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River Cats win Mother’s Day thriller over Salt Lake 4-3 to get back over .500

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Sacramento River Cats celebrate a win and Mother’s Day at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Sun May 14, 2023 (Photo Credit to Ralph Thompson/River Cats)

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–The River Cats, twice down to their last strike, beat the Salt Lake Bees 4-3 on a walk-off nubber to take five of six in the series, as they have now won nine of their last 11 games.

Sean Hjelle took the mound for the River Cats, and pitched through jams in the first, third and fourth innings, as he pitched four shutout innings in total. Jake Lee started for Salt Lake, and his outing was more smooth sailing, as he pitched five shutout innings, giving up just a pair of hits, a triple and a double to Tyler Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald’s pursuit of the cycle was the lone drama early in the game, but it was ended by a pair of walks.

Cam Vieaux came in for the Bees in the bottom of the sixth, and pitched his way through a one-out walk, as he got Matt Beaty and Patrick Bailey on back to back strikeouts to end the inning. Vieaux struck out Shane Matheney to start the bottom of the seventh; gave up a single to Clint Coulter; and got Ford Proctor to fly out to center. Bees’ manager, Keith Johnson, then brought in the left hander, Gerardo Reyes, to face Will Wilson. Coulter stole second, and then Wilson hit a two-run home run to left to put the River Cats on the board.

Drew Strotman pitched three shutout innings, following Hjelle, and then the lefty, Chris Wright, came in for Sacramento in the top of the eighth. Wright got Michael Stefanic to pop out to start the inning; walked Jared Walsh; and then struck out Jo Adell for the second out. Trey Cabbage then came up, and hit a towering drive to right for his 10th home run of the year to tie it up. 

The River Cats loaded the bases off Reyes with nobody out in the bottom of the eighth, but Reyes struck out the side to get out of it unscathed.

The game remained tied at 2-2 going to the ninth, as Melvin Adon came in for the River Cats. Jared Oliva beat out a ground ball to short for an infield hit to lead off the inning, and then stole second on a botched hit and run. Zach Humphreys struck out swinging, and then pinch-hitter David Fletcher grounded out to third, which allowed Oliva to advance to third. Michael Stefanic then beat out a roller up the third base line, which knocked in Oliva to give the Bees the lead.

The bees brought in the major league veteran Jonathan Holder in the bottom of the ninth, who gave up a single to Will Wilson on the first pitch of the inning. Michael Gigliotti struck out swinging, and Cal Stevenson flew out to left-center, which left the River Cats down to their last out. Up came Tyler Fitzgerald, who down to his last strike, lined his second double of the game down the left field line, which got Wilson to third. 

The bees elected to intentionally walk Matt Beaty to load the bases, which left it up to Patrick Bailey. Bailey, also down to his last strike, hit a nubber off the end of the bat along the third base line that Bees’ third-baseman, Taylor Jones, booted, and Wilson and Fitzgerald both scored, sending the 6,044 fans at Sutter Health Park home happy.

Through it all, Melvin Adon got the win to improve to 1-1, and Jonathan Holder took the loss to fall to 0-4. The River Cats are now back over .500 at 20-19, as they will head to Reno to face the first-place Aces for a six-game series starting Tuesday.

Today’s game also featured the challenge version of the Automated Balls and Strikes System that Major League Baseball plans to implement next season. Jared Walsh of the Angels, who was here for a rehab assignment, was called out on strikes by home plate umpire, Tanner Moore, and spent close to 10 seconds arguing with Moore instead of requesting a challenge.

Today’s game was also the final one in Sacramento for the 29-year voice of the Bees, Steve Klauke, who is retiring at the end of the season.

A’s dominated at home by Rangers 11-3

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Photo courtesy of AP Photo/Jeff Chiu. Esteury Ruiz steals second base as Marcus Semien catches the ball.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

OAKLAND- Mother’s day did not got in favor of Oakland against the Rangers as they fell by a final of 11-3.

JP Sears got the start against Andrew Heaney with Sears sporting a 0-3 record and a 5.27 era and Heaney having a 2-3 record and a 4.71 era.

The game got off to a rough start for Sears as Robbie Grossman got the Rangers on the board in the first inning with a two run homer on a fly ball to left field.

Oakland did find a response in the bottom of the second inning as Shea Langeliers singled on a ground ball that brought home Ramon Laureano.

