Tag: Sports Radio Service

Giants taste bitter beer as Brewers avoid sweep 7-3, on a somber day that SF legendary pitcher Vida Blue passes away

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr (31) stands on the foul line paying his respects to former Giants pitcher Vida Blue who passed away at the age of 72 on Sun May 7, 2023 as the Giants prepared to face the visiting Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park in San Francisco (@SFGiants photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The San Francisco Giants took the field with heavy hearts, as they lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 7-3 trying to honor the Late Vida Blue.

The announcement of Blue’s death was released approximately 9am PST, with a 1:05pm game start time.

The visiting Brew Crew got the scoring started in the top of the second inning, when catcher William Contreas hit a two run homer, scoring himself and first baseman Rowdy Tellez. 2-0 Brewers in the middle of the second.

The Giants equaled the Brewers tally in the bottom of the frame on a single by second baseman Brett Wisely, scoring catcher Blake Sabol. First baseman LaMonte Wade Jr.knocked in center fielder Austin Slate on a single to left field. 2-2 after two.

Milwaukee was not content with the tie and got back on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning, when shortstop Willy Adames hit a sacrifice fly to left field, sending left fielder Christian Yelich home from third base. 3-2 Milwaukee midway through the third.

The Brewers were at it again during their half of the fifth inning, when Adames knocked out a two run homer, also scoring DH Jesse Winker. 5-2 Brew Crew, midway through five.

Milwaukee added two more runs in the top of the ninth, Yelich single to left field brought in center fielder Joey Wiemer, Adames knocked in Yelich with a single between the third baseman and shortstop. The Brewers were up five runs, 7-2 in the middle of the ninth.

San Francisco showed some pride in their home half of the last inning, with a solo homer to left by shortstop Thairo Estrada, bringing the score to 7-3, which was the final run count.

The Giants are next in action Monday Night, May 8 (6:45 pm) hosting the Washington Nationals. Starting pitchers are righty Jake Irvin (0-0, 2.08) for the Giants and also right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (3-1, 2.13) for the Nationals.

The Brewers fly back home to Milwaukee to host the Los Angeles Dodgers, also May 8.

REST IN PEACE to Vida Blue, Giants, Athletics and Royals Hall of Fame pitcher and all around good guy.

Oakland’s Relief Pitching Struggles in Loss to Kansas City 5-1

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s Brent Rooker (25) turns third base to score the A’s only run of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City on Sun May 7, 2023 (@Athletics photo)

Oakland’s Relief Pitching Struggles in Loss to Kansas City 5-1

By Barbara Mason

The Kansas City Royals (9-26) hosted the Oakland Athletics (8-27) in game three of their three game series Sunday afternoon at Kaufman Stadium in Kanas City.

The A’s took the first two games in this series and were lookin for that sweep but they just couldn’t seal the deal losing to the Royals 5-1. Mason Miller who started for the A’s finished with six innings pitched giving up five hits and two earned runs and striking out five hitters.

The Royals took a 1-0 lead into the fourth inning where the A’s tied up the game 1-1. Salvador Perez got the Royals up on the board in the first inning with a solo home run.

Ramon Laureano hit an infield single in the fourth inning that drove Brent Rooker home for the tie. Kansas city answered in the same inning when Maikel Garcia singled Salvador Perez home to take back the lead 2-1.

The 2-1 Royals lead persisted into the eighth inning where Kansas City broke this game wide open leading 5-1. Nick Pratto doubled driving MJ Melendez and Salvador Perez home. Michael Massey sacrificed sending Pratto home for the 5-1 score which was the final and Kansas City had avoided the sweep.

The Royals had outhit the A’s in this game 9-4. Oakland’s relief pitching was the culprit in this one. Again Shintaro Fujinami had a tough game going 1.1 innings and allowing four hits and three runs. He had a rough game one going 0.1 innings with three earned runs.

