Tag: mlb

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2024: The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum–(Part V) – Rickey’s 939

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Rickey Henderson of the Oakland A’s hoists his 939th career stolen base for the Oakland Coliseum crowd to see. Rickey is the subject of That’s Amaury News and Commentary. (photo from ebay)

2024: The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum (Part V) – Rickey’s 939 —

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Since 2024 is the last year that the A’s will play at the Coliseum, I have highlighted the great moments that took place there in this series of articles. Over the decades, I have given my opinion on who is the best player ever to have worn an Oakland Athletics jersey, and I have spoken about it and written about it in two languages.

That guy is Rickey Henderson. On May 1, 1991, during a warm and muggy afternoon at the Coliseum, Rickey made history as he broke Lou Brock’s 938 stolen base record. The A’s were facing the New York Yankees. Rickey tried to steal second base in the first inning, but Yankee catcher Matt Nokes made a perfect throw, and Rickey was out.

In the fourth, Henderson made another try. It was a different outcome. He reached base on an error and took second on a Dave Henderson single. Rickey took off, and he had stolen third base, no doubt about it, with his typical head-first slide. That was his 939 stolen base, breaking Lou Brock’s record.

Rickey stood up and lifted the base over his head, and seconds later, he said, “I am the greatest of all time”. A’s equipment manager, Frank Ciensczyk, brought out a replacement base. Rickey and his mother, Bobbie and Lou Brock all join the recently crowned stolen base king on the field around third base. They all share hugs with Rickey.

Then Rickey talked to the crowd (36,139). “It took a long time, huh?” and finished by saying, “Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today I am the greatest of all time.” The first thing that surprised me was that Rickey has shown no humility. It sounded like what the great Muhamad Ali (in Boxing) used to say: that he was the greatest of all time. However, Rickey was saying a statement of fact; it just happened.

He just became the King of Steal; Rickey also personally thanked Lou Brock, who has been in the Bay Area for a while, following Rickey Henderson each at-bat, when he got on base, and especially when he went for a steal. Lou Brock was a class act; he passed in 2020. He was patient while waiting for baseball history to be made, and he witnessed Rickey Henderson’s outstanding achievement.

I covered that game and will remember it forever. Rickey Henderson went on to play for another 12 years, with various teams amassing 467 more steals. Today, Rickey Henderson remains the undisputed King of Steal in the history of Major League Baseball, with 1,406 stolen bags.

Note: Today, the active player with the most stolen bases is Starling Marte on the New York Mets, who in his 13-year career has 350 steals. Marte, born in the Dominican Republic, is 25 years old. Quote: “I’d walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball. -Rickey Henderson..

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play 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

Royals hit three home runs in 3-2 win over A’s to salvage game in series

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Kansas City Royals Bobby Witt Jr connected for a go ahead home run in the top of the eighth inning as the run stood up and helped the Royals avoid being swept by the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu June, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland, California

Kansas City Royals 3 (42-34)

Oakland Athletics 2 (28-49)

Win: James McArthur (3-4)

Loss: Vinny Nittoli (0-1)

Save: Chris Stratton (4)

Time: 2:23

Attendance: 8,753

By Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND–The A’s were unable to get the sweep, as the Royals hit three home runs, two by Freddy Fermin, and beat Oakland 3-2 to take the series.

It hasn’t been the best of times for the A’s. After a six-game winning streak got Oakland back to .500 on May 4, following a 20-4 blowout of the Miami Marlins, they went on to go 9-31 in their next 40 games. They then hit rock bottom with a nine-game losing streak that was snapped Tuesday night with a 7-5 win over the Royals.

The A’s won again last night 5-1 to win back-to-back games for the first time since their six-game winning streak. Thursday, they looked to make it three in a row with Mitch Spence on the mound on this cool and beautiful partly cloudy afternoon at the Coliseum. 

Spence pitched a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, and the A’s came to bat in the bottom of the first against the Royals’ veteran right-hander, Seth Lugo. JJ Bleday drew a one-out walk, but Lugo got Miguel Andujar to ground to short for a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Freddy Fermin hit a home run to left field with one out in the top of the second to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead. MJ Melendez followed Fermin’s home run with a double to left, and Dairon Blanco reached on an infield hit that hit off the glove of spence and died out in the middle in the middle of the infield.

The Royals were looking to add on, as they had runners at first and second base with one out for Garrett Hampson. Spence was then able to settle down, as Hampson popped out to second on an infield fly, and Kyle Isbel struck out swinging to end the inning.

The A’s went down 1-2-3 in the top of the second, as did the Royals in the top of the third. Zack Gelof lined a base-hit out to left-center for Oakland’s first hit of the game to lead off the bottom of the third, but Kyle McCann immediately followed that up by grounding into a double play. Aledmys Diaz singled with two outs, but he would be left at first.

