Tag: mlb

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Bummed out–Giants and Bumgarner get shutout 2-0 in opener

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On the SF Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Madison Bumgarner started for the San Francisco Giants on Opening Day and was able to keep the San Diego Padres’ Manny Machado under control, but the Padres still won it 2-0.

#2 The Padres’ Fernado Titas got two hits to help contribute towards the win. The Padres’ Wil Myers got a home run off Bumgarner and the Padres had a 2-0 lead.

#3 This was Machado’s first game as a Padre playing in Opening Day. Although Machado didn’t get a hit, the game was a win and it should be memorable for Machado.

#4 Padres starter Eric Lauer (1-0) pitched six innings of shutout ball against the Giants, surrendering four hits, a walk and three strikeouts.

#5 Giants starter Madison Bumgarner (0-1) pitched seven innings along with five hits and two runs and posted nine strikeouts for the loss.

Michael Duca does the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Offense flounders as Giants drop season opener to Padres 2-0

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

There were two positives that came out of Thursday’s season opener: Madison Bumgarner looked rather sharp and gave the Giants every chance to win, and Evan Longoria will not start the season with an extended 0-fer, which was the case in 2018.

Bumgarner surrendered only a pair of run over seven solid innings to go along with only five hits allowed. Meanwhile, Longoria went 2-for-4 at the plate, including a single in his very first at-bat of the season.

The rest of the day was rather forgettable at best, as the San Diego Padres beat the punchless Giants, 2-0, at Petco Park Thursday afternoon.

Wil Myers did all of the damage for the Padres at the plate, driving in both runs to send the Giants reeling right out of the chute. It started in the third inning, when Myers took Bumgarner deep to right-center to give San Diego a 1-0 lead.

Three innings later, he struck again, blooping in a single into shallow left-center to bring Ian Kinsler in and double the lead.

The Giants never posed a serious threat, as they never got any more than one hit in a given inning and did not get a runner safely to second base the entire game. Padres starter Eric Lauer was brilliant on Thursday, going six innings and giving up only four hits, walking only one while striking out three.

They hope to bounce back very quickly in this weekend series against the Padres by getting their bats to wake up. However, if this is any indication of things to come, it will be a very long season for the Giants.

Fiers pitches the A’s to their first win of 2019

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Photo credit: @nbcbayarea

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — It was the second Opening Day for the Oakland A’s Thursday at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s started the season in Tokyo with two losses to the Seattle Mariners, and they were eager to get their first win of the year. Mike Fiers, who didn’t pitch well in Tokyo, redeemed himself as he went six innings and allowed just one hit. Fiers improved to 1-1 for the season. The A’s bullpen came through, as they did last year with three scoreless innings, and the A’s won 4-0.

The A’s scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second. Jurickson Profar, making his home debut for the A’s, tripled to right field leading off. Chad Pinder hit a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Profar with the run. The A’s led 1-0 after two complete.

The A’s added a run in the third. With one out, Robbie Grossman singled to left. Grossman stole second and Angels’ starter Trevor Cahill walked Matt Chapman to put men on at first and second with one out. Stephen Piscotty doubled to drive in Grossman with the A’s second run. Cahill pitched his way out of the jam when Chapman tried to score on a ground ball to third. He was thrown out at home for the second out of the inning. Cahill then retired Profar on a flyball to left. The A’s shortstop Marcus Semien hit his first home run of the year when he sent Cahill 91 MPH sinker over the fence in centerfield. The A’s led 3-0 after four.

The A’s DH Khris Davis led off the bottom of the sixth with his second dinger of the year. Cahill had Davis in an 0-2 hole when he threw another 91 MPH sinker that Davis did not miss. The A’s led 4-0 heading into the seventh.

The A’s bullpen did their job as they held the Angels scoreless and preserved the first win of the year for Oakland. The A’s won 4-0.

Game Notes: Marcus Semien and Khris Davis each hit a solo home run for the Green and Gold. Leadoff hitter Robbie Grossman singled in his first two at-bats in his first game at the Coliseum as an Oakland Athletic. Jurickson Profar tripled in his first trip to the plate in the second inning. Stephen Piscotty has hit safely in all three games this year and had an RBI double in the third inning.

Mike Fiers had his best career outing against the Angels, allowing one hit in six scoreless innings.

The A’s are now 1-2, and the Angels are 0-1.

The A’s line was four runs, seven hits, and one error.

The Angels’ line was no runs, three hits, and no errors.

