Author: Sports Radio Service

San Jose Barracuda crack Calgary Wranglers 8-3

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San Jose Barracuda vs Calgary Flames on Friday April 18th at Scotiabank Saddledome (via sjbarracuda/instagram)

By Madison Montez

The San Jose Barracuda got big jump on the Calgary Wranglers and took for the first game of this two set 8-3 on Friday.

The Barracuda opened up the scoring early on the first shot of the game at 2:23 of the first period. Luca Cagnoni broke a franchise record for most goals by a defensemen, scoring his 15th of the season. Calgary tied the game at 1-1, courtesy of Martin Frk. A puck off of Pavol Regenda gave San Jose their lead back, Regenda with his eighth of the season.

37 seconds into the second, San Jose got out to a three to one lead. Filip Bystedt scored his 12th of the year on a wide open net. The Barracuda struck again a minute later when Patrick Giles scored his ninth of the season.

With a 4-1 lead, San Jose chased out Devin Cooley, Walterri Ignatjew came in with 18 minutes left of the second. Braden Hache extended the lead to 5-1 scoring from the left point, his third of the season. San Jose blew the game open when Scott Sabourin hit the ten goal mark to improve the score to 6-1.

On a takeaway by the Wranglers, Calgary cut into San Jose’s lead, Carter Wilkie scoring his second goal of the season.

Going into the third period, San Jose didn’t take their foot off of the gas pedal. Scoring their second powerplay goal, Luca Cagnoni scored his second of the day. Calgary kept fighting with William Strömgren scoring his 14th goal to cut the lead to 7-3. To seal the win, Anthony Vincent scored his tenth goal to make the score 8-3.

San Jose was on a scoring frenzy all game, but Calgary dominated the shots on goals. After the first period, San Jose outshot Calgary 9 -4. After the second period, Calgary outshot San Jose 16-9. To end the game, San Jose outshot Calgary 12-7 in the third.

Both teams stayed out of the box for most of the game. San Jose committed only two penalties and Calgary wasn’t able to capitalize. Calgary committed four penalties and San Jose was able to capitalize on half of them.

For San Jose, Gabriel Carriere got the start with Aaron Dell backing up. Carriere, recording the win, made 26 saves on 29 shots. For Calgary, the Bay Area native Devin Cooley got the start. Cooley, recording the loss, made eight saves on 12 shots. Ignatjew who entered the game during the second period, made 14 saves on 17 shots.

THREE STARS OF THE GAME:

  • 1. Luca Cagnoni
  • 2. Danil Guschin
  • 3. Scott Sabourin

The Barracuda will close out the regular season tomorrow against this Calgary team. Playoffs are still being decided but San Jose will host the second round at home at Tech Cu Arena.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast Len Shapiro Fri Apr 18, 2025: Playoffs begin Saturday night; Eight games in total

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The Winnipeg Jets Dylan Samberg (54), Neil Pionk (4), Cole Perfetti (91), Nino Niederreiter (62), celebrate Pionk’s goal against the Anaheim Ducks in the second period on Wed Apr 16, 2025 during the final regular season game in Winnipeg. The Jets are the favorites in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to make the finals as they face off against the St Louis Blues on Sat Apr 19, 2025. (Canadian Press photo via AP)

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast Len Shapiro Fri Apr 18, 2025:

#1 Len, lets take a run down of the the NHL Playoff series. Starting with the St Louis Blues (44-30-8) and Winnipeg Jets (56-22-4). The Jets are the winner of this year’s presidents cup do you see them as the favorites in the Stanley Cup on Saturday night?

#2 The Ottawa Senators (45-35-7) going against the Toronto Maple Leafs (52-26-4) on Sun Apr 20th.

#3 The battle of the Florida teams it’s a real rivalry going on with the Florida Panthers ((47-31-4) they’ll take on the Tampa Bay Lightning (47-27-8) starting Tue Apr 22.

#4 Mon Apr 21 it’s the Montreal Canadiens (40-31-11) going up against Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals (51-22-9) at the Capital Center on Mon Apr 21st.

#5 New Jersey Devils (42-33-7) against the Carolina Hurricanes (47-30-5) this Sun Apr 20th.

