Tag: mlb

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Baseball Heroes and Memorial Day

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photo from twitter.com: Philadelphia A’s catcher Harry O’Neill who caught for Philadelphia for only one ballgame July 23, 1939 died in World War II. O’Neill died by sniper fire in Iwo Jima on March 6, 1945

Baseball Heroes and Memorial Day

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

OAKLAND–This Memorial Day, Major League Baseball remembers the heroes who fought in wars defending our nation and made the ultimate sacrifice.

Philadelphia Athletics catcher Harry O’Neill (1917-1945) He enlisted in the US Mariners in 1942 after graduating from OCS School (Officer Candidate School) he died fighting the Japanese in Iwo Jima.

These players (among many others throughout the years) are veterans who served our country and some who actually where in combat situations. many are Hall of Famers: Ted Williams, Joe Dimaggio, Jackie Robinson, Hoyt Wilhelm, Ed Figueroa, Al Bumbry, Garry Maddox, Bobby Doerr, Pee Wee Reese, George Sisler, Ty Cobb, Tommy LaSorda, Gil Hodges,Hank Greenberg, Tris Speaker, Johnny Pesky, Yogi Berra, Christy Matheson, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Warren Spahn, Bob Feller, Don Larsen, Phil Rizzuto, Bill Dickey, Whitey Ford, Eddie Collins, Don Newcome, Stan Musial, Larry Doby, Curt Simmons, Hank Bauer, Ernie Banks and Jerry Coleman.

Teams will wear special uniforms during this Memorial Day weekend as well as Independence Day, including special caps and socks. They will be for sale at Major League ballparks.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio talent for the Oakland A’s and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stratton put a stop to losing streak as Giants edge Cubs for 5-4 victory

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Photo credit: sfexaminer.com

By Jeremy Kahn

Chris Stratton put a stop to the San Francisco Giants modest three-game losing streak, and it was the bullpen that held down the fort down the stretch.

Stratton went five innings, allowing three runs on four hits, while walking three and striking out four and the Giants defeated the Chicago Cubs 5-4 at Wrigley Field Saturday night.

As for Stratton, it was his third straight win. He’s now 6-3 on the season.

It was a huge comeback victory for the Giants, who fell behind 2-0 at the end of the second inning, but then Brandon Crawford continued his hot hitting, as he hit a huge two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning that tied up the game.

After the Cubs retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Giants took the lead back for good in the top of the fifth inning, as Andrew McCutchen doubled to centerfield that scored Gorkys Hernandez. Brandon Belt gave the Giants the lead for good, as he singled to center to score McCutchen.

It was the third loss in their last four games for the Cubs, who were swept in a two-game series against the Cleveland Indians earlier this week at Wrigley Field.

Belt added a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning to score Hernandez from third base, and Evan Longoria moved up an additional 90 feet to second base.

Hernandez is turning out to be a god send for the Giants, as he recently became the Giants everyday centerfielder, replacing Austin Jackson, who came to the Giants during the offseason from the Cleveland Indians. On the game, Hernandez went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and raised his average to .311 on the season.

The Cubs got within one run in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Anthony Rizzo hit an opposite field single off of Tony Watson to score Kyle Schwarber; however, that would be the closest that the Cubs would get.

Closer Hunter Strickland came on in the bottom of the ninth inning and retired the Cubs in order for his 10thsave of the season.

Stratton gave up three walks in the bottom of the second inning, as the Cubs took a 1-0 lead and look to extend the score; however, a Javier Baez comebacker that Stratton snared and threw to Nick Hundley for the first out of the inning. Jose Quintana then was unable to help out his own cause, as he grounded into double play to end the inning.

Schwarber then extended the Cubs lead in the bottom of the third inning, as he hit his ninth home run of the season.

After Crawford tied up the game with his sixth home run of the season in the top of the fourth inning, Baez gave the Cubs the lead in the bottom of the half of the inning, as he hit his 12th home run of the inning.

The bullpen quartet of Reyes Moronta, Sam Dyson, Watson and Strickland pitched four innings, allowing one run on three hits, not walking a batter and striking out one.

Quintana pitched just 4.1 innings, as he gave up four runs and five hits and saw his record fall to 5-4 on the season.