In the third inning Adolis Garcia singled on a line drive to left field bringing home Marcus Semien bringing there lead back to two runs at 3-1.

Sears lasted until the sixth inning where he was replaced by Garret Acton who was making his major league debut. Sears finished the game with a stat line of 5.1IP, five hits allowed, two earned runs and six K’s.

Heaney was relieved after the sixth inning as Jonathan Hernández came in to replace him. Heaney finished with a stat line of six innings pitched, four hits allowed, one earned run, and nine K’s.

Hernández’s did not pitch great in the seventh inning as Langeliers homered on a fly ball to left center field tying the game at three.

Things were looking up for the A’s after tying the game up but the eight inning did not go well for the green and white.

It started with Jonah Heim singling on a live drive to center field bringing home Adolis Garcia. Then Leody Taveras grounded into a forceout that also sent Heim home as well.

With two outs already though it looked like the A’s could escape with only minimal damage with the score being 5-3. Sam Moll struggled to get that final out and cost the A’s another two runs bringing on Zach Neal to the mound.

Neal did not fair much better as Adolis Garcia hit a grand slam to left center field bringing the total runs in one inning to eight. That ended up being the rest of the damage but at that point the score was 11-3.

That scored ended up being the final as Hernández took home the win and Austin Pruitt took the loss.

The A’s next game will be tomorrow against the Diamondbacks at home and will start at 6:40 p.m.

Giants drop third straight game to Diamondbacks 2-1

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San Francisco Giants second baseman Thairo Estrada, left, turns a double play while avoiding Arizona Diamondbacks’ Christian Walker, right, on a ball hit by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the first inning  at Chase Field in Phoenix on Sun May 14, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sunday, May 14, 2023

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Mother’s Day crowd at Chase Field was treated to a new age pitching duel that involved a combined total of seven hits surrendered by six pitchers. In the end, it was Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s run-scoring double in the bottom of the ninth that gave Arizona its third win in a row over the San Francisco Giants Sunday.

The win pulled the Diamondbacks (24-18) to within 2 ½ games of the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, while fourth-place San Francisco (17-23) is 8 ½ games off the pace.

In the Diamondbacks ninth, Christian Walker drew a walk from Giants reliever Tyler Walker (0-3) to lead off the inning, then Gurriel doubled down the left-field line, and, as the ball rattled around by the bullpen, a hustling Walker scored the game-winning run from first base.

“We generally play our defenders to the most likely spot the ball is going to be hit, based on spray charts,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “Sabol did everything he could to hit the cutoff man and have a play at the plate, but we weren’t able to convert.”

Gurriel’s 21st run batted in of the season made Miguel Castro (2-1) the winning pitcher. Castro, the fourth Diamondbacks hurler, retired the Giants in order in the top of the ninth, striking out Blake Sabol and Casey Schmitt in the process.

Diamondbacks starter Brandon Pfaadt struck out the side in the first inning and retired 11 of the first 12 hitters he faced until surrendering a solo home run to Michael Conforto in the fourth inning. It was Conforto’s seventh home run of the season.

Pfaadt, a fifth-round pick from Bellarmine University in 2020, struck out five, walked three and gave up only one hit – the home run by Conforto – in his five innings. Jose Ruiz worked the next two innings, striking out four without a walk, and Scott McGough threw a scoreless eighth.

“I just wanted to go out there and trust myself,” Pfaadt said. “That’s what we did today. Hopefully, we can get rolling after this.”

Arizona tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out RBI double down the right field line by Josh Rojas. Geraldo Perdomo, who reached on a fielder’s choice, scored from first.

Logan Webb gave the Giants a quality start, giving uo one earned run on three hits and three walks with three strikeouts in seven innings, while throwing 98 pitches. Tyler Rogers retired Arizona in order in the eighth before facing Walker and Gurriel in the ninth.

Webb worked out of an early jam in the first inning. After Ketel Marte was hit by a pitch with one out, walks to Corbin Carroll and Christian Walker loaded the bases. But Gurriel hit into an inning-ending double play.

The Giants return home Monday to start a three-game series with Philadelphia. Alex Wood (0-0, 2.45) will start Monday’s game for the Giants and Alex Cobb (3-1, 1.70) starts on Tuesday. No probable starter has been announced for the Wednesday contest.

