Tag: Tampa Bay Rays

MLB podcast with Charlie O: It just continues to get worse for A’s; It just keeps getting better for Rays

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Tampa Bay Rays Randy Arozarena with folded arms is hitting .359 with two home runs and 11 RBIs one of the top hitters in the Rays line up (@RaysBaseball photo)

On the MLB podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie O, it’s the tale of two teams one team the Oakland A’s are predicted to have a even rougher and tougher season than their 102 loss season and it’s not getting off to a great start either with a loses starting to mount now sitting on a 2-8 start of 2023.

#2 The other team that’s already getting lots of props the Tampa Bay Rays who have won their first ten games defeating the Red Sox in their last game at Tropicana Field Monday night. The Rays have been getting both plenty of pitching and hitting defeating the A’s last Saturday and Sunday in landslide wins 11-0.

#3 Got to ask you have impressive it is for the Rays were in good company with the 1939 New York Yankees. The Rays had a nine game win streak scoring four or more runs going and needed four games to catch the 39 Yankees who have 13 straight wins scoring four or more runs it didn’t happen as the Rays topped the Sox by a run 1-0 on Monday for their tenth straight win.

#4 The Rays also got some top notch hitting Sunday from lead off hitter Brandon Lowe with four RBIs and two runs scored, Randy Arozarena who got two hits and an RBI. The Rays simply are the talk of baseball right now with their 10-0 record.

#5 Charlie, you’ve been around minor league baseball a time or two talk about the Los Angeles Angels affiliate on Sunday the Rocket City Trash Pandas who allowed a hit in a doubleheader and came away with a split. Three Panda pitchers combined for a seven inning no hitter against the Cincinnati Reds affiliate the Chattanooga Lookouts Sunday. The Pandas allowed seven runs in the top of the seventh, five walks, hit five batters, a run scoring wild pitch and a dropped fly ball with the bases loaded which would have been the final out.

#6 Atlanta catcher Travis D’Arnaud has been placed on the seven day injured list. D’Arnaud received a concussion after the San Diego Padres Rougned Odor collided with D’Arnaud at the plate in the Padres loss to the Braves 4-1 Saturday at Sun Trust Stadium in Cobb County. How much or how little did the Buster Posey rule play a part in this collision?

Charlie O does the MLB podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Bruce Magowan : Is Tiger pretty much at the end of the line?; Rays demonstrate what it is to be best in baseball; plus more

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Tiger Woods hits from the fairway on the 15th hole during the weather delayed third round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Saturday, April 8, 2023, in Augusta, Ga. Tiger left with a foot injury at the Masters on Sat Apr 8, 2023 (AP News file photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Bruce:

#1 Bruce, how surprised are you regarding Tiger Woods withdrawing from the Masters on Saturday due to a foot injury. How concerning are some the injuries, aches and pains over time for Tiger’s future.

#2 Bruce, the Tampa Bay Rays rolling to their eighth consecutive win over the Oakland A’s Saturday with a convincing 11-0 win. The Rays are getting lots of offense from their line up from Isaac Paredes and Brandon Low who had three RBIs each on Saturday.

#3 What’s impressive about what the Rays are doing their first team since the 1939 New York Yankees to win eight straight games to start a season.

#4 Bruce, talk about your former radio station KGO Newstalk 810 where you anchored sports. The flagship station of the Cal Bears. The station got away from talk and is now primarily doing a lot of national syndicated programming and left local talk in the dust how do you see what was once one of the great stations on the dial a shell of it’s former self?

Bruce joins http://www.sportsradioservice.com during the 2023 San Francisco Giants home games to talk Headline Sports

No Mercy rule A’s blanked by Tampa Bay 11-0 at Tropicana; Rays best MLB start in 20 years at 8-0

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Tampa Bay Rays’ Randy Arozarena acknowledges the crowd from the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg on Sat Apr 8, 2023 (AP News photo)

A’s Blanked By Tampa Bay 11-0

By Barbara Mason

Saturday afternoon the Oakland A’s (2-6) played the Tampa Bay Rays (8-0) in game two of their three game series. Friday Oakland dropped game one 9-5 amid a flurry of Ray home runs. The A’s did have more hits than Tampa Bay did but they had trouble stringing hits together and bringing runners home. They were looking to even the series Saturday but were lambasted by the Rays in an 11-0 laugher at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg.

