Campeon de Campeones championships, one Supercopa MX, and one Leagues Cup.

Cruz Azul is the only Mexican team to ever win a treble, lifting the Liga MX, Copa MX and Champions League trophies in the same season (1997).

There wasn’t much action on the scoreboard in the first 45 minutes as both teams went into the locker room at halftime deadlocked at 0-0.

However, these two teams played like bitter rivals as tempers flared late in the first half.

In the 37th minute after a foul, both teams were pushing and shoving one another inside the Quakes defensive zone. As the teams began to separate from the melee, a fan, under the influence of liquid courage, jumped from the stands onto the field and rushed the players.

Quakes goalie Daniel Vega, who made his first start this year, was the first one to confront the fan. MLS all-time leading scorer and Quakes captain Chris Wondolowski was able to get the fan, who had been wearing a blue lucha libra wrestling mask, in a headlock and drive him down to the ground before security arrived on the scene to escort the fan out of the stadium.

Cruz Azul’s star forward Jonathan Rodriguez and the Quakes top fullback Nathan were both ejected from the match for their involvement in the melee as both teams finished the rest of the match each down a man.

San Jose broke the ice in the 58th minute when Paul Marie blasted a shot from 20 yards out into the upper right corner of the net beating Cruz Azul goalie Jose de Jesus Corona.

Cruz Azul’s best chance to score came in the 62nd minute. Santiago Gimenez sent in a shot from the right wing but Vega made a diving save to the left. The rebound by Pablo Aguilar was also sent away by Vega for a corner kick.

The Quakes put the game away in the 72nd minute when they doubled their lead. Jeremy Ebobisse, who came in as a substitute in the second half in his first match action in two months, serviced a ball from left to right over to Cristian Espinoza. The ball was misplayed by Roberto Alvarado that sprung Espinoza on a breakaway. Espinoza dribbled in from the right wing, around a defender, into the middle before firing a shot past Corona right down the middle of the net.

GAME NOTES: San Jose now holds a 12-11-11 all-time record in international exhibitions, and a record of 2-8-4 against teams from Mexico.

The Earthquakes now hold a 1-0-1 record against Cruz Azul and a 2-8-4 record against teams from Mexico. Tonight’s win marks the first time the Quakes have defeated a Liga MX team since Sept. 6, 2012 (W 1-0 vs. San Luis FC).

UP NEXT: The Earthquakes return to MLS action on Saturday, Oct. 16 when they take on LAFC at Banc of California Stadium. The match kicks off at 12:30 p.m.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: The Wild Card Game-Will It Be History?

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The Los Angeles Dodgers Cody Bellinger scores ahead of Chris Taylor who hit the game winning two run home run in the bottom of the ninth on Wed Oct 6, 2021 at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles in the NL Wild Card game to advance to face the San Francisco Giants in the NLDS on Fri Oct 8, 2021 (AP News photo)

The Wild Card Game – Will It be History?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Major League Baseball Wild Card game was added to the postseason in 2012. I would be surprised if the powers to be, maintain the Wild Card Game for years to come. Once in a while, you get a great result that makes justice from a Wild Card game. Best example: the LA Dodgers who won 106 games and finished second to the 107-win-season of the SF Giants defeated the St Louis Cardinals and therefore the Dodgers advanced to what should be an epic showdown in the National League Divisional Series against the SF Giants. These great rivals (only surpassed by the Yankees vs Red Sox rivalry) will face each other for the first time in a postseason since 1883 when both franchises played in New York.

(History) In 1951 both the NY Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers finished season with identical record. Played a NL 3-game tie-breaker series to decide the winner. In game three Giants Bobby Thompson hit the walk off home run known as “Shot ‘Heard ‘Round the World”. I believe the Wild Card should also be a 3-game series, not a one-game win or go home.

In a sport where you play a 162 game season, there is no reason than a team that finishes with 106 wins, which could have won anyplace except their own division, has to play an elimination game in order to stay alive in the playoffs.

