San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants make comeback with Slater’s RBIs in 7th and 8th defeat Rocks 5-4

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Tyler Rogers works against the Colorado Rockies during the eighth inning at Coors Field in Denver on Wed Jun 7, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 The Rockies got on the board in the second inning taking a 3-0 lead. Ezequiel Tovar singled Mike Moustakas home. Colorado would add to that lead in the second when power hitter Charlie Blackmon doubled driving Harold Castro and Tovar home for the 3-0 lead.

#2 Michael talk about Austin Slater and how vital he was driving in RBIs in the seventh and eighth innings.

#3 For the Giants Slater’s RBIs were crucial as they just got by the Rockies by a run 5-4 in a game of inches. How tough is it to hit in Coors Field.

#4 The Giants on Tuesday night had been held to no hits until the sixth inning so they made improvements on their hitting on Wednesday night.

#5 The Giants conclude this three game series in Denver against the Rockies and with a chance to sweep the series the Giants will start Alex Cobb (5-2 ERA 2.71) he’ll be opposed by the Rockies Chase Anderson (0-0 ERA 1.69) with a 12:10 pm PT first pitch.

Join Michael Duca for the Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: PGA Commissioner on hot seat; Miami’s Butler “winning would mean everything”; plus more

 PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan speaks during a news conference before the start of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Cromwell, Conn. Monahan was questioned by PGA players Tue Jun 6, 2023 in a heated meeting regarding merging the PGA with LIV the Saudi golf league without consulting the PGA players (AP file photo)

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica:

#1 Many of the players in the PGA had no idea about the PGA-LIV merge and that a deal had been made without the players knowledge.

#2 A lot of the players are calling for new leadership after PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan agreed to a deal with LIV the Saudi golf league to merge. The PGA players have a huge problem with LIV because of it’s human rights violations and taking away many of it’s stars.

#3 The Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler says that winning the NBA Finals would mean everything, this is Butler’s 12th NBA season Butler says his teammates are locked on. The Heat who dropped game 1 of the Finals came back and tied the series in game 2 in Denver. The Heat dropped game 3 and the Nuggets reclaimed the lead in the series 2-1 with a 109-94 victory on Wednesday.

#4 New York is suffering smoky conditions as smoke from the Canadian fires have floated into the Big Apple and had an impact on the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees game on Tuesday night. For Yankee third baseman Josh Donaldson said that it was a little foggy but nothing out of the ordinary.

#5 Jessica, game 3 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals are Thursday night in Sunrise Florida. The Panthers have their backs to the wall down 0-2 against the Vegas Golden Knights losing both games 1 and 2 in Vegas. The Panthers have been here before they were down in the first round of the playoffs to the Boston Bruins 3-1 and came back from two games down. How do you see the Panthers chances going back to Florida Thursday night?

Join Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports every other Wednesday night at http://www.sportsraadioservice.com

San Francisco Comes From Behind To Beat Rockies in Game Two 5-4

San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey, left, and right fielder Michael Conforto celebrate the team’s win in a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in Denver. (AP News photo)

San Francisco Comes From Behind To Beat Rockies in Game Two 5-4

By Barbara Mason

Wednesday the San Francisco Giants (30-30) took game three of the game series with the Colorado Rockies (26-36) 5-4 at Coors Field in Denver taking the first two games of the series.

They handled the Rockies in game one winning 10-4 on Tuesday night getting back to .500. Rookie Patrick Bailey had a great game with three hits and LaMonte Wade Jr. went 3 for 3.

The Giants saw the return of Joc Pederson and Thairo Estrade from IR. Estrada had two doubles and Pederson singled and scored in the five-run fifth inning. Their return was exactly what the team needed in their lineup.

Wednesday night the Giants were looking to take game two in the series. With the return of Estrada and Pederson, they had some added fire power going forward looking for a second win in the series.

