Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal throws against Miami Marlins in the bottom of the first inning at LoanDepot Park in Maimi Fri Sep 12, 2025. Skubal was cleared to return Mon Sep 15, 2025 after suffering left side tightness. (AP News photo)
MLB The Show podcast Charlie O:
#1 Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal got some relief after he had to leave Friday’s game against the Miami Marlins. Skubal took an exam and did not suffer any structural damage after feeling tightness in his left side. Skubal was cleared to pitch in his next start on Monday.
#2 The wait is over the Milwaukee Brewers became the first big league club to clinch for the post season. When the New York Mets lost on Friday to the Texas Rangers 3-2 that got a post season spot in the bag for the Brewers. Deservedly the Brewers have the best record in the majors so they get the first invitation to the playoffs.
#3 Anthony Rizzo the former Chicago Cubs first baseman who played with that Cubs team that won the World Series a decade ago and making it the first Cubs team to win a World Series after 108 years announced his retirement at age 36. Rizzo had suffered a broken arm last season and had been contemplating retirement. Rizzo after speaking to his parents and wife says he will hang it up this season.
#4 Big moment for New York Yankee great Aaron Judge who hit his 362nd career home run against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night to over take former Yankee outfielder Joe DiMaggio and move into fourth place on the all time Yankees home run list for home runs as the Yankees win 4-1.
#5 The San Francisco Giants Patrick Bailey’s walk off grand slam home run won it 5-1 Friday night and placed them into third place in the NL Wild Card race with a win over one of the top contenders for the NL Division Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers would be the Giants opponents in a Wild Card if the season were ending today.
Stanford Cardinal wide receiver Caden High (6) is thrilled as Stanford wins it’s opener against the visiting Boston College Eagles at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto on Sat Sep 13, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal photo)
By Daniel Dullum
Micah Ford rushed for 157 yards and a go-ahead touchdown for Stanford Saturday, helping the Cardinal win its first game of the season, a 30-20 Atlantic Coast Conference football victory over Boston College at Stanford Stadium.
The Cardinal improved to 1-2 overall and 1-0 in the league, while BC dropped to 1-2 overall, 0-1 in the ACC.
Stanford opened the scoring with a pair of field goals by Emmet Kenney from 23 and 35 yards, giving the Cardinal a 6-0 lead after one quarter.
The Eagles got on the scoreboard at 13:38 of the second quarter on a 51-yard field goal by Luca Lombardo. Less than two minutes later, Turbo Richard caught a 49-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Lonergan, and Boston College had its first lead of the game at 10-6..
On BC’s next possession, Jordan McDonald ran in on a 2-yard TD with 8:04 left in the second quarter, extending the Eagles lead to 17-6.
The Cardinal scored twice within 18 seconds to regain the lead. At 1:47 of the period, Sam Roush hauled in a 69-yard scoring pass from Ben Gulbranson. Eighteen seconds later, Collin Wright returned an interception 19 yards to put Stanford up 17-13.
Boston College tied the game at 20-20 going into halftime on a 31-yard field goal by Lombardo as the first half ended.
With 1:35 left in the third quarter, Ford’s 5-yard rushing touchdown put the Cardinal back in front to stay at 27-20. Stanford finished the scoring at 11:26 of the fourth quarter on a 26-yard field goal by Kenney.
Gulbranson completed 13 of 22 passes for 186 yards, one touchdown and was sacked twice. Bryce Farrell caught five passes for 72 yards, and Roush caught three passes for 79 yards and a touchdown.
Lonergan completed 30 of 44 passes for 333 yards for BC with one touchdown, one interception and was sacked once. Richard ran 14 times for 54 yards. Reed Harris and Lewis Bond each caught seven passes – Harris racked up 141 receiving yards.
Next Saturday, the Cardinal travel to Charlottesville, Va., for an ACC encounter with Virginia. Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. Pacific.
Nick Kurtz #16 of the Athletics hits a grand slam during the bottom of the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Sutter Health Park on September 13, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Scott Marshall/Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
WEST SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento A’s and some of the Cincinnati Reds celebrated a special day at Sutter Health Park on Saturday night as the A’s inducted their Athletics Hall of Fame 2025 Class. The players inducted were Mark Mulder, Barry Zito, and Tim Hudson, alongside longtime broadcaster Monte Moore.
