Author: Sports Radio Service

Sacramento A’s game wrap: Oh So Close in Texas, but Sactown Falls by One 4-3

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Sacramento A’s catcher Austin Winns (right) puts the late tag on Texas Rangers Danny Jansen (left) who scores on an RBI fly out hit by Brandon Nimmo in the last of the third inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Sat Apr 25, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

For five innings Saturday night, the Sacramento Athletics looked like a team ready to grab the wheel once again, and drive off with a clean road win. They struck first, built a three-run lead, and got a strong early outing from Jeffrey Springs. Then baseball did what baseball loves to do. It got weird, turned sideways, and reminded everyone that a lead in the third inning is not a savings account. The Texas Rangers rallied back, Josh Jung delivered the biggest swing of the night, and the A’s fell 4-3 after a game that started with promise and ended with a quiet ninth inning.

The first inning gave no hint of the early offense to come. Shea Langeliers, Nick Kurtz, and Colby Thomas all struck out in the top half, while Springs answered with a clean bottom half, retiring Brandon Nimmo, Andrew McCutchen, and Corey Seager in order. The A’s broke through in the second when Jacob Wilson ripped a sharp double to left. After Max Muncy struck out, Darell Hernaiz shot a ground-ball single into left field, bringing Wilson home for a 1-0 lead. Austin Wynns reached on Corey Seager’s fielding error, but the Athletics could not add more.

They did not wait long to stretch the lead. In the third, Langeliers opened with a sharp single to left, and Kurtz followed with a walk. Thomas then lined a single into center, scoring Langeliers and moving Kurtz to second. Tyler Soderstrom’s groundout pushed both runners up, and Wilson added a sacrifice fly to right to score Kurtz. Just like that, the Green and Gold had a 3-0 lead and looked sharp enough to make Texas pay for every extra base.

But the Rangers answered in the bottom of the third with a rally that was less thunderstorm and more slow leak. Danny Jansen was hit by a pitch, Evan Carter walked, and Sam Haggerty dropped down a soft bunt single to load the bases. Nimmo lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Jansen. After Springs struck out McCutchen, Seager lined a single to center, bringing home Carter and cutting the Athletics’ lead to 3-2. Springs escaped by striking out Jake Burger, but Texas had shoved itself right back into the game.

From there, the middle innings became a wrestling match. Langeliers singled again in the fourth, Wilson added another single in the fifth, and Springs settled down after the shaky third. He worked through a one-out single by Jansen in the fourth and retired the Rangers in order in the fifth, including a nice first-to-pitcher groundout that saw Kurtz and Springs handle Nimmo cleanly. For a while, it felt like the A’s might survive the earlier scare.

The turning point came in the sixth. Seager opened with a single to right, and after Burger flew out sharply to left, Jung changed the entire night with one swing. He launched his fourth home run of the season to right-center field, scoring Seager and flipping a 3-2 Athletics lead into a 4-3 Rangers advantage. It was the kind of swing that does not just change the scoreboard. It changes the temperature in the building. Springs got through the rest of the inning, but the damage was done.

The Athletics had chances, though not many clean ones. In the eighth, Carlos Cortes came off the bench for Muncy and drilled a sharp double to right with one out. That put the tying run in scoring position, but Jeff McNeil, also entering as a pinch-hitter, flew out to left, and Wynns followed with a flyout to center. Texas had opened the door just enough for trouble, but the A’s could not kick it in.

Mark Leiter Jr. gave the Athletics a flawless bottom of the eighth, retiring Seager, Burger, and Jung in order, which kept the deficit at one. That gave the top of the order one last chance in the ninth against Jacob Latz. But the inning disappeared quickly. Zack Gelof grounded out to short, Langeliers was called out on strikes, and Kurtz grounded out to third to end it.

Wilson was one of the bright spots for the Athletics, finishing with a double, a single, a run scored, and a sacrifice fly. Langeliers collected two hits, Hernaiz drove in the first run, and Thomas added an RBI single. But the A’s also struck out ten times and managed only one run after the third inning. Texas did not pile up offense all night, but it did enough, and Jung’s two-run homer was the difference between a clean Athletics win and a frustrating one-run loss.