This game was scoreless through three innings. In the fourth inning the Rays got a couple of runs off a single from Isaac Paredes sending Brandon Lowe and Wander Franco home for a 2-0 lead.

Tampa Bay began to pile it on in the fifth and sixth innings. They scored seven times taking a 9-0 lead. A Randy Arozarena single brought Manuel Margot and Francisco Mejia home and the Rays were just getting started. Brandon Lowe would score his second run of the game when Paredes was hit by a pitch.

This gave the Rays a 5-0 lead. The sixth inning did not get any better for the Oakland defense giving up another four runs. Tampa Bay had a couple of home runs; one a solo from Margot and another from B. Lowe with two runners on base for the 9-0 lead.

In the eighth inning the Rays had their third home run of the game courtesy of Arozarena with a runner on base for the final 11-0 score. This was the eighth win a row for the Rays to start the season.

The A’s could only manage three hits in this game. They sent ace Shintaro Fujinami to the mound going 4.1 innings allowing three hits and five earned runs. Oakland would send four relief pitchers to the mound in the losing effort.

Tomorrow the A’s will finish up this series in Tampa Bay. James Kaprielian will take the mound for the A’s and for Tampa Bay Drew Rasmussen will get the nod. First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 AM.

Oakland Falls to Undefeated Rays 9-5

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Oakland Athletics’ Ramon Laureano (22) prepares to get tagged out at home plate by Tampa Bay Rays catcher Christian Bethancourt while trying to score on an RBI single by Jace Peterson during the second inning at the Tropicana Field in St Petersburg on Fri Apr 7, 2023 (AP News photo)

Oakland Falls to Undefeated Rays 9-5

By Barbara Mason

Friday evening the Oakland A’s (2-5) took on the power house undefeated Tampa Bay Rays (7-0). The Rays come into this game after beating the Washington Nationals 7-2 while the A’s dropped one to the Cleveland Guardians 6-4 on Wednesday.

Neither team scored in the first inning but Oakland would score a run in the second inning. Jace Peterson hit a single to center driving Seth Brown home. Ramon Laureano was thrown out trying to score a second run. The Rays would have a very productive second inning driving in six runs. Harold Ramirez hit a solo home run but the fireworks began when Isaac Paredes hit a grand slam to extend the Tampa Bay lead to 6-1.

The A’s had a lot of work to do and single runs scored were not going to do it. They had one run in the third inning when Ryan Noda solo homered but the Rays would answer with a couple of solo home runs of their own. Both Manuel Margot and Christian Bethancourt knocked ball out of the park to extend their lead to 8-2.

Oakland got another run in the fifth inning when Aledmys Diaz ground rule doubled driving Esteury Ruiz home still trailing 8-3. The A’s would get another run in the seventh inning when Shea Langeliers knocked one out of the park for a 8-4 Oakland deficit.

The Rays Wander Franco would hit the fifth Tampa Bay homer in the eighth inning for the 9-5 win. The A’s got their final run of the game in the ninth inning when Kemp singled and Langliers scored.

It was the five home runs that killed the A’s in this game. They had more hits than the Rays with 12 to Tampa’s 10 but it was the long ball that mattered in this game. Oakland was able to get players on base in this game but just could not bring them home.

The A’s will meet the Rays in game two of this three game series Saturday. For the A’s Shintaro Fujinami (0-1 ERA 30.86) for the Rays Jeffery Springs (1-0 ERA 0.00) First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 PM.

Guardians down A’s in ten innings 6-4

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Cleveland Guardians’ Steven Kwan watches his RBI single during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Apr 5, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND– The Oakland A’s (5-2) and the Cleveland Guardians (2-4) met in a matinee Wednesday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum. The teams had split the first two games played. The Guardians won Monday night 12-11 in the innings, and the A’s won a walk-off Tuesday night, 4-3.