#6 Sat Apr 19 it’ll be the Colorado Avalanche (49-29-4) at the Dallas Stars (50-26-6).

#7 Sun Apr 20 Minnesota Wild (45-30-7) at the Las Vegas Golden Knights (50-22-10)

#8 The Edmonton Oilers (48-29-5) will be facing off against the Los Angeles Kings (48-24-9) on Monday Apr 21st at Crypto.com Arena.

Len Shapiro does the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants Fall To Philadelphia 6-4 Ending In a Tie Series

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By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants fell behind in the first inning 5-1 and never recovered losing to the Philadelphia Phillies 6-4 tying up their four game series at 2 apiece. Matt Chapman and Tyler Fitzgerald both had home runs, Chapman a 2-run homer and Fitzgerald a solo shot. The Phillies only had one more run in the eighth inning but it was enough for the win. Philly pitcher Christopher Sanchez was a huge part of this win striking out 12 in 7 innings in a brilliant appearance on the mound. He allowed four hits and 2 earned runs.

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Thursday afternoon the San Francisco Giants (13-6) took on the Phillies (11-8) in game four of their series looking to head off to their next series in Los Angeles Friday night in a more favorable climate and most importantly with a series win under their belt. After miserable conditions in the first three games of this series, the weather cooperated as game-time approached. The high today was forecast to be 62 degrees. Jordan Hicks took the mound for San Francisco looking to commandeer the game and take the series. The Phillies will start Christopher Sanchez in the final game of this series.

The Giant got on the board in the first inning. Matt Chapman singled Heliot Ramos home for an early 1-0 lead but the Giants would not score again until the sixth inning. Philadelphia had a very productive first inning taking a 5-1 lead. This was a great way for the Phillies to start the game however it was very early in the game with a lot of baseball still to be played. Their first five batters reached base on 4 singles and a walk. The Phillies could not have asked for a better start to the game. Kyle Schwarber had a 2-run single, Nick Castellanos had an rbi single and San Francisco pitcher Jordan Hicks threw a run-scoring wild pitch. Alec Bohm finished off the inning with a RBI triple.

It was a rough outing for Jordan Hicks who pitched through seven innings allowing 5 runs, 6 hits and four walks. After that opening inning Hicks calmed down and held Philadelphia scoreless until the eighth inning where they added one more run. Erik Miller had relieved Hicks in the eighth and allowed that additional run.

The Giants Matt Chapman hit a 2-run home run in the sixth inning and the Giants were within 2 runs of a tie game. The Phillies fought right back scoring a run in the eighth extending their lead to 6-3. They held on in the ninth inning allowing one San Francisco run winning the game by the score of 6-4 and leveling the four-game series.

Next up for the Giants will be a three-game series that gets underway tomorrow night in Los Angeles. They will take on the 9-8 Angels at Angel Stadium. Probable pitchers for the game will be Logan Webb for the Giants and Tyler Anderson for the Angels. The Giants will face Angels home run (6 home runs) leader Mike Trout. The Giants Wilmer Flores also has 6 home runs to his credit so far this season and he is always a threat when he comes to the plate. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 6:38 PM.

A’s Crush White Sox 8-0 with Power and Precision to Complete Sweep

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Sacramento A’s Tyler Soderstrom slugs a top of the seventh inning home run against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field in Chicago on Thu Apr 17, 2025 (AP News photo)

A’s Crush White Sox with Power and Precision to Complete Sweep

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics (9-10) arrived at Rate Field in Chicago this week with momentum and left with a sweep. Powered by a relentless offense and sharp pitching, the green and gold dominated the Chicago White Sox (4-14) 8-0 on Thursday afternoon, locking down their third straight win and continuing to turn heads around the American League.

It took only two batters to make it clear the Athletics meant business. Lawrence Butler opened the game with a ground-rule double to right and Jacob Wilson immediately followed with an RBI double, giving the A’s a 1-0 lead before the White Sox could blink.

It was a fitting start for Wilson, who has been a steady force for the Athletics lineup all season. Already boasting a hit in 16 of the team’s first 18 games, Wilson continues to lead by example with his consistency at the plate.

While the first-inning fireworks set the tone, the A’s continued to chip away patiently. Brent Rooker and JJ Bleday kept the pressure on with smart at-bats, and although a few early rallies fizzled, the green and gold showed they were just getting warmed up.

