Author: Sports Radio Service

Athletics post game wrap: Rooker Delivers a Firecracker as the Green and Gold Clutch One Before the Break; Rooker’s 20th delivers 4-3 win over Blue Jays

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Sacramento A’s Brent Rooker (25) is congratulated by teammates Nick Kurtz (16) and Tyler Soderstrom (21) after Rooker’s two run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Sat July 12, 2025 (AP News photo)

Rooker Delivers a Firecracker as the Green and Gold Clutch One Before the Break; Rooker’s 20th delivers 4-3 win over Blue Jays

By Mauricio Segura

Sacramento fans got a late-inning show Saturday night as the Athletics rallied past the Blue Jays, 4-3, in a tightrope thriller. It was a win defined by grit, timely slugging, and the kind of bullpen poise the A’s have been yearning for all season. Brent Rooker’s 20th homer of the year, an absolute missile to left-center, turned a tense fifth inning into a party, and the bullpen slammed the door behind him.

This was more than just a win. It was a momentum-builder heading into the All-Star break, and it came with a dash of redemption, especially against a Blue Jays team that had beaten the A’s in all five prior matchups this season. Sacramento fans, soaking up their team’s debut summer in the capital, had reason to cheer beyond just the home run blasts.

Rooker’s blast came just after rookie first baseman Nick Kurtz singled, giving the A’s their first lead of the night at 4-2 With that shot, Rooker became the first Athletic since Khris Davis and Matt Olson to hit 20 home runs in three consecutive seasons. His power, already enough to earn him a spot in next week’s Home Run Derby, was once again the difference-maker. But this game had more heroes than just the slugging designated hitter.

Center fielder Denzel Clarke quietly put together one of his more mature outings. His third-inning single may have traveled only a few feet off the bat, but it set off a chain reaction. He then capitalized on a wild throw to take second, and Lawrence Butler cashed him in with a single to cut Toronto’s early lead in half. Clarke also made a crucial play on defense in the sixth, snagging a liner off the bat of Bo Bichette that had rally written all over it.

That sixth inning was the beginning of a five-arm relay by the A’s bullpen that held a dangerous Blue Jays lineup to just one run over four innings. After Jacob Lopez grinded through five frames, allowing two runs and scattering five hits, the bullpen stepped in.

Elvis Alvarado, Michael Kelly, Sean Newcomb and Mason Miller combined for four innings of one-run ball. Miller, as he’s done time and again this season, closed it out in the ninth with his signature upper-90s heat and a pair of strikeouts, earning his 18th save and preserving the win.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing. The A’s were outhit 7-6 and missed a couple of early scoring chances. Kevin Gausman had Sacramento’s young lineup looking overmatched through four innings. But the Green and Gold hung tough, aided by a pair of costly catcher interference calls, both against Toronto’s Tyler Heineman, that gave the Athletics extra outs and kept innings alive. Those moments don’t show up in the highlight reels, but they mattered.

And then there was the quiet steadiness of Miguel Andujar. Coming off the injured list earlier in the week, Andujar broke out of an 0-for-14 slump with two hits and a stolen base, injecting life into the middle of the order. Pinch-runner Max Schuemann came in for him in the eighth and swiped second with ease, setting the table for an insurance run that never came but wasn’t needed.

Toronto made things interesting in the eighth when Alejandro Kirk hit a sacrifice fly to bring the Jays within one, but Newcomb’s strikeout of Addison Barger ended the threat. The Blue Jays got the tying run aboard in the ninth, but Mason Miller made sure it didn’t matter, striking out Ernie Clement and George Springer in succession to send the crowd home buzzing.

With the win, the Athletics improve to 40 and 57, snapping a two-game skid and avoiding a season sweep at the hands of the Jays. They’re still anchored to the bottom of the AL West, but this is not the same team that lost 20 of 21 earlier in the year. There’s energy now. Swagger. And a rookie class that looks like it belongs.

Kurtz continues to pace MLB rookies in home runs, Butler is heating up again after a midweek lull, and Clarke, despite his strikeouts, is showing flashes of becoming a dynamic two-way threat. The young core is working together, and if Rooker keeps swinging like this, it’s only going to get more fun in Sacramento.

Starting pitchers for Sunday for the Blue Jays RHP Jose Berrios (5-3 ERA 3.53) for the A’s LHP Jeffrey Springs (7-6 ERA 3.92) a 1:05pm PDT.

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. 

