Tag: mlb

San Francisco takes BP against Padres in 13-2 win; Series is tied 1-1 at Oracle Park

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San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer (30) congratulates San Francisco Giants first base coach Alyssa Nakken (92) for becoming the first female to coach first base in MLB history at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Apr 12, 2022 (photo from the San Francisco Giants)

San Diego. 2. 5. 0

San Francisco. 13. 15. 0

Tuesday April 12, 2022

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Last night, the Giants never missed a chance to miss a chance against the visiting San Diego Padres. Tonight, behind ten year American League veteran Alex Cobb and four relievers, the Giants, after splitting four nail biters to open the season, clobbered the hell out of the visiting team from the south.

San Francisco’s batters faced a familiar and formidable opponent. Yu Darvish, who held the Diamondbacks hitless over six innings in last Friday’s opener, wasn’t that successful against the Giants last year when he went 1-1,5.82 against them even though Kapler’s crew managed only a meager .203 team batting average against the veteran righty. Of his 28 pitches, a dozen were balls.

The hometown heroes jumped all over the Darvish in the first frame. Brandon Belt followed Yastrzemski’s solid lead off single to left witih his second home run of the year, a no doubter that sailed over the National Car Rental advertisement in left field.

Ruf followed with a walk before Darvish notched his first out, Pederson looking. After that it was a walk to Crawford, back to back singles by Flores and Estrada, Duggar´s sac fly, and a single from the bat of Joey Bart, and the Giants were up, 5-0.

The Giants’ long top of the first, which didn’t end until they had batted around and Yaz looked at a called third strike, combined with the 51 degree game time temperature, probably hampered Cobb’s delivery.

The friars took advantage of that to convert a single by Luke Voit, who stole second, and scored on Wil Myers’ double to the right field corner that brought the Giants’ margin down to 5-1. (In the meantime, Cobb struck out three batters and uncorked a wild pitch).

San Francisco got that tally back in their half of the second. Singles by Belt and Pederson, interspersed with Ruf’s getting plunked by a Darvish offering, restored the Giants’ two run advantage in spite of the unassisted short to first DP Crawford grounded into.

Flores’ Texas League single sealed Darvish’s fate, and Nabil Crismatt entered the fray, only to be greeted with a double to left center by Estrada and single, followed by a stolen base, by Duggar.

When the inning finally ended with Bart’s striking out swinging, Darvish had logged a line of nine runs, all earned, on eight hits, one of which went the distance, two walks, and two strikeouts in 1-2/3 innings of hard labor. Of his 57 offerings only 34 counted as strikes.

The last Giant run of second was charged to Crismatt, who ended up hurling 1-1/3 frames and allowing that single tally on two hits, a walk, and a K. Of his 28 pitches, a dozen were balls.

His replacement, Austin Adams, took over mound duties in the bottom of the fourth. He threw 1-1/3 perfect innings, yielding to Denelson Lamet with one down in the fifth.

The Pads cobbled together Matt Beatly’s single to second, a walk to CJ Abrams, and two ground ball outs in their half of the fifth to score their second run.

San Francisco scored again in the top of the fifth, with Bart greeting Lamet with a single to left and Yastrzemski banging an RBI double off the National Car Rental sign, still in left field.

Unsurprisingly, Cobb exited after hurling five innings, for a total of 83 pitches, of which 30 were balls. He allowed two runs, both earned, on four hits, two walks and a wild pitch against ten strikeouts. Need I say that he was the winning pitcher and Darvish the loser?

After García’s four batter, two strikeout hitless sixth, it was new inning, new pitcher for the home team. Tyler Beede in the seventh.

Robert Suárez in the eighth. Yunior Marte, who replaced Tyler Rogers, who was placed on paternity leave before the game, made his major league debut in the ninth. He gave up an infield hit to Myers, was erased in a double play. CJ Abrams flew out to center for the final. out.

I won’t give you any details about Pederson and Dubón’s homers in the bottom of the eigth. except to say they came off Wil Myers, who played the first seven innings of the game in right field.

Ruff and Crawford were the only Giant starters not to register a hit, and the former left the game after his second at bat, which had resulted in his second inning double play. Mauricio Dubón, who took over for him at short, did notch a safety, a bunt single in the sixth off Lamet.

The Giants will play one more game against the Padres Wednesday at 12:45, before taking off for Cleveland. They’ll face Sean Manaea (1-0,0.00). Logan Webb (0-0,1.50) is scheduled to start for the home team.

