Tag: Boston Red Sox

Red Sox beat A’s 1-0 to complete three-game sweep; Loss is 6th out of last 7 games for Oakland

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Oakland A’s pitcher TJ McFarland gives up the intentional pass to Boston Red Sox hitter Trevor Story (foreground) to load the bases with one out in the top of the eighth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Apr 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg and Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND- The Boston Red Sox beat the Oakland A’s 1-0 Wednesday afternoon to complete a three-game sweep. The A’s have lost six of the seven games played this season. The pitching for both teams was excellent—the game’s only run came in the fourth inning.

The A’s starter, Ross Stripling, pitched well enough to win.“Strip was great. [He] pounded the zone…..I think the biggest difference this outing from his first was he actually crowded some guys with his sinker, which is a good sign. Obviously, he’s a guy that’s gonna keep hitters off balance. He did a great job today…..It was a great outing for him.” said A’s manager Mark Kotsay.

The A’s had their chances but could not get a hit when needed. They threatened to score in the fifth, seventh, and ninth innings. They failed all three times. Each team’s bullpen held the opposition scoreless. The game summary follows below.

The Red Sox drew first blood in the top of the fourth inning. Stripling had the Sox under control for the first three innings. With one out in the fourth, Singles by Triston Casas, Matsataka Yoshida, and Cedanne Radaela loaded the bases.

Second Baseman Emmanuel Valdez’s fly ball to short right field drove in Casas with the first run of the game for Boston. The A’s mounted a threat in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, A’s third baseman, J D Davis, doubled to deep center field—Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta Struck out Seth Brown on a 95 Mile-per-hour four-seam fastball.

The next hitter, Brent Rooker, mired in an early season slump, blasted a ball Ceddanne Rafaela caught at the 400-foot sign. The Red Sox lead 1-0 after four. Kotsay said the A’s simply got beat by good pitching, “We know those first five games weren’t clean games. These last two games were clean; they were competitive. We had a chance to win both games. That’s the type of baseball that I was expecting us to play. We had opportunities with the bases loaded. We also got a couple balls dead center that is this park seem not to go anywhere…..the at-bats [today] were better, even though we didn’t score…..the Red Sox’ bullpen has got it going right now, [and] it was a challenge.”

In the bottom of the fifth, the A’s loaded the bases with one out. Singles by Tyler Nevin, his first Major League hit, Nick Allen, and Ryan Noda gave the A’s a chance to put some runs on the board. The next hitter, Zack Gelof, hit into a 6-4-3 to end the inning.

The Red Sox loaded the bases in the eighth inning. Lefty T.J. McFarland was on the hill for the A’s. McFarland retired Abreu for the first out. Jarren Duran singled. It was Duran’s fourth hit of the day. Rafael Devers doubled to put men on at second and third.

The A’s issued Sox shortstop Trevor Story an intentional walk to load the bases. The threat ended when Triston Casas grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. The Sox still lead 1-0 halfway through the eighth. The Red Sox dodged a bullet in the eighth; with one out, Zack Gelof singled.

Story fielded J J Bleday’s ground behind second base. Trevor stepped on second to get the out on Gelof. Story’s throw to first to complete the double play went awry, and Bleday went to second on the error. Sox reliever Chris Martin could not field Davis’s ball. Bleday went to third on the play. Martin struck out Seth Brown to end the inning.

The A’s had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen walked Shea Lamgeliers and Lawrence Butler. Pinch hitter Abraham Toro hit into a fielder’s choice. Langeliers went to third on the play. All the A’s needed to tie the game was a hit. Jansen ended the A’s thoughts of tying the game when he struck out Ryan Noda to preserve the win for the Red Sox. The Sox win 1-0.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s are 1-6 to start the 2024 season. Boston improved to 5-2. The Line score for Oakland was no runs, eight hits, and no errors. Boston’s line was one run, ten hits, and two errors. The Winning pitcher was Nick Pivetta. Pivetta lost his first start 1-0 and won his second start 1-0.