It just doesn’t make any sense. If the Cardinals would have eliminated the Dodgers, everybody and their uncle, would be talking today about it and forever. Okay, so everybody agrees that baseball is a marathon.

A marathon is a a race of 26.1 miles. Have you ever seen a marathon where the winner is then asked to run a 100 meter sprint with the guy that finished behind, to decide the race?

This 2021 was a great season for baseball, specially after a covid-shortened 60 game season last year. A week ago there was a chaotic scenario in the American League, where a total of 4 teams could have finished in a tie fighting for two (2) wild card spots.

That did not happened, but it will repeat itself under the current playoff structure. Although I understand the other opinion, where people say “that’s a lot of fun” to have a half dozen teams involved at the end of the season, prior to the postseason.

A lot of casual fans, the ones that do not attend baseball games with frequency, love to watch a game where one team celebrates and the other team cry. It is the thrill and drama of a guaranteed conclusion.

We can all expect more changes in baseball in the years to come and I cannot say today that the Wild Card game is here to stay. The season will come to an end later this month and we will crown a new champion. The most exciting game in baseball is not the Wild Card game, the most exciting game in baseball is the seventh game of the World Series. Period.

Amaury Pi-González elected the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame (BARHOF), Cuban Sports Hall of Fame (Miami), Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame, Advisory Board of ASA (American Sportscasters Association) NYC, Broadcasting sports for over 40 years, and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Las Vegas Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria: Raiders will depend on Jacobs ground game as Barber out with turf toe; plus more

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Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs seen holding helmet during warm ups against the New England Patriots on Sep 27, 2020 will getting more reps against the Chicago Bears Sun Oct 10, 2021 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (AP News file photo)

On the Raiders podcast with Tony R:

#1 Tony how running back Josh Jacobs came back last week against the Los Angeles Chargers. Jacobs carried for 40 yards averaging 3.1 yards how important was his return knowing his potential.

#2 Tony, running back Peyton Barber is has minor turf toe, will an injury like this keep Barber out for some time. Tests showed no fracture, Barber is still going through tests to see how to proceed.

#3 The Chargers proved to be a formable opponent last Sunday when they opened the first half with a 21-0 lead. Seeing the Raiders defense let down was this just one bad game for the defense or is this a concern for head coach Jon Gruden.

#4 Raiders quarterback Derek Carr couldn’t get much offense he and the Raiders couldn’t get on the scoreboard for the first, second and third quarters but scored 14 in the third quarter. How concerned will Carr have to be trying to score on the Chicago Bears this Sunday?

#5 Tony the Bears got a ten point 24-14 win over the Detroit Lions last Sunday now their at 2-2 .500 and Bears quarterback Justin Fields 11-17 for 209 he threw for no touchdowns and one interception but got help from his running backs and receivers.

Join Tony for the Raiders podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: A rivalry series for the ages Dodgers and Giants face off Friday night at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb acknowledges the Oracle Park crowd on the last day of the regular season on Sun Oct 3, 2021 as he is relieved in the eighth inning from pitching against the San Diego Padres. Webb will be the starting pitcher Fri Oct 8, 2021 against the Los Angeles Dodgers for game 1 of the NLDS in San Francisco (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Logan Webb Giants starter has been sensational all season talk about how he’s handled the Dodgers when he’s had to face them?

#2 Kevin Gausman starter has been lights out and has had a career season. With his mix of pitches do you see him keeping the Dodgers off balance.

#3 The Dodgers are missing Clayton Kershaw and Max Muncy. That didn’t seem to slow the Dodgers down in their come back on the Cardinals. That said how much will the absence of Kershaw and Muncy impact this club going into Division series.

#4 The Dodgers have been on the Giants heels in the NL West all season long. Giants manager Gabe Kapler has been able to stay of ahead of them talk about the job Kapler has done this season.

#5 Walker Buehler Dodgers starter 16-4 ERA 2.47 is one of the Dodgers aces. The Giants were able to beat him this season how do you see the Giants hitting against Buehler in this upcoming series.

