A’s Win Game One of Angels Series 5-4

Los Angeles Angel designated hitter Shohei Ohtani takes a few warm up swings on the on deck circle in preparation in facing Oakland A’s reliever Jake Diekman in the top of the seventh inning at the Oakland Ring Central Coliseum in Oakland on Fri Sep 17, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After winning their series with the Kansas City Royals the Oakland A’s traveled to southern California to take on the Los Angeles Angels in a three game series.

Cole Irvin was on the mound for Oakland and Jhonathan Diaz started for the Angels. Irvin has a 3.97 ERA and Diaz comes in with a 10.80 ERA.

The A’s took the early lead 2-0 in the second inning and Los Angeles answered with four runs in the same inning leading 4-2. Suzuki had a solo home run in the second inning to start off the scoring for the Angels.

The A’s would score a run in the third inning to pull to within one 4-3. The A’s had the bases loaded in the fifth inning and came up empty. This was a great opportunity squandered by Oakland and is something that they have struggled with this season. Leaving runners stranded has been a sore spot for the team.

In the sixth inning the A’s would take the lead 5-4 and win it in this closely contested ballgame.

After going six innings Cole Irvin was relieved by Jake Diekman in the seventh inning. Oakland needed the bullpen to step up and protect the slim lead. It was a three up, three down for Diekman.

With two innings left in the game the A’s needed an insurance run or two to take this first game of the series.

The Angels threatened in the eighth inning but a brilliant throw from Starling Marte to Matt Chapman tagged Kean Kong out at third for the third out of the inning.

Sergio Romo would take the mound to try and close out this game for Oakland. The A’s would hang on for their 80th win of the season. It was a very nice outing for the Oakland bullpen. There were no long balls for the A’s in this one but some great defensive play which salvaged this game for the A’s Game Two is scheduled for 6:07.

Fortinet Championship: A little local flavor on top

Maverick McNealy takes the lead with a eight under par 64 lead and is on top of the leaderboard with a -12 at the Silverado Resort Fortinet Championship in Napa (file photo birdiesforeducation.com)

FORTINET CHAMPIONSHIP: A little local flavor on top

By Jeremy Harness

This tournament has been known for guys going low throughout the weekend, and for the leaderboard to change rapidly at a moment’s notice.

Friday’s second round did not disappoint, as several players took advantage of the calm conditions at Silverado Resort & Spa, and the birdies continued to roll in without ceasing. And yes, there were a band new set of leaders atop the Fortinet Championship.

Maverick McNealy, a Stanford grad who is seeking his first professional victory and whose best finish is second in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am earlier this year, shot up to the top of the leaderboard with an eight-under round of 64 on Friday.

Starting on the 10th hole, he got off to a very nice start to his round, birdieing his first two holes and then adding three more birdies on his front nine. He hit a major snag on his back nine by bogeying the first three holes there but quickly rallied with four birdies in a row and capped things off with an eagle at the par-5 ninth.

“It’s great, but there’s a lot of great players on this leaderboard and every shot’s going to matter,” McNealy said. “I just keep telling myself every putt you make now is one less you have to make later and you have to keep the pedal down. My goal tomorrow’s to get out there and give myself a birdie look on the first hole. I’m just going to have to keep doing that. Yeah, it’s great to be at the top of the leaderboard now, but it means a heck of a lot more to be at the top at the end of 72 holes.”

If you ask any good player the easiest way to shave strokes off your game, that person will most likely tell you to work on your putting. You want proof? Take a look at McNealy’s second round.

He drove the ball less accurately off the tee – he hit only six fairways Friday, compared to eight on Thursday – and didn’t hit it as far as he did in the first round, and he hit fewer greens in regulation (13 as opposed to 15) as well.

However, he made considerably more putts on Friday than was the case the day before, resulting in four more birdies and four fewer strokes. He is now second in the field in putts-per-green-in-regulation with 1.536.

While many were going low,first-round leader Chez Reavie went the opposite direction, carding a three-over round of 75. He was even-par after nine, but this time, he did not get hot. Instead, he went four-over in holes 11 through 13, including a double at the par-3 11th. He made back-to-back birdies at the 14th and 15th, but the damage was done.

