Tag: mlb

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Can Ohtani make the 50-50 club?; Astros Neris returns to Houston for second time; plus more

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Los Angeles Dodgers two way player Shohei Ohtani runs the bases after hitting a grand slam against the Tampa Bay Rays in the bottom of the ninth at Dodger Stadium on Fri Aug 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Los Angeles Dodgers two way player Shohei Ohtani became the sixth player to join the 40-40 club hitting a home run and stealing a base against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodgers Stadium on Friday night. Ohtani has been call a once in lifetime player and often compared to Babe Ruth being able to pitch and swing the bat.

#2 The Houston Astros signed right hander Hector Neris. This is Neris’ second time back with the Astros and he was a free agent when the Astros picked him up. The Astros did not disclose terms. Neris this season is 8-4, ERA 3.89 for the Chicago Cubs before being released on Thursday. Neris pitched for the Astros in 2022-23 going 12-7, ERA 2.69.

#3 Philadelphia Phillies centerfielder Alex Call has been place on the ten day IL due to a foot injury. The Phillies in turn called up catcher Drew Millas from Triple A Rochester. Call was hitting .343, with three home run and 14 RBIs. They’ll no doubt miss his bat.

#4 The San Diego Padres Fernando Tatis who is recovering from stress in the right thigh bone. Tatis took batting practice last Friday. Tatis has been out with the injury for the last two months. Tatis last played on June 21st and was placed on the IL on June 24th. Tatis was hitting .279, 14 home runs and 36 RBIs.

#5 The State of Nevada all of sudden has found public funds to finance a Warner Brothers studio in Las Vegas when they have no finances for public Schools. Nevada is already financing the future Las Vegas A’s with public tax money to the tune of $380 million and said they don’t have money to fund public schools. Same likely excuse when they fund for Warner Bros no money for schools and plenty for Warner Bros studios. Nevada is the number 34 out of 50 in the country in public education.

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

Giants bounce back from brutal loss with massive team effort in 4-3 win in Seattle

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San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski (5) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners in the top of the seventh inning at T Mobile Park in Seattle on Sat Aug 24, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024

T-Mobile Park

Seattle, Washington

San Francisco Giants 4 (66-65)

Seattle Mariners 3 (65-65)

Win: Spencer Bivens (3-1)

Loss: George Kirby (9-10)

Save: Ryan Walker (3)

Time: 3:04

Attendance: 38,027

By Stephen Ruderman

SEATTLE–After blowing a 5-1 lead to suffer their worst loss of the season Saturday night, the Giants bounced back today with a 4-3 win over the Mariners at T-Mobile Park.

The roof was closed again on another cold and rainy day in the Pacific Northwest, as the Giants looked to bounce back from their worst loss of the season Friday night. Friday night, the Giants had a 5-1 lead going to the bottom of the eighth inning, but Tyler Rogers imploded, and the Mariners scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie it. The Mariners then won the game in the 10th inning.

It was the kind of loss that will truly test the resilience of a team. The 2024 Giants have been a very streaky team with a lot of ups and downs, but last night’s game took the cake. They came into Saturday, 65-65, and five games back of the Braves for the third wild card with 32 games left to play. How they would respond today could be a real indicator of what this team is all about.

The Giants responded nicely against Mariners’ starter George Kirby in the top of the first inning. Tyler Fitzgerald led off the ballgame with a bunt single past the mound on the third base side. LaMonte Wade swung out swinging, but Heliot Ramos was hit by a pitch, and Michael Conforto walked to load the bases.

Matt Chapman was up, and he lined a slider from Kirby down the left field line, but Mariners’ left-fielder Randy Arozarena ran and dove to his right to make a tremendous diving catch to rob Chapman of a base-hit. Chapman still got an RBI though, as Fitzgerald scored, and it ended up being a sacrifice fly.

Arozarena hurt himself on the play, and he was down for a couple of minutes. However, being the gamer that he is, he stayed in the game.

Blake Snell made the start for the Giants, and the Giants hoped he could continue his historic stretch with another strong start Sunday. The first man Snell would face would be Victor Robles, and Robles appeared to be hit on one of his hands and fell to the ground.

Unlike Arozarena, Robles would have to leave the game. Not only that, but Home Plate Umpire Tripp Gibson ruled it a foul ball, so it proved to be one of the most painful strikes in the history of the game. Luke Raley pinch-hit and flew out to left field.

Snell pitched a scoreless inning in the bottom of the first, and the Giants would rally again in the top of the second. Thairo Estrada and Grant McCray started the inning with back-to-back singles. Curt Casali struck out, but Tyler Fitzgerald lined a base-hit down the left field line, which knocked in Thairo to make it 2-0.

The Giants were unable to add on in the top of the second, and it would prove quite costly when Snell completely lost his command in the bottom of the second. Snell walked five guys in the bottom of the second, which gave the Mariners two runs to tie the game. Talk about a rally for free.

Hayden Birdsong had a hard time throwing strikes last night, and the same thing was happening to Snell today, as he had issued six walks in his first two innings of work. Was there something wrong with the mound at T-Mobile Park? Who knows, but Snell’s second inning just came out of the blue.