The game was going along quite quickly, as it took just 35 minutes to get through the first three innings

Fermin hooked a ball down the left field line for his second home run of the game with one out in the top of the fourth to make it 2-0 Royals. Just like in the top of the second, Melendez followed up Fermin’s home run with a double, but like the top of the second, Spence escaped further damage.

Andujar singled with one out in the bottom of the fourth, but Brent Rooker grounded into Oakland’s third double play of the afternoon to end the inning. Spence and Lugo both pitched 1-2-3 innings in the fifth, and even though the game had slowed down a bit, both pitchers were on in what was a pitcher’s duel.

Spence retired the first two men he faced in the top of the sixth, but Fermin singled the other way to right for his third hit of the game, and Melendez worked a 12-pitch plate appearance into a walk. At that point, Mark Kotsay got his bullpen going, but Spence struck Blanco out looking on a cutter just off the outside to end the inning and his day.

Spence was solid this afternoon, and though the 12-pitch walk may have taken him out of this game earlier than he would have liked, he still gave the A’s everything he needed. Spence did give up six hits, but he limited the Royals to two runs over six innings, while striking out seven.

“I’m starting to get confidence in the rotation,” said Spence. “[I’m] just trying to do the best I can. If the A’s see me in the rotation, then I’ll be in the rotation.”

Max Schuemann singled off Lugo with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, and Bleday walked, and the A’s had a two-out rally going. However, Andujar flew out to left to end the inning.

The new pitcher for Oakland in the top of the seventh with Vinny Nittoli, and he struck out the first two men he faced en route to a 1-2-3 inning. Lugo also struck out the first two men he faced in the bottom of the seventh, but he wouldn’t be so lucky with two outs. 

Lawrence Butler doubled, and Zack Gelof tied the game with a home run to center. The A’s were now looking to do even more. Kyle McCann drew a walk, and Kotsay had Abraham Toro pinch-hit for Aledmys Diaz. Royals Manager Matt Quataro then brought in James McArthur.

Toro ripped a double down the right field line. Right-fielder Dairon Blanco picked it up in the corner and got it in to the second-baseman, Adam Frazier. A’s Third-Base Coach Eric Martins surprisingly waved in McCann, who was thrown out by a mile at the plate by Frazier’s relay.

It was a brand-new game at 2-2 going to the eighth, as Nittoli came out for another inning. However, Bobby Witt Jr. immediately greeted Nittoli with an absolute bomb to left to put the Royals back ahead.

Schuemann walked off McArthur to start the bottom of the eighth, but he was picked off at first base. That proved to be costly for Oakland, as they got runners to the corners with two outs, but left-hander Angel Zerpa came in and got pinch-hitter Tyler Nevin to ground out to short to end the inning.

T.J. McFarland pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the ninth, and Zerpa was back out to try and convert the four-out save in the bottom of the ninth.

Lawrence Butler reached on a bobbled ground ball by Witt at short to start the inning, and Zack Gelof was called out on a slider right at the knees by Home Plate Umpire D.J. Reyburn for the first out. Kotsay then brought up Shea Langiliers to pinch-hit for catcher Kyle McCann, and even though Gelof was the one called out, McCann had some words for Reyburn from the dugout and was promptly ejected.

“The zone was good; DJ was doing a good job all day,” said Kotsay. “It’s just the emotion of the game.”

Langeliers singled Butler over to second, and that prompted Quatato to bring in Chris Stratton. The A’s were in perfect position, as they had runners at first and second—the tying run at second, and the winning run at first—with one out. However, Stratton got pinch-hitter Daz Cameron and Max Schuemann to both fly out, and the Royals held on to win 3-2. 

James McArthur got the win; Vinny Nittoli took the loss; and Chris Stratton picked up his fourth save of the year.

The A’s fall to 28-49, and they will welcome the Minnesota Twins to the Coliseum for three starting Friday night. Joey Ested (2-2, 5.97 ERA) will make the start for Oakland in the series opener Friday night, and he will be opposed by Chris Paddock (5-3, 5.25 ERA). First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants pay watch party tribute to Willie Mays at Oracle Park

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Rickwood Field in Birmingham the site of the Negro Leagues Tribute game on Thu Jun 20, 2024 featuring the St Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 The San Francisco Giants paid tribute to the late great Willie Mays showing the St Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants at the Rickwood game in Birmingham on the Oracle Park scoreboard at a live Watch Party what was that like?

#2 Michael, this was not any ordinary watch party, this game was originally was to pay tribute to not only the Negro League players but by very sad coincidence Willie Mays passed away two days before this tribute game on Tuesday.

#3 Willie’s career was something everybody had gone over this week, the 660 career home runs, 3293 hits, 1909 RBIs, a 23 years career, and a lifetime batting average of .301. Talk about those numbers and what stands out for you.

#4 Michael just wanted to ask you something that Bob Costas said after learning about Willie’s passing Costas said that if they shrunk the Hall of Fame down to ten people Willie Mays would there amongst the ten.

