Tag: Houston Astros

Giants Drop First Game In Astro Series 7-3

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Houston Astros starter Luis Garcia exits here after suffering from an elbow injury after throwing eight pitches against the San Francisco Giants at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Mon May 1, 2023. Garcia is the second Astro pitcher to have a arm or elbow issue, pitcher Jose Urquidy was placed on the 15 day IL after suffering a shoulder injury on Sat Apr 29, 2023. (AP News photo)

Giants Drop First Game In Astro Series 7-3

By Barbara Mason

After a quick two game series against the San Diego Padres over the weekend in Mexico City, the San Francisco Giants (11-17) traveled to Houston to take on the Astros (16-13) in a Monday night game. The Giants didn’t fare no better in Houston dropping the first game of the series 7-3 at Minute Maid Field to open the series.

The game got a bit of a late start when Astro pitcher Luis Garcia left the game and Brandon Bielak took the mound in his place. Something was not right with Garcia and so Bielak took over.

Houston took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. A Jose Abreu single drove Mauricio Dubon home for the early lead.

San Francisco would take the lead when Joc Pederson hit a two-run home run for a 2-1 score. After a rough two game series in Mexico there was no apparent fatigue that may have followed them to Houston.

The Astros tied up the game 2-2 when Mauricio Dubon singled and Jake Meyers scored. The Astros would have a huge seventh inning scoring five runs. There would be a flurry of hits from Houston. Dubon had another hit, this one a double driving in Jake Meyers.

Alex Bregman singled Dubon home and Jose Abreu grounded out and Bregman scored. The Giants were sitting on two outs but just could not get that third out to end the inning. Jeremy Pena and Corey Julks both singled driving two runners home now leading 7-2.

Going into the eighth inning, the Giants had a big hole to dig out of. San Francisco got to work as their first at bat in the eighth LaMonte Wade Jr. knocked one out of the park, a solo home run. That would be all there was in the inning for San Francisco but they did get one back now trailing 7-3.

The Giants had one last chance as they went into the ninth. They would have to do it against one of the best closers in the game Ryan Pressly. The five run inning was the difference in this game for San Francisco. This was Giants fourth loss in a row.

Starting pitcher for the Giants, Ross Stripling went five innings. He allowed two runs and had five strikeouts. Relief pitcher Sean Hjelle was pulled after one inning. He allowed the five runs in the seventh inning and Tristin Beck would close out the game giving up one hit, no runs and two strikeouts.

The Giants will continue this three game series tomorrow sending Anthony Desclefani (2-1 ERA 2.70) to the mound. Hunter Brown (3-0 ERA 2.37) will start for Houston. First pitch is scheduled for 5:10 PM.

Giants Swept In Mexico City Series Losing To Padres 6-4

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San Francisco Giants center fielder Mike Yastrzemski, center, walks with a trainer after an injury as manager Gabe Kapler walks alongside, right, during the eighth inning. Yastrzemski is headed to the IL after injuring his left hamstring on Sun Apr 30, 2023 at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium in Mexico City. (AP News photo)

Giants Swept In Mexico City Series Losing To Padres 6-4

By Barbara Mason

Sunday afternoon the San Francisco Giants (11-16) finished up their two-game series getting swept against the San Diego Padres (15-14) in Mexico City 6-4. A lot of fans were expecting another slug fest much like the one we saw Saturday. 19,633 fans got to enjoy Sunday’s game, only the second MLB game played in Mexico city ever.

The Giants jumped all over the Padres to start this game. After four innings San Francisco led 4-0. The Giants had three home runs in the first four innings. The first one came off the bat of LaMonte Wade Jr in the first inning. In the second inning another long ball from J.D. Davis and in the fourth inning Mitch Haniger sent one sailing over the wall to take a 3-0 San Francisco lead. They would extend their lead when Mike Yastrzemski singled Michael Conforto home in the fourth.

The Giants held the lead into the fifth inning and then that is when the tide turned.. San Francisco did not have another hit after the sixth inning single from Yastrzemski.

In the bottom of the fifth the Padres scored three runs starting off with an Austin Nola two-run home run followed by a Juan Soto single driving in Fernando Tatis Jr. After seven innings the Giants were hanging onto a 4-3 lead.

San Diego had another three-run inning in the bottom of the eighth. Jake Cronenworth singled driving Juan Soto home to tie the game 4-4. Matt Carpenter would double bringing Xander Bogaerts and Cronenworth home taking a 6-4 lead. That would be the final in this game with the Padres sweeping the series.

The losses were bad enough but there were some costly injuries in this series. Brandon Crawford missed todays game after right calf tightness suffered yesterday in the fourth inning and Mike Yastrzemski attempted a diving catch on a shallow fly ball in center field that resulted in a possible hamstring issue and was forced to leave todays game. He was hurt in the eighth inning.

