Tag: Oakland A’s

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s have given up 30 runs in the last five games; Hope to stop the skid tonight in Arizona

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Oakland A’s pitcher JP Sears seen here throwing against the Houston Astros on Sat May 25, 2024 struggled in his last outing against the Minnesota Twins giving up eight runs on Sat Jun 22, 2024. Sears starts Fri Jun 28, 2024 in Arizona in an effort to get back on track. (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah, for A’s manager Mark Kotsay the struggles continue as the A’s lost their fifth straight game on Wednesday in Anaheim.

#2 The pitching has struggled in the last five games the A’s have given up 30 runs that’s six runs allowed. Once again Kotsay is trying work with the pitching staff. It’s critical that the A’s work on keeping the run production down its one of the reasons why the A’s are on this skid.

#3 Of the 14 runs the A’s pitching have given up have come from two pitchers JP Sears (8) and Mitch Spence (6). The rest of the starters have also struggled to keep the A’s in games.

#4 Jeremiah, with the loses it’s kept the A’s from seeing closer Mason Miller to come in and shut down their opponents. So when Miller does get a chance he could be cold or his timing off because he hasn’t seen action in awhile.

#5 Tonight the A’s will start JP Sears (4-7, ERA 5.04) he’ll face the Arizona Diamondbacks Slade Cecconi (2-6, ERA 5.74) at Chase Field in Phoenix. First pitch 6:40pm PT. After having Thursday off could that help get the A’s get back on track and give them a chance to end the 5 game skid tonight?

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s hope to end 5 game skid in Arizona Friday at Chase Field

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Oakland A’s reliever TJ McFarland deals to the Los Angeles Angels in the top of the sixth inning at the Big A in Anaheim on Wed Jun 26, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Oakland A’s starter Joey Estes pitched shutout ball against the Los Angeles Angels until the bottom of the sixth inning where the Angels scored five times in the bottom of the sixth inning taking a 5-1 lead.

#2 Estes was lifted by manager Mark Kotsay in the bottom of the sixth inning after pitching 5.2 innings, giving up three hits and two earned runs. He was finesse until he got into that sixth inning jam.

#3 The Angels Zack Neto belted a three run double that broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth and with a five run rally in the sixth the A’s chances to turn it back were dim and they wound up taking their fifth straight loss.

#4 Strange play Jeremiah, Max Schuemann hit a double and the A’s baserunner Kyle McCann missed touching home plate and turned around and ran into teammate Armando Alvarez at the plate and it was too late McCann was out.

#5 The A’s head to Arizona to open a three game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. A’s will start JP Sears (4-7, ERA 5.04) the Diamondbacks have not announced a starter as of Wednesday night. First pitch 6:40pm PT.

Jeremiah filled in for Jerry Feitelberg each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Get Swept In Ugly Series With Angels 5-2; Oakland has lost 5 games in a row

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Oakland A’s pitcher Joey Estes leaves the pitchers mound in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at the Big A in Anaheim on Wed Jun 26, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

It was not the Oakland A’s (29-54) finest hour as they got swept by the Los Angeles Angels (33-46) losing game three 5-2. Much like the game on Tuesday, the Angels had a blow-out inning in game three, the fourth inning, where they scored five runs. The A’s were faced with playing from behind and could not generate the offense needed to even threaten to make a dent.

The only bright spots in this game for the A’s was the great inning from Mason Miller in the eighth inning. Armando Alvarez had another nice game with one run and one hit in his second big league game.

As in Tuesday’s game, the A’s got the first lead of the game 1-0. Max Schuemann doubled driving Armando Alvarez home.

The Oakland lead was short-lived when the Angels blew up the sixth inning to the tune of five runs taking a 5-1 lead. Tuesday it was the fourth inning and in today’s game, the sixth inning turned this game around for the Angels.

To start the inning Joe Estes allowed a single, a couple of walks and then Mickey Moniak was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Luis Rengifo scored to tie up this game 1-1. Zach Neto came to the plate and doubled three runners home; Willie Calhoun, Mickey Moniak and Luis Guillorme all scored giving the Angels a 4-1 lead.

That was it for Oakland pitcher Joey Estes who was relieved by Austin Adams. The Angels finished up the inning with another run when Matt Thaiss doubled Zach Neto home extending their lead to 5-1.