He did not make nearly as many putts as he did in the first round. In fact, he lost more than a full stroke to the field in putting, in addition to being at a severe disadvantage off the tee and got up and down only 33 percent of the time on Friday, as opposed to 80 percent the day before.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Tony Kemp A’s Clemente Award winner; Royals tried to play spoiler during series in KC

Oakland A’s second baseman Tony Kemp was recognized as the Roberto Clemente Award winner for 2021 for not only his hard work on the field but his community service off the field (file photo White Cleat Beat)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Roberto Clemente day has been designated annually every September 30th as all MLB players will wear #21 to honor the former Pittsburgh Pirate. Teams will be naming a player each season who best represents the attributes of Clemente on and off the field. The A’s have named Tony Kemp as that player whose kept up with fans on instagram discussing everything from race, and local issues in the greater Oakland community and what it’s like to compete with the A’s this season.

#2 Kemp said in writing and speaking with fans about issues is a work in progress he gets to hear some of the fans personnel issues whether it pertains to race issues, crime in neighborhoods, chaperone services for the elderly in Oakland Chinatown and concerns about working people who are just trying to make ends meet everyday. Kemp is certainly well respected amongst his teammates and truly appreciate him taking a key role in reaching out.

#3 The Kansas City Royals who are well out of the post season contention battled the A’s during the three game series this week and the Royals who are playing spoiler were not mailing it in. Even though the A’s took two of the three games from the Royals the A’s won by two runs in each of their wins and the Royals won the second game by 10-7. It just shows you teams are getting up for the A’s who are trying to survive with their post season hopes in their own right.

#4 A’s starter Chris Bassitt is making progress since his cheek surgery after getting hit in the face back on Aug 17th at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago. Bassitt has been doing bullpen sessions in Kansas City and will face live hitter in Anaheim this weekend in a simulated game. A’s manager Bob Melvin says “looked like himself.”

#5 A’s open up a three game series in Anaheim tonight the A’s will be going with Cole Irvin (9-13 ERA 4.04) and the Angels have not announced a starter yet. First pitch is slated for 6:38 PM (PDT) at the Big A. The Angels are 14 games out and have won four of their last ten games.

Join Jeremiah Fridays for the Oakland A’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Fortinet Championship: Clear skies, bright start to the PGA Tour season

Chez Reavie on the 18th green looks at his handy work a putt at the Silverado North Course on Sep 16, 2021 at the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament first round (AP News photo)

FORTINET CHAMPIONSHIP: Clear skies, bright start to the PGA Tour season

By Jeremy Harness

At this point last year, this tournament was played at a time where the skies were a dark orange color because of the fires that seemed to engulf the entire Northern California region. An eerie sight to see, to be sure.

Furthermore, there were no spectators allowed on the grounds due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, making this a thoroughly-depressing tournament to watch on television.

Fast forward 12 months, and even though there are fires burning around the region – particularly in the Lake Tahoe area – and COVID-19 is still most definitely a real thing – the atmosphere around Silverado Resort & Spa could not have been any different from 2020.

Golfers teed off Thursday morning and afternoon under clear skies, with no smell of fire smoke to speak of. And just as important, spectators were free to follow their favorite players, something they could only hope to be able to do again months earlier.

As for the Fortinet Championship itself, Chez Reavie overcame a tough start to take the lead after Thursday’s first round.

Starting on the 10th hole, he was one-over after the first six holes, but then he got rolling in a major way. He birdied eight of the final 12 holes, including three in a row to close out his round. When it was all said and done, he finished with a seven-under round of 65.

He isn’t the longest hitter out there – he was 117th in the field in driving distance Thursday while hitting 8 of 14 fairways, which ranked 23rd – but he hit 13 greens and was 2nd in putts-per-green-in-regulation, and he was the eighth-best putter overall.

“It was kind of a slow start but I told myself to stay patient, you have plenty of chances to make birdies, and I was able to do that coming in,” Reavie said. “But I was 1 over through six holes, I think. I was like, okay, stay patient, don’t become impatient. Yeah, fortunately I was able to make some birdies.”

