MLB: Dodgers rout Giants, send NLDS to decisive Game 5

Mookie Betts and Will Smith hit home runs, Walker Buehler pitched into the fifth inning on short rest, and the Los Angeles Dodgers forced a deciding fifth game of the National League Division Series with a 7-2 victory over the visiting San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.

The first playoff series between the longtime rivals, both 100-plus-game winners this season, is even at two wins apiece, with Game 5 set for Thursday at San Francisco. The winner advances to a NL Championship Series matchup with the Atlanta Braves, who eliminated the Milwaukee Brewers earlier Tuesday.

After taking the loss in Game 1 on Friday, Buehler (1-1) returned on three days' rest for the first time in his career to give up one run on three hits over 4 1/3 innings in Game 4. He struck out four and walked two.

"I actually felt great ... probably the best I have in the second half of the year," Buehler said postgame on TBS. "We'll see how I feel tomorrow, but tonight I feel pretty good."

Betts added, "I just know that when our backs are against the wall, we've got a guy, Walker Buehler, who'll get us out of it."

Giants starter Anthony DeSclafani (0-1) lasted just 1 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits while facing 10 batters in his first career postseason appearance. He fanned two without issuing a walk.

The Dodgers' Gavin Lux had two hits and two walks in four trips to the plate during his first start of the series. Los Angeles won despite going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranding 11 runners.

Joe Kelly (1-0) got the last two outs in the fifth inning and was credited with the win.

Dodgers first baseman/center fielder Cody Bellinger said, "We knew we didn't want this to be our last game, especially at home. We came out, stuck with our plan, executed our plan really well -- and we really wanted to take this back to San Francisco."

Los Angeles took a 1-0 lead three batters into the bottom of the first, getting a one-out single from Corey Seager followed by an RBI double from Trea Turner. The Dodgers made it 2-0 in the second inning on a sacrifice fly from Chris Taylor.

Betts increased the Los Angeles advantage to 4-0 in the fourth with a two-run home run to right off Giants left-hander Jarlin Garcia, his first long ball of the postseason.

After the Giants broke through with a fifth-inning run on a groundout from Darin Ruf, the Dodgers got a sacrifice fly from Betts in the bottom of the inning for a 5-1 advantage.

Kris Bryant had an RBI groundout for the Giants in the eighth. Smith hit a two-run home run for the Dodgers in the bottom of the eighth, his second homer of the series.

Seven Giants relievers saw action, while five Dodgers relievers gave up one run over the final 4 2/3 innings.

The Giants are trying to reach their first NLCS since 2014, while the Dodgers are trying to advance to their fifth NLCS in six seasons.

San Francisco catcher Buster Posey said, "I feel like our team and the Dodgers' team have both been playing meaningful games for a while now. Obviously this one coming up on Thursday is the most meaningful to this point, and it should be fun."

Giants manager Gabe Kapler, looking ahead to Game 5, said, "I'm sure it will be a lively atmosphere. It will be nice to get back to Oracle (Park) and have the support of our fans. We look forward to it."

-reuters-

Stanton finishes just shy of 60 home runs

LOS ANGELES -- Giancarlo Stanton, who spent the final three games of the regular season unsuccessfully chasing the elusive 60th home run, still managed to lead Major League Baseball in a record-setting home run season.

The Miami Marlins star led the majors with 59 home runs this season, the most by a player since 2001 when disgraced San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds hit 71 at the height of baseball's steroid era.

This season saw 6,105 home runs, which is 142 more than the previous single season record set one year before Bonds hit 71.

Stanton's quest for No. 60 ended with a ninth inning strikeout in an 8-5 loss Sunday to the Atlanta Braves in front of a crowd of 25,200 at Marlins Park.

Stanton said he wasn't disappointed he didn't reach 60.

"If I hit 60, you guys would be sitting here asking me why I didn't hit 61," said Stanton, who is the first player in 10 years to surpass 50 homers. "If hit 61, I would be asked why I didn't hit 62."

Stanton not only led the league in home runs but also in RBIs with 132.