“It’s why the game is beautiful,” said Snell. “There’s always something to work on; something to learn; [and] something I could have told myself to make the inning quicker.”

The Giants wasted an opportunity in the top of the third, and Snell bounced back with a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the third. Snell had thrown 74 pitches, and he was done after three no-hit innings. Snell gave up two runs and struck out six.

“You know what, a lot of innings here kinda recently added up for him,” said Bob Melvin. “Obviously, he didn’t have his command in the second, so [we] called it a day a little bit early for him and gave him a little bit of a break. He’s been pitching deep in games [and] throwing a ton of pitches. [He] just felt pretty sluggish from the start today, as far as his body goes, so that’s why we did that.”

“[I] gotta make adjustments quicker to allow myself to get deeper into games,” added Snell. “Just a weird [start], but [I’ll] learn from it [and] get better.”

Kirby pitched a scoreless inning in the top of the fourth, and Melvin went to Spencer Bivens in the bottom of the fourth. Bivens gave up a two-out single, but pitched a scoreless inning.

Kirby retired the first two men he faced in the top of the fifth, but Mike Yastrzemski doubled and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Thairo then came up and lined a base-hit down the left field line to knock in Yaz, and the Giants were back ahead 3-2.

Bivens pitched another scoreless inning in the bottom of the fifth, and JT Chargois, who came in for Kirby in the top of the fifth, pitched a scoreless top of the sixth. Bivens returned for his third inning of work in the bottom of the sixth, and he threw a one, two, three inning.

“Bivens all the sudden [made] a three-inning start out of Blake a six-inning start,” said Melvin. “It was almost like Blake pitched six innings today.”

It was not expected for Snell to only last three innings, and after Bob Melvin used six pitchers out of the bullpen last night, Bivens gave his team a huge performance.

Austin Voth came in for Seattle in the top of the seventh. After Voth retired the first two hitters he faced, Yaz came up and hit a line-drive home run to the first row in right to make it 4-2.

Aaron Hicks, who hurt himself warming up in the bullpen Friday night, was summoned for the bottom of the seventh. Hicks walked Raley with one out, and Julio Rodriguez hit a ground-rule double to right-center to put runners at second and third. Justin Turner then walked to load the bases for the always-dangerous Randy Arozarena.

Arozarena hit a ground ball to short and was originally called out on the backend of a double play by First Base Umpire Brock Ballou to end the inning. However, the Mariners challenged the call, and it was overturned. Raley scored to make it 4-3, and the inning was still alive.

Melvin then brought in Camilo Doval, who was brought back up from Sacramento after five games, in which he went 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA. Doval made his return to the majors in the ballpark where he pitched in the All-Star Game last season.

Doval immediately fell behind 3-0 to the first hitter he faced, Jorge Polanco. Arozarena then stole second, and Melved elected to put Polanco on to load the bases for former Giant Mitch Haniger, who grounded out to third to end the inning.

The Giants still had the lead going to the eighth, as Trent Thornton came in for the Mariners. McCray lined a base-hit into center field, and Curt Casali bunted him over to second. However, the Giants were unable to come through.

Melvin let Doval go back out for the bottom of the eighth, and Doval did not disappoint, as he threw a one, two, three inning, striking out the final two.

Tayler Saucedo then pitched a one, two, three top of the ninth for the Mariners.

Ryan Walker was originally not supposed to pitch today after his dominant two-inning performance last night. However, Walker really wanted to pitch, and got his wish, as he came in and retired the first two hitters in the bottom of the ninth.

Justin Turner kept the game going with a base-hit to center to bring up Arozarena as the potential winning run. Of course it had to be a little scary, but Arozarena grounded out to short to end it, and the Giants were able to hold on for a desperately-needed 4-3 win.

Spencer Bivens got the win with his three-inning performance; George Kirby took the loss; and Ryan Walker picked up his third save.

“[Walker] volunteered today,” said Melvin. “[That] allowed us to do things a little bit differently earlier in the game. [If he didn’t volunteer], you wouldn’t have seen Doval or Hicks in the innings that they pitched.”

“He’s our workhorse down there,” added Yaz. “You can throw him into any role, and he’s gonna say ‘yes.’ He’s not gonna put up a stink; he’s gonna do what needs to be done for the team and do it well…..I’m glad I don’t have to face him right now.”

Thairo and Fitzgerald both went 2-for-4, but the guy who really came through today was Yastrzemski, who went 3-for-5.

The Giants are back over .500, as they improve to 66-65. However, they remain five games back of the Braves, who beat the Washington Nationals 4-2 in Atlanta.

The Giants can take the series with a win Sunday. Robbie Ray (3-2, 4.88 ERA) will make the start for the Giants, and Bryan Woo (5-2, 2.12 ERA) will take the ball for Seattle. First pitch will be at 1:10 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Diamondbacks 74-56 +3.5
  2. Padres 73-58 +2.0
  3. Braves 70-59 —

Mets 68-62 2.5

GIANTS 66-65 5.0

Cubs 65-65 5.5

Cardinals 64-65 6.0

Giants News and Notes:

Camilo Doval had a lot of help from Ryan Vogelsong and Johnny Cueto in his brief stint in Sacramento. Doval had a conversation with Cueto, a former Giant who was pitching for the Los Angeles Angels’ Triple-A affiliate, the Salt Lake Bees.