#5 Lastly, your best Willie Mays experience, you had a chance to rub elbows with him many times of those times what most stands out of those times that you got to talk to him.

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

#5

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s just miss sweeping Royals; Oakland opens three game series with Twins Friday

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Kansas City Royals Freddy Fermin slugs a top of the fourth inning home run one of his two home runs against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Jun 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 The Kansas City Royals (42-34) jumped to a 2-0 lead in Thursday afternoon’s game at the Oakland Coliseum scoring a run in the top of the second and another in the top of the fourth and got Freddy Fermin hit two home runs in each of those innings.

#2 The Royals Bobby Witt Jr hit the go ahead home run in the top of the eighth a solo shot that broke the tie.

#3 The Oakland A’s (28-49) mustered two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning which tied the game Zack Gelof’s home run contributed to the two run seventh but the A’s fell a run short.

#4 Gelof has now hit a home run in three straight games Thursday’s home run was a two run blast.

#5 The A’s will open up a three game series against the Minnesota Twins on Friday night. Starting pitcher for the Twins RHP Chris Paddock (5-3, ERA 2.25) for the A’s RHP Joey Estes (2-2, ERA 5.97) first pitch 6:40pm PT at the Coliseum. The last time the two teams met earlier this month the Twins swept the A’s in four straight games.

Jerry Feitelberg does the A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Medina picks up first victory after 11 months of waiting A’s defeat Royals 5-1 at Coliseum

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Luis Media Oakland A’s starter delivers to the Kansas City Royals in the top of the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Jun 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

Kansas City (41-34). 000 010 000. 1. 8. 1

Athletics (28-48). 002 000 21x. 5. 8. 0

Time: 2:35

Attendance: 4,557

Wednesday, June 19

Oakland, CA

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The temperature cooled off for this Wednesday evening’s game between the Kansas City Royals and the barn storming Athletics, but the green and gold didn’t. They defeated KC for the second time in a row, this time by four runs, 5-1.

Luis Medina, the Athletics’ starting pitcher, came to the organization at the 2022 trading deadline, when he, along with Cooper Bowman, JP Sears, and Ken Waldichuk in exchange for Frankie Montás and Lou Trivino.

He made it to the majors last year, when he went 3-10, 5.42. He’s had his troubles this season. He was on the injured list until June 2 and had gone 0-2, 5.87 before his 6:42 game opening pitch. His first start after rejoining the team had been his best; he hurled 5-2/3 frames of two hit ball, allowing one run, which was unearned, in a no-decision against the Braves in Atlanta.

Wednesday night’s win was first career appearance against the Royals and left him with a season record of 1-2, 4.71. He lasted 5-2/3 innings, leaving after throwing 88 pitches, 54 for strikes, with a 2-1 lead and a runner on first. He’d allowed six hits and two walks, and the run he was charged with was earned. He struck out three Royals.

Medina was followed by TJ McFarland, who closed out the sixth, Dany Jímenez took care of the Royals, allowing a single before an around the horn double play closed the books on KC for the inning. Austin Adams yielded a double, and that was it for them in the eighth. Mason Miller earned his eighth save and second in two days. Tonight he gave up a walk while striking out two and inducing an infield popup.

The starting pitcher for Kansas City, southpaw Cole Ragans, has had a checkered career. He’s undergone two Tommy John surgeries and lost the 2020 season to the COVID pandemic. He came to the Royals a little less than a year ago in the trade that sent Aroldis Chapman to the Texas Rangers. Ragans went a combined 7-5, 3.47 last year and was the AL Pitcher of the Month in August.

This season, he was 4-4, 3.14 when he toed the rubber in the bottom of the first. When he left the field for the clubhouse showers after six innings, the 26 year old had yielded a pair of runs, both of them earned, on four hits, four walks, and two wild pitches. His total pitch count was 102, 65 of which met the scoring definition of a strike, i.e. they were called strikes by the umpire, the batter swung on them and missed, or there was contact with the bat. With the loss, his record dimmed to 4-5, 3.13.

John Schrieber, Dan Altavilla, and Chris Stratten also pitched for the visitors.

The Athletics took advantage of Ragans’ wildness in the bottom of the third to go ahead, 2-0. Max Scheumann led off with a four pitch walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. JJ Bleday filled the void at first by drawing another walk.

Then Miguel Andújar delayed his swing to send an opposite field single to right that drove in Schuemann and sent Bleday to third. Brent Rooker’s single to left brought in Bleday with the second tally. Andújar further burnished his credentials by throwing Salvador Pérez at second when the KC catcher tried to stretch his lead off single to left. It was an excellent night for Andújar, who went three for five, boosting his batting average to .330.

Wildness cost Medina as well. He walked Nelson Velásquez to begin the visitors’ fifth. A wild pitch to Kyle Isbel, the next batter, gave Velásquez second base as a gift, and he scored on Bobby Witt, Jr.’s down the line double to left. Witt got halfway to the plate on another wild pitch, but Medina got Vinny Pasquantino to fly out to center, allowing the A’s to escape the episode still leading, but now by a thread, 2-1.

