Sacramento A’s game wrap: The Cardinals Turn The Page with a Plot Twist Win 5-4

Sacramento A’s Shea Langeliers (23) is on base after hitting a double in the bottom of the seventh inning against the St Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St Louis on Thu May 14, 2026 (AP News photo)

The Cardinals Turn The Page with a Plot Twist Win 5-4

By Mauricio Segura

WEST SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Athletics had this one in their hands, then watched it wriggle loose in the ninth like a grounder in a cow field. A Thursday afternoon that began with Nick Kurtz continuing his rise and Shea Langeliers adding another big swing to his scorching season ended with St. Louis stealing a 5-4 win after a two out rally flipped the game like a turtle in a typhoon.

Kurtz wasted no time putting the A’s in front. After Jacob Lopez retired St. Louis in order in the top of the first, Kurtz opened the bottom half by launching his seventh home run of the season to center field. It was another marker in a season that keeps making him look less like a young hitter finding his way and more like the heartbeat of the Athletics’ lineup. He entered the day riding the longest reaching base streak in the majors this season, and that first inning blast stretched it again.

For a while, Lopez made the lead feel heavier than one run. He cruised through the first two innings, helped by an overturned ABS challenge that turned José Fermín into a called strikeout to end the second. St. Louis put two runners on in the third and two more in the fourth, but Lopez escaped both times, getting Iván Herrera on a forceout and Yohel Pozo on a line drive to right.

The Cardinals finally cracked through in the fifth when Victor Scott II homered to right, tying the game at 1. Then the sixth became the inning that changed the temperature of the afternoon. Jordan Walker opened it with a homer to right center, Masyn Winn reached on back to back throwing fiascos by Lopez and Jeff McNeil, and Nolan Gorman dropped in a run scoring single to right. Just like that, the Cardinals led 3-1. Justin Sterner entered and prevented the inning from becoming a bigger mess, getting Nathan Church to bounce into an inning ending double play.

The Athletics did not go quietly. Zack Gelof, who had entered the day swinging better after a rough opening stretch, brought the A’s back within one in the seventh with his fifth homer of the season, a drive to left center off Ryne Stanek. That homer felt like the first tug on a loose thread, and St. Louis’ bullpen soon started to unravel.

McNeil took a free pass, Colby Thomas came off the bench and singled to left, and Kurtz followed with a single of his own to load the bases. Then Langeliers delivered the hit the A’s needed most, a ground ball single to center that scored McNeil and Thomas for a 4-3 lead. Langeliers has been one of the hottest hitters in the league, and this was another reminder that his bat has become less of a surprise and more of a weekly problem for opposing pitchers.

The lead survived the eighth thanks to Scott Barlow. Winn doubled with one out, but Barlow got Gorman on a fly ball to center and Alec Burleson on a fly ball to left. In the bottom half, Henry Bolte singled and stole second, adding another small spark after making franchise history the night before as the first Athletics player with a hit, free pass and sacrifice fly in his Major League debut.

But the ninth was cruel. Jack Perkins gave up a leadoff single to Pozo, who was replaced by pinch-runner Thomas Saggese. After Church flew out and Scott lined out, the A’s were one out from closing it. Instead, JJ Wetherholt was hit by a pitch, Herrera singled to left to score Saggese, and Walker doubled to right to bring home Wetherholt for a 5-4 Cardinals lead. Joel Kuhnel entered and stopped the damage, but the game had already turned.

The A’s had one final chance when Kurtz was hit by a pitch to begin the bottom of the ninth. Riley O’Brien answered with a called strikeout of Langeliers after another overturned ABS challenge, then retired Tyler Soderstrom on a flyout and Brent Rooker on a swinging strikeout. It was a tough finish for the Green and Gold, who had the comeback lined up, the crowd leaning forward, and the middle of the order at the plate. St. Louis simply had the last clean punch.

The San Francisco Giants come to Sacramento Friday for a three day weekend series. Game 1 pairs up Aaron Civalle (4-2 / .2.51 ERA / 33 K), against a yet-to-be-named Giants hurler. First pitch is set for 6:40pm.

