Tag: Oakland A’s

A’s, behind Bassitt and Phegley, beat O’s to sweep 3-game series

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Oakland A’s completed the three-game sweep over the Baltimore Orioles by beating them 8-3 at the Oakland Coliseum on Wednesday.

The O’s have now lost eight in a row, and the team is floundering at the bottom of the AL with a record of 21-53. They seem to be channeling the 2013 Houston Astros. The Astros, in their first year in the AL, lost over 100 games. They made great draft selections and made it to the top of the baseball world in 2017 when they won their first World Series. The O’s were not a good team last year, and they are on the same path this year. To make matters worse, the O’s best player, Trey Mancini, was hit on his left elbow with a 92-MPH sinker thrown by Chris Bassitt. Mancini left the game, and the MRI showed that he had an elbow contusion.

Bassitt pitched very well Wednesday afternoon. Bassitt went 5 and 2/3rds innings and allowed two hits and two runs, Bassitt almost came out of the game in the first inning. A’s manager Bob Melvin noticed that something might be wrong with Bassitt’s finger. Bassitt had a loose piece of skin, and that hampered his throwing motion. The A’s trainer came out and clipped off the skin.

“I felt a whole lot better than I have the last couple of outings,” Bassitt said. “For a couple outings, I went into this weird mode where I was trying to throw strikes, and that’s not me. I’m just trying to throw a fastball by you 80 times a game.”

Bassitt retired 16 of the 18 hitters he faced and did not allow a hit until Jonathan Villar singled with one out in the sixth.

The A’s put three runs on the board in the fifth, one in the sixth, and four in the seventh. Josh Phegley homered with two on to put the A’s ahead 3-0 after five complete. The Orioles scored two in the top of the sixth. The A’s responded with one in their half of the inning. The O’s scored one in the top of the seventh to make it 4-3.

The A’s put the game out of reach when they scored four times off O’s reliever Shaun Armstrong. The A’s win 8-3.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s improve to 39-36. The O’s drop to 21-53. The O’s have also lost eight in a row.

The A’s hitting stars were Josh Phegley with a three-run blast, Stephen Piscotty with two doubles, and Marcus Semien with two hits to extend his hitting streak to 16 games. Bassitt is now 4-3 for the year and lefty Josh Rogers is 0-1. Jimmy Yacabonis started for the O’s and went two innings before giving way to Rogers.

Up Next: The A’s begin a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays Thursday night in Oakland. The A’s won two out of three from the Rays last weekend in Tampa Bay. The Rays were swept by the Yankees in New York and are now 3 1/2 games behind New York for first place in the AL East.

Frankie Montas (9-2, 2.85 ERA) will go for the A’s, and he will be opposed by the crafty right-handed veteran pitcher Charlie Morton. Morton beat the A’s last week in Tampa. Morton is 8-1 and has an ERA of just 2.37. Morton lost his first game to the Angels last week. Morton is 2-1 with an ERA of 3.27 in six career starts against the A’s.

Game time will be at 7:07 pm.

The A’s will be celebrating African American Heritage night, and fans will receive an Oakland Larks replica cap.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: ESPN Deportes saying Adios by September

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: espn.com

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Social Media has done it once again. They just about eradicated print media in this country as they continue to advance as part of the biggest media transformation of our lives. ESPN Deportes from Bristol, Connecticut confirmed that their radio channel in Spanish will cease to operate this fall. As a result, many full-time and part-time jobs will be going away. Most of these jobs are in Coral Gables (Miami) as well as in New York. However, while Miami and New York were their major hubs, they have stations all across the country. Maybe the best example of what has been happening for a decade with the social media transformation is the New York Times, the most famous newspaper in the country, received a loan from Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim in 2009. Slim gave the NYT $250 million dollars to keep operating.

“Hispanic audience consumer habits are changing rapidly and this requires ESPN to evolve as well,” the statement said. “It’s no secret Hispanic fans skew heavily on digital and social media, which is why we made the decision to discontinue ESPN Deportes terrestrial radio (ESPN Deportes radio) in September.”

It is obvious that the majority of people in the US get their news and sports via social media. Everybody has a cellphone and can now access live and instant information at their fingertips. Social media facilitates the sharing of information and ways of expression via virtual communities and networks.

