San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants end three game win streak; SF opens four game set in Miami tonight

Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Schwarber took San Francisco Giants pitcher Jarlin Garcia (pictured) deep in the bottom of the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia on Wed Jun 1, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 The Philadelphia Phillies (22-29) ended a four game losing streak to the San Francisco Giants (27-22) and the Giants ended a three game win streak on Wednesday with a 5-4 win.

#2 The Phillies Kyle Schwarber and Nick Maton both hit home runs and the Phillies picked up four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie up the ball game at 5-5. Giants bullpen just couldn’t hold it together?

#3 The Phillies had scratched star hitter Bryce Harper before the game with right forearm soreness and Jean Segura was out with a fractured index finger on his right hand. Segura will be out for three months. As it turned out the Phillies were able to scratch a win even with Harper out of the line up.

#4 Michael, talk about the Giants first baseman Wilmer Flores’ three run home run big fly but still the Giants fall one run short. Talk about the Flores home run and how he’s been seeing the ball of late?

#5 The Giants head to Miami to face off with Miami Marlins starting pitcher for the Giants Alex Wood (3-4, 4.81) and going for the Marlins Sandy Alcantara (5-2, 2.00) a 6:40 pm PDT for tonight’s game, how do you see this series and talk about Wood’s most recent performances?

Join Michael for Giant podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sixth Inning of Separation: Giants rally, and get beat in the same inning of a 6-5 loss to the struggling Phillies

By Morris Phillips

One inning on Wednesday said it all about the Giants’ current situation. They may be the best right now at wiping out deficits late, but it appears their bullpen’s developed a leak.

Nine runs were scored in the sixth inning of the Giants’ 6-5 loss to the Phillies, but four of those–on two, big home runs–belonged to the hosts, who halted a tough string of losses in the process. The Giants saw their rally to go from down 2-0 to up 5-2 wind up as a footnote, as the Phillies quickly put up four of their own to halt a five-game losing streak.

Jarlin Garcia–arguably the most effective setup man in baseball this season (through 17 appearances) finally had a hiccup, allowing his first earned runs and home runs of the season. Nick Maton and Kyle Schwarber both connected with men on base against Garcia with Schwarber’s giving Philadelphia the lead. The cozy dimensions of Citizens Bank Park were in play with Schwarber’s home run, which probably would have been a flyball out at a lot of parks including San Francisco’s. Garcia’s poor outing also took a possible win away from starter Carlos Rodon who pitched the game’s first five innings.

Manager Gabe Kapler tried to make sense of the situation in which two of the team’s best arm talents couldn’t get it done.

“The most important thing we can do is protect our starters,” Kapler said. “Carlos is a guy we have to treat with that level of respect. When he’s super efficient … of course we’re going to give him that opportunity. Today wasn’t that day, and it wasn’t close. … You could point to any number of spots in the game where there were a couple additional pitches. Certainly we weren’t perfect on defense, and that hurt his chances to pitch deeper into the game.”

The Giants rallied in both of the previous games in the series and made it stick with a pair of victories. Their sixth inning rally in this one brought out the boo birds–predictably–but those same fans had to change their tune when three relievers shut down the Giants in the game’s final three innings.

The Phillies had dropped five in a row, and got worse news before the game when versatile infielder Jean Segura was declared out for at least two months with a broken bone in his index finger, and Bryce Harper was ruled out for the game with a forearm issue.

The Giants–experiencing issues of their own in winning ballgames–looked to pounce by sweeping the series, but it all crumbled with Maton and Schwarber’s home runs. Maton just joined the club, after a call-up from Triple A Lehigh Valley.

Aaron Nola pitched the first six innings for the Phillies, allowing all five Giants’ runs on five hits while notching five strikeouts.

“These guys have been grinding,” Phillies’ manager Joe Girardi said. “A lot of guys have played every day in this 16-day run. We get an off day and we get an off day Monday. Hopefully that refreshes our guys. But I think we really needed (a win) bad.”

The Giants open a four-game set in Miami on Thursday against the Phillies.

Giants pull out 7-4 11-inning win over Phils

The San Francisco Giants Joc Pederson runs the bases after hitting an 11th inning two run homer against third baseman Alex Bohm (left) and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia on Tue May 31, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Tuesday, May 31, 2022

In a game that lasted four hours and 52 minutes, San Francisco used an 11th inning rally to beat Philadelphia 7-4 at Citizens Bank Park.

Donovan Walton’s run-scoring double broke a 4-4 tie, and Joc Pederson iced it with a two-run homer, driving in Walton. Walton drove in Joey Bart, who was placed at second.

