Tag: Baseball

Locastro’s RBI single in 10th helps Snakes sink Giants 3-2

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sfgate.com: Arizona Diamondbacks’ Tim Locastro hits an RBI single against the San Francisco Giants in the third inning during a baseball game, Sunday, June 23, 2019, in Phoenix.

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, June 23, 2019

PHOENIX — After losing six games in a row, the Arizona Diamondbacks were ready to celebrate something.

Centerfielder Tim Locastro lit the fuse for the occasion with a 10th inning walk-off run-scoring single that gave the D-Backs a 3-2 NL West win over the San Francisco Giants Sunday before 25,071 at Chase Field.

As soon as Locastro’s drive shot past Giants third baseman Evan Longoria, the Diamondback dugout emptied onto the field.

“Those are the things you look for as a team, when you finally have something good happen,” Arizona Manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’ve been coming in here talking about losing baseball games, and that’s hard. It’s tough on the team and tough on everyone.

“But you have to find a way to keep grinding. That showed the personality of this team.”

The Diamondbacks loaded the bases against San Francisco reliever Mark Melancon (3-2) before Locastro delivered his game-winner. After Christian Walker led off the Arizona 10th with a single, he was erased at second when Nick Ahmed hit into a fielder’s choice. Pinch-hitter Jarrod Dyson walked and Carson Kelly was intentionally walked.

Ahmed scored the winning run from third on Locastro’s drive over the third base bag.

‘With one out, I’m just trying to get the ball to the outfield,” Locastro said. “Actually, I knew that (Melancon’s) tendency is to come in a little bit, so I was looking in there and got one over the third baseman’s head.

“As soon as I hit it, I saw (Longoria) jump up for it. As soon as I saw it drop, I gave it a fist pump and knew we had the win. I was very excited.”

“It didn’t surprise me that (Dyson) drew that walk,’ Lovullo said. “He was fighting off pitches and that was a key moment of the game. It’s built because of Christian Walker having a good at-bat and getting on base.”

Arizona took a 1-0 lead in the third when Caleb Joseph drew a one-out walk and scored on Locastro’s base hit.

The Giants tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth. Evan Longoria led off with a single, moved to third on Brandon Belt’s double and scored on an infield groundout by Stephen Vogt.

The Diamondbacks regained the lead at 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Adam Jones reached on a strike three wild pitch, moved to third on Eduardo Escobar’s single and scored on a base hit by Christian Walker.

Kevin Pillar tied the game at 2-2 with his 10th home run of the season to lead off the Giants seventh, hastening Merrill Kelly’s departure. He worked six-plus innings, struck out nine, walked two, and gave up two earned runs on four hits.

The D-Backs bullpen — Andrew Chafin, Yoan Lopez, Greg Holland and winning pitcher Matt Andriese (4-4) held San Francisco scoreless in the final four innings, with a combined three strikeouts and no walks or hits.

“It was pretty bad to give up that leadoff homer to Pillar. It would have been liked getting out of there with a lead, but the guys did a great job of picking me up and getting a huge victory,” Merritt Kelly said. “Hopefully, we’ve got some good energy going.”

Giants starter Shaun Anderson threw a strong six innings, giving up two runs on five hits with two strikeouts and one walk. Relievers Reyes Moronta and Sam Dyson held the Snakes scoreless and hitless in their combined three innings.

“We just couldn’t get anything going with the bats,” Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said. ‘They got the big hit, we didn’t. That’s the difference in the game.”

Lovullo said that Ketel Marte was not available for today’s game, even going into extra innings. Marte had been listed as day-to-day after suffering a left groin cramp on Friday.

“There was a minimal risk, but we held him back today. (Marte) will be out there when we play the Dodgers.”

Locastro added, “Now we have to get on a streak and that’s the goal moving forward.”

The Giants return home to host Colorado Monday through Wednesday. Lefthander Drew Pomeranz (2-7, 7.09 ERA) faces the Rockies’ Jon Gray (7-5, 4.18 ERA) in Monday’s series opener. San Francisco’s probables for Tuesday and Wednesday are Madison Bumgarner (3-7, 4.28 ERA) and Jeff Samardzija (4-6, 4.23 ERA).

