mercurynews--2020-08-02--Southern California Apple fire grows to 12,000 acres, prompts more evacuations

An afternoon flare-up of the Apple fire in Cherry Valley on Saturday , Aug. 1 , spread the acreage burned to 12,000 acres and prompted new evacuations as firefighters attacked the sweeping blaze on a blistering hot day .
The 12,000-acre figure reported at 8 p.m. was up from 4,125 acres reported just after 3 p.m .
The flare-up was moving northwest from Pine Bench Road , said Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department Capt .
Fernando Herrera .
The mushroom cloud of black , brown , gray and white smoke could be seen for miles .
RELATED : This map @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apple Fire in Cherry Valley Homes in the path of the flames were threatened but were not in imminent danger , he said at about 2 p.m .
The fire that started Friday was burning intensely in drainages and canyons in the higher elevations and was being spread by ridgetop winds .
More retardant-dropping airplanes and water-dropping helicopters were ordered as a result .
Just after 2 p.m. , evacuations were ordered in two areas : – East of Oak Glen Road , west of Banning Canyon Road and along Pine Bench Road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ east of Sunset Avenue and west of Hathaway Street .
Then at about 5 p.m. , the San Bernardino County Sheriff ’ s Department issued voluntary evacuation orders for the Oak Glen and Forest Falls vicinities .
However , by 6:37 p.m. the Forest Falls order was downgraded to an evacuation warning .
Later , Oak Glen was under an evacuation order ( not voluntary ) .
And by 6:53 p.m. , Riverside County issued a new evacuation warning for the area north of Morongo Road , east of Millard Canyon Road , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,600 homes totaling approximately 7,800 people were under evacuation orders , Cal Fire said at 5:15 p.m. Herrera urged residents not to wait until the flames were near to evacuate .
But the Banning Bench , which previously had been threatened , “ looks pretty good right now , ” Herrera said .
“ Last night was touch-and-go.
” As the fire continued to push east , it entered the northern tip of the Morongo Reservation on Saturday .
A spokesman for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians said the Morongo Casino Resort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the fire and had not been impacted .
“ According to Cal Fire , approximately 1,400 acres of unoccupied land on the northwest boundary of the reservation has burned .
( Reservation spans more than 35,000 acres total ) .
Approximately 50 homes on one square mile of the reservation ’ s southwestern boundary are under mandatory evacuation orders and shelter and resources are being provided to affected residents , ” spokesman Philip Southard said in a statement .
As of early Saturday evening , only one home was confirmed destroyed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the flames because the charred ground was too hot to walk on , Herrera said .
The air temperature , higher than 100 degrees , prompted fire crews to frequently hydrate and take breaks .
“ It ’ s hard to take a break , especially if you are making progress .
But a ( firefighter ) needs to be able to say , ‘ Hey , I need a break , ’ ” Herrera said .
Cherry Valley is a community of rising elevations with twisting , narrow roads north of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Firefighters on Saturday morning were focusing their efforts on reinforcing fire breaks in the Banning Bench area , where the head of the fire burned in the canyon below .
But the fire mostly was just smoking , Herrera said at the time .
“ We don ’ t have any raging flames that you would expect right now , ” he said about 8:30 a.m. That changed , however , as the humidity decreased during the day .
Some evacuees went to the American Red Cross evacuation center at Beaumont High @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the background .
The threat of COVID-19 also loomed .
Instead of setting up cots , volunteers provided hotel stays for evacuees with nowhere else to go , said John Medina , a Red Cross worker and former Corona fire chief .
Thirty-one evacuees stopped by Friday , and seven were put up in hotels .
Nine had come by as of 1 p.m. Saturday and two were given hotel stays , Medina said .
The school gym was also being used as a cooling center .
Rick and Rose Stewart elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miravilla , a hilltop property with a panoramic view to the southwest that includes Lake Perris .
They built the home in 1997 , Rick said Saturday , one year after he proposed to Rose on the vacant land .
So when the fire started , Rick , Rose and their son Jon decided to fight the flames themselves with a garden hose .
Rose , 65 , drove away from the flames .
Rick and Jon stood their ground .
“ That was one of the stupidest things I could suggest doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s because the flames that crackled in three places suddenly exploded into one inferno and raced 300 feet past their home in about 10 seconds .
The flames burned a portion of their boat but spared the house .
“ That was like staring into the eyes of hell , and that is the reason I ’ ll never do it again , ” said Rick , 67 .
Sheriff ’ s deputies shut down Oak Glen Road between Cherry Valley Boulevard and Wildwood Canyon Road , and shortly before 6 p.m. Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders , impacting an estimated 1,000 residents in 150 homes , officials said .
Evacuations were ordered for residents in the Banning Bench area and a road closure was in place along North Sunset Avenue at Wilson Street and North San Gorgonio Avenue at Summit Drive , according to the Banning Police Department .
Evacuation orders were extended at 11 p.m. to north of Cherry Valley Boulevard , between Beaumont and Highland Springs avenues , Cal Fire said .
At the request of the Fire Department , Southern California Edison turned off electricity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side streets to prevent additional fires from breaking out as burned power poles collapsed and dropped transmission lines .
The practice is known as a “ public safety power shutoff.
” As the fires started about 5 p.m. on Friday , witnesses reportedly called 911 stating a man was seen walking along Apple Tree Lane , igniting three blazes .
Arson investigators were dispatched to the area .
Herrera said he was unable to confirm that information Saturday .
The investigation was ongoing , he said .
Firefighters from southern and central California @ @ @ @

An afternoon flare-up of the Apple fire in Cherry Valley on Saturday, Aug. 1, spread the acreage burned to 12,000 acres and prompted new evacuations as firefighters attacked the sweeping blaze on a blistering hot day.
The 12,000-acre figure reported at 8 p.m. was up from 4,125 acres reported just after 3 p.m.
The flare-up was moving northwest from Pine Bench Road, said Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department Capt. Fernando Herrera. The mushroom cloud of black, brown, gray and white smoke could be seen for miles.
RELATED: This map shows the location, evacuations for the Apple Fire in Cherry Valley
Homes in the path of the flames were threatened but were not in imminent danger, he said at about 2 p.m.
The fire that started Friday was burning intensely in drainages and canyons in the higher elevations and was being spread by ridgetop winds.
More retardant-dropping airplanes and water-dropping helicopters were ordered as a result.
Just after 2 p.m., evacuations were ordered in two areas:
– East of Oak Glen Road, west of Banning Canyon Road and along Pine Bench Road.
– North of Wilson Street, east of Sunset Avenue and west of Hathaway Street.
Then at about 5 p.m., the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department issued voluntary evacuation orders for the Oak Glen and Forest Falls vicinities. However, by 6:37 p.m. the Forest Falls order was downgraded to an evacuation warning. Later, Oak Glen was under an evacuation order (not voluntary).
#AppleFire The San Bernardino County community of Oak Glen is under an Evacuation Order. — San Bernardino County Sheriff (@sbcountysheriff) August 2, 2020
And by 6:53 p.m., Riverside County issued a new evacuation warning for the area north of Morongo Road, east of Millard Canyon Road, west of Whitewater Canyon Road.
About 2,600 homes totaling approximately 7,800 people were under evacuation orders, Cal Fire said at 5:15 p.m.
All earlier evacuations remained in place.
Herrera urged residents not to wait until the flames were near to evacuate. But the Banning Bench, which previously had been threatened, “looks pretty good right now,” Herrera said. “Last night was touch-and-go.”
The fire remained at 0% containment.
As the fire continued to push east, it entered the northern tip of the Morongo Reservation on Saturday.
A spokesman for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians said the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa is about three miles southeast of the fire and had not been impacted.
“According to Cal Fire, approximately 1,400 acres of unoccupied land on the northwest boundary of the reservation has burned. (Reservation spans more than 35,000 acres total). Approximately 50 homes on one square mile of the reservation’s southwestern boundary are under mandatory evacuation orders and shelter and resources are being provided to affected residents,” spokesman Philip Southard said in a statement.
As of early Saturday evening, only one home was confirmed destroyed. Firefighters were having difficulty assessing the damage from the flames because the charred ground was too hot to walk on, Herrera said. The air temperature, higher than 100 degrees, prompted fire crews to frequently hydrate and take breaks.
“It’s hard to take a break, especially if you are making progress. But a (firefighter) needs to be able to say, ‘Hey, I need a break,’ ” Herrera said.
The Apple fire in Cherry Valley appears to be kicking up. Evacuations in Potato Canton west to Raymon Flat just announced. pic.twitter.com/4RWOjq6YTC — Brian Rokos (@Brian_Rokos) August 1, 2020
Cherry Valley is a community of rising elevations with twisting, narrow roads north of Banning near the San Bernardino County border.
Firefighters on Saturday morning were focusing their efforts on reinforcing fire breaks in the Banning Bench area, where the head of the fire burned in the canyon below.
But the fire mostly was just smoking, Herrera said at the time.
“We don’t have any raging flames that you would expect right now,” he said about 8:30 a.m.
That changed, however, as the humidity decreased during the day.
Some evacuees went to the American Red Cross evacuation center at Beaumont High, where the plume of smoke loomed in the background.
The threat of COVID-19 also loomed. Instead of setting up cots, volunteers provided hotel stays for evacuees with nowhere else to go, said John Medina, a Red Cross worker and former Corona fire chief.
Thirty-one evacuees stopped by Friday, and seven were put up in hotels. Nine had come by as of 1 p.m. Saturday and two were given hotel stays, Medina said.
The school gym was also being used as a cooling center.
Rick and Rose Stewart elected to stay at their home on Avenida Miravilla, a hilltop property with a panoramic view to the southwest that includes Lake Perris.
They built the home in 1997, Rick said Saturday, one year after he proposed to Rose on the vacant land.
So when the fire started, Rick, Rose and their son Jon decided to fight the flames themselves with a garden hose. Rose, 65, drove away from the flames. Rick and Jon stood their ground.
“That was one of the stupidest things I could suggest doing,” Rick said. That’s because the flames that crackled in three places suddenly exploded into one inferno and raced 300 feet past their home in about 10 seconds.
The flames burned a portion of their boat but spared the house.
“That was like staring into the eyes of hell, and that is the reason I’ll never do it again,” said Rick, 67.
#AppleFire off of off of Oak Glen Road and Apple Tree Lane, North of Cherry Valley in Riverside County is 1,900 acres. Evacuation Orders are in place. Unified Command: @CALFIRERRU, @SanBernardinoNF, @RSO and @ChpRiverside https://t.co/aKdEYBvYwk pic.twitter.com/7wxLq9SJel — CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) August 1, 2020
CAL FIRE/ Riverside County Fire Department is activly fighting the #AppleFire. Please use caution in the area as fire resources continue to work in the area. pic.twitter.com/ruK0Z2RJDJ — CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) August 1, 2020
Sheriff’s deputies shut down Oak Glen Road between Cherry Valley Boulevard and Wildwood Canyon Road, and shortly before 6 p.m. Friday, multiple streets came under mandatory evacuation orders, impacting an estimated 1,000 residents in 150 homes, officials said.
Evacuations were ordered for residents in the Banning Bench area and a road closure was in place along North Sunset Avenue at Wilson Street and North San Gorgonio Avenue at Summit Drive, according to the Banning Police Department.
Evacuation orders were extended at 11 p.m. to north of Cherry Valley Boulevard, between Beaumont and Highland Springs avenues, Cal Fire said.
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Living with air pollution, especially from wildfires or agriculture, raises risk of dementia, US study finds Crashes and Disasters | Cadaver dogs are in Maui to help find the dead. Here’s how it works and why it’s difficult At the request of the Fire Department, Southern California Edison turned off electricity along Oak Glen Road and on surrounding side streets to prevent additional fires from breaking out as burned power poles collapsed and dropped transmission lines.
The practice is known as a “public safety power shutoff.”
As the fires started about 5 p.m. on Friday, witnesses reportedly called 911 stating a man was seen walking along Apple Tree Lane, igniting three blazes. Arson investigators were dispatched to the area.
Herrera said he was unable to confirm that information Saturday. The investigation was ongoing, he said.
Firefighters from southern and central California fought the blaze.
City News Service contributed to this story.


