Tag: mlb

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: A’s Luzardo gets the start tonight against Rangers at the Coliseum

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Jesus Luzardo shown here during the A’s spring training camp Mesa Arizona on Feb 13th during pitchers and catchers workouts. Was out on quarantined just before the start of the season and will be getting the start tonight against the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum (AP photo)

On That’s Amaury’s podcast:

#1 Amaury the A’s open a three game series tonight in Oakland against the Texas Rangers with Jesus Luzardo (0-0) getting the start. Luzardo is coming back from being quarantined after testing positive for Covid-19 during baseball summer camp.

#2 A’s manager Bob Melvin is looking forward to seeing Luzardo on the mound tonight. Luzardo has got some bullpen work in going 6.2 innings in relief and has 1.35 ERA, he had walked three and struck out seven.

#3 How huge is it for A’s hitter Khris Davis to have snapped his 0-16 slump which started from opening day. Davis got a sixth inning single. Melvin said that Davis made a hand adjustment during the trip to Seattle over the weekend.

#4 Melvin said that Davis has established himself and that speaks volumes for somebody whose willing to make an adjustment and that Davis is coachable and “looking forward to getting better.”

#5 In the middle of the four game series in Seattle the A’s won the second and third games by just a run does that speak for the bullpen able to hold off the Mariners in the later innings and prevent them from adding runs on the board.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio play by play announcer and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

A’s romp all over Mariners in 11-1 laugher

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Oakland catcher Sean Murphy scores on a past ball while Mariners relief pitcher Bryan Shaw stands on home plate late during a disastrous fifth inning for the Mariners. (Ken Lambert / The Seattle Times)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s won their third game in a row downing the Seattle Mariners 11-1. The A’s came to Seattle, hoping to sweep the rebuilding Mariners. They lost the first game but won the next three. It wasn’t easy as the A’s hitters were not moving the line until Monday night. The A’s squeezed out two wins by a 3-2 score on Saturday and Sunday. A’s manager Bob Melvin had to wonder when and if his guys would get the offense going.

The answer would come in the fifth inning of Monday night’s contest. The Mariners put the first run of the night on the board in the bottom of the third. Mariners’ shortstop J.P.Crawford walked. A’s starter, Frankie Montas retired the next two hitters. M’s third baseman, Kyle Seager, doubled to drive in Crawford. The Mariners did not score again. Nor did they get a hit after the fourth inning.

The A’s blew open the game in the top of the fifth. They sent fourteen men to the plate. The Mariners’ Justin Sheffield and Bryan Shaw gave up eight runs, nine hits, and three walks. All the runs came after there were two out in the inning. A’s centerfield Ramon Laureano drove in the first two runs with a single. Chad Pinder drove in two, also. Mark Canha, Khris Davis, Stephen Piscotty all drove in a run. One run scored on a wild pitch.

Khris Davis led off the seventh with his first dinger of the year. Davis finished the night with two hits. He came into the game hitting .045. They added another run and one more in the ninth to win 11-1.

Game Notes- Frankie Montas won his first of the year. He went seven innings and allowed one run and four hits. Frankie struck out nine and walked four. Mariners’ starter, lefty Justin Sheffield lost his second of the season. Mariners’ pitched walked eleven A’s and struck out nine. Ramon Laureano has driven in nine runs so far. Seven of the nine have either tied the game or put the A’s in the lead. The A’s improved to 6-4, and the A’s dropped to 4-7.

The A’s return home to face the Texas Rangers. Lefty Jesus Luzardo will start for Oakland. Lance Lynn will pitch for Texas. The game will start at 6:10 pm.

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Pac 12 players led by Cal and Stanford want to negotiate terms; Kings are on the mat can they get up for Dallas

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(file photo from USA Today) Cal Bears quarterback Chase Garbers (7) seen in this 2019 photo will Garbers and the Cal Bears be back for the 2020 season as negotiations between the Pac 12 players and the league continue over safety issues, pay issues and social issues rights.

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 Barbara how important is that Pac 12 players are under the banner #WeAreUnited with demands that their are better safety measures, social rights issues and Fair Pay to Play in place for players.

