Former Las Vegas ballpark site for the Oakland A’s at Las Vegas and Sahara Boulevards that intersect at the Las Vegas Festival Fairgrounds was a location where a deal between A’s and casino owner Phil… More
Giants Sweep Colorado In Another Come From Behind Win 6-4
San Francisco Giants third base coach Mark Hallberg and Thairo Estrada celebrate a home run in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Thu Jun 8, 2023 (AP News photo)
Giants Sweep Colorado In Another Come From Behind Win 6-4
By Barbara Mason
Thursday afternoon the San Francisco Giants (32-30) got a sweep over the Colorado Rockies (26-38) taking the third and final game 6-4 at Coors Field in Denver.
On Tuesday the Giants won game one handily 10-4 and on Wednesday they had a come from behind to win it in the eighth inning 5-4 in game two. Finally the Giants have a healthy roster with two key players back in Joc Pederson and Thairo Estrada. Thursday San Francisco finished up this series with a sweep of Colorado.
Thursday game recap: San Francisco’s Thairo Estrada homered in the first inning for the 1-0 lead; it was a solo shot to left field.
The Rockies answered back in the same inning scoring four runs. Ryan McMahon singled driving in a run followed by a Nolan Jones single which got two runners across home plate giving Colorado a 3-1 lead. Ezequel Tovar doubled a run home and after the opening inning had a 4-1 lead.
It was quiet for San Francisco into the sixth inning. Michael Conforto hit a 2-run home run and this game was looking just like yesterday’s contest, trailing by a single run in the latter innings 4-3.
In the ninth inning, the Giants tied up the game 4-4 going on to take the lead 6-4. Brandon Crawford doubled and Blake Sabol scored to tie things up. Yastrzemski scored when LaMonte Wade Jr. sacrificed and Joc Pederson singled bringing Crawford home.
After trailing 4-1 in this game San Francisco rallied to take the 6-4 lead. The Giants were three outs away from the sweep. The pinch hitting was huge for San Francisco in this game as they celebrated a second come from behind win in as many days.
When things looked a bit grim, this ball club got it together in the ninth inning. You just cannot count this team out. It was not the greatest start for pitcher Alex Cobb who went five innings allowing 8 hits and four runs. He settled down in the next four innings and his team mates picked up the slack to end this game in the win column.
What is so encouraging for San Francisco is that they are winning late in the game. This has not been the case this season so something else is really turning around for the Giants right now.
The Giants did it all in this game; relief pitching, efficient innings, great hitting (especially pinch hitting) and defensively. This was a gut-punch for the Rockies after they had led into the latter innings only for the Giants to tie and win in not only today’s game but also yesterday’s game. This was the 8th consecutive win against the Rockies at Coors Field.
San Francisco will now head home for a series with the Chicago Cubs (26-35). Anthony Desclafani will take the mound for the Giants with a 4-5 W/L record and a 3.97 ERA. The Cubs will send Marcus Stroman with a 6-4 win/loss record and a 2.39 ERA. This game will get underway Friday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 PM.
NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Len Shapiro: Panthers on the ropes 0-2 host Knights in game 3 tonight
Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) scores around Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the second period at the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Mon Jun 5, 2023 (AP News photo)
On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Len:
#1 Len through the first two games of these Finals the Vegas Golden Knights have dominated with wins in games 1 and 2 on Vegas home ice. How important has goaltender Adin Hill been for the Knights.
#2 In the most recent game, game 2 the Vegas Golden Knights came away with a five goal win 7-2. The Knights showed all the signs of being in control from the start and the Panthers just couldn’t get any defense to stop the Knights.
#3 The Panthers who over came the odds in the first round of the playoffs overcoming the Boston Bruins from a 1-3 deficit to coming back and winning the series and winning the next two rounds to advance to the Finals can the Panthers find something deep down and pick up a win on Florida ice?
#4 The Knights who won 5-2 and 7-2 in games 1 and 2 are the first team in 25 years of NHL finals to show that no other team has been so dominate.
#5 So the Knights who have the upper hand get after it tonight in game 3 up 2-0 and can take game three or the Panthers really have to find the back of the net and often and get some great netminding from Panther goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
Len Shapiro covers the NHL Stanley Cup Finals for http://www.sportsradioservice.com
Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Nevada Legislature takes vote tonight on A’s ballpark
From left, lobbyists Alfredo Alonso and John Griffin, Oakland Athletics owner John Fisher, President Dave Kaval and lobbyist Jessica Ferrato inside the Legislature in Carson City on May 31, 2023. (Nevada Independent photo)
On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:
#1 Jerry the Nevada State Legislature met until midnight last night discussing the SB509 the public funds from the State to fund the possible Tropicana ballpark in Las Vegas. There are residents who voiced their opposition to the ballpark because they feel the A’s might not be the right team for Las Vegas and that maybe expansion or the Tampa Bay Rays might be a better option.
