Tag: mlb

Pillar and Posey help Bumgarner get fifth win defeat Diamondbacks 10-4

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photo by sfgate.com: San Francisco Giants’ Kevin Pillar, right, celebrates with Evan Longoria (10) after hitting a two-run home run off Arizona Diamondbacks’ Robbie Ray in the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 30, 2019, in San Francisco.

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Kevin Pillar and Buster Posey helped out Madison Bumgarner with their bats in the series finale.

Pillar and Posey combined for seven hits, while Bumgarner went seven innings, allowing just one run on four hits, walking no one and striking out nine and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-4 before 31,778 at Oracle Park.

With the victory, the Giants ended the month of June with a record of 14-13, their first winning month since going 18-10 in June of 2018.

It was a Pillar two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning that got the Giants going, as he hit his 11th home run of the season.

Pillar added a two-run single in the bottom of the third inning that helped the Giants to the victory and split the four-game series.

Posey doubled in the bottom of the first inning, and then singled in the third and fifth innings, before walking to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning for Evan Longoria with nobody out.

The three hits by Posey match his season-high and marked his second three-hit game in three appearances. During the span, Posey is hitting .750 (6-for-8) with two doubles, two runs scored and two runs batted in.

Pillar hit a solo home run, singled twice and hit a double, as it was his first four-hit since July 13, 2018 for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

It was the fifth four-hit game of Pillars career, who picked up two during the 2017 season and one during the 2015 season.

The five runs batted in by Pillar are a career-high, to go along with his career-high tying four hits.

Longoria then singled in Brandon Belt, who walked to lead off the inning against reliever Matt Andriese. Pillar then followed it up with his fourth hit of the game, as he singled to left to score pinch hitter Alex Dickerson, who singled while pinch hitting for Tyler Austin, who walked and struck out twice before leaving the game.

Mike Yastrzemski got in on the act, as he hit a two-run double to left field to score Longoria and Pillar.

The sixth and final run of the inning came when pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval singled off of T.J. McFarland that scored Yastrzemski.

In all, the Giants sent 10 men to the plate, scored six runs on five hits, as they blew the game wide open.

The Diamondbacks attempted to get back into the game in the top of the eighth inning, as they scored three runs off of reliever Derek Rodriguez.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo was ejected in the top of the fifth inning for arguing balls and strikes with home plate Mike Muchlinski, and it was fourth all-time ejection for Lovullo in his managerial career.

It was not a good day for Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray, who went just four innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walking three and striking out five and saw his record fall to 5-6 on the season.

NOTES: With the nine strikeouts on the afternoon, Bumgarner tied Tim Lincecum for second place all-time in San Francisco Giants lore with 1,704.

Juan Marichal is the all-time San Francisco Giants leader in strikeouts with 2,281

Will Smith was named as the lone All-Star for the Giants, as he is 1-0 with a 2.16 earned run average with 21 saves in 21 chances this season for the Giants.

Smith is the first Giants left-handed reliever to go to the All-Star Game since Gary Lavelle made the All-Star team in 1983

The 21 saves to start the season are the second most by a Giants reliever to start a season, trailing only Rod Beck who saved 28 in a row to begin the 1994 season.

In his Giants career, Smith is tied for second place with Craig Lefferts with 35 saves by a left-hander, Lavelle is currently the all-time leader in saves for a left-hander with 127.

UP NEXT: Jeff Samardzija takes the mound on Monday night, as the Giants open a brief three-game road trip against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. The Padres will counter with Logan Allen.

Oakland A’s podcast with Joey Friedman: A’s win four of last five games; Oakland just 1 1/2 out of the wild card; plus more

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photo from mercurynews.com:  Jurickson Profar #23 congratulates Matt Olson #28 of the Oakland Athletics on his three run home run against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the third inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 28, 2019 in Anaheim, California

On the A’s podcast with Joey F:

#1 The A’s continue their winning ways after defeating the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night in a 4-0 shutout at the Big A in Anaheim the team now are 4-1 on the current road trip

#2 Oakland starter Brett Anderson pitched 7.2 innings of shutout ball surrendering just two hits, two walks and striking out three.

