Month: July 2025

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Some Players are never Happy

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San Francisco Giants hitter Willy Adames flies out to second in the ninth inning against the Sacramento A’s at Sutter Health Park at West Sacramento on Sat Jul 5, 2025. Adames also stated on Sun July 13, 2025 that there were more Dodger fans than Giants fans at Oracle Park in San Francisco. (AP News photo)

Some Players are never Happy.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

While in Sacramento A’s pitcher Luis Severino complains about Sutter Health Park the home of his 2025 ballclub for this whole season and maybe for the next two years, plus also the park so far has not brought him the victories he was expecting.

Meanwhile, 80 miles away at Oracle Park in San Francisco the home of the Giants, shortstop Willy Adames was not happy with the crowd at Oracle Park during the last game Sunday against the Dodgers which the Giants lost 5-2.

Adames said (quote) “too many Dodgers fans”. And although he acknowledged the energy of the crowd and said it felt like a playoff atmosphere, he also said he “would prefer a stronger presence for the Giants fans”.

Oracle Park was sold out during these games, and the Sunday game, which was not televised on their regular Comcast Bay Area channel, aired nationwide on MLB Network. It looked like there were more fans in blue than orange.

It is impossible to say precisely how many were Dodgers fans; tickets are counted the game was sold out at 41,048, but what is not counted is which fan is rooting for which team.

But that is part of the fun of baseball. You buy a ticket, and you could be dressed as a chicken, you still can root for whatever team you want to root for. The Los Angeles Dodgers had their longest losing streak since September with a seven-game losing streak in July 2025.

This skid is their worst since the 11-game losing streak they experienced in 2017. However, the Dodgers lost the first game of this three-game series but won two games and left the Golden Gate still in first place, now six games ahead of the Giants, who dropped to third place.

Most people making the money these MLB players make would be more than happy. But Major League players, are privileged and spoiled souls, they travel and stay at the Ritz Carlton and other 5-star luxury hotels, travel charter, everything is done for them, they get $150 just for per-diem, for each day they stay away from home.

When you go on a trip you pack your bag(s) at home and you do not see that luggage until you arrive at the hotel and is already inside your room for a series of games on that city. Everything is done for you, your team traveling secretary can accommodate sometimes for complimentary tickets on the road for family and acquaintances.

I know because I have traveled with team charters. So it is truly a privilege life, and sometimes the more you get the more spoiled you become, and that is they case for some players in Major League Baseball, that even complaining of the fans at home that aren’t even your fans, kind of bothers you. Such in life in the Big Leagues.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

NASCAR Sonoma Raceway/Toyota SaveMart 350: Van Gisbergen proves untouchable in Sonoma

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Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #88 Red Bull Chevrolet, leads the field during the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday. Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Van Gisbergen proves untouchable in Sonoma

By Tom Zulewski

SONOMA – About the only thing that fell short on the day for Shane Van Gisbergen came when his celebratory kick of a rugby ball only went as far as the edge of the back wall on pit road.

“I blame that one on the wind,” Van Gisbergen joked.

Other than that wind-blown flub, SVG delivered a dominating performance in his No. 88 Red Bull Chevrolet and rolled to his third road-course win in the last five weeks, taking the checkered flag at the Toyota/SaveMart 350 on a warm, breezy afternoon July 13 at Sonoma Raceway.

After finishing second to teammate Connor Zilisch in the XFINITY Pit Boss/Food Maxx 250 on July 12, the New Zealander rebounded well enough to lead 97 of the 110 laps and was able to fend off a late challenge from runner-up Chase Briscoe, who started and finished second.

Even as Van Gisbergen had to deal with the closing stretch of three cautions over the final 11 laps, his pit crew led by crew chief Steven Doran wasn’t worried in the least.

“It’s pretty awesome they had that confidence because I certainly didn’t,” Van Gisbergen said. “You never know with NASCAR. On the restarts, everyone goes crazy.”

Van Gisbergen added on TNT’s post-race show, “We had a really fast car, but a really fast car doen’t always win the race.”

The first late caution came at lap 97 when a wheel fell off the 51 car of Cody Ware. It traveled a good distance down track, but didn’t hit any other cars as they drove by. Briscoe led briefly after the final caution came out at lap 105 when Ricky Stenhouse spun in Turn 8, but Van Gisbergen got to the front with little trouble on the final restart and won by 1.128 seconds.

