Tag: Oakland A’s

MLB The Show podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Codero suspended for rest of season for domestic violence by Yanks; Angels IL problem; plus much more

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New York Yankee pitcher Jimmy Codero has been suspended for the rest of the 2023 season including the post season for domestic violence. Details of what happened has not been disclosed by the Yankees. Codero’s suspension started immediately according to the Yankees. (AP News photo)

On the MLB podcast with Stephen:

#1 The New York Yankees suspended pitcher Jimmy Cordero for domestic violence. The Yankees in a statement said they are aware of Cordero domestic violence policy violations saying “there is no justification for domestic violence.” Cordero is suspended for the remaining 76 games and the post season. Cordero a 3.86 ERA with 34 strikeouts and ten walks. No details of the domestic violence charge was disclosed.

#2 The Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout is out with a fracture left wrist and was put on the ten day IL, Anthony Rendon was injured after fouling a ball off his left leg and is suffering from a shin contusion and did not suffer an fractures, finally Angels star pitcher Shohei Ohtani will not play in the All Star game due to a blister in his last outing and had a cracked finger nail in his last start.

#3 On Tuesday Chicago Cubs manager David Ross took all he could after the Cubs saw a four run lead and beat the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Park in Milwaukee. There were frustrations in the 11th inning when Cubs first base coach Mike Napoli shouted his disagreement with plate umpire Erich Bacchus on third strike call on Cubs hitter Dansby Swanson. Ross came out onto the field to argue and was also tossed out by Bacchus. The Cubs did come back to win it in 11, 7-6.

#4 Stephen talk about second baseman Thairo Estrada he’s suffering from a left hand fracture that will sideline him from two to six weeks. Estrada was hitting .272 with 79 hits, 9 home runs and 31 RBIs. The Giants will replace him with Casey Schmitt and Brett Wisley at second.

#5 What are the chances? The organization Schools over Stadiums has launched a petition campaign to put a bill on the ballot to stop the state of Nevada from using $380 million in public money to finance a new Las Vegas A’s ballpark at the Tropicana location. The campaign needs over 25,000 signatures in four Nevada districts to get the measure on the ballot and over 1 million votes to end the state’s public funding of the Las Vegas ballpark money Schools over Stadiums say should be used for education.

Join Stephen Ruderman for the MLB podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s need ten innings to beat Tigers 1-0; Oakland’s JP Sears, bullpen shutout Detroit

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The Detroit Tigers Vierling slides in safely with the steal (right) as the A’s second baseman Jordan Diaz (13) gets the drop on the ball in the bottom of the first inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Tue Jul 4, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s, who usually play at the Coliseum on the 4th of July, found themselves at Comerica Park in Detroit to start a six-game road trip. The A’s, who found themselves on the wrong side of a perfect game last Wednesday, appeared headed into a repeat performance. The Detroit Tigers’ lefty, Tarik, Skubal, making his first start since coming off the IL, baffled the A’s hitters. The Tigers pitching staff allowed just a run and it was just enough for the A’s to get by 1-0.

Skubal was perfect for his four innings of work. He allowed no runs, hits, or walks and struck out six. Yogi Berra once said:” It’s deja vu all over again.” The A’s went 32 years before being no-hit last Wednesday. It looked like they would be no-hit again. This time, six days later.

The Tigers brought in Reese Olson to pitch in the fifth. Olson kept the A’s hitless in the fifth and sixth innings. With two out in the seventh, A’s catcher Shea Langeliers broke the spell with a single.

The A’s starter JP Sears pitched his best game of the 2023 season. The lefty, acquired from the Yankees at the trade deadline last year, pitched seven and 1/3rd innings. Sears allowed five hits and no runs. He did not walk a batter and struck out four. Lucas Erceg retired the next two Tiger hitters to end the eighth. Shintaro Fujinami struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth. The game was scoreless after nine innings.

In the tenth, The A’s scored the winning run. Brent Rooker was the ghost runner at second base. A’s manager Mark Kotsay sent Tyler Wade into the game as a pinch-runner for Rooker. Jace Peterson laid down a sacrifice bunt, sending Wade to third.

