Sharks Preseason: Sharks Win in Vegas 4-2

Published on by M WalshLeave a comment

The Vegas Golden Knights right wing Evgenii Dadonov (63) moves the puck against the San Jose Sharks Gannon Laroque (28) at the T Mobile Center in Las Vegas on Sun Sep 26, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks won 4-2 in a preseason match against the Vegas Golden Knights. The split squad that went to Vegas on Sunday was led by Logan Couture. Sharks goals were scored by Alexander Chmelevski, Jasper Weatherby, Adam Raska and Logan Couture. Sharks goalie Adin Hill made 21 saves for the win. Vegas goals were scored by Paul Cotter and Max Pacioretty. Vegas goalie Logan Thompson made 24 saves for Vegas. More than 17,000 people came to watch the game at T-Mobile Arena.

Alexander Chmelevski scored the only goal in the first period, on the power play at 15:29. Scott Reedy’s pass from the corner found Chmelevski right as he arrved in front of the net. Assists went to Reedy and William Eklund.

The Sharks out-shot the Golden Knights 9-6 in the first period. They had two power plays but scored on just one. They took no penalties. Vegas captain Mark Stone took a puck to the ear in the first and did not return.

Just over a minute into the second period, Vegas’ Peyton Krebs misjudged the situation along the boards and swept the puck into the slot where San Jose’s Jasper Weatherby was ready to take a quick shot. 2-0 Sharks.

At the three-minute mark, Vegas scored with a goal from Paul Cotter. He and Jack Dugan rushed into the zone two-on-one against Santeri Hatakka. Dugan and Brett Howden got assists.

The Sharks extended their lead at 7:31 with a goal from Adam Raska. Jeffrey Viel intercepted a pass off the wall and found Raska with a quick pass. Raska carried the puck to the net and snapped it past the goalie.

The Sharks out-shot the Golden Knights 11-6 in the second period. They took one penalty but killed it.

The Golden Knights closed the gap again, 34 seconds into the third period, on the power play. Max Pacioretty found the puck in a scrum at the net and shot it over the Sharks’ prone goaltender. Assists went to Nolan Patrick and Chandler Stephenson.

Logan Couture padded the Sharks lead with a power play goal at 15:56. Six seconds into the power play, Couture caught a rebound from a Burns shot and slipped the puck behind the Vegas goalie. Assists went to Weatherby and Burns.

In the third period, the Sharks took two penalties and killed just one. They had one power play and scored on that. The third period shots were even at eight each.

In the post-game shoot-out, Thompson stopped William Eklund’s shot but Jonathan Dahlen and Timo Meier both scored. Hill stopped Evgenii Dadonov’s shot, Noel Patrick hit the post, and Chandler Stephenson scored.

The Sharks play again on Tuesday, against the Kings at 7:00 PM PT in San Jose.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: An Underrated Manager; Melvin winningest manager in Oakland history

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s manager is the winningest manager in Oakland history and is regarded as underrated and deserves much recognition (Athletics Nation file photo)

An Underrated Manager

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Bob Melvin is the winningest manager in the history of the Oakland A’s since they moved to Oakland in 1968, surpassing Hall of Fame manager Tony LaRussa. In June the A’s exercised the 2022 option on Melvin’s contract, officially keeping him at least one more year.

A three-time winner of the Manager of the Year, with Seattle, Arizona and most recently with the Athletics in 2018. A Bay Area native and alumni of UC Berkeley. He played from 1985 to 1994 mostly as a backup catcher for various teams including the San Francisco Giants .

Melvin led the A’s six times into the Postseason and is as respected, by players, fans and media alike as anybody in the game. Yet for a combination of reasons I believe he is an underrated manager.

For one, the national baseball media usually overlooks the teams here on the West Coast, all the attention is focused towards the teams of the other coast. Other reason is the level of talent he is given every year. These young players come to Oakland and when they become stars, they leave to produce in some other place.

