Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Astros Alvarez beats M’s with one swing of the bat in walk homer; Yanks Cole and Rizzo provide help in 4-1 win over Cleveland; plus more

The Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez watches flight of his home run in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Tue Oct 11, 2022 (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Jessica:

#1 Jessica lets look at the MLB playoffs from Tuesday night. The Houston Astros took the first game of the ALDS getting by the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Field in Houston 7-5. The Astros Yordan Alvarez crushed a three run walk off homer in the bottom of the ninth for the win.

#2 The New York Yankees got a 4-1 win past the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium. Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole pitched 6.1 innings, four hits, one earned run, one walk, and eight strikeouts for the win. Anthony Rizzo hit a home run and had two RBIs in the win.

#3 The Philadelphia Phillies just got by the Atlanta Braves 7-6 at Truist Park in Cobb County. The Phils held onto to the win despite the Braves scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning in a last attempt to come back.

#4 The Los Angles Dodgers drew first blood in game one of the NLDS defeating the San Diego Padres 5-3 at Dodgers Stadium. The Dodgers scored early with two runs in the bottom of the first inning and three runs in the bottom of third inning.

#5 Lastly Jessica the Guardians pitcher Nick Sandlin will miss the rest of the 2022 post season after going through an MRI that showed he has a major muscle injury in the right shoulder. How will Sandlin’s absence impact the Guardians pitching in the post season?

Join Jessica Kwong for Headline Sports Wednesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: National Anthem standoff doesn’t quite workout as planned; Braves honored at White House

From left, Braves President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos, manager Brian Snitker, President Joe Biden, and Braves President and CEO Terry McGuirk who were celebrating their 2021 Championship at the White House on Mon Sep 26, 2022 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Seattle Mariners Robbie Ray and the Kansas City Royals Luke Weaver both did a national anthem standoff and while after the anthem was played both Ray and Weaver stayed in front of their respective dugouts with their hats over their hearts until the umpire threw them both out of the game on Sunday.

#2 President Biden welcomed the World Champion Atlanta Braves to celebrated their World Series victory in 2021. Biden said that the Braves “unstoppable” the Braves presented Biden with a number 46 jersey for being the 46th president.

#3 The Cleveland Guardians made an unexpected finish finishing at the top of the AL Central to clinch the division with a win over the Texas Rangers. The Guardians are the youngest team in baseball as well.

#4 Amaury, Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly has announced that he will not manage the Marlins past this season. Mattingly had been with the Marlins since 2016 and did not option to seek a contract extension.

#5 The Marlins wore the Cuban Sugar Cane uniforms over the weekend. The Marlins wanted to honor the former Triple A team the Sugar Canes. The Sugar Canes were a minor league team from 1954-60.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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

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

The Best Division in Baseball, Plus

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Fathers Day weekend.

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

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Warriors Thompson wants to win it badly; Giants surprise with weekend sweep of LA; plus more

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) says he wants to win the NBA Finals badly after being laid off the last two NBA seasons with injuries (file photo by USA Today)

On Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Tony, I know you have a lot to say about the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors in game 5 of the NBA Finals last night at Chase Center in San Francisco. Warriors series tied up at 2-2 the Warriors Andrew Wiggins who at one time contemplated taking a Covid 19 vaccine shot or stay off the team that was nine months ago Wiggins thought the better of it and where he is now? He led the Warriors with 26 points last night to go up 3-2 in the series.

#2 Game six is in Boston is on Thursday night the Warriors Klay Thompson was quoted as saying “I want to frigging win” remarking on his long three year wait after sitting out two straight seasons with an ACL and Achilles injuries.

#3 Tony have to ask you about the recent sweep of the San Francisco Giants over the Los Angeles Dodgers there are a lot of people in baseball who are shocked about three straight over a Dodger team like this.

#4 The Oakland A’s will try and pick up a win in Boston tonight. They won only one game on the current road trip which started in getting swept in two games in Atlanta and then getting losing three of four games in Cleveland needless to say it’s been tough sledding for Oakland as they open for three games tonight in Boston.

#5 Tony, Phil Mickelson met with the media on Monday at the US Open and he was needless to say very uneasy in the meeting. He was evasive, dodged some of the questions, he wasn’t nervous but it was obvious that he didn’t want to be at the podium and afraid of questions regarding his book in consideration about joining Saudi Super Golf League.

