Stripling’s homer troubles flare up again in SF Giants’ loss to D-backs

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:02:49 GMT

Stripling’s homer troubles flare up again in SF Giants’ loss to D-backs The San Francisco Giants built an early lead with home runs from Michael Conforto and Joc Pederson, while LaMonte Wade Jr., J.D. Davis and Casey Schmitt all continued their hot hitting, but it wasn’t enough to beat the Diamondbacks for a second straight game.Another rough outing from Ross Stripling sent San Francisco (17-21) to a 7-5 loss.The home run ball continued to haunt Stripling on Friday.Handed a 3-0 lead to start the second inning, after a clean first from John Brebbia as the opener, Stripling allowed two home runs that quickly erased the advantage. It was all too familiar of a feeling for Stripling, who has now allowed 10 homers in his first eight outings in a Giants uniform since signing a two-year, $25 million free-agent contract this offseason.Tagged for four runs on five hits over 3⅓ innings, Stripling’s ERA increased to 7.22. In 28⅔ innings this season, he has allowed only two fewer home runs than he did in 134⅓ innings in 2022 and, with two more walks Frid...

Warriors eliminated by Lakers in 122-101 Game 6 loss

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:02:49 GMT

Warriors eliminated by Lakers in 122-101 Game 6 loss (KRON) -- The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 122-101 Friday night in Los Angeles, setting up a match-up with the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals and knocking Golden State out of the playoffs. The Lakers won the Western Conference Semifinals series four games to two. It will be their first Western Conference Finals appearance since the NBA bubble in 2020 when they beat Denver en route to a championship.Friday's loss marked the first time the Warriors lost a playoff series to a Western Conference team since 2014. They have four titles and six NBA Finals appearances since then. The Lakers' victory put an end to the latest chapter of the LeBron James-Stephen Curry rivalry. Curry's Warriors faced James' Cavaliers in the NBA Finals each year from 2015 to 2018, with Golden State winning three of those series. James and the Lakers helped knock the Warriors out of the play-in tournament in 2021. SF 49ers’ 2023 schedule released: Here are the highlights C...

Wrong way I-280 Woodside driver pleads not guilty after fatal crash

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:02:49 GMT

Wrong way I-280 Woodside driver pleads not guilty after fatal crash (KRON) -- A young Campbell woman accused of driving the wrong way on Interstate 280 and killing another driver pleaded not guilty in court Thursday. The San Mateo County District Attorney's Office charged Constellatia Martin, 24, with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, as well as DUI causing injury.Martin drove a Ford Fusion northbound in the southbound lanes of I-280 in Woodside on the afternoon of April 22, according to prosecutors. Her Ford collided head-on into a black BMW driven by Eden Palmer, 54, of San Francisco, near the Woodside Road exit. Palmer was killed, and her 16-year-old son suffered major injuries, investigators said.After the deadly collision, Martin ran from the scene, prosecutors said. California Highway Patrol officers found her "naked, laying down on a grassy area, 150 yards away. (Martin) then screamed out numerous bizarre statements," prosecutors wrote. Officers noticed that Martin's eyes were red and watery, her speech was rapid, and her behavi...

A year after Buffalo supermarket massacre, city’s Black youth still shaken

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:02:49 GMT

A year after Buffalo supermarket massacre, city’s Black youth still shaken BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — It’s hard for Jamari Shaw, 16, to have fun at the park with his younger brothers in their East Buffalo neighborhood. He’s too busy scanning for danger, an aftereffect of a gunman’s attack that killed 10 Black people at a local grocery store.Sometimes, 17-year-old Alanna Littleton stays in the car when her family drives to that supermarket from their home just down the street.“It’s such a level of tension,” Alanna said.As the city on Sunday marks one year since the racist massacre, many young Black people in Buffalo are grappling with a shaken sense of personal security and complicated feelings about how their community was targeted. While the white supremacist got life in prison for the killings, others face a lifetime of healing. “I’m definitely gonna carry this with me,” Jamari said after school last week.On May 14, 2022, an 18-year-old emerged from his car and began shooting people at the Tops Family Market, with the stated goal of killing as many Black...

Snyder agrees to sell the Commanders; What do fans think?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:02:49 GMT

Snyder agrees to sell the Commanders; What do fans think? Fans seemed to agree that Snyder being on the verge of selling the Washington Commanders is a positive move for the franchise. But Washington football fans whom WTOP spoke to remained reserved about the upcoming season’s prospects.“We’re glad Dan Snyder is gone,” said lifelong D.C. football fan Miles Heinz. WTOP caught up with him at Caddies on Cordell, a popular Bethesda bar, on Friday just after the announcement was made. He and friends toasted to the sale — and what they hope is a new era of football in Washington.“He was the problem, and he had to go,” Heinz said of Dan Snyder, who could sell the team to a group led by Josh Harris that includes Magic Johnson as long as three-quarters of NFL owners approve of the deal.“I grew up with season tickets, and my dad canceled them because he hates Dan Snyder,” chimed in Cameron Brown, a D.C. area native and Commanders fan.“Thank God for Josh Harris!” he added.While fans like Br...