It was a special group honored during the sunset hour in West Sacramento, albeit after a 10-minute delay caused by fireworks tripping the stadium’s fire alarm systems. The stadium and all PA capabilities were temporarily disabled, presumably a protocol set up by the fire systems. However, once the teams took the field, it was business as usual as the A’s defeated the Reds 11-5.
Luis Severino didn’t pitch well in his Sutter Health Park return since coming back from injury and making two starts on the road. Severino went five innings for the A’s, giving up five runs on six hits while walking two Reds hitters. As has been the case much of the 2025 season, he was hit around at Sutter Health Park and has only been able to earn six wins so far this season with the Athletics.
Mark Kotsay spoke about the start after the game.
“…The attack into the zone is what we’re looking for and obviously the result wasn’t great, but he gave us five innings and kept us in the game.”
The bullpen
The bullpen, which has turned into a strength for Kotsay and his staff this season, came in and pitched lights out once again. Michael Kelly relieved Severino and tossed a scoreless sixth inning, giving up just a hit and a walk while striking out one.
Brady Basso pitched the seventh for the A’s and tossed a perfect frame, retiring the three hitters he faced without incident. Following Basso, Kotsay gave the ball to Elvis Alvarado to pitch the eighth inning. Alvarado pitched well in a scoreless inning, allowing just one hit.
The ninth inning belonged to Hogan Harris, who pitched a clean frame with the exception of a walk he stranded on the bases.
“I love talking about the success of the bullpen right now,” Kotsay said after the game. “It’s funny, Rollie Fingers was standing next to me before the ceremony started and he said, ‘Hey, I’ve got a story for you. I went into the clubhouse today and was kind of asking around, “Who’s the closer?” And they all went, “We all are!”’ That was great. That’s the mindset down there. There’s a group of guys down there that are thriving on their opportunity, prepared for it, and when they get the ball, they’re going in and having success.”
The bats
The A’s bats chased the Reds starter early after putting up five runs on four hits against flamethrower Hunter Greene.
The A’s got on the board with a Brent Rooker solo homer to left-center in the second inning, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Only three batters later, Friday night’s hero Carlos Cortes stepped up and homered of his own. On the 12th pitch of the at-bat, Cortes sent a ball 398 feet to right field to give the A’s a 3-2 lead.
The offense added on in the third inning when Jacob Wilson hit a two-RBI ground-rule double off the leg of Greene, putting the A’s up 5-2.
The bats weren’t done, continuing to pile on against the Reds bullpen. In the seventh, Wilson hit his second RBI double of the game, scoring Shea Langeliers. One inning later, Lawrence Butler drove in Darell Hernaiz with an RBI single.
Nick Kurtz capped the scoring with a booming eighth-inning grand slam that traveled an eye-popping 493 feet to dead center. Kurtz cleared the batter’s eye with his mammoth shot, sending Sacramento into a frenzy.
“I really can’t speak any more about Nick. I don’t know if there’s words that can describe that at-bat… he continues to just impress,” Kotsay said. “The impact on that baseball was one, like I’ve seen with a couple guys that showed up today and were part of that Hall of Fame ceremony, and I think you guys know who I’m talking about. Canseco and McGwire used to hit walls like that—in a different era. Nick’s not in that era.”
Severino and many of the Athletics joked about the state of their vehicles following the power display from Kurtz.
“Hopefully my car is alright. I mean, my car was parked right behind that, but hopefully it’s good,” Severino said. “It’s unbelievable. I can’t imagine anybody else going deep center field 500 feet. That’s crazy.”
“I think we’re going to have to make up a new word for what he did to that ball,” Lawrence Butler said. “That was insane. He’s done insane stuff all year. I don’t know what else he has to do to top everything he’s done this year. I mean, this is one of the greatest rookie years I’ve ever seen.”
Overall, the A’s offense put up 11 runs on 12 hits while walking seven times against the Reds pitching staff.
