Tag: Oakland A’s

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: A’s open homestand Tuesday night against LA hoping to hang onto wild card hopes; Panda gets ready for Tommy John surgery after send off; plus more

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Photo credit: bleacherreport.com

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

#1 The Kansas City Royals challenged the A’s when they were at Kaufman Stadium and so did the New York Yankees to conclude the road trip. Even through the pit falls, the A’s are only a 1/2 game out for a wild card berth. This thing could go right down to the end of the season?

#2 Pablo Sandoval, the man that San Francisco fans call the Panda, took a curtain call hitting for as a pinch-hitter on Sunday in the seventh inning in what can be considered the Panda’s last game in San Francisco. Sandoval played numerous positions for the Giants and will be having Tommy John surgery.

#3 The Houston Astros continued to prove their a force to be reckoned with after their starter Justin Verlander threw his third career no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. It was the second time that Verlander threw a no-hitter at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

#4. The Oakland Raiders get to open the season at the Coliseum against the Denver Broncos for Monday Night Football. The Raiders had a successful preseason and head coach Jon Gruden is confident about the team going into week 1.

#5 This is the Raiders’ last season at the Coliseum. Gruden certainly wants it to be a great send off for the Raiders and wants to drive them to a postseason that could get them to the AFC Championship to the finally the Super Bowl. He would love to bring a trophy to Oakland for the final year there.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish play-by-play announcer heard on KIQI 1010 San Francisco. Also, join Amaury for That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Report: A’s look to rebound against LA Angels

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Photo credit: sfchronicle.com

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Monday, September 2, 2019

The recent road trip didn’t end well for the Oakland Athletics, who head home for yet another crucial series.

The A’s dropped a heartbreaker in New York on Sunday. After leading 4-0 going into the bottom of the eighth, the Yankees rallied in the ninth to walk off a 5-4 win. Oakland lost 4-3 the day before.

After taking Labor Day off, the A’s will host a three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels with a chance to make progress in the American League Wild Card race. Going in to Tuesday, Oakland trails Cleveland by one game and Tampa Bay by 1 ½.

On Tuesday, a pitching matchup of right-handers features Mike Fiers (13-3, 3.40 ERA) for the A’s against the Angels’ Jaime Barria (4-7, 6.10 ERA).

A challenge for the A’s pitching staff will be shutting down Angels DH Shohei Ohtani, who is a full-time designated hitter this season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Ohtani has been in a power slump with four home runs over the last two months.

With rosters expanding on Sept. 1, the A’s added five players to the 40-man roster. The A’s recalled right-handed pitcher Paul Blackburn and infielder Franklin Barreto from Triple-A Las Vegas, selected catcher Sean Murphy from Las Vegas, reinstated left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea from the 60-day injured list, and reinstated designated hitter Khris Davis from the paternity list.

To clear space on the 40-man roster, the A’s designated infielder Corban Joseph and right-handed pitcher Tanner Anderson for assignment.

This series against the Angels, along with all other homestands in September, can be viewed by children age 12 and under for free in a special promotion by the A’s.

As the A’s continue their push to the postseason, kids 12 and younger can attend every September regular season home game for free. For every regularly priced individual ticket purchased, adults can receive two additional kids’ tickets.

The A’s have two homestands and a number of family-friendly promotions during the 12 home games in September: Star Wars Fireworks presented by Chevron (Sept. 7); Bert “Campy” Campaneris Bobblehead presented by Chevrolet (Sept. 8); Mike Fiers No-Hitter Bobblehead presented by Chevron (Sept. 20); Evolution of Pop Fireworks presented by Lagunitas (Sept. 21); and on Kid Appreciation Day, a Ramón “Laser” Laureano Bobblehead presented by Call 811 (Sept. 22).

Plus, kids can run the bases following every Sunday game (Sept. 8 and Sept. 22).

To receive two complimentary kids’ tickets with the purchase of one adult ticket, visit athletics.com/family or the Oakland A’s Box Office.

In A New York Minute: A’s go from winners to losers in game’s final, seven pitches, Yankees win 5-4

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By Morris Phillips

In New York, the subway is ever active, and a train is always coming. In the Bronx, that same certainty exists at Yankee Stadium: Murderers Row is now a nine-man cycle with a home run off a Yankees’ bat every 21 plate appearances.

Yes, a Yankees’ home run is always coming, and that’s how the A’s found themselves in the cross hairs on Sunday, clinging to a 4-3 lead in the ninth with the Yankees somehow 32 plate appearances into their muggy afternoon without a homer.

Liam Hendricks was tabbed by Bob Melvin to complete a five-out save, entering with the bases jammed and Gary Sanchez–the ring leader of the high-scoring New York attack–at the plate in the eighth. But after Sanchez popped out, Didi Gregorius lined a two-run single up the middle to trim the A’s lead to 4-3.