During Bob Melvin reign as manager of the A’s he had to adjust to a system where players usually do not stay with the team for more than a couple of years, or so. Due to the A’s system they move players constantly.

Many become stars in Oakland and then they fly away and sign juicy multi-year contracts with other teams. Guys like Josh Donaldson, who after leaving Oakland won the American League MVP with the Toronto Blue Jays, or Cuban-born Yoenis Céspedes, who was a very popular player here in Oakland, who also left.

Yoenis told me many times, he enjoyed playing here and for manager Melvin, where he began his career in the Major Leagues after defecting from Cuba.

Most recently star closer Liam Hendricks now in the postseason with the recently crowned Central Division champion Chicago White Sox and Marcus Semien with the Toronto Blue Jays having the best season of his career, who could also be playing in the postseason in a little over a week. Both Liam Hendricks (still one of the best closers in the business) and Marcus Semien who recently tied the record of homeruns for a second baseman with 43.

Melvin, however, always gets the most from his players, youngsters or seasoned veterans, whom (like previously mentioned) love to play for him. This manager always does the best with the talent he is given year after year after year.

He is a very good manager for many reasons, not only as an ‘on the field’ skipper with strategy but how he manages every personality inside this clubhouse and the hands-on relations with each of his players.

Bob Melvin told us they are going to fight until the last game of the season, their last home-stand ended with 4 looses in a row against the Mariners and then with a 3-game sweep against the Astros. The A’S are in Seattle for three games and then close the season in Houston for three more next weekend.

Bob Melvin, is one of the biggest assets in the Oakland Athletics organization. But, let’s face it. The best jockey in the world cannot win the race if the horse is limping.

Spanish Coverage: The 60 game A’s schedule in Spanish over KIQI 1010AM/KATD 990AM concluded Sunday with the last home game against the Houston Astros. Hopefully the A’S can increase their Spanish coverage in the future.

Recent US Census showed 41% of California’s population is Latino/Hispanic, making Español the second most spoken language in the State.

Of the 7.77 million people in the 9-county Bay Area there were between 1.7 to 2 million that were reported on the Census are Spanish speakers (plus others that do not report on the Census for obvious reasons but also follow sports via Spanish media as well as general consumers in California’s economy) are Latinos/Hispanics.

A’s end final homestand with Canha walk off hit 4-3 sweep Astros

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s Mark Canha (20) center is mobbed by his A’s teammates after his ninth inning walk off single to score Sean Murphy for the game winning run against the Houston Astros at the Ring Central Coliseum in Oakland on Sun Sep 26, 2021 (Bay Area News Group photo)

By Morris Phillips

Once again the Oakland A’s (85-71) came up with a Mark Canha walk off RBI hit in the bottom of the ninth for the second consecutive day. This time the A’s came up a 4-3 winner over the Houston Astros (91-65) at the Oakland Coliseum on the final home game of 2021.

The win also gives the A’s a three game sweep over the Astros beating the AL West leaders the win puts the A’s who are in third place six games behind the Astros with six games games left in the regular season. The A’s are 3.5 games back for the second Wild Card spot.

The Astros who took the loss their magic number remains at two. The Astros Alex Bergman hit a home run for the Astros. After the three game sweep a exhausted Astros manager Dusty Baker said he’s looking to move on to the next series, “I’m glad we’ve got an off day tomorrow.” said Dusty “This was a tough series. Two walk-offs and the other game was close until the end. This was tough. It was real tough. Things will change, I know it.”

The Astros have played 17 straight games without a day off which is one of the reasons why the Astros might have such a struggle during the three game series. On Saturday the A’s Starling Marte hit a double which scored Elvis Andrus who broke his leg when tried to slide but belly flopped at the plate. Andrus and also Jed Lowrie are both on the ten day injured list.

In the bottom of the ninth inning on Sunday with the bases loaded Mark Canha got a game winning hit scoring Sean Murphy from third. Canha said he was just trying to look for a pitch to hit, “I try not too look for pitches as much and just try to get into the flow of the at-bat and usually that means not swinging at the first pitch,” Canha said. “But this AB, I felt good. I said to myself, ‘If you see it well, let it rip.’ I just saw it well out of the hand.”

