Category: MLB

Sacramento A’s go quiet 2-0 in Pittsburgh as bats freeze against Pirates pitching

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Sacramento A’s starter Luis Morales pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the bottom of the first inning at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Sat Sep 20, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s go quiet in Pittsburgh as bats freeze against Pirates pitching

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics rolled into Pittsburgh’s PNC Park Saturday night with the swagger expected of a club that had taken seven of its last eight. But baseball has a way of humbling even the hottest teams, and Saturday night, the bats of the Green and Gold fell silent in a 2-0 loss to the Pirates.

From the first pitch at 6:42 p.m., it was clear the A’s weren’t going to find many friendly bounces. Bubba Chandler, Pittsburgh’s rookie right-hander, entered the night with a 5.66 ERA but looked like he was back on the Florida showcase circuit, mowing down the A’s lineup with a calm efficiency that belied his numbers.

Chandler punched out six Sacramento hitters through five innings, including a first-inning one-two-three of Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker, and Nick Kurtz, all swinging or fouling into outs. That set the tone for the kind of night it would be.

Luis Morales, the A’s own rookie arm, took the mound with a 4-1 record and a crisp 3.08 ERA. He didn’t implode, but he also didn’t have much room for error. Morales surrendered just four hits in his outing, but two left the yard.

Nick Yorke struck first in the second inning with a solo shot to left, his first in the big leagues, giving the home crowd something to cheer about and putting the A’s in an early hole. An inning later, Bryan Reynolds added his 16th homer of the season, this one a blast to right-center that doubled the Pirates’ lead.

And that was all Pittsburgh needed. The rest of the night belonged to their bullpen, which combined with Chandler to scatter just three Sacramento hits, Wilson’s double in the second, Harris being plunked in the third, and nothing else that resembled a threat. From the fourth inning on, the A’s never put a runner past first base.

Shea Langeliers, who has been one of baseball’s hottest hitters since the All-Star break with 18 home runs and 34 extra-base hits in that stretch, couldn’t find the spark. He struck out three times, leaving his bat mostly ornamental.

Rooker, fresh off reaching the 30-homer plateau for the third straight season, also wore the collar, fanning in all four trips. Even Kurtz, the rookie phenom whose 33 long balls have him leading all Major League first-year players, looked mortal as he went down swinging twice and grounded out weakly once.

The A’s had some defense to hang their hats on. Jacob Wilson, Sacramento’s other Rookie of the Year candidate, doubled in the second and made several sharp plays at shortstop, including a heads-up throw to catch Yorke trying to stretch his luck on the bases in the fourth.

Morales himself settled after the Reynolds blast, retiring seven of the final eight he faced. But when your offense can’t get out of neutral, tidy defense and solid pitching performances turn into footnotes instead of headlines.

By the seventh, the game had the feel of inevitability. Pirates reliever Braxton Ashcraft entered and didn’t blink, striking out five of the nine hitters he faced. Dennis Santana came on in the ninth to finish it, needing just a groundout, a flyout, and one more strikeout of Rooker to slam the door shut.

The 2-0 defeat was the A’s 82nd of the season, officially guaranteeing a fourth straight losing campaign, something the franchise hasn’t endured since the dark days of 1993 through 1998. Yet, perspective matters. This team had already secured more wins than any A’s club in the past four years, and the Green and Gold still boast a pair of rookies in Kurtz and Wilson who look like franchise cornerstones.

Baseball fans in Sacramento won’t take much solace in moral victories, but they can at least see the outlines of a competitive future. For now, though, the reality is simple: when the A’s don’t homer, they don’t win. They are 46-9 this season when out-homering opponents, but just 10-46 when the other side takes them deep more often. Saturday fell squarely in that latter column.

The series wraps up Sunday with a day game before the A’s return home to close out 2025 against Houston and Kansas City. The Pirates, long out of the playoff picture, were just playing spoiler. And on this night, spoil they did.

Starting pitchers for Sunday: For Sacramento RHP Mitch Spence (3-5 ERA 4.48) for Pittsburgh RHP Mike Burrows (2-4 ERA 4.10) first pitch 10:35 am PT.

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. 

