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That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Orioles Masters of the Draft visit Oakland. Drafted better than Anybody–

Published on July 4, 2024 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Baltimore Orioles Ryan Hearn (left) and Anthony Santander (right) flex muscles after Hearns solo home run in the top of the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T Mobile Field in Seattle on Wed Jul 3, 2024. The first place Orioles open a three game series against the Oakland A’s on Fri Jul 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

Orioles Masters of the Draft visit Oakland. Drafted better than Anybody–

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–Before this 2024 season started, the Baltimore Orioles were among the few considered favorites to win the World Series. As they open the season this week at Oakland, they are in first place in the powerful American League West. After losing over 100 games in 2018-2019-2021, they have the strength to be an elite team in recent years, especially this 2024 season. How have they done it?

Some of the best players in baseball who are now playing for the powerhouse Orioles were drafted by this organization, and those years of 100-plus games in the lost column are just a thing of the past. Unlike their biggest rivals, the New York Yankees, the Orioles are not known for signing players to multi-year contracts for hundreds of millions of dollars. Today, the Baltimore Orioles are indeed the masters of the Draft.

These stars were all drafted and are playing for the Orioles, as well as their names and years.

(SS) Gunnar Henderson 2019 (2024 All-Star-starting lineup)

(1B) Ryan Mountcastle 2015

(3B) Jordan Westburg 2020

(OF) Colton Cowser, 2021

(OF) Austin Hayes 2016

(OF) Heston Kjerstad 2020

(OF) Cedric Mullins 2015

(OF) Anthony Santander 2017

(P) Lee Keegan Aikin 2016

(P) Grayson Rodríguez 2018

The A’s open a three-game weekend series against the Orioles this Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon at the Coliseum. After Sunday’s game, they go on the road again and will return to Oakland after the All-Star Game recess on July 19 to play the LA Angels again.

A’s Estes gets complete game shutout over Halos 5-0 at Coliseum

Published on July 4, 2024 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s starter Joey Estes (right) is excited after completing a shutout against the Los Angeles Angels at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Jul 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

Los Angeles (36-49) 000 000 000 0 5 1

Athletics (32-56) 020 012 00x 5 10 0

Time: 2:14

Attendance:14,837

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Oakland, CA

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The A’s made it two in a row this balmy Wednesday evening on the eve of the fourth of July, with their 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels behind the strong—to say this least—pitching of Joey Estes, who went the route for the first complete game by an Athletics hurler since June 1, 2021.

He was supported by a variegated offense that included two home runs and in which the only member of the lineup who didn’t get at least one hit was JJ Bleday, who was due up after Max Schuemann made the team’s last out.

Estes had come within a questionable ball-strike call and a decent follow up reliever of, at the minimum, a no decision in his most recent previous start last Wednesday at the Big A. He ended up being the losing pitcher in a 5-2 defeat, which brought him to this balmy evening’s midweek, pre holiday contest at 2-3, 5.24. Tonight he turned what might have been into what was the outstanding A’s pitching performance of the year.

The 22 year old righty threw 92 pitches, only 24 of which were balls, to 30 batters and held them to five hits, all of them singles, and a walk while striking out four and inducing three twin killings.

Davis Daniel, who started for the team previously known as the Los Angeles Angels, the California Angels, the Anaheim Angels, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, before coming, weary at heart, back where they started from, once more the Los Angeles Angels was drafted by the Halos in the June 2019 draft but didn’t play that year because he had undergone Tommy John surgery in April.

He missed the next season because the minor leagues didn’t operate in 2020. From 2021 through ’23 he had a minor league record of 11-16, 3.95. He went 1-1, 2.29 for the in three games for the Angels last year and was 1-0, 0.00 for them when he toed the rubber Wednesday night.

The 27 year old righty lasted 5-1/3 innings before yielding to Matt Moore with runners on first and second with two outs and the carpetbagger A’s ahead, 4-0. Daniel was charged with a post humus run for a total of five.

One run was unearned, but Daniel himself committed the second inning error that led to its being scored. Moore allowed Brett Harris the single that drove in the inherited runner but didn’t allow any runs of his own. Carson Fulmer pitched the last two innings for the Anaheim nine, allowing two hits but no walks or runs while striking out three.

