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Kings Lose By a Single Point to Boston 101-100 In a Heartbreaker

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The Boston Celtics Kristaps Porzingis (8) celebrates a three pointer next to the Sacramento Kings Harrison Barnes (40) during the first half at Boston Garden on Fri Apr 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Sacramento Kings (44-33) put it all out there Friday night but lost by a single point 101-100 to the Boston Celtics (61-16). With 7.4 second left in the game the Kings had possession. They took three shots and missed every one of them. They squandered a monster opportunity. De’Aaron Fox finished with 40 points in the lose.

Game recap: The Celtics extended their lead in the opening minutes of the third quarter quickly taking a 12 point lead 64-52. The Kings would have to battle back as they had done in the second quarter. Boston went on to outscore the Kings in the quarter 30-22 leading 84-72 with 12 minutes left in the game.

After falling behind in the fourth quarter by as much as 18 points, the Kings fought back taking a one point lead 100-99 with 11 seconds left on the clock. The Celtics took back the lead 101-100 with 7.4 seconds left in the game.

This was a crazy final sequence from Sacramento. De’Aaron Fox missed a 16-foot pullup jump shot; Murray got the offensive rebound and missed a seven-foot tip shot and a third Kings rebound.

Colby Jones missed a 4-foot tip shot and that was the game. Three chances and the Kings just could not pull it out. This loss was far more disappointing than their loss last night. They had a great opportunity to beat the best team in the NBA and failed.

The Kings outscored the Celtics in the fourth quarter 28-17 but just came up short. Fox had a superior game with 40 points. Domantas Sabonis finished with another double double, 16 rebounds and 16 points. Both Harrison Barnes and Keegan Murray did pick up their game a tad but 10 points from either of these guys is underperforming.

Sacramento fell into eighth place with this loss with the Lakers a half a game behind them in ninth place. The Kings are in a very shaky position right now, on a dangerous path. Luckily the Rockets are in 11th four games behind the tenth place Warriors should the Kings fall further down in the standings.

Thursday night the Kings lost to the New York Knicks after establishing a 21 point lead . The final in that game was 120-109 in favor of the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Kings had a disappointing second half of basketball.

Game notes: The Kings faced an even greater challenge Friday night taking on the Celtics in Boston. The loss of Malik Monk was a blow to the Kings. He suffered an MCL sprain and was declared out for four to six weeks. Friday Monk addressed the possibility of an earlier return saying that his knee is feeling a lot better than expected. So an early return for Monk? Only time will tell but the Kings could sure have used him on Friday night.

Sunday evening the Kings move onto Brooklyn for a game with the Nets. The Kings do not want to lose a third game in a row. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 4:30 PM.

A’s Drop Another One Run Game Losing to Detroit 5-4

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The Oakland A’s right fielder Brent Rooker (25) chases after the baseball hit by the Detroit Tigers Gio Urshela for a double in the bottom of the eighth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Fri Apr 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (1-7) played a hotly contested game against the Detroit Tigers (6-1) coming up just short losing 5-4. Both Zach Gelof and Abraham Toro hit home runs in the losing effort. They went through five pitchers struggling with inconsistency on the mound. JP Sears had a good five opening innings but stumbled in the sixth losing a bit of command.

Game recap: It was a quiet start to the game with no runs scored in the first three innings. In the fourth inning, the Tigers broke the game open scoring three runs. It was a rough inning for Sears who gave up a homer to Matt Vierling followed by a Spencer Torkelson double with Andy Ibanez on base and Detroit took a quick 3-0 lead.

After 22 scoreless innings the A’s Brent Rooker homered with Zack Gelof aboard in the sixth inning trimming the Tiger lead to 3-2 and this game got a lot closer. The Tigers Mark Canha knocked the Tigers second home run of the game out of the park extending Detroit’s lead to 4-2. Oakland was forced to pull pitcher JP Sears who not only gave up the two homers but also six hits. Austin Adams took his place on the mound.

In the top of the 7th inning Tiger pitcher Tarik Skubal gave up the long ball a one run home run from Oakland’s Abraham Toro, his first of the season. The A’s were within one run of a tie with the Tigers 4-3 and this would initiate a pitching change for Detroit.