In the eighth inning, the Angels’ Mike Trout survived a scare when he slid into second base. He came up holding his knee, and everyone in the ballpark held their breath as it appeared that he was injured. Fortunately, he hook it off and stayed in the game.

Time of game was two hours and 18 minutes and 22,691 fans watched the A’s win their first game of the season.

Up Next: The A’s and Angels play game two of the four-game series Friday night at 7:07 pm at the Coliseum. Marco Estrada will make his second start for Oakland and Matt Harvey, the former New York Met and Cincinnati Red, will go for the Angels.

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Baer will lose control of team when he comes back from suspension; New CEO Dean to take Baer’s spot

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Photo credit: @Deadspin

On Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Tony, the San Francisco Giants have decided to have acting CEO Rob Dean as their frontman. In a statement from the team on Tuesday, the Giants have said that upon returning from suspension on July 2nd, Baer will no longer have control of the team, although he will retain his title as CEO and president.

#2 The players have stated that regardless of the off-the-field issues regarding Baer, they are determined to stay focused, and outfielder Steven Duggar says playing between the lines has been a safe haven for the players.

#3 The Giants have been struggling in spring training are are now open their regular season today in San Diego. They do have one of the best defensive infield in the National League coming into the season.

#4 The Oakland A’s, who were left for dead after their starting rotation either went on the DL or underwent surgery, came back later in the season and made it to the Wild Card. You just can’t count a Billy Beane team out.

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

Lots of drama as Giants face losing in 2019

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Photo credit: @SportsTechie17

By Jeremy Harness

The Giants are used to going into seasons with great expectations. Winning rings will do that for you.

However, this ain’t one of those years.

With new general manager Farhan Zaidi trying to figure out how to get rid of the bad contracts handed out by his immediate predecessor while also pondering how to get this floundering team back on track, the Giants are clearly in a rebuilding mode this season.

To add to the drama was the extremely-unfortunate incident that involved team CEO-president Larry Baer, who earlier this month was caught on video angrily grabbing a cell phone from his wife’s hands and subsequently knocking her to the ground.

The Giants have since suspended Baer without pay until July 1.

What makes this really sad, particularly for Giants fans, is the fact that 2019 will mark manager Bruce Bochy’s last season as a major-league skipper.

Meanwhile, the other teams in the National League West have improved, particularly the San Diego Padres, especially with their offseason acquisition of highly-coveted free-agent infielder Manny Machado, who helped the Dodgers make a run to the World Series a season ago.

San Diego also has a highly-touted rookie in Fernando Tatis, Jr., who officially made the team out of spring training.

The Colorado Rockies made sure to lock up their star player in Nolan Arenado, who just so happens to be a notorious Giant-killer, and he will team up with budding stars Trevor Story and Charlie Blackmon and the rest of a Colorado team that made a serious run at the playoffs in 2018.

Here’s what all of this means: Expect the Giants to take a beating at the hands of their own division – a division that they themselves overcame to win three World Series rings in five seasons not too long ago – in a way that is similar to the beatdown that Muhammad Ali took at the hands of Larry Holmes toward the end of his great boxing career.

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Avenatti says that Nike paid college athletes; Kings may not make playoffs, but still not giving up games; plus more

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Photo credit: @nypost

On Headline Sports with London:

#1 Michael Avenantti, former attorney for Stormy Daniels, has said this week that Nike had paid student-athletes at various colleges. Avenatti has been charged for extortion as he is accused of trying to extort up to $25 million from Nike.

#2 After the feds have made charges against Avenatti for the extortion charge, Avenatti–some 24 hours later–made the claim that Nike was paying its Nike Elite Basketball Youth Program bribes in college basketball.

#3 This is a Sacramento Kings basketball team that never gives up. They lost a close five-point game on Sunday to the Los Angeles Lakers, but turned around on Tuesday night and beat the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas 125-121. They’ve got a little something in the tank.

#4. The Los Angeles Kings’ Drew Doughty has questioned whether the San Jose Sharks Brent Burns should have won the Norris Trophy, saying Burns gets beat three times a game and that the Calgary Flames’ Mark Giordano should get the award. Burns leads the NHL defensemen with 77 points to Giordano, who’s in second with 72.

#5 Baseball season opens on Thursday. The Oakland A’s already opened their season in Tokyo last week and are playing their first regular game stateside against the Los Angeles Angels. How much does this take out of a team with the jet lag playing two exhibitions and two regular games then playing in Oakland just one week later?

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

A’s start 2019 season on Thursday against the Angels

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s, who surprised all of baseball in 2018 by winning 97 games and making the playoffs, have their home opener at the Oakland Coliseum against the Angels on Thursday.