Sacramento A’s podcast Lincoln Juarez: A’s are winners of seven of their last eight games after 4-3 win in Pittsburgh; Gelof out for rest of season with dislocated shoulder

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Sacramento A’s second baseman Zack Gelof is laid out with a dislocated left shoulder while surrounded by A’s manager Mark Kotsay, the trainer and teammates in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Fri Sep 19, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Lincoln Juarez:

#1 Lawrence Butler’s three-run homer in the fifth inning powered the A’s past the Pirates Friday night. It was his 21st home run of the year.

#2 Luis Severino picked up his seventh win of the season Friday night throwing five innings allowing one earned run.

#3 Nick Kurtz tied Jose Canseco for the most home runs by an A’s rookie with his 33rd of the season Friday night.

#4 The A’s have won seven of their last eight games after taking game one against the Pirates.

#5 Looking ahead to the rest of the weekend Luis Morales will start for the A’s and the Pirates have yet to announce a starter for Saturday.

#6 Zack Gelof dislocated his shoulder in the bottom of the fifth inning and will miss the rest of the season.

Lincoln Juarez does the A’s podcasts weekly 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.

Athletics Grind Out Narrow 4-3 Win Over Pirates

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Sacramento A’s Lawrence Butler (4) is greeted at home plate by teammates Carlos Cortes (26) and Zack Gelof (20) after hitting a three run home run in the top of the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Sat Sep 19, 2025 (AP News photo)

Athletics Grind Out Narrow 4-3 Win Over Pirates

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento A’s had to claw their way through mistakes, momentum swings, and a stubborn Pittsburgh Pirates lineup, but when the dust settled at PNC Park, they escaped with a 4-3 victory Friday night.

A’s starter, Luis Severino, labored through early trouble after Darell Hernaiz’s throwing error opened the door for a three-run first inning capped by Bryan Reynolds’ RBI single and Nick Gonzales’ sacrifice fly. Down 3-0 before they even picked up a bat in the second, the Green and Gold looked like they might be in for a long night. Instead, they steadied themselves, relying on power and patience to flip the script.

Nick Kurtz put Sacramento on the board with his 33rd home run of the season in the fourth, then Lawrence Butler delivered the knockout punch an inning later, launching a three-run blast to right-center that put the A’s ahead 4-3.

From there, the bullpen took control. Elvis Alvarado, Brady Basso, Justin Sterner, and Michael Kelly combined to cover the final four innings, striking out six and stranding runners in scoring position to preserve the one-run edge.

The ninth was not without drama: Rafael Flores doubled to lead off for Pittsburgh, and a Bryan Reynolds grounder moved pinch-runner Alexander Canario to third with only one out. But Kelly refused to buckle. After walking Andrew McCutchen to set up the force, he induced Tommy Pham into a game-ending double play, with Brett Harris starting a crisp 5-4-3 turn that sealed the win.

While Sacramento managed only six hits and struck out ten times, their ability to capitalize on two swings, the homers from Kurtz and Butler, proved the difference. The Pirates, meanwhile, outhit the A’s and forced multiple delays due to injuries and substitutions, but they never answered after their early burst.

Sacramento’s offense showed just enough pop, the bullpen showed resilience, and the defense, shaky at the start, tightened when it mattered.

Saturday’s starters for Sacramento Luis Morales (4-1 ERA 3.08) and Pittsburgh has not announced a starter first pitch 3:40pm PT.

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.

Giants Threaten In Ninth Inning But Fall to Dodgers 6-3; SF now 4 games back in the Wild Card

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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw tips his cap to the Dodgers Stadium crowd after pitching his last regular season home game against the San Francisco Giants on Fri Sep 19, 2025. Kershaw is retiring after the 2025 post season. (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (76-78) dropped a second game to the Los Angeles Dodgers (87-67) 6-3 mid-way through their four-game series. They had distraction to contend with as the final appearance of Clayton Kershaw was the focus of much of this game.

They did take the early lead but the Dodgers turned the tables on them in the fifth inning, Kershaw’s final inning. In the bottom of the fifth inning Los Angeles hit back-to-back home runs off the bats of Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts taking a 5-2 lead.

Game recap: The Giants sent a message in the first at bat in the first inning. Heliot Ramos hit a solo home run to center for 431 feet taking an early 1-0 lead. San Francisco will be looking to add some insurance runs early in the game and put up a lot more hits on the board than last nights one hit. It was a lackluster offensive effort and the Giants have got to get their bats going especially against a team with the lineup that the Dodgers have.

The Mets have already won tonight, the Reds have already won and the Diamondbacks lost to the Phillies by the score of 8-2. This is simply another must win for San Francisco.

