Tag: mlb

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: No stopping Judge in Yankees final visit to Coliseum; Letter from Fisher a lot of lip service

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New York Yankees Aaron Judge is thrilled after a solo home run his 54th of the season on Sat Sep 21, 2024 against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum. Judge would hit his 55th home run Sun Sep 22, 2024 against the A’s (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 The New York Yankees Aaron Judge belted a league leading 55th home run against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum in what was the Yankees last visit to Oakland defeating the A’s 7-4 on Sunday afternoon.

#2 The win for New York gave them a three game sweep over the A’s. The A’s just could never get tracked and surpass the Yankees scoring only two runs in the first and another two in the sixth inning.

#3 The Yankees who are assured a playoff birth can clinch the AL East division with a win during their next three game series which starts Tuesday against the second place Baltimore Orioles.

#4 Judge was an unstoppable force hitting home runs on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. He’s been looking like a Hall of Famer with the way he’s been getting around the baseball.

#5 Oakland A’s owner John Fisher released a statement saying while he’s sorry that the A’s have to move to Sacramento he’s asking A’s fans to always remember the last 56 years of Oakland baseball. Critics of the statement have called the letter a lot of lip service.

#6 The A’s play their very last home series ever in their Oakland history starting Tuesday night against the Texas Rangers. Starting pitcher for Texas Nathan Eovaldi (11-8, 3.96) he’ll be opposed by the A’s starter Mitch Spence (8-9, 4.30) first pitch 6:40pm PT at the Oakland Coliseum.

Barbara Mason podcasted the Oakland A’s Mondays and will doing Golden State Warriors podcasting in October at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Swept by Damn Yankees in Final Matchup at the Coliseum 7-4; Judge gives Oakland a send off with 55th homer

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New York Yankees Aaron Judge makes contact in the top of the fifth inning at the Oakland Coliseum against the Oakland A’s in the Yankees last appearance in Oakland on Sun Sep 22, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Last Marquee series between the Oakland Athletics (67-89) and the New York Yankees (92-64) at the 58-year old Alameda County based stadium, ended in dominating fashion (3-0) for the visitors, 7-4 in front of 24,663.

The Athletics tried to avoid the sweep by the team from the Empire State, by getting on the board first. They were shutout 10-0 in Saturday Night’s contest, and 4-2 victims in extra innings Friday Evening.

In the bottom of the first inning, A’s first baseman Tyler Soderstrom hit a two run double, knocking in teammates JJ Bleday and Shea Langeliers, to put the home team up by two. After a full inning, the A’s led 2-0, and were in a better scenario that the previous night game,

However, that excitement was extremely short lived, as the Yankees came right back in the top of the second inning. New York left fielder Jason Dominguez belted a two run homer, plating himself and Jazz Chisholm Jr. The score was tied at two within a half inning.

The third inning had a local homeboy break the tie. Yankees Aaron Judge launched a deep center field solo home run (55) to put his Bronx Bombers up 3-2. His Honor also expressed his disappointment of this being his last game in Oakland, with all the history of the facility and his personal great memories.

The Linden, California native is the odds on favorite for AL MVP, while Shohei Ohtani is the equivalent player for the National League. Especially with his 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases record breaking accomplishment. Judge did not really pat himself on his own back, but did praise the Japanese sensation in Los Angeles.

Later in the top of the fifth inning, the Yankees extended their lead to three runs. Second baseman Gleyber Torres hit a solo shot, Chisholm Jr. knocked in Juan Soto, on a deep sacrifice fly. Through five, New York was up 5-2, and in the proverbial driver’s seat.

Oakland was not done with their comeback attempt; they scored another two runs in the bottom of the sixth frame. Ryan Noda came in as a pinch-hitter and promptly belted a two run double, which brought the swinging A’s back within one run. Soderstrom and Gelof crossed the plate respectively. At 5-4, the Oakland faithful had something to cheer about.

Shortly thereafter, New York struck again. Designated hitter Giancarlo hit an RBI double knocked in Judge, and put his squad back up by two, 6-4. The Yankees added one more and final run in the top of the ninth inning. Yankees’ second baseman Austin Wells slapped a two run double, scoring Juan Soto and placed the scoreboard at a 7-4 margin.