A’s first baseman Ryan Noda singled to shallow left field to drive in Wade with the A’s first run. They wouldn’t need any more.

Trevor May was brought in to pitch the tenth. Tiger skipper A.J. Hinch replaced ghost runner Miguel Cabrera with Jake Marisnick. May retired Eric Haase and Zack Short. May walked Matt Vierling to put the winning run on first base.

If the Tigers could get a hit, the game would have been tied, and they would have had an opportunity to win. The hitter was Spencer Torkelson. May had his work cut out for him. May did the job as he got Torkelson to fly out to center to end the game. The A’s win 1-0

Game Notes- The A’s won for the third time in the last four games. They are now 24-63. The Tigers dropped to 37-47.

Shintaro Fujinami was the winning pitcher. He is now 5-7 for the year. The Tigers’ Tyler Holton was the losing pitcher. Trevor May earned his sixth save.

The line score for Oakland was one run, two hits, and no errors. The Tigers’ line was no runs, six hits, or errors.

The A’s won the game with two hits. On most days, teams managing just two hits find themselves as losers. Not so in baseball. The pitching for both teams was excellent. Sears did not record the win, but the A’s must be pleased with his performance. Conversely, the Tigers’ pitchers Skubal and Olson were terrific, too. Yet, the A’s found a way to win.

Game two of the three-game series will start at 3:40 pm on Wednesday. Lefty Ken Waldichuk will start for Oakland. Waldichuk is 1-5 and has a 6.78 ERA. Waldichuk has been used as an opener, and it remains to be seen if that will be his role on Wednesday. Lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (4-4, 2.13) goes for Detroit.

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: Nevada voters could vote down public funding for new A’s Vegas ballpark; If MLB owners vote yes Vegas voters could vote no

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This rendering seen here shows home plate facing Las Vegas Boulevard on the strip but reportedly the plate faces Las Vegas Airport and faces the landing and departing runways. The lighting and location of the park might be issue with the FAA. Daniel talks about Nevada voters and public financing of the ballpark in today’s podcast (renderings from the Oakland Athletics)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Daniel, in Las Vegas a drive called “Schools over Stadiums” with the Nevada State Education Association as they have filed for a PAC (political action committee). NSEA is committed to stopping the spending of public funds for spending billions for a new ballpark.

#2 An NSEA spokesperson Dawn Etcheverry said that they are using every possible avenue to stop the use of public funds and to pay for a billionaires new ballpark. This is a move by NSEA to give Nevadans “the opportunity to vote to stop this misguided project” said the spokesperson.

#3 Daniel, how effective and helpful is it for those opposed to the A’s moving to Las Vegas to have a vote to stop the Tropicana Park from being built in Vegas and how crucial is it for voters to get this measure on the ballot when considering school funding versus ballpark funding?

#4 To get a ballot measure in favor of SB1 the measure to fund the ballpark 140,777 signatures are needed and 35,195 valid signatures are needed from the four petition districts. A poll during the special session on would Nevadans support a new ballpark via public funding 87% of voters opposed the measure. Can this election sink a new publicly funded Las Vegas ballpark for the A’s?

#5 Also it was mentioned in the Nevada Independent report that Nevadans would prefer to have an expansion team rather than have the A’s who are coming in with hat in hand asking for public money. An expansion team would have an owner paying with private money to build a new stadium without using public funds.

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A review of A’s last homestand; A’s open series in Detroit tonight

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Connor Capel of the Oakland A’s (21) strikes out in the bottom of the sixth against the New York Yankees at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Jun 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Well, the Yankees found their offense again on Thursday as they erupted in the sixth inning to score eight times to break open the game and coast to an easy 10-4 win over the hapless A’s.

#2 A’s starter, lefty Hogan Harris, was pitching relatively well heading into the sixth. Harris had held the Yankees to just two runs in his first five innings.

#3 The A’s scored one in the first, two in the third, and led 3-2 heading into the fateful sixth inning. The Yankees sent 13 men to the plate in the sixth, scoring eight times.