Fact of the Game
Lawrence Butler became the first Athletics player to have a 20-homer/20-stolen base season since fellow No. 4, Coco Crisp, did it in 2013.
Theo Derosa asked Butler after the game how it feels to be the first player since Crisp to achieve the milestone.
“Yeah, that feels really good. That’s amazing. He wore number four. I wear number four too, so that’s pretty cool to hear that.”
Up next
The A’s will take on the Reds in the series finale Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PST at Sutter Health Park. Luis Morales (3-1, 2.73 ERA) is slated to start for the A’s against Nick Lodolo (8-7, 3.10 ERA) for the Reds.
⚡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 pitcher Logan Webb, center, hands the ball over to manager Bob Melvin, left, as he exits during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez)
By Lincoln Juarez
SAN FRANCISCO – The Los Angeles Dodger offense powered LA past the San Francisco Giants 13-7 to play spoiler on a night the Giants could’ve earned a playoff spot. Webb nor Kershaw had their stuff Saturday night as both offenses ruptured.
Saturday evening at Oracle Park in front of another sell-out crowd the Giants took the field, this time with a chance to pass the New York Mets in the NL Wild Card Standings and take sole possession of the final spot.
Logan Webb (14-9, 3.12) was set to face Clayton Kershaw (10-2, 3.27) in what was supposed to be another great pitching matchup, instead we saw the opposite.
In the top of the first, Shohei Ohtani led off the game with a groundball single just deep enough into the 5-6 hole for Adames to not even try making a throw after fielding it. Mookie Betts was next and he hit a soft ground ball back to Webb, whose only play was to first base, advancing Ohtani to scoring position.
The Dodgers got on the board the next at-bat when Freddie Freeman singled down the left field line. Ohtani came around to score as Freddie Freeman tested his luck trying to turn his base-hit into a double. Heliot Ramos nailed Freeman at second for the second out of the inning, but only after the Dodgers took a 1-0 lead. Webb got Max Muncy to ground out to Casey Schmitt at second to end the top of the first.
The theme of this Giants run they’ve gone on has been responding in the next half inning after the opposing team scores. Saturday night they put up four runs in the home first after trailing 1-0, two of which came before Clayton Kershaw could record an out. Adames, Chapman, Encarnacion, and Matos picked up rbi’s and all nine Giants in the order got an at-bat in the bottom of the first.
The Dodgers opened up the top of the second with three straight singles loading the bases for Miguel Rojas. Tensions rose in the ballpark as Rojas stepped in. On the sixth pitch of the at-bat Webb got Rojas to pop one up to Casey Schmitt for the first out. The bases remained loaded for Dodger catcher Ben Rortvedt who grounded into an inning-ending 3-6-1 double play. Logan Webb pumped his fist after finishing the play at first base and keeping the momentum on their side.
After that there wasn’t much that went the Giants’ way. The Dodgers scored two runs off of Webb on Ohtani’s 49th home run of the season and a Teoscar Hernandez rbi-double which made it 4-3 Giants.
San Francisco bumped Clayton Kershaw out of the game after three innings. He threw 67 pitches while allowing four earned runs on five hits. Edgardo Henriquez relieved Kershaw of his duties and struck out the Giants in order in the fourth.
Mookie Betts led off the fifth inning with a walk and Freddie Freeman followed with a single. Webb walked Max Muncy who was the last hitter he faced.
Webb totaled 4ip, 10h, 6er, 2bb, and 5k and dropped his record to 14-10.
Jose Butto entered with the bases loaded and nobody out. Teoscar Hernandez doubled on the fourth pitch Butto threw, scoring two to give the Dodgers a 5-4 lead. The next batter, Michael Conforto hit a sac-fly to right field, scoring Max Muncy and the Dodgers had a 6-4 lead. Later in the inning Ben Rortvedt doubled home two more and Mookie Betts singled him home to finish off a six-run fifth inning for LA.
San Francisco scored three in the home half of the fifth but it wouldn’t be enough as the Dodgers went right back into attack mode getting those three runs back in the top of the sixth.
Shohei Ohtani came around to score in the ninth making it 13-7 Dodgers. It was his 134th run scored of the season, matching the Dodger record he set just last season.