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 Jose Earthquakes match wrap: Sounders edge Quakes in 3-2 match at Pay Pal

Seattle Sounders midfielder Albert Rusnak (11) scores against the San Jose Earthquakes Daniel DeSouza Britto on a penalty kick in the first half at Century Link Field in Seattle on Wed May 13, 2026 (AP News photo)

San Jose Earthquakes match wrap up:

By William Espy

SAN JOSE–The San Jose Earthquakes were back on the road on Wednesday night, as they headed to Seattle for a midweek match against the Sounders.

Nick Fernandez got the Earthquakes on the board quickly, as the Sounders turned the ball over near their goal to Nonso Adimabua who found Fernandez in front of the goal. As a result, the Quakes were up 1-0 in the second minute of the match.

Despite testing the San Jose Earthquakes’ goalkeeper Daniel quite a bit throughout the first half, it took the Sounders until the 43rd minute to find an equalizer. Dave Romney was called for a foul inside the Quakes’ box, sending Albert Rusnak to the penalty spot. Rusnak beat Daniel and tied the game at a goal apiece. Reid Roberts was shown a yellow card in stoppage time.

Ultimately, the game went into halftime as a 1-1 draw.

The Quakes made a pair of changes to start the second half, with leading scorer Preston Judd entering the match alongside Ousseni Bouda.

In the 55th minute, Seattle midfielder Jesus Ferreira ran from his own half into the San Jose penalty area. He danced around the Earthquakes’ defender and beat the goalkeeper to give the Sounders their first lead of the night.

The Sounders defense seemed to be holding up in the 69th minute, but a shot was blocked right to the feet of Judd who tied the game once again.

The Earthquakes would ultimately lose the game in heart breaking fashion though, as Osaze De Rosario scored a header in the 89th minute to put the Sounders back on top.

With the loss, the Earthquakes now sit second in the Western Conference trailing the Vancouver Whitecaps on goal differential.

Henry Bolte Shines in MLB Debut as A’s Beat Cardinals 6-2

Henry Bolte #33 of the Athletics is congratulated by manager Mark Kotsay #7 after Bolte hit an RBI sacrifice fly scoring Nick Kurtz #16 against the St. Louis Cardinals in the bottom of the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park on May 13, 2026 in Sacramento, California. The RBI was the first of Bolte’s career. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Athletics were back in action against the Cardinals for game two of a three-game set on Wednesday night. After losing the first game of the series, the A’s looked for their revenge at 6:40 p.m. PST at Sutter Health Park.

The A’s defeated the Cardinals in commanding fashion on Wednesday night, 6-2.

The A’s got another solid performance out of their starter, J.T. Ginn. Ginn, who pitched eight innings in his last start, managed to go six innings against the Cardinals in what was an unstable but effective performance. Ginn gave up nine hits in his six innings of work but walked just one to limit the damage and give up only one unearned run.

“I think there’s a lot of maturity with JT this year, both on and off the field,” Kotsay said after the game. “I see a different young man that now has established I think solid routines, solid processes between starts. We talk a lot about the easiest day should be the day you take the mound. The other four should be really hard and I think he’s taken a grasp of the amount of work he has to put in before each start.”

Kotsay’s sentiment was echoed by Ginn in the clubhouse after the game.

“I think it’s [the process] been huge for me and everything how you go about your work every day, but I think it’s a lot of trial and error those first couple years and just figuring out what works for me and then just working off of that.”

For the bullpen, the A’s got another solid performance from the group.

Justin Sterner came in to pitch in the seventh inning and didn’t have his best stuff. He tossed two-thirds of an inning before being lifted after giving up a run on two hits. Hogan Harris came in and cleaned up, getting the final out of the seventh by way of the strikeout.

In the eighth inning, Luis Medina came on and recorded a clean inning, allowing nothing to the Cardinals offense.

In the ninth inning, Jack Perkins came in and tossed a scoreless frame to finish the game, allowing just one hit.

On the offensive side of the ball, Nick Kurtz carried the lion’s share of the load with a grand slam in the fifth inning to give the A’s a 4-1 lead. It was Kurtz’s first opposite-field home run this season and was a welcome sight for the slugger.

“Yeah, it was awesome,” Kurtz said after the game. “I’m more happy that it was the first one the other way this year. I think that’s a bigger emphasis for me.”

In the seventh inning, Henry Bolte added another run for the A’s on a sac fly to right field to make it a 5-1 game. It was a nice way to cap off the MLB debut for Bolte as he recorded two hits, an RBI, and a diving catch in center field.

