Tag: Seattle Mariners

A’s Split Series With Seattle – Losing Game Four 6-4

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Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh (right) connects for a two run homer in front of Oakland A’s catcher Kyle McCann (left) at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Sep 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (61-80) lost game four in their series with the Seattle Mariners (71-70) 6-4 but they did split the series winning two walk offs in games one and two. Seattle took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the third before Oakland got on the board.

Seattle did just enough to stay a few runs ahead of the A’s and finished with the win. Brent Rooker had a couple of home runs giving him a 35 home run season so far and he is sure to add to that total before it is all said and done. He continues to push that total every time he steps up to the plate.

Game recap: After Wednesday night’s 16-3 beat down, the A’s couldn’t stop Seattle’s early offensive scoring in Thursday’s game. The game plan did not go as planned when the Mariners got on top from the get go.

The M’s scored in the first and third innings taking a 3-0 lead. Cal Raleigh got the party started in the first inning with a two run home run giving Seattle the early 2-0 lead. (He would go on to add a sacrifice in the fifth inning) In the third inning the Mariners Julio Rodriguez had the teams second home run of the game, a solo shot giving Seattle the 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the third inning, the A’s got up on the board when Seth Brown sacrificed driving Jacob Wilson across home plate. Oakland was on the board but had some work to do trailing 3-1.

Oakland pitcher Joey Estes went four innings in the game. He has been struggling losing three of his last four outings. He allowed four runs on six hits over the four innings. At this point manager Mark Kotsay turned to his bullpen and Estes was relieved by T.J. McFarland who closed out the fifth inning allowing only only one hit and no runs.

In the fifth inning, the Mariners would add to their score when Cal Raleigh hit a sacrifice driving Victor Robles home now leading 4-1. Oakland would also score a run in the fifth inning off a 385 feet home run from Brent Rooker. With this shot Rooker upped his season total to 34 home runs. The way this guy operates; he would be looking for more as this game went into the latter innings.

Neither team would score in the next three innings but in the ninth inning, Seattle hit pay dirt again with a two run home run from first baseman Luke Raley giving the Mariners a 6-2 lead. Oakland really had their work cut out for them in the bottom of the ninth.

With two outs and the game on the line, Brent Rooker hit his second home run of the game with Lawrence Butler on base after walking. JJ Bleday would strike out and that was the ball game 6-4.

The Athletics scored twp runs on the Rooker long ball but just came up short in a valiant effort. The Rooker home run was his 35th of the season.

Oakland had ten hits in this game with all but one player contributing at least a hit. Seattle’s Cal Raleigh was the culprit in this game with his homer and sacrifice pushing the Mariners onto the win splitting the series.

This game would be the Mariners final visit to the Oakland Coliseum. With this win the Mariners are 4 1/2 games behind the division leading Houston Astros.

While it was tough to end up with only a split in the series the way the A’s have been hitting the long ball all season they sure do have a lot to be proud of. They have crushed the ball out of the park 22 times in their last ten games and they have 181 home runs overall with more to come no doubt before this season comes to an end.

Game notes: Thursday afternoon, the A’s split in a series losing to the Mariners in game four of their series. The Mariners evened up this series with an Thursday afternoon win. The A’s starter Joey Estes pitched four innings, allowed six hits, four earned runs, and struck out three. The M’s Bryan Woo is no stranger to the Bay Area growing up in nearby Alameda. He pitched five innings, giving up eight hits, two earned runs, and struck out six.

The A’s will remain at home for their next series with the Detroit Tigers which begins Friday night with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 PM PT. Mitch Spence will take the mound for Oakland with a 7-9 win/loss record and a 4.50 ERA. The A’s offense will be facing a tough one in Tarik Skubal who comes in with a 16-4 win/loss record and a 2.51 ERA.

Seven run seventh buries A’s; Mariners have no mercy in 16-3 win at Coliseum

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Oakland A’s Max Schuemann hangs his head after striking out in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Sep 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

Seattle (70-70). 020 300 740. 16 16 0

Athletics (61-79). 100 001 100. 3. 7 0

Time: 2:47

Attendance: 4,390

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Oakland, CA

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–It was a warm Wednesday evening when play began at Coliseum at 6:40 this evening, and the current occupants of that crumbling stately edifice still were feeling the warmth of their walk off triumph over the visiting Seattle Mariners the night before. The Mariners show no mercy clobbering the A’s 16-3 in the third game of this four game series.

Although the temperature and the A’s performance swifty cooled down after the green and gold had jumped off to a one run lead in their first turn at bat, the result was a massacre, with the departing A’s on the short end of a pestiferous 16- stick. .

Lawrence Butler got things going for the Athletics with a lead off double. It was his ninth straight game with at least one extra base hit, a franchise record. It also extended his hitting streak to 14.Brent Rooker drove Butler in with a single, giving the A’s a 1-0 lead, and, after JJ Bleday and Sean Langeiers struck out, got thrown out trying to steal second.

It was all downhill for the Athletics after that. Seattle’s starter, George Kirby, their first round draft choice in 2019, followed his back to back strikeouts by retiring the next nine batters he faced, five by the strikeout route, before Seth Brown and Zack Gelf touched him for a single and double, respectively, to open the bottom of the fifth.

They died on base. Brent Rooker beat out a grounder to short with one down in the sixth and scored on JJ Bleday’s scorching line drive double to right to give the A’s their second run. The third and final tally for the green and gold came in the seventh on a walk to Zack Gelof, a double by Tristan Grey, his first hit of the year, and an RBI groundout. by Max Schuermann.

Kirby stayed in the game for six innings and got the win, improving his record 11-10, 3.61. The two runs he allowed were earned and came on six hits. Kirby’s nine Ks came unaccompanied by any walks. 58 of his 85 offerings were counted as strikes. JT Chargois allowed a run, earned, in his 2/3 of an inning, Tayler Saucedo struck out the only batter he faced, and Eduard Bazardo and Jhonathan Díaz eached pitched a scoreless frame.

