Tag: Sports Radio Service

A’s Get Clobbered In Series Opener by Cubs 9-2

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The Chicago Cubs Dansby Swanson gets an RBI single in the bottom of the third inning at Wrigley Field against the Oakland A’s on Mon Sep 16, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (65-86) got off to a rough start in their three game series with the Chicago Cubs (77-73). Joey Estes who started the game had an awful outing giving up nine hits and six runs early. The Cubs went on to win the game 9-2. Oakland gave up 18 hits in the game. Relief pitcher Brandon Bielak had a good four innings to close out the game giving up four hits and no runs. Brent Rooker hit his 38th home run this season with Jacob Wilson on base for the two runs.

Monday evening the A’s took on the Cubs in the first of their three game series. Oakland lost a series over the weekend to the Chicago White Sox. They didn’t have to travel far for this game, a 21 minute freeway ride.

A’s Joey Estes made the start and lasted only one inning nine hits and six earned runs and for the Cubs starter Shota Imanaga had himself an evening striking out 11 hitters in six innings of work surrendering five hits and two runs. The A’s not to mention Estes getting lit up couldn’t get any offense moving either on Monday night.

Game recap: The Cubs got up on the scoreboard in the first inning taking the early lead 1-0. Isaac Parades singled Suzuki home and the Cubs were off and running. Wilson had tripled in the first frame and JJ Bleday walked. With only one out, the A’s had a great opportunity to do some damage but Shea Langeliers lined out and Zach Gelof grounded into a fielders choice and that was the inning.

The bottom of the second inning was a nightmare for Joey Estes. He gave up six hits and five runs and that would be it for Estes.

Hogan Harris would relieve him getting Oakland out of the inning. Miguel Amaya singled Nico Hoerner home, Ian Happ singled Pete Crow-Armstrong home and to top it off, Dansby Swanson hit a 2-run home run driving Amaya and Happ home and the hit parade had begun 6-0. It was not the way the A’s envisioned their start Monday.

Brent Rooker hit his 38th home run of the season in the top of the third inning with Jacob Wilson on base and Oakland was on the board with a lot of work to do trailing 6-2. The Cubs made an Oakland comeback even more daunting scoring two more runs in the bottom of the third inning.

Miguel Amaya singled Nico Hoerner home for a second time in this game and Dansby Swanson singled Pete Crow-Armstrong home extending their lead 8-2. The Cubs continued to hit in the fourth inning scoring one more run. Isaac Paredes had his second hit of the game driving in Cody Bellinger and the Cubs had a 9-2 lead.

The fifth inning was a three up three down for Brandon Bielak who relieved Hogan Harris and Oakland had stopped the flow of Chicago hits and it was on to the sixth inning. Bielak got out of the sixth inning only giving up a single.

Bielak gave up a couple of hits in the seventh and eighth innings but allowed no runs. He had a pretty good outing pitching through four innings allowing 4 hits and no runs.

Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga was relieved in the seventh inning by Trey Wingenter. He had gone six innings allowing five hits, two runs, three walks with 11 strikeouts. The left-hander had a terrific outing; he more than got the job done.

The Oakland A’s had a rough start in this series. They allowed 18 hits early in the game. The start of this game for the Cubs was the end of this game for the A’s. Oakland had runners on base in every inning but just couldn’t bring them home.

The A’s wil give it another go tomorrow in game two of the series. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 4:40 PM. Mitch Spence will take the mound for Oakland with a 7-9 win/loss record and a 4.33 ERA. The Cubs will start Jordan Wicks who comes in with a 2-3 win/loss record and a 5.27 ERA.

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s continue Chicago road trip open 3 games at Wrigley Field Tuesday

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Oakland A’s Shea Langeliers rounds the bases after hitting a top of the ninth inning home run against the Chicago White Sox at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago on Sun Sep 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 The 4-3 loss to Chicago White Sox (35-115) was a bit of a shocker after winning game one in a shutout 2-0.

#2 The A’s barely lost Saturday’s coming back to tie twice so a better effort was expected in Sunday’s game.

#3 The A’s hit a couple of home runs, one from Brent Rooker and a second from Shea Langeliers but it was not enough to win the game losing 4-3.

#4 The White Sox did not let their foot off the pedal hitting their second home run of the game in the sixth inning pushing their lead back out to 4-2. Bryan Ramos hit a solo home run making it a little more difficult for Oakland but still within reach.

