Sports

Giants Fall Out Of First Place In Loss To Mets

Published

9 years ago

August 21, 2016

San Francisco, CA – It was an evening of ups and downs. Jeff Samardzija was off to one of the best starts of his career. But by the seventh inning Curtis Granderson broke up his no-hit bid to leadoff the frame with a double followed by Yoenis Cespedes two-run homer. From there the Giants had no offense for Noah Syndergaard and the New York Mets who evened the series with a 2-0 victory over San Francisco.

“I do think we’re playing better,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “We’re swinging the bats better. Some of these games, we’ve scored runs, and the pitching wasn’t as sharp. But I like the way they’re coming out every day, their energy in the dugout. That’s what you need at this point.”

Samardzija was off to a great start. He retired 18 batters and walked only one. In fact, he pitched six hitless innings for the longest no-hit bid of his career. His previous longest no hit-bid was 5.2 innings on July 4, 2015 against the Orioles. Samardzija had great command, something that had been missing from previous starts. He was 0-3 with an 8.72 ERA in nine games (three starts) against the Mets.

“I threw the ball well, just really that one pitch to Cespedes, splitter came back and Cespedes took care of it,” said Samardzija. “We struck out on him on the at-bat before. He’s a heck of a hitter.”

His counterpart on the other hand shutout the Giants allowing no runs scored. Syndergaard scattered two hits over eight frames. He walked two and struck out six. Syndergaard is eight in the Majors with 171 strikeouts and first with a 5.70 strikeout to walk rate. San Francisco dominated the first two games of the series but struggled for hits tonight.

“The past month and a half, I felt like today was the first day I went out there and actually relaxed and had fun out there,” Syndergaard said. “I just kept things simple. The last month and half, I’ve been trying to think too far ahead in advance.”

The Giants had two opportunities in both the third and fourth innings. Syndergaard issued a free pass to Trevor Brown and a single to Eduardo Nunez. Brown got the walk in the third. While Samaradzija was at-bat he stole second and was out on the slide. Nunez reenacted the same play in the fourth. He got the the first hit of the game and attempted to steal second while Brandon Belt was at-bat and got caught stealing.

Syndergaard gave up his second hit to Joe Panik in the fifth. Brandon Crawford led off the inning by grounding out to first base. Syndergaard struck out Hunter Pence and Panik was the lonely man on base. Gregor Blanco struck out to end the threat. Two more batters got on base in the seventh and ninth but San Francisco was unable to drive them in for runs.

“We felt we had a chance to steal both of them,” said Bochy. “When you face a guy like this, one thing we thought we could do is run on him when they get on base. They stopped that.”

After a stellar start, Samardzija unraveled in the seventh. Grandson led off the frame with a double. Cespedes followed with a two-run shot and that was enough for the win. Since being activated from the 15-day disabled list, Cespedes hit three home runs this series, which is tied for his most in a series this season (other: May 5 to 8 at San Diego).

The loss tonight was costly for San Francisco. They fall a half-game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers who have now claimed first place in the National League West Division. The Giants are off tomorrow and can only hope a loss by the Dodgers would lead to a new showdown when they face their rivals for a three-game series in LA on Tuesday. This series is going to very important down the stretch for the pennant race.

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Related Topics:Jeff Samardzija Noah Syndergaard Yoenis Cespedes

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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

3 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.

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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.

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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

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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.