Tag: mlb

Giants complete sweep of D-backs with 9-6 win

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, July 1, 2018

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The San Francisco Giants had its bats going Sunday, completing its three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 9-6 win and a 16-hit attack at Chase Field on Sunday.

Yet, it was a defensive gem that helped make it possible. That, and a key pinch hit from Hunter Pence.

By sweeping the D-backs, San Francisco pulled to within 2 ½ games of first-place Arizona in the NL West race.

“It started with our pitching,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “Today, (Derek) Holland wasn’t quite on top of his game and worked pretty hard out there, but he kept us in the game. It was timely hitting too; the guys got some big hits. Our defense, the bullpen, everything.

“To win all three, you have to play really good ball, especially against this team.”

In the fourth inning, the D-backs closed their deficit to 4-3. With two out, a run in and bases loaded, Christian Walker sent a scorching grounder down the right field line that first baseman Brandon Belt snared on the edge of the outfield grass.

Belt’s throw to Cody Gearrin, sprinting from the pitcher’s mound, beat Walker and snuffed out the Arizona rally.

“Holland had 90 pitches at that stage,” Bochy said. “That was a huge out, a huge play. At first, I thought it was going to get through, but that was a beautiful play that Belt made.”

Pence, pinch-hitting for Gearrin, greeted D-Backs reliever Silvino Bracho with a two-run double down the left-field line, driving in Austin Slater and Joe Panik. Two batters later, Pence scored on Brandon Belt’s base hit.

“Hunter is our spiritual leader,” Bochy said. “I know his role has changed and it’s not easy. He went up there today and delivered for us. It’s going to take everybody and these guys need to know that – off the bench or playing regularly.

“Hunter has such a great attitude. He just wants to do anything he can to help the club win.”

San Francisco broke the game open with a four-run rally in the fifth, chasing D-backs starter Zack Godley (9-6) and taking an 8-3 lead. After Godley issued back-to-back walks to Alen Hanson and Slater, Panik’s RBI single to center scored Hanson, setting up Pence’s pinch-double.

Paul Goldschmidt’s two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh off Giants reliever Pierce Johnson – his 18th of the season – pulled Arizona to within 8-5. Goldschmidt homered after Nick Ahmed led off with a triple.

In the ninth, pinch-hitter Austin Jackson doubled and scored the Giants’ ninth run on Crawford’s two-out double. The D-backs responded with a run in the bottom of the ninth on John Ryan Murphy’s two-out RBI single off Mark Melancon.

With runners at first and second, Will Smith replaced Melancon and struck out Jake Lamb to earn his second save.

“Melancon’s stuff is fine,” Bochy said. “He’s still finding his way, I think, a little bit. His confidence will grow the more work that he gets. With all the time that he missed, I think he’s still trying to get to mid-season form.”

Noting that the bullpen is in flux, Bochy said, “We’ll use everybody. We have guys that are interchangeable and can pitch the seventh, eighth or ninth. We’ll mix it up.”

The Giants manufactured a run in the second inning to open the scoring. Nick Hundley walked, moved to second on Pablo Sandoval’s single, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Joe Panik’s base hit.

An alert play by D-backs catcher John Ryan Murphy squelched the rally. When Holland’s swinging bunt died in the dirt a foot in front of the plate, Murphy pounced on it and fired a strike to shortstop Nick Ahmed to start an inning-ending double play.

Arizona answered by taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second. After Murphy walked and Lamb doubled, Chris Owings hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Murphy. With two out, Jerrod Dyson sliced a bloop single to left, scoring Lamb.

San Francisco scored twice in the third to regain the lead at 3-2. Gorkys Hernandez led off with a base hit, and after Belt flied out to center and Andrew McCutchen struck out, Brandon Crawford singled before Hundley delivered a base hit to score Hernandez.

Holland helped himself in the fourth when he led off with a double and scored on Belt’s one-out single, extending the Giants’ lead to 4-2.

The D-backs cut their deficit to 4-3 in the fourth when Lamb scored on Dyson’s one-out single. Arizona loaded the bases with two out, and after Holland was replaced on the mound by Cory Gearrin (1-1), the D-backs failed to capitalize.