In the fifth inning, Lawrence Butler struck again. This time, he launched a no-doubt solo home run to right field, pushing the Athletics’ lead to 2-0 and sending a jolt of energy through the dugout. Butler’s performance was another chapter in his growing story as a key figure in the A’s youthful core.

The sixth inning is where the A’s broke the game open. Brent Rooker led off with a single and JJ Bleday followed by blasting a two-run home run into the right-field seats. It was Bleday’s second homer of the season and a much-needed boost for the A’s offense, which has found its rhythm in recent games. By the time the sixth ended, the Athletics were up 4-0 and showing no signs of letting the White Sox back into the game.

Meanwhile, JP Sears was quietly delivering one of his best outings of the year. Sears, who had previously struggled against Chicago in his career, flipped the script with six scoreless innings. He worked efficiently, mixing speeds and locations to keep the White Sox hitters off balance.

Sears did not allow a single runner past second base during his outing, and when he exited after six, the A’s bullpen kept the shutout intact with precision work from Noah Murdock, T.J. McFarland, and Jason Alexander.

In the seventh inning, the Athletics continued their barrage. Tyler Soderstrom, the breakout star of the early season, crushed a solo home run to right, marking his Major League leading ninth homer of the year. Soderstrom’s power has been a difference-maker for the A’s, leading the majors in home runs and producing runs at a historic pace for a player so early in his career.

The Athletics were not done yet. In the ninth, Max Schuemann tripled to start the inning and was immediately driven home by Jacob Wilson’s second RBI double of the game. Not wanting to be left out of the late-inning fun, Brent Rooker then launched a two-run homer of his own, his fifth of the season, capping off the A’s scoring at eight runs and putting the White Sox away for good.

The A’s offense finished the afternoon with 13 hits, four of them for extra bases, and showed the type of balanced attack that has defined their recent surge. Wilson, Butler, Rooker, Bleday, and Soderstrom all had key contributions, a sign that the lineup is becoming increasingly dangerous from top to bottom.

Defensively, the A’s were equally sharp. Solid outfield play from Bleday and Butler helped preserve the shutout, while first baseman Tyler Soderstrom anchored several key outs with sure hands and smart positioning.

For a team that spent much of the early season at the bottom of the standings, the sweep over Chicago is a statement. The A’s have now won five of their last six games and are beginning to look like a team ready to climb out of the basement. Their road record, a sparkling 7-3, is the second-best in the majors and shows a level of resilience that could prove critical as the season unfolds.

Next, the A’s head to Milwaukee for a three-game series against a strong Brewers team. With JT Ginn scheduled to start and the offense firing on all cylinders, the green and gold will look to keep the momentum going and continue surprising those who counted them out early.

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.

MLB podcast Michael Duca Thu Apr 17, 2025: Pirates Skenes will he have another Cy Young type season?; Braves Strider returns after missing last season; plus more news

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Pittsburgh Pirates Paul Skenes (30) pitches to the Washington Nationals in the first inning on Mon Apr 14, 2025 in Pittsburgh (AP News photo)

MLB podcast Michael Duca Thu Apr 17, 2025

#1 There is a lot of talk about the Pittsburgh Pirates Paul Skenes who is now considered an All Star. During the 2024 season Skenes had himself a season going 11-3 ERA 1.96 and so far this season is 2-1 ERA 2.96. Skenes says that he does focus when he gets some quite time and that brings him out on the field to make those starts. Can you talk about his skill as a pitcher and can he repeat the kind of season he had last year?

#2  Atlanta Braves right handed pitcher Spencer Strider faced the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday and threw five plus innings allowed two runs, struck out five, walked one and hit one batter in an 3-1 loss and it was Strider’s first appearance since he had surgery to repair an ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

#3 Veteran umpire Hunter Wendelstedt who was working first base took a line drive that hit him in the face. Wendelstedt the son of former umpire Harry Wendelstedt hit the ground after being hit off the bat by New York Mets center fieldr Tyrone Taylor in the seventh inning. Taylor and Minnesota Twins pitcher Louis Varland reacted in shock after seeing the ball hit Wendelstedt.