Cueto has shown throughout his career that he possesses a lot of pitching knowledge, and he very well could be a pitching coach after he retires.

With Doval back up, Landed Roupp, who pitched for the first time in nine days last night, was sent back to Sacramento.

Even with Doval back, Walker will remain the closer.

Brew Crew takes it to A’s again in four run 9-5 win at Coliseum

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Oakland A’s Daz Cameron (28) takes a swing against the Milwaukee Brewers at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Aug 24, 2024 (Oakland A’s X photo)

By William Espy

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s hosted the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday afternoon for the second game of the three-game series. After dropping the first game 11-3, the A’s desperately needed a stronger performance to get back on track. Unfortunately for the A’s they just couldn’t get tracked for the second game of the series dropping Saturday’s contest 9-5 in front of 12,769 fans at the Oakland Coliseum.

Joe Boyle started the game on the mound for the A’s, while Colin Rea got the nod for the Brewers, which marked the first start of his career against Oakland. Rea has played well so far in the 2024 season, as he came into the game with an 11-4 record.

Boyle had struggled so far this season, entering the night with a 3-5 record and an ERA of 6.21, but you wouldn’t be able to tell based on the opening inning, as it was three-up, three-down in just 1ten pitches. Center fielder JJ Bleday gave the A’s the lead in the bottom of the inning, with a two-out home run.

Willy Adames opened the second inning with a single to center, giving the Brewers their first hit of the game. The next batter, Jake Bauers would be walked putting runners on first and second with no outs. Rhys Hoskins would get a single, with a line drive right back up the middle that hit Boyle.

A fielder’s choice on a groundball from Garrett Mitchell would score the tying run and advance the other runners to scoring position. Blake Perkins would hit the ball to Max Schuemann at short, but the throw to first would be too late making it an RBI single, giving the Brewers a 2-1 lead.

The next batter, Joey Ortiz would draw a walk, once again loading the bases. Things had the potential to get out of hand very quickly for the A’s. Brice Turang would strike out, but Boyle would walk Jackson Chourio giving the Brewers a third run.

Contreras would ground out to short, allowing the A’s to stop the bleeding and get out of the inning. It quickly went from an A’s lead to a significant deficit. The A’s wouldn’t be able to get any offense going in their half of the inning, recording three straight outs.

Adames would draw the third walk of the game for the Brewers to start the top of the third. The next batter Bauers struck out, but Adames stole second base in the meantime. Hoskins and Mitchell would both strike out as well, getting the A’s out of the inning.

It took until the bottom of the fourth inning for the A’s to show more signs of life, as Brent Rooker got a leadoff double. It would be short-lived though, as that would be the only offense they’d get in the inning. In the top of the fifth, the Brewers would extend their lead with a two-run home run by Bauers that drove in Adames, making it 5-1. TJ McFarland would enter the game for the A’s to start the top of the sixth inning, ending Boyle’s night.

Rooker brought the A’s within two runs in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run blast of his own driving in Lawrence Butler, cutting the Brewer’s lead to 5-3. McFarland had a strong inning, but he’d only get one as J.T. Ginn came in for the top of the seventh.

Zack Gelof got things going for the A’s in the bottom of the seventh with a single, which led to him stealing second. With two outs in the inning, Jared Koenig came into the game for Milwaukee ending Rea’s night. Daz Cameron pinch-hit for Butler and a two-out double drove in Gelof making it a one-run game.

They intentionally walked Rooker, bringing up Bleday. After Bleday was called for taking too long to enter the batters’ box, Mark Kotsay came out of the dugout to have some words with the home plate umpire. He’d strike out looking to end the inning and the Brewers maintained a one-run lead.

The Brewers got another run in the top of the eighth when a two-out blooper to the outfield dropped between Nevin and Andujar while Bauers was on second base, allowing him to score. After an intentional walk, Michel Otanez entered the game to face Joey Ortiz with a runner on first and second.

Ortiz would strike out to end the inning and the Brewers had a 6-4 lead. Joel Payamps took over on the mound for the bottom of the inning. He’d get through the 3-4-5 spots without any trouble, and the A’s would have one chance remaining to get back into the game.

A groundball to third allowed the Brewers to extend their lead when the throw home wasn’t in time and Brice Turang scored from third. Chourio would then go on to score on a passed ball, extending the lead to 8-4. A bloop single from Hoskins drove in Contreras making it 9-4 in favor of Milwaukee.

The A’s got a run on the board with a broken-bat single by Rooker which drove in Gelof from second base and advanced Cameron to third base. That would be all they could get going though, as they’d fall by a large margin for the second night in a row with the Brewers winning 9-5.

The Brewers and A’s conclude this series Sunday afternoon for a 1:07pm PT first pitch for the Brewers RHP Frankie Montas (6-8, ERA 4.57) for the A’s RHP Joey Estes (5-6, ERA 4.44).

