Tag: mlb

San Francisco Sweeps Cleveland 8-1; Wood gives up only four hits and Estrada homers gets four RBIs

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Wood pitches in the first inning to the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Sun Apr 17, 2022 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Sweeps Cleveland 8-1; Wood gives up only four hits and Estrada homers and gets four RBIs

By Barbara Mason

After taking the first two games in their series against the Cleveland Guardians (4-5) the San Francisco Giants (7-2) went for the sweep Sunday afternoon defeating the Guardians by seven runs 8-1.

It was a quiet first inning for San Francisco but the second inning was anything but quiet for the Giants. Thairo Estrada homered to left and with Wilmer Flores on second after hitting a double it was a 2-0 lead for San Francisco.

The Guardians would threaten in the third inning but Alex Wood would get out of a two runners on jam and the Giants held on to their two run lead.

San Francisco would strike again in the fourth inning. Thairo Estrada grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop and Joc Pederson would score. Brandon Crawford was just behind him off a throwing error by Owen Miller. The Giants now had a 4-0 lead.

In the sixth inning the Giants would add a couple more for a 6-0 lead. Peterson would score from second off a double by Estrada. Estrada would go on to score when Duggar hit an infield single.

Brandon Belt would homer in the seventh inning to extend San Francisco’s lead to 8-0. Belt would bring Austin Slater home from first.

The Guardians got up on the scoreboard in the bottom seventh inning when Amed Rosario scored off a single from Austin Hedges. Cleveland trailed by a heap of runs and everything pointed to a San Francisco sweep. The Guardians were not able to get much going in this game.

Monday the Giants will start a four-game series with the mighty New York Mets (7-3). Starting pitcher for the Giants will be Alex Cobb (1-0 ERA 3.60) and for New York Tyler Megill (2-0 ERA 0.00). First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PM PDT at Citi Park in Flushing.

Giants win game two against Guardians 4-2 at Progressive

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The San Francisco Giants Brandon Belt connects for a fifth inning two RBI single against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Sat Apr 16, 2022 (AP News photo)

Giants Win Game Two Against Guardians 4-2

By Barbara Mason

After winning the first game against the Cleveland Guardians (4-3) Friday night the San Francisco Giants (5-2) continued their three game series Saturday. The Giants won Friday’s series opener handily 4-1 thanks to pitcher Carlos Rodon who allowed a single run through seven innings striking out nine and only giving up two hits.

That was the home opener for Cleveland at Progressive Field and not the debut as the Guardians that they were hoping for. The Giants won their second straight game in Cleveland with a 4-2 win on Saturday.

Cleveland was first on the scoreboard Saturday in the first inning. Jose Ramirez hit a sacrifice fly to allow Myles Straw to score for the early 1-0 lead.

The Giants would fight through four innings when in the fifth inning Brandon Belt singled to center and base runners Thairo Estrada and Mike Yastrzemski would both score giving San Francisco a 2-1 lead. Cleveland would score in the same inning to tie up this game. Myles Straw doubled to deep left and base runner Owen Miller scored for a 2-2 game.

Going into the eighth inning the game remained tied. With one out the Giants would load the bases and Wilmer Flores would ground into a fielders choice to second. Brandon Belt scored to break the tie and give the Giants a 3-2 lead.

San Francisco was not finished and with two outs Austin Slater would score on a wild pitch extending the Giants lead. The Giants would take the 4-2 lead into the ninth inning. In the bottom of the ninth Cleveland was looking at their last chance to salvage this game. Cleveland’s Josh Naylor would single and Owen Miller walked but they could not cash in and San Francisco held on for the win

Sunday the Giants will be going for the sweep. First pitch is scheduled for 10:40 AM PDT. Alex Wood (0-0 ERA 4.15) will take the mound for San Francisco and for Cleveland it will be Aaron Civale (0-0 ERA 5.40).

A’s Pache Continues Hot Start with 7-5 Saturday Win at Toronto

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The Oakland A’s Cristian Pache is thrilled after getting the game winning home run in the top of the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Sat Apr 16, 2022 (The Canadian Press via AP News)

A’s, Pache Continues Hot Start with 7-5 Saturday Win at Toronto

By Tony the Tiger Hayes

The no-name A’s continued their quick start to the 2022 season on Saturday by beating old friend Matt Chapman and the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5 on the road.

Spring time accusation Cristian Pache belted a go-ahead two-run long ball in the 9th to spear head the win to improve Oakland young season record to 5-4.