Sunday the rubber game series tied 1-1 starting pitchers for Sacramento RHP JT Ginn (0-0 ERA 3.74) for Texas RHP Kumar Rocker (1-1 ERA 3.48) first pitch 11:35am 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. 

San Francisco Giants podcast Lincoln Juarez: Giants move out of cellar with win over Marlins

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San Francisco Giants Helliot Ramos gives thanks to the Almighty after hitting an eighth inning home run against the Miami Marlins at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Apr 25, 2026 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Lincoln Juarez:

#1 How did Robbie Ray perform as the starting pitcher against the Marlins lineup led by Eury Pérez, and what impact did his outing have on the game’s momentum?

#2 What role did Casey Schmitt play offensively, particularly with his key home run, in helping the Giants secure the win?

#3 How did contributions from Drew Gilbert and Heliot Ramos shape the Giants’ scoring, especially with their home run power?

#4 In what ways did Patrick Bailey influence the game both offensively (with RBIs) and defensively behind the plate?

#5 How did Jung Hoo Lee contribute at the plate during the game, and how important were his extra-base hits in the Giants’ overall offensive performance?

Lincoln Juarez is a San Francisco Giants reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants post game wrap: Giants honor Belt, and then slug three home runs en route to 6-2 win over Marlins

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Casey Schmitt (10) of the San Francisco Giants gets the Gatorade can treatment after defeating the Miami Marlins at Oracle Park in San Francisco while being interviewed by NBC Bay Area Sports on Sat Apr 25, 2026 (AP News photo)

Saturday, April 25, 2026

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Miami Marlins 2 (13-14)

San Francisco Giants 6 (12-15)

Win: Matt Gage (2-0)

Loss: Eury Perez (2-2)

Time: 2:06

Attendance: 38,589

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants bounced back nicely from a pair of losses with a 6-2 win over the Marlins Saturday. Giants pitcher Robbie Ray went five innings, and the offense came to life in the latter half of the game, with home runs by Drew Gilbert, Casey Schmitt and Heliot Ramos, as the bullpen held down the fort.

The fact that the Giants had lost two straight after their two wins against the Dodgers was a buzzkill. Friday night, Adrian Houser was shallacked for eight runs over four innings in a tough 9-4 loss in the series opener. Saturday, they needed something to get them back on track.

Before Saturday’s game started, the Giants honored one of the best first-basemen in their 68-plus years in San Francisco, Brandon Belt. Belt made the Opening Day roster in 2011, and we all remember Bruce Bochy telling him the news, and then offering the then-young kid a beer. It was on that Showtime show that featured the Giants that year.

So, of course we saw that memorable clip, as well as his first big league hit, which came against Clayton Kershaw in the Giants’ 2011 season opener at Dodger Stadium on March 31. Belt was yo-yo’d throughout the 2011 season, but he established himself as an everyday player in 2012, and was a big part of the 2012 and 2014 world championship teams.

Several of Belt’s former teammates were here in Buster Posey, Hunter Pence, Sergio Romo, George Kontos, Nate Schierholtz and Charlie Culberson. So were his two Giants managers, Bruce Bochy and Gabe Kapler, the latter of whom is in town as the General Manager of the Marlins.

Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow emceed the ceremony, and Posey, Kontos and Bochy spoke about Belt’s humor and his work ethic. Most importantly, they talked about Belt’s baseball intellect.

Belt then gave his address. He thanked his family, former teammates and his two Giants managers. He also paid homage to his late father, who passed away last July.

Belt’s kids threw out the first pitches. Belt and his family were then taken around the field on a boat being pulled by a truck.

I spent so much time on Belt’s ceremony that you probably forgot there was a game today. Perhaps the Belt ceremony, and the reminder of the winning culture that has long defined this organization would be a spark of motivation.

Anyway, Robbie Ray took the ball on this cold and tranquil Saturday afternoon at Oracle Park. Ray and Marlins’ starter Eury Perez both threw scoreless innings in the first.

Ray threw another scoreless inning in the top of the second, and the Giants wasted an opportunity in the bottom of the second. Well, Casey Schmitt led off the inning with a double, but was thrown out when he rounded second, and slipped and fell.