mercurynews--2020-08-02--49ers camp preview: Can defensive line exact Super Bowl revenge?

DeForest Buckner exited and top-draft pick Javon Kinlaw entered for a 49ers defensive line that could key a Super Bowl return .
Last year ’ s showing made the NFL take notice .
Nick Bosa got Defensive Rookie of the Year honors .
Arik Armstead got a contract extension .
And Dee Ford , well , he got surgery on a problematic knee issue .
The 49ers know their strength remains their defensive front , and with depth especially important amid COVID-19 uncertainty this season , here is who ’ s on that unit as camp opens : Defensive end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sack total and more all-around amazement in an encore that could merit consideration for All-Pro honors and NFL Defensive Player of the Year .
A year ago , Bosa arrived with durability concerns , and he did not miss any ensuing games while racking up nine sacks in the regular season then four more in the playoffs .
Defensive tackle Arik Armstead : He slides back into his role as a defensive end in base and interior lineman on passing downs .
That recipe paid off with a career-high 10 sacks last season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million deal with $ 40 million guaranteed .
Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw : His power as a 3-technique will help compensate for the loss of Buckner ( traded to the Indianapolis Colts ) .
Drafted 14th overall out of South Carolina , Kinlaw has a tremendous supporting cast to mentor him , headlined by position coach Kris Kocurek .
Defensive end Dee Ford : Knee tendinitis and hamstring injuries limited his workload and productivity ( 6 1/2 sacks ) , so offseason surgery could be what he needs to fulfill his high-priced promise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He flashed with his first two career sacks and timely stop last season before an ankle injury kept him from the playoffs .
He could see more action but likely will be a run specialist as their truest nose tackle .
Defensive lineman Solomon Thomas : He hasn ’ t produced many memorable plays three years since being drafted No .
3 overall , so it ’ s no surprise the 49ers did not pick up a pricey option for 2021 .
But his versatility could come in especially handy this season .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ adversity in recent years and looks as determined as ever to succeed .
Defensive end Ronald Blair : Grinding his way back from anterior cruciate ligament repair , Blair opened camp on the active/physically-unable-to-perform list .
Blair is beloved by defensive coordinator Robert Saleh , but this remains a prove-it season physically for the fifth-year vet .
Defensive end Kerry Hyder : The 49ers are his fourth team in six years .
He ’ s compiled 10 sacks through stops with the New York Jets , Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys .
Defensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming off a CFL Grey Cup championship and could win a Super Bowl if his ACL-repaired knee and increased bulk prove NFL-caliber .
He has a fascinating background worth learning about his road from Congo to British Columbia to the University of Tennessee .
Defensive lineman Kentavius Street : If “ Baby Hulk ” still can ’ t shake his knee problems , he ’ ll have a tough time making the roster , although he remains practice-squad eligible .
Defensive tackle Jullian Taylor : He tore his ACL in the final full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll need more time to recover .
The expanded practice squad also makes sense for him , once medically cleared .
Defensive tackle Kevin Givens : He stuck around last year as an undrafted rookie but played only in the regular-season finale at Seattle .
If he refined his skills over the offseason , keep an eye on his potential .
Nose tackle Darrion Daniels : He could have the best shot of this year ’ s against-all-odds undrafted class .
He served as a Nebraska captain upon being a graduate transfer @ @ @ @

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DeForest Buckner exited and top-draft pick Javon Kinlaw entered for a 49ers defensive line that could key a Super Bowl return.
Last year’s showing made the NFL take notice.
Nick Bosa got Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Arik Armstead got a contract extension. And Dee Ford, well, he got surgery on a problematic knee issue.
The 49ers know their strength remains their defensive front, and with depth especially important amid COVID-19 uncertainty this season, here is who’s on that unit as camp opens:
PROJECTED STARTERS
Defensive end Nick Bosa: Look for a double-digit sack total and more all-around amazement in an encore that could merit consideration for All-Pro honors and NFL Defensive Player of the Year. A year ago, Bosa arrived with durability concerns, and he did not miss any ensuing games while racking up nine sacks in the regular season then four more in the playoffs.
Defensive tackle Arik Armstead: He slides back into his role as a defensive end in base and interior lineman on passing downs. That recipe paid off with a career-high 10 sacks last season and then a five-year, $85 million deal with $40 million guaranteed.
Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw: His power as a 3-technique will help compensate for the loss of Buckner (traded to the Indianapolis Colts). Drafted 14th overall out of South Carolina, Kinlaw has a tremendous supporting cast to mentor him, headlined by position coach Kris Kocurek.
Defensive end Dee Ford: Knee tendinitis and hamstring injuries limited his workload and productivity (6 1/2 sacks), so offseason surgery could be what he needs to fulfill his high-priced promise.
BACKUP OPTIONS
Nose tackle D.J. Jones: He flashed with his first two career sacks and timely stop last season before an ankle injury kept him from the playoffs. He could see more action but likely will be a run specialist as their truest nose tackle.
Defensive lineman Solomon Thomas: He hasn’t produced many memorable plays three years since being drafted No. 3 overall, so it’s no surprise the 49ers did not pick up a pricey option for 2021. But his versatility could come in especially handy this season. He’s overcome so much personal adversity in recent years and looks as determined as ever to succeed.
Defensive end Ronald Blair: Grinding his way back from anterior cruciate ligament repair, Blair opened camp on the active/physically-unable-to-perform list. Blair is beloved by defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, but this remains a prove-it season physically for the fifth-year vet.
Defensive end Kerry Hyder: The 49ers are his fourth team in six years. He’s compiled 10 sacks through stops with the New York Jets, Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys.
Defensive end Jonathan Kongbo: He’s coming off a CFL Grey Cup championship and could win a Super Bowl if his ACL-repaired knee and increased bulk prove NFL-caliber. He has a fascinating background worth learning about his road from Congo to British Columbia to the University of Tennessee.
Defensive lineman Kentavius Street: If “Baby Hulk” still can’t shake his knee problems, he’ll have a tough time making the roster, although he remains practice-squad eligible.
Defensive tackle Jullian Taylor: He tore his ACL in the final full practice last regular season, so he’ll need more time to recover. The expanded practice squad also makes sense for him, once medically cleared.
Defensive tackle Kevin Givens: He stuck around last year as an undrafted rookie but played only in the regular-season finale at Seattle. If he refined his skills over the offseason, keep an eye on his potential.


mercurynews--2020-08-02--Horoscopes Aug. 2, 2020: Mary-Louise Parker, look at what you have, not at what you lack