The Giants were unable to add any runs in the second inning but the Dodgers did tie up the game in the second off the bat of Miguel Rojas 1-1 who homered to left center. San Francisco broke the tie in the third inning taking the lead back 2-1.

Wilmer Flores singled driving base runner Matt Chapman home from third base and San Francisco already had three hits in this game. Through three innings Kershaw already had four walks but also had four strikeouts. This was of course an extremely emotional game for him and manager Dave Roberts was hoping he could get through five innings.

Kershaw took the mound for the final time in the fifth inning. It all started with a strikeout in 2008 and it ended in the fifth inning this evening striking out Rafael Devers. He was relieved by Edgardo Henriquez but not before a huge ovation at Dodger Stadium erupted and Kershaw received an ovation full of appreciation, respect and love from Dave Roberts, his teammates and everyone in the stadium.

We all got to witness history. To make this inning even more memorable, Otani went on to hit a 3-run home run giving the Dodgers a 4-2 lead. Mookie Betts kept the party going coming to the plate and hitting another home run giving Los Angeles a 5-2 lead.

San Francisco pitcher Robbie Ray exited the game after 5 2/3 innings. He was relieved by Spencer Bivens. The Dodgers roughed him up in the bottom of the fifth inning hitting the back-to-back home runs. That would be it for Ray.

The Dodgers would add to their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Andy Pages doubled Rojas home from second base giving Los Angeles a 6-2 lead. The Giants had given up back-to-back doubles but finally got out of the inning. Going into the seventh inning San Francisco had a lot of work left to do but were running out of innings.

The Giants would make up a little ground scoring a run in the seventh inning but still trailing 6-3. Chapman singled Willy Adames home from second base. Going into the eighth inning San Francisco needed hits but instead went three and out. They were three outs away from dropping game two of the series.

San Francisco put two runners on base in the ninth inning. Christian Koss singled and Adames walked with one out. Devers struck out and the Giants were down to their last out. Chapman popped out and that was the ball game 6-3 in favor of the Dodgers.

Game notes: Friday evening the Giants lost the Dodgers in game two of their four game series. This is the final series between these two rival teams this season. Friday night’s game also marks the final time the Giants saw Clayton Kershaw on the mound.

Kershaw entered the game with 415 strikeouts with his lowest ERA a sparkling 2.08. Whether you are a Giants fan or a Dodgers fan there is no argument that he is one of the greatest pitchers to ever start for Los Angeles.

He has without doubt made life pretty miserable for the Giants through the years. It is hard to imagine baseball without him but this day comes for all of these guys when they make the difficult decision to leave the game.

He has worn “Dodger Blue” for 18 years so he will go into this game with mixed emotions. He sure has given Dodger fans so much to celebrate and cheer for. For San Francisco starter Robbie Ray 4.2 innings allowed 4.2 innings, five hits, five earned runs, two walks and five strike outs. Kershaw pitched 4.1 innings, four hits, two runs, four walks and six strikeouts.

San Francisco now has some ground to make up if they want to tie this series. Trailing 2-0 in the series has pretty much knocked them out of playoff contention. Saturday’s first pitch is scheduled for 6:10 PM. Kai Wei Teng will take the mound for San Francisco with a 2-4 win/loss record and a 6.41 ERA. The Dodgers will start Tyler Glasnow. He has a 3-3 win/loss record and a 3.06 ERA.

60 starts

Giants Sluggish Bats Result In Loss To Dodgers 2-1

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Los Angeles Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto was dealing against the San Francisco Giants allowing just one hit. The Giants Patrick Bailey got the only hit for San Francisco at Dodgers Stadium Thu Sep 18, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

It was a good old-fashioned pitchers duel through the first six innings of game one of the four-game series between the San Francisco Giants (76-77) and their rival the Los Angeles Dodgers (86-67) at Dodgers Stadium.

San Francisco only had one hit through six innings in another lackluster game in fact, the Giants would finish the game with only one hit and suffered scoring runs losing 2-1. Giant pitcher Logan Webb went seven innings allowing four hits and one run with five strikeouts. He gave the Giants a chance to win but San Francisco’s lack of offense was the deciding factor.

