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Venezuela beats Mexico 6-4 in the Caribbean Series

Published on February 5, 2018 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @deportes_vm

VENEZUELA: 6 | 14 | 1
MEXICO: 4 | 8 | 0

By Lewis Rubman
Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico
February 5, 2018

Sports Radio Service is the only Bay Area outlet covering the 2018 Caribbean Series.

Caribbean Series host Mexico came within striking distance of an incredible comeback against a strong Venezuelan team in tonight’s contest at Charros Stadium, but its hopes disappeared in the time it takes to say “double play.”

Each of the tournament’s five entrants plays four games in the elimination phase, with the one with the worst record being eliminated from the two-day, three-game championship round. One more loss and the Culiacan Tomato Growers will be eliminated from competition. Even a win in their next outing would not guarantee the Tomateros a play off berth.

Venezuela’s Caribes de Ariastegui got off to an impressive start when lead off batter blasted the sixth pitch from Culiacan’s starter, Rolando Valdez, into the right field bleachers.

Even though Valdez overcame this inauspicious beginning to close out the inning with two ground outs and a strike out, the mood in the hometown crowd was anxious.

Tomatero manager Benjamin Gil didn’t do anything to reassure the spectators when–in the bottom of the first–with one out and a runner on first, he ordered number three batter to lay down a bunt.

Either that or Elizalde took it on himself to attempt this inopportune maneuver or was for some reason bunting for a hit. He advanced the runner to second, where he was stranded when clean up hitter Joey Meneses struck out on four pitches.

Mexico had more success in the second inning, notching the tying run against Venezuela’s starting pitcher, Nestor Molina–on a lead off single to left center by Jesse Castillo–was advanced to second and third by ground outs by Ronnier Mustanier and Fernando Perez. Castillo scored to even the score Gabriel Gutierrez smashed a hard line drive that bounced off third baseman Nieuman Romero’s glove into left field for a single.

The Caribes broke the tie two innings later on singles by Williams Astudilla, Alexi Amarista and Luis Domoromo, but the Tomateros bounced right back with Joey Meneses’s double to right center, followed by Castillo’s run producing single to left. Mexico threatened to break the tie when Castillo advanced to second and then was sacrificed over to third by Alfredo Amezaga, who had replaced Mustanier as the Tomatero third sacker. But, after Molina walked Perez, Gutierrez went down swinging on a one and two pitch and Walter Ibarra grounded into a force out made when Amarista, playing second for Venezuela made a nifty backhanded flip of the ball to Luis Sardiñas to end the inning. That was Mexico’s last hurrah until the bottom of the ninth.

Meanwhile, the Caribes took the lead in the sixth when Astudillo’s fly ball landed just inside the left field foul line for a home run off of Miguel Peña, who had relieved Valdez after the end of the fourth. Venezuela tacked on another run in the following inning when Peña was tagged by Domoromo for a double to center and driven in by Romero’s single to left.

Matters stood at 4-2 until the Venezuelans tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Derrick Loop, who had entered the game to pitch the eighth inning for Culiacdan, surrendered another double to Domoromo, who still was on second two batters later when Gil brought in Ryan Kussmaul to pitch to Reyes.

The move backfired when Reyes singled to center to bring Domoromo home with Venezuela’s fifth run. Fuenmayor then doubled to deep right center field, sending Reyes to third. With the count one and one on pinch hitter Luis Hernandez, Kussmaul launch a wild pitch that allowed Reyes to score the run that put the Caribes up 6-2.

Ricardo Gomez came in to close the game for Venezuela in the bottom of the ninth. Meneses’ lead off double lit a spark of hope for the host team fan. But slugger Jesse Castillo fanned, allowing the Tomato Growers only two more outs to tally four runs if they were to send the game into extra innings. Gil called on Chris Roberson, the Oakland native who had come off the bench to in the ninth inning hit a pinch double the previous night’s loss to Cuba. This time, he homered, but still left Mexico trailing by three runs. Perez singled to center, and suddenly it seemed that catching up with the Venezuelans wasn’t outside the realm of possibility.

Victor Capellan relieved Gomez and induced Japhat Amador, pinch hitting for Gutierrez, to hit a grounder to Romero at third. But Romero muffed the play, Amador was safe at first on the error, and Mexico had runners on first and third with only one out. Walter Ibarra, at the plate, represented the potential tying run. With no balls and two strikes on him, Ibarra made hard contact with a ball he sent towards shortstop Luis Sardiñas, who fielded it, stepped on second, and threw to first for the game ending double play.