Will Vest would take over on the mound for the Tigers. Oakland went to work putting runners on second and third with one out. The A’s tied up this game 4-4 when Nick Allen grounded out to second and JJ Bleday scored.

Oakland’s Dany Jimenez pitched the seventh inning trying to pin down the strike zone. He found himself in back to back full counts followed by walks. With Tiger runners on first and second Jimenez was out and T. J. McFarland would come in and try to get out of the inning unscathed. Detroit’s Kerry Carpenter hit into a double play and Oakland had gotten out of the inning with the game remaining tied 4-4.

Spencer Torkolsen doubled trying to put a productive bottom of the eighth inning together for the Tigers. Lucas Erceg had taken the mound for Oakland the fifth pitcher for the A’s this afternoon. An RBI double from Gio Urshela broke the tie driving Torkolsen home and giving the Tigers a 5-4 lead.

Oakland started off the ninth inning with an Abraham Toro walk. Brian Noda would take first base also on a walk and the A’s had two runners on. Detroit’s Alex Lange would take the mound looking for the final out and the win. He struck out Zach Gelof and that was the ball game 5-4. Oakland had lost their 3rd one run game of the season.

Game notes: Friday afternoon the A’s traveled to Detroit to take on the Tigers in a three game series. The A’s have been struggling offensively while the Tigers have had an excellent start this year only dropping a single game in this young season.

The A’s went into this game without a single run in 17 innings and would be looking to get going on the offensive side. They sent JP Sears to the mound for this game. Sears couldn’t limit the Tiger offense and let his defense clean up any Detroit hits.

This was a tightly contested game but the A’s came up just short. Oakland is struggling on the mound with some real inconsistent pitching. They will take on the Tigers in game two tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 10:10 AM. Paul Blackburn will take the mound for Oakland and for the Tigers Kenta Maeda will get the nod.

Warriors roll over Rockets 133-110; Curry and Thompson splash Houston with 29 pts each

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives on the Houston Rockets Aaron Holiday (left) in the first half at the Toyota Center in Houston on Thu Apr 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors were in Houston to play the Houston Rockets on Thursday night. The Rockets trailed the Warriors for the tenth seed in the NBA’s Western Conference by three games. The Warriors were looking to win their sixth in a row. Star forward Jonathan Kuminga did not play due to tendinitis in his knee. The Warriors will have Jonathan back Friday night when the Dubs meet the Dallas Mavericks. 

The Warriors, riding high on their five-game winning streak, were determined to maintain their momentum. They started the game with a commanding 13-4 lead, setting the tone for the rest of the match. The Rockets never had a chance to take the lead as the Warriors dominated the game from start to finish, securing a wire-to-wire victory with a final score of 133-110.

The Warriors’ Klay Thompson was a force to be reckoned with, leading the offense with 21 points in the first half. His five three-pointers were instrumental in the team’s 65-50 halftime lead. The Warriors’ impressive shooting performance, with a 61% field goal percentage and 11 three-pointers, helped them secure a comfortable lead. They won the first and second quarters with scores of 33-24 and 32-26, respectively. 

The Warriors did not relinquish the momentum in the third quarter. Trayce Jackson-Davis, in the starting lineup, played well, and Trayce made key baskets in the third quarter. Steph continued his excellence. Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski helped out on offense. The Warriors finished the third quarter with the lead 99-83.

The Warriors’ defense always kept the Rockets from coming close to taking the lead. The defense has come to life in the last six games. It held the opponents to under 100 points in the five-game winning streak. The Rockets did a little better, putting 110 points on the board Thursday night. The Warrior offense scored over 30 points each quarter to win, going away 133-110.

Game Notes: The Warriors are now 42-34 with the win. There are six games left on the schedule. If the season were to end today, The Warriors would be in the play-in tournament and have to win two games to be in the eight-team Western Conference playoffs. The Rockets are 38-38 and are virtually eliminated from making the play-in tournament. Should the Rockets tie the Warriors at the end of the season, the Warriors would go forward, as they own the tiebreaker. The Warriors won the season series 4-0 over the Rockets and have won 13 in a row over Houston,

Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry each scored 29 points to pace the Dubs’ win. Thompson made seven threes. Curry had six rebounds, six assists, and two threes. Trayce Jackson-Davis had his first 20-point game. Trayce had five rebounds and four assists. Andrew Wiggins added ten. The Rockets had four players in double figures. Jabari Smith had 24, Cam Whitmore, coming off the bench, 17, Jalen Green 13, and Fred VanVleet 10.