Game recap: The game was a good old-fashioned pitching duel through the first six innings. It was Los Angeles that broke through for the first two runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Mookie Betts grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop and Ben Rortvedt scored on a Patrick Bailey error for the first run of the game. The Dodgers would score a second run when Freddie Freeman singled Shohei Ohtani home for a 2-0 lead.

San Francisco would finally get up on the scoreboard in the seventh inning. It was a tough inning for Dodger pitcher Michael Kopech who walked the first two batters he faced. With one out Blake Treinen took over on the mound.

Treinen walked Heliot Ramos to load the bases. Treinen walked Rafael Devers for the Giants first run of the game. He struck out the next two Giant batter, Willy Adames and Matt Chapman.

With the score 2-1 in favor of the Dodgers, Los Angeles closed out this game. The Giants went three and out in the eighth inning and pretty much the same in the ninth with another three and out inning and that was the ball game.

Los Angeles had won game one 2-1 and now the Giants had fallen four games behind the Mets for the third wild card. San Francisco had only one hit in this game and the one run.

It was another great game for Shohei Ohtani with two huge hits. Yamamoto and the Dodger bullpen combined on the one-hitter. Ohhtani had a couple of doubles that bounced off the wall en-route to the win. He also scored one run. The Dodgers have now won eight of their last 11 matchups. They have had their struggles on the mound though with 23 walks in the first four games of this current home-stand.

Starting pitcher for San Francisco Logan Webb went seven innings allowing four hits, one run, one walk and five strikeouts. Patrick Bailey was the only Giant with a hit. With this loss the Giants are now three games behind the Mets with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Cincinnati Reds ahead of San Francisco.

Game notes: The Giants lost to the Dodgers in game one of their four-game series. The Giants are three games back of third for a wild card spot and unfortunately couldn’t take advantage as the Mets beat the Padres Thursday night and lost a full game.

A Giants win would have keep them in stride with New York. There are only nine games left in the season so this was another missed opportunity for San Francisco.

Giants starter Logan Webb pitched will enough to win but just didn’t get the run support. Webb going seven innings allowing four hits and one run.

Friday night the Giants will face the Dodgers in game two of their series. In Thursday’s game Dodger pitcher Clayton Kershaw announced his retirement at the end of the season. He will take the mound Thursday in his final regular season home start.

The Giants will have Robbie Ray starting with a 11-7 win/loss record and a 3.50 ERA. Kershaw has a 12-2 win/loss record and a 3.53 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM.

A’s Hold Steady in 5-3 Win Over Red Sox

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A Fenway Park groundskeeper helps prepare the field before the Sacramento A’s and Boston Red Sox Wed Sep 17, 2025. The A’s and Sox completed their three game series on Thu Sep 18, 2025. (AP News photo)

A’s Hold Steady in 5-3 Win Over Red Sox

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento A’s wasted no time setting the tone, launching an early offensive surge that carried them to a 5-3 win over the Boston Red Sox. Lawrence Butler got the Green and Gold rolling with a leadoff double in the top of the first, and Brent Rooker followed with his 30th home run of the season, a no-doubt shot into the left-field seats that put Sacramento ahead 2-0 before many fans had settled into their seats.

Nick Kurtz added a double, and Tyler Soderstrom’s RBI single pushed the lead to three runs. Though the Red Sox scratched one back in the bottom half on a Trevor Story sacrifice fly, J.T. Ginn settled in and delivered a composed start, working into the seventh inning and handing the game to a bullpen that has quietly become one of the best in the majors since the All-Star break.

Boston briefly threatened in the second when David Hamilton’s solo homer cut the lead to 3-2, but Sacramento’s defense and Ginn’s efficiency quieted the bats through the middle innings. Jacob Wilson’s RBI single in the third widened the gap to 4-2, and in the seventh Butler manufactured a run with a single, stolen base, and hustle around the bases, scoring on a Trevor Story error.

That insurance tally loomed large after Story went deep in the eighth to trim the deficit to 5-3, but Hogan Harris slammed the door in the ninth, striking out Nick Sogard to seal it.

For Sacramento, the formula was clear: timely power, clean defense, and steady pitching. Rooker’s 30th blast gave the A’s three players at or near the 30-homer plateau, a reminder of how dangerous this lineup has become in the second half.

Ginn’s line, six innings, two runs, wasn’t flashy, but it was exactly what manager Mark Kotsay needed from a rotation that has struggled with length all season. The bullpen, with Harris earning the save, continued its dominance since the All-Star break, a stretch in which it owns one of the best ERAs in baseball.