Matt Shuemann’s 376 foot round tripper to left put the A’s ahead in the bottom of the second. Brett Rooker’s 389 foot blast, also to right, in the sixth was their other four base hit. The A’s also played small ball. Lawrence Butler singled in the second and went to third on Daniel’s throwing error on a comebacker by Brett Harris. Then, with Schuermann at the plate, Harris was picked off, but Butler scored in the run down for the A’s second tally.

The Athletics’ fielding was sharp, as shown by their trio of double plays. Also noteworthy was Harris’s eye catching grab at third of Luis Rengifo’s scorching line drive in the top of the first.

The A’s will—dare I say this?—go for the sweep in a fourth of July day game Thursday at 1:07pm PT. They’ll sent southpaw JP Sears (4-7, 5.00) against right hander Roansy Contreras (3-0, 3.82).

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: How Thompson will fit in Mavericks line up; Ex-49er Gipson suspended six games; plus more news

Published on July 3, 2024 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former Golden State Warrior Klay Thompson will be joining the Dallas Mavericks for the 2024-25 season. Thompson joins the Mavericks in a three year $50 million deal. (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Jessica:

#1 Jessica, former Golden State Warrior Klay Thompson who is joining the Dallas Mavericks next season as a breaking story on Monday. Thompson joins Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Derrick Lively II. The Mavericks got to the Finals last season but lost to the Boston Celtics in five games. The Mavericks with Thompson joining them aim to finish the job next season.

#2 Thompson’s father Mychal Thompson said he was disappointed that his son Klay didn’t sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. It came down to the Lakers and Mavericks and Klay got the 3 year $50 million offer and it was just too good to pass up. Still Mychal the former Laker would have loved to see Klay finish up his career with the Lakers.

#3 Former San Francisco 49ers safety Tashaun Gipson has been suspended six games by the NFL for PED use. Gipson was a big help for the 49ers in his two seasons helping the younger defensive backs and helped with tips for the defense. Gipson had a good year in 2023 with 60 tackles, had one sack, one interceptions. In 2022 Gipson had 61 tackles and five interceptions.

#4 Jessica, on Monday the New York Mets outfielder Brandon Mimmo around 5 in the morning in his hotel room in Washington DC fell and cut his head. He wasn’t feeling well and was cramping, fainted and fell. When he came to he didn’t know why he was on the floor with a bloody forehead and called Mets trainer who looked him over and took him for tests. Mimmo had tests done he was negative for a concussion, he had a CT scan done and had a bandage on his head it was reported he got a pretty big cut. He spoke to reporters before Monday’s game and said he was sitting out the game as a precaution.

#5 The 2024 Home Run Derby at Globe Life has some rule changes. The hitter will get 40 pitches to try and convert the ball for home runs. The Derby has been a timed tournament since the 2015 All Star Home Run Derby. So it’s up to the pitcher to get pitch to the hitter to as many times possible. Last season at the Seattle All Star Game the hitter got 43 pitches. The participants have complained in past derbies that they could be injured taking hard swings while trying to rush themselves against the clock. Hitters in this year’s derby will have three minutes in the first two rounds and and two minutes in the championship rounds.

Join Jessica Kwong for Headline Sports podcasts every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

St Louis City’s Kijima and Lowen scores goals in 2-0 shutout of Earthquakes

Published on July 3, 2024July 3, 2024 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The 12th and 14th place teams in the Western Conference faced off on Wednesday night, as the San Jose Earthquakes visited Saint Louis City SC. Neither team has lived up to expectations to start the season and both have already made a manager chance this season.

For the Quakes, Ian Russell took over for Luchi Gonzalez on June 24. Meanwhile on July 1, Saint Louis fired Bradley Carnell who was replaced by John Hackworth on an interim basis. The change of coaches for St Louis must have worked Hackworth coached St Louis City SC to a 2-0 shutout of the Earthquakes.

