Month: June 2025

A’s Falter Late in Toronto 8-4 After Early Punch

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Sacramento A’s Luis Urias (17) connects for a two run RBI double in the top of the fifth inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sun Jun 1, 2025 (Canadian Press via AP)

A’s Falter Late in Toronto 8-4 After Early Punch

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics came out swinging at Rogers Centre Sunday afternoon, jumping to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Lawrence Butler drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on Tyler Soderstrom’s groundout. Jacob Wilson and Brent Rooker followed up with singles, but the early spark soon cooled. The green and gold’s bats fell silent in key moments, stranding runners and squandering the chance to build on that opening punch losing to the Blue Jays 8-4 at Rogers Centre.

Wilson, the rookie sensation, was in the middle of it all, finishing the day with four singles and a stolen base, bringing his total swipes to five this season. The 24-year-old continues to show why he leads all rookies in batting average, now sitting at a dazzling .345, and is second in the majors in total hits. He showcased his versatility with a sacrifice fly in the eighth, tacking on a fourth run that gave the A’s a short-lived cushion. But that promising start would unravel in the bottom of the eighth, when the Jays’ bats turned the tables in brutal fashion.

Soderstrom’s ejection in the third inning, following a called third strike that saw him exchange words with home plate umpire Tom Hanahan, forced Logan Davidson to step in at first base. Davidson would find himself in the thick of a messy eighth that defined the day’s outcome. After the A’s built a 4-2 lead with Luis Urías’ two-run double in the fifth, the Toronto lineup waited for its chance to pounce.

The Athletics’ pitching staff, already known for a shaky 5.68 ERA this season, couldn’t hold back the Jays’ late surge. Justin Sterner, who entered in the eighth, faced the nightmare scenario. A catcher’s interference call against Willie MacIver put George Springer aboard, and the Jays wouldn’t waste the opportunity. Alejandro Kirk singled, and pinch-runner Alan Roden came in. That’s when Addison Barger turned the game upside down, smashing a three-run homer that soared beyond the right center fence, erasing the A’s lead and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

By the time Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drilled a two-run double to center, Toronto had seized an 8-4 advantage, and the A’s hopes had vanished. Grant Holman’s pickoff error only added salt to the wound, as the Jays kept piling on. For a moment, it looked like the Athletics would halt their five-game losing streak. Instead, they were left to ponder what might have been.

Earlier in the game, Denzel Clarke had shown flashes of excitement with a single and stolen base in the fourth, while Brent Rooker, riding a hot streak that has him slugging .800 since May 22, added two more singles to his tally. Drew Avans also made his mark, helping to keep Toronto’s outfielders honest with a sharp lineout and alert baserunning.

On the mound, starter JP Sears was steady if unspectacular. He worked five innings, giving up two runs and scattering six hits before giving way to the bullpen. The A’s relievers have struggled this year, and today was no exception. After Mitch Spence gave up a run-scoring single to George Springer in the fifth, the relievers combined to yield six more runs in the final four innings.

The loss extends the A’s skid to six games, deepening an already rough patch in which the green and gold have dropped 16 of their last 17 contests. The club’s record now sits at 23-36, just one game better than their mark after 59 games last year. Their May woes, highlighted by a 7-21 record, second worst in the majors, have seeped into June, as the Athletics continue to search for answers and a way to snap out of this tailspin.

As the A’s head back to West Sacramento the theme of the day remains painfully clear: a promising start, a sputtering finish. For the Athletics, another day on the road brought another gut-punch ending. The A’s will try and turn the page, but for now, it’s another long night for a team searching for something to hold onto.

It’s also a long flight from Toronto to Sacramento as the A’s will open a homestand on Monday night against the Minnesota Twins. For the Twins RHP Joe Ryan (5-2 ERA 2.57) for the A’s Luis Severino RHP (1-4, ERA 3.89) first pitch 7:00pm at Sutter Health Park.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Giants Get Past Marlins, Win 4-2, Taking the Series

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San Francisco Giants Luis Matos smacks a three run home run in the top of the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park in Miami on Sun Jun 1, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (33-26) won their series over the Miami Marlins (23-34) winning game three 4-2 Sunday. Giant’s pitcher Hayden Birdsong had a great game going 5 1/3 innings. Heliot Ramos had a couple of hits, one of them a three run home run which turned to be the winning play of the game.

