Tag: mlb

Giants’ offense shows potential, Yaz and McCray lead Giants to 10-0 win in Baltimore; Zaidi’s job could be on the rocks

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants Grant McCray scores on a Donavon Walton RBI single in the top of the fourth inning at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Tue Sep 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Baltimore, Maryland

San Francisco Giants 10 (73-78)

Baltimore Orioles 0 (84-67)

Win: Blake Snell (4-3)

Loss: Albert Suarez (8-6)

Time: 2:49

Attendance: 23,967

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants’ offense came to life and showed what they were capable of Tuesday night and executed in big RBI situations, as they clobbered one of the best teams in Baseball in the Baltimore Orioles 10-0 on a misty night at Camden Yards.

With the Giants in chaos and just mere days away from elimination, they embarked on their final road trip of the season to play three teams most likely going to the playoffs. With the way they have been playing as of late, it is a road trip that could be a brutal one, especially with leaks and stories coming out about the fate of President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi.

On Sunday, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reported that the Giants’ ownership had been frustrated with Zaidi, who despite his contract running through next season—a contradiction to Bob Melvin’s introductory press conference when they said Zaidi was signed through 2026—could be out of a job at year’s end.

According to Baggarly, ownership was frustrated with the pace of the negotiations with Matt Chapman, and part owner Buster Posey had to intervene to get the deal done. Baggarly reported that Zaidi was not too keen on Chapman getting a no-trade clause, and that Posey is the one who had to get the no-trade clause.

However, a joint article published today by Susan Slusser and John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle painted a different picture. According to Slusser and Shea, while Posey was involved in the negotiations, they went at a more brisk pace than originally reported by Baggarly. Slusser and Shea also reported that Zaidi has been dealing with a recent health issue that required him to be hospitalized.

Another interesting part of Slusser and Shea’s story was that they reached out to Chapman’s agent, the notorious Scott Boras, whom Baggarly did not reach out to, and who expressed his frustration at that fact.

Slusser and Shea acknowledged that Zaidi’s fate is up in the air, and that his job is not entirely safe despite being signed through next year.

Whatever we want to make of it, these two stories, especially with the fact that there are significant contradictions between the two of them, point to a front office in chaos, especially after four scouts were let go by the organization. It sounds like anything could happen, and this will likely hang over the team over the final two weeks of the season.

Interestingly, the Giants began their final road trip in Baltimore as the outskirts of a powerful east coast storm brushed against the city. The last time the Giants were in the Beltway, they were up against the clock as they looked to get out of Washington D.C. before Tropical Storm Debby hit.

The Giants beat the Washington Nationals in a wild ten-inning thriller on Aug. 8 that featured two rain delays and the ejection of Bob Melvin in the top of the first inning. The home plate umpire in that game who gave Melvin the boot was Stu Scheurwater, who would stick Tuesday night’s game as well.

The Giants would once again play spoiler against the Orioles, who are closing in on their second-straight trip to the playoffs, as they came into Tuesday night in possession of the first wild card spot in the American League, and six and a half games up on a playoff spot.

However, Baltimore also came in three games back of the New York Yankees in the American League East. Though considering that winning the AL East would earn the Orioles that dreaded week off, the Giants would be doing the Orioles a major favor by beating them.

Anyway, the Giants would be up against their old friend, Albert Suarez. Suarez pitched for the Giants in 2016 and 2017, going 3-8 with a 4.51 ERA over 40 games in 12 starts.

However, Suarez has since been on a long journey in his fight to get back to the big leagues. After pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Triple-A affiliate, the Reno Aces, in 2018, Suarez went to Japan to pitch for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball from 2019 to 2021.

Suarez won a ring in Tokyo in 2021, and then he went to the Samsung Lions of the KBO League. Suarez pitched for Samsung in 2022 and 2023.

Suarez returned to the United States and signed a minor league deal with the Orioles on Sept. 15, 2023. Suarez did not make the big club out of Spring Training this year and was assigned to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.

However, Suarez was called up by the Orioles and made his long-awaited return to the big leagues on April 17. Suarez made the start that afternoon for the Orioles at Camden Yards against the Minnesota Twins, and gave up just three hits over five and two thirds shutout innings in a 4-2 Orioles’ win.

Suarez has gone on to have quite the return to the major leagues, as he came into Tuesday night 8-5 with a 3.39 ERA. It seemed that he would have a favorable matchup Tuesday night against a struggling Giants’ offense.