The Marlins added insult to injury by getting on the board in the top of the third on a two-out RBI base-hit by Xavier Edwards. Perez threw a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the third, and the Giants were unable to do anything with a two-out double by Jung Hoo Lee in the bottom of the fourth.

By the way, that was Lee’s second double of the game. He also doubled after Casey Schmitt’s little gaffe.

Ray threw his first 1-2-3 inning of the day in the top of the fourth, and then he threw another scoreless inning in the top of the fifth. Unfortunately, Ray threw 97 pitches, so he was done after five. It still was not a bad outing, as he gave up a run and four hits. He walked three, and struck out four

The Giants finally got on the board when Drew Gilbert led off the bottom of the fifth with a home run to the green tin atop the 24-foot-high Willie Mays Wall out in right field.

Matt Gage came in, and got out of a jam unscathed in the top of the sixth. Matt Chapman then led off the bottom of the sixth with a double. Two batters later, Schmitt hit a two-run shot to left to put the Giants ahead.

Lee drew a walk, which forced Perez out of the game for Anthony Bender. Heliot Ramos singled Lee over to second, but Gilbert lined out. Patrick Bailey then came through with a base-hit to right that made it 4-1.

Keaton Winn threw a 1-2-3 top of the seventh, and Erik Miller, a scoreless eighth. Heliot Ramos led off the bottom of the eighth with a home run to make it 5-1. The Giants then manufactured another run later in the inning, as Luis Arraez knocked in Patrick Bailey with a two-out double.

Despite the Giants holding a five-run lead at 6-1, Tony Vitello decided to go with his closer, Ryan Walker, anyway for the top of the ninth. The Marlins plated a run, but that’s all the drama there would be, and the Giants won 6-2.

I had mentioned earlier that Jung Hoo Lee hit two doubles today. Matt Chapman, Casey Schmitt and Heliot Ramos also had two-hit games. Drew Gilbert went 1-for-4, but all three of his outs were loud. Gilbert lined out twice, and then he had what would have at least been a double taken away on a great running catch by Heriberto Hernandez in the bottom of the eighth.

Matt Gage got the win, and Eury Perez took the loss.

The Giants improve to 12-15.

Landen Roupp (4-1, 2.28 ERA) will go for the Giants, as they try to take the series in the rubber match Sunday Max Meyer (1-0, 3.96 ERA) will go for Miami.

First pitch will be at 1:05 p.m.


San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman: Houser suffers multi run game against Marlins can he get back on track?

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Adrian Houser (12) struggled in his last outing against the Miami Marlins on Fri Arpr 26, 2026 (Bay Area News Group photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman:

#1 How did Adrian Houser’s struggles on the mound—giving up multiple runs early—impact the Giants’ ability to stay competitive against the Marlins’ offense?

#2 What adjustments could Jung Hoo Lee have made at the plate to build on his late-game home run and help spark a comeback earlier in the game?

#3 In what ways did Heliot Ramos contribute offensively, and how might his performance influence his role in the lineup going forward?

#4 How did the addition of Eric Haase—who recorded an RBI double—affect the Giants’ offensive depth in this matchup?

Stephen Ruderman is a San Francisco Giants reporter at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Harvey: A’s move one game in front of Rangers for first place with win

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Sacramento A’s slugger Carlos Cortes is thrilled after hitting a solo home run off Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi in the top of the first inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Fri Apr 24, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Harvey:

#1 How did Luis Severino perform as the starting pitcher for the A’s against the Rangers, and what adjustments did he make after his recent struggles?

#2 What impact did Carlos Cortes have batting in the third spot of the lineup, and how did his role influence the A’s offensive production?

#3 How did Zack Gelof perform while playing in center field, and what does his usage there suggest about the team’s roster flexibility?

#4 In what ways did Shea Langeliers contribute offensively or defensively in the game, particularly in helping the A’s secure their 8–1 win?

#5 How did the overall performance of key A’s players like Luis Severino, Carlos Cortes, and Zack Gelof contribute to the team taking sole possession of first place after the game?

Tony Harvey of NBC Radio does the Sacramento A’s podcasts Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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. 