The A’s head to Seattle for a three game series with the Mariners at T Mobile the A’s will be starting Cole Irvin (10-14 ERA 3.99) and for the Mariners Chris Flexen (13-6 ERA 3.56) a 7:10 pm first pitch.

Sharks lose first exhibition game to Ducks 6-3

Published on by smallforceLeave a comment

The San Jose Sharks forward Tristen Roberts (52) is all happy after scoring a second period goal against the Anaheim Ducks on Sun Sep 26, 2021 at the Honda Center in Anaheim (AP News photo)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ September 26, 2021

~ ANAHEIM– The mostly back-and-forth game went to the home team as the Anaheim Ducks’ Kodie Curran scored the game-winner with a Gordie Howe hat trick in the Sunday victory.

For the San Jose Sharks, this was the first of a split-squad game, with the other half of the team playing the Golden Knights in Las Vegas later at 7pm.   

New Shark Nick Bonino and Jake Middleton each earned two points with a goal and an assist apiece, Bonino’s goal accomplished during the power play.  

Both teams scored in each period of the first preseason game of the 2021-22 NHL season Sunday. That included the extra exhibition period after the third period buzzer, which the Ducks also won by way of Curran. 

San Jose went 1 of 5 on the power play while the Ducks went 1 of 2. Each team went with two  goalies during the game, for the Sharks, Alexei Melnichuk and Zach Sawchenko saved 8 of 10 and 14 of 16 shots respectively and for Anaheim, Lukas Dostal and Olle Eriksson Ek saved 13 of 14 and 11 of 13 on their end.

The crowd saw some fighting action just over a minute into the game when Middleton took exception to a hit on his teammate and got into it with Sam Carrick. 

The Sharks had trouble getting into their offensive end at first with not one player present until about two minutes in and then multiple skaters around three minutes in. John Leonard had San Jose´s first shot on goal around the five minute mark. 

Hampus Lindholm got the Ducks up on the board first at 5:30 with a slapshot from the point. 

The Sharks got a chance for redemption on the power play with a roughing call to Alexander Volkov six seconds later. Ryan Merkley missed a shot and Kevin Labanc´s two shots were blocked by Curran.

Anaheim went on their first power play at 9:36 when Nicolas Meloche was called for holding.

The fourth penalty of the first period occurred when Marc-Edouard Vlasic´s stick was held by Buddy Robinson. San Jose was able to capitalize on their second power play. Merkley was able to stop the clear to keep it in their end and Bonino made a diagonal shot off the post at 14:53 after a pass from Joachim Blichfeld.  

The second period also saw an early fight but not before an earlier goal. Volkov altered 

Kevin Shattenkirk´s shot to give the Ducks the 2-1 lead at 1:39. Curran received the secondary assist. 16 seconds later, Meloche (second penalty) and Curran were cited for fighting. At the same time, a concurrent penalty was given to Volkov, his second of the night, for interfering with Blichfeld.

Halfway through the second period was when the goalie changes occurred. The Sharks took advantage of the fresh goalie at 10:24 to re-tie the game at two apiece. Tristen Robins scored his first, helped by Dylan Gambrell and Rudolf Balcers. 

At 15:36, Anaheim went back ahead. Vlasic’s pass went behind the net to Sonny Milano instead, who made a straight pass to the incoming Benoit-Olivier Groulx, as Groulx converted. 

In the third, after a barrage (four in the span of 36 seconds) of shots by the Ducks, Balcers shot in between two defenders and went top post for the game´s third tie at 6:35.  Middleton and Bonino earned the assists. 