The green and gold tacked on. another two runs with Schreiber on the mound in the seventh. He walked Schuemann with one down. Bleday forced him at second but beat the throw to first. Kansas City claimed that Schuemann had committed a baseline violation, but the review crew in New York disagreed. Back to back singles by Andújar and Nevuins brought them home.

It looked as though Zack Gelof hadn’t completely broken out of his slump when he faced Altavilla in the bottom of the eighth. The A’s second sacker had whiffed twice and grounded out in three at bats, he took a 2-1 offering 434 feet deep to center for his second home run in two days and seventh for the season, making it a 5-2 lead for the A’s and ending Altavilla’s night.

Who’d have thought it? The A’s will go for the sweep Thursday, at 12:37 sending Mitch Spence (4-3, 3.95) against Seth Lugo (10-2, 2.40).

Giants fall just short 6-5 and lose emotional series to Cubs at Wrigley

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Chicago Cubs Ian Happ (right) is congratulated by third base coach Willie Harris (left) after Happ’s solo home run in the bottom of the fourth against the San Francisco Giants Wed Jun 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Wrigley Field

Chicago, Illinois

San Francisco Giants 5 (36-39)

Chicago Cubs 6 (36-39)

Win: Kyle Hendricks (1-4)

Loss: Spencer Bivens (1-1)

Save: Colten Brewer (1)

Time: 2:45

Attendance: 37,673

By Stephen Ruderman

The wind once again blew out on another hot day at Wrigley Field, and the Giants’ offense made Kyle Hendricks look like the Hendricks of old, as the Cubs scored six runs off the Giants’ bullpen to take the series with a 6-5 win.

After a rough and surreal night last night at historic Wrigley Field, in which the great Willie Mays passed away and the Giants lost the second game of this series, the Giants would be right back at it Wednesday afternoon in the rubber match of this three-game series. Willie would be with the Giants in spirit Wednesday afternoon.

The Giants added a back memorial patch for Willie to the left chest of their jersey that should be assumed will be worn by the team the rest of the season. The circular black patch, surrounded by an orange outline, has Mays’ number 24 in orange, as well as “Mays” name in orange.

The Giants also had a jersey with Mays’ number 24 on the back in their dugout this afternoon. Oh, and the wind was still blowing out to center field at the historic ballpark where Willie played as a visiting player throughout his career.

As the Giants looked to take the series today, they had everything in their favor. It was 91 degrees at Wrigley Field; the wind was blowing straight out to center field; and they were facing the veteran, Kyle Hendricks, who came into Wednesday’s game 0-4 with an 8.20 ERA. The stars were aligned for the Giants’ home-run happy offense to explode.

Hendricks, the long remaining Cub from their 2016 world championship team that ended 108 years of suffering for the Cubs in their fans, took the mound for the top of the first inning. Hendricks walked Heliot Ramos with one out, but he struck out the other three hitters he faced.

For the Giants, this would be another one of those bullpen games. The flame-throwing lefty, Erik Miller, was the Giants’ opener Wednesday afternoon, and he walked one and struck out two over a scoreless and hitless bottom of the first.

Speaking of hitless, that’s exactly what the Giants were against Hendricks for the first half of this game. Hendricks, the 34-year-old veteran pitching in his 11th year in the big leagues, may have come into this game with an 8.20 ERA, but today, the Giants’ offense made him look like the Hendricks of old.

The Giants were hitless through five innings, and Hendricks retired 14-straight after his one-out walk to Ramos in the top of the first.

As for the Giants’ pitching front, Spencer Bivens, coming off his day for the ages on Sunday in which he got the win in his major league debut after a long and arduous journey to the big leagues, came in to pitch for San Francisco in the bottom of the second.

Ian Happ greeted Bivens with a ground-rule double to center to lead off the bottom of the second, but Bivens retired the side in order immediately afterwards. In the bottom of the third, Bivens again had to deal with a runner in scoring position with nobody out. This time, he had the bases loaded with nobody out.

Cody Bellinger was the man Bivens had to face with the bases juiced. Bivens got Bellinger to hit a chopper back to the mound that Bivens threw home to get Pete Crow-Armstrong for the first out of the inning, but Bellinger was called safe at first by First Base Umpire Cory Blaser on the back end of the potential double play.

It was a bang-bang play at first, which prompted Bob Melvin to challenge it. The play was overturned, and indeed it was a double play. Christopher then hit a shot back to the mound that glanced off Bivens’ right pitching hand, and went to shortstop Brett Wisely, who retired Morel to end the inning.

Somehow, Bivens got out of the bottom of the third unscathed, and his pitching hand was good enough for him to come back out for the bottom of the fourth. However, Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson hit back-to-back home runs to start the bottom of the fourth. Bivens then walked Michael Busch, and Melvin pulled Bivens for Sean Hjelle.