13-7 was the final score Saturday night in a game where the Giants could’ve made their way into the final NL Wild Card spot. Should the Mets lose again on Sunday, the Giants could have another chance to pass them in the Wild Card standings.
RHP Tyler Glasnow (2-3, 3.21) will face LHP Robbie Ray (11-6, 3.32) in the rubber match of this three game series at Oracle Park Sunday afternoon.
San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Beau Leroux plays the ball away from LAFC midfielder Mathieu Choiniere during LAFC’s 4-2 win at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday SEP 13, 2025. (John Todd, Getty Images)
by Marko Ukalovic
SANTA CLARA, Calif, — The invasion of Heung Min Son made its way to the Bay Area in front of a record crowd of 50,978 at the home of the San Francisco 49ers.
The former Tottenham Spurs captain and Korean national was all the buzz before the match but it was his teammate Denis Bouanga that stole his thunder recording a hat trick in LAFC’s 4-2 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday evening at Levi’s Stadium.
San Jose has lost three out of their last four matches and occupies the 9th and final wild card spot in the Western Conference. LAFC has earned points in four out of its five past matches.
Turnovers told the story for San Jose as LAFC took advantage of the Quakes lack of sharpness to start the match.
LAFC (12-7-8-44 points) began the fireworks in the first minute of the match. A bad turnover by San Jose led to Marco Delgado finding Artem Smolyakov along the left wing. Smolyakov crossed the ball over to Son who easily tapped the ball into an empty net for his second goal in an LAFC kit.
Denis Bouanga scored the first of his two goals in the ninth minute. Bouanga stripped the ball off of Daniel Munie along the sideline at midfield. Bouanga raced down the pitch before depositing the ball off of Quakes goalkeeper Daniel for his 16th goal of the season.
Three minutes later Bouanga had the brace when he broke away from the Quakes defense onside when Sergei Palencia sent a long ball down the right wing. Bouanga dribbled in all alone before chipping the ball over Daniel into the far corner of the net for his 17th goal of the season.
“I have to accept the responsibility that we have two of our better players in [Chicho] Arango and [Cristian] Espinoza turning the ball over right in the opening minute of the game that helped create their goal. We have to be better to start a game. They’re veteran players and they have to be a little bit sharper. You got to give the opponent credit, to turn that into a goal. But poor playing on our part and having a team step on the field and play the way we did in the open minutes of the games, it’s on me. I’m quite surprised at the way we stepped on the field in the opening minutes of the game,” Quakes head coach Bruce Arena said.
San Jose (9-13-8-35 points) finally stopped the bleeding in the 18th minute when they got on the scoreboard. Chicho Arango threaded the needle with a pass between two LAFC defenders into the middle of the box. Preston Judd raced in and fired a shot past LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris for his seventh goal of the season.
LAFC put the game away in the 87th minute when Bouanga finished off his hat trick. Palencia came in from the right wing after taking a long ball from midfield. Palencia got Daniel to come out before sending the ball over to Bouanga who tapped in his team leading 18th goal of the season into an empty net. Bouanga finished with four points as he was involved in all four of his team’s goal.
“We haven’t played a back four for a long time, but we had a whole week to work on it. I think we felt pretty good, and we wanted to isolate Rodrigues, because he played really well against [Denis] Bouanga the first time when we went away against LAFC. The way they shaped up was a little different, and he didn’t receive the ball too much in the touchline. They were running behind a lot. I think we were a little naïve in the way we approached that and didn’t really change,” Earthquakes midfielder Ian Harkes said.
The Earthquakes cut the lead in half the 90th minute when Benji Kikanovic crossed the ball into the middle of the box. Josef Martinez’s bicycle kick attempt missed the ball and hit off the knees of Palencia into the back of the net for an own goal. However, it was too little, too late for San Jose as they were dominated their SoCal rival from start to finish.
Lloris, who made three spectacular saves in the second half, earned his 12th win of the season. Daniel made two saves on six shots in the losing effort.
GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with 10 corner kicks. LAFC had two.
The previous record for a home Earthquakes game was 50,850 at 2019 California Classico at Stanford Stadium.