#2 The Pac 12 players most who are coming out of Cal and Stanford have 13 player representatives who are asking for better health coverage in the event a player is injured for the season instead of being out on their own for their coverage the university or the Pac 12 for instance will have insurance coverage to help with medical coverage.

#3 Barbara the Sacramento Kings have now lost two straight games in the re-start of the NBA’s regular season in Orlando. It’s getting late early when you lose the first two of a short eight game schedule. The Kings face the Dallas Mavericks and needs something short of miracle.

#4 As you know numerous reports have come out about Covid-19 infections forcing games to be canceled in MLB. The Marlins had half their club infected and they brought up replacements to take their spots, the Cardinals have players out with Covid, in the bigger picture can someone look at this and say baseball is irresponsible for letting the games continue?

#5 The San Jose Earthquakes fought the good fight going 3-1-1 in the MLS is Back Tournament. The Quakes started the tournament with a scoreless tie against Seattle, then won three straight against Vancouver, Chicago and Real Salt Lake only to lose in the quarterfinals to FC Minnesota.

Join Barbara each Tuesday night for Headlines Sports at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Solano providing some offense; Longoria seeing the ball well; plus more

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The San Francisco Giants Evan Longoria on Saturday night against the Texas Rangers belts a double in the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco. (AP photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 The Giants Donavon Solano has stepped up big he came up with a huge two RBI hit in the third inning for a total of three RBIs in Saturday night’s game at Oracle Park to help pace the Giants to a big 7-3 win past the Texas Rangers.

#2 The Giants on Evan Longoria has been connecting he had a two run double, scored a run, with three hits against the Rangers on Saturday. Longoria has been key in the line up.

#3 Morris you don’t see it too often brothers Tyler Heineman of the Giants and Scott Heineman of the Texas Rangers were at home plate before Saturday’s game exchanging line ups and going over ground rules with the umpires Tyler said he would be happy to see Scott line out hard in four at bats.

#4 Giants manager Gabe Kapler inspite of the recent struggles of Hunter Pence is sticking with him to pinch hit or field when needed. Pence has now gone 0-23 through Saturday night. Pence did get a triple on Sunday snapping the longest slump in the majors this season.

#5 The Giants who completed their home stand against the Rangers over the weekend are in Colorado tonight to open a four game series. The Rockies have been going well and will be a tough customer in Coors Field for this series.

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

 

MLB podcast with Larry Crino: Reds Votto out with Covid-19; Astros Osuna out with arm injury; plus more

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(AP file photo) Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto was placed on the IL due to Covid-19 related symptoms.

On the MLB podcast with Larry:

#1 The Cincinnati Reds Joey Votto was placed on the IL for Covid-19 related symptoms last week the Reds Mike Moustakas was placed on the IL due to symptoms appealed and won and came back after three days, Nick Senzel missed three games even though was never was put on the IL.

#2 Larry were going to go through a list of another type of injury that has been plaguing the big leagues and that’s arm injuries and we’ll start with the Houston Astros Roberto Osuna who is out with arm discomfort and needs to have an MRI done.

#3 Larry another series canceled over the weekend with the St Louis Cardinals announcing they have three staff members and one player out with Covid-19 related symptoms. The Cards were supposed to face the Milwaukee Brewers. The series will be rescheduled.

#4 The Yankees and Phillies have rescheduled their games due to the Covid outbreak the Yankees will host the Phils Aug 3rd and 4th and the Phils will host the Yankees 5th and 6th.

#5 Seeing how things are right now in hindsight wouldn’t it have sensible to have bubbles in the Cactus League in Arizona and the Grapefruit League in Florida and had bubbles.

Larry does the MLB podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Rangers avoid sweep after huge seventh inning for 9-5 win

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Joey Gallo (right) of the Texas Rangers gets congratulations from Shin-Soo Choo (17) after taking San Francisco pitcher Tyler Anderson deep for a three run homer in the seventh inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sunday (AP photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-If you want to take a lead on the San Francisco Giants, you better get up by a lot of runs; because, they are going to come back on your pitching.