Devin Carter Shines as Kings Improve to 2-0 in Summer League

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Kings vs Bulls at 2025 Summer League on (Photo: Jeremiah Salmonson)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

LAS VEGAS — The Sacramento Kings played their second game of the 2K26 Summer League on Saturday afternoon inside the Cox Pavilion. The Kings defeated the Chicago Bulls 109-92 to stay undefeated at 2-0 in Summer League.

Devin Carter on a mission for the Kings

Devin came out in the second game of Summer League much more effective than the first game. Carter opened the game with 13 points and two rebounds in the first quarter for the Kings. He would go on to finish the first half with 21 points and 2 assists to lead the Kings. In the second half, Carter continued to play at a high level as he finished the game with 30 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.

Kings Summer League head coach Dipesh Mistry was impressed with Carter and his bounce-back performance after the game.

“Devin was great. He was aggressive, he hunted shots, he got to the paint. He made great plays as well. He did a great job.”

Devin Carter himself spoke with us after the game and was pleased with the way he bounced back after a rough first game.

“Definitely a bounce back game…,” Carter said. “All the coaches, they just told me to be aggressive, but the first game, like I said, I wasn’t really being aggressive, taking good shots, I was taking different shots and stuff. So just let the game slow down.”

Devin could be seen in both games adjusting his surgically repaired shoulder—something that certainly appeared alarming. It turns out he had tweaked it earlier in mini camp and has just been playing through some pain recently. The re-aggravation doesn’t appear to be a serious issue and is simply a matter of Devin playing through it.

“My shoulder feels a lot better than it did the first game,” Carter said. “I mean I tweaked it the day before the game and scrimmage that we had [back in Sacramento]. So yeah, I was kind of playing hesitant the first day, but I just had a lot of treatment, a lot of Advil.”

I clarified with Devin if this seems to be an ongoing issue, and he shut me down quickly.

“It wasn’t today [bothering me] really until I fell. It was a little bit, but no, definitely the first game… Ever since I had the surgery, it’ll have its episodes where it’ll hurt a few days and unfortunately for the first game it happened the day before. So it’s fresh.”

Carter seems to think it won’t affect him moving forward, and his head coach Dipesh Mistry has no concerns either.

“There’s nothing really I’m aware of. He’s able to play.”

Nique Clifford has solid all-around follow-up to the first game

Nique Clifford had his full game on display on Saturday. Nique finished the game with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists. It was a bit of a different look from Clifford, who took a while to get going in the first game. Clifford was distributing from the start on Saturday and did an excellent job rebounding for the Kings. It was an all-around solid effort from Nique that followed his strong second-half debut on Thursday night.

His rebounding and passing were on full display in the game. Coach Dip, after the game, said Clifford made a lot of the right reads—and that’s what he continues to want to see from the rookie.

“For his passing, it’s just making the right play. If he consistently makes the right play, he’s good. So it’s not just passing, it’s like he’s got to look at the rim and he’s got to attract the low man. He’s got to attract the help. And then from there he makes the read. It might be score. It is not really just about passing, it’s more about making the right read.”

Maxime Raynaud has quiet, solid night

The unsung performance of the night certainly goes to Maxime Raynaud. He had another solid offensive game in a matchup that was mostly dominated by Devin Carter. Maxime finished with 17 points, five rebounds, and two assists in the game.

We have yet to really see Maxime’s defensive presence around the rim in Summer League. Time will tell if that becomes a focus for him in his early career with the Kings.

This Kings group at Summer League has been fun to watch, and it will be interesting to see how the main group of young guys will fit into Kings head coach Doug Christie’s plans come training camp.

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. 

Giants dropped Game 2 (1-1), while the Dodgers avoided their 8th straight loss with 2-1 win on a Sunny Day in the City by the Bay

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Los Angeles Dodgers DH/Pitcher Shohei Ohtani walks back to the dugout after striking out against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the seventh inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Jul 12, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The San Francisco Giants (56-40) were unable to grasp the win from the negative streaking Los Angeles Dodgers (53-43) 2-1, in front of another sellout Oracle Park crowd, on a beautiful Saturday Afternoon.

All eyes were on two huge figures on the mound. Legendary Giant Barry Bonds tossed the ceremonial First Pitch, as he was being honored for his greatness in the previous iteration of the ballpark on 3rd and King. Shohei Ohtani was the other star on the bump, as he was displaying his historic diversity as a multi-talented player

After the Dodgers offense did not produce any runs in the top of the first inning, including Ohtani grounding out to first base, he struck out the sides in the bottom of the frame. Within his limited time on the mound, his offense did give him some run support.