TAGS: Tim Locastro, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants, MLB

MLB podcast with Matt Harrington: Was Montas success related to PED use?; Could MLB’s high number of HRs have something to do with substance abuse?

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nytimes.com photo: Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred talked about the Tampa Bay Rays splitting time between playing in Tampa Bay and Montreal

On the MLB podcast with Matt:

#1 Oakland A’s pitcher Frankie Montas (9-2 ERA 2.70) has had an outstanding season, he had everything working for him and that was just the thing when he tested positive for performance enhancers. Was his great season lent to his use of PEDs?

#2 MLB has a high number of home runs this season so far, the last time you saw home runs majestically fall into the bleachers like this season was when former St Louis Cardinal Mark McGwire and former Chicago Cub Sammy Sosa were playing. Does this draw suspicions about how this has come about?

#3 MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is considering moving a team to either Montreal or Portland. The topic of the Tampa Bay Rays who are drawing poorly and need a new stadium will be playing half there games in Montreal and in St Petersburg. Other cities vying for an MLB team are Portland, Charlotte, Nashville, and Las Vegas.

#4 A new Oakland A’s stadium hangs in the balance in downtown Oakland, the Oakland City Council have said they have lots of questions regarding financing the stadium and other environmental issues if by happenstance the city council thumbs down a new stadium for the A’s at Jack London Square the A’s also could be moving to another city on that list.

#5 San Francisco Giant Alex Dickerson who hit a grand slam against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Friday night fused a huge win for San Francisco 11-6. The Giants with the win snapped their four game losing streak.

Matt Harrington does the MLB podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants nearly come back on Dodgers on Thursday night

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 The Dodgers nearly did what they did on Wednesday night and run away with a ballgame as the Dodgers started out the game with a 6-0 lead.

#2 The Giants rallied back in the last three innings of the game and nearly tied up the ball game against Dodger pitcher Kenley Jansen.

#3 On a Giant bunt by Tyler Austin up the first base side, Dodger first baseman Cody Bellinger’s throw to third base that Giants baserunner Stephen Vogt was called out. The play was reviewed and it look like Vogt’s foot hit the bag about the same time the ball hit Dodger third baseman Justin Turner’s glove how did Michael see it.

#4 When the Dodgers’ Max Muncy came up to the plate to face Giants starter Madison Bumgarner the Dodger’s scoreboard showed a replay of the home run that Muncy hit off Bumgarner last time the Dodgers were in San Francisco plus the Dodgers played “Under the Sea” and “Smoke on the Water” during the replay.

#5 The Giants are in Arizona for a three-game battle with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Giants will start Jeff Samardzija (3-6) going against the Diamondbacks’ Taylor Clark (1-2).

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s Bassitt had everything working for him on Wednesday; Orioles suffer 8th straight loss; plus more

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Photo credit: @NBCSAthletics

On the A’s podcast with Jerry:

#1 The Oakland A’s starter Chris Bassitt sat down the Baltimore Orioles, pitching 5.1 innings of no-hit baseball at the Oakland Coliseum on Wednesday afternoon.

#2 For the lowly Orioles, they suffered their eighth straight loss, sit in dead last place, and are desperate need of both hitting and pitching.

#3 For Bassitt pitching as well as he did, he really had all his pitches working for him and really handled the Orioles in those first 5.2 innings, allowing only two hits.

#4 Bassitt also retired 16 of the 18 batters he faced, saying he felt better in this outing than the last two outings he had.

#5 The A’s open up a four-game series on Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Rays, who lost their last two games against the New York Yankees. The Rays will start Charlie Morton (8-1, 2.37 ERA), and for the Oakland A’s, Frankie Montas (9-2, 2.85 ERA) at the Oakland Coliseum.

Jerry Feitelberg does the Oakland A’s podcast each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Manaea working his way back to the show; Machado files a protest against suspension; plus more

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Photo credit: @theScore

On Headline Sports with Barbara Mason:

#1 The Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Manaea is throwing well in a simulated 45-pitch three contest. He pitched three innings against Oakland minor league hitters. He said he feels great.

#2 A’s left hander AJ Puk, who had Tommy John surgery, threw two innings against Class A Advanced Stockton and allowed a homer and a walk with three strikeouts. Jesus Luzardo, who had a shoulder strain, allowed four hits and a homer. The A’s are hoping that both Puk and Luzardo can rehab and make it back to the big club.