Join Tony for Headline Sports podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Preview Oakland A’s vs. Boston Red Sox: A’s hope to improve win record at Fenway Park as series starts Tuesday

Oakland A’s starter Jared Koenig who lost his first game in his Major League debut on Wed Jun 8, 2022 at Truist Field in Cobb County against the Atlanta Braves will face the Boston Red Sox on Tue Jun 13, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s arrived in Boston Sunday night after finishing a four-game series with the Cleveland Guardians. The A’s managed to beat the Guardians on Saturday 10-5. The A’s have lost fourteen of their last 16 games.

They find themselves in the cellar in the AL West. Their record is a woeful 21-41. However, their bats showed signs of life as they bashed four home runs in the 10-5 win on Saturday. Their hitters slugger three solo dingers in the 6-3 loss to the Guardians on Sunday.

A’s first baseman, Christian Bethancourt, has started to hit. He raised his batting average to .269. His on-base percentage is a respectable .310. He has hit four homers and driven in 15.

In fourth place in the very tough AL East, the Red Sox went 8-2 on the completed 10-game road trip. The Sox are now 32-29 for the season. Injuries, however, are starting to affect the pitching.

Starters Nathan Eovaldi and Garrett Whitlock are on the 15-day IL. Chris Sale is still not available. The Red Sox still have a very potent lineup. Their All-Star candidates include third baseman Rafael Devers, shortstop Xander Bogaerts, second baseman Trevor Story, and DH J.D. Martinez.

The Red Sox cannot afford to take the A’s lightly. The A’s play better on the road. They are 14-18 away from the Oakland Coliseum. They are a woeful 7-23 at home.

The A’s showed they have some pop in their bats as they sent seven balls into the seats in the last two games of the Cleveland series. They hope to continue pounding the ball in the hitter-friendly confines of Boston’s Fenway Park.

The A’s will send lefty Jared Koenig to the hill Tuesday night. Koenig will be making his second start in his brief Major League career. In his first outing, he made it into the fourth inning. He absorbed the loss, and his ERA is 9.00. Nick Pivetta (5-5, 3.78 ERA) goes for Boston.

On Wednesday, James Kaprielian will handle the pitching chores for the A’s. James is 0-3, and his ERA is 5.73. He pitched better in his last outing but did not get the decision. The A’s feel James is rounding back into the form he showed last season.

The Red Sox have not announced their starting pitchers for Wednesday or Thursday. The A’s starter on Thursday will be Paul Blackburn. Blackburn is 5-2 with a very tidy era of 2.31. Blackburn went eight innings in his last outing against Cleveland.

He was ahead 2-0 when he left the game. The Guardians rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth as the A’s bullpen melted down again.

As baseball fans know, anything can happen in games played at Fenway Park. Fenway has been a hitter’s paradise for over 100 years.

The A’s would love to get back into the win column and take at least two out of three from the Sox in a series that starts on Friday night. Boston would love to sweep the A’s again. As always, it should be a fun series.

On Friday night the A’s return to the Oakland Coliseum to host the Kansas City Royals for a three game series.

Early Start Equates To Early Offense: A’s fall behind and lose to the Guardians 6-3

By Morris Phillips

Right now, a matchup between baseball’s most productive hitter and the game’s least effective offense is a mismatch. That’s more bad news for the struggling A’s.

The A’s got their final look at the Cleveland Guardians and it didn’t do much to change the current state of affairs. The Guardians–winners on Sunday by a 6-3 score–are heating up, and the A’s continue to struggle, losing for the 32nd time in their last 43 games, despite ending a lengthy losing streak on Saturday. The Guardians have won 11 of 15 to plant themselves firmly in the race for the AL Central crown.

Jose Ramirez knocked in three runs for Cleveland, the first two to give the hosts a first inning lead after the A’s got a home run from Ramon Laureano. The Guardians went on to score three in the first, two in the sixth and one in the seventh to build a 6-1 lead. Ramirez leads all big league hitters with 59 RBI.

The A’s staged a late rally in the eighth with back-to-back home runs from Christian Bethancourt and Seth Brown. Sean Murphy then drew a walk, but Cleveland reliever Trevor Stephan settled down and got Elvis Andrus to fly out to end the inning.

The A’s hit the road this week after a 1-9 home stand hoping to reverse their fortunes. But through the first two stops on the roadie, they’re 1-5. The A’s have the lowest team batting average at .211 and despite hitting three home runs for only the third time this season on Sunday, they’ve hit the second fewest in baseball at 44.

“I think guys are getting more confident, taking better at-bats,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “We’ve known the power is in there for the guys that hit the home runs.”

