A’s rally beat Diamondbacks 7-5; Lowrie’s homer ties ball game in seventh to catch Arizona

The Oakland A’s Jed Lowrie (8) who slugged a 394 foot seventh inning home run to tie up the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks is greeted at home plate by teammate Seth Brown (15) at Chase Field in Phoenix on Tue Apr 13, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s rallied from a five-run deficit to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-5 Tuesday afternoon in Phoenix. The A’s won their fourth straight game and the fifth in the last six.

Jesus Luzardo was on the mound for the Green and Gold Tuesday afternoon. Luzardo has had a rough start so far this season, and he was hoping to have a good outing. That did not happen as Luzardo lasted just two and 2/3rd innings. He gave up five runs, all earned six hits, two walks, and struck out one batter. His ERA ballooned to 8.31.

The D-Backs put two on the board in the bottom of the second. Asdrubal Cabrera led off with a single. He went to second when Luzardo walked David Peralta to put men on at first and second with no out. With one out, Luzardo served up a hanger that Carson Kelley sent into the leftfield stands. The ball went 413 feet.

Luzardo didn’t fare better in the bottom of the third. The D-Backs made it a 5-0 game when they scored twice. Kole Calhoun and Eduardo Escobar singled to get things rolling. Cabrera doubled to drive in Calhoun. Escobar stopped at third. Escobar scored on Peralta’s grond out. Luzardo’s effort was over when he walked Carson Kelly. A’s manager Bob Melvin brought in Jordan Weems to finish the third.

The A’s began their comeback in the top of the fourth. A’s right fielder, Stephen Piscotty, led off with a solo homer to make it a 5-1 game.

The A’s tied the game in the top of the seventh. Taylor Clarke was on the hill for Arizona. With one out A’s catcher, Aramis Garcia singled. Mitch Moreland, pinch-hitting for Deolis Guerra, also singled. Mark Canha drove in Garcia with a single to make it 5-2. The D-Backs brought in Kevin Ginkel to pitch to Jed Lowrie. Lowrie tied the game 5-5 with one swing of his bat. Lowrie hit an opposite-field home run to tie the game. The late Earl Weaver loved three-run dingers.

The A’s took the lead for the first time in the top of the eighth. Seth Brown hit a mammoth 422-foot blast to deep right-centerfield to propel Oakland to a 6-5. A’s reliever Sergio Romo set the D-Backs down in order in the bottom half of the inning.

The A’s added an insurance run in the ninth. Ramon Laureano singled to get the rally on its way. The D-Backs nearly picked him off at first. Had they challenged the call, Laureano probably would have been out. Laureano stole second to get into scoring position. A’s third baseman tripled to drive in the Laureano with the A’s seventh run.

Lou Trivino was called on to close out the ninth. With one out, Trivino walked Tim Locastro. The next hitter, Kole Calhoun, was at the plate. Calhoun could tie the game with just one swing of the bat. Trivino got Calhoun to ground into a 3-5-1 double play to end the game. The A’s win 7-

Game Notes- The A’s used seven pitchers Tuesday afternoon. Yusmeiro Petit was the winning pitcher. His record is 3-0. The loss went to Anthony Swarzak.

The A’s improved to 5-7 for the season. Their line was seven runs, eleven hits, and no errors. The D-Backs’ line was five runs, eight hits, and one error. The D-Backs are 4-8. The A’s bullpen was superb as they allowed two hits and no runs over the last six and 1/3rd inning of the game.

The A’s are off on Wednesday. They return home to Oakland to play a four-game series with the Detroit Tigers. Lefty Sean Manaea will pitch the first game of the series. The game will start at 7:05 pm.

Headline Sports podcast with Daniel Dullum: Twins, Wild, T-Wolves forced to cancel games due to police shooting; Japanese golfer wins Masters

A look at the inside of the Target Center in Minneapolis home the Minnesota Timberwolves where one game has been postponed due to fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright (blogspot.com)

1 Twins, Wild and Timberwolves all postpone games following fatal police shooting

2 The Masters won by a Japanese golfer for the first time

3 NHL trade deadline: Big unrestricted free agents on the move; Marleau stays put in San Jose

4 Former Chiefs assistant Britt Reid charged with DWI in crash that critically injured 5-year-old girl

5 U of Arizona fires men’s basketball coach Sean Miller 4 years after FBI probe

Join Daniel Dullum for Headlines podcast each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Daniel Dullum Tue Apr, 13 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Ducks crash the net open up first period with three goals in 4-0 win

The San Jose Sharks Evander Kane (9) puts the puck on net as the Anaheim Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) makes the deflected save in the first period at SAP Center in San Jose on Mon Apr 12, 2021 (AP News photo)

#1 The Anaheim Ducks (13-23-7) opened the first period of play scoring three unanswered goals and it carried them the rest of the way to defeat the San Jose Sharks (18-19-4) in a 4-0 shutout.

