Tag: mlb

A’s continue to roll as they down the Mariners 9-2

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The A’s continued their winning ways as they won their fifth in a row to down the Seattle Mariners 9-2 at the Oakland Coliseum on Tuesday night.

This was the 14th game of the season between the two teams. Even though the Mariners entered the game with a record of 39-58, they held a 7-6 advantage over the A’s. The M’s sent lefty Marco Gonzalez to the hill to stop the A’s. Gonzalez had beaten the A’s three times this year and was hoping to win his fourth. The A’s Daniel Mengden was given the task of slowing down the Seattle offense.

Seattle took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second when catcher Omar Narvaez led off the inning with a solo homer. It was his 15th of the year and the third in his last two games against the A’s. Narvaez has taken over as the guy that loves to kill the A’s. Mitch Haniger had that role, but he is on the injured list.

The A’s plated two runs in the bottom of the third. With one out, Josh Phegley singled. Marcus Semien doubled to put men on at second and third. Matt Chapman singled to drive them in to put the A’s ahead 2-1.

The A’s put three on the board in the fifth. Gonzalez retired the first two A’s hitters he faced. With a 3-2 count on Marcus Semien, Gonzalez threw a pitch that appeared to be strike three. Home plate umpire Brian O’Nora took a step back and looked as if he was going to call Semien out on strikes. He didn’t, and Semien had a free pass. The Matts, Chapman, and Olson, went back-to-back to put the A’s ahead 5-1. For Chapman, it was his 22nd of the year. For Olson, it was his 20th.

The A’s scored one on the sixth. Ramon Laureano doubled with one out. Laureano took off for third. Gonzalez threw behind him to second baseman Dee Gordon. Gordon’s throw to Kyle Seager was not on the mark and sailed past Seager. That miscue allowed Laureano to score. The error was the 96th of the year for the M’s They have committed more errors than any other team in baseball this year.

In the seventh, Semien doubled when his blooper to right field fell in safely as three Mariners had a chance to make the putout. Chappie doubled to drive in Semien. Chappie has five RBIs in the game. The onslaught continued as Oakland scored two more in the eighth. Singles by Laureano and Pinder put men on at first and second. The runners advanced on a wild pitch, and both scored on Phegley’s single.

With two out in the ninth and Blake Treinen pitching, Omar Narvaez continued his hot-hitting against the A’s when he homered again. Treinen retired the next batter to end the game.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s improve to 54-41. They have won five in a row, 13 out of the last 16, and 18 out of the previous 23. The A’s are tied with Cleveland for the second Wild Card slot and trail the Tampa Bay Rays by one game for the first slot. They also gained a game on the AL West leader Houston Astros and now trail them by 4 1/2 games.

Daniel Mengden won his fourth game in a row and is now 5-1 for the year. Mengden has not walked a batter in his last three starts.

Asked what his secret to success was, Mengden replied: “Keep them off balance and go from there.”

Mengden threw strikes on the first pitch to 16 of the 25 hitters he faced. He went 7 innings and allowed four hits and one run. The only mistake he made was the gopher ball that he served to Omar Narvaez. Gonzalez went six innings and allowed seven hits and six runs. He is 10-8 for the year.

Matt Chapman hit his 22nd dinger and has knocked in 59 so far. Matt Olson hit his 20th and has an 11-game hitting streak going.

Umpire Brian O’Nura left the game after the end of the fifth inning. He had been complaining of blurred vision to the trainers, and after missing the call, he went to the trainer’s room for treatment. Jame Hoye took over calling balls and strikes.

Time of game was two hours and 44 minutes and 18,718 fans watched the A’s win again.

Up Next: The A’s sent J.B. Wendelken to Las Vegas to make room for Homer Bailey who was acquired in a trade with the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. Bailey will make his A’s debut Wednesday afternoon against the Mariners at 12:37 pm.

Dickerson picks up a career-high 4 hits in Giants’ 8-4 win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @kron4news

By Jeremy Kahn

Alex Dickerson is showing the world of baseball that the San Francisco Giants were thinking right when they signed him to a minor-league contract.

Dickerson picked up a career-high four hits, including the game-winning hit in the top of the 10th inning, helping the Giants to an 8-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

The inning got off to a rough start, as Brandon Belt flew out to center to lead off the inning against Wade Davis, but then Buster Posey got the rally started, as he walked, as did Pablo Sandoval and then Dickerson lined a single to score Posey and send Sandoval to third base.

Brandon Crawford then extended the lead, as he singled to left-center to score Sandoval and Dickerson ended up on third base.