Kenley Jansen recorded his second save. The A’s Ross Stripling pitched well for the A’s. Stripling went seven innings, allowing eight hits and one run. Stripling did not walk a batter and struck out three. Stripling threw 85 pitches, 61 for strikes. Stripling is now 0-2 for 2024.

The game lasted two hours and 21 minutes. There were 6,436 fans in attendance. The A’s are off on Thursday. They will start JP Sears and the Tigers have not yet decided on a starter in Detroit on Friday. The game will start at 10:10 a.m.

A’s Drop Second Game of Three-Game Series, 5-4 to Red Sox in 11 Innings

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JD Davis Oakland A’s third baseman slugs a single in the bottom of the tenth inning at the Oakland Coliseum against the Boston Red Sox on Tue Apr 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics (1-5, 4th AL West) lost a heartbreaker 5-4 to the Boston Red Sox (4-2, 3rd AL West) in 11 innings at the East Bay Coliseum.

Just over 5,000 faithful fans cheered for their home team for more than three hours (3:04), just to be let down after 11 innings of play in the city of Oakland.

The game got off to a good start for the visiting Red Sox, as they posted a tally in the top of the first inning. Boston shortstop Trevor Story hit an RBI double, scoring third baseman Rafael Deavers, to put them up 1-0.

The Beantown Boys followed that up in the top of the second with another run. Left Fielder Jarred Duran did the damage this time, with a linedrive single, sending home, appropriately named, Triston Casas. The DH after crossing the plate, put Boston up 2-0, early in the contest.

The A’s didn’t take too long to respond, as they got themselves on the scoreboard in the bottom of the frame. Catcher Shea Langeliers belted a 2-run homer, to even the score at 2, after the second inning. Third Baseman J.D. Davis also scored on the home run.

For the third consecutive inning, Boston managed to put up at least one run. Second Baseman Pablo Reyes belted a single to center field, knocking in right fielder Tyler O’Neill. The BoSox were up again, 3-2.

Once again, Oakland responded immediately in the bottom of the same inning. Center Fielder J.J. Bradley blasted a two-run homer, putting the home team back in the lead, 4-3. First Baseman Ryan Noda was the other runner batted in,

Next there was a 3 inning scoring drought, until the top of the seventh. Trevor Story created his own narrative by slicing another rbi base hit. This one was a single to right field, scoring Duran. The game was tied at 4, which stood for the allotted 9 innings.

Extra innings were in store for the fandom. Neither team was able to cross the plate in the 10th inning.in Finally in the 11th, Boston decided to end the baseball battle in their turn of the stanza.

Since Boston was the visiting team, any run would not end the game immediately, but would put the onus on Oakland. Boston did just that, ALMOST. They did not exactly hit someone in; however, Tyler O’Neal was responsible for the GW RBI, by ignominiously hitting into a double-play, that was enough to allow Wilyer Abreu to score the winning run.

Boston won the game dramatically 5-4. The winning pitcher was RHP Josh Winckowski (1-0), while RHP Mitch Spence (0-1) took the L.

The two combatants will be back in action Wednesday Afternoon at 12:37 PDT, with projected pitchers: Oakland’s RHP Ross Stripling (0-1, 7.20) vs. Red Sox’ RHP Nick Pivetta (0-1, 1.50).

A’s make 5 miscues as Red Sox trounce and shutout Oakland 9-0

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Oakland A’s centerfielder JJ Bleday can’t make the catch off of the Boston Red Sox Emmanuel Valdez’s hit in the top of the second inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Mon Apr 1, 2024 (AP News photo)

Monday, April 1, 2024

Boston (3-2). 125 001 000. 9. 9. 0

Athletics (1-4). 000 000 000. 0. 4. 5

Time: 2:31

Attendance: 6,618

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–This is not an April Fool’s joke. The team formerly known as the Oakland Athletics might have climbed to just one game under .500 if they had managed to defeat the under performing Boston Red Sox tonight. That turned out to be a delusion of grandeur. The A’s defeated themselves, 9-0, and the Bosox climbed to 3-2.

It’s not as if the green and gold had been facing a healthy franchise. Over the weekend, the Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy wrote what mutandis mutandi a few years ago could have been written by John Shea or Scott Ostler, the two Chronicle reporters who deserve to share a Pulitzer Prize for their recent coverage of the Fisher fiasco.

