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Bumgarner’s Grand Slam Enough For Win

Published

12 years ago

April 12, 2014

The Rockies got on board first when Michael Cuddyer was at-bat, Josh Rutledge got picked off stealing second and Brandon Barnes scored. Carlos Gonzalez splashed in McCovey Cove with a two-run homer in the third. Gonzalez is the only Rockies player to ever splash in the Cove and he’s done it twice, hitting one last year on May 25th.

“You’ve got to treat him like he’s a hitter,” said Gonzalez. “Over the years he’s proven he can handle the bat. First at-bat he hit the ball hard. He saw a cookie with the bases loaded and took advantage.” The Colorado Rockies scored three runs before Madison Bumgarner’s grand slam gave the Giants the lead and the 6-5 win over the Rockies. The southpaw got off to a rocky start and later settled in for one of the most memorable games of his career.

“He found a way to win that game and he did it with the bat tonight,” said manager Bruce Bochy.

“It was a battle those first two innings and really the whole game with that offense over there,” Bumgarner said. “They’re really good, you can’t afford to go out there and not be on top of your game.”

Colorado is usually unsuccessful with getting hits in AT&T Park and especially off Bumgarner. In the first frame he surrendered three singles, a walk and a run but was able to get out of the jam by striking out Drew Stubbs to end the inning.

Bumgarner yielded three runs but settled down by the fourth to retire the side. San Francisco staged a rally bottom of the inning when Jorge De La Rosa loaded the bases with two outs. De La Rosa walked in the Giants next run by issuing a free pass to Brandon Crawford.

Then Bumgarner stole the show with a grand slam giving San Francisco the lead and receiving a standing ovation from the crowd. It was bound to happen, his last at-bat was a fly ball to center fielder Stubbs and that ball was just shy of a home run. Bumgarner got another chance and he did not disappoint.

“Bumgarner’s the guy that did all the damage and you don’t expect that,” Bochy said.

“I’m just thankful to run into something and score some runs,” said Bumgarner. “I’m always trying to swing into something. It’s important to help the ball club and we (pitchers) go up there with no pressure at the plate.”

It was his first grand slam of his career and his third home run. Bumgarner is the first Giants pitcher to hit a grand slam since Shawn Estes on May 24, 2000 against Montreal off Mike Johnson. He’s the second San Francisco pitcher to do so since the team moved west in 1958.

Colorado didn’t go gracefully, they cut the lead to one when Pablo Sandoval’s throwing error to first base advanced Nolan Arenado to second. Pinch-hitter Charlie Blackmon followed with a RBI single. But two defensive plays kept the Giants ahead with one run heading into the bottom of the eighth.

Jordan Pacheco reached first on a fielder’s choice out, pitcher Santiago Casilla threw to shortstop Crawford for the out. Then DJ LeMahieu lined into a double play, center fielder Juan Perez to first baseman Brandon Belt, Pacheco doubled off first to end the threat.

Closer Sergio Romo came in and sealed the victory by striking out the side. A brilliant performance from Romo who tossed a scoreless 9th inning despite battling stomach cramps yesterday. He logged a save in his first two outings this year, both coming in a series at Arizona.

“No I can’t hit,” said Romo. “It’s huge for us, he gave us the lead and we were able to hold on to it. I’m just excited to contribute anytime I get my named called. No matter how I’m feeling, I want the ball.”

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Activism

‘Hire Oakland’ Job Fair Draws 2,000, Connecting Residents to Immediate Job Opportunities

Oakland’s Hire Oakland job fair, hosted by Mayor Barbara Lee’s office, connected over 2,000 job seekers with employers, highlighting a strong demand for quality jobs and career pathways in the city.

Published

29 minutes ago

May 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Left to right: Yawo Tekpa, OPIC Manager, One Stop Operator; Sofia Navarro, Deputy City Administrator; and Ray Lankford, CEO of the Oakland Private Industry Council. Photo by Jonathan Fitness Jones.

By Post Staff

The Office of Mayor Barbara Lee, in partnership with the City of Oakland and regional employers, hosted a successful Hire Oakland job fair this week at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, bringing together job seekers and employers for a day focused on opportunity, connection, and economic mobility.

With more than 2,000 RSVPs, the event on Wednesday reflected strong demand across Oakland for access to quality jobs and career pathways. Attendees participated in on-site recruitment, application support, and hands-on workshops designed to help job seekers navigate hiring processes and prepare for interviews.

Over the course of the day, employers and community partners engaged directly with residents in a welcoming, high-energy environment centered on opportunity and hope. Participating employers included EBMUD, Samuel Merritt University, the City of Oakland, BART, PG&E, AC Transit, East Bay Regional Parks District, Southwest Airlines, FedEx, and many others offering immediate openings and career pathways across sectors.

Workforce development partners Oakland Private Industry Council (OPIC) and Lao Family Community Development provided connections to résumé support, interview coaching, and individualized job search assistance throughout the event.