However, as Mike Yastrzemski stepped up to lead off the game, it was clear that Tuesday night would not go as expected. Yastrzemski was returning to where it all started for him in 2019. Just six days after Yastrzemski made his major league debut on May 25, 2019, Yastrzemski started his breakout series at Camden Yards against the organization that traded him that spring.

In the opener of that series on May 31, 2019, Yastrzemski hit second and tripled in the first inning, and he led off the second with a home run. Yastrzemski went 4-for-11 in that series, which spring boarded him to his breakout 2019 Season, and well, the rest was history.

Yastrzemski led off the game Tuesday night, and on the second pitch, he hit an absolute bomb to the back of the ballpark in right field, and out onto Eutaw Street. It was Yastrzemski’s 16th home run of the year.

After Brett Wisely knocked in Patrick Bailey with a sacrifice fly to right to make it 2-0 in the top of the second, Yastrzemski golfed out a low changeup and lined a base-hit to right, which scored Grant McCray to make it 3-0. Yastrzemski’s future with the Giants was bleak at the start of the season, but with another solid season, he will most likely be back and in the mix next season.

On the pitching side, Blake Snell took the ball and was once again incredible. Snell gave up just one hit and two walks, and struck out 12 over six shutout innings. Just think of what the Giants can get if they are able to extend him and give him normal springs.

Another man who would have a big night was Grant McCray. After a big two games in San Diego against the Padres on Sept. 6 and 7, McCray went 2-for-26 in his next seven games. He was looking to reverse his first big league slump, and he did so in a big way tonight.

McCray went 2-for-3 tonight with a pair of walks, and a pair of stolen bags. He singled, stole second and scored on a base-hit by Donovan Walton in the top of the fourth. He also singled, stole second and scored as part of a six-run top of the ninth for the Giants.

The fact that the Giants manufactured nine runs and went 5-for-9 with runners in scoring position against a strong Orioles’ team tonight made this season all the more frustrating and disappointing. They showed that they had it in them to have a consistent strong offense and make a run at the playoffs.

This was the kind of baseball the Giants played when they won 10 of 12 at the end of May, and when they got hot again at the end of June and the beginning of July. If only they could have stuck by this kind of baseball throughout the season, I can’t help but think that things would be quite different right now.

With a healthy Jung-hoo Lee returning next season, a decent young core in place, and Bryce Eldridge possibly coming up next season, all this team needs is some off-season additions and a different philosophy, and next season could be something special.

Blake Snell got the win, and Albert Suarez took the loss after giving up four runs and just three and a third innings. The Giants improve to 73-78, which means they will not lose 90 games.

Hayden Birdsong (3-5, 4.74 ERA) will make the start against the Birds Wednesday night. He will be opposed by Dean Kremer (7-9, 4.10 ERA). First pitch will once again be at 6:35 p.m. in Baltimore, and 3:35 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

Giants News and Notes:

Matt Chapman made the trip to Baltimore with the Giants, but he had to leave for Arizona to tend to his wife, who is about to go into labor for the birth of their child. The Chapmans were hoping it could have happened next week when the Giants are in Arizona, but nature had its own plans.

Casey Schmitt is on his way to Baltimore, but he has yet to be added to the roster.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Friendly confines of Wrigley not so friendly for A’s

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Chicago Cubs starter Shota Imanaga had great control and were able to keep runs down against the Oakland A’s who scored only twice at Wrigley Field on Mon Sep 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Chicago Cubs starter Shota Imanaga did the job on Monday night striking out 11 hitters picking up his fifth straight win. He was certainly a tough customer for the visiting Oakland A’s in the 9-2 win.

#2 Despite the win the Cubs remain five games behind the New York Mets for the third and final spot for the NL Wild Card.

#3 Amaury, the A’s struggled to make any contact against Imanaga and had five hits over six innings.

#4 A’s starter Joey Estes who didn’t last long got touched up by the Cubs line up. Estes gave up six runs and nine hits it seemed like everything that Estes threw the Cubs saw the baseball the size of a beach ball.

#5 The A’s and Cubs do battle again at Wrigley. Starting pitcher for the A’s RHP Mitch Spence (7-9, 4.33) for the Cubs LHP Jordan Wicks (2-3, 5.27) first pitch 4:40pm PT.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the radio 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

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s continue Chicago road trip open 3 games at Wrigley Field Tuesday

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s Shea Langeliers rounds the bases after hitting a top of the ninth inning home run against the Chicago White Sox at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago on Sun Sep 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 The 4-3 loss to Chicago White Sox (35-115) was a bit of a shocker after winning game one in a shutout 2-0.

