Brewers salvage finale with a 5-3 victory

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Sadly, this was not the way that the San Francisco Giants wanted to end their homestand; a demoralizing loss.

Christian Yelich, Yasmani Grandal, Marcus Thames and Travis Shaw each picked up two hits, as the Milwaukee Brewers salvaged the finale of the three-game series with a 5-3 victory over the Giants before a crowd of 34,603 at Oracle Park.

With the loss in the series finale, the Giants saw their four-game winning streak come to an end and end the eight-game homestand with a 5-3 record.

Jeff Samardzija gave up runs in four of the five innings he pitched, as Grandal gave the Brewers an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a two-out single, driving in Ryan Braun.

Samardzija got the first batters of the first inning, but Braun singled, Mike Moustakas singled and Grandal broke the scoreless tie with a single that scored Braun.

Ben Gamel gave the Brewers their second run of the game in the top of the second, as he hit an opposite field single that scored Travis Shaw, who led off the inning with single, went to second on an Orlando Arcia groundout and then later scored.

Evan Longoria and Kevin Pillar cut the Brewers lead in half for the Giants in half, as Pillar doubled in Longoria, who tripled to lead off the inning.

Samardzija then helped out his own cause, as he singled up the middle to score Pillar, tying the game.

Yelich continued to have an outstanding season, as he doubled to left field to score Gamel with what proved to be the winning run.

Thames then lengthened the Brewers lead up to two runs, as he tattooed a Samardzija offering off the right-field foul pole.

After the Giants loaded the bases with nobody out, Brandon Belt flew out to center field scoring Pablo Sandoval, who led off the inning with a pinch-hit single in place of Samardzija, who went five innings, allowing four runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out five.

Derek Holland was greeted rather rudely by pinch hitter Jesus Aguilar, as he hit a pinch-hit home run that landed deep into the left field bleachers.

Brewers starter Chase Anderson did not fare in the decision, as he only went four innings, allowing three runs on five hits, walking four and striking out three.

The bizarre play of the game came in the top of the second inning, as Christian Yelich hit a ball that went through the chain linked fence in right-center field for a ground-rule double.

NOTES: Belt saw his 18-game on-base streak come to a halt, as he went 0-for-3 on the afternoon.

Panik walked three times during the game, and it was the second time this season that he walked three times in a game. He also walked three times on May 10 against the Cincinnati Reds, Panik’s career high for walks in a game is four that occurred on August 8, 2016 against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park.

Longoria picked up his 22nd walk of the season in the bottom of the fifth inning, that matches his total for the entire 2018 season.

Samardzija threw 114 pitches, his most of the season and most since throwing 120 against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on August 12, 2017.

The second inning run batted in for Samardzija was his first in exactly two years, as his last one came on June 16, 2017, against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

When Stephen Vogt hit the two triples on Saturday, he was just the second catcher in San Francisco Giants history to hit two triples in the same game and it was the seventh time since 1908 that a catcher picked up two triples in the same game.

UP NEXT: Tyler Beede takes the mound at Dodger Stadium for the first time on Monday Night, as he will face the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time in his major-league career. Kenta Maeda will take the mound for the Dodgers.

Following the four-game series in Los Angeles, the Giants will finish with three against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

MLB podcast with Daniel Dullum: M’s fire sale comes early, Encarnación dealt to Yankees; Ortiz will recover, but a look at the damage; plus more

photo from seattlepi.com: Former Seattle Mariners’ slugger Edwin Encarnacion, right, hits a two-run home run as Los Angeles Angels catcher Jonathan Lucroy watches during the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 9, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif.

On the MLB podcast with Daniel:

1 Seattle trades AL home run leader Edwin Encarnación to Yankees

2 Big Papi’s surgeons reveal the extent of damage from gunshots

3 A’s rout Mariners 11-2; A’s Stephen Piscotty has surgery for melanoma

4 Braves’ Sean Newcomb OK after taking a 102-mph liner to the head

5 Bambino’s game-worn jersey sets record: $5.64 million at auction

6 Mitch Garver is the fifth player in Twins history to break a 0-0 tie with a home run in the eighth inning or later

Daniel Dullum does the MLB podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Joey Friedman: A’s score big on M’s, crush Seattle 11-2; A’s look to take series on Sunday

photo from sfgate.com: Oakland Athletics pitcher Frankie Montas works against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 15, 2019, in Oakland, Calif.

On the A’s podcast with Joey Friedman:

#1 The A’s wasted no time on Saturday scoring on the visiting Seattle Mariners for three runs in the bottom of the first inning. One of the key things in a division game like this is attack early and the thing just might work out, they did with the A’s in a nine-run win 11-2.

