On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips:
#1 San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval can do it all, play all positions on the diamond, including pitch, but on Sunday at Chase Field in Phoenix Sandoval was clutch and got a game-winning 10th inning homer for the Giants in their 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
#2 Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford contributed with a game saving defensive stop in the ninth inning. The D-Backs Adam Jones hit a ball to Crawford’s right who dove to stop and get up and fire the ball to first base to retire Jones and strand a runner at third.
#3 On Sandoval, he has had a great series against the D-Backs. He hit an eighth inning home run on Saturday to help the Giants in their 8-5 win. Sandoval hit one against the D-Backs pitcher Yoshihisa Hirano to left field for his 40th home run at Chase the most of any opposing hitter to visit that park.
#4 Giants reliever Will Smith is coming along. He picked up his 11th save in 11 outings certainly the go-to to close games for manager Bruce Bochy.
#5 Giants are back at Oracle Park on Monday night to face a very tough Atlanta Braves club. The Braves will start Mike Soroka (4-1, 0.98 ERA) the Giants will start Andrew Suarez (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
#1 Barry Bonds, who had his number retired by the San Francisco Giants last week, unofficially launches the campaign to have the former outfielder bid for the Hall of Fame. After all, that has been reported regarding steroid use by Bonds and his admitting to using the cream and the clear undetectable steroids unknowingly in grand jury testimony. If Bonds were elected to the Hall, will this also open the door to players like Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeriro and others to be voted into the Hall too?
#2 The A’s won their 21st one-run game of the season against the Seattle Mariners. They are now just one game back of the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West. The game was close and the M’s are trying to chase the A’s in the AL West for second, but the A’s now have taken two of the three game series from the Mariners.
#3 In football, people are still talking about how Terrell Owens broke with protocol and held his own Hall of Fame ceremony at his alma mater and not in Canton, Ohio at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. How big of a mistake was that move?
#4 The Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuna “Matata” Jr. is just having himself a time at the plate, homering in five consecutive games, three of those homers as a lead off hitter, accomplishing the feat that no other player has accomplished.
#5 The Oakland Raiders play game two of the preseason in LA against the Rams. The Raiders, who defeated the Detroit Lions 16-10 last Friday, face the Rams this Saturday. Talk about some of the things that head coach Jon Gruden will be looking for in this game and what does he expect out of his quarterback Derek Carr?
#Athletics played game 81 of the season on SAT. They had to start a rookie pitcher who did an impressive job. Here's your 2:20 WRAP. pic.twitter.com/x83J6mMSwU
— Sports Radio Service (@SportsRadioSrvc) July 2, 2017
Game Summary
The Oakland Athletics entered the game with the Atlanta Braves on Saturday in search of their first win in three games. They were also looking to rebound after just avoiding being no-hit on Friday night.
The Athletics had to turn to a rookie pitcher making his first start in the major leagues to face the Braves in the second game of the series. RHP Paul Blackburn was called up from Triple-A Nashville to make the spot start because Jharel Cotton is still battling a blister on his thumb. Blackburn had to face-off with cagey knuckleball throwing veteran R.A. Dickey.
Scoring
The Braves put the first run on the board when Tyler Flowers scored from second base off Danny Santana’s double to left-center in the top of the second inning. Flowers had advanced into scoring position when SS Franklin Barreto’s throw sailed over the glove of Yonder Alonso into foul territory. Barreto was charged with an error. (Braves 1, A’s 0)
The A’s scored their first run in the bottom of the fourth when Ryon Healy hit a one-out single up the middle driving in Khris Davis from second base. Oakland had additional chances to score in the inning but did not take advantage of those opportunities. The inning ended on a bases loaded double-play. (Braves 1, A’s 1)
The Braves scored again in the seventh inning. Sean Doolittle replaced A’s starter Paul Blackburn on the mound. With one out, Danny Santana singled to left. He then proceeded to steal second base. Then in a very aggressive move, Santana moved up to third by stealing the base. Dansby Swanson hit a double and Santana scored easily. (Braves 2, A’s 1)
Rookie Dansby Swanson had big day for the Braves*
Nick Markakis led off the eighth inning for the Braves by hitting a double to right field off Madson. Markakis moved to third when Matt Kemp grounded out. He scored when Matt Adams hit a sacrifice fly to left field. (Braves 3, A’s 1)
The Athletics roared back in the eighth inning. With one out, Jed Lowrie walked. That brought DH Khris Davis to the plate to face Braves reliever Arodys Vizcaino who was brought in to pitch the eighth inning. Davis hit the 1-2 pitch from Vizcaino over the left-center field wall for a two-run home run to tie the game at 3-3. It was the 22nd home run of the season for Davis. (Braves 3, A’s 3).
