Tag: mlb

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Oakland avoids getting swept at Coliseum shuts out Rangers; Oakland opens series with Washington Friday

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Esterury Ruiz slugs a single in the bottom of the third inning for the Oakland A’s against the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Aug 9, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Oakland A’s Freddy Tarnok went four innings without giving up a run against the mighty Texas Rangers with the help of five other A’s pitchers to shutout one of baseball’s best 2-0 at the Oakland Coliseum.

#2 For Tarnok he records his first MLB career win which was part of a four hitter against one of the toughest line ups in baseball.

#3 The 2-0 loss for the Rangers snaps their eight game win streak, the Rangers took the first two games from Oakland on Monday and Tuesday nights and were in danger of getting swept.

#4 The A’s got some offense from Zack Gelof who slugged his sixth homer of the season and rookie Esteurey Ruiz got a base hit, stole two bases, scored a run and Ruiz’ stolen bases gives him 46 for the season.

#5 The A’s start a six game road trip starting Friday night in Washington DC against the Nationals. A’s starter Paul Blackburn (2-2 ERA 4.35) the Nats have not announced a starter as of Wednesday night.

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

A’s behind outstanding pitching, down Rangers 2-0; Oakland uses six pitchers to shutout Texas

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The Oakland A’s shortstop Nick Allen (2) is seen here throwing out the Texas Rangers Leody Taveras at first base in the top of the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Aug 9, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

My, oh, my. On a beautiful afternoon in Oakland on Wednesday, the A’s much-maligned pitching staff stopped the powerful Texas Rangers offense. The Rangers have scored the most runs of any team in the American League.

The Rangers have guys up and down the lineup that can hit the ball out of the park. Yet, A’s manager Mark Kotsay’s decision to go with an opener paid dividends. Austin Pruitt started for the Green and Gold and walked just one batter in his two innings.

Freddy Tarnook took over in the third, giving the A four scoreless innings and allowing just two hits. Angel Felipe and Kirby Snead pitched in the seventh and eighth. Neither pitcher allowed a hit. A’s closer Trevor May recorded his 12th save of the year to preserve the ‘s 2-0 win.

The Rangers sent lefty Jordan Montgomery to the mound to face the A’s. Montgomery, acquired by Texas from the St.Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline, was hoping to notch his second win as a member of the Rangers. Montgomery gave the Rangers a quality start.

He went six innings, allowing two runs, seven hits, and one home run. Montgomery struck out five and walked one. Texas Rangers’ manager Bruce Bochy had to be pleased with Montgomery’s performance rather than the game’s outcome.

Here’s how the A’s scored their runs. With one out in the bottom of the third inning, A’s centerfielder Esteury Ruiz singled. Ruiz, second in baseball with 44 steals before Wednesday’s game, promptly stole second and third.

It was his 45th and 46th stolen bases of the season. Third baseman Jonah Bride’s sacrifice fly drove in Ruiz with the game’s first run.

The A’s put their second run of the game on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Rookie second baseman Zack Gelof led off the frame with his sixth home run to make it 2-0. Gelof’s sixth home run in 22 games made A’s history. Gelof became the first player in franchise history to accomplish that feat. 

The Rangers threatened to score in the top of the ninth. Trevor May was brought in from the bullpen to close out the game. May retired two good Ranger hitters, Aroldis Garcia, and Leody Taveras. Singles by catcher Sam Huff and Robbie Grossman put the tying runners on base.

Ranger third baseman Josh Smith came to the plate as the potential go-ahead run. May got Smith to line out to A’s shortstop Nick Allen. The A’s win 2-0.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s are now 33-82, still the worst record in baseball. The Rangers are 68-47. Texas is in first place in the AL West Division and leads the second-place Houston Astros by 2 and 1/2 games.

Zack Gelof and Estuery Ruiz were the entire A’s offense on Wednesday. Gelof’s home run and Ruiz’s baserunning were the ingredients that gave the A’s the win. The A’s pitching was outstanding. The A’s held the Rangers to just two hits for the first eight innings. The Rangers had two singles in the ninth but failed to score.

Freddy Tarnok received credit for his first win of the year. May recorded his 12th save.

The line score for Oakland was two runs, seven hits, and no errors.

The Rangers’ line was no runs, four hits, and no errors.

