Sacramento Sirens

News Headlines

Last Updated: Friday, May 18, 2012 -  2 p.m.

CAPITALS ADD QUERREY TO ROSTER

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 17, 2012) - The Sacramento Capitals will feature a fourth marquee tennis star this summer, adding American standout Sam Querrey to the team's roster.
    Querrey, who was acquired from the Washington Kastles for financial considerations, will compete in his first Capitals match at Sunrise MarketPlace Outdoor Pavilion on Monday July 16 against the New York Sportimes. He will then travel with the team to compete on the road July 18, 19 and 20, versus Washington, Springfield and Kansas City. Querrey returns to Sacramento for a final match against the Springfield Lasers on Sunday July 22.
    “Adding Sam to our team gives us a huge advantage in the second week of the season,” said Ramey Osborne, Capitals Managing General Partner. “He is a very talented American player with a big smile and a big serve who has played tennis at the highest level of the game. He has trained and played with Mark Knowles and is quickly moving back up the world rankings. Sam brings a strong work ethic and gives our team another top tour player for an already exciting schedule at Sunrise MarketPlace Outdoor Pavilion.”
    The Sacramento Capitals will also feature world-renowned tennis star Mardy Fish as their marquee player during the team’s home opener on Thursday July 12 against the Kansas City Explorers and the following night on Friday July 13 versus the Orange County Breakers.
    Visiting marquee players are Lindsay Davenport of the Orange County Breakers on July 24, and Mark Philippoussis and the Philadelphia Freedoms on July 27.
    Querrey joins a Caps roster that includes Fish, Mark Knowles, Coco Vandeweghe, Yasmin Schnack and Asia Muhammad. The Capitals' second round selection Jean-Julien Rojer has withdrawn from World TeamTennis for personal reasons. His replacement is yet to be announced.
    Sacramento Capitals individual match tickets and three match packages will go on sale online beginning Friday, May 18 at www.saccaps.com. Prices for individual tickets start at $25 and three-match packages begin at $60. Children’s tickets will be available for $15. All matches are played at Sunrise MarketPlace Outdoor Pavilion at Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights. Doors open at 6pm for Happy Hour, Match time is 7:35pm.
    For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.saccaps.com or call 916-859-0058.
 

A'S PLACE BRANDON INGE ON DL

    OAKLAND, Calif. (May 17, 2012) - The Oakland A’s placed third baseman Brandon Inge on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 13 with a strained right groin, the club announced today. To take his place on the roster, the A’s recalled infielder Adam Rosales from Triple-A Sacramento.
    Inge batted .227 with four home runs and 17 RBI in 11 starts at third base with the A’s after signing as a free agent April 30. He began the season with Detroit and was 2 for 20 (.100) in nine games before he was released April 26. Inge is batting .188 in 20 games overall. This is his second stint on the DL this year as he began the season on the Tigers DL with a strained left groin. He is eligible to be reinstated May 28.
    Rosales joins the A’s for the second time this year. He was on the Opening Day roster in Japan and appeared in one game as a defensive replacement at first base. Rosales did not have an at bat and was optioned to Sacramento April 2 before the regular season resumed. The 28-year old right-handed hitter was batting .277 with two home runs and 19 RBI in 36 games with the River Cats. He appeared in 32 games at shortstop and four at second base.

A'S OPTION CARIGNAN TO SACRAMENTO

    OAKLAND, Calif. (May 16, 2012) - The Oakland A’s optioned right-handed pitcher Andrew Carignan to Triple-A Sacramento, the club announced today. The move clears a roster spot for left-handed pitcher Travis Blackley, who was claimed off waivers from San Francisco yesterday.
    Carignan was recalled from Sacramento last Friday for his second stint with the A’s. He appeared in two games, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks in 2.0 innings. Carignan is 1-1 with a 7.11 ERA in seven appearances overall with Oakland and has issued eight walks in 6.1 innings.
    Blackley began the season at Triple-A Fresno and was 3-0 with a save and a 0.39 ERA in four games, three starts, with the Grizzlies before he was selected by the Giants May 1. He posted a 9.00 ERA and .333 opponents batting average in four relief appearances with San Francisco before he was designated for assignment on Sunday. The 29-year old left-hander made his Major League debut with Seattle in 2004 and also pitched for the Giants in 2007. Blackley is 1-3 with a 9.30 ERA in 12 career appearances, including eight starts.
 

