Tag: Oakland A’s

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Giants play their 4th extra inning game in 6 games; A’s come back on Astros for 1-run win; plus more

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

On Headline Sports podcast with London:

#1 If you like extra innings, the San Francisco Giants have played four extra inning games in their last six. On Tuesday night, the Giants were down by two runs, but came back to tie the game and force extra innings against the NL Central first place Cubs. This team has a lot of fight in them.

#2 The Houston Astros, one of baseball’s toughest nemesis, a team that has given the Oakland A’s fits all season long. The A’s battled with the Astros to an 11-inning duel. The Astros opened up the game with two runs and the A’s came right back with three runs in the top of the ninth and the Astros came right back and tied the game in the bottom of the ninth. The A’s got the game-winner in extra innings in the top of the 11th to break the deadlock for the 4-3 win to even the series at Minute Maid Field on Tuesday night.

#3 Hard work pays off the Oakland Raiders. Antonio Brown is reportedly working his hardest where some coaches say his work ethic is as hard as former Raider Jerry Rice. He was seen tossing a brick from hand to hand while moving side to side during drills.

#4 San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been rehabbing well since tearing his ACL last season in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Garoppolo said he was able to do pretty much everything and it was a rigorous process to come back.

#5 The San Jose Earthquakes continue to plow on through. They have gone undefeated in their last four games, which included a friendly, and defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in their most recent game last Saturday. They’ll host the Colorado Rapids (5-5-11). The Rapids have struggled of late, they have not won a game in four tries, including a friendly against the Arsenal.

London Marq does Headline Sports each Wednesday and is a beat writer for the San Jose Earthquakes at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s rally late to beat the Astros 4-3

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s stymied by Wade Miley’s slants for eight-plus innings. Miley was masterful all evening long. He retired the first 16 A’s hitters he faced. The A’s ace Mike Fiers had a rough second inning, but settled down and kept the Astros from scoring. Neither starter had a decision. The A’s grabbed the lead for the first time in the top of the ninth. The Astros tied the game at three. The A’s scored a run in the 11th, and Yusmeiro Petit retired the Astros to secure the win for Oakland 4-3.

The Astros put two on the board in the second inning. Houston’s left fielder Michel Brantley singled to start the rally. He went to second on a ground out. Yuli Guriel, playing third base for Houston, hit a line shot to center. Ramon Laureano decided to go for a shoestring catch. The only problem with that decision was this: If you don’t catch the ball and it gets by you, it will be an inside-the-park home run. Fiers may have been a bit rattled, but he settled down and retired the Astros with no further damage. Houston leads 2-0 after two.

The A’s broke up the perfect game with one out in the sixth when Chad Pinder singled. The A’s could do nothing against Mylie until the top of the ninth. In the meantime, Fiers kept his former team off-balance until Bob Melvin removed him from the game with two outs. Melvin brought in lefty Ryan Buchhaler to face Michael Brantley. Brantley struck out to end the threat.

With one out in the ninth, the top of the A’s order came through. Marcus Semien started the rally with a walk. He went to second on Matt Chapman’s single. Astros manager A.J. Hinch brought in his closer Roberto Osuna to pitch. The Astros do not have a lefty in the bullpen, and that cost them the lead. How so? Olson blasted his 21st homer of the year to plate three runs and put the A’s ahead. The Astros did not quit. They came back to tie the score in their half of the ninth. Joakim Soria was trying to close out the game for Oakland. With one out singles by Guriel and Josh Reddick, men were on at first and third. Guriel scored on an Aledmys Diaz’ sacrifice fly to right. The game went to extra innings.