The A’s are off on Thursday. Starting Friday night, they will play a three-game series with the Washington Nationals in the Nation’s Capitol. The A’s then travel to St Louis to play the Cardinals. Both teams are having a down year. The A’s will be hoping to capitalize on both teams’ problems.

Friday’s starters: For Oakland Paul Blackburn (2-2 ERA 4.35) Washington has not announced a starter first pitch 4:05pm PT at Nationals Park.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: KNTA radio days a look back on A’s Spanish radio; Memories of Oakland (No. 10 in series)

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Author Amaury Pi Gonzalez (left) and broadcast partner Evelio Mendoza (right) as Oakland A’s Spanish broadcast partners during the 1989 World Series part of the Memories of Oakland number 10 in a series (photo provided by Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

During the mid to late 1980’s the Oakland Athletics Spanish radio broadcast took place on the airwaves of KNTA 1430AM Radio, Santa Clara whose format was all in Spanish. Today KNTA 1430 is KVVN 1430AM, and is the only Vietnamese radio station in America owned and operated by a Vietnamese-American. So goes, the ever changing scenery of radio in one of the most diverse areas in the US.

Mr. Gene Hogan was the General Manager of KNTA Radio Spanish, a station represented by Lotus Communications. Hogan was a seasoned General Manager for one station and handled all the business as well as programming for his station. He was always accessible. Gene Hogan was not fluent in Spanish but he understood more than he let everybody knows and he was a hands on manager, Gene knew radio inside and out.

With a great sense of humor, Hogan could sell ice to an Eskimo. Like most General Managers at that time, he came from a sales background. It was there at KNTA in Santa Clara that I met Erwin Higueros, who was a disc jockey at the station during the Graveyard shift (midnight to sunrise) live on radio those days.

Mr. Hogan told me he had this young man working for him and he (Erwin) was interested in baseball. Erwin came along and joined our broadcasts, first as engineer and later on the air would join Evelio and yours truly for an inning or so.

Evelio Areas Mendoza was my broadcast partner at KNTA 1430 radio, the home of the Oakland Athletics in Spanish at the time, doing most home games and selected road games. The road games we would broadcast from their main studio in Santa Clara by watching a television monitor.

Not to miss a play, I usually had a transistor radio listening with my earphones and when Evelio was doing the play by play I would listen to Bill King, so we could not miss anything that was happening when the team was playing abroad.

We had the authorization from the Athletics and the broadcast went very well. During that time we broadcasted home games at Oakland right behind the plate (in front of the backstop, at field level) under a canopy with the KNTA 1430 AM identification letters written on the side.

I enjoyed broadcasting games at that unique location, however, later the A’s told us they would have to remove us from there, because, “some scouts for other teams thought we were stealing signs in favor of the A’s”. Which it was totally ludicrous and I would happily testify in front of a judge if it came to that. It never did. We went back to the press box level inside a regular broadcast booth.

In my many talks with Gene Hogan, like I said before, he ran every facet at the station, I always would speak about sports, he was not really a sports fan, but he understood radio and the importance of major league baseball broadcast for a local station, he would mention the prestige and possible magnet for other advertisers when a station can secure a contract to broadcast professional baseball.

One occasion I told him about the importance of covering Spring Training, and after we went back-and-forth in a meeting he understood that would be good for the station. It was the 1980’s and radio still played a big part in our culture, especially local radio stations.

A few days later he called me into his office and told me he had approved a trip for us to go to Spring Training. So, Erwin and I rented a car and drove to the Phoenix area to cover A’s Spring Training. KNTA 1430 AM is where the 1989 “Earthquake Series” won by the A’s, was broadcast in Spanish for the Bay Area as well as the previous World Series against the LA Dodgers in 1988.

KNTA Radio 1430 was popular radio, famous for doing lots of remotes from different community events in the San José area, decades before San José became the home for Silicon Valley, home to many start-up and global technology companies. Apple, META and Google among the most prominent. Today a lot of this history is at The Tech Museum of Innovation in San José.

KNTA Radio Days in Spanish was a legendary time when San José was still into a “growing spurt”, and Gene Hogan, RIP, was one of great characters I had the pleasure of meeting in the broadcast business.