The M’s got to JP Sears, who came to work at 11-9, 4.21,, for a couple of runs in the second on a hit batter, a walk, and a two RBI double by Mitch Garver. They roughed him up in the fourth, plating three more tallies on a two out down the left field line double by Victor Robles, an RBI single to center by Mitch Garver, an RBI double to center off the bat of Luis Urías, and Dylan Moore’s single to right.

In the six innings Sears lasted he gave up five runs, all earned, on as many. hits, and a walk. He also hit one batter and struck out five. He threw 94 pitches to the 26 Mariners he faced, took the loss, and went home 11-10. 4.34.

Sears didn’t come out for the seventh, lifted in favor of Jason Junk, who was making his Athletics debut. The unfortunately surnamed right hander pitched an ugly seventh frame that included a leadoff home run by Luis Urías, a couple of doubles, three singles, and three walks, without an out having been recorded.

I’m not enough of a sadist to inflict a description of what the Mariners did to Junk in his painful stint on the hill; the numbers speak for themselves. four Ross Stripling finally got the required three outs, although his performance in the continuing debacle did nothing to aussage the ignominy of the Athletics’ annihilation.

Two of the runs charged to Junk were inherited by Stripling, who ended up with three innings to his credit, in which he was charged with four earned runs on five hits and a walk.

Maybe the game scheduled to start at 12:37 Thursday afternoon, will restore some of the A’s tattered dignity. Seattle will send Bryan Woo (6-2, 2.30) against them. Mark Kotsay hasn’t yet announced who will take the mound for the Athletics.

A’s win second straight walk off game; Seth Brown sends Oakland home with RBI single in 3-2 win over Seattle

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Oakland A’s Seth Brown slugs a ninth inning RBI single that scored the winning run against the Seattle Mariners at the Oakland Coliseum on Tue Sep 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

Seattle (69-70). 200 000 000 2 5 0

Athletics (61-78). 100 100 001. 3.6 0

Time: 2:15

Attendance: 3,924

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Oakland CA

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The 80 degree game time temperature before Tuesday night’s encounter between the Seattle Mariners and the betwixt and between Athletics this balmy Tuesday evening was an invitation to a slug fest.

For one brief inning it looked like the teams had accepted the invitation, but then their pitchers stepped up and showed that, Tuesday night at least, good pitching could beat good hitting. The result was a 3-2 walk off win by the Athletics on Seth Brown’s full count single to right center in the bottom of the ninth.

The Mariners started the scoring with their first two batters. JP Crawford led off with a single to right center and advanced to third on a double to left by Julio Rodríguez. Both of them scored on Cal Raleigh’s two bagger to right center. A’s starter JT Ginn settled down after that and didn’t give up another tally until he was relieved by Hogan Harris to face the M’s in the top of the seventh.

Ginn left with the score tied at two after his labor of six innings and, so, had to settle for a no decision. His work was superb. He allowed only two hits in the five frames that followed the Mariners’ three hit first. The 25 year old rookie righthander struck out seven M’s and walked only one.

Ginn threw a total of 88 pitches, of which 23 were balls. Both of the runs he gave up were earned, and his ERA went down to 4.30. He has yet to be credited with a win or charged with a loss.

Harris matched his predecessor’s performance, allowing the visitors from the Puget Sound only two baserunners, both of whom walked. He earned the win to improve his record to 3-3, 2.73. The 37th and last pitch he threw was clutch pitching at its best.

With Randy Arozarena on first and one out, Justin Turner, pinch hitting for Luke Raley, worked a full count. Arozarena broke for second. Harris zipped a 92mph four seamer past Turner, umpire Manny Rodríguez called the third strike, and Shea Langeliers threw Arozarena out at second.

Ginn’s opposite number for Seattle, the veteran Luis Castillo was almost impermeable after Lawrence Butler led off for the A’s in the bottom of the first with a 408 foot home run to right center, his 21st round tripper of the year.

The shot came off an 87 mph changeup that left Butler’s bat 108 mph. Castillo allowed only one more run. It came on Brown’s 13th homer of the season, a 410 foot blast to center off a 94mph four seamer. Brown had a three hit night and drove in two of the Athletics’ three runs.

Butler and Brown provided the only four hits off Castillo in his seven innings of work. He struck out five and walked on, throwing 99 pitches, 29 of which were balls. Like Ginn, he got a no decision. His record now stands at 11-12, 3.60.

Troy Taylor pitched a perfect eighth for the Mariners, and Trent Thornton, who struck out Brent Rooker, walked JJ Bleday, who scored the winning run, and yielded back to back singles to Langeliers and Brown, took the loss. He’s now 3-3, 4,19.

Butler’s blast extended his hitting streak to 13 games and validated his status as the most recent AL Player of the Week. He now has tied the franchise record of eight consecutive games.

Wednesday, evening at 6:40pm PT, both two teams will go at each other again. George Kirby (10-10, 3.63) will take the mound for the Mariners; JP Sears (11-9, 4.21) for the Athletics.

A’s Langeliers hits two homers one for a walk off edge M’s 5-4 at Coliseum on Labor day

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Oakland A’s Shea Langeliers gets the Gatorade treatment while interviewing on the Oakland Coliseum PA system talking about his walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth run against the Seattle Mariners On Mon Sep 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

Seattle (69-69). 201 001 000. 4 6 0

Athletics (60-78) 004 000 001. 5 5 0

Time: 2:40

Attendance: 12,167

Monday, September 2, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–It was a clear 73 degrees in Oakland when the famous disappearing act scheduled to open any year now in Las Vegas after a two or three year out of town opening in Sacramento took the field against the Seattle Mariners at 4:07 this Labor Day afternoon.

Two hours and 40 minutes later, the stadium lights still were on but the sun still was out, and the A’s had won, 5-4, on a stunning lead off, walk off home run by Sean Langeiers that landed just inside the left field pole, 418 feet deep. It came off a 79mph sweeper from Austin Voth.