Happy Birthday : Look at what you have , not at what you lack .
Focus on moderation and what ’ s important to you .
Spending more time enjoying life with the people you love will lead to happiness and contentment .
Recognize what you need instead of what you desire , and you ’ ll have a change of heart that will lead to a positive attitude .
Your numbers are 7 , 18 , 24 , 28 , 33 , 37 , 44 .
ARIES ( March 21-April 19 ) : Personal improvement will alleviate stress .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ over when dealing with matters that can affect how you earn your living , how much debt you are willing to take on or what ’ s best for you .
2 stars TAURUS ( April 20-May 20 ) : You can make home improvements as long as you stick to a budget and have the go-ahead from those you live with .
A heart-to-heart talk with someone you love will help you formulate long-term plans .
Don ’ t let essential documents lapse .
5 stars GEMINI ( May 21-June 20 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone take advantage of you is not .
Choose to do something that is energetic and challenges you to look and be your very best .
Plan to spend time with someone you love or who shares your interests .
3 stars CANCER ( June 21-July 22 ) : Do whatever it takes to get along with others .
Arguing will lead to isolation and unfinished business .
Put your energy to good use , and concentrate on projects that bring you joy and keep you out of trouble .
3 stars LEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and discard what ’ s no longer of value to you .
Don ’ t let anyone dictate how you should think or live your life .
Freedom comes at a price , and once you know what you need , progress will be made .
3 stars VIRGO ( Aug. 23-Sept. 22 ) : A change of scenery will open your mind to a new adventure .
Sign up for an online course , or volunteer for a service that will help you connect with people searching for similar knowledge , prospects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Sept. 23-Oct. 22 ) : Get your chores out of the way , and move on to something you find more enjoyable .
Take pride in the way you look , make plans with someone you love and refuse to let anyone put unreasonable demands on you or your time .
2 stars SCORPIO ( Oct. 23-Nov. 21 ) : Your mind will be thirsty for knowledge .
Consider what you want to do , and research the best way to make your dreams come true .
Don ’ t let what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Be willing to go it alone if that ’ s what ’ s required .
4 stars SAGITTARIUS ( Nov. 22-Dec. 21 ) : Spend more time fixing your surroundings and doing what you can to lower your overhead .
Shared expenses will lead to a falling out if you can ’ t agree on how best to allocate the funds .
Choose peace over discord .
3 stars CAPRICORN ( Dec. 22-Jan. 19 ) : Put your plans in motion .
Make changes at home that will add to your comfort , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people you love most .
Someone will honor an agreement you share , and an opportunity will unfold .
3 stars AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18 ) : Emotions will mount if you can ’ t come to terms with what someone is doing .
Step back and focus on what you can do to make your life better .
Personal gains are within reach if you spend more time on self-improvement and romance .
3 stars PISCES ( Feb. 19-March 20 ) : Rely on what ’ s worked in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to overcome a situation you face at home or that concerns indulgent behavior .
Reach out to people you trust to tell you the truth .
3 stars Birthday Baby : You are intuitive , creative and impulsive .
You are aggressive and persuasive .

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Hallie Eisenberg, 28; Kevin Smith, 50; Bridgid Coulter, 52; Mary-Louise Parker, 56
Happy Birthday: Look at what you have, not at what you lack. Focus on moderation and what’s important to you. Spending more time enjoying life with the people you love will lead to happiness and contentment. Recognize what you need instead of what you desire, and you’ll have a change of heart that will lead to a positive attitude. Your numbers are 7, 18, 24, 28, 33, 37, 44.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Personal improvement will alleviate stress. Don’t let your emotions take over when dealing with matters that can affect how you earn your living, how much debt you are willing to take on or what’s best for you. 2 stars
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You can make home improvements as long as you stick to a budget and have the go-ahead from those you live with. A heart-to-heart talk with someone you love will help you formulate long-term plans. Don’t let essential documents lapse. 5 stars
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Helping is admirable, but letting someone take advantage of you is not. Choose to do something that is energetic and challenges you to look and be your very best. Plan to spend time with someone you love or who shares your interests. 3 stars
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Do whatever it takes to get along with others. Arguing will lead to isolation and unfinished business. Put your energy to good use, and concentrate on projects that bring you joy and keep you out of trouble. 3 stars
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Assess and discard what’s no longer of value to you. Don’t let anyone dictate how you should think or live your life. Freedom comes at a price, and once you know what you need, progress will be made. 3 stars
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): A change of scenery will open your mind to a new adventure. Sign up for an online course, or volunteer for a service that will help you connect with people searching for similar knowledge, prospects or personal betterment. 5 stars
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Get your chores out of the way, and move on to something you find more enjoyable. Take pride in the way you look, make plans with someone you love and refuse to let anyone put unreasonable demands on you or your time. 2 stars
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your mind will be thirsty for knowledge. Consider what you want to do, and research the best way to make your dreams come true. Don’t let what others do cause confusion or uncertainty. Be willing to go it alone if that’s what’s required. 4 stars
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Spend more time fixing your surroundings and doing what you can to lower your overhead. Shared expenses will lead to a falling out if you can’t agree on how best to allocate the funds. Choose peace over discord. 3 stars
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Put your plans in motion. Make changes at home that will add to your comfort, ease stress or bring you closer to the people you love most. Someone will honor an agreement you share, and an opportunity will unfold. 3 stars
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Emotions will mount if you can’t come to terms with what someone is doing. Step back and focus on what you can do to make your life better. Personal gains are within reach if you spend more time on self-improvement and romance. 3 stars
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Rely on what’s worked in the past, and you will find a way to overcome a situation you face at home or that concerns indulgent behavior. Reach out to people you trust to tell you the truth. 3 stars
Birthday Baby: You are intuitive, creative and impulsive. You are aggressive and persuasive.
Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.


mercurynews--2020-08-02--Word Game: Aug. 2, 2020

Word Game: Aug. 2, 2020

Can you find 68 or more words in LIGNEOUS ?
TODAY ’ S WORD — LIGNEOUS legion lenis leno lens lesion lien lieu line ling lingo lion loge loin lone long lose losing lounge louse lues luge lune lung lunge igneous ingle insole isle genius genus glen glue goes gone guile guise noel noes noise nose egis elusion ogle onus using sego sign silo sine sing singe single sling sloe slog slue slug sluing slung snug soigne soil sole sone song soul suing sung To purchase the Word Game book , visit WordGameBooks.com .
Order it now for just $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Words must be of four or more letters .
2 .
Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “ s , ” such as “ bats ” or “ dies , ” are not allowed .
3 .
Additional words made by adding a “ d ” or an “ s ” may not be used .
For example , if “ bake ” is used , “ baked ” or “ bakes ” are not allowed , but “ bake ” and “ baking ” are admissible .
4 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed .

TODAY’S WORD — LIGNEOUS (LIGNEOUS: LIG-nee-us: Woody.)
Average mark 49 words
Time limit 60 minutes
Can you find 68 or more words in LIGNEOUS?
TODAY’S WORD — LIGNEOUS legion lenis leno lens lesion lien lieu line ling
lingo lion loge loin lone long lose losing lounge louse lues luge lune lung lunge
igneous ingle insole isle genius genus glen glue goes gone guile guise noel
noes noise nose egis elusion ogle onus using sego sign silo sine sing singe
single sling sloe slog slue slug sluing slung snug soigne soil sole sone song
soul suing sung
To purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!
RULES OF THE GAME:
1. Words must be of four or more letters.
2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.
3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.
4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.
Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at kzsaxe@gmail.com.


Bridge: Aug. 2, 2020

When I watched today ’ s deal , North-South were a regular partnership : a dentist and a manicurist we call “ Tooth and Nail ” because that ’ s how they argue .
I think when they sit down to play , they touch gloves .
Our two combatants bid to four spades .
West led a heart , and East took two hearts and shifted to a low diamond .
Nail , the declarer , won with the queen and next took the three top trumps .
When West discarded , Nail tried to run the clubs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led the king of diamonds , and Nail lost two diamonds to West .
Then came the inevitable argument : Nail : “ Why bid two spades ?
Bid 2NT , and I ’ ll raise to 3NT .
It ’ s cold.
” Tooth : “ When you bid spades and diamonds , my duty was to show my tolerance for your first suit.
” Nail : “ Baloney .
You had solid clubs — a source of tricks for notrump — and you needed to protect your king of hearts from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maybe , but you didn ’ t have to jump to four spades on what was sure to be a 4-3 fit .
Bid three clubs or three hearts instead , and I ’ ll bid 3NT.
” In my opinion , North should have bid 2NT at his third turn .
To bid two spades with weak spades and strong clubs was doubtful .
But South could have made four spades .
After she takes the queen of diamonds , she can lead a low trump , maintaining control .
If East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , declarer takes the ace , draws trumps and runs the clubs for 10 tricks .
And that ’ s the whole tooth and nothing but .

