Tag: Tampa Bay Rays

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: Piscotty says he feels fine, back in the lineup Monday night; Manaea says rehab is coming along great

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Photo credit: @NBCSAthletics

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The A’s and Orioles started the three-game series with a close game at the Oakland Coliseum on Monday night. Regardless where some teams are in the standings, the A’s opponents are well aware they might be playing some tight games.

#2 Stephen Piscotty came back from melanoma from his right ear and was in the lineup on Monday night at the Coliseum. Piscotty says he’s doing fine.

#3 The Oakland A’s Sean Manaea and AJ Puk are working their way back into the rotation. Manaea has been throwing 45-pitch simulated games and Puk, who had Tommy John, has been throwing. Although their recoveries are slow, they’re both determined to make it back.

#4 Mike Fiers started for the Oakland A’s on Monday night against the Baltimore Orioles Jack Cashner in a game that turned out to be a well pitched game with the A’s getting a one run win 3-2.

#5 The A’s Matt Chapman, who leads the team in home runs with 16, and part of why the A’s have such consistent hitting.

Charlie O does the A’s podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Yankees look for more pitching to get past Rays; A’s-O’s series could feature close games; plus more

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Photo credit: @NewsdaySports

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is actively going shopping looking for pitching. One of the strong prospects of winning in the postseason is good pitching. The Yankees, who have been hampered by injuries, are looking forward to a healthier second half of the season with a compliment of good pitching.

#2 The Oakland A’s are facing the Baltimore Orioles in a three-game series. The Orioles have struggled all season, but like in the show, a team like the Orioles could come out of it and make a series of it. The A’s might very well be involved in some close games in this series.

#3 As of late, the A’s have been getting some hitting production at the bottom of their lineup from Jurickson Profar, Josh Phegley, Matt Chapman, Khris Davis, Marcus Semien, and Ramon Laureano.

#4 The A’s put together a four-game winning streak before dropping the final game of their series against the Tampa Bay Rays to conclude their last road trip at 6-4.

#4 The San Francisco Giants are playing the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers for a three-game series at Dodgers Stadium the last time these two teams met at Oracle Park it nearly turned into a zoo when Max Muncy was circling the bases after pitcher Madison Bumgarner told Muncy to quit watching the ball and run and Muncy told Bumgarner if he doesn’t like it he could go into the ocean and get the ball. Amaury describes if this one will be a rivalry again.

#5 David Ortiz attorney José Martínez Hoepelman has said that the tireless effort by authorities have been fruitful and that the people want information, but they just have to wait. Dominican police say they are closing in on the ring leader Gabriel Alexánder Pérez Vizcaíno, according to the Associated Press.

#6 Turning to Los Angeles where the San Francisco Giants are playing a three-game series with the Dodgers, our attention turns to a topic we didn’t get to talk about — In feature article in the Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Dodgers Spanish announcer Jaime Jarrin, whose 84-years-old, lost his wife last month in May after 65 years of marriage. The Dodgers paid a tribute to their marriage and Jaime, who is a huge part of the Dodger family, talked about losing his wife last February 28th.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez does the Oakland A’s Spanish play-by-play and News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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

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@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

 

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

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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

Ramon Laureano’s grand slam propels the A’s to a 6-2 win over the Rays

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Photo credit: nbcbayarea.com

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s ended the 10-game road trip with a 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday afternoon. The A’s finished the road trip with a 6-4 record and return home to face the Seattle Mariners Friday night.

The A’s veteran lefty Brett Anderson pitched well again on Wednesday. Anderson gave the A’s 6 1/3 innings and allowed seven hits and two runs. The Rays’ Yonny Chirinos also pitched well. The young man from Venezuela gave the Rays six innings of work. He allowed two runs and seven hits.

The A’s put one on the board in the top of the fourth. A’s DH Khris Davis led off the inning with a double. He tagged and went to third on Stephen Piscotty’s fly ball to centerfield. Ramon Laureano drove in Davis on an infield single. The A’s added a run in the sixth when Matt Olson took Chirinos deep with his eleventh big fly of the season. The A’s led 2-0 after six.

Anderson started the seventh inning. He was effective all game long as he mixed his pitches well and kept the hitters off balance with fastballs, sliders, and changeups.

With one out, Rays’ centerfielder Guillermo Heredia singled. Former San Francisco Giant Christian Arroyo walked. Ryan Christensen, who was managing, the club as manager Bob Melvin was tossed for arguing balls and strikes with the home plate umpire, brought in Liam Hendriks to pitch. Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz double to drive in Heredia with the Rays’ first run. Arroyo stopped at third. The A’s walked Austin Meadows, who is leading the AL in hitting, to load the bases. Rays’ right fielder Avaisal Garcia reached on a fielder’s choice. Marcus Semien fielded the ball, and since there was a force play at any base, he looked to get the out at third. Chapman wasn’t covering the base, and that forced Semien to try to get the out at second. The throw was just a hair late. Arroyo scored to tie the game.