#2 A’s starter Frankie Montas held the Twins to just two runs through six innings of work, nine strikeouts, and a walk to improve his record to 9-2.

#3 Talk about the Mariners dealing Edwin Encarnacion to the New York Yankees just before the game. Was this a distraction to the M’s seeing they crushed the A’s Friday 9-2 then turn around and lose to the A’s 11-2 on Saturday?

#4 The A’s left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea threw a 45-pitch simulated game in Arizona and is recovering from shoulder surgery. He’s surely one of the pitchers that’s missed in the rotation.

#5 Sunday’s pitchers for the Seattle Mariners Mike Leake (5-6, 4.26 ERA) and for the Oakland A’s Tanner Anderson (0-1, 3.18 ERA).

Listen for the A’s podcasts with Joey each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Vogt triples twice in Giants’ wild victory 8-7

photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco Giants left fielder Mike Yastrzemski dives to catch a fly ball hit by Milwaukee Brewers’ Yasmani Grandal for the final out of the ninth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Saturday, June 15, 2019. .

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — In what was one of the most bizarre games of the season, Mike Yastrzemski came up with the play of the game.

Yastrzemski made a diving catch with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, as he preserved the San Francisco Giants 8-7 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers before a crowd of 34,560 at Oracle Park.

Yasmani Grandal hit a sinking line drive into the left-center field gap, and Yastrzemski made an all-out dive for the catch, giving the Giants their season-high fourth straight win.

The Grandal lineout would have definitely scored Ryan Braun, who was on first base after he singled with two outs off of closer Will Smith.

Christian Yelich brought the Brewers within one run just prior to the Braun single, as he hit an opposite field solo home run, his 26th home run of the season, which also extended his hitting streak to a season-high 12 games.

Stephen Vogt was the big offensive star for the Giants on the afternoon, as he lashed two triples and a single in a come-from-behind victory.

Vogt is the first Giants catcher since Steve Nicosia on July 18, 1984, to have two triples in the same game.

“Definitely thinking third,” said Vogt.

Madison Bumgarner was cruising until the top of the third inning when, catcher, Manny Pina hit a solo home run off of Bumgarner to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead.

The Brewers extended their lead in the top of the fourth inning, as Grandal walked, then Mike Moustakas doubled him to third base. Then came some bizarre defense, as Kevin Pillar dropped the Hernan Perez fly ball for an error and a sacrifice fly on the same play.

On the play, Grandal scored and Moustakas went to third, with Perez advancing to second base on the play.

Orlando Arcia then got in on the act, as he grounded out to score Moustakas from third base. Pina picked up his second RBI in as many at-bats, as he singled in Perez from third base to extend the Brewers lead.

Vogt then helped get the Giants on the board in the bottom half of the inning, as he tripled for the first time in the game and then when Pillar singled to left field. Brandon Crawford then extended the inning as he singled to send Pillar to third base.

Unfortunately, that would be all the scoring for the inning, as Steven Duggar, who represented the tying run, grounded out to Grandal to end the inning.

The Brewers extended their lead in the top of the fifth inning, as Grandal hit a sacrifice fly that scored Yelich, who grounded out into a force out.

Brewers starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson began to wild in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he walked the first three batters, including Bumgarner. After Yastrzemski walked to load the bases, Craig Counsell replaced Nelson with Adrian Houser, who fared no better, as he walked Belt to force in Bumgarner.

Houser then got Pablo Sandoval to ground out which scored Panik and then Vogt picked up an RBI, as he hit a sacrifice fly that scored Yastrzemski.

The Giants finally tied it up in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Crawford led off the inning with a double and then scored the tying run when Panik hit a sacrifice fly.

Grandal gave the Brewers the lead once again, as he hit a sacrifice fly that Yelich, who walked with one out in the top of the seventh against Trevor Gott, who replaced Bumgarner in the beginning of the inning.

Vogt got the eventual game-winning rally started in the bottom of the seventh inning, as he tripled for the second time on the afternoon with one out. Pillar then tied the game when he singled in Vogt.

Crawford then gave the Giants the lead for good, as he doubled into short center field that scored Pillar.

Once again, Vogt came through in the bottom of the eighth inning, as he beat out an infield single that scored Belt.

Bumgarner had another quality start as he went six innings, allowing five runs (three earned), five hits, three walks, and had six strikeouts.

“Everybody is starting to come around,” said Bumgarner.

Nelson also did not fare in the decision, as he went four innings, allowing four runs on five hits, walking three and striking out six.

Gott pitched the seventh inning, as he picked up his third win of the season, while Junior Guerra lost for the first time.