#3 A’s closer Liam Hendricks shut the door on the Angels in the eighth and ninth innings pitching 1.1 innings and striking out two hitters.

#4 The A’s Matt Chapman not only noted for his great defense at third base hit his 20th home run on Saturday night

#5 Starting pitchers for game three of the series in Anaheim on Sunday: For Oakland Chris Bassitt (4-3 ERA 3.86) and for Los Angeles Andrew Heaney (1-1 ERA 4.99)

A’s podcast with Joey Friedman are heard each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Greinke remains undefeated at Oracle Park in Diamondbacks win 4-3

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photo from sfgate.com: Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke works against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 29, 2019, in San Francisco

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Eduardo Escobar came up with the biggest hit of the night when the Arizona Diamondbacks needed it the most.

Escobar singled to center field off of Sam Dyson in the top of the seventh inning, as the Diamondbacks hung on to defeat the San Francisco Giants 4-3 before a crowd of 31,600 at Oracle Park.

Drew Pomeranz pitched well for the second straight game, as he went five innings, walking just two and striking out seven.

If you remember in his last outing against the Colorado Rockies on Monday night, Pomeranz gave up two runs in five innings and matched his career-high in strikeouts with 11. The 11 strikeouts by Pomeranz were the most by a Giants pitcher since the pitchers mound was moved back to its current distance of 60 feet six inches in 1893.

Pomeranzs 10.94 strikeouts per nine innings is sixth-best in the National League, amongst pitchers with a minimum of 60 innings pitched.

Kevin Pillar dropped a fly ball off the bat of Adam Jones for an error that led the Diamondbacks breaking the 0-0 tie in the top of the seventh inning, and the ball glanced off his glove that allowed Tim Locastro to move up an additional 90 feet.

Dyson came up with the defensive play of the game, as he snared a Ketel Marte comebacker and ran LoCastro back towards third base, where he tagged him out.

After the Marte fielders choice, Escobar lashed his base hit to right-center field that proved to be the only run that Zack Greinke would need on the evening.

Greinke went seven innings, allowing zero runs, on five hits, walking no one and striking out six on his way to his ninth win of the season for the Diamondbacks.

in his career, Greinke is 6-0 with a 1.19 earned run average at Oracle Park and has not allowed a run in his last two starts, 15.0 consecutive scoreless innings.

Mark Melancon replaced Dyson in the top of the eighth inning and immediately found him in trouble, as he walked Christian Walker, then Nick Ahmed singled and then Alex Avila singled to load the bases. Melancon then regrouped to strike out LoCastro; however, then Brandon Crawford committed a throwing error on a single by pinch hitter Ilemaro Vargas that got by Pablo Sandoval for an error that allowed both Walker and Ahmed to score.

Jones lengthened the Diamondbacks up to 4-0, as his single just got by a diving Brandon Belt at first base that allowed Avila to score.

The Giants got out of the inning, as Belt made a great play at first base, as he snared the Marte hit, threw to Crawford for the second out, who in turn, threw to Belt, to turn the double play and end the inning.

In the bottom of the inning, Pillar walked to lead off the inning, and after a Joe Panik ground out to Yoan Lopez, pinch hitter Tyler Austin to put runners on first and second base; however, Belt struck out and then pinch-hitter Buster Posey popped out to end the inning.

Austin made the defensive play of the game in the top of the ninth inning, as he got turned around on the warning track on an Escobar hit and dove to make a great catch on the warning track.

Down to their last at-bat in the bottom of the ninth inning, Sandoval led off the inning with a single off of Andrew Chafin. That would be the end of the line for Chafin, who turned the ball over to Yoshihisa Hirano, who committed a throwing error on an Alex Dickerson dribbler up the first base line. That would be the only batter that Hirano would face.

Stephen Vogt provided the crowd with instant gratification, as he parked a three-run home run onto the arcade.

This was the second home run of the season for Vogt, and both of them have come in the ninth inning. His previous home run came on May 3 against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark that tied up the game, in a game that the Giants would eventually win 12-11 in 11 innings.