The Warriors are in Dallas on Friday night. The Warriors beat the Mavs 103-100 last Monday. The Mavs’ Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will be ready to face the Warriors. The game will start at 5:30 pm.

Kings blow 21 point lead lose to Knicks 120-109 at MSG

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New York Knicks Josh Hart (3) takes to the basket against the Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis (10) and Trey Lyles (41) in the first half at Madison Square Garden in New York on Thu Apr 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK, NY. — The Sacramento Kings had their sights on beating the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden for the first time since 2019 and held a 21-point lead at one point on Thursday – only to blow it and lose 120-109.

“We have got to figure something out, I got to do a better job to help my team out with drawing

fouls or gamesmanship,” said Kings head coach Mike Brown.

Sacramento got off to an excellent start against the Knicks, who hours earlier announced that their star forward, Julius Randle, would undergo a season-ending surgery on his right shoulder.

In the first 15 minutes of the game, the Kings went 19-for-28 and led the Knicks 46-25. But the Knicks chipped away at the lead in the second quarter and went on a 16-2 run. By halftime, the Knicks had cut the Kings’ lead to 60-52.

With 8:11 left to play in the third quarter, Donte DiVincenzo made a three-pointer to put the Knicks down only 68-62, and the crowd at MSG went wild. Then with 4:09 to go in the quarter, Josh Hart made a slam dunk to put the Knicks within three points of the Kings at 79-76.

The Knicks took control of the game in the fourth quarter. De’Aaron Fox made a triple that extended Sacamento’s lead to 95-92 with 9:55 to go. But Jalen Brunson and Hart answered back with three-pointers of their own and carried New York on a 13-0 run putting them 105-95 over Sacramento midway through the quarter. 

“I just think defensively we weren’t getting stops,” said Fox. “Outside of the first quarter, they scored over 30-points in every quarter. We weren’t good defensively.”

Domantas Sabonis made a tip shot with 5:46 left in the game to cut the Knicks’ lead to 105-97, but Brunson made back-to-back baskets to extend New York’s lead to 12 points and the Kings were unable to catch up. Brunson received “MVP” chants from fans in the Garden.

“I thought we did a nice job of getting into the paint a couple of times and we got guys lifted,” Brown said. “But when you get a guy lifted in there like Jalen does, you just got to jump into his body and see if you can get to the free throw line.”

The Kings remain in the eighth seed with only six games left in the regular season and as other teams in the Western Conference inch closer to them including the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. 

“The way that our conference is, you could win one or two games and be in six, you could lose one or two games and be in nine,” Fox said. “So obviously I think we let one get away, but we have to be focused on tomorrow,” Fox said.

The Kings (44-32) continue their roadtrip against the Boston Celtics (60-16) on Friday with tipoff at 4:30 p.m. PT, before returning to New York City to face the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. PT.

John Fisher shows his face as A’s announce plan to play in Sacramento for next 3-4 years

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Sacramento River Cats owner Vivek Ranadive (center) and A’s owner John Fisher (right) shakes hands over the Oakland A’s moving to Sacramento for the 2025 season (AP News photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–The Oakland Athletics announced today that they have agreed with the Sacramento Kings, the owners of the Sacramento River Cats, to play for three years at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento with an option for a fourth year, as they await for their supposed new ballpark in Las Vegas to somehow open.

The A’s supposed ballpark in Las Vegas is scheduled to open for 2028 Season at the very earliest if they can clear many of the hurdles that still remain. One of those hurdles is ‘Schools Over Stadiums,’ a potential ballot measure that could kill the stadium deal.

According to sources, Schools Over Stadiums will be in the Nevada Supreme Court arguing against the funding of SB1, the bill that gives government funding to the A’s ballpark. Another hurdle is the fact that A’s Owner John Fisher has not made any indication that he has the money to cover his part of the stadium.