That was it for Davis, as Bryan Shaw came to replace Davis on the mound and it did not get better, as Mike Yastrzemski singled to center that scored with the third run of the inning. Kevin Pillar then reached on a fielding error by the usually stellar Nolan Arenado at third base that allowed Crawford to score the fourth and final run of the inning.

Despite walking Charlie Blackmon in the bottom of the 10th inning, Mark Melancon was able to shut the door on another Giants victory, as they have three in row, five out of six out of the All-Star Break and are now tied with the Rockies for third place in the National League West.

This game went to extra innings, as closer Will Smith blew just his second save of the season, as he gave up two home runs in the bottom of the 9th inning that allowed the Rockies to tie up the game at four.

Trevor Story cut the Giants lead in half, as he led off the inning with a solo home run and after Arenado flew out to right, Daniel Murphy singled and then Ian Desmond hit a two-run home run that was estimated at 467 feet to tie up the game.

Luis Tapia then singled to put the winning run on base, but then Smith struck out Ryan McMahon and Tony Wolters to end the inning and the threat.

Yastrzemski gave the Giants a 4-1 lead in the top of the ninth, as he hit an opposite field home run, his seventh of the season.

Drew Pomeranz was in line for the win, as he went five innings, allowing just one run on just three hits, walking one and striking out four; however, he ended up with a no decision.

Yastrzemski got the Giants on the board in the top of the second inning, as he doubled for the first of his three hits that scored Dickerson.

Joe Panik added a second RBI in the inning, as he reached on an infield single that scored Yastrzemski.

Story cut the Giants lead in half, as he hit into a fielders choice that scored Garrett Hampson from third base.

Dickerson extended the lead in the top of the eighth inning, as he singled to score Belt.

Pillar once again made a couple of great catches, one that saved Wolters from getting extra bases in the bottom of the eighth inning and snared a sinking line drive off the bat of Story in the bottom of the 10th inning.

NOTES: Johnny Cueto, who is currently on the 60-day injured list after undergoing Tommy John surgery is expected to begin throwing in rehab games next month. Cueto, who underwent the surgery on August 2, 2018 could pitch for the Giants before the end of the season.

Evan Longoria, on the 10-day injured list with plantar fasciitis in his left foot will be re-evaluated by Giants team doctors when the team returns to the Bay Area.

Sam Coonrod, who was the 26th man for the Giants in Mondays doubleheader sweep was sent back to Sacramento along with Dereck Rodriguez, who picked up the win in the nightcap of the doubleheader and the Giants have recalled Andrew Suarez from the Rivercats.

UP NEXT: Shaun Anderson will end the road trip, as he take the Coors Field for the first time in his career, as he looks to improve on his 3-2 record, while the Rockies will send Jon Gray in the series finale, as they try to avoid the sweep.

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Are Steelers a better team without Brown and Bell?; 49ers’ Gould signs for 4 years and $19 million; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: sports.yahoo.com

On Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 NFL camp will start July 26th and the Pittsburgh Steelers have dealt Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell to start a new. Will moving Brown and Bell help or hurt the Steelers?

#2 The San Francisco 49ers reached a deal with kicker Robbie Gould on Monday. Gould said he wanted to leave San Francisco to play for the Chicago Bears when he realized that dream couldn’t be fulfilled, so he signed a deal with San Francisco for four years at $19 million.

#3 New York Yankees reliever Luis Severino is ready to come back to relieve or start. Severino said he’s happy in either role.

#4 In baseball Monday night, the San Francisco Giants in the first game of a doubleheader crushed the Colorado Rockies 19-2. Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford went 5-6 with two home runs.

Barbara Mason does Headline Sports each Tuesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: A’s rise from last place to making a run at the Astros

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @Athletics

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

#1 The A’s are making a run at second place in the AL West and chasing the Houston Astros after having a rough first half. They came on strong in the closing weeks of the first half now in sight for a wild card and just six games back behind the Astros.

#2 The San Francisco Giants are another team that has been making noise. They have won 11 of their last 12 games and they didn’t waste any time in Colorado, taking out the Rockies in a doubleheader on Monday.

#3 If the Giants were to trade Madison Bumgarner, would he be a second half trade rental?

#4 The Tampa Bay Rays have won five of their last six games, including two wins over the New York Yankees on July 4th and 5th. The Rays are in a heated battle with the Yankees, which started Monday night.

#5 The Chicago Cubs had won five of their last six games going into Monday night’s game with the Cincinnati Reds. The Cubs are holding a two-game lead in the NL Central.

