Tag: Toronto Blue Jays

JP Sears Leads A’s To Series Win Over Blue Jays 8-4; Oakland six run first stands up in two run win

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Oakland A’s Lawrence Butler (4) beats the throw on a slide at second base under the glove of the Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Leo Jimenez (49) in the top of the fourth inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto (Canadian Press via AP photo)

By Barbara Mason

JP Sears had a banner day on the mound Sunday in game three of Oakland’s series with Toronto. He was on a tear going through the Toronto Blue Jays (54-64) lineup like a knife through butter. He went seven innings only allowing three hits and three earned runs.

Oakland A’s (50-69) bats were on fire outhitting Toronto 12 hits to five as the A’s took two out of three from the Jays 8-4. The A’s had a perfect blend of long balls and base on hits winning this series. Lawrence Butler, JJ Bleday, Zach Gelof and Brent Rooker were also instrumental in the win. Mason Miller capped off the win with another brilliant inning on the mound, three up and three down to once again close the door in relief.

Game recap: Whatever the A’s had in their Cheerios this morning they came out on fire scoring six runs in the first inning. They show-cased a blend of home runs and base hits. The first run of the inning came in thanks to a Blue Jays throwing error which allowed Lawrence Butler to score for the early one run lead and the A’s were just getting started.

Bleday hit a two run home run with Rooker on base followed by a Gelof two run homer with Seth Brown aboard and Oakland had a 5-0 lead. They finished off the inning with a Butler single and Daz Cameron scored taking a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the first inning.

Oakland extended their lead in the fourth inning with a Bleday single that brought Butler home for a 7-0 lead. The Blue Jays finally got on the board in the fourth with a solo home run from Daulton Varsho. That was all Toronto was able to muster so far in the game trailing 7-1.

The A’s tacked another run on in the sixth inning taking a 8-1 lead into the seventh inning. Rooker who was having a great day doubled to left and Max Schuemann scored from second base.

Going into the eighth inning, the Blue Jays were running out of time to make any kind of move, in fact, they were pretty close to finished after six innings. Through seven innings, the A’s had 12 hits while the Blue Jays were quiet with only three.

Sears was having a banner day going into the eighth innings with only 97 pitches in some amazing efficiency. He left the game in the beginning of the eighth inning after walking both Spencer Horwitz and Davis Schneider.

He had an amazing game going seven innings only allowing three hits, three runs, three walks and four strikeouts. Michel Otanez relieved him in the inning. Toronto made a huge move in the eighth inning with only one out.

Luis De Los Santos doubled Spencer Horwitz home and George Springer singled both Davis Schneider and Luis De Los Santos home. Toronto scored three runs to cut Oakland’s lead in half.

A monster threat came to the plate in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. This guy is capable of changing a game with one swing of the bat but he grounded into a double play to end the threat. The A’s were now three outs away from winning this series.

Mason Miller closed out this game in the manner that has become customary for him. It was a three up, three down ninth inning. Oakland really took it to Bassitt in this game who is typically a great starter. He allowed eight hits, seven runs, two walks and five strikeouts and only lasted four innings.

Game notes: Saturday, the A’s tied up their series with the Blue Jays after dropping game one on Friday. Game two featured a tense pitchers duel with the A’s finishing on top 1-0 thanks to the pitching of Osvaldo Bido and the closing brilliance of Mason Miller.

There was not much offensive effort from either team and it was the home run from Brent Rooker in the sixth inning that decided this game. In game three today, Oakland will be looking for their bats to get hot. JP Sears was the winning pitcher on Sunday improving his record to 10-8.

The Blue Jays started Chris Bassitt got lit up, Bassitt went four innings, allowed eight hits and seven earned runs. The stadium welcomed over 35,000 fans on hand for this game despite neither team having any chance for a playoff run.

Oakland will now travel to New York for a three game series with the Mets. The Mets are in third place in the National League East a half game behind the second place Atlanta Braves. Another familiar name will take the mound for the Mets in Paul Blackburn.