Unfortunately, the Giants could not muster that tying run, as closer Greg Holland, who surrendered the three-run home run to Vogt was able to re-group to get Crawford to strikeout, Pillar to fly out to LoCastro in center and then Panik struck out to end the game.

NOTES: Prior to the game, it was announced that the Giants have signed first-round selection Hunter Bishop, along with second-round pick Logan Wyatt, fourth-round pick Tyler Fitzgerald and eighth-round pick Caleb Kilian.

Giants President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Baer will return to the organization on Tuesday.

Board Member Rob Dean will take the role as chairman of the team, and will continue to as the designated control person with Major League Baseball.

Baer released a statement earlier this afternoon.

I write this today after four months away from the Giants, the team I have loved since childhood and the organization I have served most of my adult life. Our hundreds of Giants employees, millions of Giants fans and the community-at-large have been on my mind every day, and I am truly sorry for letting you down.

While my time away has been difficult on many levels, it has allowed me opportunities for introspection and, with the help of some wonderful people, growth. Ive been able to step back and take stock of myself as a person and as a leader. I am wiser for it, and the work continues. The journey of self-discovery, like so much in life, is ongoing and never-ending.
The overwhelming emotion I feel right now is gratitude. I am appreciative beyond words for the hard work and professionalism of the Giants staff and executive team during this difficult period, and Im looking forward to thanking each of them in person.

The Giants are in a major transition on and off the
field. This includes some structural changes, which I fully embrace. Major League Baseball is a complex and ever-changing industry, now more than ever. Success requires leadership that listens to and learns from all voices, that leverages the ideas and talent of every person in every department, along with tapping the resources and energy of our fans and the Bay Area community. I am looking forward to spending the next weeks and months listening, learning and discovering how, together, we can best serve this great organization and community.

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner will look for his fifth win of the season, as he takes the mound in the series and home stand finale on Sunday afternoon for the Giants, while Robbie Ray will toe the rubber for the Diamondbacks.

MLB podcast with Matt Harrington: MLB counting on London games to pay off; What will A’s do if City Council votes no on new stadium?; plus more

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Photo credit: @NYDNSports

On the MLB podcast with Matt:

#1 How important is it that MLB is played in London between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox marking a first time to play a regular season game across the pond?

#2 This will be a two-game weekend series and they’ll be big for each team. The Red Sox are nine games behind the first-place Yankees and it gives the Red Sox a chance to try and capitalize on them if they take two games.

#3 How big is it for the game of baseball to be played in London and will it be possible for baseball to be played in London as an annual event?

#4 The Oakland A’s new ballpark discussion has reached the topic of what happens if the Oakland City Council doesn’t come to an agreement to have the A’s build their own ball park at Howard Terminal. The top issues that concern the council are how are fans and the public going to get to the stadium with mass transit being a huge concern and secondly how the stadium, housing, hotels, and retail built by the A’s plan to cover the cost by charging a tax on each business and property.

#5 The A’s Matt Olson continues to crush the ball with two home runs and five RBIs sending the A’s to a five-run 7-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels at Angels Stadium in Anaheim on Friday night.

Matt Harrington does the MLB podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Crawford reaches milestone in Giants’ 6-3 win over D-Backs

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Since coming to the San Francisco Giants, Alex Dickerson has been a spark plug for the team.

Dickerson hit a mammoth solo home run, and Buster Posey added two runs batted in, as the Giants evened up this four-game series with a 6-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in front of 35,391 at Oracle Park.

In all eight games while in a Giants uniform, Dickerson has reached safely and is hitting .423 (11-for-26) with four doubles, a triple and two home runs and 12 RBIs during that stretch.

With the victory, the Giants stopped a five-game losing streak against the Diamondbacks at Oracle Park.

This was the 5th time this season that the Giants have gotten at least 12 hits, and their first since getting 15 on June 15 against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Dickerson home run was measured at 412 feet, and bounced into McCovey Cove, as the Giants took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.