Catcher Sean Murphy also went deep for the A’s. The win went to righty reliever Danny Jimenez who pitched a perfect 8th. Lou Trivino notched his second save.

The win snapped Oakland’s six game losing streak to the Jays dating back to last season.

Hot prospect Pache was acquired during spring training in a trade from Atlanta that sent slugger Matt Olson Southbound.

With Oakland tied 5-5, Pache walloped a 1-0 Julian Merryweather fastball over the right field fence for his first Oakland round tripper to put Oakland up 7-5.

“I noticed that he was throwing a lot of breaking balls so I paid attention to that,” the exciting rookie said through an interpreter after the game. “I also saw that he was throwing a lot of curveballs so I made sure not to miss any of the fastballs and I went out there and I didn’t miss.”

Merryweather took the loss.

Earlier, Chapman whacked his second homer and Zack Collins sailed his first on consecutive pitches from A’s right-hander Domingo Acevedo in the 6th as the Blue Jays to over come a 5-2 deficit.

Oakland took a 3-1 lead in the 2nd when they strung four consecutive hits off Toronto starter Hyundai Jin Ryu to take a 3-1 lead.

Murphy, who doubled and scored in that frame, made it 5-1 with a two-run 451 poke to center field seats in the 4th.

Rodón strikes out nine, Giants use power to beat Guardians 4-1

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Carlos Rodon threw heat against the Cleveland Guardians seen here in the first inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Fri Apr 15, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Friday, April 15, 2022

One year after throwing a no-hitter against Cleveland (4-3), Carlos Rodón turned in his second strong start of the season for San Francisco (5-2) on Friday, going seven innings in the Giants’ 4-1 victory over the Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

Rodón (1-0) – who no-hit Cleveland as a member of the Chicago White Sox on April 14, 2021 – needed only 47 pitches in the first five innings and threw 68 pitches through six. After working out of a seventh-inning jam, Rodón wound up surrendering one run on two hits with nine strikeouts and two walks.

Camilo Doval picked up his second save of the season with a scoreless ninth. Tyler Rogers was credited with his third hold, throwing a scoreless eighth.

The Gants provided Rodón with plenty of offensive support, as Brandon Crawford, Joc Peterson and Joey Bart all hit home runs. Crawford, playing his first career game in Cleveland, hit a blast to right for his first homer of the season. He’s homered in 24 different ballparks.

Peterson’s second home run as a Giant – No. 150 for his career – traveled 410 feet to right-center off Guardians starter Zach Plesac ()-1). Bart added a two-run shot in the eighth.

Rodón’s fastball reached a high speed of 99.3 mph, hitting 99 on the gun in his final two innings. His 21 punchouts lead the Majors, and Rodón is second on the franchise list for most strikeouts in his first two starts of a season. Cliff Melton holds the team record with 22 K’s in first two starts in 1937 for the New York Giants.

This was Cleveland’s first home game as the Guardians after being known as the Indians for over 100 years. It occurred on Jackie Robinson Day, marking the 75th anniversary of Robinson breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier.

In Saturday’s game, the Giants will go with Anthony Desclafani (0-1, 4.91), while the Guardians have Cal Quantrill (1-0, 3.60) on the hill. First pitch is at 2:10 PDT.

Oakland Drops Series Opener to Blue Jays 4-1

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Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr., right, thanks the Almighty for his solo home run in the first inning against the Oakland A’s at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Fri Apr 15, 2022 (Canadian Press via AP photo)

Oakland Drops Series Opener to Blue Jays 4-1

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (4-4) have been on a tear taking a series from the Tampa Bay Rays three games to one. The hits have been coming unlike the first few games where they failed to score in the early innings. Oakland has also been knocking the ball out of the park regularly with runners on base.

They opened the series with the Toronto Blue Jays (5-3) for three games at Rogers Centre Friday night with a 4-1 win. The A’s saw a familiar face in the Blue Jays lineup in this game. It was the first game that Oakland faced former A’s third baseman Matt Chapman.

Ross Stripling took the mound for Toronto and Daulton Jeffries Daulton got the nod for Oakland.

The Blue Jays got on the board with two runs in the early innings. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a home run for a 1-0 Toronto lead in the first inning. The Blue Jays would carry that momentum into the second inning with a Santiago Espinal double driving in Raimel Tapia for a 2-0 lead.

