Tag: mlb

Oakland A’s Commentary: Sad Farewell for Oakland A’s Sports Fans

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The Oakland A’s put out an Oakland Coliseum logo commemorating their years in Oakland from 1968-2024 (Oakland A’s X image)

Sad Farewell for Oakland Sports Fans

By Tony Renteria

OAKLAND–September 20th 2024 the Oakland Athletics host the visiting New York Yankees starting the last homestand for the this storied franchise. After years of trying to get a new stadium and new location the ownership group decided to follow the lead of former fellow Oakland Coliseum tenant the NFL’s Raiders by getting permission to relocate the beloved A’s to the desert in Nevada in a city called Las Vegas.

The 56 year-old man I am understands sometimes in business the deal just not get done, but the five year old boy who was given an A’s hat in 1973 is heartbroken. The Swinging A’s were the powerhouse of the American League in the early 70’s.

They had legends of the game a young Reggie Jackson was starting his hall of famer career right here in the Yellow and Gold. Rollie Fingers had the best handle bar mustache on the planet as he dominated batters from the mound.

As I grew up so did the A’s, after quick tumble after the glory years of the Swinging A’s Charlie Finley hired Billy Martin to manage the team filled with very young and talented players like Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson whose name is graced behind home plate today.

Ricky Henderson Field honors perhaps the most overall talented player the A’s had during the Oakland era. Billy was able manage a playoff appearance for young A’s, but new owner Walter Haas gave Martin too much power in the voice of baseball Operations and the A’s were ever able to create the magic of “Billy Ball” again under Martin’s Leadership.

Haas did make some great changes to A’s in the way of marketing, he brought back the Elephant mascot, the people of Northern California who were reluctant to attend homes due to a dislike for Finley returned in mass as the A’s hit record numbers in attendance in 1980s.

In 1986 Haas hired Tony LaRussa to skipper the A’s with a roster of talented younger players like Jose Cansaco and Mark McGuire. Starting in 1988 Larussa brought three straight American league Pennants to Oakland with a World Series title in 1989 over the bay bridge neighbors the San Francisco Giants that was marred by the earthquake that happened on National Television before Game 3 of the series.

Reality set in again for the A’s as television deals and the reality of small market teams trying to compete the clubs of cities like New York and Boston. Canseco was sent Texas, McGuire and LaRussa were in St. Louis where McGuire broke Roger Maris home run record.

Henderson made a run with Blue Jays for a world title while the A’s fell further away from the top of the standings. I and rest of the A’s faithful found hope again with the likes of Barry Zito, Mark Mulder and Jason Giambi.

Just like the A;s would lose out of revenue from a lack a huge TV contract like the Yankees our hearts were broken again by the one of the most usual cutoff throws in playoff history a 15 foot cutoff throw to home plate by Derek Jeter.

Once again out hearts would break as the heroes of Oakland sailed off to bigger teams and bigger contracts. As much as Money Ball worked it could not produce the sustained glory of the 70’s and the 80’s. Billy Beane was able to make a run for the pennant every now and then but the glory days were long gone.

Even now as the A’s host Yankees in the last Friday night game here in this place of history from the last team in Major League History to win three consecutive World Series to the Raiders Sea of Hands play. The five-year boy who has worn green and yellow since 1973 is sadden by the fact this place which holds so many memories will be gone soon and with it the magic and joy of Ricky Stealing second base, or seeing a diving Walter Wiess rob some one of a base hit, and above all the one place where small market teams could compete with the bigger ones. I guess in the end it is the size of the dog after all.

Tony Renteria is also podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s last homestand in Oakland open three game series with Yankees tonight

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Oakland A’s Zack Gelof connects for a eighth inning one run double against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Wed Sep 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 The A’s are coming off a two out three game series win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field it’s another series where the A’s won showing they have lots of talent to compete with the talent they have for next season.

#2 On Wednesday the A’s Tyler Soberstrom homered and Zack Gelof double to break a tie in the eighth inning as the A’s beat the Cubs by two runs 5-3.

#3 Ironically for the Cubs the loss helped the Milwaukee Brewers clinch NL Central title for the third season in a row.

#4 A’s reliever Tyler Ferguson pitched a scoreless seventh inning and reliever Michel Ortanez struck out two in the eighth inning, and Brent Rooker went two for three and an RBI in the A’s win. Proving once again team work has been the success of the second half of this A’s season.