The A’s regained the lead in the top of the eighth. Matt Olson led off with a single. Davis struck out. Piscotty walked. Rays’ reliever uncorked a wild pitch to advance Olson and Piscotty. The Rays walked Robbie Grossman to set up an inning-ending double play. The Rays brought in lefty Colin Poche to pitch to Ramon Laureano. The strategy failed as Laureano hit his ninth home run of the year to put four on the board.

The A’s called on Lou Trivino to pitch the eighth. Trivino gave up three hits, but the Rays failed to score. Blake Treinen retired the Rays to preserve the win for the A’s.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s improve to 35-34. The Rays are now 41-26 and fall 1/2 game behind the New York Yankees in the race for first place in the AL East.

Liam Hendriks was credited with the win, and his record is now 3-0. He also received credit for his first blown save. Adam Kolarek was the losing pitcher for Tampa Bay.

Up Next: The A’s are off on Thursday. They resume play Friday night when they meet the Seattle Mariners for a three-game set at the Oakland Coliseum.

A’s edge the Rays 4-3 to even the series

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

A’s pitcher Mike Fiers gave the A’s six strong innings of work Tuesday night to help the Green and Gold beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 at Tropicana Field. The Rays used an “opener” Ryne Stanek to pitch the first inning. It was the 19th time Stanek had started a game. The Rays brought in lefty Jalen Beeks to pitch in the second.

Fiers got off to a rocky start as the second hitter in the Rays’ lineup, Tommy Pham, blasted his ninth of the year to give the Rays an early 1-0 lead. Fiers settled down and kept the Rays off the board until the fourth inning. With two out, Fiers walked Rays’ shortstop Willy Adames. Centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier singled to send Adames to third. Adames scored when Tampa pulled off a successful double steal. A’s catcher Josh Phegley tried to throw out Kiermaier stealing at second. His throw was a bit high. A’s second baseman Jurickson Profar had to go up and get the throw to prevent it from going into centerfield. Adames was able to score on the play. The Rays lead 2-0.

The A’s put a run on the board in the top of the fifth. Profar singled to get the rally going. Profar went to second on a passed ball and scores on Chad Pinder’s single.

In the sixth, the A’s scored three times to take the lead 4-2. With one out, Matt Chapman reached on an error. Matt Olson followed with his 10th home of the year. The next hitter, Khris Davis blasted his 14th.

The A’s used Liam Hendriks in the seventh and Lou Trivino in the eighth. Neither pitcher allowed the Rays a hit.

Blake Treinen was called in to pitch the ninth. Treinen committed a cardinal sin as he walked the leadoff hitter, Brandon Lowe. Treinen struck out Yandy Diaz for the first out. Ji-Man Choi hit into a fielder’s choice for the second out. Lowe was safe at second. Willy Adames singled to drive in Lowe. Treinin then retired Kiermaier on a ground ball to Matt Olson for the final out. The A’s won 4-3.

Game Notes: The A’s evened their record at 34-34. The Rays fell to 41-25.

Fiers improved to 6-3 for the year. Treinen earned the save.  Fiers’ line was 6 innings, 3 hits, and 2 runs. The losing pitcher for Tampa Bay was Emilio Pagan. Pagan entered the game in the sixth inning

The A’s line was four runs, seven hits, and no errors. The Rays’ line was three runs, four hits, and one error.

Up Next: The A’s meet the Rays Wednesday morning at 9:10 am. Lefty Brett Anderson (6-4, 3.98 ERA) will pitch for Oakland. Tampa has not announced its starter.

Time of game was two hours and 47 minutes. 11,132 people watched the A’s win.

A’s lose opener to Rays 6-2

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Photo credit: @statesfly

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s started a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field Monday night. The A’s had a little trouble getting out of Arlington, Texas on Sunday night and the team arrived late in Florida with a game they still had to play. The A’s started rookie Tanner Anderson. Anderson played college ball at Harvard and made his first Major League start. Also, Anderson is from the Tampa area, and had many family members in attendance.

The young man did not disappoint his family or his team. Anderson went 5 2/3 innings and allowed three hits and two runs. His team did not provide any run support until late in the game.