“It should be clear to all by now,”Shaughnessey wrote, “The Red Sox brass is not going to spend money or make much effort to improve this team. The message to Alex Cora, his staff, and fans, is unambiguous: This is your team. Figure it out. We don’t care if you finish last for the fourth time in five years and the seventh time in 13 years, we are not going to spend another penny to make it better. We are done.”

I can’t wait until the Boston ownership starts to complain about how outdated the fabled Fenway Park is and how badly the team deserves a new stadium, perhaps in Atlantic City. To tell the truth, Fenway is long on tradition and charm but low on good sight lines. Except for the bleachers and the expensive seats, you’re likely to have an obstructed view; in the bleachers, there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself in the middle of a fist fight

The Bosox jumped to an early lead against the Athletics’ starting right hander, Joe Boyle.who broke into the majors when he joined the last September 17 and went on to compile a record of 2-0, 1..69. Jarren Duran laced a sharp lead off single, stole second, and advanced to third when Shea Langeliers’ throw went into center field. Triston Casas’ single to center drove him home, and the A’s went to bat against Tanner Houk (6-10, 5.01 last year; 15-19, 3.86 lifetime) trailing 1-0.

Errors cost the A’ dearly in the second frame. Masataka Yoshida opened it with a walk. He went to third when JJ Beday dropped Enmanuel Valdéz’s fly ball at the center field fence. Yoshida scored on Ceddane Rafaela’s sac fly to right, on which Valdéz moved up to third, whence he scored on Lawrence Butler’s errant throw home.

It was Ryan Noda’s turn to be the goat in the third. With runners on first and second and no outs, he made a nifty grab on Valdéz’s slow grounder between first base and the pitcher’ mound and a back hand flip that went past Boyle, covering the bag. That, combined with an error by Boyle himself, who threw a pick off throw into center opened the gates for five more runs and, after a double by Trevor Story, led to Boyle’s early departure.

He had lasted a mere 2-2/3 innings, in which he managed to throw 84 pitches, 48 for strikes. Seven of the eight runs he allowed were earned, and they came on eight hits, four walks, and a wild pitch. He struck out four Bosox, took the loss, making his record 0-1, 23.63.

Lefty Kyle Muller replaced him and was the sole bright spot in the A’s otherwise dreary performance. He left after going 5-1/3 innings and yielding one run.. The tally he allowed, which came in the sixth, didn’t come on an error, but if Zack Gelof hadn’t bobbled Yoshida’s grounder with one out and runners on second and third, it would have resulted in an inning ending double play instead of a run producing force out.

Muller gave up only one safety during his tenure and walked two while setting a half a dozen Red Sox down on strikes. Michael Kelly closed down the Bostonians in the top of ninth, allowing just a lead off base of balls.

Tanner Houk was Boyle’s opposite number for Boston. He pitched six scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and striking out ten. He threw one less pitch, 83, in his six full frames than Boyle did in his 2-2-2/3; only 20 were balls. He was the winning pitcher, giving him a 1-0, 0.00 mark for the newborn seaon. Chase Anderson took over for him to start the bottom half of the seventh and shut the A’s down on one hit over the final three innings.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, afternoon at 12:37pm PDT, Oakland’s Alex Wood (0-1, ERA 16.20) will try to undo his disastrous previous outing as he faces the Red Sox and Brayan Bello (1-0, ERA 3.60)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Ohtani says interpreter stole money to pay off gambling debts; Interpreter never graduated or worked at Sox or Yanks; plus more news

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Will Ireton Los Angeles Dodgers manager of performance operations (left) interprets for Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (right) at a pre game press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Mon Mar 25, 2024 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 A look into Los Angeles Dodger’s designated hitter Shohei Ohtani’s personal trainer Ippei Mizuhara stole the money from Ohtani to pay off his gambling debts. It was learned that Ohtani did not pay for Mizuhara’s gambling debt Ohtani said the $4.5 million to pay the debt was stolen by Mizuhara. Ohtani made it clear he did not know about Mizurhara using the stolen money to pay an illegal bookie.

