Tag: mlb

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Oakland is a Transitory stop for Sports teams

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The Oakland Coliseum Complex which hosted such teams as the Oakland Raiders, Golden State Warriors, California Golden Seals, and Oakland A’s since opening in 1966 (file photo ABC Sky 7)

Oakland is a Transitory stop for Sports teams

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–This professional baseball team played in Oakland for 52 years. The Oakland Oaks, played in Oakland from 1903 until 1955 and then relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. While playing in Oakland, the Oaks symbol was the oak tree (today the official logo of the City of Oakland) Oaks Park, formally known as the Oakland Baseball Park and at times nicknamed Emeryville Park, was a baseball stadium in Emeryville, California.

It was primarily used for baseball and was the home field of the Oakland Oaks baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, located within the city limits of Emeryville between Oakland and Berkeley. The address where that park was located today is 3229 Kempton Avenue, Oakland.

Baseball stars like Dominic and Joe DiMaggio, Lefty O’Doul, Casey Stengel, Billy Martin, and Eddie Lombardi played there with their respective teams. Also, Hall of Fame Negro Leagues players like Josh Gibson, Satchel Page, and Jackie Robinson took the field in this cozy ballpark.

During their history, the Oaks were in the Pacific Coast League 1903-1940 and 1942-1955 Previously, they were in the California League in 1901 and 1941. Other professional teams that played in Oakland and left Oakland NHL: California Golden Seals from 1967 to 1976.

They were an expansion team in 1967, one of the six teams added to the league. Their home was Oakland, and they played their games at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena. They moved to Cleveland. NFL -The Oakland Raiders played at the Oakland Coliseum (1960-1981).

In 1982, they moved to Los Angeles (1982-1994) and then back to Oakland (1995-2019). finally, they settled in Las Vegas, where they have played since 2020. NBA -The Golden State Warriors moved from Philadelphia were they began play in 1946 to San Francisco in 1962 and until 1971 when the San Francisco Warriors (played at the Cow Palace in Daly City while the Oakland Arena was under construction) and became the San Francisco Warriors.

In 1971, they adopted the name Golden State Warriors and moved to Oakland, where they play their home games at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena (1971-2019) The Warriors moved to San Francisco Chase Center for the 2019-20 season, where they play today.

MLB -The Oakland Athletics chartered members of the American League in 1901 as the Philadelphia Athletics, moved to Kansas City (1955-1967) and then landed in Oakland in 1968 and played at the Oakland Coliseum until September 26, 2024.

The Oakland A’s, have a “two-stop” trip-plan, for Sacramento and ultimately Las Vegas. Years at those two cities. Unknown. Conclusion: The legacy of the City of Oakland, California when it comes to sports is :”under review”.

A’s Wilson gets a walk off hit in 9th to beat Rangers 5-4 to open series

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Oakland A’s Shea Langeliers (23) scores a run on Zack Gelof’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning as Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim stands by (right). (AP News photo)

Texas (74-83). 100 011 010. 4. 10. 1

Athletics (68-89). 201 001 001. 5. 6. 1

Time: 2:34

Attendance: 30,402

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Oakland, CA

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–When the second place Athletics defeated the third place Texas Rangers 5-4 in a mock battle between two of the American League West’s also rans in the antepenultimate major league game at the still beautiful Oakland Coliseum this chilly fall Tuesday evening, the outcome of the contest was not at first major concern of the more than 30,000 fans in attendance.

Except maybe for the occasional Ranger rooter or Bochy booster. For the rest, it was a chance to say goodbye to a place that had been a part of our collective experience for 56 years.

The game itself , although close, was for most of its durationon the lackluster side, as befitted its strategic importance. The loudest noise came in the top of the eighth, just before Jonah Heims tied the game at four with his 13th homer of the year, when the crowd exhorted the Fisher King to “‘SELL THE TEAM!”

That chant was matched in the top of the ninth when, with Mason Miller on the mound, the Rangers threatened to break a 4-4 tie. Pure baseball, briefly, had returned to East Oakland. Minutes after Geloff crossed the plate, It continued until Jacob Wilson’s game winning single in the bottom of the ninth. “SELL THE TEAM” resounded once more in the cold Coliseum air.

