Tag: mlb

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Blues-Bruins involved in hard-fought finals; Warriors cry for Durant; plus more

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Photo credit: @ChicagoSports

On Headline Sports with Tony Renteria:

#1 The St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins played a long hard fought NHL Finals that went seven games in a back-and-forth series.

#2 How much of the injuries to the Golden State Warriors Kevon Looney, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant played in their struggle to win games in the finals?

#3 Talk about Warriors team president Bob Meyers, who cried after game five when Durant went down with the Achilles injury. Meyers taking much of the responsibility for the decision on putting Durant back in now lost for at least a year.

#4 The New England Patriots are filing tampering charges against the Houston Texans for trying to talk to the Patriots Director of Player personnel Nick Caserio. The Texans general manager Brian Gaine attended a post Super Bowl ring celebration at Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s house as did Caserio. Some conversation or interest of Caserio took place and hence the tampering suit.

#5 When you have mob names like the Surgeon (Louis Alfredo Rivas Clase) and a woman named the Venezuelan or Red, these are just two of the names that help coordinate the shooting of former Red Sox star David Ortiz in the Dominican Republic. It was also reported that two other men were involved and a total of six people were involved in the planning of the shooting of Ortiz.

Tony Renteria does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s close out road trip, taking 2 out of 3 from Rays; Oakland City Council questioning new A’s ballpark

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photo from newsday.com: Oakland Athletics’ Ramon Laureano connects for a grand slam off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Colin Poche during the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 12, 2019, in St. Petersburg, Fla.

On the A’s on podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Oakland A’s Ramon Laureano’s grand slam was certainly a huge part of the A’s 6-2 win on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

#2 The A’s had a decent road trip, finishing two games over .500 at 6-4, a nine-game swing that took them to Anaheim, Arlington, and Tampa Bay.

#3 The A’s Matt Olson is swinging the bats he clouted his 11th home run of the season with a home run off Rays pitcher Yonny Chirinos.

#4 Tampa has a potent line up being first in their division and very difficult to get a win at Tropicana Field and the Rays being tied with the New York Yankees in the American League East for first place the A’s came away from Tampa with two wins out of the three game series.

#5 The A’s still have a lot of work in front of them as they open up a ten game homestand starting Friday night against the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners will start Marco Gonzalez (6-6, 4.77 ERA) and for Oakland Chris Bassitt (3-2, 3.57 ERA).

#6 With the Oakland City Council not ready to vote on moving forward with approving the plans at Howard Terminal for the A’s new ball park.

#7 Oakland City Councilman Dan Kalb didn’t beat around the bush he made it clear that Council members want a full understanding about how finances for infrastructure and one of their biggest issues is on public transportation while the gondola from 12th Street BART to Jack London Square is a start Kalb is asking the A’s for a more comprehensive plan for public transit for the public to get to and from the ball park.

#8 In answer to the Council’s concerns on these issues, Oakland A’s media relations manager Catherine Aker said the team is working on an infrastructure plan. The A’s are expected to ask the city for $200 million for infrastructure plans.

#9 This was the same amount the Oakland Raiders asked for in order to build a new stadium, but the Raiders never got a deal with the city. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said public tax dollars will not be used for the project but a special tax around the new ball park a district tax will help pay for the infrastructure plans, including taxes coming from the 3,000 housing units and a 400-room hotel.

Listen for Jerry’s podcasts each Thursday on Oakland A’s baseball at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: David Ortiz Shot for $8K Bounty

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Photo credit: @nypost

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Former Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz was shot Sunday in Santo Domingo for an $8,000 bounty according to the latest police reports from his hometown of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. While $8,000 would only pay for a couple of months rent in a San Francisco apartment, in the D.R.–a poor Caribbean country of 12 million people, $8,000 is a lot of money. As a matter of fact, that is the equivalent of $400,000 Dominican pesos.