When I watched today’s deal, North-South were a regular partnership: a dentist and a manicurist we call “Tooth and Nail” because that’s how they argue. I think when they sit down to play, they touch gloves.
Our two combatants bid to four spades. West led a heart, and East took two hearts and shifted to a low diamond. Nail, the declarer, won with the queen and next took the three top trumps.
When West discarded, Nail tried to run the clubs, but East ruffed the third club and led the king of diamonds, and Nail lost two diamonds to West.
Then came the inevitable argument:
Nail: “Why bid two spades? Bid 2NT, and I’ll raise to 3NT. It’s cold.”
Tooth: “When you bid spades and diamonds, my duty was to show my tolerance for your first suit.”
Nail: “Baloney. You had solid clubs — a source of tricks for notrump — and you needed to protect your king of hearts from the opening lead.”
Tooth: “Maybe, but you didn’t have to jump to four spades on what was sure to be a 4-3 fit. Bid three clubs or three hearts instead, and I’ll bid 3NT.”
In my opinion, North should have bid 2NT at his third turn. To bid two spades with weak spades and strong clubs was doubtful. But South could have made four spades. After she takes the queen of diamonds, she can lead a low trump, maintaining control. If East wins and leads the king of diamonds, declarer takes the ace, draws trumps and runs the clubs for 10 tricks.
And that’s the whole tooth and nothing but.
North dealer
Both sides vulnerable
NORTH
S 7 6 3
H K 6
D 10 9 5
C A K Q J 9
WEST
S 10 4
H 9 7 5 2
D J 8 3 2
C 10 7 6
EAST
S J 9 8 2
H A Q J 10 3
D K 7
C 4 2
SOUTH
S A K Q 5
H 8 4
D A Q 6 4
C 8 5 3
North East South West
1 C 1 H 1 S Pass
2 C Pass 2 D Pass
2 S Pass 4 S All Pass
Opening lead — H 2
(C)2020 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.


mercurynews--2020-08-02--Ask Amy: Our neighbor destroys our plants and I’m fed up with her excuse

Dear Amy : My neighbor picks flowers off of our trees/plants in the front yard .
The first time we caught her doing this , she told us she uses them for prayer and asked if it was OK .
This is becoming a daily routine .
We hardly have any flowers left .
Today , I came out to find a whole branch missing off my plumeria tree .
When asked about it she replied , “ I picked a flower , and the branch broke off.
” Those branches are very sturdy , the flowers need no force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she did it on purpose .
I ’ m getting fed up but feel uncomfortable saying something since she uses the flowers for prayer .
• Ask Amy : His mom doesn ’ t realize I ’ m pregnant , and I need to keep it that way • Ask Amy : After his creepy comments , I can ’ t be around my boyfriend ’ s father • Ask Amy : My dead husband ’ s parents have made an unreasonable demand • Ask Amy : My daughter is pushing me to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m scared • Ask Amy : I cringe when I see my wife in her ‘ professional ’ mode What do you think I should do ?
Dear Keeper : This may seem like a benign activity to the person doing it , but taking flowers from private property is theft .
Your neighbor asked permission only after she was caught .
You gave her permission , and now you are going to have to withdraw it .
Perhaps only an avid gardener would understand how truly disturbing this could be .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and , yes , it would bother me a great deal . )
Because you grow plumeria ( a tropical plant ) , I infer that you live in a warm climate .
You have invested in , tend , water , prune , and protect your plantings .
Taking blossoms deprives you of the right to enjoy them .
Breaking off a branch will wound the tree ( and the gardener ’ s pride ) .
Many religions use flowers as part of prayer ceremonies , but maybe you also want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of worship .
My point is that your neighbor ’ s use of these blooms is not more noble than yours .
Perhaps you could take her a potted geranium ( their blooms tend to regrow quickly when plucked ) .
Tell her , “ Here is a plant for you as a gift from us .
Do not take any more blooms from our yard .
You do not have permission to do this anymore .
Do you understand ?
” There is no need to explain further .
Post a small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying “ Private Property ” as a little visual reminder that every time she wanders in , she is trespassing .
Dear Amy : My husband of two years has recently become interested in exploring Christianity .
He went to church as a child , but stopped going when he was a teen .
He is now very concerned about what will happen after he dies .
He says he wants to find “ peace.
” Amy , I have no interest in going with him .
I was baptized , but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I am not a believer and , to be honest , I don ’ t feel comfortable participating in organized religion .
I don ’ t think there is anything wrong with him going to church by himself or with another family member ( we have one who keeps inviting us to their church ) .
Do I need to be a part of this ?
I feel like I will hate every minute of it and become resentful .
But if I don ’ t go , will it ruin our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should not be contingent on you forcing yourself to worship alongside your husband .
I do suggest that you remain open to hearing about his experience .
Ask him how the service went and what the topic of the sermon was , and perhaps attend special holiday services if he seems eager to share them with you .
The churchgoing experience will bring your husband into a belief system , as well as a new social system .
Any time anyone forms new relationships , it could place a strain on the marriage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of fear that the marriage will be threatened ) is a non-starter .
If he dives in and starts attending Bible study and joins church-centered social groups , you will discover that church activities are very time consuming .
This might negatively affect your relationship , but his faith practice could also lead him to a more loving , compassionate and , yes , peaceful place .
Dear Amy : I was highly offended by your comment in a recent answer : “ I love a good insurrection.
” I gather you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since when is a violent uprising a good thing ?
Dear Disgusted : I happened to compose that answer on the Fourth of July .
There are any number of insurrections I would consider justified , including the one that helped to form this country .
Other readers also reported being offended , and I apologize to those that were .
You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy @ amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy , P.O .
Box 194 , Freeville , NY 13068 .
You can also follow her @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Dear Amy: My neighbor picks flowers off of our trees/plants in the front yard.
The first time we caught her doing this, she told us she uses them for prayer and asked if it was OK.
This is becoming a daily routine. We hardly have any flowers left.
Today, I came out to find a whole branch missing off my plumeria tree. When asked about it she replied, “I picked a flower, and the branch broke off.” Those branches are very sturdy, the flowers need no force when picked, which makes me believe she did it on purpose.
I’m getting fed up but feel uncomfortable saying something since she uses the flowers for prayer.
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Keeper of Flowers
Dear Keeper: This may seem like a benign activity to the person doing it, but taking flowers from private property is theft. Your neighbor asked permission only after she was caught. You gave her permission, and now you are going to have to withdraw it.
Perhaps only an avid gardener would understand how truly disturbing this could be. (Gardening is my primary hobby, and, yes, it would bother me a great deal.)
Because you grow plumeria (a tropical plant), I infer that you live in a warm climate. You have invested in, tend, water, prune, and protect your plantings. Taking blossoms deprives you of the right to enjoy them. Breaking off a branch will wound the tree (and the gardener’s pride).
Many religions use flowers as part of prayer ceremonies, but maybe you also want to use these blooms for your own kind of worship. My point is that your neighbor’s use of these blooms is not more noble than yours.
Perhaps you could take her a potted geranium (their blooms tend to regrow quickly when plucked). Tell her, “Here is a plant for you as a gift from us. Do not take any more blooms from our yard. You do not have permission to do this anymore. Do you understand?”
There is no need to explain further.
Post a small sign near the edge of your yard saying “Private Property” as a little visual reminder that every time she wanders in, she is trespassing.
Dear Amy: My husband of two years has recently become interested in exploring Christianity.
He went to church as a child, but stopped going when he was a teen. He is now very concerned about what will happen after he dies. He says he wants to find “peace.”
Amy, I have no interest in going with him. I was baptized, but I never went to church as a child. I am not a believer and, to be honest, I don’t feel comfortable participating in organized religion.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with him going to church by himself or with another family member (we have one who keeps inviting us to their church).
Do I need to be a part of this? I feel like I will hate every minute of it and become resentful. But if I don’t go, will it ruin our marriage?
Concerned Wife
Dear Concerned: Your marriage should not be contingent on you forcing yourself to worship alongside your husband. I do suggest that you remain open to hearing about his experience. Ask him how the service went and what the topic of the sermon was, and perhaps attend special holiday services if he seems eager to share them with you.
The churchgoing experience will bring your husband into a belief system, as well as a new social system. Any time anyone forms new relationships, it could place a strain on the marriage, but the alternative (shadowing him out of fear that the marriage will be threatened) is a non-starter.
If he dives in and starts attending Bible study and joins church-centered social groups, you will discover that church activities are very time consuming. This might negatively affect your relationship, but his faith practice could also lead him to a more loving, compassionate and, yes, peaceful place.
Dear Amy: I was highly offended by your comment in a recent answer: “I love a good insurrection.” I gather you thought you were being cute, but since when is a violent uprising a good thing?
Disgusted
Dear Disgusted: I happened to compose that answer on the Fourth of July. There are any number of insurrections I would consider justified, including the one that helped to form this country. Other readers also reported being offended, and I apologize to those that were.
You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.


mercurynews--2020-08-02--Dear Abby: Should we tell our neighbor what her caretaker does when she’s gone?