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast Mary Lisa: Canadiens go up 2-1 edge Lightning 3-2 at the Belle Centre; Mammoth taking care of business in 4-2 win over Knights; plus more NHL news

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Montreal Canadiens Kirby Dach (77) is thrilled after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during overtime in game three of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Belle Centre in Montreal (Canadian Press via AP)

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast Mary Lisa:

#1 Montreal Canadiens Lane Hutson scored in overtime on a slap shot to help the Canadiens defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 Friday night at the Belle Centre in Montreal to improve to a 2-1 series lead in the first round of the series.

#2 Hutson took his shot from the top right circle that went through a group of players and got in the left corner of the net behind goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. It was a crucial goal as the Canadiens won by just one goal.

#3 Utah Mammoth Lawson Crouse scored two goals in just a 5:42 span in the second period as the Mammoth took a 2-1 series lead beating the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 Friday night at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

#4 The Mammoth won Tuesday night 3-2 to tie the series after the Knights won game one in Vegas on Sunday. The series has been tight and the Mammoth have made an impressive come back since losing game one.

#5 The Anaheim Ducks took care of business crushing the Edmonton Oilers in three 7-4 on Friday night at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Beckett Sennecke and Leo Carlsson scored goals within 42 second of the third period. Mikael Granlund scored a goal and picked up two assists. The win was Anaheim’s first post season win in eight years.

Join Mary Lisa for the NHL Playoff podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Utah Mammoth game wrap: Mammoth Stomp Golden Knights 4-2 In Historic First NHL Playoff Game In Utah

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Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) blocks a shot by the Vegas Golden Knights (center) Brett Howden (21) in the second period of game 3 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Thu Apr 24, 2026 (AP News photo)

Mammoth Stomp Golden Knights 4-2 In Historic First NHL Playoff Game In Utah

By Tom Walker

SALT LAKE CITY–Lawson Crouse scored twice as Utah built up a 4-0 lead halfway through the game and then held on to complete the 4-2 win and take a 2-1 series lead in the Western Conference First-Round series.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs made their official Utah debut on Friday night before a noisy, sold-out crowd at Delta Center in Salt Lake City where the Mammoth hosted the Vegas Golden Knights for Game 3 of the Western Conference First-Round Series.  The two squads split the first two games in Las Vegas, with the Mammoth evening up the series on Tuesday with their 3-2 victory.

The festivities began outside Delta Center at noon when as many as a thousand fans turned out to take advantage of an offer to switch allegiances and exchange a licensed Golden Knights jersey for a new Mammoth jersey.  Prior to the arrival of the Utah Hockey Club two years ago, the Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche had been the closest thing Utahns had to a home NHL team, with Vegas games being broadcast on local television, and the Smith Entertainment Group has actively sought to win fans over with much success.  Then at 3:00pm the community was invited for a giant outdoor playoff party with a live band, face painting, food, games, and even an opportunity to take pictures on the Zammoth.

Prior to puck drop, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Utah Mammoth Governor Ryan Smith held a press conference where Bettman announced that next season’s Winter Classic between the Mammoth and Colorado Avalanche will be held New Year’s Eve at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Smith elaborated that Utah is planning a series of events over the weekend including a New Year’s Eve concert at Delta Center.

It was two years ago today that members of the former Arizona Coyotes landed in Salt Lake City, having just been acquired at the conclusion of their season by Smith Entertainment Group. They were overwhelmed to be greeted at the airport by legions of kids wearing their own hockey gear and holding up signs welcoming them to their new home, and later that night being introduced to thousands of screaming fans at the Delta Center.  As loud as the arena was on that night, or on the night of their first ever home game on October 8, 2024, against the Chicago Blackhawks, nothing compared with the volume on Friday night at Delta Center where the decibel level reached such peaks that players couldn’t hear Head Coach André Tourigny shouting out line changes.