NOTES: Ty Blach looks for his fourth win of the season on Sunday night, as he takes the mound against Tyler Chatwood, who also looks for his fourth win of the season. Chatwood leads the major leagues with 40 walks on the season.

Buster Posey is currently day-to-day with soreness in his right hip.

Joe Panik, who is out with a sprained left thumb will begin a rehab assignment on Monday with the Sacramento Rivercats.

Alen Hanson, who replaced Panik at second base and was then injured himself with a strained left hamstring will play an extended spring training game on Monday in Arizona, and then will begin a rehab assignment on Wednesday with San Jose.

Madison Bumgarner began his rehab assignment in Sacramento, and pitched 3.2 innings, not allowing a run or a hit, walking one and striking out eight. Bumgarner also went 1-for-1 in his only plate appearance.

Mark Melancon pitched an inning, and struck out a batter in his only inning of work.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Cubs conclude their series in a nationally televised game on ESPN Sunday night at 5:08 pm PST.

Hendricks, Cubs send Giants to third straight loss

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Photo credit: @playtheapp1

By Jeremy Kahn

After opening their three-city, nine-game road trip against the defending World Champion Houston Astros, the San Francisco Giants moved onto the winners of the 2016 World Series champion Chicago Cubs for their next series.

Kyle Hendricks gave up just one run on two hits in seven innings of work, as the Cubs defeated the Giants 6-2 at Wrigley Field.

Hendricks, who improved to 4-3 on the season, struck out seven and walked two, as the Cubs bounced back from a two-game sweep against the Cleveland Indians on a high note.

This was the Giants third straight loss to open the road trip, and have been outscored 21-5 through their first three games with five games remaining.

Gorkys Hernandez picked up two of the four Giants hits on the afternoon, including a leadoff home run in the top of the fourth inning that broke up Hendricks’ perfect game.

Evan Longoria picked up a RBI single in the top of the ninth inning that scored Brandon Belt, who singled, then advanced to second on indifference and then scored the Giants first run since the fourth inning when Longoria singled off of Pedro Strop.

The Cubs broke the game wide open in the bottom of the seventh inning, when they ended Holland’s day. Will Smith gave up a two-run double to Ben Zobrist, and then Cory Gearrin gave up a two-run single to Kris Bryant. Former Oakland A’s prospect Addison Russell hit a RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning for their final run of the afternoon.

Strop retired the first batters of the inning, but then Belt and Longoria picked up back-to-back hits for another run. That was the end of the day for Strop, as Joe Maddon turned the ball over to Brian Duensing, who eventually walked Brandon Crawford.

That was all for Duenisng, as Maddon brought on his closer, Brandon Morrow, who struck out the returning Mac Williamson to end the game and picked up 11thsave in 12 opportunities this season.

Holland allowed three runs (two of them earned) in six innings of work, and allowed five hits before being replaced by Smith. Before being replaced, Holland hit Javier Baez and then walked Ian Happ.

NOTES: Chris Stratton looks to stop the Giants three-game losing streak, as he takes the mound against the Cubs Jose Quintana.

Madison Bumgarner looks to begin his rehab assignment on Saturday for the Sacramento Rivercats, where he will throw approximately 45 pitches. Joe Panik is making progress and could begin a rehab during the Giants road trip that will end on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Cubs meet again for Game 2 Saturday at 4:15 pm PST on FOX.

Giants hope to bounce back in Chicago against Cubs

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

So the Warriors and the Giants have something in common after Thursday: they will both hope to get bounce-back efforts after being humbled in the city of Houston.

The Warriors are facing elimination from the NBA playoffs after a loss to the Rockets in the Toyota Center on Thursday and will head home in search of answers. The Giants, on the other hand, had the day off on Thursday and have had a full day to process what happened to them.

Thankfully for the Giants, they don’t have to win their very next game to keep their season alive, but they do need to find a way to get things back on track after dropping two straight games to the Astros at Minute Maid Park.

That starts with a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs inside of Wrigley Field, which starts Friday afternoon.

