Tag: mlb

Oakland A’s Preview: A’s prepare to pay a visit to Anaheim to face Ohtani and the Angels

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Instead of getting the big fly the Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani flies out against the Minnesota Twins on Sep 24, 2022 at Target Field in Minneapolis. The Oakland A’s open a three game series at the Big A in Anaheim Tue Sep 27, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s have nine games left to play in 2022. Oakland has won 56 and lost 97. The team is hoping not to lose 100 games, but they would have to win seven of the last nine to avoid that fate. Their record would indicate that they would win three and lose six.

They will play the Los Angeles Angels six times, three at Anaheim and the last three at home. The A’s will travel to Seattle for three with the Mariners. Those games will occur after the A’s finish with the Angels on Thursday.

The Angels had high hopes for the 2022 season. The team played well early in the year. Their season derailed when they had a fourteen-game losing streak. The Angels fired their manager, Joe Maddon, in midseason. Maddon had great success managing the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs.

Maddon was the skipper of the Cubs when Chicago won its first World Series Crown in 2016. The Cubs ended 108 years of futility. The Angels, like many other teams, lost key players to injury. The Angels’ starting rotation did not live up to expectations.

The bullpen was a problem, too. Their three-time MVP Mike Trout spent time on the IL with a back injury. Their other MVP, Shohei Ohtani, continued to wow the baseball world with his exploits. As a pitcher, Ohtani is 14-8 and has an ERA of 2.47.

Ohtani probably is in the race for the AL Cy Young Award. As the Angels’ DH, Ohtani is hitting .271 with 34 home runs, 93 RBIs, 87 runs scored, and an OPS of .887. The AL 2022 MVP will be Ohtani or the New York Yankees’ slugger Aaron Judge. Judge may win baseball’s Triple Crown. He currently leads the league in hitting, home runs, and RBIs.

The Angels have other players that love to beat the A’s. Their second baseman Luis Rengifo had had key hits against the A’s. First baseman Jared Walsh and outfielder Taylor Ward can give the A’s headaches.

The A’s dismal season is coming to an end. The team has used 63 players. The A’s have made so many transactions in the last month. It’s a case of here today and gone tomorrow. The team will look at many new players to see if they fit into the A’s future next year.

The A’s will send James Kaprielian to the hill Tuesday night. Kap is 4-9, and his ERA is 4.43. Kaprielian had his best outing of the year last week when he went seven innings and allowed two hits. Kaprielian had made 34 prior starts without going past the sixth inning. The big righty would love to finish the season pitching well. Lefty Patrick Sandoval will go for the Angels. Sandoval is 6-9 with an era of 3.01.

Adrian Martinez pitches for Oakland on Wednesday. Martinez came to Oakland from the San Diego Padres in the trade for Seam Manaea. The 25-year-old righty from Mexicali, Mexico, is 4-5 with a high ERA of 6.10. The Angels will have Michael Lorenzen on the mound. Lorenzen is 7-6 and has an ERA of 4.78.

Thursday night’s game features lefty Cole Irvin for the A’s going against Shohei Ohtani of the Angels. Irvin has struggled a bit in the second half of the year. The A’s didn’t give Irvin a lot of run support earlier in the season. Irvin is 9-12, and his ERA is now 4.11. Ohtani is an incredible athlete. Ohtani has a fastball that can exceed 100 miles per hour. His hitting prowess was noted earlier in the preview.

Neither team will be going to the playoffs. Both teams will evaluate players who want to be on their roster for the 2023 season. Some of the A’s players to watch are Shea Langoliers, Nick Allen, Jonah Bride, Dermis Garcia, Jordan Diaz, and Conner Capel. Even though the teams won’t be in the playoffs, the fans should watch the games. Ohtani and Trout are not to be missed.

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: Alonso five RBIs sets team record; Scherzer goes six against A’s in 13-4 laugher at the Coliseum

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New York Mets designated hitter Pete Alonso makes his way around the bases after hitting a fourth inning home run at the Oakland Coliseum against the Oakland A’s on Sun Sep 24, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Pete Alonso set a team RBI mark which speaks to the success of New York Mets. Alonso homered, doubled and drove five runs to set a team record.

#2 Met’s pitcher Max Scherzer pitched six innings to hold down the Oakland A’s for the lopsided win at the Oakland Coliseum 13-4 as the Mets take two out of three from the A’s.