#2 The A’s barely lost Saturday’s coming back to tie twice so a better effort was expected in Sunday’s game.

#3 The A’s hit a couple of home runs, one from Brent Rooker and a second from Shea Langeliers but it was not enough to win the game losing 4-3.

#4 The White Sox did not let their foot off the pedal hitting their second home run of the game in the sixth inning pushing their lead back out to 4-2. Bryan Ramos hit a solo home run making it a little more difficult for Oakland but still within reach.

#5 The A’s have the day off Monday and on Tuesday the probable pitcher for the Oakland A’s will be Joey Estes with a 7-7 win/loss record and a 4.36 ERA. Shota Imanaga will take the mound for the Chicago Cubs with a 13-3 win/loss record and a 3.03 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 4:40 PM PT.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants open three game set in Baltimore; Will it get any better there?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos slugs a ninth inning home run in front of San Diego Padres catcher Kyle Higashioka (left) at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Sep 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 Marko, the San Francisco Giants are feeling the pain losing three straight shut out games and on Sunday losing in ten innings 4-3 to the San Diego Padres to close out a long homestand.

#2 The Padres David Peralta hit a tenth inning tiebreaking single as the Padres scored two in the top of the tenth and the Giants fell a run short scoring a run in the bottom of the tenth in the losing cause.

#3 The Giants Heliot Ramos became the first right handed hitter in Oracle Park history (it opened back in 2000) to hit an opposite field home run that hit the water beyond the right field brick wall as homers hit in the water are known as splash hits.

#4 The Giants have now lost four straight games three of those coming on shutouts and Sunday was the first game they got on scoreboard after getting shutout in 32 straight innings. It was the longest drought by any team in the majors since the Kansas City Royals went 33 innings without a run between Aug 15-18 2022.

#5 It’s off to Baltimore and the Orioles at Camden Yards as the Giants open a three game series there on Tuesday night at 3:35pm PT. Giants starter LHP Blake Snell (3-3, 3.52) for the Orioles RHP Albert Suarez (8-5, 3.39).

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

Giants Honor Late Orlando Cepeda, but Fall to the Padres 4-3, on a Beautiful day by the Bay

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants crew setting up for the Orlando Cepeda tribute at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Sep 15, 2024 (photo by Michael Roberson/ The African American Athlete)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif — The San Francisco Giants (72-78) held a pregame ceremony for former Giant and Hall of Famer the Late Orlando “Baby Bull” Cepeda, before losing to the San Diego Padres (85-65), 4-3 inside the friendly confines of Oracle Park.

Cepeda, who spent his first nine seasons with the Giants, died June 28 of this year at the age of 86. The organization posthumously gave him his flowers in a celebration of his life at Oracle Park, simultaneously while the rest of Major League Baseball celebrated Roberto Clemente in the other ballparks.

Orlando”s career numbers are impressive across the board, but even more so as a Giants’ first baseman. As a major leaguer, Cepeda hit .297, had 2,351 hits, belted 379 home runs, and knocked in 1,365 runs. As a Giant, (1958 – 1966) he batted .308, hit 226 homers, and produced 767 RBIs.

Also during his time in the city by the Bay, Cepeda earned the 1958 National League Rookie of the Year award. In addition to that prestigious honor, Orlando was a 10-time All-Star, representing the Giants.

During the 1966 season, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he garnered the National League Most Valuable Player award in 1967, in addition to winning the World Series that same year.

Next he went south to the Peach State and played for the Atlanta Braves (1969 -1972). Midway through the 1972 season, he was back in the Bay Area, after being traded to the Oakland A’s. Unfortunately his reunion on the West Coast was pretty unceremonious.

He was injured right away and considered retirement. Eventually the cantankerous owner Charlie Finley released him of his contract while he was rehabbing in Puerto Rico. Ironically, Oakland went on to win the first of their threepeat of World Series victories (1972 – 1974), while Cepeda was not credited for the team’s championship.

In 1973, with the American League adopting the Designated Hitter position, it revitalized the Caribbean Legend into continuing to play baseball. The Boston Red Sox signed him to the first ever DH contract that allowed him to strictly hit and not have to worry about playing on the field defensively.

