Tag: Minnesota Twins

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria: A’s drop 7th straight game shelled by Twins 10-4 at Sutter Health

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Sacramento A’s left fielder Drew Avans (35) who scored a run and got a hit against the Minnesota Twins on Mon Jun 2, 2025 is seen here preparing for the game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento (Sacramento A’s X photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 The Minnesota Twins didn’t waste anytime in the top of the second inning scoring six runs that was the bulk of their ten run total against the Sacramento A’s to open the three game set against the A’s at Sutter Health Park.

#2 The loss Monday night represents Sacramento’s 38th of the season against 23 wins. The A’s are on a seven game losing streak and have lost 17 of their last 18 games. Their home record is an abysmal 9-20. The A’s are now ten games out of first place considering all their loses if by a miracle’s chance they get hot they can cut that deficit.

#3 A’s starting pitcher Luis Severino pitched 5.2 innings allowing nine hits and eight runs striking out only one batter Severino was absolutely shelled dropping his won loss record to 1-5.

#4 The A’s Lawrence Butler continues to hit with some consistency on Monday night he went 2-2 with two runs, two hits and three RBIs. It wasn’t enough but Butler like teammates Jacob Wilson and Brent Rooker continue to go through their paces.

#5 Starting pitchers for Tuesday night’s game for the Twins RHP Pablo Lopez (4-3 ERA 2.75) and for the A’s starter Grant Holman (4-1 ERA 4.74). First pitch 7:00pm at Sutter Health Park.

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

Severino Struggles Again as A’s Drop 18th in 19 Games

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Drew Avans on Monday night at Sutter Health Park in the Athletics 10-4 loss to the Twins (photo by Sacramento A’s)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO–The Athletics returned home to Sutter Health Park on Monday night, looking to turn the page on a challenging month of May that saw them win only eight games. But the A’s continued their slide with a 10-4 loss to the visiting Minnesota Twins.

There’s no two ways about it—the A’s have been reeling over the last few weeks. They have now lost 18 of their last 19 games, including seven straight. All this comes on the heels of an 11-game losing streak they had just snapped before heading on the road. It has been tough sledding, to say the least, for the A’s and manager Mark Kotsay.

Kotsay was asked after the game by Sacramento Bee sports journalist Chris Biderman how he felt the team responded to a meeting he had with them while on the road.

“We haven’t won a game, but that isn’t necessarily indicative of how they respond, right? In terms of how they played, this game was competitive all the way through six innings… the fight is what we talk about. We have control of showing up and preparing to play a major league game… we can’t control the results, but you can go about the way we play the game the right way, and I feel like they have done that.”

Luis Severino struggled again in what was another disappointing home start. He gave up six runs in the second inning and appeared at risk of an early hook. However, he managed to settle in and retired the next 12 batters he faced before allowing two more runs in the sixth. Severino finished his outing having given up eight earned runs on nine hits, with one walk and one strikeout. It was an ugly ledger, even if he found a groove in the middle innings.

The A’s scored some runs early in what looked like an attempt at a comeback. Brent Rooker drove in a run with an RBI groundout in the third inning to get the A’s on the board. In the fourth, Lawrence Butler sent a ball over the center field wall for a three-run homer, cutting the deficit to two. But the A’s offense failed to score again after the fourth and finished the game with just four runs.

The bullpen covered the final three and a third innings in relief of Severino. Hogan Harris pitched a scoreless inning despite issuing three walks. Elvis Alvarado followed with one and one-third innings, allowing three hits and a run. Sean Newcomb closed things out with one inning of two-hit, one-run ball.

With the loss, the A’s have now dropped seven straight and sit at 23–38 on the season.

The A’s and Twins will be back in action Tuesday night at 7:05 PM PST at Sutter Health Park. The Twins will send Pablo López (4–3, 2.75 ERA) to the mound. The A’s have yet to announce a starter as of this writing.

Injury Note: Jacob Wilson was slow to get up after a headfirst dive into first base in the sixth inning. He stayed in the game initially despite some neck discomfort but was later removed as the issue persisted. He will be evaluated by the A’s medical staff, though it is not believed to be anything serious.