#5 Tonight (Friday) represents the first of the last six games in Oakland history that comes to an end next Thursday. The A’s open up a series with the New York Yankees and will never play at the Oakland Coliseum again leaving decades of history behind.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The One Man Club 50-50

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Los Angeles Dodgers two way mega star Shohei Ohtani runs the bases after hitting his 50th home run in the top of the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park in Miami on Thu Sep 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

The One Man Club 50-50

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

There is only one player in the One Man Club.

He did not pitch this season because he had Tommy John surgery in 2023. Thursday, September 19, 2024, Shohei Ohtani, while playing in Miami with the Los Angeles Dodgers, became the first man ever in the history of Major League Baseball with 50 homeruns and 50 stolen bases in one single season.

The 30-year-old Japanese international mega-star had elbow surgery last year. Now, Ohtani is headed to the playoffs in 2024 and could pitch again in 2025.

Shohei Ohtani, a once-in-a-lifetime player, will be on the Dodgers’ payroll for the next 20 years under the unique terms of the 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. We are fortunate to live during the Ohtani years since not many who witnessed the great Babe Ruth are left.

I know Ohtani was born in Japan, but as we have seen, this talented man plays the most challenging sport to master, baseball, where most of the time you fail; he makes it look easy. His talents make him look like he comes from another world.

Congratulations Ohtani! おめでとう

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants lose to O’s on Santander walk off; Mason Black looks for first win Friday against Royals in KC

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The Baltimore Orioles Andy Rutschman (35) slides in scoring in front of San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey (14) on Orioles Jackson Holiday’s hit in the bottom of the fourth inning at Camden Yards in Baltimore (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 The Baltimore Orioles Anthony Santander hit a game winning walk off two run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in the Orioles 5-3 win over the visiting San Francisco Giants.

#2 The Orioles had struggled in the series even losing the first of the three game set 10-0 to the Giants but this win Thursday helped them move closer to a shot at the wild card.

#3 The Giants in the top of the ninth inning tied the game 3-3 when Casey Schmitt hit a single off Orioles pitcher Seranthony Dominguez. So it was a game that the Giants nearly scratched out a sweep.

#4 Giants manager Bob Melvin said after the game, We come back in the ninth and have some good at-bats late in the game like we typically do,” said Melvin. “But just fell an at-bat short.”

#5 The Giants open a three game series in Kansas City on Friday night. The Giants will start RHP Mason Black whose looking for his first win (0-4, 7.07) starting for the Royals RHP Michael Wacha (13-7, 3.29) at Kaufman Stadium first pitch 5:10pm PT.

Michael Duca does the Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Anthony Santander eliminates Giants with walk-off home run, as Orioles take series finale 5-3

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Baltimore Orioles Jackson Holliday (7) heads to first base after hitting a two run RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Camden Yards on Thu Sep 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Baltimore, Maryland

San Francisco Giants 3 (74-79)

Baltimore Orioles 5 (85-68)

Win: Gregory Soto (3-5)

Loss: Ryan Walker (9-4)

Time: 2:48

Attendance: 23,181

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants were officially eliminated Thursday after failing to secure the sweep in Baltimore, as Anthony Santander hit a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to carry the Orioles to a much-needed 5-3 win.

The Giants’ offense clicked to win the first two games of this three-game series against the struggling Orioles. Thursday, the Giants had a chance to do two things that they have yet to do all season: sweep a series on the road, and sweep a team other than the Colorado Rockies.

After two wet and misty nights, the stage was set up perfectly for the Giants to complete the sweep on a beautiful partly cloudy early fall day in Baltimore. They had an offense playing situational baseball, and their ace, Logan Webb, making a rare start after a win.

Zach Eflin made the start for Baltimore, and he stymied the Giants’ offense with three scoreless innings out of the gate. Webb, meanwhile, pitched three no-hit innings to start his day.

Things then changed in the fourth inning. Jerar Encarnacion reached on an infield hit to lead off the inning, and then Michael Conforto hit a home run to right-center field, his second of the series, to give the Giants a 2-0 lead.

There seemed to be a balance early on in this game. Both pitchers pitched three scoreless innings to start the day, but both of them had a rough go of things in the fourth.