Famous Radio quotes: “It’s not true I had nothing on, I had the radio on” – Marilyn Monroe

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish Network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Angels score a run in 7th and 8th to beat Giants 7-5; Halos Drury three hits provide offensive punch

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The Los Angeles Angels Mike Moustakas (8) slides in safely on a Hunter Renfroe RBI double as San Francisco Giants catcher Blake Sabol (2) is late with the tag in the bottom of the first inning at the Big A in Anaheim on Tue Aug 8, 2023 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023

Angel Stadium of Anaheim

Anaheim, California

San Francisco Giants 5 (62-52)

Los Angeles Angels 7 (57-58)

Win: Lucas Giolito (7-8)

Loss: Scott Alexander (6-2)

Save: Dominic Leone (1)

Time: 2:36

Attendance: 31,974

By Stephen Ruderman

ANAHEIM–It was a wild one in Anaheim, as the Angels beat the Giants 7-5 in Game 2 of this three-game series to snap the Angels’ seven-game losing streak.

Coming off one of their biggest wins of the season Monday night, the Giants once again went with an opener, as Scott Alexander took the ball for the Giants, but he only faced three batters in the bottom of the first inning, as Luis Rengifo doubled down the right field line; Shohei Ohtani singled up the middle to knock in Rengifo; and Brandon Drury singled Ohtani over to second. 

Jakob Junis then came in, and struck out C.J. Cron, but then gave up a base-hit to Mike Moustakas, which scored Ohtani to make it 2-0 Angels. Randal Grichuk struck out, but Hunter Renfroe doubled in Drury and Moustakas, and after the throw from second-baseman Thairo Estrada hit the dirt, Renfoe went to third. Mickey Moniak then flew out to the wall in right, and the inning was over.

Lucas Giolito, whom the Angels had acquired from the White Sox on July 26, made his first home start at Angel Stadium, and he set down the first seven Giants he faced. However, the Giants would not go down quietly.

With one out in the top of the third, Brandon Crawford then worked an 0-2 count into a walk, and that got things started for the Giants. Luis Matos pinch-hit for A.J. Pollock—who left the game with side tightness—and singled to center; and LaMonte Wade walked to load the bases.

That set things up for Joc Pederson, who hit a little squibber along the third base line off the end of his bat, as Mike Moustakas had no play; everybody was safe; and the Giants were on the board. Wilmer Flores then grounded a single up the middle into center to knock in Matos and Wade, and just like that, the score was 4-3.

Junis held the fort, as the Angels wasted one-out doubles in the second and third. Giolito pitched a 1-2-3 top of the fourth; and Alex Wood came in for the Giants in the bottom of the fourth, and pitched a 1-2-3 inning with a pair of strikeouts. 

The Giants threatened in the fifth after Matos led off the inning with a walk and Wilmer Flores was hit by a pitch with two outs, but they were unable to do anything with it. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Brandon Drury hit an opposite-field home run to right to extend the Angels’ lead to 5-4. 

The Angels threatened more, as C.J. Cron followed Drury’s home run with a walk, and Mike Moustakas reached after a throw from Thairo Estrada pulled LaMonte Wade off the bag at first; but Wood then for Grichuk to fly out to right, and Renfroe to pop out to third to end the inning without any further damage.

Giolito and Wood both pitched 1-2-3 innings in the sixth, and Angels’ left-hander Aaron Loup pitched a 1-2-3 top of the seventh.

Brandon Drury hit a double down the left field line with one out in the bottom of the seventh for his third leg of the cycle, but he was nearly thrown out at second on a missile from Joc Pederson. C.J. Cron then singled to left, but Drury thought better than to test Pederson’s arm again, as that put runners on the corners with one out for Mike Moustakas, who knocked in Drury with a sacrifice fly to center-fielder LaMonte Wade out in right-center. 

Grichuk grounded into a 6-4 fielder’s choice to end the bottom of the seventh, and that did it for Alex Wood, who pitched four solid innings, and outside of Brandon Drury, gave up just one hit.

“I thought Alex did a really nice job,” said Giants Manager Gabe Kapler. “Through those middle innings, we needed somebody to keep us in the game, and make pitches.”

Loup was back out for the Angels in the top of the eighth. Kapler sent Patrick Bailey to pinch-hit for Joc Pederson, and Kapler was rewarded, as Bailey singled to left. Angels Manager Phil Nevin then brought in the former Giant, Dominic Leone, and Wilmer Flores hit a home run to left-center to make the score 6-5. Leone then set the next three guys in order.

Luke Jackson came in for the Giants in the bottom of the eighth, and he immediately ran into trouble. Renfroe singled, and Monial doubled Renfroe to third. Matt Thaiss pinch-hit for Chad Wallach, and knocked in Renfroe with a sacrifice fly to right to make it 7-5. Jackson escaped the eighth without giving up any more runs. 