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason Mon Jun 2, 2025: A’s open 7 game homestand tonight versus Twins

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Sacramento A’s baserunner Denzel Clarke (right) dives back into first base ahead of the tag of Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Ernie Clement (22) at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sun Jun 1, 2025 (Canadian Press via AP)

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason Mon Jun 2, 2025

#1 Before we get into yesterday’s game and the weekend series let’s take a step back and see just what transpired during the month of May. How did the A’s season take a turn and what can be done?

#2 Sunday the A’s were looking to avoid another sweep after losing the first three games of the series.

#3 Were there any bright spots in this disappointing series and how can this team begin to turn things around?

#4 The Blue Jays really played hard the entire series and it resulted in a series sweep. Addison Barger had a great game yesterday starting the fireworks in the eighth inning to seal the win.

#5 Monday the A’s will be looking for a fresh start to the month of June taking on the Twins in another four game series. Luis Severino will take the mound for the A’s struggling with a 1-4 win/loss and the Twins Joe Ryan will be a challenge with a 5-2 win loss record and a 2.57 ERA.

Barbara Mason does the A’s podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB podcast Michael Duca Fri May 16, 2025: Rivalry baseball gets going with Mets-Yankees; Twins Buxton-Correa out for the count with concussion protocols; plus more MLB news

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New York Mets slugger Juan Soto after hitting an eighth inning solo shot against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thu May 1, 2025 at Citi Field in New York. Soto and the Mets gear up to face off with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium Fri May 16, 2025 (AP News photo)

MLB podcast Michael Duca Fri May 16, 2025:

#1 Their talking rivalries in baseball and the ones that are brought up are the New York Mets and New York Yankees and how former Yankee and current Met outfielder Juan Soto will hear will jeers from the Yankees fans in the right field bleachers. Also another rivalry that has some bad blood the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros as they are in the middle of a four game series in Arlington. Do you see some possibilities that there could be some animosities amongst these teams this weekend?

#2 It was a collision for the ages in a game at Camden Yards against the Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins centerfielder Byron Buxton and shortstop Carlos Correa collided chasing down a pop fly in the shallow part of the outfield. Buxton got the ball but Buxton and Correa both banged heads. Correa had to leave the game and Buxton was able to stay until the end of the inning but left afterwards. Both players have been put on concussion protocols.

#3 Former Oakland A’s second baseman/outfielder Tony Kemp announced Thursday that he is retiring from Major League Baseball after playing in the show for nine years. Kemp 33 played for the Astros (2016-19), Cubs (2019), Athletics (2020-23) and Orioles (2024). Kemp had wrote on Instagram that he was thankful to God for allowing him to be a Major League player and that after 12 years in pro baseball and nine of them in the majors he’s decided to hang up his spikes.

#4 The Colorado Rockies have taken the spotlight away from the 2024 Chicago White Sox as baseball’s first team in the modern era to lose 36 of it’s first 43 games. The Rockies had Thursday off and Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said the plan was to take the day off and reset. The loss on Wednesday night to the Texas Rangers was the Rockies 11th out of their last 12 games.

#5 Michael, the baseball executive committee meets in December 2027 do you see that committee taking into consideration Pete Rose for a shot at getting elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot or will his betting on baseball while a manager overshadow his chances?

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

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic: Diamondbacks-Giants both playing .500 ball open series tonight at Oracle Park

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San Francisco Giants baserunner Heliot Ramos (right) gets down for the slide and Minnesota Twins shortstop Brooks Lee (left) waits for the throw for the out in the top of the sixth inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sun May 11, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic:

#1 Minnesota Twins DeShawn Keirsey Jr base hit single scored the Twins game winning run in the bottom of the tenth inning to help beat the San Francisco Giants at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sunday 7-6.

#2 The Giants caught a hot Twins team, they got swept and the Twins ended up winning their eighth straight game.

#3 The Giants added a run against Minnesota pitcher Jhoan Duran in the top of the tenth to make it 6-5. It was the last of the tenth that ghost runner Ty France advanced to third base on Brooks Lee’s single that scored Ryan Jeffers’ ground out. The Twins got an intentional walk and a groundout and then DaShawn Keirsey hit a line drive down the left field line off reliever Ryan Walker for the 7-6 win.

#4 Marko, talk about how frustrating things can get as Giants manager Bob Melvin was thrown out for arguing a check swing call. Melvin knowing the Giants have lost the first two games of the series up to that point was not too satisfied with some of the calls that the hitters were getting.