Despite the home run to Yelich, and the single to Braun, Smith was able to notch his 18th save of the season, as he got Grandal to fly out to end the game.

“Definitely off tomorrow,” said Bochy about Smith.

NOTES: With the victory, the Giants have the highest winning percentage in baseball in one- run, as they are now 16-6 (.727), one-half game over the San Diego Padres, who are 16-7 with a percentage of .696.

The last time that Vogt picked up two triples in the same game came on May 4, 2017, against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.

Belt extended his on-base streak up to 18 games, as he went 1-for-4 on the day and is hitting .310 (18-for-58) with two home runs and 10 runs batted in.

Crawfords three hits were his most since he picked up three hits on September 18,2018 against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

UP NEXT: Jeff Samardzija looks to help the Giants go for the sweep on Sunday afternoon, as he will face Chase Anderson for the Brewers.

MLB podcast with Matt Harrington: Dodgers show love of new t-shirts are as deep as the ocean; Giants Pomeranz and Panda pitch and hit for win over the Brew Crew; plus more

@adriangarro photo: Los Angeles Dodgers Max Muncey gets a laugh out of the freshly printed t-shirts on Friday night at Dodgers Stadium in reference to his chatter with San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner after hitting a home run off him on the Dodgers last trip to San Francisco.

On the MLB podcast with Matt:

#1 Who would ever thought that the Los Angeles Dodgers would ever print the famous words from Dodgers slugger Max Muncy after he hit a splash hit off San Francisco Giants starter Madison Bumgarner when Muncy and the Dodgers were in San Francisco that said “Go get it out of the ocean” a reference to Bumgarner telling Muncy to “run and not watch the ball” after a home run and then Muncy telling Bumgarner “If you don’t want me to watch the ball go get it out of the ocean.” The Dodgers this week have been wearing blue t-shirts with those words printed on it.

#2 For the second consecutive game, San Francisco Giants pitcher Drew Pomeranz got the winning decision in a 5-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Pomeranz pitched for five innings, giving five hits and two runs striking out five hitters.

#3 The once former Boston Red Sox third baseman that was given up for dead Pablo Sandoval for San Francisco went 3-4 on Friday night, including a double and a home run

#4 The Oakland A’s are certainly a ball club that is playing .500 ball after their 10-game win streak a couple weeks back ended they have been playing some back and forth ball going 6-4 on their last road trip and dropping their first game to Seattle 9-2 to open a homestand in Oakland on Friday night.

#5 You have to enjoy the two-way competition between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees in the AL East. The Rays with a 1/2 game margin over the Yankees make it for a competitive battle. The Rays bounced back from having the A’s taking two out three from them in their previous series with a win over the LA Angels 9-4. The Yankees got trounced on Friday night by the Chicago White Sox 10-2.

Matt does the MLB podcast each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana Kieu: A lot of good things are happening to the Quakes

Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

On the San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana:

1. Nick Lima was in the USMNT’s lineup in Sunday’s match against Venezuela.

2. Chris Wondolowski was named MLS Player of the Month.

3. The Quakes began their US Open Cup run Tuesday night at Avaya Stadium against Sacramento Republic FC.

4. The Quakes will face Spanish La Liga side Real Valladolid at Avaya Stadium on Tuesday, July 16.

5. The Quakes’ next home match will be on Wednesday, June 26 against the Houston Dynamo.

Ana does the San Jose Earthquakes podcast each week for SportsRadioService.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants getting key pitching in recent wins

Photo credit: @SFGiants

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Shaun Anderson looks like a keeper he pitched an effective game against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night, going six innings, four hits, two runs, six strikeouts and three walks.

#2 Giants closer Will Smith brought his A game with the bags juiced in the top of the ninth. He got his 16th save in 16 tries.

#3 The Padres had a short time lead in the top of the fifth 2-1 until the bottom of the fifth when the Giants scored twice and Padres manager Andy Green said that they had a shot at winning the game, but just didn’t have enough to get over the hump.

#4 When the Padres acquired star third baseman Manny Machado, the Padres thought they had their road paved to postseason, but now the Padres are two below .500 and in fifth place just a place above the Giants.

#5 Friday the 14th, the Milwaukee Brewers and Giants open a three-game series with the Brewers sending out starter Zach Davies (7-0 ERA 2.41) against Giants starter Drew Pomeranz (1-6, 7.16 ERA).

Michael Duca does the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Blues-Bruins involved in hard-fought finals; Warriors cry for Durant; plus more

Photo credit: @ChicagoSports

On Headline Sports with Tony Renteria:

#1 The St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins played a long hard fought NHL Finals that went seven games in a back-and-forth series.