MacKenzie Weegar got things going for the Mammoth at 12:59 of the first period, collecting a loose puck and scoring his second playoff goal of the series and his first ever at Delta Center, assisted by Liam O’Brien and Kailer Yamamoto.  On the assist, O’Brien, who has played parts of 9 seasons in the NHL, notched his first career playoff point.  With three and a half minutes remaining in the frame, Brayden McNabb was whistled for high-sticking against Logan Cooley to give Utah its first power play opportunity of the game. With 45 seconds remaining in the man-advantage, Cooley sent the puck across the ice to Dylan Guenther’s office at the top of the faceoff circle where he one-timed a bullet into the net to give the Mammoth a 2-0 lead heading into the locker room.  The goal was Guenther’s second of the playoffs, with the additional assist going to Captain Clayton Keller.  Courtesy the Mammoth stat crew, Guenther is one of just four players in the expansion era (since 1967-68) to light the lamp in any franchise’s first home regular-season and playoff game, joining Ray Cullen (Minnesota North Stars), Larry Keenan (St. Louis Blues), and Mark Messier (Edmonton Oilers). Golden Knights Head Coach John Tortorella defended his netminder after the game, saying, “No one is stopping Guenther’s shot, and that’s just a bomb.”  Vegas outshot Utah 13-6 in the period, but Karel Vejmelka successfully kept them off the scoreboard.

Four minutes into the second period, the Mammoth kept the momentum going as Associate Captain Lawson Crouse attacked the net and tipped in a pass from Nick Schmaltz to take a 3-0 lead with Weegar picking up the additional assist.  Schmaltz’s assist was his first career playoff point.  Halfway through the period Crouse struck again with a blast from the top of the faceoff circle to give Utah a commanding 4-0 lead. Crouse’s second goal of the game and the series was assisted by Keller who picked up his second assist of the night for his first multi-point playoff game of his career.  Thus far in the playoffs, Crouse’s two goals at 5:42 apart are the fastest two goals by the same player.  At 13:20 of the second period, Jack Eichel spoiled the shutout, knocking in a rebound in front of the net for his first post-season goal, assisted by Ivan Barbashev and Mark Stone. Once again Vegas doubled up Utah in shots on goal, 10-5, but the Mammoth doubled up the Golden Knights in goals to head to the locker room with a 4-1 lead.

Throughout the third period Vegas continued to attack, ultimately outshooting Utah 9-1, but could only muster a late goal by Nic Dowd with three minutes remaining to cut their deficit in half. The Golden Knights pulled Carter Hart from the net for an extra attacker the rest of the way, but Vejmelka and the Mammoth closed the door on Vegas despite having been outshot 32-12 in the match. Utah’s penalty kill was a perfect 4-0 against the Vegas power play.

“Right when we came out, it was electric in the building,” said Weegar in the locker room after the game. “It was loud, and I saw the towels going, introducing the starting lineups, and felt it after that. The first five minutes give you goosebumps. That’s sort of what it’s about. You know, feeling it with the fans and the players. Both sides appreciate each other so much. But we really felt that.” On the mental test of holding onto the lead in the third period against a club like Vegas, Weegar said, “I think that’s a big topic with our group, you know, that’s the maturity. Learning from the end of the season, closing out those games when it matters. I thought we did a great job. Veggie, obviously, the start of his game was really why we were in that game the whole time. So he closed it out for us. A lot of character, and it was similar to that game two, closing out and finishing the job. So we have to continue that.”

Guenther talked about the difficulty hearing Tourigny calling out line changes. “It’s tough, especially when it’s loud in there, and a couple times, you know, he’s barking off the lines. I think it always just comes back down to just work and speed. So I think if we’re kind of getting off our game a little bit, I think just simple, simple speed.”

In the media room, Keller and Crouse stepped up to the microphone to field questions from local and national media.  On his team’s effort, Keller began, “Yeah, I think we used our speed a lot tonight. I think we stuck with it. They’re a great team, and they make you work for everything. I think just having a simple game getting pucks to the net, I know we didn’t have a ton of shots, but we had some attempts, and some looks where we may have missed the net. Veggie was unreal, PK was unreal tonight, so I think we’ll make adjustments and go forward into the next one.” On the energy in the arena, Lawson said, “Yeah, the fans have been incredible ever since day one, when we’ve shown up here, and it seemed like they took it to a whole new level tonight. We can start to use that to our advantage. They really energize us. I was looking up in the stands after the first goal, and just seeing all the rally towels going and just feeling the energy and the passion from them really gives us that boost.” Talking about the team’s emotions taking the ice for the franchise’s first playoff home game, Keller said, “It was amazing. We were so jacked up to play tonight. I think even just in warm ups there was an amazing feel. You could tell that they (the fans) were invested, and they were super excited as well. It’s great to get a huge win here at home, the first playoff game in franchise history. It’s pretty cool, and I’m sure the crowd will be even better the next one.”