“At the end of these races, a lot can happen,” Briscoe said. “It was a split decision if we should pit or not, but we stayed out and that could go a lot of different ways. I tried to do my best just to stay behind Shane, but even if I had gotten the lead, there was probably only a 10 percent chance I could hold on to it.”

Van Gisbergen short-pitted and finished second to Ross Chastain in Stage 1, but had to survive a bump-and-run fest from a hard-charging Kyle Larson before securing the Stage 2 win. For the first time during the weekend, a caution flag came out early in Stage 3 for an on-track incident..

Ryan Blaney slid off-track after making contact with Chris Buescher as they battled for the third position and the No. 12 Menards Chevrolet got stuck in the dirt to bring out the yellow at lap 62, 48 laps short of the finish.

From there, the green-flag pit stops put Van Gisbergen back in front, and he moved into a tie with Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell with three wins on the season.

After Briscoe, Chase Elliott, Michael McDowell and Bell completed the top five. There were six cautions that took up 17 laps, and the average winning speed was 75.087 mph. With six races left until the playoffs, William Byron leads Elliott by 14 points in the standings. Larson is 44 behind in third.

Among the non-winners who would fill out the playoff field, Tyler Reddick, Chris Buescher, Alex Bowman and Bubba Wallace would advance. Wallace has only a three-point lead over Ryan Preece.

A’s Boom Before the Break With 6-3 win over Jays Sends Sacramento into All-Star Smiles

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Sacramento A’s Tyler Soderstrom celebrates in the A’s dugout after hitting a two run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Sun July 13, 2025 (AP News photo)

Boom Before the Break Sends Sacramento into All-Star Smiles

By Mauricio Segura

Just before baseball paused for its midsummer break, the Athletics gave their fans something worth cheering. Under a blazing triple-digit Sacramento sun at Sutter Health Park, the Green and Gold uncorked a thunderous offensive performance and rode dominant pitching to a 6-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays Sunday, closing out the first half of the season with a statement win. With long balls from Austin Wynns, Tyler Soderstrom, and rookie phenom Nick Kurtz, Sacramento took flight early and never looked back.

Jeffrey Springs continued his recent run of excellence, slicing through Toronto’s potent lineup like a buzzsaw. The left-hander turned in six strong innings, scattering five hits and allowing just three earned runs, two of which came after he had already left the game.

It was Springs’ seventh win of the season and further proof that he’s found his rhythm after a rocky start in the early days of the season Over his last four starts, Springs has posted a 1.90 ERA, giving the A’s rotation a steady hand it desperately needed.

The offense wasted no time getting to work. In the second inning, veteran infielder Gio Urshela reached on a single, and catcher Austin Wynns turned on a Jose Berríos fastball and launched it over the left-field wall. It was Wynns’ sixth homer of the year, and it gave Sacramento a 2-0 lead that felt even larger given the way Springs was commanding the mound.

The third inning brought more fireworks. Rookie Nick Kurtz opened the frame with a double and came around to score when Soderstrom crushed a center-cut fastball for his 18th homer of the year. The 22-year-old catcher has been on a tear, with his power production putting him among the league leaders at his position. His blast gave the A’s a 4-0 cushion and chased Berríos from the game early.

Toronto’s offense, meanwhile, sputtered. They didn’t record a base runner until the fourth inning and didn’t scratch a run across until the fifth, when Davis Schneider hit a solo home run off Springs. Schneider’s shot briefly gave Toronto life, but Sacramento answered right back in the bottom half.

A throwing error by reliever Tommy Nance allowed Jacob Wilson to reach second, and Kurtz promptly made the Jays pay. The rookie crushed a two-run homer, his 17th of the season, into the left-center bleachers, pushing the A’s lead to 6-1. Kurtz now leads all MLB rookies in homers and continues to add to what is becoming a very compelling Rookie of the Year resume.

Kurtz’s home-field dominance is hard to ignore. 12 of his 17 homers have come at Sutter Health Park, and his slugging percentage at home has soared north of .700. With the All-Star break now here, he can take a well-deserved breather after propelling this young Athletics team with his bat and his glove.

Toronto did mount a bit of a rally late. Addison Barger hit a two-run homer in the seventh off reliever Justin Sterner to pull the Blue Jays within three, but Sean Newcomb and fireballing closer Mason Miller locked things down from there.

Miller struck out Ernie Clement and coaxed a game-ending double play from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to notch his 19th save of the season. It was a fitting milestone, as it marked the 100th appearance of Miller’s young but electric MLB career.