The nominal home team sent a rookie to the mound, Mitch Spence, making his 23rd big league start and carrying the baggage of an 8-9, 4.30 record with him. He lived up to his mediocre numbers, lasting only 4-2/3 innings and giving up three runs, all earned, on seven hits including a fourth inning solo home run to Nathabniel Lowe, two walks, and two hit batters.

It took Spence 92 pitches to face 16 Rangers in his brief tenure on the mound. The youngster escaped with a no decision that raised his ERA to 4.35. TJ McFarland took over to close down the top of the fifth after Texas had scored their third tally.

The A’s also used the arms Grant Holman (three up, three down, with a strike out in the sixth); TP Jeguson (the same as Holman, but with one more K); Scott Alexander (who surrendered the tying homer to Heilms); and Mason Miller, who earned his second win against two defeats in spite of allowing a couple of hits to go with his two strike outs).

Spence’s opposite number was 12 year big league veteran Nathan Eovaldi, who had gone 5-0 in last year’s post season and was 11–8,3.96 on taking the mound tonight. He performed adequately over his seven innings of work.

One of the four runs he allowed was unearned, He struck out a quarter of the 28 Athletics batters he faced while walking three. He gave up four hits. Of his 90 deliveries, 31 were balls. David Robertson allowed a walk in his eighth inning relief appearance, and Josh Sborz took the loss.

It came quickly. Zack Gelof led off against him in the bottom of the ninth with a single to left. He took off for second while Seth Brown was going down swinging, and Heim’s throw had him beat. But the A’s second baseman’s head first slide evaded the tag, and Gelof was in with a stolen base.

A single to center by this year’s first draft choice, Jacob Wilson, sealed the deal. Wilson also made a heads up play in the top of the fifth, throwing Marcus Semien out at third when the ex-Athletic made the basic mistake of trying to. advance from second on a ball hit in front of him with no one on base behind him.

Lawrence Butler went one for two with a double, a pair of walks, and another pair of pilfered bases, giving him 18 for the year without having been thrown out, the most in either league.

Tyler Soderstrom went two for four and slammed a double 110 mph in first and then a less powerfully hit one that bounced over the right field fence in the sixth. (He got picked off at second).

A large and ambivalent crowd is expected for Wednesday’s, 6:40pm PT encounter at the Coliseum. Southpaws Brady Baso (1-0, 2.33 for the A’s) and Cody Bradford (6-3, 3.59 for the Rangers) will duke it out on the hill.

Webb goes six strong, and Giants slug five home runs En route to 11-0 shellacking of D-Backs

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San Francisco Giants Brett Wisely (0) celebrates in the Giants dugout after hitting a three run third inning three run homer against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on Tue Sep 24, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024

Chase Field

Phoenix, Arizona

San Francisco Giants 11 (79-79)

Arizona Diamondbacks 0 (87-71)

Win: Logan Webb (13-10)

Loss: Brandon Pfaadt (10-10)

Time: 2:33

Attendance: 22,355

By Stephen Ruderman

The San Francisco Giants continued to stay white-hot with the pressure off and have now won seven of their last eight to get all the way back up to .500, as they hit five home runs, and Logan Webb pitched six shutout innings en route to a 11-0 shallacking of the Phoenix Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

The Giants beat the Diamondbacks in the opener of this series last night 3-0, and Tuesday night, they had the chance to do something that has eluded them for most of the season: get back up to .500. They had their ace, Logan Webb, going up against a Diamondbacks’ team that has still yet to recover from their devastating loss in Milwaukee on Sunday.

Brandon Pfaadt would take the ball for Arizona, and while he would pitch a scoreless top of the first inning, Patrick Bailey would put the Giants on the board with a home run to right-center field in the top of the second. It was Bailey’s eighth home run of the season, and his first since July 10.

Mike Yastrzemski came up with runners at first and second with two outs, and he hit a fly ball deep to right-center that appeared to be headed out, but right-fielder Corbin Carroll made a great catch at the wall to take a home run away from Yastrzemski. It would have made it 4-0, but not to worry, the Giants would get that 4-0 lead just an inning later.