RAMIREZ TO JOIN RIVER CATS MAY 25

    WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 15, 2012) - Baseball icon Manny Ramirez is set to join the Sacramento River Cats roster for 10 games, with his Raley Field debut scheduled for Friday, May 25, the Oakland Athletics announced today.
    Ramirez is eligible to play 10 minor league games in advance of being activated from his current 50-game suspension. According to the Athletics, Ramirez will play all 10 minor league games with the River Cats, the A’s Triple-A affiliate.
    His first game with the Cats is scheduled for Saturday, May 19, against the Albuquerque Isotopes at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, N.M. Saturday's first pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. PDT and can be heard locally on KSTE 650 AM or online at www.rivercats.com.
    In conjunction with Ramirez’ appearance in Sacramento, the River Cats are offering a special deal for fans who purchase tickets for the Sunday, May 27 or Monday, May 28 home games at Raley Field. For each ticket purchased in the Senate, Governor’s Club or Raley’s Diamond Club sections, fans will be given one ticket in the same section to the June 20 (12:05 p.m.) or June 27 (7:05 p.m.) home games.
    Fans can also purchase a limited-edition Manny Pack, which includes 20 or 40 River Cats ticket vouchers (good for any game this season). In addition to the game vouchers, both Manny Packs come with a Manny Ramirez River Cats t-shirt, while supplies last. For more information or to purchase a Manny Pack, fans can call the River Cats at (916) 376-HITS (4487).
    Ramirez is eligible to play in Major League games beginning Wednesday, May 30, when the A’s take on the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis. The former Indians, Red Sox, Dodgers, White Sox and Rays slugger currently sits 14th all-time with 555 home runs and 18th all-time with 1,831 RBIs. He has not appeared in a Major League game since April of 2011, when he appeared in five games with the Tampa Bay Rays.
 

A'S CLAIM BLACKLEY OFF WAIVERS

    OAKLAND, Calif. (May 15, 2012) - The Oakland A’s claimed left-handed pitcher Travis Blackley off waivers from the San Francisco Giants, the club announced today. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the A’s transferred right-handed pitcher Joey Devine to the 60-day disabled list. A corresponding 25-man roster move will be announced once Blackley reports to Oakland.
    Blackley began the season at Triple-A Fresno and was 3-0 with a save and a 0.39 ERA in four games, three starts, with the Grizzlies before he was selected by the Giants May 1. He posted a 9.00 ERA and .333 opponents batting average in four relief appearances with San Francisco before he was designated for assignment on Sunday. The 29-year old left-hander made his Major League debut with Seattle in 2004 and also pitched for the Giants in 2007. Blackley is 1-3 with a 9.30 ERA in 12 career appearances, including eight starts.
    A native of Australia, Blackley was originally signed by Seattle as a non-drafted free agent, October 29, 2000. He spent part of the 2010 season in the A’s farm system, posting a 0-0 record and 1.80 ERA two starts at Single-A Stockton and a 2-1 record and 2.52 ERA in 15 games, four starts with Triple-A Sacramento. He will become the fourth Australian to play for the A’s this year along with Grant Balfour, Luke Hughes and Rich Thompson. The A’s are already the first team in Major League history with three Australian-born players.
    Devine was placed on the 15-day disabled list March 28 retroactive to March 24 and underwent “Tommy John” surgery on his right elbow April 10. Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery in Pensacola, Fla., which included an ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, an ulnar nerve transposition and a debridement of the flexor tendon. Devine also had “Tommy John” surgery on the same elbow April 21, 2009.
 

POWER BALANCE PAVILION TO HOST NORCAL HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 14, 2012) - Maloof Sports and Entertainment announced today that Power Balance Pavilion will once again play host to the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) NorCal Regional Basketball Championship Tournament in 2013, continuing its long-standing tradition of showcasing championship-caliber high school basketball in Sacramento.
    “The CIF is excited to host the NorCal Basketball Regionals for the 13th year at Power Balance Pavilion,” said CIF Associate Executive Director Roger Blake. “We appreciate Maloof Sports and Entertainment’s continued commitment to high school athletics.”
    First selected as a host venue for the 1992 CIF State Championships, the site has since welcomed thousands of athletes hoping to leave the Capital City with a title in hand. Noteworthy alums that have showcased their talents as preps on the Power Balance hardwood include NBA pros Jason Kidd, Jeremy Linn, Tayshaun Prince, Jrue Holiday and the Kings own Chuck Hayes.
    The NorCal Regionals will take place on Saturday, March 16, 2013. Additionally, Power Balance Pavilion will also host the CIF State Basketball Championships through the 2015 season.
    “We’re honored and grateful that the CIF has chosen Sacramento and Power Balance Pavilion as hosts for its championship tournaments,” said John Rinehart, Executive Vice President of Business Operations for the Kings and Maloof Sports and Entertainment. “We are passionate as an organization about high school athletics and what they represent: a pure expression of sport and competition, teaching athletes and their communities valuable lessons in what it means to sacrifice self for team, as well as instilling life-long principles of hard work and determination.”
    To learn more about the CIF and upcoming 2013 tournaments, visit www.cifstate.org.
 