That score stood up after nine full innings, and the Yankees completed the sweep in their Oakland Grand Finale.

The Giants are next in action Tuesday September 24, in Oakland, hosting the Texas Rangers at 6:40 PM PDT. This will mark the last series ever in the Coliseum, unless a miracle happens before next season. The pitching matchup will be RHP Mitch Spence (8-9, 4.30) versus RHP Nathan Eovaldi (11-8, 3.96).

The Yankees fly back to New York, with Monday off, then host the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday September 24 at 7:05 PM EST. Their matchups are: RHP Clarke Schmidt (5-4, 2.37) vs, RHP Dean Kremer (7-10, 4.19).

Does Judge reach 60 home runs? We will have to see, and he left an indelible impression in his hometown area, with a homer, double two walks, and two runs scored, A very nice homecoming, indeed.

Michael Roberson covers Major League Baseball for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Snell throws six innings of shutout ball; SF defeats KC 2-0 at Kaufman

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San Francisco Giants Jerar Encarnacion slides home safely scoring on a Grant McCray triple in the top of the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kaufman Stadium on Sun Sep 22, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 San Francisco Giants starter Blake Snell struck out nine Kansas City Royals hitters in six innings of work and the Giants swept the Royals in a three game series with a 2-0 shutout Sunday.

#2 With the loss the Royals moved to second place in the AL Wild Card and holds the tie breaker as they won the season series over the Detroit Tigers 7-6.

#3 Snell was on he allowed two hits and no Royals runner was able to pass first base. Snell is 5-0 in his last 14 starts with a 1.23 ERA.

#4 Snell credited his change ups for retiring Royals hitters 1-13 when he threw a first strike.

#5 The Giants opened up a three game series in Arizona on Monday night. The Giants will start RHP Hayden Birdsong (4-5, ERA 4.74) starting for the Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (3-3, 5.09) at Chase Field in Phoenix.

Marko Ukalovic does the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants thrive in spoiler role with pressure off, as Snell strikes out nine over six strong innings, and Giants sweep Royals with 2-0 win

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San Francisco Giants starter Blake Snell pitches to the Kansas City Royals in the bottom of the first inning at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City on Sun Sep 22, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024

Kauffman Stadium 

Kansas City, Missouri  

San Francisco Giants 2 (77-79)

Kansas City Royals 0 (82-74)

Win: Blake Snell (5-3)

Loss: Seth Lugo (16-9)

Save: Ryan Walker (9)

Time: 2:08

Attendance: 24,189

By Stephen Ruderman

A two-run second inning plus another dominant start by Blake Snell led the Giants to a 2-0 win and a sweep of the Royals Sunday, their first road sweep and sweep of a team other than Rockies this year.

After winning the first two games, the Giants had a chance at their first road sweep of the year. They came close on Thursday in Baltimore, but a walk-off home run by Anthony Santander denied the Giants the sweep. 

The weather was much cooler Sunday at Kauffman Stadium, as it was gray and misty with a gametime temperature of 64 degrees. Or in this writer’s view, a beautiful day for baseball. The Giants would be up against Seth Lugo, and though he would throw a scoreless inning in the top of the first, the Giants were able to get to him in the second. 

Jerar Encarnacion lined a base-hit up the middle into center field with one out in the top of the second. Grant McCray then hammered a triple out into the gap in right-center, and the Giants once again struck first. 

Tyler Fitzgerald struck out swinging, and then Brett Wisely singled in McCray to make it 2-0. The Giants would get three hits this afternoon, and every single one of them came in the top of the second.

Blake Snell made the start for the Giants, and he was once again superb, as he gave up just two hits, and he walked one and struck out nine over six innings. In his 14 starts since coming off the injured list on July 9, Snell had been the best pitcher in Baseball, going 5-0 with a 1.19 ERA and 114 strikeouts.

After Snell was done, Sean Hjelle struck out the side in a one, two, three bottom of the seventh. 