The A’s will now travel to New York for the ultimate showdown, a series with the Yankees. This will be a tough series for the green and gold. It will certainly test their limits. JP Sears (0-2 ERA 5.06) will take the mound for Oakland and Nestor Cortes (3-2 ERA 4.91) will start for New York. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 PM.

MLB podcast with Charlie O: Was A’s announcer’s slur slip of tongue or deliberate?; A’s-Giants great Vida Blue passes at 73; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former Oakland A’s pitcher and NBC Bay Area Sports baseball analyst Vida Blue is seen in this 1971 photo on the second deck of the Oakland Coliseum passed away at 73 on Sun May 7, 2023 (photo from Joe Salvatore facebook page)

On the MLB podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie got to ask you on question number one did Oakland A’s broadcaster Glen Kuiper have a slip of the tongue or he knew what he was doing as some on social media have asserted.

#2 A fan fell into the Boston Red Sox bullpen in right field falling over the protective railing during the first inning at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia. The fan was attended to by medical personnel and assisted to Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia. Phillies pitcher Jose Alvarado immediately ran onto the outfield and was calling for help. Some of the players in the Red Sox bullpen thought that the fan had died they later learned that he was alive and breathing to the players relief.

#3 Former San Francisco Giant and current New York Yankee pitcher Carlos Rodon will need more time off as his back issues continue as Rondon has not pitched in one regular season game. Rondon had a great year in San Francisco last season going 14-8 ERA 2.88. Rondon signed with the Yankees in the off season for $168 million for six years.

#4 San Francisco pitcher Alex Wood is coming around and hopes to come off that left hamstring injury. Giants manager Gabe Kapler said that he feeling batter and threw a bullpen session on Saturday. Wood last pitched on Apr 18th and left in the third inning in Miami. Wood is one of the crucial pitchers in the rotation.

#5 New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is expected back in the line up against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday coming back from a hip strain. Judge has been out since Apr 27 and missed his eight games on Saturday. He worked out with minor league Tampa Bay team. The Yankees are last with ten games back of first place Tampa Bay Rays.

#6 Former Oakland A’s pitcher and San Francisco Giant NBC Sports Bay Area analyst Vida Blue passed away at age 73 on Sun May 7, 2023.

Warriors Get Blown Out in Game Three 127-97; Lakers take series lead 2-1

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James wasn’t blowing smoke scoring 21 points as the Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors in game 3 of the NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sat May 6, 2023 (AP News photo)

Warriors Get Blown Out in Game Three 127-97

By Barbara Mason

The Golden State Warriors (44-39) traveled down to Crypto .com Arena to take on the Los Angeles Lakers (44-39) in game three of the Western semifinals. The Warriors sent a message loud and clear in game two in a real beat down winning that game 127-100.

Golden State couldn’t deal with what was waiting for them in game 3 in the Southland. After struggling during the season on the road, the Warriors have turned it all around when it has really counted in game 2. They just weren’t able to do that turnaround on Saturday night getting blown out by the Lakers 127-97 as the Lakers take a 2-1 lead in the series.

The first five minutes of the first quarter turned out to be the D’Angelo Russell show scoring all 11 of the Lakers opening points. At 7:49, the Lakers had taken a seven point lead 11-6 but the Warriors pulled to within three points with four minutes left in the first 12 minutes.

A bit of a slow start for Klay Thompson heated up in a hurry finishing with 11 points. Golden State had turned this game around now leading going into the second quarter 30-23.

The Lakers went on a monster run in the second quarter going from being down 11 points to being up nine and leading 51-42 with 2:23 left in the half. At the half it was Los Angeles leading 59-48. The Lakers had finished a 30-8 run with some amazing defense as well as offense.

The Lakers put a beat down on the Warriors in the third quarter taking a 86-68 lead. Los Angeles had put a strangle hold on the Warriors bench and were keeping Stephen Curry and Thompson under wraps. Anthony Davis was having a great game with 25 points and both LeBron James and Russell had 21 points. It was all Lakers in the third quarter.