GIANTS JOTTINGS: INF Brandon Crawford was activated from the 10-day injured list following Saturday’s game; INF David Villar was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento and RHP Luke Jackson was placed on a rehab assignment with Single-A San Jose. … Beofre going 0-for-4 on Sunday, INF Casey Schmitt hit safely in his first five games in MLB, batting .550 (two home runs, five runs batted in, 1.550 OPS). Schmitt’s 11 hits in his first five games is second-best in Giants history (since 1901), trailing only Jim Davenport with 12 in 1958, the Giants’ first season in San Francisco. … The Giants can become the first MLB franchise to reach 11,500 wins (including playoffs) with their next win. .,. San Francisco has hit 61 home runs through its first 38 games, third-best in MLB behind Tampa Bay (80) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (67). … The roof was closed on Sunday at Chase Field. Game time temperature was 97 degrees outside, 74 degrees inside. … The announced attendance was 26,267; time of game was 2 hours and 24 minutes.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Countdown to $395 M less than 30 days for A’s new Vegas ballpark

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The front of the Tropicana Casino and Hotel entrance in Las Vegas site of the proposed 9 acre new ballpark location of the A’s set to open in 2027 (photo from WJAR 10 Providence)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Oakland A’s proposed new ballpark site in Las Vegas at the Tropicana site is facing opposition by casino owners and slowing traffic on the strip.

#2 Amaury, wanted to get your thoughts on the long shot possibility of A’s owner John Fisher selling the team to Bally’s who owns the Tropicana property and Bally’s would run the team from that point.

#3 If the tax credit fails or time runs out for the $396 million that the A’s are seeking for the Tropicana project and it’s not likely that Bally’s would put in their own money for the project unless they have ownership of the team.

#4 State of Nevada residents have sounded off that they don’t want to spend anymore public money on state funded arenas or stadiums. The Tropicana site is a nine acre site that has a reduced price tag from the Wild Wild West location that was $500 million to $395 million but that’s still not sitting well with the local tax payers.

#5 It’s been said with the expiration of last Friday’s deadline to extend the Howard Terminal plan that ship sailed and if the $395 million in tax credits fails if MLB or someone comes up with the $395 million the A’s may not have end up in a homeless situation.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for all the play by play of Oakland A’s baseball on the A’s Spanish radio network at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB podcast with Charlie O: Rookie one of the few bright spots for A’s; Twins Kepler out with hamstring; plus more

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Oakland Athletics’ Brent Rooker celebrates after hitting the game-winning, three-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the 10th inning at Oakland Coliseum on Fri May 11, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the MLB podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The Oakland A’s Brent Rooker hitting .319, 19 runs, 36 hits, and 11 home runs and won the AL Player of the Week a couple weeks back and is one of the very few bright spots for the 2023 A’s who are on a pace to possibly catch the 1962 New York Mets in terms of wins and loses.

#2 The Port of Oakland announced that last Friday was the last day for the A’s to extend their attempt to make Howard Terminal a reality. There were members of the public speaking against the project and those for it but the odds are dimming for any chance that the A’s will stay in Oakland or would you say that ship sailed already.

#3 The Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler has entered the IL for the second time in 2023 this time with a left hamstring strain. Kepler 30, was running up the first base line when he pulled up on Thursday against the San Diego Padres.

#4 Charlie, this has not been the season for New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer who had earlier been suspended for ten days for using a sticky substance then suffering from neck spasms. Scherzer missed a turn because of the spasms Tuesday against Cincinnati.

#5 The Tampa Bay Rays Drew Rasmussen is yet one in several Ray players who have gone on the IL. Rasmussen is one of the most recent for a flexor strain the injury will put Rasmussen on he IL for two months. Rasmussen is hoping to avoid Tommy John surgery.

Join Charlie O for the MLB podcast Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A Dominant 3-0 Win For Oakland Against Orange Cassidy

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Bryan Tamacas waving to the fans as the game starts Photo From Oakland Roots Instagram

By Troy Ewers

HAYWARD–It was a big day for Oakland soccer fans as they got to see the home debut of the Oakland Soul, which are the new USWL team in Oakland on the same day Oakland had a big game against Orange County SC. The Roots needed a win to get a confidence boost and jolt their season and they did exactly that and they did it convincingly.