#2 Sharks goaltender Martin Jones was met by a barrage of shots in the first period allowing the three goals but settled down the rest of the way allowing one more goal in the third period stopping 21 shots.

#3 Offensively the Sharks simply couldn’t get anything going it seems ever since they lost in their last meeting with the Ducks last week Tuesday the team has been snake bitten losing three of their last four.

#4 The Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz the number one star of Monday night’s game with the shutout stopped 46 shots which the Sharks just couldn’t get past him.

#5 Sharks will try it again at SAP Center in San Jose against the Ducks with home ice after a bitter 4-0 loss will the Sharks be charged up for Wednesday night’s contest?

Join Mary Lisa for the Sharks podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh Tue Apr 13, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: A’s hitters producing; A’s Luzardo looking for first win tonight

Oakland A’s starter Jesus Luzardo will get the call tonight against the Arizona Diamondbacks Zac Gallen both pitchers will be looking for their first win of the 2021 season at Chase Field in Phoenix on Tue Apr 13, 2021 (file photo from athleticsnation.com)

#1 The A’s picked up their fifth win in six games with a 9-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Chase Field in Phoenix to open a brief two game series.

#2 The A’s were already up 7-5 and they added two more runs in the ninth to cap off the win their getting some run production after that rough 0-6 start.

#3 The A’s Ramon Laureano, Mark Canha, Jed Lowrie, and Matt Chapman all scored two runs a piece against the Diamondbacks on Monday night.

#4 Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner was touched up for six earned runs and seven hits in 4.2 innings of work and ran his ERA up to 11.00.

#5 On Tuesday the A’s will start Jesus Luzardo (0-1 ERA 6.10) going against the Diamondbacks Zac Gallen (0-0 ERA 0.00) Luzardo is looking for that first win.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the A’s lead play by play Spanish announcer on flagship station 1010 KIQI LaGrande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast Tue Apr 13, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

Smash and Splash: Hard-hitting Reds make themselves at home in Oracle Park, win 3-0

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–The Massive Reds Hit Parade–2021’s answer to the Big Red Machine of the mid 70’s–had been rolling along for nearly two weeks, too short of a period to earn a snappier nickname, but long enough to insert sluggers Joey Votto and Jesse Winker into its powerful turbine engines.

But with worldly forces like COVID-19 and the common flu rearing themselves, Votto and Winker found themselves as passengers, not drivers of the formidable offense that leads MLB in batting average, runs scored, slugging percentage and RBI, while merely being tied for the lead in home runs with the Astros at 16.

That pecking order within the Reds machinery changed Monday night at Oracle Park as Winker and Votto hit their initial homers of the season in a 3-0 Cincinnati win. The surprising Reds have nine sluggers with at least one home run, and a total of 18 again only matched the Astros, who also connected twice on Monday.

When asked about the successful adjustments he’s made in his swing, Votto was nonplussed, while expressing disappointment to his season’s start, saying “the ball needs to go over the fence, the ball needs to go in the gap.”

Or into the Cove. Votto’s 400-foot drive off reliever Jarlin Garcia not only increased the Reds’ lead in the sixth, it allowed Votto to become the first Cincinnati slugger to take a ball into McCovey Cove, after 21 seasons of falling short.

Winker struck in the third, taking a slider over the center field wall, as Giants’ pitcher Aaron Sanchez in his Oracle Park debut, declined to turn and watch the ball’s flight.

Sanchez, who was facing the Reds for the first time in his career, didn’t let the Reds’ robust .279 batting average as a team increase, allowing just three hits, but he referenced falling behind in the count, just enough sin to get him beat when facing a dangerous lineup.

“I’ve got to, in a sense, go to them and give them something to hit,” Sanchez said of his encounter with Winker. “That’s what you saw, just a 3-1 pitch over the middle. Off the bat, I didn’t think it was a homer, and it ended up being a homer. It is what it is. It’s the big leagues. You’ve got to stay ahead and get ahead.”

Winker missed much of the Reds’ six-game win streak that ended on Saturday because of a bout with the flu. Votto missed two weeks this spring due to complications with a positive test for COVID. With both healthy, the Reds could continue to pressure the Cubs and Cardinals in the NL Central.