Phil Nevin did not want to take any chances with his struggling closer, Carlos Estevez, who had blown his last two save opportunities, so Nevin decided to let Leone try to convert the six-out save. The move paid off, and Leone pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his first save of the season.

Despite the loss, the Giants did not go down quietly, just has been the case all season. Even in the ninth, the Giants made Leone earn the save.

“I think these guys scratch and claw,” said Kapler. “That’s why we make moves like Pat[rick] Bailey pinch-hitting, [as well as] Austin Slater just to kind of get those kind[s] of upgrades, because these guys are going to fight until the finish every time.”

The Giants have now lost three of their last four, as they fall to 62-52, and five games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who beat the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix, in the National League West. 

The rubber match of the series will be Wednesday night at 6:38, as Manager Gabe Kapler will start Ryan Walker (4-1 ERA 2.52) he’ll be opposed by Shohei Ohtani (9-5 ERA 3.32).

Scherzer shuts down A’s as Rangers pick up 8th straight win 6-1 at Coliseum

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Texas Rangers starter Max Scherzer pitches into the bottom of the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum against the Oakland A’s on Tue Aug 8, 2023 (AP News photo)

Texas (68-46). 010 030 110 – 6. 13. 0

Oakland (32-82). 000 100 000 – 1. 3. 0

Time: 2:33

Attendance: 5,419

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–We all knew it was coming, but now it’s a mathematical certainty; the A’s will not finish this season over .500. Tuesday night’s 6-1 loss to the division leading Texas Rangers was the hapless, homeless team’ 82nd of the 162 game 2023 season

After Dan Jiménez’s dismal eighth inning in yesterday evening’s loss to Texas, the A’s optioned him to their PCL farm team and recalled Adrián Martínez from the Aviators. Neither pitcher has performed up to his potential this year, in The Town or in Sin City.

The Mexicali native saw action today, entering the game in the top of the fifth and overstaying his welcome until there were two out in the top of the ninth.

Oakland’s starting pitcher, JP Sears was 0-3, 5.54 in his first seven starts of the season. He went 2-5, 3.42 over the remaining 15, to bring his record to 2-8, 4.07 at game time.

Sears performance this evening was underwhelming. He allowed four runs, all earned, in four innings, in which he threw 86 pitches, 59 of which weren’t balls. He gave up nine hit and a walk, striking out six. He took the loss and ended the day at 2-9, 4.23.

The Athletics’ 27 year old lefty’s opponent was the likely Hall of Fame candidate, the 39 year old right hander Max Scherzer, now on the downhill side of his career, although you’d hardly thought so when he signed his three year, $43,333,333 contract with the Mets this past off season.

Scherzer was traded to the Rangers 10 days ago and promptly exercised his option to become a free agent once 2023 is in the rear view mirror. He’d been 9-4, 4.01 for the Mets and 10-4, 4.04, combined with his two teams.

Tuesday, though, he was excellent, holding Oakland one run, earned on three hits, one of the a home run, and two walks, while striking out six. He threw 89 pitches, 58 for strikes, and earned his second win for Texas, and now is 11-4, 3.88 overall.

Robbie Grossma’s one out double to left, followed by Ezeequiel Durán’s single to center, put Texas on the board in the top of the second.

The Rangers had to settle for that one run, thanks in great part, to a beautiful play by Nick Alllen on short that turned what would have been an RBI single to left by Marcus Semien into an infield single that loaded the bases with two outs before Sears fanned Corey Seager to end the threat.

Grossman doubled again in the fourth, and Huff drove him in with a two bagger of his own. So much for The Curse of the Leadoff Double. After Leody Tavares went down swinging, Allen made another beautiful play on Semien’s grounder, but the Rangers’ second sacker beat the throw to first, and Huff came all the way around to score.

Semien then came home on Seager’s double off the xfinity ad just to the left of the 388 foot marker in left center. The one run Texas lead had blossomed into a 4-0 gap before Adolis García, the eighth batter of the frame, went down swinging to end the inning.

JJ Bleday got one of those runs back for the A;s with his leadoff home run in the bottom of the frame, his ninth four bagger of the season. It travelled 420 feet into center field and left Bledauy’s bat at 108.7 mph and came off a 92.6 mph four seamer.