Sacramento’s bullpen has been much-maligned throughout the year, but the numbers heading into the break tell a different story. Over the last 20 games, the group has posted a 2.89 ERA and gone 3-0 with six saves. Miller, in particular, has stabilized the ninth inning with his blistering fastball and a strikeout rate that ranks among the best in the league.

With the win, the Athletics finish the first half at 41-57. It’s a modest record, yes, but one that reflects real progress given the context. After a brutal 1-20 stretch in late spring, the A’s have gone 18-17 over their last 35 games.

Now, the Athletics hit the All-Star break with momentum, with All-Star selections Brent Rooker and Jacob Wilson set to represent the team in Atlanta. Rooker, will also swing for the fences in the Home Run Derby, becoming the first A’s participant since Matt Olson in 2021.

There’s still plenty of work ahead in the second half, but if this young squad can keep flexing its muscle and get continued consistency from Springs and the bullpen, Sacramento just might play spoiler in the AL West down the stretch.

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.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Giants Allow The Dodgers To Breathe in 5-2 Loss That Concludes the Season’s First Half

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San Francisco Giant starter Robbie Ray pitched six innings allowing three hits and two runs and six strikeouts against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun July 13, 2025 (Bay Area News Group photo)

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Needing a big win, the Giants instead got another reminder that their struggling offense needs a break.

That break comes over the next five days for the All-Star festivities in Atlanta after they squandered an opportunity to tighten the race in the NL West with a 5-2 loss in 11 innings to the first-place Dodgers.

The Giants conclude the first 96 games of the season with a competitive 52-44 record that has them in position to grab one of the six NL playoff spots. But their .230 team batting average ranks 26th of 30 teams, and serves as a constant reminder the season could go south quickly.

“We have some guys that are coming around a little bit,” manger Bob Melvin said of his team’s offense. “We have some guys that will come around a little bit more. We have some guys in the middle of the lineup that are going to do more damage.”

“I think the win-loss, the standings are great,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But I think there’s just a lot of improvement that we need to do, we need to be better at.”

On Sunday, in front of a sold out Oracle Park crowd, the Giants went scoreless over the first eight innings only to be rescued by Luis Matos’ game-tying, pinch-hit home run. After starter Yoshinobo Yamamoto and crafty reliever Alex Vesia manipulated the Giants into a string of outs, Matos gave the home team unexpected life. But they barely breathed, going hitless the rest of the game.

Robbie Ray was All-Star worthy, allowing just two runs in six innings, but he got no support. That lack of help prevented Ray from gaining a 10th victory before the All-Star break. Ray expertly avoided Shohei Ohtani and allowed just three hits, but departed trailing 2-0. Miguel Rojas surprised Ray with his home run in the fifth that increased the Dodgers’ lead.

The two extra frames offered a baseball-only juxtaposition with the Dodgers stringing together three hits despite all coming off weak contact to plate three runs. Meanwhile, the Giants were denied when Rafael Devers’ rocket to center in the 10th was tracked down by James Outman.

“Ball 106 mph off the bat there,” Melvin recounted. “They hit balls like what 40 mph in the last inning? It’s just the way it is sometimes.”

Spencer Bivens took the loss despite retiring Mookie Betts and Will Smith after the decision was made to walk Ohtani to leadoff the inning. Ben Casparius got the win despite almost getting victimized by Devers.

The Giants open the season’s second half in Toronto against the AL East-leading Blue Jays on Friday night.

During the game’s final inning the Giants selected Tennessee Volunteers’ shortstop Gaven Kilen with the 13th overall pick of the 2025 MLB Draft.

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips: Giants can’t quite close first half with a win against Dodgers

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San Francisco Giants pinch hitter Luis Matos two run home run in the ninth inning celebration would be short lived Matos tied the game up but the Los Angeles Dodgers would come back in the the top of the 11th inning with three runs to defeat the Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jul 13, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips:

#1 Morris tough loss for the San Francisco Giants after getting behind to the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0 they got a brief reprieve when pinch hitter Luis Matos slugged first pitch two run home run in the last of the ninth inning to tie the game 2-2 only to lose it on three runs in the top of the 11th inning.

#2 Giants All Star Robbie Ray was looking for his tenth win of the first half of the season pitching six innings, allowing three hits, two runs both earned, two walks and six strikeouts. A hard effort but he just didn’t get enough run support.