The future of media is truly in the hands of social media, the main engine of transformation in this business. Print media was first, then radio and television finding a way how to “befriend” social media.

Until as recently as 2016, today’s Oakland Athletics flagship station KTRB 860 AM was part of ESPN Deportes. When it comes to social media in relation to “old” media, the best thing to do is listed below.

In other words, if you can’t beat them, join them!

A’s win laugher, pound hapless Orioles 16-2

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The A’s bats came alive Tuesday night as they pummeled the Baltimore Orioles 16-2. The A’s led the whole way. A’s starter Brett Anderson was in cruise control until the top of the fifth. Anderson had allowed the O’s just one hit in his first four innings of work. The O’s scored two in the fifth to make it a 4-2 game. The roof came crashing down on them in the bottom of the sixth when the A’s scored 10 runs. They had three homers in the inning, and the game was just about over as they led the O’s 14-2. The A’s tacked on two more in the eighth and 14,310 fans went home very happy.

The A’s drew first blood in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, A’s catcher Beau Taylor, hitting from the left side, blasted his first career home run to put the A’s on the board. The Green and Gold led 1-0 after three.

The A’s added three more in the fourth. First baseman Matt Olson led off with a booming double off the wall in left field. Orioles’ pitcher Gabriel Ynoa hit Khris Davis with a pitch to put men on at first and second with no out. The next hitter, Ramon Laureano, who robbed former Athletic Renato Nunez of an extra-base hit in deep center field, hit his 11th dinger of the year to drive in Olson and Davis. The A’s now led 4-0.

The O’s cut the deficit to two in the top of the fifth. Brett Anderson, who had given up just one hit in the first four innings, was burned by Orioles’ second baseman, Jonathan Villar. Villar sent Anderson’s pitch over the wall in center field wall for the O’s first run. Keon Broxton followed with a single and then stole second to get into scoring position. Orioles’ third baseman Rio Ruiz hit a sharp ground ball that was fielded by Marcus Semien. Semien tried to nail Broxton at third, but his throw got by Matt Chapman at third. Broxton scored, and Ruiz ended up at second base. Only one run was earned. The A’s still led 4-2.

The A’s blew the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth. They sent thirteen men to the plate. They had eight hits, including a two-run blast and two three-run round trippers as they scored 10 times. Three runs were earned, and seven were unearned. Robbie Grossman hit the two-run blast and Khris Davis and Stephen Piscotty each hit a three-run job. Marcus Semien drove in a run with a triple to extend his hitting streak to fifteen games.

The A’s scored two more in the eighth when Chad Pinder hit a pinch-hit home run with a man on board to make it 16-2.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s are now 38-36. The O’s fell to 21-52. They have the worst record in the American League East.

Brett Anderson improved to 7-4 and O’s starter Gabriel Ynoa dropped to 0-4.

The A’s hit six home runs in the game. It was the first time at the Coliseum since September 2003 when they did it against the Los Angeles Angels.

Up Next: The A’s conclude the three-game series against the O’s Wednesday afternoon at the Coliseum. Chris Bassitt will pitch for the A’s, and the O’s have not announced their starter. Game time is at 12:37 pm.

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Manaea working his way back to the show; Machado files a protest against suspension; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @theScore

On Headline Sports with Barbara Mason:

#1 The Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Manaea is throwing well in a simulated 45-pitch three contest. He pitched three innings against Oakland minor league hitters. He said he feels great.

#2 A’s left hander AJ Puk, who had Tommy John surgery, threw two innings against Class A Advanced Stockton and allowed a homer and a walk with three strikeouts. Jesus Luzardo, who had a shoulder strain, allowed four hits and a homer. The A’s are hoping that both Puk and Luzardo can rehab and make it back to the big club.

#3 San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado wants to earn every penny of that $300 million contract and getting called out on strikes didn’t sit well for him on Monday night. Plate Umpire Bill Welke called a pitch on the outside corner and Machado argued the call made contact with Welke, threw his bat, and dropped some heavy language. Machado has appealed his one-game suspension.