He Was A Giant? John Fitzgerald pitched for San Francisco for a lone season in 1958

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San Francisco Giants pitcher John Fitzgerald pitched for the Giants for just one season the first year of the team since moving from New York (file photo from pinterest)

He Was A Giant?

John Fitzgerald – LHP – 1958 – # 35

By Tony The Tiger Hayes

In 1958, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was preparing to launch his historic presidential campaign. That year the freshly minted San Francisco Giants briefly had their own John Fitzgerald, a 6-foot-3, left-handed pitcher out of Brooklyn, New York.

How briefly? Fitzgerald’s big league inauguration, full-term, lame duck status and exit from the majors occurred all in a single game.

Why was he a Giant?

It’s kind of a mystery. Prior to making his major league debut with San Francisco, Fitzgerald had not pitched in a professional game since 1956, when he was drafted into military service.

When John Francis Fitzgerald made his major league debut and swan song on the final game of the 1958 season he was 25 years old.

It’s possible Fitzgerald mustered out of the service in the City at the Presidio making it convenient to have him swing by Seals Stadium to appear in the last game of the season.

The facts of him joining the big league club are as murky as the lone photo ever seen of southpaw in a Giants uniform.

Before & After

Signed by the Giants in 1953, Fitzgerald enjoyed significant success in the minors. As a 19 year old minor league rookie in 1953, Fitzgerald went 8-8, 4.64 for the St. Cloud Rox of the Northern League.

The Giants prospect really opened eyes in 1955 when he topped the Carolina League in strikeouts (233) while a member of the Class-D Danville Leafs. He finished with a stellar 14-7, 2.87 ledger and was named to the loop’s All-Star club.

But then, Fitzgerald’s pitching career was put into suspended animation for two seasons as he fulfilled his military obligations at about the same time Elvis Presley was also cleaning and carrying a rifle.

Then suddenly in September of 1958, as the Giants were winding down their inaugural season of fog ball, Fitzgerald was added to the big league roster.

Fitzgerald developed elbow issues the following spring and struggled the remainder of his professional career, spent entirely in the Giants organization.

He pitched two more seasons in the minor leagues (1959-60) before leaving organized baseball at the age of 27 after a winless season at Class-A Springfield in 1960.

He Never Had a Bobblehead Day. But…

Considering he had been on the shelf for two years, Fitzgerald had a stellar big league debut.

With the Giants in third place, 13 games back of Milwaukee, Giants manager Bill Rigney selected Fitzgerald to start the 79-74 Giants 1958 finale vs. the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.

Fitzgerald retired the lead off batter, left fielder Ellis Burton, on a ground out to shortstop Andre Rodgers, before walking shortstop Lee Tate. Fitzgerald faced the toughest batter of his life next, the illustrious Stan Musial. As expected, “Stan the Man” stung the San Francisco rookie’s first pitch, but the liner was snagged by second baseman Danny O’Connell, who then doubled Tate off first base.

With confidence surging through his left arm, Fitzgerald went to work in the second. “Fitz” struck out All-Star third baseman Ken Boyer and then fanned in succession catcher Gene Green and center fielder Bobby Smith.

Fitzgerald took a 3-0 lead into the third inning, but that changed quickly when St.Louis right fielder Joe Cunningham blasted a lead off homer over Seals Stadium’s right field fence. The long ball marked Cunningham’s career high 12th homer of the season.

Fitzgerald quickly regained his composure however and retired second baseman Eddie Kasko on a fly out to Willie Mays in center field. He nabbed pitcher Sam Jones – who would join the Giants in 1959 – on a ground out to Rodgers and notched Burton again on a ground out to third baseman Jim Davenport.

And with that, Fitzgerald exited the contest in favor of fellow rookie Dom Zanni. The fellow New York City native would go the next four frames, allowing one run, and was credited with the victory. Al Worthington recorded his 16th save in the 7-2 Giants win before 19,435 fans.

Fitzgerald would never appear in another major league contest.

Giant Footprint.

Fitzgerald was in the running for a roster spot in 1959, but his chances took a fatal blow when he broke down in an exhibition vs. the Cubs.

Fitzgerald suffered what trainer Doc Bowman described as a “shock to the ulnar nerve” of his left elbow, describing the pain as similar to “hitting your funny bone.”