#2 Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has called his second special session to push for the Tropicana ballpark. The bill didn’t get pushed through on Monday night and had been in a second special session for the last two night Tuesday and Wednesday. As of midnight last night nothing has been decided. The Legislature will take a vote tonight on the ballpark bill where the future of the A’s moving to Las Vegas is on the line.
#3 A’s team president David Kaval was put in a spot when asked about the team paying and being obligated to pay the entertainment tax. Kaval was told by assemblyman questioning him that he was answering a direct question when Kaval said the A’s would pay the entertainment tax through profits from the ballpark but would not make a commitment.
#4 The fact that there still is no decision on the A’s Las Vegas ballpark and it’s Thursday does that basically say that Lombardo who wants a budget passed needs to get the ballpark through for this session and the legislature is trying to sell those who are opposed reasons to try and change their minds.
#5 Las Vegas residents who spoke at last night’s session emphasized that 81% of Las Vegas residents polled are against the Oakland A’s moving to Vegas and that John Fisher and David Kaval are not the right people to lead this campaign and that the legislature should vote no on funding the ballpark.
Join Jerry F for the Oakland A’s podcasts heard Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants make comeback with Slater’s RBIs in 7th and 8th defeat Rocks 5-4
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Tyler Rogers works against the Colorado Rockies during the eighth inning at Coors Field in Denver on Wed Jun 7, 2023 (AP News photo)
On the Giants podcast with Michael:
#1 The Rockies got on the board in the second inning taking a 3-0 lead. Ezequiel Tovar singled Mike Moustakas home. Colorado would add to that lead in the second when power hitter Charlie Blackmon doubled driving Harold Castro and Tovar home for the 3-0 lead.
#2 Michael talk about Austin Slater and how vital he was driving in RBIs in the seventh and eighth innings.
#3 For the Giants Slater’s RBIs were crucial as they just got by the Rockies by a run 5-4 in a game of inches. How tough is it to hit in Coors Field.
#4 The Giants on Tuesday night had been held to no hits until the sixth inning so they made improvements on their hitting on Wednesday night.
#5 The Giants conclude this three game series in Denver against the Rockies and with a chance to sweep the series the Giants will start Alex Cobb (5-2 ERA 2.71) he’ll be opposed by the Rockies Chase Anderson (0-0 ERA 1.69) with a 12:10 pm PT first pitch.
Join Michael Duca for the Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: PGA Commissioner on hot seat; Miami’s Butler “winning would mean everything”; plus more
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan speaks during a news conference before the start of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Cromwell, Conn. Monahan was questioned by PGA players Tue Jun 6, 2023 in a heated meeting regarding merging the PGA with LIV the Saudi golf league without consulting the PGA players (AP file photo)
Headline Sports podcast with Jessica:
#1 Many of the players in the PGA had no idea about the PGA-LIV merge and that a deal had been made without the players knowledge.
#2 A lot of the players are calling for new leadership after PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan agreed to a deal with LIV the Saudi golf league to merge. The PGA players have a huge problem with LIV because of it’s human rights violations and taking away many of it’s stars.
#3 The Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler says that winning the NBA Finals would mean everything, this is Butler’s 12th NBA season Butler says his teammates are locked on. The Heat who dropped game 1 of the Finals came back and tied the series in game 2 in Denver. The Heat dropped game 3 and the Nuggets reclaimed the lead in the series 2-1 with a 109-94 victory on Wednesday.
#4 New York is suffering smoky conditions as smoke from the Canadian fires have floated into the Big Apple and had an impact on the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees game on Tuesday night. For Yankee third baseman Josh Donaldson said that it was a little foggy but nothing out of the ordinary.
#5 Jessica, game 3 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals are Thursday night in Sunrise Florida. The Panthers have their backs to the wall down 0-2 against the Vegas Golden Knights losing both games 1 and 2 in Vegas. The Panthers have been here before they were down in the first round of the playoffs to the Boston Bruins 3-1 and came back from two games down. How do you see the Panthers chances going back to Florida Thursday night?