In the top of the second inning, third baseman Tommy Edman ushered in teammate Michael Conforto home plate, on a groundout to second base. Dodgers were up 1-0, as Ohtani was dealing a no-hitter in the early innings

His time pitching lasted only three innings, and after 2 2/3 no-hit innings pitched, Michael Yastrzemski performed the only knock off of the emerging legend. He also had four strikeouts during his pitching tenure. However, his appearances at the plate were not as productive.

In the top of the sixth the Dodgers added to their slim total. Second baseman Hyeseong Kim slapped a single to left field, scoring Conforto again, but he was gunned out at second base, trying to stretch the single into a double, ending a possible big inning. Los Angeles was up 2-0 at that point of the game.

The Giants were finally in a position to get off the goose egg in the bottom of the eighth. With a bases loaded scenario in play, the home team was only able to earn a single run, instead of blowing the contest open. Highly praised acquisition Rafael Devers hit a deep sacrifice fly ball to right field, resulting in the Giants lone run, scored by Mike Yastrzemski. The game was still in balance, with the ninth left to play.

Unfortunately for the home team, they ended the game with a foul out and two strikeouts. The Dodgers finally ended their long seven losing streak, and defeated their arch rival on both coasts.

The Giants loss evened the series at 1-1, with the “Rubber Game” being Sunday, July 13 at 1:05 PM PT. The expected pitching matchup is LAD RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-7, 2.77) versus SFG LHP Robbie Ray (9-3, 2.63).

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Roberson: Pitchers duel ends in one run decision for Dodgers; Ex Giant Conforto delivers with 3 hits and 2 runs for LA

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Los Angeles Dodgers Michael Conforto scores (center) one of his two runs in the top of the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Jul 12, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Roberson:

#1 The Los Angeles Dodgers came into Oracle Park and snapped their seven game skid against the San Francisco Giants in game two of this three game series 2-1.

#2 For the most part of the game it was a pitcher’s duel with the Dodgers Shohei Ohtani starting going three innings, allowing one hit, one walk, and four strikeouts. As usual as a precaution Ohtani made an early exit.

#3 For San Francisco Giant starter Landen Roupp pitched six innings allowing seven hits, two runs, one earned run, a walk and eight strike outs. Roupp was key with his eight strikeouts but still took the loss dropping his record to 6-6.

#4 Big day for ex Giant Michael Conforto with three hits and scoring two runs. Conforto turned out to be the key figure in this game as the Dodgers just got by the Giants 2-1 and Conforto supplying all the run production for LA.

#5 Game 3 the rubber game match up Sunday at Oracle Park for the Dodgers RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-7 ERA 2.77) will be opposed by the Giants LHP Robbie Ray (9-3 ERA 2.63) first pitch at 1:05pm PT.

Michael Roberson is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Aces Break 2-Game Losing Streak Beating a Feisty Golden State Squad In a Thriller 104-102

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Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) loses control of the ball after being fouled by Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton, left, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Saturday, July 12, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)Steve Marcus/Associated Press

By Rich Perez

It was far from easy for the Las Vegas Aces (10-11) as they beat the Golden State Valkyries (10-10) in a thriller 104-102 breaking their two-game losing streak on Saturday. The Valkyries were on fire in the first half hitting nine three’s but fell short in the second half as the Aces really stepped up taking the lead for most of the third and fourth quarters.

A’Ja Wilson had 25 points in the first half along with 16 rebounds (another double double for her) and finished with 34 points. Jackie Young finished off this game hitting four free throws down the stretch, two of them in the final 6.5 seconds of play.

As this game got underway at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, the Aces took a slim lead after the first quarter of play leading 23-21. Despite being a new franchise, the Valkyries have had a great start to the season with a 11-10 record in sixth place in the Western Conference. The first quarter had been a hotly contested affair.

Golden State won the second quarter outscoring the Aces 25-22. At the half the Valkyries had a single point lead 46-45. The Ace’s Wilson had her highest scoring half with 25 points. Las Vegas would need more from Chelsea Gray and also from Jewell Loyd in the second half of play.

The Valkyries led for much of the first half but the Aces turned that all-around in the the quarter. They took as much as a seven point lead in the quarter and after three quarters led 76-72. Jewell Loyd got really hot in the second half and finished the first three quarters with 15 points. Las Vegas needed to extend their lead and put this game away putting an end to their losing streak.