Game recap: The Giants got on the board in the third inning for a 1-0 lead. The very dependable Wilmer Flores grounded out to second with Ramos on third scoring the first run of the game.

The 1-0 lead did not last long, in fact in the very next inning, the fourth inning San Francisco put up some insurance runs when Ramos hit a home run to left center with Casey Schmitt and Patrick Bailey on base and the Giants had a nice 4-0 lead that would persist into the bottom of the sixth inning.

Miami finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning scoring one run. Otto Lopez singled Xavier Edwards home from second base and the score was 4-1 in favor of the Giants.

Through seven innings, San Francisco had five hits, and the Marlins also had five hits. The huge fourth inning for San Francisco put them in a great position to win this series. Hayden Birdsong finished a solid game going 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits but only giving up the one run. His ERA now stands at 2.37 in a good outing. He was relieved by Ryan Walker who got San Francisco out of the sixth inning.

The Giants got on base via a walk in the top of the seventh inning but nothing more. Jordan Hicks would take over on the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning. Hicks walked the first batter he faced Eric Wagaman, but struck out Connor Norby and just when things were looking like they had settled he walked Liam Hicks.

Jordan Hicks forced manager Bob Melvin’s hand when he walked a third runner Javier Sanoja, loading the bases with only one out. Tyler Rogers came in to try and get the Giants out of this inning. He was facing the top of the batting order Xavier Edwards who singled Wagaman home and this game was a 4-2 tally with two outs. Rogers got the third strikeout with minimal damage.

Wilmer Flores singled to start out the top of the eighth inning but next at bat Matt Chapman hit into a double play. Willy Adames also singled but Schmitt struck out and that would close out the top of the inning.

Giant’s pitcher Erik Miller came into the bottom of the eighth inning. The Marlins really got something going in the bottom of the eighth. With one out Wagaman hit a double and the Marlins had two runners on second and third base, Ramirez and Wagaman with one out.

The Giants bullpen got really busy and that was it for Miller. Camilo Duval came to the mound to try and save the inning. He loaded the bases and with two out and was faced with a serious situation but came through striking out Sanoja and getting out of the eighth inning. San Francisco had hung onto their 4-2 lead when it could have ended very badly.

The Giants went quietly in the top of the ninth inning. Luis Matos singled and then stole second base, to no avail, when Ramos grounded out for the third out. It would be up to Camilo Doval to save the game for San Francisco.

He faced the top of the Marlin batting order and gave up a single to first batter Xavier Edwards who had his fifth hit of the day. Jesus Sanchez grounded into a double play and the Giants were one out away from the win. Doval got the out, the save and the Giants got not only the win but the series win.

A win is a win but we finally saw the San Francisco offense step up but one thing turns around and something else struggles and that was the bullpen Sunday. They really had a tough time but Doval saved the game. San Francisco finished with five hits although the Marlins outhit them with nine. Again Kudos to Hayden Birdsong who pitched a great game.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon the Giants beat the Marlins in game three to take the three game series 2-1. The Giants won the first game of the series 2-0 but then dropped game two to Miami 1-0. San Francisco came out ahead with a 4-2 on Sunday. Giants starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong pitched 5.1 innings, five hits and one earned run gave up one earned run and struck out five. Marlins starter Ryan Weathers pitched six innings, allowed five hits, four earned runs, walked three, and struck out seven.

They will take this win into San Diego where they start their series with the Padres Monday. This will be a battle for second place in the National League West. One game separates the two teams in this four-game series. Logan Webb will have another go on the mound after having struggled in his last outing. He has a 5-5 win/loss record and a 2.82 ERA. Stephen Kolek will start for the Padres with a 3-1 win/loss record ERA 4.11. First pitch Monday is scheduled for 6:45 PM.

Undefeated Lynx Survive Valkyries’ Big First Half, Win 86-75 At Chase Center

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Believe me when I tale you. It was a tale of two halves.

The expansion Valkyries, in their biggest test to date, delivered an exemplary first half to lead the undefeated Lynx, 52-51. But the second half disintegrated into a massive tutorial as the visitors in a full display of their championship aspirations took control.