#3 With the win the Mets now are 1.5 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves for the NL East title.

#4 The Met’s are hot winning eight of their last ten games and in Sunday’s game it just seemed as soon as the Mets starting swinging the bats the A’s were in the rearview mirror.

#5 A’s open up a three game series with the Los Angeles Angels starting Tuesday night at the Big A in Anaheim. Starting for the A’s James Kaprielian (4-9, 4.43) he’ll be opposed by the Angels Patrick Sandoval (6-9, 3.01) first pitch at 6:38 pm PDT

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The Home Run record is 61, not 73

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New York Yankees star Aaron Judge needs just one more home run to tie the American League home run mark in one season held by the late and former Yankee Roger Maris. Here Judge walks to first base after getting a base on balls from Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello on Sun Sep 25, 2022 at Yankee Stadium in New York (AP News photo)

The Home Run record is 61, not 73

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

New York Yankee Aaron Judge is just one home run away from tying the American League record of 61 by Yankee Roger Maris in 1961.

Considering all that has happened in baseball since 1961, including the steroids era, it is understandable to believe the real home run record for a regular season (as of today) is that of Roger Maris, 61.

Barry Bonds (2001) who hit 73 home runs holds the major league record. In 1998 Mark McGwire ended with 70 home runs and that same year, Sammy Sosa finished with 66 home runs. We all know these three sluggers did not establish those one season-records without the use of PED’s.

The three have enough lifetime home runs and hitting stats to have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, five years after their last year of play, but we also know why they have not been elected. It remains to be seen if and when they will be elected. More on this at the end.

With nine (9) games left for the Yankees, beginning this Monday. 26 of September, Aaron Judge might soon be the all time home run hitter for a regular season in the history of Major League Baseball.

The New York Yankees, who have won 27 World Series, would be proud to have the three sluggers that made original history. Babe Ruth 60 in 1927, Roger Maris 61 in 1961 and Aaron Judge in 2022.

As far as baseball historians are concerned, Ruth, Maris and Judge have done it without scandals. Induction into the Hall of Fame is based on performance during a whole career.

Babe Ruth is in Cooperstown, Roger Maris, was never elected and Aaron Judge, is way too early to tell, although he is not a rookie, but 30 years old, have been a Yankee since 2016 and to date has hit a total of 218 home runs. However, I am talking about a “the one season home run record”.

Starting this Monday the 26 of September the Yankees visit Toronto for 3 games, return to Yankee Stadium in New York for 3 games against the Baltimore Orioles and then they close the season at Texas against the Rangers for a 3-game series that will end their regular season on October 5.

Aaron Judge will have the last nine (9) games of the season to tie Roger Maris 61 home run record in 1961, and at least one more, 62, to establish the new record. If he achieves it, Aaron Judge will own the new record in the American League.

However, in my humble opinion his record should be the legitimate overall MLB home run record. MLB still recognizes Barry Bonds 73 home runs in 2001 as the current record for home runs in one season. Bonds and others mentioned here and not mentioned here, keep falling short of Hall of Fame election.

The Era Committees, formerly known as the Veterans Committee, consider retired Major League Baseball players no longer eligible for election by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA), along with managers, umpires and executives, whose greatest contributions to the game were realized in one of four eras.

Committees meet at the MLB Winter Meetings. The home run record for one season is independent of these committees, but baseball can still correct themselves, if they wish to do so, although I believe they will not.

Everybody is entitled to their own opinion and I respect it. I hope you respect mine.

The regular 2022 season ends on October 5, and a couple of days later the postseason will get under way. The latest 2022 World Series odds have the LA Dodgers (+350) and Houston Astros (+425) at the top of the board with the Mets (+550), Yankees (+550) and Braves (+850) circling behind.

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

Oakland A’s game wrap: A’s can’t contain Alsonso hits for 5 RBIs; Scherzer shuts A’s down in 13-4 win

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Oakland A’s pitcher Norge Ruiz rubs up the new baseball after delivering a home run ball to the New York Mets Pete Alonso who is in the background rounding the bases in the top of the fourth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Sep 25, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso took advantage of Oakland A’s pitching hitting for a home run, a double and five RBIs for a new Mets record. Mets pitcher Max Scherzer threw for six innings giving up just four hits and one run and struck out seven.