“I think we did a good job of weathering the storm,” said Head Coach André Tourigny at the beginning of his press conference. “We scored a big goal on our power play, then we scored a big goal five-on-five, and then our power play took the lead from there. I think until we took the 4-0 lead, it was a hard-fought game, and it was really good. Obviously, in the third, they had a big push, and they played well. They’re a good team. They played really well. Proud of the way we defended and the way we weathered the storm in the first period.” On the team’s successful penalty kill, Bear added, “It starts with your most important player on the PK, your goalie. I think Vej was rock solid. Made key saves at key moments. Our PK was tuned in. A few good block shots, and a few good clearings. I think they were solid. Our power play as well. Like I said before, a big goal. We had a great performance from our special teams.” Tourigny also commented about the noise level, “That will be an adjustment. Seriously, we had some confusion on the bench. Guys did not know who was up, and for the people who know me, I can be pretty loud. The crowd beat me, no doubt about it. There are a few things we did as a staff to get better during the game to make sure there was less confusion. Because, if you look at the tape, there are two situations in the second period where there was a little bit of confusion.”

If you’re going to have any confusion, an arena full of screaming fans is the way you want it to be.

The Mammoth take a 2-1 series lead into Game 4 this coming Monday night at Delta Center.

Marlins Slug their way to Victory over Giants, 9-4

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Marlins Graham Pauley and Owen Caissie celebrate Liam Hicks’ 3-run home run in the 1st inning. (Photo via Jay Choi SF Bay News Lab)

By Ryan Hannagan

San Francisco — The San Francisco Giants took on the Miami Marlins in Game 1 of a three-game series at Oracle Park Friday night. Coming in off a series win over the Dodgers, the Giants looked to carry their momentum from their recent series into Friday night’s game over Miami. The Giants were down 8-0 until they scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning but just couldn’t catch up winding up with the loss 9-4 at Oracle Park.

Right away, the Marlins put starting pitcher Adrian Houser and the Giants to work. Opening up the hitting was leadoff hitter Jakob Marsee, who sent a scorching double over the head of Giants right fielder Jung Hoo Lee. Later on in the inning, Xavier Edwards matched Marsee’s energy by getting an RBI double to bring Marsee home and give the Marlins an early lead. The Marlins weren’t done after the Edwards double, catcher Liam Hicks sent a 2-2 pitch over the left center wall for the home run to move the score to 3-0 in the opening inning. 

In an attempt to respond in the bottom half of the first, the Giants threatened with Luiz Arraez on third after a bloop single from Matt Chapman moved him over. With Chapman on first and Arraez on third and one out, Rafael Devers grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Houser back out for the second looked for better fortune but was met again by the hot bats of the Marlins. A leadoff double from Owen Caissie and an RBI single from Graham Pauley expanded the Marlin lead to 4-0.

The Giants offense stayed silent in the second, allowing the slugging Marlins’ bats back out onto the field. In the top of the third, Miami added another run to their early lead after Hicks brought home Kyle Stowers on a sacrifice fly, moving the score to 5-0.

Another scoreless inning from the Giants allowed the Marlins to get back out for more offense in the top of the 4th. With the score already 5-0, the Marlins weren’t done yet as a three run home run from Connor Norby put the game further out of reach. By now, boos began to rain down from the fans at Oracle park. After the Marlins half of the fourth, the score now was 8-0.

A three up, three down Giants fourth moved the game to the fifth where the Giants would call in relief pitcher JT Brubaker. For the first time all night, the Marlins’ bats were shut down as Brubaker set them down 1-2-3. 

