Tag: Pittsburgh Pirates

San Francisco Takes Game Two In Pirates Series 3-1

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Michael Conforto is jubilant standing at second base after smacking a a two run single for the San Francisco Giants and advancing on the throw against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Sat Jul 15, 2023 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Takes Game Two In Pirates Series 3-1

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (51-41) took on the Pittsburg Pirates (41-51) Saturday evening after winning the first game of their series Friday night 6-4. Game two went off amid possible rainy conditions. Fans crowded PNC Park hoping to see their team take game two they left disappointed as the Giants picked up their fourth win after Michael Conforto connected with a tie breaking home run for a 3-1 win Saturday.

Both teams came up empty in the first inning but both teams scored a single run in the second. Mike Yastrzemski homered to give the Giants the first score of the game and the Pirates tied it up in the second 1-1. Pittsburg’s Henry Davis knocked one out of the park.

A pitchers duel ensued through the next five innings. The Giants Alex Cobb went six innings giving up four hits and one run. The Bucs Johan Oviedo went seven innings giving up a single hit and a single run.

The Pirates threatened to take the lead in the seventh inning with two runners on base and one our but the Giants got out of it thanks to Taylor Rogers who had relieved Cobb on the mound. This game went into the eighth inning knotted 1-1.

In the eighth the Giants had two runners on base with one out looking to break the tie. San Francisco got two runs on the board to take a 3-1 lead. Michael Conforto singled both LaMonte Wade Jr. and Joc Pederson home.

Going into the ninth inning the score remained 3-1 and San Francisco was three outs away from taking game two. Camilo Doval closed out the game giving the win.

The Giants will go after the sweep in game three of the series on Sunday. The Pirates will start Osvaldo Bido (1-1 ERA 4.44) and the Giants were undecided as to who will take the mound at the time of this posting. First pitch is scheduled for 9:05 am.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Giants rookies deliver 3 run clutch 7th inning in 6-4 win over Bucs at PNC

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San Francisco Giants Luis Matos slugs an RBI off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Ryan Borucki in the top of the seventh inning at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Fri Jul 14, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Stephen:

#1 On Friday night at PNC Park in Pittsburgh the San Francisco Giants (50-41) rookies did a job on the Pittsburgh Pirates (41-50) coming through with three runs in the top of the seventh inning for a 6-4 win to open the three game series.

#2 Rookies Patrick Bailey and Luis Matos contributed with RBI singles for the three run seventh and a break through for the Giants win. Baily and Matos since they came up have been a great help.

#3 The Giants Wilmer Flores slugged a double in the seventh and JD Davis got aboard on a base on balls. Pirates catcher Austin Hedges allowed a pass ball that advanced Flores and Davis. Davis scored when Pirates outfielder Henry Davis over ran the ball in right field for an error.

#4 Stephen talk about Giants reliever Tyler Rogers who pitched in relief going two innings with one hit and two strikes out.

#5 Starting pitchers for Saturday for the Giants right hander Alex Cobb (6-2 ERA 2.91) he’ll be matched up against the Pirates right hander Johan Oviedo (3-10 ERA 4.75) a 4:05pm PT first pitch.

Join Stephen for the MLB The Show podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants Take First Game of Series From Pirates 6-4; SF picks up 50th win of season

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San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey (left) congratulates Giants closer Camilo Doval (right) at the conclusion of the bottom of the ninth inning at PNC Pittsburgh on Fri Jul 14, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Friday evening the San Francisco Giants (50-41) took on the Pittsburgh Pirates (41-50) at PNC Park in Pittsburgh and took advantage of a three run seventh inning to pass the Bucs on the scoreboard for a 6-4 win. The Giants were able to continue the way they left off going into the All-Star game. They will also be aiming to fight their way past the Diamondbacks and the Dodgers in the NL standings.

After the first four innings of the game, neither team had scored a run. In the fifth inning the Giants took the lead 2-0. Michael Conforto singled Brandon Crawford and Austin Slater home for the first lead of the game.