This game started off with Oakland having a clear advantage on the offensive side of the ball. The Roots had the ball majority of the game and this resulted in a big 1st half, where Oakland would score twice. The first goal coming from Formella who has been one of the main scorers for Oakland and he scored this goal after a Roots push into the box and shoots past the back line and the goalkeeper.

1-0 Oakland. The second goal comes after a beautiful cross by Mfeka, Morad hits a brilliant header that sees the back of the net. 2-0 Oakland. The first half went by very quickly as there weren’t any fouls in the first half from either team. The second half was more focused on defense, where Orange County had more of an effort pushing the ball.

The OC’s best scoring chances came from this half and by the end of the game both teams had 9 shots each and were almost even on possession time. Oakland would score one more goal going into the final whistle, but it was clear that this game was all Oakland Roots.

The Roots found gaps in the OC defense and created space on offense, Oakland’s defense showed huge growth from past games, especially on the back line and this all was the catalyst for them to flourish this game.

The next game for the Roots will be in Sacramento against Sacramento Republic FC, who are the leaders of the Western conference in the USL Championship.

Fletcher continues to swing sizzling bat as Snakes down Giants 7-2

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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Dominic Fletcher watches his three-run triple against the San Francisco Giants in the sixth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Sat May 13, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Saturday, May 13, 2023

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The hits just keep on coming for Arizona rookie Dominic Fletcher. Literally.

The 25-year-old rightfielder continued the torrid pace he’s set since he was called up from Triple-A Reno on April 30. Fletcher drove in five of Arizona’s seven runs Saturday with a triple and a home run in the Diamondbacks’ 7-2 win over the San Francisco Giants.

Fletcher is hitting .486 in his first 12 major league games. He was 2-for-4 on Saturday.

“I’m going to be aggressive on pitches in the zone and try to do damage,” Fletcher said. “If there’s a pitch through the zone that I can drive, I’m going to swing.

“There’s a comfort level here with my teammates and the coaching staff, and everyone here has done a great job of welcoming me. I just go out there, play hard and play to win.”

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said, “And, don’t forget that defensive play he made in the first inning to keep (the Giants) to just one run, At the plate, he’s making the most of this opportunity with every at-bat. That’s what we love about him.

“He’s an engaged player, and does it on both sides of the ball.”

Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen (6-1) worked 7 2/3 innings – his longest start of the season – logging six strikeouts while giving up two earned runs on five hits and two walks. Andrew Chafin retired one batter to snuff out a potential rally in the eighth, Anthony Misiewicz gave up a two-out double to Michael Conforto and a single to Casey Schmitt in the ninth before Kyle Nelson struck out Blake Sabol to end the game.

“It was a grind,’ Gallen said of his performance. “I didn’t have the greatest feel for my curveball. I was just trying to make pitches and keep us in the game. Our defense made a lot of great plays that kept it close and bailed me out of some spots.”

Anthony DeSclafani (3-3) was cruising along until he ran into trouble in the sixth, when he was pulled after Arizona loaded the bases with nobody out. The D-Backs’ three go-ahead runs were charged to DeSclafani, who struck out two, walked one and gave up five hits.

“Several weeks ago, he dropped a piano bench on his toe, his toenail took the brunt of it,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “He felt good enough to keep going, but he’s been in quite a bit of pain. So we’ve monitored it and decided it was good enough to play.

“Tony’s pretty tough. He battled pretty hard out there tonight and I know he’s battling though some pain. He was cruising for a couple of innings, but when he covered first base, and you could see how he came off the mound, that was enough.”

Kapler commended DeSclafini’s fastball and slider, saying, “He was able to get some weak swings. I thought he performed well.”

The Diamondbacks broke up DeSclafani’s bid for a shutout and took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jose Herrera started the rally with a single and moved to second on a single by Josh Rojas. After Ketel Marte reached on an infield single to load the bases, Scott Alexander replaced DeSclafani.

During Corbin Carroll’s at-bat, Alexander threw a wild pitch that allowed Herrera to score the tying run. After Christian Walker was intentionally walked, Alexander struck out pinch-hitter Evan Longoria before Fletcher drilled a three-RBI triple to the right-center field gap.

“Their whole lineup is pretty dangerous from top to bottom,” Kapler said of the Diamondbacks. “You have one batter swinging the bat really well (Fletcher) and another one right behind him. It’s a challenge to get through their lineup right now.”

