Sacramento A’s 22 year old hitter Max Muncy slugs a solo home run for his MLB hit against the Seattle Mariners at T Mobile Field in Seattle in the top of the eighth inning on Fri Mar 28, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

If last night’s deflating opener had Sacramento A’s fans reaching for comfort food, Friday night’s thrilling redemption must have them reaching for confetti. The Athletics emphatically silenced the Seattle Mariners in a 7-0 shutout, energized by a mix of veteran savvy and youthful exuberance, giving fans plenty to celebrate in their 125th franchise season.

Starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs was a magician on the mound, dazzling Mariners hitters across six dominant innings. With a potent combination of pinpoint control and deceptive velocity, Springs allowed only three hits while striking out nine, a reassuring performance after yesterday’s bullpen struggles.

But Friday night belonged to the Athletics’ bats, particularly Brent Rooker, who rebounded spectacularly from an opening night strikeout nightmare. After striking out four times last night, tying a dubious A’s Opening Day record held previously by Jack Cust and Eddie Joost, Rooker emerged as tonight’s comeback hero. He belted a towering two-run homer to center field in the fifth inning off Mariners’ ace Luis Castillo, giving Oakland a decisive 2-0 lead.

Joining the slugfest, Max Muncy, the Athletics’ promising young second baseman, notched his first major league hit in style: a majestic home run to left-center field in the eighth. This feat undoubtedly etched a cherished memory for the 22-year-old rookie, who is the youngest position player in an A’s opening lineup since Eric Chavez in 2000.

Adding to the youth movement, Tyler Soderstrom showed again why he’s viewed as the cornerstone of the Athletics’ future. After making history on Opening Day with his two-homer night, a first for an Athletic since Khris Davis in 2017, he delivered again tonight. His sizzling double in the seventh scored JJ Bleday, stretching the lead to 5-0.

The Athletics’ depth shone brightly as pinch-hitter Luis Urías sent a ninth-inning solo shot screaming into the left-center seats. Urías, signed just this offseason, provided a firm exclamation point on the A’s offensive statement.

Defensively, JJ Bleday sparkled, notably throwing out Mitch Garver at the plate in a pivotal fifth-inning moment, preventing Seattle from scoring. Moments later, Bleday further frustrated Mariners fans with a sliding catch on a sharply hit line drive from J.P. Crawford, ending the inning and preserving the shutout.

Despite the tough loss, Seattle did show flashes of defensive moments. Outfielder Victor Robles made a spectacular diving catch to rob Gio Urshela of a hit, providing one of the Mariners’ few defensive highlights.

Starting pitcher Luis Castillo battled hard, striking out five over five innings, but ultimately allowed two critical runs that set the tone. Mariners hitters seemed perpetually a step behind, mustering a mere scattering of hits and striking out a total of 13 times, their frustration palpable amid the electric atmosphere at T-Mobile Park.

The win snaps the Athletics’ troubling seven-game losing streak against the Mariners on Opening Day, a streak dating back to 2018. It also marks a sweet turn of fortune after yesterday’s tough 4-2 loss, offering fans hope that maybe, just maybe, this season’s squad has the spark to rewrite some recent history.

As the A’s celebrate Friday night’s victory, attention turns to Saturday’s matchup. The Athletics’ Osvaldo Bido, coming off a solid 2024 campaign, will face off against Seattle’s Bryce Miller, promising more drama at T-Mobile Park.

– Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of publications as well as his own, Golden Bay Times, and is honored to provide A’s away coverage to Sports Radio Service for the 2025 season.