MLB All-Star Game: National League wins 3-2 for first time in 11 years

Photo credit: @MLB

By: Mary Anne

The wait was finally over as the 2023 MLB All-Star Game was underway at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday.
The National League defeated the American League 3-2 for the first time since 2012. Elías Díaz delivered the game-winning home run in the eighth inning. Díaz earned the All-Star Game MVP.

The NL’s starting lineup featured Ronald Acuña Jr., Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez, Nolan Arenado, Luis Arráez, Sean Murphy, Corbin Carroll, and Orlando Arcia.

The AL’s starting lineup featured Marcus Semien, Shohei Ohtani, Randy Arozarena, Corey Seager, Yandy Díaz, Adolis García, Austin Hays, Josh Jung, and Jonah Heim.

After a scoreless first inning, Yandy Díaz hit a solo home run to give the AL a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.

J.D. Martinez helped the NL tie the game 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning. Martinez scored on a Luis Arráez RBI single.

The AL regained their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Salvador Pérez singled for a 2-1 lead. Pérez now has three All-Star Game hits — the second-most by a Kansas City Royals player.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a game-tying home run, and the NL tied the game 2-2 in the top of the seventh inning. However, Gurriel Jr.’s home run was overturned and called foul. The score remained 2-1 AL.

Elías Díaz hit a two-run shot to give the NL a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth inning. Díaz’s two-run home run sealed the NL’s win over the AL.

Notes
Zach Gallen struck out Shohei Ohtani for his first All-Star Game shutout.

Up Next
The second half of the 2023 MLB season will start on Friday, July 14.

The San Francisco Giants will visit the Pittsburgh Pirates for a three-game series at PNC Park, while the Oakland Athletics will welcome the Minnesota Twins for a three-game series at Oakland Coliseum. The Giants’ series opener will start at 4:05 pm Pacific, while the A’s series opener will start at 6:40 pm Pacific.

Keaton Winn Wins in MLB Debut as Giants Blow out Cardinals 11-3

Photo credit: @SFGiants

By: Mary Anne

The San Francisco Giants looked to win two straight games against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday night. The Giants defeated the Cardinals 11-3 at Busch Stadium. San Francisco improved to 35-32, while St. Louis dropped to 27-41.

Before the game, San Francisco wished their assistant coach, Alyssa Nakken, a Happy 33rd Birthday. Nakken’s a boundary-breaking coach who became the first woman to coach in an MLB regular season game in April 2022.

The Giants’ starting lineup featured LaMonte Wade Jr., Thairo Estrada, Joc Pederson, J.D. Davis, Michael Conforto, Mitch Haniger, Mike Yastrzemski, Patrick Bailey, Brandon Crawford, and Alex Cobb. Cobb pitched four innings and gave up five hits, two earned runs, two walks, and five strikeouts.

The first inning ended in a 2-2 tie.

The Giants got on the board in the top of the first inning. Michael Conforto doubled on a sharp fly ball to Tommy Edman. Thairo Estrada and Joc Pederson scored for a 2-0 lead.

The Cardinals tied the ballgame in the bottom of the first inning. Paul Goldschmidt singled on a ground ball to Conforto but deflected by LaMonte Wade Jr. Brenden Donovan scored to cut the Giants’ lead in half, 2-1. Dylan Carlson grounded to a force-out, and Thairo Estrada went to Brandon Crawford. Goldschmidt tied the game 2-2 as Nolan Gorman went to third base, Nolan Arenado was out at second base, and Carlson went to first base with two outs.

The Giants regained their lead in the top of the third inning, but they had to overcome some adversity. The Cardinals challenged Michael Conforto’s play for a tag play, but their call was overturned. Conforto singled on a line drive to Jordan Walker. Joc Pederson scored for a 3-2 lead as J.D. Davis was out at third base on the throw, and Walker went to Nolan Arenado with two outs.