Earthquakes Starting XI: Yarbrough, Costa, Beason, Rodrigues, Munie, Tsakiris, Skahan, Yueill, Kikanovic, Judd, Espinoza

Saint Louis Starting XI: Burki, Totland, Durkin, Parker, Reid, Blom, Klein, Lowen, Kijima, Vassilev, Thorisson

Saint Louis came out with a lot of pressure early, getting a couple shots in the first few minutes and dominating possession right out of the gate. San Jose got their first quality chance in the 9th minute when a counterattacking opportunity by Preston Judd forced Roman Burki to make his first save of the night.

The ensuing corner led to Burki punching the ball away before the play was ultimately called offside, ending the attack. In the 15th a Saint Louis cross found Nokkvi Thorisson right in front of the net, but he kicked it over the goal.

A shot from John Klein in the 20th minute nearly gave the home team an early lead but William Yarbrough was able to get a hand on it and tip it wide. Off of the corner Tim Parker had an attempt off of a header which went wide right of the goal.

Saint Louis broke the deadlock in the 28th minute when Yabrough misjudged a bouncing ball which went into the back of the net following a soft shot from Eduard Lowen. In the 41st minute, Saint Louis added a second goal off of a free kick.

The cross landed right in front of the goal, and Hosei Kijima tapped it into the netting. Tanner Beason prevented Saint Louis from making it 3-0 in the 45th with a fantastic goal line clearance after the ball was tipped by Yarbrough.

Despite the fact that the home team had a two goal lead heading into halftime, that score line didn’t fully show just how dominant of a performance it had been for Saint Louis. They were undoubtedly the 12th and 14th place teams in the Western Conference faced off on Wednesday night, as the San Jose Earthquakes visited Saint Louis City SC.

Neither team has lived up to expectations to start the season and both have already made a manager chance this season. For the Quakes, Ian Russell took over for Luchi Gonzalez on June 24. Meanwhile on July 1, Saint Louis fired Bradley Carnell who was replaced by John Hackworth on an interim basis.

Earthquakes Starting XI: Yarbrough, Costa, Beason, Rodrigues, Munie, Tsakiris, Skahan, Yueill, Kikanovic, Judd, Espinoza

Saint Louis Starting XI: Burki, Totland, Durkin, Parker, Reid, Blom, Klein, Lowen, Kijima, Vassilev, Thorisson

Saint Louis came out with a lot of pressure early, getting a couple shots in the first few minutes and dominating possession right out of the gate. San Jose got their first quality chance in the ninth minute when a counterattacking opportunity by Preston Judd forced Roman Burki to make his first save of the night.

Despite the fact that the home team had a two goal lead heading into halftime, that score line didn’t fully show just how dominant of a performance it had been for Saint Louis. They were undoubtedly the better team, and looked to be taking advantage of the boost that typically comes with a coaching change.

Heading into the second half neither team made any changes, which was surprising for the Earthquakes. The first booking of the match came in the 56th minute when Jayden Reid tripped up Benjamin Kikanovic.

After the ensuing free kick, two members of Saint Louis went down for a short period of time before getting back up to their feet. Paul Marie, Hernan Lopez, Jeremy Ebobisse and Alfredo Moralesentered the match for Cristian Espinoza, Judd, Rodrigues and Niko Tsakiris in the 62nd minute.

For Saint Louis’s first substitution of the night, Sam Adeniran came on for Thorisson in the 64th. Adeniran nearly made an instant impact when he found himself inside the box with the ball and some space, but the shot went directly to Yarbrough.

San Jose’s substitutions weren’t doing quite as well, in the 66th minute Lopez picked up an almost instant yellow card. Vitor Costa got called for a foul and shown a yellow card during the 72nd minute. As the game seemed to be a lock for the home side by this point, Saint Louis made a couple of more substitutions in the 80th.

Although San Jose played better in the second half, they were unable to break the shutout and Saint Louis walked away with a 2-0 win. better team, and looked to be taking advantage of the boost that typically comes with a coaching change.

As the game seemed to be a lock for the home side by this point, Saint Louis made a couple of more substitutions in the 80th. Although San Jose played better in the second half, they were unable to break the shutout and Saint Louis walked away with a 2-0 win.