The Pirates answered with a couple of runs in the fifth inning to tie up the game 2-2. Ji Man Choi knocked one out of the park and Jared Triolo scored on a balk.

San Francisco broke the tie in the sixth inning when Crawford grounded out to shortstop and Luis Matos scored. The Giants had taken back the lead 3-2.

The Pirated not only tied up the game in the sixth inning 3-3 but took the lead 4-3. Choi hit a sacrifice fly and Bryan Reynolds scored for the tie. Henry Davis who was on third scored for the go ahead run when Tucupita Marcano sacrificed.

The seventh inning was huge for San Francisco scoring three times to take a 6-4 lead which would be the final. Patrick Bailey singled and both Wilmer Flores and J.D. Davis scored on Pirate errors and the Giants had won the first game of this series.

In game two the Giants will send Alex Cobb to the mound with a 2.91 ERA and a 6-2 win/loss record. Johan Oviedo (3-10 ERA 4.75) will get the start for the Pirates. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 PM.

                 

San Francisco Giants preview: Pirates Await Giants in Three Game Series At PNC Park

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Ross Stripling gets the call against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Friday night as both clubs return to action for the second half of the season on Fri Jul 13, 2023 (file photo from the Toronto Star)

Pirates Await Giants in Three-Game Series

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the San Francisco Giants (49-41) begin their first series after the All-Star break taking on the Pittsburg Pirates (41-49).

San Francisco is coming off a series win over the Colorado Rockies just prior to the All-Star game winning the second and third game of that series.

The Giants remain in third place in the NL West while the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks are tied for first place right now.

Probable pitchers for this game looks to be Ross Stripling 0-2 for the Giants. Right now he has an ERA of 6.37. Rich Hill will take the mound for the Pirates. The 43-year-old has a 7-9 W/L record and a 4.78 ERA.

This game could very well be the start of a close series. Michael Conforto has hit 13 home runs for the Giants this season with a .236 batting average. J.D. Davis is hitting at .277 and has 46 rbi’s to his credit.

The Pirates threat at the plate for the long ball is Jack Suwinski with 19 homeruns and a .235 batting average. Andrew McCutchen has a .268 batting average and is also a home run threat having hit 10 this season.

The Giants spearheaded the NL’s dramatic win in the All-Star game thanks to the pitching effort of Alex Cobb and Camilo Duval’s seventh inning performance. Cobb and Duval hope to continue their winning ways in the second part of the season in their next appearance at the mound.

San Francisco will try to stay on track as they head into the second half of the season with 72 games left. It’s hard to believe that they already have 90 games under their belt. The first part of the season has literally flown by. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 PM.

MLB All-Star Game: National League wins 3-2 for first time in 11 years

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Photo credit: @MLB

By: Mary Anne

The wait was finally over as the 2023 MLB All-Star Game was underway at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday.
The National League defeated the American League 3-2 for the first time since 2012. Elías Díaz delivered the game-winning home run in the eighth inning. Díaz earned the All-Star Game MVP.

The NL’s starting lineup featured Ronald Acuña Jr., Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez, Nolan Arenado, Luis Arráez, Sean Murphy, Corbin Carroll, and Orlando Arcia.

The AL’s starting lineup featured Marcus Semien, Shohei Ohtani, Randy Arozarena, Corey Seager, Yandy Díaz, Adolis García, Austin Hays, Josh Jung, and Jonah Heim.

After a scoreless first inning, Yandy Díaz hit a solo home run to give the AL a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.

J.D. Martinez helped the NL tie the game 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning. Martinez scored on a Luis Arráez RBI single.

The AL regained their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Salvador Pérez singled for a 2-1 lead. Pérez now has three All-Star Game hits — the second-most by a Kansas City Royals player.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a game-tying home run, and the NL tied the game 2-2 in the top of the seventh inning. However, Gurriel Jr.’s home run was overturned and called foul. The score remained 2-1 AL.