#5 The A’s have the day off Monday and on Tuesday the probable pitcher for the Oakland A’s will be Joey Estes with a 7-7 win/loss record and a 4.36 ERA. Shota Imanaga will take the mound for the Chicago Cubs with a 13-3 win/loss record and a 3.03 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 4:40 PM PT.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants open three game set in Baltimore; Will it get any better there?

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The San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos slugs a ninth inning home run in front of San Diego Padres catcher Kyle Higashioka (left) at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Sep 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 Marko, the San Francisco Giants are feeling the pain losing three straight shut out games and on Sunday losing in ten innings 4-3 to the San Diego Padres to close out a long homestand.

#2 The Padres David Peralta hit a tenth inning tiebreaking single as the Padres scored two in the top of the tenth and the Giants fell a run short scoring a run in the bottom of the tenth in the losing cause.

#3 The Giants Heliot Ramos became the first right handed hitter in Oracle Park history (it opened back in 2000) to hit an opposite field home run that hit the water beyond the right field brick wall as homers hit in the water are known as splash hits.

#4 The Giants have now lost four straight games three of those coming on shutouts and Sunday was the first game they got on scoreboard after getting shutout in 32 straight innings. It was the longest drought by any team in the majors since the Kansas City Royals went 33 innings without a run between Aug 15-18 2022.

#5 It’s off to Baltimore and the Orioles at Camden Yards as the Giants open a three game series there on Tuesday night at 3:35pm PT. Giants starter LHP Blake Snell (3-3, 3.52) for the Orioles RHP Albert Suarez (8-5, 3.39).

Join Marko for the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants Honor Late Orlando Cepeda, but Fall to the Padres 4-3, on a Beautiful day by the Bay

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San Francisco Giants crew setting up for the Orlando Cepeda tribute at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Sep 15, 2024 (photo by Michael Roberson/ The African American Athlete)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif — The San Francisco Giants (72-78) held a pregame ceremony for former Giant and Hall of Famer the Late Orlando “Baby Bull” Cepeda, before losing to the San Diego Padres (85-65), 4-3 inside the friendly confines of Oracle Park.

Cepeda, who spent his first nine seasons with the Giants, died June 28 of this year at the age of 86. The organization posthumously gave him his flowers in a celebration of his life at Oracle Park, simultaneously while the rest of Major League Baseball celebrated Roberto Clemente in the other ballparks.

Orlando”s career numbers are impressive across the board, but even more so as a Giants’ first baseman. As a major leaguer, Cepeda hit .297, had 2,351 hits, belted 379 home runs, and knocked in 1,365 runs. As a Giant, (1958 – 1966) he batted .308, hit 226 homers, and produced 767 RBIs.

Also during his time in the city by the Bay, Cepeda earned the 1958 National League Rookie of the Year award. In addition to that prestigious honor, Orlando was a 10-time All-Star, representing the Giants.

During the 1966 season, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he garnered the National League Most Valuable Player award in 1967, in addition to winning the World Series that same year.

Next he went south to the Peach State and played for the Atlanta Braves (1969 -1972). Midway through the 1972 season, he was back in the Bay Area, after being traded to the Oakland A’s. Unfortunately his reunion on the West Coast was pretty unceremonious.

He was injured right away and considered retirement. Eventually the cantankerous owner Charlie Finley released him of his contract while he was rehabbing in Puerto Rico. Ironically, Oakland went on to win the first of their threepeat of World Series victories (1972 – 1974), while Cepeda was not credited for the team’s championship.

In 1973, with the American League adopting the Designated Hitter position, it revitalized the Caribbean Legend into continuing to play baseball. The Boston Red Sox signed him to the first ever DH contract that allowed him to strictly hit and not have to worry about playing on the field defensively.

Cepeda parlayed that opportunity into being awarded the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, on the merits of batting .289, hitting 20 home runs, and tallying 86 RBI’s. He also had the distinction of hitting at least 20 homers on four different teams (Giants, Cardinals, Braves & Red Sox).

In 1974, Orlando played briefly in Mexico, then he was offered a contract by the Kansas City Royals. The season resulted in stats that were lower than his prime campaigns, and eventually became his final season in the Big Leagues. Cepeda hit .215, hit only one home run, and knocked in 18 runners.