Stanton singled twice, struck out twice out and grounded to shortstop. Still, he goes down in baseball history as the sixth player to hit at least 59 homers in a season, joining Babe Ruth, Roger Maris, Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire.

With the close of the regular season on Sunday night, attention now shifts to the playoffs, which kick off Tuesday and Wednesday with the wild-card games.

The New York Yankees, who are seeking their 28th World Series crown, host the Minnesota Twins in the American League wild-card game. Minnesota, coming off a 100-loss season in 2016, will start Ervin Santana while New York will go with Luis Severino.

The National League wild-card game is set for Wednesday night in Phoenix, where the Arizona Diamondbacks will host the Colorado Rockies.

The AL Division Series will begin Thursday with the AL West champion Houston Astros meeting the AL East champion Boston Red Sox in Houston.

The AL wild-card winner will face the AL Central champion Cleveland Indians Thursday at Progressive Field.

On Friday, the NL East champion Washington Nationals will host the NL Central champion Chicago Cubs in game one of their NL Division Series.

The NL wild-card winner will square off with the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers, at Dodger Stadium on Friday. 

- Second most wins -

In other games on Sunday, Charlie Blackmon went one-for-two, played three innings and finished with a National League-leading .331 average in Colorado's 6-3 loss to the Dodgers.

It was Los Angeles' 104th victory, tying for the second-most in franchise history. The Dodgers won 105 games in 1953 and 104 in 1942 while playing in Brooklyn.

In Boston, the Astros and Red Sox rested most of their regulars in the Astros' 4-3 victory in the regular-season finale before they face each other in the playoffs.

The Red Sox scored three runs on four hits, a walk and a passed ball off Astros starter Collin McHugh in the fourth inning.

The Astros came back with four runs off three pitchers in the seventh inning. Fernando Abad took the loss, falling to 2-1 with a 3.30 ERA this season.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Take me out to the brawl game as Harper erupts

SAN FRANCISCO -- Washington Nationals Bryce Harper could be facing a suspension after his part in a spectacular bench-clearing brawl against the San Francisco Giants on Monday.

Harper unleashed a flurry of punches after appearing to be deliberately targeted by Giants relief pitcher Hunter Strickland in the eighth inning of the Nats' 3-0 win at AT&T Park.

It was the first meeting between the two men since the 2014 playoffs, when Harper blasted Strickland for two consecutive home runs.

In Monday's Memorial Day game, Strickland made his intentions plain with his first pitch, plunking Harper with a stinging ball to the midriff.

Harper immediately responded, ripping his helmet off in disgust and charging the mound to exchange punches with Strickland.

As the two players slugged it out, both benches cleared and Harper was eventually pulled away as the ugly melee continued.

Both Strickland and Harper were ejected from the game and are now likely to face disciplinary action from Major League Baseball chiefs.

Last year, Baltimore Orioles slugger Manny Machado received a four-game suspension for charging the mound after being hit in the back by Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura, who died in January in a car accident.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Pinoys celebrate with Giants in historic World Series win

SAN FRANCISCO – For the third time in five years, the San Francisco Giants are crowned Major League Baseball’s 2014 World Series Champions by defeating the Kansas City Royals in the final game 3-2.

Twenty-five-year-old Madison Bumgarner was named the Most Valuable Player.

Many Filipino Giants fans were among the thousands of people who gathered outside of City Hall to watch their team win the championship.

"Such a sense of community, a sense of awesomeness," said Jackie Simbulan. "It’s the third one in five years, I love it. San Francisco, baby!"

"We got Linceum, who’s Filipino too, so there’s Filipino heritage in this Giants lineup," said Chris Jacinto. "So it’s great just seeing the community come together. There’s a ton of Filipinos out here, and it’s great for everyone to come together for one cause."

Tim Lincecum, who threw his second no-hitter earlier this season, warmed up in the bullpen in Game 7, but never entered the game.

Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, congratulated the San Francisco Giants through Twitter, where he also predicted that they would win prior to the start of the game.

But amid all the celebration there were also reports of violence and destruction.