Chris Sale shuts down Giants’ offense as Braves win middle game 3-1

Published on July 3, 2024 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale pitches against the San Francisco Giants line up in the top of the first inning at Truist Field in Atlanta on Wed Jul 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Truist Park

Cumberland, Georgia

San Francisco Giants 1 (42-45)

Atlanta Braves 3 (47-37)

Win: Chris Sale (11-3)

Loss: Jordan Hicks (4-5)

Save: Raisel Iglesias (21)

Time: 2:27

Attendance: 38,834

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants’ offense was shut down and limited to just a run by Chris Sale and the strong Braves’ bullpen, as the Braves won the second game of this series 3-1 on another warm and muggy night in Cobb County.

Following a 5-2 homestand for the Giants, which was capped off by a series win against the Dodgers over the weekend, the Giants opened up this challenging road trip with a 5-3 win over the Braves last night. Wednesday night, the two teams would be right back at it at Truist Park.

Veteran all-star left-hander Chris Sale took the ball for Atlanta. Sale, a seven-time all-star, still has it at the age of 35. He came into Wednesday night 10-3 with a 2.70 ERA in his 14th major league season. Sale has done and seen it all, too. He’s gone to seven all-star games, cut the sleeves off jerseys he didn’t like and closed out the Red Sox World Series win over the Dodgers in 2018.

Sale promptly began the night with a 1-2-3 top of the first inning. Jordan Hicks, who has had quite an impressive first season as a starter, took the mound for the Giants in the bottom of the first. Hicks got off to a great start back in April, but he has struggled as of late, giving up a combined eight runs in his last two starts.

Wednesday night, Hicks would have to neutralize a powerful Braves’ offense in a live Truist Park. His night started off nicely with a scoreless inning in the bottom of the first.

Matt Chapman walked to start the top of the second, but Sale then retired the side in order. Austin Riley singled off Hicks to lead off the bottom of the second, and veteran catcher Travis d’Arnaud singled Riley over to second base. That brought up Adam Duvall, who put the Braves on the board with a double to left field.

The Braves had a 1-0 lead, and a chance to quickly add on to it with runners at second and third and still nobody out. Bob Melvin had the infield come in, and it paid dividends, as Forrest Wall and Zack Short both grounded out and weren’t able to get d’Arnaud in from third. Jarred Kelenic struck out swinging, and Hicks escaped any further damage.

Hicks was able to keep the deficit to 1-0, but the Giants went down 1-2-3 in the top of the third. Hicks then settled down to throw a scoreless bottom of the third.

Sale pitched another scoreless inning in the top of the fourth. Wall walked with two outs in the bottom of the fourth and stole third, but Short lined out to Austin Slater in right to end the inning.

The score stayed 1-0 going to the fifth. David Villar and Nick Ahmed both struck out swinging for the first two outs of the top of the fifth, but just as Giants TV broadcasters Dave Flemming and Javier Lopez made note of the Giants being no-hit, Curt Casali singled to right-center to indeed get the Giants their first hit. However, the Giants wouldn’t be able to further make anything of it.

Hicks, meanwhile, retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the fifth, but Marcell Ozuna lined an opposite-field base-hit to right, and Matt Olsen lined a single up the middle to center to put runners at first and second with two outs. Riley then came to the plate, and he doubled to right to score both runners and expand the Braves’ lead to 3-0.

d’Arnaud came up, and he lined a base-hit the other way to right. Braves Third Base Coach Matt Tuiasosopo waved Riley in from third, and the throw from Slater in right was right on the money, but Riley was called safe by Home Plate Umpire Ryan Additon.

The Giants challenged the play, and while we didn’t see it on the telecast, the umpires in the Major League Baseball Command Center in New York saw Casali tag Riley on the helmet before his hand touched home plate. The call was overturned, the scored stayed 3-0 Braves going to the sixth.

Perhaps, it would be a change in the fortunes for the Giants. The now-red-hot Jorge Soler led off the top of the sixth with a double to right. Soler moved over to third when Slater grounded out back to Sale for the first out of the inning. Heliot Ramos struck out looking, but Matt Chapman doubled to left to put the Giants on the board.

Former Brave Luke Jackson, who was part of the Braves’ Night Shift Bullpen when they won the World Series in 2021, came in for the Giants in the bottom of the sixth. An infield hit by Dovall, and a throwing error by Jackson on a chopper back to the mound by Wall put runners at the corners for Atlanta with nobody out.

