Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s get day off after doubleheader Sunday in Minnesota

Oakland A’s pitcher Joey Estes (68) delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the bottom of first inning in the second game of the doubleheader at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sun Jun 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 The Minnesota Twins Carolos Correa took Oakland A’s pitching yard twice in the 6-2 win of the front game of a doubleheader at Target Field in Minneapolis.

#2 The Twins Royce Lewis and Carlos Santana also provided home run help with two hits a piece. The Twins did most of their damage scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning.

#3 For the A’s in first game they got a home run out Daz Cameron but the A’s just couldn’t get enough run support and lost it by four runs 6-2.

#4 In the second game of the doubleheader the A’s continued their losing streak extending it to nine games and were swept in the four games by the Twins. The A’s came close in game two but just couldn’t seal the deal with an 8-7 loss.

#5 A’s return to the Coliseum to open a three game series with the Kansas City Royals Tuesday night. Starting pitcher for the Royals Alec March (5-3, ERA 3.63) and for the A’s Hogan Harris (0-0, ERA 2.49) first pitch at 6:40pm PT.

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

A’s Get Swept By the Minnesota Twins 8-7 In An Offensive Marathon

Oakland A’s third base coach Eric Martins (3) congratulates JJ Bleday (33) for his top of the third inning solo home run in the second game of the doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sun Jun 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (26-48) fought back in game four of their series with the Minnesota Twins (40-32) tying this game up three times. They hit a couple of home runs and finished the game with 11 hits. Tyler Soderstrom has shown up beautifully.

He has hit four home runs in a seven-game span. He shares that milestone with some heavy hitters the likes of Jose Canseco, Reggie Jackson, Jimmie Fox and Mickey Cochrane. This is the A’s ninth loss in a row the longest this season coming up short in this one 8-7 another one-run loss.

Sunday evening the A’s played the second game of their double header with the Twins and couldn’t avoid the sweep getting edged by one run. Oakland had a loss in the first game 6-2 of the doubleheader and the A’s ended up dropping all four games. The A’s are on a nine game losing streak and return back to the Coliseum on Tuesday night.

Game recap: Joey Estes took the mound for game four with a 5.97 ERA. The Twins Chris Paddack was on the hill for Minnesota. Neither pitcher lasted long in a marathon of hits for both teams in the early innings. Estes went 2.2 innings allowing eight hits, six earned runs and only two strikeouts. Paddack went 2.1 innings allowing five hits, five earned runs and no strikeouts. Not a great outing for either pitcher.

Royce Lewis got this game going hitting the first home run of the game, a two-run shot in the first inning to take the early 2-0 lead. The second inning was a wild affair with each team scoring three runs.

In the top of the second, Seth Brown doubled reaching third on two errors by the Twins that allowed Daz Cameron and Tyler Soderstrom to score. Zack Gelof came to the plate and he also hit a double and Seth Brown scored giving the A’s a 3-2 lead. That lead was short-lived when Trevor Larnach hit a three run home run taking back the lead 5-3.

The A’s apparently wanted in on the action hitting two home runs in the third inning. JJ Bleday and Tyler Soderstrom both hit solo home runs to tie up this game at five apiece. Minnesota took back the lead in the bottom of the third off an Austin Martin double and Carlos Santana scored for a 6-5 Twins lead. Both teams were enjoying a great offensive effort.

Minnesota would tack on another run in the 6th inning. Carlos Correa who was having an incredible series singled Royce Lewis home extending their lead to 7-5. Again Oakland would have to play catchup. The A’s made up those two runs tying the game back up at seven in the seventh inning. Tyler Soderstrom singled JJ Bleday home and Shea Langeliers singled Miguel Andujar home and it was a whole new ball game.

In the bottom of the eighth once again the tie was broken when the Twins Jose Miranda homered for Minnesota’s third home run of the game. The Twins had taken back the lead in this see-saw game. Through eight innings the Twins had 14 hits and the A’s had 11. There had been three ties in this game in a most productive offensive effort for both teams. The A’s could not muster any offense in the ninth inning and lost their ninth game in a row 8-7.

The hitting that we saw from Oakland was encouraging with the 11 hits but the team has lost so many one run games in the late innings lately. Having to come from behind so often is discouraging for this team. Oakland has now figured out a way to get back into games and now they need to close out those games.

