Tag: mlb

Giants, Wood catch Padres slumping get 1-0 win at Petco Park

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Alex Wood deals on the mound at Petco Park in San Diego to the San Diego Padres in the bottom of the first inning on Mon Aug 8, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Michael Duca and Morris Phillips

San Francisco Giants pitcher Alex Wood pitched masterfully against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park to pick up a 1-0 win on Monday night in the opening game of a three game series. Wood allowed only three hits all singles in 6.1 innings of work.

The Giants reliever Camilo Doval retired the heart of the Padres order in the bottom of the ninth Juan Soto, Manny Machado, and Josh Bell for his 15th save of the season. The Padres are hitting the skids badly losing their fifth straight game and two of those loses come at the hands of two shutouts which includes Wood’s handiwork on Monday night.

The Padres who obtained Juan Soto and Josh Bell from the Washington Nationals last week Tuesday. The Padres entered this series after getting swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers which has a familiar tone to it for the Giants who also were swept by the Dodgers in four games the last time the two teams met in Los Angeles.

In spite of getting the help from Washington the Padres have now been shutout for 23 straight innings since last Saturday and it kind of makes Soto wonder what he might have gotten himself into. With the recent loses San Diego now holds just a one game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers for the wild card position.

The Padres Brandon Drury who slid in at home was called safe but the Giants asked for a review and the play was overturned when the officials ruled that Giants catcher Joey Bart tagged Drury on the head for an out and that reversed the tie score from 1-1 to 1-0 Giants that’s how bad the breaks have gone for San Diego and the Giants won their third straight game.

The Giants will start right hand pitcher Alex Cobb Tuesday night Cobb (3-6, 4.08) who will be opposed by the Padres right hander Joe Musgrove (8-5, 3.00) 6:40 pm PDT at Petco Park

Rengifo’s first inning homer stands up for Halos; A’s Irvin pitches gem in 1-0 loss Monday

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Oakland A’s starter Cole Irvin was dealing against the Los Angeles Angels at the Oakland Coliseum on Mon Aug 8, 2022 to open a three game series (@Athletics photo)

Los Angeles ((47-63). 1. 5. 0

Oakland (41-69). 0. 2. 0

Monday, August 8, 2022

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–After having been swept by the slumping Giants in a two game series over the weekend, the Athletics continued their slide, losing to their fellows in misery from southern California, the Los Angeles Angels, another once proud franchise that recently has been shopping around for a new home. It was, however, a beautiful game.

Oakland chose as their starter Cole Irvin, who at 6-8 ,3.04 at game time, arguably is the best pitcher in their rotation. Frankie Montás, erstwhile candidate for that honor, got hammered in his first appearance as a Yankee, yielding six runs in three innings to the Cardinals. Paul Blackburn, another contender for the title, Paul Blackburn, seems to have been hit by the Curse of the All Star Selection.

In spite of a brief hitch in the opening frame, Irvin was magnificent for eight innings tonight. He allowed but one run on five hits, striking out six without issuing a walk. He threw 94 pitches, 69 for strikes. The loss left him 6-9 ,2.92.

On the mound for the Halos in tonight’s battle of the lefties was José Suárez, carrying a record of 3-4, 4.55 and the nickname of El demente with him.

That sobriquet means just what it sounds like. The madman was crazy like a fox, dominating the host team’s batters over seven frames. His record now is 4-4, 4.04. Keep on reading to appreciate the statistical details of his achievement.

Shohei Ohtani wasn’t in the Angels’ starting lineup, but it did include two on time Athletics catchers, Kurt Suzuki and Max Stassi. The latter just barely qualifies because he never played a regular season game for the Athletics, but he was a standout at Stockton.

Earlier in the day, the A’s announced that they had optioned yesterday’s losing pitcher, Adrián Martínez, to Las Vegas and recalled fellow right handed pitcher Domingo Tapia from the Aviators.

Irvin started out strong, retiring the first two Angels he faced on seven pitches. He threw a 93 mph sinker for his eighth offering. Luis Rengifo gave it a lift.. The ball travelled 434 feet into the left field seats for the Halos’ second sacker’s sixth home run of the year and a 1-0 Los Angeles lead.

Both pitchers were on the ball after that. The score still was 1-0 at the seventh inning stretch, and Irvin had thrown an economical 82 pitches and allowed a total of five hits including Rengifo’s two safties, his round tripper and a double to lead off the fourth.