#2 How much of the injuries to the Golden State Warriors Kevon Looney, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant played in their struggle to win games in the finals?

#3 Talk about Warriors team president Bob Meyers, who cried after game five when Durant went down with the Achilles injury. Meyers taking much of the responsibility for the decision on putting Durant back in now lost for at least a year.

#4 The New England Patriots are filing tampering charges against the Houston Texans for trying to talk to the Patriots Director of Player personnel Nick Caserio. The Texans general manager Brian Gaine attended a post Super Bowl ring celebration at Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s house as did Caserio. Some conversation or interest of Caserio took place and hence the tampering suit.

#5 When you have mob names like the Surgeon (Louis Alfredo Rivas Clase) and a woman named the Venezuelan or Red, these are just two of the names that help coordinate the shooting of former Red Sox star David Ortiz in the Dominican Republic. It was also reported that two other men were involved and a total of six people were involved in the planning of the shooting of Ortiz.

Tony Renteria does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s close out road trip, taking 2 out of 3 from Rays; Oakland City Council questioning new A’s ballpark

photo from newsday.com: Oakland Athletics’ Ramon Laureano connects for a grand slam off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Colin Poche during the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 12, 2019, in St. Petersburg, Fla.

On the A’s on podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Oakland A’s Ramon Laureano’s grand slam was certainly a huge part of the A’s 6-2 win on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

#2 The A’s had a decent road trip, finishing two games over .500 at 6-4, a nine-game swing that took them to Anaheim, Arlington, and Tampa Bay.

#3 The A’s Matt Olson is swinging the bats he clouted his 11th home run of the season with a home run off Rays pitcher Yonny Chirinos.

#4 Tampa has a potent line up being first in their division and very difficult to get a win at Tropicana Field and the Rays being tied with the New York Yankees in the American League East for first place the A’s came away from Tampa with two wins out of the three game series.

#5 The A’s still have a lot of work in front of them as they open up a ten game homestand starting Friday night against the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners will start Marco Gonzalez (6-6, 4.77 ERA) and for Oakland Chris Bassitt (3-2, 3.57 ERA).

#6 With the Oakland City Council not ready to vote on moving forward with approving the plans at Howard Terminal for the A’s new ball park.

#7 Oakland City Councilman Dan Kalb didn’t beat around the bush he made it clear that Council members want a full understanding about how finances for infrastructure and one of their biggest issues is on public transportation while the gondola from 12th Street BART to Jack London Square is a start Kalb is asking the A’s for a more comprehensive plan for public transit for the public to get to and from the ball park.

#8 In answer to the Council’s concerns on these issues, Oakland A’s media relations manager Catherine Aker said the team is working on an infrastructure plan. The A’s are expected to ask the city for $200 million for infrastructure plans.

#9 This was the same amount the Oakland Raiders asked for in order to build a new stadium, but the Raiders never got a deal with the city. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said public tax dollars will not be used for the project but a special tax around the new ball park a district tax will help pay for the infrastructure plans, including taxes coming from the 3,000 housing units and a 400-room hotel.

Listen for Jerry’s podcasts each Thursday on Oakland A’s baseball at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: World Cup–US Women no match for Thailand in 13-0 blowout; Kings to host Summer League at Golden 1; plus more

Photo credit: @BostonGlobe

On the Headline Sports podcast with London:

#1 In the World Cup, US Women downed Thailand 13-0, Alex Morgan scored five goals and there was no mercy rule as the US Women kept pouring it on in Reims, France. The US took it to Thailand right from the kickoff.

#2 The win by the US topped the old record when Germany took it to Argentina in an 11-0 win in the 2007 World Cup.

#3 The Sacramento Kings will be hosting a California Classic Summer League at Golden 1 Center from July 1st through 3rd. Fans will get to take a look at the following teams: the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings.

#4 With the Summer League coming up, where does Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton stand? He has been accused of sexual assault. His accuser is also holding the Warriors and Lakers legally responsible for the attacks. Is the Luke Walton case going to be a distraction or can Luke guide the Kings and get past it?

#5 The San Jose Earthquakes won a friendly 4-3 over Sacramento Republic FC on Tuesday night at Avaya Stadium. Earthquakes star Chris Wondolowski said that the team is in a zone a winning mental state right now, and even though it was like a preseason game, the Quakes are pushing to win and won’t take any prisoners right now.

#6 Former San Francisco Giants right fielder Hunter Pence hit another one off the fence for the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night against the Red Sox. Pence chalked up his 14th home run for an inside-the-park home run against the Boston Red Sox. Pence has been in the zone this season. He’s also got the Rangers clubhouse pretty loose right now.

London Marq does Headline Sports each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com