The win went to Molina, the loss to Peña, and the save to Capellan.

Puerto Rico plays Venezuela Monday afternoon. Cuba faces the Dominican in the night cap. Game times are 2:00 and 8:00 here in Zapopan; two hours earlier in the Pacific time zone.

Dominican Republic defeats Puerto Rico 6-3; Avelino racks up three hits, an RBI and a run

Published on February 4, 2018February 4, 2018 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sports Radio Service is the only Bay Area outlet covering the 2018 Caribbean Series

Photo credit: @MiLB

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: 6 | 15 | 2

PUERTO RICO: 3 | 11 | 2

By Lewis Rubman
Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico
February 4, 2018

Sports Radio Service is the only Bay Area outlet covering the 2018 Caribbean Series.

Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico–The Dominican Republic’s Aguilas Cibaeñas quickly bounced back from the 15-4 drubbing that the Caribes de Anzoátegui had administered to them yesterday afternoon by jumping all over Puerto Rico’s Criollos de Caguas and their left-handed starter Giovanni Soto, to score five runs in the first two frames and then hold on to preserve a 6-3 victory in this afternoon’s Game 5 of the sixtieth Caribbean Series.

The Dominican Republic played as the visiting team and unexpectedly hit first. Lead off batter Abital Avelino’s sinking line drive resulted in an infield single to second, the first of three singles that produced two runs for the Aguilas Cibaenas (Eagles from the Cibao Region). Juan Carlos Perez and Edwin Espinal provided singles to center and right, respectively.

In the second inning, the wheels fell off for the Criollos (the nickname refers to a breed of horses, not to any of the groups of people known by that name, the English version of which is Creoles).

The Eagles filled the bases on a single to left centerfield by Hector Gomez, who advanced to third on Carlos Paulino’s double down the right field line. Gustavo Nunez hit a grounder to third, and the time it took for Puerto Rico’s third baseman, David Vidal, took to check on Gomez’s intentions allowed the Eagles’ second sacker to reach first with a bases loading infield single. Avelino got his second hit in as many innings, this time to center field. The Aguilas were ahead 3-0, the bases still were loaded, and Soto was through for the afternoon.

Right hander Ivan Maldonado allowed a sacrifice fly to left off the bat of Juan Carlos Perez, increasing the Dominican Republic squad’s advantage to four runs. Junior Lake’s 1-0 single to left brought Avelino in with the fifth run charged Soto, who was eventually charged with the loss.

Puerto Rico didn’t mount a credible threat until the bottom of the sixth, when it almost turned the tables on the Dominican Republic. At the start of the inning, right handled Samuel Deduno replaced the Eagles’ left-handed starter, Francisley Bueno, who had held Puerto Rico to six hits and no runs over his five innings of work. Vidal greeted the reliever with a single to center and then advanced to third on Dameck Tomscha’s single to right. Dayrun Varona singled in Vidal home with Puerto Rico’s first run, and that was the end of Deduno’s day.

Ramon Ramirez, who relieved him, got Wilfredo Rodriguez to strike out swinging, but the two runners advanced a base each on an errant throw by catcher Paulino. Ramirez walked Wilfredo Rodriguez, and Irving Falu drove in Tomscha and Varona with a single. But Rosney Castillo ground into a rally, killing the double play, and Ramirez’s strike out of Jesmuel Valentin ended the Criollos’ scoring.

A second to short fielder’s choice Nunez scored Yefri Perez with an insurance run for the Dominican Republic in the eighth.

Bueno won, Soto lost, and Josh Judy got the save.

Both teams now have 1-1 records.

Venezuela plays Mexico in 15 minutes. It’s now 7:45 pm in Zapopan.

Caribbean Series: Cuba escapes with 5-4 win over Mexico

Published on February 4, 2018February 4, 2018 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sports Radio Service is the only Bay Area outlet covering the 2018 Caribbean Series

Photo credit: @lajornadaonline

MEXICO: 4 | 11 | 1

CUBA: 5 | 8 | 0

By Lewis Rubman

Zapopan, Jal., February 4

The end of my dispatch about Game 3 of the Caribbean Series contained a glaring error. The next game scheduled was not between Puerto Rico and Mexico, but between Cuba and Mexico. There was also a lot to say about the end of that game.

It was a see-saw of a match between the repeat champions of Cuba’s National Series, the Granma Sorrels (Alazanes de Granma), and the Mexican Pacific League champs, the Culiacan Tomato Growers (Tomateros de Culiacan).