Not to be outdone, Suárez held Oakland to a pair of singles, one of them of the infield variety, over his first seven frames.

The tension rose among the 5,440 faithful who showed up for the contest as the teams moved inexorably towards the ninth episode of the evening´s drama. Irvin set the Angels down in order in the top of the eighth. Aaron Loup relieved Súarez and set the Athletics down in order.

Zach Jackson came on to try to hold the A’s deficit to one run in the top of the ninth. He succeded, throwing a perfect inning.

Ryan Tepera toed the rubber in the top of the ninth, looking for his second save in six opportunities. The A’s sent Tony Kemp to pinch hit for Pinder to lead off. He flew out to deep left center, bringing up Murphy, who grounded to shortstop Fletcher’s right.

Fletcher made a fine backhand grab and threw Oakland’s catcher out at first. It now was up to Laureano, who flew out to left to end an exciting, albeit frustrating battle.

Shohei Ohtani will be in action tomorrow as the Angels’ starting pitcher. He comes with a record of 9-7, 2.83. James Kaprielian (3-5, 4.32) will oppose him for the green and gold. Game time is 6:40 pm PDT.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Ohtani to start Tuesday is the biggest story in baseball

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Los Angeles Angels hitter Shohei Ohtani who will start Tue Aug 9, 2022 game against the Oakland A’s was checked by the trainers on Sun Aug 7, 2022 at the T Mobile Field in Seattle after pitcher Marc Gonzales collided with Ohtani near the Angels on deck circle in the top of the third inning. Ohtani remained in the game. (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

The Los Angeles Angels starter and the face of baseball Shohei Ohtani better known as ShoTime will start Tuesday night against the Oakland A’s. Ohtani he’s one of the best pitchers in the Majors going into the Tuesday’s game.

Ohtani collided with Seattle Mariners pitcher Marco Gonsales after Ohtani’s first at bat near the Angels on deck circle. Gonsales said he was trying to back up a throw coming from the outfield in the top of the third inning but didn’t see Ohtani and collided with him. Ohtani was a little shaken up but staying the the ball game.

Ohtani is 9-7 with an ERA 2.83 he’ll be opposed by the A’s James Kaprielian (3-5, 4.32) for a 6:40 pm PDT first pitch out at the Oakland Coliseum.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Celebrate 2022 Class of Hall of Fame Inductees

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A’s Celebrate 2022 Class of Hall of Fame Inductees

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

From left to right Amaury Pi Gonzalez author (left), former Oakland A’s players Joe Rudi (center) and Shooty Mack Babbitt (left) enjoy the festivities at the 2022 Class of Hall of Fame Inductees at the Claremont Club Spa in Berkeley on Sun Aug 7, 2022 (photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

OAKLAND–Sunday night, at the swanky and iconic Claremont Club and Spa in the Berkeley hills with breathtaking views of San Francisco, the Oakland Athletics celebrated their 2022 Class of Hall of Fame inductees with a bevy of past and present A’s stars.

A’s President Dave Kaval was master of ceremonies during a very happy group of players and their families representatives. 1972 World Champion Joe Rudi, Steve Vucinich, former A’s Clubhouse Manager, Keith Lieppman Special Advisor to Player Development, the family of “Captain Sal” Bando, family members of A’s third-baseman Eric Chávez, the wife and family of A’s broadcaster Ray Fosse. Ex-A’s owner Charlie Finley’s son and his family were also in attendance.

A’s Broadcasters Ken Korach, Vince Cotroneo, Glen Kuiper, Bip Roberts, Shooty Babitt, Chris Townsend, Manolo Hernández-Douen and yours truly sitting at the broadcasters tables. I had the chance of meeting the son of A’s owner Charlie Finley and his family.

My wife Gail night was made complete by a hug and kiss by A’s legend Rickey Henderson, in my opinion the best player ever in the history of the Oakland A’s. She thanked him for the great memories.

Rickey who is also in the National Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown looked as happy as ever, as well as Vida Blue and friends. With background music playing hits from the 1970’s and 1980’s everybody had a great time. Muchas gracias, and Kudos to Melissa Guzmán, A’s Manager Alumni and Family Relations.

Reminiscing with Rickey Henderson that first named “million dollar outfield” during his rookie season in 1979 when he played left field, Dwayne Murphy center, and Tony Armas right.