Cepeda parlayed that opportunity into being awarded the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, on the merits of batting .289, hitting 20 home runs, and tallying 86 RBI’s. He also had the distinction of hitting at least 20 homers on four different teams (Giants, Cardinals, Braves & Red Sox).

In 1974, Orlando played briefly in Mexico, then he was offered a contract by the Kansas City Royals. The season resulted in stats that were lower than his prime campaigns, and eventually became his final season in the Big Leagues. Cepeda hit .215, hit only one home run, and knocked in 18 runners.

He played in his native Puerto Rico the next season, but ended up retiring because he felt his body was not up to continuing playing baseball. He faced trials and tribulations for a while after baseball, but things did eventually get better.

In 1987, he returned to the fold of the San Francisco Giants family, serving several posts and capacities over the years. His number 30 is retired and on the outfield wall next to Wille Mays’.

With all the ceremonial respect being paid to Cepeda, the game started 30 minutes (1:35) later than the usual start time for Sunday Afternoon. The visiting Southern California “Fathers” were on a mission (journey), not the building they founded, but winning the game.

San Diego scored first, on a sacrifice fly by Manny Machado, scoring Luis Arraez in the top of the sixth inning. Donovan Walton tied the game with a solo homer in the bottom of the same inning,

In the top of the 8th, Fernando Tatis Jr. came into the game as a pinch hitter and promptly belted a solo bomb, propelling the Padres back on top, 2-1. The Giants used the drama of the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game at 2 and force extra innings. Heliot Ramos also hit a solo home run to tie the score.

During the bonus inning (10), Padres’ David Peralta hit an RBI single (Crownenworth), then he later scored on Donovan Solano’s groundout. San Diego was up 4-2 after 9 1/2 innings.

The Giants tried to use the spirit of Orlando Cepeda and comeback and win in the bottom of the tenth, but that did not exactly happen. Michael Conforto stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter, and hit a deep fly ball out, which resulted in an additional run, but not enough for the win. San Diego escaped with a 4-3 victory, and series sweep.

Rest in Peace Orlando Cepeda.

Padres sweep Giants with 4-3 10-inning win at Oracle

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin (left) and pitching coach Bryan Price (right) watch the Giants and San Diego Padres in the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Sep 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

San Diego Padres 4 (85-65)

San Francisco Giants 3 (72-78)

Win: Robert Suarez (9-3)

Loss: Camilo Doval (5-3)

Save: Adrian Morejon (2)

Time: 2:42

Attendance: 33,043

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Padres completed their sweep of the Giants with a 4-3 win in 10 innings, as the Giants have dropped four straight to tie their season-low six games under .500.

Prior to the game, the Giants held a celebration of life for the late hall-of-famer, Orlando Cepeda on a gorgeous and windy partly cloudy fall day on the shores of McCovey Cove. The ceremony was emceed by Giants’ broadcasters Erwin Higueros and Mike Krukow. Numerous guests spoke, including fellow Hall-of-Famer Juan Marichal, Dusty Baker and Cepeda’s granddaughter.

Before it was over, Krukow read a statement made by Willie Mays, who passed ten days before Cepeda. Mays considered Cepeda a little brother and told the story of how Cepeda was a bat boy when Mays played winter ball in Puerto Rico in 1954.

Sunday was Roberto Clemente Day around Major League Baseball, and all uniformed personnel wore a special patch to commemorate the occasion. Players throughout the league also had the option of wearing Clemente’s number 21. Heliot Ramos wore number 21 for the Giants. Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts and David Peralta wore number 21 for the Padres.

Mike Yastrzemski, who did not wear number 21 Sunday, was honored prior to the game in a short ceremony as the Giants’ nominee for the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award. The award is given annually to the player who best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.

Anyway, the Giants had been shutout in three-straight games, marking the first time they suffered through that humiliation since June 23-25, 1992. The Giants were also looking to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Padres.

Melvin held a team meeting following Saturday night’s loss and made clear that the way they were playing was not cutting it. Prior to the game Sunday, Melvin had his players go through infield practice, something that happens more in spring training, to try and fix some of their defensive miscues.

The ceremonies delayed the start of the game to 1:35. Once the game started, Landen Roupp took the ball for the Giants and set down the first six men he faced. Likewise, Padres’ starter Martin Perez set down the first nine men he faced,

Roupp was really supposed to be the opener, but he ended up throwing five shutout innings, and allowed just two hits. The only time he ran into trouble was in the top of the third inning, when he gave up a pair of hits and walked a guy. What helped him get out of that jam was a double play he induced off the bat of Elias Diaz.