Meanwhile, the Giants continue in the search for a winning formula, after managing just two hits on the evening. Through 10 games, the Giants have pitched and defended at a high level, as well as hit home runs with 14 so far from seven power sources. But the team’s collective batting average of .192–which ranks 29th in MLB–won’t cut it.

“I think we’re the type of offense that sees a lot of pitches, gets pitchers on the ropes, gets big hits and produces big innings,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “We haven’t seen that consistently from our offense this year, but I believe that’s in there with this group.”

The lack of offense Monday fueled veteran pitcher Wade Miley, who worked fast, experienced little resistance, and picked up the win. The 34-year old needed just 73 pitches to complete five innings, as he admitted his cut fastball was below average and vulnerable, but more than made up for it with changeups that induced seven swings and misses.

Tejay Antone followed with 3 2/3 innings of hitless relief in which he refused to give Giants hitters anything they could elevate. Antone appears poised to backup his 2020 rookie season in which he was among the rookie leaders in strikeouts and innings pitched.

The Giants have little time to regroup with Kevin Gausman set to face Cincinnati’s Luis Castillo on Tuesday.

A’s rough up MadBum in 9-5 win over Snakes

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo makes a pitching change as starter Madison Bumgarner hands over the ball in the fifth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Mon Apr 12, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Monday, April 12, 2021

Oakland jumped to an early lead against Arizona starter Madison Bumgarner and defeated the Diamondbacks 9-5 Monday in the first of a two-game interleague series at Chase Field in Phoenix.

Chris Bassitt (1-2) picked up his first win of the season, giving up two earned runs and two hits while walking five in five innings. Bumgarner (0-2) struck out five in 4 2/3 innings, but was tagged for six earned runs on seven hits while walking three. Bumgarner’s earned run average ballooned to 11.20.

Oakland took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Mark Canha scored on Jed Lowrie’s infield ground out. The A’s picked up two more runs in the third when Lowrie hit a two-run double to left.

The Diamondbacks cut the Oakland lead to 3-2 on an RBI single by Kole Calhoun and Asdrubal Cabrera’s sacrifice fly to center.

Oakland scored three times in the top of the fifth. After Lowrie delivered a run-scoring single and scored on Matt Olson’s sacrifice fly to left, Matt Chapman hit a solo home run to left, giving the Athletics a 6-2 lead.

Arizona battled back to pull within 6-5 with a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh on a run-scoring double by Cabrera, who scored on David Peralta’s single to center.

Elvis Andrus singled to drive in Stephen Piscotty in the top of the eighth, and the A’s tacked on two more runs in the ninth on an RBI single by Chapman and Sean Murphy’s run-scoring double.

Chapman finished 3-for-5, while Lowrie, Ramon Laureano and Sean Murphy each collected two hits, as the A’s outhit Arizona 12-7. Calhoun finished 3-for-4 for the D-Backs.
In the series finale, Oakland will start Jesus Luzardo (0-1, 6.10), and the Diamondbacks will counter with Zac Gallen (0-0, 0.00). Game time is 11:40 a.m.

Curry’s historic 53 point night powers Warriors to 116-107 win over the Nuggets

Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry (30) gets the water works from teammate forward Juan Toscano-Anderson, left as they celebrate their win over the Denver Nuggets on Mon Apr 12, 2021 at the Chase Center in San Francisco (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Stephen Curry made Warrior history Monday night to lead his team with 53 points to a 116-107 win over the visiting Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets, embarrassed by the Boston Celtics’ 31-3 late in the game to beat Denver at home, were hoping to get back on track against Golden State. The Warriors did not have Eric Paschall, Kelly Oubre, or James Wiseman available due to injury. The Warriors’ head coach, Steve Kerr, had Kent Bazemore fill in for Oubre.

Here is a list of all the things that Curry did Monday night. Curry needed 19 points to pass Wilt Chamberlain for the all-time Warrior scoring record. Curry scored 21 in the first period to pass Chamberlain’s 17,783 points. Curry was a one-person wrecking crew in the first half.

He led the team with 30 points. It was the seventh straight game with 30 or more points. Rick Barry was the last Warrior to accomplish that feat, and Barry did it in 1974. It was the 24th game of the year that Curry scored 30 or more.

It was his fifth game of the year with 40 or more points. It was his ninth 50 -point game in his career. He also connected on ten three-point shots. Curry accomplished that for the 18th time. It was also the third time that Curry had 50 points and ten threes in a game.

As mentioned above, the Nuggets were still smarting from the loss to Boston last Saturday in Denver. The Nuggets beat the Warriors earlier this year and looked to make it two wins over Golden State. The teams played a very entertaining first quarter. Curry was on fire, as mentioned above.