He played in his native Puerto Rico the next season, but ended up retiring because he felt his body was not up to continuing playing baseball. He faced trials and tribulations for a while after baseball, but things did eventually get better.

In 1987, he returned to the fold of the San Francisco Giants family, serving several posts and capacities over the years. His number 30 is retired and on the outfield wall next to Wille Mays’.

With all the ceremonial respect being paid to Cepeda, the game started 30 minutes (1:35) later than the usual start time for Sunday Afternoon. The visiting Southern California “Fathers” were on a mission (journey), not the building they founded, but winning the game.

San Diego scored first, on a sacrifice fly by Manny Machado, scoring Luis Arraez in the top of the sixth inning. Donovan Walton tied the game with a solo homer in the bottom of the same inning,

In the top of the 8th, Fernando Tatis Jr. came into the game as a pinch hitter and promptly belted a solo bomb, propelling the Padres back on top, 2-1. The Giants used the drama of the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game at 2 and force extra innings. Heliot Ramos also hit a solo home run to tie the score.

During the bonus inning (10), Padres’ David Peralta hit an RBI single (Crownenworth), then he later scored on Donovan Solano’s groundout. San Diego was up 4-2 after 9 1/2 innings.

The Giants tried to use the spirit of Orlando Cepeda and comeback and win in the bottom of the tenth, but that did not exactly happen. Michael Conforto stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter, and hit a deep fly ball out, which resulted in an additional run, but not enough for the win. San Diego escaped with a 4-3 victory, and series sweep.

Rest in Peace Orlando Cepeda.

A’Ja Wilson Hits 1000th Season Point-First In WNBA History In Win Over Sun 84-71

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A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces holds up the sign that says it all scoring her 1000th point against the Connecticut Sun at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Sun Sep 15, 2024 (Las Vegas Aces photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Las Vegas Aces (25-13) won their third game in a row beating the Connecticut Sun (27-11) 84-71. This was a win that A’Ja Wilson will never forget. This game will hold a very special memory for the rest of her life. She hit her 1000th season point Saturday, the first player to ever do it in a single season.

She has played her heart out all season through the ups the downs and they are cresting right now as they head closer to the playoffs. Wilson finished this historic game with 29 points and nine rebounds.

Game recap: The Connecticut Sun are holding down third place in the WNBA right now and going into this game, every team in the league is playing tough ball and the Sun will be a challenge.

There are no “gimmes” in women’s basketball right now. There are the teams that can only aspire to playing the spoiler and there are the team’s that are headed for the playoffs. The Aces and the Sun are both headed to the playoffs; the Sun in third place and the Aces in fourth with two games left on the regular season.

The Las Vegas Aces, who have won seven of their last eight games, took a 29-25 lead after the first ten minutes of play. They were leading at the half 48-40. Las Vegas had an amazing third quarter outscoring the Sun 23-11 taking a 20 point lead 71-51.

Connecticut played hard in the fourth quarter outscoring the Aces 20-13 making up some ground but it was not enough to overcome the lead that the Aces had built. Las Vegas won a tough game against the Connecticut Sun 84-71.

Fans enjoyed the game and seeing the team win but there was a special moment in the final two minutes of the game that sent the arena into a wild frenzy. At exactly 1:57 left in the game, Wilson made an 11-foot pullup shot assisted by Jackie Young for her 1,000th pt in a single season.

30 seconds after the shot the Aces called a timeout as her teammates mobbed her. She took the court acknowledging the loud ovation from the fans clapping her hands with tears in her eyes.

Right now the Aces hold a one-game lead over the Seattle Storm for the No. 4th seed in the playoffs as well as home-court advantage in that series.

Marina Mabrey led the Suns with 18 points and Brionna Jones added 17 points. For the Aces Kelsey Plum finished with 14 points. She hit a late much needed three to seal this win for Las Vegas. She came through in much the same way in their last game with the Fever.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon Michelob ULTRA Arena was bursting at the seams with fans not only anticipating another win but hoping to witness an unparalleled milestone. The sell-out crowd was there of course to root the Aces on but to also be in person for the 1000th point hit by the amazing Aces leader A’Ja Wilson.

She has thrilled fans for years now and this year could possibly be her best yet. With two games left in the season, Sunday’s game was the second to last regular season game played at Michelob. They will finish the season next Thursday taking on the Dallas Wings at home.