The Quakes are now 7-12-1 against LAFC in MLS regular season play with a 6-3-0 record at home.
Judd’s 18th-minute goal was his 11th of his career.
Arango’s 18th-minute assist was his seventh of the season in MLS play and 28th of his career. He increased his tally to five goal contributions (2g/3a) in just four meetings with LAFC.
The Quakes snapped a six-game unbeaten streak in all competitions at Levi’s® Stadium tonight (4-0-2).
UP NEXT: San Jose returns home to host St. Louis City at 7:30pm at PayPal Park.
AI generated photo of A’s ballpark at 12th Street and Broadway in downtown Oakland a simulated dream of what could have been (AI generated photo)
Sacramento A’s Relocation Daniel Dullum podcast:
#1 Daniel, One other location the A’s would’ve could’ve should’ve had considered was 12th and Broadway in downtown Oakland across the street from the Broadway Street Marriott Hotel what a dream location it would have been the BART subway underneath Broadway and there is very little doubt that a park in that location would have drawn sell outs every night and owner John Fisher wouldn’t have to worry about any ballpark village that park location alone would have been a cash cow.
#2 It’s always about the location and if Howard Terminal didn’t work for the City of Oakland and MLB at the time 12th Street would have been a hub and baseball’s teams should consider locations like this with lots of potential.
#3 Friday Sep 6th a State of Nevada District Judge ruled that an attempt to stop some of the $380 million coming from the Nevada State Legislature will be allowed to be allocated. The Nevada State Education Association and Schools over Stadiums union pointed out that the bill violated the state constitution.
#4 After Friday’s ruling the A’s are rolling ahead with the construction of the park and are working on pouring cement that’s going vertical.
#5 None of the $380 million has not been spent yet and approvals to spend the money have not been met. The State of Nevada is waiting for A’s owner John Fisher to come up with his share of the construction cost. The reason why Schools over Stadiums constitution challenge was not consider was because the public money will not be made available until the A’s pay their share of the construction cost.
⚡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’ Patrick Bailey, right, hits a game-winning grand slam during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez)
By Lincoln Juarez
SAN FRANCISCO – Patrick Bailey’s walk-off grand slam electrified the Oracle Park crowd Friday night as the Giants topped the Dodgers in 10 innings, 5-1 behind Justin Verlander’s masterful seven inning performance.
Just prior to the start of game one between the Dodgers and Giants, the New York Mets lost their seventh game in a row, putting the Giants just a single game out of the final National League Wild Card spot and adding to the intensity inside Oracle Park Friday night.
40,509 packed the ballpark on 3rd and King to witness the first great pitchers-duel of the weekend between RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (11-8, 2.72) and RHP Justin Verlander (3–10, 4.09).
Verlander, who reached 20 years of Major League service time Friday night, shut the Dodger offense down, surrendering only one run on four hits while striking out four. The lone run came on a Michael Conforto home run in the seventh inning that tied the game at one. A 92mph fastball left middle-middle was the only mistake Verlander made all night.
The Giants scored early, as they’ve done in this winning stretch, getting to Yamamoto in the first. Rafael Devers walked with one out and eventually scored from first base on a ball hit to the left-center field gap by Willy Adames. Center fielder Andy Pages had trouble fielding the ball allowing Devers to score and put the Giants in the lead 1-0. That was the only hit Yamamoto allowed in his seven strong. He held the Giants to a hit and a run while striking out 10.
The pitching got some help keeping the score tight throughout the game. In the top of the fourth inning, with the Dodgers trailing by a run and two runners in scoring position, Matt Chapman dove right into the 5-6 hole to keep a groundball from getting to the outfield, returned to his feet and fired a lazor to first base. While stretching for the ball in order to get the inning-ending out, 1B Dom Smith strained his hamstring and was removed from the game.
“We’ll see how he is tomorrow. He’s gonna get some imaging tomorrow” is what Bob Melvin said about Dom Smith’s high hamstring strain which shouldn’t be as bad as it sounds.
