Yanks get all the four runs they need in first to edge A’s 4-3 on Saturday

The New York Yankees Anthony Rizzo (right) celebrates his home run with the Giancarlo Stanton (48) as Oakland A’s catcher Shea Langeliers stands in the background in the bottom of the first inning at Yankee Stadium on Tue Apr 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK.—The Oakland Athletics allowed four runs in the first inning by the New York Yankees and were unable to overcome that on Tuesday night, falling 4-3 in the second of the four-game series that is now tied in the Bronx.

Oakland was the first to score – Seth Brown doubled on a line drive to right fielder Juan Soto and Brent Rooker scored, putting them up 1-0.

But the Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton responded by doubling on a sharp line drive to center fielder Esteury Ruiz and Soto and Aaron Judge scored, and New York was up 2-1. Then Anthony Rizzo hit a home run to right center field and Stanton scored, expanding the Yankees’ lead to 4-1.

A’s starting pitcher Paul Blackburn said he felt like he “made two bad pitches all night” and there were “two good hitters that made me pay for it”.

“I feel like we kind of settled in there and we were fighting back, we just kind of ran out of time. It was just one of those outings where you keep your team in it as long as you can,” said Blackburn. “Once you kind of give up four in the first, you’re just trying to go out there and put up as many zeros as you can.”

A’s manager Mark Kotsay felt that Blackburn performed well after the first inning.

“We did have our chances to get a big hit and you know, Paul’s job tonight after the first inning, I mean he put up zeros and gave us a chance to get back in it,” said Kotsay. “And so it was a nice night after that.”

In the second inning, Shea Langeliers answered back with a homer of his own on a fly ball to center field, to cut the Yankees’ lead to 4-2.

Then in the fourth inning, Lawrence Butler hit a home run on a line drive to right center field, putting the A’s within one run of the Yankees. Kotsay called it a “great, great sign”.

“He’s got power to hit it out and swung it the right one that time and it was nice to see a home run from him,” Kotsay said.

Blackburn took his first loss of the season after allowing four earned runs in six innings pitched. After starting their 10-game roadtrip getting swept by the Cleveland Guardians, the series against the Yankees standing at 1-1 is an improvement.

“It’s always nice to obviously win the first game of the series. And then coming in today, just the way that we fought – it was a good pitcher and a good bullpen they have over there – I think It just shows a lot about the guys here,” Blackburn said. “That we’re never going to quit no matter the situation or the score or anything like that.”

The A’s fell to 9-15 this season and are 7-15 in 22 games against the Yankees (16-8) since the beginning of the 2021 season.

Game three of the four-game series at Yankee Stadium continues on Wednesday. A’s right-handed pitcher Joe Boyle will match up against Yankees right-handed pitcher Clarke Schmidt. First pitch is at 4:05 p.m PT.

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s Gelof gets two run blast to get win to open series against Yankees

Oakland A’s Zack Gelof hits a two run home run for all the A’s runs in the top of the ninth inning to give the A’s the lead against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Mon Apr 22, 2024 (AP News photo)

#1 Oakland A’s Zack Gelof hit a two run home run in the top of the ninth inning that put the A’s over the top for a 2-0 win over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Monday afternoon.

#2 Previous to the Gelof home run Yankees manager Aaron Boone was ejected from the game. Earlier Boone had come out of the dugout to question plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt whether or not A’s lead off hitter Esteury Ruiz had swung at a pitch that hit Ruiz in the back of the foot. Boone returned the dugout when a fan behind the dugout shouted something and ejected Boone.

#3 Yankees pitcher Carlos Rondon had a great effort today but no run support. Rondon pitching seven innings and giving up just one hit.

#4 A’s starter JP Sears pitched lights out as well going six innings giving up three hits and no runs. He all his pitches working for him.

#5 The A’s will try and see if they can pick up another win against the Yankees on Tuesday the A’s will start Paul Blackburn (2-0 ERA 1.08) for the Yankees Marcus Stroman (1-1 ERA 2.42) both pitchers with decent ERAs how do you see this match up at 4:05pm PDT.

Join Barbara for the Oakland A’s podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Gelof two run home run gets A’s win at Yankee Stadium 2-0; Oakland ends eight game skid

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK–The Oakland Athletics snapped an eight-game losing streak at Yankee Stadium with a 2-0 win over the New York Yankees in the series opener on Monday afternoon.

Both teams were scoreless through eight innings in the matinee. The game started in a dramatic fashion, with Yankees manager Aaron Boone getting ejected only five pitches in over a fan’s remark directed at the home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt.