Blackburn was recently traded to New York in an effort to bolster the Mets rotation. His 3.86 ERA is solid as is his 5-2 win/loss record. The A’s will go with Ross Stripling with a 2-11, 5.72 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for Tuesday at 4:10 PM.

Oakland A’s podcast with Augie Mesenburg: A’s even series as Bido and bullpen blank Jays 1-0 in Toronto

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Oakland A’s Brent Rooker gets congratulations for his home run in the top of the sixth inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto which turned out to be the only run of the game (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Augie:

#1 The Oakland A’s starter Oavaldo Bido with the help of three relievers got a two hitter blanking the Toronto Blue Jays in a close one 1-0 at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Saturday.

#2 Bido had another strong outing for Oakland and it was enough to ward off the Blue Jays. Bido went six innings allowing two hits, one run, and five strikeouts. He had his variety of pitches working for him.

#3 A’s slugger Brent Rooker accounted for the game’s only run with his 29th home run of the season in the top of the sixth inning. Rooker has been having success with the long ball this season.

#4 For the A’s they’ve won a number of series of late and the good pitching beating the good hitting has been a great help as Saturday’s game was the A’s ninth shutout of the season.

#5 A’s closer Mason Miller shut the door on the Jays pitching in the ninth and striking out three hitters without giving up a run. Miller has been one of the big key reasons why the A’s have won the close games.

Augie Mesenburg is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice and is a reporter at 1080 KWAI Honolulu

A Brilliant Mason Miller shuts the door Oakland edges Toronto 1-0

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Oakland A’s pitcher Osvaldo Bido delivers against the Toronto Blue Jays in the bottom of the first inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sat Aug 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Saturday the Oakland A’s (49-69) were looking to get the offense warmed up and tie up the series and Brent Rooker ended up providing all the offense the A’s would need with his 29th home run of the season as the A’s defeated the Toronto Blue Jays (54-63) 1-0 . Osvaldo Bido took the mound for the A’s and Yariel Rodriguez started for the Blue Jays.

It was a three up three down for Rodriguez and Bido handled the Blue Jays in the first inning allowing a single hit from the ever dependable Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Other than the single, he dismissed the first, second and fourth at bats going into the second inning. It was good start for Bido.

There was a little bit of traffic in the second for Toronto. Ernie Clement reached first base on an infield single but that would be it for the Blue Jays. Bido had another good inning. Oakland would have to muster a whole lot more offense going into the third inning. The A’s productivity had wavered in their past few games and they were looking to turn it around as this game progressed.

Oakland’s leadoff hitter Max Schuemann walked in the third inning with Lawrence Butler at the plate. Butler grounded into a double play followed by a Miguel Andujar ground out and that would be all for the Athletics. They were struggling through the first three innings which put a lot of pressure on Bido who through three innings had handled the Blue Jays offense beautifully.

After four innings both pitchers had done a spectacular job. Oakland had been held to three hits and the Jays had been held to two. This had turned into a pitchers duel and now the question remained; who would crack first.

After a review in the top of the sixth inning it was determined that with two outs, Brent Rooker had indeed hit the ball out of the field of play. The ball hit the top of the wall and bounced back on the field.

Rooker had hit a home run, his 29th of the season, giving Oakland the first run of the day and the lead 1-0. That would be it for Rodriguez who finished 5 2/3 innings allowing five hits and one earned run.

Ryan Burr came in relief of Rodriguez finishing off the inning for Toronto. Bido continued his great work in the bottom of the sixth inning with a three up three down going into the seventh inning of this one run game.

Bido finished six innings of work with two hits, no runs, one walk and five strikeouts. He was relieved in the seventh inning by Scott Alexander.

Alexander finished off the seventh inning with a strikeout and now Oakland would be looking for an insurance run or two in the eighth inning. When they needed it most, the Oakland offense fell flat.

The A’s had two runners on base in the top of the ninth inning but Abraham Toro hit into a double play. Oakland would bring in Mason Miller to try and finish off this game and tie up this series.

It was “Miller Time”. George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Spencer Horwitz all suffered the same fate at the hands of Miller. Everyone of them struck out and that was the ball game 1-0 in favor of the Athletics.