Oakland will have the day off . They begin a three-game series Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals at the Coliseum. Probable pitchers will be Hogan Harris for the A’s with a record of 0-0, 2.49 ERA and Alec March for the Royals with a record of 5-3, 3.63 ERA. First pitch for the Tuesday matchup is scheduled for 6:40 PM.

A’s Lose Game Three To Twins 6-2 In First Game of Double Header

Oakland A’s hitter Max Scheumann is frustrated after striking out against the Minnesota Twins in the top of the fifth inning at Target Field in Minneapolis during the front game of a doubleheader on Sun Jun 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (26-47) lost their eighth game in a row against the Minnesota Twins (39-32) 6-2. Starting pitcher J.P. Sears gave up six hits two of them home runs, four earned runs with only a single strikeout. The Twins starter Bailey Ober went 6.1 innings allowing six hits and one run with eight strikeouts. Oakland will be looking to avoid a sweep in this double header with first pitch at 4:40 PM.

Game recap: Game Three in the first of the double header opened up at 10:40 AM under partly cloudy skies and a high of 87 degrees. The weather report was favorable calling for no rain until early tomorrow morning. There would be no rain but but it was humid with a heat advisory calling for 87 degrees feeling more like 93 degrees during the game.

It was not the start that Oakland had envisioned after taking a 4-0 lead in the first inning of Friday’s game. The Twins Carlos Correa continued to hit as he has all series getting this game underway in the first inning knocking a two run home run out of the park for a 2-0 Twins lead. Minnesota would add to their lead when Royce Lewis hit a solo homer in the same inning for a 3-0 advantage.

Carlos Correa hit his second home run of the day in the fourth inning, a solo shot, and Minnesota was again on the scoreboard leading 4-0. Correa is 18 of 30 with three home runs in the past seven days. This guy is on a roll. In the seventh inning Carlos Santana hit a two-run home run. Everything was working for the Twins in this game.

Oakland did hit a solo home run in the seventh inning. Daz Cameron homered to left for a solo but again the A’s were leaning heavily on hitting home runs and when you are losing, solo home runs don’t make of an impact. Going into the eighth inning the A’s were losing 6-1. Oakland would one more run in this game in the ninth inning. Kyle McCann singled J.D. Davis home for a final score of 6-2 in favor of the Twins. Minneapolis will be looking for a sweep in the second game of the double header.

The A’s had nine hits in this game, the Twins had 12. Oakland left too many runners stranded something that has hurt them all season as they lost their eighth straight game.

It was a rough outing for J.P. Sears who allowed two home runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. The lefty had allowed eight home runs in his first 14 starts this season. He had not allowed a single home run in his past five starts so this was not a great start for him.

The Twins starting pitcher Bailey Ober had a nice game going 6.1 innings allowing six hits, one run with eight strikeouts.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon the A’s got knocked off by the Twins in the front game of a double header after game three was rained out Saturday at Target Field. JP Sears pitched for 4.1 innings giving up nine hits, four runs, four hits and four walks. Sears struck out one batter.

In Friday nights game, the Twins won the game in another walk off 6-5. Oakland is no doubt sick of walk-offs ad nauseam. They lost two games in a row to the Padres Tuesday and Wednesday evening in walk offs after tying up the game in game two in the eighth inning and in game three leading 4-2 going into the bottom of the eighth inning. It has been a rough stretch for the Oakland A’s who desperately needed hits late in games never seem to materialize.

The second game of this double header is slated to begin at 4:40 PM. The A’s will be looking to avoid the sweep in this game. Joey Estes will take the mound for the A’s with a 4.78 ERA and a 2-2 win/loss record. Chris Paddack gets the nod for the Twins with a 4.70 ERA and a winning 5-3 record.

A’s-Twins rained out; playing two on Sunday

Minnesota Twins Target Field in Minneapolis was inudated with rain forcing the cancelation of the Oakland A’s-Twins Sat Jun 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Saturday, June 15, 2024

MINNEAPOLIS – Though Saturday morning’s rain had let up by the scheduled start time of 1:10 p.m., more showers were on the way, and the AL game between the Oakland Athletics and Minnesota Twins was postponed.