GIANTS SELL 'GAME USED' ITEMS

    SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (May 14, 2012) - Fans have the opportunity to purchase one-of-a kind items including game used jerseys, bats, balls, helmets, line-up cards, bases, autographed memorabilia and other items, at the new From the Clubhouse merchandise location inside of AT&T Park. From the Clubhouse is open only on game days, two hours prior to the game and one hour after the game, and is located on the Promenade Level behind Section 119.
    From the Clubhouse receives new and game used merchandise on a daily basis while the team is home. Fans are encouraged to check out the store early and often to see what is sent from the Giants Clubhouse to the store. Fans can find items such as the batting helmet worn earlier in the game by Buster Posey or the dirt stained jersey worn, just that night, by Angel Pagan.
    The team will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge by wearing a patch on their uniforms on Friday, May 18th when the Giants celebrate International Orange Friday. These game used jerseys will be available for sale after the game in the store with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Kids to the Bridge program.
    An MLB official authenticator is at AT&T Park for all games and takes items from the players, after a play or from the game itself and authenticates them with a MLB hologram, ensuring their authenticity before they arrive in the store.
    This specialty store and location is part of the retail chain of Giants Dugout Stores located throughout the Bay Area with stores in San Francisco, Palo Alto, San Jose and Walnut Creek.
    For more information on the From the Clubhouse store, please email gameused@sfgiants.com.
 

KINGS OFFER SEASON TICKET DEAL HINGED TO THEIR LOTTERY POSITION

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 14, 2012) - The Sacramento Kings announced today its first-ever NBA Draft Lottery promotion designed to save fans as much as 50 percent off 2012-13 season tickets.
   Should the Kings draw one of the coveted top-3 positions in this year’s NBA Draft, season tickets in designated lower and upper level locations will be offered at 50 percent off their original prices, currently $75 and $36.50 each respectively. If the team nets a pick in the 5-8 range, fans will earn a 35 percent discount.
    In either scenario, these discounts represent the cheapest price for a lower level season ticket in Kings history at less than $50 per seat ($37.50 if team nabs a top-3 pick and $48.75 given a 5-8 selection). Pricing for promotional upper level locations will also be drastically reduced in both outcomes ($18.25 or $23.75 each).
    According to mathematical probabilities, the Kings have a 7.6 percent chance of drawing the No. 1 overall selection, a 25.3 percent likelihood of moving into the top-3 and are currently slotted fifth based on last season’s standings* (Sacramento won a coin-flip tiebreaker with New Jersey after both teams finished the 2011-12 campaign with identical records).
    Fans can take advantage of this offer by placing a $100 per seat non-refundable deposit, to be credited towards their season ticket purchase following lottery results and seat selection process. Convenient payment plans are available and all fans who place deposits in association with the promotion will receive an invitation to the official Kings Lottery party hosted at Firestone Public House, where one lucky winner will receive a trip for two to the Las Vegas Summer League.
    The offer will expire at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30 prior to the start of the NBA Lottery held in New York City.
    Season ticket inventory allotted for this offer is expected to sell quickly, so fans are encouraged to visit www.kings.com or call 888-91-KINGS today to speak with a sales representative.
 

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS MAKE ROSTER MOVES

    SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (May 13, 2012) - The San Francisco Giants have made the following roster moves: LHP Jeremy Affedlt has been activated from the 15-day disabled list (right knee sprain), LHP Travis Blackley has been designated for assignment, IF Conor Gillaspie has been optioned to triple-A Fresno and IF Charlie Culberson has been recalled from triple-A Fresno.
    Culberson will be looking to make his Major League debut as he was batting .284 (40-for-141) with 11 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 24 RBI in 36 games all at second base with triple-A Fresno this season. Culberson, 23-years-old, shared the team lead with 24 RBI as his 11 doubles were second-most on the club. The 6-1, 200 pound middle infielder was batting primarily from the fifth spot in the Grizzlies’ lineup as he was hitting .276 (8-for-29) with runners in scoring position and 2 outs. Culberson, who was a sandwich pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, will wear number 33.

OAKLAND A'S PLACE CESPEDES ON DL

    OAKLAND, Calif. (May 12, 2012) - The Oakland A’s placed outfielder Yoenis Céspedes on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 7 with a strained muscle in his left hand, the club announced today. To take his place on the roster, the A’s recalled third baseman Josh Donaldson from Triple-A Sacramento.
    Céspedes was batting .245 with five home runs and a team-leading 21 RBI in 28 games with the A’s before he was scratched from the starting lineup Tuesday night against Toronto. He leads Major League rookies in RBI and stolen bases (4) and is tied for the lead in home runs. Céspedes is eligible to be reinstated May 22.
    Donaldson was on the A’s Opening Day roster and hit .094 with no RBI in nine games before he was optioned to Sacramento April 23. He batted .447 with five home runs and 14 RBI with the River Cats and reached base safely via hit or walk in all 13 of his games for a .509 on-base percentage. Donaldson homered four times over a six-game stretch from April 28 to May 4 and drove in a run in seven consecutive games from April 28 to May 5. He appeared in nine games at third base and five at catcher.

EARTHQUAKES PLAY ENGLISH PREMIER

LEAGUE'S SWANSON CITY JULY 31

    SAN JOSE, Calif. (May 11, 2012) - The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club will host Swansea City of the English Premier League on Tuesday, July 31, at Buck Shaw Stadium at 7:30 p.m. PT. The match is part of a two-game stateside swing for the Swans as they also travel to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to take on the Colorado Rapids on July 24 at 7 p.m.
    Individual tickets for the San Jose leg of Swansea City’s trip go on sale to the general public on Friday, May 18 at 10 a.m. PT and can be purchased by visiting www.sjearthquakes.com or by calling Tickets.com at (800) 225-2277. Season ticket holders should use their Bonus Game “A” ticket for the match. Season ticket holders will also be able to purchase additional individual and group tickets starting on Monday, May 14 at 10 a.m. until the public on-sale date by calling their fan relations specialist. Additionally, subscribers to the club’s newsletter will have a special pre-sale offer delivered to their inbox on Wednesday, May 16. Prices for individual tickets range from $20 to $53.
    In addition to Swansea City, the Earthquakes will begin selling tickets to their Oct. 21 match against the LA Galaxy at Buck Shaw Stadium on Monday, May 14 at 10 a.m. Season ticket holders will have pre-sale options until the public on-sale date on Friday, May 18 at 10 a.m. The match is San Jose’s final regular season home date of 2012 and is presented by Wells Fargo.
    “We are very excited to host Swansea City for an international friendly this summer,” said Earthquakes Club President Dave Kaval. “Along with our big match against the LA Galaxy at Stanford Stadium on June 30, this promises to be a great opportunity for Bay Area soccer fans to see top-notch opponents take on their local club.”
    The Earthquakes’ summer lineup is packed with intriguing dates. It all starts on Saturday, June 30, against the LA Galaxy at Stanford Stadium, where the club will host a fireworks extravaganza as part of its Salute to Armed Forces Night, presented by XFINITY. Next up is A&W Root Beer Float Night on Saturday, July 14, when the Earthquakes welcome back Real Salt Lake, followed by the second Dollar Dog Wednesday of 2012 on July 18 against FC Dallas. Finally, the club closes out the month with Iranian Heritage Night on Saturday, July 28, against the Chicago Fire and Swansea City on Tuesday, July 31.
    With one game left in the EPL season, Swansea City is No. 12 in the table with 44 points from an 11-15-11 record. Among their marquee results in their first season in the EPL were a 1-0 win against first-place Manchester City on March 11 and a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory against Arsenal on January 15.
    The Swans are the first Welsh club to reach the Premiership since the league was formed. Founded in 1912, the club has won the Welsh Cup 10 times, third-most in the history of the competition. Additionally, they have twice won the Football League Trophy, also commonly known as the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
    The meeting between Swansea City and San Jose, organized by PSC Ltd (www.pscltd.co.uk), will be the first ever. The Earthquakes are 1-0-2 all-time when hosting an EPL club, including a 2-1 win against West Bromwich Albion on July 12, 2011, during which goalkeeper David Bingham struck a ball off the grass and scored from 90 yards out. San Jose also played club partner Tottenham Hotspur to a scoreless draw on July 17, 2010, before what was then a stadium-record 10,712 fans, and drew 1-1 against Aston Villa at Spartan Stadium on May 13, 1997.
 

RAIDERS ADD OFFENSIVE LINEMAN MILLER

    ALAMEDA, Calif. (May 8, 2012) - The Oakland Raiders have signed free agent center Colin Miller, the team announced Tuesday. Miller was in training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season.
    The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Miller was originally signed by the Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Central Michigan in 2011. He played in 47 career games with 46 starts during his collegiate career, earning second team all-Mid-American Conference honors following both his junior and senior campaigns.
 

BRANCH SIGNS FRANCHISE TENDER

    ALAMEDA, Calif. (May 7, 2012) - Oakland Raiders safety Tyvon Branch has signed his franchise tender, the team announced Monday. The Silver and Black designated the veteran defensive back as the team’s franchise player on March 1.
    The 6-foot, 205-pound Branch has started every game for the Raiders over the past three seasons and has led the team in tackles in each of the last two years. In four NFL seasons, Branch has played in 56 career games with 48 starts and has totaled 347 tackles (267 solo), three interceptions, six sacks, 16 passes defensed and three forced fumbles.
    The Cicero, N.Y., native led the Raiders and ranked second among all NFL defensive backs with 109 tackles last season. In 2010, he paced the team with 104 tackles and tied for the NFL lead among defensive backs with four sacks. He led all NFL defensive backs and ranked 10th in the league with 124 tackles in 2009.
    Branch was the Raiders’ fourth-round pick (100th overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft out of UConn.

A'S PLACE CRISP ON DISABLED LIST

    OAKLAND, Calif. (May 4, 2012) - The Oakland A’s placed outfielder Coco Crisp on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 3, with an inner ear infection and recalled outfielder Michael Taylor from Triple-A Sacramento, the team announced today.
    Crisp was batting .194 with one double, no home runs and five RBI in 18 games with Oakland. He had started five of the A’s last six games after starting just one of the previous eight contests. Crisp is tied for ninth in the American League with four stolen bases and has now been successful in each of his last 27 stolen base attempts dating back to last year. That is the longest streak of his career and is one short of the Oakland record of 28 set by Stan Javier in 1995.
    Taylor was batting .347 with 13 doubles, two home runs and 18 RBI in 23 games with Sacramento. That includes a .353 batting average against right-handed pitching and .333 against left-handers. He was leading the River Cats in batting, doubles and stolen bases (6) at the time of his promotion and also ranked second in RBI, on-base percentage (.390) and slugging (.547). His 13 doubles ranked second in the Pacific Coast League. Taylor spent nearly the entire regular season with Sacramento last year before he was promoted to Oakland and made his Major League debut when rosters expanded in September. He batted .200 with a home run and RBI in 11 games.
 

QB LEINART SIGNS WITH RAIDERS

    ALAMEDA, Calif. (May 1, 2012) - Veteran free agent quarterback Matt Leinart has signed with the Oakland Raiders, the team announced Tuesday. Leinart has played in 31 games with 18 starts since entering the league as the 10th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
    The Santa Ana, Calif., native played the past two seasons with the Houston Texans, seeing action in two games with one start last year before suffering a season-ending injury. Prior to joining the Texans, he played in 29 games with 17 starts in four seasons with the Cardinals. In his rookie season, Leinart started 11 games and completed 214-of-377 passes for 2,547 yards and 11 touchdowns.
    In six professional seasons, Leinart has completed 350-of-608 pass attempts for 3,950 yards and 15 touchdowns.
    The 6-foot-5, 227-pound Leinart was a three-time All-American and one of the most decorated quarterbacks in college football history at USC. He posted a 37-2 record as a starter during his college career, recording the second-highest winning percentage (.949) in NCAA history among quarterbacks with at least 25 starts.
    Leinart led the Trojans to the BCS national championship and received the Heisman Trophy in 2004, joining former USC teammate and current Oakland Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer as a recipient of the Heisman.
    Leinart joins a prestigious list of former Heisman Trophy winners to appear on the roster of the Silver and Black. The list: Billy Cannon (1959), Jim Plunkett (1970), Marcus Allen (1981), Bo Jackson (1985), Tim Brown (1987), Andre Ware (1989), Desmond Howard (1991), Rashaan Salaam (1994), Charles Woodson (1997) and Palmer (2002).
 

A'S SIGN INFIELDER BRANDON INGE

    OAKLAND, Calif. (Apr. 30, 2012) - The Oakland A’s agreed to terms with infielder Brandon Inge on a one-year contract, the club announced today. To clear a spot on the roster, the A’s designated infielder Luke Hughes for assignment.
    Inge began the season on the disabled list with Detroit with a strained left groin and was reinstated April 14 after a three-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo. He hit .100 with a home run and two RBI in nine games with the Tigers, including five starts at second base, before he was released April 26. The 34-year old right-handed hitter batted .197 with three home runs and 23 RBI in 102 games with the Tigers last year but finished strong with a .324 average in September.
    Inge had spent his entire professional career with the Tigers organization, including 12 seasons in the majors. He was an American League All-Star in 2009 after hitting .230 with a career-high-tying 27 home runs and a career-high 84 RBI in 161 games. Inge is a .234 career hitter with 140 home runs and 589 RBI in 1408 games. He has played six different positions during his career including third base (999 games), catcher (376), center field (33), left field (10), second base (6) and right field (2).
    Hughes was claimed off waivers from Minnesota April 22 and was 1 for 13 (.077) in four games with the A’s. He also went 2 for 10 (.200) with two RBI in four games with Minnesota and was batting .130 in eight games overall.
 

A'S RECALL PARKER FROM SACRAMENTO

    OAKLAND, Calif. (Apr. 25, 2012) - The Oakland A’s recalled right-handed pitcher Jarrod Parker from Triple-A Sacramento and selected right-handed pitcher Jim Miller from Sacramento, the club announced today. To clear spots on the roster, the A’s optioned right-handed pitcher Fautino De Los Santos to Sacramento and designated right-handed pitcher Rich Thompson for assignment.
    Parker was 1-0 with a 2.18 ERA in four starts with Sacramento. He struck out 21 batters in 20.2 innings and allowed a .275 opponents batting average, including .138 with runners in scoring position. The 23-year-old right-hander was 2-1 with a 3.27 ERA in four games, three starts, this spring, but walked 13 batters and hit one in 11.0 innings. Parker made his Major League debut with Arizona last year and made one start, a no decision against Los Angeles Sept. 27 when he tossed 5.2 scoreless innings.
    Miller was 0-1 with two saves and a 3.00 ERA in eight relief appearances with Sacramento. He held the opposition to a .188 batting average, including .095 against right-handed hitters, and walked just two batters in 9.0 innings. The 29-year-old right-hander was a non-roster invitee with the A’s this spring and posted a 4.91 ERA in four relief appearances. Miller made his Major League debut with Baltimore in 2008, posting a 1.17 ERA in eight relief appearances, and also logged a 2.57 ERA in six outings with Colorado last year.
    De Los Santos was on the A’s Opening Day roster and compiled a 3.00 ERA in six relief appearances. He allowed a .412 opponents batting average and has not retired a batter in his last three outings. Thompson was claimed off waivers from Los Angeles (AL) on Friday and appeared in one game with the A’s, tossing 0.2 scoreless innings Monday night.
 

A'S OPTION DONALDSON TO RIVER CATS

    OAKLAND, Calif. (Apr. 23, 2012) - The Oakland A’s optioned infielder Josh Donaldson to Triple-A Sacramento, the club announced today. The move clears a space for infielder Luke Hughes, who was claimed off waivers from Minnesota yesterday.
    Donaldson was batting .094 (3 for 32) in nine games with the A’s, all starts at third base. His Major League experience prior to this season included seven games at catcher and two at first base. Donaldson hit .270 with a team-leading 16 strikeouts in 20 games this spring and appeared exclusively at third base on defense.
 

THOMAS WINS KINGS' ROBERTSON AWARD

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Apr. 20, 2012) - In honor of one of the NBA’s all-time greats, the Sacramento Kings continue to celebrate the legacy of Oscar Robertson, both on and off the court, by awarding the 2012 Oscar Robertson Triple-Double Award to Isaiah Thomas.
    The Oscar Robertson Triple-Double Award winner is selected by a panel of local sports media journalists and presented to the deserving Kings player who best exemplifies winning characteristics, both as an athlete and a conscientious citizen active in the community. Deconstructed, the “triple” signifies on-court accomplishments: He is a team leader, embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and plays an outstanding all-around game, whereas the “double” signifies his impact off the court by demonstrating commitment to community service and family.

A'S CLAIM THOMPSON FROM ANGELS

    OAKLAND, Calif. (Apr. 20, 2012) - The Oakland A’s claimed right-handed pitcher Rich Thompson off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels, the club announced today. A corresponding roster move will be announced once Thompson reports to Oakland.
    Thompson appeared in two games for the Angels this year, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk in 2.1 innings for a 15.43 ERA. After tossing a scoreless inning of relief April 7 against Kansas City, he allowed four runs in 1.1 innings in his last outing April 12 at Minnesota when he took the loss. The 27-year-old right-hander was designated for assignment April 14.
    A native of Australia, Thompson was originally signed by the Angels as a free agent Feb. 13, 2002. He made his Major League debut in 2007 and has spent parts of each season since then with Los Angeles. His most extensive action came last year when he posted a 3.00 ERA in 44 relief appearances. Thompson is 3-4 with a 4.24 ERA in 81 career appearances, all in relief.

A'S ALLEN CLAIMED OFF WAIVERS BY TB

    OAKLAND, Calif. (Apr. 19, 2012) - The Oakland A’s announced today that first baseman Brandon Allen was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays.
    Allen was designated for assignment April 9 when Daric Barton was reinstated from the disabled list. He was the A’s Opening Day starter at first base but went 0 for 7 with five strikeouts in three games. Allen hit .314 with 14 RBI in 14 spring training games. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter was acquired by the A’s from Arizona at the trading deadline last year and combined to hit .200 with six home runs and 18 RBI in 52 games with Oakland and the Diamondbacks.
 

S.F. ANNOUNCES 2012-13 SCHEDULE

    SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Apr. 17, 2012) - The San Francisco 49ers have announced their 2012 regular season schedule, which is highlighted by five prime time games, the first of which is a matchup with the Detroit Lions at home on NBC in Week 2. Five prime time games is the most for the 49ers since 1999, and includes two Monday night matchups, two Sunday night contests and one Thursday night appearance.
    The 49ers open the 2012 regular season on the road versus the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, September 9, in a nationally televised broadcast. In each of the last three meetings, the game was played at Lambeau Field, with the Packers winning the last meeting in 2010. The game will feature the top two seeds in the NFC playoffs last season.
    The following weekend on September 16, the Detroit Lions will make their first trip to San Francisco since 2009, when the 49ers won 20-6. San Francisco has won eight consecutive games against the Lions dating back to 1996, including a 25-19 victory at Detroit last season. The 49ers own the overall series advantage, 36-27-1, and are 22-10-1 at home.
    The 49ers then take the road for the next two weeks. The team squares off against the Minnesota Vikings on September 23, which is the team’s first trip to Minneapolis since 2009. San Francisco is 22-21-1 overall all-time against the Vikings, including 4-1 in five postseason games. Following the trip to Minnesota, the 49ers will travel east to face the New York Jets on September 30. The Niners have won five of six games on the road in the series, and nine of 11 games overall. This marks the first meeting between the teams at MetLife Stadium, and the first on the road for the 49ers since 2004.
    San Francisco returns home to Candlestick Park on October 7 to face the Buffalo Bills in the first of three consecutive home games. The 49ers host the Bills for the first time since 2004, and will look to break the overall series record that is tied at five games apiece, including a 3-3 mark at The Stick. In the last meeting on 11/30/08, the 49ers defeated the Bills 10-3 in Buffalo.
    The Niners will look to avenge the NFC Championship Game loss to the New York Giants on October 14, as the Giants return to Candlestick for the third time in two years. San Francisco won the regular season matchup last year, 27-20, and own an 11-8 overall record at home vs. the Giants.
    Four days later, the team hosts the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, October 18. San Francisco has won three consecutive games vs. the Seahawks, including a two-game sweep last season. It will be the first divisional game of the 2012 season for the Niners who finished 5-1 against the NFC West in 2011. San Francisco and Seattle are knotted at 13 games each in the overall series, and six games apiece at Candlestick Park. The prime time matchup on the NFL Network marks the fourth consecutive season that the 49ers will play on Thursday night, where they have posted a 5-2 overall record.
    For the second consecutive week, the Niners will play a divisional foe on prime time as the team travels to Arizona for a Monday night matchup on October 29. The Niners own a 24-17 overall all-time series advantage against the Cardinals, including a 10-9 edge on the road. The two teams last met on Monday Night Football in 2010, as San Francisco defeated the Cardinals 27-6.
    Following the bye in Week 9, the St. Louis Rams visit Candlestick Park on November 11 in the first of back-to-back home games for the Niners. With a 26-0 victory over St. Louis at home last season, the 49ers have now won four consecutive home games and seven of the past eight overall against the Rams.
    The following week on November 19, the 49ers will appear in their second Monday night game of the season versus the Chicago Bears. It marks the first time since 2010 that the 49ers have appeared twice on Monday Night Football in a season. San Francisco owns a 31-29-1 overall record against the Bears, including a 21-12 mark at home. The Niners are 9-1 over the past 10 home games against Chicago, including seven consecutive victories. It will be the first meeting between the two clubs since San Francisco won 10-6, in 2009.
    San Francisco will spend four of the final six weeks of the regular season on the road, starting with a NFC Divisional playoff rematch against the New Orleans Saints on November 25. The 49ers lead the all-time overall series 46-24-2, including 23-13 in New Orleans. The Niners defeated the Saints, 36-32, in the teams’ last meeting on January 14, 2012.
    For the second consecutive week, San Francisco is on the road at St. Louis where the team has won four of the past five. In the 2011 season finale, the 49ers defeated the Rams in St. Louis, 34-27. It will be the second time over a four week span that the two teams will face each other during the 2012 season.
    The Niners return home to face the Miami Dolphins on December 9, who will travel west to Candlestick Park for the first time since 2004. The Dolphins own a one game lead in the overall series, 6-5, but San Francisco has won five of the past seven. The 49ers and Dolphins have met once in the postseason - Super Bowl XIX, when San Francisco won 38-16.
    In the first of two consecutive road games, San Francisco travels East to face the New England Patriots in a Sunday night matchup on December 16. It will be the second game of the season on Sunday night. The contest marks the first time since 2004, and just the fourth time since 1982, that the 49ers have had two games on Sunday nights. The 49ers are 3-3 on the road vs. the Patriots and 7-4 overall.
    San Francisco wraps up their road schedule with a trip north to division rival Seattle. The Niners are 7-7 on the road in the series and will look to make it two consecutive victories, after winning 19-17 on Christmas Eve, in 2011.
    The 49ers close out the 2012 season at Candlestick Park on December 30 versus the Arizona Cardinals. San Francisco holds a 14-8 advantage over the Cardinals at home, including victories in four of the previous five games at The Stick.
 

