Sports

Giants Get Win Behind Big Third Inning

Published

8 years ago

September 17, 2016

San Francisco, CA – The Giants canceling batting practice might be something they should consider everyday. They scored six runs in the third and chased rookie pitcher Luke Weaver off the mound.

San Francisco’s 8-2 victory over the Cardinals keeps them ahead in a tight wild-card race.
The Giants have won back-to-back games at home for the first time since Aug 18th-19th against the New York Mets.

It started off as a pitcher’s duel for the first two innings. Matt Moore scattered two hits over three frames allowing no runs. Weaver struck out the first four batters before giving up single to Brandon Belt in the second.

Brandon Crawford followed by hitting into a double play to end the inning. But by the third, Weaver unraveled.

“Really, when you think about it, that’s the name of the game in the playoffs, too: see who can make the fewest mistakes and take advantage of them,” Belt said in regards to Molina’s error.

He loaded the bases with a walk to Denard Span. Moore reached first safely after a throwing error by Yadier Molina. And that’s when San Francisco’s offense took advantage of Molina’s mistake. Angel Pagan was issued a free pass to load the bases with one out. This was the first opportunity the Giants had with runners in scoring position. Joe Panik’s sacrifice fly scored in Span for the 1-0 lead.

“He makes that play 99 out of 100 times,” said St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said of Molina (who declined to speak to media after). “We’ve seen him do it. We want him aggressive trying to make the best play he can make. We had a great chance of getting out of there without the top of the order coming around.”

Buster Posey drove in both Moore and Pagan with a bloop single over second baseman Jedd Gyorko. Hunter Pence followed with a single and Belt’s two-run double extended San Francisco’s lead 5-0. Crawford continued the hits and knocked a single to right field. Stephen Piscotty threw home to tag Belt out at the plate.

Home plate umpire, Cory Blaser ruled him out but the Giants challenged the tag play. After further review the call was overturned and Belt was safe at home to make it a 6-0 game. The Cardinals ran back on the field after heading to the dugout after the initial call. Weaver was replaced by Miguel Socolovich.

San Francisco lost an earlier call they challenged in the second. Aledmys Diaz was ruled safe at first despite Crawford making a throw to first base for the out. Socolovich gave up back-to-back walks to both Eduardo Nunez and Span before striking out Moore to end the threat. The Giants continued to make it difficult for St. Louis bullpen by adding on two more runs.

“Sometimes you can’t put your finger on it,” Posey said. “There seems to be a really good energy in the dugout… And I sound like Hunter Pence right now. But hopefully it’s something we can carry with us for the remainder of the season and through the postseason.”

Jaime Garcia replaced Socolovich to start the fourth. Garcia walked Pagan to lead off the frame and Posey followed with a two-run homer to make it a 8-1 game. It was Posey’s first home run in two months snapping the longest homeless drought of his career. He is now 7-for-9 in this series with a double and a home run.

The Cardinals scored their first run in the fourth with a RBI single. Moore got himself into a jam in the fourth but managed to get out of it without too much damage. He walked the leadoff batter then gave up back-to-back singles to Gyorko and Molina. Moore then forced Johnny Peralta to fly out, struck out Randal Grichuk and Tommy Pham leaving three stranded.

But a rocky fifth inning sent Moore to the dugout for good. He lasted five frames allowing seven hits, two runs walked two and struck out four. Moore loaded the bases again by giving up two singles and walked another batter. A free pass to Molina, walked in St. Louis next and final run. That was the finale for Moore and the bullpen took over.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy canceled batting practice yesterday so the team can get a break from the field. The decision came down after the team lacked hits in the previous series against the San Diego Padres. Well, it worked! Last night Johnny Cueto tossed a complete game to help San Francisco beat the Cardinals 6-2. Not only did it put them four games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.

But it also keeps them ahead of the Cardinals who now trail behind two games in the wild-card spot. And the New York Mets who are now behind by one game. Call it superstition or just a good feeling. But Bochy canceled BP again today in hopes that his team can pull out another win and they did. He announced no BP for Saturday’s game either.

“It’s all about bouncing back,” said Bochy. “You have no choice in this game and that’s what good teams do. You get frustrated come home and get swept. You can’t let that linger on…”

Notes – Gregor Blanco was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list today. He missed 22 games with right shoulder impingement. Blanco made 56 starts this season (18 in the left field, 13 in center and 25 in right). He’s 7-for-32 with a home run and three walks as a pinch-hitter this year.

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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

Getty Images

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!