Game notes: Friday the A’s dropped game one to the Blue Jays by the score of 3-1. Oakland had six hits in the game but game one was not a great one for the A’s offensively. They had the one home run from Darell Hernaiz but it was a lackluster showing for the most part. The A’s were competitive through the seventh inning but in the eighth inning Toronto scored their third run of the game which sealed the win for the Blue Jays.

Sunday, the A’s will play in the rubber game of this series. JP Sears will take the mound with a winning 9-8 win/loss record and a 4.35 ERA. A familiar name, Chris Bassitt will start for the Blue Jays. He has a 9-10 win/loss record and a solid 3.95 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 10:37 AM.

A’s Competitive But Drop Game One Against Blue Jays 3-1

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Darell Heraniz is congratulated in the Oakland A’s dugout in the top of the third inning after connecting for a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Fri Aug 9, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (48-69) played a competitive game against the Toronto Blue Jays (54-62) but came up short losing 3-1 Friday night. The A’s had tied up this game in the third inning off a Darell Hernaiz home run but the Blue Jays went on to score two more runs one of them their second home run of the game, a Spencer Horwitz solo homer.

Game recap: The Blue Jays were first up on the board in the first inning taking a 1-0 lead. George Springer hit a long ball to center field for the early lead. Toronto had both Daulton Varsho, who was thrown out trying to reach third, on base and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also on base but Spence got out of the inning with minimal damage.

It was a three up three down inning for Mitch Spence in the second inning and this game went on to the third inning. Darell Hernaiz tied up this game with a blast to left center, a solo shot.

In the sixth inning, the Blue Jays took back the lead 2-1. Alejandro Kirk grounded into a fielder’s choice to third and Guerrero Jr. scored. After the third inning run, the Oakland A’s did not score through five innings and only had four hits and one walk. They did have opportunity but many of their hits came with two outs.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Blue Jays hit their second home run of the game taking a 3-1 lead. Spencer Horwitz homered, a solo shot to right and Oakland had one last chance to make a move in this game in the ninth inning. When it was all said and done, Oakland finished the game with six hits and the Blue Jays extended their’s to ten hits.

Oakland pitcher Mitch Spence went 5 2/3 innings finishing with eight allowed hits, two earned runs and two strike outsl. T.J. McFarland finished the fifth inning. The Blue Jays Jose Berrios went seven innings allowing six hits, one run and had eight strikeouts. A pretty good game for Berrios.

Game notes: Friday the A’s went into a three game series with the Blue Jays at Roger Centre in Ontario. Oakland is coming off a series win over the Chicago White Sox winning the third game after trailing for most of the game. The A’s scored three runs in in the seventh inning to win the game and the series.

The Blue Jays just won a series from the Baltimore Orioles at home. Last Saturday against the Yankees, pitcher and Friday’s starter Jose Berrios gave up six runs in what was unquestionably one of his worst outings this season.

The A’s Friday night wanted an upset after coming on strong after the break going 11-7 the second best in the AL. Oakland was the underdog and indeed lost in a two run game. Despite that they have won some impressive games from the Dodgers and the Giants.

They have also won series off the Angels and the Astros, much of it due to some great pitching. Mitch Spence has turned things around on his last three outings while Jose Berrios has not been good at all in the month of July posting a 6.08 ERA.

Berrios fortunately had turned the tables on the A’s with some decent pitching on Friday going seven innings allowing just the one home run to Hernaiz in the third inning. A’s starter Mitch Spence went 5.2 innings pitched well enough to win but didn’t get the run support.

Saturday the A’s will be looking to tie up this series in game two. Osvaldo Bido (9-8, ERA 4.35) will take the mound for the Athletics. For the Blue Jays, Yariel Rodriguez will get the nod. He has a 1-4 record and a 3.96 ERA. First pitch for game two is scheduled for 12:07 PM PT and will air on NBC Sports California.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Will AASEG’s take over at Coliseum give Oakland a chance at getting an expansion team?