Spencer Bivens came in for the Giants in the top of the sixth, and the Padres immediately had him on the ropes. Luis Arraez led off the inning with a base-hit to left, and Donovan Solano reached on an error by second-baseman Mark Canha.

Jurickson Profar moved the runners over to second and third with a sacrifice bunt, and Manny Machado got Arraez in with a sacrifice fly to left. Erik Miller then came in and struck out Jackson Merrill to end the inning.

Like Roupp, Perez had also thrown five shutout innings, which extended the Giants’ scoreless innings streak to 32. However, Padres Manager Mike Shildt let Perez back out for the bottom of the sixth, and Donovan Walton led off the inning with a home run to right-center to tie the game and finally snap the streak.

It was Walton’s first big league hit since July 2, 2022, and it also ended the day for Perez. Perez went five-plus innings, while allowing a run and two hits.

Jeremiah Estrada came in and survived a two-out double by Matt Chapman, and left-hander Taylor Rogers pitched a one, two, three top of the seventh for the Giants. Tanner Scott came in for San Diego in the bottom of the seventh, and while he walked Marco Luciano with one out, Luciano was caught trying to steal second to end the inning.

Submariner Tyler Rogers came in for his brother in the top of the eighth. Fernando Tatis led off, and he took the first pitch from Rogers and hit a bomb to left-center to put the Padres back ahead.

Rogers retired the side in order after the home run by Tatis, and Jason Adam came in to throw a one, two, three inning for the Padres in the bottom of the eighth. Ryan Walker then pitched through a two-out walk for a scoreless top of the ninth.

The Padres brought in their closer, Robert Suarez, for the bottom of the ninth as they tried to finish off the sweep. The first batter for the Giants was Heliot Ramos, and on a 3-2 pitch, he hit an opposite-field home run to right that went into the water for the first-ever splash hit by a right-handed hitter in the 25-year history of Oracle Park.

It was the 105th splash hit by a Giant, and the 166th home run into McCovey Cove overall. Until Sunday, not a single one had been hit by a right-handed hitter. Buster Posey nearly became the first with his two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning in Game 1 of the 2021 National League Division Series between the Giants and the Dodgers, but it ended up hitting the water cannon.

Most importantly, Ramos’ splash hit tied the game 2-2. Suarez then retired the side in order, and that sent the game into the 10th.

With extra innings came the automatic runner at second. The home team used to have the advantage in extra innings, as they had the last at-bat and the chance of a walk-off. However, with the road team having a runner at second with nobody out in a tied game, they had the real advantage now.

That advantage would pay dividends for the Padres in the top of the tenth. Melvin brought in Camilo Doval with Jake Cronenworth at second. David Peralta led off the inning with an RBI base-hit to left, which scored Cronenworth to put the Padres back ahead. (I know, “led off the inning with an RBI base-hit” makes no sense, but neither does baseball Sunday.)

Arraez doubled with one out to put runners at second and third, and Solano grounded out to third to knock in Peralta and make it 4-2.

Adrian Morejon was summoned by San Diego for the bottom of the tenth, and Yastrzemski was the runner at second for the Giants. Yastrzemski got to third on a ground out by Luciano, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Conforto.

However, having a runner at second with nobody out down by two is nothing like having a runner at second with nobody out in a tied game. Patrick Bailey grounded out to third, and the Padres won it 4-3.

Robert Suarez picked up the win despite blowing his fifth save; Camilo Doval took the loss; and Adrian Morejon got the save. The Giants fall back to their season-low six games under .500 at 72-78.

The Giants will now embark on their final road trip of the season, and if you think their 72-78 record right now is bad, just wait until they have to go through Baltimore, Kansas City and Arizona to play three teams destined for the playoffs.

The Giants will have a day off in Baltimore Monday, and then they will begin a three-game series against the mighty Orioles on Tuesday at Camden Yards.

The Giants will have a chance to play spoiler in the American League East race. The Orioles trail the New York Yankees by three games, but the Giants would be doing a major favor to the Orioles by beating them since it would make it more likely that Baltimore would be a wild card team and not have a week off.

