Sports

Giants Force Game 4 In Walk-Off Win

Published

9 years ago

October 11, 2016

San Francisco, CA – It was like “deja vu” all over again. The Giants faced another elimination game and their ace took the mound.

But this time Madison Bumgarner didn’t pitch a shutout nor did he go the distance. Bumgarner gave up a three-run homer to Jake Arrieta, Conor Gillaspie made a clutch play and Joe Panik hit the walk-off double to keep San Francisco alive in the series.

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The Giants 6-5 win over the Chicago Cubs gives them a chance to tie the series tomorrow at AT&T Park. San Francisco scored three runs in the eighth to avoid being eliminated. The Giants had not scored off Chicago’s bullpen all year and they ended that streak tonight. Reliever Aroldis Chapman got one out allowed three runs and threw 21 pitches.

“What they did tonight, that’s one of the best, most exciting games I’ve ever been involved in,” said manager Bruce Bochy. “They found a way. They had to score off one of the best close serves in the game. And Conor, a huge hit.”

Bottom of the thirteenth inning, Brandon Crawford led off with a double. Panik followed with a sharp line drive to right filed and the celebration began. San Francisco has now won each of their last ten elimination games, the longest streak by a team in postseason history. After tying the game 5-5 in the ninth, the Giants had enough fight life for four more frames.

“I think that ball hung up little longer than I wanted to,” Panik said. “I knew I hit it well and I knew it was going to at least get off the wall, but it felt like forever for that thing to get off the wall.

If we’re breathing, we’re still fighting. In the eighth inning, all it took is [Brandon] Belt to get on base and then everything started to go for us.”
Bumgarner’s shaky start wasn’t that bad after San Francisco’s offense backed him for the win. He got out of the first unscathed after allowing a double to Kris Bryant. But by the second Bumgarner unraveled allowing three runs that quieted the sellout crowd. Addison Russell was hit by pitch and Javier Baez followed with a single to third baseman Conor Gillaspie. While Gillaspie stopped the ball from traveling beyond him, he failed to get the out at first in time.

Arrieta took a high pitch into the left field bleachers making it a 3-0 game. No pitcher has homered off off Bumgarner until tonight. The three-run homer by Arrieta snapped Bumgarner’s scoreless inning streak at 24 consecutive frames. The Cubs pitchers have six of the teams 9 RBIs this series. The 6 RBIs tie the record for most RBIs by a team’s pitchers in a postseason.

“I obviously thought I could’ve done better today, if it wasn’t for that one pitch,” said Bumgarner. “The three runs scored there, you never know what’s going to happen but it played out differently. I had a lot of foul balls and anytime you have a long inning like that it’s tough on the players.”

Chicago tried to rally in the third but the Giants defense ended that. Ben Zobrist doubled, Russell hit another single and Bumgarner struck out Baez while forcing Miguel Montero to fly out to end the threat. Since the second inning the Cubs did not scored in any runs until the ninth.

San Francisco rallied bottom of the third when Denard Span doubled and Buster Posey drove him in with the Giants first run. San Francisco had six hits off Arrieta through six innings. Bumgarner on the other hand scattered seven hits over five frames. He walked one, struck out four, hit a batter and gave up a home run.

Span kept the offense alive, he tripled in the fifth and Brandon Belt’s sacrifice fly drove him in to trim the lead 3-2. The Giants had another opportunity in the sixth but a bad call by the umpires thwarted that. Gillaspie singled, Baez threw to first baseman Anthony Rizzo who caught the ball off the bag but first base umpire John Hirschbeck ruled him out. After further review, the call stood.

“We needed to put some runs up,” Crawford said. “Unfortunately when we got him [Arrieta] out of the game, we kinda got something rolling there in the eighth inning. We got some good at-bats and found some holes.”

Nothing but bad calls for San Francisco but they didn’t stop believing. Belt led off the eighth with a single. Posey was issued a free pass. And Gillaspie became the “clutch” player of the game when he cleared the bases with a two-run triple making it a 4-3 game. Crawford followed with a RBI single scoring in Gillaspie extending the Giants lead 5-3.

Closer Sergio Romo walked Dexter Flower in the ninth to lead off the frame. Bryant followed with a two-run homer to left field to tie the game 5-5. San Francisco went hitless in the ninth, Span grounded out, Belt walked and Posey hit into a double play. Albert Almora Jr. made a diving catch then threw to first after Belt doubled off.

On to extra innings, were both teams went scoreless for three frames. It then became a defensive game until the thirteenth, Crawford got on base with a double and Panik followed with a walk-double to seals their victory and force a Game 4 tomorrow at 5:40pm. Tonight marked the Giants seventh postseason walk-off win.

“We got it done, that’s all that matters,” said Belt . “We wanted to keep our season alive.”

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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

5 days 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

7 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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Activism

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

10 months 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.