#3 Ray will not pitch in the All Star Game after pitching here on Sunday did you see that being a tough decision for Ray passing up the opportunity to pitch in the All Star Game?

#4 The Giants Luis Matos made the best of it tying the game up in the bottom of the ninth inning with a two run home run. Rafael Devers had a good opportunity to win it when he hit one in the bottom of the tenth and a ghost runner on second that would have won it but it got flagged down by Dodger centerfielder James Outman and kept the Dodgers alive who scored three times in the top of the 11th to get the 5-2 win.

#5 Giants head into the All Star Break with a record of 52-44 and return to the second half of the season in Toronto for three games starting Fri Jul 18th.

Morris Phillips does the San Francisco Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast Augie Mesenburg: Ray, Rodriguez and Webb All Stars in Atlanta

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Robbie Ray seen pitching against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field for the San Francisco Giants back on Thu Jul 3, 2025 will not pitch in the 2025 All Star in Atlanta but will be there to represent the Giants (AP file photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Augie Mesenburg:

#1 San Francisco Giants starter Robbie Ray along with pitchers Logan Webb and Randy Rodriguez will represent the Giants at the All Star Game in Atlanta. We’ll start with Ray he’s in the top ten of the best ERA in the National League at 2.63.

#2 Ray made a start Sunday and will not pitch in the All Star game. Ray wanted to pitch in this one against the Los Angeles Dodgers and try and pick up his tenth win.

#3 Ray is the first pitcher since 2021 to have double digit wins in the first half of a season since former Giant Anthony DeSlafani did it with ten wins.

#4 Logan Webb has had a numerous amount of success this season he nearly finished the first half with ten wins he’s at 9-6 and an ERA at 2.94 and won his most recent game against the Dodgers 8-7 on Friday night here at Oracle Park.

#5 Reliever Randy Rodriguez is having himself a first half he’s allowed only one run at Oracle Park and has a 0.42 ERA in the 20 games pitched at home. Rodriguez’s 0.89 is the lowest amongst relievers in MLB.

Augie Mesenburg is a reporter for 1080 KWAI Honolulu and is a podcast contributor for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Ballers game wrap: Ballers take control of Vibes in 9-3 win at Raimondi

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The Oakland Ballers

Rocky Mountain Vibes (22-24) 000 000 300 3 5 1

Oakland Ballers (36-11) 120 040 02x 9 13 1

Time: 2:50

Attendance: 2,703

Saturday, July 12, 2025

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–This clear and breezy afternoon at Raimondi Park was the scene of a repeat performance of Friday’s 9-0 shellacking of the visiting Rocky Mountain Vibes by your Oakland Ballers. The Vibes hail from Colorado Springs, from which you can see Pikes Peak, and the Ballers certainly busted the Vibes on both occasions. Saturday’s Baller win was by an ample 6-3 margin.

Once again, the B’s starting pitcher—Saturday he was Luke short— held his opponents scoreless over six innings of play. He made short work of them, allowing but two hits and a pair of walks, and uncorking a wild pitch, all on a total of 54 pitches. He earned his sixth win of the season against one loss.

Oakland’s bullpen wasn’t as effective in Saturday’s sunlight as it had been under Friday night’s artificial illumination. Conner Richardson, Short’s successor, coughed up the Vibes’ three runs four batters after taking over mound duties in the top of the seventh.

Ex-Baller Stephen Wilmer and Will Butcher hit back to back singles. Aleck Davis fanned and then catcher Otto Jones sent Richardson’s 0-2 delivery over the left field fence for his first professional home run. The game no longer was as one sided as its predecessor. Richardson set down his next two mountaineers to end the inning. Carson Lambert and Connor Sullivan pitched a shutout frame apiece, and that was it for the Vibes.

There were no sustained anomalies comparable with Friday’s six players in the seventh slot phenomenon, but the game’s final out was a doozie. Sully issued a one out walk to Adams to bring Jones to the plate. He lifted a popup to second for the out number two. But Adams, who most likely had forgotten that there had been only one down, hadn’t reversed his advance towards second, and Harris tagged him for an easy no brainer game ending unassisted double play.

Although Lou Helmig went hitless in four at bats, the B’s continued to have a potent offense. Indeed, Helmig was the only starter not to get at least a single. Davis Drewek, back from the injured list, went two for four with a walk and an RBI. Christian Almanza, Dillon Tatum, Nick Leehey, and Esai Santos each contributed a double. Leehey drove in three runs; Dillon Tatum, two, and Cobb, Drewek, and Ryan Pierce, one apiece.