The Mets are now just a 1.5 in front of the Atlanta Braves for first place in the NL East. The Mets are rolling they have won eight of the last ten games. The Braves will host the Mets next week for a three game series and the battle for first place could boil down to those three games.

Alonso’s five RBIs pushed him to first past former Mets catcher Mike Piazza (1999) and David Wright (2008) who each had 124 RBIs. The home run by Alonso was his 39th of the 2022 season and Alonso even hit a home run on Saturday even though the Mets got walloped in that game 10-4. Sunday’s home run was Alonso’s second home in two straight games.

Alsonso said after the game that it was an honor to surpass Piazza and Wright for the team RBI record. Alonso got a two homer in the top of the fourth and got three RBIs in the top of the eighth and he shared credit saying he couldn’t do it without his teammates.

The A’s head to Anaheim in hopes to win a series at the Big A on Tuesday as they will start James Kaprielian (4-9, 4.43) and for the Angels Patrick Sandoval (6-3, 3.01) first pitch 6:38 pm PDT.

PURE INSURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP: Late birdie gives Flesch a comeback win

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Steve Flesch gets the pictured Pure Insurance Championship Trophy Award at Pebble Beach on Sun Sep 25, 2022 (@PUREFirstTee photo)

By Jeremy Harness

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Steve Flesch lost his lead on the back nine and appeared to be sunk momentarily but nonetheless hung in there long enough to give himself a chance at the end. And when that chance presented itself, he took full advantage.

He found himself tied for the lead at the par-five 18th as others fell back late, and he nailed an eight-foot birdie putt to claim the Pure Insurance Championship, his second win on the PGA Champions Tour this season.

“It’s exciting; I’ve always played well here,” said Flesch, who also won the Mitsubishi Electric Classic earlier this year in Hawaii. “It really felt good to get that win. I’m just glad I capitalized on 18.”

Flesch started the final round in a tie for second and didn’t waste any time moving his way up. He birdied each of his first four holes to spring into the lead by two shots. He then added a birdie at the iconic par-3 seventh to add to his advantage.

However, Steven Alker, playing alongside Flesch on Sunday, rolled one in for birdie at the seventh to cut Flesch’s lead back to two. Paul Stankowski, who began the day tied for the lead at eight-under, could not get any traction early on but finally got going when he got back-to-back birdies at the sixth and seventh to join Alker in a tie for second.

Moments later, Ken Duke, who was tied with Stankowski at the top when the day began, made birdie at the par-four eighth to join both men at 10-under before Brett Quigley himself got to that number with a birdie at the par-four 10th.

He got himself into a tie for the lead at the 14th after knocking his approach shot stiff and then holing a short birdie putt but fell right back on the next hole with a crippling double-bogey.

Flesch began coming down to earth on the back nine and momentarily lost the lead. He suffered back-to-back bogeys at the 12th and 13th holes, the latter being the result of a three-putt. However, he steadied himself following that while others, such as Duke, stumbled.

The low round of the day belonged to Ernie Els, who fired an eight-under round of 64 and capped things off by getting up and down for birdie at the par-five 18th and ended up in a tie for second. He was actually in position for a playoff had Flesch missed the eventual winning putt.

The final round did not begin until 11:15am PST, as roughly half of the field could not finish their second round on Saturday due to a three-hour fog delay and had to wait until early Sunday morning to do so.

PURE INSURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP: Late birdie gives Flesch a comeback win

By Jeremy Harness

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Steve Flesch lost his lead on the back nine and appeared to be sunk momentarily but nonetheless hung in there long enough to give himself a chance at the end. And when that chance presented itself, he took full advantage.

He found himself tied for the lead at the par-five 18th as others fell back late, and he nailed an eight-foot birdie putt to claim the Pure Insurance Championship, his second win on the PGA Champions Tour this season.

“It’s exciting; I’ve always played well here,” said Flesch, who also won the Mitsubishi Electric Classic earlier this year in Hawaii. “It really felt good to get that win. I’m just glad I capitalized on 18.”

Flesch started the final round in a tie for second and didn’t waste any time moving his way up. He birdied each of his first four holes to spring into the lead by two shots. He then added a birdie at the iconic par-3 seventh to add to his advantage.

However, Steven Alker, playing alongside Flesch on Sunday, rolled one in for birdie at the seventh to cut Flesch’s lead back to two. Paul Stankowski, who began the day tied for the lead at eight-under, could not get any traction early on but finally got going when he got back-to-back birdies at the sixth and seventh to join Alker in a tie for second.

