Sports

Giants back to .500 with win over D-backs

Published

6 years ago

June 5, 2018

San Francisco, CA – One game and a half games out of first place in the National League West, is a good way to welcome back Madison Bumgarner. Tomorrow the southpaw will take the mound for his first start of the season.

Nothing more special than coming back to a team that’s winning. Four home runs capped of a barrage of seven hits that came in one frame. Coming off a sweep, the Giants continued their winning streak with a 10-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“We missed him, no question about it,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He’s excited about coming back. We’re a better club with him. That really improves this rotation. It’s good to get our guys back.”

For the first time this season, both Andrew McCutchen and Brandon Crawford hit back-to-back home runs to start the fourth. McCutchen led off the inning with a solo shot to cut the lead in half. Crawford followed with his own solo home run and tied the game 2-2.

Pablo Sandoval followed with a single while Zack Godley gave up walks to both Hunter Pence and Gorkys Hernandez to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Alen Hanson doubled driving in both Sandoval and Pence to extend their lead 4-2. Joe Panik was hit by pitch and that knocked Godley out of the game.

“He got clipped for a couple back-to-back home runs and then just lost maybe a little bit of command,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “He started to fall behind hitters and there was a run of batters where there were several base runners on. The big hit was Hanson. I thought that was a mistake over the plate with two strikes. Just a very unfortunate timing.”

A wild pitch by Fernando Salas and Hernandez scored. Buster Posey got in on the action and hit a RBI double scoring in both Hanson and Panik making it a 7-2 game. The hits kept coming, Sandoval led off the fifth with a solo home run to extend San Francisco’s lead 8-2.

Crawford led off the seventh with a double and Sandoval drove him in with his third hit of the game. Sandoval recorded a three-hit game tonight, he homered and hit two RBI singles. Pinch-hitter Nick Hundley provided the insurance run when he homered in the eighth.

“When asked was the team having fun, Sandoval responded, “It’s the Giants way.”

“That’s the good thing; we took advantage in that inning,” he explained. “McCutchen hit that home run and after that Crawford, and then we’re working and working every pitch to score more. After they scored two, McCutchen really awakened us.”

What seemed like a slow start escalated quickly. A pitcher’s duel through three fames ended with Arizona scoring two runs at the top of the fourth. Paul Goldschmidt singled on a sharp line drive to left field. Jake Lamb walked and Ketel Marte cleared the bases with a double to left field driving in Goldschmidt and Lamb to make it a 2-0 game.

However, the power hitting from the Giants dominated the D-backs who currently hold first place in the NL West. Back to .500 San Francisco, Arizona was no match for the surging Giants. continues their winning streak when their ace takes the mound tomorrow. Bumgarner who has been out since March 23rd with a broken pinkie on his left hand.

Notes – The Giants selected catcher Joey Bart (Georgia Tech) with their first round selection (2nd overall) in the 2018 MLB Draft. Standing 6’3, 225 pounds Bart is the highest draft selection the Giants have made since they picked first baseman Will Clark out of Mississippi State University with the second overall pick in 1985.

“The emotions were definitely high, there was a lot of uncertainty there especially close to the pick. The pick was already in and I was like ‘well dang, I hope the Giants pick me, I really want to be there.”

In 2018, Bart led the ACC in batting average (.359), finished second in the slugging percentage (.632) and hits (79) and finished in the top 10 in home runs (16), runs scored (55), and on-base percentage (.471). Defensively, he had a career-best .992 fielding percentage and only two passed balls, which were tied for lowest among ACC starting catchers.

At the conclusion of the regular season, Bart was named the ACC Player of the Year–the first Georgia Tech player to win it since Mark Texeira in 2000. He was also named a first team All-American, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and he was an all-ACC first team selection. With winners still to be announced, Bart is a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, the Dick Howser Trophy and the Johnny Bench Award.

“It was unreal to workout at AT&T Park, the wind and air is so much cooler. To feel that thin air compared to here in Atlanta. Its such a different feeling, I enjoyed hitting out there, it was so much fun.”

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Bay Area

Love Life Organization Shows Love

As part of Love Life Week, the Love Life Foundation was honored to produce the 1974-75 World Champion Golden State Warrior Day. It’s a shame that our first Bay Area World Championship team’s unique accolades had been lost in the pre social media era and the cultural revolution of the 1970s.

Published

5 days ago

October 28, 2024

Oakland Post

Members of the 1975 NBA championship team, Charles Dudley (left) and Clifford Ray (right) embrace Love Life Foundation leader Donald Lacy for his antiviolence mission. Courtesy photo.

City of Oakland Celebrates 1975 NBA World Championship Team

By Donald Lacy

Special to The Post

As part of Love Life Week, the Love Life Foundation was honored to produce the 1974-75 World Champion Golden State Warrior Day.

It’s a shame that our first Bay Area World Championship team’s unique accolades had been lost in the pre social media era and the cultural revolution of the 1970s.

The 1975 NBA World Championship team were invited back to the City of Oakland last Friday, to be properly celebrated for their ground-breaking performance in 1975.

The heartwarming ceremony highlighted the recent passing of the legendary coach of that team, Al Attlles, and his former players Clifford Ray and Charles Dudley were on hand to represent the “Cardiac Kids” as they were called back then for their ability to make great comeback victories during their run for the title.

Warriors great Chris Mullin and former spiritual advisor Gary Reeves gave heartfelt testimonies of their experiences under Attles’ leadership and their relationship with the inspiration they received from the NBA 1975 World Champion Golden State Warriors.

The City of Oakland provided proclamations to all parties with speeches made by city leadership including Mayor Sheng Thao and Deputy Mayor Dr. Kimberly Mayfield and activity host Love Life non-profit founder and Executive Director Donald E. Lacy Jr..