San Francisco got a run back in the top of the eighth when Wilmer Flores doubled with two out, driving in Brett Wisely, who reached on a fielder’s choice.

The Diamondbacks added three runs in the bottom of the eighth off San Francisco reliever Tristan Beck, two of them on Fletcher’s second home run of the year. Fletcher’s drive to right was originally ruled a triple, but was changed to a home run following a video review.

“Initially, I thought (centerfielder Wisely) dropped it or it popped out of his glove,’ Fletcher said. “Then, I did all that hard work and I could have been jogging the whole time!”

San Francisco took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Thairo Estrada struck out and reached on a wild pitch, then scored on a J.D. Davis sacrifice fly that started a double play (retiring baserunner LaMonte Wade Jr.) to end the inning.

Schmitt and Conforto each went 2-for-4 for the Giants. Schmitt has a .550 average (11-for-20) in his first four major league games.

The series wraps up on Sunday, with a matchup of righthanders – Logan Webb (3-5, 3.46) for San Francisco against the Diamondbacks’ Brandon Pfaadt (0-1, 12.10). First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m.

GIANTS JOTTINGS: The largest crowd of the weekend series at Chase Field was an announced attendance of 25,147. … The roof was closed after being open on Thursday and Friday.

Defending Champion Aces Top Liberty 84-77 in Preseason Matchup

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@LVAces photo

Defending Champion Aces Top Liberty 84-77 in Preseason Matchup

By Barbara Mason

Just as the NBA enters the 2022-23 finals, the WNBA is just getting underway with their preseason. Saturday afternoon the Las Vegas Aces (1-0) welcomed the New York Liberty (0-2) to Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas their first match-up of this pre-season.

The Aces as defending WNBA champions will be looking for a back-to-back title. This was their first title and they are looking for a repeat. They will be led by MVP Chelsea Gray, A’Ja Wilson, Candace Parker, Jackie Young, and Kelsey Plum; a lethal starting lineup.

The Aces won the first quarter leading 22-15. In the second quarter Las Vegas turned that seven point lead into a 20 point lead 50-30 at the half. Three of the Aces starters already had double digits. Kelsey Plum had the high score in the first half with 17 points. Gray and Wilson both had 13 points as well as each of them with six rebounds apiece.

After the nice lead that the Aces held over the Liberty at the half, New York challenged Las Vegas in the third quarter. The Aces edged the Liberty in the quarter 23-22 still leading 73-52.

The Liberty ramped it up in the fourth quarter cutting the Las Vegas lead in half with 5:21 left in the game. The Aces were holding onto a 76-66 lead. The Liberty got as close as eight points but the Aces extended their lead in the final three minutes of the game. The Liberty made a move in the final minute of play trailing 75-81 but just ran out of clock. The Aces made a final run winning the game 84-77.

Kelsey Plum had a terrific game finishing with 22 points, the team high. A’Ja Wilson had 17 points and seven rebounds. Kierstan Bell also had double digits off the bench with ten points. The Aces were ten of 25 from downtown.

Next up for the Aces will be on Saturday May 20th in a matchup with the Seattle Storm. That weekend will kick off the regular season. This will be a road game for the Aces with tipoff scheduled for 12:00 PM.

Rangers Gray tosses 5-0 five hit shutout against A’s

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Texas Rangers pitcher Jon Gray works against the Oakland Athletics during the fifth inning  at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat May 13, 2023 (AP News photo)

Texas (24-15). 101 100 002. 5. 9. 1

Oakland (9-32) 000 000 000. 0. 5. 0

Time: 2:18

Attendance: 8,230

Saturday, May 13, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–On this date in 1899, the Cleveland Spiders lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-0, in front of a gathering of 1,800 spectators in Pittsburgh. It was the Spiders’ 10th consecutive loss and left them at 3-19 for the season.

On this date in 1962, lost to the MIlwaukee Braves, 3-2, and fell to 7-17. The paid attendance in Milwaukee was 13,447.

On this date in 2023. the Oakland Athletics were shut out 5-0 by the Texas Rangers. The Coliseum accommodated 8,230 attendees.

It was home run weather, 74º to be exact, at the Coliseum when James Kaprielian (0-2,12.94) threw his first pitch, at 1:09 on a sunny afternoon, to Marcus Semien, who quickly supplied the visiting Rangers with a Rickey Run. Not a lead off home run, but the other type.