Hundley was 3-for-5, while Belt, Crawford, Slater and Panik each collected four hits. Dyson, Ahmed, Walker, Murphy and David Peralta each had two hits for Arizona.

San Francisco used seven pitchers in a game where neither starting pitcher lasted past the fourth inning. Gearrin faced one batter to get the win.

Godley gave up seven of San Francisco’s nine runs – all earned – on nine hits in four-plus innings.

After winning the first two games with its pitching, Bochy felt it was important to win one by outhitting the opposition.

“Over the course of a season, you’re going to have starters that occasionally aren’t on top of their game,” Bochy said. “So, you have to slug it out with the other club occasionally and put some runs on the board. They did that today.”

The Giants’ road trip continues Monday through Wednesday in Denver against the Colorado Rockies. San Francisco’s probables for the series, in order, are Madison Bumgarner (1-2), Chris Stratton (8-5) and Andrew Saurez (3-4).

GIANT JOTTINGS: 3B Pablo Sandoval left Sunday’s game after being hit by a pitch in the third inning. Sandoval suffered a right elbow contusion; X-rays were negative. … RHP Jeff Samardzija (right shoulder tightness) is scheduled to start for Triple-A Sacramento on Monday, and RHP Johnny Cueto (right elbow sprain) is slated to throw a bullpen session on Monday. … Attendance at Chase Field Sunday was 29,721 for the three-hour, 45-minute contest.

UP NEXT: The Giants will travel to Colorado to take on the Rockies. Game 1 is Monday night at 5:40 pm PDT.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame, Mural at the Oakland Coliseum

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Photo by Amaury Pi Gonzalez, Vice President of MLB Hispanic Heritage Museum: Mural for the MLB Hispanic Heritage Museum at the Oakland Coliseum

Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame, Mural at the Oakland Coliseum

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By: Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND — At the Club Entrance of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame has a mural for all fans to enjoy. The mural celebrates the 20th anniversary of the founding of the museum. In 1998 Mr. Gabriel “Tito” Avila Jr. founded the museum as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and since then, it has been traveling all across the country with exhibits at museums, Fanfest, All-Star Games and all kinds of baseball celebrations, including inductions in Major League parks of Hispanic players of all 30 teams.

“The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame thanks Mr.Dave Kaval, President of the Oakland Athletics, for welcoming us and giving us access so this Mural can be enjoyed by thousands of baseball fans” said Avila Jr.

The colorful mural is at the Club Level entrance of the Oakland Coliseum, home of the Oakland Athletics, inside the park. The concept of the mural was captured and put into Dagoberto Blanco “Campy” Campaneris, who is arguably the best shortstop in A’s history. One of the stars during the three of the four World Series championships of the A’s in 1972, 1973 and 1974. He is one of those players the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame has honored and inducted.

The museum’s main goal is to have its permanent location here in the Bay Area, one of most culturally diverse areas in the country. As of 2018, Latino/Hispanic players in the MLB make up around 30% of all players. The main baseball countries in Latin America are Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, México, Panamá, Nicaragua, Colombia, Curazao,and there are also players from Brazil, like Yan Gomes of the Cleveland Indians.

The popularity of baseball has grown in the past decades to the point that Major League games have been played in México and Puerto Rico, Japan. Next year, the Yankees and Red Sox will play in London, England. For the first time, MLB games will be played in Europe. Baseball has become much more international and the museum specially honors the contribution of Hispanic players to the game. The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame wants to thank Mauricio Segura, owner of Golden Bay Magazine, for bringing our concept of this mural to life. The first 20 years the museum became well-known and received recognition from commissioner Bud Selig, and the current commissioner Rob Manfred.