Unfortunately, the three-game sweep and great comeback did not occur, as the Texas Rangers salvaged the final game of the three-game set with a 9-5 victory over the Giants at Oracle Park.

After trailing 5-2 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, Evan Longoria hit a solo home run and then Chadwick Tromp tied up the game with a two-run home run, but there was no joy in San Francisco on this afternoon.

Willie Calhoun hit a sacrifice fly with nobody out to Mike Yastrzemski to score Jeff Mathis from third base.

Following the Calhoun sacrifice fly, Joey Gallo launched a three-run home run over the 415 mark in triples alley that last season would have been in the park; however, the fences were moved in six feet and it was the second home run of the season for Gallo.

Jonathan Hernandez pitched two strong innings, allowing just one walk and striking out four to pick up his second win of the season for the Rangers.

The Rangers got on the board in the top of the second inning, as Scott Heineman hit a two-run double to score Gallo and Nick Solak, Heineman then scored on a Mathis single.

Longoria got the Giants on the board in the bottom of the inning, as he hit a sacrifice fly that scored Hunter Pence from third base. Pence broke out of a 0-for-21 start to the season with a long triple.

Shin-Soo Choo extended the Rangers lead in the top of the fifth inning, as he hit a two-run home run that landed in McCovey Cove to lengthen the Rangers lead up to 5-1.

That is when the Giants began to chip away at the lead, as Yastrzemski grounded out to score Brandon Crawford, who led off the inning with a single.

Andrew Triggs, who was just added to the team earlier in the day came on to replace starter Jeff Samardzija in the top of the sixth inning did not look sharp at all, as he went one-third of an inning, allowing three runs on no hits and walked three to pick up the loss for the Giants.

It was the first outing for Triggs since the 2018 season, when he was with the Oakland As.

Samardzija became the first Giants pitcher to go past the fifth inning this season, stopping the major-league record at nine straight where a starter did not go five innings, as he went 5.2 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out one.

NOTES: Drew Smyly was placed on the 10-day injured list prior to the game with a strained left index finger. Triggs was called up from the alternate site to replace Smyly, and to make room for Triggs on the 40-man roster, reliever Jandel Gustave was Designated for Assignment.

This was the second move of the day for the team, as they traded Billy Hamilton to the New York Mets is exchange for right-handed pitcher Jordan Humphrey, who was optioned t the teams alternate site. Over his minor-league career, Humphries 13-7 with a 2.60 earned run average in 35 games and 28 of them being starts.

UP NEXT: Chi Chi Gonzalez will make his 2020 debut for the Colorado Rockies, as the teams begin a four-game series at Coors Field on Monday. As of now, the Giants have yet to name their starter.

After an off-day on Monday, the Rangers will remain in the Bay Area and begin a three-game series with the Oakland As on Tuesday night, when Lance Lynn takes the mound at the Oakland Coliseum.

Headline Sports podcast with Daniel Dullum: Edmonton and Toronto hosting NHL Stanley Cup; Wild’s Dumba takes a knee during anthem; plus more

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Wild defenseman Matt Dumba, appearing on behalf of the NHL and the Hockey Diversity Alliance, took a knee during the U.S. national anthem before Saturday’s game between the Oilers and Blackhawks. Fellow Black players Malcolm Subban JASON FRANSON • THE CANADIAN PRESS VIA AP

On Headline Sports podcast with Daniel:

1 NHL Stanley Cup tournament is underway in Edmonton and Toronto; Wild’s Matt Dumba kneels during anthem after giving anti-racism speech

2 Increasing Covid-19 concerns for MLB

3 NBA: Thunder players all kneel during the anthem despite threat from Oklahoma lawmaker

4 Clippers sink 25 3-pointers against Pelicans

5 NCAA: Pac-12 unveils 12-game football schedule, Big-10 can’t begin fall football activities until conference deems it safe

6 NFL: Lions reportedly place Matthew Stafford on COVID-19 reserve list; Jets LB C.J. Mosley opts out of 2020 season

Join Daniel for Headline Sports each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants win for the second night in a row 7-3, Solano stays hot

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The San Francisco Giants Donavon Solano hits for a two run single in the third inning of Saturday night’s game at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-After scoring just 10 runs in their opening series versus the Los Angeles Dodgers, it seems that the San Francisco Giants have found their scoring shoes since coming home to Oracle Park.