DEAR ABBY : We live next door to an 89-year-old woman , “ Estelle.
” She ’ s a “ snowbird , ” meaning she is our neighbor for only part of the year .
She has a devoted caretaker , “ Iris , ” who visits her almost daily .
Iris shops for her , brings in her mail and helps her with laundry , bathing and many other intimate tasks .
Estelle has given us a key to her house for emergencies .
The issue is that once Estelle leaves for the summer , Iris arrives almost daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a man not her husband .
They stay in the house for two to three hours and then leave , always in separate cars .
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The bed in the master bedroom was obviously used .
The air conditioning was on high , and the house was in general disorder , not anything like how Estelle would have left things .
Our dilemma is , we know Estelle depends upon Iris .
She trusts and adores her .
Do we turn a blind eye to what ’ s going on ?
It really isn ’ t our business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advantage of .
Last year we reported our observations to Estelle ’ s son as he was bringing his mother here for the winter .
He wasn ’ t sure what to do because , as I said before , she ’ s quite dependent on her caretaker .
Advice ?
SEEING TOO MUCH IN FLORIDA DEAR SEEING : This is Estelle ’ s home and Estelle ’ s employee .
If this were happening on your property , wouldn ’ t you want to know about it ?
I see nothing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dark .
Tell her what has been going on , that your husband went to check the place and found it in disarray .
Then leave the ball in her court .
DEAR ABBY : For a handful of years , I have been dealing with anxiety and mild depression .
But over the last 18 months or so , I have been experiencing both the highest highs and the lowest lows .
These periods can last for up to a week and affect my productivity levels .
My ability to function as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noticeably diminished , though .
Because I ’ m a teenager , a lot of emotional turmoil is happening .
But I can ’ t help feeling that maybe what I ’ m experiencing isn ’ t normal for people my age .
How do I know the difference between routine mood swings and a mental disorder like bipolar ?
There is a history of bipolar in my family , but I don ’ t know if it has transferred to me .
I want to know if I need to start talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therapist or if what I ’ m going through doesn ’ t need to be bothered with .
DEAR TEEN : You are obviously very bright .
Because of the history of bipolar disorder in your family , your mood swings are something you should be paying attention to .
I am glad you are seeing a therapist , and you should absolutely be discussing your concerns — all of them — with that person .
In psychotherapy , honesty is always the best policy .
If it turns out that your worries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they are not , it would be to your advantage to know it so you can be treated for it .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .

DEAR ABBY: We live next door to an 89-year-old woman, “Estelle.” She’s a “snowbird,” meaning she is our neighbor for only part of the year. She has a devoted caretaker, “Iris,” who visits her almost daily.
Iris shops for her, brings in her mail and helps her with laundry, bathing and many other intimate tasks.
Estelle has given us a key to her house for emergencies. The issue is that once Estelle leaves for the summer, Iris arrives almost daily for what appear to be afternoon trysts with a man not her husband. They stay in the house for two to three hours and then leave, always in separate cars.
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Our dilemma is, we know Estelle depends upon Iris. She trusts and adores her. Do we turn a blind eye to what’s going on? It really isn’t our business except that we hate seeing someone taken advantage of.
Last year we reported our observations to Estelle’s son as he was bringing his mother here for the winter. He wasn’t sure what to do because, as I said before, she’s quite dependent on her caretaker. Advice?
SEEING TOO MUCH IN FLORIDA
DEAR SEEING: This is Estelle’s home and Estelle’s employee. If this were happening on your property, wouldn’t you want to know about it?
I see nothing to be gained by keeping Estelle in the dark. Tell her what has been going on, that your husband went to check the place and found it in disarray. Then leave the ball in her court.
DEAR ABBY: For a handful of years, I have been dealing with anxiety and mild depression. But over the last 18 months or so, I have been experiencing both the highest highs and the lowest lows. These periods can last for up to a week and affect my productivity levels. My ability to function as a normal human being isn’t noticeably diminished, though.
Because I’m a teenager, a lot of emotional turmoil is happening. But I can’t help feeling that maybe what I’m experiencing isn’t normal for people my age.
How do I know the difference between routine mood swings and a mental disorder like bipolar? There is a history of bipolar in my family, but I don’t know if it has transferred to me. I want to know if I need to start talking about that aspect of things with my therapist or if what I’m going through doesn’t need to be bothered with.
TEEN IN TOUCH IN WASHINGTON
DEAR TEEN: You are obviously very bright. Because of the history of bipolar disorder in your family, your mood swings are something you should be paying attention to. I am glad you are seeing a therapist, and you should absolutely be discussing your concerns — all of them — with that person.
In psychotherapy, honesty is always the best policy. If it turns out that your worries are needless — fine.
However, if they are not, it would be to your advantage to know it so you can be treated for it.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.


mercurynews--2020-08-03--Athletics 3, Mariners 2: Despite hitting woes, Oakland keeps finding a way

The A ’ s entered Sunday ranked 21st in Major League Baseball in runs scored with 27 , and were 25th in total bases with 77 .
Yet they entered Monday still tied for first place in the American League West .
The A ’ s will be just fine this season if their offense can come around like everyone expects it to at some point .
In the meantime , they ’ re simply finding a way , with a mixture of good pitching and some timely hits .
Ramón Laureano had one of the A ’ s five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he homered off reliever Anthony Misiewicz with two runners on in the fifth inning to help his team earn a 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners .
Otherwise , the A ’ s struck out 11 times and left seven runners on base , with Laureano ’ s homer representing Oakland ’ s only hit with runners in scoring position out of seven tries .
“ It ’ s going to come at some point , ” A ’ s manager Bob Melvin said of the offense .
“ My guess is we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll break out , score a ton of runs , and everybody can relax a little bit.
” BASSITT ’ S SOLID OUTING : A ’ s starter Chris Bassitt earned his first victory of the season as he allowed three hits and struck out seven in 5 2/3 innings .
Melvin then turned to the bullpen , which allowed one run over the final 3 1/3 innings despite some tenuous moments .
Liam Hendriks earned his third save .
Mixing a sinker , a changeup and a fastball , Bassitt retired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the first to the end of the fourth inning when the Mariners held a 1-0 lead .
The one run Bassitt allowed came in the bottom of the first inning , when Daniel Vogelbach singled to center to score Dylan Moore .
“ I didn ’ t have any dang clue where the ball was going in the first , ” Bassitt said .
“ Got through it with minimal damage and then after the second inning , I just felt myself out and was kind of locked in from then on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A ’ s had a team ERA of 3.21 , sixth-best in MLB .
With a few more runs , perhaps they ’ re record is better than 5-4 , which is good enough for a first place tie with Houston .
Bassitt , 31 , had previously mentioned that sometimes a lack of run support would affect his performance .
Now , in his sixth big league season , not so much .
“ That ’ s such a trap as a starting pitcher , ” Bassitt said .
“ If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing , if any focus is on that , you ’ re absolutely screwed .
The only thing I worried about was not walking guys , not beating myself.
” KEMP , SEMIEN DO THEIR PARTS : Key plays by infielders Tony Kemp and Marcus Semien in the fifth gave Laureano the opportunity to make a difference Sunday .
With Kemp amd Semien on base in the fifth inning , Laureano homered off reliever Anthony Misiewicz , helping the A ’ s earn a 3-1 win over the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mariners starter Kendall Graveman , the former Athletic , with two outs .
Semien also got on base , beating out a threw to first base after he hit a ground ball to the left side of the infield .
That got Graveman , who had been effective up until that point , out of the game as he was replaced by he lefty Anthony Misiewicz .
That set the stage for Laureano , who took Misiewicz ’ s hanging 82 mph slider over the left center field wall for his second home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his best day as an Athletic , as his single in the third inning was his first base hit of the season .
His two walks gives his four for the season .
“ Kemp had a good day today , ” Melvin said .
“ Got a hit and worked count really well , kind of fits into what we try to do here .
Another left-handed bat .
So he had a really good game , and at second base , too .
“ Laureano ’ s home run was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kendall and getting him out of the game that gave the opportunity to Ramon.
” Graveman started 78 games for the A ’ s from 2015 to 2018 .
He was the A ’ s Opening Day starter in 2018 , but struggled mightily through the first six weeks of the season , when he was optioned to Nashville on two occasions .
Before he elected to have Tommy John surgery in July of that year , Graveman owned a 1-5 record and a 7.60 ERA .
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After the Cubs declined the team option , he signed with the Mariners in November .
In his one start this season , Graveman allowed six earned run sin four innings in what became a 8-5 loss to Houston on July 27 .
He was much tougher Sunday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innings .