#4The A’s have lost 12 of the last 14 games played. Their record is now a dismal 21-62. The Yankees improved to 45-36.

#5 The Chicago White Sox (36-47) and A’s open up a three game series starting tonight at the Oakland Coliseum. The Sox have not announced a starter as of yet and the A’s will go with Luis Medina (1-7 ERA 6.84) a 6:40pm first pitch.

Oakland A’s Preview: A’s six-game road trip starting in Detroit on July 4th

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Oakland A’s rookie Brent Rooker is the lone selected A’s player representative at the 2023 All Star Game in Seattle. Rooker is seen here taking his hacks against the Kansas City Royals on Fri May 5, 2023 (AP News file photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s are heading to Detroit to start a six-game road trip and open a series on Tuesday night against the Detroit Tigers (37-49) at Comerica Park in Detroit. The A’s finished their last homestand against the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox with three wins and three losses. The most intriguing game during the homestand was the Yankees’ Domingo German’s perfect game last Wednesday night.

The A’s will play three against the Tigers starting Tuesday night. They finish the road trip with three against the Boston Red Sox in historic Fenway Park. The A’s will then be off until July 14th due to the annual All-Star game that will be held in Seattle this year. Brent Rooker will be the sole Oakland Athletic named to the AL All-Star team.

Let’s take a look at this year’s Tiger team. The Tigers last had success several years ago. Their last World Series appearance was in 2012, and that team was swept four straight by the San Francisco Giants. The Tigers and A’s, two iconic franchises, have been playing against each other since 1901. Like the A’s, the Tigers are not stockpiled with well-known names.

Their best player, Miguel Cabrera, is in his final season. In his 20th season, Cabrera broke into baseball with the then-Florida Marlins in 2003. Cabrera was instrumental in the Marlins’ stunning upset of the New York Yankees in the World Series.

The Marlins traded Cabrera to the Tigers a few years later, and Cabrera has posted numbers that will take him to baseball’s Hall of Fame. Cabrera is a lifetime .307 hitter. He has recorded 3,127 hits, 508 home runs, and 1,859 RBIs. He owns a lifetime .904 OPS(on-base plus slugging percentage.) Cabrera has yet to play much this year. If he does play, he will be the DH.

The Tigers infielder will feature Spencer Torkelson at first base, Zach McKinstry at Second, the veteran Javier Baez at shortstop, and Andy Ibanez at third base. Baez starred with the Chicago Cubs for seven years and won a World Series ring with the Cubs in 2016 when the Cubs ended a 108-year drought.

The outfield will have Akil Baddoo in left, Jake Marisnick, a former Oakland Athletic, in center, and Matt Vierling in right. Backups are Tyler Nevin and Kerry Carpenter. Carpenter will also be seen as the Tigers’ DH.

The A’s will have JP Sears on the hill Tuesday night. Sears will be looking for his second win of the year. The Tigers will counter with lefty Tark Skubal. Skubal has no record, and it will be his first appearance this season.

The A’s have not announced their starters for the Wednesday and Thursday games. The Tigers will have another lefty, Eduardo Rodriguez (4-4, 2.13 ERA), handling the pitching chores. Michael Lorenzon will start for the Tigers on Thursday.

The Tigers’ are four games behind the AL Central leaders, the Minnesota Twins. The Twins are in first place with a record of 42-43. There is no team in the Central Division with a winning record. The A’s are now 23-63 for the year. The A’s do not want to set the record for most losses in a season. Oakland has some bright spots in their lineup.

Brent Rooker leads the team with 14 home runs. Rooker will represent Oakland a week from Tuesday at the All-Star game. Another bright spot has been the play of Esteury Ruiz. Ruiz is leading all of baseball with 41 steals. He had played well defensively in center field. He is hitting about. 260 has been able to hit in the clutch with men in scoring position. Ryan Noda has shown potential at first base. Noda has a great eye at the plate. He has walked 57 times and has an OPS of .374.