#3 San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado wants to earn every penny of that $300 million contract and getting called out on strikes didn’t sit well for him on Monday night. Plate Umpire Bill Welke called a pitch on the outside corner and Machado argued the call made contact with Welke, threw his bat, and dropped some heavy language. Machado has appealed his one-game suspension.

#4 The Chicago Cubs are considering opening up a sportsbook at Wrigley Field and people just like at the racetrack can go and place their bets inside at the park. MLB currently prohibits gambling inside MLB stadiums, but the rules are about to change and betting will be allowed.

#5 Former San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence of the Texas Rangers, who had has 15 home runs for the season, had his run stopped by a groin injury he got in Cincinnati on Sunday. Pence was hitting .294 and 48 RBIs in 55 games.

Headlines Sports with Barbara Mason is heard each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: Piscotty says he feels fine, back in the lineup Monday night; Manaea says rehab is coming along great

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Photo credit: @NBCSAthletics

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The A’s and Orioles started the three-game series with a close game at the Oakland Coliseum on Monday night. Regardless where some teams are in the standings, the A’s opponents are well aware they might be playing some tight games.

#2 Stephen Piscotty came back from melanoma from his right ear and was in the lineup on Monday night at the Coliseum. Piscotty says he’s doing fine.

#3 The Oakland A’s Sean Manaea and AJ Puk are working their way back into the rotation. Manaea has been throwing 45-pitch simulated games and Puk, who had Tommy John, has been throwing. Although their recoveries are slow, they’re both determined to make it back.

#4 Mike Fiers started for the Oakland A’s on Monday night against the Baltimore Orioles Jack Cashner in a game that turned out to be a well pitched game with the A’s getting a one run win 3-2.

#5 The A’s Matt Chapman, who leads the team in home runs with 16, and part of why the A’s have such consistent hitting.

Charlie O does the A’s podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Yankees look for more pitching to get past Rays; A’s-O’s series could feature close games; plus more

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Photo credit: @NewsdaySports

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is actively going shopping looking for pitching. One of the strong prospects of winning in the postseason is good pitching. The Yankees, who have been hampered by injuries, are looking forward to a healthier second half of the season with a compliment of good pitching.

#2 The Oakland A’s are facing the Baltimore Orioles in a three-game series. The Orioles have struggled all season, but like in the show, a team like the Orioles could come out of it and make a series of it. The A’s might very well be involved in some close games in this series.

#3 As of late, the A’s have been getting some hitting production at the bottom of their lineup from Jurickson Profar, Josh Phegley, Matt Chapman, Khris Davis, Marcus Semien, and Ramon Laureano.

#4 The A’s put together a four-game winning streak before dropping the final game of their series against the Tampa Bay Rays to conclude their last road trip at 6-4.

#4 The San Francisco Giants are playing the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers for a three-game series at Dodgers Stadium the last time these two teams met at Oracle Park it nearly turned into a zoo when Max Muncy was circling the bases after pitcher Madison Bumgarner told Muncy to quit watching the ball and run and Muncy told Bumgarner if he doesn’t like it he could go into the ocean and get the ball. Amaury describes if this one will be a rivalry again.

#5 David Ortiz attorney José Martínez Hoepelman has said that the tireless effort by authorities have been fruitful and that the people want information, but they just have to wait. Dominican police say they are closing in on the ring leader Gabriel Alexánder Pérez Vizcaíno, according to the Associated Press.

#6 Turning to Los Angeles where the San Francisco Giants are playing a three-game series with the Dodgers, our attention turns to a topic we didn’t get to talk about — In feature article in the Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Dodgers Spanish announcer Jaime Jarrin, whose 84-years-old, lost his wife last month in May after 65 years of marriage. The Dodgers paid a tribute to their marriage and Jaime, who is a huge part of the Dodger family, talked about losing his wife last February 28th.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez does the Oakland A’s Spanish play-by-play and News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giants end win streak at four as they drop final game to Brewers 5-3

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Milwaukee Brewers’ Jesus Aguilar, right, celebrates with third base coach Ed Sedar after hitting a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, June 16, 2019.