Large crowds filled the streets and lighting bonfires and shooting off firecrackers. San Francisco police said at least two people were shot and one was stabbed in San Francisco’s Mission District.

Both shooting victims are expected to survive.

Read more from Balitang America.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

SF Giants close out Royals to win World Series

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- The San Francisco Giants beat the Kansas City Royals, 3-2, on Wednesday behind a stunning performance by Madison Bumgarner to win their third World Series title in five Major League Baseball seasons.

With the win, the Giants completed a 4-3 series win over the Royals in the best-of-seven championship, adding a third title to their brilliant every-other-year pattern of post-season success dating back to 2010.

Michael Morse drove in a pair of runs and ace Bumgarner, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the World Series, came out of the bullpen to carry the Giants to victory with five innings of scoreless relief for his third win of the championship round.

"I was just thinking about getting outs until I couldn't get them anymore," said Bumgarner. "Fortunately I was able to get some quick innings and I was able to stay in there.

"Right now I'm not tired at all. We just won the World Series it's hard to be tired right now."

A raucous Kauffman Stadium and history were in the Kansas City corner ahead of the game as the home team had won the last nine World Series that went to a Game Seven, including the 1985 Royals.

But the Giants, who were hammered 10-0 Tuesday's Game Six, bounced back to become the first road team to win a World Series Game Seven since the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates.

San Francisco drew first blood, loading the bases in the top of the second and pushing across a pair of runs on sacrifice flies from Morse and Brandon Crawford.

The Royals answered back in the bottom of second, Billy Butler hammering a leadoff single and racing home on Alex Gordon's line drive double to the wall in right-centre.

With the capacity crowd on their feet Omar Infante kept the celebrations going with a sacrifice fly to cash in Gordon and tie the contest at 2-2.

A single by Alcides Escobar marked the end of a short night's work for Giants starter Tim Hudson.

Hudson, at 39 the oldest pitcher to start a World Series Game Seven, lasted surrendering two runs on three hits in 1-2/3 innings before manager Bruce Bochy made the call to the bullpen for Jeremy Affeldt.

The San Francisco bats were buzzing again in the fourth with Pablo Sandoval and Hunter Pence leading off with singles before Morse drove in his second run of the night on broken bat line drive to right field.

With Bumgarner on the hill the one run cushion is all the Giants would need to clinch the crown.

The Royals, however, threatened in the bottom of the ninth with two outs when Alex Gordon lined a shot into centre and reached third base on a two-base error by Gregor Blanco.

But Bumgarner would not be denied, getting Salvador Perez to pop out to third baseman Pablo Sandoval in foul territory for the final out.

"He kept telling me 'I'm ready to go,' he said just put me in anytime and it couldn't have worked out better," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said about Bumgarner.

"The plan was to use Jeremy (Affeldt) early and hope we get to the fifth inning and a horse was out there and we rode him and it's historic what this kid has done.

"Really truly amazing."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Royals rout Giants, send World Series to Game Seven

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- The Kansas City Royals awoke from their hitting slumber in a 10-0 thrashing of the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday to stave off elimination and force the World Series to a decisive seventh game.



After a 162-game regular season and three rounds of postseason action, the Major League Baseball championship will come down to one game with the Giants chasing a third title in five years and the never-say-die Royals looking to end a 29-year championship drought.

The Royals entered the contest trailing the best-of-seven series 3-2 and having not scored a run in 15 innings.

But Kansas City batters rediscovered their groove in the second inning of Game Six when they exploded for seven runs on eight hits to chase Giants starter Jake Peavy after just 1-1/3 innings and set the stage for a comprehensive rout.

"Guys stepped up in a big way tonight. We felt we just had to get it done, find any way possible to get on base and drive in runs," said Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain, who contributed a pair of hits and three RBI to the Kansas cause.

Game Seven is Wednesday in Kansas City.

Before the end of the third inning every member of the Royals starting lineup had at least one hit, Mike Moustakas leading the hit parade with a double and a home run.