The A’s would make some noise in the sixth inning. With runners on first and second and one out Chad Pinder would single to center driving Tony Kemp home and getting the A’s on the scoreboard. Oakland would get one run on three hits to end the top of the sixth inning. They trailed the Blue Jays 2-1.

Jefferies would pitch through four innings before being relieved by Justin Grimm. Oakland’s Sam Moll would relieve Grimm in the middle of the sixth inning.

The Blue Jays would extend their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when Zach Collins singled driving in Guerrero. Toronto took the lead 3-1 going into the seventh inning.

The Blue Jays really went to work in the seventh inning. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubled bringing George Springer home for a 4-1 lead. Adam Kolarek would relieve Zach Jackson with the bases loaded. He would strike out Bradley Zimmer and Santiago Espinal would ground out to Kolarek. The Oakland pitcher had minimized the damage with a single run.

Oakland had their last chance in the ninth inning. Christian Bethancourt and Stephen Vogt would both strike out and Seth Brown grounded out in a flat performance in this game. There would be no rally for Oakland this time.

Tomorrow the A’s will play the second game of this series at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Paul Blackburn will be taking the mound for the A’s and for the Blue Jays Hyun Ryu will get the nod. First pitch is schemed for 12:07.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s score often and score early; Team shocks oddsmakers with 3 out 4 series win over Rays

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Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier loses sight of the ball hit by the Oakland Athletics Sean Murphy in the top of the third inning at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay Thu Apr 14, 2022 (AP News photo)

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Jerermiah, No one would have predicted after the Oakland A’s (4-3) dealt Starling Marte, Mark Canha, Sean Manaea, Matt Olson, Chris Bassitt and Matt Chapman that they would open the season on the road winning four of their last seven games going 4-3.

#2 To open the season on the road the A’s lost their first two games to the Philadelphia Phillies and the critics were saying “here we go” as the oddsmakers had the A’s finishing in the bottom of the cellar but something sparked them as they now have won four of their last five games.

#3 In Tampa Bay (4-3) the A’s opened the four game series on Monday with a 13-2 win, on Tuesday they nearly won that contest but lost by a run 9-8, on Wednesday they got a three run homer out of catcher Sean Murphy and excellent pitching from Frankie Montas in a 4-2 win, and Thursday soundly beating the Rays 6-3 on some solid hitting.

#4 The A’s scored early and often on Thursday getting three runs in the second and a run in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings. Is this a matter of some smart sabermetrics or just some sound fundamental hitting from the A’s line up,

#5 The A’s will be starting Daulton Jefferies (1-0 ERA 0.00) going up against the Toronto Blue Jays (4-2) Ross Stripling (0-0 ERA 9.00) at Rogers Centre in Toronto tonight. The Blue Jays have been playing some good ball of late how do you see this match up tonight to open the series.

Join Jeremiah for the Oakland A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Irvin’s strong effort leads A’s to third win in four games Rays 6-3

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Oakland A’s Cristian Pache hustles around third as he’s waved in by third base coach Darren Bush in the top of the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Thu Apr 14, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s (4-3) downed the Tampa Bay Rays (4-3) 6-3 Thursday afternoon at Tropicana Field. The A’s starter, Cole Irvin, gave the A’s six and one-third innings and held the potent Rays’ lineup in check. The A’s won the series three games to one.

Winning three out of four from Tampa is no easy task. The Rays are loaded with terrific young players like Wander Franco, Randy Arozarena, Ji-Man Choi, Brandon Lowe, Brett Phillips, and Kevin Kiermaier.

They are a tough bunch to hold in check. Yet, the A’s pitchers did well as they are now 4-3 for the year. This weekend, the A’s are winging their way to Toronto to face another formidable lineup.

For the fourth game in a row, the A’s jumped out to an early 3-0 lead. In the first three games, A’s hitters slugged a three-run dinger. They used a different formula to put the three runs on the board on Thursday.

A’s shortstop Elvis Andrus continued his hot start with a single to left. Kevin Smith followed with a single, his first hit of the year. Rays’ starter, Josh Fleming, retired Austin Allen for the second out. A’s centerfielder, Cristian Pache, singled to left-center. Rays’ left fielder, Randy Arozarena, attempted to cut the ball off from going into the gap in left-centerfield.

As he was sliding, the ball kicked off his foot and was to the wall. Kevin Kiermaier chased the ball down. He had trouble getting a good grip on the ball, which allowed the speedy Pache to score. The A’s led 3-0 midway through the second inning.