#2 Mizuhara’s background was found to be suspicious as well it was discovered he never attended UC Riverside and never graduated there in 2007, Mizuhara never was an interpreter for the Boston Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima from 2007-2011. The Red Sox released a statement saying that Mizuhara never worked for the Red Sox. It was also reported that Mizuhara was an interpreter for the New York Yankees in 2022 but the Yankees said that Mizuhara never was an interpreter for them in 2022.

#3 Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that it was good that Ohtani addressed the media before Monday night’s game at Dodger Stadium. It gave Ohtani a forum to clear the air and address some of the questions about his knowledge that money was going to an illegal bookie to pay Mizuhara’s debts.

#4 Although no one will admit it in the Dodgers clubhouse that this whole thing is a distraction but has to be the largest paid athlete of all time tied to a gambling scandal and it’s turned into a federal investigation and questions where is this going to end up?

#5 Turning to the Oakland A’s the A’s have announced that they have cut the time in half on Thursday opening night and will open the gates at the Oakland Coliseum parking lot from four hours to two hours early. The A’s have said they did that because there was no sense opening up the lot when they are expecting a low paid attendance to show up. Two large A’s fan groups the Oakland 68s and the Last Dive Bar said that cutting the parking lot times from two to four hours will cut their boycott time down to just two hours and they also planned to have tailgates before the game now that time has been cut in half. The 68’s said the A’s are playing mind games.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer for 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

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Pitch clock shaved from 20 to 18 seconds; Jackie Robinson statue was melted down for it’s metal; plus more news

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Former New York Met Tommy Pham stands in the on deck circle at the Grapefruit League against the Washington Nationals at Port St Lucie Fla on Sun Feb 26, 2023. The pitch clock this season 2024 has been reduced from 18 seconds to 20 seconds with runners on base. The Players Union protested but MLB implemented the decision regardless. (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports with Charlie O:

#1 Major League Baseball has cut the pitch clock from 20 to 18 seconds and will remain at 15 seconds with no runners on base. MLB Players Association Chief Tony Clark said it was too soon to cut two seconds off with runners. Clark said that was a conversation that union leaders and the players had with MLB but MLB implemented the two second shave anyway.

#2 The cleats of Jackie Robinson baseball first African American player from his bronze statue that was cut at the ankles will be donated to the Negro League Museum in Kansas City. Robinson’s statue was cut and stolen. A vehicle that was involved in loading the statue was found at a complex in Wichita. The statue was found melted by the Fire Department. It was not believed to be racially motivated crime. It’s believed that three suspects were involved in the cutting of the statue and one suspect was named Ricky Alderete 45. The value of the statue is priced at 75,000 and anything over $25,000 is considered felony theft.

#3 The story of the bad uniforms continues. The jerseys have no stitched lettering like last years, the letters and numbering are embroidered, the batter man on the back of the jersey is lowered and the uniform pants are see through. Tony Clark once again speaking for the players saying it’s a disappointment that uniforms now have taken center stage and is hoping the uniforms can change before opening day.

#4 The New York Yankees Alex Verdugo says he has no hard feelings against Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora. Verdugo was traded from the Red Sox to the Yankees saying that Cora was hard on him but there are no hard feelings. Verdugo said that he loves Cora outside of the game, his kids and his family. That there is nothing personal between him and Cora.

#5 On Saturday 1320 ESPN had a chance to attend the Fans Fest sponsored by the Last Dive Bar and the Oakland 68’s at Jack London Square at Alice and 2nd Streets in downtown Oakland. Former A’s players were there Grant Balfour, Coco Crisp, Billy North, Mike Norris, Trevor May and Ben Grieve. This was not a Fans Fest to bash the Oakland A’s but a Fans Fest to support the A’s to stay in Oakland.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Joe Castiglione Winner of the 2024 Ford C. Frick Broadcasters Award

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Joe Castigilone photo from Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame

Joe Castiglione Winner of the 2024 Ford C. Frick Broadcasters Award

By Amaury Pi-González

Joe Castiglione, the Radio Voice of the Boston Red Sox, is the recipient of the 2024 Ford C. Frick Award for Broadcasters. Castiglione has been the voice of the Red Sox since 1983. “It was a really ‘can you believe it” moment, he said during a brief conference call made by the Hall of Fame.