The Royals had a rally going against Tyler Rogers in the bottom of the eighth, as they had runners at second and third with two outs for the white-hot Bobby Witt Jr. Bob Melvin decided to put Witt on to face the struggling longtime Royal, Salvidor Perez, and Perez popped out to end the inning.

Ryan Walker then came in for the bottom of the ninth in his first appearance since giving up the home run to Santander on Thursday. Walker hit MJ Melendez to start the inning, but he settled down and retired the side to complete the save.

Blake Snell got the win; Seth Lugo took the loss; and Ryan Walker got the save.

The Giants have won five of their last six, and they improve to 77-79. They have also made their mark on the American League Wild Card race, as they have gone 5-1 against the Orioles and Royals.  

After the game, Grant McCray said on Giants Postgame Live that after the Giants were eliminated, the pressure was off. McCray said the Giants were having fun, and that they have been chanting “Rally Baby” at Matt Chapman, who has gotten a spark from his newly-born daughter, Alexandra. 

Now the Giants will head to Arizona to take on the red-hot Arizona Diamondbacks for three games, as they will get a chance to play spoiler in the National League Wild Card race. Hayden Birdsong (4-5, 4.74 ERA) will make the start for the Giants in the opener of the series Monday night. Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (3-3, 5.09 ERA) will take the ball for Arizona. 

As for the weather, it will be hotter than you know what, but don’t worry, they’ve got the roof at Chase Field. First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m.

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Will players union, Scott Boras sign off to play on artificial turf in Sacramento?

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Sutter Health Field in Sacramento the future interim home of the Athletics for the next three seasons 2025-27

On the Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Daniel, this is the last week at the Oakland Coliseum for the A’s as they embark for Sacramento after the regular season. It’s been a reunion of sorts with lots of reporters, employees, front office, former players coming to bid the fans and each other a farewell.

#2 Rickey Henderson came out on Saturday to watch his daughter throw out the first ball as the A’s played the New York Yankees. It was a huge treat for fans watching on the field that was named after Rickey.

#3 Some reporters believe the move to Sacramento is a done deal because MLB has approved the move and Sacramento Rivercats are renovating the ball park.

#4 There are those who believe there is that very small chance that the A’s deal in Sacramento will fall apart because of the artificial turf the players do not want to play on. The Players union sill has not signed off on it yet.

#5 On the other side of the coin A’s owner John Fisher, A’s team president David Kaval and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred look very much forward to getting things started and getting the A’s out of Oakland. They do realize that that last step of getting the union to sign off on Sacramento might not be as easy as they think.

Daniel Dullum does the Oakland A’s relocation podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: 49ers missing a good number of Pro Bowl players due to injuries; Raiders host struggling Panthers today; plus more news

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San Francisco 49oers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (1) takes a leap against Minnesota Vikings Camryn Bynum (24) and linebacker Ivan Pace (0) on Sun Sep 15, 2024 at US Bank Stadium. Samuel is out with an injury and will miss Sun Sep 22, 2024 in Los Angeles against the Los Angeles Rams. (AP News photo)

On Headlines Sports podcast:

#1 The San Francisco 49ers are coming off a 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings last week and face the Los Angeles Rams today in the Southland. The 49ers have two injuries running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Tight end George Kittle is out with a hamstring injury and Nick Bosa is out for the Rams game as he hurt his rib during practice Thursday or Friday.

#2 The Las Vegas Raiders are coming off an impressive win over the Baltimore Ravens 26-23 in Baltimore. The Raiders tied with the Ravens at 23-23 got a game winning field goal from kicker Daniel Carlson who booted a 38 yard field goal with 27 seconds left for a 26-23 win. The Raiders now face a struggling Carolina Panthers team at Allegiant Stadium today. The Panthers are 0-2 and the Raiders are 1-1. How much do you see home field advantage for the Raiders being a key today?

#3 Charlie these are not your 1959 Go Go Sox as the Chicago White Sox lost their 119th game of the season tying the 2003 Detroit Tigers who finished at 43-119. The Sox need one more loss to tie the all time worse losing record in a season held by the 1962 New York Mets. Can they do it?