Hoskins belts 3 run homer with 4 RBIs as Brewers beat A’s in a landslide 11-3

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Oakland A’s Lawrence Butler (4) grounds out to Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Aaron Civale in the top of the fourth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri Aug 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

Milwaukee (74-54). 050 200 004. 11 14 1

Athletics (54-74). 100 200 000. 3 6 2

Time:2:51

Attendance: 14,031

Friday, August 23, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–Just when you getting used to tight, low scoring games, JP Sears, 3-2, 1.57 in last four starts, took the mound for the departing Athletics, got blown out after lasting a mere 3-2/3 innings, in a lopsided 11-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in this Thursday night’s first game of a three game series between the NL Central leading Brew Crew and an Athletic team hanging by the skin of its teeth to fourth place in the AL West.

In that short stint, Sears threw 90 pitches, 56 of them considered strikes. gave up seven runs, five of them earned, on nine hits, one of them a three run four bagger by Rhys Hoskins that put the visitors ahead 3-1 in the top of the second.

That one run on the A’s side of the ledger had come on Lawrence Butler’s leadoff homer in the first, a 401 foot blast to center, his 14th round tripper and 42nd RBI of the year. The. A’s managed to score only two more runs.

They came in the bottom of the fourth, matching the two tallies Milwaukee had put up in the top of the frame. The Athletics’ offensive swan song came on back to back singles by Sean Langeliers and Seth Brown, walks to Zack Gelof, and a ground out by Butler.

He and Brown got the RBIs. Sears took the loss, which left his season’s record at 10-9, 4.35). The A’s sent two more hurlers to the mound. Ross Stripling staunched the flow of Brewers crossing the plate, holding the 16 batters he faced to two hits and another pair of free passes while striking out four in his 5-1/3 innings on the mound.

This was his second relief appearance of the year, and it gave him a total of six innings in that role this year, in which he has allowed but one opponent to score. You couldn’t really say that Dany Jiménez relieved Stripling, but he did follow him to face the visitors in the top of the ninth. His 32 pitch effort allowed four more of Milwaukee’s maulers to cross the plate.

It wasn’t as if the Brewers’ starter, Aaron Civale, outpitched Sears. The 29 year old righty who makes his home in Boston last only a third of an inning longer than Sears. 20 A’s hitter for four runs, three earned, on four hits, including Butler’s wasted home run.

Four Athletics reached on walks, against three who struck out. Civale threw 82 pitches; 50 went into the book as strikes. In spite of his escape with a no decision, Chivale’s earned run average rose to 4.84. That figure incorporated his 5.07 ERA earlier in the season with Tampa Bay.

Back to back homers by Rhys Hoskins, who had been suffering through an 0-21 draught before Friday night and Joey Ortiz sparked the Brewers’ five run second inning that basically put the game on ice.

Bryan Hudson (6-1, 1.87) got the win for the Brewers with two perfect innings. Joel Payamps, Trevor Megill, and Joe Ross shut out the A’s in an inning apiece, with Ross allowing the only baserunner, Seth Brown, who singled to right center to lead off the ninth.

Saturday, Joe Boyle (3-5, 6.21), who was hot in his last outing, will try to cool down the beer meisters, who will send Colin Rea (11-4, 3.52) to the mound against them. First pitch 1:07pm PT at the Coliseum.

Giants blow 5-1 lead, as Mariners come back with four runs off Tyler Rogers in eighth and win 6-5 in 10

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San Francisco Giants Michael Conforto (right) claps after hitting two run home run Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh (left) wipes his eyes in the top of the fourth at T Mobile Park in Seattle on Fri Aug 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

Friday, Aug. 23, 2024

T-Mobile Park

Seattle, Washington

San Francisco Giants 5 (65-65)

Seattle Mariners 6 (65-64)

Win: Collin Snider (3-2)

Loss: Erik Miller (3-5)

Time: 3:05

Attendance: 38,762

By Stephen Ruderman

SEATTLE–The Giants had a 5-1 lead in the eighth inning, but Tyler Rogers gave up four runs in the bottom of the eighth, and the Mariners came back to win the series opener in Seattle 6-5 in what was no doubt the worst loss of the season for the Giants at T Mobile Field on Friday night.

The Giants were looking to bounce back after an embarrassing loss to the historically-bad Chicago White Sox on Wednesday at Oracle Park, in which the Southsiders scored four two-out runs in the top of the ninth inning. With 33 games remaining, the Giants came into Friday night four games back of the Braves for the third wild card spot in the National League.

The Giants came into Seattle as the Mariners were in the midst of chaos. The Mariners fired their manager, Scott Servais, on their off day Friday after they lost eight of their last nine games. Servais was notified of his dismissal by news alert while watching TV. Mariners Hitting Coach Jarret DeHart was also fired.

On June 18, the Mariners were 13 games over .500 at 44-31, and they led the American League by ten games over the Houston Astros. They have since gone 20-33 to be knocked all the way back down to .500, and they have lost their AL West lead and are five games back of the Astros.

Servais had managed the Mariners since 2016, and he had accumulated five winning seasons in his eight full years in Seattle. He also got the Mariners to the Playoffs in 2022, their first postseason appearance since their historic 116-win season of 2001.

Former Mariners’ catcher Dan Wilson will take the reins for Seattle the rest of this season. Hall-of-Famer Edgar Martinez will take over as interim hitting coach.