“I think it was great, happy that we got to win as a team,” Henry Bolte said after the game. “That’s kind of the thing, going out there trying to make a difference, little plays, big plays, anything you can do to help the team win. So being able to beat out a couple singles and make a nice play is getting that done. So it was a great debut and happy the boys got the job done, we got to win.”

Zack Gelof added the A’s final run of the night with a solo home run, his fourth of the season, in the eighth inning to give the A’s the 6-2 lead. All in, the A’s offense recorded 13 hits and walked twice in the viceroy on Wednesday night. 

With the win, the A’s improved to 22-20 and will go for the series win against the Cardinals on Thursday afternoon. The A’s will send Jacob Lopez (3-2, 6.11 ERA) to the mound while the Cardinals will counter with Michael McGreevy (3-2, 2.18). First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. PST at Sutter Health Park.

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. 

Ohtani Dominates Game Three Shutting Out San Francisco 4-0

Los Angeles Dodgers two way player Shohei Ohtani is pumped after striking out Rafael Devers (left) in the top of the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wed May 13, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After winning the first two games of the series, the San Francisco Giants (18-25) were gunning for a third win over the Los Angeles Dodgers (25-18). They first had to get past Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani only allowed four hits in the game with eight strikeouts going seven innings. The 4-0 loss had so much to do with Ohtani’s work on the mound.

As this game got underway San Francisco left two runners, Heliot Ramos and Rafael Devers stranded on base moving to the bottom of the first inning. The Dodgers Freddie Freeman had a single in the inning but that would be all for Los Angeles.

Game recap: The game remained scoreless after two innings. San Francisco went three and out. The Dodgers Kyle Tucker hit a double but was left stranded going into the third inning. So far there were not a lot of fireworks going on for either team going into the third inning.

Los Angeles pitcher Ohtani walked Luis Arraez but that would be all he would give up in the third With the game scoreless the bottom of the Dodger lineup Santiago Espinal came to the plate and hit his first home run of the season giving Los Angeles their first run of the game.

Mookie Betts followed Espinal and followed suit hitting another home run and the Dodgers had a 2-0 lead with only one out. Robbie Ray got out of the inning without further damage.

Ohtani had his best inning of the game so far striking out Devers, Bryce Eldridge and Willy Adames in the fourth inning. The Dodgers really got going offensively in the bottom of the inning. Tucker doubled and came home when Teoscar Hernandez singled pushing the score out to 3-0.

Miguel Rojas singled followed by an Alex Call sacrifice that brought Hernandez home for a 4-0 lead. The Giants would finally get out of a very long and productive Dodger inning. They had some work to do but it was still early in the game. So far the Giants only had one hit through four innings, a dramatic difference to the seven hits for the Dodgers through four.

Ohtani had his fourth strikeout in a row to start the top of the fifth inning. He finished the inning with seven strikeouts through five innings. With two runners on base and one out the San Francisco bullpen became acttive.

There would be a change on the mound for San Francisco with two outs. Ray was relieved by Joel Peguero. Ray went 4 2/3 innings allowing seven hits, four runs, two walks and two strikeouts. Peguero closed out the inning.

Ohtani went to work in the top of the sixth inning with his eighth strikeout. Luis Arraez had a single for the Giants, the only hit in the inning for San Francisco. Peguero closed out the bottom of the sixth inning. It would be up to the Giants offense to get something going with only three innings left in the game. Right now it was all about what Ohtani had done tonight on the mound.

San Francisco hit a couple of singles in top of the seventh but no runs. Tristan Beck relieved Peguero in the bottom of the seventh inning going three and out and this game went into the top of the eighth inning.

The Giants got their fifth hit of the game but no runs still trailing 4-0. San Francisco was down to their final three outs. Los Angeles had two runners on base in the bottom of the eighth but left them stranded. They had nine hits for the evening.

Kyle Hurt took the mound to close out this game for the Dodgers. The Giants got the top of the ninth inning started with a Rafael Devers double. Giants Rookie Bryce Eldridge struck out for the first out. Willy Adames grounded out for the second and Matt Chapman was the third out. The Dodgers had snapped their four game losing streak.

Game notes: The Giants are on a roll The Giants could not have asked for a better start to the series with their arch-rivals, the Dodgers (25-18). They won game one handily 9-3 and game two 6-2. Whatever the Giants were recently struggling they dropped game 3 of this four game set 4-0 on Wednesday.