#4 The Chicago Cubs are considering opening up a sportsbook at Wrigley Field and people just like at the racetrack can go and place their bets inside at the park. MLB currently prohibits gambling inside MLB stadiums, but the rules are about to change and betting will be allowed.

#5 Former San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence of the Texas Rangers, who had has 15 home runs for the season, had his run stopped by a groin injury he got in Cincinnati on Sunday. Pence was hitting .294 and 48 RBIs in 55 games.

Headlines Sports with Barbara Mason is heard each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: Piscotty says he feels fine, back in the lineup Monday night; Manaea says rehab is coming along great

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @NBCSAthletics

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The A’s and Orioles started the three-game series with a close game at the Oakland Coliseum on Monday night. Regardless where some teams are in the standings, the A’s opponents are well aware they might be playing some tight games.

#2 Stephen Piscotty came back from melanoma from his right ear and was in the lineup on Monday night at the Coliseum. Piscotty says he’s doing fine.

#3 The Oakland A’s Sean Manaea and AJ Puk are working their way back into the rotation. Manaea has been throwing 45-pitch simulated games and Puk, who had Tommy John, has been throwing. Although their recoveries are slow, they’re both determined to make it back.

#4 Mike Fiers started for the Oakland A’s on Monday night against the Baltimore Orioles Jack Cashner in a game that turned out to be a well pitched game with the A’s getting a one run win 3-2.

#5 The A’s Matt Chapman, who leads the team in home runs with 16, and part of why the A’s have such consistent hitting.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Yankees look for more pitching to get past Rays; A’s-O’s series could feature close games; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @NewsdaySports

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is actively going shopping looking for pitching. One of the strong prospects of winning in the postseason is good pitching. The Yankees, who have been hampered by injuries, are looking forward to a healthier second half of the season with a compliment of good pitching.

#2 The Oakland A’s are facing the Baltimore Orioles in a three-game series. The Orioles have struggled all season, but like in the show, a team like the Orioles could come out of it and make a series of it. The A’s might very well be involved in some close games in this series.

#3 As of late, the A’s have been getting some hitting production at the bottom of their lineup from Jurickson Profar, Josh Phegley, Matt Chapman, Khris Davis, Marcus Semien, and Ramon Laureano.

#4 The A’s put together a four-game winning streak before dropping the final game of their series against the Tampa Bay Rays to conclude their last road trip at 6-4.

#4 The San Francisco Giants are playing the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers for a three-game series at Dodgers Stadium the last time these two teams met at Oracle Park it nearly turned into a zoo when Max Muncy was circling the bases after pitcher Madison Bumgarner told Muncy to quit watching the ball and run and Muncy told Bumgarner if he doesn’t like it he could go into the ocean and get the ball. Amaury describes if this one will be a rivalry again.

#5 David Ortiz attorney José Martínez Hoepelman has said that the tireless effort by authorities have been fruitful and that the people want information, but they just have to wait. Dominican police say they are closing in on the ring leader Gabriel Alexánder Pérez Vizcaíno, according to the Associated Press.

#6 Turning to Los Angeles where the San Francisco Giants are playing a three-game series with the Dodgers, our attention turns to a topic we didn’t get to talk about — In feature article in the Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Dodgers Spanish announcer Jaime Jarrin, whose 84-years-old, lost his wife last month in May after 65 years of marriage. The Dodgers paid a tribute to their marriage and Jaime, who is a huge part of the Dodger family, talked about losing his wife last February 28th.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez does the Oakland A’s Spanish play-by-play and News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s nip the Orioles 3-2 to win the series opener

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The A’s bounced back from a tough loss to the Seattle Mariners on Father’s day to defeat the woeful Baltimore Orioles 4-3 Monday night at the Oakland Coliseum. Mike Fiers performed well once more and won his seventh game of the season. O’s starter, Jack Cashner, also pitched well. He gave up three runs, two of which were unearned. The O’s defense helped Cashner lose his third of the year. The A’s and O’s have played five times this year and the A’s have won four of the five.

The A’s grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. A’s shortstop Marcus Semien doubled leading off. With the double, Semien extended his hitting streak to 14 consecutive games. With one out, Matt Olson doubled down the right field line to drive in Semien.