The Giants will start the series with left-hander Derek Holland (2-5, 4.94 ERA) on the mound against Chicago righty Kyle Hendricks (3-3, 3.40 ERA). Holland has lost two of the last three decisions, the latest being a 6-1 loss at the hands of the Rockies last Friday, during which he surrendered four runs on six hits, walking one and striking out three.

Hendricks, meanwhile, also gave up four runs on six hits in his last outing, a 5-4 loss at Cincinnati last Friday, but he got away with a no-decision. However, he enters Friday’s matchup having dropped two of his past three decisions as well.

Chris Stratton (5-3, 4.92 ERA) will take the ball on Saturday opposite Cubs lefty Jose Quintana (5-3, 4.47 ERA). Stratton has won three of his last four, as he beat Colorado last Saturday, 8-4, after giving up four runs on eight hits.

Quintana has won two of his past three decisions, his last outing being a dominant performance at Cincinnati last Saturday that saw him give up only a single hit over seven innings in a 10-0 win.

To close out the series, lefty Ty Blach (3-4) will take the hill against Chicago righty Yu Darvish (1-3).

A’s nip Mariners 4-3 to win series finale

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Oakland A’s won the final game of the three-game series as they defeated the Seattle Mariners 4-3. However, the Mariners won the series two games to one and are 6-3 over Oakland so far this season.

The A’s were facing their nemesis, Felix Hernandez, once more. Hernandez has owned the A’s over the years and his 26-10 lifetime record is a testament to his dominance. Thursday’s game in Oakland did not go King Felix’s way. The A’s tallied four runs in the bottom of the first, and that was enough to win the game. Hernandez and three Mariner relievers allowed the A’s just one hit after the first inning. Josh Lucas went two innings for the A’s and gave up two runs. The A’s bullpen was fantastic as they kept Seattle off the board until the eighth and Blake Treinen closed out the game to preserve the win.

The Mariners jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning. The A’s starter Josh Lucas gave up singles to M’s shortstop Jean Segura and center fielder Guillermo Heredia. Lucas walked the ever-dangerous Mitch Haniger to load the bases with no out. Lucas now had to face the M’s slugger Nelson Cruz. Cruz, who has killed the A’s in the past, hit into a 5-4-3 double play. Segura scored. Lucas struck out Kyle Seager to end the inning. The A’s roared back in their half of the frame as they scored four times to take a 4-1 lead.

The M’s ace Felix Hernandez gave up singles to Matt Joyce and Marcus Semien to put men on at first and third with one out. Jed Lowrie flew out to left field. Joyce tagged up and scored on the play. Matt Chapman walked to put two men on with two out. Stephen Piscotty doubled to drive in Semien and Chapman. Piscotty scored the fourth run of the inning when Dustin Fowler singled.

The Mariners scored a run in the second inning to make it a 4-2 game.  With two out, Andrew Romine walked. He then stole second and scored on a single by M’s catcher David Freitas.

There was no more scoring in the game until the top of the eighth inning. A’s manager brought in rookie Lou Trivino to pitch. Trivino gave up a single to Jean Segura and walked Heredia to put men on at first and second with no out. Mitch Haniger hit a sharp grounder that was fielded by the third baseman Matt Chapman. Chapman stepped on third base for the first out, threw to second for the second out, but Haniger was safe at first as the throw arrived just a split second late. Nelson Cruz singled to send Haniger to third, and Cruz went to second base on the throw. Bob Melvin decided to use his closer, Blake Treinen to get the final out of the eighth. Kyle Seager singled sharply to drive in Haniger with the M’s third run. Cruz stopped at third base. Treinen retired Daniel Vogelbach on a fly ball to center field for the final out of the inning. The A’s are still in the lead 4-3.

Treinen retired the M’s in order in the top of the ninth. Ben Gamel flew out to left field for the first out. Treinen then struck out pinch-hitter Ryon Healy on a 99-mile-an-hour four-seam fastball for the second out, Treinen then struck out Mike Zunino for the final out. The A’s win 4-3.

Game Notes and Stats: With the win, the A’s improve to 26-24 while Seattle drops to 29-20. The A’s used five pitchers in the game, and the winning pitcher was Yusmeiro Petit. Petit is now 2-1. Blake Treinen earned his 11th save. Felix Hernandez is now 5-4 for 2018.