Up to Monday and Tuesday this had been an excellent series for San Francisco and on Wednesday night the Giants would have liked to have added another win to their tally in the series but in a four game series to win them all.

Game four in this series will be another night game at Dodger Stadium. San Francisco with a win in this game will take the series for a second series win this season. Landon Roupp will take the mound for the Giants. He has a 5-3 win/loss record and a 3.09 ERA. The Dodgers will start Emmet Sheehan with a 2-1 win/loss record and a 4.79 ERA. First pitch for game four is scheduled for 7:10 PM.

MLB The Show podcast Jessica Kwong: Polanco and Robert still out of the line up for Mets; MLB and Players Union first day of CBA negotiations; plus more news

New York Mets designated hitter Jorge Polanco (11) stands in the on deck during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Apr 5, 2026. / D. Ross Cameron – Imagn Images

MLB The Show podcast Jessica Kwong:

#1 The New York Mets who acquired Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr for the purposes being everyday players and the Mets knew their injury track records. It’s been six weeks and Polanco and Robert are still on the IL and it appears they won’t be returning anytime soon.

#2 Top Major League Baseball officials and members of the MLB Players Association were in a meeting Tuesday to start negotiations towards a collective bargaining agreement with less than six months before the current deal expires. At the heart of the matter is the salary cap with the players against a cap and MLB owners for a cap. It was a good idea to get started on negotiations now as both sides could find some middle ground. The players however are deadfast against any salary cap and if that’s the deal breaker the players could hold out forcing a lockout at the start of the 2027 season.

#3 Los Angeles Dodger designated hitter Shohei Ohtani in the middle of one of his worst slumps of his career has been benched for at least two games. Ohtani will pitch on Wednesday and will not hit and will also sit out for Thursday’s game against the San Francisco Giants. Ohtani before Tuesday’s game had just four hits in 36 at bats none of those hits were homers and is hitting just .233.

#4 Pittsburgh Pirates pitching ace Paul Skenes lost a no hitter in the seventh inning when the Colorado Rockies Mickey Moniak hit a clean single to break it up. Skenes struck out ten hitters and walk no batters facing 19 hitters. The Pirates would end up winning it 3-1.

#5 The Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy has been placed on the IL for a fractured middle finger Tuesday and could be out as long as eight weeks. According to Braves manager Walt Weiss. The Braves signed catcher Sandy Leon. Leon was playing in the idenpendent Mexican League. Leon played five games for the Braves last season.

Jessica Kwong does the MLB The Show podcasts every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s podcast Bridget Mulcahy: Cards open up on Springs for 4 runs in first for 6-4 win; How Wilson injury impacts club

Sacraamento A’s third baseman Zack Gelof (20) chases St Louis Cardinals Jordan Walker (left) in a run down in the top of the fifth inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Tue May 12, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Bridget Mulcahy:

#1 Can the Cardinals build on their Game 1 momentum after JJ Wetherholt’s clutch two-run homer helped secure a 6-4 win over the Athletics?

#2 How much will the Athletics miss injured shortstop Jacob Wilson as they try to even the series at Sutter Health Park?

#3 Will Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore outduel Athletics pitcher J.T. Ginn in Wednesday’s matchup?

#4 Can Shea Langeliers continue his power surge after hitting his 100th career home run in Tuesday night’s game?

#5 Which team’s bullpen will make the difference in a series that already featured late-inning drama in the opener?

Bridget Mulcahy is a Sacramento A’s podcast contributor 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. 

NBA Playoffs podcast David Zizmor: Can Pistons home court advantage help against Cavaliers in game 5?

Detroit Pistons Cade Cunningham (left) and Cleveland Cavaliers Donavon Mitchell (right) reach for the basketball in game 4 round 2 of the NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Mon May 11, 2026 (AP News photo)

NBA Playoffs podcast David Zizmor:

#1 Can Donovan Mitchell carry the Cavaliers to a crucial road win after his historic 39-point second half in Game 4?

#2 How will Cade Cunningham respond after Cleveland’s defensive traps slowed him down in the second half of the previous game?

#3 Which team will better handle the pressure in Game 5 with the Eastern Conference semifinal series tied 2-2?

#4 Will Detroit’s home-court advantage at Little Caesars Arena help the Pistons regain momentum?

#5 Can the Cavaliers finally solve their road struggles and take control of the series heading back to Cleveland?