Join Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports every other Wednesday night at http://www.sportsraadioservice.com
San Francisco Comes From Behind To Beat Rockies in Game Two 5-4
San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey, left, and right fielder Michael Conforto celebrate the team’s win in a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in Denver. (AP News photo)
San Francisco Comes From Behind To Beat Rockies in Game Two 5-4
By Barbara Mason
Wednesday the San Francisco Giants (30-30) took game three of the game series with the Colorado Rockies (26-36) 5-4 at Coors Field in Denver taking the first two games of the series.
They handled the Rockies in game one winning 10-4 on Tuesday night getting back to .500. Rookie Patrick Bailey had a great game with three hits and LaMonte Wade Jr. went 3 for 3.
The Giants saw the return of Joc Pederson and Thairo Estrade from IR. Estrada had two doubles and Pederson singled and scored in the five-run fifth inning. Their return was exactly what the team needed in their lineup.
Wednesday night the Giants were looking to take game two in the series. With the return of Estrada and Pederson, they had some added fire power going forward looking for a second win in the series.
The Rockies got on the board in the second inning taking a 3-0 lead. Ezequiel Tovar singled Mike Moustakas home. Colorado would add to that lead in the second when power hitter Charlie Blackmon doubled driving Harold Castro and Tovar home for the 3-0 lead.
In the sixth inning Nolan Jones solo homered to right center to take a 4-0 Colorado lead. San Francisco had been quiet through the first six innings of the game.
The silence came to an end for the Giants in the seventh inning when they scored three runs and they were back in this game. Austin Slater singled and Michael Conforto scored from second base. Casey Schmitt singled and both Mitch Haniger and Blake Slater scored. The Giants now trailed by a single run 4-3.
The Rockies had two on base in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs, threatening to extend their lead. Relief pitcher Taylor Rogers took care of business and Colorado left the inning with two runners stranded on base.
San Francisco needed some offense in this game and they had two innings left to make a move. Pederson walked and Mitch Haniger was hit in the eighth inning. The Giants now had two runners on base with one out.
Slater singled and Pederson scored tying up the game 4-4 and with only the one out, San Francisco had a great opportunity to take the lead for the first time in this game. The Giants took full advantage of this opportunity. Bailey executed a perfect bunt and he had put the Giants ahead 5-4 when Haniger was able to score from third.
After trailing 4-0 the Giants had come to life taking the 5-4 lead. An extra run in the ninth inning would be huge for San Francisco. The Giants began crushing grounders and with two runners on base and no outs they had a great chance to add to their lead.
The Rockies made some great defensive plays and got out of the inning. They would be looking for the walk-off in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Giants needed to protect their lead for their second win in the series.
Closer Camilo Doval finished off the Rockies with a three up three out inning and the Giants came away with the come from behind win 5-4.
The Giants will finish up this series Thursday afternoon with first pitch at 12:10 PM. Alex Cobb will take the mound for San Francisco with a 5-2 W/L record and a 2.71 ERA. Chase Anderson 0-0 will be on the hill for the Rockies with a 1.69 ERA.
A’s Beat Pirates 9-5 for Second Straight Win
Oakland Athletics’ Jace Peterson doubles off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Roansy Contreras, driving in two runs, during the first inning at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Wed Jun 7, 2023 (AP News photo)
By: Mary Anne
The Oakland Athletics concluded a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Thursday. The A’s looked to win two games in a row and hung on to beat the Pirates 9-5 in the series finale. With the win, Oakland improved to 14-50 and Pittsburgh dropped to 32-29.
The A’s starting lineup consisted of Ryan Noda, Seth Brown, Brent Rooker, Ramón Laureano, Jace Peterson, Jonah Bride, JJ Bleday, Shea Langeliers, Kevin Smith, and Hogan Harris. Harris pitched for five innings and gave up four hits, three earned runs, three walks, two strikeouts, and one home run before exiting the game.
The A’s jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Brent Rooker singled on a line drive to Ji-Hwan Bae, and Ryan Noda scored for a 1-0 lead as Seth Brown went to third base. Jace Peterson doubled on a ground ball to Connor Joe, and Brown scored for a 3-0 lead as Ramón Laureano went to third base.
Jonah Bride singled on a line drive to Bae, and Laureano scored for a 4-0 lead as Peterson went to third base. JJ Bleday singled on a line drive to Bryan Reynolds, and Peterson scored for a 5-0 lead as Bride went to second base. Noda walked, and Bride scored for a 6-0 lead as Bleday went to third base and Kevin Smith went to second base. Brown walked, and Bleday scored for a 7-0 lead as Smith went to third base and Noda went to second base.
