Tag: mlb

MLB podcast with Matt Harrington: Seinfeld sidearms first pitch at Citi Field, what’s up with that?; Padres-Dodgers play rival type ball; plus more

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Photo credit: @mets_fanly

On the MLB podcast with Matt:

#1 Friday was Seinfeld night at Citi Field and there he was the star of sitcom’s all-time best show Jerry Seinfeld getting ready to throw out the first ball and he did so with a side arm pitch that ended up as a strike. He impressed the crowd so much he ended up getting an ovation and tipped his hat.

#2 No matter where the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in the standings, they both play rival type ball and get involved in a deadlock on Friday night which the Padres won it 3-2 during an 7.1 earthquake. There was no exception Pads and Dodgers playing to a close contest.

#3 With all the home runs hit this season in the show, will the big build up lead up to some bombs hit during the All-Star Game home run derby in Cleveland this Monday night. Lots of hit leaders preparing to enter the derby.

#4 The Angels are a team on a mission since the sudden death of their late teammate Tyler Skaggs. The team has been on a roll, the Angels have won six of their last ten games and trying to make a climb out of fourth place in the AL West.

#5 Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees are starting to pull away from second place Tampa Bay and are now 8 1/2 games in front in the AL East and Judge powered his 11th home run on Friday night against the mighty Houston Astros.

Catch Matt every Saturday for the MLB podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cardinals stop Giants’ 4-game winning streak with 9-4 win

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — On the night where there was shaking in Southern California, the San Francisco Giants’ pitching got all shook up.

Jose Martinez and Paul Goldschmidt each hit home runs in the top of the first inning, and despite a comeback, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Giants 9-4 before a crowd of 37,603 at Oracle Park.

Martinez hit a solo home run, and then two batter later Goldschmidt launched a two-run blast into the Garden beyond the left-center field wall to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.

Once again, it was a tough first inning for Drew Pomeranz, as he saw his earned run average increase to 11.25 (20 ER/16 IP) and batters are hitting .365 with eight home runs in the first inning, this according to Bill Arnold of the Sports Features Group.

The Giants wasted little time to get back into the game, as they loaded the bases with nobody out and despite the fact that Dakota Hudson got two straight outs, Brandon Crawford walked on a 3-2 pitch to get the Giants on the board to score Brandon Belt and then Kevin Pillar singled to left field that scored Buster Posey.

Alex Dickerson continues his hot hitting, as he hit his fourth home run of the season to tie up the game in the bottom of the third inning.

Unfortunately, Pomeranz gave the lead right back to the Cardinals, as Kolten Wong doubled and former Stanford infielder Tommy Edman tripled to right-center field to give the Cardinals the lead for good.

Pomeranzs night was done after four innings, as he gave up four runs on six hits, walking four and striking out three, as his record fell to 2-9 on the season.

The Cardinals tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth inning off of Trevor Gott, Matt Wieters singled to score Tyler ONeill and then Wong drove in a run, as he reached on a Fielders Choice that scored Fowler.

Mark Melancon gave up a run in the top of the seventh inning, as he gave up a single to ONeill and then Fowler tripled to right-center field.

Wong then followed up with a single that scored Fowler to give the Cardinals a five-run lead.

Fowler finished off the scoring for the Cardinals the top of the ninth inning, as he took a Ray Black pitch and put It on the arcade. It was the third hit of the night for Fowler, who came up a double short of the cycle.

Stephen Vogt drove in a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, as he hit a sacrifice fly to ONeill to score Brandon Crawford.

NOTES: Donovan Solanos 10-game hitting streak came to an end, as he went 0-for-2 after replacing Joe Panik at second base in the top of the seventh inning.

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner takes the mound on Saturday night, as he looks for his sixth win of the season, while the Cardinals will send Miles Mikolas to the hill and he also looks for his sixth win of the season.

A’s Rally in 7th for 5-2 Win Over M’s

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Matthew Harrington

The Oakland A’s rallied in the seventh inning to beat the Seattle Mariners 5-2 on the road Friday night. Franklin Barreto hit his first homerun of the season, Robbie Grossman knocked in two runs and Brett Anderson went six-plus innings for the win. Newly minted All-star and closer Liam Hendriks nailed down his fourth save of the year.

Seattle took the lead in the first off a J.P. Crawford sacrifice fly, but Barreto’s big fly off starter Yusei Kikuchi tied the game. Tom Murphy lifted a solo fly off Anderson in the bottom of the fifth to give Seattle a 2-1 edge. 