Giants starting pitcher Alex Cobb had a great game under the tough conditions despite the loss. He went five innings and gave up seven hits and three runs with seven strikeouts. He struggled a bit in the fifth with the altitude and Scott Alexander relieved him in the sixth inning. In this game Cobb got his 1000th strikeout mixing up his pitches but the bullpen struggled for the rest of the game.

San Francisco will now travel to Houston taking on the Astros Monday night. Ross Stripling (0-1 ERA 6.89) will take the mound for the Giants and for the Astros Luis Garcia (4-4 ERA 4.00) will start. It will be a tough game for the Giants after dealing with the altitude in Mexico City with little to no rest before Monday night’s game. First pitch is scheduled for 5:10 PM.

Golden State Warriors podcast with Barbara Mason: Warriors finally land on their first road win of the season

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Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole (3) starts a layup in front of Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) during the first half in Houston Sun Nov 20, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast with Barbara:

#1 Sunday the Golden State Warriors (8-9) took on the Houston Rockets (3-14) finally picked up their first road win of the season. 

#2 The Rockets are a young team that the Warriors handled in Houston. Houston with the exception of Eric Gordon is an extremely young bunch of players that just do not have the experience and depth that the Warriors have.

#3 The Warriors came out on a blistering pace leading after the opening quarter 40-28. The Warriors led 11-0 in the first quarter before the Rockets even scored.

#4 It was a banner night for Klay Thompson who had his first thirty plus game of the season finishing with 41 points. He was 10 of 13 from downtown. Stephen Curry had 33 and Andrew Wiggins finished with 22.

#5 Monday night the Warriors will take on the New Orleans Pelicans in the Big Easy at Smoothie King Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 PM.

Join Barbara for the Warriors podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Dusty’s Dream Astros Win World Series

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Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker after managing his third World Series wins his first World Series as the Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in game 6 at Minute Maid Field on Sat Nov 5, 2022 (AP News photo)

Dusty’s Dream: Astros Win World Series

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Manager Dusty Baker has done it! His Houston Astros have won the 2022 World Series beating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 in 6 games. This title, his first as a manager, should cinch his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, among managers, adding to the over 2,000 wins.

This was his ultimate dream since he became a manager, a very good player as we remember, for 19 years who also won a ring in 1981 as a member of the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

A career that began with the Atlanta Braves, where he was a teammate of the real home run holder Hank Aaron. Dusty had a front row at history, in Atlanta, Dusty was in the on-deck circle when Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run, passing Babe Ruth.

Winning a World Series as a player is one thing, but as a manager is totally different. A manager carries the frustration of his team. As a manager, Dusty’s frustrations were as recently as 2020 when he was coaching for the Astros he lost to the Tampa Bay Rays and was eliminated in game 7 during the American League Championship Series.

In 2021 his second season with the Astros, right after taking the helm from manager A.J Hinch and the much-publicized cheating scandal. He took that Astros team to the World Series only to lose to the Atlanta Braves in six games. At 73 years old, Dusty is now the oldest manager ever to win a World Series.

Before Dusty, it was Jack McKeon who managed the Marlins of 2003 and won the World Series at the age of 72. The Houston players are grateful and happy for Dusty Baker. He took them into a new era of Houston Astros baseball. José Altuve who was basically booed by fans all over the country, every time he came to the plate, for the cheating scandal that began in 2017.

There is the one player that was with the Astros during their bad years and then MLB conducted an investigation in 2019 after two Astros players claimed they were stealing signs. The Astros players and organization feel today like Dusty Baker was exactly the type of man they need at the helm to bring them to the ‘promised land’ and he did.

José Altuve currently has the longest tenure wearing an Astros uniform, he was with the team in 2012 when the team was in the National League Central division and they ended with a 55-107 record and the next season 2013 (the first year the Astros moved from the NL to the American League) as they ended with a dreadful record of 51-111.

After Dusty Baker, nobody enjoys this World Series Championship more than the veteran José Altuve, who called this title “a dream come true”. Altuve is the only player that was with the Astros during those very bad seasons in two different leagues. He was celebrating and happy for Dusty Baker who said “Houston is my town”.

Like many managers, Dusty had to endure all the criticism for his decisions. Dusty who was an excellent player in the majors for 19 seasons, was facing a different type of criticism as a manager. Some were brutal commentaries by prominent baseball writers of national acclaim, especially during the 2002 World Series, where Dusty’s Giants lost to the Anaheim Angels. I remember reading one; “Dusty cannot manage a bullpen”.