#5 Giants open up a new series against the Arizona Diamondbacks this time at Oracle Park in San Francisco where they Giants have had some success. Starting pitcher for the Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (3-2 ERA 4.09) for the Giants RHP Justin Verlander (0-2 ERA 4.50) first pitch 6:45pm PDT

Join Marko Ukalovic for Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Lack of Hitting Hurts Giants in Second Loss to Twins 2-1

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San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb pitching in the bottom of the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sat May 10, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants lost game two of their series with the Minnesota Twins 2-1 Sunday. Again there was not a lot of hitting going on, in fact only one hit more than Saturday’s game with four hits. Heliot Ramos did hit a solo home run but some stellar pitching from the Twins did not give up much else. Both starting pitchers had solid efforts, Logan Webb finishing seven innings.

Game recap: The Giants got on the scoreboard in the second inning taking a 1-0 lead. Heliot Ramos hit a home run to left centerfield, a solo shot.

The Twins not only tied up the game but took the lead in the bottom of the third inning. They answered with a long ball of their own off the bat of Trevor Larnach with Christian Vazquez on base taking a 2-1 lead.

Neither team would score through the next three innings with the Twins hanging onto the slim 2-1 lead. The Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan finished six innings allowing only 2 hits and one run. He had seven strikeouts and 2 line-outs. Griffin Jax would relieve him in the seventh inning plowing through Jung Hoo Lee, Matt Chapman and Wilmer Flores, the upper echelon of the Giants starting lineup.

The Giants starter Logan Webb also had a nice outing pitching seven innings allowing four hits and two runs. He finished with eight strikeouts, ten ground outs and two flyouts. He got into a bit of trouble in the seventh giving up a single to Castro who was thrown out trying to reach second. Harrison Bader hit a double with two outs in the inning but Webb struck out the next at bat Christian Vasquez and getting out of the inning.

The Twins Cole Sands relieved Griffin Jax in the eighth immediately giving up a double to Heliot Ramos and the Giants had a bit of a rally that was soon to be extinguished. LaMonte Wade Jr. lined out and Ramos advanced to third and with one out the Giants had a great opportunity to tie up the game. Disaster hit when Ramos was picked off at third after taking a sizable lead. Patrick Bailey popped out for the third out and San Francisco was three outs away from losing game two.

San Francisco relief pitcher Randy Rodriquez relieved Webb in the bottom of the eighth dismissing the top of the Minnesota batting order Byron Buxton, Trevor Larnach and Ty France in that order. The Giants were down to their last three outs.

San Francisco got the ninth inning going with a Christian Koss bunt . The top of the Giant’s batting order Mike Yastrzemski hit into a double play and Willy Adames struck out for the third out and that was the ball game 2-1 in favor of Minnesota back to .500 with this win. The Twins Jhoan Duran closed the game beautifully for the Twins.

Game notes: After a less than memorable offensive effort in Saturday’s game one, the Giants were looking for a whole lot more wood on the ball in game two of their series with the Minnesota Twins. They managed only 3 hits in game one and that will not win very many ball games.

San Francisco starter Logan Webb pitched seven innings allowing five hits and two runs, one walk and nine strikeouts but didn’t get the run support. The Twins starter Joe Ryan threw for six innings giving up two hits, one run, and struck out seven batters.

The Giants will be back at it Sunday in game three trying to avoid a sweep. Landen Roupp will take the mound for San Francisco with a 2-3 win/loss record with 4.93 ERA. The Giants have to start generating a lot more offense falling pretty flat so far in this series. The Twins will start Pablo Lopez (3-2 ERA 2.18) looking for a sweep with first pitch scheduled for 11:10 AM PDT .

Giants Lose First Game of Series To Twins 3-1

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Jordan Hicks pitches against the Minnesota Twins in the bottom of the first inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on Fri May 9, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (24-15) lost the first game of their series with the Minnesota Twins (19-20) 3-1. It was a disappointing game for the Giants having only three hits in the entire game. Matt Chapman hit a solo home run but that would be the only run of the game for San Francisco. The Giant’s bats were just not connecting at all in Friday’s game in a lackluster effort from San Francisco.

