Tag: Sports Radio Service

Houston sweeps Oakland 6-3 at Minute Maid; A’s drop 8th consecutive game

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Oakland A’s hitter Tony Kemp takes a cut at Houston Astros pitching all for not as the Astros swept the A’s on Sun Aug 14, 2022 at Minute Maid Field in Houston (@Athletics photo)

Houston Sweeps Oakland 6-3

By Barbara Mason

Sunday afternoon the Oakland A’s (41-74) took on the Houston Astros (75-41) in game three of their series. Oakland made it competitive in the first game of the series losing 7-5. In Game Two the Astros took control of this series and it continued on into the third game.

The A’s lost Game Two 8-0 and it did not get much better in Game Three on Sunday with a 6-3 loss. Nick Allen hit a homer in the eighth inning to at least get on the scoreboard.

The first inning was a replay of yesterday’s first inning. Alex Bregman homered and with Yordan Alvarez on base the Astros took a quick 2-0 lead. Jose Altuve hit a double in the second inning that drove in Christian Vasquez and Chas McCormick and the hits kept on coming for Houston now leading 4-0.

The Astros would continue to hit and continue to score in the sixth and seventh innings. Vasquez singled driving in Kyle Tucker in the sixth, and Bregman doubled in the seventh driving in Jeremy Pena extending the Houston lead to 6-0.

Oakland finally got on the scoreboard in the eighth inning when Nick Allen hit his second home run of the season a solo shot.

The A’s made some noise in the ninth inning. Bride grounded out and Elvis Andrus scored from third. There were some good at bats for the A’s but it was too little too late. We have seen this far too often. If Oakland wants to give themselves a chance to win games, they cannot was until the ninth inning to start hitting.

Right now the Astros are a runaway train and the A’s couldn’t even slow them down let along stop them. The depth of the Houston roster is a large part of their success. Their pitching has been outstanding and they really do look like the best team in the American League.

Cole Irvin went 6 innings allowing eight hits and five runs with a single strikeout.

The A’s will remain in Texas to take on the Texas Rangers on Monday for a four game series. James Kaprielian will be on the mound for the A’s 3-6 with a 4.38 ERA. Glenn Otto will be throwing for the Rangers 4-8 with a 5.20 ERA. First pitch will be at 5:05 PM PT.

Aces Light It Up In the Fourth Quarter Beating the Storm 109-100

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The score says it all as the Las Vegas Aces advance to the first round of the playoffs on Wed Aug 17, 2022 (@LVAces photo)

Aces Light It Up In the Fourth Quarter Beating the Storm 109-100

By Barbara Mason

Two powerhouse teams met Sunday when the Las Vegas Aces (26-10) took on the Seattle Storm (22-14) at Michelob ULTRA Arena. The Aces are in first place in the Western Conference and are fighting for that first seed. The Storm are nipping at their heels in second place and this game will be another battle between the two teams.

The Arena in Las Vegas celebrated their highest attendance with 10,015 fans showing the leaps and bounds that women’ basketball has taken in recent years.

The first quarter was neck in neck with the Aces winning it by the slim margin of 29-26. At the half the Storm led by a single point 51-50 with a long way to go in this game.

The Aces took a two points lead at the end of the third quarter and this game would go down to the wire.

Chelsea Gray made all the difference in this game especially in the fourth quarter sinking critical free throws in the final minutes. The final was 109-100. Chelsea finished with 33 points followed by A’Ja Wilson with 25 points and ten rebounds. This was Gray’s career high. Kelsey Plum had 23 points.

The Storm had a great showing and gave the Aces all they could handle but just came up short. Jewell Loyd finished with 38 points.

All eyes will be on the Eastern Conference leader, the Chicago Sky who had the same record as the Aces going into their game against the Phoenix Mercury today. That game was just starting at the time of this post.