Tuesday night the Aces take on the Seattle Storm on the road and finish the season back home playing the Dallas Wings Thursday. Tipoff for Tuesday night’s game is scheduled for 7:00 PM and can be viewed on NBA TV.

Padres sweep Giants with 4-3 10-inning win at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin (left) and pitching coach Bryan Price (right) watch the Giants and San Diego Padres in the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Sep 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

San Diego Padres 4 (85-65)

San Francisco Giants 3 (72-78)

Win: Robert Suarez (9-3)

Loss: Camilo Doval (5-3)

Save: Adrian Morejon (2)

Time: 2:42

Attendance: 33,043

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Padres completed their sweep of the Giants with a 4-3 win in 10 innings, as the Giants have dropped four straight to tie their season-low six games under .500.

Prior to the game, the Giants held a celebration of life for the late hall-of-famer, Orlando Cepeda on a gorgeous and windy partly cloudy fall day on the shores of McCovey Cove. The ceremony was emceed by Giants’ broadcasters Erwin Higueros and Mike Krukow. Numerous guests spoke, including fellow Hall-of-Famer Juan Marichal, Dusty Baker and Cepeda’s granddaughter.

Before it was over, Krukow read a statement made by Willie Mays, who passed ten days before Cepeda. Mays considered Cepeda a little brother and told the story of how Cepeda was a bat boy when Mays played winter ball in Puerto Rico in 1954.

Sunday was Roberto Clemente Day around Major League Baseball, and all uniformed personnel wore a special patch to commemorate the occasion. Players throughout the league also had the option of wearing Clemente’s number 21. Heliot Ramos wore number 21 for the Giants. Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts and David Peralta wore number 21 for the Padres.

Mike Yastrzemski, who did not wear number 21 Sunday, was honored prior to the game in a short ceremony as the Giants’ nominee for the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award. The award is given annually to the player who best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.

Anyway, the Giants had been shutout in three-straight games, marking the first time they suffered through that humiliation since June 23-25, 1992. The Giants were also looking to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Padres.

Melvin held a team meeting following Saturday night’s loss and made clear that the way they were playing was not cutting it. Prior to the game Sunday, Melvin had his players go through infield practice, something that happens more in spring training, to try and fix some of their defensive miscues.

The ceremonies delayed the start of the game to 1:35. Once the game started, Landen Roupp took the ball for the Giants and set down the first six men he faced. Likewise, Padres’ starter Martin Perez set down the first nine men he faced,

Roupp was really supposed to be the opener, but he ended up throwing five shutout innings, and allowed just two hits. The only time he ran into trouble was in the top of the third inning, when he gave up a pair of hits and walked a guy. What helped him get out of that jam was a double play he induced off the bat of Elias Diaz.

Spencer Bivens came in for the Giants in the top of the sixth, and the Padres immediately had him on the ropes. Luis Arraez led off the inning with a base-hit to left, and Donovan Solano reached on an error by second-baseman Mark Canha.

Jurickson Profar moved the runners over to second and third with a sacrifice bunt, and Manny Machado got Arraez in with a sacrifice fly to left. Erik Miller then came in and struck out Jackson Merrill to end the inning.

Like Roupp, Perez had also thrown five shutout innings, which extended the Giants’ scoreless innings streak to 32. However, Padres Manager Mike Shildt let Perez back out for the bottom of the sixth, and Donovan Walton led off the inning with a home run to right-center to tie the game and finally snap the streak.

It was Walton’s first big league hit since July 2, 2022, and it also ended the day for Perez. Perez went five-plus innings, while allowing a run and two hits.

Jeremiah Estrada came in and survived a two-out double by Matt Chapman, and left-hander Taylor Rogers pitched a one, two, three top of the seventh for the Giants. Tanner Scott came in for San Diego in the bottom of the seventh, and while he walked Marco Luciano with one out, Luciano was caught trying to steal second to end the inning.

Submariner Tyler Rogers came in for his brother in the top of the eighth. Fernando Tatis led off, and he took the first pitch from Rogers and hit a bomb to left-center to put the Padres back ahead.

Rogers retired the side in order after the home run by Tatis, and Jason Adam came in to throw a one, two, three inning for the Padres in the bottom of the eighth. Ryan Walker then pitched through a two-out walk for a scoreless top of the ninth.