Now, in the ninth, Hendricks would face the bottom of the Yankees’ order, a welcome break with a caveat: in 2019, Murderers’ Row provides no breaks, and the A’s closer would see Brett Gardner first–the number seven hitter–more than capable with 18 home runs coming in.

Afterwards, Hendricks would complain that on this occasion he was a little off, missing several pitches off the plate. Ahead in the count, 2-1, Gardner would pounce, sending the next pitch into the right bleachers to tie it, 4-4.

“We believe in ourselves right down to the very end even if we’re down by a few runs,” said Gardner. “Our fans, I feel like, feel the same way. So we feel that, we feed off that.”

Manager Aaron Boone elected to lift Clint Frazier for pinch hitter Mike Ford with the game tied. Boone, awash in options with the September 1st roster expansion, chose a career minor leaguer who had hit 10 home runs in his first 36 major league games after receiving his first promotion at age 27, over Frazier, not a bad option with 11 home runs in 53 games this season.

Boone’s decision paid off when Ford smashed Hendricks’ offering on a 3-2 count, the ball landing in the bullpen beyond the right centerfield fence. Afterwards, Ford said the moment was a blur.

“I didn’t hear anything, which is crazy,” Ford said. “Just a whole rush of emotion.”

The Yankees became the first club to reach 90 wins on the season, and they found a response to the challenge put forth by the A’s, who won the first four contests in the season series.

The A’s get to erase the disappointment of consecutive, walk-off losses with a cross country flight home before facing the Rangers on Tuesday at the Coliseum.

Sean Manaea made his season debut in the contest, and pitched beautifully, shutting out the Bombers for five innings, allowing just one hit. Manaea gives the A’s tremendous flexibility as a sixth starter in the season’s final month.

Relievers Jake Diekman and Yusmeiro Petit also pitched effectively before Lou Trivino and Hendricks ran into trouble.

Sheldon Neuse’s first major league hit drove in a pair of runs in the seventh to break the scoreless stalemate. Neuse had 58 extra base-hits at Triple-A Las Vegas, forcing himself into the A’s crowded but underwhelming situation at second base. Ironically, Neuse’s double came off Ryan Dull, the former Athletic making his Yankees’ debut.

 

Oakland A’s podcast with Joey Friedman: Home sweet Home Run as Yanks edge A’s 4-3 in the Bronx

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sfgate.com photo: New York Yankees’ DJ LeMahieu hits the game-winning walk-off home run in the 11th inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, in New York.

On the A’s podcast with Joey:

#1 A’s almost pulled off another win at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, but the Yankees were on a mission. After getting swept in the Yankees last meeting with the A’s and dropping the first game of the series the Bronx Bombers were not allowing it to happen in game two of the series as they pulled off a 4-3 11th inning win to tie the series.

#2 DJ LeMahieu hit the game-winning blast and walked off with the game-winning hit. LeMahieu is one of many key players who have been heroic in some of the Yankees wins this season.

#3 The A’s came into New York and after sweeping the Yankees in three in Oakland, and you have to know after losing the first game to open this series, the Yankees were saying no more.

#4 The Yanks’ Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez each homered and Judge made a catch to rob the A’s Matt Chapman of a home run in the top of the 10th.

#5 Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Manaea (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will get a start his first appearance since last season. He’ll be matched up against New York Yankees starter J.A. Happ (11-8, 5.57 ERA) for the finale of the series at Yankee Stadium.

Join Joey for the A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum: Manaea pitches shutout ball at Yankee Stadium; Many are shocked about Skaggs’ drug use; plus more

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sfgate.com file photo: Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Manaea made his 2019 debut after having off season surgery. Manaea pitched against the New York Yankees on Sunday at Yankee Stadium.

On the MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 A’s Sean Manaea making his season debut today vs. Yanks

2 Autopsy report in for Tyler Skaggs: Mix of opioids and alcohol…

3 Twins break MLB single-season home run record with one month left in the season

4 Rays offer free tickets to Florida residents displaced by Hurricane Dorian

5 Swingin’ A’s to offer free tickets for kids 12-and-under throughout September

Join Daniel for the MLB podcast each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Yanks get four big flies–LeMahieu, Judge, and Sanchez (2), edge A’s 4-3 in 11

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photo from @Athletics

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK — The Oakland Athletics lost to the New York Yankees for the first time this season on Saturday afternoon, 4-3 in 11 innings, after DJ LeMahieu hit a home run on Lou Trivino’s first pitch in the 11th inning.

Trevino allowed no runs in two innings before throwing a fastball that LeMahieu hit right field out of the ballpark, his second walk-off hit of the season.

A’s manager Bob Melvin said he has seen signs of Trivino and pitcher Blake Treinen, who allowed no runs in the ninth inning, “pitching better recently” and “hopefully it’s a trend.”