Only Fitzgerald wasn’t laughing. Today, Fitzgerald would have probably been prescribed “Tommy John” surgery. But of course that baseball career altering ligament replacement surgery was still more than a decade away from being developed in 1959.

Fitzgerald tried pitching through the pain, but he was not effective.

After he left baseball, the trail runs as cold as a Candlestick Park hot dog on Fitzgerald.

Of all the living players from the 1958 club, Fitzgerald was the only one author Steve Bitker could not locate for his 1998 book “The Original San Francisco Giants.” Some recent reports have him residing in suburban New Jersey.

Fitzgerald would be 89 years old making him one of the oldest living former Giants.

Rays outlast A’s 9-8 in ten innings; Series at Tropicana tied at 1-1

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Tampa Bay Rays’ Manuel Margot, center, is congratulated by teammates hitting an RBI walkoff single off Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Lou Trivino in the bottom of the tenth inning at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay on Tue Apr 12, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Tampa Bay Rays (4-1) downed the Oakland A’s (2-3) 9-8 in ten innings Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. The game moved at the speed of a glacier as it took four hours and 13 minutes to play.

The game featured two pitchers making their Major League debuts. Neither pitcher fared well. Rays’ starter Tommy Romero went one and two-thirds innings. He allowed three runs, three hits, and walked five. The A’s starter, Adam Oller, lasted one and one-third innings. His line was five runs, five hits, three walks, and he gave up two home runs.

The A’s jumped off to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Romero walked the first two batters he faced. A’s DH, Jed Lowrie, blasted his first homer of the year to make it 3-0. The Rays’ leadoff hitter, Brandon Lowe, homered to make it 3-1.

Tampa put four on the board in the bottom of the second. Rays’ catcher Mike Zunino doubled to start the rally. Zunino went to third on Oller’s throwing error. Second baseman Taylor Wall singled to drive in Zunino.

Brandon Lowe walked to put two men on with no out. Oller retired Wander Franco for the first out. Rays’ first baseman Ji-Man Choi put Oller’s pitch into the seats in right field to put the Rays ahead 5-3. Oller’s night was over.

In the bottom of the third, with Jacob Lemoine on the mound for Oakland, Brett Phillips sent Lemoine’s pitch into the stands to make it 6-3.

The A’s offense woke up from its slumber to put a run on the board. With two out and Seth Brown at second, Stephen Piscotty reached on an infield single. Brown, running hard, appeared to be thrown out at the plate. Rays’ catcher Mike Zunino had trouble holding onto the ball.

Brown slid in safely. The A’s trail 6-4. The Rays regained the three-run advantage in their half of the sixth. Wander Franco led off with a triple. Ji-Man Choi reached on an infield single. Franco was held at third. Unfortunately for the A’s, second baseman Tony Kemp could not handle Randy Arozarena’s ground ball. Kemp’s error allowed Franco to score. The score after six was 7-4 Rays.

The A’s refused to quit. With two out in the top of the seventh, the A’s plated three runs to tie the score. The fifth Rays’ pitcher of the night, Ralph Garza, walked Lowrie and Sean Murphy. Seth Brown singled to drive in Lowrie. Chad Pinder’s fly ball to rightfield went over Manuel Margot’s head and bounced up against the wall for a double. Murphy and Brown scored and tied the game at 7-7.

Neither team could score in the eighth or ninth innings. The game went into extra innings. The A’s scored a run to take the lead 8-7. Chad Pinder was the ghost runner at second base to start the tenth. A’s first baseman, Billy McKinney, singled to drive in Pinder.

The Rays’ Brandon Lowe was the ghost runner in the bottom of the tenth. Lou Trivino was now pitching for Oakland. Trivino had to face a tough customer in the person of Wander Franco. The young superstar doubled to drive in Lowe and tie the game.

Trivino retired Randy Arozarena for the first out. The A’s put Josh Lowe on first to set up a possible inning-ending double play. The strategy was for naught as Manuel Margot ended the game with a single to drive in Franco. The Rays win 9-8.

Game Notes- The A’s are 2-3 for the year with the loss. The Rays improved to 4-1. The A’s used eight pitchers, the Rays six. The Rays’ pitchers handed out nine free passes plus a hit batter. The A’s pitchers issued eight.

The line score for Oakland was eight runs, eight hits, and three errors. Tampa’s line was nine runs, 13 hits, and one error.