Starting at 12:03, scored three goals in a span of six minutes and 20 seconds. Troy Terry found a wide open Curran on the left for the first. Robinson got the second assist. Momentum continued in Anaheim´s favor as they went on their second power play. Volkov aimed at the net as the puck went behind Sachenko. Unable to fish it out, Terry was able to poke the puck into the net to make it 5-3. It was Milano´s second assist. With 1:37 left, Greg Pateryn made it three goals in the third period with an empty-netter to conclude the regulation scoring.

In the exhibition shootout, the Ducks went first as it went from Jacob Perreault to Labanc to Volkov to Alexander Barabanov to Milano (the first one who did not score) to Hertl (blocked) to Curran (scored) to Leonard (wide). 

Up Next: In the second split squad game in Las Vegas the Sharks defeated the Knights 4-2 at the T Mobile Center. On Tuesday, the Sharks will host their home preseason opener against the Los Angeles Kings at 7pm. 

NCAA Football podcast with Michelle Richardson: Crimson Tide remain perfect; Georgia gets huge win; Buckeyes keep rolling

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Alabama Crimson Tide running back Roydell Williams (23) and quarterback Bryce Young (9) celebrate a Young keeper in the first half agianst the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Tuscaloosa Ala on Sat Sep 25, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the NCAA Football podcast with Michelle:

#1 The Alabama Crimson Tide No.1 (4-0) remain perfect with a landslide victory over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (1-3) 63-14. The Tide used three quarterbacks and starting quarterback Bryce Young threw for five touchdowns and 313 yards for the Tide’s fourth straight win.

#2 The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-2) blew out the North Carolina Tar Heels (2-2). The Jackets came right out in the second quarter with 14 points in the third quarter and 18 points. In the third quarter for a 45-22 win. Jackets quarterback Jeff Sims 10-13, 112 yards and one touchdown.

#3 The Ohio State Buckeyes (3-1) blew out the Akron Zips (1-3) at Ohio State Saturday 59-7. The Buckeyes led at the half and never looked back 38-7. The Zips only score was in the first quarter. Ohio State starting Kyle McCord quarterback threw for 319 yards and two touchdowns.

Michelle’s Final Thoughts

Join Michelle for the NCAA Football podcasts each Sunday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants sweep Rockies at Coors Field 6-2; Belt hand injured had to leave game

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants Brandon Belt hurt his hand when hit by a pitch in the seventh inning by Colorado Rockies reliever Lucas Gilbreath at Coors Field in Denver on Sun Sep 26, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Once again, there was late innings heroics for the San Francisco Giants and this time it was Tommy La Stella who came up with the big hit.

La Stella came off the bench and picked up a pinch-hit single that scored Steven Duggar with the eventual game-winning run in the top of the ninth inning, as the Giants completed a three-game sweep with a 6-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

With the victory, the lead for the Giants stayed at two games with six games to go over the Los Angeles Dodgers and the magic number for the Giants to clinch the National League West is five.

This was the second time this season and in the month of September that the Rockies were swept at home, and it is the longest such streak by the Giants at Coors Field since the facility was opened in 1995.

The Giants won seven in a row at old Mile High Stadium, from May 11, 1993 until June 23, 1994 and the Giants ended the season with a 15-4 record against the Rockies in 2021, tying the record for the most wins in a season against an opponent, as they went 15-3 versus the Houston Astros in 1965.

Brandon Belt was forced to leave the game in the top of the seventh inning, when he was on the left thumb on a 93 mile per hour fastball thrown by Rockies reliever Lucas Gilbreath.

After Belt was checked out by Giants trainer Dave Groeschner and manager Gabe Kapler, he went to first base and was eventually replaced by Flores when the Giants returned to the field in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Flores committed a huge fielding error in the bottom of the seventh inning off the bat of Sam Hilliard that sent C.J. Cron to second base. With Cron and Hilliard on bases, Zack Littell committed a balk and then Elias Diaz reached on a ground ball that was overturned on a ball fielded by Donovan Solano that allowed Cron to score the tying run.

Cron scored the Rockies first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he hit his 28th home run of the season.