Michael does the Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

LA’s Taylor wins it with a walk-off home run as Cards one and done 3-1

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Los Angeles Dodgers Chris Taylor runs the bases after hitting a ninth inning walk off home run against the St Louis Cardinals Wed Oct 6, 2021 in the NL Wild Card game at Dodgers Stadium Los Angeles (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

This was not the first rodeo in the postseason for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals facing each other, but the first in the Wild Card Game.

Chris Taylor hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Dodgers a dramatic 3-1 victory over the Cardinals in the Wild Card game at Dodger Stadium.

In the longtime rivalry between the Dodgers and the Cardinals, the Dodgers now hold a 4-1 lead overall in the postseason.

With the victory, the Dodgers will now face longtime archrival San Francisco Giants in the National League Division Series beginning on Friday night at Oracle Park in the best of five series.

This will be the first time ever that the Dodgers and Giants will face each other in the postseason.

Taylor hit an 88 mile per hour slider off of Alex Reyes and put it into the left-center bleachers to send the fans at Dodger Stadium into an absolute frenzy.

Cody Bellinger walked with two outs, and after Reyes replaced T.J. McFarland, Bellinger stole his second base of the night and then Taylor hit a 2-1 pitch that ended the game and sent the Cardinals home for the season after a heartbreaking loss.

This was the third postseason walk-off home run in Dodgers history, following Kirk Gibsons two-run home run off of Dennis Eckersley of the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series and then 29 years to the day later, on October 15, 2017, Justin Turner hit a two-run walk-off home run to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead in the National League Championship against the Chicago Cubs, who were coming off their first World Series Championship since 1908.

Longtime Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth inning to pick up the win for the Dodgers, and despite allowing a hit, Jansen struck out the side.

Following the departure of Max Scherzer with one out in the top of the fifth inning, Dave Roberts, turned to his bullpen and the quintet of Joe Kelly, Brusdar Graterol, Blake Treinen, Corey Knebel and Jansen allowed zero runs on just two hits, walked one and struck out six.

Scherzer, who grew up in the St. Louis suburb of Chesterfield before playing his college baseball at the University of Missouri went just 4.1 innings for the Dodgers, allowing one run on three hits, walking and striking out four.

On the other side of the field, Cardinals veteran Pitcher Adam Wainwright went 5.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits, walking two and striking out five.

Both Scherzer and Wainwright did not fare in the decision for their respective teams in the winner take all game.

The Cardinals got on the board in the top of the first inning, when Scherzer unleashed a wild pitch that scored Tommy Edman from third base, who led off the game with a walk, then stole second and moved to third on a fly ball hit by Tyler ONeill to Mookie Betts.

That was the score until Turner tied up the game with a solo home run off of Wainwright, and it was the 13th career postseason for Turner, a Dodgers record.

NOTES: This was the second winner take all Wild Card game for the Cardinals, who defeated the Atlanta Braves in the 2012 Wild Card Game at Turner Field. That Cardinals team, who were the defending World Champions would make it all the way to the National League Championship Series, where they would lose to the eventual World Champion San Francisco Giants in seven games after being unable to hold a 3-1 lead in the series.

Despite playing in the Wild Card Series in 2020, on their way to their first World Series Championship since 1988, this was the debut for the Dodgers in the Wild Card Game.

UP NEXT: The Dodgers will open up the NLDS at Oracle Park against the Giants on Friday night, while the Cardinals season is over and will regroup again in 2022 at Spring Training in Jupiter, Florida.

Warriors Come From Behind To Beat Denver 118-116

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The Golden State Warriors picked up a narrow pre season victory over the visiting Denver Nuggets at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Wed Oct 6, 2021 (USA Today photo)

Warriors Come From Behind To Beat Denver 118-116

By Barbara Mason

This evening the Golden State Warriors took on the Denver Nuggets in their second pre-season game. Tonight we will see Denver superstar Nikola Jokic. Jokic referred to as the “Joker” took his game to another level last season winning the MVP award just edging past Stephen Curry. He will be relying heavily on two of his youngest teammates Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon this season.