The Rockies got on the board in the second inning taking a 3-0 lead. Ezequiel Tovar singled Mike Moustakas home. Colorado would add to that lead in the second when power hitter Charlie Blackmon doubled driving Harold Castro and Tovar home for the 3-0 lead.

In the sixth inning Nolan Jones solo homered to right center to take a 4-0 Colorado lead. San Francisco had been quiet through the first six innings of the game.

The silence came to an end for the Giants in the seventh inning when they scored three runs and they were back in this game. Austin Slater singled and Michael Conforto scored from second base. Casey Schmitt singled and both Mitch Haniger and Blake Slater scored. The Giants now trailed by a single run 4-3.

The Rockies had two on base in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs, threatening to extend their lead. Relief pitcher Taylor Rogers took care of business and Colorado left the inning with two runners stranded on base.

San Francisco needed some offense in this game and they had two innings left to make a move. Pederson walked and Mitch Haniger was hit in the eighth inning. The Giants now had two runners on base with one out.

Slater singled and Pederson scored tying up the game 4-4 and with only the one out, San Francisco had a great opportunity to take the lead for the first time in this game. The Giants took full advantage of this opportunity. Bailey executed a perfect bunt and he had put the Giants ahead 5-4 when Haniger was able to score from third.

After trailing 4-0 the Giants had come to life taking the 5-4 lead. An extra run in the ninth inning would be huge for San Francisco. The Giants began crushing grounders and with two runners on base and no outs they had a great chance to add to their lead.

The Rockies made some great defensive plays and got out of the inning. They would be looking for the walk-off in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Giants needed to protect their lead for their second win in the series.

Closer Camilo Doval finished off the Rockies with a three up three out inning and the Giants came away with the come from behind win 5-4.

The Giants will finish up this series Thursday afternoon with first pitch at 12:10 PM. Alex Cobb will take the mound for San Francisco with a 5-2 W/L record and a 2.71 ERA. Chase Anderson 0-0 will be on the hill for the Rockies with a 1.69 ERA.

Matos goes 0-for-5, as Aviators edge River Cats 2-1 in series opener

Final score says it all from Sutter Health Park in Sacramento as the Las Vegas Aviators defeat the Sacramento RiverCats by a run 2-1 in triple A action (@RiverCats photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–Luis Matos’ eight-game hitting streak came to an end with an 0-for-5 night, as the Las Vegas Aviators beat the River Cats 2-1 in the opener of a six-game series in Sacramento.

It was a mild and overcast day in Sacramento, as the tarp covered the field at Sutter Health Park following a late-afternoon thunderstorm. The rain cleared out, and the game started without delay.

Sean Hjelle took the mound for the River Cats, and he was opposed by the Aviators’ right-hander, Adam Oller. Both pitchers pitched well early on, and neither one of them gave up a hit until the third inning. The Aviators broke through with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth, when center-fielder, Max Schuemann, knocked in a pair with a single down the right-field line.

Hjelle got out of the fifth without further damage, but he was pulled after five innings, as he gave up four hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Oller, meanwhile, pitched six shutout innings, walking three and striking out six, giving up just three hits.

Nick Swinney pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning for the River Cats, and he retired the first two men he faced in the seventh, but was pulled following a two-out walk. Spencer Patton pitched a 1-2-3 seventh for Las Vegas, and Nick Avila pitched through a leadoff walk in the top of the eighth for Sacramento.

The Aviators brought in the right-hander, Chad Smith, for the bottom of the eighth. Luis Matos flied out to center to start the inning, but Bryce Johnson reached on an infield hit up the third-base line, and Tyler Fitzgerald singled Johnson over to third on a perfectly-executed hit and run.

David Villar knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly to center to put the River Cats on the board, but Joey Bart swung out swinging on a slider off the outside to end the inning.

Cole Waites pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for Sacramento, and Las Vegas brought in Garrett Acton for the bottom of the ninth. Ford Proctor singled to right to start the inning, and then Colton Welker, who had already been hit by two pitches tonight, struck out, as he ended up going around on a pitch that got his wrist for a painful first out.