Webb, too, ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth after he walked Anthony Santander to start the inning. Two batters later, Adley Rutschman engaged Webb in an eight-pitch at-bat and worked the count full. On the eighth pitch, Rutschman golfed out a low changeup and lined a double down the right field line that scored Santander to put the Orioles on the board.

Webb was on the ropes. The Orioles had a run in, and runners at second and third with still nobody out. However, with the Orioles’ recent offensive struggles, that gave Webb some room, as he retired the next two hitters he faced.

Webb was now an out away from limiting the damage to just a run and keeping the Giants’ lead. Unfortunately, that would not come to be for Webb, as Jackson Holliday shot a base-hit up the middle into center field, and both runners scored to give Baltimore the lead.

The Orioles had a 3-2 lead going to the fifth, and that delicate balance continued, as neither team scored from the fifth to the eighth.

Webb ended up going five innings after the long bottom of the fourth ballooned his pitch count, which got up to 96. In total, Webb gave up three runs on four hits, and he walked just two and struck out eight. Other than the bottom of the fourth, Webb only allowed one base-runner in four no-hit innings.

The Giants had runners at first and second with two outs against Eflin in the top of the sixth. Patrick Bailey came up and hit a low-hanging fly ball deep to right, but Orioles’ right-fielder Heston Kjerstad went back and two his right to make a nice running catch at the wall to end the inning. That would end the day for Eflin, who went six innings for the O’s, and allowed two runs on six hits.

Taylor Rogers pitched a scoreless bottom of the sixth for the Giants. Spencer survived a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh, and then he threw a scoreless bottom of the eighth.

Back to that delicate balance, the ninth inning would be full of action. The Orioles brought in Seranthony Dominguez for the ninth, and he couldn’t find the zone. Dominguez walked Bailey to start the inning, and then he walked Heliot Ramos on four pitches.

The Giants had runners at first and second with nobody out for Casey Schmitt. Schmitt hit a fly ball to right-center that kept carrying. Center-fielder Cedric Mullins and right-fielder Austin Slater—the latter just into the game—both came for it, but they collided, and the ball went to the wall. Bailey scored to tie the game, but after what transpired, Ramos only went to second, and that limited Schmitt to the longest and weirdest single of the year.

It’s understandable to be a bit confused after the craziness that transpired on that fly ball, but the ball laid on the ground next to the wall for a few seconds, and Ramos had all the time in the world to get to third. He even could have scored on that play.

Ramos has been a great story for the Giants this season, and he will be a big part of their future. However, he made the kind of fundamental blunder that we have seen far too much from players throughout Baseball in recent years, especially this season.

It was a costly base-running mistake by Ramos, and it came back to bite the Giants. Donovan Walton tried to lay down a bunt to move the runners over to second and third, but he bunted it in the air to catcher Adley Rutschman. Brandon Hyde then brought in the lefty, Gregory Soto, who induced a 4-3 double play off the bat of Mark Canha to end the inning.

Bob Melvin brought in his closer, the reliable Ryan Walker, for the bottom of the ninth. Walker caught Emmanuel Rivera looking at a sinker at the knees to start the inning, but Gunner Henderson singled to right. Walker then struck Cedric Mullins out swinging, and he quickly got Anthony Santander to an 0-2 count.

Walker was a strike away from sending the game to the tenth. However, Santander battled with two strikes. He took a sinker inside for ball one, and he fouled off four-straight pitches. Then on the eighth pitch, Walker hung a slider just above the knees, and Santander hit a fly ball deep to right-center that kept carrying and went out just over the wall. The Orioles won it 5-3.

Gregory Soto got the win, and Ryan Walker had to take the loss.

Going back to that delicate balance. Neither team scored in the first three innings, and from the fifth through the eighth. However, both teams scored in the fourth and the ninth, and that accounted for all of the runs scored Thursday.

The Giants fall to 74-79, and they have officially been eliminated from any possible postseason contention. With the Giants being eliminated in their 153rd game, this is the earliest they have been eliminated since 2018, when they were eliminated right before their 151st game.

With nine games left and their fate sealed, the Giants can still end the season on a high note. Despite not being able to complete the sweep Thursday, the Giants still played well, and they showed the resilience they’ve had all year when they tied the game in the ninth.