Amaury Pi-González is a pioneer in establishing Spanish baseball radio play-by-play in the Bay Area that dates back to 1970s. The Spanish broadcast for 72 games are heard on KIQI 1010A/990AM with studios in San Francisco, serving also the Sacramento/Stockton market and does That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com 

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O : A’s on 4-game win streak and 1 1/2 games back for a wild card

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @Athletics

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The A’s are on a tear. They are winners of their last seven of eight games and on a four-game win streak.

#2 The A’s are getting some key and timely hitting to name of few of the key hitters of late in the lineup like Marcus Semien .272, Matt Chapman .274, Matt Olson .254, returning back from the IL Khris Davis .235, and Mark Canha .254.

#3 The A’s are just a 1 1/2 out of first place behind the Tampa Bay Rays and tied with Cleveland for second place in the AL Wild Card chase.

#4 The A’s even capitalized on an error to win Sunday’s game at the Coliseum on a ground ball and Chad Pinder running at first for the A’s. The White Sox Shortstop Jose Rondon fielded the ball, but threw past second baseman Yolmer Sanchez to allow Pinder to score all the way from first base.

#5 The A’s open a two-game series on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Coliseum against the Seattle Mariners. Starting for the M’s, Marco Gonzalez (10-7, 4.24 ERA), and for the A’s, Daniel Mengden (4-1, 4.73 ERA).

Charlie O does the A’s podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Longoria expected back tonight in Giants-Rockies doubleheader; Beede pitched the game of his career

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco Giants starter Tyler Beede throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday, July 14, 2019, in Milwaukee.

On the Giants podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Giants pitcher Tyler Beede has a great outing on Sunday, going 6.2 innings, seven hits, three runs all earned, and seven strikeouts.

#2 Sunday was Beede’s best outing of his career. He pitched well enough to complete the game he was going that well.

#3 Beede’s outing saved the bullpen and gave them some rest with relievers Derek Holland and Mark Melancon pitching an inning each to close the door

#4 Evan Longoria, who suffered a left foot injury and was replaced at third by Pablo Sandoval, is expected back tonight in Colorado for the second game of tonight’s doubleheader.

#5 Starting pitchers for tonight in the first game. For the Giants, Jeff Samardzija (6-7). For the Rockies, German Marquez (8-4), and in the second game — for the Giants, Dereck Rodriquez (3-5, 5.27 ERA), and for Colorado, to be announced.

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

Preview of the A’s series with the Mariners

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The A’s, winners of four in a row, and eight of their last ten resume play Tuesday night against the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners are languishing in last place in the AL West with a record of 39-58. The A’s are in second place in the AL West and trail the first-place Houston Astros by six games.

The Mariners have been a tough team for the A’s to subdue. They have played the A’s fairly even this year even though they are not playing well. The A’s started slowly this season, but have turned the season around as they are now 12 games over the .500 mark with a record of 53-41. They have won eight of the last ten and four in a row. They swept all three games from the Chicago White Sox over the weekend.

The Mariners have announced that lefty Marco Gonzalez will pitch Tuesday night. Gonzalez is 10-7 for the year and has an ERA of 4.24. Gonzalez is 5-1 with an ERA of 2.89 in his last starts. He is 3-0 against Oakland and in his previous outing against the A’s he went eight innings, and the M’s beat the A’s 6-3. Daniel Mengden (4-1, 4.73 ERA) will pitch for Oakland. Mengden beat the M’s on July 7th at Seattle. He went 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs. Mengden is 1-2 lifetime versus the Mariners.

On Wednesday, Homer Bailey will make his debut for the A’s. The A’s obtained Bailey from the Kansa City Royals on Sunday. Bailey has an ERA of 3.49 over his last seven starts with the Royals and is 7-6 overall for the year, and is 1-1 against the M’s in two career starts. The M’s have not announced their pitcher for Wednesday’s game.

The A’s pitchers still will have to face several Mariners’ players that can do damage. M’s catcher Omar Narvaez hit two home runs against the A’s on July 7th. Narvaez is hitting .290 and has 14 homers and 36 RBI’s for the year. M’s first baseman Daniel Vogelbach, who also will DH, made the All-Star team and he comes in hitting .239 with 21 dingers and 51 ribbies. The A’s know that Dee Gordon, J.P.Crawford, Kyle Seager, Domingo Santana, Mallex Smith, and former SF Giant Mac Williamson are players that can do damage and the A’s pitchers will have to be careful facing them.

Mitch Haniger and Ryon Healy are two Mariners that are still on the IL. Haniger loves to hit against the A’s and Healy, who was traded to Seattle last year, would like nothing better than beating his old team. Healy may be available, but Haniger will not come off the IL until late July.