The Pirates avoided being shutout by the A’s in the bottom of the second inning. Rodolfo Castro homered on a fly ball to center field to cut the A’s lead to 7-1.
The Pirates added two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Rodolfo Castro doubled on a fly ball to JJ Bleday, and Carlos Santana and Ke’Bryan Hayes scored to cut the A’s lead to 7-3.
The A’s extended their lead in the top of the seventh inning. Ryan Noda homered on a fly ball to left field for an 8-3 lead. Brent Rooker doubled on a sharp line drive to Bryan Reynolds, and Seth Brown scored for a 9-3 lead.
The Pirates scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Connor Joe walked, and Jason Delay scored to cut the A’s lead to 9-4 as Andrew McCutchen went to third base and Bryan Reynolds went to second base.
The Pirates inched closer to the A’s in the bottom of the ninth inning, but that’s all she wrote. Bryan Reynolds singled on a line drive to Ramón Laureano, and Ji-Hwan Bae scored to cut the A’s lead to 9-5 as Andrew McCutchen went to second base.
The A’s will take on the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Friday, June 9 at 5:10 pm Pacific.
Matos goes 0-for-5, as Aviators edge River Cats 2-1 in series opener
Final score says it all from Sutter Health Park in Sacramento as the Las Vegas Aviators defeat the Sacramento RiverCats by a run 2-1 in triple A action (@RiverCats photo)
By Stephen Ruderman
SACRAMENTO–Luis Matos’ eight-game hitting streak came to an end with an 0-for-5 night, as the Las Vegas Aviators beat the River Cats 2-1 in the opener of a six-game series in Sacramento.
It was a mild and overcast day in Sacramento, as the tarp covered the field at Sutter Health Park following a late-afternoon thunderstorm. The rain cleared out, and the game started without delay.
Sean Hjelle took the mound for the River Cats, and he was opposed by the Aviators’ right-hander, Adam Oller. Both pitchers pitched well early on, and neither one of them gave up a hit until the third inning. The Aviators broke through with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth, when center-fielder, Max Schuemann, knocked in a pair with a single down the right-field line.
Hjelle got out of the fifth without further damage, but he was pulled after five innings, as he gave up four hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Oller, meanwhile, pitched six shutout innings, walking three and striking out six, giving up just three hits.
Nick Swinney pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning for the River Cats, and he retired the first two men he faced in the seventh, but was pulled following a two-out walk. Spencer Patton pitched a 1-2-3 seventh for Las Vegas, and Nick Avila pitched through a leadoff walk in the top of the eighth for Sacramento.
The Aviators brought in the right-hander, Chad Smith, for the bottom of the eighth. Luis Matos flied out to center to start the inning, but Bryce Johnson reached on an infield hit up the third-base line, and Tyler Fitzgerald singled Johnson over to third on a perfectly-executed hit and run.
David Villar knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly to center to put the River Cats on the board, but Joey Bart swung out swinging on a slider off the outside to end the inning.
Cole Waites pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for Sacramento, and Las Vegas brought in Garrett Acton for the bottom of the ninth. Ford Proctor singled to right to start the inning, and then Colton Welker, who had already been hit by two pitches tonight, struck out, as he ended up going around on a pitch that got his wrist for a painful first out.
Will Wilson flew out to center, and Michael Gigliotti walked, which set things up for the red-hot Luis Matos, whose eight-game hitting streak was on the line along with the game. Matos fouled off three two-strike pitches, but on the ninth pitch of the at-bat, he popped up to the Aviators’ second-baseman, Zack Gelof, out in shallow center to end it.
Adam Oller got the win to improve to 2-2; Sean Hjelle got the loss to fall to 1-1; and Garrett Acton got his third save of the season. The River Cats fall to 26-32, and into last place in the Pacific Coast League West, as they are seven games back of the first-place Reno Aces.
On a side note, Joey Bart went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts, as he continues his rehab.
Game 2 of the series will be tomorrow night at 6:45.
Giants Defeat Rockies 10-4; Series is tied at 1-1
San Francisco Giants’ Thairo Estrada follows the flight of his RBI-single off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Dinelson Lamet in the second inning at Coors Field in Denver on Tue Jun 6, 2023 (AP News photo)
By: Mary Anne
The San Francisco Giants continued their road trip with a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. The Giants wanted to avoid a two-game losing streak, and that they did — as they defeated the Rockies 10-4 at Coors Field in Denver. San Francisco improved to 30-30, while Colorado dropped to 26-36.
