BY J.A. SCHWARTZ The Toronto Blue Jays came within inches of bringing the World Series trophy back to Canada for the first time since 1993, but Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s dash to score the title winning run in the bottom of the ninth in Game 7 fell short by mere centimeters. The …
Read More »MLB playoffs begin with no clear favorite after historic season
BY J.A. SCHWARTZ As the days grow shorter and the leaves begin to turn in parts of the country, the crispness in the air suggests that the baseball postseason is about to commence. Last year’s champion, the Texas Rangers, led by manager Bruce Bochy, will not have the opportunity to …
Read More »Astros seeking to hold off flourishing Mariners in AL West
BY J.A. SCHWARTZ Thirty seasons after making his managerial debut with the Giants, Dusty Baker finally lifted his first World Series trophy in 2022. All roads to a championship will continue to go thru Houston, but after breaking a 21 year postseason drought the Mariners are poised to stake their …
Read More »Path to American League Pennant still goes through Houston
BY J.A.SCHWARTZ Despite a delayed start to the season (remember the lockout?), the 2022 Major League Baseball Playoffs will start on Friday. The Dodgers won a league best 111 games, setting a franchise record in the process, and would seem to be the prohibitive favorites to claim this year’s championship. …
Read More »Athletics stifle Astros again to record first sweep of the season
BY RICK PORCARO The suddenly resurgent A’s completed an improbable three game sweep of the Astros behind another solid effort from Cole Irvin in a 4-2 win over Houston Wednesday afternoon at the Coliseum. Irvin (6-7, 3.05) won for the fourth time in five decisions in July as Oakland completed …
Read More »Cal’s Korey Lee and Odorizzi lead Astros past punchless A’s 6-1
BY RICK PORCARO Houston’s Jake Odorizzi pitched seven shut out innings, and Cal alum Korey Lee got his first three major league hits as the Astros downed the Athletics 6-1 Sunday afternoon at the Coliseum. Odorizzi (4-2, 3.38) had his best outing of the season, spacing out four hits while …
Read More »Astros still the team to beat in drastically improved AL West
BY J.A. SCHWARTZ Houston has advanced to the American League Championship in each of the past five seasons, winning the AL pennant in 2017, 2019 and 2021. Their lone World Series win championship came in 2017, and has been tainted by their sign-stealing scandal, but they’ve still won the division …
Read More »October Baseball: Let the games in the junior circuit begin
BY J.A. SCHWARTZ The MLB playoffs are now set to begin. The postseason format will revert to the pre-pandemic standard, and ten teams (as opposed to 16 in 2020) are in the mix, hoping for October glory. The final few playoff spots weren’t determined until the season’s final day, when …
Read More »Astros continue domination of A’s 8-4 to regain first place
BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER The Houston Astros continued their mastery over the A’s Thursday afternoon at the Coliseum, taking the rubber match of their three-game series, and the division lead in the process, with a 8-4 win. After rebounding from a four-game sweep at the hands of the Astros to open …
Read More »Astros dominate the A’s again 9-1 for third straight win
BY SEAN WATKINS Houston abused the A’s beleaguered pitching staff for the third day in a row to start the season Saturday afternoon, riding a strong start by Lance McCullers and a monster three-run homer by Yordan Alvarez to romp past Oakland 9-1 at the Coliseum. The Astros were able …
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