RAIDERS KICK OFF SEASON AT HOME

    OAKLAND, Calif. (Apr. 17, 2012) - The Oakland Raiders open the 2012 NFL regular season in prime-time for the sixth time in eight seasons when the Silver and Black host AFC West rival San Diego on September 10 in the second half of the ESPN Monday night doubleheader. The Raiders then travel to Miami on September 16 in the first of five road games in the Eastern Time Zone this season, marking the most in franchise history.
    The Silver and Black will open the season on a Monday Night for the second straight campaign and the fourth time in the past five years prior to traveling to Miami in Week 2.
    The Raiders return home to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 23 and travel to Denver on September 30. The Silver and Black will have a bye on October 7, marking the earliest in a season that the Raiders have had a bye since 2008, which also came in Week 5.
    The Raiders return to action on the road on October 14, traveling to Atlanta to face the Falcons at the Georgia Dome for the first time since the 2004 season. Jacksonville will visit O.co Coliseum on October 21 and the Silver and Black will travel to take on AFC West foe Kansas City on October 28.
    Oakland will host Tampa Bay for the first time in eight years on November 4 and will head to the East Coast once again for a contest at Baltimore on November 11. After hosting New Orleans on November 18, the Raiders will travel to Cincinnati to face the Bengals on November 25.
    The Silver and Black return home for three straight weeks, which begins with a contest against Cleveland on December 2. The Raiders will then host a nationally televised Thursday Night contest against Denver on December 6. The Raiders-Broncos meeting will be the first NFL Network-televised Thursday Night game hosted by the Silver and Black.
    The Raiders will wrap up the three-week home stand against Kansas City on December 16. It will be the first time since 2005 that the Raiders will play three straight games at home during the regular season.
    The Silver and Black closes out the 2012 regular season with a pair of road games, making the cross-country trek to Carolina on December 23 and traveling to San Diego for the regular season finale on December 30.
    Despite a record five trips to the Eastern Time Zone this season, none of the Raiders long-distance trips will come in back-to-back weeks.

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