Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Will Bumgarner continue to ride horses in the rodeo?; Kings roll to their third straight win; plus more

Arizona Diamondback pitcher Madison Bumgarner tunes up during spring training as he gets set to face his former team the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale AZ on Monday (photo from sfgate.com)

On Headline Sports podcast with Tony:

#1 How sensible is it for Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner to ride horses and bulls in the rodeo and the team allows him to do that he’s a huge investment to a team?

#2 The Sacramento Kings picked up their third straight win over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at Chase Center in San Francisco 112-94

#3 The Warriors most recently host the New Orleans Pelicans where all the rage was Zion Williamson, Williamson in his first two games in the NBA scored 30 points

#4 It was reported by the Sacramento Bee that Northern California got it’s first case of Coronavirus the CDC told the Bee. With baseball season on the horizon and the City of San Francisco declaring a state of emergency ahead of the coming pandemic how do you see this effecting baseball?

#5 Everybody is wearing masks now with the oncoming pandemic and South Korea is no exception suffering from Coronavirus that they have postponed Table Tennis Federation matches for now and rescheduled the event for March 22.

Headline Sports with Tony Renteria can be heard each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Bumgarner to the Diamondbacks

Photo credit: @MLB

By Jeremy Kahn

What is that old adage, all things must come to an end and an era came to the end with the San Francisco Giants.

In this day of free agency and big bucks, Madison Bumgarner took his glove and left for a division rival.

No, Giants fans, he did not travel about 350 miles south on interstate 5 to the Los Angeles Dodgers; however, the Hickory, North Carolina native signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks for a reported $85 million over for five years.

The Giants did not go without a fight in re-signing Bumgarner to a long-term deal, as the two sides were talking as late as Wednesday in getting a deal done. The deal that the Giants put out there was five years at $85.5 million according to some reports.

With Bumgarner gone, the Giants staff for 2020 will be different indeed; however, it will include holdovers Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto. Also in the mix to join the starting rotation will be Andrew Suarez, Dereck Rodriguez, Tyler Anderson and newly signed Kevin Gausman, who the Giants signed during the Winter Meetings.

It will be a different scene in the Giants clubhouse when the 2020 season commences, as Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt are the only three players remaining from the 2014 World Championship team that defeated the Kansas City Royals in seven games.

Bumgarner will best be remembered for his World Series heroics in 2010, when as a 21-year old, he shutout the Texas Rangers in Game Four of the World Series, who can ever forget his postseason run in 2014 that started with the Wild Card game at PNC Park, Game Five of the World Series and finally those final five innings against the Royals in Game Seven on two days rest.

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum: Braves advance to LDS, quiet celebration after Culberson hit in face; A’s sit all alone at the top of AL wild card; plus more

photo from investing.com: Atlanta Braves hitter Charlie Culberson (8), who squared around to bunt, took a 91 per hour fast ball in the face throw by Washington Nationals pitcher Fernando Rodney on Saturday September 14th’s game at National’s Park in Washington DC.

On the MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 NL East-leading Braves clinch postseason berth

2 A’s club four homers in win over Rangers; now occupy top AL Wild Card spot; Surging Rays right behind Oakland in second Wild Card

3 Twins sweep doubleheader from Tribe; back to 5 1/2 game lead in AL Central

4 D-Backs extend GM Mike Hazen; head off possible return of Hazen to Red Sox; Meanwhile, Paul Goldschmidt swinging a hot bat for the Cardinals

5 MLB won’t fine Mets’ for Pete Alonso’s 9/11 tribute

Catch Daniel right here for complete MLB podcast coverage through the postseason and World Series at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum: Pineda gets caught with PEDs, out for 60 games; A’s could win series over Tigers today; plus more

from yahoo.sports.com photo: Minnesota Twins pitcher Michael Pineda throws to a Cleveland Indians batter during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept 6, 2019, in Minneapolis

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 Twins pitcher Michael Pineda suspended 60 games for PED violation, will miss the playoffs

2 Swingin’ A’s go for series win over Tigers, continue Wild Card chase

3 Surging Diamondbacks closing in on National League Wild Card berth

4 Cubs All-Star shortstop sidelined with thumb fracture

5 Nationals’ pitcher makes emotional comeback

Catch Daniel each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

D-backs win 3-2, stick fangs into Giants once again

Photo credit: @Dbacks

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — It seems that the Arizona Diamondbacks turned Oracle Park into Chase Field Northwest.