The Mariners had sailed off to an early lead on Cal Raleigh’s 382 foot home run a third of the way up the staircase behind the A’s Community Fund sign to the right of the 367 foot sign in right field. JP Crawford, who had walked to open the game, was on first, so the A’s were in the Mariners’ wake, 2-0, before their first at bat. Two frames later, the M’s put another run on the board, Victor Robles defeated The Curse of the Leadoff double by stealing third and scoring on Julio Rodríguez’s sacrifice fly to left.

That three run lead in the third evaporated before the ending had ended. Lawrence Butler smacked a two out double to right center. Brent Rooker followed with a drive down the left field line for another two bagger, driving in Butler. Bleday worked a walk, and Langeliers launched his first long ball of the contest, his 24th of ’24, a 400 foot drive off an 89 mph Logan Gibert slider that gave the A’s a 4-3 lead.

Seattle knotted things up in the top of the sixth. With A’s starter Osvaldo Bido still on the mound, Julio Rodríguez began the frame with a single to right and promptly stole second. He stayed put when Raleigh grounded out to third but moved on to third when Randy Arozarena bounced out to second and crossed the plate on Justin Turner’s single to left.

The M’s almost took the lead in their half of the eighth. Michel Otáñez, who was pitching for the A’s, issued back to back one out walks to Justin Turner and Jorge Polano. At this point, Leo Rivas entered the game to pinch run for Turner at second.

Pinch hitter Dylan Moore went down swinging and Rivas was called out attempting to steal third. That would have ended the threat, but the relay crew in New York thought otherwise and overturned the call. Otáñez then bore down and caught Mitch Haniger, who had pinch hit for Josh Rojas two innings earlier, looking at a called strike three.

That set the scene for Langeliers’ dramatic walkoff in the bottom of the ninth.

The Athletics used five pitchers in their pursuit of the win. Osvaldo Bido went 5-1/3 innings and faced 23 batters, who reached him for four runs, all earned, on six hits, one of which went yard, and a walk. 31 of his 91 offerings were balls.

The no decision left him at 5-3, 3.52. The other four hurlers held the M’s scoreless over the remaining 3-2/3 frames. TJ McFarland allowed the Mariners a walk to close out the top of the sixth. Grant Holman struck out two and walked one in the seventh.

Otáñez struck out two and walked an equal number in the hairy eighth, and Tyler Ferugson garnered his third win against two losses by fanning all three batters he faced in the visitors’ half of the ninth.

Seattle used four moundsmen in their losing cause. Logan Gilbert allowed four runs, earned, on four hits in his six inning stint. He struck out nine and granted one free pass, throwing 95 pitches, 61 of which counted as strikes, ending the day at 7-10, 3.19).

JT Chargois and Collin Snider each faced the Athletics for an inning. Neither gave up a hit. The former fanned two; the latter, one, and also issued a walk. All you need to know about Austin Voth’s brief appearance is in the first paragraph of this report.

Justin Gray, picked up off waivers from the Marlins, made his major league debut today. He went 0 for 3 and made a pair of snazzy plays at third base.

The A’s goTuesday, at 6:40 with JT Ginn(0-0, 5.19) against Seattle’s Luis Castillo (11-12,3.65) in the second of this four game series.

A’S COME BACK TO SCORE. HR 400′ 89mph slider

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s open three game set with Mariners Tonight; Oakland trying to recover after Texas trip

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Oakland A’s starter Mitch Spence delivers against the Texas Rangers line up at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Sun Sep 1, 2024 (AP News photo(

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1  Texas took the early lead in the first inning 1-0. Adolis Garcia doubled Corey Seager home and the Rangers would extend their lead in the third inning to 2-0. 

#2 The A’s finally got on the board in the fifth inning. It was no surprise that it was Brent Rooker who started the Oakland rally hitting a single allowing Jacob Wilson to reach home for the single run.

#3 The A’s would tie up the game in the eighth inning when Max Schuemann singled and Zach Gelof scored for the 2-2 game.

#4 The Rangers Josh Jung in the bottom of the ninth took a mighty swing and sent the ball out of the park for a 6-4 Texas win and a Mason Miller blown save.

#5 The Seattle Mariners will come calling on Monday night at the Oakland Coliseum. The M’s will start Logan Gilbert (7-10, 3.09) for the A’s Osvaldo Bido (5-3, 3.21) first pitch 4:07 pm PT.

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

Wasted opportunities burn Giants in 4-3 loss to Mariners in series finale in Seattle

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San Francisco Giants Grant McCray jogs the bases after hitting a top of the eighth inning home run against the Seattle Mariners at T Mobile Park in Seattle on Sun Aug 25, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024

T-Mobile Park

Seattle, Washington

San Francisco Giants 3 (66-66)

Seattle Mariners 4 (66-65)

Win: Bryan Woo (6-2)

Loss: Sean Hjelle (3-4)

Save: Andres Munoz (19)

Time: 2:39

Attendance: 35,062

By Stephen Ruderman

SEATTLE–Wasted opportunities once again came back to bite the Giants, as Robbie Ray left with left hamstring tightness after just three innings, and the Mariners edged out the Giants for a 4-3 win to take the series in Seattle.

Sunday was the rubber match of a series between two similarly-built teams in the similar spot of being around .500 and on the fringes of contention. The Mariners came back from down 5-1 to hand the Giants their worst loss of the season on Friday night. Saturday, the Giants bounced back in a real team effort for a much-needed 4-3 win

The weather had finally cleared after a pair of cold and rainy days, as the sun was out, and the roof was open on this beautiful partly-cloudy day for the series finale Sunday afternoon in Seattle. This would be the 2,000th game in the history of T-Mobile Park, which originally opened in July 1999 as Safeco Field.

Bryan Woo made the start for Seattle, and Tyler Fitzgerald stepped in to lead off the ballgame. Fitzgerald reached on a throwing error by third-baseman Josh Rojas. Two batters later, Heliot Ramos hit a two-run home run to left to put the Giants on the board.