Heliot Ramos singled to start the top of the third, and LaMonte Wade doubled him over to third. Matt Chapman struck out swinging, but Michael Conforto continued his great road trip with a three-run shot to left-center, and the Giants indeed had their 4-0 lead. It was Conforto’s 20th home run of the year, and his fourth in his last six games.

The Giants still weren’t done. Bailey walked, and two batters later, after Pfaadt was removed for Blake Walston, Grant McCray reached on an error. That brought up Brett Wisely, and hit a three-run home run to right-center to make it 7-0.

Meanwhile, Webb, who had not been himself in recent starts, was back to his old dominant self. Webb gave up just four hits over six shutout innings, as he walked one and struck out three.

Heliot Ramos joined the home run party with a solo shot to left-center to lead off the top of the fourth, and Tyler Fitzgerald hit a two-run home run to left in the top of the fifth. The Giants now led 10-0.

The Giants would at least manufacture one run Tuesday night. Though granted, it was on a bases-loaded walk to Casey Schmitt in the top of the eighth.

Back to the pitching side, Tristan Beck pitched a scoreless inning in the bottom of the seventh, and Austin Warren pitched a pair of shutout innings in the eighth and ninth to close it out.

Logan Webb got the win, and Brandon Pfaadt took the loss.

The Giants are indeed back up to .500, as they improve to 79-79, and now all they need to do is win three of their final four to get their first winning season in three years. Again, it’s very doable.

As for the Diamondbacks, they really have been thrown off their game since their devastating loss in Milwaukee on Sunday. Unfortunately for Arizona, they’re in a catch 22 with the Mets and the Braves meeting for a three-game series in Atlanta.

The Braves beat the Mets Tuesday night in the opener of their three-game series 5-1, and now the Diamondbacks only have a half-game lead over the Braves for the third wild card. Like the Mets, the Braves have a winning record against Arizona, so the Diamondbacks sputtering in the final week, they have quickly found themselves in big trouble in a suddenly-thrilling pennant race.

The Giants can continue to make their mark on this wild card race Wednesday, as they go for the sweep in their final road game of the season. Mason Black (1-4, 5.88 ERA) will take the ball for the Giants, and he will be opposed by Diamondbacks’ ace Zac Gallen (13-6, 3.74 ERA). First pitch will once again be at 6:40 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Padres 91-66 +4.5
  2. Mets 87-70 +0.5
  3. Diamondbacks 87-71 —

Braves 86-71 0.5

Giants News and Notes:

Giants President of Baseball Operations met with reporters prior to the game Wednesday night at Chase Field. While he is preparing for the off-season, Zaidi acknowledged that it is not a given that he will make it that far.

We will find out more in the coming days.

Oakland A’s podcast with Augie Mesenburg: Fans getting ready for final Oakland game on Thursday

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Oakland A’s fans are excited about their team in games but will be waving goodbye for their last home game of the season on Thu Sep 26, 2024 before they move to Sacramento for the 2025 season (KQED 9 photo)

On Oakland A’s podcast with Augie Mesenburg:

It’s a sad story here at the Oakland Coliseum knowing the end was coming and we lived it here. The reverse boycott, the Last Dive Bar, the Oakland 68s. Back in April and May you just try watch these young players develop.

I got to see a lot of these players come into their own this season and that had to be encouraging in terms of next season. As you can imagine we’ve seen the protests and on Tuesday night when the Texas Rangers played the A’s. Fans once again chanting “Sell the Team” in the stands but only to fall on deaf ears as the A’s are Sacramento bound after the 2025 season is completed.

Augie also shared the memories of covering the A’s over the years watching the A’s three consecutive Championship teams from 1972-1974, the A’s three consecutive American League Championships 1988-90, and the A’s 20 game win streak in 2002.