The A’s broke through in the 11th. Collin McHugh was now pitching for Houston. McHugh is known for his sweeping curveballs, and he retired the first hitter he faced. Matt Olson singled, and Mark Canha walked. Ramon Laureano, who was the AL Player of the Week and a former Astro prospect, doubled down the left-field line. Olson scored. Canha also crossed the plate, and the A’s appeared to have a 5-3 lead. The ball got stuck under the wall in left-field, and the Astros claimed that the ball was dead and Canha should be sent back to third base. After an umpires’ review, the call was reversed, and Canha went back to third.  The A’s Yusmeiro Petit, working his second inning of relief retired the Astros in order to secure the win for Oakland.

Game Notes- It was the first win in Houston for the A’s this season. They are now 2-8 against the division leaders.

Fiers’ line was 7 2/3 inning of work, and he allowed six hits and two runs. Miley went eight-plus innings, and he allowed four hits and two runs.

Petit was the winning pitcher, and McHugh took the loss.

Time of game was three hours and 14 minutes.  39,204 went home unhappy as their hometown team lost 4-3.

Up Next: The A’s finish the three-game series Wednesday at 11:00 am PT. Chris Bassitt (7-4) will go for Oakland, and the A’s will be facing the very tough Justin Verlander (12-4).

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: Astros get 3 homers off A’s Homer Bailey in 11-1 laugher

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Photo credit: @CincyProblems

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Before the start of Monday night’s beheading at Minute Maid Field in Houston, the A’s had won eight of 10 games and were one of the hottest teams in the show. They had a little going for them before this current series in Houston.

#2 About Monday’s 11-1 loss to the Houston Astros, the A’s starter Homer Bailey was serving up the homer to the Astros’ Yordan Alvarez, Yuli Gurriel, and JD Diaz

#3 The Astros got the bulk of their runs four in the second and seven in the third inning. That’s all they needed for the 11-1 win.

#4 The Astros’ Gerritt Cole pitched for seven innings, two hits, one run earned, and 11 strikeouts. Cole had command over a tough A’s lineup.

#5 The A’s have now lost two straight games and play game two of the series in Houston on Tuesday night. For the A’s, Mike Fiers (9-3, 3.64 ERA), and for the Astros, Wade Miley (8-4, 3.25 ERA).

Charlie O does the A’s podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Cubs’ Garcia and Schwarber start game with 2 big flies; Twins get rare triple play against Angels; plus more

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Photo credit: @robelgarcia16

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

#1 The Chicago Cubs got a splash hit and a home run at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Monday night. Robel Garcia hit a tremendous drive into McCovey Cove and Kyle Schwarber hit his 22nd home run of the season.

#2 The Minnesota Twins got a 5-4-3 triple play in the first inning on Monday night when the Los Angeles Angels’ Edwin Encarnacion hit a grounder to Twins third baseman Luis Arraez, who tagged third and relayed the throw to second with the Twins’ Jonathan Schoop covering and Schoop threw to first baseman Miguel Sano for the triple play.

#3 The Houston Astros pitcher Gerritt Cole is the second fastest pitcher to reach 200 strikeouts in baseball history and he did it against the Oakland A’s in a 11-1 rout. For the A’s, it was their second straight loss, and for Cole, he was in total command and showed why he reached 200 strikeouts so quickly.

#4 As the trade deadline gets closer, the San Francisco Giants; key pitchers Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith are up for grabs. There also has been talk that Giants manager Bruce Bochy has talked with team president Farhan Zaidi about possibly keeping Bumgarner and Smith. It’s possible the Giants might not move them the later it gets.

#5 Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow says with the roster, the Astros have they could win the whole thing. Luhnow said that with the four starters they have, they can win on good pitching and get deep into the postseason.