It was Ramos’ 20th home run of the season, and he became the youngest Giant to have a 20-home run season since Pablo Sandoval hit 23 in 2011.

Making the start for the Giants would be Robbie Ray, who pitched for the Mariners the last two seasons. Ray walked Dylan Moore to start the bottom of the first inning, and Moore advanced to third base on a wild pitch with one out. Cal Raleigh then lined a base-hit to left, which scored Moore to put the Mariners on the board.

Woo pitched a one, two, three inning in the top of the second, and Ray pitched a scoreless inning in the bottom of the second. As the inning went along, Ray started grunting with each pitch, as he could be heard all the way up here in the press box.

Woo threw another one, two, three inning in the top of the third, and Ray escaped a jam in the bottom of the third. The Mariners had gotten a runner into scoring position in each of the first three innings against Ray.

After Woo pitched a scoreless top of the fourth, Ray came back out for the bottom of the fourth. Justin Turner led off the inning, and the second pitch of the at-bat was fouled back just a bit off to the right, as the ball was dropped by a fan in the suite level, before bouncing off the broadcast booths and eventually landing in the first deck.

That wasn’t the biggest story of that foul ball, however. Bob Melvin, Pitching Coach Bryan Price and the trainer all came out to check on Ray, who was in clear discomfort. After a conversation at the mound, Ray left the game with tightness in his left hamstring.

Sean Hjelle came in and ended up allowing a leadoff base-hit to Turner. Hjelle then ended up pitching a scoreless inning.

Ray ended up pitching three innings, while allowing just a hit in a run. He walked three and struck out four. Hjelle was saddled with Turner’s base-hit.

Woo pitched another scoreless inning in the top of the fifth, and the Mariners rallied against Hjelle in the bottom of the fifth. Josh Rojas led off the inning with a base-hit to right, and Leo Rivas sacrificed him over to second. Dylan Moore then hit a sharp ground ball to short that took a nasty hop and skipped off the glove of shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald, and Moore was aboard.

The Mariners had runners at the corners with one out for Julio Rodriguez. J-Rod hit a ground ball to first that LaMonte Wade threw to second for the second out of the inning, but Rodriguez beat out the backend with Hjelle covering at first. That allowed Rojas to score, which tied the game.

Woo threw a shutdown one, two, three inning in the top of the sixth. Woo was helped by right-fiedler Mitch Haniger, who made a great running catch on a flyball off the bat of Wade to right-center. Haniger’s catch almost certainly took away extra bases from Wade.

The Mariners loaded the bases with nobody out off Hjelle, who was back out for his third inning of work in the bottom of the sixth. Hjelle hit two guys and allowed a base-hit to Turner.

Following his great catch in the top of the inning, Haniger grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, but Arozarena scored to give the Mariners their first lead of the day. Bob Melvin pulled Hjelle for left-hander Taylor Rogers, and Rojas singled on a ground ball to right-center to knock in Turner and make it 4-2.

Woo came back out for the seventh, and he threw his sixth-straight scoreless inning to cap off a great afternoon for him. Mariners’ fans serenaded him with a long chant of “WOOOOOOOOOOO” as he headed back to the dugout.

Woo gave up just two runs and four hits over seven strong innings. He didn’t walk anybody, and he struck out seven.

Taylor Rogers came back out to throw a one, two, three bottom of the seventh, and that gave the Giants a little bit of a boost going into the eighth.

Mariners’ Interim Manager Dan Wilson brought in Friday night’s winning pitcher, Collin Snider, in for the top of the eighth. Grant McCray stepped in to lead off the inning, and he hooked a home run that hit off the facing of the second deck in right to make it a 4-3 game.

Mark Canha then pinch-hit and walked, and the Giants had the tying run aboard at first with nobody out for the top of the order. Wade walked with one out to put runners at first and second, but Ramos struck out swinging, and Michael Conforto grounded out to first, so the Giants of course wasted it.

Tyler Rogers came in for the bottom of the eighth. It was his first appearance since his disastrous eighth inning on Friday night, and he ran into trouble, as the Mariners put runners at the corners with two outs. However, Rogers struck Rojas out on a foul tip to complete a scoreless inning.

Mariners’ Closer Andres Munoz came in for the top of the ninth much to the excitement of this raucous crowd in Seattle. Matt Chapman walked to lead off the inning, but Mike Yastrzemski struck out for the first out. Thairo Estrada grounded out in front of the plate for the second out, but that did get the tying run in Chapman into scoring position.

It was now up to McCray, who homered his last time up to lead off the eighth. McCray worked the count full to 3-2, as Chapman advanced to third on defensive indifference. McCray walked to keep the game going for Canha, but Canha struck out to end it, and the Mariners held on to win it 4-3.

Bryan Woo got the win; Sean Hjelle took the loss; and Andrews Munoz got the save. The Giants fall to 66-66, but they remain five games back of the Braves, who lost Sunday, for the third wild card.

The Giants will now head to Milwaukee, where after a day off Monday, they will begin a three-game series against the powerful Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday. Logan Webb (11-8, 3.13 ERA) will be on the mound for the Giants, and he will be opposed by Tobias Myers (6-5, 2.87 ERA).

First pitch will be at 7:10 p.m. in Milwaukee, 5:10 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Diamondbacks 75-56 +4.5
  2. Padres 74-58 +3.0
  3. Braves 70-60 —

Mets 68-63 2.5

GIANTS 66-66 5.0

Cardinals 65-65 5.0

Cubs 65-66 5.5

Giants News and Notes:

The Giants have received infielder Nate Furman from the Cleveland Guardians as the player to be named later for Alex Cobb.

Major League Baseball News and Notes:

With the Chicago White Sox’s 9-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers, they have become the second-fastest team to lose 100 games in the Modern Era of National League and American League Baseball.