The only real downer of this tournament is that since the Ryder Cup is next weekend, there aren’t nearly as many big names out there as a lot of fans would like. In fact, the only Ryder Cup participant who is playing this week is Jon Rahm, this year’s runner-up for the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year.

The Spaniard, who won the 2021 U.S Open, did not exactly get off to the kind of start he would have liked, particularly after also finishing second in this year’s Tour Championship, eventually losing out to Patrick Cantlay.

He was one-under for his first nine but endured a pair of tough bogeys on his second nine against one birdie, and he finished with an even-par round of 72. To be fair, Rahm had been battling a stomach ailment this week leading up to this event and has not felt anywhere close to 100 percent until Thursday.

“Not my best ball-striking day, a little tight today probably from having to be in bed for so long yesterday,” Rahm said. “So a little tight, just didn’t feel as fluid as it usually does. Even with how I felt, I played a little bit better than I thought I was going to, to be honest. Started great, started to hit some good shots, too bad I couldn’t capitalize on some of the good chances early on.

“Towards the end a lot of times my mind just wasn’t in it, I was having a hard time focusing given the fact that I haven’t had a solid meal since Tuesday morning. It is what it is. I just started, I’m feeling good now, so get a good meal right now and rest up the rest of the day. We have three more days to go. You can’t win it today, you can certainly lose it and it wasn’t my best day.”

A’s Take Game Three In Kansas City 7-2

The Oakland A’s Mark Canha slide in safely in the third inning after scoring on a Chad Pinder single against the Kansas City Royals at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City (AP News photo)

A’s Take Game Three In Kansas City 7-2

By Barbara Mason

Wednesday afternoon the Oakland A’s took on the Kansas City Royals in game three of their series.

Paul Blackburn was on the mound for Oakland and the Royals started Daniel Lynch. It was a bumpy start for Blackburn but he settled down nicely. After giving up a two run home run by Perez in the first inning, he sailed through the mid-sixth inning.

He was relieved by Deolis Guerra who pitched through the seventh inning. Chafin got through the eighth inning and Sergio Romo took it home for Oakland with a three up three down in the the ninth inning.

After leading 2-0 in the first inning there would be nothing more for the Royals. The A’s tied up the game in the third inning. They went on in that same inning to tack on two more runs to lead 4-2.

There was not a lot of offense until the ninth inning. The A’s added some insurance in the ninth inning when Royals pitcher Brentz threw three wild pitches. Elvis Andrus scored on one of those pitches and Tony Kemp scored when Harrison doubled. The A’s added two more runs for the final score of 7-2.

This was a great win for the team and more importantly huge for the bullpen who has struggled for awhile now.

In the series the offense was certainly firing on all cylinders with 26 runs and 35 hits.

Oakland will now head back to California playing a three game series against the Angels. The latest news out of Los Angeles is that Shohei Otani will not pitch against the A’s tomorrow. There is a very good chance that he will not pitch again this season with right arm soreness. He will probably still serve as a designated hitter.

First pitch in Los Angeles is scheduled for 6:38. Cole Irvin will be on the mound for Oakland. If Ohtani does not pitch which seems unlikely the Angels starter is still TBD at the time of this story.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Gausman gets start against Padres to conclude four game series today

San Francisco Giants starter Kevin Gausman who goes today against the San Diego Padres has won five in row and goes for his sixth at Oracle Park in San Francisco (file photo from the Advocate)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Lots of excitement this past week the Giants who ended a nine game win streak winning nine of their last ten games clinching on Monday night against the San Diego Padres and most important with our very own Morris Phillips in attendance.

#2 During the nine game win streak they really got some suburb pitching we’ll start with Kevin Gausman 14-5 ERA 2.65 Gausman has won in his last five starts.

#3 Gausman who signed with the Giants last season for $18.5 million has really paid off with the work he’s done. He’s good but did the Giants expect him to be this good.

#4 Catcher Buster Posey whose been around for all three World Series Championships in 2010. 12, and 14 wanted to share Monday’s clinch for post season and let his teammates be the face of the celebration and Posey loved every second of it.