The game has been rescheduled as part of a day-night split admission doubleheader for Father’s Day on Sunday at Target Field. The first game will start at 1:10 p.m. (11 a.m. Pacific) and the second game is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. (4:40 p.m. Pacific).

Though it was not raining when the decision to call the game was made at 1:45 p.m., rain resumed falling by 2 p.m., as the National Weather Service reported at radar indicated a storm was approaching the Twin Cities.

For the re-scheduled double-header, the Athletics are expected to start right-hander Joey Estes (2-2,4.78) in the first game, and left-hander JP Sears (4-5, 5.02) in the second game. Then Twins are expected to go with a pair of right-handers – Bailey Ober (5-4, 5.13) and Chris Paddack (5-3, 4.79).

After Saturday’s storm system rolled through the Twin Cities on Saturday, an extreme heat advisory is issued for Sunday, A daytime high of 92 degrees is in the forecast, with a heat index of 100.

The Athletics are looking to snap a seven-game losing streak – 10 of their last 12 and 13 of their last 16. Oakland dropped a heartbreaker on Friday, losing 6-5 in 10 innings to the Twins. The A’s have been walked off in three of their last four games.

Oakland has two positive notes from Friday – Shea Longeliers hit the A’s first grand slam of the season, and leads MLB catchers with 13 home runs. Closer Mason Miller is tied for 10th in saves with 12, tops for MLB rookies. Miller’s 12 saves is fourth-best by an Oakland reliever.

Kepler, Twins outlast A’s 6-5 in 10 innings; Oakland losing streak reaches 7

Minnesota Twins Max Kepler gets doused with ice cold water from his teammates after getting the walk off hit in the tenth inning against the Oakland A’s at Target Field in Minneapolis on Fri Jun 14, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Friday, June 14, 2024

MINNEAPOLIS – Victories have been tough to come by for Oakland of late, and Friday’s 6-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Target Field was another tough loss to swallow.

Max Kepler delivered a single to right in the bottom of the 10th inning, driving in designated runner Austin Martin with the winning run, sending the Athletics to their 10th defeat in their last 12 games. It’s Oakland’s seventh consecutive loss.

“It’s a tough loss,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “These guys are giving everything they have in terms of execution and making plays. But we’ve got to make plays because we’re costing ourselves wins.

“When we were winning games and closing games out, we were executing fundamentally and playing good defense. We were holding onto leads, something we haven’t done in the last 12 days.”

The A’s took a 5-4 lead in the seventh when JJ Bleday was hit by a pitch with one out and scored on Brent Rooker’s triple to center. Minnesota tied the game again at 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth on a bases-loaded RBI walk to Carlos Santana.

The Twins loaded the bases with one out when Correa reached on an infield error, Max Kepler was hit by a pitch and Jose Miranda drew a walk prior to Santana’s base-on-balls off A’s closer Mason Miller, who then retired the Twins in order in the ninth, sending the game to extra innings.

“That was a tough spot to bring Mason in. The walk is something he hasn’t done much in the past,” Kotsay said. “After that walk, he got the last two outs and got out of a big jam. Mason’s ninth inning was solid. At that point, his job is done and anything can happen in extra innings.”

Oakland jumped to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first on Shea Langelier’s two-out grand slam off Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson. Max Schuemann and Bleday drew walks to open the inning, and Miguel Andujar reached on an infield single, setting up Langelier’s 13th home run of the season.

“You just try to come through in certain situations and try to put up crooked numbers,” Langelier said. “It did feel good to get that one there.”

The Twins got a run back in the second when Santana singled and scored on a triple to center by Byron Buxton. Minnesota tied the game at 4-4 on Kepler’s three-run homer that traveled 426 feet to right-center.

Mitch Spence worked the first 5 2/3 innings for Oakland, giving up four runs on nine hits while striking out three with a walk. Miller was tagged with a blown save in his 1 2/3 innings, and Scott Alexander (0-2) took the loss.

The Twins used five pitchers – Jhoan Duran (2-2) threw a scoreless ninth and 10th innings for the win in front of the Twins’ largest crowd of the season – 35,631.

On the A’s recent lack of success, Langeliers concluded, “We’ve just got to stay together. This is a close-knit bunch of guys and it’s all about camaraderie and team chemistry. We have each other’s backs and we fight for each other.