The Giants poured in the runs in the top of the fifth inning. Casey Schmitt singled on a ground ball to Dylan Carlson. Blake Sabol scored for a 4-2 lead as Michael Conforto went to third base. Patrick Bailey singled on a line drive to Carlson. Schmitt scored to make it 5-2, as Mike Yastrzemski went to third base. Brandon Crawford was out on a sacrifice bunt as Genesis Cabrera went to Paul Goldschmidt. Yastrzemski scored to extend the Giants’ lead to 6-2 as Bailey went to second base with two outs.

The Giants extended their lead in the top of the sixth inning. Mike Yastrzemski homered on a line drive to left-center field. Michael Conforto scored for an 8-2 lead. Patrick Bailey homered on a line drive to left field to expand the lead to 9-2.

The Cardinals scored in the bottom of the eighth inning, but it was “too little, too late.” Jordan Walker doubled on a ground ball to Blake Sabol. Willson Contreras scored to cut the Giants’ lead to 9-3 as Dylan Carlson went to third base.

The Giants expanded their lead to double digits in the top of the ninth inning. Thairo Estrada singled on a soft ground ball to Tommy Edman. Brandon Crawford scored for a 10-3 lead as LaMonte Wade Jr. went to third base. Blake Sabol was out on a sacrifice fly to Dylan Carlson. Wade Jr. scored for an 11-3 lead as Thairo Estrada went to third base with one out.

The Giants and Cardinals will close their series on Wednesday, June 14, at 10:15 am Pacific.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: As much snow balls as there were runs and hits in Rox 12-11 win Thursday

sfgate.com photo: Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado is congratulated as he returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run off San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Derek Holland in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 9, 2019, in Denver.

On the Giants podcant with Michael Duca:

#1 If you like a lot of runs, this was your ballgame. The Giants paid the Colorado Rockies a visit to Coors Field on Thursday for a 12-11 Rockies win.

#2 The snow at Coors was an afternoon that would give goosebumps to chill fans trying to warm up during cold hockey nights in Canada, but this was Denver in May, did the snow give the hitters an advantage as pitchers might had a hard time to stay warm and hit their spots?

#3 The Rockies’ Nolan Arenado got a home run in the first and three hits to contribute to the cause. Arenado got on base five times. Arenado hit a ball that was ruled a foul in the second inning, which would have been his second home run and 11th of the season.

#4 Ian Desmond and Mark Reynolds poured it on with a home run each. Both teams keep swinging away in the snow and 40-degree weather.

#5 The Giants open up a three-game series Friday night against the Cincinnati Reds at Oracle Park in San Francisco for the Reds, who were almost swept by the Oakland A’s in Oakland for the Reds Luis Castillio (3-1, 1.97 ERA) and for the Giants Derek Rodriguez (3-4, 5.75 ERA).

Join Michael Duca each Friday for the Giants podcasts heard at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports with London Marq: Arenado signs second largest MLB deal; Harper still waiting to sign; Cowboys’ Gregory suspended indefinitely; plus more

Photo credit: @theScore

On Headline Sports with London Marq:

#1 The Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado signed a eight-year deal at $250 million. He does have an opt-out year when he turns 30 in three years from now. They really are counting on Arenado to be their cornerstone.

#2 Bryce Harper continues to be a free agent waiting for that longterm deal a payout that would top the San Diego Padres’ Manny Machado’s $300 million deal. Harper is looking in the neighborhood of $350 million and ten years. Will he get a deal done soon?

#3 Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Randy Gregory has been suspended indefinitely for substance abuse. Gregory played two games in 2016, suspended for the whole season in 2017, played 14 games in 2018 and was second in sacks with the Cowboys. Gregory’s attorney says he can make it back in 2019.

#4 The Sacramento Kings have lost two of their last three games, but their efforts were right there with opposing teams: the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and they beat the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Kings have another tough task when they host the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night at the Golden One Center.

#5 The San Jose Earthquakes open the season this Saturday at Avaya Stadium against the Montreal Impact. After the rough season they had last year, the Quakes are looking to turn it around this year.

Headline Sports with London Marq is heard each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com