The second half belonged to Los Angeles. They were in control leading by as much as 34 points. James, DeAngelo Russell and Davis sat out the fourth quarter. The Lakers had a 2-1 lead in the series. The Lakers remain perfect at home with a 4-0 record.

It was a dismal display for Golden State. The energy that was lacking really hurt the team. The defensive effort was not great and along came those turnovers with 19. The Warriors are once again in desperation mode going into game four.

Curry finished with 23 points but it was “good night” for the Golden State Warriors in this one.

Game four will be played Monday night with tipoff scheduled for 7:00 PM. This will be a must win for the Warriors. They seem to thrive under intense pressure so the question remains can the Warriors tie up this series heading back to Chase for game five.

Earthquakes beat LAFC at Levi’s Stadium 2-1 in front of 45k+ fans

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo courtesy of San Jose Earthquakes Twitter. The Earthquakes celebrate their victory after their win over LAFC at Levi’s Stadium.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme) and Marko Ukalovic

SANTA CLARA- The battle for the bay between the Earthquakes and LAFC was an exciting one that went down to the wire with San Jose ending up on top 2-1.

San Jose went into this match with a 4-3-3 record while LAFC came in with a 5-0-3 record.

The attendance at Levi’s Stadium was a solid 45,112 while the weather was slightly overcast with no rain during the game.

Both teams started in a 4-3-3 formation as JT Marcinkowski faced off against John McCarthy in goal.

The match got off to a great start for San Jose as just eight minutes in Cristian Espinoza received a beautiful pass from Jamiro Monteiro which Espinoza struck from the centre of the box into the net. The goal sent all 45,000 plus fans into a frenzy with the goal being Espinoza’s eighth of the season.

The goal gave the Earthquakes a solid spark of momentum as right after Espinoza had an attempt on net and Paul Marie had an attempt go wide.

At the 29th minute mark of the match Mateusz Bogusz was given a yellow card on a bad foul. Despite the foul Bogusz put a shot on target that Marcinkowski saved however Dénis Bouanga picked up the rebound and scored tying the game at one.

The rest of the first half saw LAFC put the heat on the Earthquakes with Marcinkowski having to make two big saves one off of Bouanag and the other off of a strike from Denil Maldonado.

Despite the pressure San Jose held on to the tie at half 1-1. At the end of the first half the total shots favored LAFC 10-6 as well as possession at 57.7%-42.3%

The beginning of the second half saw LA continuing their pressure with a couple missed attempts.

At around the 76th minute mark as there was a delay in the match because of an injury to both Paul Marie and Aaron Long though thankfully both were able to continue to play.

Not long after the delay Jeremy Ebobisse drew a foul in the penalty area brining the fans at Levi’s Stadium to their feet. Taking the penalty of course was Espinoza who converted on the penalty hitting the bottom right of the net.

A little after the goal Maldonado was given a yellow card on a bad foul continuing their foul trouble.

For LA it was crunch time as they pushed hard for a goal throwing everything at San Jose. The most threatening moment being when Timothy Tillman missed a header over the net. San Jose was able to hold on and win the match over LA by a final of 2-1 at Levi’s Stadium.

“I think we can always be dangerous at any point it’s almost a little unpredictable and I love that because I think it’s one of our strengths,” head coach Luchi Gonzalez said after the match.

San Jose plays LA Galaxy next this time on the road on 5/14 at 6:30 p.m.

Oakland Wins Second Straight Game Against Royals 5-4

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Oakland A’s held off the Kansas City Royals for the second straight game at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City on Sat May 6, 2023 (@Athletics photo)

Oakland Wins Second Straight Game Against Royals 5-4

By Barbara Mason

After winning game one Friday night, 12-8, the Oakland A’s (8-26) took on the Kansas City Royals (8-26), the A’s came away with 17 hits in game one and were looking to continue more great offensive play. Ken Waldichuk took the mound for Oakland on Saturday night at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City in a 5-4 win. That’s two straight wins for the A’s.