Unlike his major league debut Sunday, Bivens faced a far-superior offense and team in the Cubs. In two-plus innings, Bivens gave up two runs and counting, five hits and two walks. However, Bivens was able to work out of a pair of jams before the long ball finally got him in the bottom of the fourth.

Hjelle was now in the game with a runner on first and still nobody out in the bottom of the fourth. Miguel Amaya singled Busch over to second, and that brought up Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Counsell had Crow-Armstrong lay down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over to second and third, but when third-baseman Matt Chapman came in to field the bunt, he bobbled it and then ended up throwing it away. Busch scored; Amaya went to third; and Crow-Armstong went to second.

The Cubs now led 3-0, and they had a chance to blow this thing open. Somehow, Hjelle got out of the inning without any more damage. Hjelle ended up retiring six-straight, as he threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth.

The Giants finally got their first pitch off Cy Hendricks when Thairo Estrada led off the sixth inning with a double to left. Trenton Brooks flew out to left, and Wisely reached on a bunt single that moved Estrada over to third. The white-hot Heliot Ramos came up, and he beat out the back end of a near double play to knock in Estrada and put the Giants on the board.

Counsell pulled Hendricks, who was certainly on his game Wednesday. In five and two thirds innings pitched, Hendricks gave up just a run and two hits, while walking just one and striking out eight.

Hendricks was replaced by the now-longtime veteran left-hander, Drew Smyly. Smyly pitched for the Giants in 2020, but he’s been around so long that he pitched against the Giants as a member of the Detroit Tigers way back in the 2012 World Series.

Anyway, the Giants looked to tie the game against Smyly, as Patrick Bailey singled Ramos over to second. However, Smyly struck Chapman out swinging to end the inning. Left-hander Taylor Rogers pitched a scoreless bottom of the sixth for the Giants, and Smyly was back out on the mound for the Cubs in the top of the seventh.

Austin Slater pinch-hit for Michael Conforto and drew a walk to start the inning. Jorge Soler struck out swinging, and then Mike Yastrzemski singled Slater over to second. Thairo Estrada was now at the plate with runners at first and second with one out.

Smyly fell behind in the count 3-0, but Home Plate Umpire Nestor Ceja called the next two pitches, which were both a bit off the outside corner, strikes to fill the count up to 3-2. Then, two pitches later, Smyly threw a beautiful knuckle curve on the outside corners at the top of the zone for strike three.

Wilmer Flores flew out to center, and this ended up being yet another wasted opportunity by the Giants’ offense. The Cubs kept their 3-1 lead, as Spencer Howard came in for San Francisco in the bottom of the seventh.

Nico Hoerner led off the inning with a ground-rule double to right. Seiya Suzuki struck out on a foul tip. Cody Bellinger got Hoerner to third on an infield single, and Christopher Morel walked to load the bases. Ian Happ struck out swinging, and Howard now had a chance to get out of the inning unscathed.

Dansby Swanson came up and lined a base-hit to left that scored a pair to extend the Cubs’ lead to 5-1. Swanson then tried to steal second and was caught in a rundown, but when shortstop Brett Wisely threw to first-baseman Wilmer Flores as Swanson tried to return to first, Flores dropped the ball, and Morel scored to make it 6-1.

Swanson was at second, as the Cubs looked to make this baby a laugher. Michael Busch lined a base-hit to left that spat out of Austin Slater’s glove, and at this point, this inning was turning into a blooper reel. Mercifully for the Giants, the deficit stayed 6-1 going to the eighth.

The wind was still blowing out to center field as the game went to the eighth. Mark Leiter Jr. was the new pitcher for Chicago. Brett Wisely singled to lead off the inning, and after Ramos and Bailey grounded into force outs, Chapman and Slater walked to load the bases for Jorge Soler.

After struggling with runners on base all season long, Soler finally started finding success with runners on last week. Now, here he was with the bases loaded, and if he could run into one, it would suddenly be a brand-new ballgame.

Counsell brought in Tyson Miller, and Soler hit an absolute bomb to left field that was headed for Waveland Avenue, but hit off the “nUTRL” sign above the bleachers out in left. It would’ve been cool had the ball made it all the way to Waveland, but it ultimately didn’t matter where the ball landed; it was now a 6-5 game, and the Giants were right back in it.

Ryan Walker threw a 1-2-3 shutdown inning in the bottom of the eighth, and the Giants would try to create some ninth inning magic against Colten Brewer, the man who Craig Counsell brought in to try and convert the save this afternoon.

Estrada grounded out to third to start the inning, but Flores walked and was pinch-run for by Nick Ahmed. Brett Wisely also walked, and the Giants had the man they wanted at the plate in Heliot Ramos. Ramos hit a slow shopper up the middle, but shortstop Dansby Swanson made a nice play to barely get Ramos at first for the second out.

Ramos did move the runners over to second and third, and if Patrick Bailey could come through, there was a good chance the Giants would have the lead. Unfortunately, Bailey grounded out to second to end the game, and the Cubs held on to win it 6-5.