Elías Díaz hit a two-run shot to give the NL a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth inning. Díaz’s two-run home run sealed the NL’s win over the AL.

Notes
Zach Gallen struck out Shohei Ohtani for his first All-Star Game shutout.

Up Next
The second half of the 2023 MLB season will start on Friday, July 14.

The San Francisco Giants will visit the Pittsburgh Pirates for a three-game series at PNC Park, while the Oakland Athletics will welcome the Minnesota Twins for a three-game series at Oakland Coliseum. The Giants’ series opener will start at 4:05 pm Pacific, while the A’s series opener will start at 6:40 pm Pacific.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants take rubber game from Rockies; Rocky pitcher Freeland leaves with shoulder injury

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Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeman withering in pain from an apparent shoulder injury in the bottom of the seventh against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jul 9, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 Giants pitcher Logan Webb was great Sunday. He pitched a complete game shutout against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park. The Giants won, 1-0, capping his performance by striking out the side in ninth. 

#2  Webb scattered seven hits and struck out 10 of the 31 batters he faced. 75 of his 103 pitches counted as strikes. The effort improved Webb’s record to 8-7, 3.14.

#3 Colorado starter Kyle Freeland threw a beautiful game for the 6-1/3 innings he was able to pitch before he injured himself fielding Casey Schmitt’s bunt in the bottom of seventh, an attempted sacrifice that went into the books as the sixth hit allowed by the Rockies’ starter. Freeland suffered a dislocated shoulder.

#4 The Giants had broken a scoreless tie in the bottom half of the fourth with JD Davis’s 421 foot home run to left center fielder. It came on Freeland’s first pitch of the frame, an 85.4 mph sinker that rose on a 30 degree angle leaving the Giants’ third baseman’s bat at 109.1 mph. 

#5 The Giants are off for the All Star break and return to action on Fri Jul 14th at PNC Park in Pittsburgh to start the second half of the season. Talk about Giants All Star representative Camilo Doval who been lights out in relief with a 2-2 record and a 2.63 ERA.

Join Marko for the San Francisco Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s day off report: Medina gets the call to open series in Cleveland on Tuesday; Ruiz leads off and has MLB stolen base lead

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Oakland A’s Esteury Ruiz slides home safely after scoring on a Ramon Laureano single against the Seattle Mariners Tue May 23, 2023 in first inning action at T Mobile Field in Seattle (AP file photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s finished an up-and-down week, ending the seven-game homestand with two wins and five losses. The A’s had won seven games in a row before they lost two to the Tampa Bay Rays and three to the Philadelphia Phillies.

The A’s seven-game win streak saw them win two against the Pittsburgh Pirates and a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Pirates and Brewers are in a dogfight for first place in the NL Central. The A’s won the first two games of the four-game set with the Rays.

It was no easy task as the Rays own the best record in baseball. The team had almost 28,000 people in the seats on Tuesday, June 13th. Organizers of a reverse boycott hoped to show A’s owner John Fisher and baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred the fans would support the team in Oakland.

Fisher, as usual, said nothing. Manfred dismissed the effort as meaningless as he said their effort was no better than the average attendance at a game in Major League baseball. Manford also said the city of Oakland needed to do more.

Oakland needed a program in place to build the stadium. Manfred is tone-deaf. Oakland had raised over 400 million dollars in grants for infrastructure needs. The City Council was two days away from a vote. The A’s ownership had turned the fans off by trading away their best players and leaving the fans with a team with the worst record in all of baseball.

Winning brings people into the seats. Then, to make matters worse, the Nevada legislature voted to approve $380 million to give to the A’s to help build a stadium in Las Vegas. The Nevada governor signed the bill.

The only hope the A’s fans have is that the owners of the other 29 teams will reject the move. Manfred has said baseball will waive the $300 million relocation fee. The owners share those fees. Many of them say they want Las Vegas to get an expansion team. The fees for an expansion team are around two billion. That’s a lot more money to share.

None of the drama on the relocation situation should affect what’s happening on the field. The A’s still have to go out and play the game. A’s manager Mark Kotsay has to be pleased with his team’s performance in the last 12 games.