The Giants can now carry that momentum into Kansas City, where they will begin a three-game series and 2014 World Series rematch with the Royals starting Thursday night. The Giants will really have a chance to play spoiler against a Royals’ team that holds the second wild card spot in the American League, and is only two games up on a playoff spot.

Mason Black (0-4, 7.07 ERA) will make the start for the Giants, and he will be opposed by the longtime veteran and old friend, Michael Wacha (13-7, 3.29 ERA). First pitch at Kauffman Stadium will be at 7:10 p.m., and 5:10 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

Oakland A’s commentary: My Farewell to the Green and Gold

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Former great Oakland A’s catcher the late Ray Fosse looking upwards smile on face with catcher’s glove is one of the people the author will remember and be thankful for in covering A’s baseball over the years (file photo Athletic Nation)

My Farewell to the Green & Gold

By Mauricio Segura

As a lifelong fan of the Oakland A’s, who used to dream (like many) of donning a green and gold jersey, #21, playing centerfield, and hitting home runs into the ivy behind the bleachers (before Mt. Davis ruined that), writing these words feels like carving out a piece of my soul.

The ever-approaching finality of the A’s leaving Oakland is not just the loss of a team—it’s the tearing apart of decades of memories, a community, and the beating heart of baseball in the East Bay. For those who’ve been there since the beginning, watching games in the windy chill of the Coliseum, there’s an indescribable ache that settles in knowing this chapter is closing.

It feels like losing a loved one, something irreplaceable, where nothing will ever refill the void. It is with tears streaming down my face that I write these words—my farewell and tribute to an old friend.

The A’s have always been a team of movement—born in Philadelphia in 1901, where they first made history as one of the original American League franchises. Winning five world championships under the legendary Connie Mack, the A’s became a powerhouse of early Major League Baseball.

After a rocky tenure in Kansas City (1955-1967), they landed in Oakland in 1968. We welcomed them with open arms, and what a ride it’s been. The 1970s became the Golden Age of the A’s, with owner Charlie Finley turning the team into champions—and not just any champions, but a team that captured the imaginations of baseball fans everywhere.

Finley was a showman. He brought in oddities that left people shaking their heads and laughing, like the introduction of “The Mechanical Rabbit” that delivered new baseballs to umpires, or his insistence that the team wear white cleats—a move that was mocked at first but ended up setting a fashion trend that teams followed for decades.

It wasn’t just gimmicks that made those A’s teams legendary, though. On the field, they were a force of nature. Between 1972 and 1974, they won three consecutive World Series titles, with Hall of Famers like Catfish Hunter and Rollie Fingers delivering one clutch performance after another.

Who could forget the cannon arm of Reggie Jackson, “Mr. October” himself, or the speed of Bert Campaneris flying around the bases? These players didn’t just play the game; they electrified it, turning it into something bigger than a sport—a cultural moment.

Side note, did you know that Debbi Fields of Mrs. Fields Cookie’s fame was one of the original Oakland A’s ball girls? She was! And Stanely Kirk Burrel, who you know better as MC Hammer was a ballboy.

By the 1980s, the A’s reinvented themselves again under the fiery and relentless Billy Martin. The term “Billy Ball” became synonymous with aggressive, no-holds-barred baseball. Billy Martin was a manager with a spark, and he brought that spark to Oakland in full force.

Players like Rickey Henderson, who would go on to become the all-time stolen base leader, were at the forefront of this era. Henderson wasn’t just fast; he was a magician on the base paths, stealing more bases in a single season (130) than any other team in the league, then years later finishing his career as the king of steals with 1,406—a Major League Baseball record that may never be broken. Alongside him, players like Dwayne Murphy, Tony Phillips, and pitcher Steve McCatty embodied the hustle, grit, and toughness that came to define this period.

Then came the LaRussa years and the rise of the Bash Brothers—Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco. The late ’80s were a time of thunderous home runs, and the team was crowned champions again in 1989, winning the World Series in the aftermath of the Loma Prieta earthquake.

That series against our Bay Area rivals, the San Francisco Giants, became known as the “Earthquake Series,” a poignant and surreal moment in sports history that transcended baseball. The image of Dave Stewart staring down batters with a look of a tiger eyeing its prey or Dennis Eckersley pumping his fist after each pivotal strikeout is etched in our memories. And who can forget the heartwarming, gap-toothed smile of Dave “Hendu” Henderson? Every time he smiled, you knew something good was afoot.