The A’s, skippered by Bob Melvin, return most of the players that helped the club last season. They lost two key players, the second baseman Jed Lowrie, and catcher Jonathan Lucroy. Lowrie went to the Mets, and Lucroy will be in Oakland Thursday as an Angel.

The A’s starting rotation was hard hit by injuries. Several pitchers had Tommy John surgery, and Sean Manaea was lost for the season with a shoulder issue. The A’s obtained Marco Estrada from Toronto to fill one of the holes in the rotation. The A’s did not sign Edwin Jackson, who performed very well in Oakland last year. He is still available and may sign with the A’s later in the year. The A’s starting rotation this year will feature Mike Fiers, Estrada, Brett Anderson, Frankie Montas, and Aaron Brooks. Brooks performed well in spring training and in his last outing, Tuesday night against the San Francisco Giants threw 5 1/3 innings allowing five hits and one run.

The A’s first baseman, Matt Olson, suffered a hand injury in spring training and is out for six to eight weeks. Jurickson Profar will move over to first in his absence. Mark Canha can also place first. The rest of the infield is set with Matt Chapman at third base, Marcus Semien at shortstop, and either Franklin Barreto or Chad Pinder will play second. Canha and Pinder can also play in the outfield. The A’s plan to use Robbie Grossman in left field and as the leadoff hitter. Grossman, formerly with the Minnesota Twins, is a switch hitter. Ramon Laureano will be in center field, and Stephen Piscotty will be in right field.

The catching chores will be handled by Josh Phegley and former Giant Nick Hundley. The A’s have their eyes on catcher Sean Murphy, who will start the season with Triple-A Las Vegas.

The A’s bullpen will be strong again this season. Ryan Buchter is the sole left-handed pitcher in the pen. The A’s will have Yusmeiro Petit, Fernando Rodney, Joakim Soria, Lou Trivino, J.B. Wendelken, and closer Blake Treinen ready to shut down the opposition. The bullpen was a big reason for the A’s success in 2018.

The Angels’ longtime manager Mike Scioscia left the club after the 2018 season His replacement is Brad Ausmusm who had managed the Tigers for several seasons.

The Angels’ pitching staff also saw several pitchers have Tommy John surgery. They have revamped their starting rotation. Former A’s starter, Trevor Cahill, signed with the Angels in the off-season and will start Thursday against Oakland, Cahill pitched very well at the Coliseum but did not do well on the road. The Angels acquired Matt Harvey from the Reds. Harvey, who starred with the Mets before going to the Reds, had a record of 7-9 and a 4.94 ERA. He will be pitching on Friday and making his AL debut. Tyler Skaggs and Felix Pena will see action against the A’s this weekend. The Angels acquired Chris Stratton from the Giants, and he will make his Angel debut next week

The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, was the AL Rookie of the Year, is on the injured list. Ohtani also had Tommy John surgery and will not pitch again until 2020. However, he will be able to hit and will rejoin the club in a couple of months. When he arrives, he will be the DH and Albert Pujols will play first base.

The Angels will use Justin Bour at first base when Pujols is the DH. Tommy LaStella will be at second base. La Stella played with the Cubs last year. Andrelton Simmons will be the shortstop. Zack Cozart, Caleb Cowart, and Taylor Ward will play third base or fill in at the other infield positions if needed.

The Angels with have Kole Calhoun play right field. Mike Trout will be in center field once again. Justin Upton will start the season on the injured list. His spot in left field will be taken by Peter Bourjos.

The A’s hope to bounce back from the two losses they suffered at the hands of the Mariners. They have 160 games left and the A’s know they can no longer be taken lightly. They expect to go to the playoffs again this season. The road to the playoffs begins now.

Giants close out Spring Training on a sour note

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Well, from here until September 29, the games will count; however, the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A’s played one final exhibition game.

Mark Canha drove in three runs, as he hit a double off of Jeff Samardzija in the top of the second inning and then added a two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning, as the A’s completed a three-game sweep of the Bay Bridge Series with a 4-2 victory over the Giants in a game that was called after six innings due to rain, before a crowd of 24,992 at Oracle Park.

Canha drove in Jurickson Profar, who walked to leadoff the second inning, then Marcus Semien singled and then Canha doubled in Profar, and the scoring ended in that inning ended, when former Giants catcher Nick Hundley hit a sacrifice fly to Yangervis Solarte in left field.