The A’s and the Mariners will open the 2019 season in Japan.

http://www.hispanicheritagebaseballmuseum.org/about/

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the MLB Hispanic Heritage Museum, the play by play radio talent for the Oakland A’s, and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum: Former Oakland A’s pitcher Kilkenny dead at 73; Orioles pay tribute to shooting victims; Tiger coach calls clubhouse attendant “monkey” is fired

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file photo from thesocietyforamericanbaseballresearch.com: Former Oakland A’s pitcher the late Mike Kilkenny who passed away this weekend pitched for the A’s the year they won the World Series in 1972

On the MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum

1 Orioles pay tribute in the press box to The Gazette shooting victims

2 Report: Tigers pitching coach fired for directing racial slur at clubhouse attendant

3 Giants take first two of weekend series in Phoenix, close gap in NL West

4 Swingin’ A’s sneak into the AL Wild Card race

5 RIP Mike Kilkenny former Oakland A’s pitcher, who passed away this weekend

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

Rodriguez takes control as Giants shut out D-backs 7-0

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, June 30, 2018

PHOENIX, Ariz. – San Francisco used a long inning to build an early lead Saturday, a strong start from Dereck Rodriguez, and the Giants defeated the Diamondbacks 7-0 in the second game of their weekend series at Chase Field.

The Giants have won nine of their last 11 games and cut their deficit in the NL West division to 3 ½ games behind the first-place D-backs.

D-backs starter Shelby Miller (0-2) struggled through five innings, giving up six earned runs on nine hits and a walk with six strikeouts. Most of the damage occurred when San Francisco batted around in the third, scoring four runs.

“I thought Shelby had pretty good stuff. That four-run inning really put us behind the 8-ball,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “Shelby was making mistakes out over the plate with an aggressive fastball. At this time of year, it’s hard to be patient. We just have to remind him that this is part of the progression.”

It was Miller’s second start since returning to the D-Backs from over a year of rehab following Tommy John surgery in May 2017.

“This is to be expected,” Lovullo said of Miller’s progress. “These are situations where coming back from Tommy John isn’t going to be perfect. This is just part of the process. We know this outing was better than the last. He got nicked for a run in the fourth, but came back at the heart of their lineup and got them 1-2-3.

“Shelby got through that fifth inning, and that was progression to me.”

While Miller struggled, Giants starter Dereck Rodriguez (3-1) threw 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball. Rodriguez fanned five, walked two and scattered six hits before being pulled after throwing 102 pitches. It was Rodriguez’s first career start against the Diamondbacks.

Giants catcher Buster Posey said, “It was execution, moving the ball down and out and changing speeds,” Posey said. “He’s got a really nice feel for what he’s doing out there.”

After Rodriguez departed, Ty Blach and Cory Gearrin combined to retire eight of the last nine Diamondback hitters.

Posey said that “execution” has been the key to the success of Rodriguez and the other young San Francisco pitchers.

“That, and gaining confidence,” Posey said. “They’re able to come out with a game plan and they’re able to execute it. It’s been fun to watch their progression and hopefully, there’s more of that to come.”

The offense backed the shutout effort with a 12-hit attack, led by Andrew McCutchen (3-for-5) and Gorkys Hernandez (2-for-4). Pablo Sandoval, Brandon Crawford and Joe Panik each drove in two runs.

With one out in the San Francisco third, consecutive singles by Posey, McCutchen and Brandon Belt loaded the bases. An RBI walk issued to Crawford made it 2-0, and Sandoval followed with a two-run single.

Joe Panik’s sacrifice fly to center drove in Crawford with the fourth run of the inning. McCutchen added a solo home run in the fourth, extending San Francisco’s lead to 6-0. It was McCutchen’s ninth home run of the season.

At that point, Miller had thrown 80 pitches.

Panik tacked on a solo home run to right – his fourth of the season – in the eighth inning.

Crawford’s solo home run to lead off the San Francisco second put the Giants up to stay at 1-0. The blast – Crawford’s 10th of the season – cleared the right-center fence inside the 413-foot marker.

With Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija on the disable list, the emergence of young pitchers like Rodriguez has been crucial to the Giants’ recent success.

“It’s no secret that good pitching is what it’ going to take to get to the playoffs and win another championship,” Posey said. “It’s good to see him having this success.”

On Sunday, left-hander Derek Holland (5-7, 4.24) starts for the Giants, facing right-hander Zack Godley (9-5, 4.58). First pitch is at 1:10 p.m.