At 7:09 in the fourth quarter, the Aces had established an 85-77 lead. Jackie Young was on a roll with 20 points. Wilson had another double double already with 13 rebounds to accompany her 28 points and she was far from finished.

Every time the Valkyries made a move in the final quarter, the Aces had the answer. Golden State was doing everything they could to put the stops on Wilson but it was not working. With five minutes left in the game, the Aces had a 87-81 lead.

There was still a lot of time on clock for either of these two teams to come away with a win. As the clock ticked away with under four minutes the Aces really clamped down on the Valkyries leading 90-81. The Valkyries had not had a three in the second half after hitting 9 in the first half but with three plus minutes left in the game they hit their tenth and it was a four point game 90-86 with Las Vegas hanging. This game was going down to the wire.

There were two play stoppages in the final minutes of the fourth quarter which really challenged both teams down the stretch. Both reviews favored the Aces. With 1:34 left on the clock the Valkyries not only scored but drew a foul and this game was tied at 94.

With under a minute left the Aces took back the lead at 98-94 in a wild finish. Las Vegas finished off this game with a couple of free throws from Jackie Young with 6.5 seconds left on the clock and the Aces had broken their losing streak; the final was 104-102.

The Las Vegas Aces found a way to finish this game but a lot of credit has to go to the Golden State Valkyries who fought tooth and nail throughout the entire game. The Aces had weathered the storm with Wilson scoring 34 points, finishing with yet another double double , Young with 30 points and Jewell Loyd with 15 points. The Aces were 10 of 10 from the line in the fourth quarter.

The Valkyries starting lineup had a great showing with every player scoring in double digits. Tiffany Hayes and Janelle Salaun finishing with 16 points apiece.

Game notes: The 2025 season has not started the way the Aces had envisioned. Last season they lost in the playoffs to the eventual winners in the semi-final round and going into 2025 they came in with high hopes that have not panned out.

Their starting roster has most of last years starters with the addition of Jewell Loyd. They have lost two games in a row and Saturday the Aces got back on track as they took on the new franchise, the Valkyries. Las Vegas is ninth in the standings, a position that they could not have imagined going into the season.

They missed Wilson for a few games who was on concussion protocol. Wilson also missed their last game with an injured right wrist in a loss to the Mystics and before that they dropped a game to the New York Liberty. The season is almost at the half-way mark and there is till a lot of time to move up in the standings and Saturday they got a great opportunity to end their losing skid.

Las Vegas will not take the court until next Wednesday when they hit the road taking on the Dallas Wings followed by the All-Star game next Saturday. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 5:00 PM.

Tune in for the All-Star game next Saturday with tipoff scheduled for 5:30 PM on ABC. The Aces Wilson will be a starter on Team Clark chosen at pick # 5 and Jackie Young was selected for the second team picked at # 18. Las Vegas will be back in regular season action on Tuesday night taking on the Atlanta Dream.

Ballers continue to roll shutout Vibes 9-0

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The Pioneer League first half champions Oakland Ballers continue to roll with a win over the Rocky Mountain Vibes 9-0 on Fri Jul 11, 2025 (Oakland Ballers x photo)

Rocky Mountain Vibes (22-23) 000 000 000 0 5 1

Oakland Ballers (35-11) 015 020 10x 9 12 3

Time: 2:47

Attendance:2,872

Friday, July 11, 2025

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–Who says a baseball game has to be close, or even significant, to be interesting? Certainly not the first half champion Oakland Ballers and the Rocky Mountain Vibes, the team they defeated on Thursday the 10th to clinch the championship and who fell to the champs this Friday the 11th by the overwhelming score of 9-0 in an anti-climactic game that featured, as the result indicates, excellent offense and defence by the home team and a series of of out of the ordinary events that kept the crowd of 2,872 entertained but by no means on edge of their seats.

Here’s a partial list of those happenings: Cam Bufford, usually a DH or third baseman, played first base for the entire nine innings. Six different players occupied the seventh slot in the batting order; five of them were pitchers, and three of them actually threw at least one pitch in anger.

The two more were pinch hitters, and one, Zach St. Pierre (who else?) was a pinch runner. Lou Helmig, whose sixth inning opposite field single drove in the tie breaking run in Thursday’s tense victory, drove in three runs in tonight’s laugher, two of them on a fifth inning round tripper.