Castiglione is a humble broadcaster and one of the most recognizable voices in baseball, especially in New England. For a Boston Red Sox franchise record of 41 years, Castiglione has called Red Sox games on the radio. He is the longest-tenured broadcaster in Red Sox history; he is 76 years of age and was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2014.

Joe Castiglione has shared the microphone with partners including Bob Starr, Dave O”Brien, Jerry Trupiano, and Will Flemming while also teaching broadcast journalism at Northeastern University, Franklin Pierce University, and Emerson College.

Congratulations, Joe, well deserved.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Orioles backs on the wall down 0-2 in ALDS; One bad game won’t make or break LA’s Kershaw; plus more news

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The Texas Rangers Josh Jung (right) scores in front of Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (left) in the top of the second inning at Camden Yards in Baltimore in game 2 of the ALDS on Sun Oct 8, 2023 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Baltimore Orioles find themselves in fix down 0-2 in their ALDS series with the Texas Rangers. The O’s lost to the Rangers in game 1 by a run 3-2 and then game 2 lots of runs scored but lost by four 11-8 and now they head to Texas for games 3 and 4. The Orioles had a good regular season but they seem to be hitting a wall about now.

#2 For the Los Angeles Dodgers in game 1 of the NLDS who would have thought that starter Clayton Kershaw would have got lit up the way he did in the top of the first inning by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Kershaw gave up six runs in the first inning, he got his first out after giving up five runs, and didn’t get out of the first inning before being lifted. It’s getting tougher for the Dodgers losing on Monday 4-2 down 0-2 but these are the Dodgers they could come back and maybe even this thing up.

#3 Corbin Carroll has been that big spark plug in the Diamondbacks line up and he gave them some punch in game one against the Dodgers. Carroll went two for five, scored two runs, had two hits and two RBIs and one of the runs scored he hit a home run.

#4 The Boston Red Sox fired their pitching coach Dave Bush and third base coach Carlos Febles on Monday. Bush had been pitching coach since 2020. The firing came after the Sox had posted a 4.52 ERA which was 21st in the Majors. The Sox finishing third place in the four of the last three years didn’t help matters any for Bush. Febles who is also an infield instructor was fired after the Sox posted last place above average in outs.

#5 According to Redfin projections 5,000 people moved out of Los Angeles to Las Vegas after the summer. The number dropped from August when 6800 people left the Southland to come move to Las Vegas. According to the report Las Vegas is the top city people are moving to from the Southland. Las Vegas is second city in the country where people are moving to behind Sacramento.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: O’s and Rays headed for post season; ex-Phils manager Manuel improving after stroke; plus more news

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Philadelphia Phillies hitting coach Charlie Manuel looks on prior to the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Aug. 14, 2019, in Philadelphia. The Phillies announced Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, that former manager Manuel has suffered a stroke. Manuel was undergoing a medical procedure in Florida when he was afflicted, the team revealed. Sun, Sep 17, 2023 doctors said 12 hours after the procedure Manuel was showing signs of improvement (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays both teams who have great seasons clinched for the AL playoffs after the Texas Rangers lost to the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday.

#2 Good news after the scary experience that ex-Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel 78, had a stroke while going through a medical procedure in Florida. Doctors were able to remove a blood clot from the 79 year old manager Sunday and reported that Manuel has shown improvement. While Manuel was manager for the Phillies he won five NL East titles between 2007-2011. Manuel was fired by the Phillies in 2013 after a 53-67 start of that season.

#3 Cuban born designated hitter and outfielder Jorge Soler of the Miami Marlins hit a home run upon his return from the 10 day IL. Soler had been placed in the IL due to a right oblique strain. Soler said he was feeling discomfort taking swings on Sep 5th but feels alright now going 2-3 with a home run on Sunday.