The Padres brought in their closer, Robert Suarez, for the bottom of the ninth as they tried to finish off the sweep. The first batter for the Giants was Heliot Ramos, and on a 3-2 pitch, he hit an opposite-field home run to right that went into the water for the first-ever splash hit by a right-handed hitter in the 25-year history of Oracle Park.

It was the 105th splash hit by a Giant, and the 166th home run into McCovey Cove overall. Until Sunday, not a single one had been hit by a right-handed hitter. Buster Posey nearly became the first with his two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning in Game 1 of the 2021 National League Division Series between the Giants and the Dodgers, but it ended up hitting the water cannon.

Most importantly, Ramos’ splash hit tied the game 2-2. Suarez then retired the side in order, and that sent the game into the 10th.

With extra innings came the automatic runner at second. The home team used to have the advantage in extra innings, as they had the last at-bat and the chance of a walk-off. However, with the road team having a runner at second with nobody out in a tied game, they had the real advantage now.

That advantage would pay dividends for the Padres in the top of the tenth. Melvin brought in Camilo Doval with Jake Cronenworth at second. David Peralta led off the inning with an RBI base-hit to left, which scored Cronenworth to put the Padres back ahead. (I know, “led off the inning with an RBI base-hit” makes no sense, but neither does baseball Sunday.)

Arraez doubled with one out to put runners at second and third, and Solano grounded out to third to knock in Peralta and make it 4-2.

Adrian Morejon was summoned by San Diego for the bottom of the tenth, and Yastrzemski was the runner at second for the Giants. Yastrzemski got to third on a ground out by Luciano, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Conforto.

However, having a runner at second with nobody out down by two is nothing like having a runner at second with nobody out in a tied game. Patrick Bailey grounded out to third, and the Padres won it 4-3.

Robert Suarez picked up the win despite blowing his fifth save; Camilo Doval took the loss; and Adrian Morejon got the save. The Giants fall back to their season-low six games under .500 at 72-78.

The Giants will now embark on their final road trip of the season, and if you think their 72-78 record right now is bad, just wait until they have to go through Baltimore, Kansas City and Arizona to play three teams destined for the playoffs.

The Giants will have a day off in Baltimore Monday, and then they will begin a three-game series against the mighty Orioles on Tuesday at Camden Yards.

The Giants will have a chance to play spoiler in the American League East race. The Orioles trail the New York Yankees by three games, but the Giants would be doing a major favor to the Orioles by beating them since it would make it more likely that Baltimore would be a wild card team and not have a week off.

Blake Snell (3-3, 3.52 ERA) will take the ball for the Giants on Tuesday, and he will be opposed by former Giant Albert Suarez (8-5, 3.39 ERA), who is back in the big leagues this season for the first time since 2017. First pitch will be at 6:35 p.m. in Baltimore, and 3:35 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

A’s Drop Series To White Sox In Shocker 4-3

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Oakland A’s Brent Rooker slugged a two run home run in the top of the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox in a losing cause at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago on Sun Sep 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

In a series that the Oakland A’s (65-85) should have won, the complete opposite took place on Sunday in game three of their series. The 4-3 loss to Chicago White Sox (35-115) was a bit of a shocker after winning game one in a shutout 2-0.

The A’s barely lost Saturday’s coming back to tie twice so a better effort was expected in Sunday’s game. The A’s hit a couple of home runs, one from Brent Rooker and a second from Shea Langeliers but it was not enough to win the game losing 4-3. JP Sears had a rough start giving up three runs in the first inning.

Game recap: Saturday the White Sox had taken a 3-0 lead after three innings. In Sunday’s game Chicago took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and this was not the way Oakland wanted to start the game. They were behind the eight ball from the get-go.

JP Sears gave up a walk, an infield single and with two runners on base a Gavin Sheets home run for the 3-0 tally. The A’s had tied the game twice in Saturday’s contest so while it was not ideal, it was early in the game.

Neither team scored in the following three innings but in the fifth inning Oakland was up on the scoreboard only trailing by a single run. Brent Rooker knocked a 407 foot bomb out of the park with Lawrence Butler on base cutting the Chicago lead to 3-2. The A’s were within striking distance.

The White Sox did not let their foot off the pedal hitting their second home run of the game in the sixth inning pushing their lead back out to 4-2. Bryan Ramos hit a solo home run making it a little more difficult for Oakland but still within reach.