I was broadcasting A’s in 1979 and I told Rickey his stolen base record is safe, nobody in our lifetime is going to tie or break his record, Rickey responded, “they do not play like that now”. Which is true, who steals bases anymore?

Another ex-player (anonymous) told me “today’s game is boring, all they do is hit home runs”, when I said, yes and everybody hits .220 also, he smiled and say “you got it”.

The A’s “got it” Sunday night, celebrating their glorious past. When it comes to celebrating the history, baseball is the king of sports. The Library of Congress is the home of the largest baseball-related collection in the world. There are more books written about baseball than any other sport.

Just In:

Oakland A’s fans can now vote to help select a member of the Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Members of the Athletics Hall of Fame are also voted on by a committee of A’s front office personnel, Athletics Hall of Famers, and the media. Fans can cast a vote until Sunday, Sept. 11, at athletics.com/fans .

Former Oakland players on the 2023 fan ballot include Jose Canseco, Coco Crisp, Mark Ellis, Jason Giambi, Dick Green, Dave Henderson, Ramon Hernandez, Ken Holtzman, Rick Honeycutt, Tim Hudson, Carney Lansford, Mike Moore, Mark Mulder, Dwayne Murphy, Mike Norris, John “Blue Moon” Odom, Tony Phillips, Terry Steinbach, Gene Tenace, Miguel Tejada, Bob Welch, and Barry Zito.

The full Class of 2023 will be announced during A’s Fan Appreciation Weekend in September. Fans can vote now until Sunday, Sept. 11, at athletics.com/fans.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Two game sweep was a pick me up for Giants who were skidding

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San Francisco Giants third baseman JD Davis can’t quite get to the ball that the Oakland A’s Jonah Bride hit in the bottom of the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Aug 7, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 Sunday afternoon the San Francisco Giants (53-55) won their seventh consecutive interleague road game 6-4 over the Oakland Athletics (41-68). The Giants swept Oakland in this two game series.

#2 The game remained scoreless through the first two innings until the Giants Mike Yastrzemski stepped up to the plate and homered in the third inning, the first of two home runs for the slugger in this game, The Giants would add to their 1-0 lead in the fifth inning.

#3 Austin Slater doubled driving in Brandon Crawford for a 2-0 lead. The A’s would answer in the fifth inning with a single run but San Francisco was just getting started leading 2-1.

#4 Oakland made a valiant effort in the eighth to catch up to San Francisco in the later innings. Seth Brown who has been hitting great since he returned from paternity leave knocked one out of the park with Sean Murphy on base but that was all that the A’s could muster. The final was 6-4.

#5 San Francisco will continue their west coast road trip heading down to San Diego to take on the Padres Monday night. Alex Wood will take the mound for the Giants with a 4.42 ERA and a 7-9 win loss record. The Padres will send Blake Snell who comes in with a 4-5 win loss record and a 4.16 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM PT.

Marko Ukalovic was filling in for Morris Phillips who does the Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s coming off two game loss open up against Ohtani and Angels tonight at Coliseum

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Oakland A’s pitcher Adrian Martinez deals against the San Francisco Giants line up in the top of the second inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Aug 7, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Allowing too many homers, and completely absent of hitting triples, the A’s were locked into their 2022 form on Sunday. Oh, and don’t dismiss the playing poorly at home at the Coliseum part as well.

#2 The Giants came across the Bay on life support, but left with a couple of deep breaths, after beating the hosts 6-4 on Sunday, and sweeping the brief, two-game Bay Bridge series affair.

#3 The A’s built momentum surrounding the All-Star break, winning 10 of 14, but that’s officially lost. They’ve dropped three straight, and six of eight following that two weeks of encouraging progress. 

#4 A’s Starter Adrian Martinez had Mike Yastrzemski in an 0-2 hole in the third inning when the first long ball was struck. Unfortunately, his pitch location on a potential strikeout pitch wasn’t near what it needed to be.

#5 The Los Angeles Angels and A’s open up a three game series at the Coliseum Monday night Angels starter Jose Suarez (3-4, 4.55) he’ll be opposed by A’s starter Cole Irvin (6-8, 4.40) a 6:40pm PDT first pitch.