While these two players are to be watched out for, the Warriors have their own arsenal of young players in Jordan Poole who shot 30 points in Golden State’s last game with 7 three pointers. Another mega talent for the Warriors is Andrew Wiggins. Of course the Warriors have Steph Curry. Klay Thompson, Draymond Greene and former Nugget Andre Iguodala but the club is building a whole new and exciting level of younger players around these guys.

This will be the first game at the Chase Center this season and that in itself is enough to get fans coming out for this game. Although it is pre season, fans will no doubt have a great time out tonight.

A small but boisterous crowd was on hand for the second pre-season game. The Nuggets jumped out to a 39-26 lead as the first quarter came to an end. Jordan Poole had another nice quarter with 10 points.

In the second quarter the Warriors began to force turnovers and crept back into this game. Otto Porter Jr. had four shots from downtown in the half and showed some real tenacity defensively. With four minutes left in the half the Warriors had cut a fifteen point deficit down to four. The score at the half was 63-62 in favor of the Warriors. We saw some Curry magic shooting his fourth three pointer with 1.9 seconds left on the clock.

After three quarters Denver had a 89-84 lead. Bjelica and Porter Jr. had a combined 28 points off the bench.

A little over two minutes into the fourth quarter the Warriors had taken a 93-91 lead. The final was a close one with Golden State coming out on top 118-116. Jordan Poole would finish with 17 and Steph Curry with 14 points.

Friday night the Warriors will take on the Lakers at Chase Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Cole, Yankees hanging their heads after Wild Card loss; SF Giants avoided a huge concession stand strike for playoffs; plus much more

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Losing pitcher of record Gerrit Cole delivers to the Boston Red Sox line up in the first inning during the ALWC game on Tue Oct 10, 2021 at Fenway Park in Boston (AP News photo)

On Headlines with Jessica:

#1 Jessica, You had a chance to see last night’s Wild Card game between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox just how shocked was this good hitting potent team the Yankees that they only could manufacture just two runs in the 6-2 one and done loss to the Sox in Boston on Tuesday night.

#2 Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole was pulled he coughed up a Kyle Schwaber home run in the third inning. Cole said that he’s sick to his stomach over his poor outing going two innings, four hits, three runs, two walks and three strike outs.

#3 The San Francisco Giants are in the NL Division Series playoffs and will be hosting the series at Oracle Park in San Francisco which starts on Friday. What made a national story was Oracle park concessionaires Bon Appetit were planning to walk out at the beginning of the playoff meaning this Friday. That was averted when both labor and Bon Appetit management came to an agreement giving concession employees a $3 retroactive raise which covers this and the last two years, a $1.50 in hazard pay that also covered the last two years and increases that will total $7 an hour by 2024. The concession staff currently makes over $20.00 an hour.

#4 The Brooklyn Nets Kyrie Irving is still unclear whether he will take the Covid 19 vaccine but the pressure is on with opening day for the regular season around the corner. If Irving does not get vaccinated he will not be allowed to play any of the Nets home games at Barclay Center in Brooklyn until he does gets that first shot.

#5 Jessica, the San Diego Padres fired manager Jayce Tingler after he served two seasons with the Padres. The Padres at one time were within striking distance to get the second spot in the Wild Card standings but ended up not being able to seal the deal. Strong possibility to replace Tingler is former San Francisco Giant manager Bruce Bochy who led the Giants three World Series championships.

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

Kings beat down on Clippers in 113-98 win

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The Sacramento Kings Matt Barnes (40) takes a shot against the Los Angeles Clippers power forward Nicolas Batum (33) during pre season action at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wed Oct 6, 2021 (photo from sbnation.com)

by Marko Ukalovic

It’s only the preseason but so far so good for the Capital city.

The Sacramento Kings used a big run in the third quarter en route to a blowout 113-98 victory over the Los Angeles in their second preseason game on Wednesday evening at Staples Center.

The Kings jumped out to 20-9 lead in the first quarter. De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with eight points including two three pointers on two of three shooting beyond the arc.