GIANTS JOTTINGS: Arizona SS Ketel Marte pulled up with a right leg injury while running out an infield single in the seventh inning. Lovullo said Marte had a right hamstring cramp and is day-to-day. … Giants RHP Johnny Cueto (right elbow sprain) threw 4-plus scoreless innings in his second rehab start at Triple-A Sacramento. Cueto threw 69 pitches, struck out five and walked one. RHP Jeff Samardzija (right shoulder tightness) will make his fourth rehab appearance on Monday for the PCL River Cats. … Arizona OF David Peralta played in his 500th MLB game on Friday. … D-Backs are 9-3 in their last 12 home games against San Francisco, going back to last season. … Outside temperature at game time was 105 degrees, 81 inside. Attendance was 38,117.

UP NEXT: The Giants and D-backs conclude their three-game set on Sunday at 1:10 pm PDT.

The winning streak continues as the A’s crush the Indians 7-2 on Saturday

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment
IMG_4719
Canha bangs an RBI-double off the left field wall Photo: Charlie O. Mallonee

By Charlie O. Mallonee

OAKLAND, Calif. — The well-traveled veteran pitcher Edwin Jackson made his second start for the Oakland Athletics on Saturday, and he worked 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits, while walking none to come away with his first victory in a Green and Gold uniform. Jackson’s teammates rewarded his efforts by coming from back from a 2-0 deficit to score seven runs off just eight hit to win their sixth consecutive game.

Neither starting pitcher allowed a hit or baserunner in the first three innings of the game. The Indians were the first to strike when they hit two home runs off Jackson in the top of the fourth inning. Francisco Lindor hit his 20th homer of the season into the right-field seats on a 1-1 count to lead off the inning. With one out, Jose Ramirez stepped up to the plate to face Jackson and jacked a 2-2 pitch over the center-field wall for his 24th round-tripper of 2018. Things were not looking good for Jackson at that moment.

Jackson settled down in the top of the fifth and he did not allow another baserunner in the remaining 1.2 innings he would pitch.

The A’s struck back in the home half of the sixth inning. Franklin Barreto led off with a double. Josh Phegley then hit his second home run of the year into the left field seats to tie the game at 2-2. Dustin Fowler followed up with a single through the hole at second. Mark Canha hit a line drive to left that hit at the top of the wall for a double that allowed the speedy Fowler to race home from first to score the A’s third run and give them the lead. Canha was thrown out trying to advance to third. Oakland took a lead 3-2 and would never trail in the game again.

Oakland would score four more times in the eighth inning to make the final score 7-2.

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Bob Melvin came out to congratulate and take starter Edwin Jackson out of the game Photo: Charlie O. Mallonee

Edwin Jackson (1-0) gets credit for the win. The Indians’ starter Adam Plutko (4-2) is tagged with the loss. A’s reliever Lou Trivino picked up his third save of the season.

Oakland’s record improves to 46-38, and they are now 8.5 games behind the Astros in the AL West. The Indians fall to 44-37, but maintain an 8.0 game lead over the second-place Twins.

Melvin talks about his team after the game

In the Batter’s Box

A’s

  • Dustin Fowler snapped an 0-for-9 hitless streak with his single in the bottom of the sixth inning. Hitting his fifth home run of the year in the bottom of the eighth was just icing of the cake. Fowler was the only A’s player to have multiple hits in the game.
  • Matt Olson hit his 18th home run in the home half of the eighth inning as the A’s kept adding insurance runs to their lead. He has now hit 15 of his 18 home runs off right-handed pitching.
  • Mark Canha extended his hitting streak to nine games, which is the longest streak of his career. He has also reached base safely in his last 10 games.
  • Khris Davis hit a sacrifice fly to up his RBI total to 55 for the season.
  • The A’s went 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left just three runners on base.

Indians

  • Francisco Lindor is on fire. In his last 19 games, he is batting .306 (23-for-75) with six home runs, five doubles, 11 RBI and 20 runs scored.
  • Since the start of the 2017 season, Jose Ramirez leads the major leagues with 136 extra base hits. He entered the game on Saturday tied for fourth in the MLB with his teammate Francisco Lindor with 44 extra base hits so far this season.
  • Jason Kipnis has now reached base safely in each of his last 13 games. In those 13 games, he is batting .312 with three homers and eight runs scored.