The fastest team to lose 100 games was the 1916 Philadelphia A’s. While the 1962 New York Mets finished with the most losses in a single season in the Modern Era at 40-120 in the first season the National League had a 162-game schedule, the 1936’s finished with the worst record in Modern History at 36-117 with a .2352 winning percentage.

To finish with the worst record in Modern NL/AL History, the White Sox would have to finish at 38-124, which would amount to a .2345 winning percentage. Even though the White Sox’ current winning percentage is .2366, they are currently on pace to lose 124 games, and have the worst season in Modern NL/AL History.

Giants bounce back from brutal loss with massive team effort in 4-3 win in Seattle

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San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski (5) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners in the top of the seventh inning at T Mobile Park in Seattle on Sat Aug 24, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024

T-Mobile Park

Seattle, Washington

San Francisco Giants 4 (66-65)

Seattle Mariners 3 (65-65)

Win: Spencer Bivens (3-1)

Loss: George Kirby (9-10)

Save: Ryan Walker (3)

Time: 3:04

Attendance: 38,027

By Stephen Ruderman

SEATTLE–After blowing a 5-1 lead to suffer their worst loss of the season Saturday night, the Giants bounced back today with a 4-3 win over the Mariners at T-Mobile Park.

The roof was closed again on another cold and rainy day in the Pacific Northwest, as the Giants looked to bounce back from their worst loss of the season Friday night. Friday night, the Giants had a 5-1 lead going to the bottom of the eighth inning, but Tyler Rogers imploded, and the Mariners scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie it. The Mariners then won the game in the 10th inning.

It was the kind of loss that will truly test the resilience of a team. The 2024 Giants have been a very streaky team with a lot of ups and downs, but last night’s game took the cake. They came into Saturday, 65-65, and five games back of the Braves for the third wild card with 32 games left to play. How they would respond today could be a real indicator of what this team is all about.

The Giants responded nicely against Mariners’ starter George Kirby in the top of the first inning. Tyler Fitzgerald led off the ballgame with a bunt single past the mound on the third base side. LaMonte Wade swung out swinging, but Heliot Ramos was hit by a pitch, and Michael Conforto walked to load the bases.

Matt Chapman was up, and he lined a slider from Kirby down the left field line, but Mariners’ left-fielder Randy Arozarena ran and dove to his right to make a tremendous diving catch to rob Chapman of a base-hit. Chapman still got an RBI though, as Fitzgerald scored, and it ended up being a sacrifice fly.

Arozarena hurt himself on the play, and he was down for a couple of minutes. However, being the gamer that he is, he stayed in the game.

Blake Snell made the start for the Giants, and the Giants hoped he could continue his historic stretch with another strong start Sunday. The first man Snell would face would be Victor Robles, and Robles appeared to be hit on one of his hands and fell to the ground.

Unlike Arozarena, Robles would have to leave the game. Not only that, but Home Plate Umpire Tripp Gibson ruled it a foul ball, so it proved to be one of the most painful strikes in the history of the game. Luke Raley pinch-hit and flew out to left field.

Snell pitched a scoreless inning in the bottom of the first, and the Giants would rally again in the top of the second. Thairo Estrada and Grant McCray started the inning with back-to-back singles. Curt Casali struck out, but Tyler Fitzgerald lined a base-hit down the left field line, which knocked in Thairo to make it 2-0.

The Giants were unable to add on in the top of the second, and it would prove quite costly when Snell completely lost his command in the bottom of the second. Snell walked five guys in the bottom of the second, which gave the Mariners two runs to tie the game. Talk about a rally for free.

Hayden Birdsong had a hard time throwing strikes last night, and the same thing was happening to Snell today, as he had issued six walks in his first two innings of work. Was there something wrong with the mound at T-Mobile Park? Who knows, but Snell’s second inning just came out of the blue.

“It’s why the game is beautiful,” said Snell. “There’s always something to work on; something to learn; [and] something I could have told myself to make the inning quicker.”

The Giants wasted an opportunity in the top of the third, and Snell bounced back with a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the third. Snell had thrown 74 pitches, and he was done after three no-hit innings. Snell gave up two runs and struck out six.

“You know what, a lot of innings here kinda recently added up for him,” said Bob Melvin. “Obviously, he didn’t have his command in the second, so [we] called it a day a little bit early for him and gave him a little bit of a break. He’s been pitching deep in games [and] throwing a ton of pitches. [He] just felt pretty sluggish from the start today, as far as his body goes, so that’s why we did that.”

“[I] gotta make adjustments quicker to allow myself to get deeper into games,” added Snell. “Just a weird [start], but [I’ll] learn from it [and] get better.”

Kirby pitched a scoreless inning in the top of the fourth, and Melvin went to Spencer Bivens in the bottom of the fourth. Bivens gave up a two-out single, but pitched a scoreless inning.

Kirby retired the first two men he faced in the top of the fifth, but Mike Yastrzemski doubled and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Thairo then came up and lined a base-hit down the left field line to knock in Yaz, and the Giants were back ahead 3-2.

Bivens pitched another scoreless inning in the bottom of the fifth, and JT Chargois, who came in for Kirby in the top of the fifth, pitched a scoreless top of the sixth. Bivens returned for his third inning of work in the bottom of the sixth, and he threw a one, two, three inning.

“Bivens all the sudden [made] a three-inning start out of Blake a six-inning start,” said Melvin. “It was almost like Blake pitched six innings today.”

It was not expected for Snell to only last three innings, and after Bob Melvin used six pitchers out of the bullpen last night, Bivens gave his team a huge performance.

Austin Voth came in for Seattle in the top of the seventh. After Voth retired the first two hitters he faced, Yaz came up and hit a line-drive home run to the first row in right to make it 4-2.

Aaron Hicks, who hurt himself warming up in the bullpen Friday night, was summoned for the bottom of the seventh. Hicks walked Raley with one out, and Julio Rodriguez hit a ground-rule double to right-center to put runners at second and third. Justin Turner then walked to load the bases for the always-dangerous Randy Arozarena.