Ortiz was shot at a bar as part of a plot that also included two cars, a motorcycle and at least a half-dozen men, Dominican police revealed Wednesday. That was the motive behind the attempted murder of Big Papi, a national heroe in the baseball rich island. During the ambush, Ortiz and two others were wounded. Dominican police investigators believe the conspirators met hours before the ambush, hoping to collect the $8,000 bounty. Ortiz was shot inside the Dial Lounge and Bar. Witnesses captured one man, a shooter of Ortiz, beat him and waited until the police arrived. The police instantly put him in jail.

Two other suspects were arrested. According to the D.R. police, this attack involved several people who arrived in two cars and a motorcycle, per Ney Aldrin Bautista, Director de la Policia Nacional (Translation: Director of the National Police). At this time, the Dominican police has not revealed who paid the bounty for the murder of Ortiz. The investigation continues. As of today, the Dominican Police now have six people in custody who revealed that somebody hired 10 people to kill Ortiz.

After a successful second surgery, Ortiz is resting comfortably in a Boston, Massachusetts hospital. Of all the countries outside the United States, the D.R. remains as “Numero Uno” as far as major league talent today.

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: World Cup–US Women no match for Thailand in 13-0 blowout; Kings to host Summer League at Golden 1; plus more

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Photo credit: @BostonGlobe

On the Headline Sports podcast with London:

#1 In the World Cup, US Women downed Thailand 13-0, Alex Morgan scored five goals and there was no mercy rule as the US Women kept pouring it on in Reims, France. The US took it to Thailand right from the kickoff.

#2 The win by the US topped the old record when Germany took it to Argentina in an 11-0 win in the 2007 World Cup.

#3 The Sacramento Kings will be hosting a California Classic Summer League at Golden 1 Center from July 1st through 3rd. Fans will get to take a look at the following teams: the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings.

#4 With the Summer League coming up, where does Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton stand? He has been accused of sexual assault. His accuser is also holding the Warriors and Lakers legally responsible for the attacks. Is the Luke Walton case going to be a distraction or can Luke guide the Kings and get past it?

#5 The San Jose Earthquakes won a friendly 4-3 over Sacramento Republic FC on Tuesday night at Avaya Stadium. Earthquakes star Chris Wondolowski said that the team is in a zone a winning mental state right now, and even though it was like a preseason game, the Quakes are pushing to win and won’t take any prisoners right now.

#6 Former San Francisco Giants right fielder Hunter Pence hit another one off the fence for the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night against the Red Sox. Pence chalked up his 14th home run for an inside-the-park home run against the Boston Red Sox. Pence has been in the zone this season. He’s also got the Rangers clubhouse pretty loose right now.

London Marq does Headline Sports each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Ramon Laureano’s grand slam propels the A’s to a 6-2 win over the Rays

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Photo credit: nbcbayarea.com

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s ended the 10-game road trip with a 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday afternoon. The A’s finished the road trip with a 6-4 record and return home to face the Seattle Mariners Friday night.

The A’s veteran lefty Brett Anderson pitched well again on Wednesday. Anderson gave the A’s 6 1/3 innings and allowed seven hits and two runs. The Rays’ Yonny Chirinos also pitched well. The young man from Venezuela gave the Rays six innings of work. He allowed two runs and seven hits.

The A’s put one on the board in the top of the fourth. A’s DH Khris Davis led off the inning with a double. He tagged and went to third on Stephen Piscotty’s fly ball to centerfield. Ramon Laureano drove in Davis on an infield single. The A’s added a run in the sixth when Matt Olson took Chirinos deep with his eleventh big fly of the season. The A’s led 2-0 after six.

Anderson started the seventh inning. He was effective all game long as he mixed his pitches well and kept the hitters off balance with fastballs, sliders, and changeups.

With one out, Rays’ centerfielder Guillermo Heredia singled. Former San Francisco Giant Christian Arroyo walked. Ryan Christensen, who was managing, the club as manager Bob Melvin was tossed for arguing balls and strikes with the home plate umpire, brought in Liam Hendriks to pitch. Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz double to drive in Heredia with the Rays’ first run. Arroyo stopped at third. The A’s walked Austin Meadows, who is leading the AL in hitting, to load the bases. Rays’ right fielder Avaisal Garcia reached on a fielder’s choice. Marcus Semien fielded the ball, and since there was a force play at any base, he looked to get the out at third. Chapman wasn’t covering the base, and that forced Semien to try to get the out at second. The throw was just a hair late. Arroyo scored to tie the game.