In the 2000s, the A’s were ahead of their time with the Moneyball era. Billy Beane, the architect behind it all, revolutionized baseball with a strategy that turned conventional wisdom on its head. While teams like the Yankees spent hundreds of millions, the A’s thrived by analyzing data and exploiting inefficiencies. Players like Tim Hudson, Barry Zito, Eric Chavez, and Scott Hatteberg became household names, not for their superstar status, but for their incredible contributions to a team that embraced innovation and defied the odds.

And even now, with a team expected by everyone in the league to be thrown out with the morning trash, a special shoutout goes to players like Brent Rooker, Lawrence Butler, and Zack Gelof, who, despite the chaos swirling around them, continue to play their hearts out and win games for us. Their perseverance, despite resistance, has shown the utmost dedication and loyalty to their craft.

Through it all, something else stands out—the unwavering loyalty of the fans. The Oakland Coliseum, often called a “dump” by outsiders, was home for us. Sure, the plumbing was bad, and the seats were outdated, but it was our dump—where we witnessed moonshots and forearm bashes.

Our dump where, in May of 1991, Rickey Henderson proudly declared, “Today, I am the greatest of all time.” Our dump where Catfish Hunter and Dallas Braden achieved perfection on the mound almost 42 years apart. It will always be our dump, and we’re damn proud of it!

The stadium has reverberated with the chants of the fans who packed the bleachers, beating drums, blowing horns, and throwing themselves behind this team. Even as attendance waned in later years due to poor ownership decisions and the looming threat of relocation, Oakland fans refused to go quietly.

Who could forget the reverse boycott of 2023, when fans donned “Sell” shirts in protest of ownership—a movement so significant that one such shirt ended up in the Hall of Fame! That was more than a protest—it was a love letter to the team, a declaration that we wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Yet here we are, at the end of that fight. The A’s are leaving, and it’s hard to fathom a future without them in Oakland. But they leave behind a legacy, one that can never be erased. This city, with its rich and complicated history, has been the backdrop for some of the most incredible moments in the history of this beautiful game.

Even as the team moves to Sacramento, Las Vegas—or wherever the winds of ownership take them—those of us who lived and breathed Oakland baseball will carry these memories forever.

As the final out is recorded next Thursday afternoon, and the team leaves the Coliseum for the last time, our hearts will remain torn. But the memories we made—of championships, rivalries, legends, and wild innovations—will never die. We can only hope that somewhere, in the heart of Las Vegas or wherever the A’s land, they carry a piece of Oakland with them. Because no matter where they go, the spirit of the Oakland A’s will always belong to us.

In my ten years covering this final chapter of A’s baseball from the Coliseum press box, I want to give a thankful shoutout to three people who have made it so much more memorable: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez, the Spanish Voice of the Oakland A’s since 1977 and my mentor; Lee Leonard for countless hours of stories and laughs between innings… and during; and the late great Ray Fosse, who was always available for questions and advice. Thank you!

Mauricio Segura Golden Bay Times Die-hard Green and Gold since 1983

Birdsong and three-run fourth help Giants pull off second-straight win against struggling Orioles, 5-3

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Michael Conforto (8) and Mike Yastrzemski (5) of the San Francisco Giants celebrate after scoring on Casey Schmitt’s two RBI base hit in the top of the fourth inning at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Wed Sep 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Baltimore, Maryland

San Francisco Giants 5 (74-78)

Baltimore Orioles 3 (84-68)

Win: Hayden Birdsong (4-5)

Loss: Dean Kremer (7-10)

Save: Ryan Walker (8)

Time: 2:36

Attendance: 23,856

By Stephen Ruderman

The San Francisco Giants once again played a clean and efficient game, as they beat the Baltimore Orioles again Wednesday night, 5-3, thanks to a strong start by Hayden Birdsong, and three-run fourth inning.

It was another musty night in Baltimore, as the Giants looked to build off an impressive 10-0 win against the mighty Orioles Tuesday night. Though, perhaps I shouldn’t say the Orioles are so mighty.