Will Wilson flew out to center, and Michael Gigliotti walked, which set things up for the red-hot Luis Matos, whose eight-game hitting streak was on the line along with the game. Matos fouled off three two-strike pitches, but on the ninth pitch of the at-bat, he popped up to the Aviators’ second-baseman, Zack Gelof, out in shallow center to end it.

Adam Oller got the win to improve to 2-2; Sean Hjelle got the loss to fall to 1-1; and Garrett Acton got his third save of the season. The River Cats fall to 26-32, and into last place in the Pacific Coast League West, as they are seven games back of the first-place Reno Aces.

On a side note, Joey Bart went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts, as he continues his rehab.

Game 2 of the series will be tomorrow night at 6:45.

Giants Defeat Rockies 10-4; Series is tied at 1-1

San Francisco Giants’ Thairo Estrada follows the flight of his RBI-single off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Dinelson Lamet in the second inning at Coors Field in Denver on Tue Jun 6, 2023 (AP News photo)

By: Mary Anne

The San Francisco Giants continued their road trip with a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. The Giants wanted to avoid a two-game losing streak, and that they did — as they defeated the Rockies 10-4 at Coors Field in Denver. San Francisco improved to 30-30, while Colorado dropped to 26-36.

The Giants’ starting lineup consisted of LaMonte Wade Jr., Thairo Estrada, Joc Pederson, J.D. Davis, Michael Conforto, Mitch Haniger, Mike Yastrzemski, Patrick Bailey, Brandon Crawford, and John Brebbia. Brebbia pitched just one inning and gave up two hits and one walk before exiting the ballgame.

After a scoreless first inning, San Francisco grabbed an early lead in the top of the second inning. Brandon Crawford doubled on a line drive to Randal Grichuk, and Patrick Bailey scored for a 1-0 lead. Thairo Estrada then singled on a line drive to Brenton Doyle, and Crawford scored for a 2-0 lead. LaMonte Wade Jr. went to third base.

The Giants took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Patrick Bailey tripled on a sharp fly ball to Brenton Doyle, and Mitch Haniger scored for a 3-0 lead.

The Rockies avoided a shutout in the bottom of the fourth inning. Nolan Jones reached on a fielder’s choice, which was fielded by J.D. Davis, and Randal Grichuk scored to cut the Giants’ lead to 3-1.

The Giants added to their lead in the top of the fifth inning. LaMonte Wade Jr. singled on a ground ball to Brenton Doyle as Mike Yastrzemski and Patrick Bailey scored to extend the Giants’ lead to 5-1. J.D. Davis doubled to Doyle as Wade Jr. and Joc Pederson scored to expand the Giants’ lead to 7-1. Michael Conforto singled on a line drive to Doyle as Davis scored to increase the Giants’ lead to 8-1.

The Rockies scored a double in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jurickson Profar doubled on a sharp line drive to Mitch Haniger, and Charlie Blackmon scored to cut the Giants’ lead to 8-2.

The Giants padded their lead in the top of the seventh inning. J.D. Davis was out on a sacrifice fly to Jurickson Profar, and LaMonte Wade Jr. scored for a 9-2 lead with two outs.

The Rockies responded in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jurickson Profar tripled on a fly ball to Austin Slater, and Charlie Blackmon scored to cut the Giants’ lead to 9-3. Ryan McMahon then doubled on a sharp fly ball to Slater, and Profar scored to reduce the Giants’ lead to 9-4.

The Giants reached double-digits in the top of the ninth inning. Mitch Haniger walked, and LaMonte Wade Jr. scored for a 10-4 lead. Thairo Estrada went to third base, while Wilmer Flores went to second base.

The ballgame ended with an epic ending. Ryan McMahon grounded into a double play as Brandon Crawford went to Thairo Estrada, who went to LaMonte Wade Jr. Jurickson Profar was out at second base, while McMahon was out at first base with three outs.