Saturday game wrap up: Kansas City flipped the script and was first up on the scoreboard in the opening inning leading 1-0. Maikel Garcia doubled Vinnie Pasquantino home.

The A’s went on a three inning run scoring in the second, third and fourth innings and leading 5-1. Esteury Ruiz singled to right driving in two runs in the second inning. In the third inning J J Bleday hit a solo home run giving Oakland a 3-1 lead. The A’s were not done.

In the fourth inning they would add to their lead when Ryan Noda tripled Kevin Smith home. Noda would score when Brent Rooker doubled and Oakland had a 5-1 lead.

The Royals would add some real drama in the bottom of the fourth starting with a solo home run from Freddy Fermin. Kansas City would follow that long ball with a Bobby Witt Jr. two- run home run. The Royals had cut the A’s lead to 5-4.

This game would be a one run affair going into the bottom of the ninth. It was all on the line for Oakland with two on base and two outs. It would be pitcher Zach Jackson against Bobby Witt Jr. who had already hit a home run in this game. Jackson won the battle and the A’s had clenched the series and will be going for the sweep Sunday.

This was a great defensive effort for the A’s. They were able to hold onto a one run game for the win.

Mason Miller (0-1 ERA 3.52) will take the mound Sunday for the A’s and Ryan Yarbrough (0-4 ERA 7.40) will go for the Royals. First pitch is scheduled for 11:10 AM at Kaufman.

A Red Card For Birmingham Legion Gives Oakland Roots A 4-1 Victory

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Bryan Tamacas clearing the ball out (Photo from Oakland Roots Instagram)

By Troy Ewers

For the Oakland Roots, the problem the last few games was finishing their chances. Not getting an open play goal in the last 4 games, but that changed today in Birmingham, Alabama. The first half possession wise started out in Birmingham’s favor and it looked like this game was going to be one sided, but one red card changed it all.

Birmingham’s Kavita got his first yellow card in the 35th minute and that would give Oakland a window of opportunity and they went through that window and blew up the house from there. Two scoring opportunities were blocked by Birmingham’s goalkeeper Vanoeke, but when Kavita would get his second yellow card, resulting in a red card and a penalty shot for Oakland, the momentum that was seemingly in Birmingham’s favor was gone.

Formella would capitalize on the penalty shot making it 1-0 and that was it for the first half, so Birmingham headed into the dressing room with this penalty goal on their mind. Coming back from halftime, Birmingham would get a quick goal to change the energy, but another yellow card for Birmingham would dig them a hole they couldn’t get out of.

Formella would shoot his second penalty shot, but after a block, Mfeka would clean it up and score off a rebound shot making it 2-1 and the avalanche for Birmingham would continue from there. Reid would get his first goal of the season off a rebound shot which would put Oakland up 3-1.

The final goal was scored by Johnny Rodriguez, who funny enough subbed in for Formella and four minutes later we’d get the final whistle, 4-1 Oakland. This game was a spotlight for the offense of Oakland, but it was the first game for Oakland where the defensive backline outplayed their opponent and didn’t just rely on goalie Paul Blanchette.

A game like this is important, because so far this season the Roots didn’t concede a lot of goals, but that’s because Blanchette had to put in a lot of work to make up for the backline’s mistakes. Not today. The backline was ready for whatever Birmingham brought to the table and the moment they were able to clear that ball out they did.

Next game for Oakland is at the place they will call home for the rest of the season, CSU East Bay in Hayward and it will be against Orange County and there are a lot of takeaways from this match that will help them in next week’s contest.

Giants Cobb pitches over 7 innings giving up five hits in 4-1 win over Brewers

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants second baseman Brett Wisley (70) turns on a Milwaukee Brewers pitch for a home run at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat May 5, 2023 (@SFGiants photo)

Milwaukee (18-15). 000 000 001. – 1. 6. 0

San Francisco (15-17). 012 000 10x. – 4. 6. 0

Time: 2:30

Attendance: 26,387

Saturday, May 6, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants tried to make it four in a row and nine out of the last 13 in this afternoon’s encounter with the slumping Milwaukee Brewers, who were trying to end their five game losing streak that on April 30th. A Giant win would be a fitting birthday present to the 92 year old Willie Mays, who broke in to what was then considered major league baseball in 1951.