Donovan Solano hit a two-run single in the bottom of the third inning that scored Mike Yastrzemski and Alex Dickerson, helping the Giants to a 7-3 victory over the Texas Rangers at Oracle Park. In the five games since returning from Los Angeles, the Giants have scored 33 runs in the five home games.

Both Yastrzemski and Dickerson both walked off of Rangers starter Jordan Lyles, then Lyles uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Yastrzemski and Dickerson to move up an additional 90 feet. Solano took advantage of the runners in scoring position and singled to center that allowed both runners to score.

Todd Frazier put the Rangers on the board in the top of the first inning, as he singled to right field to give the Rangers an early 2-0 lead.

It looked like the Giants were going to get of the inning when they caught Joey Gallo and Elvis Andrus in two different pickles; however, Solano threw to Longoria at third, trying to get Andrus and he was able to get back into third base. On the play, there was a moment, where it showed the lighter side of sports, when Longoria collided with third base umpire Jim Wolf, neither Wolf nor Longoria were injured on the play.

Frazier then took a Drew Smyly pitch and put it into right field to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead before the Giants could come to the plate.

Longoria put an end to the shutout bid for Lyles, as he doubled off of the right-hander to score Yastrzemski and Brandon Belt.

Yastrzemski extended the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he was able to fight a 0-2 hole and come all the way to draw a walk that scored Longoria from third base.

The Giants tacked on another run in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Solano continues to stay hot in the early going, as he lashed an opposite field single to score Brandon Crawford from third base. Crawford led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch against Rangers reliever Jimmy Herget.

Belt then extended the lead and the inning, as he walked to score Tyler Heineman from third base.

Smyly was forced to leave the game after just four innings, as he felt discomfort in his left index finger. This was the ninth consecutive game that the Giants starting pitcher failed to go at least five innings in a start, extending their own major league record.

Once again, the Giants bullpen continues to put up great numbers, as Shawn Anderson, Caleb Baragar, Rico Garcia, Tyler Rogers, Trevor Gott and Sam Selman combined to the final five innings, allowing just one run on four hits, walking two and striking out three. Baragar picked up his second win of the season.

Scott Heineman hit an opposite field home run onto the arcade in the top of the ninth inning for the Rangers first run since taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the ninth inning.

Heineman is the brother of Giants catcher Tyler Heineman, and this was the first time that the two played against each other in the major leagues. The two exchanged lineup cards with the umpires prior to the game, and took a picture together along with the umpires and following the game, the two exchanged jerseys.

NOTES: Rob Brantly cleared waivers and was outrighted to the alternate training site.

With the victory over the Rangers, the Giants have now won 19 out of 24 matchups over the Rangers at Oracle Park, tying the Oakland As, who are also 19-5 versus the Los Angeles Dodgers, the best home record versus any home opponent in major league history, this includes both regular and postseason games with a minimum of 20 games, this is according to STATS, LLC.

Giants vs. Rangers 19-5 .792
As vs. Dodgers 19-5 .792
Astros vs. Orioles 20-6 .769
Red Sox vs. Marlins 16-6 .727
Astros vs. Blue jays 19-8 .704

UP NEXT: Kolby Allard takes the mound in the finale for the Rangers, while the Giants have yet to announce their starter.

BEST HOME RECORD VS. ANY OPPONENT – ALL-TIME (current franchises only –

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: 2020 History Four Cubanos in the same Lineup

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abc7ny.com file photo: The late Minnie Minoso who played in the majors breaking in the majors 1947 and retiring in 1980 playing mostly with the Chicago White Sox was born in Perico, Cuba is one of the subjects of That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

2020 History Four Cubanos in the same Lineup

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Orestes (Minnie) Miñoso is a happy man, looking down from heaven at his Chicago White Sox. On Saturday August 1, 2020 the Chicago White Sox became the first team ever in history to field four (Cuatro) Cuban players in the same lineup; Luis Robert(CF), Yoan Moncada(3B) José Abreu(1B) and Yasmani Grandal(C). And as if it wasn’t enough, the starter was ex-A’s lefty Gio González, born in Miami of Cuban Immigrant parents.