Just as Hicks had to work out of a runner-at-third, no-one out jam in the bottom of the second, Jackson would have to pull off that same Houdini act in the bottom of the sixth. Jackson was given some help when Wall was caught trying to steal second.

With a drawn-in infield, Duvall was thrown out at home for the second out when Short reached on a fielder’s choice to short. Kelenic then struck out swinging to end the inning, and Jackson was able to keep the deficit at two going to the seventh.

Sale was done after giving up just a run and three hits while striking out nine over six innings A.J. Minter then came in for Atlanta and threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the seventh, and Sean Hjelle did the same for the Giants in the bottom of the seventh.

Joe Jimenez pitched a 1-2-3 top of the eighth for the Braves, and Hjelle came back out for his second inning of work to throw a scoreless inning in the bottom of the eighth. Matt Chapman singled off Braves’ closer Raisel Iglesias with one out in the top of the ninth, but Iglasias pitched a scoreless inning, regardless, to close out the Braves’ 3-1 win.

Plain and simply, the Giants were limited to only one run, because they ran into some really good pitching tonight. You can’t blame the offense for this one.

Chris Sale got the win; Jordan Hicks took the loss; and Raisel Iglesias picked up the save. The Giants fall to 42-45, and they will have another chance to take the series in the rubber match Thursday night.

Giants’ ace Logan Webb (6-6, 3.12 ERA) will take the mound Thursday night, and he will be opposed by the longtime veteran, Charlie Morton (5-4, 3.89 ERA). First pitch will be at 7:20 p.m. in Cobb County, and another stoner-friendly 4:20 p.m. start for Giants’ fans who want to get high back home in San Francisco.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Braves Sale picks up league leading 11th win defeat Giants 3-1

Published on July 3, 2024July 3, 2024 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Atlanta Braves starter Chris Sale delivers to the San Francisco Giants line up in the top of the first inning at Truist Field in Atlanta on Wed Jul 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 The Atlanta Braves Chris Sale allowed only three runs in six innings of work picking up his 11th win of the season as the Braves evened the three game series with the San Francisco Giants at 1-1 with two run 3-1 win at Truist Field on Wednesday night.

#2 Morris with the win Sale moved into a tie with the Kansas City Royals Seth Lugo for the most wins with 11. Sale in 2018 had a win total of 12-4.

#3 The Giants had a tough time trying to solve Sale who held them to four hits with the help of four relievers.

#4 Giants starter Jordan Hicks threw a good ball game Wednesday night but the team absolved the loss. Hicks went five inning, allowed eight hits, three earned runs, and struck out six. Well pitched game but tough game to lose.

#5 Giants try it again they’ll start RHP Logan Webb 6-6 ERA 3.12) and for the Braves RHP Charlie Morton (5-4, ERA 3.89) first pitch 4:20pm PT Thursday night at Truist Park in Cobb County.

Morris Phillips is a podcast contributor for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s Rooker and Butler supply offense beat Angels; Oakland’s Spence pitches 5 innings for win

Published on July 3, 2024 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

Oakland A’s Lawrence Butler (4) who hit a three run home run runs the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at the Oakland Coliseum on Tue Jul 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

#1 The A’s got hitting and pitching against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night and beat the Angels by two runs 7-5 at the Oakland Coliseum. Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler both hit a home run in the cause.

#2 A’s third baseman Brett Harris got a run double to help the A’s run production. The A’s got scored four i the fourth and three in the sixth for all their runs.

#3 Rooker’s home run came off a 0-2 knuckle ball pitch of Angels pitcher Jose Soriano. Butler’s three run home run just cleared the left field foul pole. It was the big fly that helped win the game for the A’s on Tuesday.

#4 Oakland A’s starter Mitch Spence had himself an outing pitching 5.1 innings, giving up six hits, allowing one earned run and striking out five. The A’s are hoping to get more quality starts that could help them win a few more games.

#5 The Angels and A’s play the second of this two game series at the Coliseum Wednesday starting for the Angels Davis Daniel (1-0, ERA 0.00) for the A’s Joey Estes (2-5, ERA 5.24) a 6:40pm PT start at the Coliseum.