The A’s know that they have to beat teams that are not doing well. They would like to sweep the two-game series with the Mariners as they go on a seven-day road trip to the AL central leader, the Minnesota Twins for four, and the AL West leader, the Houston Astros for three. The A’s took two out of three from the Twins in early July. The Astros, on the other hand, have handled the A’s so far this season.

The schedule doesn’t get any easier for the A’s when they return home. They will play four with the Texas Rangers after the Astro series. The Rangers, one of the big surprises in baseball this season, and trailing the A’s by two games in the race for second place in the AL West, will be a big test for the A’s. After the series with the Rangers, the A’s will face two teams from the NL Central that are fighting for spots in the playoffs. They will play three against the Milwaukee Brewers and two against the St. Louis Cardinals. The A’s have been playing well.

They have the ingredients for success. Their starting pitching has been solid, and with the addition of Bailey, should get better. Liam Hendriks has stepped out and done the job as the team’s closer. Blake Treinen’s problems with control have taken him out of the closer’s role for the time being. The A’s are working to get him back to the form that he had in 2018. Lou Trivino also needs to get back to his 2018 form.

The rest of the bullpen has done the job.

The A’s offense has come to life, and there are no easy outs in the lineup. The A’s shine on defense, They have a Gold Glover at third and one at first. Marcus Semien has improved so much at shortstop. He is also a candidate for a Gold Glove. Ramon Laureano in centerfield has an incredible arm and Robbie Grossman, Mark Canha, and Chad Pinder are more than adequate on defense. Stephen Piscotty in on the 10-day IL with a sprained right knee.

The A’s won 97 games last season. They know that they are in a race for the second wild card slot right now. They trail the Tampa Bay Rays by 1 1/2 games for the first wild card slot. The Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, and Boston Red Sox are all teams that have a chance to make the playoffs. The A’s will not play the Indians or Red Sox again this year. They will face the White Sox back in Chicago in August and have seven with the lowly Kansas City Royals. They have eleven games left with the Astros and six with the New York Yankees.

The A’s are playing with confidence. A’s manager Bob Melvin has been punching all the right buttons. The message is clear. Take them one at a time and go out there and win.

Beede Comes Up Big on the Mound and at the Plate in Giants Win 8-3

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

Tyler Beede rejoined the San Francisco Giants just in time to start the series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Beede went 6.2 innings, allowing three runs, giving up seven hits, and striking out seven as the Giants defeated the Brewers 8-3 at Miller Park.

Not only did Beede pitch a great game, but he came up with the hit that won the game for the Giants, who have now won eight out of their last 10 games.

Beede drove in the eventual game-winning run on a single which scored Donovan Solano in a decisive six-run seventh inning.

Brandon Belt ended the series with a big day, as he hit his 11th home run of the season and then added a single in the seventh inning.

Stephen Vogt continued to show promise since joining the Giants, as he doubled against his former team which scored Beede and send Belt to third base.

Brewer’s pitcher, Corbin Burnes, gave up four runs on four hits, as the former St. Marys pitcher lost for the fifth time this season.

Matt Albers, who replaced Burnes, was able to get the first out of the inning, as he struck out Austin Slater, then intentionally walked Pablo Sandoval to get to Brandon Crawford, who walked to lengthen the lead.

Kevin Pillar then got in on the act, as he beat out a dribbler that scored Vogt from third base. It looked like the Brewers ended the inning, when Mike Yastrzemski grounded into a double play; however, Bruce Bochy challenged the call and it was reversed, meaning that Sandoval’s score counted as the fifth run of the inning.

Solano, who led off the inning with a double off of Burnes, then singled off of Albers to drive in Crawford. Beede finally ended the inning, when he grounded into a fielders choice to retire Yastrzemski at third base.

In all, the Giants scored six runs and sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning.

Beede and Jhoulys Chacin were in a pitchers duel until the top of the fifth inning, when Belt broke a 1-1 tie when hit his 11th home run of the season.
Yelich tied up the game, as he launched his 32nd home run of the season off of Beede in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Yasmani Grandal got the Brewers on the board in the bottom of the first inning, as he grounded into a fielders choice that scored Lorenzo Cain from third base. Cain led off the inning with a single and went to third on a Yelich single.

Once again, it was Solano, who got the Giants into the game, as he hit a sacrifice fly that drove in Crawford from third base in the top of the second inning.

Crawford led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on an Eric Thames error on a ball hit by Yastrzemski.