The Giants’ starting lineup consisted of LaMonte Wade Jr., Thairo Estrada, Joc Pederson, J.D. Davis, Michael Conforto, Mitch Haniger, Mike Yastrzemski, Patrick Bailey, Brandon Crawford, and John Brebbia. Brebbia pitched just one inning and gave up two hits and one walk before exiting the ballgame.
After a scoreless first inning, San Francisco grabbed an early lead in the top of the second inning. Brandon Crawford doubled on a line drive to Randal Grichuk, and Patrick Bailey scored for a 1-0 lead. Thairo Estrada then singled on a line drive to Brenton Doyle, and Crawford scored for a 2-0 lead. LaMonte Wade Jr. went to third base.
The Giants took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Patrick Bailey tripled on a sharp fly ball to Brenton Doyle, and Mitch Haniger scored for a 3-0 lead.
The Rockies avoided a shutout in the bottom of the fourth inning. Nolan Jones reached on a fielder’s choice, which was fielded by J.D. Davis, and Randal Grichuk scored to cut the Giants’ lead to 3-1.
The Giants added to their lead in the top of the fifth inning. LaMonte Wade Jr. singled on a ground ball to Brenton Doyle as Mike Yastrzemski and Patrick Bailey scored to extend the Giants’ lead to 5-1. J.D. Davis doubled to Doyle as Wade Jr. and Joc Pederson scored to expand the Giants’ lead to 7-1. Michael Conforto singled on a line drive to Doyle as Davis scored to increase the Giants’ lead to 8-1.
The Rockies scored a double in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jurickson Profar doubled on a sharp line drive to Mitch Haniger, and Charlie Blackmon scored to cut the Giants’ lead to 8-2.
The Giants padded their lead in the top of the seventh inning. J.D. Davis was out on a sacrifice fly to Jurickson Profar, and LaMonte Wade Jr. scored for a 9-2 lead with two outs.
The Rockies responded in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jurickson Profar tripled on a fly ball to Austin Slater, and Charlie Blackmon scored to cut the Giants’ lead to 9-3. Ryan McMahon then doubled on a sharp fly ball to Slater, and Profar scored to reduce the Giants’ lead to 9-4.
The Giants reached double-digits in the top of the ninth inning. Mitch Haniger walked, and LaMonte Wade Jr. scored for a 10-4 lead. Thairo Estrada went to third base, while Wilmer Flores went to second base.
The ballgame ended with an epic ending. Ryan McMahon grounded into a double play as Brandon Crawford went to Thairo Estrada, who went to LaMonte Wade Jr. Jurickson Profar was out at second base, while McMahon was out at first base with three outs.
The Giants and Rockies will face each other again on Wednesday, June 7 at 5:40 pm Pacific.
MLB podcast The Show with Stephen Ruderman: A’s fans to hold reverse boycott Tuesday night at Coliseum; Future of A’s in hands of Nevada Assembly
Renderings view from the MGM in Las Vegas of a possible Las Vegas A’s ball park at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino which if approved by the Nevada State Legislature should be completed in either 2027 or 2028. (Renderings from the Oakland Athletics Baseball Company)
On the MLB podcast The Show with Stephen:
#1 The Oakland A’s this week proposed a very unusual start time for home games once their up and running in Las Vegas at the Tropicana and that would be a 4pm PT first pitch. The idea is that would not cause interference with the take off and landings at Las Vegas Airport which home plate faces.
#2 There are also some more musts that the A’s must achieve to economically make this ball park in Vegas a success they must sell out every single game and you have to consider 30% of tourists need to be part of that make up of that sold out attendance.
#3 The A’s are further challenged with having the smallest ball park in MLB a 30,000 seat capacity and they must sell out not just the 81 home games but also other events and shows at the Tropicana site.
#4 The Nevada State Legislature has not held the vote to pass this year’s budget because Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo will not sign off on it and the A’s ball park SB509 project has been pushed back because they can’t pass a budget even without the ball park on it.
#5 Stephen, the A’s last thread of hope hangs with the Nevada Legislation, 50 plus years of Oakland A’s baseball, four World Series, six Hall of Famers in Oakland’s history are in the hands of these Nevada assembly people. The deadline to pass a budget has passed and now their looking at a special session how much does the stadium weigh on this budget getting passed.
Stephen Ruderman does the MLB podcast each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
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