Following the La Stella single, Brandon Crawford broke the game wide open, when he hit an opposite field three-run home run just out of the reach of Raimel Tapia in left field to lengthen the lead up to 6-2.

Crawford gave the Giants an early 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, as he drove in a run when he grounded out to score La Monte Wade, Jr., from third base.

Denver-area native Kevin Gausman pitched the first six innings for the Giants, as he allowed just one run on three hits, not allowing a walk and struck out 11 and was in line for the win until Cron scored the tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning and ended up with a no-decision.

Jose Alvarez, Littell, Doval and Kervin Castro came on to finish the game for the Giants, who raised their record to 102-54 on the season.

Doval pitched the eighth inning and struck out the side to pick up his fifth win of the season against just one loss.

NOTES: Belt is the first Giants player with at least 29 home runs in a season since Barry Bonds hit 45 in 2004…he’s also the first Giants first baseman to hit at least 29 since Will Clark did so in 1991 and Clark is the last Giants first baseman to hit at least 30 homers (35 in 1987).

The Giants ended the road portion of their schedule with a record of 53-28 (.654), tying the 1993 team for the second-most road wins in team history and only trailing the 1912 New York Giants, who won 54 road games.

UP NEXT: After an off-day on Monday, the Giants begin a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night at Oracle Park.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Hawkes: Garoppolo, 49ers knows lots riding on week 3 vs. Rogers and Packers

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Jimmy Garoppolo San Francisco 49ers quarterback is hoping to keep it going for a third win as they meet the visiting Green Bay Packers on Sun Sep 26, 2021 at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara (West Hawaii Today file photo)

On the 49ers podcast with J Hawkes :

#1 Joe, The anticipated show coming to Levi Stadium on Sunday with the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers with Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers and the 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to be a test and a show stopper on Sunday.

#2 Rogers whose the superior of the two quarterbacks going on Sunday was one that the Packers had lure back into the fold as Rogers was prepared to go shopping for a new team but Rogers out of dedication to the Packers organization signed on for another season.

#3 Rogers certainly too a lot of criticism after the Packers got crushed by the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome 38-3 during week 1. Rogers just was off missing receivers and the Saints line was in his face all day long.

#4 Last week the Packers won in week 2 against the Detroit Lions 35-17 and got to .500 at 1-1 Rogers under certain show much better improvement including getting more time to throw with a line going 22 for 27 with 255 yards and four touchdowns.

#5 For Jimmy G he’s led San Francisco with two wins in the first two wins of the season with a week 1 win over the Lions 41-33 and a six point win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the city of brotherly love Philadelphia 17-11 to go up 2-0. Garoppolo’s line against the Eagles 22-30 for 189 yards and a touchdown.

Join J Hawkes Sunday mornings for the 49ers podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Huskies outlast Bears in overtime 31-24 in Seattle

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Cal Bears running back Damien Moore (28) is caught up from below with a no look stop by the Washington Huskies Kyle Gordon during the first half action at University Washington in Seattle on Sat Sep 25, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Morris Phillips and Michael Duca

With the score all knotted up at 24-24 at the University of Washington in the overtime stanza the Washington Huskies (2-2) Cameron Williams and Jackson Sirmon got the Cal Bears (1-3) Damien Moore to fumble at the Huskies one yard line after a hard hit and the Huskies Ryan Bowman jumped on the loose ball for the recovery and what would save the Huskies from facing a second overtime as the Bears were just a yard away from tying up the game.

The officials called for a review to make sure that the fumble was legit and ruled that it was which was unfortunate for the Bears as time and possession would run out for Cal.

The Huskies Seth Mcgrew scored his second touchdown of the game at the beginning of the overtime to give the Huskies a seven point lead and eventual win 31-24. This was the first meeting between the two schools since 2019. Last season the game was cancelled during the Covid 19 crisis. If Cal had won it Saturday it would have been their third straight win in 100 meetings with Washington.