The O’s put two unearned runs on the board in the top of the second. O’s DH Pedro Severino led off with a single. The next hitter, Rio Ruiz, laid down a sacrifice bunt that hugged the grass going down the third base line. A’s third baseman charged the ball and threw off-balance. His throw went past first baseman, Matt Olson. Severino scored, and Ruiz ended up on third base. Second baseman Hanser Alberto put down a sacrifice bunt to drive in Ruiz with the O’s second run.

The A’s regained the lead in the bottom of the third. They scored two unearned runs on the strength of two walks, an infield hit, a throwing error and a reversal of call at home plate. Josh Phegley and Marcus Semien walked to start the rally. Matt Chapman reached on an infield single to load the bases with no out. Matt Olson reached on a fielder’s choice. O’s third baseman Rio Ruiz made a throwing error that allowed Phegley to score. Semien was out at second, and Matt Chapman was called out trying to score from first base on the throw, The A’s challenged the ruling and the call was overturned when the replay showed Chappie beat the throw to the plate. The A’s lead 3-2 after three complete.

Mike Fiers pitched well once more. Fiers went 6 2/3 innings of work. His allowed three hits and two runs. Both runs were unearned. Fiers, in his last eight starts, is 5-0 and has an ERA of 2.45. Liam Hendriks pitched an inning and a third and did not allow a hit. Blake Treinen retired the O’s 1-2-3 to record his 16th save of the year.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s improve to 37-36. Baltimore drops to 21-51. The O’s seem to be channeling the old St. Louis Browns as they own the worst record in the American League. The Browns moved to Baltimore after the 1953 season and became the O’s.

Marcus Semien doubled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. His batting average during the streak is a stunning .390.

Oakland’s line score was three runs, five hits, and one error. Baltimore’s line was two runs, three hits, and one error.

12,345 people watched the A’s down the O’s and the time of game was two hours and 32 minutes.

Up Next: The A’s meet the O’s Tuesday night at the Coliseum. Game time is at 7:07 pm. Lefty Brett Anderson will pitch for Oakland. Anderson is 6-4 for the year. He pitched well his last time out, but he did not get a win as the bullpen did not do its job that day. Anderson will be seeking his seventh win. He will be opposed by Baltimore’s Gabriel Ynoa. Ynoa is 0-3 and has an ERA of 5.02.

Mired In Mediocrity: A’s stuck at .500 after 6-3 loss to the Mariners

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–It’s official: the A’s lengthiest–and potentially most promising–homestand of 2019 is a dud…at least to this point.

The season as a whole? Of course, it’s to be determined, as is this home stand. But the point of determination is fast approaching. Last season at this juncture, the A’s were two games into the best finish in Major League Baseball (63 wins in the final 92 games of the season). This season to date, the A’s are coming to grips with a series loss at home to the scuffling Mariners, capped by a 6-3 loss on Sunday.

The manner of the loss–the A’s squandered 2-0 and 3-2 leads–another reminder of the team’s inability to sustain successes within a game, or over a stretch of games. As a result, the A’s (36-36) are stuck at .500 for the 16th time this season.

Individually, Sunday’s game fell on setup man Lou Trivino’s inability to navigate the eighth inning in which the Mariners struck for four runs to overcome a one-run deficit and put the game away in one fell swoop.

Trivino failed to retire any of the five batters he faced, although the biggest blow to his stint was a fly ball off the bat of Domingo Santana that right fielder Mark Canha lost in the sun for a two-base error.

The normally staunch Canha committed his first error in his last 152 game appearances.

“It was like the ball was falling faster than I could run,” Canha explained. “It was just a brutal play. Brutal.”

“I feel like it cost us the game. It put Lou in a really tough spot and I feel horrible about it.”

That set up the Mariners with runners at second and third with one out, at which point Trivino’s command issues cropped up. Designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach, a serious threat with 17 home runs, was walked on four pitches which loaded the bases. Then Kyle Seager doubled home a pair on a 1-0 pitch to give the Mariners the lead.

“I blow the lead for what seems to be the 10th time this year,” Trivino said. “It’s frustrating and Lord willing I can fight through this and come up for us.”