The time of the game was 4:17. Attendance was a paltry 7588 people in the stands. Neither team draws well at home.

Game three of the four-game series will start at 3:40m pm on Wednesday. Going for Oakland right hander Frankie Montas 0-1 ERA 9.00 for Tampa Bay Shane McClanahan 0-0 ERA 0.00.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Amaury’s brick message to Cuban baseball fans stands true today

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On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, Pink Floyd once had the chance to sing about another brick in the wall, you had a chance to put a brick on the floor at Willie Mays Plaza in 2000 at Pac Bell Park you dedicated to those who were in Cuba that loved baseball but who could not leave Cuba.

#2 Amaury, there are numerous bricks on the Mays Plaza that dedicates many messages to fans, these were placed there during the inaugural year how much does your message stand up today?

#3 In 1998 MLB took Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN with Jon Miller and Joe Morgan doing the play by play and color to Havana something that was never done before what did it mean for baseball to go to Cuba and play a game there?

#4 Was the experience for the game to go to Cuba a positive one for MLB obviously MLB has never gone back to Cuba since 1998?

#5 Many Cuban players have come out of Cuba over the years some either declared political asylum and very few were granted permission to play MLB by the Cuban government.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for the Spanish play by play of Oakland A’s beisbol with Manolo Hernandez-Douen on flagship station 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and listen for Amaury for News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s belt four homers pummel Rays in laugher 13-2

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Oakland Athletics’ Elvis Andrus (17) is congratulated by Tony Kemp (5) after belting a three home run in the second inning off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Mazza at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay on Mon Apr 11, 2022 (AP News photo)

A’s belt four homers pummel Rays in laugher 13-2

By Jerry Feitelberg

On Monday night, the Oakland A’s began a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg. The Rays opened the season with three straight wins over the Baltimore Orioles. The A’s went 1-2 against the Philadelphia Phillies to start the season.

The Rays won 100 games last year. Their manager, Kevin Cash, was the AL Manager of the Year for the last two seasons. Under a new manager Mark Kotsay, the A’s were hoping to get a win to start the series.

Well, fans, the A’s did just that. They had their hitting shoes on as they put four runs on the board in the first and second innings and coasted to an easy 13-2 win over the Rays. The A’s hit four home runs in the game.

They had two three-run dingers, a solo blast, and a grand slam. Shortstop Elvis Andrus had a single, double, and a three-run homer. Andrus needed a triple to complete the cycle. Right-fielder Seth Brown also hit a three-run blast.

His big fly came in the first inning. Brown has seven RBIs in the first four games. Third baseman Sheldon Neuse (pronounced Noisy) hit his first home run of the year in the ninth. It was his first career grand slam.

The A’s put four runs on the board in the first inning. With one out, Elvis Andrus doubled. Rays’ pitcher Luis Patino retired Billy McKinney for the first out. Unfortunately for Patino, he hurt his leg on the pitch and had to leave the game.

He was replaced by Chris Mazza, a young man from Walnut Creek. Mazza hit Sean Murphy with a pitch to put two men on with two out. Seth Brown homered into the right-field seats to make it 3-0. Chad Pinder then homered to make it 4-0.

Things continued to go south for Chris Mazza. Neuse got things going with a single to start the rally. Rookie centerfielder, Cristian Pache, singled to put two men on with no out. Second baseman Tony Kemp’s grounder to Rays’ second baseman Taylor Walls was misplayed. Neuse scored to put the A’s ahead 5-0. Elvis Andrus homered to give the A’s a commanding 8-0 lead midway through the second inning.

Oakland put another run on the board in the fourth. Pache reached on a fielding error by Rays’ shortstop Wander France. Singles by Tony Kemp and Elvis Andrus loaded the bases for Oakland. Pache scored on Sean Murphy’s fielder’s choice.

The A’s starter, Paul Blackburn, held the Rays scoreless in his five innings of work. He allowed three hits and no runs. Blackburn walked one a struck out a career-high seven batters. He threw 71 pitches.

The Rays scored a run in the sixth and a run in the eighth to make it 9-2. The Rays used outfielder Brett Phillips to pitch in the eighth and ninth innings of the game. In the ninth, Phillips walked Billy McKinney to start the frame. He retires the next two hitters.

Chad Pinder doubles, sending McKinney to third. Phillips walked Stephen Vogt to load the bases. Phillips pitches were clocked at 49 miles an hour. Sheldon Neuse met the challenge and took a 49-mile-per-hour pitch on a journey into the left-field seats. The A’s won the game 13-2.