With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth and one out, the Giants finally had a great opportunity to score with pinch-runner Grant McCray tagging up from third base on a very shallow fly ball hit by Wilmer Flores. Dodger center fielder Andy Pages threw a perfect strike to home plate to catch McCray and end the inning on the double play.
In the top of the 10th, McCray was ready for his revenge and got an opportunity on a short pop-up off the bat of Mookie Betts. McCray caught it and threw a 101.7mph seed to catch the ghost-runner in the 10th inning and just like that the Giants had every ounce of the momentum gained. McCray’s throw was the hardest thrown outfield assist by a Giant in the statcast era. While praising McCray for coming off the bench and being ready to make a play as he did, Bob Melvin said, “There’s plenty of things you could say about the plays of the game, I don’t know that there was a bigger play in the game than that.”
The Giants took their energy to the bottom of the tenth where the bases got loaded with two walks and the already-existing runner on base to start, setting the table for Patrick Bailey, who had already provided fans a walk-off moment for the ages on his walk-off inside-the-park home run against the Phillies on July 8. Bailey sat on a high fastball in a 1-0 count and barrelled it to left field. The roar of the crowd was immediate because everyone knew Patrick Bailey had just walked off the Dodgers in grand fashion. Grant McCray, still juiced up from the throw he made in the top half of the inning, joined who else but Drew Gilbert as two of the first to storm the field toward home plate. The electrified fans cheered Bailey all the way around the bases until he officially scored, putting an end to the game and putting the Giants a half game back of the Mets for the last NL Wild Card spot.
A game for the ages was just the start of an incredible weekend of baseball on the shores of McCovey Cove. Another great pitching matchup takes place Saturday night with LHP Clayton Kershaw (10-2, 3.27) vs. RHP Logan Webb (14-9, 3.12).
Carlos Cortes #26 of the Athletics is congratulated by third base coach Eric Martins #3 after he hit his second solo home run of the game against the Cincinnati Reds in the bottom of the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on September 12, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
WEST SACRAMENTO — Fresh off an off day on Thursday, the Athletics welcomed the Cincinnati Reds to Sacramento on Friday night. The A’s controlled the game from the start and took game one of the three-game series 3-0.
J.T. Ginn, who has had a very up-and-down season recently for the A’s, was playing with his food all night in Sacramento. However, Ginn managed to escape without allowing any damage and tossed four and a third innings before being removed with an injury. The word from the A’s clubhouse was Ginn left with a “right calf cramp.” Ginn, who walked four and didn’t appear to have his best command, only surrendered two hits in his scoreless outing.
Kotsay was impressed with Ginn’s ability to work out of trouble, but eight three-ball counts and four walks remain an issue for him.
“I think there’s still a lot of room for growth for J.T.,” Kotsay said postgame. “We talk about it a lot, getting ’em out there, getting these starts to get more experience on what it takes.”
Ginn spoke after the game about how he thought he was pitching before the injury and shared a similar assessment to Kotsay’s.
“I thought I could’ve done better filling up the zone early, but I think I pitched out of some big situations and made pitches when I had to, so I thought it was good.”
Ginn continued on the severity of the injury that caused him to leave the game and whether he felt it would be an issue moving forward.
“The first pitch of that last at-bat there I felt it and it kind of just stuck around… I think it was just a cramp, so I think I’ll be ready to go.”
The A’s bullpen did what it has been doing for much of the last month. The bullpen came in and slammed the door on the Reds.
Tyler Ferguson relieved J.T. Ginn after the injury and recorded the last two outs of the fifth inning without incident. Ferguson then went on to toss a scoreless sixth inning for the A’s, allowing one hit and one walk across his inning and a third of relief.
Hogan Harris came on to pitch the seventh inning and allowed no runs and only one hit.
Justin Sterner wasn’t as sharp as he might normally be as he gave up two hits to the Reds but ultimately escaped unscathed in a scoreless eighth inning.
Finally, Mark Kotsay went to Sean Newcomb in the ninth inning. Newcomb, who has become accustomed to high-leverage roles after having success this season with the A’s, struck out the side in a scoreless top of the ninth inning.
On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s kept steady pressure on the Reds all night thanks to a trio of long balls.