With Oubre and Paschall out, the Warriors needed to get all the starters into double-figures if they hoped to win. They had to find a way to contain Denver’s all-star center, Nikola Jokic. Denver improved their roster at the trade deadline by acquiring Aaron Gordon and former Warrior JaVale McGee. They also had to contain Jamal Murray, Will Barton, and Michael Porter. The Nuggets won the first quarter 33-32. Curry had 21 to pace the Warrior offense.

The Nuggets went on an 11-2 run to start the second period to lead 42-35. The Warriors did not score in the first three minutes of the quarter. Kent Bazemore and Draymond Green connected on a couple of threes to make it 48-42.

Curry returned to action and knocked down a three to close the gap to 48-45. Bazemore connected from downtown to tie the game at 54. Denver then went on a 7-0 run to go ahead 61-54. Curry made a two-point shot. Denver went to the halftime break leading by six 61-56.

The Warriors came out firing on all cylinders to start the third quarter. They stunned the Nuggets as they went on a 21-5 run to regain the lead 77-68. Curry was making shots from all over the court. The Warriors defense stopped the Nugget offense cold.

The Warriors outscored the Nuggets 43-22 to lead by 16 points 99-83 heading into the fourth quarter. Denver fought back to trail by ten 107-97. Cury was back in the game. The Warriors got sloppy with the ball, and Denver was able to creep closer 111-104. Curry and Green made free throws down the stretch to preserve the win for Golden State 116-107.

Game Notes and Stats: With the win, the Warriors are 26-28 for the year. Denver is 34-20.

The Warriors needed their starters to produce and did they ever. Green had a season-high 18 points. He was 7-for-8 from the floor, and he knocked down two threes. Green pulled down seven rebounds and made seven assists.

Bazemore had 14. He made three threes. Andrew Wiggins had 17 and was a force on defense. Damion Lee, coming off the bench, had eight. Kevon Looney did not score, but he had ten rebounds and played well on defense. The Warriors shot 48% from the floor. They connected on 18 threes in 44 attempts. On defense, the Warriors forced 19 Denver turnovers.

Nikola Jokic had a double-double for Denver. His line was 27 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists. Michael Porter was second in scoring for Denver with 24 points and nine boards. The Warriors held Aaron Gordon and Will Barton to nine points each. Bench player Monte Morris had ten for Denver.

Denver’s Jamal Murray suffered a knee injury with just 50 seconds left in the game. Murray hit the floor and was in extreme pain for several minutes. He was helped to the locker room for further examination. He probably will have an MRI. 

The Warriors travel to Oklahoma City to play the Thunder on Wednesday night. The game will start at 6 pm.

Stolarz’s 44-Save Shutout Leads to 4-0 Ducks Win Over Sharks

San Jose Sharks center Ryan Donato (16) jumps to get out of the way of Anaheim Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) in the second period at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Mon Apr 12, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Matthew Harrington

After mostly keeping the band together after Monday’s trade deadline, the San Jose Sharks missed out on a prime opportunity to move closer to the final playoff spot in the West Division Monday night. Team Teal fell to the visiting Anaheim Ducks 4-0 after seeing that the Coyotes (ahead of San Jose by two points) fell to the Avalanche early in the night. Ducks third-string netminder Anthony Stolarz made 44 saves, Max Comtois had two points and Alexander Volkov scored a pair of goals in the penultimate contest between the California rivals.

The Ducks (first goal came after Radim Simek failed to clear the puck out of the Sharks end and partner Christian Jaros likewise failed to advance the puck. After sustained offensive pressure, Comtois was able to redirect a shot-pass from Derek Grant just 1:59 into the first period.

Alexander Volkov then took advantage of slow reactions by Tomas Hertl who had the puck in his own end facing Martin Jones in net. Volkov hit Hertl’s stick, forcing the puck on net and past Jones for his first goal of the game 8:12 into the first. Volkov added his second of the period 12:19 into the period for a 3-0 lead.

Rickard Rakell, a player identified as a prime trade target heading into Monday’s trade dealine, wound up staying put with the Ducks. He rewarded his team’s inactivity by capping off the win with 3:26 off the clock in the third period.

“Even at 3-0 we knew that they played last night,” said Sharks coach Bob Boughner. “We felt in the second period that we were grinding them down, they were starting to turn pucks over. We were getting a lot of offense off that.”

“We thought this game was far from over,” added Boughner. “We couldn’t solve Stolarz and that fourth goal probably capped it off.”