Boone questioned whether Esteury Ruiz swung at the pitch before being hit on the back foot by Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodón’s slider. After a fan from behind the dugout shouted at Wendelstedt, he ejected Boone.

“In the entirety of my career, I have never ejected a player or a manager for something a fan has said. I understand that’s going to be part of a story or something like that because that’s what Aaron was portraying,” stated Wendelstedt.

“I heard something come from the far end of the dugout, had nothing to do with his area but he’s the manager of the Yankees. So he’s the one that had to go.”

Rodón and Oakland’s starting pitcher JP Sears were both working toward shutouts.

Sears, who pitched six innings, said it was “obviously a good day, feeling good”. Sears said he was “trying to mix it up really well. I think it worked out early on. I was able to get my sinker in there kind of middle of the game to the righty, and I just feel like I used that to the point really well.”

At the top of the ninth inning, the A’s edged their opponent out.

Zack Gelof hit a home run on a fly ball to right center field, allowing Abraham Toro to score and putting Oakland up 2-0. A’s manager Mark Kotsay said he dropped Gelof down the order to try to get him comfortable and relaxed, and the result was great.

“I say Zack’s been grinding and hasn’t had the success he started out with last year but a big day for him,” said Kotsay. “You know he’s had his issues with lefties as well, so to see him go off on a lefty, on a really good lefty, is a good sign.”

Gelof, who came in 3-for-19 against left-handed pitchers, said “it’s something that I focused on in the offseason”.

Mason Miller earned his fifth save this season after striking out three batters and pitching a scoreless ninth inning. It was his first time tossing at Yankee Stadium.

“Walking around before the game, it’s got a different air about it, for sure,” said Miller.

The A’s (9-14) are 1-3 to start their 10-game road trip. They are 7-14 in 21 games against the Yankees (15-8) since the beginning of the 2021 season.

A crowd of 30,366 was in attendance at Yankee Stadium for the first in the four-game series.

Starting pitchers for game two for Tuesday at Yankee Stadium for the A’s Paul Blackburn (2-0 ERA 1.08) for the Yankees Marcus Stroman (1-1 ERA 2.42) both pitchers with decent ERAs first pitch is at 4:05 p.m PDT.

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Coyotes quick exit out of Arizona; Kings will be remembered for taking out Warriors; plus more news

The Delta Center in Salt Lake City Utah which will be the home of the NHL Utah team for the 2024-25 season (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Short notice came from the NHL and the Arizona Coyotes when they had announced during the last week of the season that they were moving from the Mullet Center at ASU in Tempe to the Delta Center in Salt Lake City in Utah.

#2 The Sacramento Kings will be remembered for their win over the Golden State Warriors in the play in game. The Kings took down one of the most experienced teams in the NBA and were underdogs going into that game.

#3 The Kings as everyone knows were eliminated on Friday night by the New Orleans Pelicans. The Kings went into that play in game 0-5 against the Pelicans and the odds were not in the Kings favor. Talk about the mismatch between these two teams.

#4 New York Yankees radio voice John Sterling is hanging up the mic after 36 years as the Yankees voice and after a 64 year career. Sterling was honored before Friday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium with his family and a long list of Yankee greats. Sterling 85 years old first worked Yankee games since 1989. Sterling got a jersey with the number 5631 which represents the games he had called.

#5 The Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Jordan Montgomery had a good first outing with the Diamondbacks pitching six innings, four hits, one earned run, three strikeouts in the Diamondbacks crushing of the San Francisco Giants 17-1 last Friday night. The Diamondbacks in that first game from Jordan got what they expected from him.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Ohtani says interpreter stole money to pay off gambling debts; Interpreter never graduated or worked at Sox or Yanks; plus more news

Will Ireton Los Angeles Dodgers manager of performance operations (left) interprets for Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (right) at a pre game press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Mon Mar 25, 2024 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 A look into Los Angeles Dodger’s designated hitter Shohei Ohtani’s personal trainer Ippei Mizuhara stole the money from Ohtani to pay off his gambling debts. It was learned that Ohtani did not pay for Mizuhara’s gambling debt Ohtani said the $4.5 million to pay the debt was stolen by Mizuhara. Ohtani made it clear he did not know about Mizurhara using the stolen money to pay an illegal bookie.