Meanwhile, Rays starter, Charlie Morton, shut down the A’s offense for seven innings. Morton, who signed with the Rays as a free agent, pitched exceptionally well. He had his cutter and slider working. He baffled the A’s right-hand hitters with an array of pitches that swept across the plate. In his seven innings of work, he gave up two hits and no runs. He won his eighth game of the year.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out and one man on, Rays rookie second baseman, Brandon Lowe (pronounced Lau) slammed his 14th home run of the year into the left-field seats. Lowe, without doubt, will be a candidate for Rookie of the Year.

The Rays added two in the seventh and two in the eighth. Kevin Kiermaier hits his eighth of the year to make it 4-0, and Ji-Man Choi hit his seventh with a man on to make it 6-0.

The A’s avoided the shutout when they scored two in the ninth. Mark Canha walked to get the rally going. Canha scored on Stephen Piscotty’s double and Piscotty scored on Robbie Grossman’s single. The A’s could do no more, and they fell to the Rays 6-2.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s record dropped to 33-34. Anderson took the loss, and he is 0-1. The Rays’ Charlie Morton improved to 8-0, and his ERA dropped to 2.10.

The Rays’ line was six runs, eight hits, and no errors. The A’s line was two runs, four hits, and no errors.

The A’s announced their shortstop Marcus Semien was named AL Player of the Week.

Up Next: Game two of the series will be played Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. Game time will be at 4:10 pm.

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Raiders’ Crowell injured in team practice, out for season; Kentucky Derby coming up, will dying horses spell an end for industry?; plus more

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photo bleacherreport.com: 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. The Kentucky Derby kicks off this Saturday.

On the Headlines Sports podcast with London Marq:

#1 The Oakland Raiders’ running back Isaiah Crowell, during a team workout, suffered a season-ending injury, tearing his Achilles. Crowell is a five-year NFL veteran and played with the New York Jets last season. He was signed on with the Raiders for this season for $2.5 million.

#2 With the Kentucky Derby coming up this Saturday, all the talk has been about horses dying at Santa Anita in just seven months. Looking at the year between 2017-18, a reported 37 deaths have been reported, and the New York Times reported since 2018 to the present, the deaths have not subsided. The questions raised were why? Was it that the horses are physically driven to exhaustion on race days, was it the medications the injury-masking painkillers? Is the sport due to die out because of these horse deaths?

#3 If it wasn’t for the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays, the New York Yankees could very well be the top team in the AL East. The Yankees are just 2.5 games behind first place Tampa have won eight of their last 10 and also swept the San Francisco Giants and beat the Arizona Diamondbacks behind CC Sabathia’s 3,000 career strikeout. The Yanks lost the game, but Sabathia went down in the record books.

#4 The Oakland A’s are really off track. The club has lost six straight games. They’re coming off getting swept by the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox and have three more road games with the Pittsburgh Pirates starting on Friday night at PNC Park.

#5 Could the Golden State Warriors put the Houston Rockets away? It even looks a lot easier for Golden State than it did last postseason last year when they played the Rockets. Kevin Durant (29), Klay Thompson (20), and Stephen Curry (19) were the top three scorers for Golden State in Game 3. The Warriors lead the series 2-0.

London Marq does the Headlines Sports podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Chirinos and Diaz set tone in Rays’ 3-0 win over Giants

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Photo credit: @RaysBaseball

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Yandy Diaz must have liked coming to Oracle Park for the first time in his major-league career.

Diaz, who homered in the opener of the series, hit his second home run of the series in the top of the first inning and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the San Francisco Giants 3-0 before a crowd of 31,574 at Oracle Park.

The Diaz home run was originally ruled a single; however, Rays manager Kevin Cash challenged the call and after a brief review, the call was reversed and Diaz picked up his third home run of the season and first career leadoff home run.

Yonny Chirinos went five innings, allowing two hits, walking just one and striking out five and he raised his record to 2-0 on the season.

This is the first time since the 2007 season in Bruce Bochys first season as manager that the Giants have lost their first three series in a season. That season, the Giants lost two out of three against the San Diego Padres, were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers and then lost two out of three against the Padres at Petco Park.

Chirinos did not give up a hit until Eric Kratz blooped a single just out of the reach of Rays second baseman Daniel Robertson.

Kratz was thrown out at second base attempting steal to end the bottom of the third for the Giants.

Tommy Pham did it again, as he reached base for the 42nd straight game, extending his own record. Pham singled in the top of the first inning, and then walked in the top of the third inning.

Evan Longoria singled off of Chirinos in the bottom of the fourth inning, and then Brandon Crawford walked to lead off the bottom of the fifth for the only Giants runners off of Chirinos in his five innings of work.

Drew Pomeranz went four innings in his Oracle Park debut for the Giants, as he gave up two runs on six hits, walking three and striking out five and lost for the first time this season.