The victory reflected the resilience of a team that once lost 20 of 21 games earlier this year but has since played above .500 ball. The Athletics are 30-24 since the All-Star break, their best second-half showing since 2019.

The offense, now among the league leaders in doubles and slugging, looks nothing like the light-hitting squad from the past five years. Sacramento’s road record has climbed back to .500, ensuring their best showing away from home since 2021.

Butler’s speed and all-around game, Kurtz’s rookie power numbers, Wilson’s steady bat, and Rooker’s consistency have created a balanced attack that opposing pitchers can’t take lightly. Even as the standings show the A’s with a sub .500 record, the trajectory is upward.

Thursday’s win in Boston was another snapshot of a team starting to find its identity, a group no longer defined by its rebuilding struggles but by its growing core and knack for grinding out wins.

It’s onto Pittsburgh as the A’s will face the Pirates on Friday night at PNC Park and the A’s will start RHP Luis Severino (6-11 ERA 4.82) the Pirates have not announced a starter yet.

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. 

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s Kelly loses in close game to Sox in ten innings 5-4

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Sacramento A’s reliever Michael Kelly took the loss against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Wed Sep 17, 2025 (AP file photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Boston Red Sox pinch hitter Nick Sogard hit a tenth inning infield ground ball to knock in Nate Eaton off Sacramento A’s pitcher Michael Kelly for a walk off hit to defeat the A’s in the bottom of the tenth inning at Fenway Park in Boston on Wednesday night.

#2 In a back and forth game the Red Sox never gave up and with Sogard’s game winning base hit the Red Sox lead the American League with 11 walk off hits for 2025.

#3 Boston pitcher Chris Murphy picked up his third win of the season pitching one third of an inning in relief. It was a tough loss for Kelly who drops his record to 4-4.

#4 In the top of the fifth the A’s Lawrence Butler walked Darrell Hernaiz hit a two run single. The did lose by a run but Hernaiz has been key for the A’s run production of late.

#5 A’s and Red Sox going at it Thursday RHP J.T. Ginn (3-6, 4.69 ERA) for Sacramento, RHP Brayan Bello (11-7, 3.25) makes the start of Boston. A’s currently currently in front early in the ball game at Fenway Park.

Jeremiah Salmonson does the A’s podcasts Thursdays 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. 

Sacramento A’s game wrap: Athletics Fall Short in Extra Innings 5-4 at Fenway

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Boston Red Sox Nate Eaton slides underneath Sacramento A’s catcher Shea Langeliers for the game winning run in the bottom of the tenth inning at Fenway Park in Boston on Wed Sep 17, 2025 (AP News photo)

Athletics Fall Short in Extra Innings 5-4 at Fenway

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics found themselves locked in another razor-thin battle in Beantown. From early long balls to late-inning strategy, and ultimately heartbreak in extras, the game provided plenty of edge of your seat excitement.

Unfortunately, after clawing their way through nine innings of back-and-forth baseball, the Green and Gold dropped a 5-4 decision to the Boston Red Sox on a frustrating walk-off fielder’s choice in the tenth.

Mason Barnett made his fourth career start and, consistent with his brief track record, worked in and out of trouble before turning things over to the bullpen. Boston wasted little time drawing first blood in the first inning when Masataka Yoshida singled home Trevor Story after a passed ball advanced the runner into scoring position.

Barnett’s uneven command left him exposed again in the second, as Rob Refsnyder hammered a solo homer to give the Sox a 2-1 edge. The Athletics had briefly tied it in the top half on a Lawrence Butler run manufactured by a Carlos Cortes double and a Darell Hernaiz sacrifice fly.

Sacramento’s offense threatened in the third when Nick Kurtz singled and Shea Langeliers drew a walk, but they came up empty after Brent Rooker’s flyout and Tyler Soderstrom’s strikeout. Jacob Wilson added a base hit, but Butler went down swinging to strand the bases loaded. That missed opportunity loomed large, as Barnett labored through the bottom half, yielding a Jarren Duran single and wild pitch before escaping further damage.

The A’s briefly found rhythm in the fifth. Langeliers and Rooker both reached base, setting the table for Soderstrom and Wilson. A walk forced in a run to tie it 2-2, and Hernaiz followed with the biggest swing of the night, a two-run single that put Sacramento ahead 4-2.

