Tag: mlb

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Posey to sit out All-Star game to rest hip will get cortisone Sun ; Can A’s win a series in Houston?

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mercurynews.com file photo: Giants catcher Buster Posey slides in file photo will be out of the All Star game to rest hip and get a cortisone shot after Sunday’s game

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

San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey announced before Monday night’s game against the Chicago Cubs at AT&T Park in San Francisco that he will sit out next week’s All-Star game to rest his hip. The St. Louis Cardinals’ catcher Yadier Molina will be the National League’s signal-caller in place of Posey.

For the A’s-Astros series in Houston, the question is can the A’s break the spell and win a series at Minute Maid Field? The A’s have played some great ball of late with key hitting and great closer help from Blake Treinen, who has 22 saves, just might make a series out of it.

The Chicago White Sox’s Jose Abreu could be joining the Astros during this current Astros homestand. Abreu for the season is hitting .259 with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs. It would be ironic if he could join the Astros during this series against the A’s.

The Arizona Diamondbacks had an executive from the club scouting at Comerica Park last Sunday to watch pitcher Michael Fulmer 3-8 ERA 4.11. Last Sunday, Fulmer delivered seven strong innings. The Diamondbacks are looking to get some help in their quest to hold onto first place and the postseason and Fulmer is someone they feel that can help the club.

On Monday, there were possible trade possibilities between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Baltimore Orioles. The Brewers were very interested in obtaining Manny Machado’s services and sending Brett Phillips to the O’s. Phillips had a great minor league season last year, hitting .317; but has struggled in the Brewers’ triple-A system this year. The Yankees have also expressed interest in Machado, which actually is a very likely scenario for Machado.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio play-by-play talent and goes through all the trade rumors and All-Star break news at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Playoff Atmosphere: Giants show well in 2-1, extra innings win over the Cubs

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO — Monday night’s tense, playoff-like meeting of the Cubs and Giants needed a hero. In the 11th inning, Pablo Sandoval emerged as that guy.

One day after Sandoval came up with five RBIs in the Giants’ 13-8 win over the Cardinals, the Panda delivered the game-winning hit against the Cubs. Never an insignificant feat, Sandoval gained difficulty points by delivering against a five-man infield while facing formidable reliever Pedro Strop.

“You can’t let that affect your at-bat, and I don’t think it affected Pablo at all,” said manager Bruce Bochy of the crowded infield and Sandoval’s cold-blooded approach.

When Sandoval delivered the two teams had been locked into a 1-1 duel for nearly six innings. While the Giants realized more run scoring opportunities, the Cubs and manager Joe Maddon had answers with starter Kyle Hendricks, who pitched into the ninth, and relievers Randy Rosario and Steve Cishek.

In the tenth inning, Cishek extricated the Cubs from a one-out, runner at third situation by striking out inexperienced hitters Chase d’Arnaud and Steven Duggar. That stranded would-be hero Hunter Pence, who tripled to put the Giants in position, prompting Maddon to move versatile outfielder Ben Zobrist to the infield the first time.

One inning later, the Giants were in the advantageous spot with Strop summoned to face the more dangerous Sandoval, after the Cubs elected to walk All-Star Brandon Crawford ahead of him.

“He’s our best hitter right now,” Sandoval said of Crawford. “I just dropped everything from my mind. I got the opportunity and I took advantage of it.”

Starter Andrew Suarez impressed again by allowing one run on three hits in six innings of work. Suarez struggled with his command, walking four, but got big outs when needed.

Five Giants relievers would follow Suarez, each pitching an inning without falling into stressful situations. Of the five, only closer Will Smith allowed a hit, Zobrist’s two-out double in the ninth. Smith recovered by retiring David Bote to end the inning.

The Giants improved to 3-2 on their lengthy, 10-game homestand, and moved within three games of the idle, first-place Arizona.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips and Michael Duca: The youth movement has begun; Giants get help from Suarez, Duggar and Hanson to hold off Cubs

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@NBCSGiants photo: It was a pitchers duel as the San Francisco Giants came out ahead 2-1 with starters for the Chicago Cubs Kyle Hendricks left and for the Giants Andrew Suarez (right)

On the SF Giants podcast with Morris and Michael:

The youth movement at the San Francisco Giants has begun. They have a mix of veterans and youth. Steven Duggar started and led off on Monday night, Giants starter Andrew Suarez was consistent and has been more impressive than pitcher Chris Stratton.