Game Notes: Paul Blackburn was the winning pitcher. Luis Patino took the loss for the Rays. The A’s evened their record at 2-2. The Rays are 3-1 for the season.

Sean Murphy hit the first triple of his career when Kevin Kiermaier, a three-time Gold Glover, misplayed the ball.

The A’s used four pitchers. Blackburn went five, Zach Jackson pitched the sixth, A.J.Puk worked the seventh and eighth, and Jason Grimm pitched the ninth. The Rays used six pitchers.

Game two of the four-game series will start at 3:40 PM Pacific Time on Tuesday evening. The A’s will send rookie Adam Oller to the hill, and Ray’s rookie Tommy Romero will oppose him. It will be the first time in MLB history that two pitchers will be making their MLB debut in the same game.

The time of the game was three hours exactly. Nine thousand one hundred thirty-nine fans watched as the A’s pounded the Rays 13-2.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Heliot knows how to make an entrance from his leopard spotted cleats on up

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The San Francisco Giants hitter Heliot Ramos swings for a single in the bottom of the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco against Miami Marlins pitcher Trevor Rogers on Sun Apr 10, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris what a way to break into the big leagues with a pair of hits and a run for rookie Heliot Ramos in the San Francisco Giants 3-2 win over the Miami Marlins (1-2) on Sunday to take a three game series 2-1.

#2 What turned out to be the game winning run came off the bat of Mauricio Dubon early in the game with a third inning double when Marlin pitcher Trevor Roberts threw for a error to allow Ramos to score.

#3 Ramos got a lot of support when he came up to the plate a standing ovation in his MLB debut getting a base hit and later to score on Dubon’s double. Ramos was just called up to the show from triple A Sacramento before Sunday’s game.

#4 Ramos was the 19th pick in the MLB 2017 draft it was a long time coming and what an introduction after all the hard work getting to the big leagues.

#5 Here comes one of the toughest customers in the National League to open a three game series at Oracle Park Bob Melvin and the San Diego Padres (3-1) who took the first of three from the Arizona Diamondbacks (1-3) at Chase Field. The Pads have a loaded line up and are doing it without injured Fernando Tatis Jr. The Padres will be starting right hander Nick Martinez he’ll be opposed by the Giants left hander Alex Wood. Morris how do you see this one tonight in a game you’ll be covering.

Morris Phillips does the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Jackie Robinson-The Scorebook-More than Baseball he is America

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April 15, 1947 Scorebook by sportswriter Tom Meany, historic first game for Jackie Robinson (Photo: National Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown)

Jackie Robinson -The Scorebook – More than Baseball he is America

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

On my first visit to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York in 2009, there was a very impressive book I was privileged to see. It is the official reporter scorebook, from April 15, 1947, by Sportswriter Tom Meaney of the New York World Telegram.

It is kept in the special historical archives and not for regular public viewing. It is a small book, with measures of 7 3/4 inches by 4 5/8 inches. It list Jackie Robinson (although in a sports hall of fame) it is one of the most important Civil Rights documents in history.

Craig W. Muder, Director of Communications and John B. Odell, Curator, were kind enough to give me a private tour and a look at this impressive piece of history. I forever am thankful to them. All in coordination with Debbie Gallas, of the A’s media department, the best.

Interesting enough, this book is not in Washington, DC, but in upstate New York at Cooperstown. Of all the great sports memorabilia at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, in my opinion, this is the most impressive and definitely historical.

The many records by Babe Ruth and other legendary players, in this the greatest sports Hall of Fame in America, do not compare to the historical value of this little scoring book, because it changed the history of baseball and the country.

This April 15th we commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball. On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson took the field at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York, as a Brooklyn Dodger.

No other figure impacted American sports history in America more than Jackie Robinson. This great moment in American history happened 16 years before the “I Have a Dream” speech by the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, on August 28, 1963.

Branch Rickey, the Dodger executive responsible for bringing Robinson to the major leagues, said he deserved ‘no credit for Jackie Robinson’. He received a lot of resistance not only in baseball but outside as well.

That should never be forgotten since at that time in history that was a courageous move. Branch Rickey was a man of vision and great courage, one of his quotes: “Problems are the price you pay for progress”. In these days of great fan cynicism regarding baseball from the Commissioner, to owners and even players, Branch Rickey was the right man at the right time in the history of the United States. History has told us so.