Jose Alvarez (2-1), the eighth pitcher to enter the game for the Giants, struck out two and walked two over the last 1 1/3 innings to get the win.

Andrew Bellatti (1-2) surrendered all three San Francisco runs in the top of the 11th. In the Phillies’ 11th, after Odubel Herrera was placed on second base, Johan Camargo fouled out to first, Kyle Schwarber walked, Bryson Stott struck out, and Bryce Harper was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Alvarez struck out Roman Quinn swinging to end the game.

San Francisco had taken a 4-3 lead in the top of the 10th when Wilmer Flores scored on a fielding error. The Phillies extended the game in the bottom of the 10th on a two-out RBI single by Alec Bohm.

The Giants took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth on a two-run double to right by Luis Gonzalez, and Mike Yastrzemski’s sacrifice fly to center. Philadelphia came up with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 3-3. J.T. Realmuto had an run-scoring single, and Rhys Hoskins (who singled) scored when Herrera grounded into a double play.

Gonzalez was 4-for-5, leading the Giants’ 12-hit attack. San Francisco starter Jakob Junis went 4 1/3 innings, giving up an earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out three. Jarlin Garcia, John Brebbia, Jake McGee, Tyler Rogers, Dominic Leone and Camilo Duval also saw action out of the Giants’ bullpen.

Phillies starter Ranger Suarez lasted 4 1/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits and three walks. He struck out five.

Carlos Rodon (4-4, 3.60) starts for the Giants on Wednesday, facing the Phillies’ Aaron Nola (2-4, 3.56); first pitch is at 2:05 PDT.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Kapler takes anthem protests one game at a time; Can A’s improve attendance as Astros and Red Sox pay a visit to Coliseum

San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler takes a stroll to the Giants dugout after making a pitching change in the top of the eighth inning against the New York Mets on Mon May 23, 2022 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Gabe Kapler San Francisco Giants manager made headlines when he said he would not be on the field for the national anthem but made an exception for the Memorial Day game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

#2 The Oakland A’s continue to suffer at the gate their draws have been around 8,000 plus tops and bottoming out around 3,000 on a Thursday night against the Texas Rangers.

#3 What a week for the Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani on Sunday Ohtani homered twice, but the Angels lost by just a run in a slugfest against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Big A in Anaheim 11-10 in a back and forth game. No doubt Ohtani is doing it all this season for the Halos.

#4 There is no doubt Amaury that the Cincinnati Reds outfielder Tommy Pham who returned from his three day suspension on Monday and San Francisco Giants outfielder Joc Pederson as strange as that situation is Pham felt that Pederson cheated in Fantasy Football and Pham said there was a lot of money at stake and hence the bad blood between the two. How dangerous is a situation like this when there is money lost between players and they have to play together professionally.

#5 Amaury, talk about the warm pitched that bounced that was thrown by Los Angeles Angels pitcher Michael Lorenzen one of the warm up pitches went up and hit teammate catcher Kurt Suzuki in the neck. Suzuki was helped off the field but once in the dugout passed out on Saturday night. Suzuki went to the hospital and a few hours later returned to the ballpark and said he was available to play the next day in Sunday’s game.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s lead play by play announcer heard on Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Longoria delivers long ball for Giants in comeback win over Reds 6-4

The San Francisco Giants Evan Longoria celebrates his three run home run in the top of the eighth in the Giants dugout against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on Sun May 29, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris very little doubt that the San Francisco Giants (25-21) Evan Longoria is in a very good place hitting four home runs in his last four games.

#2 Longoria’s home runs were crucial as the Giants wanted to avoid getting swept by the Cincinnati Reds (16-31) with a 6-4 win on Sunday morning. The Giants took some tough defeats on Friday 5-1 and 3-2 on Saturday.

#3 The Reds were in the drivers seat for awhile with a 2-0 lead and Reds pitcher Tyler Mahle throwing seven innings of no hit ball before Longoria and the Giants made their comeback.

#4 Alex Cobb Giants starting pitcher threw well in his own right allowing just two runs, four hits, eight strikeouts.

#5 The Giants are in Philadelphia for a three game series and Logan Webb (5-1, 3.54) and the Phillies (21-26) will start Kyle Gibson (3-2, 3.94) a 4:05 pm PDT start.

Join Morris for the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Dodgers Freeman HR no poetic justice against old team Braves; After 12 seasons Arrieta retiring; plus much more

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, center, gets congratulated by Mookie Betts, left, and Edwin Rios after they scored on a double by Trea Turner in the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Mon Apr 18, 2022 (AP News photo)

On Headlines with Jessica:

#1 Former Atlanta Brave Freddie Freeman didn’t waste anytime taking his former teammates deep. Freeman now with the Los Angeles Dodgers hit a first inning second pitch was a line drive that went straight over the left centerfield Dodger Stadium fence. The Dodgers wound up winning Monday night’s thriller 7-4. Freeman said this was not poetic justice or anything like that but he was happy reuniting with his former teammates.