The A’s regained the lead in the top of the eighth. Matt Olson led off with a single. Davis struck out. Piscotty walked. Rays’ reliever uncorked a wild pitch to advance Olson and Piscotty. The Rays walked Robbie Grossman to set up an inning-ending double play. The Rays brought in lefty Colin Poche to pitch to Ramon Laureano. The strategy failed as Laureano hit his ninth home run of the year to put four on the board.

The A’s called on Lou Trivino to pitch the eighth. Trivino gave up three hits, but the Rays failed to score. Blake Treinen retired the Rays to preserve the win for the A’s.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s improve to 35-34. The Rays are now 41-26 and fall 1/2 game behind the New York Yankees in the race for first place in the AL East.

Liam Hendriks was credited with the win, and his record is now 3-0. He also received credit for his first blown save. Adam Kolarek was the losing pitcher for Tampa Bay.

Up Next: The A’s are off on Thursday. They resume play Friday night when they meet the Seattle Mariners for a three-game set at the Oakland Coliseum.

Longoria’s double wins it for the Giants 6-5

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Photo credit: mercurynews.com

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Evan Longoria came up with the biggest hit of the night at the most opportune time.

Longoria hit a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning, propelling the San Francisco Giants to a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres before a crowd of 28,535 at Oracle Park.

Longo came thru in a big way, said Bruce Bochy.

The seventh inning got underway, as Brandon Belt came off the bench to pinch hit for Mark Melancon and walked against Trey Wingenter. Joe Panik then singled Belt to third, and after Mike Yastrzemski flew out to Hunter Renfroe in right field, Longoria smashed a double off the left field wall to score both Belt and Panik and on the throw home, Longoria went to third.

Joe did a great job running, and I thought the base running was very good tonight, said third base coach Ron Wotus.

Pablo Sandoval then drove in Longoria with an insurance run, as he hit a sacrifice fly to center field.

Fernando Tatis, Jr., took the first pitch he saw from Tyler Beede and put it into the Garden over the centerfield wall in the top of the first inning to give the Padres an early 1-0 lead.

Following the Tatis, Jr., home run, Josh Naylor and Eric Hosmer both singled and it looked like it was going to be a short night for Beede.

That would be on the contrary, as following the Hosmer single with one out in the inning, Beede began to settle and retired the next 11 batters until Wil Myers led off that fateful fifth inning with a walk against Beede.

After Myers walked, Beede was able to get Austin Hedges to fly out for the first out of the inning, Myers then stole second and then pitcher Chris Paddack picked up his first major league hit, as Brandon Crawford cut the ball from going into the outfield.

Tatis, Jr., then picked up his second hit of the game, as Joe Panik made a great play to knock the ball down; however, his flip to Crawford went awry and Myers scored easily from third base.

Beede then got Josh Naylor for the second out of the inning, but was lifted for Trevor Gott after he walked Manny Machado.

Then came the play that epitomized the Giants season in a nutshell, as Hosmers comebacker to Gott knocked his glove off his hand and threw it to first, where Hosmer was called safe; however, with the runners going on anything, both Paddack and Tatis, Jr., scored to give the Padres the lead.

Looked like we were taking infield there, said Bochy.

Crawford would have made the play had I let the ball go through, said Gott.

Gott was able to get out of the inning, as he struck out Hunter Renfroe to end the inning.

The Giants took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Pablo Sandoval led off the inning with a single and then went to third on a Stephen Vogt single. Vogt was thrown out at second base, and then it looked like Paddack would get out of the jam, when he got Crawford to ground out back to him; however, Tyler Austin tied up the game with a single that scored Sandoval and then Steven Duggar got involved in the game.