As the A’s issues have persisted, those issues have multiplied. The team’s pitching has deteriorated with the team ERA above 5 1/2 runs over the last 28 games. Cole Irvin, Sunday’s starter allowed at least six hits in a start for the sixth, consecutive start despite settling down considerably after a rocky first inning.

However, the defense contributed to Sunday’s poor start as Andrus misplaced a ground ball hit by leadoff hitter Myles Straw. That was the A’s 41st error on the season.

Winning pitcher Cal Quantrill went six innings, allowing four hits and a run, his fifth win of the season. Emmanuel Clase pitched the ninth and struck out Matt Davidson and Tony Kemp with Chad Pinder on second base to end the game and earn his 11th save.

The A’s travel to Boston and face the Red Sox starting Tuesday with Jared Koenig the team’s scheduled starting pitcher.

Oakland breaks ten game losing streak crushes Guardians 10-5

Oakland Athletics’ Seth Brown (15) celebrates with Matt Davidson (4) after hitting a grand slam against the Cleveland Guardians in the top of the seventh inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Sat Jun 10, 2022 (AP News photo)

Oakland Breaks 10-Game Losing Streak Crushes Guardians 10-5

By Barbara Mason

Saturday afternoon the Oakland A’s (21-40) were looking at the possibility of an 11th straight loss in a row. They took on the Cleveland Guardians (28-27) in game three of their series well apparently Oakland had just about enough. Ramon Laureano really had enough firing up the team in the dugout in, more than likely, some colorful language.

The A’s were trailing 5-2 going into the seventh inning. The Guardians did not score again for the rest of the game while Oakland starting hitting was like something we have not seen for weeks. Stephen Vogt scored in the seventh inning when Tony Kemp grounded into a fielder’s choice and then the fireworks began. Seth Brown hit a grand slam in the seventh inning and Oakland took the lead 7-5.

The A’s were just getting started. Vogt hit a home run in the eighth inning to extend their lead 8-5. Oakland would hit a couple more home runs in the ninth inning. Christian Bethancourt and Sean Murphy both hit long balls for a final score of 10-5.

Oakland had 13 hits and they had scored runs in five innings in some long overdue offense. The A’s had saved this game for pitcher Frankie Montas who went six innings. He had not won a game since April 18th. He was 0-5 in his previous nine starts despite having a 2.87 ERA during that period.

Oakland Manager Mark Kotsay spoke to the pep talk in the dugout by Laureano. “That’s Ramon being himself. His energy, his passion and his frustration,” he said. Whatever happened in that dugout, it resonated and this team responded

Laureano was actually ejected in the seventh inning when he complained to the umpire that Cleveland pitcher Zach Plesac was quick pitching.

Oakland will try to even this series in game four on Sunday Cole Irvin (2-2, 3.00) will take the mound for the A’s and for the Guardians Cal Quintrill (3-3 ERA 3.56). First pitch will be at 8:35 AM PT.

Oakland Loses Number Ten In Ninth Inning Cleveland Beats A’s 3-2

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn applauds a defensive play by Elvis Andrus against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning at Progressive Field on Fri Jun 10, 2022 (AP News photo)

Oakland Loses Number Ten In Ninth Inning Cleveland Beats A’s 3-2

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the Oakland A’s (20-40) took on the Cleveland Guardians (28-26) in game two of their four game series and once again took on another loss this time their tenth straight 3-2 to the Guardians. Thursday night Oakland remained tied 4-4 with Cleveland through seven innings but let it slip away in the eighth inning when the Guardians scored four times to take game one 8-4.

Friday the A’s were looking to even the series. Paul Blackburn was on the mound for Oakland coming in with a 2.31 ERA. Triston McKenzie started for the Guardians.

The A’s got on the board early striking in the first and second innings. In the first inning Seth Brown homered to right and in the second inning Sean Murphy hit the second home run of the game a shot to left field. The A’s had a 2-0 lead to start this game.

Oakland held Cleveland scoreless through eight innings and Blackburn was having a great outing allowing only four hits.

Going into the ninth inning A’s closer Dany Jimenez would try and save this game for Oakland. The A’s did not have a very good start in the ninth. Jose Ramirez homered to right and set his team up for a possible walk off trailing 2-1 with no outs. Jimenez would load the bases and Owen Miller would hit a sacrifice and Oscar Mercado would score to tie up this game 2-2.

Sam Moll came in for Oakland to try and get the A’s out of the inning. Oakland would load the bases again with one out. Luke Maile sacrificed and drove Oscar Mercado home for the walk off 3-2

The brilliance of Paul Blackburn through eight innings was unfortunately not enough for the win. It was an awful ninth inning for Oakland pitching. They could not get the job done and the A’s suffered their tenth loss in a row.