What also made it interesting that the Mariners fired their manager with the Giants in town was the fact that Bob Melvin returned to where his managerial career started. Melvin took the Mariners to a 93-69 record in his rookie managerial season of 2003, but they fell to 63-99 the following year in 2004, and Melvin was shown the door.

It was a cold and rainy day here in Seattle, as a rare summertime low-pressure system came down from the Gulf of Alaska. It was equivalent to a winter’s day in the Bay Area with rain and a high in the low 60s. Usually when there’s rain, there’s a threat to the game, but thanks to the roof over T-Mobile Park, there was never a question about it.

This would be a matchup between two teams that are so similar in many ways. They both have offenses that can’t come through with runners in scoring position, and they both rely on their starting pitching to get them through games.

Despite the fact that the roof was closed and that the cold air was seeping in through the sides, the ball was carrying tonight. That would prove to be a factor almost immediately.

Mariners’ starter and former Giants’ farmhand Luis Castillo struck out Tyler Fitzergald to begin the game. LaMonte Wade then stepped up and seemed to get underneath one into straight-away center field, but it kept carrying, and it sailed over the glove of the leaping Julio Rodriguez and over the wall for a home run.

Hayden Birdsong made the start for the Giants. Birdsong had a solid outing on Sunday in Oakland following a pair of rough starts. As Birdsong looked to build on his last start, he would be throwing to a new catcher in Andrew Knapp, who the Giants signed to a major league deal Friday. Birdsong issued a one-out walk in a scoreless bottom of the first inning.

Both pitchers threw one, two, three innings in the second, and Castillo threw a one, two, three top of the third. Birdsong would then give the Mariners a rally for free in the bottom of the third.

Birdsong walked Leo Rivas with one out, and he followed that by hitting Luke Raley. The always-dangerous Julio Rodriguez came up, and he flew out, which moved Rivas to third, and then Cal Raleigh walked to load the bases for Randy Arozarena.

Arozarena hit a pop-up to the left side of the infield on the infield grass. Third-baseman Matt Chapman and shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald came together and nearly collided. Fitzgerald made the catch, and Chapman nearly knocked it out of his glove. It was a crazier play than it needed to be, but Birdsong was able to get out of the inning without any damage.

Heliot Ramos singled to center with one out in the top of the fourth, and that brought up the Seattle native, Michael Conforto. In his return to his hometown, Conforto hit a two-run home run to center to make it 3-0.

Birdsong walked Jorge Polanco to start the bottom of the fourth. Birdsong had yet to give up a hit in this one, but he had already walked four guys now. Former Giant Mitch Haniger then got the first hit of the night for the Mariners with a base-hit to left.

The Mariners wasted an opportunity in the bottom of the third, and now they had runners at first and second and the tying run up with nobody out in the top of the fourth. Giants’ fans always ask the question of “how will they waste this one?” Well, Mariners’ fans ask that same question.

Dominic Canzone and Josh Rojas both flew out to left. Leo Rivas came up and worked the count full. Birdsong then threw a fastball right at the top of the zone that Home Plate Umpire Laz Diaz liked and rang Rivas up on to end the inning.

That would also end the night for Birdsong, who threw 80 pitches. Birdsong gave up just one hit and struck out five over four shutout innings, but his four walks upped his pitch count. What really got him was the fact that of his 80 pitches, 41 of them were balls, and 39 were strikes. He just didn’t have his control.

The Giants wasted a one-out double by Grant McCray in the top of the fifth, and Sean Hjelle was brought in for the bottom of the fifth. The Mariners got on the board when Luke Raley hit a home run to left-center to leadoff the inning. Hjelle walked Julio Rodriguez, but then retired the side in order, though two of the outs were to the warning track.

Wade doubled to lead off the top of the sixth, and that brought up Heliot Ramos. Ramos took a slider at the knees from Castillo and gulfed it into the second deck out in left to make it a 5-1 game. For Ramos, it was his 19th home run of the season. The Giants were once again relying exclusively on home runs, and every run in this game had scored on a home run at this point.

Luis Castillo went six innings; didn’t walk a guy; and struck out nine. That is usually the stuff of great outings, but the three Giants’ home runs were the real story for Castillo Friday night.

Left-hander Taylor Rogers pitched a scoreless bottom of the sixth. Landen Roupp, who was pitching for the first time in nine days, pitched through a rally to get out of the bottom of the seventh unscathed.

Thairo Estrada led off the top of the seventh with a double off Troy Taylor, and the Giants loaded the bases, but with how home run happy they are, they were of course unable to come through. Gabe Speier then struck out two in a one, two, three top of the eighth.

Melvin interestingly brought in Tyler Rogers in a 5-1 game for the bottom of the eighth. You usually don’t see the eighth-inning guy come in for a four-run game, but Rogers was not surprised that he was brought into the game.

The first batter Rogers faced was Jorge Polanco. Polanco hit one into the hole on the left side of the infield. Chapman slid to his left from third to get it, but his throw was too high and pulled LaMonte Wade off the bag at first.