Posey nearly got in the act in the bottom of the third inning, as he hit a ball high off the 24-foot wall in right field that was initially called a home run by first base umpire Rob Drake; however, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovell challenged the ruling and after a 2:00 minute delay, the call was reversed.

Brandon Belt, who walked with one out in the inning, easily scored from first base to lengthen the Giants lead.

Jake Lamb cut the Giants lead in half in the top of the fourth inning, as he singled to center field to score Jarrod Dyson, who singled to lead off the inning. On the Lamb single, David Peralta advanced to third after he walked two batters prior to Lambs base hit.

Once again it was Posey to drive in another run, as he singled to right field to score Joe Panik and on the play, Mike Yastrzemski went to third and Posey advanced to second on a throwing error by Jones.

Nick Ahmed narrowed the Giants lead down to one for the second time on the evening, as he singled in the top of the sixth inning to Eduardo Escobar, who doubled with one out in the inning and then went to third on a Lamb fly out to Yastrzemski in right field.

Tyler Austin added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he grounded out to Lamb at first base with the bases loaded that allowed Crawford to score from third.

Dickerson drove in his second run of the night in the bottom of the seventh, as he singled to right field to score Yastrzemski.

The Giants final run of the evening came when Matt AdRise uncorked a wild pitch that scored Posey from third base.

Jarrod Dyson drove in the final run of the game for the Diamondbacks in the top of the ninth inning, as he singled off of closer Will Smith that easily scored Carson Kelly from third base. Kelly led off the inning with a single off of Smith.

It was a huge night for Crawford, as the veteran shortstop picked up three hits and his third hit of the night was the 1,000th of his career.

After being mired an 0-for-13 slump since Monday against the Colorado Rockies, Posey broke to 3-for-4 on the night.

The two runs batted in for Posey gave him his first multi-RBI game since May 5 against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark, and his first at home since April 26 against the New York Yankees.

Posey also picked up his first three-hit game since August 10, 2018 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Shawn Anderson went 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, walking just one and striking out three on his way to his third win of the season.

Merrill Kelly went five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, walking just one and striking out two, as his record fell to 7-8 on the season.

NOTES: Crawford joined some elusive company in the 1,000-hit club for the Giants, as he is just the fifth left-handed batter to get at 1,000 hits for the team since they moved to San Francisco in 1958. He joins Willie McCovey (1,974), Barry Bonds (1,951), Will Clark (1,278) and J.T. Snow (1,007).

Rich Aurilia is the only other shortstop to get at 1,000 hits for the Giants, as he picked up 1,226 hits in his Giants career.

Two of the Giants minor leaguers have been picked for the SiriusXM Futures Game at Progressive Field in Cleveland on July 7. Joey Bart and Heliot Ramos of the Single-A San Jose Giants will be heading to Cleveland, and will play for the National League in the new format that begins this season.

This is the first selection for Bart, and it is the second for Ramos, who played in the game last season at Nationals Park in Washington. Ramos went 1-for-1 in his only at-bat in a 10-6 loss to the United States team.

Steven Duggar, who is currently on the 10-day injured list with a lower back strain is expected to join the Triple-A Sacramento Rivercats on Saturday, as he will begin his rehabilitation assignment for the Rivercats, as they face the Albuquerque Isotopes at Raley Field.

UP NEXT: Drew Pomeranz will take the mound for the Giants in the third game of this four-game series, while the Diamondbacks will counter with Zack Greinke.

Olson Homers Twice, A’s Crush Halos 7-2

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Matthew Harrington

The Oakland Athletics mashed their way to a 7-2 win over the hosting Los Angeles Angels Friday night in SoCal, thanks to the bat of Matt Olson. The A’s Gold Glove first baseman hit two homers and knocked in five runs while designated hitter Mark Canha went deep as well. Mike Fiers went 6 2/3 innings, giving up only one run.

Olson opened the first inning with a bang, taking opener Noe Ramirez deep on an 0-1 pitch with a runner on and two outs for a 2-0 lead. After Ramirez (L, 3-1, 3.32 ERA) was removed after an inning for long reliever Felix Pena, Olson again would strike in his next at-bat. With runners on first and second, Olson this time went to right field for a 5-0 lead.