Augie Mesenburg is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com and is a reporter for 1080 KWAI Honolulu

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Memories of the Coliseum; Players are not happy about playing on artificial turf in Sacramento

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Artificial turf attached to rubber mat. Artificial turf can add 40-50 degrees on hot surfaces. Sacramento had over ten days in a row of 100 degree days which could bring 150 degree games on the field at Sutter Health Field which the players, MLBPA, and agents are concerned with. (photo by iStock.com)

On That’s Amuary News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury, over the many years you’ve worked with literally 100s if not 1000s of different people here at the Oakland Coliseum from reporters like Ray Epstein, Winn Courier, Andy Cox, Ray Bergman, Ken Gimblin, Renee Del La Rosa, Omar Moreno, Mark Ibanez, Rich Lieberman, Sam Skinner and A’s photographer Michael Zagaris just to name a few.

#2 Amaury, when you look back at those great championship teams of the past that the A’s had from 1972-74. It’s hard to believe that those teams won three in a row and could have very well been as good as some of those New York Yankee teams of the 1950s.

#3 This particular A’s team this season after the All Star break had a break out season in July they were one of baseball’s winningest teams. They launched the great talents of slugger Lawrence Butler and closer Mason Miller. It was a breakout year for Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, and JJ Bleday who provided a lot of offensive punch for Oakland.

#4 You got to see those great A’s teams from 1988-90 that former owner Walter J Haas Sr assembled and went onto win three consecutive American League Championships.

#5 Amaury, While MLB says it’s a certainty that the A’s are headed to Sacramento for the 2025 season it still remains to be seen when the Major League Players Association will sign off on approving to play at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento.

#6 Behind the scenes the players are not in favor of the move and Scott Boras said the A’s should play at the Oakland Coliseum in the interim while the Las Vegas park is being built. From what we understand the players union and agents are not in favor of playing on turf and the facilities in a minor league park are not up to MLB standards.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants stay hot without the pressure and beat Diamondbacks 6-3 for sixth win in last seven games

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San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman (right) slides safely into home plate as the ball eludes Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Jose Herera (left) in the top of the third inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Mon Sep 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

Monday, Sept. 23, 2024

Chase Field

Phoenix, Arizona

San Francisco Giants 6 (78-79)

Arizona Diamondbacks 3 (87-70)

Win: Hayden Birdsong (5-5)

Loss: Eduardo Rodriguez (3-4)

Save: Ryan Walker (10)

Time: 2:41

Attendance: 23,359

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants stayed hot and played spoiler again, as they went into Chase Field to beat the Diamondbacks in the opener of this three-game series 6-3 on Monday night.

Now that they have been eliminated, Giants have been playing some of their best ball of the season with the pressure off and. They have gone 5-1 on this final road trip, taking two of three from the struggling Orioles, and sweeping the struggling Royals.

After playing spoiler in the American League Wild Card race, the Giants now had a chance to play spoiler in the National League Wild Card race. As the Giants came into Arizona for their final road series of the year, they would face a Diamondbacks’ team coming off a savage loss yesterday in Milwaukee.

The Diamondbacks looked to bounce back after blowing an 8-0 lead to the Brewers yesterday and falling back into a tie with the Mets for the second wild card spot. Since the Diamondbacks went 3-4 against the Mets this season, that meant they had fallen back into third wild card spot.

Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez made the start for Arizona, and he started the night with a one, two, three inning in the top of the first Hayden Birdsong took the ball for the Giants following a pair of outings in which he had much better command.

However, the Diamondbacks pounced on the young right-hander in the bottom of the first. Back-to-back one-out doubles by Geraldo Perdomo and Joc Pederson gave Arizona a 1-0 lead.

After the Giants wasted a two-out rally in the top of the second, they would get on the board in the top of the third. Heliot Ramos lined a base-hit to center field with one out, and Jerar Encarnacion lined a double the other way to right to knock in Ramos and tie the game.

Michael Conforto lined out, and then up came Matt Chapman. Chapman hit a fly ball deep to left-center, and as Diamondbacks’ center-fielder leapt up against the wall to try and make the catch, he jammed his right shoulder and lost his cap. The ball rolled into center, and after Encarnacion scored, Third Base Coach Matt Williams waved Chapman in, who came all the way home with the inside-the-park home run.