Haniger singled the other way to right to move Polanco over to third, and Justin Turner singled to left to score Polanco and make it 5-2. Josh Rojas lined a base-hit to right, which scored Haniger to make it 4-3. Leo Rivas also lined a base-hit to right to knock in Turner, and suddenly, it was 5-4.

Rogers was just trying to get an out at this point. Leadoff man Luke Raley came up, and he blooped a single to left, which scored Rojas to tie it. The Mariners had come all the way back with four runs, and there were still nobody out. At that point, all Melvin could do was pull Rogers for Ryan Walker.

“I figured Tyler [was] going to at least an out,” Melvin said after the game.

Walker, who has taken over as the interim closer with Camilo Doval down in Triple-A, really put out the fire. The Mariners had scored four runs to tie it, and they had runners at first and second with still nobody out. Walker retired the side in order with a pair of strikeouts to send this game to the ninth tied at 5-5.

Andres Munoz struck out the side—all swinging—in the top of the ninth, and Walker did the exact same—all swinging as well—in the bottom of the ninth. Walker, who was born and grew up in nearby Arlington, Washington, really gave the Giants what they needed by eating up two innings; retiring all six men he faced; and striking out five.

The game went into extras, as Collin Snider came in for Seattle in the 10th, and Knapp was the runner at second for the Giants. Tyler Fitzgerald led off the inning with a line drive to center, but Julio Rodriguez made a slick diving catch to rob Fitzgerald of a base-hit. It was a catch that proved to demoralize the Giants.

Dan Wilson opted to have Wade walked intentionally to face Ramos, which seemed like a bit of a gamble. However, it paid off, as Snider struck Ramos and Conforto both out swinging.

Erik Miller was brought in for the Giants in the bottom of the tenth with Turner being the runner at second. Miller struck Josh Rojas out swinging, but pinch-runner Dylan Moore stole third, which seemed to catch the Giants off guard. Leo Rivas was the hitter, and he flipped a base-hit to center to win it.

Collin Snider got the win, and Erik Miller took the loss. This was the worst loss of the season for the Giants, who fall back to .500 at 65-65, as well as five back of the Braves for the third wild card with 32 games to go. There is no other way to say it.

However, it was a desperately needed win for the Mariners. Firing a manager during a slump while you’re still on the outskirts of contention is always a gamble. A struggling Mariners’ offense coming back from down four runs late to win could be just the kind of win they need to turn it around.

The Giants will look to bounce back tomorrow with Blake Snell (2-3, 3.67 ERA) on the bump, and hope that he can continue his historic stretch. George Kirby (9-9, 3.40 ERA) will go to Seattle.

The rain is expected to persist into the morning and possibly early afternoon Saturday, but it should taper off as the day goes on. Don’t be surprised if the roof is closed again Saturday. First pitch will be at 1:10 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Diamondbacks 73-56 +3.5
  2. Padres 73-57 +3.0
  3. Braves 69-59 —

Mets 67-62 2.5

GIANTS 65-65 5.0

Cardinals 64-64 5.0

Cubs 64-65 5.5

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Nevada looking to spend more public money on Warner Bros Studios instead of public Schools; Like A’s ballpark a new tax will be created for studios

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Alexander Marks from Schools over Stadiums (above photo) and Chris Daly, political director of the Nevada State Education Association, attended the brief stadium board meeting to argue that the hiring of the LVCVA by the stadium board was a clear conflict that has been par for the course in a government process that saw the A’s receive the government money in lightning speed. Photo credit: Hugh Byrne/LVSportsBiz.com

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 According to Republican Governor Joe Lambardo saying Democrats” have been lying to Nevada families in need about free school meals for weeks.” Lombardo said that parents should see his open letter about free school meals. Lombardo is trying to show that the state is doing something with public money to help schools at the same time using public money for the A’s ballpark.

#2 On Tuesday Schools over Stadiums representative Alexander Marks said that while Lombardo claims he’s transparent then why does he refuse speak to the press about the free school meals budget when they’ve asked for public comment proves the point that the State of Nevada and the Lombardo are not being transparent.

#3 Also on Tuesday it was announced that a Nevada judge will rule if it’s legal to earmark $380 million in public funds to help fund the Las Vegas A’s ballpark on Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana.

#4 Marks writes on X Tuesday that if the State of Nevada were to a write movie about having a fully funded school system with 20 students per class it would be a like a rated F movie that requires billionaires to build their own studios without public money after news broke that Warner Bros wants to build studios in Vegas if the Nevada State Legislature approves a film tax for the studios. More public money being used for studios and stadiums instead of public schools.

#5 Marks also mentioned Las Vegas Stadium Authority CEO Steven Hill in last week’s meeting regarding the financial progress of the A’s paying for their share of the ballpark that “We’re rounding third and headed for home. There are not many open issues left.” Marks countered by writing on Schools over Stadiums X page, “Except for financing, final renderings, actual stadium location, the constitutional lawsuit, the 2026 referendum…yup very few open issues left”

Join Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s Relocation podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s in fourth can they catch Rangers for third? Series with Brewers opens tonight at Coliseum

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Oakland A’s starter Osvaldo Bido was dealing pitching into the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Aug 22, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 The A’s who battled with the visiting Tampa Bay Rays avoided losing the series coming away with a 2-2 split at the Oakland Coliseum with a two run 3-1 win on Thursday afternoon.