They went 7-5. During the winning streak, the A’s starters and relievers pitched well. The A’s offense came to life, and the team showed improvement. They split four games with the Rays. They lost three games to the Phillies. Two of the losses were by one run. The Phillies are the hottest team in baseball. They have won fourteen of the last 16. The Phillies were in the World Series last year.

The A’s start a six-game road trip in Cleveland Tuesday night. The A’s will play three against the Guardians and then finish the road trip with three against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Guardians are in second place in the AL Central with a record of 33-38.

They are two and 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins. Manager Terry Francona is in his 11th year as the skipper of the Guardians.

The A’s will send Luis Medina (1-6, 7.55) to the hill Tuesday night. Cleveland will counter with Aaron Civale(2-2, 2.67). Righty Paul Blackburn (0-0, 3.49) goes for the A’s on Wednesday. The Guardians have not announced a starter. Lefty JP Sears(1-4, 4.24) will be on the mound on Thursday. Logan Allen (3-2, 3.95) goes for Cleveland.

The key players for the Guardians are first baseman Josh Naylor, third baseman Jose Ramirez, and outfielders Stephen Kwan and Will Brennan. Their catcher is Josh Naylor’s younger brother Bo Naylor. Closer Emmanuel Clase leads the Guardians bullpen. Clase is 1-4 but has recorded 20 saves this year.

Their setup guy is Trevor Stephan. The Guardians do not have a left-handed pitcher in the bullpen. The A’s will see relievers Sam Hentges, Enyel De Los Santos, Elijah Morgan, Nick Sandlin, Xzavion Curry, and two recently recalled from Triple-A, Daniel Norris and Tim Herrin. The A’s will not see the Guardians’ ace Shane Bieber in the series.

The A’s want to get some wins on this road trip. They will need better pitching and timely hitting. They know they can win on the road. They are looking for players such as Esteury Ruiz, Ryan Noda, Brent Rooker, Seth Brown, JJ Blesday, Ramon Laureano, Roberto Perez, and Shea Langeliers to get back on the hit parade. Blackburn has pitched well since coming off the IL.

Also of note A’s leadoff hitter Ruiz leads the majors in stolen bases with 36 for the season and could get some good coverage on the base paths that could help Oakland get a leg up for this upcoming road trip.

Medina has improved, and Kotsay wants him to give the A’s a quality start on Tuesday night. JP Sears, acquired in the trade that sent Frankie Montas to the New York Yankees, has to find a way to stop serving up gopher balls. Sears has allowed 17 dingers in his starts this year.

The A’s still are the worst team in baseball. Kotsay continues to have a positive outlook. He has seen some improvement in the last two weeks. The A’s would love nothing better than winning each series against the Guardians and The Blue Jays.

MLB The Show podcast with Mauricio Segura: A’s fan reverse boycott tonight; Rangers deGrom still out with elbow injury; plus more

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Oakland A’s fans display “Sell” T shirts at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s fans are planning a reverse boycott to show that the A’s have their support in Oakland and it is their hope that it would impact MLB so that they might rethink allowing the A’s to move from Oakland to Las Vegas (USA Today photo)

On the MLB The Show podcast with Mauricio Segura:

#1 Oakland A’s fans have made the top headlines from coast to coast the battle cry is one word as they hand out green t shirts that say “Sell” on them. They plan to hold a reverse boycott tonight handing out the T shirts to the first 7,000 fans at the Oakland Coliseum. It’s been reported that this contest is sold out.

#2 Mauricio, after the Milwaukee Brewers were swept by the Oakland A’s in three games they have fallen from first to second and are now one game behind the Pittsburgh Pirates it has to be surprising circumstances for the Brewers who had the last place A’s come into American Family Field and sweep them in their own park.

#3 Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom who clocked pitches 99.4, 99.5, 99.7, 100.1 and 101.0. On opening day deGrom lasted just 73 pitches later he was taken out and had to have elbow surgery. deGrom has a five year $185 million deal and there could be some fear the Rangers will be on the hook for the money if deGrom is damaged goods.