Granma was playing without its star right fielder, Alfredo Despaigne, who left yesterday’s game against the Anzoategui Caribes after he suffered a calf injury running out a double in the first inning. They still managed to put up quite a show, posting a come from behind victory and surviving a ninth inning challenge from the Tomateros.

Culiacan, which was playing as the visiting team, took an early lead when Justin Greene singled to center to start the game. He stole second and scored on Rico Noel’s single to center off Cuba’s left handed starting pitcher Yoannis Yiera.

Mexico and its lefty starter, Hector Daniel Rodriguez, held on to that lead until the bottom of the third inning, when third baseman Raul Gonzalez singled to center, followied by Roel Santos’s bunt single and Yordan Manduley’s sacrifice bunt.

This use of little ball paid off for the Cubans because Yurisbel Gracial tied the score with a sacrifice line drive to Justin Greene in left. Mexico’s manager, Benjamin Gil, yanked Rodriguez and replaced him with Jesus Castillo, the first of the five relievers Gil would use before the night was over. Castillo got out of the inning, but not before Frederich Cepeda’s double had driven in Santos to give the Alanzanes a 2-1 lead.

That advantage was short-lived. The Tomateros drove Yiera from the mound in the top of the fourth with singles by Walter Ibarra and Sebastian Valle. Right handed reliever Alain Sanchez allowed a bunt single to Noel and a single to left by Sebastian Elizalde that scored Valle.

With Noel on third, Joey Meneses grounded to second baseman Carlos Benitez, whose toss to shortstop Manduley to force Elizalde at second. But Meneses beat Manduley’s throw to first, allowing Noel to score a run to put Mexico up by two runs, 4-2.

Gil appealed the out call at second, but it was upheld after a lengthy review. Sanchez got DH Japhet Amador to end the inning with a ground ball to third. Sanchez would go on to pitch into ninth frame without allowing another Culiacan run.

With one out in the Granma half of the seventh, Gonzalez smashed a home run to left center off an offering of Aldo Montes, who had relieved Castillo to start the top of the fifth. A walk to Santos, the next batter, was enough to make Gil to bring in Nick Struck to replace Montes. The one-time Cubs and Dodgers farm hand only stayed around long enough to hit Mandulay with a pitch and walk Gracial. Struck’s replacement, Daniel Moskos, gave up a sac fly to Cepeda, which scored Santos and tied the score at four apiece.

Yoenis Cespedes’s half brother Yoalkis pinch ran for Benitez, who had singled with one out in the bottom of the eighth. Cespedes broke for second with a two and one count on Juan Carlos Torrente, pinch hitting for Morejon. Cepeda’s move pulled Ibarra, now playing shortstop, out of position, allowing a hole for Torrente’s low line drive to go into left centerfield. Cepeda advanced to third on the hit and scored on Gonzalez’s sacrifice fly to right, giving Cuba a one-run lead.

Culiacan came close to sending the game into extra innings. Oakland native Chris Roberson pinch hit for Valle with a screaming double down the left field line to open the top of the ninth. Granma’s manager Carlos Marti replaced Sanchez with Raidel Martinez, who was faced with the task of getting through the top of Mexico’s lineup without allowing the speedy Roberson to score from second base. Martinez succeeded by striking out Greene and getting pinch hitter Jesse Castillo and Elizalde to ground out.

Cuba now is 2-2, while Mexico is 0-2 half way through the elimination round of the Series.

The Dominican Republic goes against Puerto Rico in this afternoon’s game, followed by Venezuela against Mexico. Game times are 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, Central Time, noon and and 6:00 pm PT.

Venezuela blows out Dominican Republic 15-4 on second day of Caribbean Series

Published on February 3, 2018February 4, 2018 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sports Radio Service is the only Bay Area outlet covering the 2018 Caribbean Series

Photo credit: @ZagaDeporte

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: 4 | 8 | 2

VENEZUELA: 15 | 20 | 1

By Lewis Rubman

Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico
February 3, 2018

Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico–The second day of the Caribbean Series opened with a blast as Venezuela’s Caribes de Anzoategui overwhelmed the Dominican Republic’s Aguilas Cibaenas 15-4 this afternoon in game three of the 13-game tournament that features the champions of the five major winter leagues in the Western Hemisphere, the Cuban National Series, the Dominican League, the Mexican Pacific League, the Puerto Rican Roberto Clemente Porfessional Baseball League, and the Venezuelan League of Professional Baseball.

The Dominican Reppublic’s defeat would have been even more devasting if the victors had observed baseball’s unwritten rules and tried to score at every easy opportunity.