Joey Estes went 5 2/3 innings finishing the game with three hits, two runs, two walks and eight strikeouts. The Angels pitcher Roansy Contreras only pitched three innings allowing four hits, one run, two walks and two strikeouts.

Neither team would score again until the ninth inning when the A’s scored one run, too little, too late and the Angels had another sweep under their belt winning this in a three game . Mason Miller pitched the eighth inning back in great form recording two strikeouts, a pop out and an infield single dismissing the Angels in the inning.

Another bright spot for the A’s was again Armando Alvarez who had one run and one hit in his second major league appearance. That final run was the result of a Max Schuemann sacrifice and Armando Alvarez scored for that final run for the A’s.

Game notes: The A’s swept the Angels 5-2 on Wednesday extending Oakland’s loss streak to five games. It has been a miserable season for Oakland in 2024 and it just seems like it has snowballed lately. They just can’t get anything consistently going offensively or on the mound. In Wednesday’s game Estes pitched 5.2 innings, giving up three hits and two runs. For the Angels starter Contreras pitched three innings giving up one hit and one earned run.

After another disappointing series, the A’s will travel to Arizona for a three-game series with the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. They will be off Thursday. J.P. Sears will be on the mound for Oakland to start this series with a 4-7 win/loss record, ERA 4.07. At the time of this post the starting pitcher for Arizona is undecided. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 6:40 PM.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary:2024 The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum (PART VI) No-No’s and Perfecto’s

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Oakland A’s pitcher Jim Catfish Hunter pitches the 10th MLB perfect game in 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum (Mercury News file photo)

2024: The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum (PART VI) No-No’s and Perfecto’s

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

We continue to reminisce about all the great moments that have taken place for the Oakland A’s at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum during this final season for the team in Oakland. Since the Oakland A’s first game in 1968 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, there have been a total of twelve (12) no-hitters at the site currently called Rickey Henderson Field, and seven (7) of those twelve (12) have been by Oakland A’s pitchers, including one combined no-hitter. 1968.

Jim”Catfish” Hunter (Perfecto) on May 8, 1968. A’s 4 Minnesota 0. Attendance: 6,298 Time: 2:28 1970. Vida Blue. September 21, 1970. A’s 6 Minnesota 0. Attendance: 4,284 Time: 2:21 1975. Vida Blue (5 Inn) September 28, 1975. A’s 5 Minnesota 0. Attendance: 22,131 Time: 1:59 Glenn Abbott (1 INN) Paul Lindblad (1 INN) Rollie Fingers (2 INN) (Combined no-no on the last day of the season) 1983.

Mike Warren, at 22 years of age, threw a no-hitter vs Detroit Tigers on September 29, 1983. Nine innings, zero hits, zero runs, walked three and struck out five. As no-hitters usually go, it was also a quick game (before the clock era) of 2 hours and 20 minutes and a small crowd of 9,058 2010.

Dallas Braden’s (Perfecto) occurred on May 9, 2010, on Mother’s Day. He made 109 pitches to retire all 27 batters and struck out 6. in a 2-hour and 7-minute game in front of 12,228 fans at the Coliseum. 2018. Sean Manaea pitched a no-hitter over a sizzling Red Sox team that came into Oakland with an 8-game winning streak.

A’s 3 Boston 0. In front of 25,746 fans during a 2-hour and 15-minute game. 2019. Mike Fiers threw a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds. A 2-0 final in front of 11,794 at the Coliseum, lasting 2 hours 25 minutes. (Four years earlier, Fiers also threw a no-hitter with the Houston Astros on August 21, 2015, against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

However, Fiers is mainly remembered in baseball history for blowing the whistle about the Houston Astros who allegedly engaged in sign-stealing methods in 2017, the year the Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers to win their franchise’s first World Series.

Note: Johnny Vander Meer of the Cincinnati Reds threw consecutive no-hitters against the Boston Bees (now the Atlanta Braves) and the Brooklyn (now Los Angeles) Dodgers. In 1938, Cincinnati pitcher Johnny Vander Meer pitched back-to-back no-hitters on June 11 and 15. One record that might never be broken. What was the quickest MLB game ever played? April 16, 2005. Chicago White Sox 2, Seattle Mariners 1. 1 hour, 39 minutes.