Adrián Martínez celebrated his return to the show by striking out the three batters he faced in the fifth, to the accompaniment of the now traditional “Sell the Team” chants of that frame. He set the Rangers down to a conga beat in the sixth as well.

But Martinez’ patch of perfection ended abruptly with Seager’s leadoff home run over the right center field State Farm advertisement in the seventh, making it 5-1 Lowe followed with a double to right center but was eliminated on an inning ending unassisted double play on a liner by Mitch Garver to Gelof at second. Martínez, who has a history as a starter, stayed on for the eighth.

’twas the night before Christmas in the Athletics’ bullpen; not a creature was stirring, when Grossman walked to start the inning. Travis Jankowski pinch ran for him and scored two outs later on Huff’s triple to left center. That gave Brock Burke a 6-1 lead to work with when he replaced Scherzer to start the eighth. He preserved that six run margin.

Zach Neal finally began to warm up in the pen with Lowe’s one out double in the ninth. He continued until two walks and a fly out loaded the bases with two down. Then he replaced Martínez and got a pinch hitting Josh Smith to fly out to right on three pitches.

The loss dropped Oakland to 31-82, .274.

Kansas City improved its record to 37-78, .322 with their 9-3 defeat of the Red Sox at Fenway earlier this evening.

On August 8, 1899 the worst team in major league history, the Cleveland Spiders, were clobbered by the Boston Beaneater in the hub, 18-8 and fell to 18-71, .202. On August 9, 1962, the worst team of the modern era, the New York Mets, were in San Francisco, where Roger Craig beat the Giants, 5-2, at the brand new ball park at Candlestick Point. That raised the Mets’ record to 30-82, .268.

On August 9, 2023, the A’s will send Freddy Tarnok (0-1, 6.75) against the Rangers and Jordan Montgomery (7-9, 3.40). Game time is 12:37.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Giants snap 8 game road skid; Alexander gets start for SF Tues nite at Big A

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San Francisco Giants JD Davis heads home after hitting a home run in the top of the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angels Stadium in Anaheim on Mon Aug 7, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Stephen:

#1 Stephen, the Giants didn’t hold back scoring six runs in the top of the ninth inning and broke the 3-3 deadlock against the Los Angeles Angels at the Big A in Anaheim for the five run 8-3 win.

#2 Giants hitter Patrick Bailey ripped a two run double as the Angels Randal Grichuk miscalculated the ball that went to his left that was part of the six run ninth inning rally.

#3 Stephen it was a big win for San Francisco who snapped their eight game road losing streak and for the Angels it was their seventh straight loss the Halos worst losing streak of the season.

#4 Giants manager Gabe Kapler said it felt good to have strung a bunch of hits together and winning games late is always fun. Do you see the Giants being that late rallying team?

#5 Starting pitchers for tonight at the Big A for the Giants Scott Alexander (6-1 ERA 3.21) for the Angels Lucas Gulito (6-8 ERA 4.36) for a 6:38pm PT first pitch.

Join Stephen for the Giants podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Six run rally helps end SF’s eight game road skid against Angels in 8-3 win

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San Francisco Giants JD Davis is congratulated inside the Giants dugout after hitting a home run in the top of the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angels Stadium on Mon Aug 7, 2023 (AP News photo)

Monday, Aug. 7, 2023

Angel Stadium of Anaheim

Anaheim, California

San Francisco Giants 8 (62-51)

Los Angeles Angels (56-58)

Win: Taylor Rogers (6-4)

Loss: Carlos Estevez (5-3)

Time: 2:50

Attendance: 32,582

By Stephen Ruderman

ANAHEIM–The Giants put up a six-spot in the ninth, and came back to beat the Angels 8-3 in the opener of the series, as they also handed the Angels their seventh-straight loss.

Coming off a rough two-game sweep at the hands of the A’s over the weekend in Oakland, the Giants sent their ace, Logan Webb, to the mound to stop the schneid. Webb was opposed by the Angels’ left-hander, Patrick Sandoval, as both pitchers were in and out of trouble against the two teams’ struggling offenses early on.

The Giants wasted opportunities in the first and second innings, and the Angels likewise left two runners on in the bottom of the third. Wilmer Flores doubled down the left-field line with one out in the top of the fourth, and J.D. Davis lined out to center. That brought up Patrick Bailey with two outs; and Bailey lined a slider from Patrick Sandoval for a base-hit to knock in Flores, and put the Giants on the board first.