Meanwhile, the A’s lease at the Oakland Coliseum expires at the end of this season. With at least three years of the A’s not having a permanent home, they have looked to multiple locations to fill that gap. Those have included Sacramento, Salt Lake City and Oracle Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants. The A’s also looked at the possibility of signing one last lease at the Oakland Coliseum

This announcement comes just three days after negotiations between the A’s and the City of Oakland stalled. Oakland offered a five-year lease through the 2029 Season with an opt-out after the 2027 Season.

Oakland then came out with a new offer of a three-year lease with a $96 million extension fee with the stipulation that Major League Baseball would facilitate the A’s to an ownership group in Oakland; that Oakland would get to keep the team’s names and colors; or that Oakland would be considered for a future Major League Baseball Expansion Team.

It is quite a remarkable move for Sacramento and the Kings, considering the Kings nearly left Sacramento on several different occasions under the ownership of Joe and Gavin Maloof, two irresponsible clowns with the same level of ethics and trustworthiness as John Fisher.

“I told you Sactown that great news was coming!” tweeted Grant Napear, the former TV Play-by-Play Announcer for the Kings, who signed off what was possibly going to be the Kings’ final telecast in tears on April 14, 2011 when the Kings appeared headed for Anaheim the following NBA season.

This alone makes it all the more hypocritical and cynical of the Kings, Sacramento and Napear to celebrate this horrible occasion. What makes it even more infuriating is that the A’s will not even use Sacramento in their name while they bring Major League Baseball to the city for the first time. In fact, they won’t use any city’s name; for at least the next three years, they will be referred to as just the “Athletics” or the “A’s.”

For example: “Good evening, fans, and welcome to game one of this three-game series between the Seattle Mariners, and your A’s!!!”

Sacramento has long been considered as a potential home for a major league baseball team. The city has long supported the Kings, and has turned out well to watch the River Cats, who were the Triple-A affiliate of the A’s from 2000 to 2014, and who have been the Triple-A affiliate for the Giants since 2015.

I, as a resident and native of Sacramento, have always wanted this, even for just a few years. I’m getting what I have always wanted, but yet, I couldn’t be more angry and disgusted at the Cities of Sacramento and West Sacramento for allowing this repulsive charade to transpire, for doing business with clowns like John Fisher and Dave Kaval and for allowing the City of Sacramento to get flat-out used like this.

Vivek Ranadive, the owner of the KIngs, who also kept the team in Sacramento, was at today’s press conference at Sutter Health Park, and was the one who introduced John Fisher. Ranadive also bragged about his new relationship with Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.

“John, thank you for this opportunity to be part of the A’s legacy and show the world why Sacramento is a destination city for major league sports,” Ranadive shamelessly said. “I also want to thank MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. It’s an honor for West Sacramento to host Major League Baseball at Sutter Health Park.”

“When I bought the Kings over 10 years ago, I said that Sacramento would never play second fiddle,” Ranadive ironically said as he allows Sacramento to play second fiddle.

“We’re excited to be here for the next three years playing in this beautiful ballpark, but also being able to be able to watch some of the greatest players in baseball, whether they be Athletics players or Aaron Judge and others launch home runs out of this very intimate, the most intimate ballpark in all of Major League Baseball for the next three years,” said Fisher, with his foot in his mouth.

It’s amazing that a major league is planning to play at least three years in a minor league ballpark that has a maximum capacity of 14,014. It will be interesting to see if the Major League Baseball Players Association and its executive director, Tony Clark, will do the right thing and fight this, or whether they’ll just bend over and take this.

“On behalf of all of MLB, I want to express my appreciation to West Sacramento, Sutter Health Park, the Kings and the greater Sacramento region for their excitement to host the A’s for interim play, as the A’s new permanent home is built in Las Vegas,” chimed in Manfred in a statement this afternoon.

As you see, folks, the fix is in. It is now up to the MLBPA, the City of Oakland, A’s fans and Baseball fans everywhere to keep making their voices heard, and demand that Fisher do the right and honorable thing and sell the team, so they can remain in Oakland where they truly belong.

Stephen Ruderman is a MLB beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks Lose 2-1 At Home To The Los Angeles Kings

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Los Angeles Kings right winger Adrian Kempe (9) scores on San Jose Sharks goaltender MacKenzie Blacwood (29) in the first period at SAP Center in San Jose (AP News photo)

Thursday, April 4th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

SANJOSE–Even though the San Jose Sharks were the hosts, there were an abundance of Los Angeles Kings fans in the house and the Kings gave that portion of the Tank something to cheer for edging out the Sharks 2-1 at SAP Center. Adrian Kempe scored the opening goal on a breakaway, his 25th of the season, 1-0 Kings 11 minutes into the game.