Blake Snell (3-3, 3.52 ERA) will take the ball for the Giants on Tuesday, and he will be opposed by former Giant Albert Suarez (8-5, 3.39 ERA), who is back in the big leagues this season for the first time since 2017. First pitch will be at 6:35 p.m. in Baltimore, and 3:35 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

A’s Drop Series To White Sox In Shocker 4-3

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s Brent Rooker slugged a two run home run in the top of the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox in a losing cause at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago on Sun Sep 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

In a series that the Oakland A’s (65-85) should have won, the complete opposite took place on Sunday in game three of their series. The 4-3 loss to Chicago White Sox (35-115) was a bit of a shocker after winning game one in a shutout 2-0.

The A’s barely lost Saturday’s coming back to tie twice so a better effort was expected in Sunday’s game. The A’s hit a couple of home runs, one from Brent Rooker and a second from Shea Langeliers but it was not enough to win the game losing 4-3. JP Sears had a rough start giving up three runs in the first inning.

Game recap: Saturday the White Sox had taken a 3-0 lead after three innings. In Sunday’s game Chicago took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and this was not the way Oakland wanted to start the game. They were behind the eight ball from the get-go.

JP Sears gave up a walk, an infield single and with two runners on base a Gavin Sheets home run for the 3-0 tally. The A’s had tied the game twice in Saturday’s contest so while it was not ideal, it was early in the game.

Neither team scored in the following three innings but in the fifth inning Oakland was up on the scoreboard only trailing by a single run. Brent Rooker knocked a 407 foot bomb out of the park with Lawrence Butler on base cutting the Chicago lead to 3-2. The A’s were within striking distance.

The White Sox did not let their foot off the pedal hitting their second home run of the game in the sixth inning pushing their lead back out to 4-2. Bryan Ramos hit a solo home run making it a little more difficult for Oakland but still within reach.

The hits were not coming for either team in the seventh and eighth innings and it all came down to the ninth inning for the A’s. Tyler Nevin lined out, Max Schuemann struck out and it was up to Shea Langeliers to keep this game going. He connected for a solo home run and Oakland was within a run of another tie. It all came to an end when Nick Allen flied out and that was the ball game 4-3.

It was an awful disappointment for the A’s in more than one way. They had so many ties in this series only to lose games. Lawrence Butler’s hit streak came to an end in this game. He did have an RBI but no hits. So often loses come at the hand of teams that are struggling; they have nothing to lose and the A’s experienced this in the series.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon the A’s took on the White Sox in game three of their series and dropped a heartbreaker 4-3 after Oakland lost Saturday’s game after tying up the game twice, the second tie in the top of the ninth.

A’s pitcher Hogan Harris threw a pitch that was right in Chicago’s Andrew Benintendi’s wheelhouse. The result was a 366 foot home run and a Chicago walk-off 7-6 on Saturday. Oakland starter JP Sears went six innings, allowed seven hits, four earned runs, and struck out four strike outs. The Sox starter Sean Burke pitched five innings allowing five hits and two earned runs.

Oakland will remain in Chicago taking on the Cubs in a three game series that will begin Monday. The Cubs are coming off losing a series to the Colorado Rockies who are also really struggling. The Cubs are a good ball club, in second place in the National League Central. The probable pitcher for the Oakland A’s will be Joey Estes with a 7-7 win/loss record and a 4.36 ERA. Shota Imanaga will take the mound for the Cubs with a 13-3 win/loss record and a 3.03 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 4:40 PM.

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Raiders could have their hands full against Ravens; 49ers face ex teammate QB Darnold; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is seen here rushing against the Kansas City Chiefs last season on Thu Sep 5, 2023 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The Las Vegas Raiders face Jackson and the Raven Sun Sep 15, 2024 in Baltimore in week 2 of the NFL season. (AP photo file)

On Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Tough opener last Sunday for the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders had a 7-6 lead over the Los Angeles Chargers but just couldn’t generate enough offense to get some insurance with the Chargers leading 9-7 in the fourth quarter they scored two touchdowns and put the game out of reach winning it 22-10. Can the Raiders regroup their offense and look to quarterback Gardner Minshew to help create some yards and scoring against a tough Baltimore Ravens defense.

#2 The San Francisco 49ers who won their opener last Sunday with authority over the New York Jets 32-19. The Jets quarterback Aaron Rogers could only do so much as the 49ers defense put him on the run all day and 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was mobile throwing for 231 yards. The 49ers are in Minnesota to face former teammate and Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold. Charlie talk about the 49ers in that Jets win last Sunday and will Darnold get enough protection from the 49ers defense today?