For a moment, the Fenway crowd hushed as the Green and Gold seized momentum. But the Red Sox quickly responded in their half, capitalizing on a defensive miscue at second base. Duran and Story reached, and Yoshida’s infield single plated a run. By the end of the inning, the margin was cut to 4-3.

From there, the bullpens took over. Tyler Ferguson, Justin Sterner, Elvis Alvarado, and Michael Kelly were summoned in succession, and each found themselves in high-leverage moments. In the sixth, Trevor Story tied the game with a sharp RBI single to center, and suddenly it was 4-4 heading into the late innings. The A’s had no answers for Boston’s relief corps, striking out frequently and failing to advance runners in scoring position. Wilson and Soderstrom combined for four hits, but timely execution was lacking.

The ninth inning embodied the night’s frustration. With two outs, Soderstrom singled and Wilson followed with another sharp liner to right, putting runners on the corners. Butler lofted a fly ball to left that died in Jarren Duran’s glove, ending the threat.

The game drifted into extras, where the A’s simply could not manufacture the big hit. Colby Thomas reached to start the tenth, but consecutive strikeouts and a pop out left Butler stranded at third.

That opened the door for Boston. With Nate Eaton placed at second under the new rules, the Red Sox bunted him to third, then watched as Nick Sogard chopped a grounder to second. Zack Gelof’s only play was to first, allowing Eaton to score the game-winner. Just like that, Sacramento’s bid for a third straight win in Boston vanished.

For the Athletics, the loss was another in a season filled with one-run battles. They fell to 18-21 in such games, with both of their victories against Boston this year decided by a single run. Despite offensive firepower, with Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, and Brent Rooker all pushing toward 30-plus home run seasons, the club remains plagued by inconsistent pitching and stranded baserunners.

Barnett’s line reflected the struggle: multiple innings cut short by missed execution and an early hook that forced the bullpen into heavy duty. Overall, it was a great showing of traditional baseball.

Starting pitchers for Thursday for Sacramento RHP JT Ginn (3-6 ERA 4.69) for the Boston Red Sox RHP Brayan Bello (11-7 ERA 3.25) first pitch 10:35am PT.

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. 

That’s Amaury News and Commentary–A’s Nick Kurtz Rookie of the Year

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Sacramento A’s slugger Nick Kurtz is congratulated in the A’s dugout after hitting a two run home run against the Cincinnati Reds at Sutter Health Park in Cincinnati on Sun Sep 14, 2025 (AP News photo)

A’s Nick Kurtz Rookie of the Year

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

On November 18 at 6 PM ET, the BBWAA will announce its Rookie of the Year Award. In the American League, there is only one player who deserves such an accolade: Nick Kurtz.

Kurtz became a name in baseball this year. Kurtz of the Sacramento Athletics is the first and only rookie in Major League Baseball history to hit four home runs in a single game, a feat he accomplished on July 25, 2025, against the Houston Astros. His six-hit, four-homer performance also tied the MLB record for total bases in a game, set by Shawn Green in 2002.

The Athletics were the first team to have three consecutive players winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award. OF José Canseco in 1986,1B Mark McGwire in 1987, and shortstop Walt Weiss in 1988. For us who covered/broadcast that great era of A’s baseball, those three were key players in the championship seasons under the Walter Haas ownership.

Wednesday, with approximately ten games left in the regular season for most teams, the A’s have two top candidates for the 2025 Rookie of the Year Award. 22-year-old first baseman Kurtz and 23-year-old shortstop Jacob Wilson, who was also the starting shortstop for the American League in this season’s All-Star Game. Other American League rookies that are notable, but will not win the Rookie of the Year, are Boston outfielder Roman Anthony and Houston outfielder Cam Smith.

The A’s (now playing in Sacramento temporarily) are entering the last part of the season with the possibility of ending in fourth place again, like last season. The difference is that this 2025 season, the A’s have new blood, including very young and talented players, among them the two rookies like Kurtz and Wilson, who have propelled the team to a better record than the 69-93 Oakland A’s of 2024.

History: Jackie Robinson won the first official Rookie of the Year award in 1947. The award was given to only one player for both leagues in 1947 and 1948, but has been given to one player in each league since 1949. The award was later named the Jackie Robinson Award. 

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.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.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. 