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

San Francisco Giants report: Giants Top A’s 6-4 Retaining the Bay Trophy

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San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski (right) celebrates his solo home run with teammate Joc Pederson (left) in the top of the third inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Aug 7, 2022 (AP News photo)

Giants Top A’s 6-4 Retaining the Bay Trophy

By Barbara Mason

OAKLAND–Sunday afternoon the San Francisco Giants (53-55) won their seventh consecutive interleague road game 6-4 over the Oakland Athletics (41-68). The Giants swept Oakland in this two game series

The game remained scoreless through the first two innings until the Giants Mike Yastrzemski stepped up to the plate and homered in the third inning, the first of two home runs for the slugger in this game, The Giants would add to their 1-0 lead in the fifth inning.

Austin Slater doubled driving in Brandon Crawford for a 2-0 lead. The A’s would answer in the fifth inning with a single run but San Francisco was just getting started leading 2-1.

Thairo Estrada homered in the sixth inning with Wilmer Flores on base to take a 4-1 lead. Oakland continued to fight but did not even get on the scoreboard until the fifth inning. In the seventh inning Tony Kemp grounded into a fielders choice to second and Vimael Machin scored cutting the Giant’s lead in half 4-2.

In the eighth inning Yastrzemski hit his second home run of the game with Brandon Crawford on base and San Francisco had a 6-2 lead.

Oakland made a valiant effort in the eighth to catch up to San Francisco in the later innings. Seth Brown who has been hitting great since he returned from paternity leave knocked one out of the park with Sean Murphy on base but that was all that the A’s could muster. The final was 6-4.

The Giants got a great game from pitcher Logan Webb. He went seven innings allowing four hits, two earned runs and five strikeouts. The Giants had nine hits in the game as did Oakland. It was those long balls that made all the difference.

San Francisco will continue their west coast road trip heading down to San Diego to take on the Padres Monday night. Alex Wood will take the mound for the Giants with a 4.42 ERA and a 7-9 win loss record. The Padres will send Blake Snell who comes in with a 4-5 win loss record and a 4.16 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM PT.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Hawkes: Garoppolo in camp and throws look good 49ers still shopping him

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San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo (left) and Trey Lance (right) tune up in camp back on Jul 29, 2021. Both are tuning up in Camp 2022 at the 49ers practice facility in Santa Clara as the 49ers continue to shop Garoppolo (AP News file photo)

On the 49ers podcast with Joe Hawkes:

#1 Joe, Jimmy Garoppolo is in camp his throws look good and the 49ers are still shopping him and if he remains with the team will be a back up for quarterback Trey Lance.

#2 What would you point to as the main reason why the 49ers weren’t able to deal Garoppolo yet at this point.

#3 Deebo Samuel in the off season wanted to leave the 49ers in meeting with the press never gave an answer why he was seeking to go to another team but the answer might be follow the money and it followed him $73.5 million on a three year extension.

#4 Samuel did admit getting a deal done gave him the feeling of pressure if he was going to get a good deal on the other side of it how much pressure was on head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch to get it done?

#5 The 49ers host the Green Bay Packers on Fri Aug 12th in their first pre season game what’s the chances of seeing quarterbacks Lance and the Packers Aaron Rogers getting a few snaps?

Join J Hawkes for the 49ers podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Experience of watching Class A ball in Stockton

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Stockton Ports picked up a win over the Modesto Nuts in Class A minor league ball on Thu Aug 4, 2022 in Stockton (@stocktonports photo)

Thursday, August 4, 2022

By Eric Naiman and Lewis Rubman

Modesto Nuts (51-48). 10. 8. 2

Stockton Ports (33-66). 7. 11. 3

STOCKTON–Watching a ball game in the San Joaquin Valley is different from doing it on the shores of San Francisco Bay. For one thing, the temperature at game time was 93 degrees.

Here, in the low class A California League, Grantland Rice’s oft quoted lines “For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name,/He writes – not that you won or lost – / But how you played the game,” takes on new meaning. It’s of no great moment that the 33-66 Stockton Ports, on their way to the worst season in franchise history, dropped an 11 inning 10-7 decision to the 51-48 Modest Nuts. What matters to the organizations to which the teams belong-the A’s and Mariners, respectively-is how well individual players performed. To the fans, it’s the pleasure of the players’ performances.

No one on the Ports’ roster figures in the list of Oakland’s top 50 prospects. Gone are the days when you could spend a balmy summer’s night watching the Matts, Chapman and Olson, strut their stuff on the banks of the delta. The Nuts, on the other hand, boast of four top prospects. They are, in descending order Harry Ford, tonight’s DH, left fielder Gabriel González, and two. switch hitters, third baseman Milkar Pérez and center fielder Jonatán Clase. Modesto’s starting lineup also included the delightfully named right fielder Walking Cabrera. The home plate umpire’s moniker also was a source of innocent merriment, Daniel Bytheway.