The Tigers’ pitching staff is better than the A’s on paper. The Tigers’ run differential is minus 76. That means the Tigers’ pitching has allowed 74 more runs than the runs provided by the Tigers’ offense. The A’s run differential is a staggering -237.

The A’s rotation has been a disaster for most of the season. The A’s Paul Blackburn returned to action after a stint on the IL. Blackburn, an All-Star in 2022, pitched well for his first three or four starts. The White Sox sent him to an early shower on Sunday as they beat the A’s 8-7.

Blackburn lost his first game this year. The A’s bullpen has also been an arson squad. The A’s have been shuttling pitchers back and forth from their minor league team in Las Vegas.

After the three games with the Tigers, the A’s face the Red Sox in Boston. A’s manager Mark Kotsay would love to win both series. Players and fans alike know that anything can happen in a short series. No one would have ever expected Domingo German to throw a perfect game. The A’s could win all six games. They could lose all six. Baseball is so unpredictable. That’s why people love the game.

Jerry Feitelberg is an Oakland A’s beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Cuban Players in the All Star Game-No Embargo or Blockade here

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Tampa Bay Rays Yandy Diaz has been selected to the 2023 American League All Star Team in Seattle (Tampa Bay Times photo file)

Cuban Players in the All Star Game — No Embargo or Blockade here-

That’s Amaury News and Commenatary

By Amaury Pi-González

In 1960 de US government placed an embargo on Cuba’s communist regime after the government nationalized US-owned companies and offered zero compensation. Later Fidel Castro’s government also nationalized Cuban citizens-owned businesses.

Castro declared himself and his government a Marxist-Leninist. The great exodus of Cubans began around that time. Cuba is the leader in baseball in Latin America even before Castro (crazy about baseball) was even born.

Because he eradicated all professional sports in the island, including baseball, he did not make baseball more popular as the government sponsored all sports, as the Soviet Union was doing, but most of the Cuban players that were playing then in the Major Leagues and also in Cuba, like Luis Tiant, Octavio (Cookie) Rojas, Camilo Pascual, Pedro Ramos, and Tony Taylor.

Mike Fornieles and many others who love the game of baseball left in the next few years. Castro forgot that these Cuban players although they loved the game they also loved the freedom to play in the Major League. That freedom was denied by the Cuban dictatorship.

Esteban Bellán, born in La Habana, Cuba, was the first Latin American baseball player to play in a North American professional league when it was formed in 1871 with the Troy Haymakers. Today, 63 years after the US-Cuban embargo, which also affected Cuban players because the Cuban government prohibited them from traveling outside and playing in the US, a total of at least five Cuban players have been selected for this 2023 MLB All-Star Game on July 11 at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park.

These are those Cuban players, Yandy Díaz (Tampa Bay), Yordan Alvarez (Houston Astros) who should be back from the injured list, Randy Arozarena (Tampa Bay), Adolis García (Miami Marlins), Lourdes Gourriel (Arizona Diamondbacks, Luis Robert Jr. (Chicago White Sox). Others like, Yonnier Cano (Baltimore Orioles) could be in Seattle as well the possibility of Jorge Soler of the Miami Marlins.

In 1968 a total of six Cuban players went to the All Star Game at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. In 2014 at Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota four Cubans were selected. Today there are over 20 Cuban-born players in the major leagues.

They have suffered along with the Cuban people the lack of freedom in their country of birth. The great majority had to escape the island in very dangerous circumstances. Some when playing outside of Cuba, defected and asked for political exile, like Oakland A’s Aledmys Díaz.

Many had no choice but to leave their families behind as they chose their dream, like the majority of baseball players all over the world, to play in the Major Leagues. All-Star Game: This July 11th at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. A’s outfielder-DH Brent Rooker was selected to represent the Oakland A’s.

Rooker had an excellent first half of the season, however anybody that follows the A’s, for this whole first half knows that rookie Esteury Ruíz has been the most productive and exciting player for Mark Kotsay’s team. Brent Rooker has played in72 games, average of .243 with a team leading 14 Home runs and 41 runs batted-in.