Motivated by the 1-2-3 top half, the Giants bats woke up. It started with a Heliot Ramos double down the third base line. Bringing home Ramos was Tyler Gilbert with a single, 8-1 was the score. Following Gilbert’s single, Eric Haase drove in Gilbert with an RBI double in his Oracle Park debut. 8-2. Bringing home Haas was Arraez who sent a single to left. The score had moved to a closer 8-3 by the end of the 5th.

The Marlins responded right back in the top of the sixth after Otto Lopez drove in Stowers who had doubled prior in the inning. 9-3. For the Marlins, that would be the lone run they scored that inning, after their offense showing no sign of slowing down.

The 6th and 7th innings remained quiet for both sides. A few pitching changes, yet no runs. 

The top of the eighth went down without any offense for the Marlins, but the Giants in the bottom half added a claw-back run from Jung Hoo Lee, a no doubt solo shot to right field. The Marlin lead was now 9-4.


Lee’s home run would be the final run score in a game with a combined 27 hits in a 9-4 final. The Giants couldn’t comeback after the smoking hot start from Miami. Houser, who has struggled early this season, took the loss after allowing eight earned runs in four innings of action. His ERA now sits at 7.36 with a win-loss record of 0-3. The Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara took home the win Friday night after going six innings with three earned runs. His ERA now sits at 3.05 with a win-loss record of 3-2.

The Giants and Marlins face-off again Saturday afternoon, first pitch 1:05 PM. Starting pitchers for Miami RHP Eury Perez (2-1 ERA 4.15) for San Francisco LHP Robbie Ray (2-3 ERA 2.86)

Silver Knights take down Barracuda 5-1, sweep series

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Henderson Silver Knights forward Braeden Bowman celebrates his first period goal against the San Jose Barracuda in Game 2 of the Pacific Division First Round series the Silver Knights swept to advance to the next round at Lee’s Family Forum on Friday APR 24, 2026. (Henderson Silver Knights)

by Marko Ukalovic

The Henderson Silver Knights bounced the San Jose Barracuda out of the playoffs with a 5-1 victory in Game 2 of the best of three Pacific Division playoff series on Friday evening at Lee’s Family Forum.

San Jose’s season ends down in the desert with the sweep by Henderson. The Silver Knights advanced to the Pacific Division Semifinals. Their opponent is still to be determined.

Henderson (2-0) drew first blood early in the first period with an even strength goal. Matyas Sapovaliv’s wraparound attempt was saved by Cuda goalie Laurent Brossoit, but Braeden Bowman cleaned up the rebound for his first goal of the series at the 7:56 mark.

The Silver Knights doubled its lead with a 5-on-3 goal late in the opening frame. Tanner Laczynski made a fancy backhand pass down to Raphael Lavoie to the left side of the net. Lavoie tapped home the puck into an open net for his third goal of the series at the 17:40 mark. Lavoie scored two goals against San Jose in Game 1 of the series.

Alexander Holtz scored Henderson’s third unanswered goal two minutes into the second period. Kai Uchacz’s shot was kicked out by Brossoit, but Holtz buried home the rebound at the 2:07 mark. Trevor Connelly picked up the secondary assist.

San Jose (0-2) finally figured out Silver Knights goalie Carl Lindblom late in the middle frame. San Jose Sharks 2023 fifth round draft pick Eric Pohlkamp, who made his professional debut for the Cuda after winning a collegiate national championship with the University of Denver, shot the puck from the left wing and it trickled out in front of the crease before Egor Afanasyev put home the rebound for his first goal of the series at the 18:55 mark.

Jeremy Davies iced the game for Henderson with an empty net goal with 2:58 remaining in the game when San Jose pulled Brossoit for an extra attacker. It was Davies second goal of the series.

Lucas Johansen concluded the scoring with an empty net goal, his first of the series, with 51 seconds left.

Lindblom finished the night stopping 26 of the 27 shots to end the series for San Jose. Brossoit made 26 saves on 29 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-3 on the power play. Henderson went 1-for-4.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Lavoie 2) Holtz 3) Bowman.