Since losing the finale of their three-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 4, the Orioles have gone 3-8, which is the worst record in Baseball in that stretch. The Orioles have hit .182 in that stretch with a .261 on-base percentage, a .316 slugging percentage and 21 runs scored. Those are all last in Baseball.

As the Giants try to finish this season on a good note and not too far under .500, facing a struggling Orioles’ team could prove to be a big help in what was originally expected to be a brutal final road trip.

Mike Yastrzemski had his big breakout series at Camden Yards in 2019, and his magic in that ballpark continued last night when he led off the game with a home run and got a pair of hits. Yastrzemski stepped in against Orioles’ starter Dean Kremer, and he took the first pitch of the game and hit a home run to right-center field.

This was the first time a Giants’ hitter led off back-to-back games with a home run since Dan Gladden in 1985. Whitey Lockman and Bobby Bonds are the only other two Giants in franchise history to lead off back-to-back games with a home run.

Hayden Birdsong has had an up-and-down first season in the big leagues. After a great July, he struggled in August. He has also struggled with his control as of late, and his wildness has ballooned his pitch count in his recent starts, which has cut a few of them short.

After a five-inning shutout performance against the Milwaukee Brewers last Thursday, Birdsong retired the first six men he faced Wednesday night. However, the Orioles would make things difficult for the young right-hander in the bottom of the thief inning.

A walk to Emmanuel Rivera and a base-hit by Jackson Holliday put runners on first and second for the Orioles with nobody out. James McCann then hit an opposite-field double to right that went off the top of the glove of Yastrzemski, and Rivera scored to tie the game.

Gunnar Henderson struck out on a foul tip, and Holliday scored on a ground out to second by Cedric Mullins to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead. The Orioles had Birdsong on the ropes, and the Giants were getting their bullpen ready, but Baltimore’s recent struggles offensively allowed Birdsong to limit the damage to two runs.

The Giants would have a response in the top of the fourth. Heliot Ramos and Michael Conforto singled to start the inning. The Giants would then play some small ball, as Tyler Fitzgerald reached on a bunt single to load the bases with nobody out.

Grant McCray hit a nubber off the end of the bat along the third base line. Kremer went off the mound to get it and flip it to the plate, but the throw pulled catcher James McCann off the plate, and Ramos scored the tying run. Casey Schmitt, who was officially called up to replace Matt Chapman Wednesday, singled on a ground ball to left to knock in a pair, and the Giants took a 4-2 lead.

Limiting the damage in the bottom of the third and getting a three-run boost in the top of the fourth fueled Birdsong, who pitched a pair of scoreless innings in the bottom of the fourth and fifth.

Conforto led off the sixth with a line-drive home run to right to make it 5-2, and Birdsong retired the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the sixth. However, a two-out base-hit by Colton Cowser ended the night for Birdsong.

Erik Miller came in, and Ryan O’Hearn greeted him with an opposite-field double into the corner in left, which scored Cowser to make it 5-3. Rivera then singled O’Hearn over to third, and Orioles Manager Brandon Hyde sent former Giant Austin Slater up to pinch-hit. Miller struck Slater out, and the Giants kept their lead.

For Birdsong, he went five and two thirds innings and gave up three runs. He only walked two, as he has had better control over his last two starts.

Sean Hjelle escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh, and after that, the rest of the game sailed by without any drama. Tyler Rogers and Ryan Walker pitched one, two, three innings in the eighth and ninth to close it out, and the Giants won it 5-3.

Hayden Birdsong got his first win since the second game of the Giants’ doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies on July 27. Dean Kremer took the loss, and Ryan Walker picked up the save.

The Giants improve to 74-78, and they can complete the sweep of the Orioles with a win on getaway day Wednesday. Logan Webb (12-10, 3.53 ERA) will make a rare start following a Giants’ win, and he will be opposed by the veteran, Zach Eflin (10-9, 3.55 ERA). First pitch will be at 1:05 p.m. in Baltimore, and 10:05 a.m.—morning baseball—back home in San Francisco.

Major League Baseball News and Notes:

The Milwaukee Brewers became the first team to punch their ticket to the Postseason. With the Cubs’ 5-3 loss to the Oakland A’s Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field, the Brewers won the National League Central for the second year in a row, and the third time in the last four years. This is also the Brewers’ sixth trip to the playoffs in the last seven years.