The only unscored upon Rocky Mountain pitcher was Thomas Peltier, who surrendered a double in the seventh, the only inning he worked.

The teams will close out the first half Sunday. Game time is 1:05. I won’t be covering that contest, so why don’t you drop by at 18th and Wood. You’ll probable enjoy the vibes (note the lower case, although the ones with a capital V provide some pretty entertaining counterpoint to your Oakland Ballers),

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast Daniel Dullum: Contrary to popular belief report says Fisher is still short construction money

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Sacramento A’s owner John Fisher (gold tie) spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony at the former Tropicana Hotel for the A’s future Las Vegas ballpark Mon Jun 23, 2025. A’s president Mark Badain is leaning forward to the far left, Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is seated to Fisher’s right and to Fisher’s left is Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Steven Hill. Reports say Fisher is still trying to raise the money to cover the construction costs for the Vegas ballpark. (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 According to reports Sacramento A’s owner John Fisher still hasn’t spent the money for the Las Vegas ballpark at the old Tropicana so he could get the $380 million in Nevada State public funds. SB1 was approved to pay for part of the A’s Vegas park going on two years now.

#2 Fisher said after the A’s ground breaking at the Tropicana that the cost of construction for the new park will now run up to $2 billion and according to reports Fisher doesn’t financially have anything near $1 billion despite being worth $3 billion.

#3 John Fisher and his family are not going to spend their own money namely the $1.75 billion out of pocket for the ballpark project but are trying to confirm loans from US Bank, Goldman Sachs, investments from K Pop star Suga, former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park and sale of his MLS team the San Jose Earthquakes.

#4 It was also reported at the ground break this month in Vegas that the two cranes that were pictured behind Fisher while he was speaking to the media there were rented cranes as props and they were never going to be in use that outside of moving dirt around there is nothing really seriously happening at the old Tropicana property in terms of getting a foundation started.

#5 Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred who was at the groundbreaking holding a shovel and putting it in the dirt held in a baseball diamond tray said he was confident that the project would go through but critics after the ground breaking said that Manfred should have made sure everything was covered before committing the A’s to Las Vegas but that didn’t happen and the ground breaking looks like a farce.

Daniel Dullum does the Sacramento A’s Relocation podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Headline Sports podcast Charlie O:BoSox Dobbins out with right ACL tear; Braves Acuna to skip HR Derby will play in All Star Game; plus more news

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Boston Red Sox pitcher Hunter Dobbins (73) was relieved by manager Alex Cora (13) in the second inning after tearing his right knee covering first base against the Tampa Bay Rays on Fri Jul 11, 2025 at Fenway Park in Boston (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast Charlie O:

#1 Boston Red Sox right hander Hunter Dobbins announced on Saturday that his season was over due to a torn ACL in his right knee that tore on Friday. Dobbin was covering first base in the second inning when Dobbin took a bad step and ended up limping after making the catch for the out on a throw from first baseman Abraham Toro. After making one warm up toss Sox manager Alex Cora decided Dobbins was to be relieved.

#2 Atlanta Braves lead off star Ronald Acuna will not participate in the Home Run Derby on Monday and will replaced by Braves teammate and All Star Matt Olson. Acuna will play in the All Star Game at Truist Field in Cobb County. Olson will be a reserve infielder.

#3 Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hit his 37th and 38th home runs against the Detroit Tigers on Friday night in the 12-3 victory. Raleigh needs one more home run to catch former Giant Barry Bonds for the MLB record for home runs at the All Star Break.

#4 Toronto Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer picked up his first victory since July 25th, 2025 and became the first Jays pitcher 40 years or older to win since former Jays pitcher RA Dickey did it on May 4, 2015. Scherzer also is the fifth Jays pitcher 40 years or older to win. The Jays beat the Sacramento A’s on Friday night 7-6 at Sutter Health Field in West Sacramento.

#5 The Philadelphia Phillies say they feel snubbed after a number of coaches and players were not selected for the All Star Game namely Christopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez, Trea Turner who were not names. The Phils Kyle Schwarber will be the only player representing Philadelphia in Atlanta. “It’s unfortunate,” Schwarber said, “but I wish my teammates were there. We know what we have, and I think that we’re grateful for what we have.”