#2 A’s starter Osvaldo Bido threw five solid innings striking out six hitters and picked up his third straight win.

#3 Lawrence Butler, Miguel Andujar, and Darell Hernaiz each had two hits a piece to help contribute to the cause. The A’s with some key hits helped get this win over a very competitive Rays team.

#4 A’s manager Mark Kotsay said about Bido’s pitching performance, “I tip my cap to Bido for making those adjustments and being able to repeat them. I think that’s why we’re seeing the success we are.”

#5 The A’s are now in fourth place in the AL West just four game behind the Rangers for third place are they good and competitive enough the way you see it to move into third place?

#6 The A’s will open a three game series against the Milwaukee Brewers starting tonight at the Coliseum. Starting pitcher for the Brewers RHP Aaron Civale (4-8, ERA 4.78) going for the A’s LHP JP Sears (10-8, ERA 4.15) first pitch at 6:40pm PT.

Jeremiah Salmonson is an Oakland A’s analyst at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Tie Up Four Game Series With Tampa Bay Winning 3-1

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Tampa Bay Rays Jose Caballero (7) slides ahead of the tag by the Oakland A’s second baseman Zack Gelof (right) after hitting a RBI double in the top of the fourth at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s went onto win a two run game over the Rays on Thu Aug 22, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After losing the last two games, the Oakland A’s (55-73) wanted to finish their four game series against the Tampa Bay Rays (64-63) with a tie. They did just that winning the game 3-1 with Mason Miller closing out the game on Thursday afternoon at the Coliseum.

The A’s had nine hits in the game with Miguel Andujar, Lawrence Butler and Darell Hernaiz turning in two hits apiece. Besides Mason Miller shutting the door on the Rays every one of the relief pitchers were outstanding as was .the five innings pitched by Osvaldo Bido winning his third game in a row.

Game recap: Oakland got a terrific start scoring in the second and third innings taking a 3-0 lead. There had been no home runs so far in the game but there were some nice base hits for the A’s. Zach Gelof sacrifice flied in the second inning driving Lawrence Butler home for the early 1-0 lead.

This was Gelof’s 40th RBI of the year. The A’s extended their lead to 2-0 in the same inning when Oakland’s Darell Hernaiz doubled Tyler Nevin home. The A’s added a third run in the third inning when Lawrence Butler singled and Daz Cameron scored for a 3-0 lead.

The Rays got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning scoring a single run. Jose Caballero doubled Christopher Morel home and Oakland held onto the 3-1 lead. The A’s continued to lead 3-1 lead going into the top of the ninth inning. Oakland was three outs away from tying up the fourth game series.

The Rays had run into some trouble in the bottom of the eighth inning with back to back walks. but the A’s were unable to score and this game went into the top of the ninth inning. Oakland’s Mason Miller took the mound looking to finish off Tampa Bay.

It was “Miller Time”. Much to his chagrin, Tampa Bay’s Taylor Walls was called out and next at bat Kameron Misner had his first big league career hit, a single. Junior Caminero struck out swinging for the second out and it was up to Yandy Diaz who grounded into a fielder’s choice for the third out. Oakland tied up the series with the 3-1 win.

Oakland finished this game with some great hitting and some especially outstanding pitching from Osvaldo Bido, in fact, the A’s pitching was great the entire game. Bido went 5 innings. allowingtwo hits and a single earned run striking out six.

It would have been great to see Bido go further in this game but at this time of year, you don’t want to overwork these young pitchers. Otanez, Holman, McFarland, and Ferguson turned in some great relief pitching closing this game out with super closer Mason Miller. Oakland had beat a solid Tampa Bay Rays team and had tied up this series. Since the all-star game, this team has continued to play some great baseball and have won some amazing games.

Game notes: The A’s got a great start in their series with the Rays in game one winning a shutout 3-0. Oakland lost game two 1-0 in a close one and went on to lose game three 4-2 on Wednesday night. Thursday they finished off this series winning game four to force a 2-2 tie in the series.

Oakland started Osvaldo Bido who pitched five innings, allowed just two hits and one run. Bido has won his last two outings the most recent a 2-0 win over the San Francisco Giants. The Rays Jeffrey Springs started and went 3.1 innings allowed seven hits and three earned runs.

Friday night the Oakland A’s will welcome the Milwaukee Brewers to the Coliseum for a three game series. JP Sears is the probable pitcher to start this game for Oakland. He has been pitching some great games with a 10-8 win/loss record and a 4.16 ERA.

The Brewers will send Aaron Civale to the mound. He comes in with a 4-8 win/loss record and a 4.78 ERA. He has won his last two outings . Sears lost his last outing against the Giants but won three in a row prior to that game. First pitch for Friday’s game is scheduled for 6:40 PM.