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 For the Milwaukee Brewers, it was two hits each for Christian Yelich, Yasmani Grandal, Marcus Thames and Travis Shaw, whose contributions helped the Brewers get a two-run win over their hosts, the San Francisco Giants, at Oracle Park on Sunday to avoid getting swept in three games.

#2 The Giants, on the other hand, snapped a four-game winning streak with the 5-3 loss. The Giants beat the San Diego Padres in two games and took the first two games from the Brewers to start the series.

#3 Jeff Samardzija struggled to hold back the Brewers, who scored four runs in five innings and nine hits off Samardzija, and got the loss.

#4 Samardzija hit for a single to score Kevin Pillar that tied up the game, but later it would be for not, as the Brewers would come back and win it by two runs.

#5 The Giants head for Los Angeles and will start Tyler Beede (0-2, 8.06 ERA) who will be matched up against the Dodgers’ Kenta Maeda (7-3, 3.89 ERA).

Morris does the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Joey Friedman: A’s score big on M’s, crush Seattle 11-2; A’s look to take series on Sunday

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photo from sfgate.com: Oakland Athletics pitcher Frankie Montas works against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 15, 2019, in Oakland, Calif.

On the A’s podcast with Joey Friedman:

#1 The A’s wasted no time on Saturday scoring on the visiting Seattle Mariners for three runs in the bottom of the first inning. One of the key things in a division game like this is attack early and the thing just might work out, they did with the A’s in a nine-run win 11-2.

#2 A’s starter Frankie Montas held the Twins to just two runs through six innings of work, nine strikeouts, and a walk to improve his record to 9-2.

#3 Talk about the Mariners dealing Edwin Encarnacion to the New York Yankees just before the game. Was this a distraction to the M’s seeing they crushed the A’s Friday 9-2 then turn around and lose to the A’s 11-2 on Saturday?

#4 The A’s left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea threw a 45-pitch simulated game in Arizona and is recovering from shoulder surgery. He’s surely one of the pitchers that’s missed in the rotation.

#5 Sunday’s pitchers for the Seattle Mariners Mike Leake (5-6, 4.26 ERA) and for the Oakland A’s Tanner Anderson (0-1, 3.18 ERA).

Listen for the A’s podcasts with Joey each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

MLB podcast with Matt Harrington: Dodgers show love of new t-shirts are as deep as the ocean; Giants Pomeranz and Panda pitch and hit for win over the Brew Crew; plus more

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@adriangarro photo: Los Angeles Dodgers Max Muncey gets a laugh out of the freshly printed t-shirts on Friday night at Dodgers Stadium in reference to his chatter with San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner after hitting a home run off him on the Dodgers last trip to San Francisco.

On the MLB podcast with Matt:

#1 Who would ever thought that the Los Angeles Dodgers would ever print the famous words from Dodgers slugger Max Muncy after he hit a splash hit off San Francisco Giants starter Madison Bumgarner when Muncy and the Dodgers were in San Francisco that said “Go get it out of the ocean” a reference to Bumgarner telling Muncy to “run and not watch the ball” after a home run and then Muncy telling Bumgarner “If you don’t want me to watch the ball go get it out of the ocean.” The Dodgers this week have been wearing blue t-shirts with those words printed on it.

#2 For the second consecutive game, San Francisco Giants pitcher Drew Pomeranz got the winning decision in a 5-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Pomeranz pitched for five innings, giving five hits and two runs striking out five hitters.

#3 The once former Boston Red Sox third baseman that was given up for dead Pablo Sandoval for San Francisco went 3-4 on Friday night, including a double and a home run

#4 The Oakland A’s are certainly a ball club that is playing .500 ball after their 10-game win streak a couple weeks back ended they have been playing some back and forth ball going 6-4 on their last road trip and dropping their first game to Seattle 9-2 to open a homestand in Oakland on Friday night.

#5 You have to enjoy the two-way competition between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees in the AL East. The Rays with a 1/2 game margin over the Yankees make it for a competitive battle. The Rays bounced back from having the A’s taking two out three from them in their previous series with a win over the LA Angels 9-4. The Yankees got trounced on Friday night by the Chicago White Sox 10-2.

Matt does the MLB podcast each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com