Moments later, Ken Duke, who was tied with Stankowski at the top when the day began, made birdie at the par-four eighth to join both men at 10-under before Brett Quigley himself got to that number with a birdie at the par-four 10th.

He got himself into a tie for the lead at the 14th after knocking his approach shot stiff and then holing a short birdie putt but fell right back on the next hole with a crippling double-bogey.

Flesch began coming down to earth on the back nine and momentarily lost the lead. He suffered back-to-back bogeys at the 12th and 13th holes, the latter being the result of a three-putt. However, he steadied himself following that while others, such as Duke, stumbled.

The low round of the day belonged to Ernie Els, who fired an eight-under round of 64 and capped things off by getting up and down for birdie at the par-five 18th and ended up in a tie for second. He was actually in position for a playoff had Flesch missed the eventual winning putt.

The final round did not begin until 11:15am PST, as roughly half of the field could not finish their second round on Saturday due to a three-hour fog delay and had to wait until early Sunday morning to do so.

Longoria pinch-single sparks Giants to 3-2 win over Diamondbacks

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San Francisco Giants third base coach Mark Hallberg, left, congratulates Ford Proctor, right, after Proctor picked up his first Major League hit at Chase Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the top of the seventh inning on Sun Sep 25, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Sunday, September 25, 2022

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Even with their postseason hopes all but fading, the San Francisco Giants put together a solid weekend in the Valley of the Sun, taking two of three games from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Evan Longoria’s pinch-hit single in the top of the eighth inning provided the go-ahead runs in the Giants’ 3-2 win Sunday.

The Giants have won six of their last seven games, and need to go 6-3 over their final nine games to reach .500.

“’I’m proud of the way the guys have prepared throughout this road trip,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “When you get towards the end of the year, it’s been a long season, and a lot of the guys are tired. But the preparation has been excellent, These guys are getting ready for games in the right way with a lot of good game-planning going on.

“We just want to see improvement through these stretches. It’s been a positive road trip in that regard.”

Longoria added, “Obviously, we need a miracle to make the playoffs, but our message has been pretty consistent throughout this month – we need to play hard and for a lot of guys in this room, there’s a lot to play for in terms of a job next year, contract money, whatever it is.

“We preach to go out there and find something every night, and that usually translates into good games and winning.”

Winning pitcher Jakob Junis (5-6) threw 83 pitches in 5 1/3 innings of a bullpen game for the Giants, giving up one run on four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. Camilo Doval gave up a run in the bottom of the ninth, but struck out Corbin Carroll for the final out, earning his 26th save.

In the Giants’ eighth, Brandon Crawford singled and Jason Vosler drew a one-out walk; both runners moved up on a passed ball charged to Arizona catcher Cooper Hummel before Austin Wynns walked to load the bases.

After Evan Longoria was announced as a pinch-hitter, D-Backs reliever Reyes Moronta replaced Luis Frias (1-1). Longoria delivered a single to left, driving in Crawford and Vosler with the go-ahead runs.

“We depend on (Longoria) in those big moments,” Kapler said. “He had good swings, he’s got plenty of bat speed left, and he knows what to do in those situations.”

J.D. Davis, who went 4-for-5, added a solo home run into the right-center field swimming pool off Diamondbacks reliever Mark Melancon in the top of the ninth, his 10th of the season, extending the San Francisco lead to 3-1.

“If J.D. doesn’t have the most power on the team, he’s right there with everybody,” Kapler said. “He’s locked in right now. We don’t make too much of the hot-hitter thing, but he came through against a pitcher that was throwing really hard.”

The Diamondbacks cut the San Francisco lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth on a sacrifice fly to right by Pavin Smith, driving in Christian Walker, who led off the inning with a double.

Arizona threatened in the eighth when, with two out, Ketel Marte singled and Daulton Varsho walked. After Marte and Varsho advanced on a double-steal, Stone Garrett grounded out to second.

The Diamondbacks pushed a run across in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie. Sergio Alcantara hit into a fielder’s choice and scored from first on Smith’s double to right.

San Francisco loaded the bases with two out in the top of the seventh, but came up empty. Ford Proctor and Thairo Estrada singled and Mike Yastrzemski drew a walk, prompting the Diamondbacks to replace Kevin Ginkel on the mound with Frias. Davis lined out to Alcantara at shortstop to end the threat.