The Giants looked to take the lead in the top of the second inning, as Beede singled to center, but Yastrzemski was thrown out at home to end the inning.

NOTES: Evan Longoria was forced to leave the game in the fifth inning with what was diagnosed as plantar fasciitis in his left foot, and the x-rays came out negative.

Alex Dickerson missed his second straight game, as he still suffering from back tightness that he developed on Friday night.

Slater, who sat Saturday’s game until coming into a game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and showed up to Miller Park with a fever struck out in the top of the fifth inning and remained in the game, when Belt moved to first from first, Sandoval to third, Yastrzemski to left and Slater went to right.

To make room for Beede on the roster, the Giants optioned Ray Black to Triple-A Sacramento.

UP NEXT: Jeff Samardzija will take the ball in the opener of the doubleheader at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies, and Dereck Rodriguez will pitch the nightcap after he will be recalled from Sacramento.

Overall, the Giants have lost 19 out of their last 22 games against the Rockies at Coors Field.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary Q &A: Mid-season Chat with the Athletics President

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

photo from TK Sports and sportsblogs.com: Oakland A’s president David Kaval is Amaury Pi Gonzalez’ guest for this week’s That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

Mid-season Chat with the Athletics President

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The All-Star Game has come and gone. The American League continues to show its superiority over the National League. It doesn’t matter if the games counts or are only exhibitions, the American League keeps winning, extending their winning streak to seven-in-a-row. Talking about winning, the Oakland Athletics are on a roll again, with almost the same record as they had last season at this time of the year when they took-off with a sensational second half, advancing to the postseason.

There is nobody more enthusiastic about the A’s success that Mr. Dave Kaval, their President, and why not. There is great news all overcoming from this organization as we entered the second half of this season. I had basically two questions in mind for Mr. Kaval.

APG: How do you feel about the 1st half of the season for the A’s?

DK: “How can you not love this team?! Fiers’ lights-out no-hitter; Ramon Laureano’s laser arm in centerfield; Josh Phegley’s emergence at the plate and the amazing defense of Matt Chapman and Matt Olson at the corners. They’re an exciting”

APG. What is the latest on the proposal for the stadium at Howard Terminal?

DK: “We’ve had a very busy few months working on our plans for a waterfront ballpark at Jack London Square. In May, the Board of Port Commissioners voted 7-0 to approve a term sheet between the Port of Oakland and the Oakland Athletics”

A big test for the club is coming, as they embark on a road trip that takes the young A’s to Minnesota and Houston, two first-place teams. The Minnesota Twins are one of the great surprises this season as they have owned the Central Division (once dominated by the Cleveland Indians) during the first half of the season. They will play a four-game series at Minnesota 18th to the 21st, the next day they are in Texas, against the Houston Astros for a three-game series.

While a lot of discussions is focused on the Wild Card already, the A’s have a total of 11 games left against Houston, seven at Houston and four at Oakland. Not to overlook Minnesota, but Houston is getting healthier and they are a formidable team when they have Springer, Altuve, Bregman, and Company, plus a very good pitching staff headed by All-Star Justin Verlander. It should be fun, because the A’S are not afraid of anybody these days, and they also had their share of injuries.

We thank Dave Kaval, as we share his enthusiasm, with the largest minority in the Bay Area, that of Latinos (around 2 million people) many more during the next Census and, many who have been supporting the Athletics for many years, are also excited about the possibility of a new ballpark.

Amaury Pi-González is a pioneer in establishing Spanish baseball radio play by play in the Bay Area that dates back to 1970s.The Spanish broadcast for 72 games are heard on KIQI 1010A/990AM with studios in San Francisco, serving also the Sacramento/Stockton market.

Oakland A’s podcast with Joey Friedman: No stopping the Swinging A’s now Oakland wins 8 out 10 games

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

sfgate photo: Oakland Athletics’ Franklin Barreto swings for a three-run home run off Chicago White Sox pitcher Ross Detwiler in the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 13, 2019, in Oakland, Calif.

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The A’s crushed the Chicago White Sox 13-2 as the A’s got plenty of offense on Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum.

#2 The A’s Franklin Baretto got things going in the bottom of the first crushing a 1-1 pitch for a three run homer .

#3 The A’s in the first inning sent ten hitters to the plate and scored seven runs it was game over.

#4 The A’s continued their hitting derby with five consecutive hits in the fourth inning

#5 Joey takes a look at Sunday’s pitchers for the Chicago White Sox Reynaldo Lopez (4-8 ERA 6.34) and for the A’s Brett Anderson (9-5 ERA 3.86)

Join Joey for the A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com