#3 The Chicago White Sox are just five games behind tying the 1962 New York Mets who lost 120 games that season a current MLB record. The White Sox on Saturday night ended their seven game losing streak defeating the Oakland A’s 7-6 with the score tied at 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth the Sox Andrew Benintendi hit a walk off home run for the win.

#4 The San Francisco Giants have been shutout for 27 consecutive innings having been shutout in three consecutive games and getting shutout by the San Diego Padres on Saturday night at Oracle Park 8-0. The Padres used three pitchers to combine for the shutout. Padres starter Joe Musgrove was sharp pitching six innings, allow just three hits.

#5 Charlie, wanted to ask you about the 1530 KFBK Sacramento report last Thursday regarding baseball agents Steve Boras saying that the idea of moving the A’s to Sutter Health Field in Sacramento should be rethought because it’s a health and safety issue to have players worth millions of dollars risking injury playing on a artificial surface. Also the facilities at Sutter Health are minor league no matter how much you try to remodel the park in the off season. Boras added that the A’s should go back to the Oakland Coliseum and negotiate with new Coliseum property owner the African American Sports Entertainment Group and get a good deal to stay at the Coliseum. Also the Major League Players Association has not signed off agreeing to play in Sacramento.

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

Giants have been shutout now for 27 straight innings; SF gets blanked by San Diego 8-0

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants Marco Luciano (left) and the San Diego Padres Manny Machado advanced on a two run single in the top of the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Sep 14, 2024 (AP News photo)

San Diego (84-65). 100 103 030. 8. 17. 1

San Francisco (72-77). 000 000.000 0. 5. 1

Time: 2:33

Attendance: 31,243

Saturday, September 14, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Diego Padres cut the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lead for first in the National League’s Western Division to 3-1/2 games by shutting the San Francisco Giants out, 8-0, this chilly Friday evening on the banks of McCovey Cove while Los Angeles was overwhelmed, 10-1, by the Braves in Atlanta. The Giants have now been shutout in three games and for 27 straight innings.

San Diego led their hosts from the start and never looked back, but they didn’t break the game open until they posted a three spot against rookie starter Mason Black in the top of the sixth, when Donovan Solano’s double, followed by singles off the bats of the indomitable Luis Arraiz and right fielder Fernando Tatís, Jr., a walk to the versatile veteran Jurickson Profar, and Jackson Merrill’s two bagger.

That, added to single runs in the first and fourth frames, made it 5-0 in favor of the Padres, who tagged on a trio of tallies in the eighth, getting to Erik Miller on a uncursed leadoff double by Arraez, an RBI single by Tatís, a base on balls to Profar, and a two RBI double by Jackson Merrill. The Pads scored their eight runs on 17 hits off five San Francisco pitchers.

Erik Miller, who faced only two batters in the top of the seventh, was the sole unscored upon San Francisco hurler, unless you include Donovan Walton, an infielder by trade, who gave up two hits but no runs in the ninth.

Black, who fell to 0-4, 6.75 with the loss, lasted only four innings and surrendered two runs, one earned on six hits, one of them a fourth inning solo home run to Xander Bogaerts, and a walk. 55 of his 79 offerings met the criteria to be counted as strikes.

Sean Hjelle pitched two innings and surrendered three runs, all earned, on five hits and two free passes. Jordan Hicks, just back from paternity leave, was touched up for three runs, all of them earned, on four hits and a walk in his inning and a third.

Joe Musgrove earned his sixth win against five losses for his six innings of three hit ball, in which he struck out eight of the 22 Giant batters he faced. Adrián Morejón struck out the side in seventh, and Alek Jabob mopped up with two hits and a K in the final two frames.

Arraez extended his streak of consecutive plate appearances without being struck out from 129 to 135. He also stretched his hitting streak to a dozen games. Only Bobby Witt, Jr., now has more three hit games than Arraez’s 18.. Merrill’s two RBIs raised his total to 85, tops for NL rookies.

The free falling Giants will try to recover Sunday afternoon. The game, scheduled to begin at 1:05pm PT, will follow a celebration of the life of Orlando “Peruchín” Cepeda at 12:30pm. Martín Pérez (4-5, 4.46) will take the mound for the Friars; The Giants Landen Roupp (0-1, 3.44) will throw his curve balls at the Padres.