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FILE – Fans walk outside of the Oakland Alameda Coliseum before a baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants in Oakland, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. The Oakland Athletics have reached a tentative agreement to sell its half of the Coliseum to a private Black development group for $125 million. The Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, announcement paves the way for the African American Sports & Entertainment Group to build in a long neglected part of the San Francisco Bay Area city. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu,File)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 With the Oakland A’s selling their half of the Oakland Coliseum to the African American Sports Entertainment Group (AASEG) can the Coliseum property now be developed to house a major league franchise or will the Coliseum be a location that will not attract future sports franchises?

#2 AASEG plans to build a giant sports and entertainment complex on the Coliseum grounds. So far the pro soccer teams Oakland Roots and Oakland Soul have committed to play there. It’s very unlikely that Oakland as Mayor Sheng Thao was hoping for will get a Major League Baseball franchise. East Oakland is somewhere MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred does not want to return to and after as Manfred said Howard Terminal was over and done with Manfred decided to move the team out of Oakland.

#3 AASEG was created to enhance the economic path to equality for the black community which is the goal for East Oakland. If AASEG can successfully build a giant sports and entertainment complex at the Oakland Coliseum and lure just one professional sports franchise they would have made a start to turn things around but after losing the Raiders, Warriors and now the A’s it’s looking like a long shot to impossible.

#4 The Oakland A’s after losing two out of three to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Coliseum turned around and took two out of three from the Chicago White Sox. The Sox ended their 21 game losing streak on Tuesday night.

#5 The A’s open up a three game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night. Both teams are in last place. The Jays have won four of their last ten games and the A’s five of their last ten. How do you see the beginning of this road trip.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Tough luck Giants lose grip to Jays in six run sixth; SF looking for a bounce back today at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants shortstop Brett Wisely (left) can’t hang onto the baseball as the Toronto Blue Jays Ernie Clement (28) makes into second base safely at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Jul 10, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 All Star selected Giants pitcher Logan Webb got lit up in the top of the sixth inning by the Toronto Blue Jays at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wednesday night was it a matter of losing command or the Jays had a good read on his pitches.

#2 Webb had a line of eight hits, seven runs all earned and four strikeouts. It’s line you don’t see too often from one of his performances.

#3 Blue Jays lead off hitter George Springer was seeing the ball well going two for five, two hits and three RBIs. The Blue Jays say his value in the lead off spot has paid off a game or two.

#4 One hitter that Blue Jays starting pitcher Chris Bassitt had keyed in on was Heliot Ramos one of the Giants most dangerous hitter. Bassitt was able to silence him most of the way as Ramos was one for four with one RBI.

#5 Giants go back to the drawing board as they host the Jays in game three of the series for today’s matinee. Starters for the Blue Jays former Giant RHP Kevin Gausman (6-8, ERA 4.64) and for the Giants RHP Jordan Hicks (4-5, 3.47) first pitch 12:45pm PT at Oracle Park.

Join Michael Duca for the SF Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Jays Clement hits for 4 RBIs, Springer gets 3 RBIs defeat Giants 10-6 in SF

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Toronto Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr scores as San Francisco Giants catcher Chris Casali stands at home plate with plate umpire Chad Whitson at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Jul 10, 2024 (AP News photo)

Toronto ((42-50). 000 036 010. 10 14. 0

San Francisco (45-48). 200 011 002. 6. 9. 1

Time: 2:41

Attendance: 32,014

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Wednesday night’s ignominious 10-6 defeat of the Giants at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays came as quite a contrast to Tuesday’s hard fought walk off pitchers’ duel of a win. The drubbing the orange and black received was only barely masked by the two runs they managed to tack on as a fig leaf in the bottom of the ninth.

The starting pitchers for both teams were work horses. San Francisco’s Logan Webb began the evening at 7-6, 3.09 and leading the National League in innings pitched with 119-1/3. Toronto’s Chris Bassitt (7-7, 3,43 at game time) had 200 last season.

The one time Oakland A has had an injury plagued career . While a minor leaguer in the White Sox organization he suffered a broken finger on his right, pitching, hand. While with the A’s, he missed almost a month in 2015 because of a strained right shoulder and almost all of the 2016 and part of the 2017 seasons for Tommy John surgery. Then he lost almost a month in ’21 after a line drive fractured one of his cheekbones in late August.