“Baseball is tough and things aren’t quite going our way right now. We’ll stay together and grind our way through this.”

The A’s and Twins meet again Saturday at 11:10 Pacific. Joey Estes (2-2, 4.78) starts for Oakland while Minnesota counters with Bailey Ober (5-4, 5.13) in a battle of right-handers.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s look to snap six game losing streak Friday against Twins

The Oakland A’s Tyler Soderstrom (21) is congratulated by Shea Langeliers (23) after hitting a two run home run in the top of the second inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on Thu Jun 13, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 The Oakland A’s found the Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan to be too much throwing seven innings and striking out five batters at Target Field on Thursday night in a 6-2 loss.

#2 The Twins Carlos Correa hit for two home runs and got three hits. The Twins are a swinging club on Wednesday they had 24 hits against the Colorado Rockies. On Thursday they got 13 hits 12 for singles.

#3 The A’s first baseman Tyler Soderstrom hit his third home run in four games it wasn’t enough however as the A’s lost their sixth consecutive game.

#4 A’s pitcher Luis Medina gave up four runs in five innings of work and dropped his record to 0-2. Medina has now started three games for Oakland.

#5 The A’s take on the Twins for game two of this four game series with starting RHP Mitch Spence (4-3, ERA 3.68) the Twins will start RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (2-1, ERA 2.84) first pitch at 5:10pm PT at Target Field.

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

A’s Drop Game One At Target Field To Twins 6-2; Oakland extends losing streak to six

Oakland A’s starting pitcher Luis Medina winds up against the Minnesota Twins in the bottom of the third inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on Thu Jun 13, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Although the Oakland A’s (26-45) scored first in game one of their series with the Minnesota Twins (37-32), they failed to score for the rest of the game after the second inning. The Twin won the game 6-2 scoring runs in four innings. Oakland only had four hits in the game while the Twins had 13 on Thursday night.

Game recap: The Oakland A’s are struggling. While they can hold their own defensively, the problem seems to be with their offense. In fact they have the second best record, on the mound, in major league baseball with 689 strikeouts. Only the Seattle Mariners have more with 694. The problem with the offense is that they need to be able to put the ball in play. When they do string a few hits together often times they leave runners stranded and this has persisted all season. They need to get on the board early and keep those bats working for more than an inning or two.

The A’s had a nice start scoring two runs in the second inning taking the early 2-0 lead. Tyler Soderstrom who has been solid hit a home run with Miguel Andujar aboard. The Twins answered right back in the same inning to tie up the game. Byron Buxton singled both Max Kepler and Carlos Correa home for the tie 2-2.

Minnesota kept the pressure on scoring runs in the third and fourth innings. In the third inning Carlos Correa singled driving Trevor Larnach home taking a 3-2 lead. The fourth inning saw Austin Martin ground into a fielder’s choice allowing Byron Buxton to extend the Twins lead 4-2.

The Twins continued to drive up the score in the seventh inning extending their lead to 6-2. Carlos Correa hit a two-run home run which would be the final. Oakland did not score another run for the rest of the game now having lost six games in a row. Minnesota got some amazing pitching from Joe Ryan who went 7 innings allowing only 3 hits and the 2 runs with 5 strikeouts. He made Oakland put the ball in play mixing his pitches beautifully.

Luis Medina went 5 innings for Oakland allowing 8 hits, 4 earned runs and 3 strikeouts. At times his focus wanders and he is unable to lock down innings. The Twins took full advantage of those lapses.

The A’s were only able to score in one frame, the second inning. They only managed 4 hits in the game to the Twins 13. The great pitching job that Joe Ryan brought to this game had a lot to do with the lack of success offensively for Oakland.

Game notes:The A’s are coming off a couple of heart wrenching losses at the hands of the San Diego Padres earlier this week. They fought hard in games two and three of this series. They fought back in game two to tie the game up in the eighth only to watch Kyle Higashoika hit a home run in the ninth for the 4-3 win. Deja Vu is a tough customer take it from Oakland. In the final game of the series the game was tied going into the ninth inning.