Although I never met Mr. Rickey (1881-1963) I did speak to Dodgers Vice President Al Campanis during the 1988 World Series between the A’s and Dodgers at the Oakland Coliseum and although he was fired as their VP for remarks he made on ABC’s “Nightline” comments that were seen as being insensitive at best and possibly racist, he gave me an interview for the pre-game regarding the great star in MLB that time, A’s José Canseco who that season became the first 40-40 man in baseball history and won the MVP in the American League.

Campanis spoke fluent Spanish. I also asked him about his relations with Hispanic players (Al Campanis who is in the Hall of Fame) who had signed such black and Hispanic players as Roberto Clemente and Tommy Davis. Many who knew Campanis said he embraced Jackie Robinson historic feat and that what he said on that interview with ABC’s Ted Koppel was a “slip of the tongue”

On April 15, all players on all major league teams will be wearing Robinson’s iconic number 42. An honor to all African-American players as well as all players in baseball, in the minors or major leagues. Many teams have their own tributes during this historic day. Worldwide, Nike is coming out with its own special this year.

A shoe they will be releasing they are calling it, Jackie Robinson Dunk Lows in honor of the legend celebrating (featuring at the tongue) a 75 for this special anniversary. The shoe designed in white and blue the colors of the Dodgers.

The All-Star game this year will take place on Tuesday, July 19 at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles. On April 15, 2017 the Dodgers unveiled an 800 pounds Statue, located at the left field reserve plaza, since then have become one of the most photographs areas at the home of the Dodgers.

Baseball is very proud of celebrating Jackie Robinson Day, more than Baseball he is America.

Catch Amaury Pi Gonzalez on the Oakland A’s Spanish flagship station for all the A’s action at 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Heliot connects for two hits and a run as Giants edge Marlins 3-2 at Oracle Park

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The San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos slides home for a second inning run. All the Giants runs were needed in this game as they win by a run over the Miami Marlins 3-2 at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Apr 10, 2022 (AP News photo)

Miami. 2. 11. 1

San Francisco. 3. 6. 0

Sunday April 10, 2022

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–People in classical Greece uncertain about their future would consult the oracles, who would respond with ambiguous words that left their petitioners more confused than ever. The last two days at the ballyard on McCovey Cove how well the name of Oracle Park suits the events that take place there.

On Friday, the Giants made a valiant comeback, only to throw one of them away and then make another, successful, one. Yesterday, they came from behind in the fifth inning only to give back the lead in the seventh and ultimately lose the game, the second consecutive game in which they blew a late inning lead.

What do we make of the decent but streak hitting, sure handed Brandon Crawford going 0 for the season and making a key error? Are these harbingers of things to come? And, if they are, what does that mean to the Giants’ future, short, medium, or long term?

The events on the field this afternoon may have contained some clues. What they mean is hard to tell, but we’ll give it a try.

The most obvious, and perhaps the least important, fact is that the Giants defeated the visitors, 3-2 before a crowd of 37,332 paying customers on Sunday. Of course, all the factoids that compose that obvious fact have to be put in context; and that context is that the three games the Giants have played this season constitute 1.85% of the regular season.

Indeed, the most significant of today’s Giant doings may well have occurred before game time. What does the promotion of the promising Puerto Rican prospect, Héliot Ramos, portend? He replaced John Brebbia, who will be on bereavement leave for three days, on the roster.

The Giants clearly thought enough of the 22 year old Ramos to start him today in left, batting in the sixth slot, for his major league debut. Indeed, Ramos was the only Giant to notch multiple hits. He replaced John Brebbia, who will be on bereavement leave for the next three days. When the game ended, the rookie had gone two for three and scored a run.

Starting on the mound for San Francisco was Anthony DeSclafani, starting his second season with the Giants. He had an impressive spring training, giving up only one earned run in 12-1/3 innings pitched, striking out 11 on his way to a 1-0,0.73 record. He went 13-7,3.17 for the Giants, much better than his lifetime big league mark of 50-46,406).

Facing the home team was Trevor Rogers, the runner up in last season’s National League rookie of the year balloting. The then 23 year old southpaw finished with the impressive mark of 7-8, 2.64, recording 157 in 133 innings and didn’t allow an earned run in his one inning stint at the all-star game. He was out of action all of August because of a family medical emergency. This was his first appearance against the Giants.