#5 The San Diego Padres have not announced a starting pitcher as of deadline last night but you’ll never guess whose starting today’s game for the Giants, Kevin Gausman gets the call. Knowing and seeing the Padres line up for the last few nights how do you see Gausman matching up against their line up this afternoon?

Join Michael Duca for the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Las Vegas Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria: Will Raiders need to play catch up against Steelers too?

The Las Vegas Raiders match up against the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sun Sep 19th. Here Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) looks to avoid traffic and looks down field for a receiver as Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Matt Milano (left) tries to break free from the grasps of Steelers Najee Harris (22) on Sun Sep 12, 2021 at Orchard Park NY (AP News photo)

On the Raiders podcast with Tony R:

#1 Tony, the Raiders just got by in a wild overtime against the Baltimore Ravens talk about how important Carl Nassib’s strip sack on third and seven that forced a fumble by Ravens quarterback Lemar Jackson.

#2 Jackson during the post game presser said he should have had both hands on the football but it got loose from him and it eventually cost the Ravens the game.

#3 Three plays after the Jackson fumble the Raiders quarterback Derek Carr went back to pass and threw a lob type pass to Zay Jones who made the catch and ran it into the end zone for what was the game winner.

#4 Head coach Jon Gruden said that the team is there for each other when they were down 14-0 to the Ravens it wasn’t pretty but when you win against a team like the Ravens that’s saying something.

#5 The Raiders take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field this Sunday at 10 AM the Steelers won their last game pretty convincingly against the Buffalo Bills 23-16 in Buffalo. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger went 18-32 for 188 yards and a touchdown how do you see the Raiders matching up with the Steelers this Sunday?

Join Tony each week for the Raiders podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Tatis, Pads end Giants 9 game win streak with 9-6 win

San Diego Padre Fernando Tatis Jr beats out a throw that has San Francisco Giant first baseman Brandon Belt stretching on Wed Sep 15, 2021 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–All good things come to an end which was the case for the San Francisco Giants (95-51) as their 51st loss of the season ended their nine game win streak at Oracle Park in San Francisco to the San Diego Padres 9-6.

The Padres managed to stay ahead of the Giants all game long and they can thank Pads hitters Fernando Tatis Jr who had four hits and Jurickson Profar who hit a home run to help the Padres end a five game losing skid. The Padres Adam Frazier also had four hits and third baseman Manny Machado doubled twice, scored a run and an RBI.

The Padre victory breathed some life into their NL Wild card hopes as they now trail the St Louis Cardinals by just one game for the second wild card position. The Giants who are battling to maintain first place in the NL West had their lead cut to 1.5 games as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night 5-3.

Had the Giants won on Wednesday night they would have tied the 2004 Giants for the best winning streak at ten games. The Giants did get their share of home run help in the bottom of the third inning from pinch hitter Thairo Estrada, in the bottom of the sixth from Kris Bryant and later in the bottom of the seventh from Steven Duggar and red hot hitter Brandon Belt all hit solo shots but it wasn’t enough to catch the Padres on this Wednesday night.

The Padres scored on Giants pitching starting with Giants starter Dominic Leone just couldn’t get out of the top of the first lasting only one out before being lifted and a pitching line of two hits, two earned runs, and one strike out, Giant reliever Zack Littell the third Giant reliever came in in the top of the second with one out and gave up two hits and a run and was lifted after getting one hitter out, the Giants sixth reliever Jose Quintana didn’t fare so well giving up three hits and two earned runs in the seventh and the final Giants pitcher Jose Alvarez came in the top of the eighth and in the ninth inning gave up three hits and two earned runs.

Thursday’s starters for the Padres to be announced and the Giants Kevin Gausman (14-5) Gausman has won five of his last starts. The Giants can take this series three games to one if they can pull off a win today at Oracle Park a 12:45 pm first pitch PDT

Real Salt Lake score three goals in wild second half to clip Earthquakes 4-3

The score reveals the results from Wed Sep 15, 2021 game at Pay Pal Park in San Jose as the San Jose Earthquakes are defeated by Real Salt Lake FC (from @SJEarthquakes image)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE–It’s beyond a frustrating night when your leading goal scorer scores a hat trick and you still lose the game.