Shortly after the Kempe goal, Akil Thomas scored his first points of the season and the second goal of the game with a wrist shot while embracing a hit, 2-0 Kings. The cheers for the Kings from their fans overshadowed the boos from the Sharks fans in attendance and the 1st period ended with a 2-0 score and the Kings in the middle of a power play. 

A better second period for the Sharks, but only because the Sharks were more physical. A fight between Luke Kunin and Andreas Englund had a fight that woke the crowd up including the home fans. No goals this period, but a sign of hope as San Jose got more chances and had better possession time.

Third period was a nothing period as the Kings played the clock and the Sharks looked defeated as soon as the period started. Klim Kostin scored a goal that gave fans some sense of hope, but it was too little too late, 2-1 Kings to end the game.

Game notes: Two division rivals on opposite sides of the coin face off as the last place in the Pacific Division San Jose Sharks host the 4th place in the Pacific Division Los Angeles Kings. Last game for the Sharks was a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on April Fool’s Day. Fabian Zetterlund (1g, 1a) netted his team-leading 21st goal of the season, a power play tally to open the home team’s scoring in his ninth multi-point game of the season.

Klim Kostin (1g, 0a) scored his fourth goal with the Sharks, his seventh of the season. Mikael Granlund (0g, 1a) extended his point streak to five games (2g, 4a) with an assist on Zetterlund’s goal, and William Eklund (0g, 1a) pushed his home point streak to eight games (3g, 6a) with the secondary helper on the same score. SJS Goals: Zetterlund (21 pp), Kostin (7) . 

Next game for the Sharks will be at home Saturday against the St. Louis Blues.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Giants will be a team for 8 million people 

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Oracle Park in San Francisco will be the only Major League Baseball facility in the nine county Bay Area serving nearly 8 million people as the Oakland A’s will leave the Bay Area for Sacramento in the 2025 season. (file photo from giantenterprises.com)

Giants will be a team for 8 million people

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

With the Oakland A’s departing Oakland, where they have played since 1968, the San Francisco Giants will be (after 2024) all by themselves inside the 9-county San Francisco-Oakland-San José Bay Area. The most recent US Census shows the Bay Area is home to approximately 7.52 million people, the largest population area in California after the Greater Los Angeles Area.

In 2022, the metropolitan area population of New York City was 18,867,000. The New York Yankees and the New York Mets share this huge #1 market.

The Los Angeles Metro area population in 2023 was 12,534,000. The Dodgers and Angels share the biggest market in California and #2 in the country.

In 2018, the Chicago Metropolitan Area reported 9,459,000 residents. The Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox share the Midwest.

In 2022, the Houston Metropolitan Area reported 7,122,240 residents. The Astros are it, they rule Houston.

In Dallas-Fort Worth, the World Champion Texas Rangers play in a Metropolitan area with a population of 6,488,000, and the Rangers own big slice of Texas.

Then, there are the other MLB teams cities and Metropolitan areas across the country, with smaller populations, most in the millions, but much smaller.

This is a significant marketing change for the San Francisco Giants. It has been 27 years since MLB introduced Interleague games. Before that, the Giants of the National League only played teams in the National League, and across the Bay, the A’s of the American League only played American League teams. But the equation changes big time without the A’s in Oakland, even with Interleague play.

Starting in 2025, you can attend a Giants game at Oracle Park and see any other team, including the A’s. But the popular Bay Series is dead, since the A’s do not identify with a particular city anymore for the next three years, or four years. The once Philadelphia, once Kansas City, once Oakland, now renting in Sacramento while they build in Las Vegas, will only be called “The A’s”

If you live in the Bay Area and want to see a Major League game starting in 2025, there is only one place —the corner of 2nd and King, San Francisco. The Giants now own the Bay Area.

Have a great weekend, and may your favorite team win.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Too much Sho-Time for Giants in LA; SF home opener on Friday

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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) reaches home after hitting his first home run in the bottom of the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium against the San Francisco Giants and catcher Patrick Bailey looking on (left) on Wed Apr 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

On SF Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hit a home run a solo shot his first of the 2024 season in the bottom of the seventh inning that help lift the Dodgers past the San Francisco Giants 5-4 in a three game sweep for LA.