The Yankees gained momentum in the first inning when Gary Sanchez hit a home run on a fly ball to left field for a 1-0 lead.

Oakland responded in the fourth inning when Matt Olson hit a homer on a fly ball to right center field, and Matt Chapman scored, putting the A’s up 2-1. But in the fifth inning, Sanchez hit another home run on a fly ball to right center field to tie the game at 2-2.

The A’s took a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning when Chapman doubled on a line drive to left field, allowing Robbie Grossman to score. New York evened the score at 3-3 in the eight inning when Aaron Judge hit a home run off Joakim Soriaon on a fly ball to right field, and the game went into extra innings. All of New York’s runs were solo home runs.

“That was kind of the theme of the game today—solo shots,” A’s starting pitcher Homer Bailey said.

Oakland left 15 players on base and was 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. A’s manager Bob Melvin did not think (too bad).

“You leave 15 on, it comes back to bite you at some time,” Melvin said. “But you know what, we came back and the lead and were one pitch away from going into the ninth inning with it and Chappie’s ball, unless you have a 10-foot outfielder in right field, it probably goes out.”

Melvin concluded “it’s a game of inches today,” and, “sometimes they don’t come through, most times here recently, they do.”

A’s batter Mark Canha said the bullpen gave them opportunities and “we just couldn’t do it.”

“We just have to have some better at-bats tomorrow because I felt like we were just bon the cusp of breaking it open a few times,” Canha said. “We just needed that one hit and it didn’t work out unfortunately.”

The A’s beat the Yankees 3-0 in Oakland and won Friday night at Yankee Stadium. The A’s (78-57) and Yankees (89-48) play the last game of the series, tied at 1-1, Sunday with first pitch at 1:05 p.m. ET.

Seth Brown makes statement as A’s rout Yankees 8-2

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK — The Oakland Athletics got off to a good start for Labor Day weekend Friday night by beating the New York Yankees 8-2, for the fourth time this season, with big plays by Jurickson Profar and Seth Brown.

Profar hit a homer off C.C. Sebathia in the second inning, giving the A’s a 1-0 lead. In the fourth inning, Austin Romine hit the ball toward Marcus Semien who threw it to Profar, but Profar struggled with footwork and allowed a Yankees run. It was initially called a double play but overturned after the review showed Romine was safe.

“I took my foot off the base a little early, but it was a tough play because it was a slow roller,” Profar said. “It was the only play I had. Now, with the replay, they’re going to call that safe.” But Profar redeemed himself in the sixth inning with a two-run double that gave the A’s a 4-2 lead.

Brown, called up Monday by the A’s from Triple-A Las Vegas, contributed two RBI singles.

“I’m just happy I’m out here and pulling my weight,” Brown said. He is the first player to get 10 hits in his first five games since Spook Jacobs did for the Philadelphia A’s in 1954.

A’s pitcher Brett Anderson allowed two runs and a double play in six innings.

Yankees pitcher Sabathia was pulled after only three innings due to right knee discomfort.

The A’s now trail the Cleveland Indians by only a half-game for the top AL wild card.

Oakland swept the Yankees in a three-game series last week. The Yankees lead the AL East. The series at Yankee Stadium continues Saturday and Sunday, with first pitch for both at 1:05 p.m. ET.

A’s manager Bob Melvin is not underestimating the Yankees.

“You know what, we just played some good games against them,” Melvin said. “I mean we’ve got two more to go. It’s a really good team, they play great at home. They’re a challenge, big challenge.”

A’s win 9-8 in KC, take 3 of 4 from Royals

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, August 29, 2019

Jurickson Profar homered and drove in three runs, leading a potent offensive charge on getaway day as Oakland held off Kansas City 9-8 Thursday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.

Everyone in the A’s starting lineup had a hit or drove in a run. Oakland, which took three of the four games in Kansas City, remains in the second American League Wild Card berth, leading Tampa Bay by one game – up two in the loss column.

Neither starting pitcher lasted past the fifth inning. A’s starter Chris Bassitt worked 4 2/3 innings, giving up seven earned runs on nine hits. Whit Merrifield led off with a hit off Bassitt in the first, preceding a Jorge Soler home run, his 37th of the season.

Royals starter Glenn Sparkman (3-10) allowed seven runs on nine hits and a walk, plus two batters hit-by-pitch. One of those hit batters – Profar – drove in Oakland’s first run of the game.

Yusmeiro Petit (4-3) picked up the win in relief after Oakland relievers Jake Diekman and Liam Hendriks surrendered back-to-back run-scoring singles by Nick Dini and Nicky Lopez in the eighth inning, then Hendriks gave up a two-out RBI single to Ryan O’Hearn in the ninth.