Jeremiah regularly does A’s podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Brandon Aiyuk Negotiations podcast with David Zizmor: Ayuik and 49ers still undecided; Both sides hoping to get deal done soon

Published on July 3, 2024July 3, 2024 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk catches a pass against the Detroit Lions during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Jan. 28, 2024. Aiyuk is staying away from the 49ers facility at the start of the offseason program as he seeks a lucrative long-term contract. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn, File)

On the San Francisco 49ers podcast:

#1 San Francisco 49ers Brandon Ayiuk is in the last year of his five year contract. Ayiuk was offered $26 million from 49ers for a new contract. The Pittsburgh Steelers offering Aiyuk $30 million is just not true the Steelers don’t want to get into trouble for tampering.

#2 Aiyuk says the loss of last season’s Super Bowl still stings he said that he’s still down from it. What are some of the things that makes Aiyuk lose interest in coming back to the 49ers? How much did losing the Super Bowl last season play a role in his future decision?

#3 Aiyuk said a recent interview “All I can do is put my head down and go to work every single day pray ask God to lead me.” Aiyuk also said about the 49ers not wanting him, “they told me they didn’t think they were on the same page.”

David Zizmor is an San Francisco 49ers analyst for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Butler and Rooker lead the way with homers as A’s defeat Angels 7-5 at Coliseum

Published on July 2, 2024 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s Zack Gelof (20) congratulates Lawrence Butler (4) after he scores in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angeles at the Oakland Coliseum on Tue Jul 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

Los Angeles (36-48). 000 010 202. 5. 11. 0

Athletics (31-56). 000 403 00x. 7. 7. 0

Time: 2:40

Attendance: 5,447

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–Having paused for a day after finishing their 12th consecutive losing month, the wandering A’s got off on the right foot Tuesday night at the homeless encampment that is the Oakland Coliseum by defeating the Los Angeles Angels 7-5 in a game that almost got away from them in the frame.

The nominal home team chose four year minor league veteran Mitch Spencer, whom they acquired in the Rule 5 draft last December, as their starting pitcher. The 26 year old right hander came to work at 4-4, 4.35. He began the season in the bullpen and was 3-1, 4.26 before joining the rotation. on May 17.

He was quite successful at first, going 1-1, 2.08 in his first three outings, but cooled off to the point that his record as a starter was 1-3, 4.40 overall in that capacity. This balmy evening his start lasted 5-1/3 innings, long enough to earn him his fifth win of the season and lower his ERA to 4.15.

He surrendered one run, which was earned, on six hits and a walk while striking out five. 56 of his 94 offerings were counted as strikes. Tyler Ferguson took over for him with Logan O’Hoppe on first with a one out single in the top of the sixth.

The visiting Halos went with José Soriano, another Rule 5 draftee. His Rule 5 story has an interesting twist to it. The Angels signed him as an international free agent in 2016. The Pirates claimed him as the first overall pick in the 2020 Rule 5 draft.

While recovering from Tommy John surgery at the end of the ’21 season, all of which he spent on the IL, Soriano was returned to the Angels. He made his big league debut with them last year and went 1-3, 3.64. He was 4-5, 3.48 when he took the mound.

He left it trailing 4-1, on his way to the loss that made his record 4-6, 3.77. All of the four runs charged to him were earned. They came on three hits, two of which went yard, a walk, and a hit batter. He struck out four Athletics and threw 62 pitches, 30 counting as strikes.

There was no scoring for the first 3-1/2 innings. Then the A’s bats came alive in their half of the fourth. Brent Rooker to a Soriano knuckle curve 405 feet deep over the right center field fence for a solo home run. Shea Langeliers singled to left, and, an out and a Zack Gelof single later, Lawrence Butler’s third homer of the year made it 4-0.

Poor fielding and some wildness on Spence’s part cost the A’s a run in the visitors’ fifth. With Brandon Drury on first with a lead off single and one down, the A’s starter unleashed a wild pitch to Jo Adell that allow the runner to take second.

Adell then sent a soft fly to center that JJ Beday let fall to his feet for a single that put Drury on third. Nolan Schanuel lifted a sacrifice fly to left that narrowed the Athletics’ lead to 4-1. Soriano didn’t come out to the mound in the bottom of the frame.

