Mason Barnett #63 of the Athletics pitches against the Boston Red Sox in the top of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on September 10, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The A’s avoided being swept at the hands of the Red Sox during a matinee affair on Wednesday, defeating the Red Sox 5-4 in walk-off fashion.

The A’s bats did just enough of everything during the getaway day game to emerge victorious.

Shea Langeliers, who had the day off behind the plate but was in the lineup as the DH, got the A’s going in the first inning with a solo home run to put the A’s up 1-0.

The Red Sox scored in the second inning, but the A’s answered right back thanks to a Nick Kurtz solo home run to left field to reclaim the lead 2-1.

The Red Sox came back with solo runs in both the third and fourth innings to take a 3-2 lead over the A’s.

In the fifth inning, the A’s were able to answer back once more and take the lead again from Boston. This time, it was Tyler Soderstrom who came through, driving an opposite-field two-RBI double to left field to give the A’s the 4-3 lead.

Mason Barnett, making his third major league start on Wednesday, labored but still managed to give the A’s three and two-thirds innings of three-run, seven-hit baseball. Barnett walked just one and struck out four but was hit around whenever he left pitches in the zone.

The A’s bullpen, which has been stellar as of late, continued to pitch well until late in the game when they finally surrendered the lead.

Sean Newcomb was the first arm out of the pen for the A’s as he got the last batter of the fourth inning and then pitched spotless fifth and sixth innings.

Justin Sterner followed and pitched two perfect innings in the seventh and eighth to keep the A’s in front.

After the game, manager Mark Kotsay spoke about the dominance of the bullpen in the second half.

“These two relievers you’re talking about, Newcomb and Sterner, in the second half have been a large portion of the success and rhythm that has taken place down in the bullpen.”

Trouble came in the ninth inning when Elvis Alvarado gave up a run on two hits, recording only one out. Hogan Harris, who had been warming in the bullpen all inning just in case, came in and recorded the final two outs of the ninth, giving up a walk but nothing else.

The A’s came into the bottom of the ninth tied 4-4, needing a run to win. The Red Sox brought in Aroldis Chapman, who hadn’t allowed a hit since July 23, to try to keep the game tied. Shea Langeliers led off the ninth with a double to snap that streak for Chapman and was then moved over to third by a Brent Rooker fly ball to right field.

That set the stage for Lawrence Butler, who stepped up and drove an RBI single the other way to give the A’s the dramatic 5-4 win in nine innings.

Up Next

The A’s will have an off day on Thursday in Sacramento prior to welcoming the Cincinnati Reds to town. Neither team has announced a starter for Friday’s game, scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Sutter Health Park.