The A’s entered Sunday ranked 21st in Major League Baseball in runs scored with 27, and were 25th in total bases with 77.
Yet they entered Monday still tied for first place in the American League West.
The A’s will be just fine this season if their offense can come around like everyone expects it to at some point. In the meantime, they’re simply finding a way, with a mixture of good pitching and some timely hits.
Ramón Laureano had one of the A’s five hits Sunday at T-Mobile Park, as he homered off reliever Anthony Misiewicz with two runners on in the fifth inning to help his team earn a 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners.
Otherwise, the A’s struck out 11 times and left seven runners on base, with Laureano’s homer representing Oakland’s only hit with runners in scoring position out of seven tries.
For complete Oakland A’s coverage follow us on Flipboard.
“It’s going to come at some point,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said of the offense. “My guess is we’ll have one game where we’ll break out, score a ton of runs, and everybody can relax a little bit.”
Other takeaways from Sunday.
BASSITT’S SOLID OUTING: A’s starter Chris Bassitt earned his first victory of the season as he allowed three hits and struck out seven in 5 2/3 innings. Melvin then turned to the bullpen, which allowed one run over the final 3 1/3 innings despite some tenuous moments. Liam Hendriks earned his third save.
Mixing a sinker, a changeup and a fastball, Bassitt retired 10 in a row at one point from the first to the end of the fourth inning when the Mariners held a 1-0 lead.
The one run Bassitt allowed came in the bottom of the first inning, when Daniel Vogelbach singled to center to score Dylan Moore.
“I didn’t have any dang clue where the ball was going in the first,” Bassitt said. “Got through it with minimal damage and then after the second inning, I just felt myself out and was kind of locked in from then on out.”
Through eight games, the A’s had a team ERA of 3.21, sixth-best in MLB. With a few more runs, perhaps they’re record is better than 5-4, which is good enough for a first place tie with Houston.
Bassitt, 31, had previously mentioned that sometimes a lack of run support would affect his performance. Now, in his sixth big league season, not so much.
“That’s such a trap as a starting pitcher,” Bassitt said. “If you’re worrying what your hitters are doing, if any focus is on that, you’re absolutely screwed. The only thing I worried about was not walking guys, not beating myself.”
KEMP, SEMIEN DO THEIR PARTS: Key plays by infielders Tony Kemp and Marcus Semien in the fifth gave Laureano the opportunity to make a difference Sunday.
With Kemp amd Semien on base in the fifth inning, Laureano homered off reliever Anthony Misiewicz, helping the A’s earn a 3-1 win over the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
Kemp worked a walk off of Mariners starter Kendall Graveman, the former Athletic, with two outs. Semien also got on base, beating out a threw to first base after he hit a ground ball to the left side of the infield.
That got Graveman, who had been effective up until that point, out of the game as he was replaced by he lefty Anthony Misiewicz.
That set the stage for Laureano, who took Misiewicz’s hanging 82 mph slider over the left center field wall for his second home run of the season.
Kemp has his best day as an Athletic, as his single in the third inning was his first base hit of the season. His two walks gives his four for the season.
“Kemp had a good day today,” Melvin said. “Got a hit and worked count really well, kind of fits into what we try to do here. Another left-handed bat. So he had a really good game, and at second base, too.
“Laureano’s home run was the key hit, but it was working Kendall and getting him out of the game that gave the opportunity to Ramon.”
Graveman started 78 games for the A’s from 2015 to 2018. He was the A’s Opening Day starter in 2018, but struggled mightily through the first six weeks of the season, when he was optioned to Nashville on two occasions.
Before he elected to have Tommy John surgery in July of that year, Graveman owned a 1-5 record and a 7.60 ERA.
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In his one start this season, Graveman allowed six earned run sin four innings in what became a 8-5 loss to Houston on July 27. He was much tougher Sunday, allowing just three hits in 4 2/3 innings.


mercurynews--2020-08-03--SpaceX capsule and NASA crew make 1st splashdown in 45 years

CAPE CANAVERAL , Fla. ( AP ) — Two NASA astronauts returned to Earth on Sunday in a dramatic , retro-style splashdown , their capsule parachuting into the Gulf of Mexico to close out an unprecedented test flight by Elon Musk ’ s SpaceX company .
It was the first splashdown by U.S. astronauts in 45 years , with the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to carry people to and from orbit .
The return clears the way for another SpaceX crew launch as early as next month and possible tourist flights next year .
Test pilots Doug Hurley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their SpaceX Dragon capsule named Endeavour , less than a day after departing the International Space Station and two months after blasting off from Florida .
The capsule parachuted into the calm gulf waters about 40 miles off the coast of Pensacola , hundreds of miles from Tropical Storm Isaias pounding Florida ’ s Atlantic coast .
“ Welcome back to planet Earth and thanks for flying SpaceX , ” said Mission Control from SpaceX headquarters .
“ It ’ s a little bit overwhelming to see everybody here considering the things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months since we ’ ve been off planet , ” Hurley said after arriving back home in Houston Sunday evening where they were greeted by a small masked-gathering of family and officials , including Musk .
Musk had rushed to Houston from SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne , California , to welcome them .
He was clearly moved — and relieved — while addressing the group .
“ I ’ m not very religious , but I prayed for this one , ” he said .
The astronauts ’ ride back to Earth was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least on the outside .
The spacecraft went from a screaming orbital speed of 17,500 mph ( 28,000 kph ) to 350 mph ( 560 kph ) during atmospheric reentry , and finally to 15 mph ( 24 kph ) at splashdown .
Peak heating during descent was 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit ( 1,900 degrees Celsius ) .
The anticipated top G forces felt by the crew : four to five times the force of Earth ’ s gravity .
Within a half-hour of splashdown , the scorched and blistered 15-foot capsule was hoisted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff of more than 40 , including doctors and nurses .
To keep the returning astronauts safe in the pandemic , the recovery crew quarantined for two weeks and were tested for the coronavirus .
The opening of the hatch was held up briefly by extra checks for toxic rocket fumes outside the capsule .
After medical checkups , the astronauts were flown by helicopter to Pensacola and then to Houston .
There was one unexpected problem that could have endangered the operation : Once the capsule was in the water , private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , ” and got too close , said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine , promising to do better next time at keeping sightseers on pleasure boats safely away .
NASA video showed one vessel flying a large campaign flag for President Donald Trump .
The Coast Guard in Pensacola said it had deployed two vessels to keep the public at least 10 miles away from the capsule .
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence , who both attended the launch , congratulated the SpaceX and NASA teams .
“ Great to have NASA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two month mission .
Thank you to all !
” Trump tweeted .
The last time NASA astronauts returned from space to water was on July 24 , 1975 , in the Pacific , the scene of most splashdowns , to end a joint U.S.-Soviet mission known as Apollo-Soyuz .
The Mercury and Gemini crews in the early to mid-1960s parachuted into the Atlantic , while most of the later Apollo capsules hit the Pacific .
The lone Russian “ splashdown ” was in 1976 on a partially frozen lake amid a blizzard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery took hours .
Gemini and Apollo astronaut Thomas Stafford — the commander of the last crew to splash down — watched the reentry on TV from his Florida home .
While pleased with the crew ’ s safe return , he wasn ’ t overly impressed .
“ It ’ s what we did over 50 years ago , ” he said .
Its throwback splashdown aside , SpaceX made history with the mission , which launched May 30 from NASA ’ s Kennedy Space Center .
It was the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and also the first launch of NASA astronauts from home turf in nearly a decade .
Hurley was the pilot of NASA ’ s last space shuttle flight in 2011 and the commander of this SpaceX flight .
NASA turned to SpaceX and also Boeing to build capsules and ferry astronauts to and from the space station , following the retirement of the shuttles .
Until Hurley and Behnken rocketed into orbit , NASA astronauts relied on Russian rockets .
SpaceX already had experience hauling cargo to the space station , bringing those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We are entering a new era of human spaceflight where NASA is no longer the purchaser , owner and operator of all the hardware .
We ’ re going to be a customer , one customer of many , ” Bridenstine said from Johnson Space Center in Houston .
“ I would love to see a fleet of crew Dragons servicing not just the International Space Station but also commercial space stations.
” SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell called the mission a springboard to “ doing even harder things , ” like collaborating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then Mars .
“ There ’ s no question , it was an enormous relief after months of anxiety making sure we could bring Bob and Doug back home safely , ” Shotwell said .
SpaceX needs six weeks to inspect the capsule before launching the next crew around the end of September .
This next mission of four astronauts will spend a full six months aboard the space station .
Hurley and Behnken ’ s capsule will be refurbished for another flight next spring .
A Houston company run by a former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with SpaceX to send three customers to the space station in fall 2021 .
“ It took years to get here , we brought the capablity back to America , and we came home safely to our families , and it took a lot of people a lot of time to make that happen , ” Behnken said back in Houston .
Boeing doesn ’ t expect to launch its first crew until next year .
The company encountered significant software problems in the debut of its Starliner capsule , with no one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will touch down in the U.S. Southwest desert .
By beating Boeing , SpaceX laid claim to a small U.S. flag left at the space station by Hurley and the rest of the last shuttle crew .
Minutes after splashdown , Musk tweeted a flag emoji followed by “ returned.
” Also on board : a toy dinosaur named Tremor , sent into space by the astronauts ’ young sons .
The two boys recorded a wake-up call for their fathers Sunday morning .
“ Don ’ t worry , you can sleep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 6-year-old son Theo , who was promised a puppy after the flight .
“ Hurry home so we can go get my dog.
” The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