In contrast, San Francisco bats went quiet with inspired Royals rookie Yordano Ventura pitching seven shutout innings.

The 23-year-old Dominican fireballer, sporting hand-written tributes on his cap, glove and shoes in tribute to compatriot Oscar Taveras, the St. Louis Cardinals outfielder who was killed in car accident on Sunday, was brilliant allowing just three hits while striking out four with five walks.

"I don't really know what more to say. I mean you got a 23-year-old kid in the biggest game this stadium has seen in 29 years and our backs against the wall and he goes out there in complete command of his emotions ... and throws seven shutout innings," Royals manager Ned Yost told reporters.

"We talked all along about how special he is. This just shows, you can't get in a bigger stage then he was on tonight and to perform the way that he did tonight was just special."

Moustakas sparked the second inning burst with a sharply hit double down the right field line that cashed in Alex Gordon with the game's first run.

With the bases loaded Nori Aoki singled to left driving in a second run to bring Peavy's night to a quick end, the right-hander surrendering five runs on six hits.

The pitching change did nothing to slow down the rampaging Royals, Cain welcoming Yusmeiro Petit to the game with a bases-loaded looper to centre field that scored two more runs.

Eric Hosmer added to the assault with a two-run double before Billy Butler capped off the big inning with an RBI double to whip the capacity crowd into a frenzy.

The Giants looked poised to hit back in the third after loading the bases only to watch Buster Posey hit into double play to end the threat.

The Royals, however, were far from done, Cain adding an RBI double in the bottom of the third and Alcides Escobar cracking another run scoring double in the fifth followed a by Moustakas solo home run in the seventh.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Royals return home for last shot at fairytale ending

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - The World Series heads back to Kansas City for another helping of baseball American League style and the Royals hope that familiarity will revive their Cinderella story.

The Royals, who opened their first postseason appearance in 29 years with a record eight consecutive wins, are now one loss away from elimination in the best-of-seven championship against the San Francisco Giants.

But Tuesday's Game Six and, if necessary, Wednesday's Game Seven, will be at Kauffman Stadium in front of success-starved Royals fans with designated hitter (DH) Billy Butler back in the lineup to beef up the attack.

Since taking a 4-1 lead in the third inning of Saturday's Game Four, the Royals have been outscored 15-0 over the next 15 innings and are in dire need of an offensive spark.

Butler had only one at-bat, as a pinch hitter, in the three games played under National League rules, which prohibit the use of a DH, in San Francisco.

"Any time you can get Billy back in the lineup it's huge for us," said Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas. "He's a great hitter and brings a lot to the table for us."

First baseman Eric Hosmer said the home effect he believed had helped the Giants win the last two games of the series would now swing to the Royals' favor.

"They give us a lot of energy," Hosmer said about the Royals fans. "We feed off of them back home."

Beyond the masterful Madison Bumgarner, who has won two games in this series, San Francisco has been sparked by two of their most dynamic hitters and personalities.

Hunter Pence has batted a blistering .474 with six runs scored and five RBIs.

Pablo Sandoval, who required an IV before Game Four after being hit with nausea from a stomach flu, had a key hit in that win, a two-out, two-run single that put the Giants ahead for good.

"He's right up there with some of the great players I've had, the great talents," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of the beefy third baseman, who is nicknamed "Panda."

"I think good players, great players have a way of rising to the occasion, and he's one of those players.

Pence has been an all-round threat, making outstanding plays in the field as well as in the batter's box.

"Once we got him, he was every bit what I thought he was, a guy that came out to play every day, 100 percent in everything he does," Bochy said. "That's why we call him 'Full Throttle.'"

Despite only one really tight game following a postseason full of nailbiters, this series has been entertaining for its likeable personalities, emphasis on fundamental baseball and outstanding glove work.

"Our two teams have grinded the whole year, we've battled," said Hosmer. "It's always fun when you're competing against guys who have proven themselves and have multiple championships.

"So it's a blast coming into this park and coming into this environment with the fans, and how much energy they have here and seeing all the orange out there. It's the same way in Kansas City. So it's been a fun experience."

