Sports

Giants Back Lincecum In Win Over Twins

Published

12 years ago

May 24, 2014

San Francisco, CA – No better way than to start the game with a three-run homer in the first frame. Pablo Sandoval had two home runs in his first forty-two games, he now has three home runs in his last five games. Sandoval set the tone early for the Giants in their 6-2 win over the Minnesota Twins.

“His at-bats have been a lot better,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We kept saying he always had the ability to get the good part of the bat on the ball and he’s doing that consistently. We need him, especially since [Brandon] Belt went down.”

Angel Pagan doubled to leadoff the first inning and moved to third base on a wild pitch from pitcher Kyle Gibson. Hunter Pence followed with a infield single to third base and was called out at first by the first base umpire, Paul Emmel. Bochy challenged the call immediately.

It took approximately 34 seconds for that call to be overturned. The Giants now have two runners on base with no outs. Buster Posey reached first on a fielder’s choice, but Pagan got picked off at third and was out at home plate. Sandoval went yard and gave San Francisco a 3-0 lead.

“It’s huge to score three runs that early,” said Tim Lincecum. “That always helps.”

“I was ready for anything,” Sandoval said. “I’m just focused and not trying to do too much. I just try to get a good pitch. I feel better because we’re winning as a team.”

Minnesota responded in the second with two runs when Joe Mauer hit a standup triple to right field scoring in Brain Dozier. Chris Parmelee grounded out and Mauer scored. That was it for the Twins offense, the next opportunity came at the hands of Sandoval whose defensive play prevented Minnesota’s next run.

After Lincecum issued his fourth and fifth free pass to both Eduardo Escobar and Aaron Hicks. Gibson grounded into a fielder’s choice out, Sandoval threw to catcher Hector Sanchez at home plate for the out. Lincecum struck out Dozier to end the inning leaving runners stranded.

“We left plenty of people out there,” said manager Ron Gardenhire. “We kept playing and we had our chances. Unfortunately for us, we played a little sloppy early and made a couple of bad pitches as the game went along.”

The Giants offense certainly backed their righty, Lincecum walked six through the first five frames which is a new season-high. His career-high is seven. It proved costly when he loaded the bases with his sixth walk but luckily for him, Escobar grounded out to first baseman Posey to end the inning.

“We knew he was battling,” shortstop Brandon Crawford said. “He had (a lot) of guys on base, but he pitched his way out of it. That says a lot about him and his competitiveness.”

Lincecum lasted six innings, an inning longer than his counterpart Gibson who tossed five frames, surrendering five runs including two home runs while striking out four. Lincecum allowed five hits, two runs, six walks, and two wild pitches. Not a bad outing considering San Francisco got the win.

“I can’t remember the last time I had more balls than strikes going into the sixth inning, and I had a win going,” said Lincecum. “I can’t really recall that. It’s king of an ugly win for me, but I’ll take it.”

The Giants are the third team in baseball to reach 30 wins joining the Oakland A’s and the Milwaukee Brewers. They improved to 4-0 in Interleague play. This team is also becoming known as a home run hitting team which is something that hasn’t really stuck in the past.

Notes – Injury update on the Giants pitchers, Matt Cain will play catch today and the team will determine over the next few days or maybe even tomorrow what they’ll do with their right-handed pitcher. It’s been a rough year for Cain, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 5th for a injured thumb and left Wednesday’s game in Colorado with a right hamstring injury.

“He’ll play catch and it’ll be a day or two when we’ll make the call on what we do with Matty,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.

Santiago Casilla left the same game last Wednesday with the same injury as Cain, a left hamstring injury. One of the stronger arms in the bullpen will be greatly missed but no worries for Bochy who was asked how they will replace Casilla who was injured on an infield hit.

“We’ll mix it up with four guys (Jean Machi, Juan Gutierrez, Jeremy Affeldt and Javier Lopez),” said Bochy. “We’ll try to get the big six outs to set up [Sergio] Romo.”

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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

4 months 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

11 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

1 year ago

February 18, 2025

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.