#4 The Washington Nationals demoted All Star shortstop CJ Abrams after he stayed out all Friday morning at a Chicago casino. Nats manager Dave Martinez had to bring the bad news to Abrams that he was being demoted because of breaking team curfew. Abrams was the lead off hitter on Friday’s game and went 0-3 with a walk and one strike out. Martinez said he’s a good guy and he’ll work his way back.

#5 Here it is Charlie the final week of the A’s in Oakland and after next Thursday they would have played their last game ever in Oakland. Reality has set in for fans, players, media, A’s front office staff, and employees at the Oakland Coliseum.

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

Wade and Chapman homer, and Landen Roupp gets first big league win in Giants’ 9-0 rout of Royals; KC extends losing streak to six

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San Francisco Giant Michael Conforto is caught in a run down with Kansas City Royals catcher Freddy Fermin throwing to third baseman Maikel Garcia (11) after Conforto tried to score on a fielders choice hit by Grant McCray in the top of the sixth inning at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City (AP News photo)

Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024

Kauffman Stadium

Kansas City, Missouri

San Francisco Giants 9 (76-79)

Kansas City Royals 0 (82-73)

Win: Landen Roupp (1-1)

Loss: Brady Singer (9-12)

Time: 2:14

Attendance: 24,189

By Stephen Ruderman

LaMonte Wade and Matt Chapman both hit two home runs, as the Giants’ offense exploded in a 9-0 win over the Royals on a hauntingly-beautiful late Saturday afternoon in Kansas City.

After an exciting and tense 2-1 win last night, the Giants looked to keep playing spoiler against the struggling Royals. With severe weather moving into Kansas City, this game was moved up two hours. It was a warm and humid afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. It was partly cloudy, and the sun was out at the start of the game.

Royals’ starter Brady Singer retired the first two men he faced in the top of the first inning. LaMonte Wade then came up, and he hit a home run down the right field line to give the Giants an early 1-0 lead.

The Giants turned to Landen Roupp, who took the ball for his third big league start. Roupp escaped a one-out double by Bobby Witt Jr. in the bottom of the first, and he escaped another jam in the bottom of the second.

Singer pitched a scoreless top of the second and a one, two, three top of the third. Roupp then pitched another scoreless inning in the bottom of the third.

As the game reached the middle innings, it became overcast for the most part at Kauffman Stadium with a beautiful touch of blue skies off in the distance.

On the first pitch from Singer in the top of the fourth, Wade hit a towering drive down the right field line that went out for his second home run of the day. Matt Chapman, who returned to the team today after the birth of his daughter, Alexandra, came up to the plate.

Chapman got a hold of one, and hit a fly ball deep to center that got out. Wade and Chapman went back-to-back, and it was now 4-0 Giants.

Roupp survived a leadoff ground-rule double by MJ Melendez in the bottom of the fourth, and he pitched another scoreless inning in the bottom of the fifth. Roupp was done after five.

Roupp allowed a base-runner in every inning he pitched, and the Royals had a runner in scoring position in each of the first four innings, but he kept his focus in every single inning to pitch five scoreless. Roupp gave up three hits, and he walked three and struck out three.

Singer pitched a scoreless top of the fifth and retired Wade to start the top of the sixth. Chapman then came up and golfed out a slider at the knees to the Giants’ bullpen in left for his second home run of the game.

It was Chapman’s 26th home run of the year, and he is now four home runs away from becoming the first Giant to hit 30 in a season since Barry Bonds hit 45 all the way back in 2004. He will have seven games left to do it, so while it may be a tall order, it is certainly doable.

Michael Conforto immediately followed up Chapman’s second home run with a double to right, and Tyler Fitzgerald singled him over to third. That ended the day for Singer, and the Royals Manager Matt Quatraro brought in Carlos Hernandez.

Grant McCray reached on a weird fielder’s choice that saw him get to second, while Conforto was out at the plate. Donovan Walton was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Curt Casali singled to left to knock in a pair and make it 6-0. Those would be the only two runs for the Giants to score on something other than a home run.

Mike Yastrzemski then hit a three-run home run to right to make it 9-0. It was the fifth home run of the day for the Giants, and the third for Yastrzemski in the first five games of this road trip.