Esteury Ruíz is the A’s everyday center fielder and makes all the plays, and then some, he has played 83 games with 33 RBI, top in doubles for the team with 19 and has stolen 42 bases which is #1 in the major leagues.

Rooker has played for Minnesota and Kansas City prior to arriving with the A’s, he is not a rookie. Ruíz playing, in his very first season in the major, he is a rookie and could be a serious candidate for Rookie of The Year.

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

A’s can’t come back or sweep Chisox at Coliseum in 8-7 loss

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The Chicago White Sox Zach Remillard slides into third base under the glove of Oakland A’s third baseman Jace Pederson in the top of the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Jul 2, 2023 (AP News photo)

Chicago (37-49). 005 002 100. – 8. 12. 0

Oakland (23-63). 002 010 022. – 7. 10 2

Time: 2:56

Attendance: 12,107

Sunday, July 2, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The 2023 Oakland Athletics, in their never ending struggle to attain mediocrity, lost an 8-7 squeaker against the Chicago White Sox this afternoon before a gathering of 12,107 fans whose numbers were augmented by the youngsters whose parents took advantage of the kids get in free Sunday. That tipped the balance of cheering in favor of the for now home team.

The visitors didn’t announce who their starting pitcher would be until well after 11:00 o’clock, when they gave the nod to Touki Toussaint, Arizona’s first round draft pick in 2014. Chicago claimed him off waivers from Cleveland on June 20. He had been 0-1, 4.91 for the Guardians and 0-0, 2.84 for the Chisox for an overall record of 0-1, 3.60.

Touissant lasted 3-2/3 innings on the mound for the Chisox today. The A’s scored two runs, both earned, against him He allowed three hits, walked four batters, hit one with a pitch, of which he threw 8r5, 46 for strikes. He wasn’t involved in the decision and saw his season long ERA rise to 3.95.

Paul Blackburn, the A’s best hurler in 2022 (which is damning him with faint praise, although he really is a good pitcher), was back on the mound, making his seventh start since returning from the IL on May. 29. He picked up his first win in his last start before today, allowing the only run (it was earned) in the A’s 2-1 triumph against the Yankees.

He went 5-1/3 innings then. Today, he threw five innings and gave up an equal number of runs, all of them earned, on six hits, four walks, and a hit batter. He struck out five. His pitch count was 97, 40 of them balls. Blackburn took the loss, and his record now is 1-1, 4.50.

Chicago batted around in the top of the first on a lead off walk to Seby Zavala, who eventually scored Tim Anderson’s sacrifice fly, and a single by Eloy Jiménez, who drove in Andrew Benintendi, who’d singled and gone to second on a passed ball. (Shea Langliers already had made a throwing error).

They picked up another tally when Blackburn hit Gavin Sheets with a pitch with the bases loaded. Zach Remillard followed that with a two RBI single to left before Blackburn finally fanned Zabala to end the onslaught.. He had thrown 69 pitches in three innings, and the A’s were behind, 5-1,

The Athletics got back a couple of runs in their half of the frame, but they ran themselves out scoring more. When Tony Kemp hit a one out single to left, he drove in Conner Capel, who had opened the inning with a walk.

Tyler Wade, who had reached on a bunt single, got thrown out by a mile trying for third. A walk to Noda, Bledays’s getting hit by a pitch, and another walk to Brown brought Kemp across the plate and left the sacks still filled with A’s. But Jace. Peterson grounded out to short, and Oakland still trailed, 5-1.

Capel’s walk and a single by Wade sandwiched between a couple of outs in the A’s fourth to Aaron Bummer being brought in to face, and retire, Kemp to maintain Chicago’s three run margin.

The green and gold resumed their attack in the fifth frame, Noda touched him for a leadoff broken bat single to left and scored on Bleday’s authoritative double to center.

Richard Lovelady, reinstated from the 15 day injured list this morning, relieved Blackburn to start the top of the sixth. He gave up a run on a leadoff double to left by Remillard, who advanced to third on Bleday’s fielding error, and scored on Benintendi’s sac fly to center.