#2 Former pitcher Jake Arrieta who spent his best years of his 12 year career with the Chicago Cubs has announced his retirement. Arrieta started his career with the Baltimore Orioles from 2010-13 and then went to the Cubs where he won 68 games between 2014-2019 before signing on with the Philadelphia Phillies for three years. Arrieta said “it’s time to step away from the game.”

#3 The Los Angeles Angels will miss his bat in the line up but are relieved that outfielder Mike Trout had a negative test on his MRI after Trout was hit on his left hand by a pitch Sunday. Angels trainer Mike Frostad said Trout’s return is based on his pain tolerance.

#4 The Astros Jose Altuve in the same game on Monday night against the Angels experience hamstring issues in the eighth inning after running after hitting a single. Altuve while sitting on the ground was frustrated by the injury but said after the game he was feeling better. Manager Dusty Baker said the team is waiting for answers and Altuve will be seeing a doctor.

#5 The state of Florida has removed mask mandates under cutting federal mandates. The Florida mandate removal might be a big mistake as in Philadelphia they are going back to mask mandates after having a huge Covid outbreak as the Oakland A’s who played a three game series in Philadelphia earlier this month had seven players out with Covid protocols on Monday night’s home opener in Oakland.

Join Jessica will be back with more headlines on Wed May 4th at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: Phils touch up A’s Irvin early; Gibson pitches shutout ball through seven for Phils

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper holds his daughter Brooklyn after receiving the 2021 NL MVP Award before Sat Apr 9, 2022 game against the Oakland A’s at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Oakland A’s starting pitcher Cole Irvin started the ball game surrendering two runs in the bottom of the first in Philadelphia but settled down going 5.1 innings until he gave up two more earned runs and was lifted in the bottom of the sixth.

#2 The other problem was for A’s hitters Phillies starter Kyle Gibson kept the A’s line up off balance throwing a shutout through seven innings, striking out ten and giving up two hits. This is the era in baseball when you won’t see complete games but Gibson looked like he could have finished this one.

#3 The A’s made it interesting scoring a run in the top of each the eighth and ninth innings fell a day late a dollar short.

#4 Phillies relievers Jose Alvarado and Corey Knebel were feeling the pressure as the A’s who had dealt some of their big boppers over the off season and the pre season had enough in the line up to battle but couldn’t move guys over and took a two run loss in game two of the series 4-2.

#5 The A’s will try to avoid getting swept today at 1:05 pm in Citizen’s Bank they’ll be starting right hander Daulton Jefferies and will be matched against the Phillies right hander Zach Eflin. In spring training Jefferies was 0-2 with 1.79 ERA for Eflin 0-0 with an ERA of 0.96.

Join Charlie O every other Sunday for the A’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s drop Second Game to Philly 4-2; Phillies Gibson shuts A’s out through first seven innings

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Kyle Gibson (44) delivers against the Oakland A’s in the first inning at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia on Sat Apr 9, 2022 (AP News photo)

A’s Drop Second Game to Philly 4-2

By Barbara Mason

After a disappointing loss to the Phillies (2-0) yesterday the Oakland A’s (0-2) sent Cole Irvin to the mound looking for their first win of the new season. Frankie Montas struggled in yesterday’s game but there was a bright spot in the game for the A’s.

Oakland mounted a nice comeback in the seventh inning but was unable to capitalize losing the game 9-5.

Cole Irving was looking for a nice outing against his former team. He did have some encouraging moments in the five innings he pitched. On the down side he allowed seven hits and three home runs.

The Phillies Nick Castellianos homered in the first innings driving in Bryce Harper for an early 2-0 lead. Philadelphia would strike again in the sixth inning with homers from Rhys Hoskins and Jean Segura taking a 4-0 lead.

The A’s had trouble with Phillies pitcher Kyle Gibson who had a great outing with ten strike-outs. He was lights out throwing sinkers, sliders and change-ups before being relieved by Jose Alvarado in the eighth inning. You could not have asked for a more solid game from Gibson going deep into this game.

Hits for Oakland were few and far between with only three through seven innings. The A’s had struck out 11 times in eight innings.

Oakland finally got on the board in the eighth inning when Elvis Andrus doubled and Stephen Piscotty singled to deep right center driving Andrus home. With a single inning remaining in the game Oakland had their work cut out for them.

The A’s relief pitching was solid with Dany Jimenez, A. J. Puk and Zach Jackson allowing no runs and no hits which was an encouraging sign going forward.