The A’s couldn’t muster the offense needed to take the lead in the top of the ninth. The Padres Jackson Merrill hit his second home run of game three for their second walk off in a row beating Oakland 5-4. The A’s have those two devastating losses under their belt and added another loss losing to the Twins at Target Field 6-2.

Oakland will send Mitch Spence (4-3, ERA 3.68) to the mound in game two tomorrow evening. The Twins Simeon Wood Richardson will start for Minnesota with a 2-1, 2.84 ERA. First pitch for the game is scheduled for 5:10 PM.

A’s Fall In Yet Another Padre Walk Off 5-4

Oakland A’s starter Hogan Harris pitches to the San Diego Padres line up in the top of the first inning at Petco Park in San Diego on Wed Jun 12, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

This game was a re-play of Tueday’s game ending in major disappointment for Oakland (26-44). The Padres (37-35) celebrated their second walk off in a row winning this game 5-4. Jackson Merrill hit a home run off a Mason Miller slider to finish off the A’s. The A’s are struggling with getting the ball in play. This has plagued them all season as they missed cashing in on a bases loaded with one out sixth inning.

Game recap: Through four innings the only offense was a home run off the bat of the Padres’ Donovan Solano. Neither team were generating a whole lot of offense with two hits apiece for the two teams. Just a testament of the great job both Hogan Harris and Michael King were showcasing. King was having an especially outstanding game with 12 punch outs through five innings.

The Padres would extend their lead in the fifth inning with another home run; this time off the bat of Jackson Merrill. Oakland still had not hit a long ball in the game with four innings remaining.

The sixth inning was productive for the A’s scoring three runs and taking a 3-2 lead. Tyler Soderstrom and Shea Langeliers both hit singles driving runners home to tie up the game. Seth Brown reached first base with a bunt single and Soderstrom scored to give the A’s the lead. With only one out Oakland had the bases loaded but were unable to extend their lead. The A’s now had eight hits to their credit.

Oakland struck again in the eighth inning scoring that all-important insurance run. Zach Gelof doubled and Seth Brown beat the throw home to score for a 4-2 Oakland lead.

Just when it was looking so very good for Oakland disaster struck in the bottom of the eighth inning. Donovan Solano connected with a fast ball knocking it out of the park, a two-run homer to tie up the game 4-4. This was his second home run of the game, the first one coming in the first inning and it was back to square one for the A’s going into the ninth inning.

Oakland had worked so hard to take the lead only to watch it dissolve in the eighth inning. The A’s skipper was ejected in the beginning of the ninth inning, the A’s were unable to take back the lead and Oakland now needed to keep the tie intact to avoid yet another San Diego walk off. Mason Miller took the mound in the bottom of the ninth looking to keep this game tied.

In a repeat of Tueday’s game, the Padres Jackson Merrill took advantage of a Mason Miller slider sending the ball out of the yard winning their second walk off in a row 5-4. This was Merrills second home run of the game. San Diego hit four home runs in this game. This was a major disappointment for Oakland after having rallied to take the lead only to watch the Padres celebrate their first sweep of the season. Oakland had ten hits in this game but it was San Diego with 6 hits that won this game with that all-important sixth hit.

The sixth inning came back to bite Oakland after they had tied up the game. They had the bases loaded with only one out and failed to score a single run, an opportunity that you cannot squander. This offense needs to be able to put the ball in play. Their defense is solid. They lead the league with 689 strikeouts. They just have to be able to put the ball in play which is falling short right now.

Game notes: Wednesday afternoon the A’s finished up their series with the Padres before heading to Minnesota for a date with the Twins. Oakland made a nice comeback in game two of this series on Wednesday. They tied up this game in the eighth after trailing 3-1. The offense that they needed in the ninth inning never came to be and the A’s lost a heartbreaker in the bottom of the ninth inning when Kyle Higashioka hit the ball out of the park off the first pitch he faced for the walk-off 4-3. Oakland couldn’t salvage the series with at least one win losing to the Padres on Wednesday 5-4. They also got close Wednesday but just fell short.

Oakland will now head to Minnesota taking on Carlos Correa and the Twins in a four-game series that gets underway on Thursday. Luis Medina will take the mound for the A’s with a 5.23 ERA. The twins will assign Joe Ryan who comes in with a 4-5 win/loss record and a 3.30 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 4:40 PM.