In this last game of the season for the WNBA the Aces now head into round one of the playoffs and await their opponent that is still to be determined.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s fire sale of players appearances

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Former Oakland A’s outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was one of the seven A’s All Stars that was dealt away from Oakland. Cespedes played in Oakland for two seasons 2012 and 2013 before leaving for the New York Mets (bleacherreport.com file photo)

A’s Fire Sale of Players and Playoff Appearances

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

No, it is not “Breaking News” that the Oakland A’s will not be in the postseason this year. After all, and with all the changes of players around Spring Training you not-needed-to-be Albert Einstein to realize they were not going to compete.

Now, the possibility of losing 100 games is very realistic with some 40-plus games left this season. Since they moved from Kansas City to Oakland in 1968 only in 1979 the A’s lost 100 or more games (54-108) Coming to the last part of the 2022 season the A’s have done what they have been doing for most of the 2000’s.

It has been the history of the A’s to get rid of star players with good salaries for younger players, mostly rookies that could become stars in the years to come. Unloading payroll while clinging to the narrative that they play in a small market.

A’s play in the Bay Area and this is not Kansas City or Milwaukee, this is not a small market. While it might not be Los Angeles, New York or Chicago the Oakland A’s play in the Bay Area, this is at least a “medium size” market, but not small by any means. The Bay Area had a record high 7.77 million people last year (US Census)

Remember 2014? I do, that is only eight years ago. These seven A’s players were All Stars: Yoenis Céspedes, Josh Donaldson, Jeff Samardzija, Scott Kazmir, Sean Doolittle, Derek Norris and Brandon Moss. Soon they left and the A’s brought another group of younger and role players.

This is nothing new. Although a World Series championship has not been produced with this system, the Oakland A’s is one of the top five (5) franchises in postseason appearances during the 2000s.

Below are the teams with the most playoff appearances in the 2000s Yankees (18) Cardinals (15) Braves (13) Dodgers (13) Athletics (11)

Note: The term Fire Sale originated in the late 19th century, around the time of the Great Chicago Fire. When goods were damaged by fire, merchants would quickly sell them off to raise capital. Although becoming famous for the “Fire Sale”, the A’s are not alone, there are other MLB teams that also dumps payroll by trading expensive players for marginal players and prospects.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s lead play by play announcer on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Bruce MacGowan: Wild card hopes for Giants lots of work in store; A’s get demolished in Houston and an NFL update

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The San Francisco Giants LeMonte Wade (right) Jr heads home from third base after being congratulated by third base coach Mark Hallberg (91) after hitting a home run in the bottom of the third inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Aug 13, 2022 (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports with Bruce MacGowan:

#1 Bruce, the San Francisco Giants got some daylight after getting swept by the Dodgers in four games, then dropping two out of three to the San Diego Padres, then came back to San Francisco and won two out of three to the Pirates what are their odds to get in the wild card?

#2 The Oakland A’s were swept in three games in Houston by the Astros and they have fallen more so since their ace Frankie Montas left for New York.

#3 Turning to the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance according to head coach Kyle Shanahan was impressive in his breif start Friday night against the Green Bay Packers. Shanahan says Lance has provided lots of hope and expectations for the future.

#4 If the Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShaun Watson who was suspended for six games might face more time off as the NFL is pushing to suspend Watson for the entire season or for what the NFL is calling a season ban on Watson.

#5 If Watson does get suspended for the rest of the season do you see a chance for 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo going to Cleveland at quarterback?

Bruce MacGowan contributes to the Headline Sports podcasts on http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: A’s just can’t hit or pitch suffering their seventh straight loss 8-0

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Oakland A’s second baseman Nick Allen turns a double play retiring the sliding Chas McCormick at second base in the bottom of the sixth inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Sat Aug 13, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie the A’s took their seventh straight loss Saturday night in Houston 8-0. The last time the A’s have won a game was back on Thu Aug 4 in Anaheim when they gave up seven home runs a record and still beat the Angels 8-7.

#2 A’s starter Zach Logue pitched 5.1 innings, eight hits and six runs it’s pretty tough on Louge as A’s manager Mark Kotsay said Louge missed some locations as the Astros were just tough outs all game long.