Kyle Harrison very fittingly got his first win of the season against the Giants. Spencer Bivens got the win in his major league debut on Sunday, but here today in his second big league outing, he took the loss. Colten Brewer, meanwhile, got his first save of the year.

The Giants fall back to three games under .500 at 36-39, and they will now head to Birmingham, Alabama for a special game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Rickwood Field on Thursday, the first major league park that Willie Mays called home.

The Giants will be the road team, and the Cardinals will be the home team. Keaton Winn (3-7, 6.66 ERA) will be the Thursday lucky man, who will have the honor of being the starting pitcher for the Giants in this game . Opposing Winn for the Cardinals will be Andre Pallante (2-3, 4.61 ERA).

First pitch will be at 7:15 p.m. in Birmingham, and 4:15 p.m. back home in San Francisco on Thursday night. The game will be nationally televised on FOX, and the Giants announced just Wednesday that Oracle Park will open at noon Thursday for fans to come pay tribute to Willie and watch the game on the scoreboard.

Geloff’s three run homer crucial as A’s end 9 game skid against Royals 7-5 at Coliseum

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Oakland A’s Zack Geloff connects for a three run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at the Oakland Coliseum on Tue Jun 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

Kansas City (41-23). 020 010 020. 5. 7. 2

Athletics (27-48). 202 300 00x 7 11. 1

Time: 2:16

Attendance: 7,013

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–Before the game began on this warm and breezy Tuesday evening, the Coliseum observed a moment of silence to reflect on the death this afternoon at the age of 93 of baseball inmortal Willie Mays.

The barnstorming Athletics had returned to their temporary base camp in Oakland after a disastrous tour of San Diego and Minneapolis-St. Paul in which they extended their two game losing streak to a season high nine, just in time to put a halt that free fall, defeating the Kansas City Royals, 7-5, in a game that almost slipped away from them at the end.

The Athletics had engaged in a flurry of transactions earlier in the day. They recalled outfielder Lawrence Butler, who started tonight’s contest in right field, batting eighth, from Las Vegas. He went one for three, with a double and a run scored. They also promoted Tyler Nevin from the Aviators. He, too, was in today’s lineup, playing third and batting in the seventh position. He, too, went one for three with a two bagger. Those additions had their counterpoint in JD Davis’s designation for assignment and outright release of the perennial prospect Seth Brown.

Southpaw Hogan Harris (0-0 2.49 at game time) had gone five innings in his most recent start, six days earlier in Petco Park, where he left with a no decision after allowing three runs, only one of which was earned, in a 5-4 loss to the Padres. He lasted five innings and gave up three runs, two of them unearned, again this evening. He allowed four hits, one for the distance, and two free passes. 62 or his 100 pitches were considered strikes. Harris got the win, his first of the year, and now is 1-0. 2.37. Vinny Nittalli replaced him to start the sixth and set the side down in order before yielding to Austin Adams for the seventh, who benefited from The Curse of the Leadoff Double, stranding pinch hitter Adam Frazier on second by retiring his next three batters in order. Lucas Erceg, who returned from the IL last Wednesday, took over in the eighth. He was less successful, getting touched for two runs in two thirds an inning. Scott Alexander and Mason Millere kept the Royals at bay for the rest of the game.

Kansas City sent Alec Marsh, their second round choice in the 2019 draft, to the mound. His first big league appearance was last June 30, and he finished that season at 3-9,5.69. He had a decent 5-3, 3.63 record this year when he threw the first of his 76 pitches. He left, trailing 7-2. All seven runs were earned; they came on seven hits, one of them a home run, and two walks. He logged four strikeouts.He was the losing pitcher; his won-lost record fell to 5-4 while his ERA ballooned to 4.37.

The A’s jumped out ahead in their half of the opening frame. JJ Bleday followed Max Schuemann’s leadoff walk with a double to center that drove the Athletics’ shortstop home. Miguel Andújar’s fly to right allowed Bleday to advance to third, whence he scored on Brent Rooker’s sacrifice fly to left.

Schuemann, whose base on balls had opened the gates for the A’s two tallies, opened them for KC’s two tying runs in the top of the second. He let a two out grounder by Freddy Fermín past him for an error. On the next pitch, Nick Lofton took a 92mph four seamer 394 feet deep that just got past Bleday’s glove and into the alley behind the NBC Sports California sign in center to tie the score at two. They went ahead in their next turn at bat. Zacl Gelof led off with a single to left, stole second, and moved on to third on Schuemann’s infield single. Bleday then banged his second consecutive two bagger, this one too rith, plating Gelof and advancing Schuemann to third. He came home on Andújar’s single to the left side of the infield. Marsh proceeded to fan the next three Athletics he faced. Bobby Witt, Jr. made nice plays on the two infield hits, but who ever said baseball was fair?