Arozarena hit a ground ball to short and was originally called out on the backend of a double play by First Base Umpire Brock Ballou to end the inning. However, the Mariners challenged the call, and it was overturned. Raley scored to make it 4-3, and the inning was still alive.

Melvin then brought in Camilo Doval, who was brought back up from Sacramento after five games, in which he went 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA. Doval made his return to the majors in the ballpark where he pitched in the All-Star Game last season.

Doval immediately fell behind 3-0 to the first hitter he faced, Jorge Polanco. Arozarena then stole second, and Melved elected to put Polanco on to load the bases for former Giant Mitch Haniger, who grounded out to third to end the inning.

The Giants still had the lead going to the eighth, as Trent Thornton came in for the Mariners. McCray lined a base-hit into center field, and Curt Casali bunted him over to second. However, the Giants were unable to come through.

Melvin let Doval go back out for the bottom of the eighth, and Doval did not disappoint, as he threw a one, two, three inning, striking out the final two.

Tayler Saucedo then pitched a one, two, three top of the ninth for the Mariners.

Ryan Walker was originally not supposed to pitch today after his dominant two-inning performance last night. However, Walker really wanted to pitch, and got his wish, as he came in and retired the first two hitters in the bottom of the ninth.

Justin Turner kept the game going with a base-hit to center to bring up Arozarena as the potential winning run. Of course it had to be a little scary, but Arozarena grounded out to short to end it, and the Giants were able to hold on for a desperately-needed 4-3 win.

Spencer Bivens got the win with his three-inning performance; George Kirby took the loss; and Ryan Walker picked up his third save.

“[Walker] volunteered today,” said Melvin. “[That] allowed us to do things a little bit differently earlier in the game. [If he didn’t volunteer], you wouldn’t have seen Doval or Hicks in the innings that they pitched.”

“He’s our workhorse down there,” added Yaz. “You can throw him into any role, and he’s gonna say ‘yes.’ He’s not gonna put up a stink; he’s gonna do what needs to be done for the team and do it well…..I’m glad I don’t have to face him right now.”

Thairo and Fitzgerald both went 2-for-4, but the guy who really came through today was Yastrzemski, who went 3-for-5.

The Giants are back over .500, as they improve to 66-65. However, they remain five games back of the Braves, who beat the Washington Nationals 4-2 in Atlanta.

The Giants can take the series with a win Sunday. Robbie Ray (3-2, 4.88 ERA) will make the start for the Giants, and Bryan Woo (5-2, 2.12 ERA) will take the ball for Seattle. First pitch will be at 1:10 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Diamondbacks 74-56 +3.5
  2. Padres 73-58 +2.0
  3. Braves 70-59 —

Mets 68-62 2.5

GIANTS 66-65 5.0

Cubs 65-65 5.5

Cardinals 64-65 6.0

Giants News and Notes:

Camilo Doval had a lot of help from Ryan Vogelsong and Johnny Cueto in his brief stint in Sacramento. Doval had a conversation with Cueto, a former Giant who was pitching for the Los Angeles Angels’ Triple-A affiliate, the Salt Lake Bees.

Cueto has shown throughout his career that he possesses a lot of pitching knowledge, and he very well could be a pitching coach after he retires.

With Doval back up, Landed Roupp, who pitched for the first time in nine days last night, was sent back to Sacramento.

Even with Doval back, Walker will remain the closer.

Giants blow 5-1 lead, as Mariners come back with four runs off Tyler Rogers in eighth and win 6-5 in 10

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San Francisco Giants Michael Conforto (right) claps after hitting two run home run Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh (left) wipes his eyes in the top of the fourth at T Mobile Park in Seattle on Fri Aug 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

Friday, Aug. 23, 2024

T-Mobile Park

Seattle, Washington

San Francisco Giants 5 (65-65)

Seattle Mariners 6 (65-64)

Win: Collin Snider (3-2)

Loss: Erik Miller (3-5)

Time: 3:05

Attendance: 38,762

By Stephen Ruderman

SEATTLE–The Giants had a 5-1 lead in the eighth inning, but Tyler Rogers gave up four runs in the bottom of the eighth, and the Mariners came back to win the series opener in Seattle 6-5 in what was no doubt the worst loss of the season for the Giants at T Mobile Field on Friday night.

The Giants were looking to bounce back after an embarrassing loss to the historically-bad Chicago White Sox on Wednesday at Oracle Park, in which the Southsiders scored four two-out runs in the top of the ninth inning. With 33 games remaining, the Giants came into Friday night four games back of the Braves for the third wild card spot in the National League.

The Giants came into Seattle as the Mariners were in the midst of chaos. The Mariners fired their manager, Scott Servais, on their off day Friday after they lost eight of their last nine games. Servais was notified of his dismissal by news alert while watching TV. Mariners Hitting Coach Jarret DeHart was also fired.

On June 18, the Mariners were 13 games over .500 at 44-31, and they led the American League by ten games over the Houston Astros. They have since gone 20-33 to be knocked all the way back down to .500, and they have lost their AL West lead and are five games back of the Astros.

Servais had managed the Mariners since 2016, and he had accumulated five winning seasons in his eight full years in Seattle. He also got the Mariners to the Playoffs in 2022, their first postseason appearance since their historic 116-win season of 2001.

Former Mariners’ catcher Dan Wilson will take the reins for Seattle the rest of this season. Hall-of-Famer Edgar Martinez will take over as interim hitting coach.

What also made it interesting that the Mariners fired their manager with the Giants in town was the fact that Bob Melvin returned to where his managerial career started. Melvin took the Mariners to a 93-69 record in his rookie managerial season of 2003, but they fell to 63-99 the following year in 2004, and Melvin was shown the door.