It was now a blowout, and as you would expect, there would be no drama the rest of the game. Spencer Bivens pitched a pair of scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh, and Tristan Beck threw a pair of one, two, three innings in the eighth and ninth.

Landen Roupp got his first major league win, and this was the second game in a row in which a Giants’ rookie would get their first major league win after Mason Black got his first Thursday night. Brady Singer took the loss.

The Giants have now won four of their last five, as they improve to 76-79. They can now get that first road sweep of the season with a win Sunday. Blake Snell (4-3, 3.31 ERA) will make the start for the Giants, and he will be opposed by the veteran right-hander, Seth Lugo (16-8, 3.08 ERA).

The only question is with the wild weather in Kansas City expected to persist into , whether Sunday or not the game will be played. If it starts on time, first pitch will be at 1:10 at Kauffman Stadium, and 11:10 a.m. back home in San Francisco.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Why MLB Players have not signed off for Sacramento 2025 season yet; Coliseum memories

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Chicago Cubs runner Miles Mastrobuoni (left) is forced at second base by Oakland A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson at Wrigley Field on Thu Sep 19, 2024. The A’s play their last homestand between Sep 20-26 before moving to Sacramento at the end of the regular season. (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, the countdown to closing up the Oakland Coliseum is just five games away each time you come to the park it’s really hard to believe that this ball club you covered for decades will no longer be playing in Oakland anymore after Thursday afternoon?

#2 When you talk about the A’s move to Sacramento it’s almost hard to fathom. I wanted to ask you about the MLB Players Association they have not signed off on playing in Sacramento yet. They have said that playing on artificial turf in 100 degree heat in Sacramento is not something that’s going to work for the health and safety of the players. Could this end up being a hang up that could drag maybe into December?

#3 When you look back on the history of the Coliseum it opened in 1968 with Governor Ronald Reagan throwing out the first ball and the A’s had joined the San Francisco Giants as the second team in the Bay Area ever since that time in good and bad times it was always exciting for baseball fans to know there were two Bay Area teams to see each and every season.

#4 This last Oakland A’s team showed a lot of grit this season and had players who have a great future in Major League Baseball with hitters like Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker, JJ Bleday, Shea Langeliers, and Seth Brown. These guys competed and gave some of the best teams in baseball fits.

#5 Amaury you’ve been calling A’s games out of the Coliseum since the 1970s you’ve had numerous broadcast partners and working with some of the best Spanish radio broadcast talent in baseball had to really give you something to really look back on over the years.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish 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

Yanks Cole was dealing, Soto was swinging in 4-2 10 inning win over A’s at Coliseum

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New York Yankees starter Gerrit Cole pitched nine innings and struck out seven batters in their win over the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum Fri Sep 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

New York (AL, 80-64). 000 010 000 3. 4. 8. 0

Athletics (67-87). 000 100 000 1. 2. 3. 0. 10 innings

Time: 2:36

Attendance: 23,426

Friday, September 20, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–There were some chants of “Let’s go, Yankees” this crisp Friday evening at the Coliseum, but there also were boos for Aaron Judge and plenty of unexpectedly loud and assertive urgings of “Let’s go, Oakland.”

We hadn’t heard a mixture like that on the shores of the Nimitz River in years. The balance of decibels shifted dramatically when the visitors broke open what had been a 1-1 tie between the playoff bound Yanks and the Sacramento bound A’s, putting three runs across the plate to take a 4-1 lead and eventually take the game, 4-2. Judge, by the way, went hitless.

JT Ginn, who made his big league debut this past August 21, pitched five strong innings for the Athletics, not outstanding but nothing like what you’d expect from a 25 year old rookie with 0-1, 4.95 record. Ginn allowed one run (it was earned) on four hits and a walk, throwing 78 pitches, 46 for strikes to 18 pinstripers. Ginn wasn’t involved in the decision but lowered his ERA by more than half a run, bringing it down to 4.40.

The A’s bullpen was effective through the regulation nine frames, with Michel Otáñez, Scott Alexander, Tyler Ferguson, and Mason Miller throwing an inning apiece of shutout ball. Alexander yielded the only Yankee hit over that span, and Otáñez and Miller were the only ones in the quartet to issue a walk.