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

A’s Rally In Eighth Inning But Still Come Up Short Against Los Angeles 7-5

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Oakland A’s Brent Rooker is congratulated in the A’s dugout after hitting a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at the Big A in Anaheim on Tue Jun 25, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (29-52) took the early lead 2-0 but the Los Angeles Angels (31-46) scored five times in the fourth inning setting the tone for the rest of the game. The final was 7-5 in favor of Los Angeles. Armando Alvarez was called up for Oakland and in his first major appearance had an amazing three hits, one run and one RBI. I was truly a memorable game for the kid. He had waited a very long time for this opportunity and he sure took full advantage of it.

Game recap: Oakland took a 2-0 lead in the third inning. JJ Bleday singled but was thrown out trying to reach second base. Armando Alvarez scored on the Bleday single giving the A’s a 1-0 lead.

Alvarez had doubled in the inning his first major league hit so an unforgettable moment for him. In the same inning, Tyler Nevin was hit by a pitch sending Max Schumann home adding another run for the A’s. There were two outs but Oakland had the bases loaded, a great opportunity to extend their lead. Shea Langeliers grounded out for the third out and a missed opportunity for the A’s as we have seen far too often this season.

The Angels made a whole lot of noise in the fourth inning scoring five times taking a 5-2 lead. Logan O’Hoppe singled Taylor Ward home to get the inning started and the Angels were finally on the board 2-1. Anaheim really lowered the hammer when Mickey Moniak slugged a grand slam giving the Angels a 5-2 lead.

Oakland got a little bit going in the fifth inning with a solo home run from Brent Rooker. Still trailing 5-3 the A’s had to put a stop to the offensive production that the Angels brought to this game. Oakland just could not slow the Angels down as they scored a run in the sixth and the seventh innings taking a 7-3 lead late in the game. Jo Adell doubled Mickey Moniak home in the sixth inning and Taylor Ward hit a solo home run in the seventh inning.

Going into the eighth inning, Oakland was running out of innings. The A’s got a leadoff runner to start the eighth inning. Oakland really got something going when Zach Gelof singled followed by an Armando Alvarez single and Shea Langeliers crossed home plate. The A’s had runners at second and third. Lawrence Butler hit a sacrifice and Zach Gelof scored and the A’s had a great rally going with only one out. When the dust had settled, the A’s had scored two runs but still trailed 7-5.

It was an interesting bottom of the eighth inning when the Angels Jo Adell was thrown out for interfering with Zach Gelof while running from first to second base knocking him down. The A’s got out of the inning but could not do anything in the ninth inning and the Angels had won game two of the series 7-5.

Mitch Spence went 5 1/3 innings allowing eight hits and six earned runs with six strikeouts. Anaheim’s Tyler Anderson went five innings with five hits and three earned runs with only two strikeouts. Oakland made a game of it but they could not get the crucial hits when they needed them and came up just short in this game.

A’s notes: The A’s are still in search of the elusive road win and once again failed to get it against the Angels in game two of their series Tuesday night. Mitch Spence the A’s starter got lit up giving up eight hits and six runs. The Angels Tyler Anderson who started went five innings, giving up five hits and three runs and tacked another loss on Oakland’s record. Oakland got beat pretty soundly Monday night, 5-1 and couldn’t level the series.

Oakland will finish up this series Wednesday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 PM. Joey Estes will be on the mound for Oakland with a 2-2, 5.53 ERA. Roansy Contreras will start for the Angels with a 1-0, 3.90 ERA.

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A’s Road Loss Record Continues Losing to Angels 5-1

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The Los Angeles Angels Taylor Ward (3) hits a home run in the bottom of the first inning as the Oakland A’s catcher Shea Langeliers (23) watches at the Big A in Anaheim on Mon Jun 24, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (29-52) have really struggled lately on the road. and Monday night those struggles continued losing to the Anaheim Angels (31-46) 5-1 for their eighth road loss. The struggles that Anaheim starting pitcher Griffin Canning had been having did not materialize and he went seven innings with five hits and the one earned run.

Oakland starting pitcher Luis Medina had a rough start going three innings allowing four hits and three runs. Aaron Brooke relieved Medina in the fourth inning and finished the game.

Game recap: Anaheim took the first lead in the game scoring in the first inning. Oakland pitcher Luis Medina gave up a home run to Taylor Ward. Luis Rengifo was on base after being hit by Medina and the Angels had an early two run lead 2-0. Again Oakland trailed early and would have to play catchup.