The Giants and Rockies will face each other again on Wednesday, June 7 at 5:40 pm Pacific.

MLB podcast The Show with Stephen Ruderman: A’s fans to hold reverse boycott Tuesday night at Coliseum; Future of A’s in hands of Nevada Assembly

Renderings view from the MGM in Las Vegas of a possible Las Vegas A’s ball park at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino which if approved by the Nevada State Legislature should be completed in either 2027 or 2028. (Renderings from the Oakland Athletics Baseball Company)

On the MLB podcast The Show with Stephen:

#1 The Oakland A’s this week proposed a very unusual start time for home games once their up and running in Las Vegas at the Tropicana and that would be a 4pm PT first pitch. The idea is that would not cause interference with the take off and landings at Las Vegas Airport which home plate faces.

#2 There are also some more musts that the A’s must achieve to economically make this ball park in Vegas a success they must sell out every single game and you have to consider 30% of tourists need to be part of that make up of that sold out attendance.

#3 The A’s are further challenged with having the smallest ball park in MLB a 30,000 seat capacity and they must sell out not just the 81 home games but also other events and shows at the Tropicana site.

#4 The Nevada State Legislature has not held the vote to pass this year’s budget because Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo will not sign off on it and the A’s ball park SB509 project has been pushed back because they can’t pass a budget even without the ball park on it.

#5 Stephen, the A’s last thread of hope hangs with the Nevada Legislation, 50 plus years of Oakland A’s baseball, four World Series, six Hall of Famers in Oakland’s history are in the hands of these Nevada assembly people. The deadline to pass a budget has passed and now their looking at a special session how much does the stadium weigh on this budget getting passed.

Stephen Ruderman does the MLB podcast each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s snap 15 game road skid; Oakland crushes Bucs hitting four home runs winning 11-2

Oakland Athletics’ Jace Peterson (6) returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Chase De Jong during the eighth inning at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Tue Jun 6, 2023 (AP News photo)

 A’s Crush Pirates Hitting Four Home Runs Winning 11-2.

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday evening the Oakland A’s (13-50) played game two in their series with the Pittsburgh Pirates (32-28) the A’s finally snapped their long 15 game road losing streak at 15 games with a crushing 11-2 win at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

On Monday night at PNC the A’s had a 3-0 lead into the fifth inning of game one but could not hold on losing the first game of the series 5-4. The Bucs did score in three innings in the game with eight hits.

Game One was a very competitive game for Oakland and they came into the second game of the series looking to even it up.

Tuesday A’s-Bucs game recap: The Pirates took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning and the A’s tied up the game in the second. Shea Langeliers hit a home run in the second inning to give Oakland the 1-1 tie.

Oakland took the lead in the third inning 2-1. Seth Brown doubled Ryan Noda home and again the A’s had a very competitive game in the works. The Pirates tied up the game 2-2 in the fifth inning when outfielder Bryan Reynolds scored.

Oakland scored three runs in the sixth inning. Jace Peterson, Jonah Bride and Ryan Noda all had singles driving in base runners and taking a 5-2 lead.

The A’s were not even close to being finished. In the eighth inning Oakland knocked a couple of balls out of the park, both of them two run homers. Jace Peterson hit the first one followed by Brent Rooker with the second long ball. Its was Oakland’s night to shine leading 9-2 going into the ninth inning.

This was the kind of game that most ball players dream of. Jace Peterson would hit a second home run, a two run homer and he was 5 of 5 for the evening. Seven different A’s scored in this game. The final was 11-2 and Oakland had broken their 15 game road game losing streak.

This was a terrific game for Oakland, a competitive game. They had 15 hits and four home runs. The A’s had evened the series and a game like this is bound to give the players an amazing lift. Pitcher James Kaprielian went six innings and got his first win of the season.