Adam Jones singled in Christian Walker in the top of the sixth inning, helping the Diamondbacks to a 3-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants before a crowd of 28,262 at Oracle Park. This season, the Diamondbacks went 7-2 at Oracle Park.

The Jones single was the third consecutive for the Diamondbacks, as Walker led off the inning with a single, then Jake Lamb followed up with a single and then Jones singled in Walker with one of his own.

Ketel Marte tied up the game in the top of the fifth inning, as he launched a solo home run off of Giants starter Jeff Samardzija. Marte was forced to leave the game, as he was injured during his home run trot.

Marte left the game due to a cramp in his right hamstring.

Former Giants pitcher Mike Leake evened up his record on the season at 10-10, as he went 7.1 innings, allowing two runs, scattering four hits, walking one and two strikeouts.

Samardzija went just five innings, allowing one run on three hits, walking just one and striking out three and did not fare in the decision.

The Giants took a quick 1-0 lead on Leake, as Brandon Belt singled with one out, stole second and went to third on an Alex Avila throwing error. Belt scored on a Stephen Vogt single into right field.

Walker put the game out of reach in the top of the 7th inning, as he singled off of Sam Coonrod, to score Tim Locastro, who walked with one out and stole second to get himself into scoring position and then the scored on the Walker single.

Tyler Rogers made his major- league debut in the top of the 8th inning, as he retired the Diamondbacks in his first inning ever as a major leaguer. Rogers went one inning with all zeroes.

The Giants attempted to make a game in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Mike Yastrzemski walked with one out and then scored when Brandon Belts double went just out of the reach Jarrod Dyson in centerfield. Evan Longoria then walked; however, Alex Dickerson lined into a double play, as Ildmaro Vargas made a diving catch and then threw to Walker, to get Longoria with the final out of the inning.

NOTES: Joey Rickard and Mauricio Duhon were recalled from Sacramento prior to the game, while the team also selected Rogers from the Rivercats.

Rogers and his twin brother Taylor, who is the closer for the Minnesota Twins are the 10th pair of twins to play in the majors.

These are the nine sets of twins to put on major league uniforms.

* Canseco, Jose 1985 2001 Canseco, Ozzie 1989 1993 § Cliburn, Stan 1980 1980 Cliburn,
Stu 1984 1988
§ Edwards, Marshall 1981 1983 Edwards, Mike 1977 1980 § * Grimes, Ray 1920 1926 Grimes, Roy 1920 1920
§ Hunter, George 1909 1910 Hunter, Bill 1912 1912
§ * Jonnard, Bubber 1920 1935 Jonnard, Claude 1921 1929 § * Minor, Damon 2000 2004 Minor, Ryan 1998 2001
§ * O’Brien, Eddie 1953 1958 O’Brien, Johnny 1953 1959 § * Shannon, Joe 1915 1915 Shannon, Red 1915 1926
* both played in the same season at least once

Trevor Gott was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right elbow strain. Abiatal Avelino was optioned to Sacramento and Scooter Gennett was placed on unconditional release waivers.

Johnny Cueto went 4.1 innings, allowing four (three earned) runs on six hits, and striking out three in his third rehab start and first with the Rivercats.

UP NEXT: The Giants are off on Wednesday for the first time since August 28, 2008, and their last loss on August 28, came six years to the day in 2013, as they lost to the Colorado Rockies 5-4 at Coors Field.