Kikuchi was cruising through six innings having given up just the one run, but he ran into trouble in the seventh. Matt Olson hit a ground-rule double to open the inning then scored on Khris Davis’ single and a throwing error by Domingo Santana in right. Mark Canha grounded out to move Davis to 3rd, then Davis scored on Ramon Laureano’s sacrifice fly for a 3-2 A’s lead.

Kikuchi (4-6, 4.94 ERA) would escape the inning, but wound up the loser after going seven innings with four hits and three runs (two earned) allowed. Anderson (9-5, 3.86 ERA), by virtue of the rally, wound up the winner after going 6 1/3 innings with five hits and two runs.

Robbie Grossman gave the A’s breathing room in the top of the ninth, knocking a one-hopper to the wall off Dan Altavilla good for two runs. Hendriks, crowned the A’s closer with Treinen injured, pitched a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts to close out the contest after Ryan Buchter and Yusmeiro Petit bridged the gap between Anderson and the closer. 

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca Part 1: Giants coming off sweep in San Diego, ready for St. Louis after 4th of July off

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photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco Giants’ Evan Longoria, right, is greeted by third base coach Ron Wotus after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 3, 2019, in San Diego

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Thursday was the first time in a while the Giants didn’t have to play on July 4th, which gave them sometime to prepare for their three-game series coming up tonight with the St. Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park.

#2 The Giants are coming off a three-game sweep past the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Does the sweep have some impact some confidence building for the Giants, who have not swept too many series this season?

#3 Just looking ahead to Saturday, the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner (5-7, 4.02 ERA) is pitching on Saturday and has had some good recent outings against the Diamondbacks and Rockies. Some have called some of Bumgarner’s outings showcasing. It is realistic to say Bumgarner will be leaving the Giants before the end of the month?

#4 The Cardinals come in at 42-42. The Cards have won four of their last nine games. Are the Cards a team that shared the same struggles similar to the Giants or are they a good .500 that can find their way and improve in the standings?

#5 The Cardinals for Friday night’s game will be starting Dakota Hudson (6-4, 3.40 ERA) going up against the Giants Drew Pomeranz (2-8, 6.25 ERA). In two of his last three decisions, Pomeranz got the loss, so you know going into Friday night’s game, he’s looking for that win.

Michael Duca does the San Francisco Giants podcast each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca Part 2: Pomeranz looks to get back into win column, starts tonight against Cards

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sfgate.com photo: San Francisco Giants third baseman Evan Longoria during a game in San Diego against the Padres on Wednesday, July 3rd and the Giants will be hosting the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Thursday was the first time in a while the Giants didn’t have to play on July 4th, which gave them sometime to prepare for their three-game series coming up tonight with the St. Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park.

#2 The Giants are coming off a three-game sweep past the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Does the sweep have some impact some confidence building for the Giants, who have not swept too many series this season?

#3 Just looking ahead to Saturday, the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner (5-7, 4.02 ERA) is pitching on Saturday and has had some good recent outings against the Diamondbacks and Rockies. Some have called some of Bumgarner’s outings showcasing. It is realistic to say Bumgarner will be leaving the Giants before the end of the month?

#4 The Cardinals come in at 42-42. The Cards have won four of their last nine games. Are the Cards a team that shared the same struggles similar to the Giants or are they a good .500 that can find their way and improve in the standings?

#5 The Cardinals for Friday night’s game will be starting Dakota Hudson (6-4, 3.40 ERA) going up against the Giants Drew Pomeranz (2-8, 6.25 ERA). In two of his last three decisions, Pomeranz got the loss, so you know going into Friday night’s game, he’s looking for that win.

Michael Duca does the San Francisco Giants podcast each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: “The Martian” signs with the Yankees, 16-year-old swings like something out of this world

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photo from bing.com: 16-year-old prospect from the Dominican Republic Jasson Dominguez has been said that he’s better than Mike Trout at age 16.

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

He is Jasson Domínguez, a 16-year-old from the Dominican Republic, and the New York Yankees signed him to a $5 million bonus. Scouts have drawn comparison with Mike Trout and the great Yankee legend Mickey Mantle. Scouts reported that “El Marciano”, who swings from both sides of the plate, has power, speed, and a sensational arm. They nicknamed him “El Marciano”, which is Spanish for “The Martian”, because according to those that have seen him, “there is no way he is from this world.”

Domínguez, without a doubt, is the top international prospect in this year’s class. Other comments about El Marciano: “He is 16, but with a body of a man.” Domínguez was no secret to scouts of other teams like the LA Angels, Texas Rangers, and Tampa Bay Rays, who were also very interested in signing him. He is regarded as the top prospect to come from Latin America in at least a decade.