The Rays got one back in the half of the second. Randy Arozarena, trying to atone for his miscue, doubled leading off the frame. Brandon Lowe singled, sending Arozarena to third with no out. Manuel Margot singled to drive in Arozarena with the Rays’ first run. Cole Irvin retired Mike Zunino on a flyball to rightfield.

The Rays’ runners tagged and attempted to advance a base. Lowe made it safely to third. Billy McKinney’s strong throw to Elvis Andrus nailed Margot at second base. Umpire Jerry Lane was knocked to the ground as he watched the play to make the call. Lane got up and signaled that Margot was out. Cole retired Kiermaier for the third out. The A’s led 3-1 after two complete.

In the third, fourth, and fifth innings, the A’s added a run to take a 6-1 advantage. In the third, a single by Chad Pinder and a booming double by Sean Murphy produced the A’s fourth run.

In the fourth, the A’s loaded the bases with a walk to Smith, Pache’s infield single, and a walk to Tony Kemp. Pinder grounded out. Smith scored on the play. The A’s loaded the bases in the fifth. The run scored when Kevin Smith hit into a 6-4-3 double play.

In the meantime, Cole Irvin found his groove. The. Lefty mowed down 14 Rays’ hitters in a row. The streak ended when Rays’ DH Harold Ramirez doubled to lead off the seventh. Cole retired Randy Arozarena for the first out.

Brandon Lowe showed the A’s why he is one of the better hitters in the Rays’ lineup. The second baseman sent one of Irvin’s offerings into the seats in right field to close the gap to 6-3. A’s manager Mark Kotsay saw enough. He brought in Domingo Acevedo to pitch. Acevedo did his job as he struck out Mike Zunino and Kevin Kiermaier to end the seventh.

A.J. Puk held the Rays scoreless in the eighth, and Dany Jimenez earned his first-career save to preserve the win for Oakland.

Game Notes- With the win, the A’s are 4-3. The Rays’ record dropped to 4-3.
Irvin was the winning pitcher. His record is now 1-1. He went six and one-third innings, allowing five hits and three runs. He struck out two and did not walk a batter. The Rays’ Josh Fleming took the loss. He is now 1-1. Fleming went three and one-third innings and allowed seven hits and five runs. Only three of the runs were earned.

A’s catcher Sean Murphy had two doubles in the game. The line for Oakland was six runs, nine hits, and one error. The line for Tampa was three runs, six hits, and one very costly error.

The A’s start a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays starting Friday night in Toronto. The A’s will send Daulton Jeffries to the hill to face a formidable Toronto offense. The Blue Jays will feature Vladimir Guerrero, Jr, Bo Bichitte, and George Springer. It will not be easy. The Blue Jays’ starter will be Ross Stripling. The game will start at 4:07 pm.

The time of the game was 2:33 minutes. 6,287 fans watched the Rays lose for the third time in the four-game series. The total number of people that watched the four-game series was about 35,000. Despite their success on the field, the Rays continue to draw poorly. They, as well as the A’s, need a new ballpark. Hopefully, both teams will get a new stadium, The sooner, the better.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: SF’s Rondon matches up against Cleveland’s Plesac in Giants first road game Friday

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The San Francisco Giants Luke Williams belts a second inning two run double against the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park on Wed Apr 13, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 San Francisco Giants (4-2) pitcher Logan Webb held the San Diego Padres (4-3) for eight innings surrendering only four hits.

#2 The Giants Luke Williams hit a two run RBI double in the bottom of the second inning it was just enough for San Francisco to edge the visiting Padres 2-1 at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

#3 Webb who had an 11-3 record last season pitched like a 20 game winner Wednesday afternoon picking up his first win against no loses. Webb threw for eight, surrendered four hits and one earned run, didn’t walk a batter and struck out seven batters.

#4 Don’t blink if you were watching this matinee as this one took only 2:11 so far the fastest game the Giants have played this season.

#5 The Giants will be part of history. It will be the first time the Guardians will be playing under their new name in Cleveland. Starting pitchers for the Giants left hander Carlos Rodon and for the Guardians Zach Plesac.