The A’s challenged Philadelphia in the ninth inning. Tony Kemp walked and got to third on a throwing error by Philly catcher J.T. Realmuto and scored off a Jed Lowrie single.

With the game on the line Chad Pinder struck out for the fourth time today and that was the ball game in another disappointing loss for Oakland. The final score was 4-2. It was just too little too late for the A’s who got started far too late.

The A’s did show some fight in this game but they have to start putting some runs on the board early. Philadelphia scored in the first inning of both of these games putting the A’s behind the eight ball from the get go.

“My slider was disgusting today but my fast ball was good,” said Cole Irvin after the game. “We tried to fight back but that lineup (the Phillies) their swinging,” he said. He was all in favor of PitchCon the new electronic device calling pitches. “it’s different but I like it,” said Irvin.

Sunday the A’s finish their series with the Phillies. First pitch is scheduled for 10:05. Daulton Jefferies will be on the mound for Oakland and Zach Eflin will get the nod for Philadelphia.

Oakland A’s game wrap: Opening Day Tough for Oakland; Four run third pads Phillie lead for 9-5 win

The Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Schwarber gets all of Oakland A’s pitcher Frankie Montas’ pitch for a first inning home run at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia on Fri Apr 8, 2022 (AP News photo)

Opening Day Tough For Oakland Losing 9-5

By Barbara Mason

This has seemed like an extraordinarily long off-season and finally the lock-out is over and we are celebrating the opening day of baseball across the league.

Friday afternoon the Oakland A’s opened their season against the Phillies in Philadelphia. While we will still see some familiar faces there will some favorites that have moved on to other teams. Manager Bob Melvin has moved on to the San Diego Padres.

We will miss Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Mark Canha, Chris Bassitt and most recently pitcher Sean Manea. Free agent Starling Marte has also left the team. Still onboard for the A’s are Tony Kemp, Sean Murphy, Chad Pinder, Seth Brown, Elvis Andres, Jed Lowrie and Stephen Piscotty.

We will miss Ramon Laureano for the first 27 games as he completes an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. The A’s have welcomed back catcher Stephen Vogt another familiar face. So a lot of change for the team and their fans. Frankie Montas was on the mound for Oakland in this game.

The Phillies took a quick first inning lead with a home run from Kyle Schwarber and the 1-0 lead would hold until Philadelphia added to their lead in the third inning. This would turn out to be a very tough inning for pitcher Frankie Montas as he allowed hits from Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins and Didi Gregorius extending the Philly lead to 5-0 in the third inning.

It was a jittery start to the season for the A’s. Frankie Montas gave up six hits and had six strike outs. Montas gave up five runs in this 9-5 loss. He would pitch through five innings before being relieved by Jake Lemoine The A’s got within one run trailing 6-5 in the seventh inning when Seth Brown homered bringing Murphy and Pinder home.

The Phillies would score again in the seventh and eighth innings putting an end to the Oakland comeback. After the year that Frankie Montas had last year he will need a lot more in his next outing. The team will be relying heavily on him.

There was some frustration and some optimism and it all ended with an opening day loss for the A’s. Oakland will be back on the field tomorrow in a second game with Philadelphia. Oakland lefthander Cole Irvin will be on the mound for that game meeting his former team. For the Phillies righthander Kyle Gibson at Citizens Bank Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s open with offensive Phillies at Citizens Bank today

Oakland A’s second baseman Tony Kemp celebrates hitting the game winning sacrifice fly back on Jul 3, 2021 against the Boston Red Sox at the Oakland Coliseum. Kemp could be playing in the most games of his career this season as the A’s kick off the regular season today at noon in Philadelphia (AP News file photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah, Tony Kemp will be the A’s starting second baseman will be playing the most games of his career and is expected to be the A’s lead off hitter.

#2 Elvis Andrus will be the starting shortstop, Andrus struggled after June 1 last season hitting only .264. The scouting report reads he doesn’t strike out a whole lot and that could help improve his numbers and put him higher up in the batting order.

#3 The A’s will be starting Seth Brown in rightfield. Brown hit 23 home runs, 60 hits, and had 48 RBIs last season. Brown is also in the rotation to play first base as first has been up for grabs since Matt Olson was traded to the Atlanta Braves.

#4 The A’s might be looking to go with Billy McKinney at first base tonight in Philadelphia. McKinney who played with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. McKinney this spring hit .258, 8 hits, 2 home runs and 5 RBIs.

#5 With this roster and the with Olson and former third baseman Matt Chapman now gone nothing is really written in stone pertaining to the A’s line ups. Could you see it changing each day, each series or each week?

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