Suarez went six innings, three hits, a run, earned, four walks and five strikeouts. Suarez was really on his game in beating the Chicago Cubs 2-1. It’s been a team of a cast of 1000s and guys are coming out of nowhere to make contributions.

Alen Hanson and Pablo Sandoval feel like starters. They don’t even feel like replacements at this point. At some point, you have to wonder if this is going to be a story of the Giants or individual achievements and we’re still waiting to see if this team can get hot.

Michael Duca and Morris Phillips do the SF Giants podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

A’s, behind Montas and Piscotty, take down Astros 2-0 at Minute Maid Park

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sbnation file photo: Oakland A’s pitcher Frankie Montas delivered a 2-0 shutout against one of the toughest line ups in the American League the Houston Astros at Minute Field on Monday night

By Jerry Feitelberg

The name of the game in baseball is pitching and A’s starter Frankie Montas turned in a terrific performance as he was the winning pitcher as the A’s snapped the Astro’s eight-game winning streak over Oakland. The A’s won the game 2-0 as Lou Trivino pitched two scoreless innings and closer Blake Treinen earned his 20th consecutive save and 23rd of the year.

Astros’ starter, Gerrit Cole, was also on the top of his game. The Houston ace went six innings and allowed no runs, three hits, walked three, and struck out 11. Cole threw 108 pitches.

The game was scoreless until the top of the seventh. Houston Manager A.J.Hinch brought in former Athletic Brad Peacock to face his former mates. The face first hitter he faced was Stephen Piscotty. Piscotty sent Peacock’s hanging breaking ball into the left-field seats to give the A’s a 1-0 lead. For Piscotty, it was his 10th big fly of the season, and it was the third consecutive game in which he homered.

The A’s added an insurance run in the top of the eighth. With two out, Khris Davis singled. Will Harris walked Matt Olson to advance Davis into scoring position. Hinch brought in Joe Smith to face Piscotty. Piscotty did it again as he singled to drive in Davis.

The A’s led 2-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth. Trivino, as mentioned earlier, was brilliant as he retired the side in order in the eighth. Bob Melvin brought in Treinen to face the top of the Houston order in the ninth. Treinen gave up a leadoff single to George Springer.

Springer retired Alex Bregman for the first out and struck out reigning AL MVP Jose Altuve for the second. Josh Reddick continued to haunt his ex-teammates with a single to put the tying runs on base with two out. Treinen now had to face Evan Gattis. All Gattis has done this year is to salivate when facing A’s pitching. Gattis has pulverized the A’s, and it was nail-biting time. Had Gattis homered, it would have been a walk-off win for Houston. That did not happen as Treinen struck out Gattis to end the game.

Game Notes: The A’s are now 51-40 for the year and are 11 games over the .500 mark. Houston is now 61-32.

Frankie Montas’ line was six innings of work. He allowed no runs, three hits, walked two and struck out two and his record is now 5-2.

The A’s are now 35-0 when leading after seven and 42-0 when leading after 8. The Astros are 4-24 when trailing after 8.

The A’s have now hit 80 homers in 46 road games to lead the AL in that department.

Time of game was 2:51 and 28,301 fans were on hand to watch the A’s beat the Astros.

Up Next: The A’s play game two of the series Tuesday at 5:10 pm PDT in Minute Maid Park.  Sean Manaea will go for the A’s, and Houston’s Justin Verlander will handle the Astros’ pitching chores.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Dwight Clark has ashes laid to rest on Eddie DeBartolo’s ranch; Foster has a lot to mend for this season

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yahoosports file photo: San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark (87) goes for a run against the Minnesota Vikings was laid to rest next to the goal post from the 1981 NFC Championship game at former Eddie DeBartolo’s ranch in Montana

On the San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor:

Former San Francisco 49er Dwight Clark had his ashes laid to rest at former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo’s ranch. DeBartolo had the goal post from the game in which Clark made “the catch” that beat the Dallas Cowboys to advance to the Super Bowl in 1981.

Dave also talks about 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster, who will be suspended for first two games of the season for weapons offense and a misdemeanor drug offense. That being said, Foster is listed as one of the NFL’s elite linebackers from 2017.