Logan Webb struck out the side in a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth, and then the Angels wasted a leadoff double by Hunter Renfroe in the bottom of the fifth. Shohei Ohtani led off the bottom of the sixth with a double, but after Brandon Drury grounded out to short and Mike Moustakas struck out swinging, it appeared the Angels were going to waste another opportunity. However, C.J. Cron lined a base-hit out into left-center to knock in Ohtani and tie the game.

Mickey Moniak then came up, and lined a base-hit to right-center that was overrun by Giants’ center-fielder, Luis Matos, which prompted Angels’ third base coach, Bill Haselman to wave in Cron, as second-baseman, Thairo Estrada took the relay throw from Matos and fired to the plate, but the throw was dropped by Bailey, and Cron scored to give the Angels the lead. Tristan Beck came in, and struck out Renfroe to end the inning.

“I feel like I maybe went to the well a couple too many times with the sinker and slide[r] to C.J.,” said Webb. “I’m just happy Beck came in, [and] did a good job getting out of [the inning].”

Patrick Sandoval was back out for the Angels in the top of the seventh, and J.D. Davis led off the inning with a towering home run to center to tie it up at 2-2.

Sandoval struck Bailey out looking, and got Michael Conforto to ground out to second, but after Luis Matos reached on a throwing error by Moustakas at third, Sandoval was pulled for former Giant, Matt Moore, who struck out Mark Mathias to end the inning.

Gabe Kapler brought in Tyler Rogers for the bottom of the seventh. Rogers got Matt Thaiss to fly out to left, and got Randal Grichuk to hit what seemed like a routine fly ball to right, but Giants’ right-fielder, A.J. Pollock slipped, thus the ball sailed over his head, which allowed Grichuk to go into third with a triple. Luis Rengifo singled to right to knock in Grichuk, and the Angels retook the lead.

The Angels led 3-2 going into the eighth inning, as Manager Phil Nevin brought in Jose Soriano. LaMonte Wade pinch-hit, and grounded out to second; Thairo Estrada struck out swinging; and Joc Pederson pinch-hit, and hit a deep fly ball to center field that appeared was going to be a home run, but Moniak made an incredible catch to take away a game-tying home run from Pederson.

Taylor Rogers pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth, and the score stayed 3-2 going to the ninth. The Angels brought in their closer, Carlos Estevez, who had been perfect in converting saves this season until Thursday night, when he blew a save and lost to the Seattle Mariners.

The Giants were not going to make it any easier for Estevez, as Wilmer Flores led off the top of the ninth with a base-hit to left, and J.D. Davis then walked.

That put runners at first and second with nobody out for Patrick Bailey, who from the left side of the plate, hit a double down the left field line that Randal Grichuk desperately tried to dive for, but it got past Grichuk, which allowed Flores and Davis to both score, and the Giants took their first lead of the night.

“I think it was a big momentum swing,” said Giants’ manager, Gabe Kapler.

Phil Nevin elected to intentionally walk Michael Conforto, and Luis Matos put down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third. Mark Mathias then hit a broken-bat flip job into center for a base-hit, which knocked Bailey and Conforto, and extended the Giants’ lead to 6-3.

“I just put the ball in play, [and] good things happen[ed],” said Mathias. “It was a heater inside, and I was able to get enough bat on it. She died a hero.”

Estevez was done, but the Giants were not. The Angels brought in the lefty, Aaron Loup, and Wade singled Mathias over to third, and Thairo Estrada singled in Mathias. Pederson struck out looking, but Flores singled in Wade to open the Giants’ lead to 8-3. When all was said and done, the Giants ended up scoring six runs in the top of the ninth.

“We were all screaming in here,” said Webb. “It was fun to watch.”

Camilo Doval came in to get some work for the bottom of the ninth, and he struck out the side without a problem, and the Giants won it, 8-3.

“[It] was definitely one win in [a] 162-game season,” said Kapler. “We gotta enjoy it for a minute, and then turn the page and get ready to get back to work tomorrow.”

Scott Alexander will open up what will be a bullpen game for the Giants tomorrow night, and Lucas Giolito will make the start for the Angels, as the first pitch will be at 6:38.

Other News and Notes:

Infielder Isan Diaz, whom the Giants had designated for assignment, was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Tigers.