Venezuela’s Balbino Fuenmayor launched two blasts of about 420 feet each. The first, in the bottom of the second inning, landed just to the right of the centerfield score board. The second, which came one inning later, was a mirror image of its predessor, landing just slightly to the left of the score board. Fuenmayor must have run out of steam, because all he could achieve in his next plate appearance was a deep fly to right center that bounced into the bleachers on one hop for what is erroneously called a ground rule double but really is a rule book double. In the sixth, the Caribes’ first baseball hit a grounder to short, where Abiiatal Avelino was stationed so deep that the slugger had no difficulty beating it out of a single. He rounded out his five for five day with a fly ball single to center.

Fuenmayor wasn’t the only hitter who validated Charros Stadium’s Reputation as a batters’ paradise. In the home half of the sixth, his teammates Rafael Ortega and Rene Reyes parked one of Rafael de Paula’s pitches in the center and right field bleachers, respectively. It was in that inning that Fuenmayor varied his act with an infield single.

The Aguilas (Eagles) got their runs in the fifth and sixth innings. The first and seventh innings were the only ones in which the Caribes (the name of the nation that inhabited the area before the colonization of the Caribbean basin) didn’t score. The put up crooked numbers in the third, fifth, sixth, and eighth frames. It goes without saying that they didn’t bat in the ninth.

Major League veteran Freddy Garcia started for Venezuela but didn’t last long enough to get credit for the victory, having been pulled after pitching four and two-thirds innings.

He was followed on the mound by Cesar Jiimenez, who got the win, Carlos Navas, who pitched last year for the A’s farm teams in Stockton and Midland, Mayckol Guaipe, and Ricardo Gomez for the Caribes. The Aguilas’ left handed starter Raul Valdes got the loss. Ulises Joaquin, Cesilio Pimentel, Rafael de Paula, Angel Castro, and Esmerling de la Rosa comosed the parade that followed him. Of that list, Pimentel was the only one to turn in a respectable performace, facing two batters without allowing a hit and forcing one one of them to hit into a double play.

Besides Fuenmayor, five members of Venezuela’s line up had a mutliple hit afternoon, Rafael Ortega, Rene Reyes, Williams Astudillo, Alexi Amarista, and Cesar Valera. Christian Bethancourt account for three of his team’s hits. Hector Gomez hit a two run homer ln the fifth off Garcia for the Dominican. The Eagles’ third baseman made a spiffy play on Luis Sardinas’ liner in the bottom of the third, and second baseman Alexi Amarista made a sparkling play on pinch hitter Luis Valenzuela’s grounder to second in top of the ninth.

Sanchez got the well deserved win. Casey Coleman, who had pitched the bottom of the eighth for Mexico, got the loss. He is now 0-2. Martinez was credited with the save.

Host team Mexico will be the visiting squad for the purposes of tonight’s game against Puerto Rico. Game time is 8:00 pm (6:00 Pacific).

Puerto Rico defeats Mexico 7-4 in game 2 of Caribbean Series

Published on February 3, 2018February 4, 2018 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sports Radio Service is the only Bay Area outlet covering the 2018 Caribbean Series

Photo credit: @mexbaseball

Puerto Rico 7 | 15 | 0

Mexico 4 | 10 | 0

By Lewis Rubman
Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico
February 3, 2018

Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico–The 19th century Puerto Rican poet Lola Rodriguez de Tio is famous for her lines, “Cuba y Puerto Rico son/de un pajaro las dos alas.” Translation: “Cuba and Puerto Rico are two wings of the same bird.” If that’s true, that bird must be soaring because both country’s teams won their first game in this year’s Caribbean Series.

Following the Cubans’ 6-4 triumph over the Venezuelans, Puerto Rico’s Criollos de Caguas overcame host Mexico’s Tomateros de Culiacan by a score of 7-4 in a game featured a couple of surprises.

The first came before the game even began, when Bill Clinton came onto the field and was treated to a thunderous ovation when he was introduced as a friend of Mexico. More cheers followed when the ex-president proclaimed himself a lover of baseball.

The second surprise occurred in the top of the third inning with two outs and an 0-2 count on the Criollos’ Johnny Monell, Anthony Garcia attempted a straight steal of home. He was called out, and a long review was inconclusive, so the ruling was allowed to stand. But Garcia’s daring dash to the plate certainly was unexpected. He didn’t even get a good jump on starter Edgar Gonzalez’s pitch, and many spectators speculated that the play might have been a botched suicide squeeze attempt. In any case, Garcia definitely gave the crowd a jolt.