In the second inning the A’s got on the board when Tyler Nevi homered to center, a solo shot. This was his fifth home run this season. They still trailed 2-1 but they were still in this game.

Anaheim would begin to distance themselves from the A’s in the third inning scoring twice taking a 4-1 lead. Logan O’Hoppe sacrificed and Rengifro scored. A’s first baseman Tyler Soderstrom committed a fielding error allowing Taylor Ward to score from third base taking a 4-1 Angel lead and Anaheim was off and running up the score.

The Angels would strike again in the sixth inning. Mickey Moniak doubled Zach Neto home for a 5-1 lead and Oakland had a lot of work ahead of them. They had six hits so far in the game but they needed more if they would have any chance to salvage this game. Anaheim was not backing down continuing to hit.

The struggles that Griffin Canning had been experiencing did not show up. He ended up going seven innings allowing five hits, one earned run and five strikeouts collecting the win. Canning had a very strong outing. Oakland’s Luis Medina only lasted three innings before leaving the mound. He allowed four hits, three runs, two walks and two strikeouts. He was relieved by Aaron Brooks in the fourth inning. Brooks finished the game with two hits, one run, two walks and two strikeouts.

Neither team would team would score for the remainder of the game. The Angels had eight hits in the game and the A’s had six. Oakland’s road loss record continued as Anaheim walked away with the win 5-1.

Game notes: After dropping a series to the Twins over the weekend, the A’s traveled south to take on the Anaheim Angels. Oakland has been struggling both at home and on the road and was looking to turn things around. They have struggled at times on the mound, at the plate and defensively. The Angels are playing better ball digging their way out of the basement of the American League West.

In Monday nights game, the A’s started Luis Medina and tried to turn things around but surrendered three hits and three earned runs and for the Angels Griffin Canning in seven innings gave up five hits and one earned run.

Media struggled dropping his record to 0-5 and has lost all his June starts. The A’s continue their skid dropping their sixth straight game and the A’s bats only could produce one run Monday night as their hitting continues to suffer. Oakland could hope to break a horrible road losing streak. The A’s have to start hitting consistently, they have to relinquish they’re single here, single there scenario and start stringing hits together. At times they have really been bullied at the plate. Playing catchup has also been a huge issue.

The A’s will go into game two of this series with Mitch Spence taking the mound with a 4-3, ERA 3.86 ERA. The Angels will be looking to Tyler Anderson for a second win in this series. He has a 6-7, 2.48 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 6:38 PM.

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: Too much Lopez as Twins shutout A’s 3-0 at Coliseum; A’s open road trip in Anaheim tonight

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Oakland A’s baserunner Zack Gelof dives back into first base on a Minnesota Twins pick off move in the bottom of the eighth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun June 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Minnesota Twins starter Pablo Lopez had a perfect game going into the seventh inning against the Oakland until Oakland A’s Lawrence Butler hit a seventh inning single to break it up.

#2 Lopez needless to say had command of his pitches 14 strikeouts for a career high in eight innings of shutout ball. Lopez’s line eight innings, two hits and 14 strikeouts.

#3 Lopez had retired the first 17 batters he faced giving up two singles and a walk. With 14 strikeouts going the A’s line up just were off balance all game long.

#4 With the loss the A’s drop 6-17 and A’s starter Hogan Harris gets pinned with the loss he drops his record to 1-1. Harris allowed three runs and five hits in the 3-0 loss.

#5 The A’s hope to turn the page against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night. Starting pitcher for the A’s RHP Luis Medina (1-2, ERA 4.71) for the Angels Griffin Canning (2-8, ERA 5.02) first pitch 6:38pm PT at the Big A in Anaheim.

Join Barbara Mason for the A’s podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

1974 world champs honored, and Pablo Lopez dominates A’s on bittersweet day at the Coliseum, as Twins take series with 3-0 win

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Minnesota Twins pitcher Pablo Lopez throws to the Oakland A’s line up in the bottom of fifth at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun June 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland, California

Minnesota Twins 3 (43-35)

Oakland Athletics 0 (29-51)

Win: Pablo Lopez (7-6)

Loss: Hogan Harris (1-1)

Save: Griffin Jax (7)

Time: 2:11

Attendance: 18,491

By Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND–Pablo Lopez pitched eight shutout innings, and Byron Buxton hit a home run and knocked in two runs, as the Minnesota Twins shut out the A’s 3-0 to take the series.