Join Michael Duca Thursdays and Morris Phillips Mondays for the San Francisco Giants podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s attempt to win series today against Rays at Tropicana

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Oakland A’s pitcher Frankie Montas throws against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay on Wed Apr 13, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry, the Oakland A’s (3-3) impressed once again with a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays (4-2). The A’s who beat the Rays in the first game of this four game series 13-2 on Monday night nearly won game 2 on Tuesday night losing 9-8. The A’s Sean Murphy has done wonders at the plate for the A’s with a three run homer to help beat the Rays 4-2 on Wednesday.

#2 A’s starter Frankie Montas threw for six and two thirds innings, two runs and five hits and struck out six batters. No doubt Frankie had all his pitches working for him.

#3 Murphy’s home run couldn’t have come at a better time top of the third early in the game and it help up.

#4 A’s closer Lou Trivino shut the door on the Rays. Trivino in the bottom of the ninth gave up a single to the Rays Francisco Mejía and walked Brandon Lowe with two outs he was able to get Wander Franco to pop out in foul territory.

#5 The A’s conclude this four game series with the Rays this morning at 10:10 AM. The A’s will start Cole Irvin (0-1 ERA 6.75) for the Rays Josh Fleming (1-0 ERA 0.00) at Tropicana

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

A’s down Rays 4-2 behind Frankie Montas’ great effort; A’s lead series 2-1

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Oakland Athletics’ Sean Murphy (12) get congratulated by Jed Lowrie (8) after Murphy’s three run third inning blast off Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay on Wed Apr 13, 2022 (AP NEWS PHOTO)

By Jerry Feitelberg

On Wednesday evening, the Oakland A’s (3-3) sent their ace, Frankie Montas, to the hill to face the Tampa Bay Rays (4-2) at Tropicana Field. The A’s hoped to rebound from a loss Tuesday night to the Rays.

The A’s made three errors in that game, and A’s skipper Mark Kotsay wanted them to correct their ways. The Rays, winners of the AL East in 2019 and 2021, and playing the Dodgers in the World Series in 2020. The Rays, much like the A’s, are a small market team and do not draw well.

Their front office operates similar to the A’s. They do not have a huge payroll. They trade their expensive players for prospects. They develop pitchers as well as position players. Their young players include Brandon Lowe, Wander o, Rookie of the Year for 2021, and Randy Arozarena.

Add in Ji-Man Choi, Yandy Diaz, Manuel Margot, and Kevin Kiermaier, and one can see how the Rays have been built into a contender. Montas’ task was to shut down the Rays’ potent lineup. Frankie came through for his club.

He earned his first win of the season as he went six and one-third innings and allowed five hits and two runs. One of the runs was unearned. The A’s won the game 4-2 to even their record for 2021 at 3-3.

The A’s offense put three runs on the board in the top of the third. With one out, Rays’ starter Shane McClanahan walked Jed Lowrie and Stephen Piscotty. The next hitter, Sean Murphy, homered to put the A’s in the lead. For the third consecutive game, the A’s grabbed a 3-0 lead on the strength of a three-run dinger.

The Rays put a run on the board in the bottom of the fourth Rays first baseman Ji-Man Choi, a very hot hitter, hit a solo blast leading off the Rays’ half of the fourth. Montas settled down and retired the next three hitters.

The A’s added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Shortstop Elvis Andrus continued his hot start with a double to left. Rays’ reliever Dusten Knight retired the next two hitters. A’s centerfielder, Cristian Pache, who came to Oakland from Atlanta in the trade for Matt Olson, singled to drive in Andrus with the A’s fourth run of the night.

Tampa scored an unearned run in their half of the seventh. Yandy Diaz led off the frame with a single. He went to second on an error by second baseman Sheldon Neuse. A’s manager Mark Kotsay brought in lefty Kirby Snead to pitch.

Snead gave up a hit to Rays catcher Francisco Mejia. Taylor Walls, pinch-running for Diaz, scored on the play. The A’s led 4-2 after seven.

Zach Jackson pitched a scoreless eighth for the A’s, and Lou Trivino shut the Rays down in the ninth to earn his first save of the year.

Game Notes- With the win, the A’s are 3-3. The A’s have earned at least a split of the four-game series. Game four will start at 10:10 am. Lefty Cole Irvin will go for Oakland, and the Rays’ have yet to announce their starting pitcher.

A’s catcher Sean Murphy hit his first home run of the year. He had 17 big flys last year. Montas is now 1-1 for the year.

The time of the game was three hours and one minute. Attendance at Tropicana Field continues to be dismal. Only 8954 people were on hand to see the A’s down the Rays.