#4 Pitcher Corey Kluber will not pitch again for the rest of the season for the Boston Red Sox due to right shoulder inflammation. Kluber announced that he has ended his minor league rehab assignment and will not make his third rehab assignment at Triple A Worcester last Saturday. Kluber is a two time Cy Young Award winner.

#5 The New York Mets threw a huge bash for Bartolo Colin at Citi Park in Queens on Sunday. The Mets celebrated Colin’s home run he hit on May 7, 2006. It was Colin’s first home run off the San Diego Padres James Shields and Colin became the oldest player at age 42 years and 349 days to hit a home run. Colin pitched in the big leagues for 21 years. Colin also was a former pitcher for the Oakland A’s and made a big splash with fans and teammates during that time as well.

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

Jocamania: Pederson belts 11th inning walk off RBI single for 4-3 win at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants’ Wilmer Flores (41) hits an RBI single in front of Boston Red Sox catcher Jorge Alfaro during the fifth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jul 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

Boston (56-49). 000 000 130 00. – 3. 8. 1

San Francisco (58-48) 010 010 010 01 – 4. 11 0

Time: 3:13

Attendance: 37,026

Sunday, July 30, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–After Saturday’s last minute turnaround victory over the Boston Red Sox, the Giants were 57-48, in second place for the NL West lead, three games behind the Dodgers and six games behind the three teams tied in the race for a wild card berth.

That put the exhilaration of the win in some perspective. The Giants kept the excitement up with the same momentum but this time in 11 innings picking up narrow 4-3 win over the Bean Town Dudes at Oracle Park on Sunday.

Similarly, the return to the lineup of Brandon Crawford, high on the list of San Francisco’s all time list of shortstops but clearly showing the effects of his 12 years in the major leagues, was both encouraging and concerning at the same time. Who would you rather have as your shortstop, Crawford or the wunderkind of the week, Marco Luciano, today’s DH?

Whose bat would you prefer to have in your lineup? When today’s game had ended, with the Giants winning a 3-2 11 inning thriller Crawford had gone 2 for 5 and made a pretty backhanded flip to start a double play in the sixth, while Luciano had gone 0 for 2 as a pinch hitter. It’s still an open question.

Both teams went the opener route, San Francisco going with Scott Alexander (6-1, 3.41) and his sinkers, sliders, and change ups. Boston entrusted the task to a southpaw, Bernardo Bernadino (1-0,2.31). Those were their game time numbers. Anthony DeScalfani, whose name had been. bandied about as a possible starter in this series, was placed on the IL yesterday.

Alexander, making his third start of the ’23 season, threw 1-2/3 perfect innings before his scheduled removal and replacement by Ross Stripling, who threw 4-1/3 innings of one run, four hit ball. The Giants also used Taylor and Tyler Rogers, Camilo Duval, and Tristan Beck, the eventful winner, now 2-0, 2.94.

Bernandino held the Giants to a walk in the first but plunked the first two batters he faced in the second, Michael Conforto and Luis Matos. Blake Sabol loaded the bases by beating out a bunt in front of the plate. That was it for Bernadino. Right hander John Schreiber replaced him.

Casey Schmitt drove a hard drive down the third base line that Rafael Devers snared. He slapped his glove on the base to force Matos out as Conforto crossed the plate.

Then Crawford hit a liner to center that Duvall captured and returned the ball to Christian Arroyo at second before Sabol could get back to the bag. As they did yesterday, the Giants missed a chance to blow the game open early and had to settle for a 1-0 lead. They missed another opportunity one inning later.

Mike Yastrzemski pinch hit for Slater and invoked The Curse of the Leadoff Double. He moved to third on Flores’s nubber to the mound and died on third after Luciano and Davis fanned. Yastrzemski left the game in the top of the fifth because of hamstring tightness. Joc Pederson replaced him.

John Schreiber (two innings), Chris Murphy (3-1/3 innings), Josh Winckosxki (1-2/3), Richard Bleier (1), Chris Martin (1), and Mauricio Llovera, who got no one out in the 11th and took the loss, also performed mound duties for the Bosox.

San Francisco managed to tack a run onto their lead in the fifth. Schmitt led off with a single. Devers couldn’t handle Crawford’s grounder to third, putting runners on the corners, After Pederson flew out to center, Flores sent Schmitt home with a single to right.