One general manager said, “He is like a Mike Trout, but he is better than Trout was at 16”. Jasson Domínguez will not play this year, but next year, he will join other Yankee prospects inside their very deep minor league system.

I do not have a commentary on him, because I have not seen him yet.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants coming off sweep in San Diego, ready for St. Louis after 4th of July off

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photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco Giants’ Evan Longoria, right, is greeted by third base coach Ron Wotus after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 3, 2019, in San Diego

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Thursday was the first time the Giants didn’t have to play on July 4th, which gave them sometime to prepare for their three-game series coming up tonight with the St Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park.

#2 The Giants are coming off a three-game sweep past the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Does the sweep have some impact some confidence building for the Giants, who have not swept too many series this season?

#3 Just looking ahead to Saturday, the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner (5-7, 4.02 ERA) is pitching on Saturday and has had some good recent outings against the Diamondbacks and Rockies. Some have called some of Bumgarner’s outings showcasing. It is realistic to say Bumgarner will be leaving the Giants before the end of the month?

#4 The Cardinals come in at 42-42. The Cards have lost four of their last nine games looking. Are the Cards a team that shared the same struggles similar to the Giants or are they a good .500 that can find their way and improve in the standings?

#5 The Cardinals for Friday night’s game will be starting Dakota Hudson (6-4, 3.40 ERA) going up against the Giants Drew Pomeranz (2-8, 6.25 ERA). In two of his last three decisions, Pomeranz got the loss, so you know going into Friday night’s game, he’s looking for that win.

Michael Duca does the San Francisco Giants podcast each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Semien powers the A’s to a 7-2 win over the Twins

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Photo credit: @atleticos

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — On a very lovely Thursday at the Oakland Coliseum, the A’s beat the Minnesota Twins 7-2 to win the three-game series 2-1. A’s shortstop Marcus Semien was the hero as he blasted two home runs and drove in five to lead the A’s to a 7-2 victory.

A’s starter Tanner Anderson was looking for his first win of the season, but it didn’t happen for him as he was removed from the game with two out in the fifth inning. He was replaced by Wei-Chung Wang. The young Taiwanese lefty was the winning pitcher and earned his first major league win.

The Twins drew first blood in the top of the first with an unearned run. Tanner Anderson retired the first two hitters he faced. He gave up singles to Nelson Cruz and Luis Arraez. He walked Miguel Sano to load the bases. The next hitter, Ehire Adrianza, was awarded first base when A’s catcher Chris Herrmann interfered with his swing. Herrmann was charged with an error. Cruz trotted home with the Twins’ first run.

The A’s tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. A’s DH Khris Davis led off with a single. Twins’ starter Jose Berrios retired the next two hitters. Robbie Grossman and Chris Herrmann each singled. Herrmann’s single allowed Davis to score. The score was 1-1 after four.

The tie didn’t last long as the Twins put their second run of the game on the board in the top of the fifth. Nelson Cruz, who loves to torment the A’s, led off with a double. Cruz went to third on a wild pitch. Anderson retired the next two hitters. He did not get by Ehire Adrianza who singled to drive in Cruz. Jonathan Schoop followed with a single, and that ended Anderson’s day. A’s manager brought in Wei-Chung Wang to pitch. Wang got Jason Castro to fly out for the final out of the inning. In the A’s half of the fifth, they were able to grab the lead 3-2. Marcus Semien led off the frame with his 12th bomb of the season. Matt Chapman walked and moved to second on a single by Matt Olson. Berrios walked Khris Davis to load the bases. Mark Canha had a golden opportunity to break the game open, but he hit into a double play. Chapman scored on the play. Berrios got Laureano to fly out to Max Kepler in right to end the inning. The A’s led 3-2.

In the bottom of the eighth, Marcus Semien hit a grand slam to blow open the game for the A’s. Robbie Grossman and Chris Herrman singled to start the rally. Jurickson Profar was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no out. Marcus Semien, who had hit a solo home run in the fifth, sent the first pitch from Mike Morin over the fence for a grand slam and the A’s now led 7-2. A’s manager Bob Melvin, brought in Joakim Soria to pitch the ninth. The Twins right-fielder, Max Kepler, doubled to start the inning, but Soria settled down and retired the next three hitters to ice the win for Oakland. The A’s won 7-2.

Game Notes and Stats: The A’s, with the win, improve to 48-40 and now lead the Texas Rangers by one game in the race for second place in the AL West. They trail the first place Houston Astros by 7 1/2 games.

