Oakland

Gray outshines Verlander, A’s win with a walk-off

Published

11 years ago

October 5, 2013

Oakland, CA – The Tigers offense got shutout and they never knew what hit them. A rookie pitcher took the mound, pitched a stellar game and matched up well against one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball.

Sonny Gray got his first career postseason start and win. The A’s evened the American League Division Series with a 1-0 walk-off victory over Detroit in this best-of-five series. But before the pies came out, Gray and Justin Verlander battled it out on the mound.

“Yeah, well, he was real aggressive with electric stuff,” said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. “He didn’t back off at all. He was very impressive. He came right at us. That’s what the report said, they said he would go to his curveball when he got in trouble, which he did.”

Sonny tossed eight frames, scattered four hits and fanned nine while allowing not one run. Pretty good for a rookie whose only 23 years old. He struck out the side in the third frame while facing Detroit’s top three hitters in Austin Jackson, Torii Hunter and Miguel Cabrera.

After a pitch to Hunter, Gray’s pitches jumped to 96 mph a few times and which got him into a better rhythm. Torii wasn’t pleased with his inside fastball and pointed directly at him with the sellout crowd booing loudly. It was that moment, when Sonny got better.

“He’s been one of my favorite players growing up,” Gray said. “I remember my first Spring Training facing him when he was with the Angels, he hit a line drive up the middle and it almost took my head off. He is known as a really great guy and it got me fired up a little bit. It did, after that I had a little extra adrenaline, I really did. I was still able to locate the ball though, so that was what it was.”

“That was a reaction because it came up and in, yesterday it almost hit me in the face and today to,” explained Hunter. “I was like ‘hey, hey pitch in but don’t go up and in’. I tried to get in his head and piss him off. That kid has great stuff. He’s definitely ahead of us. We’ve never seen him before, we didn’t know what his fastball, curveball, slider or changeup looked like. It’s awesome I’m one of his favorite players and… I forgive him.”

Verlander met his match, the last time he took the mound against Oakland was game 5 of the ALDS and he pitched his team to the World Series. Tonight, was a different outcome but Justin was still dominant after he retired the first 11 batters he faced before allowing a single to Josh Donaldson..

“He pitched like Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling,” said Cabrera. “Wow, that fastball, that breaking ball. Man, he was good.”

“It felt really good from jump street, right when I was throwing in the bullpen,” Verlander said. “In particular my curveball had benefited the most along with my fastball command, but my last three or four starts with adjustments I made, that is the thing that is glaring to me the most is how my curveball responded.”

The Tigers relied on video and scouting to try and figure Sonny out. The same offense that took advantage of errors made by the A’s last night failed to muster a single run while leaving runners stranded. The one opportunity Detroit had to score was stifled by Oakland’s defense to force a double play.

With two on at third and first, Gray walked Omar Infante and gave up a single to Jose Iglesias. Jackson came to bat with one out, Gray struck him out and Iglesias was thrown out trying to steal second. That was the closest they came in scoring a run while Sonny escaped the jam and walked off the mound to the crowd on their feet chanting his name.

“He had a good explosive fastball, and curveball,” said Austin who struck out four times. “He made some big pitches in tough situations. From the beginning of the game it looked like he’d been pitching in the big leagues for a long time, he didn’t look like a rookie. We had a few opportunities but he got out of it.”

Heading into the bottom of the ninth, Tigers reliever Rick Porcello loaded the bases with no outs. Al Albuquerque gave up back-to-back singles to both Yoenis Cespedes and Seth Smith. Porcello intentionally walked Josh Reddick and that brought up Stephen Vogt who previously struck out three times against Justin. He knocked a single to center field for the walk-off win.

“It’s the moment that every kid dreams of,” said Vogt. “I remember playing in my front yard with nobody else, imagining hitting a walk-off hit in a playoff game. It’s everything you could ever dream of and more.”

“You expect more high-scoring games based on both offenses,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “But pitching can rule the day.”

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Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

Published

2 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

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Oakland Schools Honor Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties

Every Jan. 30, OUSD commemorates the legacy of Fred Korematsu, an Oakland native, a Castlemont High School graduate, and a national symbol of resistance, resilience, and justice. His defiant stand against racial injustice and his unwavering commitment to civil rights continue to inspire the local community and the nation. Tuesday was “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in the state of California and a growing number of states across the country.

Published

13 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

Fred Korematsu. Courtesy of OUSD.

By Post Staff

Every Jan. 30, OUSD commemorates the legacy of Fred Korematsu, an Oakland native, a Castlemont High School graduate, and a national symbol of resistance, resilience, and justice.

His defiant stand against racial injustice and his unwavering commitment to civil rights continue to inspire the local community and the nation. Tuesday was “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in the state of California and a growing number of states across the country.
One OUSD school is named in his honor: Fred T. Korematsu Discovery Academy (KDA) elementary in East Oakland.

Several years ago, founding KDA Principal Charles Wilson, in a video interview with anti-hate organization “Not In Our Town,” said, “We chose the name Fred Korematsu because we really felt like the attributes that he showed in his work are things that the children need to learn … that common people can stand up and make differences in a large number of people’s lives.”