A’s Beat Cubs Winning Series 5-3; Win rubber match at Wrigley Field

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Oakland A’s Tyler Soderstrom is congratulated in the A’s dugout in the top of the fourth inning after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Wed Sep 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday the Oakland A’s (67-68) tied up their series with the Chicago Cubs (77-75). They played the rubber match Wednesday and won the series. The Cubs are a tough team and beating these guys today was impressive win.

The A’s have proven that they can hang with any team and they did just that today beating the Cubs 5-3 and winning the series. There was one home run in the game off the bat of newly returned Tyler Soderstrom. Oakland had nine hits in the game with Brent Rooker and Tyler Soderstrom accounting for four of them.

Game recap: Neither team had a lot going in the first three innings. Brent Rooker walked in the opening inning and the Cubs Seiya Suzuki also walked in the bottom of the first. There would be another walk for Oakland in the second inning.

Zach Gelof walked but with no supporting hits it was of no avail. Nico Hoerner singled but that would be it for the Cubs. Oakland had a huge opportunity in the third inning with two outs. Lawrence Butler got his hitting streak going again with a single, Brent Rooker singled driving Butler over to third and Shea Langeliers walked loading the bases.

That would be it for Cub pitcher Justin Steele and Ethan Roberts relieved him getting the third out. Steele went 2 2/3 innings allowing two hits, three walks and no runs.

Oakland got going in the fourth scoring the first run of the game and the A’s took a 1-0 lead. Tyler Soderstrom homered which is always good new for the A’s. They more often than not thrive when those home runs start leaving the park. The Oakland A’s are third in the American League in home runs.

Chicago turned the game around in the fifth inning scoring three runs taking a 3-1 lead. The Cubs had four hits in the inning and one walk. Nico Swanson had a infield single driving Nico Hoerner home and tying up the game 1-1.

Seiya Suzuki drove Pete Crow-Armstrong (who had singled) home from second base extending their lead 2-1. The Cubs would finish off the inning with a third run. Cody Bellinger hit a sacrifice fly and Miguel Amaya scored from third for a 3-1 Cub lead.

Oakland would tie up this game in the seventh inning. This was a 4 hit inning for the A’s. Tyler Soderstrom got the inning going with a single. Tyler Nevin singled driving Soderstrom to second base.

Nick Allen sacrificed advancing Soderstrom to third and Nevin to second. With one out Lawrence Butler grounded out driving Soderstrom home and the A’s were a run away from tying up the game 3-2. Brent Rooker hit an infield single, Nevin scored and this game was tied 3-3.

The A’s really got going in this game striking twice in the eighth inning scoring two runs and taking a 5-3 lead. Seth Brown scored when Zach Gelof doubled and Soderstrom grounded into a fielder’s choice and Gelof scored.

Oakland would taking the 5-3 lead into the ninth inning. Mason Miller took the mound and it was “Miller Time”. He was looking for his 27th save of the season and he came through allowing 1 walk but striking out Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong who grounded into a double play and that was the ball game 5-3 in favor of the A’s.

Game notes: Wednesday afternoon the A’s were able to take the series from the Cubs after tying up the series Tuesday in a 4-3 decision. After leading 4-2 going into the bottom of the ninth inning in game two, Ian Happ homered but the A’s were able to hold on for the win thanks to the brilliance of pitcher Mason Miller who had his 26th save of the season. Brady Basso took the mound for the A’s today and Justin Steele started for the Cubs.

Oakland will now travel home after taking this series from the Cubs to face another powerhouse. The Coliseum is usually packed when the New York Yankees come to town and this series should be no different.

Game One will get underway on Friday night with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 PM. J.T. Ginn (0-1, 4.94) was scheduled to start and it was confirmed that he will indeed to take the mound looking for his first win.

He had a terrible start last Saturday giving up ten hits and three runs to the Chicago White Sox and only going four innings. He will be looking for an improved effort Friday night. The Yankees will start Gerrit Cole who comes into this game with a 6-5 win/loss record and a 3.97 ERA.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: 49ers head to Southland face Rams at So Fi Sunday; SF injuries to Samuel and McCaffrey a huge setback

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Deebo Samuel (1) will miss ‘a couple’ of games with a calf injury, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Mon Sep 16, 2024 at the 49ers training facilities in Santa Clara. Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

On the San Francisco 49ers podcast with David:

#1 David, former San Francisco 49ers and now Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was a struggling back up quarterback for the 49ers last season he comes over to the Vikings learns the offense and against the 49ers passed for 268 yards with two touchdowns. Any advantage or familiarity throwing against the 49ers defense that gave him an advantage last Sunday?