#4 The Chicago White Sox who got lit up by the Sacramento A’s 12-3 on Tuesday night at Rate Field designated right hand pitcher Mike Clevenger for assignment on Wednesday. Clevenger allowed three runs in the top of the ninth inning in Tuesday’s game. He had been struggling with an 0-2 record and an ERA of 7.94 in five appearances so far this year. He was 9-14 in 28 starts and eight relief appearances for the Sox.

#5 Miguel, finally talk about the job that San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee has been doing he’s hitting .333, 21 hits, 3 home runs, and 12 RBIs. He’s played some outstanding defense and went two for three with two hits and two runs scored in his last game on Wednesday night in Philadelphia.

Join Michael Duca for the MLB podcast Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giants looking to sweep four game series against Phils at Citizens Bank

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San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos (front) and Jung Hoo Lee (back) share congratulations with teammates following Wed Apr 16, 2025 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Ballpark (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 San Francisco Giants Jung Hoo Lee hit for single, double, and had two RBIs as the San Francisco Giants clobbered the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Ballpark 11-4. Little doubt that Jung Hoo has been a big contributor.

#2 San Francisco continues to roll they are now 13-5 and picked up their third win in this current four game series.

#3 The Giants got RBI help from Mike Yastrzemski, Wilmer Flores, and Patrick Bailey each hit for two RBIs. They’re getting the hitting production.

#4 Phillies starter Aaron Nola got lit up and his record dropped to 0-4, he surrendered six earned runs and nine hits he was no mystery to the Giants.

#5 The Giants move onto game four of the series and will start Jordan Hicks (1-1 ERA 5.87) starting for the Phillies Christopher Sanchez (1-0, ERA 3.12) first pitch 1:05pm PDT. Morris how do you like the Giants chances at sweeping four games it’s one of the more difficult things to do in the Majors.

Morris Phillips does the Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Eliminated by Mavericks 120-106 in Play-In; Monte McNair Fired Immediately After Game

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Monte McNair ex GM (right) and owner Vivek Ranadive (left) of the Sacramento Kings (Photo: ESPN on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–In a whirlwind of a season for the Kings, it all came down to one game. The Kings and Mavericks played in the Western Conference 9/10 play-in game on Wednesday night inside Golden 1 Center.

The sold-out crowd inside G1C was raucous from the start as the Kings looked for a win and a date with the Memphis Grizzlies in a second play-in game for the eighth seed. The Kings and Mavs largely had similar seasons marred with turmoil and turnover.

The Mavs made what many consider to be the worst trade in NBA history, shipping Luka Doncic out for the Lakers’ Anthony Davis. On the other hand, the Kings traded All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox and head coach Mike Brown during the season. Neither team could afford to lose the game, but one was destined to. The Sacramento Kings’ season ended on Wednesday as they lost to the Mavs 120-106.

In the first quarter, the Kings got off to a solid start. The pace and intensity matched the Mavericks’, and the Kings outscored them 29-27 in the opening quarter. It seemed the Kings came to play; however, the first quarter would be the only quarter in which the game was close.

In the second quarter, the Mavs exploded for 44 points compared to the Kings’ 19. The Kings appeared to lose all will to live in the game. I felt as if I was watching someone slowly die after the body had given up. The Kings went into halftime trailing the Mavs 71-48.

In the third quarter, the Mavs continued to pour it on. Dallas outscored the Kings 33-28 in the third as all hopes of a Kings comeback were snuffed out. The Kings continued to struggle to contain the Mavs, as their size and length proved too much for Sacramento.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings had all but mailed it in. The Kings couldn’t mount any comeback as they were blown off their home court by the final of 120-106. The Kings went out with a whimper in the 2024-2025 campaign. DeMar DeRozan led the Kings in defeat with 30 points in 43 minutes of action.

Immediately following the game, while reporters were in the locker room, I got word from a league source that Kings head coach Monte McNair was fired.

Following the news, players were called into a meeting while some still showered—another cog in the wild turn of events that was the Kings’ season.

The Kings will hold exit interviews later this week, and the media will get one last chance to talk to this current group of players.