The A’s were tied for the worst record in baseball alongside the Kansas City Royals KC defeated the Baltimore Orioles 8-1 on Friday.

Oakland just might be the worst team in baseball right now. Their .500 record is a distant memory and now it comes down to taking it one game at a time. Losing this game in the ninth inning was a bitter pill to swallow for the team.

The A’s will play game three in this series Saturday afternoon. First pitch is at 1:10 PM PDT. Starters for the A’s Frankie Montas (2-6, 3.06) and for the Guardians Zach Pleasac (2-4, 4.72).

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s can’t hold the lead lose their ninth straight 8-4 to Guardians

The Oakland A’s Christian Bethancourt gives thanks to the Almighty after delivering a two run homer in the top of the second against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Thu Jun 9, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah, the Oakland A’s (20-39) fall again in a tough 8-4 loss the Cleveland Guardians (27-26). The A’s had a 4-2 lead but saw it dwindle away as the Guardians scored a run in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings and broke it wide open in the bottom of the eighth inning with four runs.

#2 The Guardians Andre Gimenez hit a go ahead base hit in the Guardians four run eighth inning with the win the Guardians now are a game over .500.

#3 A’s reliever Lou Trivino came into pitch the bottom of the eighth and got tattooed giving up five hits and four earned runs in just one third of an inning.

#4 The Guardians did a classy thing before today’s game and paid a tribute to former A’s and Guardians catcher Ray Fosse with a video of Ray’s time in Cleveland and a moment of silence.

#5 The A’s who now have lost nine straight games try to snap the streak on Friday they’ll start Paul Blackburn (5-2, 2,62) for the Guardians Triston McKenzie (3-5, 3.10) a 4:10 pm PDT first pitch at Progressive Field.

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

Guardians send A’s down to their ninth loss in a row 8-4; Cleveland rallies in the eighth for the win

Cleveland Guardians’ Steven Kwan scores past Oakland Athletics’ Sean Murphy on a single by Oscar Gonzalez during the sixth inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Thu Jun 9, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s woes continued as they lost for the ninth straight time. The A’s fell to the Cleveland Guardians by a score of 8-4. The A’s lost for the 12th time in the last 13th game. A’s reliever Lou Trivino continued to struggle.

Trivino had another bad outing as he was tagged for four runs and four hits. There was some good news, however. The A’s scored four times. Their starter James Kaprielian went five innings and allowed five hits and two runs.

Kaprielian gave up back-to-back solo home runs to Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor in the fourth. It was Ramirez’s 15th of the year. For Naylor, it was his seventh. The A’s offense showed signs of life. A’s DH Christian Bethancourt had a two-run homer, a single, and a double. Three straight doubles in the sixth produced two more runs for Oakland.

The A’s jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. A’s catcher Sean Murphy was hit by a pitch to start the second. Christian Bethancourt hit his second homer of the year to put the A’s in the lead. Cleveland tied the game in the fourth with two solo home runs.

The A’s regained the lead in the top of the sixth. Three straight hits produced two runs to give the A’s the Advantage 4-2. A’s reliever A.J.Puk gave up a run in the bottom of the sixth. Cleveland tied the game in the seventh when they put another run on the board. Zack Jackson was on the hill for Oakland.

Cleveland put four runs on the board in the bottom of the eighth. They sent nine men to the plate with struggling Lou Trivino on the hill. They put together four hits, a walk, and an error by Trivino to tally four runs. All A’s manager could do was watch as the A’s lost again. The final score was 8-4.

Game Notes- With the loss, the A’s drop to 20-39. Cleveland improved to 27-26. Trivino was the losing pitcher. He is 1-5 for the year.
The line score for Oakland was four runs, eight hits, and one error. Cleveland’s line was eight runs, fourteen hits, and no errors.

The A’s now have two nine-game losing streaks this year and are under .500 for the first time since 2017.

Cleveland’s manager Terry Francona hasn’t forgotten the day the when the Red Sox released outfielder Mark Kotsay. Francona was Boston’s skipper at the time. Francona said,” I remember literally shedding tears when we did it. It was hard.” Kotsay said he and Francona bonded during his time with the Red Sox.

The A’s Paul Blackburn (5-2, 2.62 ERA) will go for Oakland Friday night. Blackburn has lost his last two starts. The Guardians will counter with Tristen McKenzie (3-5-3.10 ERA). McKenzie allowed just three hits over seven innings in his last start. All three hits were home runs.

The game will start at 4:10 pm PT.