In spite of the failure of his act of daring do, he had a very successful night, going 3 for 5, hitting two doubles, and driving in two runs, Four other Caguas batters had multiple hit nights. Shortstop Jesmuel Valentin and thirdbasman David Vidal went 2 for 5, and first baseman Ruben Gotay and leftfielder Dayron Varona each got two hits in four at bats.

Puerto Rico opened the scoring in the top of the second with succesive singles by Vidal, Gotay, and Varona, followed by a walk to catcher Jonathan Morales off of Gonzalez.

Mexico closed the gap to one run in their half of the inning with a two out single to center by Dominican thirdbaseman Ronnier Mustellier, a walk to shortstop Issmael Salas, and a single in right by catcher Gabriel Gutierrez.

The Islanders tacked on another run in the third, only to see Mexico add another in the bottom of the frame and take the lead in the fourth when Criollos started Adalberto Flores hit Mustellier and Salas, who each moved up a base on Gutierrez’s sacrifice bunt. After Rico Noel struck out swinging, Sebastian Elizalde singled both runners home only to be caught stealing; 2-4-3-6.

After a walk to Irving Falu, who had replaced Rey Navarro at second base, followed by a wild pitch by Gonzlez that advanced him a base, and Garcia’s RBI single helped Puerto Rico retie the game at four apiece.

Thing stayed like that until the top of the eighth, when Casey Coleman, now pitching for Culiacan, gave up a double to deep left field to Garcia, who scored on Vidal’s rule book double to center. Vidal advanced one base on Gotay’s single to right.

At this point, manager Benjamin Gil replaced Coleman with Nick Struck, who proceeded to deliver a wild pitch on a 2 and 2 count to Varona, who tripled on his next offering, driving in both runners, and sealing Culiacan’s doom.

Elizalde and Gutierrez were the Mexicans’ leading hitters, with two apiece.

Lefty Luis Cruz got the win in relief. The save went to Miguel Mejia, who pitched a scoreless ninth. Coleman was charged with the loss.

This afternoon’s game will pit the Dominican Republics Aguilas Cibaenas against the Anzoategui Criollos of Venezuela. Game time is 2:00 pm (noon PT).

The 8:00 pm (6:00 pm PT) match up will see Mexico face Cuba.

Cuba edges Venezuela 6-4 in game 1 of Caribbean Series

Published on February 3, 2018February 4, 2018 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sports Radio Service is the only Bay Area outlet covering the 2018 Caribbean Series

Photo credit: @Territorioscore

CUBA 6
VENEZUELA 4

By Lewis Rubman

Zapopán, Jalisco, Mexico

February 2, 2018

Zapopán, Jalisco, Mexico–Cuba’s Alazanes de Granma won the opening game of the sixtieth Caribbean Series by defeating Venezuela´s Caribes de Anozátegui this afternoon by a score of 6-4 in a contest that wasn’t decided until a badly shaken Raidel Martínez got Venezuela’s designated hitter Luis Jiménez to swing and miss on a 1-2 count with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the ninth inning. Granma jumped out to an early lead when Yordan Manduley singled Roel Santos in from second and was in turn driven in by

Yurisbel Gracial’s double off Anzoáregui’s starter, righty Daryl Thompson, in the bottom of the first inning.

Venezuela chipped away at Cuba´s lead in the top of the third, when Luis Sardiñas crossed the plate while Nieuman Romero grounded into a double play, short unassisted to first çagainst the Alazanes’ starting pitcher, right hander Lázaro Blanco. They evened the sccore on Luis Jiménez’s blast into the right field seats in the following frame.

Carlos Navas relieved Thompson with runners on the corners and one out in the bottom of the fifth. Gracial notched his second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to center that broke the tie and gave the Cuban’s a 3-2 lead.

They took a commanding lead in the seventh, mounting a two run, two out rally against Felipe Paulino , with two walks, an infield single and and a pinch hit single to left by Alexander Ayala.

Venezuela came roaring back in the top of the eighth on René Reyes’s double to right, followed by a single, also to right, by Balbino Fuenmayor, both off Miguel Lahera.

With two outs in the Cuban half of the inning, a two-base throwing error by shortstop Luis Sardiñas allowed pinch runner Yulián to score, putting the Cubans ahead with a commanding 6-3 lead.

But the Venezuelans put a scare into them. Alexis Amerista led off against Lahera with a single. After Sardiñas forced Amerista at second and Ortega flied out to right, Sardiñas stole second. Romero then worked a full count and walked. Reyes singled to right to load the bases, putting the tying run on base and bringing the potential leading run to the plate in the person of Fuenmayor, the clean up hitter. Granma manager Carlos Martí brought Martínez in to relieve Lahera. Martínez promptly balked Sardiñas home with the Caribe’s fourth run and advancing Romero and Reyes. A rattled Martínez walked Fuenmayor, wherre he represented the possible tying run. That’s when Martínez notched his clutch strike out.