On the Hill

A’s

  • Edwin Jackson still has not walked a batter since joining the A’s. He worked 6.2 innings giving up two runs (earned) off two hits (both HRs). He struck out six Cleveland hitters. Jackson threw 86 pitches (52 strikes).
  • The A’s used four relief pitchers to close out the game. Ryan Butcher, Emilio Pagan, Yusmeiro Petit and Lou Trivino worked the final 2.1 innings.
  • The plan was to have Petit close it out, but he looked a bit rusty when got up on the mound. Manager Bob Melvin said that was on him for not getting him into some games earlier in the week.

Indians

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Terry Francona has a little chat with umpire Tony Randazzo Photo: Charlie O. Mallonee
  • Indians starter Adam Plutko looked brilliant in the opening three innings but the wheels came off in the sixth inning. He pitched 5.2 innings allowing three runs (earned) on five hits. He walked one and struck out three.
  • The Indians used five pitchers in the contest.
  • Dan Otero and Josh Tomlin really struggled in the eighth inning when the A’s sealed the game by scoring four runs on just three hits. Two walks and two home runs were the fatal flaws for the relievers.
  • A familiar face to Bay Area baseball fans came into the game to shut down the A’s in the eighth inning, former Giant George Kontos was brought in to do the job.

Up Next

The A’s will try to complete their second consecutive series sweep on Sunday when they will close out this three-game series with the Indians. The Indians will start RHP Mike Clevinger (6-3, 3.03). The A’s will counter with RHP Frankie Montas (4-1, 3.68). First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM PDT.

MLB The Show podcast with Matt Harrington: A’s Treinen just collecting saves up to 21; Yanks-Sox battle for first place tonight; Giants’ Samardjiza might end up closing

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Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (58) delivers a pitch in the first inning of their baseball game against the Cleveland Indians at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, June 29, 2018. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

On the MLB The Show podcast with Matt:

Good pitching beats good hitting everytime and the Oakland A’s reliever Blake Treinen. whose ERA is 0.89, got his 21st save in a 3-1 win over Cleveland on Friday. Treinen came in relief for A’s starter Paul Blackburn, who lasted 6.1 innings, no runs, three hits, five strike outs, and one walk.

The A’s have jelled, winning five straight and 11 of 13. They also have showed signs of improving their home record taking two of the first three from Cleveland on this current homestand where they had previously struggled at home. The A’s and Mariners are going hot–both teams with five-game win streaks and could very well give the Astros a run if they continue to win games.

The New York Yankees tied for first with a win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday with a convincing 8-1 win behind the pitching effort of CC Sabthia. The Yanks and Sox continue the series tonight.

Finally, the Giants are considering using veteran Jeff Samardzjia as a closer. Samardzjia is coming back from pectoral tightness and might fill a void as the Giants’ closers have coughed up loses that put the Giants in second for the most blown saves in the big leagues this season.

Matt Harrington does the MLB The Show podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Slater continues hot hitting, Giants nip D-backs 2-1

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Friday, June 29, 2018

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Since being called up from Triple-A Sacramento last Saturday, San Francisco Giants outfielder Austin Slater has merely picked up where he left off.

Slater’s hot bat continued to sizzle on Friday night at Chase Field, where he drove in both Giants runs in a 2-1 NL West victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“It’s really fun to see the young guys come up and have success up here. It’s hard,” Giants closer Will Smith said. “Slater had an incredible night, and Andy (Suárez) threw the ball great too.”

Slater, hitting .368 as a Giant, was batting .344 for the PCL River Cats with 24 doubles, five home runs and 32 runs batted in in 53 games. On Friday, Slater was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI doubles.

“Slater really stepped up and delivered for us,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He had some good at-bats in the clutch, too. He did the damage today. He uses the whole field and has great hand-eye coordination.

“We were looking for someone against Corbin who could hopefully knock in some runs, and he’s the one who came through for us.”

The Giants (43-40) surged ahead to stay at 2-1 when Brandon Crawford led off with a walk against Arizona reliever Andrew Chafin (1-3) and scored on Slater’s double to right-center.