#3 The Astros spread their runs out in duces scoring twice in the first, fourth, sixth and seventh innings. The Astros Alex Bergman didn’t waste anytime hitting hit 15th home run of the season in the bottom of the first inning help the Astros grab a 2-0 lead.

#4 Charlie, how surprised were you after some 305 days without pitching the last time in game 4 of the ALDS against the Chicago White Sox last season, Astros starter Lance McCullers threw a gem against the Oakland A’s going six innings, two hits, four walks, and five strikeouts.

#5 Charlie, you mentioned the fanbase getting turned off and after Frankie Montas was shipped off to New York and the team has fallen off in the middle of a seven game losing streak and just got wiped out on Saturday night in Houston 8-0. The A’s when they return to Oakland next Friday could find them having attendance around 3,000 or less.

#5 A’s and Astros close out this three game set the A’s need to win today to avoid getting swept. The A’s will be starting Cole Irvin (6-9, 2.92) he’ll be opposed by the Astros Cristian Javier (6-8. 3.18) first pitch 11:10 AM PDT.

Join Charlie O for the Oakland A’s podcasts every other Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Hawkes: Shanahan satisfied with Lance’s handiwork; Interest for Garoppolo from Browns

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San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle takes in Fri Aug 12, 2022 pre season game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara (AP News photo)

On the 49ers podcast with J Hawkes:

#1 San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance in his first series drove the 49ers for 27 yards in nine plays resulting in a field goal by kicker Robbie Gould. It was the result that Lance was looking for getting on the scoreboard while working the effort.

#2 Lance to start the drive he went two for three for 11 yards and a seven yard scramble on the opening play of the game. Lance finished the game going four for five for 92 yards.

#3 Joe, Jimmy Garoppolo is still on the roster and still is waiting to see where he will land as he did not play on Friday night. There is interest in Garoppolo from the New York Jets as quarterback Zack Wilson is suffering a knee injury and the Cleveland Browns had expressed interest if quarterback Deshaun Watson is suspended more than six games.

#4 Joe, talk about the running backs Tyrion Davis-Price who carried ten times for 36 yards and JaMycal Hasty five carries for 36 yards on Friday night.

#5 The 49ers are in Minnesota for their second pre season game at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis do you see Trey Lance taking off the second game?

Join Joe Hawkes for the 49ers podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Ferreira and FC Dallas bomb on Earthquakes in 4-1 win

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FC Dallas players celebrate their 4-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes at Toyota Stadium on Saturday Aug 13, 2022 (photo by FC Dallas)

by Marko Ukalovic

The Dallas Stars scored three goals in the first half en route to a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday evening at Toyota Stadium.

Dallas has points in four of its last five matches and sit in third place in the Western Conference with 42 points. San Jose has two of its past three matches and anchor the bottom of the conference with only 24 points.

FC Dallas (11-7-9-42 points) drew first blood in the third minute. Alan Velasco centered a ball over to Jesús Ferreira who buried home a shot past ‘Quakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski, who made his first start after suffering a concussion two weeks ago, for his first goal of the match.

Marco Farfan doubled FC Dallas’ lead in the 20th minute. Sebastian Lletget found Farfan inside the box on the left side. Farfan’s shot from a tough angle beat Marcinkowski for his first goal of the season.

FC Dallas scored its third unanswered goal of the first half when Ferreira recorded his brace in the 41st minute. Ferreira started a counter attack for FC Dallas. After a give and go with Paul Arriola, Ferreira’s initial shot was blocked by Nathan but Ferriera gained his own rebound and shot into an empty net for his team leading 14th goal of the season.

San Jose (5-12-9-24 points) were too busy defending in the first 45 minutes to muster much of an offensive attack.