In the ninth inning with Santiago Casilla on the mound, the Braves Danny Santana reached first base on a fielding error charged to Franklin Barreto. Santana then was able to successfully steal second. Dansby Swanson hit a double to left field that drove Santana home with what would prove to be the game winning run. (Braves 4, A’s 3).
Outstanding Performances
Athletics
Paul Blackburn pitched 6.0-innings in his first major league start giving up just one run (unearned) on three hits. He struck out three batters and walked one.
Ryon Healy went 3-for-3 on the day plus a walk and a RBI (51). It was his 23rd multi-hit game of the season.
Khris Davis had a 1-for-3 game that included a two-run home run (22) and two RBI (56).
Khris Davis hit his 22nd HR of the season on Saturday*
Braves
Rookie Dansby Swanson had a 2-for-4 day at the plate. He hit two doubles and recorded two RBI (35).
Danny Santana also went 2-for-4 against the A’s plus he scored two runs and had one RBI.
Nick Markakis went just 1-for-4 but that one hit was a double that ultimately turned into a run.
Closer Jim Johnson – who struggled when was a Oakland Athletic – picked up his 18th save of the season. He worked a perfect ninth inning striking out two Athletics.
Player who had the toughest game of the day
Oakland rookie infielder Franklin Barreto really struggled on Saturday. He started at shortstop for the A’s and committed two errors which resulted in two Atlanta runs.
Most baseball experts see Barreto as a second baseman but he has seen a great deal of time at shortstop in the minor leagues. Fans cannot forget that Barreto is a rookie.
Oakland Manger Bob Melvin’s comments on the loss to Atlanta
— Sports Radio Service (@SportsRadioSrvc) July 2, 2017
Meet Paul Blackburn
Blackburn was called up from Triple-A Nashville to make a spot start for Jharel Cotton who is dealing with a blister on his thumb.
He’s a Bay Area product who was born in Antioch
Blackburn attended Heritage High School in Brentwood
The pitcher was a 1st round draft choice (#56 overall) of the Cubs in 2012
Was traded by the Cubs to the Seattle Mariners on July 20, 2016 as a part of a four-player deal
Blackburn was dealt to the Athletics in November 2016 in the trade that sent infielder Danny Valencia to Seattle
Braves
Atlanta plans to send RHP Julio Teheran to the mound on Sunday to face the A’s. Teheran is 6-6 in 2012 with 5.30 ERA in 16 starts. He has given up 59 runs (53 earned) off 96 hits. Teheran has struck out 62 batters and walked 34.
Teheran has really struggled in the Braves new Sun Trust Park. Only one of his six victories has come at home in Atlanta. He is a much tougher pitcher on the road.
Teheran has faced the A’s just once in career back in 2014. He led the Braves to a 4-3 win over Oakland.
Athletics
Oakland will counter by sending LHP Sean Manaea to the hill on Sunday. Manaea is 7-4 with a 3.87 ERA. His seven wins has him tied for ninth best in the American League. Left-handed hitters are batting just .127 off Manaea while right-handers are hitting him at .243 clip. The mark against lefties is the second lowest in the major leagues with 50 or more innings.
Manaea won his last start over the Astros in Houston on Monday. He worked 5.2-innings giving up one-run (earned) on nine-hits while walking three and striking three. Manaea has never faced Atlanta.
Matt Chapman visits Stockton
Matt Chapman’s rehab process from his bout with cellulitis in the left knee is running ahead of schedule which is great news for the Athletics. Chapman will be the Designated Hitter for the Ports in Stockton on Saturday night. He will then take a start at third base on Sunday for the Ports.
The A’s medical staff will evaluate Chapman’s knee after his weekend in Stockton in order to determine what the next step will be for the rookie. Chapman is eligible to come off the disabled list now.