The Giants jumped out to an early lead on first inning singles by LaMonte Wade, Jr., back in lineup, Michael Conforto, and Thairo Estrada with a walk to Patrick Bailey thrown into the mix. That’s where things stood until the Jays erupted for three runs in the top of the fifth on Ernie Clment’s 385 foot blast into the left field bleachers with Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., and Alejandro Kirk on board.

The Giants got one of those runs back in their half of the frame on an infield hit by Bailey and Conforto’s double to right center, and a wild pitch. That was the last inning Bassitt would pitch Wednesday night. He finished his work after throwing 99 pitches, 60 for strikes. The three runs he surrendered were earned and came on five hits and a walk. He struck out a half a dozen Giants and gained his eighth win of the year even though it raised his ERA to 3.52,

Toronto erupted for three runs against the heretofore hermetic Webb, in the top of the fifth on singles by Davis Schneider and Alejandro Kirk followed by Ernie Clement’s 385 foot homer to left center. Those three RBI were 75% of his career high four in the game.

Webb became completely undone. in the sixth, when the Blue Jays crossed the plate a half a dozen times, in ways too numerous and painful to mention. Four of the runs were charged to him, giving him a total of seven, all. earned.

The Giants’ ace, who will, along with Héliot Ramos, represent the team in the All-Star Game was the losing pitcher, leaving his record at 7-7, 3.47. He surrendered eight hits and a walk to the 24 batters he faced. His successor, Sean Hjelle, was charged with two runs, both earned, on three hits in the one inning he pitched, while Luke Jackson coughed up another run in his three innings of relief.

The Blue Jays sent a total of five hurlers to the mound. Following Bassitt were Brendon LIttle (2/3 of an inning, a run, earned, on two hits and an equal number of walks; Zach Pop (one batter); Ryan Burr (two perfect innings); and Bowdin Francis, who gave up back to back consolation prize solo round trippers to Bailey and Chapman in the final, futile ninth.

Wade, Bailey, and Conforto, with two each, had multi hit games for SF.George Springer, Leo Jiménez, who replaced Bo Bichette, who left the game with muscle soreness in the bottom of the fourth, and David Schneider got two hits apiece for the visitors, and Clement got three.

Who knows what surprises are in store for us when these two struggling teams play the rubber game of the series Thursday, at 12:45 San Francisco’s Jordan Hicks (4-5, 3.47) is slated to start against Toronto’s Kevin Gausman (6-8, 4.64).

Wisely’s base hit ties it, Fitzgerald scores on walk off wild pitch Giants edge Jays 4-3 at Oracle

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Heliot Ramos is greeted by San Francisco Giants third base coach Matt Williams after hitting a bottom of the fourth inning home run against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

Toronto (41-50). 000 000 300. 3. 3. 0

San Francisco (45-47). 000 000 013. 4. 9 1

Time: 2:27

Attendance: 32,924

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Before defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in a thrilling come from behind walk off pitchers’ duel this pleasant July evening, the San Francisco Giants announced a series of transactions that complimented the recent trade of Austin Slater to the Cincinnati Reds.

Last year’s Cy Young trophy winner, Blake Snell, returned from his rehab assignment in Sacramento . Southpaw hurler Alex Young came to the Giants as part of the Slater deal and was optioned to the River Cats. Thairo Estrada and Wilmer Flores came off the IL, and Nick Ahmed was designated for assignment.

The first of these movements was the most critical. The Giants have been moving towards playoff contention at a Snell’s pace; his return to the 26 player roster gave San Francisco reason to hope that the team could play the second half of the season without a rotation of Webb and three days of bullpen.

Snell pitched only five innings this evening, but what a five innings those were! If you looked at the Giants’ pitching numbers, you’d think it had been a bullpen game. If you watched the game, you knew it was old fashioned strong pitching, cut short only by the desire to stretch Snell out gradually he allowed only one hit, a second inning single to Davis Schneider, and three walks while throwing 73 pitches, 45 for strikes on his way to a no decision that brought his atrocious pregame ERA of 9.51 down to an ugly 7.85, but the numbers were incidental. Snell was in charge from the first of his first out until his last. Randy Ramírez replaced him and hurled a perfect sixth.