Time of game was two hours and 44 minutes, and there were 12,633 happy fans in attendance.

Up Next: The A’s will now face the Arizona Diamondbacks for three games starting Friday night in Oakland.

Sean Manaea will oppose Patrick Corbin in a battle of left-handed pitchers Friday night.

Daniel Mengden will hurl for Oakland Saturday, and he will be opposed by the veteran Clay Buchholz.

Sunday’s game will feature Trevor Cahill going against one of the best pitchers in baseball, former Cy Young award winner Zach Greinke.

This date in A’s history: Campaneris sets an Oakland record

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By: Ana Kieu

OAKLAND, Calif. — On this day in 1976, Bert Campaneris set a record when he stole five bases in the Oakland A’s 12-7 win over the Minnesota Twins. Rickey Henderson later tied Campaneris’ record.

In case you need a refresher, Campaneris is a former shortstop who played for the Kansas City/Oakland A’s from 1964 to 1976. Campaneris went on to play for the Texas Rangers from 1977 to 1979, California Angels from 1979 to 1981 and New York Yankees in 1983.

Unlike other players, Campaneris joined the list of nine-position players in an MLB game. Campaneris became the first player to every position in an MLB game on September 8, 1965, on the same day a special promotion occurred in his honor. That being said, actor Will Ferrell played all nine positions in five MLB games to honor Campaneris on March 12, 2015.

 

As the oldest everyday player in the MLB at age 47, Campaneris hit .291 and stole 16 bases in 60 games.

Campaneris landed a couple of minor league coaching opportunities in his post-retirement life. The 76-year-old currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, but he continues to be a member of the MLB Players Alumni Association as well as play in Old-Timers’ games across the United States.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Posey visits Children’s Hospital for cancer patients; Giants open weekend series at Wrigley Field

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 San Francsico Giants catcher Buster Posey paid a visit to a Houston Hospital, also known as the Texas Children’s Cancer Center. They do cancer research in the fight of childhood cancer. Posey said visiting the center was good to see first hand for Buster and his wife Kristen.

#2 The Giants got swept in a two-game series in Houston 11-2 on Tuesday and 4-1 on Wednesday. The Giants just couldn’t get any offense going during their visit to Minute Field.

#3 Bruce Bochy was asked to what was more dangerous the old incline in dead centerfield at Minute Maid Field or the on field bullpens at AT&T Park. Bochy said the mounds at AT&T Park due to the fact that he lost outfielder Mac Williamson chasing down a fly and tripped and got a concussion.

#4 After a month on the DL Williamson who tripped over the bullpen mound looks to be on track to return this weekend at Wrigley Field and the Giants who can use some offense are looking forward to see him swing the bats.

#5 Giants open a three-game series with the Cubs on Friday night it’ll be the Giants’ Derek Holland (2-5) getting the start can Holland get a quality start against the Cubs lineup.Michael sets up Friday night’s game to open the series.

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s with sixth best record in MLB since April 15th

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@Athletics photo

On the A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

The Oakland A’s have the sixth best record in Major League Baseball since April 15th an indication that they’ve had lots of improvement over the last month. The A’s have won six of their last eight and are at 25-23.

The A’s haven’t hit a home run in their last five home games but on the road they homered in each of their last 14 games. The A’s really had a successful road trip going 1-2 in New York, 2-1 in Boston, and 4-0 in Toronto.

The A’s 7-3 on the last road trip something no one would have expected after having a tough homestand with Houston before leaving on the trip. The A’s have compiled the third lowest ERA in baseball after the seventh inning for a 3.36 ERA. They’re getting key pitching to win in the late innings.

Jerry does the A’s podcasts every Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

Verlander outduels Samardzija in Astros’ 4-1 win over Giants

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Photo credit: @LeopoldusEsq

By Jeremy Harness

The Giants’ up-and-down season continues.

They were facing an uphill battle from the very beginning, since they were going up against Justin Verlander, the man who lifted the Houston Astros to their first-ever World Series title last October.