Tim Anderson’s single to center made that run count as earned and heralded Lovelady’s replacement by Rico García. He walked Luis Robert, Jr. before giving up an RBI single to Jímenez that made it, 7-3, Chicago. Both runs were charged to Lovelady.

Jake Burger’s 18th home run of 2023 led off the top of the seventh. That run was charged to García’s account. But he retired the next three White Sox he faced. It now was 8-3 in favor of the pale hose.

Tony Kemp led off the home seventh against Kenyan Middleton. He and the two A’s that followed him returned to the dugout without reaching base. Bryan Shaw retired Brown and Peterson in the home eighth before surrendering a double to Langlliers and a 441 foot round tripper to center field by the A’s courtesy all star, Brent Rooker, his 14th of the year, that closed the gap to 8-5.

That set the scene for Sam Long to try to keep the A’s within striking distance of the Chisox in the ninth, which he did, ending the inning with a pick off-caught stealing of Clint Frazier, who had entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh.

Gregory Santos let the A’s get close in the bottom of the ninth. A one out single by Kemp. A two out double by Bleday to make it 8-6. A single to right by Brown. 8-7. And then Peterson flew out to right, and that was it.

Aaron Bummer was the winning pitcher and now has a record of 3-1, 3.65. Santos was credited with hi first save.

The Athletics, at 23-63, .267 still have a better won-post percentage than the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, who finished that year at 20-134, .130 and were 12-49, .197 on July 2. The 1962 New York Mets, who hold the modern record for worst season, wound up at 40-120, .333 and were 21-54, 280 at the end of play on July 2.

The Royals defeated the Dodgers this afternoon, 9-1. KC now is 25-59, 298. At least for the time being, the team that’s been rooted in Oakland since 1968 still owns the worst record in the history of major league baseball.

The Athletics will be on the road from now until the end of the all star break. They’ll play Detroit in the motor city on July 4. JP Sears (1-6, 4.43) will face a pitcher to be decided. The contest is scheduled for 3:40 PDT.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Medina gets win and run support against White Sox at Coliseum

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Aledmys Diaz (12) the Oakland A’s shortstop throws to first base after forcing the Chicago White Sox Zach Remillard (left) at second base at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri Jun 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Even though the Sox got a run on A’s starter Luis Medina in the first inning, the rest of his outing was a shutout where even when Chicago would load the bases, Medina would escape the inning and still have the calmness and confidence to keep going.

#2 On the other side of the coin for the A’s, five innings resulted in five runs. In the second inning Oakland put up four of those five runs.

#3 Jace Peterson hit a sac fly to left field and Aledmys Diaz scored off that to take the lead, 2-1. A Tony Kemp triple would then score Langeliers, 3-1 and then finally Esteury Ruiz hit a sac fly that scored Kemp, 4-1.

#4 It was a bullpen game for the A’s from the sixth inning to the end and they held the White Sox off, but Chicago tried to make it interesting with three runs, including a solo home run by Luis Robert Jr.

#5 Saturday afternoon the White Sox will start Dylan Cease (3-3 ERA 4.04) the A’s have yet to determine a starter. A 1:07pm PT first pitch at the Oakland Coliseum.

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

https://soundcloud.com/sports-radio-service/oakland-as-podcast-with-jeremiah-salmonson-fri-jun-30-2023

A’s get edge on Sox in ten innings 7-6 at Coliseum

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Oakland A’s Tyler Wade (left) slides ahead of the tag from Chicago White Sox catcher Carlos Perez (36) at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Jul 1, 2023 (AP News Photo)

Chicago (36-49). 012 000 030. 0. – 6 10 2

Oakland (23-62). 100 011 200 1. – 7. 11.0.

10 innings

Time: 3:20

Attendance: 9,235

Saturday, July 1, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–On Friday, James Kaprielian was the A’s announced starting pitcher for this Saturday’s game against the Chicago White Sox. Yesterday, James Kaprielian also was placed on the 15 day injured list.

That’s at least partially why Kyle Muller took the mound for the at least current home team on this hot and hazy afternoon, during which the Athletics squeaked past the visitors, 7-6, in 10 innings. The haze burned off, but the heat remained. If the double play is a pitcher’s best friend, heat in the Coliseum is a pitcher’s nightmare.