Game recap: The Twins scored the first run of the game in the first inning taking a 1-0 lead. Trevor Larnach singled lead-off hitter Byron Buxton home and the Twins would continue to add to their lead in the fourth inning. Carlos Correa singled Ty France home but was thrown out at second base stretching. After four innings the Twins had a 2-0 lead.

Minnesota tacked on one more run onto to their tally scoring another run in the fifth inning. Buxton singled ( his second hit of the game) and Harrison Bader was able to reach home plate on a Heliot Ramos fielding error taking a 3-0 lead.

Minnesota’s Chris Paddack was having a solid game while the Giant’s Jordan Hicks had already allowed seven hits. Going into the top of the seventh inning San Francisco had some work to do. Hicks was relieved in the bottom of the seventh inning after having pitched six innings. He was relieved by Kyle Harrison.

The Giant’s were able to get up on the scoreboard in the seventh inning when Matt Chapman hit a solo home run to left center. San Francisco had pulled to within two runs, 3-1. This season San Francisco had been having some success coming from behind but they were running out of time having only two more innings to do so in this game.

The Twins threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning. Harrison Bader stole second base and with two outs and the top of the Minnesota batting order was on deck and coming to the plate. Byron Buxton was intentionally walked and another score rested on Trevor Larnach. San Francisco relief pitcher Kyle Harrison struck him out and it was on to the eighth inning.

The Giants desperately needed some hits with only two more innings left to make any sort of impact. With only three hits in the game, the San Francisco offense was really struggling. Besides the Chapman home run, only Heliot Ramos and Christian Koss had hits both of them singles. Minnesota starting pitcher Chris Paddack had a great 7.1 innings with Louis Varland finishing off the eighth inning. Paddack went three and out in the first five innings of the game.

San Francisco relief pitcher Harrison had a great couple of innings dismissing the Twins in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Giants were three outs away from losing the first game of this series.

The Twins Danny Coulombe would try and close the game for Minnesota. He has not allowed a run this season. Mike Yastrzemski and Willy Adames both struck out and Jung Hoo Lee flied out and that was the ball game with Minnesota winning the first game of the series 3-1. Twins pitcher Chris Paddack had finally won his first game of the season.

Game notes: After winning their last series beating the Cubs the Giants traveled to Minnesota to take on the Twins. The Giants couldn’t get enough offense to take this first game of the series and lost by a two run margin. The Twins had a great series to start the week sweeping the Baltimore Orioles, coming into this game with a lot of confidence. That confidence carried over as the Twins starter Paddock had a three hitter going into the eighth inning on Friday night.

Saturday’s game will feature San Francisco’s Logan Webb on the mound. He has a 4-2 win/loss record and a 2.61 ERA. The Twins will be looking to win another game in this series starting Joe Ryan. He has a 2-2 win/loss record and a 2.93. Two very good pitchers should make this game a good one. San Francisco will be looking to get their offense going and tie up this series. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 4:15 PM.

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips: Giants close out road trip in Minnesota Friday

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San Francisco Giants Wilmer Flores celebrates with teammates after scoring on a Christian Koss single in the top of the fourth inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Wed May 7, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips:

#1 San Francisco Giants pitcher Robbie Ray had another brilliant outing going six innings, allowing three hits and one run, two walks and five strike outs in the Giants win over the Chicago Cubs 3-1.

#2 Ray picked up his second win in a row on Wednesday he’s rolling. Relief pitcher Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers retired three hitters amongst them to open the door for closer Ryan Walker who finished off the Cubs for the win.

#3 Talking about Walker he picked up his seventh save so it looks like thing are coming together?

#4 The Giants had that wild game last Tuesday night scoring nine runs in the top of the 11th inning to defeat the Cubs 14-5. The bats are making noise.

#5 San Francisco heads to Minnesota to open a three game series on Friday. at Target Field in Minneapolis. The Giants are just 1.5 game back of the first place Los Angeles Dodgers. Starting pitcher for the Giants Friday Jordan Hicks (1-3 ERA 6.03). The Twins are fourth in the AL Central at 17-20. How do you see this series?