Proctor’s single was his first major league hit.

“I’m at a loss for words,” Proctor said. “That’s a moment you always dream of. I just wanted to see a bunch of pitches to help me settle in, and just remember that it’s the same game, to step back and breathe a little bit.

“I had my family there, I’m very thankful for them, and so blessed that they could make it out.”

“One of the tougher decisions of the day is whether to start Proctor or Longoria,” Kapler said. “You want to give Proctor a chance to get his first major league hit and contribute like he did today.”

San Francisco opener Scott Alexander gave up one hit in a scoreless first inning. Jarlin Garcia worked 1 2/3 hitless innings with two strikeouts, followed by Junis and Doval.

Arizona starter Drey Jameson scattered five hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts and three walks and a hit batter.

The Giants won despite stranding 12 baserunners.

GIANTS JOTTINGS: After taking Monday off, the Giants return home for a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies starting on Tuesday. RHP Logan Webb (14-9, 2.93) will start the first game and Carlos Rodón (13-8, 2.98) is slated to start the third game. Wednesday’s starter has yet to be determined. … Announced attendance for the D-Backs’ final home game of the season was 25,389.

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: A’s take over Mets deGrom in 10-4 win at Coliseum

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The Oakland A’s Shea Langeliers swings for an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum Sat Sep 24, 2022 against the visiting New York Mets (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The New York Mets (96-57) started out Saturday’s contest scoring three runs in the top of the first inning going to the bottom of the first inning the Oakland A’s (56-96) knew they had a tough customer in Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom.

#2 Bottom of the first the A’s came back to take the lead when Dermis Garcia hit for a two RBIs doubled in left, then Conner Capel who had four RBIs in the game grounded to second to score Seth Brown to tie up the game and Shea Langeliers hit a double to score Dermis Garcia for a 4-3 A’s lead.

#3 The Mets would get the tie again in the top of the second but the A’s would take the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning when Brown belted his 24th home run of the season to the deepest part of the ballpark at 414 feet for a 5-4 lead.

#4 The A’s chipped away at Mets pitching getting a run in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings and picking two more in the bottom of the eighth inning to win a laugher 10-4.

#5 Game 3 of the series at the Coliseum on Sunday the Mets will send out their ace starting pitcher Max Scherzer (10-4, 2.15) he’ll face the A’s JP Sears (6-2, 3.58) a 1:07 pm PDT first pitch at the Coliseum.

Charlie O did the A’s podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com. Charlie will be back for the Sacramento Kings podcasts on Sundays after the conclusion of the A’s season.

Big fourth inning sparks Diamondbacks to 5-3 win over Giants

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The Arizona Diamondbacks Daulton Varsho (12) signals safe and San Francisco Giants catcher Joey Bart (right) holds the ball up to show umpire in the bottom of the fourth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Sat Sep 24, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Saturday, September 24, 2022

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Arizona batted around in the fourth inning, an outburst that provided the Diamondbacks and starting pitcher Merrill Kelly with all the offense they needed to defeat San Francisco 5-3 Saturday.

The loss snapped a five-game Giants winning streak.

Kelly (13-7) continued his mastery over the Giants, giving up two earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out six. Reyes Moronta struck out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth to get his second save.

The Diamondbacks tallied five times while sending nine hitters to the plate in the fourth. Pavin Smith and Daulton Varsho led off the inning with back-to-back singles off Alex Cobb (6-7), and Christian Walker followed with an RBI single, driving in Smith.

A one-out walk to Josh Rojas loaded the bases, then Alek Thomas hit into a fielder’s choice to first. Wilmer Flores threw home, but his throw pulled the catcher, Joey Bart, off the plate, allowing Varsho to score, and the bases remained loaded. Carson Kelly’s sacrifice fly to center drove in Walker, and Geraldo Perdomo singled to right, driving in Rojas and Thomas.

“Two things – did Wilmer actually get the bag with his foot, and unless you get that close-up angle, it was pretty difficult to tell,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “The second thing – I think Joey thought he still had his foot on the plate. Then he had to reach for the ball and that pulled him off the plate. I think all of that happened really fast.

“Maybe Wilmer thought he grazed the bag and thought he could get two outs. I don’t think anybody is at fault. I think it was a very tricky play that didn’t turn out in our favor.”