Fred Korematsu was born in Oakland on Jan. 30, 1919. His parents ran a floral nursery business, and his upbringing in Oakland shaped his worldview. His belief in the importance of standing up for your rights and the rights of others, regardless of race or background, was the foundation for his activism against racial prejudice and for the rights of Japanese Americans during World War II.

At the start of the war, Korematsu was turned away from enlisting in the National Guard and the Coast Guard because of his race. He trained as a welder, working at the docks in Oakland, but was fired after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Fear and prejudice led to federal Executive Order 9066, which forced more than 120,000 Japanese Americans out of their homes and neighborhoods and into remote internment camps.

The 23-year-old Korematsu resisted the order. He underwent cosmetic surgery and assumed a false identity, choosing freedom over unjust imprisonment. His later arrest and conviction sparked a legal battle that would challenge the foundation of civil liberties in America.

Korematsu’s fight culminated in the Supreme Court’s initial ruling against him in 1944. He spent years in a Utah internment camp with his family, followed by time living in Salt Lake City where he was dogged by racism.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford overturned Executive Order 9066. Seven years later, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco vacated Korematsu’s conviction. He said in court, “I would like to see the government admit that they were wrong and do something about it so this will never happen again to any American citizen of any race, creed, or color.”

Korematsu’s dedication and determination established him as a national icon of civil rights and social justice. He advocated for justice with Rosa Parks. In 1998, President Bill Clinton gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom saying, “In the long history of our country’s constant search for justice, some names of ordinary citizens stand for millions of souls … To that distinguished list, today we add the name of Fred Korematsu.”

After Sept. 11, 2001, Korematsu spoke out against hatred and discrimination, saying what happened to Japanese Americans should not happen to people of Middle Eastern descent.
Korematsu’s roots in Oakland and his education in OUSD are a source of great pride for the city, according to the school district. His most famous quote, which is on the Korematsu elementary school mural, is as relevant now as ever, “If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don’t be afraid to speak up.”

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Bay Area

Port of Oakland Commission Votes to Change Oakland Airport to ‘San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport’

The Port of Oakland Commission voted unanimously to change the name of Metropolitan Oakland International Airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport at a commission meeting Thursday afternoon. The Port initially announced the name change on March 29, claiming that the change will attract more passengers and enhance the airport’s visibility. They contend that the airport often gets neglected by the public’s lack of knowledge of Oakland’s proximity to San Francisco.

Published

14 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

Port of Oakland commissioners voted unanimously to change the name of the Metropolitan Oakland International Airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland Airport at Commission meeting on April 11.

By Magaly Muñoz

The Port initially announced the name change on March 29, claiming that the change will attract more passengers and enhance the airport’s visibility. They contend that the airport often gets neglected by the public’s lack of knowledge of Oakland’s proximity to San Francisco.

“We want people to know where Oakland is and how beautiful our city is. We want them to visit, we want them to spend their money, and we want to keep our money into our local economy,” Port Commission President Barbara Leslie said at the meeting.

The commissioners shared anecdotal experiences and research to explain how this new name change will elevate and add to the growth of Oakland, not take away from their Bay Area neighbors.

The Port claimed that local residents had been asking for more options in domestic and international flights, but in order to do that, outside travelers need to be aware of Oakland’s presence first.

Since the announcement of the new name, San Francisco leaders strongly opposed the suggestion for a change, the City Attorney going as far as threatening legal action.

SF City Attorney David Chiu announced Monday that his team sent a letter to the Port of Oakland, writing that if Oakland goes forward with the name change, the city will go forward with a lawsuit to prevent the use of their trademarked name.

San Francisco owns U.S. federal trademark registrations for the marks “San Francisco International Airport”, the letter says.

Chiu further claimed that the name change will only cause confusion and chaos for travelers who are used to seeing the San Francisco name in the SFO trademark.

“We want to see the entire Bay Area thrive as a tourist destination and expand our offerings to visitors, but this proposal is not a legal or practical way to go about it. If Oakland moves forward with this proposal, San Francisco will pursue legal action to prevent misuse of our trademark,” Chiu said.

SF Mayor London Breed joined Chiu’s letter, stating that Oakland does not need to add the internationally popular city to its brand in order to grow its services.

“[Oakland] is rich in culture and wonderful people and has its own unique identity. It does not need the name San Francisco as part of its airport to stand out,” Breed wrote.

The Port defended its proposed actions, saying that if the vote did go forward, they would “take all appropriate measures to defend its right to use this accurate geographic identifier.”

“The proposed name modification will clarify, not confuse. The new name identifies where OAK is actually located, which is on the San Francisco Bay,” a spokesperson said on behalf of the Port.

Support for the name change extends beyond the Port. Several regional leaders, airlines and community members have come out in support of the name change, including Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao.

“This adjustment isn’t just about signage—it’s about inviting travelers to discover all that Oakland and the region have to offer. From our local dining scene to unique shopping spots and cozy hotels, there’s something here for everyone. Let’s work together to ensure that Oakland Airport continues to serve as a welcoming gateway for visitors and a source of pride for our community,” Thao said.

Because of public outcry amongst residents and leaders in Oakland and San Francisco before and during the Commission meeting, the Board decided to extend the second reading for the proposed name change from the end of April to the first meeting in May. This decision will allow commissioners to connect with community groups and leaders over their concerns for the change.

The Port Commission is scheduled to hold a second reading of the proposed name change on May 9.