The B’s scored their first run in the second frame. Their first hit came in the third, a two out homer by Bufford that ignited a five run outburst that sealed the Vibes’ doom The visitors showed some slight signs of life in their last turns at the plate.

Ryan Pierce, making a rare start at the hot corner for Oakland, committed three errors in the game. Two of them enabled Rocky Mountain’s first two ninth inning batters to reach base. This didn’t faze Adam Bogasian, one of the half dozen seventh slotters, who promptly fanned Will Butcher, and got Stephen Wilmer, the ex-Baller who had homered the night before, to hit into a 1-3 DP.

Bogasian seemed to pick the ball that had been shot to him right out of his hip pocket Noah Millikan earned the win with six innings of four hit shutout ball.

That’s the Pioneer League equivalent of a complete game. Calem Franzin, along with Bogasian one of the pair of seventh slotters who didn’t make a plate appearance, gave up one hit and struck out four in his two innings. Bogasian mopped up the mess in the top of the ninth.

Nick Leehey, giving Tremayne Cobb a day off from playing short, and Esai Santos, filling in for second sacker Danny Harris, were the only Baller starters to go hitless. Helmig led the team in hits, with three. Tyler Losano had gone one for one when what could have been a damaged hamstring pulled him out of action and precipitated the overcrowding of the seventh spot in the order.

The fun and games will resume Saturday, afternoon at 4:35, followed by the last game of the first half of the season on Sunday the 13th at 1:35.

MLB The Show podcast Bruce Macgowan: Dodger-Giant rivalry history; Will Bonds ever get in the Hall? Giants pay tribute with “House that Barry Built” video

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Barry Bonds addresses the media during a 2003 press conference at the height of the BALCO controversy. Bonds is being honored by the San Francisco Giants with the video called “The house that Barry Bonds built” (SF Gate file photo)

MLB The Show podcast Bruce Macgowan:

#1 The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants have some long and rich history that goes back to the late 1940s and through the 1950s and through today.

#2 Talking about some of those historic days of the Dodgers and Giants rivalries you were at the game in 1965 when former Giant Juan Marichal hit former Dodger John Roseboro with a bat on the head and causing a bench clearing melee. Years later Marichal made up with Roseboro. The baseball writers at the time didn’t vote to put Marichal in the Hall of Fame because of the incident but Roseboro went to the writers and said to give Marichal another chance and it was something that Marichal was forever grateful for.

#3 Former Dodger managers Walter Alston and Tommy LaSorda were legendary managers and took the Dodgers to the World Series. With current manager Dave Roberts he’s taken the Dodgers to the World Series numerous times under his tutelage do you consider Roberts in that same circle as Alston and LaSorda?

#4 The Giants are paying tribute to Barry Bonds with a video called “The House that Barry Built” some reporters and talk show hosts point out why are the Giants paying tribute to Bonds, that there is a reason why Bonds has not been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. They say he was a huge part of the BALCO controversy, he had alleged connections to steroids through his former trainer Greg Anderson and that he’s guilty in the court of public opinion as far as the BBWAA is concerned regarding the Federal Grand Jury investigation where he said he unknowingly took steroids and was found guilty of obstruction of justice. Does that all go away now that the Giants want to pay tribute to him?

#5 One of the biggest fears that fans have is what took place at Dodger Stadium when ICE agents showed up at their front gates trying to gain access to get at fans, employees, and anyone that moved. The Dodgers wound denying ICE access to the park. Is this still something that fans, employees and maybe even the players have to worry about at ball games?

Bruce Macgowan is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants garnered a thrilling victory in the series opener versus Dodgers 8-7, on a cool Friday Night in the Bay

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San Francisco Giant Dominic Smith gives praise to the almighty after hitting a bottom of the fifth inning home run off the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Fri July 11, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO. Calif. — The San Francisco Giants (52-43) handed the slumping defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers (56-39) their seventh straight loss 8-7, in front of a raucous sellout (40,785) crowd at Oracle Park on Friday night.

It was an electric atmosphere on the corners of 3rd and King.  Mostly for the Japanese Sensation and 2024 MVP Shohei Othtani.  Although his team took another L, the fans did get their money’s worth with his moderate performance.

The Dodgers did get on base right away, as Ohtani walked as the initial batter of the game.  However, he nor the rest of the Dodgers did not cross the plate in the top of the first.