Flores started at first base, batting fifth, and went one for four.

Jorge Soler originally was slated to lead off as the designated hitter, but an unspecified viral infection made him a last minute scratch, so Thairo Estrada, originally batting seventh and playing second was inserted in his place.

Brett Wisely batted ninth and played second. His two out single with runners on first and second in the bottom of the ninth tied the score of this nail biter. Fitzgerald, who had occupied Wisely’s places in the original lineup card, was moved up a notch in the batting order and a few feet over on the field to play short. He hit a home run in the eighth and scored the winning run on a wild pitch to Estrada to nail down San Francisco’s walk. off wind.

The Blue Jays, whose season thus far has been about as disappointing as the Giants’, chose 菊池 雄星 (Kikuchi, Yūsei) to start this three game penultimate first half series. Kikuchi, who had established himself during his eight years with Tokyo’s Seibu Lions, where he went 69-45, 2.69.

He spent a mediocre three years, 2019-23 with the Seattle Mariners and two more after that with Toronto.. He was 4-8, 4.12, going into the game this evening. But he did a beautiful job, allowing only two runs, both of which came on leadoff home runs, one by Héctor Ramos in the fourth and the other Fitzgerald’s in the eighth. Kikuchi was his old self Tuesday night.

He threw 7-1/3 strong frames, facing 27 batters and striking out 13 of them while holding them to six hits without issuing a single base on balls. He, too, had to be satisfied with a no decision although he shaved 0.12 runs off his ERA.

San Francisco’s all star right fielder Héliot Ramos broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth, a 418 foot blast into right center off a 95mph four seamer. It was his 13th round tripper and part of his 15th multi hit game in Oracle Park this season.

Disaster struck the Giants after Ryan Walker took over on the mound for the top of the seventh. With one down, he walked Danny Jensen gave up a double off the Bank of America advertisement to the left of the 399 foot marker in center field to the pinch hitting Spencer Horwitz.

Kevin Kiermaier pinch rancor it Horowitz, but that proved unnecessary because Ernie Clement smacked an 85mph slider over the Hanwha Life advertisement in right center, landing 385 feet from the plate and putting the Jays up, 3-1.

Walker retired his next two opponents, one by one on a called third strike. Luke Jackson pitched a perfect eighth, and Erik Miller allowed naught but a walk while fanning one Blue Jay to earn the win, giving hi a record of 3-2, 3.43.

The series will continue Wednesday, evening at 6:45. Logan Webb (7-6, 3.09) will start for the orange and black. Chris Bassitt (7-7, 3.43) will be on the hump for the squad from the Rogers Centre.

A’s Lose Game One In Series With Boston Red Sox 12-9

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Oakland A’s Lawrence Butler (4) is congratulated by teammate Shea Langeliers (23) after hitting a three run home run in the top sixth against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston on Tue Jul 9, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (34-59) had a nice start taking an early 2-0 lead but a horrendous second inning that gave Boston Red Sox (50-40) eight runs after scoring 3 in the first inning made all the difference in the game. The Red Sox only scored one run for the rest of the game. Each team had 13 hits but those stats that indicated a close game were clearly inaccurate. Boston had control of this game from the second inning on.

Tuesday afternoon the A’s traveled back to Boston to take on the Red Sox in a another tough set of games. Again the A’s face another giant in the American League East. Every team in this division is a tough customer and the Red Sox are currently in third place.

Oakland is enjoying some pretty decent offense and in the second game of their last series, they managed 19 hits and 18 runs in a blowout win over the Baltimore Orioles. These guys can hit and were looking to be more consistent over their past two series against the Orioles and the Angels and they had some success.

Joey Estes started for Oakland and went 1.2 innings, allowing seven hits, eight earned runs, and struck one batter. For the Red Sox starter Brayan Bello pitched 5.1 innings allowing nine hits and five earned runs.