Hendriks then struck out Bubba Starling and collected his 17th save.

Profar’s home run and an RBI single from Josh Phegley sparked Oakland’s three-run fourth inning. The A’s added three more runs in the fifth off Sparkman, taking a 7-2 lead.

Bassitt struggled with the big lead, hitting a batter, giving up a hit, and walking the bases loaded. Cheslor Cuthbert followed with a two-run double, pulling the Royals within 7-5.

Oakland took an 8-6 lead in the eighth before Kansas City closed the gap to 8-7 in the bottom of the eighth.

The A’s added what became the winning run in the top of the ninth when, with runners on second and third, Corban Joseph fouled out to third baseman Cuthbert, who made the catch while falling into the third base dugout. By rule, both runners are allowed to advance one base in that situation, allowing Seth Brown to score from third.

Off the field, the A’s called up infielder Sheldon Neuse from Triple-A Las Vegas. He replaces Khris Davis, who is on paternity leave. Also, Matt Chapman, who took a pitch off his helmet on Wednesday, was not in the starting lineup, but served as a defensive replacement in the ninth.

Oakland’s road trip continues Friday, when the A’s visit the New York Yankees for a three-game series. On Friday, Brett Anderson (10-9, 4.08 ERA) is on the hill for the A’s, while the Bronx Bombers counter with CC Sabathia (5-8, 4.99 ERA).

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Will Carr see some time on Thursday Night Football in Seattle?; A’s drop two in KC, hang onto wild card; plus more

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sfgate photo: Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr gets ready for the team’s NFL preseason football game against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Headline Sports podcast with Tony R:

#1 The Raiders have won three pre season games does that indicate much or it really doesn’t show much the real test will be on week 1.

#2 The Raiders conclude pre season play in Seattle at Centurylink how much time will quarterback Derek Carr get in Thursday Night Football.

#3 The Oakland A’s held onto second place in the AL Wild Card despite losing two out of the three to the Kansas City Royals. The Royals are a struggling team were the A’s an exhausted team going into Kansas City or the Royals just geared up and played up to the level.

#4 The Golden State Warriors opened up their new arena Chase Center for the press on Tuesday and the nuances showed corporate sponsored bars, parking garage, and corporate concessions. The Warriors play their first game in their new arena on Oct 24th against the Los Angeles Lakers.

#5 With former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck retiring from pro football due to injuries was the fans booing him at the Colts last pre season game after he announced his retirement. Was the reason for the booing that Luck bailed with just two weeks left in pre season and abandon his team or were these ignorant fans who don’t recognize that Luck can no longer continue because of pain.

Tony R does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Royals use long ball to trip up A’s 6-4; Oakland still in Wild Card hunt

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Photo credit: sports.yahoo.com

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Wednesday, August 28, 2019

The Kansas City Royals defeated the Oakland Athletics 6-4 on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium, but the A’s still remain one game ahead of Tampa Bay in the American League Wild Card race.

Aside from the loss, there was a scary moment for the A’s when third baseman Matt Chapman took a pitch off his left ear. He left the game after lining out in the second inning.

Chapman was plunked by a 90.7 mph sinker from Royals pitcher Jakob Junis. The pitch knocked Chapman’s helmet off, but he briefly remained in the game.

If Chapman has concussion symptoms, the A’s can place him on the seven-day injured list. However, Chapman reportedly was able to avoid concussion protocol.

NBC Sports California reports that Oakland is prepared to call up third baseman Shelden Neuse. If Neuse is called up, the A’s need to make a corresponding move to place him on the 40-man roster.

After losing the first two games of the series, Kansas City won its first home game since Aug. 16. Hunter Dozier and Ryan O’Hearn each homered for the Royals, and teammates Nicky Lopez and Whit Merrifield each extended hitting streaks and scored a run.

The A’s will try to make it three out of four on Thursday.

During their win, the Royals took their first lead in the series after 24 innings. Kansas City scored a pair of runs off A’s reliever Blake Treinen to break a 4-4 tie. The Royals surged ahead on an RBI single by Dozier, followed by a bases-loaded ground ball that allowed Merrifield to score while the A’s turned a double play.

Kansas City’s left-handed reliever Tim Hill threw two scoreless innings to pick up the victory. Ian Kennedy pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 23rd save.

Oakland took an early 2-0 lead off Junis in the first inning on Marcus Semien’s leadoff home run and Seth Brown’s bases-loaded RBI groundout.

Mark Canha belted a two-run blast to center in the fifth inning (estimated 411 feet) that put the A’s back in front. Kansas City tied the game in the sixth.

Right-hander Chris Bassitt (9-5, 3.59 ERA) will start Thursday’s game for the A’s, while Kansas City counters with right-hander Glenn Sparkman (3-9, 5.52 ERA).