The A’s offense was in snooze land for the game’s first seven innings. Oakland’s hitter managed just one single off the Guardians’ starter, Hunter Gaddis. Cleveland scored two runs in the sixth and two in the seventh. The A’s found a way to tie the game in the eighth.

A Ryan Noda solo homer and a three-run jack off the bat of Jesus Aguilar tied the game. The A’s had a chance to win the game. Alas, things went south in the tenth as Cleveland scored twice, and the A’s failed to counter. Cleveland downs the A’s 6-4.

The Guardians drew first blood in the top of the sixth. A’s starter Kyle Muller held Cleveland scoreless for the first five innings. Muller recorded the first two outs in the sixth. Muller then hit Cleveland’s third baseman Gabriel Arias with a pitch. Myles Straw singled. There were two men on with two out. Guardians’ catcher Cam Gallagher doubled to drive in both runners. Cleveland leads 2-0. 

levllThe Guardians added two more runs in the seventh to go ahead 4-0. The A’s offense for the first seven innings was one hit. Things changed in the eighth. A’s first baseman Ryan Noda led off the eighth with his first Major League home run to make it 4-1.

The Guardians’ reliever Tim Herrin walked Tony Kemp and Aledmys Diaz. The next hitter, Jesus Aguilar, hit his first home run as an Oakland Athletic to tie the game at 4-4. Neither team scored in the ninth.

Cleveland scored two runs in the top of the tenth. With men on at first and second, A’s reliever Zach Jackson uncorked a wild pitch. Both runners advanced a base. Will Brennan grounded out, and ghost runner Andres Gimenez scored on the play. Steven Kwan singled to drive in Myles Straw with the sixth run of the game for Cleveland. Emmanuel Clase held the A’s scoreless to preserve the win for the Guardians.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s are 2-4. The Guardians improved to 5-2. 

A’s starter Kyle Murray went five and 2/3rd innings and allowed two runs and four hits. He struck out five and walked three, one intentionally. He threw 95 pitches; 62 were strikes. Adrian Martinez, Dominic Acevedo, Jeurys Familia, and Zach Jackson pitched in relief. Jackson took the loss.

The Guardians also used five pitchers. Hunter Gaddis went six innings and allowed one hit. Reliever Eli Morgan, the fourth pitcher of the day, was the winning pitcher. Emmanuel Clase earned his second save of the year.

The time of the game was two hours and 58 minutes. 4930 people watched the A’s lose their fourth game of the young season

The A’s are going to Tampa Bay to play the Rays for three games starting Friday night. Lefty Ken Waldichuk will go for Oakland while the Rays will counter with righty Zach Elfin. The game will start at 3:40 pm.

Sharks Stun Lightning, Surge to 4-3 Comeback OT Win

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The San Jose Sharks forward Timo Meier (28) and defenceman Erik Karlsson (65) celebrate after a goal at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay on Tue Feb 7, 2023 (@SanJoseSharks photo)

By Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks opened the unofficial second half of the season with a bang, rallying from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in overtime Tuesday night. Timo Meier scored a pair of goals and had an assist, Erik Karlsson had a goal and two assists and Kaapo Kähkönen made 34 saves to pick up the road win.

Brayden Point scored a pair and Ross Colton also lit the lamp but the Lightning (32-16-2) saw their home wine streak end at 12 games. San Jose (16-25-11) was outshot 37-22 but walked away with the two points.

Now that Bo Horvat has found a new home on Long Island, Meier has become the center piece for teams looking to add at the trade deadline. Despite a 10 million dollar qualifying offer expected for next year, the Swiss forward showed why he’ll cost suitors a hefty bounty. One of the premier power forwards in the league, both his goals came about five ten feet out from Brian Elliott in the Tampa net.

The game-winner, 2:19 into overtime, came after Meier drove the net and was able to sneak behind two Lightning defenders. He took the feed from Erik Karlsson, no stranger to trade chatter himself, to bury his 30th of the year.

Jonah Gadjovich deflected the tying goal 3:08 into the third, his third of the year, but before that Meier’s talents were on display for the Sharks second goal of the night. Meier, skating on the power play where his nose for the net and propensity to rip his sharp wristers, did just that with 3:37 left in the second buried.