The Giants, on the other hand, did change the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning when shortstop Willy Adames belted a solo home run.  The home team was on top 1-0 after two frames.

However, immediately in the top of the third inning, the aforementioned Ohtani blasted a two run homer into the vaunted McCovey Cove amidst the gasping crowd.  Los Angeles moved in front, 2-1.  Infielder Hyeseong Kim also scored on the dinger.  There was definitely a Buzz all throughout the ballpark.

The Giants responded in their half of the fourth inning, when center fielder Jung Hoo Lee hit a two run triple.  That feat scored Rafael Devers and Matt Chapman.  The Giants retook the lead 3-2 at that point, but unfortunately Lee was tagged out at the plate on a bang-bang play by left fielder Michael Conforto.  That momentarily stopped the bleeding.

The bottom of the fifth inning was a pinnacle moment in the contest.  The Giants scored five runs in that inning, and seemingly put the game out of reach for the struggling ball team from Southern California.  The Giants used a multitude of ways to cross home plate in the fifth.

First baseman Dominic Smith hit a deep homer to left-center, putting his team up by two, 4-2.   Next, Chapman got a fielder;s choice RBI, plating catcher Patrick Bailey.  Then Adames slapped a two-run triple to center field, allowing Chapman and Mike Yastrzemski to score.  Finally, Lee’s single knocked in Adames, culminating the five run fifth inning explosion.  San Francisco led 8-2 after the midpoint No Cal/So Cal Battle.

Never underestimate the heart of a champion, despite them limping into the Bay Area.  LA managed to cut the six run deficit to two, after a four-run sixth.  Teoscar Hernandez hit a two-run double, pushing in Lee and Mookie Betts.  Michael Conforto blasted a two run homer, bringing in Hernandez, along with himself.

There was worry in Downtown San Francisco, and that was even more exacerbated in the top of the seventh block,  Will Smith cracked a single, scoring Betts, and placing the Dodgers one run behind the recently scoreless Giants.

In the top of the ninth inning, the guests from the South had two men on base and the opportunity to tie or take the lead,  Oracle was a very intense environment for the competitive moment in time for the California rivals of today, and NYC rivals nearly 70 years ago.

The moment of truth was when reliever Camiio Doval forced the Dodgers to hit into a game-saving 5-4-3 double-play, extending the Dodgers losing streak to seven.  Doval notched his 15th save of the season, while Logan Webb got the win (9-6).  The Giants prevailed by one, 8-7.

The two teams will be right back at it Saturday Afternoon, July 12 at 1:05 PM PT, with the multifaceted RHP Shohei Ohtani (0-0, ERA 1.50) on the mound for the Dodgers, and RHP Landon Roupp (6-5,ERA 3.39) on the bump for the Giants.

Fireworks After the Firestorm as Athletics Nearly Burn the Jays; Sacramento loses in nailbiter 7-6

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Sacramento A’s starter Luis Severino pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays in the top of the second inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Fri Jul 11, 2025 (AP News photo)

Fireworks After the Firestorm as Athletics Nearly Burn the Jays; Sacramento loses in nailbiter 7-6

By Mauricio Segura

There was no shortage of heat at Sutter Health Park on Friday night, and we’re not just talking about the triple-digit temperature that greeted the first pitch. Under a fiery Sacramento sky, the Athletics fell just short of a miracle comeback, dropping a 7-6 heartbreaker to the Toronto Blue Jays in front of 7950 fans at Sutter Health Park. While the box score won’t show a win, this one will stick in the memory bank, if only for the sheer chaos and late-game fireworks.

Luis Severino, who’s been carrying the weight of the season’s struggles, started for the Green and Gold and immediately found himself navigating minefields. The right-hander entered the game with a league-worst home ERA, and his woes continued. Though he managed to escape the early innings without damage, Toronto’s bats came alive in the fifth inning and didn’t show mercy.

The fifth began with a throwing error from second baseman Zack Gelof and quickly spiraled into disaster. A rare double steal saw Vladimir Guerrero Jr. swipe second and George Springer sprint home, putting the Jays up 2-0. That was just the spark.

After a pair of RBI singles and a bases-loaded single from Myles Straw, the floodgates burst open. When Nathan Lukes laced a two-run double, his seventh of the season, the scoreboard screamed 7-0 in favor of the visitors. Severino was done for the night, his ERA inflating to 5.30 as the Sacramento crowd sighed and sweat in unison.