The Royals, like the Giants, come through as a close-knit team. Many of the players have come up together through the minor leagues.

"It's a tough grind to get to this level," Hosmer said. "I remember when (All Star catcher) Salvador Perez got sent down to rookie ball and we were in low-A, and it seems like a blink of an eye, and we're in the World Series together."

"It's really special. Our families have gotten really close with each other. It's one giant family now."

(Editing by Frank Pingue)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pablo Sandoval questioned in alleged sexual assault

San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval was questioned by police this week in connection with an alleged sexual assault, CSNBayArea.com reported Saturday.

Sheriff's officers in Santa Cruz County, Calif., spoke with Sandoval about the incident, which allegedly occurred early Friday at a Bay Area resort, according to the CSN Bay Area report.

Sandoval has not been charged, sources told CSN Bay Area.

Sandoval's lawyer, Eric Geffon, said in a release that Sandoval engaged in a "consensual, personal relationship of a sexual nature" and later "fully cooperated" with authorities.

The CSN Bay Area report, however, said that the woman who reported the incident told police she was too intoxicated to give consent. She also submitted to a sexual assault foresnic evidence kit at a hospital, according to the report.

The Giants referred all comments about the case to Geffon.

Sandoval is on the disabled list as he recovers from surgery to repair a broken bone in his wrist. The Giants said he would begin a rehab assignment Saturday for Class A San Jose at Stockton.

source: aol.sportingnews.com

Giants fans cheer San Francisco's first Series win

SAN FRANCISCO — Thousands of orange and black-clad Giants fans hugged and high-fived one other Monday night as the club clinched its first World Series title since moving west more than a half century ago.

As the final out of the 3-1 win was recorded, the thousands watching on a big-screen TV at San Francisco's Civic Center plaza leapt for joy as City Hall glowed bright orange in the background.

"I have a permanent smile on my face," said Valerie Nicklas of Berkeley, who celebrated at another large street gathering near the Giants' AT&T Park. "This makes all the years of suffering worth it."

Fans waving Giants flags and rally towels danced in the downtown streets near the Civic Center as car horns blared. A lone accordion player played a tune as fans swirled around him. Others surrounded a drum corps as it pounded out a rhythm.

Amy Anderson Giugliano shot a bottle of champagne into the air, dousing those nearby.

"I never thought this would happen!" the 42-year-old from San Carlos said. "I'm going to celebrate all night!"

The club last won the Series in 1954 when they were the New York Giants. They moved west four years later, but suffered World Series losses in 1962, 1989 and 2002.

That last defeat to the Los Angeles Angels has been fresh in Jun Lee's mind, but he still chose to drive in from Benicia with his wife so that their 16-month-old son could witness the celebration from his stroller.

"We came out here in 2002 for the same thing, and with six outs left they blew it," he said. "This is unreal."

Almost an hour after the win, fans were jumping up and down in unison and screaming "ooooh-REE-BAY" — a popular chant at games to honor third baseman Juan Uribe.

Traffic was slowed in the city's Castro district as people flooded out of bars, restaurants and homes. The neighboring Mission district was also jammed.

Fans also blocked traffic near the Giants' ballpark as they made their way toward Willie Mays Plaza, where a statue of the legendary outfielder stands prominently outside the stadium's gates.

"This is a long time coming," said Jason Scully of San Francisco. "They're a great team — all the castoffs and misfits truly represent this city."

Mayor Gavin Newsom announced the public viewing at the Civic Center after the Giants' 4-0 shutout victory over the Texas Rangers Sunday put them on the verge of clinching the championship.

With an autumn sun beaming, hundreds of fans laid out blankets and folding chairs on the lawn a full two hours before Monday's first pitch. Fans roared as the screen showed black-suited, bow-tied starting pitcher Tim Lincecum entering the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas.

Officials quickly scheduled a ticker-tape parade for Wednesday at 11 a.m. through the city's financial district. In a statement, Newsom congratulated the club and thanked them for bringing the city together.

"San Francisco eagerly awaits your return," he said. — AP

source : gmanews.tv