#2 Mizuhara’s background was found to be suspicious as well it was discovered he never attended UC Riverside and never graduated there in 2007, Mizuhara never was an interpreter for the Boston Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima from 2007-2011. The Red Sox released a statement saying that Mizuhara never worked for the Red Sox. It was also reported that Mizuhara was an interpreter for the New York Yankees in 2022 but the Yankees said that Mizuhara never was an interpreter for them in 2022.

#3 Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that it was good that Ohtani addressed the media before Monday night’s game at Dodger Stadium. It gave Ohtani a forum to clear the air and address some of the questions about his knowledge that money was going to an illegal bookie to pay Mizuhara’s debts.

#4 Although no one will admit it in the Dodgers clubhouse that this whole thing is a distraction but has to be the largest paid athlete of all time tied to a gambling scandal and it’s turned into a federal investigation and questions where is this going to end up?

#5 Turning to the Oakland A’s the A’s have announced that they have cut the time in half on Thursday opening night and will open the gates at the Oakland Coliseum parking lot from four hours to two hours early. The A’s have said they did that because there was no sense opening up the lot when they are expecting a low paid attendance to show up. Two large A’s fan groups the Oakland 68s and the Last Dive Bar said that cutting the parking lot times from two to four hours will cut their boycott time down to just two hours and they also planned to have tailgates before the game now that time has been cut in half. The 68’s said the A’s are playing mind games.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Judge questions Yankees direction “What are we doing?”; Padres Musgrove says not much has changed since last season

New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge hits a home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning at Yankees Stadium in the Bronx on Fri Sep 22, 2023. Judge asked regarding the team’s direction “what are we doing” (AP News photo)

On MLB The Show podcast with Stephen:

#1 One of the things that New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge questioned on Monday was the direction of this year’s team fourth place 18 games out in the AL East and no chance at the post season with a week left in the campaign. Judge asks “What are we doing?”

#2 San Diego Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove said that not much has changed regarding last year’s Padres team that just missed the World Series and most likely will finish in third place in the NL West some 18 games out. It’s not quite the finish that Musgrove and the Padres expected.

#3 Yankees manager Aaron Boone was asked about his future with the team. Boone said that decision is out of his hands. Boone has a club option for 2025 after his contract runs out this season. Boone said his future with the Yankees was out of his control and hopes he could come back.

#4 The NL East first place Atlanta Braves reached their second straight 100 win season. The Braves reached 100-56 and are well ahead of second place Philadelphia Phillies by 13 games. The Braves are favored to be a World Series team.

#5 Bruce Bochy and the Texas Rangers continue to pour it on they’re coming off a three game sweep of the Seattle Mariners over the weekend and lead the AL West by 2.5 games. The Rangers edged the Seattle Mariners in Arlington in a one run win on Sunday 9-8. The Rangers opened a seven game road swing today and can finished as the second seed for the American League post season.

Stephen Ruderman is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB The Three biggest Failures are the three biggest Payrolls

Baltimore Orioles third baseman Gunnar Henderson is unable to stop an RBI double by Colorado Rockies’ Elias Diaz that scored Charlie Blackmon from first base during the third inning at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Fri Aug 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

With approximately 30 to 35 games left for most teams this season, here are the three teams with the biggest payrolls this year and their records today.

1-New York Mets 60-71 in the cellar, 2-New York Yankees, 62-69 in the cellar, 3-San Diego Padres, 61-70 in penultimate place. The chances of any of these teams for the postseason is at best slim and none for real, as they would have to play at an .800 winning percentage clip the rest of the way. Can we say that money is not the key for a winning team?

Yes and No, because at the end is a combination, a balancing-act for front offices to draft, trade and buy players at the same time. A team most draft and develop well, make trades to improve their roster and in some cases open the bank and pay the huge salaries. But money alone is not the solution in the most difficult sport.

The Baltimore Orioles are leading the American League East, with the #29 payroll, only the Oakland A’s have a smaller payroll, the A’s do not really count because their owner has “De-funded the Team” . But, how have the Orioles done it?

They have the best minor league system today. As a matter of fact, this 2023 season the Orioles have the best minor league system for the fourth consecutive year. The best example is Gunnar Henderson, which was one of the eight total guys in the Top 100 prospects, Henderson is a regular in the young and exciting Baltimore Orioles lineup this season.

They have players waiting in the minors, like the highly rated Jackson Holliday, the son of ex major league All Star Matt Holliday. Jackson Holliday is the #1 prospect in Major League Baseball, currently playing shortstop and second base at AA level affiliate, Bowie Baysox in Maryland.