To Severino’s credit, the struggles aren’t new. He’s been a tale of two pitchers in 2025, solid on the road but cursed at home. With this loss, he now owns an 0-8 record at home with a sky-high 7.04 ERA. The veteran just hasn’t been able to find rhythm in Sacramento, and Friday was no exception.

But if there’s one thing this team doesn’t lack, it’s grit.

Down 7-0, the Athletics found their swing in the sixth inning, sparked by rookie sensation Nick Kurtz. The 22-year-old, already leading MLB rookies with 15 home runs, added to his resume with a two-run bomb to center, his 16th on the season. Just three batters later, Tyler Soderstrom sent another shot to dead center, cutting the deficit to 7-3 and electrifying the home crowd.

Despite that jolt, the momentum hit a wall until the ninth. Down to their final three outs and trailing by four, the A’s dug deep again. Max Muncy, who’d been mired in a mini-slump, jolted one over the center field fence for his ninth home run, trimming the lead to three.

Zack Gelof worked a walk and Denzel Clarke slapped a single to left, putting runners at the corners with one out. A wild pitch from Toronto’s Jeff Hoffman brought home Gelof. Two pitches later, Brent Rooker laced an RBI single to left, scoring Clarke and making it a one-run game. The stadium, now fully alive, was bouncing.

Then came the turning point.

With the tying run at first and two outs, Kurtz, the hero of the sixth, stepped up. But Hoffman, digging deep, got the strikeout he needed. The Sacramento rally ended at the edge of glory.

Still, what had looked like a sleepwalk to the All-Star Break turned into a legitimate thriller. And even in a loss, there were bright spots.

Kurtz continues to play like a future star. His home run was his 11th at Sutter Health Park, and he now leads all rookies not just in homers but also in clutch moments, with seven of his long balls coming in the eighth inning or later.

Soderstrom, too, is heating up. His 17th home run was his fourth in the last eight games, and his improved approach at the plate shows.

The bullpen, a sore spot for much of the year, held its own after Severino’s early exit. Osvaldo Bido, just recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas, threw two solid innings, and the back-end arms kept the game close enough for the offense to make noise.

Defensively, it wasn’t the A’s sharpest outing, with an error contributing to the fifth-inning meltdown. But there were flashes. Denzel Clarke’s work in center was once again stellar, and he continues to justify his spot in the lineup with both glove and bat.

Despite the loss, the Athletics are showing something that’s easy to overlook in a sub-.500 season: resilience. Even after being outscored 7-0 midway through the fifth, they battled back with heart and hustle. And while the comeback fell just short, the buzz around the club, especially its young core, is very real.

As they head into the weekend with two more games against Toronto before the All-Star Break, one thing is clear. The Sacramento A’s aren’t mailing it in. They’re taking their swings, throwing punches, and making every inning count. The standings may not show it, but this team is building something.

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. 

Bay Area Panthers Game Recap: Panthers Roar to Seventh Straight Jungle victory in Home Finale, 55-54

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Bay Area Panthers quarterback Josh Jones rushes pass Vegas Knight Hawks Bryce Hampton in for the touchdown. Sparking the roaring fans in the Jungle. (Photo credits to Sports Radio Services photographer Antonio Garcia)

By: Michael Villanueva

SAN JOSE–The Bay Area Panthers defended The Jungle one last time this regular season, hosting the Vegas Knight Hawks in an intense and high-energy night at the SAP Center. With sirens flashing and the crowd roaring in support of local heroes, First Responders Night made the Panthers’ last home game of the season memorable.  

The Panthers had already secured their postseason journey, entering the game at 10-3. Meanwhile, the Knight Hawks came in with everything on the line — sitting at 8-5, a win would lock them into the playoff picture. Vegas arrived riding a two-game winning streak, while the Bay Area was looking to rebound after a tough 46-38 road loss to the San Diego Strike Force just four days ago — their first defeat since May.

The Bay Area wasted no time setting the tone early. After his 21-yard run earlier in the game, quarterback Josh Jones scrambled in for a 5-yard score on just the fourth play of their opening drive. The Panthers scored first, 6-0, but kicker Axel Perez missed the extra point.

Momentum stayed with the Bay Area immediately after, as they recovered a short squib kickoff and capitalized with another touchdown. This time, Jones connected with Tosin Oyekanmi for a 4-yard score to extend the lead to 14-0 midway through the first quarter.