Joe Panik barely missed a chance to reach in the bottom of the first inning, as he was originally called safe on a groundball hit to Willy Adames; however, Cash challenged the call and it was reversed after just 27 seconds.

The Rays pulled off some bizarre defensive shifts in the bottom of the seventh, as Adam Kolarek began the inning on the mound for what was to be his second inning; however, Cash moved to Diaz to third base and then Kolarek to first base and Chaz Roe went to the mound.

After a few batters, Kolarek went back to the mound, Diaz to first base and Brandon Lowe went to third base.

This was not the first time that the Rays have done this trick, as Cash and the Rays did twice last season.

Closer Jose Alvarado did it last season on June 26 against the Washington Nationals, and then former Giants closer Sergio Romo participated in the routine on July 25 against the New York Yankees. Both Alvarado and Romo moved to third base before returning to the mound.

In all, Kolarek went 1.1 innings, allowing two hits and striking out two, while Rowe went 0.1 innings, striking out one.

The Rays tacked on a run in the top of the eighth inning, as Kevin Kiermaier scored on a balk by Nick Vincent.

Kiermaier tripled to right field off Vincent with one out in the inning.

NOTES: Over the past nine seasons, the quartet of Brandon Belt, Madison Bumgarner, Brandon Crawford and Buster Posey have played for Bruce Bochy during that entire time.

According to STATS, LLC., this quartet is tied with the 1982-1990 Detroit Tigers (Sparky Anderson, Chet Lemon, Jack Morris, Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker) and the 1981-1989 Los Angeles Dodgers (Tommy Lasorda, Mike Marshall, Alejandro Pena, Mike Scioscia and Fernando Valenzuela).

These three teams are behind the 11 years together of the New York Yankees (Joe Torre, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Bernie Williams).

After going down in order in the bottom of the first inning, the Giants are now 1-for-31 (.032) with a hit by a pitch.

Crawford extended his hitting streak up to eight games, when he singled in the bottom of the seventh inning. During the streak, Crawford is 9-for-27 (.333).

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner makes his 2019 home debut on Monday night, as he looks for his first win of the season, while Eric Lauer looks for his second win of the season, as he takes the mound for the San Diego Padres.

Bergen gets first win and Joe gets first hit in Giants’ 6-4 win over Rays

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — With another loss looming on the horizon, Brandon Belt put a stop to that with one swing of the bat.

Belt hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, helping the San Francisco Giants to a 6-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays before a crowd of 31,828 at Oracle Park.

In their first nine games this season, seven of the nine games have been decided two runs or less.

The big fifth inning made a winner out of Travis Bergen, who faced one batter in the top of the fifth inning.

It was the first major league victory for Bergen, in his fifth major league appearance out of the bullpen.

Not only did Belt make a big play with his bat, but he also made one with his glove in the top of the sixth inning, as he made diving stab on a Daniel Robertson hit ball that Belt snared and threw to Sam Dyson, who ran over to cover at first base.

That was the second best defensive play of the day, as Kevin Pillar made a diving catch in the top of the fifth inning that saved a run.

Joe Panik got the eventual game-winning rally started in the bottom of the fifth inning, then Connor Joe picked up his major league hit and then Steven Duggar hit a two-run double that gave the Giants the lead for good.

Following the Duggar double, Belt launched a two-run home run to the opposite field for his third home run of the season.

The Rays got on the board in the top of the first inning, as Ji-Man Choi doubled in Tommy Pham, who walked with one out in the inning.

Duggar tied up the game in the bottom of the third inning , when he hit a sacrifice fly that scored Pillar and then Belt singled in Panik.

Giants starter Jeff Samardzija went 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking just one and striking out four.

Rays opener Ryne Stanek went two innings, and striking out two before giving way to Jalen Beeks, who also pitched two innings.

Ryan Yarbrough pitched three innings, allowing four runs on four hits, walking one and striking two.

NOTES: This was the smallest crowd to see a Giants game at home since September 1, 2010, when the Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 2-1 before just 31,186.

Also, it was the smallest crowd at a Giants game in the month of April since April 27, 2010 against the Philadelphia Phillies, a game that the Giants won 6-2 in front of 31,792.

The Giants are now 8-6 all-time versus the Rays, and 3-2 at Oracle Park. This is the Rays first trip to San Francisco since the 2002 season, when the Giants swept the Rays.

As for the Rays, this was the 1,700th road game in team history, and they are now 718-982 all-time away from Tropicana Field since the team was founded in 1998.

UP NEXT: Drew Pomeranz makes his Giants debut as a starter at Oracle Park on Sunday afternoon, while the Rays will send Yonny Chirinos to the bump in the series finale.