Amaury Pi-González is a pioneer in establishing Spanish baseball radio play-by-play in the Bay Area that dates back to 1970s. The Spanish broadcast for 72 games are heard on KIQI 1010AM/990AM with studios in San Francisco, serving also the Sacramento/Stockton market and does That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com 

Astros pound the A’s 11-1

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Astros continued their domination if the A’s this season. They beat the A’s for the eighth time in nine tries. There is no question that the Astros, along with the New York Yankees, are the two best teams in the American League. The Astros have solid players at every position, and they showed the A’s how good they can be by beating them 11-1

Homer Bailey made his second start as a member of the A’s. Things fell apart for Bailey in the second inning. The Astros put four on the board. The scoring started when rookie Yordano Alvarez hit a solo home run to right-center field. The Astros loaded the bases with no out. George Springer singled to make it 2-0, and the bases were still loaded. Bailey walked Jose Altuve to force in the third run of the frame. Alex Bregman grounded out to drive in the Astros’ fourth run of the game.

Bailey started the third inning, but it was not his night as the Astros scored seven times to put the game out of reach. Yule Guriel and Aledmys Diaz homered in the inning. Bailey left with the score 9-0. Brian Schlitter gave up two more runs.

The A’s only run of the game came when they had their only two hits of the night. Matt Chapman doubled and scored on Mark Canha’s double.

Game Notes: Gerrit Cole was dominant. He went seven innings and allowed two hits and one earned. He struck out 11. His record improved to 11-5.

Homer Bailey absorbed his first loss as an Oakland Athletic. His line was two-plus innings pitched, nine runs and eight strikeouts. He is now 8-7 for the year.

The A’s used outfielder Nick Martini as a pitcher. Martini pitched an inning and kept the Astros off the board. He was recalled from Las Vegas to take Brett Anderson’s spot. Anderson is on paternity leave.

Yordano Alvarez set a Major League record by driving in his 35th run in his first 30 games. Albert Pujols previously held the record.

Alvarez, Guriel, and Aledmys Diaz were three Cuban-born players to homer in the game.

Up Next: The A’s hope to turn the tables Tuesday night. Game time is at 5:10 pm PT.

Twins win 7-6, A’s high leverage act gets the best of them in Minneapolis

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By Morris Phillips

That splashy new closer/setup man the A’s are shopping for in the trade deadline buyer’s market, they could have found a big spot for him Sunday at Target Field.

The A’s showed up fashionably late offensively–imagine the Oakland starting lineup taking in a trendsetter’s Sunday brunch at 4Bells in nearby Minneapolis Loring Park before venturing to the park, perhaps–scoring for the first time in the fifth inning, then never letting up. Trailing 4-0 in the fifth, the A’s scored in four consecutive innings, to take their first lead in the eighth, 6-5.

Then they carried the lead into the bottom of the ninth, and Bob Melvin summoned his All-Star closer Liam Hendriks to get the last three outs.

But not so fast. The A’s were tempting fate by frustrating the Twins’ home crowd, assuming a lead in the seventh inning or later for the third straight day. Not to mention the Twins’ hitters, who are threatening to become the first team to hit 300 home runs in a season, obliterating the Major League record, and the team as a whole, feeling pressure in the NL Central standings for the first time all season, and desperate to avoid a third straight, deflating loss at home.

“We have been playing good games but have been losing a couple of them,” said Max Kepler. “Teams have been coming back on us.”

And the pressure on Hendriks–who’s been lights out in a streak of 20 plus innings without allowing a run–couldn’t be discounted. The 30-year old Australian has thrown 460 innings at the big league level over nine seasons, but only has nine saves, eight of them since June 22, when he vibrantly morphed into an elite reliever. In fact, Twins’ fans remember Hendriks as a 23-year old free agent pickup who gave up 17 home runs in 16 starts and went 1-8 with a 5.59 ERA in 2012, his second of three seasons in Minneapolis.

A’s fans? They best know Hendriks as a forefather in the opener movement with eight starts in that role in 2018.

But Melvin embraced Hendriks last month, watched him run at world record speed in his new role, and gave little hesitation to tabbing him to close the door for a third, consecutive day for the first time in his career.

Melvin gave little consideration before–or after Hendriks allowed a game-tying triple to Ehire Adrianza, and a game-winning single to Kepler.