San Francisco, third in the NL West Division, trails the first-place Diamondbacks by 4 ½ games. With the victory, the Giants have won eight of their last 10.

“It was a great win to start the trip against a lineup like that,” Bochy said.

While both bullpens did well, the Giants’ Reyes Moronta, Tony Watson, and Will Smith held the D-Backs scoreless and hitless over the last three innings. Smith earned his first save.

“No extra pressure, really. I just tried to get guys out, put up a zero,” Smith said.

Smith struck out two of the three hitters he faced in the bottom of the ninth, including pinch-hitter John Ryan Murphy to end the game.

“I just tried to make good pitches, keep the ball down,” Smith said. “In a one-run ballgame, you don’t want to elevate anything he can put a good swing on.”

Giants starter Andrew Suárez (3-4) worked six innings, giving up one earned run on seven hits – five of them infield hits – striking out five and issuing two walks.

“What a terrific job he did,” Bochy said. “Good stuff today, had everything going. He had some tough luck with five infield hits, but that kid pitched his heart out. He really kept his composure out there; he’s got some saavy out there and knows when to make his pitches. He got out of pretty tough jam (in the sixth inning) but his stuff was still there – that’s what was impressive.”

On the unusual amount of infield hits he gave up, Suárez said, “It happens, so I made sure not to overreact and minimize damage and try to get some groundouts. It was just weird; I’ve never seen it like that. But it worked out, thankfully.”

Suárez, 2-0 in five June starts, said he doesn’t worry about other pitchers eventually coming back from the disabled list, saying, “Whatever happens, happens. I’m just focused on the next start.”

San Francisco opened the scoring in the second inning off D-Backs starter Patrick Corbin. Buster Posey led off with a single and took second on centerfielder Chris Owings’ error, then scored on Slater’s double to center.

A video review helped the Diamondbacks tie the game in the sixth at 1-1. After Ketel Marte led off with a double, Chris Owings was ruled safe at first on a sharp grounder to third that was reviewed. Jake Lamb followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Marte, who moved to third on Owings’ hit.

Earlier, Arizona (47-35) threatened in the bottom of the third, but came up empty. With two out, Nick Ahmad singled, Paul Goldschmidt walked and David Peralta reached on an infield single to load the bases. But Saurez worked out of the jam by retiring Marte on a grounder to short.

Corbin, 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA in three previous starts against the Giants, wound up with a no-decision. In his six innings, Corbin surrendered one earned run on four hits, with five strikeouts and two walks.

The weekend series resumes on Saturday night with a battle of right-handers – Dereck Rodriguez (2-1, 3.82) pitching for San Francisco against Shelby Miller (0-1, 12.27) for the D-Backs.

GIANT JOTTINGS: Attendance was 30,981; time of game was 2:41, even with seven pitching changes and a video replay challenge (:38 on Owings’ hit in the sixth). … RHP Johnny Cueto made his second rehab start for Triple-A Sacramento Friday against Fresno. Cueto has missed the Giants’ last 55 games with a right elbow sprain. … Arizona RHP Yoshihisa Hirano set a team record with his 25th consecutive scoreless appearance, passing J.J. Putz, who had two streaks of 24 scoreless games in 2012. … D-Backs OF A.J. Pollock (fractured left thumb) began a rehab assignment Friday at Triple-A Reno.

UP NEXT: The Giants and D-backs will square off again Saturday night at 7:10 pm PDT.

Blackburn Deals: A’s Win 5th Straight, 3-1 Over Indians

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Photo credit: sfexaminer.com

By Matthew Harrington

OAKLAND, Calif. — The potential All-Stars were great for the Oakland Athletics Friday night, but it was Antioch’s own Paul Blackburn that stood out the most in the A’s 3-1 win over the Cleveland Indians. Blackburn (2-2, 6.46 ERA) fired 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball to give the A’s the edge over the Central Division leaders at home.

Darkhorse MVP candidate Jed Lowrie continued to be the best player in baseball no-one is talking about, mashing his 14th homer of the season. Blake Treinen nailed down his 18th straight save and the A’s won their fifth-straight game. Marcus Semien and potential American League All-Star Khris Davis knocked in a run each. Francisco Lindor knocked in the Tribe’s lone run.