Two innings later, Canha launched a Samardzija offering into the left-center field bleachers to give the visitors a 4-0 lead.

Samardzija ended up going 3.2 innings, allowing four runs on five hits, walking just one and striking out five.

“Always good to get it done,” said Samardzija, who added, “got thru came and get this going.”

The Giants cut into the A’s lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Gerardo Parra singled in Connor Joe and Alan Hanson; however, the rally and the game ended, when Pablo Sandoval struck out versus Jerry Blevins.

Mac Williamson, who suffered a devastating concussion on April 24, 2018 when he dove for a foul ball near the left field bullpen took a pitch off the right wrist, but stayed in the game.

“Results are negative,” according to Bruce Bochy.

NOTES: Chris Stratton was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for left-handed pitcher Williams Jerez.

Ty Blach was optioned prior to the game to Triple-A Sacramento, and Andrew Suarez was optioned to Sacramento on Monday.

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner will take the mound on Thursday afternoon, as the Giants begin 137th season on the road against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Left-hander Eric Lauer will take the mound for the Padres, who will begin their 50th season in “America’s Finest City.”

Following Bumgarner will be Derek Holland on Friday, Dereck Rodriguez on Saturday and Samardzija on Sunday before heading 120 miles up Interstate 5 and begin a three-game series against two-time defending National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Monday.

A’s win 4-2 in a rain-shortened game, sweep the Bay Bridge Series

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

SAN FRANCISCO — The A’s and Giants played the final game of Spring Training at Oracle Park Tuesday night. The weather conditions were much better than Monday night, but they deteriorated in the fifth. The rain came down in buckets in the sixth, and the umpires called the game. The A’s beat the Giants in all five games the teams played this preseason.

The teams are off on Wednesday, and the A’s have their home day opener on Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels and their $430 Million Dollar Man, Mike Trout. The A’s are 0-2 in the regular season as they lost two games to the Mariners in Tokyo on March 20th and 21st. The Giants will open on the road against the San Diego Padres and their $300 Million Dollar Man, Manny Machado.

The game summary follows below.

The A’s scored two runs in the second and two runs in the fourth to send Giants’ starter Jeff Samardzija to an early exit. The A’s center fielder Mark Canha blasted Samardzija’s 89 MPH four-seam fastball into the seats to give the A’s a 4-0 lead. Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy decided he had seen enough and removed Samardzija from the game with two outs in the fourth.

The Giants put two on the board in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Connor Joe started the rally with a single. A’s manager Bob Melvin brought in Brian Schlitter to relieve Brooks. Schlitter walked Alen Hanson and then hit Mac Williamson with a pitch to load the bases. Melvin removed Schlitter and Jerry Blevins, who tried to get a spot in the A’s bullpen, served a single to Gerardo Parra. Two runs were scored on the play. The Giants had runners on first and third with two out. Blevins struck out Pablo Sandoval for the final out (and of the game) as the rain came down and the umpires decided that conditions were too severe to continue. The A’s won 4-2 and swept the Bay Bridge Series.

Game Notes: A’s starter Aaron Brooks, who is out of options, pitched very well for the A’s. He pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed five hits and one run. The A’s have to make a decision on his status Wednesday as they have to be down to 25 players by Thursday.

Up Next: The A’s meet the Angels Thursday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum. Mike Fiers will pitch for the A’s. Game time will be at 1:05 pm.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast with Barbara Mason: Mad, Mad, Mad, March; A’s host Angels; Giants are in San Diego on Thursday

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Photo credit: @CalAthletics

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 March Madness is in full tilt: Bears vs. Bears and the Cal women (20-13) lost a tough one at Baylor (33-1) 102-63. It was Cal’s hopes to get this one at Baylor it was too much Baylor who ran off 39 points on Cal. The Lady Bears have had an awesome year.

#2 Duke’s Zion Williamson got a crucial basket on Sunday to help beat Central Florida 77-76 by just that much.

#3 Talk about the Stanford Cardinal women (30-4) and visiting BYU (29-5). This has been another unforgettable season for both teams, who shared identical records before Monday night’s game. Stanford who had the home floor advantage made it pay off with a 72-63 win to advance.

#4 Turning to baseball, the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants concluded their Bay Bridge series to conclude the exhibition season. The A’s will continue their regular season on Thursday afternoon at the Coliseum.

#5 The Giants open their regular season against Manny Machado and the San Diego Padres on Thursday at Petco Park.

Barbara Mason is a freelance sports writer for Area Grande and is filling in for Amaury Pi Gonzalez at http://www.sportsradioservice.com