The A’s scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull off an exciting win over the Twins in the series opener Friday night, and the Twins turned around and spanked the A’s a seven-run second inning en route to a 10-2 win yesterday. Sunday, the A’s looked to bounce back and win the series on another beautiful day for baseball at the Coliseum.

Before the game, the A’s honored the 1974 world championship team that won the franchise’s third-straight title in a bittersweet ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of that season. 1974 was just the A’s seventh season in Oakland, and it was truly the golden era of Oakland A’s Baseball.

Despite the inner turmoil the A’s frequently had in their clubhouse, they pulled off back-to-back world championships in 1972 and 1973. Still, even with the two titles, the A’s flamboyant autocratic owner, Charlie O. Finley fired Manager Dick Williams and replaced him with Alvin Dark.

Finley was also at the center of a fashion revolution in baseball. The A’s teams of the early 1970s often wore Kelly green and gold jerseys over white pants with an elastic waistband. Those uniforms were commonplace in Baseball in those days, and Finley was one of the pioneers.

Finley also paid players to grow mustaches. That’s why Rollie Fingers originally grew his famous mustache. Fingers didn’t do it for the style; he did it for the $300 bonus that Charlie O gave him for it.

Former players, Fingers, Dave Hamilton, Darold Knowles, Gene Tenace, Blue Moon Odom, Burt Campaneris, Dick Green, Ted Kubiak, Bill North, Joe Rudi and Herb Washington were on the field for a ceremony that brought 18,491 fans to the Coliseum, which was the largest attendance for an A’s home game this season.

The ceremony brought bittersweet nostalgia for a large and dedicated A’s fan base that is most likely going to lose their team at the end of this season.

Back to 2024. Hogan Harris made the start for Oakland this afternoon, and while he worked his way out of trouble in the top of the first first inning, Byron Buxton got to him for a home run to left-center field in the top of the second.

Pablo Lopez, who came into today’s game 6-6 with an ERA of 5.63 made the start for Minnesota. Plain and simply, he’s having a bad season.

Sunday afternoon, however, was a completely different story. Lopez took a perfect game into the sixth inning, setting down the first 17 men he faced. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Lawrence Butler finally got the A’s in the hit column with a soft line-drive into right field for a base-hit.

As for Harris, he was solid Sunday afternoon. Harris had given up just a run through his first six innings, and he was back out for the top of the seventh. However, Carlos Santana and Will Castro singled to put runners at the corners for Minnesota with nobody out.

Buxton, who homered in the second, doubled to center to make it 2-0, and that did it for Harris. Mark Kotsay summoned Austin Adams, and Castro scored when Buxton was thrown out at third base on a fielder’s choice.

When all said and done, Harris ended up giving up three runs and five hits over six-plus innings.

“The focus for Hogan is throw it in the zone,” said Kotsay. “[He’s] got good life to the heater, [and] you can see a slider that he’s developed here [at] the big league level, which is going to be a solid pitch for him. I think today during the seventh, maybe he could have thrown that slow breaking ball that he got [Carlos] Correa with a little earlier in the game.

Bouncing a couple more breaking balls might have helped him get some outs deeper into the game. Overall the strides he’s made, that’s what we’re talking about for these. We want to see this incremental growth. The success he’s having—maybe not wins [and] losses for him right now—will translate to wins [and] losses if he continues to make these steps in the right direction.”

As for Lopez, he ended up going eight shutout innings, and not only did he only give up just two hits, he struck out 14.

Lucas Erceg struck out two in a 1-2-3 top of the eighth for Oakland, and lefty Scott Alexander pitched a scoreless inning in the top of the ninth.

Lopez ended up throwing 102 pitches, so Twins Manager Rocco Baldelli opted for Griffin Jax in the bottom of the ninth, and Jax pitched a scoreless inning to close it out.

Lopez gets the win; Harris takes the loss; and Jax picks up the save. The A’s fall to 29-51, but they were able to go 3-3 against two strong teams in the Kansas City Royals and the Twins, and they started off this homestand by winning two-straight for the first time since the beginning of May.

