Sacramento A’s catcher Shea Langeliers (23) congratulates pitcher Jon Kuhnel (right) after defeating the New York Yankees in the bottom of the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Wed Apr 8, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK.—The Sacramento Athletics rallied to beat the New York Yankees 3-2 at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night and tied the three-game series.

Brent Rooker hit a sacrifice fly off David Bednar that sealed the game for the A’s after four innings of a 2-2 tied score.

In the first inning, Cody Bellinger singled on a fly ball to left fielder Tyler Soderstrom and Trent Grisham scored, putting the Yankees up 1-0.

Then Shea Langeliers challenged a pitch result and the call on the field was confirmed, allowing J.C. Escarra to walk and Aaron Judge to score, and boosting New York up 2-0.

In the fourth inning, Jeff McNeil singled on a ground ball to Bellinger and Lawrence Butler scored, and the A’s trailed the Yankees 2-1. On a wild pitch by WIll Warren, Max Muncy scored and tied the game 2-2.

In the ninth, Rooker went out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Trent Grisham and Nick Kurtz scored, giving Oakland the win.

A’s starting pitcher Luis Severino in his third start of the season allowed two runs in five innings without recording a decision.

“I know I got the stuff to go through a good lineup, so I decided to fight, go out there against a great lineup, a team that has been in the playoffs many years, so I’m happy,” said Severino.

Right-handed pitcher Joel Kuhnel tossed a perfect ninth and recorded his first save of the season, which was his first since 2022. Kuhnel didn’t make the Opening Day roster but was called up on Tuesday and said he felt “really relaxed, honestly.”

“Coming up, just really felt at home,” he said. “No weird first-day jitters because I was around a bunch of guys I didn’t know. So, I felt really good and really relaxed.”

A’s manager Mark Kotsay said of Kuhnel: “He’s only got one save in his career, and to come in that moment there with a one-run lead and get three outs, it says a lot about just the grind that he’s put in to get back here in the big leagues.”

Kotsay added that the bullpen “did a great job.”

The A’s (4-7) are 1-1 in their six-game road trip which will continue in the Bronx on Thursday. First pitch for their last game of the series against the Yankees (8-2) is at 10:35 a.m PDT. Sacramento’s LHP Jeffrey Springs (1-0 ERA 2.38) will face New York’s LHP Ryan Weathers (0-0, ERA 4.30).