Sacramento A’s Jacob Wilson and Lawrence Butler (4) celebrate Butler’s home run in the top of the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark on Wed Aug 5, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

Lawrence Butler opened the game with a home run to right-center, but the Sacramento Athletics could not build around it as the Cincinnati Reds earned a 3-2 victory. The loss stretched the A’s skid to seven games and guaranteed their 12th consecutive series defeat. Butler’s homer was his seventh of the season and his first away from home, adding another chapter to his unusual success against the Reds. He entered the game with six homers in only seven career meetings with Cincinnati.

Rhett Lowder recovered quickly after Butler’s swing. Tyler Soderstrom drew a one-out walk in the first, but Lowder struck out Jonah Heim and Jeff McNeil to end the inning. He then retired the Athletics in order in the second and third. Soderstrom drew another walk in the fourth, and Tommy White added a two-out single, but Donovan Walton grounded out to leave both runners aboard.

Jacob Lopez gave the A’s one of his strongest strikeout performances of the season. He struck out Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart and Dane Myers in order in the first, then recorded three more strikeouts in the second. Cincinnati still found a way to score. Noelvi Marte singled, stole second and scored when Jose Trevino sent a two-out grounder into left field.

Lopez kept the Reds from adding another run until the fifth. Matt McLain broke the tie with a solo home run to right-center, giving Cincinnati a 2-1 advantage. De La Cruz followed with a single, but Butler prevented further trouble by throwing him out at second base. Lopez finished with nine strikeouts over five innings, setting a new season high and finishing one short of his career best. He allowed two runs on four hits and one walk.

The Athletics answered in the sixth. Soderstrom singled to center and Heim drove a double into right, bringing Soderstrom home with the tying run. The hit was the 100th double of Heim’s career. Lowder prevented the inning from growing by retiring McNeil and White, completing six innings with two runs allowed on four hits, two walks and three strikeouts.

Cincinnati reclaimed the lead against Hayden Juenger in the bottom half. Stewart reached on a ground ball to the mound, Myers singled him to third and Marte lifted a sacrifice fly to right. Butler made the catch, but Stewart scored easily for a 3-2 Reds lead. José Suarez ended the inning without further damage, and Scott Blewett followed with two scoreless innings to keep the Athletics within one.

The A’s offense never produced another baserunner. Lowder retired the final two hitters he faced, and Cincinnati’s bullpen set down all nine batters after that. Brock Burke handled the seventh and began the eighth, Tejay Antone completed that inning, and Emilio Pagán finished the ninth for the save. In all, the final 11 Athletics hitters were retired.

McNeil’s pursuit of 1,000 career hits will continue after an 0-for-4 game left him at 999. The Athletics finished with four hits, and only Soderstrom reached base more than once. Butler supplied the first run, Heim supplied the second, and the rest of the lineup went 2-for-23.

The series finale Thursday will put Mason Barnett (1-1, 4.85 ERA, 29 strikeouts) opposite Hunter Greene (2-2, 6.83 ERA, 33 strikeouts), with the A’s trying to avoid a sweep when the first pitch is thrown at 9:40 a.m. Pacific.

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.