Thus was the case as Real Salt Lake scored three goals in the second half to defeat the San Jose Earthquakes 4-3 in a wild affair on Wednesday evening at Pal Pay Park.

San Jose have lost two of their last three matches. Real Salt Lake is 3-3-0 in their last six matches. They snapped its five-match losing streak on the road.

Real Salt Lake scored the eventual game winner in the 81st minute. Albert Rusnak found Rubio Rubin on the left side of the box and Rubin one-timed a shot past Quakes goalie JT Marcinkowski to complete a brace for the striker from Beaverton, Oregon.

San Jose (6-9-9-27 points) drew first blood on Chofis’ first goal of the match in the 26th minute. Marcos Lopez sent in a long ball down the right wing over to Chofis. The native of Torreón, Mexico played the ball past RSL defender Erik Holt, dribbled inside the box and bent in a left-footed strike into the lower left corner of the net for his team leading sixth goal of the season.

Real Salt Lake (9-9-6-33 points) struck back with the equalizer just before halftime. Off of a corner kick, Rusnak, who proved to be a thorn in the side of San Jose all match long, centered the ball into the middle of the box where Quakes goalie JT Marcinkowski made a diving save on the header by Damir Kreilach but the rebound was cleaned up by Rubin for his sixth goal of the season and first goal of the match.

Real Salt Lake had seven shots on target, with the majority of those in the final 10 minutes, in the first 45 minutes while San Jose had just one, Chofis’ goal.

RSL carried over their momentum they gained at the end of the first half into the start of the second half. A Quakes turnover led to Pablo Ruiz finding Rusnak just outside the box and the Slovakian midfielder dribbled past Oswald Alanis before depositing the ball into the lower left corner for his seventh goal of the season to give RSL its first lead of the match in the 49th minute.

That lead didn’t last long as San Jose answered back immediately. Chofis received the ball along the right sideline and put on a clinical display. He dribbled in, deked out two RSL defenders just outside the box, including Donny Toia who fell to the ground. Choifis continued inside where he chipped a shot between the legs of Holt and past Real Salt Lake goalie David Ochoa for his seventh goal of the season and second of the match in the 50th minute.

The game opened up as both teams went back and forth with scoring chances on counter attacks and turnovers that led to the crazy finish.

San Jose was without the services of their defensive stalwart Nathan as he was suspended for receiving his second yellow card in the match versus FC Dallas last weekend. Real Salt Lake took advantage of the situation with their forwards being left unmarked during the second half.

Chofis completed his hat trick on what was an incredible shot. Real Salt Lake conceded a corner kick in the 64th minute. A minute later Chofis sent in a shot that curled just inside the right post that Ochoa had no chance at for his team leading eighth goal of the season that sent the crowd into a frenzy as the Quakes regained the lead 3-2.

Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda was so upset with the officiating that after the match he pulled his inner Marshawn Lynch when it came time to do his press conference.

“With all due respect to you guys who waited this long for me, I’m only here right now so I don’t get fined,” Almedya said.

Real Salt Lake scored the equalizer off a set piece in the 71st minute. Rusnak serviced the free kick into the middle of the box where Justin Meram was credited with heading the ball past Marcinkowski for his second goal of the season.

Kraeilach was initially issued a red card by referee Nima Saghafi in the 73rd minunte when he went up and elbowed Tanner Beason in the head while challenging for a ball in the air. After VAR review, the foul was down graded to a yellow card.

San Jose had chances to come away with one point when nine extra minutes of stoppage time were added by Saghafi. Their best chance came in the final minute when Alanis fired a shot on net that was saved by Ochoa. The rebound went right to Paul Marie but his header went wide right as RSL escaped Pay Pal Park with the three points.

Ochoa finished the match with three saves on six shots to earn the victory. Marcinkowski made nine saves, the most in his career, on 13 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with one four corner kicks. Real Salt Lake had three.

The Quakes hold a 13-12-11 all-time record against Real Salt Lake, including a 9-6-4 record at home. San Jose was unbeaten in their last six home matches against RSL (5-0-1) until tonight.