It was TJ McFarland, pitching two thirds of an inning in the 10th, who couldn’t handle the Yankees’ offense, and you really couldn’t blame him. He gave up a lead off single to Anthony Rizzo that sent zombie runner Jasson Domínguez to third.

Juan Soto, pinch hitting for Tristan Grisham, was at bat when Domínguez scored and Cabrera, pinch running for Rizzo, advanced to second on a passed ball. Soto then smacked a two bagger to left, driving in Cabrera.

Jon Berti ran for Soto, and he scored on Anthony Volpe’s single to right. After Alex Verdugo sacrificed Volpe to second, the A’s called on Grant Holman, who stopped the hemorrhage by striking out Gleyber Torres and retiring Austin Wells on a fly to center.

There must be some sort of a jinx on winning the 2023 Cy Young Award. The National League’s winner was Blake Snell,whose travials with the Giants are well known to fans in the Bay Area. The AL winner, Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole, started Friday night. He spent the first 75 games of this season on the injured list, courtesy of an inflamed right shoulder.

Did I mention that he’s a righty? Cole brought a 6-5, 3.97 record to the game—hardly Cy Young numbers—and pitched a beautiful nine innings, needing only 99 pitches (68 strikes) and allowing a measly two hits and a walk.

The A’s managed to score and run, and it was earned. In fact, Gerrit didn’t allow an Athletic to reach base safely until Lawrence Butler opened the bottom of the fourth with a 1-0 single to center. The A’s right fielder paid tribute to Friday night’s bobblehead honoree by stealing second and scoring a Rickie run on Sean Langeliers’ RBI single two outs later.

That brief advantage didn’t last long. Ginn weakened in the top of the fifth and issued a two out walk. Back to back singles by Trent Grisham and Anthony Volpe restored the balance. You already know what happened to upset that balance.

The A’s had a shot at making up for their tenth inning meltdown, but all they could muster was a single tally when JJ Bleday led off by singling the placed runner, Brent Rooker, home with a futile run. Luke Weaver earned his third save by fanning Shea Langliers, Seth Brown, and Zack Gelof to end the game.

The three game series will resume Saturday evening at 6:07pm PT, with a battle of southpaws between the Athletics’ JP Sears (11-11, 4.24) and the Yankees’ Carlos Rodón (15-9, 4.12)

Ramos hits for three legs of cycle, Black gets first major league win and Doval struggles to get save in oddly-familiar 2014 World Series rematch in Kansas City; SF edges KC at Kaufman 2-1

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San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos hits for an RBI single in the top of the first inning one of three hits against the Kansas City Royals on Fri Sep 20, 2024 at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City (AP News photo)

Friday, Sept. 20, 2024

Kauffman Stadium

Kansas City, Missouri

San Francisco Giants 2 (75-79)

Kansas City Royals 1 (85-68)

Win: Mason Black (1-4)

Loss: Michael Wacha (13-8)

Save: Camilo Doval (23)

Time: 2:42

Attendance: 22,117

By Stephen Ruderman

Heliot Ramos hit for three legs of the cycle; Mason Black threw a solid outing en route to his first major league win, as the Giants survived some ninth-inning drama from Camilo Doval to beat the Royals 2-1 in an oddly-familiar 2014 World Series rematch at Kauffman Stadium Friday night.

The Giants were officially eliminated Thursday after Anthony Santander hit a walk-off home run. With nine games left to finish the season on a good note, the Giants came into the hot 80 plus degrees confines of Kansas City for a 2014 World Series rematch. This was only the second time the Giants came into Kansas City since that fall classic.

While the Giants are not going to the playoffs, they were thrown right into the middle of the American League wild card race. The Royals came into Friday night in possession of the second wild card spot.

Just as the Giants took advantage of a struggling Orioles’ team in Baltimore, they would have that same advantage this weekend. The Royals came into Friday night with a four-game losing streak, which included a three-game sweep at the hands of the surging Detroit Tigers and wound up extending it to five games after the loss to the Giants.

While the Giants were facing their counterparts from the 2014 World Series, they would be up against the former St. Louis Cardinal, Michael Wacha, who Travis Ishikawa hit his legendary home run off of to win the pennant for the Giants.