The New York Giants of that year began as a horror show, with Mays playing for the Minneapolis Millers. Recommended to Leo Durocher by Artie Wilson, he went 0 f0r 12 after his May 25 call up until he got his first hit, a home run off Hall of Famer Warren Spahn. Still, the Giants were 13-1/2 games out of first in mid August, when they caught fire and finally won the pennant with two out in the bottom of the ninth of the last of a three game playoff series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Today, behind the solid pitching of Alex Cobb, the current ace of the Giants rotation, San Francisco the Brewers, 4-1. Milwaukee sent Colin Rea, a well travelled but not particularly distinguished veteran to the mound at Oracle Park.

San Francisco took an early lead. Both pitchers retired the first five batters they faced and then walked the sixth. Cobb retired the seventh. Rea didn’t. Joey Bart sent a line drive down the left field foul line that evaded the glove of third baseman Owen Miller to become an RBI double that drove in Michael Conforto.

Thairo Estrada added two more runs to the Giants’ lead, sending an 82.8 mph sweeper into the left field bleachers, 376 feet from home plate, from where it departed at 97.6 mph. It was Estrada’s fifth homer of the season, and drove in LaMonte Wade, Jr., who had singled, giving the Giants’ shortstop his 12th and 13th RBI and his team a 3-1 advantage.

That caused some excitement but not as much as the brouhaha that erupted when Milwaukee came t0 bat in the f0urth. Willy Adames singled to left. Cobb attempted to pick him off. He was called safe. Then first base umpire Jimmy Riggs awarded Adames second base, believing that the throw had been Cobb’s third disengagement of the at bat.

Third base ump and crew chief Chris Guccioni disabused the minor league substitute ump of that misconception, which infuriated Brewer skipper Craig Counsell enough to earn him an ejection from Gucccioni. It took a while for Cobb to recover his rhythm, which enabled the visitors to load the bases. But Cobb recovered and, helped by spiffy pick and throw by Davis at third, kept Milwaukee off the board.

Six innings were enough for Rea. He’d thrown 89 pitches; only 30 were balls. He allowed three runs, all earned, on four hits, one of which was a homer, and struck out four. Tyson Miller relieved him to pitch the home seventh and gave up a solo home run to Brett Wisely, his first. Miller stayed in the game to throw a scoreless bottom of the eighth.

107 pitches, his second highest total of the season, were enough for Cobb. He didn’t allow a run in his seven frames on the mound and permitted only five hits and two walks while striking out five. 39 of those 107 offerings were balls. Taylor Rogers, the southpaw brother of Tyler the Submariner, shut out the Brewers in the eighth.

John Brebbia had a four run lead to protect when he came on in the ninth. He walked the first two batters he faced and went two innings and on Bruce Turang before throwing him two strikes and then receiving a mound visit. After another ball, Turang took a called strike three. Owen Miller stroked a single to left, plating Tellez, the first walkee, and sending Brian Anderson to second. Exit Brebbia. Enter Camilo Duval. He got the job done with two flies to center, the last out coming at the warning track.

Cobb, now 2-1, 2.01, got the well earned win. Rea, nbow 0-3 got the loss. Doval earned his seventh save.

Ross Stripling (0-1 ERA 6.10) will try to make it a sweep when the Giants and Brewers meet at 1:05 tomorrow, Sunday, afternoon to wrap up this three game series. Milwaukee hasn’t yet announced who will pitch for them.

149th Kentucky Derby report: Comeback horse Mage wins first of three in the Triple Crown

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Mage, second from left, with Javier Castellano aboard, wins the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 6, 2023, in Louisville, Ky. (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

Mage came from behind to win the 149th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday evening and give Venezuelan trainer and owner Gustavo Delgado his first win in the first leg of the Triple Crown.