Whether the Ducks had scored one goal or 100 wouldn’t have mattered with how Anthony Stolarz performed in net. The Ducks tender turned away 44 Sharks shots, a career high for the 27-year-old net minder. He came one save away from matching the Ducks franchise record for saves in a shutout in just his 30th career NHL game dating back to 2017.

The Sharks offense turned it on after a dismal first period that saw them outscored 3-0 despite outshooting Anaheim 14-13. They held the Ducks to just six shots on goal over the final two periods, but couldn’t crack Stolarz on 32 shots in the final pair of periods.

“I think it’s our job as a staff to get in there and address the situation,” said Boughner after his team’s third loss in four games. “To make the proper changes and adjustments. To show them the things we did well, but to continue to harp and teach on the things we didn’t do well.”

“It’s a funny game,” said Bougner. “Last week we were on top of the world and all the sudden you hit a couple games like this and you start gripping the stick tight. Maybe over thinking things. We need to get back to our structure.”

The Sharks get a chance to rebound against the Ducks (and presumably not Stolarz in net unless Ducks coach Dallas Eakins chooses to ride the hot hand) Wednesday night at San Jose. Boughner didn’t have an update on Tomas Hertl after the game, he headed to the dressing room late in the third period with an injury. There will surely be more on him in the coming days.

Sacramento Kings game wrap: Kings Lose Seventh In A Row to Pelicans 117-110

Brandon Ingram forward (14) of the New Orleans Pelicans takes a shot over the Sacramento Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton (right) Mon Apr 12, 2021 in New Orleans (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

With the regulation season approaching the final lap, team’s are fighting for that eighth spot. The eighth spot is a very real possibility for a few teams but the Sacramento Kings and the New Orleans Pelicans are probably not one of them. The Kings were defeated in New Orleans for their seventh straight loss 117-110 to the Pelicans on Monday night.

The Pelicans have made a bit of a move and are now in 11th place, three games behind the eighth place Grizzlies. With roughly have 19 games left in the regular season; now is the time to make a move for both of these teams. The Kings are 22-31 and in 12th place; a full five games behind the Grizzles. A win tonight is exactly what the Kings are gearing up for. They have lost six games in a row and desperately need a win.

The Kings started off the game on a slow note. The Pelicans led after one quarter 31-19. The second quarter did not go well for the Kings either. They trailed going into the locker room at the half 68-45. Sacramento had a lot of ground to make up in the second half. The Kings were having trouble stopping the Pelican offense. This is not surprising since the team has suffered with poor defense all season.

The Kings would need starters Richaun Holmes, Harrison Barnes, and Tyrese Haliburton to really step up in the second half. The Kings made up a lot of ground in the third quarter. They trailed 86-74 cutting their half time deficit in half. De’Aaron Fox was having a great game with 31 points through three quarters.

The Kings would pull to within four points of New Orleans but just plain ran out of clock. The slow start in this game came back to bite them in the rear resulting in the disappointing loss.

De’Aaron Fox had the high score of the game with 43 points for the Kings. Harrison Barnes finished with 16 points and Maurice Harkless had 15. The Pelicans Brandon Ingram had 34 points and Zion Williamson had 30. This loss is the seventh in a row for Sacramento.

On Wednesday evening the Kings will take on the Wizards. Tip off is at 7:00 PM.

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s showing signs of snapping out of it; Had day off on Sunday

Oakland A’s hitter Jed Lowrie singles for two RBIs in the seventh inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston against the Astros on Sat Apr 10, 2021 (AP News photo)

#1 The Oakland A’s started the 2021 season going 0-6 but once that streak ended the A’s have now won three of the their last four games. Including two wins in Houston against the AL Champion Astros.

#2 The A’s got a big 7-3 win over the Astros on Saturday that included a two run home run from Ramon Laureano for his first home run of the season.

#3 The A’s run production came up with two runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings something they lacked in those first six games and stayed ahead for the series win.

#4 The A’s got pitching help from starter Frankie Montas going six innings giving up six hits and one run, reliever Sergio Romo threw for two thirds of an inning giving up one hit and two runs. A’s relievers Jake Diekman and JB Wendelken shutout the Astros for the rest of way.

#5 The A’s open a brief two game series in Arizona against the Diamondbacks who have lost six out of their last ten games. The D-Backs are in dead last at 3-6 but the season is still early. The A’s will start Chris Bassitt whose looking for his first win of the season (0-2 ERA 5.56) the Diamondbacks will counter with Madison Bumgarner (0-1 ERA 11.00) since coming to the Diamondbacks he’s struggles and in his last outing he surrendered five runs on eight hits to the Rockies.

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason Mon Apr 12, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud