A's beat Red Sox 2-1 despite blown call

A's beat Red Sox 2-1 despite blown call
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
June 21, 2014


OAKLAND – As has been the case for much of this four game weekend series against the defending champion Boston Red Sox, Stephen Vogt and Coco Crisp were the offensive stars of the game in Saturday’s 2-1 win in 10 innings.

Vogt reached base in his first three at bats and was responsible for the only run to score in the A’s win over the Red Sox, securing a season series win over the defending World Series champions.

Vogt lead off the third with a triple and came around to score on Alberto Callaspo’s sacrifice fly and Jesse Chavez went seven scoreless innings, which included no-hitting the Red Sox through the first five innings.

“It was fun,” Vogt said of the triple. “I was hoping it was going to get out. In retrospect, I wish I’d slid into third. I’m fortunate I was just fast enough to beat the throw.”

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A's beat Red Sox 4-3 on clutch Crisp single

A's beat Red Sox 4-3 on clutch Crisp single
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
June 20, 2014


OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s proved Friday night at the O.co Coliseum that you can get a lot more for a dollar than you think as they beat the Boston Red Sox the second straight night, winning 4-3 on an eighth inning Coco Crisp two-out RBI single as well as five scoreless innings from the bullpen.

Newly acquired pitcher Brad Mills struck out the first four batters he retired. The A’s got Mills for one dollar from the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday and he took injured started Drew Pomeranz’s spot in the rotation against the Boston Red Sox in the second of four games between the two teams this weekend.

Mills would get tagged for three runs, two of them earned, in four innings for the A’s.

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A’s fall 4-1 to Angels in Anaheim

A’s fall 4-1 to Angels in Anaheim
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
June 9, 2014


ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Oakland Athletics dropped the opener of their road series against the division rival Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Monday night 4-1 as Garrett Richards had an impressive outing on the mound for the Angels, going seven strong innings. Oakland starter Jesse Chavez had a quality start but didn’t get the necessary run support to avoid the loss.

Oakland MVP caliber third baseman Josh Donaldson had an off night, committing three errors while also going 0-for-4 at the plate.

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Marquez and Alvarado looking to earn Pacquiao fight on Saturday

Marquez and Alvarado looking to earn Pacquiao fight on Saturday

Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
May 15, 2014


Saturday night, boxing returns to The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., as future first ballot Hall of Famer Juan Manuel Marquez squares off with Mike Alvarado in a welterweight bout that could very well determine the next opponent to Manny Pacquiao later this year.

Marquez got his start in the States at the old Forum, racking up victories as an obscure but talented technically sound Mexican fighter. It wasn’t until his controversial draw with Pacquiao a decade ago that Marquez began earning the respect of casual observers.

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A's win 5-4 over White Sox behind another strong Jesse Chavez outing

A's win 5-4 over White Sox behind another strong Jesse Chavez outing
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
May 13, 2014


OAKLAND–The Oakland Athletics extended their win streak to a season high five games on Monday evening behind another strong outing from emerging right-hander Jesse Chavez. The A’s won 5-4 as Josh Donaldson put Oakland ahead for good with a fifth inning two-run home run, Donaldson’s eighth of the season.

Aside from a second inning Dayan Viciedo solo home run, Chavez (3-1, 2.44 ERA) was dealing. Once the A’s gained control of the game following Donaldson’s blast in the fifth, Chavez retired every batter he faced until the last one. After retiring ten in a row, Chavez came out for the ninth inning for the first time in his career as a starting pitcher. On an 0-2 pitch, Jose Abreu hit his 14th home run of the season, spelling the end of Chavez’s night. His masterful performance would read 8+ IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO, with 2 solo HR allowed.

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A's lose heartbreaker, fall 5-4 in 12 innings to Angels

A's lose heartbreaker, fall 5-4 in 12 innings to Angels
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
April 17, 2014


ANAHEIM–The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim once again forced The Oakland Athletics into extra innings on Wednesday night when their bullpen was unable to hold a ninth-inning lead for the second straight game.

Unlike Tuesday night, when the A’s managed to prevail in 11 innings, the A’s were unable to turn the momentum back in their favor as they ultimately fell 5-4 on a 12th inning Chris Iannetta solo blast. The home run just barely escaped the grasp of center fielder Craig Gentry, tipping off the top of his out-reached glove and over the wall.

After taking a 4-1 lead on a fourth inning three-run home run from Brandon Moss, the A’s bats fell silent and the Angels slowly worked themselves back in the game.

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A's win see-saw battle in extras over Angels, 10-9

A's win see-saw battle in extras over Angels, 10-9
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
April 16, 2014


ANAHEIM–It was a seesaw battle between the Oakland Athletics and cross-state rival Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Tuesday night as the A’s eeked out an extra-innings win 10-9.

Oakland proved again that even when they’re not having their best day, you couldn’t count them out. The A’s overcame two leads and a game-tying home run from Mike Trout in the bottom of the 9th to win it in the 11th.

Dan Straily became the first A’s starter to allow more than three earned runs in 2014, getting tagged for six earned runs in just 3 2/3 innings pitched.

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A's win 6-3 as Moss, Cespedes go yard

A's win 6-3 as Moss, Cespedes go yard
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
April 6, 2014

OAKLAND–Just like on Opening Day, 24-year old Oakland Athletics phenom Sonny Gray didn’t begin with his best stuff on Sunday afternoon. By the end of his outing, Gray showcased the kind of repertoire that earned him that honor as he retired the last seven batters he faced in the A’s 6-3 win over the Seattle Mariners.

Gray (1-0, 0.75 ERA) walked two in the first inning and threw two wild pitches over the course of the first three innings. A Daric Barton error in the second allowed two unearned runs to come in, ending Gray’s career-high scoreless streak at 14 2/3 innings. Gray gave up his first earned run of the season in the third, as Robinson Cano scored on a Justin Smoak single up the middle.

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A's postponed second time in four days

A's postponed second time in four days
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
April 4, 2014

OAKLAND–After playing twelve innings the previous night, the Oakland Athletics were postponed in their second of four games against the division rival Seattle Mariners on Friday night. This time, a delay was caused despite few drops of rain in the hours that preceded the projected start time.

Though the Apr. 1 game against the Cleveland Indians was postponed due to heavy rain, Friday’s game was postponed because the field wasn’t covered by a tarp on Thursday night. This marks the second postponement in four days at the Coliseum after going fifteen years without one.

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Bullpen woes cost A’s two out of three against Indians

Bullpen woes cost A’s two out of three against Indians
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
April 3, 2014


OAKLAND–The Oakland Athletics opened the 2014 regular season with some fantastic pitching from their starting rotation, but bullpen woes caused the A’s to be losers in two out of three games at home against the Cleveland Indians.

Starters Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir combined for 13 1/3 scoreless frames in the first two games.

Newly appointed ace, Gray, pitched six shutout innings without his best stuff, getting out of a number of jams that included getting a couple of force outs at home plate. He left the game knotted in a 0-0 tie, and offensively the A’s were unable to take advantage of a number of opportunities. Josh Donaldson hit a 400-foot single to deep center field that Daric Barton failed to score off of from second. New closer Jim Johnson came into the game in the top of the ninth and gave up two runs, leaving to a chorus of boos in his A’s debut.

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Boxing news around the Bay Area

Boxing news around the Bay Area - Mar. 25
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
March 25, 2014

Former Oakland boxer James Buggs shockingly passed away last Tuesday at the early age of 43 from an apparent heart attack.

Over the course of a 10-year professional career that ended in 2009, Buggs was a win some, lose some type of fighter. He compiled a record that consisted of eight wins, ten losses, and three draws, often taking fights on short notice and under unfavorable circumstances against a number of up and comers.

It is within the confines of Oakland’s famed King’s Gym that Buggs’ absence will be felt the most in the boxing community. It is there that Buggs worked with the city’s youth, teaching them the basics of the sweet science while also becoming a reliable figure in the gym for anyone to bounce their problems off.

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Oakland starter Jarrod Parker out for season, needs second Tommy John surgery

Oakland starter Jarrod Parker out for season, needs second Tommy John surgery
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
March 18, 2014


Bad news struck the Oakland Athletics organization as projected Opening Day starter Jarrod Parker will miss the entire 2014 season due to the need of Tommy John surgery.

This will be the second time that Parker will undergo the reconstructive ulnar collateral ligament replacement, as he had the procedure done in 2009.

Despite the fact that the A’s have a ton of pitching depth, the loss is still a huge blow. Parker was a large reason the A’s won the American League West for the second straight year in 2013. Parker went 9-0 over 19 starts from May 22 to Sept. 16, the longest unbeaten run from an A’s starter since Lefty Grove went 21 straight without a loss in 1931.

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Boxing Around the Bay

Boxing Around the Bay
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
March 9, 2014


Sacramento’s Robb signs with manager, fights Apr. 5

Sacramento featherweight Guy Robb has proven himself to be one of the most consistently exciting fighters in northern California since his professional debut in 2010. Due to the lack of pro shows in the region, Robb only fought twice in 2013. The inactivity will hopefully come to an end as Robb signed with local manager Herb Stone on Tuesday, the fighter told the Gazette. The 25-year old Robb (12-1, 5 KOs) put on a gutsy display for a nationally televised audience in his lone defeat, a January 2012 loss to fellow unbeaten Joel Diaz Jr.

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Friday night fights in Redwood City

Friday night fights in Redwood City
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
March 4, 2014

Friday night at the Fox Theater, local favorite Bruno Escalante scored an easy one round knockout of Mexican veteran Lorenzo Trejo in the ten-round main event.

Trejo is a 36-year old Mexican journeyman who had been stopped in the first round his previous two fights. He unsurprisingly met the same demise at the hands of his much younger foe. Trejo took one good left hand well and then it was all downhill from there. The end came when Escalante landed a crushing body shot followed by a right hook. Trejo was down in the corner and showed no interest to continue.

Escalante (12-1-1, 6 knockouts) is coming off an impressive 2013 where he gained valuable experience, going ten rounds for the first time in his career against a capable opponent. Trejo represented a major step back in terms of the level of opponent. If the fans were interested to see their guy get an easy knockout, the promoter ensured they’d get it.

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Reddick robs SF newbie in spring opener

Reddick robs SF newbie in spring opener
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
March 2, 2014

Oakland Athletics outfielder Josh Reddick made two catches that robbed crosstown rival San Francisco Giants outfielder Michael Morse of home runs. They were two catches that would easily be contenders for the best of the year–weren’t it not Feb. 26 and more than a full month before Opening Day.

Twice, Reddick climbed the right field fence at Phoenix Municipal Stadium and reached up and grabbed long fly balls that should have resulted in a banner spring start for Morse. The first catch was the more spectacular, but the second one concluded with him doubling off a runner at second base.

Reddick is hands down one of the best defensive players in the game. His range gives him the ability to track down balls and turn them into routine plays and he has a cannon of an arm. And of course, he will make the occasional ridiculous catch like he did Wednesday.

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CSAC provides stance on TRTs

CSAC provides stance on TRTs
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 1, 2014


Thursday, the combat sports world was shaken by the news that the Nevada State Athletic Commission has banned testosterone-replacement-therapy (TRT) in all combat sports.

That ruling was passed by a unanimous vote, also eliminating the potential for fighters in the future to apply for an exemption for therapeutic use of testosterone.

The news left many wondering how commissions in other large and influential states would react.

Saturday afternoon, the California State Athletic Commission provided RingTV.com with their stance on TRT moving forward, through CSAC executive director Andy Foster.

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Vacaville's Fiel looking to turn heads Saturday

Vacaville's Fiel looking to turn heads Saturday
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
February 14, 2014


Due to the downswing that professional boxing in the northern California region has experienced in the past few years, Vacaville junior lightweight Adam Fiel has waited patiently since making his professional debut last July in Roseville.

Fiel (1-0, 1 knockout) scored a first round knockout that night and will finally step into the ring again tomorrow night as he faces Oxnard, Calif.’s Luis Pelayo, who is making professional debut in their four round bout.

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King nabs first victory south of the border

King nabs first victory south of the border
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
February 11, 2014

Oakland based welterweight Troy King had to travel south of the border to make his professional boxing debut. The end result, King getting his hand raised after he scored a knockout just 68 seconds into the bout over Victor Acosta. The fight took place at the Restaurant Olivaritos in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.

The left-handed King trains out of Boxing for Health in Oakland. What’s more, he actually lives out of the gym in a small loft, training regular citizens who pick up boxing as a way to stay in shape. King started boxing as an amateur in his native Akron, Ohio, before moving to the Bay Area three years ago. He has sparred with some quality pros, such as San Francisco junior welterweight Karim Mayfield as well as the recently crowned welterweight titlist Shawn Porter.

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Boxing Monthly: The Safest Bets

Boxing Monthly: The Safest Bets

Mark E. Ortega

February 2014 ed. of Boxing Monthly

I was lucky to get included in renowned British boxing magazine Boxing Monthly this month. This is my fourth appearance in the publication, this time a six-page spread detailing 14 prospects to keep your eye on as well as five unbeatens I think will lose their perfect record this year.

NorCal boxing in disarray in 2014

NorCal boxing in disarray in 2014
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
January 19, 2014

2004 Olympic gold medalist and undefeated super middleweight king Andre Ward of Oakland fought just one time, battling a myriad of injury woes and contractual issues with promoter Goossen-Tutor Promotions. Ward earned a lopsided unanimous decision over unbeaten Edwin Rodriguez, but enters 2014 with his promotional situation still unsettled as he battles his promoter in the courts.

Gilroy’s Robert Guerrero got the chance of a lifetime, fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr., in a Showtime pay-per-view televised event back in May at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Prior to the bout, Guerrero dealt with legal issues stemming from a gun charge he faced in New York. Guerrero was later soundly defeated by Mayweather in their welterweight contest and went dark for the remainder of the year. As 2014 opens, Guerrero is also trying to get out of his contract with his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions.

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