By MARCIA DUNN
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Two NASA astronauts returned to Earth on Sunday in a dramatic, retro-style splashdown, their capsule parachuting into the Gulf of Mexico to close out an unprecedented test flight by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company.
It was the first splashdown by U.S. astronauts in 45 years, with the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to carry people to and from orbit. The return clears the way for another SpaceX crew launch as early as next month and possible tourist flights next year.
Test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken arrived back on Earth in their SpaceX Dragon capsule named Endeavour, less than a day after departing the International Space Station and two months after blasting off from Florida. The capsule parachuted into the calm gulf waters about 40 miles off the coast of Pensacola, hundreds of miles from Tropical Storm Isaias pounding Florida’s Atlantic coast.
“Welcome back to planet Earth and thanks for flying SpaceX,” said Mission Control from SpaceX headquarters.
“It’s a little bit overwhelming to see everybody here considering the things that have gone on the last few months since we’ve been off planet,” Hurley said after arriving back home in Houston Sunday evening where they were greeted by a small masked-gathering of family and officials, including Musk.
Musk had rushed to Houston from SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, to welcome them. He was clearly moved — and relieved — while addressing the group.
“I’m not very religious, but I prayed for this one,” he said.
The astronauts’ ride back to Earth was fast, bumpy and hot, at least on the outside.
The spacecraft went from a screaming orbital speed of 17,500 mph (28,000 kph) to 350 mph (560 kph) during atmospheric reentry, and finally to 15 mph (24 kph) at splashdown. Peak heating during descent was 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,900 degrees Celsius). The anticipated top G forces felt by the crew: four to five times the force of Earth’s gravity.
Within a half-hour of splashdown, the scorched and blistered 16-foot capsule was hoisted aboard a SpaceX recovery ship with a staff of more than 40, including doctors and nurses. To keep the returning astronauts safe in the pandemic, the recovery crew quarantined for two weeks and were tested for the coronavirus.
The opening of the hatch was held up briefly by extra checks for toxic rocket fumes outside the capsule. After medical checkups, the astronauts were flown by helicopter to Pensacola and then to Houston.
There was one unexpected problem that could have endangered the operation: Once the capsule was in the water, private boats “just made a beeline for it,” and got too close, said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, promising to do better next time at keeping sightseers on pleasure boats safely away. NASA video showed one vessel flying a large campaign flag for President Donald Trump.
The Coast Guard in Pensacola said it had deployed two vessels to keep the public at least 10 miles away from the capsule.
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who both attended the launch, congratulated the SpaceX and NASA teams.
“Great to have NASA Astronauts return to Earth after very successful two month mission. Thank you to all!” Trump tweeted.
The last time NASA astronauts returned from space to water was on July 24, 1975, in the Pacific, the scene of most splashdowns, to end a joint U.S.-Soviet mission known as Apollo-Soyuz. The Mercury and Gemini crews in the early to mid-1960s parachuted into the Atlantic, while most of the later Apollo capsules hit the Pacific. The lone Russian “splashdown” was in 1976 on a partially frozen lake amid a blizzard following an aborted mission; the harrowing recovery took hours.
Gemini and Apollo astronaut Thomas Stafford — the commander of the last crew to splash down — watched the reentry on TV from his Florida home. While pleased with the crew’s safe return, he wasn’t overly impressed. “It’s what we did over 50 years ago,” he said.
Its throwback splashdown aside, SpaceX made history with the mission, which launched May 30 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. It was the first time a private company launched people into orbit and also the first launch of NASA astronauts from home turf in nearly a decade. Hurley was the pilot of NASA’s last space shuttle flight in 2011 and the commander of this SpaceX flight.
NASA turned to SpaceX and also Boeing to build capsules and ferry astronauts to and from the space station, following the retirement of the shuttles. Until Hurley and Behnken rocketed into orbit, NASA astronauts relied on Russian rockets. SpaceX already had experience hauling cargo to the space station, bringing those capsules back to a Pacific splashdown.
“We are entering a new era of human spaceflight where NASA is no longer the purchaser, owner and operator of all the hardware. We’re going to be a customer, one customer of many,” Bridenstine said from Johnson Space Center in Houston. “I would love to see a fleet of crew Dragons servicing not just the International Space Station but also commercial space stations.”
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell called the mission a springboard to “doing even harder things,” like collaborating on astronaut flights to the moon and then Mars.
“There’s no question, it was an enormous relief after months of anxiety making sure we could bring Bob and Doug back home safely,” Shotwell said.
SpaceX needs six weeks to inspect the capsule before launching the next crew around the end of September. This next mission of four astronauts will spend a full six months aboard the space station. Hurley and Behnken’s capsule will be refurbished for another flight next spring. A Houston company run by a former NASA official, meanwhile, has partnered with SpaceX to send three customers to the space station in fall 2021.
“It took years to get here, we brought the capablity back to America, and we came home safely to our families, and it took a lot of people a lot of time to make that happen,” Behnken said back in Houston.
Boeing doesn’t expect to launch its first crew until next year. The company encountered significant software problems in the debut of its Starliner capsule, with no one aboard, last year. Its capsules will touch down in the U.S. Southwest desert.
By beating Boeing, SpaceX laid claim to a small U.S. flag left at the space station by Hurley and the rest of the last shuttle crew. Minutes after splashdown, Musk tweeted a flag emoji followed by “returned.”
Also on board: a toy dinosaur named Tremor, sent into space by the astronauts’ young sons. The two boys recorded a wake-up call for their fathers Sunday morning.
“Don’t worry, you can sleep in tomorrow,” said Behnken’s 6-year-old son Theo, who was promised a puppy after the flight. “Hurry home so we can go get my dog.”
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


mercurynews--2020-08-02--Laureano’s blast powers Oakland A’s past Seattle Mariners

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Key plays by Tony Kemp and Marcus Semien gave Ramón Laureano the opportunity to make a big difference Sunday .
With Kemp and Semien on base in the fifth inning , Laureano homered off reliever Anthony Misiewicz , helping the A ’ s earn a 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park .
Kemp worked a walk off of Mariners starter Kendall Graveman , the former Athletic , with two outs .
Semien also got on base , beating out a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ground ball to the left side of the infield .
Graveman , a right-hander , was replaced by the lefty Misiewicz .
That set the stage for Laureano , who took Misiewicz ’ s hanging 82 mph slider over the left center field wall for his second home run of the season .
The home run by Laureano , who was 1-for-10 in his last three games before Sunday , allowed A ’ s starter Chris Bassitt the chance to earn his first victory this season .
Bassitt threw 83 pitches and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hits and striking out seven .
Mixing a sinker , a changeup and a fastball , Bassitt retired 10 in a row at one point from the first to the end of the fourth inning .
Kyle Lewis hit a solo home run off Yusmeiro Petit in the eighth inning to cut the A ’ s lead to 3-2 .
But Petit got Daniel Vogelbach to ground out and Liam Hendriks earned his third save of the season with two strikeouts in the ninth .
A ’ s pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their series with the Mariners on Monday before they return home to face the Texas Rangers on Tuesday .
Graveman started 78 games for the A ’ s from 2015 to 2018 .
He was the A ’ s Opening Day starter in 2018 , but struggled mightily through the first six weeks of the season , when he was optioned to Nashville on two occasions .
Before he elected to have Tommy John surgery in July of that year , Graveman owned a 1-5 record and a 7/60 ERA .
Graveman was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but never threw in a game as he continued his rehab .
After the Cubs declined the team option , he signed with the Mariners in November .
• Athletics 3 , Mariners 2 : Despite hitting woes , Oakland keeps finding a way • ‘ I don ’ t know that we could be doing a better job in Oakland ’ : A ’ s discuss following health protocols • Commissioner confident MLB can get through playoffs despite virus In his one start this season , Graveman allowed six earned run sin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss to Houston on July 27 .
“ He ’ s healthy , and when he ’ s healthy , he ’ s good , ” A ’ a manager Bob Melvin said of Graveman before the game .
“ He ’ s got good sink , he ’ s developed some other pitches , he ’ s got a cutter , too , and we ’ ve got to make him work.
” Kemp ’ s single in the third inning was his first base hit of the season .
His two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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Key plays by Tony Kemp and Marcus Semien gave Ramón Laureano the opportunity to make a big difference Sunday.
With Kemp and Semien on base in the fifth inning, Laureano homered off reliever Anthony Misiewicz, helping the A’s earn a 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
Kemp worked a walk off of Mariners starter Kendall Graveman, the former Athletic, with two outs. Semien also got on base, beating out a threw to first base after he hit a ground ball to the left side of the infield. Graveman, a right-hander, was replaced by the lefty Misiewicz.
That set the stage for Laureano, who took Misiewicz’s hanging 82 mph slider over the left center field wall for his second home run of the season.
The home run by Laureano, who was 1-for-10 in his last three games before Sunday, allowed A’s starter Chris Bassitt the chance to earn his first victory this season.
For complete Oakland A’s coverage follow us on Flipboard.
Bassitt threw 83 pitches and lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and striking out seven. Mixing a sinker, a changeup and a fastball, Bassitt retired 10 in a row at one point from the first to the end of the fourth inning.
Kyle Lewis hit a solo home run off Yusmeiro Petit in the eighth inning to cut the A’s lead to 3-2. But Petit got Daniel Vogelbach to ground out and Liam Hendriks earned his third save of the season with two strikeouts in the ninth. A’s pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts Sunday.
The A’s conclude their series with the Mariners on Monday before they return home to face the Texas Rangers on Tuesday.
Graveman started 78 games for the A’s from 2015 to 2018. He was the A’s Opening Day starter in 2018, but struggled mightily through the first six weeks of the season, when he was optioned to Nashville on two occasions.
Before he elected to have Tommy John surgery in July of that year, Graveman owned a 1-5 record and a 7/60 ERA.
Graveman was signed by the Chicago Cubs last year but never threw in a game as he continued his rehab. After the Cubs declined the team option, he signed with the Mariners in November.
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“He’s healthy, and when he’s healthy, he’s good,” A’a manager Bob Melvin said of Graveman before the game. “He’s got good sink, he’s developed some other pitches, he’s got a cutter, too, and we’ve got to make him work.”
Kemp’s single in the third inning was his first base hit of the season. His two walks gives his four for the season.


mercurynews--2020-08-02--SF Giants lose control in a mistake-filled seventh inning, waste chance to sweep Rangers