He singled and then stole second and third, scoring on another single, this one by Nathaniel Lowe. Karprielian then induced an around the horn double play from Adolis García, but the A’s were behind, 1-0, before they took their first at bat. Small ball added another tally to the Texas total. There was no curse attached to Josh Smith’s lead off double. Number nine hitter Sandy León bunted him over to third, and he scored on Semien’s sac fly to center. 2-0, Texas.

But the home runs presaged by the weather did come. Nathaniel Lowe parked a 90.8 mph Kaprielien four seamer 380 feet from the plate to lead off the fourth, the Rangers’ first baseman’s fifth homer of the year, to add to Texas’s two run lead.

It’s not saying much to call this afternoon’s performance Kaprielian’s best of the season, but he did do a credible job on the mound today. He lasted seven frames, the most he has gone all year, and gave up three runs, all earned, on six hits (one out of the park), a walk, and a hit batter. He threw 104 pitches, 69 of which qualified as strikes. Zach Neal relieved him to pitch a perfect eighth. His ninth wasn’t so perfect.

With one down, he surrendered a single to Jung and then paid the price of a warm day in the Coliseum: a two run hoer to left by Durán. It’s surprising that that was only the game’s second round tripper. It was Durán’s fifth of the year, and it put Texas ahead, 5-0.

Jon Gray, the 31 year old right hander who started for the Rangers is a veteran who entered the day with a career record of 62-57, 4.48 (2-1, 3.82 for ’23). His lifetime ERA probably was inflated considerably by his stint in Colorado, where he pitched long enough to log 849 strike outs.

His numbers were helped a bit by his previ0us start, his best of the year, when he held the Mariners to a single run, earned, over seven innings in Seattle last Monday. He dominated the Athletics today. For 6-2/3 innings the Oakland offense consisted of a walk to Esteury Ruíz.

Then Peterson broke up the no hitter with a single to right. Laureano followed with a double to the same field, but Peterson was thrown out at home, 9–4-2, on a play whose call was disputed by Oakland but confirmed by New York.

Before leaving the game in favor of John King, who pitched the bottom of the ninth, Gray went eight full innings and gave up three hits and two walks. He threw 95 pitches, 66 for strikes in blanking the A’s, earning the win and improving his record to 3-1, 3.15.

The top of the second was a beautiful inning for A’s fans to watch. Josh Jung, who had led off with a single was erased by a strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out double play, and Jace Peterson did a perfect imitation of Josh Donaldson’s ironic over the rail catch of a foul fly to third

The A’s made a last minute attempt to come back, but last night’s hero, Brent Rooker, called in as a pinch hitter with two on and one down in the bottom of the ninth, hit into an around the horn twin killing.

The fourth and final game of this series will be played tomorrow, Sunday – Mothers’ Day for all you. fans of Dallas Braden – at 1:07. Oakland’s JP Sears (0-3, 5.54) will face fellow southpaw Andrew Heany (2-3, 5.25)

NHL Stanley Cup podcast with Matt Harrington: Oilers on brink of elimination; Panthers do it against all odds; plus more

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Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) celebrates after scoring against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) during the first period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series Friday, May 12, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup playoff podcast with Matt:

#1 The Vegas Golden Knights (3-2) have now moved ahead of the Edmonton Oilers (2-3) in the Stanley Cup Western Conference second round. Jack Eichel had a goal and two assists for the Knights defeating the Oilers on Friday night 4-3 in game 5.

#2 The Florida Panthers Nick Cousins picked up an overtime goal at 15:32 as the Panthers now advance to the third round of the Stanley Cup taking out the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2. This is the first time that the Panthers had advanced to the third round since 1996.

#3 The Carolina Hurricanes will face off to the Panthers. The Panthers are coming off wins against the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs and the Hurricanes taking out the New Jersey Devils to advance to the third round. The Canes and Panthers are two rough and tumble teams how do you see this match up.

#4 The Oilers seem to have trouble generating offense against the Knights which was one of the reasons why they couldn’t get past the Knights. Despite being so talent rich the Oilers are facing one of the best defenses in the NHL.

#5 The Hurricanes can be a huge factor going into what could be one of the best conference finals in recent memory. The Canes are loaded going into their match up against the Panthers with Sebastian Aho who leads with ten points and five goals, and Jordan Martinook with seven assists.

Join Matt Harrington for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcasts Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com