David Zizmor does the 49ers podcast each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Crawford and Posey named to All-Star team; Big day for Sandoval on Sunday with 5 RBIs

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sfexaminer.com file photo: Shortstop Brandon Crawford had himself an All Star first half for the Giants and will be going to Washington for the mid summer classic next week

On the SF Giants podcast with Morris:

The Giants’ Pablo Sandoval came through with a three-run blast in the fifth to help the Giants in a 13-8 five-run win at AT&T Park on Sunday. Sandoval’s blast was one of three hits by a Giant hitter. Andrew McCutchen and Alan Hansen also got three hits in Sunday’s game.

The Giants’ 13 runs against the Cardinals were the most since they did it off the Minnesota Twins on June 11, 2016. Sandoval hit for five RBIs for the third time in his career. The Giants host the Chicago Cubs tonight at AT&T Park. The Cubs are a a big draw and should sell out the park for all three dates and prove to be a great contest for the Giants.

Morris also talks about the elections of Giants’ All-Stars Brandon Crawford and Buster Posey to next’s week’s All-Star game.

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

A’s have found a home in the AL Central, shutout Indians, 6-0 to capture road series

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Photo courtesy of David Petkiewicz/cleveland.com

By Morris Phillips

The just-concluded season series between the A’s and Indians was certainly interesting, and it could have worked as an NBA game, filled with scoring runs and 30-second timeouts.

Apparently the A’s called a hypothetical timeout after chasing their collective tails for seven innings on Saturday–and letting the Indians go wild in scoring 28 of the previous 35 runs in the six-game set–dating back to the series finale in Oakland on July 1.

The A’s needed a breath of fresh air, anything to break Cleveland’s momentum. Seemingly, those two minutes between the seventh and eighth innings did the trick. Picture 25 players surrounding manager Bob Melvin as he reminds his guys…

“Be yourselves! We’re home run hitters, so hit home runs! And Brett (Anderson) you go to the scoring table. You’re in at the next media timeout. Let’s go!”

Melvin’s not Steve Kerr, and he didn’t get 25 guys around him and say those words. But the desired effect was the same. The A’s snatched momentum, hit two home runs, wipe out the Indians’ 3-0 lead, then Stephen Piscotty homered in the 11th and the A’s won 6-3.

On Sunday, momentum was starting pitcher Brett Anderson.  In his first appearance since May 18, the resurgent pitcher shut down the AL Central leaders into the sixth inning in the A’s 6-0 shutout. The A’s rebounded to win the series and get to the 50-win mark prior to the All-Star break for the first time since 2014.

Yup, the A’s responded to the Indians’ 28-7 run, with a 12-0 run of their own. You know what they say? In MLB, everybody makes a run.

“We know we have seven games before the break,” said Melvin, of the A’s current streak of seven, consecutive series victories. “We want to finish up strong, so it doesn’t matter who we’re playing.”

Anderson had his tipping point early on Sunday. With runners at second and third and no outs, Anderson struck out Rajai Davis and Robert Perez. Then on a 3-0 pitch, Anderson induced No. 8 hitter Erik Gonzalez to pop out to end the inning, preserving the A’s 1-0 lead.

In the fourth with the bases loaded and two outs, Anderson was up to the task again. The veteran pitcher got Gonzalez to ground into an inning-ending force out play in which Brandon Guyer was retired at third base.

“For the first time back in a while to give us a chance to win and get the series win, I’ll take it,” said Anderson, who has owned the Indians with an 0.82 ERA in five career starts.

“I don’t think we made very good adjustments, but I think sometimes you give the pitcher some credit, for sure,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.

The A’s improved to 18-6 against AL Central competition, which only partially compensates for the struggles in their own division (12-25 against the AL West). If the A’s somehow manage to overcome the 6 1/2 game gap between themselves and the Mariners occupying the second wild card, they’ll have to do it the hard way: Of their remaining 72 games, 39 are against AL West teams, and only 10 against the AL Central Twins and Tigers.

But don’t count the surprising A’s out: they’ve won 16 of 20 and they have timeouts left.

NOTES: Blake Treinen was named the A’s sole representative for the July 17 All-Star Game in Washington D.C. Treinen has 22 saves and hasn’t blown one since April 18. While Treinen is the unquestioned headliner, the A’s bullpen could be considered the A’s real All-Star. The Oakland bullpen has the best save percentage in baseball, converting 26 of 32. But the stellar numbers don’t stop there: the A’s bullpen is 22-7, the most wins and best win percentage of any MLB club.