Mervis double sparks Cubs rally in 7th past Twins 6-2 to open 9-game trip

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:02:49 GMT

Mervis double sparks Cubs rally in 7th past Twins 6-2 to open 9-game trip MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Chicago Cubs came through with some big late swings after being stymied by Minnesota starter Sonny Gray, the kind of clutch hitting the Twins have been badly lacking lately. Rookie Matt Mervis crushed a tying RBI double in a seventh-inning breakthrough for the Cubs, who rallied to beat the Twins 6-2 on Friday night.“We just continued to pass it on to the next guy,” manager David Ross said.Yan Gomes had the go-ahead single in the seventh, Christopher Morel hit on a two-run homer in the ninth and Drew Smyly (4-1) pitched six strong innings for the Cubs on the opening night of a nine-game trip.“I’m really excited about this win,” Smyly said. “We kept having good ABs and we just stayed in it, and then the end of the game we broke it open.” Gray, whose 1.39 ERA is the best in baseball among qualified pitchers, gave the Twins another stellar turn with nine strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings with four hits and one run allowed. Manager Rocco Baldelli gave the ball to Jovani ...

Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly denied tying goal late in second period of 3-2 overtime loss

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:02:49 GMT

Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly denied tying goal late in second period of 3-2 overtime loss TORONTO (AP) — Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly thought he scored the game-tying goal late in the second period of Friday’s Game 5 against the Florida Panthers, but a video review resulted in a no-goal decision.Fans at Scotiabank Arena watched a video replay of the puck crossing the line and were irate that Florida retained its 2-1 lead.Some spectators threw debris on the ice after the decision was announced. Between the review and the ensuing cleanup, play was delayed for about 10 minutes.The NHL’s Situation Room issued an explanation of the decision a short time later.“The referee deemed the play dead prior to the puck crossing the Florida line. The call was made in accordance to Rule 78.5 (xii), which states apparent goals shall be disallowed ‘when the referee deems the play has been stopped, even if he had not physically had the opportunity to stop play by blowing his whistle.’”Rielly, who scored Toronto’s first goal earlier in the period, drove toward the net and appeared t...

San Marcos Youth Baseball to resume games after Monday's shooting

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:02:49 GMT

San Marcos Youth Baseball to resume games after Monday's shooting SAN MARCOS, Calif. – San Marcos Youth Baseball league is preparing to return the fields where a shooting interfered with a Little League game Monday. A stray bullet was captured on video landing dangerously close to players and since then, the league says there have been no games or practice held at Mission Sports Park.“What do we need to do as an organization to make sure that our families are safe when they’re on site,” league president Daniel Max said.On Saturday, players and their families will be back at the park after almost a week without play or practice. The league says there are more than 70 teams that all lost practice and at least one since the shooting happened, but they want to make Saturday a positive day.“This big, exciting thing that when it comes Sunday, they forget about Monday," Max said.Players and families will be greeted by local vendors, sheriff’s deputies and more. Padres cancel BeerFest On-Field Party at Petco Park “We’re having a table with all the board...

Carlsbad man uses family's Taiwanese farming techniques to grow exotic fruit

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:02:49 GMT

Carlsbad man uses family's Taiwanese farming techniques to grow exotic fruit CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Using a single Taiwanese wax apple plant gifted to him 40 years ago, “Uncle Happy Farmer” transformed his San Diego-area backyard into a flourishing exotic fruit farm.Eighty-year-old Frank Lin and his wife Cheng-Mei grow more than 40 varieties of tropical fruits and vegetables in their home garden, Green Lotus Organic Farm in Carlsbad.He and his wife both come from Taiwanese farm families. MORE: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month “We make a really great combination,” Frank said. “I know how to grow vegetables; she knows how to grow fruit trees.”Frank moved to the United States to study engineering at Ohio State University. He then moved to California to work as a civil engineer for the City of Carlsbad.That’s where he planted his roots and started his organic farm in 1980.“At that time, we didn't have money to buy a house, so we found a piece of vacant lot. After five o'clock, I helped my wife and on the weekends, Saturday and Sunday, I delivered vegeta...

Video game-playing sea lions show off cognitive skills

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:02:49 GMT

Video game-playing sea lions show off cognitive skills SAN DIEGO -- "Spike" the sea lion is making waves in the science community, learning how to play video games on the deck of a sea pen in the San Diego Bay off the coast of Point Loma. The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program cares for the branch's sea lions and dolphins, aiming to keep marine mammals happy and healthy longer."His (Spike) ability to understand the concept of controlling a cursor on a screen, then progress through a series of more challenging games, marks the first recorded success in testing cognition of California sea lions with an animal-controlled interface," said Maison Piedfort, with the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific.Spike, who is a fan of fish, ice and naps, participates in the Enclosure Video Enrichment (EVE) system, using his snout to press a button and maneuver a cursor through a maze while his trainers cheer him on. He is then rewarded with herring after finishing a training session. Carlsbad man uses family’s Taiwanese farming techniques to grow ex...