David Zizmor does the NBA Playoff podcasts weekley at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants Hit Three Home Runs to Best Dodgers in Game Two 6-2

San Francisco Giants Eric Haase rounds first base after hitting a solo home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Tue May 12, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Los Angeles Dodgers (24-17) led for a few innings before the San Francisco Giants (17-24) brought out the big guns. Eric Haase hit a couple of home runs and Harrison Bader also hit a long ball with the final score 6-2.

With the win the Giants took a 2-0 series lead in this four-game series. Willy Adames had two hits and continues to make strides so he is back. After struggling for a while, San Francisco is fighting their way up the standings but they still have a ways to go. The good news is that they are playing some excellent ball right now.

Game notes: The Dodgers got the first run of the game in the first inning. Ohtani singled, Freddie Freeman singled and Kyle Tucker was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Wes Smith sacrificed and Ohtani scored for the early 1-0 lead. Loading the bases was not the way the Giants wanted to start off this game. The damage was kept to a minimum with just the one run. The Giants went three and out in the opening inning. The second inning was a three and out for both teams.

San Francisco was able to tie up the game in the third inning 1-1. Eric Haase hit a long ball to left center to tie up this game. The tie was short-lived when in the bottom of the third inning. Shohei Ohtani gave the Dodgers back the lead with his sixth home run of the season 2-1. Los Angeles pitcher Yamamoto was rolling along with six strikeouts through four innings and two three and outs. The Giants starting pitcher Houser was also having some success with 4 strikeouts through four innings. He had given up three hits.

This game took a crazy turn in the fifth inning. San Francisco hit not one but two back-to-back home runs. Harrison Bader hit the first one and Eric Haase the second giving the Giants a 3-2 lead. This was Haase’s second long ball of the game.

It had been a tough inning for Yamamoto. Now it would be up to Houser to protect that lead for San Francisco. The inning would come to an end with a double play and Hauser was having a very good game.

Much of the damage in this game was done by the bottom of the lineup for the Giants, the eighth and ninth batters. Rafael Devers had a hit, but it was the three Giants home runs, two from Haase and the one from Bader that had San Francisco leading going into the bottom of the sixth inning. Every time the Dodgers took the lead, San Francisco either tied the game or took the lead. With only four hits through six innings those home runs were priceless.

There was a pitching change in the bottom of the sixth inning for San Francisco. Adrian Houser was relieved by Matt Gage. Houser went 5 2/3 innings finishing with three hits, two runs, theee walks and four strikeouts.

The Giants got something going in the top of th seventh inning. They had runners on the corners, Ramos with a double and Adames a single with no outs. An insurance run or two was what San Francisco really needed right now having a great opportunity to do just that with the two runners on base.

The Giants got one of those insurance runs when Drew Gilbert bunted and Ramos scored extending the San Francisco lead to 4-2. The Giants added two more runs in the inning stunning the fans in the stadium. Chung Hoo Lee doubled Gilbert and Adames home for a 6-2 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning. The Giants finished off the bottom of the inning striking out Ohtani.

The Dodgers refused to go quietly putting two runners on base (Tucker and Freeman) with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning. San Francisco relief pitcher Sam Hentges loaded the bases with Max Muncy at the plate. Hentges got the second out and was relieved by Caleb Kilian to close out the inning with the bases remaining loaded. Kilian got the GIants out of the inning and they were three outs away from winning game two.

The Dodgers had one last inning to make a move. Dodger stadium had begun to empty, the fans having little to cheer about since the third inning of the game. Giants relief pitcher Kilian would remain in the game looking to close it out. A strikeout, a couple of ground outs and that was the ball game 6-2 in favor of San Francisco.

Game notes: Tuesday night, the Giants took game one of their four game series with the Dodgers 9-3. Wednesday night San Francisco took a 2-0 lead in the series. Tuesday night’s hero for the Giants was Willy Adames who has recently had his struggles but now seems to be turning that all around.

Adames was not the only player that really showed up for this game. Rafael Devers hit a home run and drew a bases loaded walk that broke a late inning tie. This loss gave the Dodgers an eighth loss of their last 12 games as they continue to limp through May. The Los Angeles offense has been downright awful. Shohei Ohtani was 0-5 and had two strikeouts Tuesday night.