Machado hip flexor- aggrevated late yesterday but onboard today

That’s Amaury News and Commentary : Comparing Ohtani to Babe Ruth; Padres Bogarts day to day with shoulder injury; plus more news

Los Angeles Dodger Shohei Ohtani rounds third base on a Will Smith base hit on Fri May 17, 2024 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, Babe Ruth once said that he didn’t want to pitch every other day while playing a position in the outfield. Ruth had said this before 1920 before he was traded and converted to being an outfielder. Much the same can be said about Los Angeles Dodgers two way player Shohei Ohtani who is taking the year off from pitching. Ohtani the designated hitter is not throwing from the outfield like Ruth did but he did want to play everyday and not wear his arm out by being a pitcher.

#2 Xander Bogarts second baseman of the San Diego Padres suffered a left shoulder injury during Monday’s game against the Atlanta Braves. Bogarts was going for a ground ball when he landed his left shoulder on a bases loaded grounder. Bogarts was not able to make the throw on Ronald Acuna’s infield hit that allowed a run to score. Bogarts signaled for the dugout and manager Mike Schildt and the trainer. Bogarts was given tests and they proved to be negative. Bogarts status is day to day.

#3 The Tampa Bay Rays placed starter Zach Eflin on the 15 day IL on Monday night in a game against the Boston Red Sox. Eflin is suffering from back inflammation. Eflin struggled this season at 3-4, ERA 4.12. Last season Eflin went 16-8. The Rays were counting on him signing him to a three year $68 million contract.

#4 It was mentioned it was a great time to be a Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Twins fan and a Dallas Mavericks and Texas Rangers fan. The Timberwolves and Mavericks of the NBA are headed for the third round of the NBA playoffs and the Twins are in third place only five games behind first place in the AL Central. The Rangers are just 1.5 games out of first place in the AL West.

#5 Amaury, the A’s are coming off an eight game losing streak. They went 1-9 on the last road trip in games played in Seattle, Kansas City and Houston and lost all but one of those games. They had to deal with the thunderstorms in Houston and now return to host the Colorado Rockies tonight here at the Coliseum. Can the A’s turn it around with home field advantage to open this six game homestand?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice 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

MLB The Show Post Season podcast with Augie Mesenburg: D-Backs put Dodgers on the brink; Bochy hasn’t lost a step takes Texas to ALCS; plus more MLB news

The Arizona Diamondbacks Corbin Carroll scores a run against the Los Angeles Dodgers and catcher Will Smith in the top of the first inning at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles in game 2 of the NLDS on Mon Oct 9, 2023. The Diamondbacks have a 2-0 lead in the series as of Wed Oct 11, 2023 (AP News photo)

MLB The Show Post Season podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 Augie, are the Dodgers done? They are in a 0-2 hole against the Arizona Diamondbacks and are down to their last strike. The Dodgers were the favorites to start the series but who would have expected game 1 with the Diamondbacks greeting the Dodgers with a six run first inning and blowing them out 11-3 not to mention taking game 2 of the NLDS. Both clubs are giving it a go as we record this podcast.

#2 The Texas Rangers took the Baltimore Orioles in three straight games. Critics look to Rangers manager Bruce Bochy for much of the credit in getting the Rangers to the next round of the playoffs.

#3 Bochy had everything working for him in the ALDS against the Orioles. In game three he had the pitching working giving up only one run and the Rangers offense poured it on with a 7-1 win.

#4 Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies came into this series well prepared and almost took a 2-0 series lead into game 3. The Atlanta Braves are not to be counted out at anytime as the Phillies found out in game 2 as they came back and held onto a 5-4 win to tie the series at 1-1. Augie do the Braves have anymore fight in them left in this series now down 1-2 after losing game 3 on Wednesday in a laugher 10-2.

#5 Astros and Twins tonight at Target Field in Minneapolis the Twins need this one badly as they are down 2-1 and it’s the elimination game. The Astros can make quick work of the Twins they’ve won by scores of 6-4 and 9-1 in games 1 and 3. Talk about tonight’s game 4.

Augie Mesenburg is a podcast contributor for MLB The Show and is a reporter for KHAI 103.5 FM Honolulu at http://www.sportsradioservice.com