Fiers was dominant, working around six hits to only give up the one RBI on an Albert Pujols single in the 5th inning. Friday marked his eighth straight start of six-plus innings and three runs or fewer. In fact, of his last 12 starts, all were three-run or less affairs, though a May 13th outing only lasted five innings. Friday he went 6 2/3, while throwing 104 pitches to improve his record to 8-3 with a 4.01 ERA.

After Pena went five innings, only yielding the three-run shot to Olson, Luke Bard took over the seventh. Mark Canha tagged him with a two-run blast. Canha was filling in for Khris Davis who was hit by a pitch earlier in the week.

The A’s bullpen was almost flawless, but Lou Trivino gave up a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning off the bat of one-time Athletic Jonathan Lucroy. The run was unearned due to a passed ball earlier in the inning.

The A’s hope to have Davis back in the lineup Saturday when they send Brett Anderson to the mound. He’ll be opposed by Tyler Skaggs of the Halos.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants’ climb to get out of the cellar a long way off

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Photo credit: mccoveychronicles.com

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 The San Francisco Giants’ loss last night represented their fifth loss in six games and they have not been out of the NL West cellar since May.

#2 They faced some solid pitching from the Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Alex Young (1-0, 1.80 ERA) who pitched five innings against the Giants for three hits and five strikeouts holding the Giants to just one run.

#3 Michael talks about putting on a finger on what’s wrong with the Giants hitters. Everyone in the lineup on Thursday night are hitting below .300.

#4 The Giants starter Tyler Beede pitched 5 1/3 for four hits, two earned runs and three strikeouts — a good outing, but the relievers gave up three more runs in the 5-1 loss.

#5 Starting pitchers for Friday night at Oracle Park. For the Diamondbacks, Merrill Kelly (7-7, 3.93 ERA), and for the San Francisco Giants, Shaun Anderson (2-2, 3.94 ERA).

Catch Michael for the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Angels down the A’s 8-3 to win the series opener

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Photo credit: @Angels

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s dropped the opener of the four-game series to the LA Angels by a score of 8-3 at Angel Stadium on Thursday night. A’s starter Tanner Anderson had a rough outing Thursday night in Anaheim. The Angels rocked him for two runs in the second and five in the third.  Anderson went 2.2 innings and allowed eight hits, and seven runs (all earned).

Angels starter Griffin Canning went six innings and allowed three hits and two runs. Home runs by Ramon Laureano in the second and Matt Olson on the fourth were the only damage done by the A’s offense.

The Angels added a run in the sixth, and the A’s put their third run on the board in the eighth.

Anderson gave up two two-run homers to the Angels. Kole Calhoun hit his 17th in the bottom of the second to put the Angels ahead 2-1. In the bottom of the third, Shohei Ohtani hit his 10th with a man aboard to make it 4-1. The Angels scored three more before A’s manager removed Anderson from the game.

Game Notes: The A’s drop to 43-39 and the Angels improved to 42-40. The Angels have now won four in a row. The Angels have welcomed back two position players back to their lineup. Justin Upton was in left field Thursday. Upton missed over 70 games with a turf toe injury. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons was back in the lineup after missing 39 games.

The A’s missed an opportunity to pick up a game on the Houston Astros as the Astros lost to Pittsburgh 10-0 Thursday. They trail the Astros by seven games in the race for first place in the AL West. The Texas Rangers are in second place with a 2 1/2 game lead over the A’s. The Angels are in fourth place, and they trail the A’s by one game.

Time of game was two hours and 46 minutes. 40,631 fans watched the Angels win the fourth in a row.

Up Next: Game two of the four-game series will be played Friday night. Game time will be at 7:07 pm. Mike Fiers (7-3, 4.20 ERA) will go for Oakland. Fiers’ ERA is 2.51 in his last nine starts. The Angels will use an opener to start the game. Felix Pena will come in after the first or second inning. The Angels have used an opener in 10 of Pena’s 11 appearances.