#4 Mauricio, talk about three All Stars who will be making their first appearance at the mid summer classic this July first Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy who hitting .287, 54 hits, 12 homers and 42 RBIs, from the Tampa Bay Rays Yandy Diaz .313, 65 hits, 12 home runs, 34 RBIs, and third from the St Louis Cardinals Nolan Gorman .257, 52 hits, 15 home runs, and 46 RBIs.

#5 It’s going to be a special time for fans visiting the great Northwest for the All Star game in Seattle Tue Jul 11, 2023 they’ll be seeing the best in baseball and what a great host the city of Seattle is, there are the great points of interest Pioneer Square, Chinatown, Westlake District and of course T Mobile Field the home of the All Star Game.

Join Mauricio for the MLB The Show podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s catch fire can it last?; Oakland on five game win streak

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Oakland Athletics’ Seth Brown hits a three-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday, June 11, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 The Oakland A’s improved their record to 17-50 with a sweep over the Milwaukee Brewers (34-32) at American Family Field in Milwaukee on Sunday 8-6.

#2 Barbara did you get any indication after the A’s beat the Pittsburgh Pirates two out of three that they might go on a run on this road trip?

#3 In Milwaukee on Sunday the A’s got home run help from Seth Brown and Brent Rooker on back to back homers in the fourth inning?

#4 After losing 15 straight games which ended on Monday in Pittsburgh the A’s have gone on a five game run getting their first sweep of the season and first time putting five wins together.

#5 The A’s return back to the Oakland Coliseum to open a three series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night. The Rays will start Zach Eflin (8-1 ERA 2.97) he’ll be opposed by the A’s James Kaprielian (1-6 ERA 2.71) a 6:40pm PT)

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

MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O: Phils manager tossed for clock reset issues; Twins Polanco back on IL for hamstring injury; plus more

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On the MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Philadelphia Phillies manager Ron Thompson was ejected after plate umpire Roberto Ortiz refused to reset the pitch clock after Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola requested a new baseball. Ortiz had threw out several baseballs and requested new ones and Ortiz felt that he had reached his quota of disposed baseballs. Thompson came out to argue that Ortiz should have reset the clock back from 10 seconds to 20 seconds with a runner on base in the sixth inning. Crew Chief Bill Miller got most of Thompson’s heat after ejecting Thompson, while Nola was facing the Los Angeles Dodgers David Peralta. Thompson questioned how Ortiz knew for sure that Nola was trying to stall for time by throwing out baseballs.

#2 The Minnesota Twins second baseman Jorge Polanco is back on the ten day IL due to a left hamstring. Polanco returned to the line up on June 1st from being out with the left hamstring injury. Polanco is hitting .250, with five home runs, 16 RBIs in 30 games.

#3 Los Angles Dodgers pitcher Shelby Miller was place on bereavement leave on Saturday. Miller 32, 1-0 ERA 2.57 and has relieved in 24 games for the Dodgers. Friday night Miller pitched two innings striking out three in two innings of work.

#4 The Oakland A’s for the first time have a won four straight games. The A’s who have baseball’s worst record at 16-50 and are 26.5 games in last place in the AL West. The A’s took two of the last three games in Pittsburgh and the first two games of a three game series in Milwaukee. Is it possible that they might have turned a page or too early to tell?

#5 Charlie lastly, the saga of the $380 million tax credits that the Oakland A’s are seeking from the state of Nevada and Clark County continues as the Nevada Assembly adjourned Thursday and will return on Monday to vote on whether or not to approve the bonds. If the bonds are not approved the A’s will have to find another deal to work out possibly with the City of Oakland and Mayor Sheng Thao who has a deal from the previous Howard Terminal bargaining session. If the Nevada Legislature approves the stadium bonds the Nevada State Assembly must approve the measure before Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo signs off on the deal.

Join Charlie O for the MLB podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com