Sharks vs Oilers on April 16 2024

Edmonton Shuts Out Sharks in Final Game of the Season 3-0

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Sharks vs. Oilers in the Final game of the season at SAP Center in San Jose on April 16, 2025 (Edmonton Oilers Media)

By Fernando Abarca

SAN JOSE, CA — The Saddest day for fans has come, at least for the San Jose Sharks. Wednesday night, the Sharks got shutout 3-0 at SAP Arena and played their 82nd game of the season against the Edmonton Oilers.

For the Oilers, a final rehearsal before going to real-time against the Los Angeles Kings for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs while the Sharks have tons of things to reflect on as they head on to off season.

A week full of mixed feelings and nostalgia for Sharks fans: Logan Couture decided to hang up the skates and retire. A standing ovation was well received by the Former Captain Couture who was at the game and where also Sharks royalty was in attendance such as Joe Thornton.

The Sharks once again finished last in the Western Conference and last in overall standings. There are some positives within the bad picture… there is a sense of hope for the upcoming season.

The 2024-25 Sharks season concluded with a 20-50-12 record slightly better than 19-54-9 record from the 2023-24 season.

Overall, the Sharks will get the First draft pick in the upcoming NHL Draft in June.

Edmonton came into this game with nothing to lose; it was up to the Sharks to close things out with a home win again at a nearly sold-out SAP Center.

Connor McDavid, one of the prodigies of this era of the NHL, recorded 100 points this season, marking his eighth season of scoring 100 goals in his ten years in the league.

Ty Emberson scored the Oilers’ first goal of the night just eight minutes into the first period.

Max Jones pushed the Oilers’ lead to 2-0 at 10:17 of the second period. Adam Henrique passed a puck from behind the net to the top of the crease, and Jones beat Georgiev by the blocker.

The veteran Corey Perry closed out the regular season with a goal assisted by Kasperi Kapanen.

The Sharks unfortunately couldn’t score, but the team’s fans showed their deepest gratitude at the end of the season filled with changes, joy, sadness, but with the faith that things will get better.

Now, it’s time to focus on what lies ahead in the offseason.

But for now, there’s still hockey to enjoy because the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin this coming April 19th.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary:A’s not selling out a 14,014-seat park?

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Sutter Health Park on Apr 4, 2024 the day the Sacramento A’s announced they will play all their home games in Sacramento at a press conference. The A’s have hosted two homestands into the 2025 season and have won two out nine home games so far. (AP News file photo)

A’s not selling out a 14,000-seat park?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Although A’s players will not speak about it publicly, I am sure they will be pleased when they go on the road. It is not good business for any team not to sell out home games than when they play on the road, especially in a 14,014 capacity park, in Sacramento. MLB’s gate revenue (ticket sales) is typically split roughly 95-5 between the home and visiting teams.

The home team keeps approximately 95% of the gate, while the visiting team receives approximately 5%. So this could be terrible revenue news for the Athletics, win or lose, because when you go on the road to play, even if you win the game, you never win in money/ticket sales, that is ‘to be expected’, but at home?

Throughout decades in this business, I have learned that players usually like to win at home, where they get the most respect from fans and the best following, where generally more people come to see you play. It is only normal, this is your home park, you sleep on the same bed for 81 games, home cooking most of the time.

But not for the ATH playing at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, at least not this 2025 season. However, the A’s will not be embarrassed this year for having the lowest attendance in baseball. Why is that? Because the Tampa Bay Rays are playing this 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, their temporary home while Tropicana Field in St Petersburg is under repair from damage during Hurricane Milton, their capacity is only 11,026.

By the way, Steinbrenner Field is the spring training home of the New York Yankees. My good friend and Spanish broadcaster for the Tampa Bay Rays, tells me that although a small park is kept in “beautiful condition”, in his words.

Rare situation: While it is not the first time an MLB team has played in a minor league park, it’s unusual for two major league teams to do so simultaneously this season, for different circumstances. One is a temporary relocation, the other an act of God.

So, why are the A’s not selling at home regularly? There are many factors. It is a new city(never been a Major League town) with a smaller population and a much smaller park than Oakland. The A’s are not a team favorite to win anything this year. They share the field with the Triple-A Sacramento Rivercats.