#2 This was Ohtani’s ninth game for the Dodgers and hit connected with a 93.2 MPH sinker and smoked it for 430 feet and Giants reliever Taylor Rogers threw the pitch and the left Ohtani’s bat at 105.6 MPH.

#3 The Giants got home run production from Jorge Soler and Patrick Bailey but it wasn’t enough as the Giants are now on a four game skid and drop their record to 2-5.

#4 Michael, talk about Kyle Harrison’s (1-1) pitching performance giving four runs and six hits in five innings of work.

#5 Michael lets talk about Friday’s starters for the Giants home opener the San Diego Padres are going with RHP Dylan Cease (0-1 ERA 3.86) the Giants will counter with RHP Jordan Hicks (1-0 ERA 0.00) first pitch at Oracle Park is at 1:35pm PDT. Talk about the Giants coming off a four game split with the Padres and having opening day at home?

Join Michael for the Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Celebrini looking to go #1 in draft; Knights dominate Canucks; plus more NHL news

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Team Canada Macklin Celebrini scores against Team Latvia in the IIHF World Junior Championship group in Gothenburg Sweden Wed Dec 27, 2023. Celebrini is the NHL No.1 draft choice in the 2024 NHL Draft. (TT News Agency photo via AP)

On the NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 Macklin Celebrini is the expceted No.1 draft choice out of the NHL draft. Celebrini is having a great year at Boston University scoring 32 goals and 64 points in 37 games. Celebrini is well sought after most likely he could go in the first of the draft.

#2 Len, how potent is this Vegas Golden Knights (42-25-8) team they scored four goals in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks to win it 6-3 on Tuesday and pick up their point streak to seven games. The Canucks who are first in the Pacific are starting to show ware they have now lost three of their last four games.

#3 Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella says the Flyers need another level just to make post season. The Flyers are on a five game skid and have lost five of their last ten games. The Flyers are third in the Metropolitan Division. Tortorella said that it’s his job to get this team over the hump and he hasn’t done that good of a job to do that.

#4 The Vegas Golden Knights Tomas Hertl made morning practice on Tuesday. Hertl had been skating on his own on Mar 11. Since he had knee surgery on Feb 12th he’s skated on his own and the Knights are hoping to get him in the line up on Friday night against the Arizona Coyotes.

#5 Len, lets talk about Dallas and the scoring race.

Join Len Shapiro for the NHL podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Harrison and Giants put up fight, but Dodgers assert dominance to finish sweep in 5-4 win

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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani rounds the bases after Will Smith doubles Shohei home in the bottom of the third inning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wed Apr 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles, California

San Francisco Giants 4 (2-5)

Los Angeles Dodgers 5 (7-2)

Win: Tyler Glasnow (2-0)

Loss: Kyle Harrison (1-1)

Save: Dinelson Lamet (1)

Time: 2:25

Attendance: 52,746

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants put up a fight, but Tyler Glasnow shined, and the Dodgers got to a flustered Kyle Harrison for four runs, as they completed their sweep of the Giants with a 5-4 win.

Kyle Harrison, who was coming off a great start in San Diego Friday, made the start tonight, as he looked to be the stopper. Tyler Glasnow made the start for the Dodgers in the first of what is expected to be many matchups between Harrison and Glasnow.

Glasnow started the game with a pair of 1-2-3 innings. Harrison pitched a scoreless inning after walking Mookie Betts, but he did have to throw 17 pitches. 

Harrison struck out Teoscar Hernandez to start the bottom of the second, but he then proceeded to walk Max Muncy; give up a base-hit to Kiké Hernandez; and walk Chris Taylor. That loaded the bases for Miguel Rojas, who hit into a 4-6 fielder’s choice in which Giants second-baseman Thairo Estrada made an impressive behind the back flip to shortstop Nick Ahmed to retire Taylor at second.

The Dodgers had struck first, but the Giants were ready to respond. Glasnow struck Mike Yastrzemski swinging to start the top of the third, and then Patrick Bailey hit a home run to the Pavilion in right field, his first of the year, to tie it up.