Matt Olson scored the first run after doubling with one out in the second inning. Semien then came up to the plate against Indians starter Trevor Bauer and, after taking a knuckle curve for a ball, slapped the next one into left field for a 1-0 lead.

Davis, who has openly mulled his participation in the Home Run Derby, jumped on Bauer early in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs and Matt Joyce on second, Davis took the first pitch he saw to left field for a run-scoring double. Bauer would finish off the inning and pitch two thirds of the seventh before coming out of the game after compiling eight strikeouts.

While Bauer (7-6, 2.45) was strong, he wound up the loser, thanks to Blackburn’s bounce back. In his previous outing, the righty went five innings while giving up six runs to the woeful Chiacgo White Sox. He was diealed in Friday, scattering three hits with five punch-outs in an outing that surely saved him from a trip to Nashville.

After Blackburn departed after 6 1/3 innings, Ryan Butcher took over. The Indians touched him up for one earned run on a double in the eighth by Lindor, but Lowrie tagged Zach McAllister in the bottom of the inning to preserve the two-run lead.

Treinen walked the tight rope in the ninth, opening the inning with a single to another MVP candidate, Jose Ramirez. Edwin Encarnacion mashed a ball to center field that looked like a game-tying shot, but his fly ran out of room and Mark Canha made the catch. Former Athletic Yonder Alonso struck out Rajai Davis walked. Jason Kipnis flew out to end the game and move the A’s seven games over .500.

Oakland sends Edwin Jackson to the hill Saturday in what already has been a historic season for the righty. By donning the Green and Gold, he tied Octavio Dotel for most teams played for with 13. He pitched well in his previous outing, holding the Detroit Tigers to one run over six innings. He’ll be opposed by Adam Plutko, who has gone 4-1 stepping into the rotation due to injuries to Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco.

Oakland A’s podcast with Joey Friedman: A’s could be dealing the big names

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file photo by beyond the boxscore: Sean Manaea Oakland A’s starter threw a six inning game giving up two runs. The A’s open up against Cleveland tonight

On the A’s podcast with Joey:

Will the A’s shop third baseman Jed Lowrie, outfielder Khris Davis, or catcher Jonathan Lucroy before the trade deadline? The A’s are rolling. They’ve won four straight in a sweep over the Detroit Tigers. Although, they’re 10.5 games out. They’re just seven games back for a wild card berth.

A’s starter Sean Manaea had a good outing on Thursday, going six innings, five hits, two runs, one walk and two strikeouts. Although, pitcher Paul Blackburn had a rough outing in his last pitching appearance in Chicago, A’s pitching coach Scott Emerson likes what he can do. He saw him throwing his best stuff in the bullpen and he’ll get another start against Cleveland tonight at the Coliseum.

Joey does the A’s podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Colorado goes Coors, Rockies nip the Giants 9-8

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Photo credit: @Rockies

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO — Those top-of-the-order guys that were stymied by Madison Bumgarner and the Giants’ bullpen on Wednesday, showed up big for the Rockies at AT&T Park on Thursday.

DJ LeMahieu capped his three hit, five RBI day with a game-winning, two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning, and the Rockies rallied to beat the Giants, 9-8.

Nolan Arenado hit his 19th homer, and Trevor Story racked up three hits as the Rockies snapped the Giants’ streak of 15 games in which their starting pitcher allowed three runs or less.

Chris Stratton began the afternoon looking for his ninth win, but only lasted four innings, allowing eight hits and five runs.

The Giants scored twice in the eighth to take the lead, giving Sam Dyson a chance to record the final three outs, but the Giants’ closer allowed LeMahieu’s home run to left field with a runner aboard. The Giants fell to 36-2 in games they led after eight innings.

“Tough one when you have a lead in the ninth and we couldn’t hold on to it,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “Sam was just a little bit off.”

“I felt like we got some big outs, and some big hits and it turned into a win. We just got to keep it going,” LeMahieu said.

The Giants finished their homestand 7-3 and failed to win eight times on a homestand for the first time since 2012. They travel to Arizona and Colorado on a six-game trip beginning Friday night.