There was nothing tainted in the three runs the Athletics scored in the fourth and what drove Marsh to the showers. KC’s starter walked Nevin. Butler smacked a double to left center that put two runners in scoring position. Gelof, who seems to be emerging from his slump, then deposited a three run four bagger into the second level seats in left field for his sixth home run of the year. That’s when Sam Long relieved Marsh and, in spite of a single by Andújar and a double by Rooker, ended the inning without further scoring.

Dan Altavilla worked a scoreless bottom of the fifth, in which Nevin celebrated his return to the show with a double to right.

The Royals managed a pair of runs off Erceg in the top of the eighth, loading the bases on singles by Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Pérez and a walk to pinch hitter MJ Meléndez followed by an RBI groundout by Fermín and another by Lofton. That brought in Scott Alexander to put out the fire.

After Alexander put the Royals down 1,2,3 in the top of the ninth, it was Miller time. Mason Miller, who had blown a save in his last appearance, earned his 13th save with a perfect frame.

We’ll see Wednesday, if the A’s have mended their ways or if this was just a momentary halt in their collapse. Luis Medina (0-2,5.87) is scheduled to throw the first pitch at 6:40. The Royals’ Cole Ragans (4-4, 3.14) will take the mound for Kansas City.

SF’s Tyler Rogers coughs up 3 runs in 8th as Cubs capitalize in 5-2 win at Wrigley

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San Francisco Giants Jorge Soler (left) celebrates with Mike Yastrzemski (right) after scoring on a Curt Casali two run double in the top of the fifth inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Tue Jun 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Wrigley Field

Chicago, Illinois

San Francisco Giants 2 (36-38)

Chicago Cubs 5 (35-39)

Win: Tyson Miller (1-0)

Loss: Tyler Rogers (0-2)

Save: Keegan Thompson (1)

Time: 2:10

Attendance: 36,297

By Stephen Ruderman

The Cubs scored three runs off the usually-reliable Tyler Rogers in the bottom of the eighth inning to beat the Giants 5-2 on a solemn and hauntingly-beautiful Tuesday night at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

After Thairo Estrada’s three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning led the Giants to a 7-6 comeback win last night in the opener of this series, the Giants looked to build off their momentum and get their third-straight win behind their ace, Logan Webb, tonight. However, with a strong wind blowing out to center field, Webb would be in for a challenge.

Left-hander Justin Steele made the start for the Cubs, and he got his night started with a 1-2-3 top of the first inning. Webb started his night the same way in the bottom of the first.

Steele pitched a scoreless top of the second, and after Ian Happ singled up the middle with one out in the bottom of the second, Dansby Swanson hit a home run out into the wind in right-center to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead.

Steele pitched another scoreless inning in the top of the third, and Webb ran into a bit of two-out trouble in the bottom of the third. Michael Busch lined a base-hit to left, and Cody Bellinger singled him over to third base. Webb was then able to get Seiya Suzuki to fly out to left to end the inning.

Steele and Webb both pitched 1-2-3 innings in the fourth, but during the inning, a bigger story began to transcend Tueday night’s game.

As the game went to the bottom of the fourth, it was announced that Willie Mays, arguably the greatest player in Baseball History, had died this afternoon at the age of 93. This news came just two days before the Giants are set to play the St. Louis Cardinals at Rickwood Field, the first major league ballpark that Mays called home.

After the news was announced, a beautiful sunset encompassed Wrigley Field, and the sun lit the clouds above the ballpark orange. As the winds continued to blow out to center field while the Giants played the Cubs at Wrigley Field, one of only three remaining major league ballparks that Willie Mays played at, you couldn’t help but think that the Baseball Gods had painted that entire picture as the great Willie Mays became one with them.

Meanwhile, back on the field, the Giants tied the game in the top of the fifth. Jorge Soler led off the inning with a walk, and Mike Yastrzemski walked with one out to put runners at first and second for Curt Casali, who shot a double into the gap in left-center to tie it.

It was now 2-2, and the Cubs were threatening to retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth, as they loaded the bases against Webb with two outs. Suzuki ended up flying out to left, and Webb was able to get out of it without any damage.

After Justin Steele pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth, and as Steele and the Cubs left the field, a moment of silence was held under the orange sunset at Wrigley.

Webb settled down and threw 1-2-3 innings in the bottom of the sixth and seventh, and he ended up having a strong outing despite the conditions at Wrigley. Webb gave up two runs and six hits, while walking one and striking out five over seven innings.

Steele ended up going six two-thirds innings, and he gave up two runs and four hits, while walking two and striking out eighth. Tyson Miller struck Casali out swinging to close out the top of, and Miller pitched a 1-2-3 top of the eighth.

Tyler Rogers, who’s usually quite dominant, came in for the bottom of the eighth, but he had one of those innings where everything exploded on him.