However, the Dodgers struck right back in the bottom of the third. Shohei beat out a ground ball to first-baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. after Harrison was late in covering the bag. Freddie Freeman struck out on a foul tip for the first out, but on back-to-back pitches, Will Smith lined a double down the left field line to put the Dodgers back again, and Teoscar Hernandez singled to left-center to knock in Smith and make it 3-1.

Wade walked to start the fourth, as the Giants hoped to bounce back, but Glassnow struck out the side, all looking, on 10 pitches. Harrison retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the fourth, but Miguel Rojas hit a line drive home run to the Dodgers’ bullpen in left to extend Los Angeles’ lead to three at 4-1.

Patrick Bailey singled sharply on the ground up the middle with two outs in the top of the fifth, but Glasnow remained dominant with his fastball. Harrison continued to struggle, as he hit Freddie Freeman to start the bottom of the fifth. However, Harrison bore down, and he induced a 5-4-3 double play from Smith, as well as a fly out to right by Teoscar Hernandez.

Harrison had a rough time tonight, but he hung in there to throw five innings and prevent Bob Melvin from blowing through the Giants’ bullpen. 

The Giants made a game of it in the top of the sixth. Wade walked with one out, and Jorge Soler doubled Wade to third. The Giants had runners at second and third with one out against Glasnow, who was now starting to tire. 

Michael Conforto was now up, and he continued his hot start by lining a single to right to knock in both runners and make it a 5-4 game. Conforto did get to second on a wild pitch to put the tying run in scoring position, but Glasnow got out of it with the Dodger’s lead intact.

Melvin went to Erik Miller in the bottom of the sixth, and Miller continued his impressive start with a 1-2-3 inning. Miller, who is 6’5” tall and weighs 240 pounds, has also very quickly established a dominating presence on the mound.

Joe Kelly came in for the Dodgers and pitched a 1-2-3 top of the seventh. The lefty, Taylor Rogers, came in for the Giants in the bottom of the seventh, and he retired the first two Dodgers. However, Shohei Ohtani was not going to go this whole series without burning the team that tried so hard to sign him over the off-season. 

After the Giants fell short of signing Aaron Judge in December 2022, Judge homered off Logan Webb in his first at-bat on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on Opening Day last season. It did take Ohtani nine games to hit his first home run this season, but like Judge, Ohtani did it against the Giants after they fell short of signing him, and he made it hurt too with a booming shot to right-center.

Ohtani’s home run was one final act of a real statement series for the Dodgers. Both teams made big free agent splashes over the off-season, but at the end of the day, the Dodgers are a much stronger team. The Dodgers asserted their dominance this entire series, but to the Giants’ credit, they put up a fight, and showed that they can hang in there with the Dodgers.

“We’re not at full strength yet, but [having] two games that you come back and you’re that close against a good team playing really well right now, it’s really nothing to hang your hat on,” said Melvin. “It’s more frustrating than anything else.”

The Giants put up one last fight against the veteran, Daniel Hudson, who succeeded Kelly in the top of the eighth. Soler took Hudson deep for the latter’s second home run in as many nights to make it 5-4, and Michael Conforto came close to tying it, but ultimately flew out to Teoscar Hernandez deep in right.

“You don’t get any prizes for close, so we gotta dig a little harder.” said Melvin.

Tyler Rogers came in for his brother Taylor, and pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth, and Dinelson Lamet closed out the Giants with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Glasnow got the win with his strong performance; Harrison the loss; and Lamet the save.

“To get swept is not a great feeling,” added Harrison. “We’re gonna be back to the drawing board, and we’re going to be ready for these guys next time we come out. It gives us that much more motivation to want to get them.”

The Giants fall to 2-5, and they will now head back home to San Francisco for the Home Opener against the San Diego Padres on Friday afternoon. Jordan Hicks will be on the mound for the Giants, and first pitch will be at 1:35 p.m.

News and Notes:

  • Blake Snell threw a simulated game prior to tonight’s game at Dodger Stadium, as he prepares to make his Giants debut next Monday against the Washington Nationals.

“This was important for him,” said Melvin. “I really do believe that he needed to face some big league hitters, and I know he felt much better about what he needs to do and where his stuff is facing this type of opponent.”