The A’s had three players that had multiple hits in the game. These three had nine of the A’s 12 hits. Robbie Grossman had three singles. Chris Herrmann had his first four-hit game. He had a double and three singles. Semien had two hits, both home runs. Semien’s first was a solo blast in the fifth, and a grand slam in the eighth. Semien has hit 13 so far this season. His five RBI game matched a career-high, It was also his fifth career two-homer game, and his fourth career grand slam.

The line score for Oakland was seven runs, 12 hits, and one error. The Twins’ line was two runs, 11 hits, and no errors. The winning pitcher was Wang, and Jose Berrios took the loss. Berrios is now 8-5 for the year.

Time of game was three hours and 20 minutes. 20,836 fans watched the A’s win.

Up Next: The A’s travel to Seattle to face the Mariners for three games before the All-Star break. Lefty Brett Anderson will pitch for the Green and Gold Friday night. Brett is 8-5 and has an ERA of 3.92. Seattle’s Yusei Kikuchi (4-5, 5.12 ERA) will be on the hill for the M’s. Kikuchi is also left-handed.

No 4th of July play for Giants, Cardinals on deck

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Photo credit: @OracleParkSF

By Jeremy Harness

For the first time in a while, the Giants will not play on the 4th of July. However, they will still use this time to get prepared for a big weekend series while riding a wave of momentum.

They are coming off a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres, and they will now wait for the St., Louis Cardinals to get into town, as the two teams will play a three-game series starting Friday night at Oracle Park.

The series does not pack the same punch that it has in years past – with the Giants still stuck in the National League West basement while the Cardinals hanging on with a 42-42 mark – but because of the sheer history of this pairing, it still carries meaning nonetheless.

Drew Pomeranz will take the ball for the Friday opener against Cardinals righty Dakota Hudson (6-4, 3.40 ERA). Pomeranz has been a mess this season, with a 2-8 record and a 6.25 ERA. However, he momentarily beat that back in his last start, throwing five shutout innings at the Arizona Diamondbacks last Saturday.

Hudson is coming off an outing where he did not make it out of the second inning while giving up seven runs – but amazingly only one of them earned – which included a pair of homers in losing to the same San Diego team the Giants just swept.

However, he was brilliant in the start prior to that, going seven strong and surrendering only a run to the Angels in a 2-1 win.

Madison Bumgarner (5-7, 4.02 ERA) is still wearing a Giants uniform for the time being and has gotten into a nice rhythm lately, will go Saturday night, and he will go up against Miles Mikolas (5-8, 4.34 ERA), who appears to be going in the opposite direction after a hot start.

Bumgarner has gotten the win in each of his past two starts, beating the Colorado Rockies and the Diamondbacks, surrendering three runs in his 13 innings combined.

Mikolas has lost six of his last seven decisions, but he is coming off a decent outing that saw him give up three runs over six innings, although he did not ultimately factor in to the decision.

Coming off a brilliant outing that saw him go eight solid innings in a convincing win over San Diego Monday night, Jeff Samardzija (5-7, 4.32 ERA) will take the hill Sunday for the Giants against Cardinals righty Jack Flaherty (4-5, 4.90 ERA), who is coming off a rather-shaky outing that saw him give up four runs over 4 1/3 innings against Seattle on Tuesday.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Short turn around as A’s-Twins play day game after 12 inning night game

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photo from sfgate.com: Minnesota Twins’ Jorge Polanco, right, is congratulated by third base coach Tony Diaz (46) after hitting a home run off Oakland Athletics’ Joakim Soria in the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 3, 2019, in Oakland

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Oakland A’s got a loss on Wednesday night against one of the American League’s toughest teams the Minnesota Twins in extra innings 4-3 snapping their four game win streak . The Twins on Wednesday night battled the A’s 3-3 and as good as they are got the game winner in the top 12th for the win.

#2 The A’s during this streak defeated the Los Angeles Angels in three straight games and took the first game of the series against the Twins 8-6. The A’s despite Wednesday night’s loss continue to battle in each inning.

#3 Ironically the A’s faced the late Tyler Skaggs in Anaheim for Skaggs final game of his career.

#4 The talk about an A’s new stadium continued at the Oakland City Council last week regarding mass transit needed for the city council to continue to consider having the A’s to move at Howard Terminal. The issue has been about the railroads and Amtrak rails that encircle Jack London Square making it a huge challenge for rail and mass transit to work at Jack London Square.

#5 Game three of the series between the Oakland A’s and the Minnesota Twins at the Oakland Coliseum. Starting for the Twins Jose Berrios (8-4 ERA 2.89) and for the Oakland A’s Tanner Anderson (0-3 ERA 7.13)

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