“Obviously, we would [have] love[d] a winning homestand,” said Kotsay. “To have a chance over the last two days is where we wanted to put ourselves, but we ran into a couple buzzsaws against some good starting pitching. Overall, I would say we played good baseball.”

Now, the A’s are going back on the road, but they won’t have to go that far for a six-game swing through Anaheim and Phoenix, Arizona. They will have three against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim Monday through Wednesday, followed by a day off Thursday and three against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix Friday through Sunday.

Funny thing: With the new balanced schedule, teams only play the other teams in their division 13 games a year, and the A’s will play all 13 of their games against the Angels this season over the next five weeks.

Anyway, Luis Medina (1-2, 4.71 ERA) will make the start for Oakland at the Big A Monday night, and he will be opposed by right-hander Griffin Canning (2-8, 5.02 ERA). First pitch at Angel Stadium will be at 6:38 p.m PT.

A’s News and Notes:

J.D. Davis, whom the A’s designated for assignment on Tuesday, was traded along with cash considerations to the New York Yankees this morning for infielder Jordan Groshans.

Davis has had a bit of an adventure this season. He came into Spring Training as a member of the San Francisco Giants following an arbitration battle with them. Then they released him, and he ended up with the A’s after that.

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: WNBA’s Clark and Reese pack the house; Oilers can make Stanley Cup Finals history; plus more news

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The Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese (left), Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark (center), and the Los Angeles Sparks Cameron Brink (right) during the WNBA draft on Mon Apr 15, 2024. Reese and Clark have been big draws for the WNBA and Brink is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. (AP file photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie, this has been the year of the rookie in the WNBA and the league has never seen such coverage of their players starting with the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese who both have everyone even those who don’t follow the league that closely talking.

#2 The NHL Stanley Cup Finals could see it’s first team since the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs come back down 0-3 and win it with four straight win if the Edmonton Oilers can pull it off on Monday night in Florida in game 7 against the Florida Panthers. The task would not only be historic but it’s a tall order if the Oilers can pull it off on Panthers ice.

#3 Charlie, the FBI raid on Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is just an added sad chapter to what is happening to Oakland as a city. Thao’s last interaction with the relocating Oakland A’s who leave after this season for Sacramento was when she and the Oakland Coliseum Joint Authority wanted $92 million for the A’s to play their remaining three years before they move to Las Vegas and Thao and the Coliseum ran the A’s away with the high rent ticket. When it rains it pours for the A’s and City of Oakland situation.

#4 Their known as the lovable losers the Chicago Cubs who had some success are back on hard times dead last in the National League East eight games back, four games below .500, the Cubs have lost six of their last ten games and open a four game series in San Francisco on Monday night. How has the Cubs demise surprised you?

#5 Three time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer will make his 2024 debut for the Texas Rangers today against the Kansas City Royals. Scherzer hasn’t pitched in a game since game 3 of last year’s World Series. In the off season he had to have lower back surgery, in rehab he had thumb soreness which doctors determined it was nerve issues that extended into his right triceps.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A baseball anomaly I do not recall seeing

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Oakland A’s Daz Cameron (28) forearm bashes with Shea Langeliers (23) after Langeliers hit a two run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the bottom of the eighth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri Jun 21, 2024 (AP News photo)

A baseball anomaly I do not recall ever seeing

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

OAKLAND– A’s Reliever Sean Newcomb recorded his first win of the year on Friday night with zero batters faced. So, how did he do it?

With the A’s trailing, 5-4, against the Minnesota Twins with two outs in the eighth inning and a man on first, Newcomb entered the game from the bullpen.

After getting to a 1-1 count, the left-hander decided to throw over to first, but the runner got in a rundown.

Eventually, Austin Martin was tagged out, which ended the inning. Statistically speaking, a batter is “faced” if the at-bat itself results in an out, whether it’s the batter or a runner via a fielder’s choice.

However, since Newcomb’s pickoff resulted in the out, no batter was “faced.

Then, in the bottom half of the inning, Shea Langeliers hit a two-run homer off Jhoan Duran to give Oakland a 6-5 lead.

So, with the lead, Oakland brought in their flame-throwing closer Mason Miller, and he recorded the save – thus giving Newcomb the win, despite throwing two pitches.

I do not recall ever seeing this unless my memory is just started to deteriorate.

I think this should be in the TV show Jeopardy.

Listen to Amaury Pi Gonzalez for News and Commentary podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com