Tag: Bobby Witt Jr

Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez is Crowned the 2024 Homerun King in HOT North Texas

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Los Angeles Dodgers Teoscar Hernandez holds up the 2024 All Star Home Run Derby trophy after edging out the Kansas City Royals Bobby Witt Jr at Globe Life Field in Arlington TX on Mon Jul 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

ARLINGTON, Tex. — Los Angeles Dodgers’ center fielder Teoscar Jose Hernandez became the seventh player from the Dominican Republic and first in franchise history to win the Major League Baseball All-Star Game Homerun contest.

Hernandez edged out the win by one dinger (14-13) in the derby’s final matchup versus Kansas City Royals’ shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. It was determined by one foot, as Witt hit the last ball 409 feet; unfortunately for him the wall was 410 feet from home plate.

Teoscar made a cool million dollars for his dramatic performance, and at 31, became the fourth oldest (Dave Parker, 34) participant during the annual Midsummer classic. He came into All-Star Week batting .261, belted 16 homers, and had 63 RBIs.

The path for both combatants was not easy, Hernandez actually survived a swing off (16-15) in the semifinals against Phillies’ third baseman Alec Bohm. Witt won his portion of the semis by five (17-12) over Cleveland’s third baseman Jose Ramirez, but it was close in the first round.

The host team, and defending champion hero, Rangers’ right fielder Adolis Garcia received a loud applause from the mostly partial Lone Star State crowd. However, his night ended quickly, as his 18 home runs did not get him out of the first round.

Witt Jr. also received love from the Arlington faithful, due to his father Bobby Sr. being drafted by the Rangers and was a longtime fixture in the Texas uniform. With that being said,, there was a collective gasp when Witt’s belted ball hit the wall, and not sailing over it for another swing off involved with Hernandez.

Even though a National League slugger won in an American League park, the 38,578 individuals inside Globe Life Field were treated to a highly competitive battle between eight great baseball players. There were slight changes to the event to condense things, but it still did not take away from the excitement of the T-Mobile Home Run Derby.

The All-Star game will be played at the same site, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, @ 7PM Central Standard Time. The next All-Star Game Week will be in Atlanta, Georgia, with the Braves being the host team.

Michael Roberson is a MLB staff writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Giants Ramos, Webb; A’s Miller, excited to be All Stars; Braves Ozuna an All Star for third time; plus more news

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb (left) and catcher Patrick Baily (right) discuss strategy against the Atlanta Braves during Webb’s last outing on Thu Jul 4, 2024 at Truist Field in Cobb County GA. Webb has been selected to represent the Giants with teammate Heliot Ramos at the 2024 All Star Game in Arlington. (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury didn’t get a chance to ask you about the San Francisco Giants All Star selections with Heliot Ramos and Logan Webb. Ramos is hitting .299 with 63 hits, 12 home runs, 41 RBIs. Webb is 7-6, ERA 3.09. Talk about the season they’re having.

#2 Oakland A’s reliever Mason Miller has been selected to represent the Oakland A’s at the All Star Game. Miller is 1-1, ERA 2.39 has been lights out in relief and has consistently thrown over 100 MPH to opposing hitters to get 14 saves.

#3 For the third time Atlanta Braves Marcell Ozuna will be participating in the 2024 All Star Home Run Derby. Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr will be making his first appearance at the Home Run Derby. Ozuna and Witt were already to scheduled to play in the All Star Game but were selected for the Home Run Derby.

#4 Maybe it would have been better for former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Raul Mondesi has been sentenced in the Dominican Republic for corruption. Mondesi was mayor of the Dominican town of San Cristobal. Mondesi was sentenced six years and nine months for embezzling up to $5 million during his time as mayor between 2010-2016.

#5 New York Mets Pete Alonso will participate in his fifth straight home run derby. Alonso is trying to win for a third time. Alonso says that if he wins he plans to help donate to the Wounded Warrior Project and Tunnel of Towers and help refurbish amateur baseball fields.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Royals Hand A’s Sixth Loss In a Row 6-2

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Oakland A’s Abraham Toro (31) slides but will be tagged out by Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey (left) Toro got hung up on a pick off throw to first base and was out at second base by Massey in the top of the first inning at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City on Fri May 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (19-28) lost the first game of their series with the Kansas City Royals (27-19) 6-2. Nothing went right for the A’s in this game. They plowed through three pitchers in the sixth inning desperately trying to find answers.

The third pitcher Austin Adams in that rotation gave up a three run homer and that’s just about how things were going for the Oakland A’s Friday. The A’s did have a late game surge but it was too little too late. Shea Langeliers homered, a two-run shot with Abraham Toro scoring but that was all they got in the game.

Game recap: Mitch Spence got the start for the A’s with a 4.26 ERA. On the hill for the Royals; Cole Ragans got the nod with a 4.22 ERA.

The Royals got up on the scoreboard in the first inning taking an early 1-0 lead. Salvador Perez reached first base on an infield single driving Bobby Witt Jr home for the single run which persisted into the fifth inning.

Through five innings the A’s had only managed two hits while the Royals had five hits. Both pitchers were throwing a solid game keeping opposing batters guessing. As the fifth inning progressed T.J. McFarland was warming up in the bullpen and after 4 3/4 innings he relieved Spence. Spence finished with five hits, one run, one walk with four strikeouts.

Through five innings the score remained 1-0 in favor of Kansas City and this was still anybody’s game. This game went sideways for the A’s in the bottom of the sixth when Michael Massey homered, a two run shot and the Royals took a 3-0 lead.

Oakland went through three pitchers in the sixth inning T.J. McFarland went 0.1 followed by Austin Adams for another 0.1 and Brandon Bielak came in and gave up a three run homer for a 6-0 Royal lead and this game was turning into a disaster with three innings left in the game.

Kansas City threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning with runners at the corners but Bielak got out of the inning with no further damage. The top of the eighth inning was uneventful for Oakland with a JD Davis strikeout, a Max Scheumann flyout, a Tyler Nevin walk and a Bret Harris strikeout. Not much was going well for the Oakland A’s to start this series.

The A’s did make a little noise in the ninth inning in a late game surge when Shea Langeliers hit a home run with Abraham Toro but that was just too little too late. The final was 6-2.

Game notes: This weekend the A’s traveled to Kansas City for a three game series with the Royals that opened on Friday night. The A’s just finished off a four game series with the Houston Astros in which they were swept. Oakland is really facing numerous disturbing struggles right now that begins with their offense as well as what is going on with their starters and their bullpen. Unfortunately the success they had been having is a distant memory and they have not found any answers to turn it back into a positive direction.

The A’s will back at it Saturday in the second game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PM with Ross Stripling on the mound for Oakland with a 1-7 win/loss record and a 4.98 ERA and Seth Lugo with a 6-1 win loss record and a 1.66 ERA.