Game three will be played Wednesday morning with first pitch scheduled for 9:35 AM PT. Hogan Harris (0-0 ERA 6.97) will take the mound for the A’s going for the series win. The Pirates will send Roansy Contreras (3-4 ERA 4.82) to the hill. The A’s scored in five innings in Tuesday’s game. This is the way that a team wins and hopefully the A’s can duplicate more of this play in Wednesday’s contest.

Aces stay undefeated hang on to beat Sun 90-84

The Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) and the Connecticut Sun guard Tyasha Harris (52) take a photo before their game at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Montville on Tue Jun 6, 2023 (photo by @ LVAces)

Aces Hang On To Beat Sun 90-84

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday night the Las Vegas Aces (7-0) took on the Connecticut Sun (6-2) in a re-match of last season’s championship game. This was the most anticipated game of the season and the Aces who took a perfect record into the game came away with a 90-84 win staying undefeated.

On Sunday the Aces very nearly lost to the Fever trailing for most of the game and in fact did not take the lead until the final minutes of the game avoiding the loss 84-80.

Las Vegas knew full well that there was a target on their backs and every team is out to take down the champions. The Aces had a strong defense against the Sun and they took advantage of their speedy offense. This game no doubt was the biggest challenge they had faced this season and the Aces lived up to it.

Tuesday game recap: The Aces got on top of the Sun in the opening quarter taking a 25-14 lead. The Sun had 6 turnovers in the quarter and had trouble containing the Las Vegas offense. The Aces shot 53% from the field in the first quarter, getting a far improved start over Sunday’s game against the Fever. The Aces had 13 fast break points to the Suns 0 in the quarter.

Las Vegas extended their lead in the opening minute of the second quarter leading 28-14. The Aces led in the half from start to finish and had a 48-31 lead at halftime. The Suns had 12 turnovers and also had trouble containing the Aces’ offense.

Las Vegas was shooting at 50% from the field and would have to keep the pressure on in the second half. Jackie Young shot for 11 points in the half and both Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray had ten points.

The Suns came into the third quarter with great energy on both ends of the court cutting into the Aces lead to 53-41. As the quarter came to an end Las Vegas led 70-53 finishing the quarter with the energy that they were lacking to start. The Sun had one quarter left to make any sort of run.

Connecticut made a run in the fourth quarter with Rebecca Allen shooting 22 off the bench. The 19 point lead that Las Vegas had in the quarter had been cut to three points 76-73 with 3:50 left in the game. The Sun had taken control of this game.

With less than two minutes left in this game the Aces were facing yet another challenge. Again it was Jackie Young to the rescue pushing the Las Vegas lead to 86-79. Young has come to the rescue over and over in the fourth quarter of these tight games. Las Vegas pulled it together in the final minutes of the game winning it. It was another tight game that the Aces had to fight hard to win.

Las Vegas is now undefeated with a 7-0 record. A’Ja Wilson finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and Jackie Young had 22. It was another gutsy performance by the defending champs hanging on for the win.

Connecticut Bench player Rebecca Allen had a career high 22 points and was 6 of 7 from beyond the arc. She single handedly gave her team an amazing chance to pull this game out. The Sun got very close, playing a terrific fourth quarter, but just fell short.

The Aces have not seen the last of the Sun taking them on again this Thursday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 PM.

Former Giants manager Roger Craig passes away at 93; Giants Gear Up For 3-Game Series with Colorado

American League manager Tony La Russa, center left, from the Oakland A’s, and National League manager Roger Craig, of the San Francisco Giants, watch batting practice at Wrigley Field in Chicago, July 10, 1990, both managed against each other in the previous season at the 1989 World Series. (AP file photo)

Former Giants manager Roger Craig passes away at 93; Giants Gear Up For 3-Game Series with Colorado

By Barbara Mason

Former San Francisco Giants manager Roger Craig who was hired to replace former Giant manger Jimmy Davenport with 18 games left in the 1985 season. Craig passed away at the age of 93 as announced by Giants Chief Executive Officer Larry Baer.