Rays outduel A’s 4-2; Both managers Cash and Kotsay get tossed by ump

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Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay expresses his displeasure in front of second base umpire Laz Diaz in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at the Oakland Coliseum Wed Aug 21, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tampa Bay (64-62) 000 020 200 4 7 1

Athletics (54-73) 100 001 000 2 5 0

Time:2:32

Attendance: 10,339

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Oakland, CA

By Lewis Rubman

Serial A’s killer José Siri, right handed pitcher Ryan Pepiot, and minor league call up umpire Brock Ballou combined to give the team from the western end of the Tamiami Trail a 4-2 triumph over the Erewhon A’s in this Wednesday night’s third game of their four game series.

A night earlier, the Athletics had battled the Rays to a scoreless tie until there were two out in the top of the eighth before succumbing 1-0. Wednesday night, JJ Bleday’s first inning home run, a 373 foot dinger to right, his 17th round trip shot of the year, was too late and, as it turned out, too little to overcome the dashing and resourceful Floridians, who lead the majors in steals since the All-Star break.

Bleday also figured in the Rays’ tying the score in the top of the fifth. He made a diving attempt to catch Siri’s dying quail in center field only to have the ball bounce off the heel of his upturned glove, allowing José Caballero to race to third and then score on Jonny DeLuca’s grounder that forced Siri out at second. Yandy Díaz then drove DeLuca home with the go ahead tally.

In the bottom of the sixth, Lawrence Butler raised the utopian hope that the Athletics might somehow pull off a win, doubling to left and scoring the tying run on Brent Rooker’s single to center. I call the hope utopian because utopia is Latin for nowhere, hence my reference to the Erewhon A’s in the first paragraph. In 1872, the British writer Samuel Butler wrote a once well known novel he called Erewhon. Pedantry and word play can take the sting out of the double loss of a tight game and a tightwad team owner.

Mitch Spence didn’t quite perform up to the standards of Joe Boyle on Monday or Joey Estes on Tuesday, but, even though he made a few mistakes (and what pitcher doesn’t?), he had little to be ashamed of. He struck out ten Rays in seven innings on the mound, allowing four runs on seven hits, one of them a serious four bagger from Tampa Bays’ interstate dwelling center fielder, who, even after three straight scorching games, still is looking up at the Mendoza line.

Nonetheless, the one time Yankee farm hand threw only 30 balls out of 105 total pitches, only to be charged with his ninth loss against seven wins and see his ERA creep up to 4.67. JT Ginn, promoted from the AAA Las Vegas Aviators on Tuesday, made an impressive big league debut, giving up one walk and striking out three opposing batters while shutting out the Rays in the two final frames.

Tampa Bay’s Ryan Pepiot celebrated his 27th birthday by earning a win that improved his record to 7-5, 3.65. His performance was a notch above Spence’s. The Athletics got to him for two runs, both earned, on five hits, one of them Bleday’s homer in the first.

He gave up one walk and hit one batter while striking out five of the 23 he faced. Half of his 105 offerings were balls. Drew Rassmussen, Garrett Clevinger, and Manuel Rodríguez held the A’s scoreless in the one inning that each of them spent on the bump. Rodríguez earned the save, his first.

Wednesday night’s game had the distinction of featuring the ejection of both teams’ managers. In the seventh, the Rays’ Kevin Cash was tossed by plate umpire Brock Ballou, whose atrocious work behind the plate was non-partisan, and A’s skipper Mark Kotsay got the heave-ho from first base arbiter Erich Bacchus in the eighth.

The A’s will try to even the series Thursday, at 12:37 in the afternoon. The Athletics will send righty Osvaldo Bido (4-3, 3.40), who gave up two walks and an infield single in his last start, beating the Giants on August 17th. The Rays will counter with southpaw Jeffrey Springs (1-1,3.86).

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Orioles Eflin out on 15 day IL shoulder injury; Braves Riley out with broken hand; plus more news

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Baltimore Orioles pitcher Zach Eflin is out with a shoulder injury and is one the 15 day IL as of Tue Aug 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong:

#1 Jessica, the Baltimore Orioles right hander Zach Eflin is out with a shoulder injury and was placed on the 15 day IL. Eflin was scheduled to pitch on Wednesday against the New York Mets to close out the series. Eflin felt shoulder soreness and had to sit that game out.

#2 After the Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley broke his hand and said “I hate that I’m going to be out, not be out there competing with the guys. I also understand it’s part of the game. Injuries happen.” The Braves signed Gio Urshela who was released by the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. Urshela was hitting .243 with five home runs.

#3 New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil left Tuesday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians in the fourth inning of a 9-5 loss. Gil has signaled for the trainer when he threw a change up to the Guardian Jose Ramirez and had to leave because of lower back tightness. Dr. David Trofa said that Gil would be reassessed again on Wednesday.

#4 Ten years ago former San Francisco Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto helped the Giants win a World Series. Fast forward Cueto will get the call at age 38 years on Wednesday night for the Los Angeles Angels. Angels manager Ron Washington called up Cueto on Tuesday and said that he hopes Cueto will stick around and also influence the younger players.

#5 Tuesday the Chicago Cubs Cody Bellinger hit a two run double and Danby Swanson hit a home run to help the Cubs defeat the Detroit Tigers 3-1. Bellinger was 2-4 and the Cubs got good pitching from Javier Assad 5.2 innings, allowing one run and six hits.

Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports podcasts every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com