There will be a celebration of life event Nov. 9 honoring Attles’ legacy at Alameda College.

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California Black Media

Several Black Californians Are Playing Key Roles in LA 28 Olympics Planning

From politicians and businesspeople to athletes and community leaders, a number of Black Californians are contributing to the thought leadership that is shaping the planning of LA28, the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. At the forefront is Los Angeles’ first Black woman mayor, Karen Bass, who has, in many ways, become the face of the Games in the City of Angels.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 22, 2024

Oakland Post

From left to right: IOC Member Hong Zhang, IOC Vice President Nicole Hoevertsz, Rex Richardson, Mayor of Long Beach, LA28 President Casey Wasserman, James T. Butts, Mayor of Inglewood, IOC President Thomas Bach, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, the President of the Los Angeles City Council (IOC/Greg Martin)

By Lila Brown, California Black Media

At the forefront is Los Angeles’ first Black woman mayor, Karen Bass, who has, in many ways, become the face of the Games in the City of Angels.

“The 2028 Games present an incredible opportunity to unite our city and lift up every corner of Los Angeles,” said Bass during a historic event at Los Angeles City Hall on Sept. 13, when the Olympic and Paralympic flags were unveiled and installed.

The event marked the return of the Olympic flag to L.A. since 1984, when the city hosted the Olympics for the second time. It was the first time the Paralympic flag was raised in California’s largest city.

“From creating jobs to supporting small businesses, we are committed to ensuring that these Games benefit all Angelenos — not just for the summer of 2028, but for decades to come,” Bass added.

Nearly two months after the Olympic flag handover from Paris to Los Angeles, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach visited Los Angeles.

Bach toured several of the city’s newest world-class sporting venues, including the SoFi Stadium and the recently opened Intuit Dome, both located in Inglewood. At the stadiums, he was joined by two other Los Angeles County Black mayors, whose cities will be key to hosting LA28 events: Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson.

SoFi Stadium, known as the home of NFL teams the LA Rams and LA Chargers, will host swimming competitions during the LA28 Games, with a temporary pool set to make it the largest swimming venue in Olympic history, boasting 38,000 seats. Intuit Dome, Inglewood’s newest state-of-the-art venue and home to the LA Clippers, will host the Olympic basketball tournament in the 18,000-seat arena.

In an interview with California Black Media ( CBM), Butts highlighted Inglewood’s central role in the upcoming Games, stating, “Inglewood will host the Opening and Closing ceremonies, basketball, and swimming competitions of the 2028 Olympic Games. This will be our second hosting of Olympic Basketball, the first in 1984.”

Marqueece Harris-Dawson, President of the Los Angeles City Council, also attended the tour.

Harris-Dawson is one of the leading backers of PlayLA, a parks development program that promises to provide sports programming to “young Angelenos of all abilities.” The initiative is funded by a $160 million investment from the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the International Olympic Committee.

Black Californians serving on the LA28 Board include Businesswoman Mellody Hobson; decorated Paralympian Lex Gillette; former Netflix Executive Dana Smith; President of the LA County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO Yvonne Wheeler; and television host, retired sprinter and four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson.

Rosalyn Brant Clark, a 1976 Olympic silver medalist and mother of three-time Paralympian Breanna Clark, said while the “Games for All” theme is promising, she is looking for more concrete action that impacts the lives of ordinary people, including Black Californians.

“They are going to need to show me more on that one before it gets my stamp of approval,” she added, challenging organizers to ensure genuine inclusivity.

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Bay Area

Ohemaa Nyanin Named GM of Valkyries WNBA Team

The Bay Area is filled with excitement, and much of the conversation is about the Bay Area’s newest WNBA team — the VALKYRIES! The Golden State Warriors were awarded the 13th team in the WNBA last October, and just four months ago, the team’s General Manager was announced — Ohemaa Nyanin.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 22, 2024

Oakland Post

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By Y’Anad Burrell

Nyanin’s parents are from Ghana, and she was born in Maryland. Nyanin’s experience in this industry precedes her both as a former college player and on the business side. Nyanin is an American University alumna who played on the Eagles’ women’s basketball team. In 2019, Nyanain joined the WNBA team, The New York Liberty, initially serving as the director of basketball operations before she became assistant general manager.

“No excuses,” Nyanin said. “We are here, first and foremost, as humans, and secondly to win basketball games. So how do we do that, and how do we do that in the most inclusive way?”

From viewing interviews that Nyanin has done since her arrival in the Bay Area, a constant theme in her conversations is talking about taking a “people first” approach. Nyanin talks about how she will be focused on the players, staff, and fans as she navigates and executes her role as general manager. Health, both mentally and physically, is important to Nyanin, as I’ve seen in her many interviews.

Just days ago, The Golden State Warriors announced the head coach for the Valkyries — Natalie Nakase.

Nakase has been the assistant coach for the Las Vegas Aces for the past three seasons, where she was a part of the Aces’ back-to-back championship run in 2022 and 2023. Before joining the Aces’ coaching staff, Nakase spent ten seasons with her hometown team, the Los Angeles Clippers, and their G League.

The Valkyries will practice at downtown Oakland’s Golden State Warrior space and play games at Chase Center in San Francisco. This is an excellent opportunity to experience both sides of the water.

The Valkyries WNBA season opens May 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, and the Valkyries website shows over 18,000 season-ticket deposits. For clarity, if someone is ‘interested’ in purchasing season tickets, a $25 deposit is required. The Chase Center’s capacity is a little over 18,000, so you can imagine how electrifying the stadium will be during all home games.

Ohemaa, welcome to the Bay and The Town!