Blanco got the win. Thompson was charged with the loss. The save went to Martínez.

This afternoon´s game will be followed at 8:00 pm this evening. (6:00 pm Pacific) between the winners of last year’s series, the Caguas Crollos of Puerto Rico, and the champions of the Mexican Pacific League, the Tomateros of Culiacán. Taking the mound for Caguas will be right hander Adalberto Florers. Another righty, Edgar González, will pitch for the Mexican team.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Ex-Athletics player elected to Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame

Published on January 15, 2018January 15, 2018 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @theScore

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

OAKLAND — Although Hideki Matsui played most of his Major League career with the New York Yankees, he also made a brief stop in the Bay Area for the Oakland Athletics. His name was on the ballot for this 2018 MLB Hall of Fame election. He will not make it to Cooperstown, New York, but at least he is in the Hall of Fame of his native Japan. He was recently inducted to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.

Also known as “Godzilla,” Matsui is a legend in Japan. He won the People’s Honor Award, three Central League MVPs, and was an All-Star in nine of his 10 seasons. His most memorable award in the major leagues was in 2009 as he won the MVP in the World Series. He became the first and only Japanese-born player to win this award, and he did it with sensational numbers. As a designated hitter during the 2009 World Series, he hit .610 with three home runs and eight runs batted in.

The most impact a DH had on a World Series game came in the Game 6 of the 2009 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies. Yankees’ DH, Hideki Matsui, contributed to six of the seven runs his team had in the game. Matsui batted .600, the highest average for a DH in a World Series, and was also the first DH to win the World Series MVP Award.

Hideki Matsui played for 10 years from 2003 to 2012 with the Yankees, Angels, Athletics and Rays. In 2011 with the A’s, he played in 141 games and hit .251 with 12 home runs and 72 runs batted in. During his Major League career, he finished with a respectable .282 average 175 home runs and 760 RBI.

In Japan, Matsui was one of the most popular players ever. Extremely marketable, his face appeared in tea cups and even on the fuselage of a 747 plane. During his brilliant Hall of Fame career in Japan, he compiled a .309 batting average, 332 home runs and 889 RBI in a total of 1,268 games played.

There are some among the United States baseball media members that said while he was playing in the states, he was the first Japanese player to reach 500 home runs, which was correct.

However, there is one caveat, you have to add the 332 home runs in Japan to the 175 here in the big leagues, to reach that number. Many also had similar combined numbers when it came to hits for another great Japanese player, Ichiro Suzuki, who will be someday the first ever Japanese player inducted to Cooperstown.

One interesting note about these two players: While Matsui was popular in Japan and in the U.S., Suzuki is not as popular. It has to do with two totally different personalities. Not to take anything away from Suzuki, who is the best Japan-born player that I have seen here in the major leagues, but he was never as well-liked in Japan as Matsui. That is what my Japanese colleagues have told me for years.

In the 2011 season that Hideki Matsui played for the A’s, he was well-liked by his teammates, fans and media members in the Bay Area. He was a soft-spoken young man with a strong presence along with excellent professionalism and skills.

Congratulations to Hideki “Godzilla” Matsui!

The A’s start the road trip with a win, beat the Yankees 3-2.

Published on April 19, 2016April 20, 2016 by rxsluggerLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

AP photo: Oakland A’s hitter Josh Reddick splinters the bat to fly out while New York Yankee catcher Brian McCann is behind the plate

NEW YORK–The Oakland A’s received a terrific performance from lefty Eric Surkamp Wednesday night in New York. Surkamp did not get out of the fifth inning in his first two starts with Oakland. He managed to work into the sixth but did not get the decision. His opponent, Michael Pineda also gave up two runs and did not have a decision, either.The A’s bullpen was terrific as was the Yankee’s. However, the A’s was better as the A’s won 3-2. The Yankees used Chasen Shreve, Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Johnny Barbato. Barbato gave up the winning run to the A’s in the eleventh. The A’s bullpen kept the Yanks off the board to secure the win. The A’s improved to 7-7 and the Yankees fell to 5-7.