The strong turnout underscores a clear reality: Oakland residents are eager for pathways into meaningful work, and sustained investment in youth and workforce programs is essential.

That is why Mayor Lee has prioritized relaunching the Oakland Police Cadet Program and the Mayor’s Youth Employment and Education Program (MYEEP)—ensuring young people have early access to paid work experience, mentorship, and long-term career pathways, according to a City press statement.

“The turnout shows what we already know—Oaklanders are ready to work, ready to grow, and ready to build their futures here at home,” said Lee. “When we connect people directly to employers and invest in young people early, we are not just filling jobs—we are changing lives and strengthening our city’s future.”

The Hire Oakland job fair is part of the City’s broader effort to strengthen workforce pipelines, expand access to good-paying jobs, and ensure Oakland residents are first in line for local opportunity.

About Hire OaklandHire Oakland is a citywide workforce initiative led by the Office of Mayor Barbara Lee in partnership with City departments, workforce development organizations, and regional employers. The program connects Oakland job seekers to real-time hiring opportunities, training resources, and career pathways.

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Activism

Cassie ‘Mama C’ Lopez Honored as Oakland’s Mother of the Year

Cassandra “Mama C” Lopez, a dedicated parent, teacher, and activist, was honored as Oakland’s Mother of the Year for her unwavering commitment to community and justice.

Published

39 minutes ago

May 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Cassandra Lopez, known as “Mama C,” is surrounded by family, friends, and neighbors at Oakland’s annual Mother of Year celebration at the Morcom Rose Garden, Saturday, May 9. Photo by Mateenah Floyd-Okanlawon.

By Ken Epstein

The City of Oakland recognized Cassandra, “Mama C,” Lopez – parent, teacher, community activist, and justice warrior – as Oakland’s Mother of the Year in a celebration at Oakland’s Morcom Rose Garden on Mother’s Day weekend.

Long recognized as a leader in her community, she was nominated by District 3 City Councilmember Carroll Fife to receive the city’s 73rd annual Mother of the Year award.

Speaking at the crowded ceremony on Saturday, May 9, where Mama C received roses and a proclamation from Mayor Barbara Lee, Fife said she felt honored to nominate Lopez, an “amazing woman – a hell-raising humanitarian, for the energy, the passion, but most of all the love for community” that makes her one of those “exceptional women whose lives, exemplify love, sacrifice, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the family and community they serve.”

Cassie Lopez was born in 1945 to Pauline and Calvin Weaver, a family that had left Florida and Jim Crow for the east side of Detroit. From an early age, she was instilled with a sense of Black awareness, love, and the importance of community in the face of hardships, including poverty, freezing winters, low pay, and slum landlords.

Fifty-five years ago, she married Juan Lopez. The couple has three children and has lived for decades in a neighborhood on the edge of downtown Oakland near Mosswood Park.

Said her husband, Juan, “Mama C has been a selfless mother of our own children, and she also became a teacher. Our home became a second home for many young people. For some, it was refuge from difficult home situations, and for others, a safe place to hang out.

“Throughout the years, Mama C was sometimes a foot soldier and other times a leader, immersed in some of the biggest national and citywide struggles of the day,” Juan said. “But less known to many is the role she played day in and day out where the rubber hits the road.

“For 35 years, she has shepherded the Mosswood Park and Recreation Center – through its good and bad times. If the Center exists (and thrives) today, it has to do with Mama C, working alongside neighbors, center directors, community advisory council, and when necessary, community coalitions, city officials, the religious community, and the labor movement.”

Said Mateenah Floyd-Okanlawon, “I am an old friend of my sister here. We met in 1970 in the sugarcane fields of Cuba, where we were helping the Cuban government harvest their sugar. We have been friends ever since. She has always been someone who does not give in to despair.”

David Johnson, an educator in Oakland, was one of the neighborhood children who grew up in the community created by Mama C and her family

“Cassandra Lopez is a beacon of light, full of compassion. She has dedicated her life to quality education to the poor and working class,” serving for 40 years as a Spanish teacher in Oakland schools, he said.

“She has dedicated her life to speak truth to power, justice to the silent, and as a member of the community, she advocates for programs and resources,” he said.

In her remarks, Mama C recognized the influence and power of all mothers. “Together, we all stand on the backs of our mothers. Mothers play a special role in society. We give when we have almost nothing left to give. We hurt when some people don’t see the hurt and the pain that our families endure. But we keep on moving forward.”

Looking at what African Americans, other people of color and working people face in the country today, she said, “We are deserving of the very best because our hands, our bodies produce the wealth of world, and yet we get the least. We see our country wholesale being stolen away from us, and we are told to grin and bear it. We’re not bearing it; we’re fighting against it.”

Continuing, she said, “There’s enough wealth in this world that there should be no hunger in the world. There should be nobody without a decent place to live. Nobody should be sleeping on the street. Teachers should get the freedom to be creative and tell the stories that exist in this nation that make us strong and great.

“We have a lot to do. We cannot despair. We cannot run. People are learning, and together, collectively, we can do it.”