Real Salt Lake has a 3-7-2 record away from home this season.

San Jose has won each of its last three matches against Real Salt Lake, including a 2-1 win on May 7. The run equals the longest winning streak by either team in the history of the series with the ‘Quakes also winning three in a row in the 2012 season.

San Jose earned its eighth draw in its last 12 games (W3 L1) after a 1-1 match at FC Dallas on Saturday. Prior to the Earthquakes this season, no team had recorded eight draws in a 12-match span since Columbus in May-July 2017.

RSL has won only two of its last 18 matches away from Rio Tinto Stadium (D4 L12) dating back to August 2020.

Wondolowski has scored 13 goals against Real Salt Lake in his career (including MLS is Back), having only scored more against Vancouver (14). His 13 goals are tied with Landon Donovan for the most against RSL in the club’s MLS history.

Damir Kreilach scored his ninth goal of the season in Real Salt Lake’s loss at LAFC on Sunday, his second-highest scoring regular season in MLS (12 in 2018). Kreilach is one goal away from becoming the third player to have multiple 10-goal regular seasons for Real Salt Lake after Álvaro Saborio (4 times) and Albert Rusnák (twice).

UP NEXT: San Jose travel out to the Lone Star state to take on Austin FC on Saturday 9/18 at 5:00pm at Q2 Stadium.

A’s Hang On To Win A Cliffhanger 12-10

Oakland A’s hitter Mark Canha connects for an RBI single in the third inning at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City against the Kansas City Royals on Wed Sep 15, 2021 (AP News photo)

A’s Hang On To Win In A Cliffhanger 12-10

By Barbara Mason

Wednesday night the Oakland A’s took on the Kansas City Royals in game two of their series. Sean Manea was on the mound for Oakland and for Kansas City Carlos Hernandez got the nod. The ERA for Hernandez is currently 3.29 while Manea has a 3.79 ERA.

Last night’s game was a tough one for the A’s as they squandered another healthy lead. After five innings they led 7-4 but were unable to score again for the remainder of the game. The Royals scored four times in the sixth inning taking the lead and winning the game by a score of 10-7.

The team is desperate for a win as chances for a Wild Card are dwindling with each loss. Although the Rangers got on the board first taking an early 1-0 lead in this game, the A’s had a productive second, third and fourth inning which included a home run from Matt Olson, his 35th of the season. They scored five times taking a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning.

It felt a bit like deja vu in this fourth inning. The Royals would score four times with Perez, Benintendi, and Mondesi all scoring. They had drastically cut the A’s lead to 5-4. Oakland badly needed some offense in the second half of this game. We all saw what happened in yesterday’s game. We knew going in that the Royals could be problematic

The A’s offense answered in the fifth inning scoring three runs, now leading 8-4. Kemp and Harrison both had singles. The Royals Perez had a solo home run in the fifth but that was it for Kansas City.

The seventh inning was huge for Oakland. By the end of the top of the inning the A’s were leading 12-5. They unleashed an offensive run and now the team had 17 hits in the game. The offense was on fire and the bullpen needed to protect the lead.

Sean Manea pitched five innings before Lou Trivino came in to relieve in the sixth inning. Trivino pitched the sixth and seventh innings giving up a single run.

Jake Diekman would take over on the mound in the eighth inning as the A’s closed in on their first win in this series. Just when it looked all so promising , Diekman loaded the bases and a familiar scenario came into play. Kansas City doubled and the Royals had scored three times in the inning. Oakland now clung onto a 12-9 lead as Andrew Chafin came in to try and close out the inning. Prior to the ninth inning Oakland had had 24 base runners in this game.

After Chafin got the team out of the eighth inning, Oakland was three outs away from a win. It would be up to Chafin to close this one out. Another nightmare for the green and gold as Chafin loaded the bases with no outs. He loaded the bases for a second time in the inning with two out.

Miraculously the A’s hung on to get the final out and the win 12-10. This was a wild game that went down to the wire.

The A’s will try to take the series tomorrow in game three. First pitch is scheduled for 11:10.