That cleared a 40-man roster spot for Luis Gonzalez, who will remain with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. Gabe Kapler hinted that Gonzalez, who spent a considerable amount of time with the Giants in 2022, could see some time with the big club later this season.

“We have a lot of long-term belief in Luis,” said Kapler. “I was talking to [Senior Director of Athletic Training, Dave Groeschner] earlier about this, and he reminded me that this is just kinda spring training for Gonz. So he’s going to be working through finding his swing, finding his rhythm [and] his timing, [and] building up all of those things. Hopefully, he’ll find his way back to the roster at some point.”

Rangers Jankowski scores tying run; gets winning RBI defeat A’s 5-3 at Coliseum

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Texas Rangers’ Travis Jankowski, right, is congratulated after scoring against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Mon Aug 7, 2023 (AP News photo)

Texas (67-46). 000 200 120. – 5. 7. 0

Oakland (32-81). 003 000 000 – 3. 6 1

Time: 2:42

Attendance: 4,013

Monday, August 7, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–It was fun seeing and hearing large and loud crowds at the old Oakland Coliseum over the weekend. Even fighting for a parking spot brought a touch of nostalgic pleasure, an awareness that this was an experience we’d had in the past but could not hope to enjoy again.

Monday brought a return to reality. The paid attendance was 4,013, and the A’s, instead of winning, as they unexpectedly had done Saturday and Sunday, blew a lead and lost 5-3 to the division leading Texas Rangers.

Southpaw Ken Waldichuk has been versatile, if not particularly successful, this season. He brought a 2-7, 6.52 record with him when he toed the rubber at 6:42. It was his 26th game. He was what is now called the traditional starter in a dozen of the previous 25, as he was tonight.

In two others, he was the opener, and he relieved in the remaining ten. Waldichuk did an adequate job against the Rangers tonight. He threw 92 pitches, including 30 balls, over six innings, limiting the Rangers to a pair of runs, both earned, on six hits. He had to settle for a no decision that left him at 3-7 2-7, 6.30.

It was the Rangers’ Dane Dunning’s first start against the Athletics and 17th overall for 2023. He came to work with a 9-4, 3.14 record, which is the fourth best among the American League hurlers who qualify for the rankings. He pitched well in his last start, striking out 11 White Sox in 7-2/3 frames while allowing only one run, which was earned.

Monday night, he, too, got a no decision. The lefty went six frames and allowed three runs, all earned, on five hits and three walks while striking out six. He threw 94 pitches, 55 for strikes and went back to the hotel at 9-4, 3.21.

Oakland took a 3-0 lead in the home third. Tony Kemp drew a one out walk and scored on a double by the surging Nick Allen, who reached the Mendoza line with the two bagger.

He had a little bit of luck on his side; Robbie Grossman slipped trying to field his hit, which probably would have been a single, at most, under other circumstances After Dunning fanned Cody Thomas, JJ Bleday walked, and both runners scored on rookie Zack Gelof’s double to right.

The Rangers came charging back in the top of the fourth. A leadoff single by Corey Seager and back to back doubles by Adolis Garcia and Mitch Garver made it a 3-2 game. The second time through the lineup strikes again!

Texas put runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth, and Oakand’s Gelof fell victim to the Curse of the Leadoff Double in the sixth, but the score remained 3-2 in favor of the A’s through the six innings of Waldichuk’s mound tenure.

His replacement, Lucas Erceg, faced three batters and walked two of them, getting his sole out on a fly to left. Kirby Snead almost saved his bacon, retiring Seager on a grounder to short, but he dropped Tyler Soderstrom’s throw while covering first on Nathaniel Lowe’s grounder. The error allowed Travis Janowski, who had hit for Sam Huff, to score the tying run, charged to Erceg.

Josh Sborz relieved Dunning for the bottom of the seventh, and Dany Jiménez took. over for Snead to start the eighth for Oakland. It was not a fortunate move for the A’s. Mitch Garver lled off with a single to right. Jonathan Ornelas pinch ran for him. Robbie Grossman drew a base on balls. Ezequiel Durán sacrificed both men up 90 feet.

Travis Jankowski, who had pinch hit for DH Huff in the seventh, hit a grounder to second that Gelof unwisely threw home. Ornelas beat the offline throw to break the tie, and the next batter, Leody Tavares, hit a sacrifice fly to center that made it 5-3, Texas.

