Sacramento A’s catcher Shea Langeliers (23) bumps gloves with pitcher Justin Sterner (60) in the bottom of the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium on Tue Apr 7, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK.—The Sacramento Athletics fell to the New York Yankees 5-3 in the series opener at Yankee Stadium after the home team rallied in the eighth inning on Tuesday night.

New York went 0 for 12 with runners on base and went into the eight inning down 3-1. But Amed Rosario’s second home run of the night sealed the Yankees’ comeback.

“It’s a tough loss, for sure. Their lineup is tough and you gotta try to navigate it,” said A’s manager Mark Kotsay. “It’s unfortunate, guys had a 3-1 lead in the eighth. You want to secure those wins and we gotta figure out a way to do that.”

Rosario hit his first home run on a fly ball to left field in the second inning to put the Yankees up 1-0.

In the third inning, Nick Kurtz doubled on a sharp line drive to center fielder Trent Grisham, allowing Max Muncy and Jeff McNeil to score and giving the A’s a 2-1 lead. Then Tyler Soderstrom doubled to right field on fan interference and Kurtz scored, boosting the A’s to 3-1.

In the eighth, Giancarlo Stanton singled on a line drive to center fielder Denzel Clarke and Cody Bellinger Scored, cutting the A’s lead to 3-2. Then Rosario hit another homer on a fly ball to left field, allowing Ben Rice and Randal Grichuk to score and putting the Yankees up 5-3.

A’s right-handed pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. was caught off guard by Stanton’s hit going in the direction it did, said Kotsay.

“It led to opening up that inning,” said the manager.

A’s starting pitcher Aaron Civale allowed just one run over five innings pitched, but did not record a decision. He allowed a solo home run to Rosario in the second, and just one hit in his final 15 batters. He said he’s working on integrating quickly with the A’s after bouncing around for the last few years.

“Just feel like they’ve done a good job of understanding who I am and going out there and doing that,” said Civale. “If the game plan works where there’s a certain weakness or strength on the hitter’s side, try to overlay that. But at the end of the day, just try to be me at the end of the day and go out there and compete.”

The A’s (3-7) are 0-1 to start their six-game road trip, which continues on to the New York Mets. First pitch for game two against the Yankees (8-2) on Wednesday is at 4:05 p.m. PT. Starting pitcher for Sacramento former Yankee RHP Luis Severino (0-1 ERA 6.48) for New York RHP Will Warren (1-0 ERA 2.70) at Yankee Stadium.