It was a cold and rainy day here in Seattle, as a rare summertime low-pressure system came down from the Gulf of Alaska. It was equivalent to a winter’s day in the Bay Area with rain and a high in the low 60s. Usually when there’s rain, there’s a threat to the game, but thanks to the roof over T-Mobile Park, there was never a question about it.

This would be a matchup between two teams that are so similar in many ways. They both have offenses that can’t come through with runners in scoring position, and they both rely on their starting pitching to get them through games.

Despite the fact that the roof was closed and that the cold air was seeping in through the sides, the ball was carrying tonight. That would prove to be a factor almost immediately.

Mariners’ starter and former Giants’ farmhand Luis Castillo struck out Tyler Fitzergald to begin the game. LaMonte Wade then stepped up and seemed to get underneath one into straight-away center field, but it kept carrying, and it sailed over the glove of the leaping Julio Rodriguez and over the wall for a home run.

Hayden Birdsong made the start for the Giants. Birdsong had a solid outing on Sunday in Oakland following a pair of rough starts. As Birdsong looked to build on his last start, he would be throwing to a new catcher in Andrew Knapp, who the Giants signed to a major league deal Friday. Birdsong issued a one-out walk in a scoreless bottom of the first inning.

Both pitchers threw one, two, three innings in the second, and Castillo threw a one, two, three top of the third. Birdsong would then give the Mariners a rally for free in the bottom of the third.

Birdsong walked Leo Rivas with one out, and he followed that by hitting Luke Raley. The always-dangerous Julio Rodriguez came up, and he flew out, which moved Rivas to third, and then Cal Raleigh walked to load the bases for Randy Arozarena.

Arozarena hit a pop-up to the left side of the infield on the infield grass. Third-baseman Matt Chapman and shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald came together and nearly collided. Fitzgerald made the catch, and Chapman nearly knocked it out of his glove. It was a crazier play than it needed to be, but Birdsong was able to get out of the inning without any damage.

Heliot Ramos singled to center with one out in the top of the fourth, and that brought up the Seattle native, Michael Conforto. In his return to his hometown, Conforto hit a two-run home run to center to make it 3-0.

Birdsong walked Jorge Polanco to start the bottom of the fourth. Birdsong had yet to give up a hit in this one, but he had already walked four guys now. Former Giant Mitch Haniger then got the first hit of the night for the Mariners with a base-hit to left.

The Mariners wasted an opportunity in the bottom of the third, and now they had runners at first and second and the tying run up with nobody out in the top of the fourth. Giants’ fans always ask the question of “how will they waste this one?” Well, Mariners’ fans ask that same question.

Dominic Canzone and Josh Rojas both flew out to left. Leo Rivas came up and worked the count full. Birdsong then threw a fastball right at the top of the zone that Home Plate Umpire Laz Diaz liked and rang Rivas up on to end the inning.

That would also end the night for Birdsong, who threw 80 pitches. Birdsong gave up just one hit and struck out five over four shutout innings, but his four walks upped his pitch count. What really got him was the fact that of his 80 pitches, 41 of them were balls, and 39 were strikes. He just didn’t have his control.

The Giants wasted a one-out double by Grant McCray in the top of the fifth, and Sean Hjelle was brought in for the bottom of the fifth. The Mariners got on the board when Luke Raley hit a home run to left-center to leadoff the inning. Hjelle walked Julio Rodriguez, but then retired the side in order, though two of the outs were to the warning track.

Wade doubled to lead off the top of the sixth, and that brought up Heliot Ramos. Ramos took a slider at the knees from Castillo and gulfed it into the second deck out in left to make it a 5-1 game. For Ramos, it was his 19th home run of the season. The Giants were once again relying exclusively on home runs, and every run in this game had scored on a home run at this point.

Luis Castillo went six innings; didn’t walk a guy; and struck out nine. That is usually the stuff of great outings, but the three Giants’ home runs were the real story for Castillo Friday night.

Left-hander Taylor Rogers pitched a scoreless bottom of the sixth. Landen Roupp, who was pitching for the first time in nine days, pitched through a rally to get out of the bottom of the seventh unscathed.

Thairo Estrada led off the top of the seventh with a double off Troy Taylor, and the Giants loaded the bases, but with how home run happy they are, they were of course unable to come through. Gabe Speier then struck out two in a one, two, three top of the eighth.

Melvin interestingly brought in Tyler Rogers in a 5-1 game for the bottom of the eighth. You usually don’t see the eighth-inning guy come in for a four-run game, but Rogers was not surprised that he was brought into the game.

The first batter Rogers faced was Jorge Polanco. Polanco hit one into the hole on the left side of the infield. Chapman slid to his left from third to get it, but his throw was too high and pulled LaMonte Wade off the bag at first.

Haniger singled the other way to right to move Polanco over to third, and Justin Turner singled to left to score Polanco and make it 5-2. Josh Rojas lined a base-hit to right, which scored Haniger to make it 4-3. Leo Rivas also lined a base-hit to right to knock in Turner, and suddenly, it was 5-4.

Rogers was just trying to get an out at this point. Leadoff man Luke Raley came up, and he blooped a single to left, which scored Rojas to tie it. The Mariners had come all the way back with four runs, and there were still nobody out. At that point, all Melvin could do was pull Rogers for Ryan Walker.

“I figured Tyler [was] going to at least an out,” Melvin said after the game.

Walker, who has taken over as the interim closer with Camilo Doval down in Triple-A, really put out the fire. The Mariners had scored four runs to tie it, and they had runners at first and second with still nobody out. Walker retired the side in order with a pair of strikeouts to send this game to the ninth tied at 5-5.

Andres Munoz struck out the side—all swinging—in the top of the ninth, and Walker did the exact same—all swinging as well—in the bottom of the ninth. Walker, who was born and grew up in nearby Arlington, Washington, really gave the Giants what they needed by eating up two innings; retiring all six men he faced; and striking out five.