“They hit some good pitches,” said Melvin. “His stuff was no different today than any other day. At some point in time, he was probably going to blow one. It’s kind of the nature of the game.”

“These guys worked their tails off today, and I couldn’t bring it home. It’s disappointing in that regard,” Hendriks admitted.

The A’s blew a chance to remain within 5 1/2 games of the division-leading Astros with a three-game set in Houston starting on Monday. And their lead in the wild card race shrunk to one game over the Rays, and three games over the Red Sox.

So it’s just one game lost, but could it become more?

The organization’s thought process one the closer’s role is more complicated now given setup man Lou Trivino and former closer Blake Treinen are once again healthy and available. Not to mention whoever is acquired in the coming days as many assume the A’s will attempt to bolster their bullpen much like they did last season.

Remember last year’s post season push, and GM David Forst’s belief? One closer’s great, but why not have two or three? Well if that’s the case, the A’s have 10 days to make some decisions that could define their season. If the A’s add on, none of the candidates–Hendriks included–gets handed the task of a third save in three days again this season.

On Monday in Houston, Homer Bailey makes his second start as an Athletic, and Gerrit Cole goes for the Astros. This will be the first of 11 remaining meetings between the two contenders, but so far it’s been all Houston. The Astros have captured seven of the first eight meetings in 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oakland A’s podcast with Joey Friedman: A’s have their eye on Giants Will Smith trying to stay away from high cost starters; A’s getting key hits in Twins series; plus more

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yahoosports.com file photo: San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Will Smith is on the block and the Oakland A’s are interested in obtaining his services, the Milwaukee Brewers are rumored to be a frontrunner for Smith.

On the A’s podcast with Joey F:

#1 The A’s are looking to shop for an extra starter or two, the A’s will not be choosing for example the Mets Noah Syndergard or the Giants Madison Bumgarner due to the fact of their cost demands. Knowing A’s president of operations Billy Beane and manager Bob Melvin they will be looking for someone who affordable and someone who is proven. Giants reliever Will Smith is also being shopped by the A’s he could land in Oakland by or before the deadline.

#2 The A’s keep chipping away at a six game win streak and getting it snapped on Thursday night in Minnesota the A’s picked up where they left off getting a big win over the Twins 5-3. The Twins one of the best teams in the American League and very difficult to beat at Target Field took a two run loss to the A’s

#3 Marcus Semien was got a key home run his 15th of the season off Twins pitcher Jake Odorizzi in Friday’s game Semien is hitting .273 and is in the lead off spot how’s his recent play at the plate.

#4 The A’s pitcher Chris Bassitt on Friday threw for five innings and gave up three runs on five hits and struck out two for his seventh win of the season.

#5 For Sunday’s starters for the A’s Daniel Mengden (5-1 ERA 4.21) for the Twins Michael Pineda (6-5 ERA 4.38) for the matinee at Target Field.

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

 

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s can sweep Twins today in Minneapolis; Will Giants take a dive if they part with Bum and Smith?

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photo from sfgate.com: Oakland Athletics’ Mark Canha, left, and Marcus Semien celebrate Canha’s two-run home run off Minnesota Twins pitcher Zack Littell in the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 20, 2019, in Minneapolis. The Athletics won 5-4.

And here they are, from the home office in Gardner, ND Daniel Dullum’s MLB The Show podcast for Sunday:

MLB

1 A’s-Twins in key AL series

2 Should Giants be sellers at the deadline?

3 Mariners’ Mike Leake nearly throws perfecto; Angels DFA former All-Star pitcher Matt Harvey

4 RIP Pumpsie Green, Don Mossi, Jim Bouton

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

MLB podcast with Matt Harrington: After a rough week, Seattle routs Angels and nearly get a perfect game; plus more

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photo from bleacherreport.com: Seattle Mariners pitcher Mike Leake nearly throws a perfect game against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle in a 10-0 laugher.