Muller, the Atlanta Braves’ second round draft choice in 2016, was the A’s opening day pitcher this season and after three starts could boast a record of 0-0, 2.53 over 15-2/3 innings with a WHIP of 1.18. It was all downhill after that, and on May 23rd the A’s optioned Muller to Las Vegas in the batter friendly PCL, where he went 1-2, 6.59 before the A’s called up the 25 year old southpaw to start for them this afternoon.

Two double plays in five innings showed that Muller’s best friend didn’t desert him, but his stint on the mound, if not a nightmare, wasn’t a pleasant dream. He wasn’t sharp and allowed three runs, all earned, on six hits, one a homer, and four walks. He threw 86 pitches, 54 for strikes, and left trailing, 3-2. He escaped with a no decision and lowered his ERA to 7.79.

For their part, the Chisox went with 27 year old righty Dylan Crease, who came into today with a 3-3, 4.04 mark. In his last nine starts, however, he had gone 1-1, 2.82, with an opponents’ BA of .203. This, with a team that had a season record of 36-48. He toed the rubber hoping to notch his 40th career victory.

He failed in that attempt, leaving with the score tied and a runner on second in the bottom of the sixth. In 5-1/3 innings, he allowed three run, all earned, on six hits and three bases on balls. He struck out five batters. His pitch count reached 87, 54 of which were considered strikes. Like Muller, he got a no decision. His record now stands at 3-3, 4.10.

The green and gold got off to an early lead. Tony Kemp sent a lead off liner that bounced once before hitting the right center field wall between the Coca Cola ad and the line under the State Farm sign that separates balls in play from home runs. JJ Bleday’s sac fly to deep center brought him home.

The South Siders lost no time in erasing that deficit. Eloy Jiménez led off by lifting a 3-1, 88.9mph slider way back into left field, landing 433 feet from home. It was his 11th home run and 35th RBI of the year. Chicago sent seven men to the plate before that frame ended with the score tied at one.

They didn’t stop there. Tim Andersson’s lead off single to left center in the top of the third set the stage for two additional tallies when he and Luis Robert, Jr., who had followed. him with a single to right, were driven in by a single by Jiménez and Andrew Vaughn’s force out, respectively. The Pale Hose now were ahead, 3-1.

The A’s didn’t get another hit after Kemp’s lead off triple until Jordan Díaz and Tyler Wade opened the home half of the fifth with a pair of infield singles. Esteury Ruíz tried to sacrifice them up a base each, but Crease’s throw beat Díaz to third for a force out. Kemp flew out to center, advancing Wade to third.

JJ Bleday hit a hard liner that Zach Remillard made a great dive for but couldn’t hold on to, and Ward scored from third. We went into the sixth with the Chisox ahead, 3-2 and Austin Pruitt on the mound for the Athletics. He set the Chicagoans down in order, as did Lucas Erceg in the seventh.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Jace Peterson doubled to right center and scored on Noda’s two bagger to left center, tying the score at three and sending Crease to the showers, replaced by Gregory Santos. The reliever walked Díaz and surrendered a single to Wade that loaded the bases. Ruíz took. a called third strike for the second out. Then Kemp grounded out to second, ending the threat

Keynan Middleton retired the first two batters he faced in the home half of the seventh, but Seth Brown deposited a slider over the 367 foot sign in right, a shot that travelled 383 feet and Brown’s seventh homer and 20th RBI. Oh, yes, it also put the A’s up, 4-3.

But nothing’s easy in this vale of tears called the Oakland Coliseum. In the top of the eighth with Erceg back on the mound Robert smacked leadoff double to right center, and Jiménez walked. Vaughn was hit by a pitch while swinging at it for strike three and was ruled out after a lengthy rules check. Jake Burger went down swinging the normal way. Carlos Pérez pinch hit for Seby Zavala and line a double down the left field line that scored Frazier and sent Grandal to third.