While the penalty kill collapsed to Elliott’s right, Meier skated to the crease on the off-wing. He took the Alexander Barabanov pass off what looked like a set faceoff play and buried it for his first of the night.

The aforementioned Karlsson negated an early Colton goal to tie the game 6:28 into the first, his 17th goal of the year. Karlsson wired a shot through traffic that found its way on net as so many of his shots have this year, beating Elliott.

Brayden Point took over the first period though scoring goals 9:21 into the frame and 16:44 into the first period. The second came on the power play, normally a strength for the Bolts but against the Sharks they went just one for six and went five power plays without a shot on goal.

The Sharks continue their split eight game road trip, facing the Florida Panthers in Sunrise on Thursday. They’re now riding a two-game win streak after beating the Penguins in the last game before the break. They’ll face the Capitals in DC Sunday before finally heading home.

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Len Shapiro: Lightning shooting to tie series; Avalanche would like to go up 3-1 tonight

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Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) checks Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (42) during the NHL Stanley Cup Finals game 3 at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay on Tue Jun 21, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the NHL Finals podcast with Len:

#1 Len, how big is this one tonight for the Tampa Bay Lightning they lost the first two games got demolished in game 2, 7-0 but came right back on home ice to defeat the Colorado Avalanche 6-2 in game 3 to cut Colorado’s lead 2-1.

#2 The Bolts Stephen Stamkos has stayed consistent in the post season and Monday night was no different as Stamkos scored one of the six Tampa Bay goals.

#3 Len talk about Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman who each had two assists and help the Lightning on offense.

#4 Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy saved 37 shots and allowed two goals only the Avalanche’s left winger Gabriel Landeskog did all the scoring with two goals.

#5 For game 4 Len who do you see getting the start in goal for the Avalanche Darcy Kuemper or Paul Francouz? Kuemper struggled in game 3 allowing five goals and Francouz allowed one goal in relief.

Join Len throughout the NHL Stanley Cup Finals for analysis at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Mary Lisa: Lightning need game 4 as well or go back to Colorado down 3-1

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Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Pat Maroon (14) puts the puck by Colorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) in second period action in game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay on Monday, June 20, 2022,

On the Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 Mary Lisa, the Tampa Bay Lightning down 2-0 in the series bounce back and get a much needed 6-2 win to cut the Colorado Avalanche’s series lead to 2-1.

#2 Game 2 the Aves crushed the Lightning 7-0 and after that game the Lightning were concerned about a high scoring Avalanche team but in game 3 on Monday the Lighting on home ice nailed it not wasting any time scoring twice in the first period and four in the second period.

#3 The Lightning got scoring help from Steven Stamkos one goal, Nikita Kucherov two assists, Victor Hedman two assists and Andrei Vasilevskiy in goal saving 37 shots.

#4 The Avalanche might have been shutout if it weren’t for left winger Gabriel Landeskog who did all the scoring with two goals.

#5 Game 4 is slated for Wednesday night at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay. The Avalanche could lick their wounds and rebound and take game 4 and go up 3-1. The Lightning could keep the momentum going with a second straight home ice win. How do you see things shaking out in game 4.

Join Mary Lisa for the NHL Finals podcast throughout the Finals at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The best division in baseball plus

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Copy of the New York Daily News announcing the New York Mets and New York Yankees in the Subway World Series in 2000 edition could the two cross city rivals meet again in this year’s fall classic? (photo by wikipedia)

The Best Division in Baseball, Plus

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–For the first time this 2022 season there will be a third wild card team on each league. No division in baseball is better than the American League East, with the New York Yankees walking-away with the best record in baseball and Toronto, Tampa Bay and Boston poised for a tremendous race.

For the first time ever, a division could have three wild card teams going into the postseason and a total of four of the five teams in this division playing in October.

The American League East is the only division in baseball with four teams playing over .500. In the AL West, there is only one team to beat, Dusty Baker’s Houston Astros, they are the best team and will stay in first place.

The LA Angels are sputtering again, after a very nice start, they went into a funk lost 14 in a row, from May 25 to June 8,and Joe Maddon (one of the best managers in baseball) was sent packing.

