Tampa Bay Rays Liam Hicks looks on after being tagged out at the plate by Sacramento A’s catcher Brian Serven (not pictured) in the top of the third inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Wed Aug 12, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Maurcio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics kept Tampa Bay within reach for three innings, then watched the Rays turn a one-run game into a steep climb. Things are not changing for this Sacramento temporarily anchored ballclub. Liam Hicks’ three-run homer capped a four-run fourth inning and pushed Tampa Bay past the A’s 8-4, despite late solo homers from Zack Gelof and Lawrence Butler.

Jack Perkins escaped the first without allowing a run despite Hicks’ two-out double that sent Junior Caminero to third. The second was different. Jonny DeLuca opened with a double, Cedric Mullins beat out a bunt single, and Richie Palacios drove in DeLuca with a single to left. Taylor Walls moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt, and Mullins scored when Yandy Díaz reached on a fielder’s choice that included a fielding error by Perkins. Jonathan Aranda then grounded into a double play, limiting Tampa Bay to two runs.

The Rays added another run in the third when Caminero singled, Hicks followed with a base hit and Mullins doubled home Caminero. Hicks tried to score on the play, but Carlos Cortes started a relay through Donovan Walton to Brian Serven, who recorded the out at the plate. That defensive play mattered moments later.

In the bottom half, Walton was hit by a pitch and Gelof singled before Cortes drove a double into right. Both runners scored, cutting Tampa Bay’s lead to 3-2 and giving the A’s their best chance to turn the game around.

Tampa Bay answered immediately, scoring all of its fourth-inning runs with two outs. Díaz singled, Aranda followed with another hit, and Caminero brought Díaz home with a single to left. Hicks then changed the shape of the game with a three-run homer to right-center, scoring Aranda and Caminero for a 7-2 advantage.

Perkins finished five innings after DeLuca doubled again in the fifth but was left stranded. The right-hander allowed 12 hits and seven runs. His outing continued a difficult stretch that had already included an eight-game losing streak entering the start, while A’s starters carried a 6.62 ERA in August before the game. The club’s pitching staff also entered with a 5.49 season ERA, the highest in the majors.

The Athletics’ bullpen gave the offense a chance to chip away. Drew Rom retired all three batters he faced in the sixth, Scott Blewett worked around DeLuca’s single and stolen base in the seventh, and Seth Johnson handled a scoreless ninth. Hayden Juenger allowed Tampa Bay’s final run in the eighth when Palacios drew a walk, Walls singled and Díaz drove in Palacios with a base hit.

The A’s finally found the seats in the bottom of the eighth. Gelof hit his 13th homer to left-center, and after Cortes struck out, Butler added his ninth to right-center. The two solo shots made it 8-4, but Michael Grove stopped the inning there and Tampa Bay retired the side in order in the ninth.

Gelof’s day also carried a bigger streak. He entered with a 23-game home hitting streak, already the second-longest by an Athletic in the expansion era behind Carney Lansford’s 30-game run in 1984, and his third-inning single pushed it to 24. Tyler Soderstrom also extended his hitting streak to ten games with a first-inning double. He had already posted two other ten-game streaks this season, making him the first Athletic with three streaks of at least ten games in one season since Jay Payton in 2006.

After a Thursday breather, the A’s welcome the Rangers on Friday at 6:40 p.m. Pacific, with ESPN currently listing Kumar Rocker (4-9, 4.46 ERA, 103 K) opposite Gage Jump (5-7, 4.46 ERA, 84 K), although MLB still has both starters officially marked TBD.

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.