The Giants might have scored more, but Crawford was put out in a rundown between third and home on Luciano’s grounder to the hot corner. Davis grounded out to end the threat.

The Red Sox drew closer in the top of the seventh with Duvall’s lead off 381 foot homer over the National Car Rental advertisement in left center field. He hit it off a change up on Stripling’s 63rd and final pitch of the game, Taylor Rogers, the left handed brother, relieved him and, in spite of a single and a walk, kept Boston off the board, thanks, in part to an 8-4 double play that the Giants pulled off on a broken bat fly by Tristón Casas.

Boston went ahead in the next frame. The right handed Rogers brother, the submarining Tyler, went to the mound at the start of the visitors’ eighth and gave up a leadoff Texas League double to a pinch hitting Jarren Duran. One out later, the Red Sox went ahead, 3-2.

The much booed Justin Turner sent his 17th round tripper of the season on a line 382 feet into the left field bleachers. The pitch, a slider that came in 73.1 mph left Turner’s bat at 104.7 mph.

The Giants came roaring back in their next at bat. With one down, Conforto beat out a grounder to third, and Matos slammed a double off the top of the Bank of America ad just to the left of the 399 foot marker in left center field. Conforto rounded third but scrambled back to the bag.

The roar was modulated when Patrick Bailey, who had replaced Sabol in the sixth, hit a bouncer to the mound and was tagged out by Winckowski. But Conforto scored, and the game was tied. Schmitt then struck out amidst a chorus of boos from the umpires in the stands.

Camilo Doval came in to pitch the Red Sox ninth and kept the game tied, allowing only a single to Casas.

Richard Bleier replaced Winckowski preserved the tie in the bottom of the ninth, and so we went into extra innings.

Tristan Beck now was on the hill for San Francisco, He blanked the Bosox, in spite of the zombie runner.

Chris Martin faced the Giants in their half of the tenth. He had to face five batters (if you count his two. intentional walks), but he sent us into the eleventh.

And it was in the eleventh, against their recent teammate Mauricio Llovera, that the Giants won it. Bailey, the zombie runner, scored after Schmitt was hit by a pitch, Crawford’s bunt died on the grass between home and third, and Pederson laced a single to right.

With all its frustrations, a most satisfying victory.

There’s been no word yet on who will pitch for either Arizona or the San Francisco Monday, evening at 6:45pm PT when the Giant and Diamondbacks will begin a four game series.

BoSox Lose Game 4-3 and Series 2-1 Versus Giants in Extra Innings

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Ross Stripling throws against the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jul 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO–The Boston Red Sox (56-49) dropped their second straight game 4-3 and lost the series 2-1 to the San Francisco Giants (58-48) in 11 innings on a beautiful afternoon in the City on the Bay.

Boston was hitless until the top of the fourth when third baseman Rafael Deavers hit a double to left field,  Nothing materialized after that scoring opportunity.

The Giants on the other hand, scored twice in each of their halves of the second and fifth innings.  Casey Schmitt hit into a fielder’s choice at third, scoring Michael Conforto, while Joc Peterson singled to right field in the fifth inning, scoring Schmitt.  2-0 SF.

Boston finally got on the board in the seventh inning on a homer to left by first baseman Adam Duvall, but that was all they could muster that inning, which ended on a (8-4) double play.

The Red Sox came right back the following inning and took their first lead (3-2) on a two-run blast to left by Justin Turner, who also scored Jarren Duran.

The Giants came back to tie it at three on a fielder’s choice play to the pitcher by Patrick Bailey, while Conforto snuck in from third.

After nine hard fought innings, the two combatants went to extra frames.  The new rules are implemented with a runner in scoring position to start off the inning.

In the bottom of the 11th inning, with the bases loaded, Joc Peterson lined a single to right field, scoring Alex Verdugo and ending the thriller of a ballgame.

Boston stays on the West Coast and travels north to Seattle, Monday July 31.  Their starting pitcher is yet to be determined.  The Giants host Arizona on the same date, while neither pitcher is determined at press time.

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