Bob Melvin summoned Yusmeiro Petit at that point, and he allowed a run-scoring, sacrifice fly to Tom Murphy. Dee Gordon’s RBI triple then capped the rally.

The A’s remained a season-worst 12 games behind the division-leading Astros, who lost to Toronto. More importantly, the Rangers fell in Cincinnati, which kept the A’s within 2 1/2 games of the team currently in possession of the second wild card.

Featured pitcher Tanner Anderson pitched 5 1/3 innings in relief of opener Ryan Buchter, allowing three hits and two runs. That second, impressive outing means the minor league call up will likely get a third opportunity. Khris Davis opened the day’s scoring with a two-run homer, his 15th. But those individual highlights couldn’t trump a disastrous eighth that decided it.

The A’s hoped to take full advantage of a home stretch against last-place clubs in Seattle and Baltimore, but now must turn their attention to fleecing the Orioles starting Monday.

Mike Fiers and Baltimore’s Andrew Cashner will face off in the opener at 7:07 pm.

Oakland A’s podcast with Joey Friedman: A’s score big on M’s, crush Seattle 11-2; A’s look to take series on Sunday

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

photo from sfgate.com: Oakland Athletics pitcher Frankie Montas works against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 15, 2019, in Oakland, Calif.

On the A’s podcast with Joey Friedman:

#1 The A’s wasted no time on Saturday scoring on the visiting Seattle Mariners for three runs in the bottom of the first inning. One of the key things in a division game like this is attack early and the thing just might work out, they did with the A’s in a nine-run win 11-2.

#2 A’s starter Frankie Montas held the Twins to just two runs through six innings of work, nine strikeouts, and a walk to improve his record to 9-2.

#3 Talk about the Mariners dealing Edwin Encarnacion to the New York Yankees just before the game. Was this a distraction to the M’s seeing they crushed the A’s Friday 9-2 then turn around and lose to the A’s 11-2 on Saturday?

#4 The A’s left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea threw a 45-pitch simulated game in Arizona and is recovering from shoulder surgery. He’s surely one of the pitchers that’s missed in the rotation.

#5 Sunday’s pitchers for the Seattle Mariners Mike Leake (5-6, 4.26 ERA) and for the Oakland A’s Tanner Anderson (0-1, 3.18 ERA).

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

 

MLB podcast with Matt Harrington: Dodgers show love of new t-shirts are as deep as the ocean; Giants Pomeranz and Panda pitch and hit for win over the Brew Crew; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

@adriangarro photo: Los Angeles Dodgers Max Muncey gets a laugh out of the freshly printed t-shirts on Friday night at Dodgers Stadium in reference to his chatter with San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner after hitting a home run off him on the Dodgers last trip to San Francisco.

On the MLB podcast with Matt:

#1 Who would ever thought that the Los Angeles Dodgers would ever print the famous words from Dodgers slugger Max Muncy after he hit a splash hit off San Francisco Giants starter Madison Bumgarner when Muncy and the Dodgers were in San Francisco that said “Go get it out of the ocean” a reference to Bumgarner telling Muncy to “run and not watch the ball” after a home run and then Muncy telling Bumgarner “If you don’t want me to watch the ball go get it out of the ocean.” The Dodgers this week have been wearing blue t-shirts with those words printed on it.

#2 For the second consecutive game, San Francisco Giants pitcher Drew Pomeranz got the winning decision in a 5-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Pomeranz pitched for five innings, giving five hits and two runs striking out five hitters.

#3 The once former Boston Red Sox third baseman that was given up for dead Pablo Sandoval for San Francisco went 3-4 on Friday night, including a double and a home run

#4 The Oakland A’s are certainly a ball club that is playing .500 ball after their 10-game win streak a couple weeks back ended they have been playing some back and forth ball going 6-4 on their last road trip and dropping their first game to Seattle 9-2 to open a homestand in Oakland on Friday night.

#5 You have to enjoy the two-way competition between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees in the AL East. The Rays with a 1/2 game margin over the Yankees make it for a competitive battle. The Rays bounced back from having the A’s taking two out three from them in their previous series with a win over the LA Angels 9-4. The Yankees got trounced on Friday night by the Chicago White Sox 10-2.

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