The Yankees put one on the board in the bottom of the first. Surkamp retired the first two batters he faced. The third hitter, the veteran Carlos Beltran, doubled to left. Surkamp walked Mark Teixeira to put men on at first and second. The designated hitter, Alex Rodriguez hit a single to left to drive in Beltran with the first run of the game. The pitch was right over the middle of the plate, and A-Rod did not miss. Surkamp struck out catcher Brian McCann to end the inning. Surkamp threw twenty-four pitches in the frame.

In the top of the second, the A’s tied the game at one. Jed Lowrie and Yonder Alonso singled to put runners on at first and second. Marcus Semien, swinging on a 3-0 pitch, singled to left to drive in Lowrie with the tying run.

The Yankees regained the lead in their half of the fifth inning. Shortstop Didi Gregorius led off with a single. The A’s got Gregorius in a rundown as he took off on a 3-2 count to avoid a double play. Gregorius appeared to make it back to first safely, but, he was ruled out as he ran out of the basepath. Brett Gardner walked on the next pitch. Starlin Castro doubled to left. Gardner stopped at third and then scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Carlos Beltran. Yankees lead 2-1 after five.

The A’s answered in the top of sixth. Danny Valencia, leading off, tripled into the gap in left-centerfield. Brett Gardner got his glove on the ball but couldn’t make the catch. The Yankees brought the infield in to cut off the run at home. Stephen Vogt struck out. With the infield still drawn in, Jed Lowrie singled to right to drive in Valencia with the A’s second run of the game.

There was no more scoring in regulation, and the game went to extra innings. The A’s broke through in the eleventh to win the game. Jed Lowrie doubled with one out. Khris Davis grounded out, and that allowed Lowrie to advance to third. Mark Canha singled past Yankee shortstop Didi Gregorius to drive in Lowrie with the winning run. The A’s win the first game of the three-game series 3-2.

Game Notes- Eric Surkamp, who did not get a decision, pitched very well Tuesday night. He went five and 2/3rd innings and allowed two runs and seven hits. He threw a career-high ninety-nine pitches. Marc Rzepczynski retired one batter to close out the sixth. The bullpen allowed just one hit in 5 1/3rd innings of work.John Axford retired the side in order in the seventh. Sean Doolittle did the same in the eighth. Fernando Rodriguez pitched the ninth and tenth. He allowed just one hit in the ninth and set the Yanks down in order in the tenth.Ryan Madsen closed out the game for the A’s as he put the Yanks down 1-2-3 in the eleventh. Rodriguez received credit for the win and Madson the save.

Jed Lowrie was the hitting star for Oakland. He had three singles and a double. He scored one run and drove in another.

There was a celebrity sighting at the game Tuesday night. Larry David, creator of “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” was in the front row in back of home plate. David played the voice of George Steinbrenner in the Seinfeld series.

Game two will be played in New York Wednesday night at 4:05 pm PT.Kendall Graveman will go for Oakland, and Nathan Eovaldi will be on the hill for New York.

Time of game was three hours and thirty minutes, and 31,952 watched the A’s beat the Yankees.

Oakland A’s Thursday game wrap: The White Sox beat the A’s again, win the series three games to one.

Published on April 7, 2016April 7, 2016 by rxsluggerLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

photo courtesy of Google images

front page photo AP: The Chicago White Sox Jose Abreu hit a sixth inning home run off Oakland A’s starter Kendall Graveman is congratulated by teammates Todd Fraiser (21) and Melky Cabrera (53)

OAKLAND–The Chicago White Sox beat the A’s 6-1 Thursday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum. A’s starter, Kendall Graveman, and Chisox starter, Mat Latos, engaged in an old-fashioned pitching duel for the first five innings of the game. Graveman gave up just two hits in the first five innings. Graveman faced three batters in the sixth. He walked Melky Cabrera and then gave up a home run to Jose Abreu. Graveman retired Todd Frazier, but the damage had been done. The White Sox would score four in the ninth, but all they needed was two to win the game. The A’s bullpen pitched well until the ninth. Bob Melvin brought in Liam Hendricks for the ninth, but he was no match for the Sox today. After the game, Melvin said he did not want to use Axford, Madson, or Doolittle. Chicago’s Mat Latos was superb. He pitched six innings and allowed just two hits as he picked up his first win of the year.

In the top of the sixth, the White Sox scored the first two runs of the game. Chicago DH, Melky Cabrera led off with a single. The next batter, Jose Abreu, sent a Kendall Graveman pitch over the out-of-town scoreboard in right field for his first home run of the year. A’s manager Bob Melvin let Graveman pitch to one more hitter before replacing him with Fernando Rodriguez.