Next managerial change could come from Seattle, where expectations were high for this team to win this year. Manager Scott Servais and General Manager Jerry DiPoto are in the hot seat. The Texas Rangers spend a fortune (close to half billion dollars) signing Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, they are both starting to play the way everybody expected, but I do not believe they have the pitching to overtake their State rivals Houston Astros.

The Oakland A’s are what they are. All the other teams have more established talent, they are trying to compete with rookie manager Mark Kotsay, a good baseball man, but the best jockey in the world cannot win the race if the horse is limping.

In the Central Division, considered the weakest in all the major leagues, supposed to be an easy one for the Chicago White Sox, but the great Tony LaRussa is not having much fun so far, star closer Liam Hendriks just placed into the IL.

The Minnesota Twins will be in the playoffs, as of today leading that division and the Cleveland Guardians are playing good baseball, leading the way at third-base, José Ramirez an early candidate for MVP. Watch out for the Indians, sorry, the Guardians, they have a good team and a terrific manager in Terry Francona.

There are some 100 games left for each team this season. While in New York they are talking about a Subway Series, Mets vs Yankees. Most recently, in 2000 the New York teams faced each other with the Yankees winning in five games, a memorable series, which I happened to worked for the Latino Baseball Network.

In other cities there is lots of disappointment. In Los Angeles, the Dodgers, whose manager, Dave Roberts predicted a 2022 World Series win during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, when he said “We will win the World Series in 2022. We will win the World Series this year.”

The Dodgers have pitching problems, ace Walker Buehler recently went into the IL, Julio Urias is not going to win 20 games again this season (he was the only to win 20 last season) plus mixed with an inconsistent offense, the Dodgers have stuff to “figure out”, they do have the talent.

The San Diego Padres, at this time, even with the delayed return of superstar Fernando Tatis Jr, looks like the team that could win this division. Bob Melvin is doing a great job, which is nothing new for the three-time Manager of the Year.

The San Francisco Giants, while they are not going to win 107 games again, they find a way to win series, starter Jacob Junis went into the IL, veterans like Evan Longoria and Brandon Belt, can’t seem to stay healthy.

Giants lost some pieces in the off-season, perhaps the biggest one, starter Kevin Gausman who had his best year ever in 2021 with a 14-6 record, and 2.81 ERA, he left for a very lucrative contract in Toronto. Nobody expected the Giants to have a similar season as 2021, which was a dream season, when every player at the same time, had great years.

Trades: The new deadline this year is set for August 2. There will be many trades, some earlier than others, but the greatest commodities are starting pitchers. they are in high demand. Many of the teams with hopes of postseason play will reinforce themselves. In today’s game the old saying “you never have enough pitching” is new again.

Happy Fathers Day weekend.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for all the play by play of Oakland A’s baseball on the A’s Spanish radio network and on flagship station Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s get out of town after getting swept twice by Cleveland and Tampa Bay

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Tampa Bay Rays’ Manuel Margot hits a two-run single against the Oakland Athletics during the eighth inning at the Oakland Coliseum as the Rays shutout Oakland 3-0 on Wed May 4, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Oakland A’s (10-15) who were swept twice in the last homestand by the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays (15-10) one thing that showed in this past homestand they just couldn’t get many runs on the scoreboard.

#2 Game three of get away day on Thursday was quite transparent as the A’s and Rays played to a 0-0 score until the top of the eighth and the Rays attacked with three runs and never looked back and wound up with a 3-0 shutout win.

#3 The Rays Manuel Margot who slugged a two run single in part of the Rays three run attack broke what was a great pitching duel between the A’s starter Frankie Montas and Rays starter Corey Kluber.

#4 Montas threw like he could have completed the game but his pitch count was up and he was lifted for reliever Zach Jackson in the top of the eighth. Jackson was the pitcher of record that was charged with the three earned runs.

#5 It’s once again back to the drawing board for the A’s as they head for the Twin Cities and Minneapolis and Target Field for Friday night as the A’s will start left hand pitcher Cole Irvin (2-1 ERA 2.93) and the Twins have not announced a starting pitcher yet a 5:10 PDT first pitch.

Join Jerry for the A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com