The defense held strong to cap off the quarter. The Knight Hawks’ offense was shut down on their opening possession, turning the ball over on downs. The Panthers regained possession and were back in control facing a 4th-and-6 as the first quarter came to a close.

Maurice Jackson sacked Josh Jones for a loss of eight yards, which turned the ball over on downs and started the second quarter with a rare Bay Area error. Vegas swiftly seized it. The lead was cut to 14-7 in just two plays as Vegas quarterback Johnson hit CJ Windham Jr. for a 13-yard touchdown.

Josh Jones took matters into his own hands once more on their turn, rushing for a 15-yard score after connecting with Tyrese Chambers for a 15-yard gain. The score was 20–7 after Axel Perez missed his second extra point of the evening. Vegas answered right back. On 4th down, Vegas QB Ja’Rome Johnson launched a 26-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Wimbush, bringing the Knight Hawks back within six after a successful extra point, 20-14.

The Bay Area offensive remained dominant. Jones gave Josh Tomas an 8-yard pass for a first down after opening the next drive with a 6-yard keeper. The Panthers reached the 1-yard line after a 14-yard pass to Tomas, who punched it in for another touchdown. Perez extended the lead to 28-14 by making a perfect drop-kick extra point this time.

However, Vegas continued to fight. The Knight Hawks gained possession of the ball at the 7-yard line after recovering the Panthers’ unsuccessful squib kick. Then Knight Hawks Johnson, cashed in with a short touchdown run, and the extra point was good — pulling Vegas within one score, 28-21.

The Knight Hawks attempted to score again as the half was coming to a close, but an interception in the end zone stopped a drive into the red zone, giving the Bay Area a 28–21 lead at the half inside The Jungle.
With an 18-yard touchdown run by Antonio Wimbush, Vegas started the third quarter with a change in momentum. Vegas took their first lead of the evening, 29-28, after making a perfect two-point deuce on the kickoff, even though the extra point was no good.

Josh Jones was unfazed and quickly recovered with a 10-yard completion before throwing his second touchdown pass of the game to Tosin Oyekanmi, who was 29 yards away. However, Perez missed his third extra point of the evening, another drop-kick, bringing the Panthers’ lead to 34-29.

When Vegas went into the red zone but was stopped on fourth down, the defense once again came through for the Bay Area. As the third quarter came to an end, the Panthers leaned on Josh Tomas to pick up two first downs, including a 9-yard gain in the air, with the ball back on their 7-yard line.

Josh Jones increased the lead with a 20-yard rushing touchdown to start the fourth quarter. The Bay Area led 41-29 after Perez made the extra point. 

With the help of a defensive penalty from the Panthers, Vegas launched a determined drive in response, and Ja’Rome Johnson scored from the one-yard line. It was 41-36 after the extra point. On the Bay Area’s next possession, Vegas’ defense came up huge — forcing a turnover on downs deep in Panther territory. 

Vegas QB De Laura hit Randolph with a 33-yard touchdown bomb on their opening play. Vegas had a 42-41 lead, but the PAT failed. In the last two minutes, Vegas made a last push. Wimbush brought them to the 1-yard line, and Johnson punched it in. Wimbush brought them to the 1-yard line, and Johnson punched it in, but the two-point attempt was swarmed and stopped, making it 48-47 Vegas snagging the lead.

With 49 seconds left, the Panthers had one last chance. The Panthers have a final opportunity with 49 seconds remaining. Jones dropped back and hit Tyrese Chambers with a dart for a 27-yard game-winning touchdown after they had started at their own 20. The Panthers led 55-48 with 36 seconds left after he followed that up with a successful two-point conversion to Alexander.

Vegas wasn’t done yet. The Knight Hawks made a last-second touchdown pass to Windham Jr. after swiftly pushing the ball downfield. They needed a two-point conversion to win with no time remaining, but the pass was dropped in the end zone. The final score was 55-54 Bay Area Panthers win.

With six touchdowns overall, three through the air and three on the ground, quarterback Josh Jones was the Panthers’ alpha leader throughout the game. He also regularly performed well under pressure. The Bay Area outlasted a determined Vegas team thanks in large part to his poise and dual-threat skill. The Panthers’ regular season isn’t quite done, despite the dramatic way they ended their home schedule.

The Bay Area will now travel for their final two games, first against the Tucson Sugar Skulls on July 19 and then the Massachusetts Pirates on July 25 for the regular-season finale. The Bay Area Panthers are now 11-3 with two more games.