FC Dallas picked up where it left off in the first half with their fourth consecutive goal in the 57th minute. Lletget recorded his second assist of the match when he found Velasco in the middle of the pitch. Velasco blasted a shot from 30 yards out into the right corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Jeremy Ebobisse spoiled FC Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes’ bid for a clean slate in the 60th minute. Benji Kikanovic found Ebobisse just outside the box along the left side. Ebobisse rifled in a shot that hit the crossbar and into the back of the net for his team leading 14th goal of the season.

Paes only needed to make one save on just two shots on target to earn the victory. Marcinkowski made two saves on six shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with seven corner kicks. FC Dallas had two.

San Jose lost for the first time in Dallas since 2017 (2-1-2).

UP NEXT: San Jose returns home to host LAFC on Saturday 8/20 at 7:00pm at Pay Pal Park.

Giants Webb was dealing in 2-0 shutout of Pirates at Oracle Park Saturday night

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San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb pitches in the top of the first inning against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Aug 13, 2022 (AP News photo)

Pittsburgh (45-69). 0. 5. 1

San Francisco (56-57). 2. 4. 0

Saturday, August 13, 2022

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Before tonight’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Giants held a reunion and celebration of the team that won the 2012 World Series. The game itself featured another sort of reunion.

The Pirates’ starting pitcher, Tyler Beede, who toiled for the Giants from 2018 through early May of this year, with the exception of 2020, the COVID-shortened season, which he spent recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Beede went 0-0, 4.66 for the Giants this year and was 1-1, 3.28 for the Pirates, and 1-1, 3.57 overall when he first toed the rubber this evening. While playing college ball for Vanderbilt in 2012, his roommate was Mike Yasetrzemski.

Following that, during his tenure with San Francisco, the Bucco’s righty was good friends-indeed, he still is-with the Giants’ starter, Logan Webb, who came to do battle with his friend, bringing a record of 10-5, 3.17 in his duffel bag.

When the dust had settled, Webb had pitched a beautiful game, earning the win in a 2-0 Giants’ victory, in which the loser outhit the winners 5-4.

Beede lasted a scant three innings, during which he yielded a pair of runs, both earned, on three hits, one of them a home run, and three walks. He threw 74 pitches, 39 of which resulted in contact or were strikes. He was charged with the loss, which made his overall record 1-2, 3.72.

Webb, on the other hand didn’t throw his 74th pitch until, nursing a 2-0 lead, he faced his second batter of the seventh inning. He held on through the eighth and improved his record to 11-5, 3.00, allowing only four hits and two walks. Both runs scored against him were earned, and he struck out nine Bucs. The threw a total of 99 pitches, 34 of which were balls.

Tommy LaStella started at first base for San Francisco, replacing Brandon Belt, who was nursing a sore thumb.

The Giants overcame the dreaded Curse of the Leadoff Double, getting back to back two baggers from MonteWade, Jr., and Joc Pederson to start their half of the first inning. They did, however, fall victim to a mutated strain of the Curse; Pederson died on third.

The Pirates fell victim to the scourge in the top of the third when Rodolfo Castro’s leadoff shot went right through LaStella into left field for a generously scored two base hit. The frame ended with Castro on third when Webb made an exciting dive for the bag after fielding Newman’s weak grounder between the mound and first, getting the out by an eyelash.

Wade followed that exploit by opening the bottom of the third with a 410 foot blast into McCoy Cove, stretching the Giants’ lead to 2-0. The pitch was a sinker, but. I couldn’t see whether the splash hit floated or sank.

Eric Stout relieved Beede at the start of the Giants fourth. Wilmer Flores pinch hit for La Stella, who was due up first and tempted fate with a … you guessed it … leadoff double. Fate won, and San Francisco didn’t score in the fourth.

Stout walked JD Davis on a full count to open the fifth and then retired Mike Yastrzemski and Crawford before leaving the game in favor of Duane Underwood, Jr. He plunked Estrada, his first batter, with a change of pace before getting Flores out on a sinking liner to right, on which Greg Allen made a lovely diving catch.

Stout pitched a scoreless sixth and was succeeded in the seventh by Chase DeJong, who set the Giants down to conga beat, striking out Davis and Crawford in the process.

