Jeffrey Springs #59 of the Athletics pitches in the top of the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Sutter Health Park on August 11, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The Athletics returned home on Monday night from a six-game road trip where they went 4-2 during stops in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Flying high, the A’s couldn’t keep the good times going as they fell to the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 on Monday night.

The A’s pitching let them down on Monday in a game the A’s battled to stay in but ultimately couldn’t keep pace with the Rays.

Jeffrey Springs got the start for the A’s despite not feeling great physically going into it, A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. 

“Pregame he wasn’t feeling great physically, but took the mound, took the ball, and again, you commend that effort and grind that he wanted to go out there and give us what he had.”

Give them what he had he certainly did, laboring through three and a third innings and allowing four runs, all earned. Springs did his best to scatter the seven hits he gave up while also only walking one Tampa Bay hitter.

“…Just kind of felt out of sync from the get-go,” Springs told reporters after the game. “…Just dealing with some stuff, felt like the body was kind of out of sync and fighting myself, and wasn’t able to make pitches and make the adjustment unfortunately. Just didn’t do my job, basically.”

Osvaldo Bido relieved Springs and gave Kotsay three and two-thirds innings of work while surrendering six hits in that stretch. Bido managed to work in and out of trouble most of the night. However, he gave up two solo home runs — that would prove to be the only run-costing mistakes on the night — in the seventh inning.

Michael Kelly came on in the eighth but wasn’t sharp, recording only one out and giving up a run, a hit, and two walks before being lifted for Hogan Harris. Harris would finish the eighth and ninth innings, working one and two-thirds innings and giving up just one hit.

On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s scoring came thanks to two home runs from middle-of-the-order bats. Yet, it was too little too late as Mark Kotsay alluded to after the game.

“I think offensively we put together some good at-bats there late in the game and got ourselves back into it, which isn’t easy to do, especially against this club.”

Shai Langeliers got the A’s on the board with a solo home run in the fifth inning that traveled an impressive 425 feet and left the bat at 109.4 mph. The A’s would score one more time courtesy of a Tyler Soderstrom three-run homer that at the time brought the A’s to within two, 6-4, in the eighth. Soderstrom’s blast went 414 feet into the Sacramento night and left the bat at 104.3 mph.

The A’s fell to 53-68 with the loss as they continue to try and claw their way back toward the .500 mark on the season. That continues to be the focus of the club down the stretch with less than two months left in the season.

Game two of the series will be on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. PST at Sutter Health Park. Jacob Lopez (5-6, 3.59 ERA) will toe the rubber for the A’s as Tampa Bay will send Shane Baz (8-8, 4.92 ERA) to the hill.

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.