The A’s bullpen kept the Chisox in check until the ninth inning. A’s reliever Liam Hendricks did not have a good outing as the Sox sent nine men to the plate. They scored four times on six singles. All the runs were earned, and they hold a commanding 6-0 lead as the A’s come to bat in the bottom of the ninth.

The A’s scored a run in the ninth as they avoided being shut out. White Sox win 6-1 and take the series three games to one.

Game Notes- The A’s used five pitchers in the loss to Chicago. Relievers Fernando Rodriguez, Marc Rzepczynski and Ryan Dull, pitched well and kept the A’s in the game until the ninth inning.

The A’s finished the opening homestand 1-3. The last time they started a season 1-3 was 2012. A’s utility man, Chris Coghlan started the game at second base and had two hits and a run batted in. The A’s defense was a bit wobbly as they made two errors. However, neither of the errors caused them any damage.

The A’s travel to Seattle to face the Mariners. Lefty Eric Surkamp will go for Oakland, and he will be opposed by right Taijuan Walker. Pitching matchups for Saturday will be Rich Hill for Oakland and Nathan Karns for Seattle. On Sunday, Chris Bassitt will make his second start of the year, and King Felix Hernandez will be hurling fo the Mariners. The A’s return home after the Seattle series to face another division rival, the Los Angeles Angels.

There were 12,577 fans watching the game Thursday afternoon, and the game lasted three hours and six minutes.

Oakland A’s Wednesday post game wrap: The A’s play another one-run game, this time they win.

Published on April 6, 2016April 6, 2016 by rxsluggerLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

AP photo: The Oakland A’s Billy Burns trots across home plate in the first inning to put the A’s on the board past Chicago White Sox catcher Dioner Navarro

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s and Chicago White Sox played their third consecutive one-run game. This time, however, the A’s won 2-1 behind a strong effort by Sonny Gray. Gray, who was not able to pitch Monday or Tuesday, went seven innings, allowed just three hits and received credit for his first win of the year. The A’s bullpen did their job again; John Axford pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and Ryan Madson closed out the game to earn his first save as a member of the A’s. Jed Lowrie drove in a run in the first and Mark Canha homered in the second to give the A’s all the runs they would need.The A’s jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Singles by Billy Burns and Khris Davis put men on at first and third with no out. The A’s leading RBI man, Jed Lowrie, hit a sacrifice fly to right to drive in Burns. Lowrie has knocked in five of the eight runs the A’s have scored so far this season. Carlos Rodon took the loss for the White Sox.

The A’s jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Singles by Billy Burns and Khris Davis put men on at first and third with no out. The A’s leading RBI man, Jed Lowrie, hit a sacrifice fly to right to drive in Burns. Lowrie has knocked in five of the eight runs the A’s have scored so far this season.

The A’s scored again in the second inning. Big Mark Canha, playing right field in place of Josh Reddick, hit his first home run, and the A’s first home run, of te season. With one out, Canha hit a big fly to deep right field that hit the wall just over the scoreboard. A’s lead 2-0.

The White Sox scored their first run of the game in the top of the third. Center fielder Austin Jackson led off with a double. He advanced to third on a ground out and then scored on a sacrifice fly to short left field.

There was no more scoring after the third inning. Carlos Rodon pitched well for Chicago, but Sonny Gray pitched better for Oakland as the A’s won their first game of the year 2-1.

Game notes- The line score for Oakland was two runs on seven hits and no errors. The White Sox line was one run, six hits, and no errors.

After the game, A’s manager Bob Melvin was pleased with his team’s efforts Wednesday night. He took Gray out after seven innings of work. He remarked that “after Sonny had got the first out, he was dragging, and that was going to be the last inning” of work. When talking about the bullpen, Melvin said that his guys ” aren’t afraid to pitch with guys on base. He also said that John Axford was ” really good about being quicker to the plate and was very effective.” Sean Doolittle was not available to pitch, and Melvin elected to bring in Ryan Madsen to close out the game. Melvin, when asked about the stellar defensive effort and particularly the play of Marcus Semien had this to say. Semien’s play “was about as good as we have seen him play.”

The A’s conclude the four-game series with the White Sox Thursday afternoon. Game time will be 12:35 PM PT. Kendall Graveman will start for Oakland, and they will face the well-travelled Mat Latos. Latos will be making his first start as a member of the White Sox.

The Golden State Warriors’ Festus Ezeli was in the crowd, and he received a nice ovation from the fans. Former A’s pitcher, Dallas Braden, was here to broadcast the game on ESPN and visited with the fans in right field beating on a drum to get a little excitement going.

Attendance was 16,468 and time of game was two hours and fifty-four minutes.