What is already happening is embarrassing. More people attending the A’s game in Sacramento are rooting for the visiting team, which is not “normal” in baseball. It did happened in Oakland during the last few years, but ‘let’s face it’ when you play in a 14,014-seat stadium and 10,000 are rooting for the Cub and not the A’s, the Giants and not the A’s, the Yankees and not the A’s and so on during the whole season and that in any language is Embarrassing. The A’s are the most toxic franchise today in all sports, so this should not surprise anybody.

Such is the story for the 2025 A’s/ATH in Sacramento, originally one of eight franchises that founded the American League in 1901. The United States Steel Co. was created the same year, becoming the first billion-dollar corporation.

1901 Trivia: Nap Lajoie of the Philadelphia Athletics achieved the highest batting average in a single season, a record still standing today, a .426 batting average. He also became the first American League player to win the Triple Crown, leading in batting average, home runs, and RBIs.

FAMILY FUN THIS SUMMER – MAY TO SEPT  –   AQUA ADVENTURE WATER PARK @ 40500 PASEO PADRE BLVD, FREMONT  (880 S./ Stevenson Blvd E)

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

Sacramento A’s game recap: Gio’s Triple the Difference as the Green and Gold Stay Hot in Chicago and upend Pale Hose 3-1

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Sacramento A’s Gio Urshela swings for a two RBI triple in the top of the sixth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field in Chicago on Wed Apr 16, 2025 (AP News photo)

Gio’s Triple the Difference as the Green and Gold Stay Hot in Chicago

By Mauricio Segura

It took one jolt from the Sacramento A’s Gio Urshela to tilt the scales, and that was all the A’s needed.

On a chilly Wednesday night at Rate Field, the green and gold edged past the Chicago White Sox 3-1 in a tight and scrappy contest, fueled by timely hitting, gutsy pitching, and a bullpen that continues to lock things down late. Urshela’s two-run triple in the sixth was the game-winner, erasing an early 1-0 deficit and sealing the A’s second straight win to open the three-game series.

The early part of the night belonged to the pitchers. Osvaldo Bido, making his fourth start of the season, gave the A’s five innings of one-run ball. His only blemish came in the third inning, when Brooks Baldwin jumped on a pitch and sent it over the right field wall for a solo shot. But Bido, who entered the game with a 3.00 ERA and had yet to allow a home run in 2025, kept things from unraveling. He stranded two runners later that inning and finished with a solid line: five innings, six hits, one earned run, and no walks.

That composure on the mound bought the offense just enough time.

After going quiet through the first five frames against White Sox rookie Jonathan Cannon, the A’s came alive in the sixth. Tyler Soderstrom, who leads the majors in home runs, kicked things off with a single. JJ Bleday followed with a game-tying RBI single, then came Urshela’s moment, a sharp liner into the right field corner that brought home two and gave the A’s a 3-1 lead they would never relinquish.

Urshela, who had struggled early in the season, now has hits in five of his last six games and is showing signs of the veteran presence the A’s hoped for when they brought him aboard this offseason.

Lawrence Butler added to his steady stretch with two hits and two stolen bases, bringing his season total to four. He’s now reached base safely in 13 of the A’s 14 games he’s started, and his late-inning speed proved critical in applying pressure on the Sox bullpen.

And once again, the A’s bullpen did not blink.

T.J. McFarland, José Leclerc, and Tyler Ferguson tag-teamed to cover innings six through eight. Ferguson, in particular, impressed with a high-pressure groundout to escape a bases-loaded jam in the seventh. That handed the ball to fireballer Mason Miller for the ninth, and Miller slammed the door with authority.

The hard-throwing righty struck out the side, flashing triple-digit heat that has become his signature. Miller now has four saves on the season and remains unscored upon through six appearances. He’s also struck out 12 of the 21 batters he’s faced. According to team stats, Miller owns nine of the 17 fastest pitches in the majors so far this year.

For the Athletics, this win marks their sixth on the road this season, and with a 6-3 away record, they now rank among the best traveling teams in the majors. This is no small feat for a club still working to find its footing in a new market while carrying the weight of relocation rumors and a turbulent fanbase transition.

It also doesn’t hurt that this team, despite being under .500 at 8-10, is hitting .290 with runners in scoring position, second best in all of baseball, and doing it with contributions up and down the lineup.

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.