Duggar launched a two-run home run onto the Levis Landing to give the Giants a two-run lead.

Paddack, who went five innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking one and striking out six; however, he did not fare in the decision.

On the other side of things, Beede is still looking for that elusive first major league win, as he went four and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs on five hits, walking two and striking out a career-high seven.

I felt great, but there was some tough luck, said Beede.

Mark Melancon pitched a perfect seventh inning, as he struck out two and picked up his third win of the season.

Ian Kinsler made it a one-run game in the top of the eighth inning, as he hit his eighth home run of the season off of Tony Watson.

Will Smith came on in the top of the ninth inning, and nailed down his 15th save of the season in 15 opportunities to even the home stand at two games apiece with four to go. Smith struck out two, including Tatis, Jr., to end the game.

NOTES: Smith tied Craig Lefferts for the longest save streak to start a season with those 15 saves, Lefferts held the record of 15 from 1989 until Rod Beck broke it in 1994, when he saved 28 in a row.

Beedes previous career high of six was set also against the Padres on April 15, 2018 at Petco Park.

This was the teams 15th win of the season by one run, and the 15-6 record in one-run games is the best in the major leagues.

It was the 16th come-from-behind win for the Giants this season.

The 85-degree temperature at first pitch was the hottest at first pitch since June 14, 2001 against the Anaheim Angels.

It just the third time since the Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958 that they were three straight games of 80 degrees or higher. It also occurred on June 29, 30 and July 1 of 1996, and also August 31, September 1 and 2 of 2017.

That was the first lead-off home run of Tatis, Jrs. career and the second lead-off home run of the season for the Padres, Manuel Margot led off the April 14 game against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a home run at Chase Field.

Over their last six games, the Giants are 5-for-37 with runners in scoring position and have left 36 runners on base in that span.

UP NEXT: Shaun Anderson will take the mound in the finale of this brief two-game series on Wednesday night for the Giants, while Joey Lucchesi takes the mound for the Padres

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Check the Ball? On Pace for 6,513 Home Runs

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Photo credit: @SportmaniaM

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

It used to be the Home Run was the most exciting play in the game of baseball, but at this pace, the 2019 MLB season is becoming so much of a routine event that it’s like “an intoxication of eating too much candy”. Last season, there was a total of 5,585 home runs hit among all 30 teams, but that is not the record for a single season. The record for a single season was established in 2017 with 6,105. Today, we are on a pace for 6,514 or more.

On Sunday, the Washington Nationals hit four straight home runs off of pitcher Craig Stammen. It was the ninth time in MLB history a team has hit back-to-back-to-back-to-back homers. On Monday, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies hit 13 home runs at Citizens Bank Park. The D-Backs finished with eight home runs while the Phillies hit five for the new major league record.

A major league ball is supposed to weight between 5 and 5 1/4 ounces. Nowadays, pitchers throw harder than ever, and hitters have the launch angle mode, which is the perfect storm as managers really do not have to use a lot of strategies. It is all about Earl Weaver’s favorite play, the three-run homer. The game has changed and the ball has also “changed”.

A’s edge the Rays 4-3 to even the series

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

A’s pitcher Mike Fiers gave the A’s six strong innings of work Tuesday night to help the Green and Gold beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 at Tropicana Field. The Rays used an “opener” Ryne Stanek to pitch the first inning. It was the 19th time Stanek had started a game. The Rays brought in lefty Jalen Beeks to pitch in the second.

Fiers got off to a rocky start as the second hitter in the Rays’ lineup, Tommy Pham, blasted his ninth of the year to give the Rays an early 1-0 lead. Fiers settled down and kept the Rays off the board until the fourth inning. With two out, Fiers walked Rays’ shortstop Willy Adames. Centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier singled to send Adames to third. Adames scored when Tampa pulled off a successful double steal. A’s catcher Josh Phegley tried to throw out Kiermaier stealing at second. His throw was a bit high. A’s second baseman Jurickson Profar had to go up and get the throw to prevent it from going into centerfield. Adames was able to score on the play. The Rays lead 2-0.