On the MLB podcast with Matt:

#1 Coming off a two-game series sweep to the Oakland A’s on Tuesday and Wednesday the Seattle Mariners on Friday night almost got a perfect game against the Los Angeles Angels when Mariners starter Mike Leake went into the ninth inning needing three outs to accomplish the feat but surrendered a base hit to the Angels  Luis Rengifo at T-Mobile Park in the ninth inning in Seattle. The fans stood up and honored Leake with a nice ovation. The M’s went on to beat the Halos 10-0.

#2 The San Francisco Giants once again got another walkoff win against the visiting New York Mets. The Giants on Thursday night went 16 innings to beat the Mets 3-2, and then on Friday, got a 1-0 win in the bottom of the tenth at Oracle Park in San Francisco when Dominic Smith, a Mets centerfielder, dropped a fly ball hit by Pablo Sandoval that allowed Alex Dickerson to score from first base for the game-winning run and the Giants wound up with their seventh consecutive win and are now a .500 team for the first time all season.

#3 The New York Yankees’ Edwin Encarnacion hit a grand slam helped beat the Colorado Rockies 8-2 in over 100 degree heat and Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer for New York. The Yankees now improve the lead over second place Tampa Bay by nine games.

#4 New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Friday enough was enough in the first game of the doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays when three Yankees hitters Gary Sanchez, DJ Le Mahieu and Brett Gardner were called out for strikes by plate umpire Brennan Miller. Boone got into the face of Miller and said a few choice words and was run by Miller. Boone was immediately suspended by MLB for what they said making contact with the umpire. Boone said he regretted using the choice words and said that Miller had a hard job to do and and that he showed more class than him. Boone sat out the night cap of the doubleheader.

#5 He threw a masterpiece, but like all pitchers who showcase all good things with a current team, all good things must come to an end and it is most likely that Toronto Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman will be dealt somewhere before the trade deadline July 31st. Stroman going six innings, seven hits, and five strikeouts in the Blue Jays 12-1 Friday blowout of the Detroit Tigers.

Matt does the MLB podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Davis Turns Corner, A’s Top Twins 5-3

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Matthew Harrington

After a move down the batting order, Oakland A’s DH Khris Davis is starting to show signs of life again. Friday night at Target Field in Minneapolis “Khrush” knocked in two runs on two hits as the A’s beat the Twins 5-3. Liam Hendriks picked up his seventh save of the season and Marcus Semien hit his 15th home run of the season. Marwin Gonzalez went deep for the Twins.

Semien put the Green and Gold on the board early, taking Minnesota ace Jake Odorizzi’s third pitch of the game out of the park for a 1-0 lead. After Odorizzi bounced back for two outs, Mark Canha singled and Ramon Laureano walked to bring Davis up to the plate.

Davis entered the game hitting .167 over his last 15 games, and was moved down in the batting order earlier in the week. He laced a single off Odorizzi in a 1-1 count to plate Canha for a 2-0 lead before Minnesota had even taken its first cuts.

The rare error from Matt Olson with runners on second and third in the bottom of the second pushed across a Twins run. An inning later, Gonzalez hit his 11th homer of the season with Nelson Cruz on base to take a 3-2 lead off Chris Bassitt. Bassitt (7-4, 3.96 ERA) would hang on for the win with five innings of two-earned-run ball on five hits.

He’d be the beneficiary of a Matt Olson RBI single in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game. Davis’ second RBI single of the game an inning later off reliever Ryne Harper (3-2, 3.18 ERA) would give Oakland the 4-3 lead. Chad Pinder would single in a run off Harper as well for the 5-3 final.

Ryan Buchter pitched 1 1/3 scoreless for Oakland (56-42), Joakim Soria added an inning and Liam Hendriks went 1 2/3 to nail down his seventh save against one of the toughest lineups in the majors. The Twins (59-37) will look to bounce back with All-Star Jose Berrios on the hill Saturday while Oakland counters with Brett Anderson.