Mike Yastrzemski led off the Giants sixth with a 413-foot home run to right, his 15th of the season, cutting the San Francisco deficit to 5-2. Yastrzemski, who was 2-for-3, also had a double in the first inning.

The Giants scored first on an RBI single by Jason Vosler in the fourth, driving in Brandon Crawford, who reached on a two-out single.

Cobb threw 93 pitches in five innings, giving up all five Diamondback runs on five hits. He struck out three and walked two.

The weekend series concludes on Sunday afternoon. Drew Jameson (2-1, 1.38) starts for the Diamondbacks, while San Francisco has yet to announce a starter, and could opt for a bullpen game.

GIANTS JOTTINGS: LHP Thomas Szapucki left Saturday’s game with left hip tightness. Kapler said the decision to pull Szapucki was a precautionary measure. … San Francisco made a number of roster moves prior to Saturday’s game – OF Luis Gonzalez was placed on the 10-day injured list (lower back strain), INF-C Ford Proctor was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento, and OF Lewis Brinson cleared waivers and was outrighted to the River Cats. … Proctor became the 65th player used by the Giants this season, setting a franchise record in that category. … Announced attendance on Saturday at Chase Field was 24,504. The outside temperature at game time was 102 degrees. Time of the game was 2:37.

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: A’s take over Mets deGrom in 10-4 win at Coliseum

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The Oakland A’s Shea Langeliers swings for an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum Sat Sep 24, 2022 against the visiting New York Mets (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The New York Mets (96-57) started out Saturday’s contest scoring three runs in the top of the first inning going to the bottom of the first inning the Oakland A’s (56-96) knew they had a tough customer in Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom.

#2 Bottom of the first the A’s came back to take the lead when Dermis Garcia hit for a two RBIs doubled in left, then Conner Capel who had four RBIs in the game grounded to second to score Seth Brown to tie up the game and Shea Langeliers hit a double to score Dermis Garcia for a 4-3 A’s lead.

#3 The Mets would get the tie again in the top of the second but the A’s would take the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning when Brown belted his 24th home run of the season to the deepest part of the ballpark at 414 feet for a 5-4 lead.

#4 The A’s chipped away at Mets pitching getting a run in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings and picking two more in the bottom of the eighth inning to win a laugher 10-4.

#5 Game 3 of the series at the Coliseum on Sunday the Mets will send out their ace starting pitcher Max Scherzer (10-4, 2.15) he’ll face the A’s JP Sears (6-2, 3.58) a 1:07 pm PDT first pitch at the Coliseum.

Charlie O did the A’s podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com. Charlie will be back for the Sacramento Kings podcasts on Sundays after the conclusion of the A’s season.

A’s are all over Mets deGrom in 10-4 six run win at Coliseum

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New York (NL) (96-57). 4. 9. 0

Oakland (56-96). 10 14. 0

Saturday, September 24, 2022

Oakland A’s Seth Brown rounds the bases after hitting a solo shot against New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom in the bottom of the third inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Sep 24, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–Ken Waldichuk is not a household name. He came to the Athletics at this year’s trade along with Luis Medina, JP Sears, and Cooper Bowman in the deal that sent Frankie Montás and Lou Trivino to the Bronx.

A fifth round choice of the Yankees in the 2019 draft, he entered today’s matinee at 0-2, 7.13 in the bigs and was 6-4, 2.84 in his 2022 minor league appearances, all as a starter. Waldichuk is hoping to pitch well enough to ensure himself a permanent spot on the A’s 2023 roster.

The green and gold’s rookie left hander’s performance in the Athletics’ stunning 10-4 triumph over the visiting New York Mets wasn’t outstanding, but he stuck around long enough to earn the win hurling five frames and yielding four runs, all earned, on five hits, two of which went yard, and notching four Ks. He didn’t walk anyone but did hit two batters, which isn’t unusual for pitchers facing the Mets. His ERA crept up to 7.15.

Waldichuk’s mound opponent, Jacob DeGrom also is a candidate for a roster spot … in Cooperstown. DeGrom is primarily a fastball and slider pitcher who uses his change and curve effectively.

He brought a lifetime record of 82-55, 2.49 to the game today and was 5-2, 2.32 for the season. The 34 year old right hander had been on the injured list w for almost 13 months after damaging his elbow. He was reinstated to the active list on August 2.