The game went into extras, as Collin Snider came in for Seattle in the 10th, and Knapp was the runner at second for the Giants. Tyler Fitzgerald led off the inning with a line drive to center, but Julio Rodriguez made a slick diving catch to rob Fitzgerald of a base-hit. It was a catch that proved to demoralize the Giants.

Dan Wilson opted to have Wade walked intentionally to face Ramos, which seemed like a bit of a gamble. However, it paid off, as Snider struck Ramos and Conforto both out swinging.

Erik Miller was brought in for the Giants in the bottom of the tenth with Turner being the runner at second. Miller struck Josh Rojas out swinging, but pinch-runner Dylan Moore stole third, which seemed to catch the Giants off guard. Leo Rivas was the hitter, and he flipped a base-hit to center to win it.

Collin Snider got the win, and Erik Miller took the loss. This was the worst loss of the season for the Giants, who fall back to .500 at 65-65, as well as five back of the Braves for the third wild card with 32 games to go. There is no other way to say it.

However, it was a desperately needed win for the Mariners. Firing a manager during a slump while you’re still on the outskirts of contention is always a gamble. A struggling Mariners’ offense coming back from down four runs late to win could be just the kind of win they need to turn it around.

The Giants will look to bounce back tomorrow with Blake Snell (2-3, 3.67 ERA) on the bump, and hope that he can continue his historic stretch. George Kirby (9-9, 3.40 ERA) will go to Seattle.

The rain is expected to persist into the morning and possibly early afternoon Saturday, but it should taper off as the day goes on. Don’t be surprised if the roof is closed again Saturday. First pitch will be at 1:10 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Diamondbacks 73-56 +3.5
  2. Padres 73-57 +3.0
  3. Braves 69-59 —

Mets 67-62 2.5

GIANTS 65-65 5.0

Cardinals 64-64 5.0

Cubs 64-65 5.5

Tigers avoided Sweep (1-2) against Giants in Final game of the Series, 5-4; Star Wars Day in the City by the Bay

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Detroit Tigers Dillion Dingler (above) celebrates his two run home with a big hug to Zach McKinstry (39) in the top of the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco against the San Francisco Giants on Sun Aug 11, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Detroit Tigers (56-63) salvaged the three-game series versus the San Francisco Giants (61-59), with a 5-4 victory on an overcast Star Wars Day.

The Tigers pounced upon the Giants right away, with a solo homer from leadoff designated hitter Matt Vierling. After a half inning, the Tigers led 1-0. However, the Giants had an immediate response in their bottom frame.

San Francisco scored during their first at bats on a two rbi single by third baseman Matt Chapman. He knocked in shortstopTyler Fitzgerald and Lamonte Wade Jr.. After an exciting first inning, the Giants led 2-1.

Detroit was right at it again in the top of the 2nd inning, scoring two more runs on another home run. Catcher Dillon Dingler hit his first “Dinger” of his career, plating shortstop Zach McKinstry, as well as himself. After two full innings, the Tigers led 3-2.

That lead lasted until the top of the fifth, when the MoTown Felines extended the advantage to 3 runs. Veiling reared his head again, this time with an RBI double, scoring Dingler. Next, second baseman Colt Keith hit an RBI single to right field, resulting in the aforementioned Vierling to cross the plate, for the Tigers’ fifth and final run. Detroit led 5-2 after 5 innings. Could they hold on to the lead, avoiding the Sweep in San Francisco?

Bottom of the 6th, the Giants made an attempt to cut into the lead and possibly eak out a come from behind win. Chapman belted an RBI single, knocking in Michael Conforto. Later, Jerar Encarnacionhit hit an RBI double, scoring Chapman. After six innings, 5-4 Tigers.

The Giants had an excellent chance to either tie or win the game in the bottom of the 8th inning. After Chapman opened the inning with a triple, they were poised to tie it up on a hit or sacrifice. Unfortunately, Chapman and Mark Canha were thrown out on back to back rundowns. Next, Encarnacion grounded out to Third, and a seemingly promising inning turned feeble, with 0 runs to account for. Still 5-4 going into the ninth inning.

The final inning was just a formality, as the Tigers kept their claws onto the 5-4 lead, while taking down the Giants with ease in the bottom of the 9th, only allowing a walk, while RHP Will Vest closed the game. The Detroit Tigers won 5-4!

The Tigers have Monday August 12 off, before they host Seattle the following day at 6:40 PM EST, with LHP Tarik Skubal (13-4, 2.57) on the mond versus TBD for the Mariners. The Giants host the Atlanta Braves 8/12 at 6:45 PM PDT with LHP Chris Sale (13-3, 2.75) vs. LHP Blake Snell (2-3, 4.31).

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s just not getting run support; Blue Jays-A’s open 3 game series tonight at Coliseum

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Oakland A’s starting pitcher JP Sears and other starters are just not getting the run support in low scoring games. Sears pitched on Thu Jun 6, 2024 at the Oakland Coliseum and lost 2-0 to the Seattle Mariners. (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Seattle Mariners Bryan Woo had his mix of pitches working for him so did relievers Austin Voth, Mike Baumann, and Ryne Stanek in shutting out the Oakland A’s on Thursday 2-0.

#2 Woo who is local to Oakland and grew up just ten minutes from the Coliseum threw for six inning giving up two hits and struck out six batters.

#3Jeremiah, the A’s have been getting the pitching but the run production is suffering. They won on Wednesday night only because starter Joey Estes had to pitch a perfect game up until the seventh inning and ace closer Mason Miller had to come in to shut the door with the 2-1 win over the Mariners in game two of the series.

#4 The A’s have now dropped six of their last eight games with Thursday’s defeat and were shutout for the fifth time this season. The A’s line up simply have to start stroking or this will be the A’s downfall all season. They are getting the good pitching.

#5 The A’s open up a three game series on Friday night against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Oakland Coliseum first pitch is slated for 6:40pm PT .Starting pitcher for Toronto Chris Bassitt (6-6, ERA 4.43) for Oakland LHP Logan Harris (0-0, ERA 3.14).

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