Cal quarterback Chase Garbers in the post game interview said that Moore would like to have that fumble back as Moore was pretty down after the game about coughing up the ball, “Obviously Damien wants that one back. We all do,” said Garbers “Stuff happens in football, you get unlucky sometimes, but we’re a really close group in the locker room so we’re all there for each other.”

Garbers himself had a relatively good game under center throwing for 319 yards 30-41 for two touchdowns and two interceptions. Garbers was picked off twice by the Huskies Kyler Gordon one of the picks happened early in the fourth quarter and the Huskies couldn’t score and Garbers later was able to run a seven yard touchdown with at 2:51 which tied up the game.

The Bears return to UC Berkeley for a Sat Oct 2 meeting at Memorial Stadium with the Washington State Cougars for a 2pm PDT kickoff. The Cougars (1-3) lost in their last game Saturday to the Utah Utes (2-2) 24-13. The Utes scored two unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Cougars defense broke down at Utah.

Chofis scores another goal, Earthquakes shutout LAFC 2-0

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Jose Earthquakes shutout LAFC at Pay Pal Park in San Jose on Sat Sep 25, 2021 (image from google.com)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE—In what felt like a playoff type of atmosphere, the San Jose Earthquakes took down LAFC in a 2-0 shutout victory on Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose has won two matches in a row. LAFC have lost two matches in a row. The Quakes are now in a three-way tied for eighth place in the Western Conference with LAFC and Vancouver with 33 points. All three are chasing Real Salt Lake, who have 36 points, for seventh and the final playoff spot in the conference.

LAFC (9-11-6-33 points) were without two of their best players. Carlos Vela was out due a to hamstring injury he suffered back on August 22nd. Diego Rossi has been on loan to Turkish club Fenerbahçe since September 1st.

San Jose (8-9-9-33 points) drew first blood early in the match. A giveaway by LAFC led to a counter attack led by Chofis. The reigning MLS player of the week slipped in a nice pass between two LAFC defenders over to Benji Kikanovic. The 21-year old native of San Jose went around LAFC goalie Tomás Romero before depositing the ball into an empty for his second goal of the season in the third minute.

“I think Benji is one of the young players that is learning day-by-day,” said Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda. “He has perfectly understood the identity we want the players to have at San Jose. He is a player with pace, he is good in the aerial game and has great technique. He really works a lot for the team. He was able to put away the chance that came from a great pass from Chofis. He also worked hard in the defensive phase. I am really pleased when the young players perform well. It makes me happy for them and for the club.”

LAFC’s best chance to score in the first half was in the 23rd minute when Jose Cifuentes had an open shot from 15 yard outs, but Quakes middle back Nathan deflected the ball out of danger with his right foot.

Quakes midfielder Cristian Espinoza was apparently tripped down inside the box in the 34th minute. Instead of receiving a penalty kick on the play, Referee Jair Marrufo issued a yellow card to Espinoza for what only Marrufo thought was a dive by Espinoza.

San Jose doubled its lead right out of the gate to start the second half. Marco Lopez won a ball on the left side along the end line. He serviced the ball into the middle where Chofis fired a one-timer from 10 yards out past Romero for his team leading 11th goal of the season in the 47th minute.

“I think there are still a lot of games left,” said captain Jackson Yuiell. “It’s still really close and these two games were important for us. We’ve narrowed down to the last third of the season. We learned from our first year to last year of when to push and when to hit our stride.”

Chofis has six goals in his last three games as the Mexican national has taken the team on his back and is carrying them closer to a playoff berth.

The Quakes had a chance to put the nail in the coffin in the 55th minute. Lopez serviced a ball from left to right where Eric Remedi’s header hit off the right corner off the post.

After making a round of substitutions early in the second half, LAFC gained some momentum with two quality scoring chances.

In the 57th minute, Cristian Arango headed a pass into the middle where Danny Musovski’s right footed shot sailed wide right.

Then in the 69th minute, Cifuentes serviced ball into the middle of the box that Raheem Edwards crashed in from the right side but his left footed shot hit off the crossbar and over for a goal kick.