DeGrom wasn’t in Hall of Fame form this afternoon, allowing the A’s to score early and often. He lasted only four innings but managed to throw 80 pitches in the short stint. 30 of them were balls. He gave up five runs, all earned, on six hits, including a home run.

DeGrom struck out five and walked four Athletics. He left trailing 5-4, and was tagged with the loss, giving him a season’s record of 5-3, 2.93.

Before the game began, Oakland made room for Ernie Clement, whom they acquired from Cleveland yesterday, by designating Sheldon Neuse for assignment.

The visitors went ahead in their first turn at bat, urged on by loud and frequent cheers of “Let’s Go, Mets,” and “Pete A-LON-SO!). James McNeil led off with a solid single to left and moved to third when Mark Canha dropped a single into center field.

Francisco Lindor sent a liner to Tony Kemp in left for the Mets’ first out but also their first tally, McNeill crossing the plate on the sacrifice.

Pete Alsono then whacked a 94 mph four seamer into the stairway above the 367 foot marker in left field for his 38th home run and 122nd, 123rd, and 124th RBI of the year.

That three run lead looked pretty formidable when the A’s came up in their half of the first and Tony Kemp grounded out to first. But Vimael Machín singled to left, and Seth Brown walked to load the bases.

Dermís García then sent a liner to left that looked like it would end up as a sacrifice fly until McNeil stumbled and it became a two run double that put the potential tying run on third. Conner Capel’s ground out to second brought that run in, and Shea Langeliers put the home team ahead 4-3 with a double to left.

One out into the second, Nick Vientos took advantage of the hot Coliseum air to tie the score at four with a 394 homer into the right field seats.

It looked as if DeGrom had found his groove after he set the top of the A’s lineup down in order inthe second, but Seth Brown sent his first offering of the home third just over the low center field fence to put Oakland ahead once more, this time 5-4.

The A’s threatened again in the fourth, putting runners on second and third on a walk to Machín and Murphy’s down the line double to left with two out. Brown hit a vicious liner to the right side that Alonso captured at first with an heroic dive to his right.

Trevor Williams replaced DeGrom to start the fifth and quickly surrendered Oakland’s sixth run on a one out solo round tripper to right by Capel, who made a magnificent catch of Alonso’s foul to right in the next inning. That was the inning in which Austin Pruitt took over from Waldichuk. It ended with a sterling grab of another foul on the opposite side of the diamond by Machín.

Joely Rodríguez replaced Wiliams to start the bottom of the sixth and left four batters later, having gotten two outs but also having surrendered a run on singles to Machín and Brown, interspersed by a ground out by Murphy that advanced Machín to second. Tyler McGill left the bullpen to get the final out with Oakland now ahead 7-4.

It was Adam Ottovino who tried to halt the A’s advance after the seventh inning stretch. He almost pulled it off. Capel led off with a dying quail that popped out of a diving Ruf’s glove when he jarred his arm against the outfield grass, resulting in a triple. Ottovino almost stranded Capel at third, but Allen smacked a single to right, and it was 8-4 Oakland.

It was time for the Athletics’ setup man, AJ Puk, to strut his stuff in the eighth. McNeil sent his first pitch into short center field, where Cristián Pache now was playing. He seemed to lose the ball in the sun, and it fell to earth for a single. In spite of another single, this one to Lindor, Puk and the A’s escaped from the inning unscathed.

Trevor May ws the next Met on the mound, and he had a rough eighth inning. Machín drew a base on balls. After Murphy flew out, Brown lined a double to right, and García walked to load the bases. Capel lined a single to right to bring in two runs and put the Athletics´score into double digits. Ruf’s defense looked dicey on both of the balls hit to him.

Tyler Cyr sealed the Oakland victory with a scoreless ninth, in which he issued a pair of two out walks. A beautiful horizontal grab of Canha’s left field bound liner by shortstop Nick Allen ended the metropolitan threat.

Ironically, Tony Kemp, who had been among the A’s few bright spots at the plate, was the only starter not to get at least one hit, going 0-5. He more than made up for this with his outstanding defense work, most notably at second base, where he was moved in the top of the seventh after playing six frames in left.

Will another HOF candidate bite the dust tomorrow afternoon? We’ll see when, at 1:07, Matt Scherzer (10-4, 2.15) goes against another relative newcomer, JP Sears (6-2, 3.58)