After activating Anderson, the A’s still have five starters on the disabled list. To make room for Anderson, Paul Blackburn was placed on the disabled list with forearm strain.

UP NEXT: The A’s will take on the Astros in Houston for a four-game set starting Monday night at 5:10 pm PDT.

Sandoval helps Giants gain a split with 3-run blast in 13-8 win over Cardinals

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theintelligencer.com photo: San Francisco Giants’ Pablo Sandoval follows the path of his 3-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 8, 2018, in San Francisco.

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Pablo Sandoval wanted to help the San Francisco Giants gain a split against the St. Louis Cardinals, and he helped out, both on offense and defense.

Sandoval launched a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, helping the Giants to a 13-8 victory over the Cardinals before a crowd of 38,855 at AT&T Park on Sunday. The 13 runs scored by the Giants were their most in a home game since they scored 13 against the Minnesota Twins on June 11, 2016.

The home run by Sandoval was one of three hits for him on the afternoon, as he was joined in the three-hit club by Andrew McCutchen and Alen Hanson.

Not only did Sandoval have three hits on the afternoon, he also drove in five runs for the third time in his career. It was the first time since September 4, 2013, against the Padres, a span of 1,768 games since last Sandoval’s five RBI game. In that game, Sandoval hit three home runs and drove in six runs.

Sandoval also helped out on defense, as he made a tremendous play on a Marcell Ozuna, as he stopped the ball from going down the line, threw from his knees to get Tommy Pham at second base. On the play, Sandoval sprained his left thumb and despite being looked at by the trainers, he stayed in the game.

The win by the Giants gave Madison Bumgarner his second win of the season, and saw the Major League debut of two of their two top minor league prospects, Ray Black and Steven Duggar.

Two Giants received good news after the game, as Brandon Crawford won the fan vote for the National League All-Star team and will start in the game on July 17 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. Crawford will be joined by Buster Posey, who was selected by the players.

Brandon Belt will be part of the Final Player selected process, as he will join on the final ballot along with Jesus Aguilar of the Milwaukee Brewers, Matt Carpenter of the Cardinals, Max Muncy of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Trea Turner of the Washington Nationals.

Yairo Munoz drove in three runs for the Cardinals, as he gave them a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, as he took a Bumgarner pitch and put it into the left-field seats.

The Giants changed all that in the bottom of the third inning, as they scored three runs, as Posey reached on a Paul DeJong fielding error that scored Gorkys Hernandez from second base, as he led off the inning with a double off of Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty.

Following the DeJong error that allowed Bumgarner to go to second base, he then scored on an McCutchen single. Brandon Belt gave the Giants a two-run lead, as he singled to score Posey.

Munoz tied up the game in the top of the fourth inning, as he singled to centerfield to score Marcell Ozuna and Jedd Gyorko.

Harrison Bader scored the fourth run of the game for the Cardinals, as he was hit by a pitch and then scored on a Jose Martinez single.

That was the score for one-half inning, as Sandoval launched his eighth home run of the season that landed on the arcade. The three-run home run by Sandoval scored Brandon Belt, who doubled with one out, went to third on a Crawford single and then Sandoval launched a John Brebbia pitch onto the arcade.

Flaherty lasted just 2.1 innings, allowing three runs (two earned), walking two and striking out two, as he did not fare in the decision.

Bumgarner went 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out six, as he improved to 2-3 on the season.

After starting the season without a hit in his first 14 at-bats, Bumgarner picked up a single in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Duggar made his major league debut an eventful one, as after he was 0-for-3, including two strikeouts, Duggar picked up his first major league hit in the bottom of the sixth inning on a double to centerfield off of Greg Holland.

The Giants broke the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Duggar led off the inning with a double, then Posey walked. After McCutchen grounded out for the first out of the inning, Belt was intentionally walked by Holland and it worked for the Cardinals, as Holland was able to get Crawford to strikeout for the second out of the inning.

Unfortunately for Holland, Crawford would be the last batter that he would retire, as Sandoval drove in two more runs with a single and then Hanson singled for the second time in as many at-bats. Gorkys Hernandez then got in on the act, as he singled to score Sandoval from second base and the speedy Hanson from first base.