Giants Come Out Flat But Redeem Themselves in 11th Inning Beating Arizona 5-1

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San Francisco Giants starter Justin Verlander walks from the bullpen to the dugout after taking warmups before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on Wed Sep 17, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

This game was a real sleeper until the 11th inning. After ten silent innings between the San Francisco Giants (76-76) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (77-76) in game three of their series, the Giants bats went crazy with four hits in the 11th inning scoring five runs and winning this game 5-1.

Up to that point they only had one hit through ten innings. It was an amazing win for the Giants winning a game that was so desperately needed. They got the job done in this one. Giant pitcher Justin Verlander was outstanding going seven innings.

Game recap: As this game got underway and the innings came and went, this game became a good old-fashioned pitchers duel. There was no score going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Neither team was hitting. Through nine innings, San Francisco had managed only one hit and Arizona had three.

Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaatt was having a solid game pitching through nine innings allowing only the one hit, giving up a walk with seven strikeouts. Justin Verlander went seven innings allowing 3 hits no runs, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts.

This game was headed into extra innings. The one thing that San Francisco did not want to see was another Arizona walk-off. It was up to Giant’s pitcher Ryan Walker to get out of the ninth inning giving the Giants a chance in the tenth.

With one out Walker allowed a Corbin Carroll triple and the Diamondbacks were looking for their second walk-off of the series. Gabriel Moreno was intentionally walked and then it all went downhill when Walker hit Blaze Alexander and the Diamondbacks had the bases loaded.

Ryan Walker got out of this huge mess and the Diamondbacks had squandered a monster opportunity. With renewed life, San Francisco would lean on Rafael Devers to get the inning going after going hitless in three at bats.

He had a productive out moving speedster Grant McCray from second to third base. Willy Adames struck out for the second out and Matt Chapman came to the plate; the Giants last hope in the inning. The Giants wasted a great opportunity when Chapman struck out giving Arizona another crack at sweeping the series.

The Diamondbacks were able to move a runner, Alek Thomas, to third base but they also came up empty unable to bring Thomas home and this game went into the eleventh inning.

The Giants really got something going in the 11th. Matt Chapman advanced from second to third on a passed ball by Gabriel Moreno. Bryce Eldridge walked and San Francisco had two runners on base with no outs.

Jerar Encarnacion singled Chapman home and the Giants had taken the lead 1-0 with no outs. Patrick Bailey singled loading the bases for San Francisco. The Giants broke this game wide open when Christian Koss doubled driving Jung Hoo Lee (he ran for Eldridge) and Encarnacion home taking a 3-0 lead still with no outs.

There would be a pitching change for the Diamondbacks. Grant McCray sacrificed and Patrick Bailey scored extending their lead to 4-0. After such a slow start San Francisco was coming on like gangbusters. They would add another run with two outs when Rafael Devers singled Christian Koss home and this game went into the bottom of the 11th inning with the Giants leading 5-0.

The Diamondbacks were able to score a single run in the bottom of the 11th inning but it was too little too late. Corbin Carroll sacrificed Geraldo Perdomo home from third base but that would be it for Arizona. The final was 5-1 in favor of San Francisco.

Game notes: Wednesday afternoon the Giants beat the Diamondbacks in game three of their series. The Giants are .500 yet again this season. After a nice turnaround in past weeks their offense has really struggled. The Giants Wild Card chances improved Wednesday after the Mets lost to the Padres and the Giants moved from four games out now to two games back for the last Wild Card spot.

They were crushed in game one of this series losing 8-1 followed by a disappointing loss in game two. After taking a 4-0 lead early in that game, they allowed Arizona to come back and finish the game off with a walk-off winning 6-5.

Wednesday the Giants avoided the series sweep. With both the Mets and Reds losing the Giants once again are looking at a shot to get back into third place in the NL Wild Card race. Giants starter Justin Verlander had himself an outing going seven innings, allowing three hits, two walks, and three strikeouts for the win.

After breaking their four-game losing streak Wednesday, the Giants face a tough four-game series that gets underway Thursday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 PM. They will take on the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

Logan Webb will get the call with a 14-10 win/loss record and a 3.34 ERA. The Dodgers plan on starting Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He has a 11-8 win/loss record with a 2.66 ERA.

There is sure to be a lot of fireworks between these age-old rivals. San Francisco needs to have a great series. They are two games back behind the Mets and are tied with Cincinnati Reds and and half game back of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Giants now need to concentrate on the game in front of them and nothing else.