Lawrence Butler led off the game with a laser solo shot to center field to immediately get the A’s on the board. It was Butler’s fourth leadoff homer this season and the seventh of his career.
However, the real hero of the night was Carlos Cortes. Cortes, who has had a spot-start and inconsistent role so far this year for the A’s, came up big with two solo home runs. The first came in the third inning when he launched a ball 408 feet into the Sacramento night. His second was an equally majestic 413-foot shot that put the A’s up 3-0 and sealed the victory.
Mark Kotsay spoke highly of Cortes and the preparation he brings no matter the situation.
“Yeah, great night for Carlos,” Kotsay said after the game. “It’s one of those times where it seems like baseball always rewards a guy that gets into the lineup late, and tonight was that night for Carlos with some great at-bats. He comes prepared every day. He doesn’t get a ton of opportunities. You give him some pinch-hit at-bats, he’s had a few starts, but his at-bats have always been consistent with them being good professional ab’s.”
Up Next
The A’s will take on the Reds in game two of the three-game series on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. PST at Sutter Health Park. Luis Severino (6-11, 4.67 ERA) is set to go for the A’s, while Hunter Greene (6-4, 2.59 ERA) will start for the Reds.
San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman’s one day suspension was reduced to a fine for shoving Colorado Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeman. Rafael Devers who stood at the plate and admired his home run incensed Freeman as he and Devers got into a jawing match as both benches emptied. Devers was fined as well. (AP photo from Sep 2, 2025)
San Francisco Giants podcast Lincoln Juarez:
#1 The Giants are coming off a day off on Thursday and opens up a three game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park.
#2 The Giants have won eight of their last ten games and 13 of it’s last 17 games. The Giants did lose the last game of their series finale on Wednesday 5-3.
#3 The Giants are only 1.5 games back for the final Wild Card spot as the New York Mets lost to Philadelphia and are closing in on the Mets who have now lost six in a row after dominating the Wild Card race.
#4 The Giants have got success from Willy Adames and Rafael Devers who each have hit 12 home runs since August 1 and both are tied for sixth most in the MLB and both are third for the most home runs in the NL trailing the Mets Juan Soto (14) and the Phillies Kyle Schwarber (13).
#5 Taking a look at Friday’s starting pitchers for the Dodgers RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (11-8 ERA 2.72) RHP Justin Verlander (3-10 ERA 4.09) for a 7:15pm first pitch.
Giant notes: San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman who was in the middle of a on field scuffle with the Colorado Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeman and made contact with Freeman on Sep 2 at Coors Field after Freeman and Devers got into a jawing match over Devers’ admiring his home run that he hit off Freeman.
With the benches emptying Chapman reached out and made contact with Freeman who was issued a one day suspension by MLB which Chapman appealed and won. Chapman rather than serve the one day suspension will be fined for the incident along with Devers who also was fined.
Stanford Cardinal offensive linebacker Tre Williams (38) gives defensive lineman Clay Patterson (91) a lift in week two against the BYU Cougars in Provo UT on Sat Sep 6, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal photo)
Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson:
#1 BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier had himself an afternoon against the Stanford Cardinal last Saturday throwing for 175 yards and rushed for a touchdown as the Cougars crushed the Cardinal 27-3 in Provo.
#2 LJ Martin rushed for 110 yards averaging 6.1 yards per carry for BYU. For the second game in a row Martin had rushed for 100 yards and it was his fourth of his career. The Cardinal defense had a tough night trying to stop Martin.
#3 Stanford quarterback Ben Gulbranson threw for 142 yards and 161 total offensive. Gulbranson threw two interceptions and it just wasn’t enough to generate any kind of offensive threat against BYU.
#4 The Cardinal now 0-2 had only 12 first downs and only were two for 13 on third down. The Cardinal have a lot of work in front of them to get back on track.
#5 Next up for Stanford Cardinal the Boston College Eagles for the Cardinal home opener for 2025 after opening their first two games in Hawaii and BYU. The Eagles after crushing Fordham 66-0 in week 1 lost a close game to the Michigan State Spartans 42-40 in week 2. Michael what’s your take on Boston College and Stanford as they kick off this Saturday for the home opener.
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