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SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants came back from three different four-run deficits in a six-game homestand in which pitcher-friendly Oracle Park played like a hitter ’ s haven .
A fourth four-run deficit finally proved too difficult for a resilient lineup to overcome .
After falling behind 5-1 in Sunday ’ s series finale against the Rangers , Giants third baseman Evan Longoria and catcher Chadwick Tromp each blasted home runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mistake-filled seventh inning left the Giants in another hole in a 9-5 defeat that dropped the club to 5-5 through its first 10 games .
Rangers slugger Joey Gallo delivered the back-breaking three-run home run on an 0-2 fastball off Giants reliever Tyler Anderson that broke Sunday ’ s game open , but it was three consecutive walks to open the seventh by right-hander Andrew Triggs that set Texas up for success .
Pitching in his first major league game since May 17 , 2018 , Triggs joined the Giants ’ bullpen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s starting pitcher , Drew Smyly , on the 10-day injured list with a left index finger strain .
Triggs entered the game in relief of starter Jeff Samardzija in the top of the sixth and retired Isiah Kiner-Falefa , but couldn ’ t find the strike zone when he returned to the mound in the seventh .
His command issues led manager Gabe Kapler to call on Anderson , who gave up a sacrifice fly before Gallo launched a 422-foot three-run home run beyond the wall in Triples Alley .
Before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new bullpens in center field this offseason , the wall in Triples Alley sat 421 feet from the plate .
Gallo ’ s home run appeared to barely scrape over the wall , but it was the only home run hit during the homestand that may have instead been a base hit in the first two decades of the stadium ’ s existence .
The Giants came back from four-run deficits in Wednesday ’ s 7-6 win over the Padres and Thursday ’ s 12-7 loss to San Diego and also fell behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first two games of their series against the Rangers .
“ ( We ) gave ourselves an opportunity and things happen and every one of these games , we haven ’ t been out of and that ’ s something you feel really good about , ” left fielder Hunter Pence said .
“ And it ’ s been a lot of fun to be a part of.
” No Giants pitcher had recorded more than 10 outs in a game until Sunday , but Samardzija ’ s efforts in the fifth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s chances against the Rangers .
With Texas leadoff hitter Shin-Soo Choo at the plate , Samardzija left a cutter up in the strike zone that Choo drilled into McCovey Cove .
Choo ’ s two-run home run left the bat at 110.1 miles per hour and sent multiple kayakers diving into the San Francisco Bay for a souvenir .
The Giants kept Samardzija out of their rotation for the season-opening four-game series in Los Angeles because they wanted him to open the season with consecutive outings inside the more pitcher-friendly confines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay dividends as Samardzija gave up five runs in each start , both games the Giants lost .
Samardzija escaped with a no-decision thanks to a Giants offense that came alive in the middle innings against the Rangers bullpen .
Longoria ’ s solo home run into the left field bleachers off Texas right-hander Ian Gibaut left the bat at 108.8 miles per hour , marking the seventh hardest-hit ball during his two-plus seasons with the Giants .
Tromp ’ s two-run homer against Jesse Chavez was the first of his young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortstop Xander Bogaerts and former journeyman outfielder Gene Kingsale as the only players born in Aruba to homer in a major league game .
A few other Giants players had encouraging offensive performances including second baseman Donovan Solano , who went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks to continue a torrid start to the season at the plate .
Pence has been as cold as Solano has been hot , but the veteran outfielder finally broke through against the Rangers team that helped him resurrect his career last season .
Pence began the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ batted in the cleanup spot Sunday as Kapler insisted he ’ s still exceedingly confident in the 37-year-old left fielder ’ s ability to hit left-handed pitchers .
In his first at-bat against Rangers southpaw Kolby Allard , Pence crushed a 401-foot triple into deep right center field .
The swing helped validate Kapler ’ s decision to leave Pence in the heart of the order while also energizing a Giants team that considers Pence one of its most vital veteran leaders .
“ It hasn ’ t been that tough to stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said after Sunday ’ s game .
“ I look to what ’ s my process , what ’ s my preparation and what adjustments need to be made.
” The Giants relied on center fielder Mike Yastrzemski to carry the offense alongside Solano during a homestand in which the team averaged more than six runs per game , but Sunday was a quiet afternoon for the National League leader in Wins Above Replacement .
Yastrzemski went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts , ending his nine-game on-base streak to open the season .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the season Monday at Coors Field in Denver where they ’ ll play a four-game set against the Rockies before traveling to Los Angeles and Houston for three game series against the Dodgers and Astros .
“ I think we ’ ve had some games that we ’ ve played particularly well , ” Kapler said .
“ I think we ’ ve shown the ability to come back from being down in a game , that ’ s very encouraging .
We ’ ve shown some resilience .
We ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of being a good baseball team and I think we have plenty of things to work on .
”

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SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants came back from three different four-run deficits in a six-game homestand in which pitcher-friendly Oracle Park played like a hitter’s haven.
A fourth four-run deficit finally proved too difficult for a resilient lineup to overcome.
After falling behind 5-1 in Sunday’s series finale against the Rangers, Giants third baseman Evan Longoria and catcher Chadwick Tromp each blasted home runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 5-5.
Thirty minutes later, a mistake-filled seventh inning left the Giants in another hole in a 9-5 defeat that dropped the club to 5-5 through its first 10 games.
Rangers slugger Joey Gallo delivered the back-breaking three-run home run on an 0-2 fastball off Giants reliever Tyler Anderson that broke Sunday’s game open, but it was three consecutive walks to open the seventh by right-hander Andrew Triggs that set Texas up for success.
Pitching in his first major league game since May 17, 2018, Triggs joined the Giants’ bullpen Sunday after the club placed Saturday’s starting pitcher, Drew Smyly, on the 10-day injured list with a left index finger strain.
Triggs entered the game in relief of starter Jeff Samardzija in the top of the sixth and retired Isiah Kiner-Falefa, but couldn’t find the strike zone when he returned to the mound in the seventh. His command issues led manager Gabe Kapler to call on Anderson, who gave up a sacrifice fly before Gallo launched a 422-foot three-run home run beyond the wall in Triples Alley.
Before the Giants changed the outfield dimensions to accommodate new bullpens in center field this offseason, the wall in Triples Alley sat 421 feet from the plate. Gallo’s home run appeared to barely scrape over the wall, but it was the only home run hit during the homestand that may have instead been a base hit in the first two decades of the stadium’s existence.
The Giants came back from four-run deficits in Wednesday’s 7-6 win over the Padres and Thursday’s 12-7 loss to San Diego and also fell behind in the first inning in each of the first two games of their series against the Rangers.
“(We) gave ourselves an opportunity and things happen and every one of these games, we haven’t been out of and that’s something you feel really good about,” left fielder Hunter Pence said. “And it’s been a lot of fun to be a part of.”
No Giants pitcher had recorded more than 10 outs in a game until Sunday, but Samardzija’s efforts in the fifth inning didn’t improve the team’s chances against the Rangers. With Texas leadoff hitter Shin-Soo Choo at the plate, Samardzija left a cutter up in the strike zone that Choo drilled into McCovey Cove.
Choo’s two-run home run left the bat at 110.1 miles per hour and sent multiple kayakers diving into the San Francisco Bay for a souvenir.
The Giants kept Samardzija out of their rotation for the season-opening four-game series in Los Angeles because they wanted him to open the season with consecutive outings inside the more pitcher-friendly confines of Oracle Park. The decision failed to pay dividends as Samardzija gave up five runs in each start, both games the Giants lost.
Samardzija escaped with a no-decision thanks to a Giants offense that came alive in the middle innings against the Rangers bullpen. Longoria’s solo home run into the left field bleachers off Texas right-hander Ian Gibaut left the bat at 108.8 miles per hour, marking the seventh hardest-hit ball during his two-plus seasons with the Giants.
Tromp’s two-run homer against Jesse Chavez was the first of his young career as he joined current Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts and former journeyman outfielder Gene Kingsale as the only players born in Aruba to homer in a major league game.
Chadwick Tromp ties the game with his first career HR 😤 Stream the Giants game here: https://t.co/cp0bb1m1wa pic.twitter.com/nbJtJfeqER — SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 2, 2020
A few other Giants players had encouraging offensive performances including second baseman Donovan Solano, who went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks to continue a torrid start to the season at the plate.
Pence has been as cold as Solano has been hot, but the veteran outfielder finally broke through against the Rangers team that helped him resurrect his career last season.
Pence began the summer 0-for-23 at the plate, but batted in the cleanup spot Sunday as Kapler insisted he’s still exceedingly confident in the 37-year-old left fielder’s ability to hit left-handed pitchers. In his first at-bat against Rangers southpaw Kolby Allard, Pence crushed a 401-foot triple into deep right center field.
The swing helped validate Kapler’s decision to leave Pence in the heart of the order while also energizing a Giants team that considers Pence one of its most vital veteran leaders.
“It hasn’t been that tough to stay positive for me personally,” Pence said after Sunday’s game. “I look to what’s my process, what’s my preparation and what adjustments need to be made.”
The Giants relied on center fielder Mike Yastrzemski to carry the offense alongside Solano during a homestand in which the team averaged more than six runs per game, but Sunday was a quiet afternoon for the National League leader in Wins Above Replacement.
Yastrzemski went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts, ending his nine-game on-base streak to open the season.
The Giants will open their longest road trip of the season Monday at Coors Field in Denver where they’ll play a four-game set against the Rockies before traveling to Los Angeles and Houston for three game series against the Dodgers and Astros.
“I think we’ve had some games that we’ve played particularly well,” Kapler said. “I think we’ve shown the ability to come back from being down in a game, that’s very encouraging. We’ve shown some resilience. We’ve made some adjustments, that’s part of being a good baseball team and I think we have plenty of things to work on.”
SF Giants Gameday: Listen to the Bay Area News Group’s daily San Francisco Giants podcast, hosted by our beat reporter Kerry Crowley. We give you an all-access look at the 2020 regular season with soundbites from manager Gabe Kapler and your favorite Giants players plus the latest analysis on every move during an unprecedented season.