Ivica Zubac and Paul George each had five points to pace in the first 12 minutes to pace the Clippers as they closed the first quarter on 13-10 run at 28-22.

Sacramento (2-0) shot 44% (11-26) from the field as they held Los Angeles (1-1) to just 42.9% from the floor.

Los Angeles went on 7-0 run to gain their first lead of the game to go up 37-36 led by Terrance Mann as he came off the bench and scored nine of his 11 points in the second quarter.

The Clippers closed out the second quarter on 8-2 run as the Kings went 0-6 with a turnover in the final four minutes of the half as LA climbed back to tie the game at 51 going into halftime.

Fox scored the final eight points of the half for Sacramento. Buddy Hield had an abysmal first half shooting 1-9 and only two points.

Both teams opened up the third quarter trading baskets with each other for the first half of the second half.

Sacramento closed out the final 6:21 of the third quarter on a 26-4 run to pull away from Los Angeles as they went to the fourth quarter with a 89-68 lead as they outscored the Clippers 38-17.

Hield rebounded as led the way in the third quarter with three-3 pointers and Fox chipped in with seven points.

Terence Davis scored all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter as the King extended their lead over a Clippers team that was playing with out star forward Kawhi Leonard who is recovering from an torn ACL he suffered during last season’s playoffs.

Fox finished with 23 points to lead the Kings in scoring on 7-10 from the field, including 3-5 from beyond the arc. Davian Mitchell chipped in with 13 points and Marvin Bagley III had nine points off the bench. Harrison Barnes contributed with 11 points.

Brandon Boston Jr. led the Clippers in scoring with 20 points off the bench shooting 6-19. None of the Clippers starting five scored in double digits. Reggie Jackson led the starters with just nine points.

UP NEXT: Sacramento continues their preseason on the road as they take on the Portland Trailblazers on Monday 10/11 at 7:00pm at the Moda Center.

Aces force deciding game five in 93-76 win over Phoenix

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Phoenix Mercury guard Skylar Diggins-Smith vies for the ball with Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum and guard Jackie Young (0) during the first half of Game 4 of a WNBA basketball playoff series Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)


By Shawn McCullough

The Aces blew the game open in the third quarter, going on a 24-0 run to take game four of the WNBA Semifinals, 93-76, over the Mercury in Phoenix.

“We played a solid basketball game,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “The whole package is who we are.”

With the win, the Aces and Mercury will play a deciding game five on Friday in Las Vegas.  Winner advances to the WNBA Finals against the Chicago Sky.

“We haven’t won anything,” said Laimbeer. “It’s 2-2, that’s where we are supposed to be.”

The Aces were led by guard Chelsea Gray with 22 points, while guard Kelsey Plum came off the bench to score 20.

“We had great energy and just a different change in attitude,” said Plum. “Getting beat the last two games was humbling.”

A’ja Wilson recorded a double-double, scoring 15 points and pulling down 12 rebounds.

The Aces will attempt to advance to the WNBA Finals for the second straight season.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

– The Aces shot 48.1% from the field.
– Las Vegas out-rebounded the Mercury, 37-35.
– The Aces went 11 for 22 from three-point range.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Angel McCoughtry—Out, right ACL

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Garoppolo possible to return this Sunday; Lance ready to step in at moments notice

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is possible to return this Sun Oct 10, 2021 against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. Garoppolo appears in this photo standing on the sidelines from last Sun Oct 3, 2021 after getting injured against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara (AP News photo)

On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 Dave, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo suffering from a right calf injury is a good chance to play this Sunday in Arizona. The diagnosis was less severe with just bruising issues that would not be a problem by game day.

#2 Dave, talk about Trey Lance he overthrew last Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks but settled down on a moment’s notice how ready do you see going into State Farm Stadium in Glendale against the Arizona Cardinals.

#3 How much time does Lance get with the offensive line to protect him will head coach Kyle Shanahan allow him to run the ball something we didn’t see too much off during pre season and some of the snaps he’s taken in his first few games.

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