Sacramento A’s game wrap: The A’s Go Deep in the Heart of Texas 8-1

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Tyler Soderstrom (21) is greeeted by Sacramento A’s teammate Carlos Cortes (26) after hitting a solo home run in the top of the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington on Fri Apr 24, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s game wrap: The A’s Go Deep in the Heart of Texas 8-1

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics arrived in Arlington Friday night tied with Texas in the American League West, and then spent the first inning acting like they were trying to settle the matter Like Santa Ana at the Alamo. On a night that began at 7:09 p.m. local time at Globe Life Field, the Green and Gold jumped on Nathan Eovaldi immediately, rode the surf of a sharp Luis Severino start, and powered their way to an 8-1 win over the Rangers.

Nick Kurtz opened the game with a home run to right field, his fifth of the season, giving the A’s a 1-0 lead before vendors could sell their first hot dogs. Two batters later, Carlos Cortes sent another ball over the wall, this one to right center. Then Tyler Soderstrom followed with a blast to center, turning the first inning into a three-homer ambush and giving the Athletics a 3-0 lead. For a club that entered the night with only four first-inning runs all season, this was not so much a fast start as a rude awakening.

Severino took that cushion and treated it like good leather, preserving it with care. He worked around a Joc Pederson single in the first by getting Corey Seager to roll into a double play, then kept the Rangers quiet through three innings. Texas finally scratched him in the fourth when Seager doubled and Josh Jung drove him in with a ground-rule double to left. Jung even stole third, but Severino shut the inning down by striking out Evan Carter, keeping the A’s in firm control at 3-1.

The real hammer fell in the fifth. Zack Gelof singled, Kurtz worked a walk after a successful challenge overturned the original pitch call, and Shea Langeliers popped out on the infield fly rule. That brought up Cortes, who had already homered once. He did it again, lifting a three-run shot to right field that stretched the lead to 6-1 and gave the A’s breathing room big enough to rent out.

Cortes finished with two home runs and four RBI, continuing a strong run after stepping into a larger role with Brent Rooker on the injured list. The switch has not looked like a patch job; it has looked like an opportunity being grabbed with both hands.

Kurtz also kept building his own strange and impressive brand of chaos. His leadoff homer, fifth-inning walk, and seventh-inning single gave him three trips on base, and the walk extended a stretch that had already placed him near historic Athletics territory.

He entered the game having walked in 13 straight games, the longest such run by an Athletic since Rickey Henderson’s 15-game streak in 1993. Kurtz is not merely swinging for damage. He is forcing pitchers into uncomfortable conversations, and lately, he has been winning most of them.

Severino’s night was exactly what the A’s needed. He gave them 6.2 innings of one-run baseball, allowing six hits and one walk while striking out five. That was especially important because he entered the game with better road numbers than home numbers and with a history of early-inning trouble this season. Instead of wobbling early, he steadied the whole game. Hogan Harris replaced him in the seventh with two Rangers aboard and struck out pinch-hitter Sam Haggerty to end the threat.

The A’s bullpen kept the door shut from there. Harris handled part of the eighth before Justin Sterner came in after singles by Andrew McCutchen and Seager. Sterner got Jake Burger on a forceout and Josh Jung on a flyout to escape the inning. Luis Medina finished the ninth with a clean frame, getting Carter, Kyle Higashioka, and Josh Smith in order.

Gelof added one last thump in the ninth, launching a two-run homer to left after Jeff McNeil singled. It was Gelof’s first homer of the season and the sixth Athletics home run of the night, a tidy final insult in a game Texas had spent most of the evening chasing.

The A’s also played clean defense behind their pitchers, with Jacob Wilson helping turn the first-inning double play and continuing to look steady at shortstop. That fits a larger season theme, as the club entered the night with the fewest errors in the majors and Wilson carrying the longest errorless streak by a shortstop in Athletics history.

For one night in Texas, the Athletics did not need late drama, bullpen roulette, or a comeback script. They brought the thunder early, added more in the middle, and walked out with an 8-1 win that felt every bit as loud as the scoreboard suggested.

Saturday starting pitchers for Sacramento LHP Jefferey Springs (3-1 ERA 3.34) for Texas LHP MacKenzie Gore (2-2 ERA 4.15) first pitch 4:05pm 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.