Join Morris Phillips for the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Robbie Ray Pitches His Way to Fifth Win As Giants Beat Cubs 3-1

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San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin (right) congratulates starting pitcher Robbie Ray (left) as he returns to the dugout after the first inning after retiring the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Wed May 7, 2025

By Barbara Mason

After playing a crazy game Tuesday night winning in 11 innings and scoring nine runs in the 11th the Giants picked up where they left off winning game three 3-1 beating the Chicago Cubs.

The Giants did win the series losing game one but taking the next two games. San Francisco starting pitcher Robbie Ray continued the stellar play we have seen from him all season.

He has not lost a game this season and now has a 5-0 win/loss record. Wilmer Flores had an exceptional game with three hits one RBI and one run in four at bats.

Game recap: The Giants picked up where they left off Tuesday night taking an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. It was really good to see Wilmer Flores single driving Mike Yastrzemski home and putting the Cubs on notice from the beginning of the game.

The Giants extended their lead scoring a couple more runs in the fourth inning taking a 3-0 lead. Matt Chapman led off the inning with a walk followed by another single off the bat of Flores. LaMonte Wade Jr. doubled Chapman home from second base and a 2-0 lead. Christian Koss singled Flores home but Wade Jr. was thrown out at home plate in an effort to score a third run in the inning.

The Cubs were able to get up on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning. Pete Crow-Armstrong doubled Nico Hoerner home for the one run and that would be the only run the Cubs were able to generate for the remainder of the game. The final was 3-1 in favor of the Giants winning the series for San Francisco. The Giants finished the game with nine hits and the Cubs had only four.

Giant’s starting pitcher Ray was spotless in fact the team has not lost a game with him on the mound. He finished six innings allowing three hits, one run, two walks with five strikeouts. Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers and Ryan Walker relieved and closed out this game. Walker allowed one hit but that was all Chicago could get off some great San Francisco relief pitching. Ray now has a 5-0 win/loss record and a 2.84 ERA. He has been a major bright spot for San Francisco this season.

Game notes: After a crazy four-hour extra innings game Tuesday the Giants finished up their series with the Cubs with a series win taking two out of three games. After losing game one in the series on Monday 9-2, the Giants turned it all around in game two on Tuesday scoring the most runs in a single inning in Wrigley Field history with nine.

The 11th inning was the straw that broke the camel’s back as San Francisco crossed home plate nine times to win the game 14-5.

The question was answered; how will the Giants come into game three after the offensive display we saw yesterday they didn’t score nine runs in one inning but ended up getting a two run 3-1 win. As the Giants get a satisfying two out of three game series win at Wrigley.

The Giants have now won their eighth series this season as they leave the windy city and head for a series with the Minnesota Twins. The probably pitcher for the Giants will be RHP Jordan Hicks (1-3 ERA 6.03) and the RHP Twins Bailey Ober (4-1 ERA 3.72) will get the nod. The temperatures are expected to soar into the mid-eighties so toasty but void of the wind the Giants had to contend with in Chicago a 5:10pm PDT first pitch.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Yastrzemski has last say in beating Twins; Ramos and Webb to represent Giants at All Star Game

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San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski (right) is greeted at the plate after scoring the game winning run on a throwing error by Minnesota Twins second baseman Brooks Lee at Oracle Park in San Francisco (photo by San Francisco Giants)

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 In a come back game the San Francisco Giants edged the Minnesota Twins at Oracle Park on Sunday. The Giants had led for most of the game 2-0 until the Twins tied it up in the top of the ninth when Manuel Margot hit a double to score Byron Buxton and Diego Castillo making it 2-2.

#2 The Giants came back in the bottom of the ninth when Mike Yastrzemski hit a triple and was able to keep on going when Twins second baseman Brooks Lee made a throwing error to third base that sailed over towards the Giants dugout and Yastrzemski scored on a walk off error for the 3-2 win.

#3 Up until the ninth the Giants held onto a 2-0 lead and and starter Blake Snell looking for his first win of the season pitched a dandy, pitching seven innings allowing one hit and striking out eight. Snell shut the Twins out for all seven innings.

#4 The Twins got good pitching out Chris Paddock going five innings allowing five hits and one earned run striking out six batters. The Twins just couldn’t get any run production except for their two run ninth to tie the game.

#5 It’s the All Star break the Giants will be represented by centerfielder Heliot Ramos and pitcher Logan Webb. Talk about the job both of them did in the first half to earn getting in the All Star Game?

Join Marko for the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com