The hits were not coming for either team in the seventh and eighth innings and it all came down to the ninth inning for the A’s. Tyler Nevin lined out, Max Schuemann struck out and it was up to Shea Langeliers to keep this game going. He connected for a solo home run and Oakland was within a run of another tie. It all came to an end when Nick Allen flied out and that was the ball game 4-3.

It was an awful disappointment for the A’s in more than one way. They had so many ties in this series only to lose games. Lawrence Butler’s hit streak came to an end in this game. He did have an RBI but no hits. So often loses come at the hand of teams that are struggling; they have nothing to lose and the A’s experienced this in the series.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon the A’s took on the White Sox in game three of their series and dropped a heartbreaker 4-3 after Oakland lost Saturday’s game after tying up the game twice, the second tie in the top of the ninth.

A’s pitcher Hogan Harris threw a pitch that was right in Chicago’s Andrew Benintendi’s wheelhouse. The result was a 366 foot home run and a Chicago walk-off 7-6 on Saturday. Oakland starter JP Sears went six innings, allowed seven hits, four earned runs, and struck out four strike outs. The Sox starter Sean Burke pitched five innings allowing five hits and two earned runs.

Oakland will remain in Chicago taking on the Cubs in a three game series that will begin Monday. The Cubs are coming off losing a series to the Colorado Rockies who are also really struggling. The Cubs are a good ball club, in second place in the National League Central. The probable pitcher for the Oakland A’s will be Joey Estes with a 7-7 win/loss record and a 4.36 ERA. Shota Imanaga will take the mound for the Cubs with a 13-3 win/loss record and a 3.03 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 4:40 PM.

49ers Offense Stalled By Minnesota Vikings 23-17

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Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman (51) breaks up a pass that was intended for San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszcyk (44) in second half action at US Bank Field in Minneapolis on Sun Sep 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco 49ers (1-1) came up a touchdown short losing to the Minnesota Vikings (2-0) 23-17 in a game that was not their finest hour. Quarterback Brock Purdy finished with 297 yards, one touchdown and one interception. They did rally in the third quarter but both George Kittle and Nick Bosa were helped off the field during the quarter. They also had three fumbles although two were recovered.

Game recap: The first quarter of this game was all defense. The only scoring in the opening quarter was a Minnesota field goal. Viking kicker Will Reichard kicked a 22 field goal and going into the second quarter Minnesota led 3-0.

The offensive effort got going in earnest in the second quarter by both teams. The Vikings extended their lead five minutes into the quarter when quarterback Sam Darnold connected with Justin Jefferson for 97 yards and the first touchdown of the day. The extra point was good and Minnesota had a 10-0 lead.

The first half was looking like a wash when the 49ers finally scored with 1:53 left on the clock. Quarterback Brock Purdy hit one of his favorite targets George Kittle for seven yards and San Francisco’s first points.

The extra point was good and the 49ers had cut the Minnesota lead to 10-7. The Niners needed to take that score into the locker room at the half but the Vikings drove downfield kicking a second field goal as the clock ran out on the second quarter. A Will Reichard 39 yard field goal gave the Vikings a 13-7 lead at halftime.

Minnesota scored their second touchdown of the day at 6:49 in the third quarter. Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold had his second touchdown of the day, a 10 yard connection with Jalen Nailor extending their lead 20-7.

San Francisco had a hole to dig out of and they did not start making any noise until the fourth quarter. The Minnesota defense was making life miserable for the 49ers so far in this game and San Francisco had a lot of work to do in the fourth quarter.

The Niners did score twice in the fourth quarter but they came up just short. Running back Jordan Mason scored a touchdown at 10:16 rushing for ten yards. Jake Moody kicked a 31 yard field goal with the clock running down and 1:12 left in the game. The Minnesota Vikings had kicked a 27 yard field goal at 3:30. The final was 23-17 in favor of the Vikings. San Francisco had come up a touchdown short against a very tough Vikings team.

San Francisco really struggled in this game. A collection of fumbles (they had 3 but only lost 1) and a Purdy interception didn’t do much for their cause. San Francisco got some exceptional yardage from Purdy with 291 yards, Jordan Mason’s 100 yards and Deebo Samuel’s 110 receiving yards.