Busch lined a double to right to start the inning, and Bellinger knocked in Busch with a base-hit the other way to left to put the Cubs back ahead 3-2. Suzuki singled Bellinger over to third and stole second, and Ian Happ grounded a base-hit to right to score Bellinger and make it 4-2. Rogers walked David Bote to load the bases, and Bob Melvin brought in Luke Jackson.

Christopher Morel was now at the plate, and he nicked in Happ with an infield hit to short. The Cubs had now scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 5-2 lead.

Cubs’ closer Hector Neris, who blew the save last night, did not come in for the top of the ninth. Instead, Craig Counsell opted for Keegan Thompson, who closed out the game with a 1-2-3 inning.

Tyson Miller got the win; Tyler Rogers took the loss; and Keegan Thompson picked up his first save of the season.

The Giants will try to take the series against the lone remaining player from the Cubs’ world championship team of 2016, Kyle Hendricks (0-4, 8.20 ERA). It will be hot Wednesday, and if the wind blows out again at Wrigley, with Hendricks’ season, the Giants will be in a good position to win the series.

First pitch will be at 1:20 p.m. in Chicago, 11:20 a.m. back home in San Francisco.

Willie Mays, arguably greatest baseball of all-time, dies at 93

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Willie Mays in his last year as a San Francisco Giant in 1972 just before being traded to the New York Mets. (AP News file photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

Giants legend Willie Mays, arguably the greatest baseball player who has ever lived, died this afternoon at the age of 93.

The news was announced this evening by his son, Michael.

“My father has passed away peacefully and among loved ones,” said Michael Mays in a statement. “I want to thank you all from the bottom of my broken heart for the unwavering love you have shown him over the years. You have been his life’s blood.”

Willie Howard Mays Jr. was born on May 6, 1931 in the town of Westfield, Alabama. Mays fell in love with baseball as a kid, as he watched his dad, Cat, play center field. That made the young Mays want to be a ballplayer himself.

Mays began his professional career in 1948 with the Chattanooga Choo-Choos in the Negro minor leagues. Later that summer, Mays joined the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League. Mays helped the Black Barons in their run to the Negro World Series that year, where they lost the series four games to one to the Homestead Grays.

Mays spent a total of 22 seasons in the major leagues, coming up with the New York Giants in 1951. Mays played for the Giants in 1951 and 1952, and from 1954 to 1972, when the then-San Francisco Giants traded Mays to the New York Mets. Mays played the remainder 1972 and all of 1973 with the Mets.

Mays appeared in four world series (1951, 1954, 1962 and 1973), and won the World Series in 1954, when he made possibly the most iconic catch in Baseball History in Game 1.

Mays, a 24-time all-star, hit .302 with 660 home runs in his 22-year career.

“Today we have lost a true legend,” said Giants Chairman Greg Johnson. “In the pantheon of baseball greats, Willie Mays’ combination of tremendous talent, keen intellect, showmanship, and boundless joy set him apart. A 24-time All-Star, the Say Hey Kid is the ultimate Forever Giant. He had a profound influence not only on the game of baseball, but on the fabric of America. He was an inspiration and a hero who will be forever remembered and deeply missed.”

“I fell in love with baseball because of Willie, plain and simple,” said Giants CEO Larry Baer. My childhood was defined by going to Candlestick with my Dad, watching Willie patrol center field with grace and the ultimate athleticism. Over the past 30 years, working with Willie, and seeing firsthand his zest for life and unbridled passion for giving to young players and kids, has been one of the joys of my life.”

Mays passed away peacefully at a care home in Palo Alto, California, where he was surrounded by his family.

Oakland A’s podcast with Augie Mesenburg: A’s injury updates; Oakland opens up series with Royals Tuesday

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Oakland A’s outfielder Esteury Ruiz who hit a home run on Wed Apr 17, 2024 against the St Louis Cardinals remains out with a left wrist sprain (AP file photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Augie:

#1 Augie The A’s added LHP Brady Basso as a 27th man during Sunday’s doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Basso is a number 18 MLB pipeline. Basso had started in 11 minor league games and has an 5.01 ERA with 54 strikeouts and 13 walks.

#2 Ross Stripling who has a right elbow flexor strain. Stripling whose on a throwing program will work on throwing for more distance and will not be ready until he can throw off the mound.

#3 A’s pitcher Kyle Mueller who has left shoulder tendinitis started his throwing program since Jun 6th. Mueller’s next step is to throw off the mound and there is no sure time when that is supposed to take place. Mueller preformed well in relief had an 3.48 ERA in 13 games.

#4 The A’s are really missing Esteury Ruiz in the line up. Ruiz as you may recall led the American League in stolen bases last season. This season it seems like Ruiz who got sent down at the beginning of the season and then was brought back up has been suffering from a left wrist strain. Ruiz’ return to the line up is still no known.

#5 The A’s open a three game series with the Kansas City Royals starting Tuesday night at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s are on a nine game losing streak and recently were swept in a four game series against the Minnesota Twins. The Royals are second in the AL Central and have lost six of their last ten games. How do you see these two teams matching up for this series?

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