Join Charlie O for MLB the Show podcast Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

   

Athletics post game wrap: Rooker Delivers a Firecracker as the Green and Gold Clutch One Before the Break; Rooker’s 20th delivers 4-3 win over Blue Jays

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Sacramento A’s Brent Rooker (25) is congratulated by teammates Nick Kurtz (16) and Tyler Soderstrom (21) after Rooker’s two run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Sat July 12, 2025 (AP News photo)

Rooker Delivers a Firecracker as the Green and Gold Clutch One Before the Break; Rooker’s 20th delivers 4-3 win over Blue Jays

By Mauricio Segura

Sacramento fans got a late-inning show Saturday night as the Athletics rallied past the Blue Jays, 4-3, in a tightrope thriller. It was a win defined by grit, timely slugging, and the kind of bullpen poise the A’s have been yearning for all season. Brent Rooker’s 20th homer of the year, an absolute missile to left-center, turned a tense fifth inning into a party, and the bullpen slammed the door behind him.

This was more than just a win. It was a momentum-builder heading into the All-Star break, and it came with a dash of redemption, especially against a Blue Jays team that had beaten the A’s in all five prior matchups this season. Sacramento fans, soaking up their team’s debut summer in the capital, had reason to cheer beyond just the home run blasts.

Rooker’s blast came just after rookie first baseman Nick Kurtz singled, giving the A’s their first lead of the night at 4-2 With that shot, Rooker became the first Athletic since Khris Davis and Matt Olson to hit 20 home runs in three consecutive seasons. His power, already enough to earn him a spot in next week’s Home Run Derby, was once again the difference-maker. But this game had more heroes than just the slugging designated hitter.

Center fielder Denzel Clarke quietly put together one of his more mature outings. His third-inning single may have traveled only a few feet off the bat, but it set off a chain reaction. He then capitalized on a wild throw to take second, and Lawrence Butler cashed him in with a single to cut Toronto’s early lead in half. Clarke also made a crucial play on defense in the sixth, snagging a liner off the bat of Bo Bichette that had rally written all over it.

That sixth inning was the beginning of a five-arm relay by the A’s bullpen that held a dangerous Blue Jays lineup to just one run over four innings. After Jacob Lopez grinded through five frames, allowing two runs and scattering five hits, the bullpen stepped in.

Elvis Alvarado, Michael Kelly, Sean Newcomb and Mason Miller combined for four innings of one-run ball. Miller, as he’s done time and again this season, closed it out in the ninth with his signature upper-90s heat and a pair of strikeouts, earning his 18th save and preserving the win.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing. The A’s were outhit 7-6 and missed a couple of early scoring chances. Kevin Gausman had Sacramento’s young lineup looking overmatched through four innings. But the Green and Gold hung tough, aided by a pair of costly catcher interference calls, both against Toronto’s Tyler Heineman, that gave the Athletics extra outs and kept innings alive. Those moments don’t show up in the highlight reels, but they mattered.

And then there was the quiet steadiness of Miguel Andujar. Coming off the injured list earlier in the week, Andujar broke out of an 0-for-14 slump with two hits and a stolen base, injecting life into the middle of the order. Pinch-runner Max Schuemann came in for him in the eighth and swiped second with ease, setting the table for an insurance run that never came but wasn’t needed.

Toronto made things interesting in the eighth when Alejandro Kirk hit a sacrifice fly to bring the Jays within one, but Newcomb’s strikeout of Addison Barger ended the threat. The Blue Jays got the tying run aboard in the ninth, but Mason Miller made sure it didn’t matter, striking out Ernie Clement and George Springer in succession to send the crowd home buzzing.

With the win, the Athletics improve to 40 and 57, snapping a two-game skid and avoiding a season sweep at the hands of the Jays. They’re still anchored to the bottom of the AL West, but this is not the same team that lost 20 of 21 earlier in the year. There’s energy now. Swagger. And a rookie class that looks like it belongs.

Kurtz continues to pace MLB rookies in home runs, Butler is heating up again after a midweek lull, and Clarke, despite his strikeouts, is showing flashes of becoming a dynamic two-way threat. The young core is working together, and if Rooker keeps swinging like this, it’s only going to get more fun in Sacramento.

Starting pitchers for Sunday for the Blue Jays RHP Jose Berrios (5-3 ERA 3.53) for the A’s LHP Jeffrey Springs (7-6 ERA 3.92) a 1:05pm PDT.

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.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.