The top of the third was neither innocent nor merry. Modesto scored one run, no hits, one error, a passed ball, a balk, and two wild pitches. (The top of the second was pretty ugly, too, but you get the picture).

It wasn’t a well played game, but it was an exciting one. The victorious Nuts used four pitchers. They were, in order of appearance Jake Miednik, Chris Jefferson, José Geraldo, and the winner, Raúl Alcántara.

Ed Baram took the loss for The Ports sent five men to the mound, Yehizón Sánchez, who started, followed by Luke Anderson, Hunter Brreault, Ed Baram, who took the loss, and Clark, who closed out the top of the eleventh.

The outstanding player of the game for Stockton was probably Junior Perez, whose two doubles produced two RBIs. He also stole third base twice, dying there in the third and in the eighth, and temporarily prevented Modesto from taking the lead in the eleventh with a perfect strike from center field to the plate. Unfortunately, he probably could have won the game for Stockton in the bottom of the eight but failed to tag up after a fly ball to shallow left. (He had taken much more of a risk on the previous play, when he just managed to elude the tag on his second steal.)

The middle relief pitching for Stockton was also a strong point. Luke Anderson pitched two and two third innings, striking out five and allowing just one hit, albeit a home run. Hunter Breault loaded the bases in the ninth by walking two and allowing one hit, but he got out of trouble by striking out the other three batters he faced.

The Ports were one pitch away from escaping the tenth inning without having allowed a run, but at the plate and on the mound they were lacking in the clutch, leaving runners on third in both the eighth and ninth. They are 8– 25 in the second half of the season. They must play better than .500 ball for the rest of the year if they are to avoid having the worst record in the franchise’s history.

San Francisco Giants report: San Francisco handles Oakland 7-3 in Bay Bridge series

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San Francisco Giants slugger LeMonte Wade Jr belts a two run sixth inning home run against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Aug 6, 2022 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Handles Oakland 7-3 In Bay Bridge Series

By Barbara Mason

OAKLAND–Saturday afternoon the San Francisco Giants (52-55) took on the Oakland A’s (41-67) at the Oakland Coliseum. San Francisco has been having quite a struggle since the All-Star game winning a paltry 3 of 15 games. Today they sent Carlos Rodon to the mound who comes in with an ERA of 3.00. Oakland pitcher Adam Oller has really been struggling with a 1-4 win loss record and an ERA of 7.68.

San Francisco had a strong start in this game scoring in the first inning for an early 1-0 lead. The Giants had the bases loaded in the first but only came away with a single run. Joc Pederson scored when Brandon Crawford walked. A’s pitcher Oller had a rough start walking three in the first inning giving the Giants a huge opportunity. Oakland was lucky to give up only one run in the opening inning.

The Giants put another run up on the board in the second inning extending their lead 2-0. LaMonte Wade Jr. scored off a Pederson single. Oakland would cut the Giants lead in half in the third inning. Sean Murphy singled driving in Nick Allen and the A’s were threatening.

San Francisco put an end to the Oakland charge in the sixth inning scoring four runs and taking a 6-1 lead. Wade Jr. hit a homer with Joey Bart on base for a couple of runs and J.D. Davis also solo homered in the sixth. The fourth run was off a Brandon Belt single with Austin Slater on base.

The third home run of the game for San Francisco came off the bat of Joey Bart and the Giants were in full control of this game 7-1 going into the ninth inning. The A’s inched a little closer in the ninth when Sky Bolt homered with Elvis Andrus on base, making it 7-3. It was just to little to late for Oakland. The final was 7-3

San Francisco had 11 hits in this game. The A’s had ten. Carlos Rodon had a good one giving up five hits and a single run. The A’s Adam Oller had a tough outing giving up eight hits and four runs with only one strikeout.

Tomorrow’s game will be another big one at the Coliseum. Saturday night’s game had an attendance of 40,065, the largest crowd Oakland has seen all season. The winner of the game Sunday will take possession of “The Bridge” trophy.

Logan Webb will take the mound for San Francisco with a 9-5 win loss record and a 3.20 ERA. At the time of this post Oakland’s starter was still undecided. First pitch is scheduled for 1:07 PM PT.