DeSclafani got off to a rocky start. Jorge Soler’s lead off liner just got past a diving Luke Williams, playing third in his first game of the season. Then Garrett Cooper’s broken bat blooper to right fell in for a hit, and, just like that, there were two on, none down, the meat of the coming up.

Exhibiting grace under pressure, the Giants’ starter struck out Jesús Sánchez and Jesús Aguilar—the first, swinging; the second, looking—before retiring Avisaíl García and the side on a broken bat pop up that threatened to fall into right but was corralled by Thairo Estrada at second.

DeScalfani was in hot water again in the second. Joey Wendle’s leadoff drive bounced a foot out of the hurler´s reach and into right for a single, and Brian Anderson’s blooped fell in front of Ramos for a Texas League single that sent Wendle to third. He scored on Jazz Chisholm, Jr.’s sacrifice fly that Maurcio Dubón harvested in left center field.

After Soler got a hit to center, a nice play by Crawford, diving to his right and riffling a throw to Estrada closed out the frame with minimal damage done and Miami leading by a scant 1-0.

Rogers handcuffed the Giants for an inning, but they broke loose in their half of the second. Flores led off with a four pitch walk, only to be erased in a short to second to first double play. Then Ramos, in his first major league at bat, hit a scorcher to second that Chisholm’s glove deflected to Wendle for an infield single.

Dubón slammed a drive down the left field line that sent Ramos racing home at full speed to tie the score as Dubón pulled into second with an RBI double. Then Luke Williams, in his first AB of the season, brought Dubón in with a single to right that gave San Francisco a 2-1 advantage.

The Marlins might have pulled even in the third, but what looked like some boneheaded baserunning by Sánchez turned what would have been a lead off double to right into a single and a failed attempt to advance when he was thrown out on Ruff’s relay to Crawford of Slater’s return of the ball to the infield.

In contrast, San Francisco took advantage of its third frame opportunities. Slater hit a full count pitch back towards the mound, and Rogers’s throw to first pulled Cooper off the bag.

Ruff’s blast to the foot of the Konica Minolta sign on the left center field wall went for a double that moved Slater to third, whence, after Crawford took a called third strike, he scored on Flores’s sac fly to left. Estrada grounded out to close the inning with the Giants now ahead 3-1.

Miami threatened in the top of the fourth. Windle singled to the mound. Anderson went down swinging. Then Chisholm sent a l o n g double to the right field wall.

With two runners in scoring position, Payton Henry flailed at a slow 2-2 count slider, missing it for out number two. It looked like Desclafani might have notched his third strikeout of the inning, but home plate umpire Ramón de Jesús called it ball four, loading the bases.

Desclafani plunked Cooper, which drove in Wendle, cut the Giants’ lead to a single run, and left the bases loaded. That was it for Desclafani, and Jarlín García entered the fray to retire Sánchez and preserve the Giants’ thin lead.

Desclafani had lasted 3-2/3 grueling innings in which he threw 74 pitches, about 75% of which counted as strikes. He was charged with two runs, both earned. He struck out five, walked one, and hit another of the 20 batters he faced. He left the game with no decision.

García faced five more Marlins without allowing a baserunner before giving way with two out in the sixth to Zack Littell.

Once Littell got his man, Payton Henry, out thanks to a beautiful play by Estrada, the Giants’ second sacker led off the home half of the sixth, facing Shawn Armstrong, who had just entered the game to replace Rogers.

Miami’s starter left the game after throwing 74 pitches with the same 75% strike to ball ratio as Desclafani. Like his counterpart, Rogers allowed two earned runs, but he also gave up an additional, unearned, tally that put him in line to be charged with the loss. He struck out three and walked one.

Armstrong hurled a perfect sixth inning, and his replacement, Anthony Bass also retired the hosts in order in the seventh, as well as getting Ruff, lead off man in the eighth, even though San Francisco’s first baseman drove a line drive to the right field warning track, right the fence before Steven Okert replaced Bass right after the ball was caught.

Littell lasted through the seventh for San Francisco without giving up more than a single to Sánchez, who was wiped out in a double play. Tyler Rogers then came in to set the Marlins down in order in the eighth.

Dominic Leone was called upon to execute the save. He struck out Chisholm for the first out. Stallings, pinch hitting for Henry, also went down swinging. Jorge Soler was the sole obstacle to the Giants’ second win of the season. He popped out to Ruff at first.