Hans Crouse relieved him and kept the separation at three runs. José Marte took over for the sixth and coughed up three runs on a hit batter (Gelof), Butler’s single that Taylor Ward caught on a short hop and almost resulted in Gelof getting put out in a rundown between first and second, and Brett Harris’s two RBI double. The green and gold now was up, 7-1.

A walk to Brandon Drury and a Mickey Moniak double put two runners in scoring position before Ferguson fanned Adell for the first out in the top of the seventh. Then Kotsay and Co. pulled him in favor of Scott Alexander, who surrendered a two run single to Schanuel.

The runs were charged to Ferguson. Alexander then closed out the inning with a twin killing, Max Schuemann, unassisted at short, to Tyler Soderstrom at first. Lucas Erceg hopped on the merry-go-round at the start of the eighth allowed nothing but a leadoff single to Luis Rengifo.

Hunter Strickland was the Angelinos’ fourth and final pitcher. He retired the side in order in the bottom of the eighth, so the score remained 7-3 in favor of the Athletics when Miller Time went into effect. Mason Miller gave up a leadoff walk to Drury anf retired Moniak and Adell, before allowiing an RBI double to Schanuel and an RBI singe to Rengifo. At last, he fanned Ward, sealing the A’s 7-5 victory.

6:40pm PT Wednesday, evening is the scheduled time for the second of this three game series. Joey Estes (2-3, 5.24) will start for the Athletics; Davis Daniel (1-0, 0.00) for the Disneyland Dandies.

Las Vegas Aces Top Indiana Fever – Winning Their Fifth In a Row 88-69

Published on July 2, 2024July 2, 2024 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) drives in front of the Indiana Fever’s guard Caitlin Clark (22) in the first half at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Tue Jul 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

It was a game that fans were really looking forward to as the Las Vegas Aces (10-6) took on Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever (8-12). Over 20,000 fans attended this game many of them Caitlin Clark fans.

The game was fairly close going into the fourth quarter but that is when they put the Fever away, the final score 88-69. Kelsey Plum had an epic game with 34 points, five assists and six rebounds. A’ja Wilson had 28 points and nine rebounds holding Clark to 13 points.

The Aces have been through the grinder this season. They had a great start that soured as the season wore on. They had a number of losses in a row something you don’t commonly see from this team.

They were missing Chelsea Gray, a core part of their starting roster, and then it all began to turn around. Chelsea Gray returned after missing play since last year’s playoffs. The Aces began to string wins together and tonight the Aces took on Caitlin Clark and the Fever.

Clark has drastically changed the complexion of the Indiana Fever and stadiums are packed as fans from around the country flock to catch a glimpse of this rookie superstar Tuesday night’s game was the WNBA’s fifth largest crowd in history. She has not disappointed scoring four points and providing some valuable defense for the Aces. The Aces held Clark to just 13 points.

Game recap: As expected the stands were packed with hundreds of Caitlin Clark fans. The Aces sell out regularly so the arena was rocking. Las Vegas took the early lead in a close quarter with the Aces coming out on top 26-24. Las Vegas led at the half 46-37 after winning the second quarter 20-13. A’ja Wilson had another epic half and right alongside her Kelsey Plum was off the charts.

The Fever rallied to some extent in the third quarter coming out on top winning the quarter 22-19 but still trailed 65-59. Las Vegas really began to dial it in extending their lead to double digits in the blink of an eye.

Going into the fourth quarter the Fever were still within striking distance but as the quarter wore on, the Aces began to distance themselves from Indiana. Las Vegas put on a great show leading by 19 points for much of the final quarter. The Aces crushed the Fever 23-10 in the fourth quarter winning the game 88-69 in a dominant finish in this game.

This was the Aces fifth win in a row. Kelsey Plum finished with 34 points, A’ja Wilson with 28 and Jackie Young scoring 15 points. Kiah Stokes was on fire defensively with 12 rebounds.

Thursday night, the Aces will take on the Washington Mystics at Michelob ULTRA Arena looking for win number six. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Las Vegas is looking to provide some more fireworks in this matchup on the Fourth of July.