It was Chapman’s 27th home run of the season, and the first inside-the-park home run by a Giant since Denard Span hit one against the Philadelphia Phillies at then-AT&T Park on Aug. 19, 2017. The Giants also have established a recent history of inside-the-park home runs after getting eliminated late in the season.

Conor Gillaspie hit an inside-the-park home run against the Rockies on Sept. 27, 2011, and Kelby Tomlinson did the same against those exact same Rockies On Oct. 3, 2015. Chapman’s inside-the-parker tonight adds to that list.

The Diamondbacks would get one of those runs back in the bottom of the third. With runners at first and second with two outs, Christian Walker hit a double to left that knocked in Corbin Carroll to make it 3-2.

With one out in the top of the fourth, the Giants got that run right back when Casey Schmutt pulled a home run down the left field line to make it 4-2. Schmitt has been swinging the bat well since he was called back up last week, going 6-for-14 in his last five games with that home run and four RBIs.

Michael Conforto hit an absolute bomb to the concourse above the pool out in right-center to make it 5-2 in the top of the fifth. As Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow said on the Giants’ telecast on NBC Sports Bay Area, Conforto hit it where Barry Bonds used to hit them.

Birdsong settled down with a one, two, three bottom of the fourth, and then he worked through a pair of walks to pitch a scoreless inning in the bottom of the fifth. That would end the night for Birdsong, who gave up four runs in five innings, while walking two and striking out six.

One of the biggest reasons Birdsong struggled in August was his command. In his last three outings, his command has been much better, as he has only walked five in his last 15 and two third innings.

Birdsong is slated to start the final game of the season for the Giants on Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals. The question is whether he will make the start, or if the Giants will shut him down, which if they do, he will have ended his rookie season on quite a good note.

Hayden Birdsong pitched a scoreless bottom of the sixth, and the Giants tacked on a run against Scott McGough in the top of the seventh when Matt Chapman hit a triple to center. Just as he jammed his shoulder against the wall and lost his cap when going for Chapman’s inside-the-parker back in the third, the same exact thing happened in the top of the seventh.

Only this time, it was his left shoulder that he jammed into the wall. McCarthy will certainly feel it Tuesday, that’s for sure.

The Diamondbacks got a run off Erik Miller in the bottom of the seventh to make it 6-3, and Camilo Doval pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth. Ryan Walker then took the ball for the ninth, and he threw a one, two, three inning to get his tenth save.

Hayden Birdsong got the win; Eduardo Rodriguez got the loss; and Ryan Walker picked up the save.

The Giants have now won six of their last seven to improve to just one game under .500 at 78-79. If they can go 4-1 in their final five games, which is very much doable, they will have their first winning season in three years.

As for the Diamondbacks, they fall to 87-70, and are now a half-game behind the Mets. They are a game and a half ahead of the Atlanta Braves for the third wild card in the National League.

The two teams will be back at it Tuesday night, and Logan Webb (12-10, 3.58 ERA) will make his second-straight start following a Giants’ win. Right-hander Brandon Pfaat (10-9, 4.66 ERA) will take the ball for Arizona. First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Padres 90-66 +3.5
  2. Mets 87-69 +0.5
  3. Diamondbacks 87-70 —

Braves 85-71 1.5

Giants News and Notes:

Jordan Hicks’ season is over, as he has been placed on the 15-Day Injured List on Friday.

Farhan Zaidi brought in Hicks and converted him into a starter. It was initially a success, but after a rough go of things, Hicks was moved back to the bullpen.

Major League Baseball News and Notes:

Longtime Charlie Blackmon announced that he would retire at the end of the season. Blackmon, a career-.292 hitter, will be hanging it up after 14 seasons, all with the Rockies.

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

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

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Michael Roberson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On the SF Giants podcast with Marko:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024

Kauffman Stadium 

Kansas City, Missouri  

San Francisco Giants 2 (77-79)

Kansas City Royals 0 (82-74)

Win: Blake Snell (5-3)

Loss: Seth Lugo (16-9)

Save: Ryan Walker (9)

Time: 2:08

Attendance: 24,189

By Stephen Ruderman

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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