Jarlín García was the winning pitcher, with the save going to Leone. Trevor Rogers was the hard luck loser.

San Diego will come to Oracle Park on Monday, throwing Nick Martínez against Alex Wood at 6:45.

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: Phils touch up A’s Irvin early; Gibson pitches shutout ball through seven for Phils

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Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper holds his daughter Brooklyn after receiving the 2021 NL MVP Award before Sat Apr 9, 2022 game against the Oakland A’s at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Oakland A’s starting pitcher Cole Irvin started the ball game surrendering two runs in the bottom of the first in Philadelphia but settled down going 5.1 innings until he gave up two more earned runs and was lifted in the bottom of the sixth.

#2 The other problem was for A’s hitters Phillies starter Kyle Gibson kept the A’s line up off balance throwing a shutout through seven innings, striking out ten and giving up two hits. This is the era in baseball when you won’t see complete games but Gibson looked like he could have finished this one.

#3 The A’s made it interesting scoring a run in the top of each the eighth and ninth innings fell a day late a dollar short.

#4 Phillies relievers Jose Alvarado and Corey Knebel were feeling the pressure as the A’s who had dealt some of their big boppers over the off season and the pre season had enough in the line up to battle but couldn’t move guys over and took a two run loss in game two of the series 4-2.

#5 The A’s will try to avoid getting swept today at 1:05 pm in Citizen’s Bank they’ll be starting right hander Daulton Jefferies and will be matched against the Phillies right hander Zach Eflin. In spring training Jefferies was 0-2 with 1.79 ERA for Eflin 0-0 with an ERA of 0.96.

Join Charlie O every other Sunday for the A’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s drop Second Game to Philly 4-2; Phillies Gibson shuts A’s out through first seven innings

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Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Kyle Gibson (44) delivers against the Oakland A’s in the first inning at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia on Sat Apr 9, 2022 (AP News photo)

A’s Drop Second Game to Philly 4-2

By Barbara Mason

After a disappointing loss to the Phillies (2-0) yesterday the Oakland A’s (0-2) sent Cole Irvin to the mound looking for their first win of the new season. Frankie Montas struggled in yesterday’s game but there was a bright spot in the game for the A’s.

Oakland mounted a nice comeback in the seventh inning but was unable to capitalize losing the game 9-5.

Cole Irving was looking for a nice outing against his former team. He did have some encouraging moments in the five innings he pitched. On the down side he allowed seven hits and three home runs.

The Phillies Nick Castellianos homered in the first innings driving in Bryce Harper for an early 2-0 lead. Philadelphia would strike again in the sixth inning with homers from Rhys Hoskins and Jean Segura taking a 4-0 lead.

The A’s had trouble with Phillies pitcher Kyle Gibson who had a great outing with ten strike-outs. He was lights out throwing sinkers, sliders and change-ups before being relieved by Jose Alvarado in the eighth inning. You could not have asked for a more solid game from Gibson going deep into this game.

Hits for Oakland were few and far between with only three through seven innings. The A’s had struck out 11 times in eight innings.

Oakland finally got on the board in the eighth inning when Elvis Andrus doubled and Stephen Piscotty singled to deep right center driving Andrus home. With a single inning remaining in the game Oakland had their work cut out for them.

The A’s relief pitching was solid with Dany Jimenez, A. J. Puk and Zach Jackson allowing no runs and no hits which was an encouraging sign going forward.

The A’s challenged Philadelphia in the ninth inning. Tony Kemp walked and got to third on a throwing error by Philly catcher J.T. Realmuto and scored off a Jed Lowrie single.

With the game on the line Chad Pinder struck out for the fourth time today and that was the ball game in another disappointing loss for Oakland. The final score was 4-2. It was just too little too late for the A’s who got started far too late.

The A’s did show some fight in this game but they have to start putting some runs on the board early. Philadelphia scored in the first inning of both of these games putting the A’s behind the eight ball from the get go.

“My slider was disgusting today but my fast ball was good,” said Cole Irvin after the game. “We tried to fight back but that lineup (the Phillies) their swinging,” he said. He was all in favor of PitchCon the new electronic device calling pitches. “it’s different but I like it,” said Irvin.

Sunday the A’s finish their series with the Phillies. First pitch is scheduled for 10:05. Daulton Jefferies will be on the mound for Oakland and Zach Eflin will get the nod for Philadelphia.