Sports

No Celebration Yet, Giants Beat Dodgers Behind Rookie

Published

8 years ago

October 1, 2016

San Francisco, CA – No champagne bottles on deck yet. The Giants clinched but only a tie, so the celebration is on hold for one more day.

The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburg Pirates so the final game of the regular season will determine who will play for the final Wild Card spot tomorrow. However, in a San Francisco loss they’ll play the Cardinals for the Wild Card tie-breaker on Monday.

“One of the best pitching performances I’ve seen,” said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. “A month in the Major League, the stage he was on and knowing what was at stake. He had great focus and command. That’s why he started today because we had a lot of confidence in him.”

San Francisco’s 3-0 shutout win over the Dodgers was enough to maintain their lead for the second National League Wild Card spot but in order to keep their position they must win tomorrow. Either way, they’ll be traveling next week. The Giants season will definitely not end on Sunday.

“No matter what, we’re traveling,” Bochy said.

Their victory today came behind a dominating performance by rookie pitcher Ty Blach who made his second career start today. Blach also recorded his first Major League hit off Clayton Kershaw when he singled to led off the sixth inning.

The Southpaw scattered three hits and one walk over eight frames. Blach was simply stellar on the mound. After giving up a single in the fourth, Blach retired the next 10 batters.

“The big thing for me was to be able to move the ball on both sides of the plate and change speeds,” said Blach. “And let that defense work and they played great behind me all day.”

Blach only had one inning where he got himself into a jam in the second but the Giants defense had his back. After forcing Yasiel Puig to pop out, Blach gave up single to Adrian Gonzalez and walked Yasmani Grandal to put two on but Joc Pederson grounded into a double play to end the threat. He settled down and then struck out the side in the third.

Meanwhile Kershaw retired the first eleven players he faced until he gave up a single to Buster Posey in the fourth. And a solo home run to Angel Pagan in the fifth. Kershaw left one up to high in the fifth and Pagan took advantage to record a career-high 12 home runs. Kershaw lasted seven innings while allowing six hits, three runs and striking out four.

“It was where I wanted it to be,” Kershaw said in regards to Pagan’s home run. “If I could do it over again, I would have thrown a different pitch. I didn’t think he hit it that well, but I guess he did. Tip your hat.”

Pagan is now tied for the most career extra-base hits off Kershaw (others: Adan Dunn and Rickie Weeks, Jr.). To achieve this fete, Pagan recorded five doubles and one home run. The veteran outfielder was the heart of the offense today. His commitment is unwavering, Paga aspires to be the best everyday.

“I love the fire,” said Pagan of Bochy’s comment. “When the team needs me the most, I want to be the guy. That’s the way you got to think and every time where in a spot like that, if it’s me I want to do it.”

“Angel has a knack of coming through when you need him,” Bochy said earlier in his press conference.

By the seventh San Francisco added on two more runs. Pagan led off with a single, Brandon Crawford followed with a grounder deflected off Kershaw. A throwing error by third baseman Justin Turner allowed Pagan to score advancing Crawford to third base. Gordon Beckham’s sacrifice fly scored in Crawford to make it a 3-0 game. Blach got his second hit of the day when he single on a ground ball to right field.

After Kershaw’s exit in the seventh, the Giants had another opportunity but failed to score in any runs. Hanley Jansen loaded the bases in the eighth. Brandon Belt was issued a free pass to lead off the frame. Hunter Pence singled and Pagan walked to load them up with one out. Jansen struck out both Crawford and Beckham to end the inning.

Tomorrow Vin Scully will call his final game after a 67 years career as the Dodgers broadcaster. Scully has been the Dodgers broadcaster since 1950. He’s called three perfect games and 20 no-hitters. Scully has witnessed some of the best players in baseball. There’s nothing this 88 year-old man does not know. San Francisco will pay tribute to Scully before tomorrow’s first pitch.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

49ers Fall To Cowboys

Don't Miss

It’s Not Over, Giants Set Sights For October

Oakland Post

Click to comment

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.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

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.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

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!