“We don’t mind pain,” coach Natalie Nakase said pointedly. “I told you we’re killers. If you’re not feeling pain then that’s a problem.”

The 86-75 result kept the visitors as the only undefeated team (7-0) in the WNBA. But it also kept the Valkyries (2-4) engaged, and striving to reach their potential as opposed to being frustrated by an 0-3 stretch against last season’s two finalists.

The next move for Nakase and her team? An already typical, laborious stretch at their Oakland practice facility in preparation for Thursday’s game in Phoenix against the Mercury.

“Just stay together,” Veronica Burton said when similarly asked about frustration. “That’s this league, that’s this season. The W is hard. There’s a reason we’re all here, and I think each player has experienced a certain level of pain or hardship. That’s allowed us to bounce back and just use it as motivation as well. Stay connected off the court. Teams that stay together succeed typically in this league.”

The Valkyries’ 52 points in the first 20 minutes was all hustle and resolve as their 45 percent shooting didn’t headline the effort as much as did their 35 shot attempts and 14 of 16 shooting from the foul line. To be the fair, the experienced Lynx didn’t renounce the fast pace, but they didn’t settle in immediately either.

The highlight of the half was the 12-2 run thay gave the Valkyries a brief 36-34 lead. Kate Martin took over during that stretch, scoring 11 of her career-best 14 points in her first five minutes floor.

But while the Valkyries individually platued and dipped, the steady Napheesa Collier ran the evening, finishing with 24 points, 11 rebounds and four assists that almost appeared understated. Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride efficiently supported Collier with a combined 36 points, including five made threes. Collier appeared completely healthy after missing the previous game with right knee soreness.

The first 13 minutes of the second half saw the Valkyries score just eight points and trail 75-60 with 6:58 remaining. Martin failed to score, with all of her 14 coming in the first half. But Burton came up with much of her team-best 21 points in a furious, late rally that sliced a 22-point Lynx lead to 11 with 1:56 left.

Janelle Salaun and Carla Leite, the Valkyries’ promising pair of rookies from France, both struggled with just five combined points in 31 minutes on the floor.

MLB The Show podcast Charlie O Sun Jun 1, 2025: Ohtani and Judge both homer in Yanks-Dodgers WS rematch; LA’s Betts returns after fracturing toe; plus more MLB news

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Shohei Ohtani the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar watches the flight of the baseball in the sixth inning for his 22nd NL leading home run against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Fri May 30, 2025 (AP News photo)

MLB The Show podcast Charlie O Sun Jun 1, 2025:

#1 In the 2024 World Series rematch on Friday the Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani and the New York Yankees Aaron Judge both homered in the first inning. It’s like the perfect scenario between both teams on the big stage. The Yankees are the winningest team in the AL and the Dodgers tied for second best record with three other team in the NL.

#2 The Dodgers Mookie Betts stubbed his toe in a dark bathroom but the injury isn’t enough to keep him off the ballfield. Betts stubbed his toe against a wall while walking in a dark bathroom on Wednesday. Betts fractured the toe and missed only Thursday and Friday’s games and was back in the line up on Saturday.

#3 After being out with a left knee injury Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout returned to the line up on Friday night. Trout who normally plays in the outfield was the designated hitter against the Cleveland Guardians and hammered a fourth inning base hit for his only hit of the game in four at bat attempts. Trout said that despite striking out in two at bats he felt good on his return. Saturday Trout went 3-4 so he’s getting his groove back in the DH role.

#4 Things continue to get rougher for the last place Colorado Rockies who lost their ninth out of their last ten games this time to the New York Mets 4-2. The Mets Francisco Lindor had himself a game hitting a homer from the left and right sides. Juan Soto snapped his 0-17 slump with a RBI double.

#5 The Sacramento A’s have now lost 15 of their last 16 games. They have shuttled players from their Las Vegas affiliate to Sacramento to see if they can tweak what’s wrong but A’s manager Mark Kotsay is still looking for solutions. It’s been since the first week of May that the A’s at one time were just one game from moving into first place in the AL West but have fallen back into the cellar now some 8.5 game off the pace.

Join Charlie O for the A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com