Today Johnnie B. “Dusty” Baker, who was born in 1949 and in 1967 was selected in the 26th round of the MLB Draft. He has been involved in baseball for the majority of his 73 years on this planet, as a player and as a manager, and is rejoicing with his players and having all the fun in the world.

Sometimes we sarcastically say “this could not have happened to a better person”, but in Dusty Baker’s case, it is true “this could not have happened to a better person”. I have been privileged to cover his career as a player and a manager. One word comes to mind that best describes the essence of this man….honesty. No wonder every player wants to play for Dusty.

Bravo Dusty!

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary World Series podcast: Astros-Phillies get an extra day off due to rain out in game 3

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Halloween night Mon Oct 31, 2022 at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia before game 3 of the 2022 World Series between the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies rained out and rescheduled for Tue Nov 1, 2022 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury podcast:

#1 The Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies have started off to a 1-1 tie and won each by scores of 6-5 how even do you see these teams in this World Series?

#2 The World Series goes back to Philadelphia tied 1-1 game three was canceled due to rain and rescheduled for Tuesday night does this give both teams time to get an extra day of rest and get ready for tonight.

#3 We’ve talked about playing baseball in November are there people who schedule these games to keep advertising revenue going rather than thinking baseball in November in cold rainy months is really not such a good idea?

#4 Amaury, how about the fans after a certain point like the beginning of November do they seem to tune out the game looking at it as a long enough season already but could the series go until Nov 6th almost five days short of Veterans Day?

#5 Let’s take a look at tonight’s starting pitchers for the Astros Lance McCullers who has an ERA in the post season of 2.45 will be opposed by the Phillies Roger Saurez (1-0 ERA 1.86) at Citizens Bank Ball Park in Philadelphia for game 3.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Astros Alvarez beats M’s with one swing of the bat in walk homer; Yanks Cole and Rizzo provide help in 4-1 win over Cleveland; plus more

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The Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez watches flight of his home run in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Tue Oct 11, 2022 (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Jessica:

#1 Jessica lets look at the MLB playoffs from Tuesday night. The Houston Astros took the first game of the ALDS getting by the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Field in Houston 7-5. The Astros Yordan Alvarez crushed a three run walk off homer in the bottom of the ninth for the win.

#2 The New York Yankees got a 4-1 win past the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium. Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole pitched 6.1 innings, four hits, one earned run, one walk, and eight strikeouts for the win. Anthony Rizzo hit a home run and had two RBIs in the win.

#3 The Philadelphia Phillies just got by the Atlanta Braves 7-6 at Truist Park in Cobb County. The Phils held onto to the win despite the Braves scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning in a last attempt to come back.

#4 The Los Angles Dodgers drew first blood in game one of the NLDS defeating the San Diego Padres 5-3 at Dodgers Stadium. The Dodgers scored early with two runs in the bottom of the first inning and three runs in the bottom of third inning.

#5 Lastly Jessica the Guardians pitcher Nick Sandlin will miss the rest of the 2022 post season after going through an MRI that showed he has a major muscle injury in the right shoulder. How will Sandlin’s absence impact the Guardians pitching in the post season?

Join Jessica Kwong for Headline Sports Wednesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: Third and fourth innings do in A’s; Astros crush A’s 11-2 at Minute Maid

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Oakland A’s starter Ken Waldichuk who started is seen her delivering to the Houston Astros line up in the bottom of the first inning at Minute Maid in Houston on Sun Sep 18, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Houston Astros (96-51) pitcher Framber Valdez was a mystery for Oakland A’s (53-94) hitting going six innings four hits and gave up two earned runs.

#2 Framber also set the Major League record for 25 consecutive quality starts, Framber now 16-5 moved past New York Met Jacob deGrom who held the quality starts record at 24 set in 2018.

#3 The Astros were teeing off on the A’s with five runs in the third and two in the fourth innings and pretty much put it out of reach with Yordan Alvarez hitting three runs and a double, Alvarez also has a nine game hitting streak going.

#4 A’s starter Ken Waldichuk got lit up surrendering five earned runs and five hits in 2.2 innings of work drops his season win-loss record to 0-2 and raised his ERA to 7.13.

#5 Barbara, the A’s have Monday off and get ready to host the visiting Seattle Mariners (80-65) on Tuesday night the M’s will start Luis Castillo (7-5, 2.68) the A’s will send starter JP Sears to the hill (5-2, 3.90) a 6:40 pm PDT at the Oakland Coliseum.

Join Barbara Mason for the A’s podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Brown and Company Handle Houston 8-5

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Oakland A’s Seth Brown wallops a three run home run in the top of the fifth off Houston Astros pitching at Minute Maid Field in Houston Sat Sep 17, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Houston Astros (95-51) had breezed their way through their series with the Oakland A’s (53-83) winning game one 5-2 and game two 5-0. Saturday the A’s turned the tables on Houston with a 8-5 win at Minute Maid Field.