San Jose’s defense held down the fort in the final 30 minutes as they did not allow LAFC to get a quality chance .

Quakes goalie JT Marcinkowski finished the night with three saves to earn his eighth victory and fourth shutout of the season. Romero didn’t register a save on the two shots on target in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with no corner kicks on the evening. LAFC had three corner kicks.

San Jose is 4-0-0 in its last four matches versus LAFC and are 4-5-0 all-time, including a 3-2-0 record at home.

Chofis became the first Earthquakes player to score in three straight matches since Vako in July 2019. His assist on Kikanovic’s goal, marking his third assist of the season and first game-winning assist.

Midfielder Shea Salinas entered the match as a substitute in the 82nd minute, marking his first appearance since Sept. 4 against the Colorado Rapids.

Lopez, Nathan and Luciano Abecasis were also issued yellow cards during the match.

UP NEXT: The Quakes host the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday 9/29 at 7:30pm at Pay Pal Park.

Belt homers twice in Giants win 7-2 over Rockies

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Another one belted San Francisco Giant Brandon Belt watches the ball after tagging it for three run home run in the top of the fifth inning at Coors Field in Denver on Sat Sep 25, 2021 (AP News)

By Jeremy Kahn

On a night where the Colorado Rockies celebrated one of the best players in team history, the San Francisco Giants were trying to make history of their own.

Brandon Belt hit two home runs, helping the Giants to a 7-2 victory over the Rockies at Coors Field and with the victory, coupled with the Arizona Diamondbacks victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field, the Giants lead in the National League West increased to two games with seven remaining and the magic number for the Giants to win the division drops to five.

When Belt his second home run of the game off of Jon Gray in the top of the fifth inning, it was the 29th home run of the season for Belt and the 236th of the season for the Giants, passing the 2001 team for the most in team history.

Belt gave the Giants an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as he connected for a solo home run off of Gray.

This was the eighth multi-home run game for Belt in his career, as he followed up the solo home run with a three-run home run in the top of the fifth inning.

Prior to the game, the Rockies honored Larry Walker, who was recently inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, as they retired his number 33. It is just the second number retired in the history of the Rockies, as he joins Todd Helton, whose number 17 was retired by the Rockies on August 17, 2014.

Anthony DeSclafani went just four innings for the Giants, as he was replaced by a pinch-hitter in the top of the fifth inning. Since the month of July, DeSclafani went over the 90-pitch just once for the NL West leaders, who are now 14-4 against the Rockies this season with one more game to go.

Tony Watson picked up his seventh win of the season, as the Giants used six relievers after DeSclafani was lifted in the top of the fifth inning.

In his four innings of work, DeSclafani allowed two runs on five hits, walked one and struck out three in the no-decision.

The Rockies tried to make the game interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning, as they hit three consecutive singles; however, Dominic Leone was able to get out of the jam, when he got C.J. Cron grounded out to end the game.

Gray went 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on five hits, did not walk a batter and struck out five, as his record dropped to 8-12 on the season.

NOTES: Mike Yastrzemski, who left the game on Friday night with a knee injury came off the as a pinch-hitter in the top of the eighth inning and hit a two-run single that extended the Giants lead up to 7-2. Yastrzemski eventually remained in the game following his pinch-hit appearance.

With the 101 wins on the season, the Giants have won 100 or more games eight time in their history, and are tied with the Atlanta Braves and the Dodgers for the fourth-most in Major League history, only the New York Yankees (21), the Oakland Athletics (10) and the St. Louis Cardinals (9) have more 100 plus win seasons.

The Giants were the first team to 50 wins this season, the first to 60 wins, the first to 70, 80, 90 and now the first to 100 wins…the Giants haven’t been the first team to 100 wins since 1913.

UP NEXT: Kevin Gausman goes for his 15th win of the season, as the Giants close out their regular season road schedule. Antonio Senzatela takes the mound for the Rockies in the finale, as he looks for his fifth win of the season.