The Run for the Roses began with Verifying and Kingsbarns fighting for the lead. About halfway through, Mage broke off from the middle of the pack and passed both of them. Mage held off challenges from Angel of Empire and Two Phil’s. Two Phil’s finished second and the favorite, Angel of Empire, came in third.

Jockey Javier Castellano, who was winless in 15 past Kentucky Derby runs and finally claimed victory in his 16th, said he knew Mage had it in him.

“He’s a little horse with a big heart,” said Castellano. “It was the dream trip for any jockey.”

Castellano added about his journey: “I never gave up and tried hard. It took me a while to get there but I’m very blessed to be here,” he said.”

Mage had 15-1 odds and finished with an official time of 2:01.57 in his second career win in four starts. He was not a favorite to win, even after champion 2-year-old Forte dropped out.

Five horses were scratched from the race, bringing the field to 15, the smallest since the 2020 Derby that was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Delgado said he believed Mage could win as he advanced in the race.

“When he started moving, when started making his move, I felt very confident,” said Delgado. “He was right there, when Javiar started to ask him, I knew.”

Asked if Mage will race in the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore on May 20, Delgado said, “Give me a couple days at least!”

Mage has the opportunity to be the first horse to win at Pimlico Race Course after a Kentucky Derby, since 2018 when Justify achieved both victories.

Here is the official order of finish and their lengths behind the winner

1. Mage

2. Two Phil’s (1)

3. Angel of Empire (1 1/2)

4. Disarm (4 1/2)

5. Hit Show (6 1/4)

6. Derma Sotogake (8)

7. Tapit Trice (9 1/4)

8. Raise Cain (10)

9. Rocket Can (11)

10. Confident Game (14 1/2)

11. Sun Thunder (16 3/4)

12. Mandarin Hero (20 1/4)

13. Reincarnate (24 1/2)

14. Kingsbarns (25 1/4)

15. King Russell (25 1/2)

16. Verifying (54 3/4)

17. Jace’s Road (55 1/4)

18. Cyclone Mischief (55 1/2)

Oakland A’s podcast with Shooty Babbitt: Glen Kuiper indefinitely suspended by A’s for racial slur

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s NBC Sports Bay Area broadcasters Dallas Braden (left) and Glen Kuiper (right) in the pre game segment where Kuiper used the N word in reference to the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City where they had visited before the Oakland A’s at Kansas City Royals game on Fri May 5, 2023 (NBC Sports Bay Area screen grab)

On the A’s podcast with Shooty:

#1 Shooty you know and have worked with Glen Kuiper who did A’s TV on NBC Sports Bay Area since he arrived. He knows what the landscape of doing a live broadcast is all about and what kind of language to use. How surprising was it to learn he used the N word on live TV on Friday night.

#2 Kuiper said he was sorry and that was not the word he intended to use. Kuiper recorded the segment which included the word while talking about his visit to the Negro League Museum and used the wrong word.

#3 Shooty the A’s as an organization are in damage control over this. The A’s in a statement said that his is unacceptable. Did you expect to see Kuiper suspended or worse?

#4 How bad of a look is this for the A’s right now and many have said that Kuiper had a slip of the tongue and that was not what he intended to say on camera. Also Kuiper who used the word in the pre game show did not apologize on air until the sixth inning.

#5 Kuiper is the brother of San Francisco Giants NBC Sports Bay Area TV broadcaster Duane Kuiper who helped his younger brother in working at NBC will no doubt will be met with questions before Saturday’s game at Oracle Park where the Giants are hosting the Milwaukee Brewers. Will this put Duane in a compromising position to have to deal with such scrutiny from his co media memebers?

Shooty Babbitt was is a former Oakland A’s second baseman and is an analyst on Oakland A’s baseball for NBC Sports Bay Area at http://www.sportsradioservice.com