It didn’t get much better for the Giants on Wednesday, as they fell to the Verlander-led Astros, 4-1, inside of Minute Maid Park. The star right-hander went six strong innings and surrendered only a run on three hits in the process.

He walked only one and struck out nine batters, as he improved his 2018 mark to 6-2 with an eye-popping ERS of 1.08.

Jeff Samardzija continues to struggle to stay in the game as he makes his way back from a pectoral strain he suffered at the start of the season. He failed yet again to reach five full innings – he went only 4 2/3 innings on Wednesday.

He actually matched Verlander for four innings, as the two hurlers put zeroes on the board for the first three frames before the Giants got a run off Verlander in the fourth. Houston evened things up in the bottom half of the inning, when Andrew McCutchen committed a fielding error that allowed a run to score.

The wheels came off for Samardzija in the fifth, when George Springer – who also came up huge for the Astros in the World Series – smashed a two-run homer over the short porch in left field. Carlos Correa followed that up with a run-scoring single to give Houston a three-run advantage that they would not relinquish.

Gorkys Hernandez and Brandon Belt each had two hits for the Giants, while Correa and Springer also had a pair of hits for Houston.

The Giants get a much-needed day off before taking on the Cubs for a three-game series starting Friday at 11:20 am PST.

A’s fall to Mariners 1-0 after pitching duel

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Photo credit: @Mariners

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s and Mariners received outstanding pitching performances from their starters. The only problem for Oakland was they could do nothing against lefty Marco Gonzalez while Seattle was able to win on an unearned run that spoiled Daniel Gossett’s best start ever as an Oakland Athletic. Gossett, making his first start since being recalled from Nashville, went seven innings, allowed just four hits and the only Seattle run was unearned.

The Mariners’ Marco Gonzalez was brilliant. In his seven innings of work, he allowed just two hits and no runs as he won his fourth game of the year by a score of 1-0.

The Mariners drew first blood in the top of the fourth. Mariners’ centerfielder Guillermo Heredia lined a double down the left field line. Nelson Cruz flew out to right field, and Heredia was able to tag up and advance to third on the play. The A’s brought the infield in order to get the runner at home in a ground ball to any one of the infielders. Gossett got former A’s first baseman, Ryon Healy, to hit a ground ball to A’s shortstop Marcus Semien. Semien fielded the ball cleanly, but he dropped the ball as he attempted to throw him. He was charged with an error and Heredia crossed the plate with the first run of the game. The run was unearned. That run was the only run of the game as both the A’s and Mariners’ bullpens did their jobs and did not allow any runs to be scored.

Game Notes and Stats: The only run of the game was scored when Marcus Semien misplayed a ground ball that allowed Guillermo Heredia to score from third.

Right fielder Stephen Piscotty made two fantastic plays on defense. In the fourth, he robbed Mike Zunino of a home run as he leapt high and with his glove outstretched over the wall, came down with the ball for the out. Piscotty made a diving catch in short right field to rob John Andreoli of a hit.

In the ninth inning, Mark Canha had Mike Zunino shaking his head as Canha also made a running, diving catch in left field to take another hit away from Zunino.

The A’s reliever, Ryan Dull, was hit on the hand by a line drive in the eighth inning. Dull couldn’t make the throw to first and went to the ground writhing in pain. Bob Melvin and the trainer raced to the mound and checked out Dull’s hand. Ryan said he was fine and stayed in the game.

The A’s announcer that they placed Khris Davis on the 10-day DL with a strained right groin injury. The doctors determined that it was a Grade 1 strain and healing takes from one to three weeks. The A’s recalled Daniel Gossett and Franklin Barreto from Nashville.

The line score for Seattle was one run, six hits, and no errors. The line score for Oakland was no runs, three hits, and one huge miscue. Jed Lowrie led the A’s attack with two singles.

Time of game was two hours and 43 minutes and there were just 6991 fans in attendance to see a very well played game.

Up Next: The A’s and Mariners cap off the series Thursday afternoon at 12:35 pm PST.

Josh Lucas will start for the A’s on Thursday and Seattle will send Felix Hernandez to the mound to handle the pitching chores. The Mariners are now 6-2 against Oakland this year and will be going for the sweep. Hernandez is 26-10 in his lifetime against the A’s.