George Kittle had 76 receiving yards. Two San Francisco players were helped off the field in the game. George Kittle went to the locker room in the third quarter but does not appear to be hurt suffering from cramps. It snowballed when Nick Bosa was also helped off the field in the same quarter. It was a frustrating game for San Francisco. On paper the stats were positive but on the field it did not translate.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon, the 49ers traveled to Minnesota to take on Vikings at US Bank Stadium. Christian McCaffrey did not take the field in this game missing his second straight game. It was reported that he will miss four games after being put on injured reserve with calf tightness and achilles tendinitis. Last week Jordan Mason had a terrific game rushing for 140 plus yards and replaced McCaffrey in his absence.

Mason has been doing a bang up job and has been a solid addition to the Niners rushing game. U.S. Bank Stadium was rocking in this game and San Francisco was fighting the Vikings with the deafening noise from the 66,741 fans attending the game today.

The 49ers have a lot to digest as they prepare for their game next Sunday in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium against their rivals, the Rams. Los Angeles was getting stomped by the Cardinals in the first half of their game 24-3 but they were on the Arizona three yard line. The Rams would get their get their heads handed to them in a 41-10 victory on Sunday.

The Niners are favored but they will have to deal with the Stafford/Cupp connection. Despite that, San Francisco has all the weapons needed for a win in this game. Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 1:25 PM PT in the Southland.

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael Roberson: Cardinal excited to have picked up their first home victory in two seasons

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Sep 7, 2024; Stanford, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal wide receiver Tiger Bachmeier (24) returns a punt for a touchdown against the Cal Poly Mustangs during the second half at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images / Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

On the Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael Roberson:

#1 The Cardinal really opened up on offense in their last game Sat Sep 7th at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto against the Cal Poly Mustangs. Tiger Buchmeier returned a 90 yard punt for a third quarter touchdown a key highlight in this game.

#2 Cardinal quarterback Ashton Daniels threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Back up quarterback Justin Lamson rushed for a touchdown.

#3 Michael, how special has it got to be for Stanford to pick up their first home victory in coach Troy Taylor’s second year.

#4 Cal Poly scored only one touchdown in the contest in the second quarter and getting landslided 41-7. Mustangs quarterback Bo Kelly was 17-25 passing for 149 yards as Cal Poly drops it’s record to 0-2.

#5 Stanford goes up against the Syracuse Orange at Syracuse this Sat Sep 20th. The Orange are no push overs having won their first to games on Aug 31 defeating Ohio 38-22 and Georgia Tech on Sep 7, 31-28. Will the Orange be a handful for Stanford this Saturday?

Michael Roberson is a Stanford Cardinal beat writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Las Vegas Raiders podcast with Rich Perez: Raiders get game winner on Carlson’s field goal to defeat Lemar and Ravens 26-23

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Las Vegas Raiders kicker Dan Carlson (2) kept busy kicking field goals against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Carlson would kick the game winning field goal with 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter for the win for the Raiders first win of the season on Sun Sep 15, 2024

On the Raiders podcast with Rich Perez:

#1 Rich in the first half if you like field goals this was your game. At 8:28 in the first quarter the Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker hit a 48 yard field goal to put the Ravens on the board first 3-0.

#2 In the second quarter the Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson kicked a 53 yarder and 51 yard field goal and the Ravens Tucker kicked 42 and 32 yard field goals. At the half the Ravens held a three point lead 9-6.

#3 In the third quarter Ravens quarterback LaMar Jackson threw an eight yard pass to Zay Flowers at 11:42 and the Raiders running back Alexander Mattison carried a one yarder. The Ravens had a three point 16-13 lead after three quarters.

#4 Things really got interesting in the fourth quarter the Ravens Derrick Henry rushed for three yards to put the Ravens on top by ten 23-13 at 12:11. The Raiders would counter with 25 yard field goal by Daniel Carlson at 9:21 and at 3:54 Devante Adams caught a one yard pass from quarterback Gardner Minshew to tie it up at 23-23.

#5 At the end with 27 seconds left in the game Raiders kicker Dan Carlson booted a 38 yarder for the game winner and the Raiders shocked Raven Nation with a 26-23 win in Baltimore.

#6 Rich next up the Carolina Panthers who are struggling and lost today to the Los Angeles Chargers 26-3 will be visiting Allegiant Stadium next Sunday. The Panthers are 0-2 the Raiders might have a shot at winning two in a row.

Rich Perez podcasts the Raiders home and away games at http://www.sportsradioservice.com