This was the second time in the game that Hanson showed his speed, as he went from first to third on a Hernandez groundout in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The five runs allowed by Holland were the most that he allowed since August 27, 2010, while a member of the Kansas City Royals.

Black made his debut in the top of the eighth inning, as he pitched just one-third of an inning, allowing three runs on one hit, walking two and striking out no one.

Three of Black’s pitches reached 100 miles per hour, and mainly all of the pitches were 98 and above.

Carpenter cut the Giants lead in half, as he launched a three-run pinch-hit home run off of Black.

It was the 121st “Splash Hit” overall since AT&T Park opened on April 11, 2000, and the 43rd by an opponent.

This was the second “Splash Hit,” by a Cardinals player, as Carpenter joins Larry Walker, who hit into McCovey Cove, 13 years ago today on July 8, 2005.

Carpenter’s only other pinch-hit home run came on September 6, 2016 at PNC Park against the Pittsburgh Pirates, off of current Giants reliever Tony Watson.

The Giants added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Sandoval and Hernandez scored on a DeJong error on a ball hit by Hunter Pence.

Duggar then picked up his second hit of the afternoon, as he legged out an infield hit that sent Pence to third base.

Martinez went 3-for-5 in the loss for the Cardinals, who after a day off on Monday, open a brief two-game series against the Chicago White Sox on the corner of 35thand Shields on the South Side of Chicago on Tuesday night.

NOTES: Andrew Suarez looks his fourth win of the season on Monday night, as he takes the mound for the opener against the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs will send Kyle Hendricks to the hill.

Hernandez was forced to leave the game with tightness in his left calf in the sixth inning.

Pham was forced to leave the game with a left ankle contusion in the eighth inning.

UP NEXT: The Giants will host the Cubs Monday night at 7:15 pm PDT.

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum: Jackson and Gearrin traded to Rangers; Cano talks about his PED use; Muncy helps Dodgers past Angels Saturday night; Samardzija on track, hitting now off

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sportingnews.com file photo: Seattle Mariners Robinson Cano (22) talks about his PED use and being suspended by MLB

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1  Giants Austin Jackson and Corey Gearrin both traded to the Texas Rangers

2 M’s Robinson Cano finally speaks about PED suspension

3 A’s castoff Max Muncy is Dodgers’ new slugger

4 Piscotty homers in the 11th, caps wild comeback by A’s

5 Report: Orioles fielding seven offers for Manny Machado

Daniel Dullum does the MLB The Show podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants transactions: Gearrin and Jackson traded, while Black and Duggar called up

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Photo credit: sfgate.com

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Sometimes, on Sunday morning, there is no news around the ballpark, but today is there is a lot of news surrounding the San Francisco Giants.

The Giants traded pitcher Cory Gearrin, outfielder Austin Jackson and Minor League pitcher Jason Bahr to the Texas Rangers in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

To replace both Gearrin and Jackson on the roster, the Giants purchased the contracts of right-handed pitcher Ray Black and outfielder Steven Duggar from Triple-A Sacramento.

Both Black and Duggar will be making their first appearances on a major-league roster, and Manager Bruce Bochy is wasting no time with Duggar, as he is hitting lead-off and playing center field in today’s series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals.

It has been a tough road to the majors for Black, who was drafted by the Giants with their seventh selection in the 2011 draft, but missed his first two professional seasons in 2012 and 2013 due to a torn labrum.

That was not all of Black’s injuries, as he detailed all of his injuries he has occurred since his days at the University of Pittsburgh.

While with the Panthers, Black had knee and hand surgeries in both 2009 and 2010, then came the labrum. Black then tore the Lat muscle in his arm in 2015, and finally his elbow was scoped in 2017.

His first surgery came in 2006, as he underwent Tommy John surgery as a high schooler in Northeast Pennsylvania.

Duggar, who was drafted by the Giants out of Clemson University in the sixth round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft played in just 42 games between the Arizona Giants, San Jose Giants and the Sacramento Rivercats in 2017, as he missed the first seven weeks of the season with a flexor strain in his right elbow, and then he was out with a left hamstring strain.

This season with the Rivercats, Duggar was hitting .272 with four home runs and 21 runs batted in, as he played in 78 games for the Rivercats.

In 21.2 innings pitched this season, Black was 2-0 with a 2.91 earned run average in 22 games. Black walked just seven batters, while striking out 38 in those 21.2 innings for the Rivercats. He also picked up one save.