Sports

Giants Fall To 2nd Place In Loss To Pirates

Published

9 years ago

August 16, 2016

San Francisco, CA – It’s a tough act to follow but the Giants fell to second place after 4-3 loss to Pirates. The Dodgers who were 0.5 games behind beat the Philadelphia Phillies and now lead the National West Division. San Francisco had been in first place since May 10th.

“A lot of baseball left, but we created this with our struggles more than anything,” said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. “We know that, so you keep going. We’ve been through these funks and this has been a long one.”

The Pirates jumped to an early lead in the first frame. Starling Marte singled and stole second. Andrew McCutchen followed with a single putting two on in the corners. Gregory Polanco bunts, Samardzija scoops up the ball and throws home but was too late as Marte was ruled safe by the home plate umpire Marty Foster.

Pittsburg took a 1-0 lead and the Giants made sure to thwart any pans to add on to that. Jung Ho Kang hit into a double play to end the inning. By the bottom of the frame, San Francisco clapped back. Both Denard Span and Angel Pagan hit back-to-back doubles. Buster Posey cleared the bases with a RBI double and the Giants lead 2-1.

“It’s a long season,” Samardzija said. “There’s ups and downs. We have a bunch of professionals in here who play hard every day. We’re not looking at the stuff. We know there are 162 to play, and there toward the end is when it will all be determined. Hopefully, we’ll be playing our best baseball then.”

Samardzija unable to settle down gave up a leadoff double to Francisco Cervelli. John Jaso followed with a RBI double to tie the game 2-2. Jordy Mercer was issued a free pass and that’s when San Francisco’s manager Bruce Bochy came out to the mound. No movement in the bullpen so Samardzija got another opportunity and this time he got it right.

For the next two innings Samardzija retired six batters allowing not one hit. It became a pitching duel until the fourth when the Giants got on base with a double from Hunter Pence and a walk to Eduardo Nunez. Jameson Taillon required a coat while on first base after getting the first hit off Samardzija since the second frame.

Taillon has pitched 6.0 innings or more in each of his last six big league starts. Tonight he faired well against Samardzija. He recorded a quality outing in each of his last seven starts, going 2-1with 2.25 ERA. Tallinn also recorded his first Major League hit in the fifth with a one-out single.

McCutchen broke the tie when he led off the sixth with a triple and scored on a RBI ground out by Polanco to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead. Samarazija retired the next three batters to end the frame. Taillon on the other hand got himself into a jam. He surrendered a single to Posey and a double to Brandon Crawford in the sixth.

Pence grounded out and scored in Posey to tie the game 3-3. Samardzija finished the night tossing six frames, allowing three runs, one walk and stick out five. The bullpen took over and yielded a solo home run to Kang giving Pittsburg a 4-3lead in the eighth. By the ninth the Giants put two on with the tying run at third.

Pinch-hitter Gregor Blanco hit a single and Joe Panik followed with a double. The sellout crowd stood to their feet in hopes of a comeback victory. Instead no one could drive in any runs. Closer Tony Watson forced Ehire Adrianza to pop out and Span to ground out to end the game with San Francisco out of first place.

“They got the big hit; we couldn’t,” said Bochy

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Alameda County

Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

2 weeks ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Barbara Lee

WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

7 months ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

McClymonds High Names School Gym for Star Graduate, Basketball Legend Bill Russell

William “Bill” Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, and died on July 31, 2022. He achieved fame as a U.S. professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.

Published

10 months ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

By Ken Epstein

West Oakland’s McClymonds High School, “the School of Champions,” this week named the school’s gymnasium in honor of one of its most famous graduates, basketball legend Bill Russell (class of ’52).

Russell is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2011, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama for Russell’s contributions to basketball and the Civil Rights Movement.

The McClymonds’ naming ceremony was held on Wednesday, the same day as Russell’s birthday. Oakland leader Bill Patterson, a longtime friend of Russell’s, was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the reopening of the gym, which had been closed for several months for renovation. Russell’s daughter Karen was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting.

Russell’s name and signature are now printed on the gymnasium floor.

Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

Brian McGhee, community schools manager at McClymonds and former football player at UC Berkeley, said that Russell meant a lot to him and others at the school. “He was a beacon of light and hope for West Oakland,” he said. “He did a lot for sports and for civil rights.”

Starting in 2018, Ben “Coach” Tapscott worked with Patterson and other McClymonds grads, community members, and former coaches to encourage the Oakland Board of Education to endorse the naming of the school gym, which finally happened recently.

“We worked hard to make this happen,” said Tapscott. “He’s an important part of McClymond’s history, along with a lot of other famous graduates,” he said.