#2 Talk about Darnold’s 97 yard pass for a touchdown to Justin Jefferson did that pretty much break this game wide open?

#3 Did you get the sense in this game that the 49ers with the injuries to Christian McCaffrey and now Deebo Samuel these were factors in the loss but also could lead to more loses? The 49ers who have ten game winning streak against the Los Angeles Rams head to the Southland and face them at So Fi Stadium. What’s your outlook for this game?

David Zizmor does the 49ers podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Aces Finish Off Seattle 85-72, Head Home For Michelob ULTRA Arena Finale Thursday Night

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Las Vegas forward Queen Egbo (0) goes airborne to lay up against the Seattle Storm’s guard Victoria Vivians (35) at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Tue Sep 17, 2024 (Las Vegas Aces photo)

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday night the Las Vegas Aces (26-13) played their last regular season road game taking on the Seattle Storm (24-15). They had what was probably their best first quarter all season shooting at 80%.

The Storm came on strong in the second half tying the game and leading for a minute by a single point. Las Vegas finished off the Storm in the final three minutes of the game winning by the score of 85-72.

The Storm did a great job containing A’Ja Wilson after she had scored ten points in the opening quarter. She scored 11 points in the remaining three quarters for a 21 point night.

Game recap: The Aces could not have had a better start in the first quarter of this game. They shot an unbelievable 80% leading after the first ten minutes of play 29-18. A’Ja Wilson had ten points in the opening quarter.

In the second quarter Las Vegas led by as much as 18 points. The Storm just kept picking away and they outscored the Aces in the second quarter 22-19. At halftime the Aces had a 48-40 lead but a real shift in the game could be seen. The Storm had not led once in the first half but they had more than cut the Las Vegas lead in half.

The Storm would not back down winning the third quarter 21-15. The Aces by the slimmest of margins led as the third quarter ended with Las Vegas on top 63-61. After the impressive ten point start in the opening quarter, A’Ja Wilson had only scored seven points going into the fourth quarter.

The Storm had really contained her. The Aces were having a lot of success from downtown with eight three’s while the Storm only had one. Kelsey Plum had four three’s and Chelsea Gray had three in this crazy battle. It all came down to the fourth quarter.

Less than a minute into the fourth quarter, this game was tied at 63. At 8:26 in the quarter the Storm had taken their first lead of the game 65-64. The Storm tied the game one more time before Las Vegas began to push back.

With less than three minutes left in the game Las Vegas had taken a79-67 lead. The Aces continued to dim the Storm’s hopes extending their lead and with under two minutes left in this game they had a 14 point lead 67-81. Las Vegas had finished this game the way they had started it. The final was 85-72.

This game was a real battle in the second half until the final three minutes of play when the Aces began to really push the score. The Storm had six turnovers in the final quarter three of which three occurred in the final three minutes and coupled with missed shots it was all but over for the Storm. The high score for the Storm was Nneka Ogwumike with 19 points followed by Skylar Diggins-Smith with 17.

The Las Vegas Aces are peaking at the perfect time. With this win, they have won four games in a row. They barely lost to the Liberty without A’Ja Wilson on the floor out for that game. This team right now really looks like they could pull-off a three-peat.

They have the grit and the talent to pull it off but it will not be easy. A’Ja Wilson finished this game with 21 points and seven rebounds which is on the quiet side for her. Kelsey Plum also scored 21 points with seven rebounds.

Jackie Young had a great game with 16 points and four rebounds and the feisty Chelsea Gray finished with 13 points and six rebounds. This was an amazing team effort and Tiffany Hayes was solid off the bench with ten points

Game notes: Tuesday evening the Aces took on the Storm at Climate Pledge Arena. Another packed arena attended the final home game of the regular season. It was another sell-out game with over 15,000 fans. Both of these teams are headed for the playoffs.

The Aces will now head home for their final regular season home game. They will take on the Dallas Wings at Michelob ULTRA Arena Thursday night with tipoff scheduled for 7:00 PM.