D-backs salvage fourth game of series with Giants, 6-1

Photo credit: @Dbacks

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, August 18, 2019

PHOENIX — Arizona got to San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner early and maintained the lead, as the Diamondbacks salvaged the fourth game of their weekend series against the Giants with a 6-1 win.

Wilmer Flores and David Peralta homered, and Adam Jones provided a key two-run triple in the first inning, as the Snakes pulled to within one game of .500 (62-63) and trail in the National League Wild Card race by four games.

The Giants slipped to 63-62, three games out of a NL Wild Card. Both the D-Backs and Giants must try to surge past the New York Mets, Philadelphia and Milwaukee to reach a Wild Card berth, currently occupied by Washington and the Chicago Cubs.

“It doesn’t matter who you’re playing. We’ve got to win games,” Bochy said. “We’re the ones that are behind.

“Hey, it was a good series. You come in here and take three out of four, you’ve got to feel good about that. (Arizona) is a good club. We came in and played well. Now, we go to Chicago and it’s going to be another big series.”

The loss was Bumgarner’s first since June 5. San Francisco is 16-11 in his starts this season, including nine of his last 11. In six innings, Bumgarner (8-8) struck out nine, walked two, but gave up four earned runs on six hits.

The Diamondbacks roughed up Bumgarner after he retired the first two Arizona hitters on four pitches. Eduardo Escobar doubled and moved to third on right fielder Austin Slater’s throwing error. Christian Walker walked, and Adam Jones plated Escobar and Walker with a triple to right.

Josh Rojas followed with a base hit, driving in Jones, putting Arizona up 3-0.

“(Bumgarner) was just inches away from getting out of that inning,” Bochy said. “Other than that, it’s another great start. Madison was fine. We just couldn’t do much offensively. We couldn’t get that one big hit.”

Mike Yastrzemski tripled to lead off the San Francisco sixth and scored on Scooter Gannett’s base hit, cutting the Arizona lead to 4-1. Walks to Brandon Belt and Slater loaded the bases with two outs, and the Diamondbacks summoned Andrew Chafin from the bullpen.

Brandon Crawford hit a sharp bouncer to second baseman Wilmer Flores, who threw to Chafin covering to snuff out the Giants’ rally.

Arizona added its fifth run in the bottom of the seventh on David Peralta’s 12th home run of the season. With two out, Peralta struck a solo shot to right-center off Giants reliever Fernando Abad.

The Diamondbacks scored again in the eighth (off reliever Tony Watson) when pinch-hitter Jarrod Dyson singled, stole second, moved to third on back-to-back walks to Rojas and Nick Ahmed, and scored on Jake Lamb’s bases-loaded walk.

San Francisco continues its quest for the postseason on Tuesday, when the Giants open a three-game series against the Cubs. Righthanders Tyler Beede (3-7), Dereck Rodriguez (5-6) and Jeff Samardzija (9-9) are the San Francisco probables. The Cubs will counter with lefthander Cole Hamels (6-4, and righthanders Yu Darvish (4-6) and Kyle Hendricks (8-9).

GIANT JOTTINGS: The game marked the final regular season appearance at Chase Field for Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who is retiring at the end of the season. … Prior to Sunday’s game, the Giants recalled INF Abiatal Avelino from Triple-A Sacramento and designated LHP Travis Bergen for assignment. … Attendance was 26,079 on a 105-degree afternoon.

TAGS: San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks, Madison Bumgarner, NL Wild Card

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s closing in on Astros in 4-game series; Giants still in the hunt for a wild card spot; plus more

photo from chron.com: Oakland Athletics’ Robbie Grossman watches his RBI single against the Houston Astros during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, in Oakland, Calif.