Miñoso was a tutor to a young rookie Abreu as the young first-baseman told me during an interview while his team was in Oakland. José Abreu talked about Miñoso, with a lot of reverence and admiration.

Minnie has a Statue at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago. That same year, (2014) Abreu won the American League rookie of the year as he batted .317 with 36 home runs and drove in 107 runs. In 2018 when the White Sox called Yoan Moncada to the major, Abreu didn’t wasted anytime.

Rick Hand, General Manager said as Abreu was the most famous Uber driver at the airport picking up his compatriota Moncada Their lead-off hitter is another Cuban defector, Luis Robert 22 years old, who signed with the team for a $25 million bonus. Robert said that he told his agent he wanted to play for the White Sox, and his wish became a reality.

Although Chicago is not Miami, New York or Los Angeles, the cities where the majority of Cubans reside in the US, this bunch seem to be happy playing in the Windy City and have their own click going, with little Cuban flags all in a row at their dressing room as they seem to enjoy each other’s company.

Cuba’s baseball tradition is historical and well documented. In 1954, a franchise was awarded to Havana, Cuba, where they played, until 1960 when political upheaval and Castro’s declaration of communism and elimination of all professional sports in the island forced the team to be moved to Jersey City, New Jersey, in the middle of the season.

That was in the famous AAA International League. Cuba was the only Latin American country, to-date- to ever be awarded a professional baseball franchise and in 1960 the Havana Sugar Kings/Jersey City Jerseys, were the only international team aside the Montreal Royals and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In 1923 Cincinnati Reds Cuban-born pitcher Adolfo Luque ended the season with a record of 27-8 with a 1.93 earned run average, pitched 322 innings started 37 games and completed 28 and threw 6 shutouts. He led the major leagues in wins and earned run average that year, and with 151 strikeouts finished second to Dazzy Vance.

The Cy Young Award was not given until the year 1956. Other Cuban-born players of white skin played, like Rene Monteagudo who played in the majors from 1938 to 1945. The first Latino manager of a major league team was Miguel Angel González in 193. 8 After coaching the St Louis Cardinals in 1934, four years later was named manager of the Cardinals on September 11, when Frankie Frisch was fired. González was originally a catcher.

The Chicago White Sox are a very good team, loaded with a nucleus of young talent, and these four Cubans are part of that. All four are regulars.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Musuem and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Lewis Rubman: Melvin talks about replay reviews in Rockies series; A’s tough loss to M’s in Seattle

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Seattle Mariners’ Kyle Lewis slides safely home to score as Oakland Athletics catcher Sean Murphy waits for the ball in the fourth inning of a baseball game during the Mariners home opener Friday, July 31, 2020, in Seattle.Elaine Thompson/AP

On the A’s podcast with Lewis Rubman :

#1 On a play on Wednesday that saw the Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado threw to the plate to catcher Tony Wolters who tagged the A’s Matt Olson sliding on the thigh Melvin argued the replay showed that Olson was safe and it was the first of two plays that manager Bob Melvin was not in agreement on.

#2 The second play pitcher Jesus Luzardo threw a high ball to first base to get the runner but it was ruled too late the replay showed it to be a tie and it went to the runner. Luzardo took blame for it saying he threw a high lob toss giving more time for the runner to get there.

#3 Lewis it’s true the A’s have a very talented line up they have hitters and depth in the their rotation but in the Rockies series on Tuesday and Wednesday it came down to the bullpen to try and get the A’s out of situations but still dropping both games.

#4 How important is it that the A’s now have a flagship radio station Bloomberg 960 after forgoing 860 KTRB due to too much right wing programming?

#5 The A’s got one precious day off last Thursday and they will only get one day off this month of August they face the Mariners this weekend who have struggled how much of an advantage will it be for the A’s facing the Mariners after taking two tough loses in the Colorado series?

Lewis Rubman filled in for Charlie O for the A’s podcasts every other Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com