Craig managed the Giants to the National League West Division title in 1987 with some exciting former Giants first baseman Will Clark, third baseman and left fielder Kevin Mitchell and outfielder Jeffery Leonard to name a few.

Craig in 1989 led the Giants to a National League title and to the World Series against the cross bay rivals Oakland A’s. The A’s swept the Giants in four games but it was a turn around for the franchise who suffered so much of the 1980s until Craig came on the scene and helped mold them as a post season contender.

Craig will be remembered for the moniker “Humm Baby” which he got from former Giant catcher Brad Gulden who said “humm baby” to the pitchers before they delivered a pitch. The Giants adapted the moniker as their signature for the 1986 campaign “Humm Baby.” Craig managed the Giants from 1985-1992.

Roger also developed a pitching staff that used the split finger fastball that helped show what good pitching did to good hitting in order for those teams to advance to the post season the way they did. Craig also had a good relationship not just with his players but he was patient and answered and worked very well with the reporters who covered the Giants over the years. There is no doubt Roger Craig will be sorely missed.

Giants-Rockies series preview: Monday the San Francisco Giants (29-30) had a second day off in the past four days. They had a day off last Thursday preparing for their past weekend series with the Baltimore Orioles. San Francisco had a shutout in game two (4-0) of that series but dropped games one and three and find themselves below .500 once again. They are 5.5 games behind the co-leaders of their division: the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.

On Tuesday, the Giants travel to Colorado to take on the Rockies in a three game series. The Rockies have a 26-35 record and are at the bottom of the NLWest.

The Rockies have decided to send Dinelson Lamet to the mound with a 1-2 record and a 13.17 ERA. The Giants starter was undecided early this afternoon but it looks like they may send Sean Manea to the hill. The Giants have some great relief pitching earning a save rate of 76%.

San Francisco has a lot of fire power in contrast to the Rockies with Michael Conforto, Thairo Estrada and JD Davis. Conforto has 11 home runs this season, Estrada has a .301 batting average and JD has 31 RBI’s. They have a solid lineup, all of them able to put runs up on the board.

The Rockies home run leader is Ryan McMahon with 9 homers this season and Elias Diaz has a great batting average at .309. McMahon is also their RBI leader with 34 RBI’s.

First pitch in Tuesday’s game is 5:40 PM at Coors Field in Denver as San Francisco will be looking to not only get back on the winning track but also get their season record back over .500. Fans will be treated to a great match-up between these two teams.

MLB standings aside, both of these teams seem to raise their level of play when they meet so picking a projected winner does not always pan out. It will come down to who has more fire power in this series.

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Panthers need this one tonight to avoid going back to Florida 0-2; Knights with home ice can go up 2-0

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone, left, celebrates his goal against the Florida Panthers with Brett Howden (21), defenseman Zach Whitecloud (2) and center Chandler Stephenson during the third period at T Mobile Center in Las Vegas on Sun Jun 4, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Marko:

#1 Marko, with just less than ten minutes left in the game and the Vegas Golden Knights trailing the Florida Panthers the Knights made good use of their last and final period of the first game of the Finals. With the game tied 2-2 the Knights came roaring back with three goals to take game 1, 5-2.

#2 The Knights Jonathan Marchessault said that the Knights were ready mentally and breaking it open like they did in the third period was a show of their character to kick off the finals.

#3 The Knights Zach Whitecloud scored a critical goal and Mark Stone got an insurance goal but the goal was reviewed for a high stick and the goal turned out to be confirmed.

#4 Marko, the Knights had scored their third and final goal when Reilly Smith scored an empty netter to make the final look like there was never a tie score.

#5 The Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 29 of 33 shots and allowed four goals. As you saw this first game did the Panthers just seem to loose confidence in the third period or the Knights just started working their offensive plans and pulled it off on Florida.

Join Marko for the NHL Stanley Cup Finals at http://www.sportsradioservice.com