On the MLB The Show podcast with Daniel:

1 Swingin’ A’s take first three games out of four with Houston, ½ game out of second in the AL Wild Card

2 Giants feasting on D-Backs’ pitching, still in NL Wild Card hunt

3 Christian Yelich, Aristides Aquino continue slugging ways

4 Yankees skipper makes case for mercy rule in MLB

5 Bill Walton calls White Sox-Angels game

Daniel Dullum does the MLB podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Yastrzemski hits 3 HRs in Giants’ 10-9 win in 11 innings

Photo credit: @ESPNStatsInfo

By Jeremy Kahn

Usually, the home run derby takes place at the All-Star Game, but there was one in the desert between the San Francisco Giants and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Mike Yastrzemski hit his third home run of the game in the top of the 11th inning, helping the Giants to a 10-9 victory over the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

This was the first time in Yastrzemskis career that he hit three home runs in the same game, as the Giants have taken the first two games of this four-game series.

Yastrzemski ended up going 3-for-6 with those three home runs, and drove in four runs. His 16 home runs are the most by a Giants rookie since Buster Posey hit 18 in 2010, when the Giants won their first World Series since 1954.

Jarrett Parker was the last Giants player to hit three home runs in a game on September 26, 2015 against the Oakland As at the Coliseum.

Kevin Pillar hit two home runs for the Giants, who passed the Diamondbacks in the hunt for the Wild Card spot.

With the Giants leading 7-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Diamondbacks, as they scored five runs in the inning to tie up the game.

Eduardo Escobar hit a solo home run, then Wilmer Flores also hit a solo home run and then Adam Jones tied up the game with a three-run home run off of Tony Watson.

Pillar then gave the Giants the lead again in the top of the 10th inning, as he hit his second home run of the game and his 17th of the season.

Lost in the fact that the Giants won the game in extra innings was the fact that Jeff Samardzija pitched a great game, as he went five and a third innings, allowing two runs on five hits, walking two and striking out four.

Former Giants pitcher Mike Leake went six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, not walking a batter and striking out three. Leake was in line for the loss until Jones hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning that tied up the game.

Both the Giants and the Diamondbacks hit a combined 12 home runs in the game, as Pillar, Yastrzemski and Flores each hit at least two home runs in the game.

The usual Giants bullpen was not up to par, as seven Giants relievers went six and two-thirds innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits, walking one and striking out five. Fernando Abad, Reyes Moronta, Watson, Sam Coonrod, Jandel Gustave, Will Smith and Trevor Gott ended up in the game.

Smith gave up a game-tying home run to Nick Ahmed in the bottom of the 10th inning, as he was able to regroup to get the victory, his fifth win of the season without a loss.

Trevor Gott retired Christian Walker on a ground ball to Donovan Solano for the final out of the game. It was the first save of the season for Gott.

NOTES: Yastrzemskis grandfather Carl hit three home runs in the same game one time in his career, as he did it on May 19,1976 at Tiger Stadium against the Detroit Tigers.

Kyle Barraclough cleared waivers and was outrighted by the team to Triple-A Sacramento.

Johnny Cueto made his third start during his rehab, as he pitched for Class A San Jose at Visalia. Cueto went two and two-third innings, allowing a run on four hits with two strikeouts.

UP NEXT: Logan Webb will make his major-league debut on Saturday night, as he takes the mound for the Giants. Merrill Kelly will take the mound for the Diamondbacks, as he looks for ninth win of the season.

Rodriguez fires 3-hitter as Giants blank Snakes 7-0

Photo credit: @KNBR

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, August 15, 2019

PHOENIX — In its quest for a National League Wild Card berth, San Francisco needed a strong start from Dereck Rodriguez, and got one on Thursday night at Chase Field.

The Giants’ offense — Evan Longoria and Austin Slater in particular — gave Rodriguez plenty of support in a 7-0 win over Arizona.

“I felt good, and I just wanted to attack,” Rodriguez said. “I know we’re close to them in the Wild Card and we’ve got a playoff atmosphere here. It was a lot of fun.”

Rodriguez (5-6), called up Thursday from Triple-A Sacramento, struck out four, walked one and scattered three hits in his 11th start of the season. He retired the first 11 Arizona batters until Eduardo Escobar singled to right with two out in the fourth inning.