The A’s put a run on the board in the top of the fifth. Profar singled to get the rally going. Profar went to second on a passed ball and scores on Chad Pinder’s single.

In the sixth, the A’s scored three times to take the lead 4-2. With one out, Matt Chapman reached on an error. Matt Olson followed with his 10th home of the year. The next hitter, Khris Davis blasted his 14th.

The A’s used Liam Hendriks in the seventh and Lou Trivino in the eighth. Neither pitcher allowed the Rays a hit.

Blake Treinen was called in to pitch the ninth. Treinen committed a cardinal sin as he walked the leadoff hitter, Brandon Lowe. Treinen struck out Yandy Diaz for the first out. Ji-Man Choi hit into a fielder’s choice for the second out. Lowe was safe at second. Willy Adames singled to drive in Lowe. Treinin then retired Kiermaier on a ground ball to Matt Olson for the final out. The A’s won 4-3.

Game Notes: The A’s evened their record at 34-34. The Rays fell to 41-25.

Fiers improved to 6-3 for the year. Treinen earned the save.  Fiers’ line was 6 innings, 3 hits, and 2 runs. The losing pitcher for Tampa Bay was Emilio Pagan. Pagan entered the game in the sixth inning

The A’s line was four runs, seven hits, and no errors. The Rays’ line was three runs, four hits, and one error.

Up Next: The A’s meet the Rays Wednesday morning at 9:10 am. Lefty Brett Anderson (6-4, 3.98 ERA) will pitch for Oakland. Tampa has not announced its starter.

Time of game was two hours and 47 minutes. 11,132 people watched the A’s win.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Very possible Big Papi was a target of a hit; Resting comfortably in Boston hospital

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ap photo: Fans at walk past a photograph of Boston Red Sox’s David Ortiz before a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Oct. 1, 2016.

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast with Amaury Pi-Gonzalez:

Big Papi (David Ortiz) is the face of those World’s Championships Boston Red Sox teams who won three World Series. In the Dominican Republic, he’s almost like a God, he could probably run for president and win. Let’s face it, Ortiz can run for president and win. Ortiz is an idol and the bad guys know that Ortiz had money there are kidnapping and robberies there and there really isn’t any solid proof why he got shot, but his publicist said that this was a hit job.

I have talked to Dominicans and it looks like a hit job it was premediated and these two guys came on motorcycles and they stopped by the bar restaurant that Big Papi was seated at. They shot Ortiz in the back and the other friend, whose a famous news anchor in the Dominican Republic, Ortiz was with.

Ortiz is resting in a Boston hospital resting after a long surgery. Doctors reportedly removed part of his spleen and liver and it has been reported that Ortiz is not out of the woods yet. Eventually, Ortiz will have to go through therapy and then he will probably have therapy for his mental well-being after going through something like this. One of the two suspects who fell of their motorcycle was caught by witnesses and beaten before police came and arrested him and he had confessed to the crime.

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: Pitching of Rays’ Morton was worth his salt; A’s get clobbered 6-2

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Photo credit: @Rays

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Charlie Morton stayed undefeated with a 6-2 win over the visiting Oakland A’s at Tropicana Field. Morton improved his record to a perfect 8-0, 2.10 ERA.

#2 The Rays improved their overall record in first place in the AL East, a half game up on the New York Yankees.

#3 The Rays also have won six of their last seven games and are the hottest team in baseball 41-24.

#4  The exhausted A’s didn’t get into Florida until 3 AM for the 7 PM game. The A’s, who played in Texas on Sunday, had their flight delayed and got out very late for the Tampa Bay touchdown. The team’s plane got damaged, which caused their flight even further. They played a doubleheader on Saturday before leaving Texas on Sunday and manager Bob Melvin said the team had five straight power naps.

#5 A’s starter Mike Fiers (5-3, 4.76 ERA) and the Rays will start Ryne Staneck (0-1 ERA 2.78) , the Rays are getting the best consistent pitching in baseball right now.

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