The legendary Aroldis Chapman came in for the Rangers to face the A’s in their half of the eighth. He overwhelmed the four Athletics he faced, allowing only a walk to Aledmys Díaz, batting for Brown.

Sam Long was tasked with keeping the A’s in striking distance in the top of the ninth, which he did with two Ks and a pop up (with a walk on the side).

Will Smith went for his 21st save in the ninth. He got it.

The win went to Sborz, now 5-4, 4.01, and the loss was charged to Jiménez, whose record now stands at 0-1, 7.04.

The loss was the Athletics’ 81st of the year, leaving them with a winning percentage of .283, the Royals were grand slam walked off by the Red Sox, 6-2 and fell to 36-78, .316.

The 1899 Cleveland Spiders were idle on August 7 and so remained at 17-80, .175. The same day in 1962, the New York Mets fell, 7-5 at Chavez Ravine to Don Drysdale and the Dodgers.

The Mets, who finished the season at 40-120, .250,were 29-82, .261. So the A’s might yet escape the dishonor of having the worst record of any major league team in the early or modern era of big league baseball.

The four game series between the teams from Dallas-Fort Worth and Oakland -Las Vegas will resume Tuesday night at 6:45. Oakand’s JP Sears (2-8, 4.07) will arm wrestle with newly acquired Ranger starter, Max Scherzer (10-4, 4.04).

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants take on Angels and Ohtani tonight at the Big A

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Alex Cobb deals in the first inning against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Aug 6, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 Early on in Sunday’s game the A’s (32-80) got to Giants (61-51) starting pitcher Alex Cobb who allowed runs early with a run in first inning and two runs in the second inning. Did Cobb struggle with his control early in the game?

#2 Marko, take a look at Cobbs line against the A’s pitching 5.1 innings, seven hits and five runs and strikeouts. Cobb had trouble keeping runners off the base paths.

#3 How unusual was it for shortstop Brandon Crawford to make two bad throws for errors, was this a matter of him not focused on his throws or do you believe he might have an injury that is causing him to make those errors?

#4 Marko, the Giants and A’s traded leads but when the A’s had that three run sixth inning that pretty much broke the game open for them and they had that confidence they could seal the deal.

#5 Marko, the Giants open a three game series in Anaheim against the Angels, the Giants who won five of six before getting swept by the A’s. The Giants will start Logan Webb (9-9 ERA 3.45) and the Angels will start Pat Sandoval (6-8 ERA 4.11) first pitch 6:40pm PT at the Big A in Anaheim.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Las Vegas visitors president Hill says School vote won’t make the Jan 2024 deadline; plus more A’s news

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From left, analyst Jeremy Aguero, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Steve Hill and Oakland A’s President Dave Kaval during a presentation to a Senate committee of the whole on the team’s proposed stadium funding during the 35th special session of the Legislature on June 7, 2023, in Carson City. Hill said that the attempted Nevada ballot measure to stop using public money to build a brand new Tropicana ballpark will be past the MLB owners vote to relocate the A’s. Schools over Stadiums are pushing education over spending $380 million for a new Las Vegas A’s park the election is in Nov 2024. (Nevada Independent photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury, Steve Hill who Las Vegas Convention and Visitors president said that the Schools over Stadium initiative will not do any good as the vote would take well after the Jan 1, 2024 deadline by that time the A’s would have submitted their renderings to MLB for the owners to vote on the new Las Vegas Park. The Schools over Stadiums vote could take place Nov 2024.

#2 Hill said if it measure were to pass it would be past the owners vote and the renderings being submitted in November and December would be when the owners would vote on the A’s relocation. Hill said that the A’s stadium project would forward even if the voters were to vote on using public funds for the Tropicana ball park.

#3 Hill also stated that it would be hard to get the initiative on the ballot and he doubts Schools over Stadiums can get on the ballot before the Aug 10th deadline and if they were able too the vote takes place well after the owners approve the A’s relocation. It seems like there were many involved to try and stop the A’s from getting their relocation approved but it’s heading down the wire.

#4 Back on the A’s field the A’s surprised a lot of people with their two game sweep over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday and Sunday at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s edged out the Giants on Saturday and got two key home runs from Nick Allen on Sunday.

#5 Going into the series with the Texas Rangers tonight and coming off two wins against the Giants does this look like a momentum going into the series or Bruce Bochy and the first place Rangers will be just as tough as the Los Angeles Dodgers were for the A’s.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com