Game recap: Oakland got a great start scoring two runs in the opening inning as they got going early. Brent Rooker doubled Miguel Andujar home and Shea Langliers singled Brent Rooker home for the early 2-0 lead.

The Red Sox answered back in the same inning scoring three runs and taking the 3-2 lead. A couple of singles from David Hamilton and Rafael Devers brought runners home and Oakland had given up the lead. A’s pitcher Joey Estes began to struggle early.

Joey Estes’ struggles continued into the second inning and when the dust had settled, he had given up seven hits and eight earned runs in a disastrous 1.2 innings. Tyler Ferguson relieved Estes looking to stop the bleeding but did not fare much better giving up three more hits and three more runs in 0.1 innings.

Boston now led 11-2 and Oakland was digging a huge hole with a lot of game still left to play. The Red Sox had an amazing second inning with a Ceddanne Rafaela triple, a Rafael Devers double, a Masataka Yoshida single and back to back home runs. Wilyer Abreu had a three run homer and Dominic Smith a solo home run.

Boston had dismantled both Joey Estes and Tyler Ferguson. As if things were not going bad enough for Oakland, rain began to fall over the ball park. This game had turned lopsided early.

Michel Otanez relieved Ferguson in the bottom of the fifth inning giving up no hits, no runs with two strikeouts.

Oakland made a bit of noise in the sixth inning. Going into the sixth the A’s had not yet hit a home run but Lawrence Butler turned that stat on it’s ear hitting a three run homer. Butler, Shea Langeliers and Zach Gelof scored on that long ball.

Otanez started to struggle in the bottom of the sixth inning with back to back walks and Boston had two runners on base with two outs. That was it for Otanez relieved by Scott Alexander. Alexander got Oakland out of the inning unscathed and the score remained 11-5 in favor of Boston going into the seventh inning.

With no outs, the A’s had runners on the corners, with Brent Rooker on third and Tyler Soderstrom on first. Zach Gelof sacrificed and Rooker scored and Oakland inched a bit closer 11-6. The A’s now had 11 hits through eight innings and had 15 runners on base leaving too many runners stranded.

Boston scored another run in the eighth inning extending their lead to 12-6. Wilyer Abreu sacrificed and Rafael Devers scored. Austin Adams had taken the mound in the bottom of the eighth inning for Oakland, walking Rafael Devers and hitting both Connor Wong and Masataka Yoshida to start the inning. Adams had gotten out of the inning with minimal damage.

Oakland went into the ninth three outs away from dropping game one to Boston. With two outs, the A’s had runners on the corners for the third time in the game. Zach Gelof came to the plate hitting home run #10, a three-run home run. Butler popped out for the third out and Boston had won game one 12-9. Both teams finished with 13 hits. It was the bottom of the second inning that turned this game around for Boston.

The A’s will be back at work in game two with first pitch scheduled for 4:10 PM with toasty temperatures getting up to 90 degrees and no rain predicted.

JP Sears will take the mound for Oakland with a 5-7 win-loss record and a 4.74 ERA. The Red Sox will start Nick Pivetta who has a 4-5 win-loss record and a 4.06 ERA.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Ramos and Webb represent Giants at All Star Game; Slater dealt to Reds

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San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos was selected with teammate pitcher Logan Webb for the 2024 All Star Game in Arlington Texas. The selection was announced Sun Jul 7, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 Marko, just wanted to open the show asking about your reaction to Heliot Ramos and Logan Webb selected to represent the Giants at this year’s All Star Game.

#2 The Giants dealt outfielder Austin Slater to the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. Slater hit .200, 18 hits and one home run. Was the main reason for dealing for Slater a lack of hitting and hitting for average. Did you see this move coming and were you surprised?

#3 Marko, going into the Cleveland series the Giants knew they would have their hands full as the Guardians had a home series record of 11-0-1 so far this season.

#4 Michael Conforto hit a two run home run but it wasn’t enough as the Giants have now lost seven of their last eight day games.

#5 The Giants return back to San Francisco to host the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night for a 6:40pm PT first pitch. The Jays will be starting Yusei Kikuchi (4-8, ERA 4.12) vs. the Giants Blake Snell (0-3, ERA 9.51).

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