With the win, the Giants knocked the Dodgers out of first place in the National League West. San Francisco finished the game with 12 hits and Adames, Devers, Luis Arraez and Casey Schmitt each had two hits. Their offense was humming.

Wednesday the Giants will play for a win in game three and taking a 3-0 series lead. Robbie Ray will take the mound for San Francisco with a 3-4 win/loss record and a 2.76 ERA. The Dodgers will start Shohei Ohtani. First pitch for Wednesday’s game is scheduled for 7:10 PM.

Shea Langeliers’ 100th Career Home Run Not Enough in A’s 6-4 Loss to Cardinals

Shea Langeliers #23 of the Athletics rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on May 12, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Athletics were back home at Sutter Health Park on Tuesday night to take on the St. Louis Cardinals in game one of a three-game series. The A’s were coming off a solid road trip where they made stops in Philadelphia and Baltimore while going 3-3 in the six road games.

On Tuesday, the Cardinals handled business and defeated the A’s 6-4.

Jeffrey Springs got the ball for the A’s in their return home, and he had a very familiar outing that we have become accustomed to during his time in Sacramento.

Springs, who had pitched fairly well the last couple of years, has found himself in early-game trouble many times during that span. Tuesday was no different for the left-hander.

Springs was roughed up early in the first inning as the Cardinals posted four runs on four hits and a walk to set the tone early and get the A’s on their heels. Springs managed to settle in, but his final line wasn’t pretty. All in, he managed to toss five innings of four-run, seven-hit ball while walking three and striking out five Cardinals hitters.

“The first inning just didn’t look comfortable,” Kotsay said after the game. “And once he got through that first, obviously he dialed in and pitched a great game. So overall … he’s had a good season so far at this point. I think it was one of those things that just he couldn’t get the out when he needed.”

The bullpen pitched well enough for the A’s to get the win, but the A’s weren’t able to capitalize.

Joel Kuhnel came in for the sixth inning and ran into some trouble of his own. Kuhnel pitched two-thirds of an inning and gave up two runs on two hits.

Brooks Kriske came in as the second man out of the pen for the A’s and pitched one and two thirds innings of no-run, one-walk baseball while striking out one. Unfortunately, Kriske was removed in the seventh inning with what Mark Kotsay described as “right shoulder soreness” after the game. Kotsay said he would be reevaluated tomorrow.

Scott Barlow came in to finish off the eighth inning and allowed one hit and nothing else while striking out one in two-thirds of an inning of work.

Mark Leiter Jr. was the final man out of the pen for the A’s. Leiter Jr. tossed a scoreless ninth inning while striking out one hitter in one inning of relief.

On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s put up a fight but weren’t able to complete a comeback.

The scoring for the A’s mostly happened in the second inning, as Nick Kurtz hit an RBI single to get the A’s on the board and bring the score to 4-1. One batter later, Shea Langeliers hit a two-RBI double to bring the A’s to within one as the A’s rallied in support of Jeffrey Springs.

The A’s final scoring came in the eighth when Shea Langeliers blasted the 100th home run of his career. The blast traveled 448 feet and left the bat at 108 mph as it sailed on top of the A’s clubhouse in left field.

“It’s a big milestone, a hundred home runs at this point in his career,” Mark Kotsay said. “You can say that he’s done just a tremendous job to this point of continuing to get better and be an impact-type player.”

The A’s fell to 21-20 on the season as they started the homestand off with the loss to the Cardinals.

The A’s will send J.T. Ginn (1-1, 3.62) to the mound on Wednesday as the Cardinals will counter with Matthew Liberatore (2-1, 4.07) at 6:40 p.m. PT.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Yanks in a jam after losing no hitter losing fourth game in a row; M’s hoping to log some wins against Astros; plus more news

New York Yankees pitcher Brent Headrick pitches into the seventh against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Mon May 11, 2026 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Are the New York Yankees in trouble after blowing a no-hit bid and losing their fourth straight game to the Baltimore Orioles?

#2 Can Julio Rodríguez stay red-hot and add another home run for the Seattle Mariners Tuesday night against the Houston Astros?

#3 Did the Los Angeles Dodgers make the right move by trading for outfielder Alek Thomas from the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks?

#4 Are the Chicago Cubs emerging as the best team in baseball after climbing to No. 1 in the latest MLB power rankings?

#5 Could ongoing labor talks between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association become the next major storyline hanging over the sport?

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.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.