Pittsburgh threatened in the top of the eighth, loading the bases with two down. This was the first inning in which that had more than one runner on base. Webb rose to the occasion, striking out DH BenGamel on his 99th pitch of the game.

Camilo Doval, who earned his 16th save last night, fanned Oneil Cruz to open the top of the ninth. He walked Greg Allen, who proceeded to steal second and then advance to third on Bligh Madris’s ground out to second.

Allen’s potential run meant nothing but Rodolfo Castro, who was two for three on the evening, represented the possible tying run. He lined out to left to end a nerve wracking inning and a heartening Giants win.

The series ends tomorrow with a 1:05 contest in which Pittsburgh’s Zach Thompson (3.09, 5.08) will face San Francisco’s Alex Wood (8-9, 4.17).

Astros pound Athletics 8-0; Oakland now on 7 game losing skid

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Houston Astros starter Lance McCullers was in a groove all game long against the Oakland A’s here he is dealing in the top of the first inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston Fri Aug 13, 2022 (AP News photo)

Astros Pound Athletics 8-0

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (41-73) had some great success against the Houston Astros (74-41) in July but that came to a screeching halt Saturday in game two of their series. Friday night Oakland had opportunities in game one but fell short 7-5. In today’s game the Astros took command from the first inning and they did not look back with some great offense and great pitching in a 8-0 shutout win. It was the A’s seventh consecutive loss.

It was a combination of hitting, a brilliant pitching performance by Lance McCullers Jr. and some great defense by Houston that shut the A’s out. McCullers finished with six shutout innings in his season debut his first appearance since the four game of the ALDS against the Chicago White Sox in October of 2021.

In the first inning Alex Bregman homered with Yordan Alvarez on base and Houston had a 2-0 lead to start the game.

The Astros struck again in the fourth inning when Chas McCormick tripled driving in Trey Mancini and Jeremy Pena and Houston was off to the races 4-0.

Houston hit a couple of doubles in the sixth inning extending their lead 6-0. The Astros had their second triple of the game in the seventh inning, a blistering shot to deep right by Kyle Tucker driving in Yuli Gurriel and Yordan Alvarez.

It a tough loss for the A’s; their seventh in a row. They only had five hits in the game and not a single Oakland player made it to third base in the game, in fact, only two runners got to second. They hit into three double plays and it was Houston all day long.

A’s pitcher Zach Logue went 5.1 innings and pitched over 100 pitches. He allowed eight hits and six runs. It was a tough loss for the 26 year old but it a great learning experience for him. More often than not things get worse before they get better for these up and coming youngsters.

Tomorrow the A’s will try and avoid the sweep sending Cole Irvin to the mound. He is pitching well with a 2.92 ERA and is 6-9. The A’s will face Houston’s Cristian Javier. He has a 6-8 win loss record and a 3.14 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 11:10 AM PT.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips : Giants had it all in 2012 to win World Series in a four game sweep

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The 2012 World Champion San Francisco Giants reunite at Oracle Park before the 2022 San Francisco Giants hosted the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sat Aug 13, 2022 (@SFGiants photo)

On San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips :

#1 Morris, kind of a special day at Oracle on Saturday night where the San Francisco Giants paid tribute to the 2012 World Championship team. The celebration included two of the remaining Giants who are still part of the starting line up Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt.

#2 Belt said that it was ten years ago but said it’s kind of cool seeing all those guys again who will be part of the guest list for the Saturday night reunion.

#3 The Giants battled the Detroit Tigers and swept them in all four games to win the World Series and their second World Series win in two years winning their last one two year previous in 2010.

#4 During the 2012 reunion key players Tim Lincecum and Buster Posey didn’t attend. Lincecum whose wife passed away in June as announced by the Giants this week and Posey who moved back to Georgia had family obligations.

#5 One of the biggest ovations was for former Giants manager Bruce Bochy who managed the team to three World Series Championships.

Join Morris Phillips for the Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com