The Birds from Baltimore success was not instant. Here are the last three years record:

2021: 52-100, 2022: 83-79, today the Orioles have a 81-49 record. which is the second best record among all 30 MLB teams, only the Atlanta Braves with 84-45 leading the NL East by miles have a better record in baseball.

The Yankees, Mets and Padres will have a very interesting off-season, the Padres might just tweak their roster, my hope is they keep their manager Bob Melvin, but the two New York teams, only God knows what their management is going to do.

Mets owner Steve Cohen is the richest owner in baseball, but he could not buy the title this year, he is insatiable for high prize talent, and will make a run at Shohei Ohtani. The Yankees? Well there is always next season for their 28 World Series title.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Bruce Magowan: 49ers and Raiders pre season kicks off the NFL; Ohtani would be huge where could he land next season? plus more

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) takes part during a practice at NFL football training camp Thursday, July 27, 2023, in Henderson, Nev. (AP News photo)

On Headlines Bruce discusses:

#1 Takes a look at the San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders and how both teams match up for the 2023 season.

#2 Los Angeles Angeles two way player Shohei Ohtani is a free agent what are the chances of Ohtani coming to the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers or staying with the Los Angeles Angels?

#3 The Pac 12 break up and where the Stanford Cardinal and Cal Bears are headed after this season.

#4 The New York Yankees not like the teams of old. Their struggling manager Aaron Boone who recently was ejected arguing a strike call, the Yankees lost two pitchers Jimmy Cadero suspended for the rest of the season for domestic violence and Domingo Herman for being under the influence and destroying a TV set and flipping over a coach in the Yankees clubhouse also suspended for the rest of the season.

#5 As far as the home stretch drive of these dog days of August you have to like the Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves chances of winning the post season.

Join Bruce Magowan during SF Giants Sunday games at Oracle Park for Headline Sports at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: Nevada voters could vote down public funding for new A’s Vegas ballpark; If MLB owners vote yes Vegas voters could vote no

This rendering seen here shows home plate facing Las Vegas Boulevard on the strip but reportedly the plate faces Las Vegas Airport and faces the landing and departing runways. The lighting and location of the park might be issue with the FAA. Daniel talks about Nevada voters and public financing of the ballpark in today’s podcast (renderings from the Oakland Athletics)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Daniel, in Las Vegas a drive called “Schools over Stadiums” with the Nevada State Education Association as they have filed for a PAC (political action committee). NSEA is committed to stopping the spending of public funds for spending billions for a new ballpark.

#2 An NSEA spokesperson Dawn Etcheverry said that they are using every possible avenue to stop the use of public funds and to pay for a billionaires new ballpark. This is a move by NSEA to give Nevadans “the opportunity to vote to stop this misguided project” said the spokesperson.

#3 Daniel, how effective and helpful is it for those opposed to the A’s moving to Las Vegas to have a vote to stop the Tropicana Park from being built in Vegas and how crucial is it for voters to get this measure on the ballot when considering school funding versus ballpark funding?

#4 To get a ballot measure in favor of SB1 the measure to fund the ballpark 140,777 signatures are needed and 35,195 valid signatures are needed from the four petition districts. A poll during the special session on would Nevadans support a new ballpark via public funding 87% of voters opposed the measure. Can this election sink a new publicly funded Las Vegas ballpark for the A’s?

#5 Also it was mentioned in the Nevada Independent report that Nevadans would prefer to have an expansion team rather than have the A’s who are coming in with hat in hand asking for public money. An expansion team would have an owner paying with private money to build a new stadium without using public funds.

Join Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A review of A’s last homestand; A’s open series in Detroit tonight

Connor Capel of the Oakland A’s (21) strikes out in the bottom of the sixth against the New York Yankees at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Jun 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Well, the Yankees found their offense again on Thursday as they erupted in the sixth inning to score eight times to break open the game and coast to an easy 10-4 win over the hapless A’s.

#2 A’s starter, lefty Hogan Harris, was pitching relatively well heading into the sixth. Harris had held the Yankees to just two runs in his first five innings.

#3 The A’s scored one in the first, two in the third, and led 3-2 heading into the fateful sixth inning. The Yankees sent 13 men to the plate in the sixth, scoring eight times.

#4The A’s have lost 12 of the last 14 games played. Their record is now a dismal 21-62. The Yankees improved to 45-36.

#5 The Chicago White Sox (36-47) and A’s open up a three game series starting tonight at the Oakland Coliseum. The Sox have not announced a starter as of yet and the A’s will go with Luis Medina (1-7 ERA 6.84) a 6:40pm first pitch.