That brought Sam Long to the mound for Oakland. He granted an intentional walk to Remillard to load the bases and an unintentional one to Benintendi that plated Grandal. Anderson hit a drive into the left field seats that had him circling the bases, but the play was reviewed, and the shot was called foul. Anderson then flew out to right, and the inning ended with the score 6-4, Chicago..

Joe Kelly was the pale hose pitcher in the home eighth. He walked Noda before fanning Díaz and Wade. Ruíz then dropped a double into just fair territory in right; Noda stopped his advance at third. He scored on a balk with Kemp aa the plate. Kemp’s single to first drove in Ruíz, who also had moved up on the balk. Bleday then hit a grounder that Remillard couldn’t handle at second. Pinch hitting Conner Capel flew out to end the inning in what now was a 6-6 tie.

Trevor May was called on to halt the White Sox in the top of the ninth. Robert singled to left. Jiménez popped out. Vaughn was hit by a pitch. Robert was caught trying to steal second, May to Kemp to Peterson. Chicago challenged the call, but it was confirmed. May struck Burger out to preserve the tie.

Reynaldo López was assigned the task of preservation for Chicago in the Oakland ninth. Although he allowed a walk and a single he succeeded.

Shitaro Fujinami faced Grandal with Burger the zombie runner at second as we went into extra innings. He retired Grandal and the Sox’ Carlos Pérez before plunking Remillard. Then Benintendi whiffed, and the A’s gained the enormous advantage of starting their half of the 10th with Wade at second and needing only one run to. win.

Kendall Graveman was on the mound. He struck out Ruíz on a foul bunt with two strikes. Kemp flew out to left; Wade held second. Remillard bobbled Bleday’s grounder to second and threw errantly to first. Díaz flew around to home. Both calls were confirmed on review. The crowd went wild … on chants of “Sell the team!”

Fujinami got the win. He’s now 4-7, 9.57. Graveman, now 4-1, 300, was the losing pitcher.

Sunday, the two rivals will face each other in the final game of this three set series. Paul Blackman (1-0, 3,77) will be Oakland’s starting pitcher. Michael Kopech (3-7, 4.08) will play that role for Chicago. Game time is set for 1:07.

A’s Score Seven Runs Beat White Sox 7-4 at Coliseum Friday; Oakland wins third game in last seven

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The Oakland A’s Esteuery Ruiz (1) steals second base while Chicago White Sox Elivis Andrus (1) waits for the late throw at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri Jun 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Troy Ewers

OAKLAND–On a Friday in front of 14,181 fans. The Oakland A’s (22-62) played the Chicago White Sox (36-48) and Luis Medina of the A’s faced off against Tanner Banks of the White Sox and Medina put on a stellar performance in his five innings.

Even though the Sox got a run on Medina in the first inning, the rest of his outing was a shutout where even when Chicago would load the bases, Medina would escape the inning and still have the calmness and confidence to keep going.

On the other side of the coin for the A’s, five innings resulted in five runs. In the second inning Oakland put up four of those five runs. It started with Shea Langeliers hitting an RBI single that scored JJ Bleday to tie the game, 1-1.

Jace Peterson hit a sac fly to left field and Aledmys Diaz scored off that to take the lead, 2-1. A Tony Kemp triple would then score Langeliers, 3-1 and then finally Esteury Ruiz hit a sac fly that scored Kemp, 4-1. Also Ruiz got his 41st stolen base in the first inning making him a MLB leader in stolen bases.

The fifth run was a Carlos Perez solo home run and this was his fifth home run of the season, 5-1 A’s. It was a bullpen game for the A’s from the sixth inning to the end and they held the White Sox off, but Chicago tried to make it interesting with three runs, including a solo home run by Luis Robert Jr.

The threat of a comeback for Chicago never phased the A’s, because they got two insurance runs in the eighth inning and the game ended with a score of 7-3, Oakland A’s win!!!

Saturday’s game is the second of the series and on the hill is Dylan Cease of the White Sox (3-3, 4.04) and it’s unknown at the time who’s pitching for Oakland. First pitch 1:07pm PT.