The Giants pounced on Wacha in the top of the first inning. Mike Yastrzemski lined a base-hit to center field to begin the ballgame, and Mark Canha drew a walk to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Michael Conforto then flew out to center to move Yaz over to third.

Up came Heliot Ramos, who despite some of his recent struggles, was about to have a night reminiscent of the Ramos we saw in May and June. Though sometimes when you’re struggling, you need a break. Ramos got that break when he hit a chopper out in front of the plate that took a high hop back to Wacha, who had no time to make a play. Everyone was safe, and Yastrzemski scored to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

With the focus now turned to 2025, Bob Melvin is going to give a lot of the young guys a looksie in these final nine games. Friday night, it would be Mason Black, who took the ball for the Giants. Hjelle pitched a scoreless bottom of the first, and then he had to wiggle out of a jam in the bottom of the second.

From there, Black settled down to throw a pair of one, two, three innings in the third and fourth. Wacha also settled down, though the Giants were unable to do anything with a leadoff triple by Ramos in the top of the fourth.

Wacha threw a one, two, three inning in the top of the fifth and retired the first two hitters he faced in the top of the sixth. Ramos then doubled with two outs, and Patrick Bailey singled to right to knock in Ramos and make it 2-0.

Black had pitched a scoreless bottom of the fifth. He then allowed a leadoff base-hit to Bobby Witt Jr. in the bottom of the sixth, but he retired the next two. Still, Bob Melvin came out and pulled him for Sean Hjelle, who got the third out.

Black ended up going five and two thirds innings after throwing 84 pitches. He gave up four hits, and he walked just one and struck out four.

Erik Miller and Tyler Rogers got the Giants through the seventh and the eighth, and then Melvin would give his old closer, Camilo Doval, a chance to get the save in the bottom of the ninth. After two dominant seasons that earned him a cool ninth-inning intro at Oracle Park, Doval has had a nightmare season that not only cost him the closer’s role, but also cost him his spot on the roster.

After Ryan Walker pitched in the final two games in Baltimore, Doval would get his shot Friday night. Unfortunately, the nightmare continues for Doval, who walked the first two guys, both on four pitches.

Yuli Gurriel was at second, and Dairon Blanco came in to pinch-run for Robbie Grossman at first. Doval then settled down to strike out the veteran, Adam Frazier, for that much-needed first out.

However, Doval was not out of the woods yet, and he was about to catch a tough break. Maikel Garcia hit a ground ball right to Tyler Fitzgerald that seemed like it was going to be a game-ending double play, but Fitzgerald hesitated, and everyone was safe.

The bases were loaded with one out for Garrett Hampson, who lined a ball just foul past the bag at third. Nevertheless, the Royals wanted the play reviewed, quite possibly to rattle Doval. Hampson then hit a sacrifice fly to right, and Gurriel scored to put the Royals on the board and make it a one-run game. Blanco moved to third on the play

It was now 2-1. The tying run was at third with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, which was a familiar position for the Giants at Kauffman Stadium. The veteran, Tommy Pham—also a member of the 2014 Cardinals—was at the plate. With a 1-1 count, Doval threw a pair of sliders off the outside corner, and Pham chased both. Someway, somehow, Doval locked down the save. Well, barely.

Mason Black got his first major league win; Michael Wacha took the loss, just as he did when the Giants won the pennant in 2014; and Camilo Doval picked up his first save since Aug. 7, his 23rd of the year.

Of course, Ramos had the big night offensively for the Giants. Though I might add that his leadoff triple in the bottom of the fourth had a chance of being an inside-the-park home run, just like Alex Gordan’s two-out triple in the bottom of the ninth of Game 7.

Anyway, the Giants improve to 75-79, and the Royals have now lost five-straight. With severe weather expected Saturday night in Kansas City, the game has been moved up two hours to 4:10 p.m. in Kansas City, 2:10 p.m. back in San Francisco. Landen Roupp (0-1, 3.02 ERA) will take the ball for the Giants, and Brady Singer (9-11, 3.53 ERA) will go for Kansas City.