The Astros got a great start in the first inning and it looked like they were on their way to a third win in this series. The A’s did get a run in the inning off a Sean Murphy single driving Jeff Kemp home for the 1-0 lead but Houston would answer big in that inning. Aledmys Diaz, Kyle Tucker and Trey Mancini all had home runs in the first, two solo and Tuckers with Bregman on base taking a 4-1 lead.

Going into the third inning Oakland turned things around in this game. A Vimael Machin sacrifice drove Kemp home for a 4-2 score. Chad Pinder homered in the fourth inning, a solo and Oakland trailed by a single run 4-3. Seth Brown gave the A’s the lead in the fifth inning with a home run and two runners on base to take a 6-4 lead. Nick Allen and Sean Murphy both scored.

Seth Brown struck again in the seventh inning with a double and Sean Murphy scored, the A’s now leading 7-4.

In the eighth inning the A’s ran into a little trouble when Yordan Alvarez homered. Houston has been tough in the late innings this season. With runners on base Oakland got out of the inning with minimal damage still leading 7-5.

Oakland got an insurance run in the ninth inning when Machin singled and Kemp scored, the A’s now leading 8-5. The A’s were three outs away from their first win in this series.

Seth Brown continues to excel at the plate and this game was no exception. “With this team you have to get every advantage that you can. Cole Irvin gave us a chance to get going too,” Brown said after the game.

While Oakland pitcher Cole Irvin had a rough first inning he was stingy from there on out. He went seven innings allowing seven hits and four runs. He dismissed 18 of 19 Houston players before leaving the game. He was lights out after that first inning.

In the final game of this series tomorrow first pitch is scheduled for 11:10. Oakland pitcher Ken Waldichuk (0-1) will try to even this series. His ERA right now is 5.40. The Astros will send Framber Valdez (15-5) to the mound with a 2.50 ERA.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s just couldn’t figure out Astros Verlander

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Oakland A’s starter Adrian Martinez is frustrated after giving up a home run in the top of the fifth inning to the Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Fri Sep 16, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah, the Oakland A’s (52-93) in their second game in Houston (95-50) lost in a shutout pitched by Astros starter none other than Justin Verlander who pitched five innings and didn’t give up a hit.

#2 The last time the A’s faced Verlander he beat them as well and pretty much dominated the A’s just like he did Friday night in the 5-0 win with a great mix of pitches the A’s line up simply just couldn’t figure him out.

#3 Verlander got bullpen support from Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek, and Bryan Abreu who upheld the shutout that Verlander started.

#4 A’s starter Adrian Martinez pitched five innings and gave up four hits and four earned runs and didn’t get any run support in his start.

#5 The A’s and Astros battle again on Saturday night at Minute Maid Field in Houston for game 3 of this four game series. A’s starter Cole Irvin (8-11, 3.73) will go up against the Astros Jose Urquidy (13-6, 3.75) a 4:10 pm PDT first pitch.

Join Jeremiah for the A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Astros Dominate Oakland In Game Two 5-0

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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez rounds the bases after hitting a bottom of the fifth home run off the Oakland A’s at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Fri Sep 16, 2022 (AP News photo)

Astros Dominate Oakland In Game Two 5-0

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the Oakland A’s (52-93) took on the Houston Astros (95-50) in game two of their four game series. Last night the Astros topped the A’s 5-2. The game was tied 2-2 going into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Houston scored three runs in the seventh and that was the ball game. Aledmys Diaz homered driving in Jeremy Pena and Kyle Tucker added a single driving in Alex Bregman.

The Astros scored early in game two and after seven innings had a 5-0 lead. The Astros put together a home run derby with long balls in the first, third and the fifth innings. Yordan Alvarez had three home runs, one in the first, one in the third and one in the fifth.

Alvarez was the driving force for Houston in this game. Jeremy Pena also had a home run in the fifth inning. Yuli Gurriel scored a run in the sixth inning when Martin Maldonado singled. The Astros were working their way toward a shut-out.

Starting A’s pitcher Adrian Martinez went five innings allowing four hits and four home runs putting the A’s in a hole from the start of the game. Through seven innings Oakland could only come up with two hits. Justin Verlander had his 17th win of the season.

The A’s struck out 16 times in this game and could only manage three hits. It’s tough to win any game with offense that is struggling.

So the A’s will play Houston tomorrow in game three with first pitch at 5:10 pm PDT. Houston leads the American League with 95 wins and are constantly proving just why they are the best that the American League has to offer. Cole Irvin (8-11, 3.73) will take the mound for the A’s and Jose Urquidy (13-6, 3.75) will get the nod for Houston.