“He was throwing strikes. We’ve seen him do that before,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Rodriguez, who came into the game with a 5.14 earned run average. “That’s what it was — quality strikes all night. He had all four pitches going and good command of them. He worked both sides of the plate very efficiently too. A great job of pitching.

“He had a very determined look on his face. It’s been an up-and-down year for him. Tonight, he showed what he can do, and we needed it. That was a real shot in the arm for us.”

Rodriguez said he addressed some mechanical issues during his stint with the River Cats.

“I was just trying to get back to what I know I can do — throw strikes,” Rodriguez said. “I notice that when I throw strikes, I’m a different pitcher. It’s just attacking the hitters and the rest takes care of itself. Today, I had a lot of first-pitch swings and a lot of quick outs.”

Longoria was 3-for-5 with a home run and four runs batted in. Slater was 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, Buster Posey was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, and leadoff hitter Donovan Solano singled, doubled and scored twice.

“Evan’s been swinging good. Not just tonight, he’s been getting some good at-bats,” Bochy said. “It looks like he’s got his timing and he’s in synch now.”

The four-game weekend set involves two teams in the thick of the National League Wild Card race. Arizona and the Giants are both 3 ½ games in back of Washington and the Chicago Cubs. Both the D-Backs and Giants must pass Philadelphia, Milwaukee and the New York Mets to catch the Nats or Cubs.

San Francisco has won five of its last seven games, while the Diamondbacks have won seven of their last 12 contests.

San Francisco manufactured a pair of runs in the top of the first inning off D-Backs starter Alex Young. The Giants loaded the bases with a leadoff base hit by Solano, followed by a walk to Slater and an infield hit by Posey.

Posey’s slow roller hit the third base bag, after Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb waited for the ball to possibly roll foul. Longoria singled to left, driving in Solano and Slater.

Kevin Pillar grounded into a force out, moving Posey to third, but he was picked off during Scooter Gennett’s at-bat.

“That (first inning) gave me a lot of confidence,” Rodriguez said. “It gives you a lot of room for error. I felt good, even without those two runs. I’m with it.”

Back-to-back one-out doubles by Slater and Posey put the Giants up 3-0 in the fifth. Longoria followed with his 15th home run of the season, scoring Posey.

Belt’s RBI double, drove in Joey Rickard (who walked) to score the sixth Giants run in the sixth. In the eighth, Solano doubled and scored on Slater’s base hit, putting the Giants up 7-0.

Fernando Abad, whose contract was selected Thursday from Sacramento, threw a scoreless ninth inning for the Giants. It was his first MLB appearance since 2017 with Boston.

San Francisco has yet to name a starting pitcher for Friday. Arizona will go with right-hander Merrill Kelly (8-12, 4.75 ERA).

GIANT JOTTINGS: Following Thursday’s game, along with recalling Rodriguez, the Giants optioned LHP Williams Jerez and C Aramis Garcia to Triple-A Sacramento. To make room for LHP Fernando Abad on the 40-man roster, San Francisco designated RHP Kyle Barraclough for assignment. … Game time temperatures: outside – 107 degrees, inside – 77. … Attendance: 19,037.

TAGS: San Francisco Giants, Dereck Rodriguez, Evan Longoria, Austin Slater, Arizona Diamondbacks, NL Wild Card

Podcast: Daniel Dullum talks sports that will make you think and laugh!!!

Photo by Barthy Bonhomme on Pexels.com

• Daniel is a reporter for SportsRadioService.com and the sports editor for the Apache Junction – Gold Canyon News in Arizona
• Daniel and Charlie O have a great time talking baseball
• They talk about the wild combined Astros no-hitter on Saturday night
• Daniel and Charlie discuss the huge trade that brought Zach Grienke to the Astros and the impact that will make
• What about the Giants and their moves?
• Could they have been the Henderson, Nevada D-backs?
• Will the Philly Phanatic be a free agent in 2020? Really!

Join Daniel and Charlie for some fun talking about all things baseball!