A’s Fall To White Sox After Tying Up the Game – Benintendi homers For Walk-Off 7-6

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Chicago White Sox Andrew Benintendi slugged a walk off home run against the Oakland A’s as catcher Shea Langeliers looks on in the bottom of the ninth inning at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago on Sat Sep 14, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland Athletics (65-84) fought hard in their second game with the Chicago White Sox (34-115). Twice they fought back from three run deficits, the first in the sixth inning and the second in the ninth. It all came crashing down in the bottom of the ninth inning when Andrew Benintendi homered to right and Chicago had the walk-off 7-6 on Saturday.

Game recap: Neither team would score in the opening inning but it was the White Sox who got up on the board first in the second inning. Oakland pitcher J.T. Ginn gave up three hits in the first inning but kept the White Sox off the board.

He did not get off so easy in the second inning giving up four hits and two runs for a 2-0 Chicago lead. The White Sox extended their lead in the third inning when Ginn gave up a solo home run off the bat of Gavin Sheets.

Ginn would get out of the inning but not before he allowed two more hits. Through three innings he had allowed ten hits. The White Sox have struggled with letting teams back in games but the A’s were starting to dig a bit of a hole which all started on the mound.

Ginn started to pull it together in the fourth with a one, two, three inning and the Oakland offense had some damage control to attend to. This season the A’s have come from behind on many occasions but they were struggling offensively in this game with only 5 hits through four innings.

Brent Rooker hit another milestone in the fifth inning connecting for his 24th consecutive hit. With two outs in the fifth inning, Oakland had Rooker on second and JJ Bleday at first base. Shea Langeliers struck out and the A’s had come away empty.

Oakland’s Kyle Muller relieved Ginn in the fifth inning and he would go three up and three down. The sixth inning was also solid for Muller with another three up three down inning.

Oakland threatened again in the sixth inning but as in the fifth inning there were two outs. The A’s had runners on second and third. Jacob Wilson was hit by a pitch which loaded the bases. Leadoff hitter Lawrence Butler was next up at the plate.

Chicago pitcher Chad Kuhl walked Butler and Soderstrom scored from third and the A’s were on the board 3-1. Brent Rooker singled Max Schuemann and Jacob WiIson home and this game was tied 3-3. Oakland still had runners at the corners but a JJ Bleday ground ball ended a huge sixth inning for the Athletics. Now there would be a tie to break.

In the seventh inning, it was the White Sox breaking the tie. Andrew Benintendi singled Nicky Lopez home for one run and then Gavin Sheets sacrificed driving Luis Robert Jr. home taking a 5-3 lead. Chicago would tack one more run on in the eighth inning when Zach DeLoach scored off a Nicky Lopez single and the White Sox had another three run lead 6-3.

Oakland rallied in the top of the ninth inning. With Lawrence Butler on second and Brent Rooker on first with no outs, the A’s were threatening. JJ Bleday walked and the Athletics had the bases loaded again with Shea Langeliers at the plate.

Langeliers delivered driving both Butler and Rooker home and the score was 6-5 in favor of the White Sox. With runners on first and second Seth Brown would be looking for his first hit of the game.

Brown also delivered loading the bases still with no outs. Zach Gelof singled JJ Bleday home to tie up this game at six. Shea Langeliers attempted to reach home plate but was thrown out which was reviewed and confirmed.

The White Sox would look for the walk off in the bottom of the inning. Both of these teams were fighting for the win and it would be the White Sox that would finish on top. Andrew Benintendi knocked the ball out of the park for the walk-off and the 7-6 win.

It was a terrible disappointment for Oakland after coming back twice in this game to tie up the score. The A’s will play in the rubber match looking to take the series. Lawrence Butler continued his hitting streak as well as his stolen bases. This guys does it all. Brent Rooker had three hits in this game as did Zach Gelof. The A’s finished the game with 11 hits.

Game notes: Saturday evening the A’s took on the White Sox in game two of their three game series after beating them last night in a shut out 2-0. Oakland was looking for a win in game two but the Sox broke a 6-6 deadlock in the bottom of the ninth to come away with a one run win 7-6 at Guarantee Rate Field. A’s starter JT Ginn went four innings. allowed ten hits, three runs and struck out three earned runs. The Sox starter Chris Flexen pitched five innings allowing six hits, walked two hitters and struck out eight.

JP Sears will take the mound for the Athletics Sunday. This will be his 30th start this season. He has a 11-10 win/loss record and a 4.18 ERA. Sean Burke will start for the White Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 11:10 AM.