The A’s line score was three runs, five hits, and no errors. The Angels’ line was eight runs, 12 hits, and no errors.

Giants’ bats go to sleep again in 5-1 loss to D-Backs

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Photo credit: @KNBR

By Jeremy Harness

SAN FRANCISCO – Arizona’s Alex Young looked like an All-Star in his major-league debut Thursday night. But then again, he was pitching against the Giants, who aren’t going to remind anybody of the 1927 Yankees any time soon.

As it was, he started his big-league career with a win, as his Diamondbacks cruised to a 5-1 win over the Giants at Oracle Park. The Giants have now lost four of their last five games, and they have been in last place with no interruption since May 9.

With the exception of one exceptionally-long fly ball in the fourth inning, Young did not run into much difficulty navigating through a punchless Giants lineup that struggled to get the ball out of the infield for most of the night.

“The guy threw a lot of cutters, mixed it up,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “We couldn’t do much with him.

“(But) we’ve got to swing the bats. Three hits, very little action out there, it’s hard to win a game like that.”

He went five innings and surrendered only a run on three hits, walking and striking out five, throwing only 74 pitches in the process. His only real hiccup was a home run off the bat of Brandon Belt. From that point on, the Giants only got only runner past second base.

Giants starter Tyler Beede (1-3, 6.96 ERA) held his own and even traded zeroes with Young for the first three innings.

“He threw well, he did a nice job out there,” Bochy said. “He threw more strikes, looked more in control. He probably could have kept going, but I had Reyes (Moronta) fresh (in the bullpen). He looked much better in commanding the strike zone and staying in his delivery, and hitting his spots a lot better.”

However, he ran into some trouble to start the fourth, as he walked Ketel Marte, who will be starting for the National League at second base in this year’s All-Star Game, and then watched as David Peralta’s hot grounder up the middle skip off shortstop Brandon Crawford’s glove and bounce into shallow left-center for a double.

With runners on second and third with only one out, Christian Walker’s grounder to second scored Ketel Marte and gave Arizona a 1-0 lead, but Beede escaped the inning without any further damage.

The lead didn’t last very long. Belt led off the bottom half and took Young deep, his solo homer sailing just over the reach of center fielder Jarrod Dyson and tying the game.

However, the Diamondbacks just as quickly found themselves back in the lead. Beede made a mistake in location, and Nick Ahmed made him pay with a solo shot that went screaming down the tunnel past the left-field wall.

Beede gave up only those two runs on four hits over 5 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out another three. Those numbers typically stand a good chance to translate to a win. However, with a lineup that the Giants trot out these days, that’s nowhere close to a sure thing.

“It’s going to be up to us to put some runs on the board,” Bochy said. “Our margin of error is so small because we just don’t score a lot of runs, and one little mistake, it seems like it cost us.”

Two innings later, the door was effectively slammed shut on the Giants’ evening, when Carson Kelly’s smashed one over the wall in left-center off reliever Trevor Gott to give Arizona a 4-1 lead.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s Mengden demonstrates the evolution of the comeback, shutout Red Birds 2-0

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mercurynews.com photo: Oakland A’s pitcher Daniel Mengden serves up a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals in a four hit shutout on Wednesday night at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

On the A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 Oakland A’s pitcher Daniel Mengden is back from his rehab assignment from Las Vegas and pitched a shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 2-0 win.

#2 Mengden pitched for six innings giving up four hits and no runs striking out five. Not bad for his first game of the 2019 season.

#3 Mengden takes over for Frankie Montas’ spot and gets a great performance in after Mengden pitched lights out. The A’s are really looking for someone to also be an effective pitcher as well.

#4 The St. Louis Cardinals players got a chance to honor the St. Louis Blues before the game on Wednesday night by giving the Blues players a ride around the park with the Stanley Cup in the open convertible car.

#5 The A’s are back on the west coast after the St Louis trip and are in Anaheim tonight against the Los Angeles Angels. For the A’s, Tanner Anderson ,who is looking for his first win of 2019 (0-2, 4.20 ERA), and for the Angels, Griffin Canning (2-4, 3.88 ERA).

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