Category: MLB

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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.

Giants Playoffs Hopes Fading; Lose to the Diamondbacks In Walk-off 6-5

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Arizona Diamondbacks Corbin Carroll scores on a Jordan Lawlor walk off single in the bottom of the ninth inning as San Francisco Giants catcher Adam Knizner looks on at Chase Field in Phoenix on Tue Sep 16, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After leading 4-0 in the first inning, the San Francisco Giants (75-76) lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks (77-75) in a walk-off 6-5. The Diamondbacks Jordan Lawlar hit an infield single in the ninth inning and Corbin Carroll crossed home plate from third base for the hard-fought win in a walk-off.

This was the Giants fourth loss in a row as the Giants drop two games back for the third spot in the NL Wild Card. The Giants playoff hopes maybe dimming as the regular season is rapidly coming to an end. Less than a week ago San Francisco had it all going on; they were playing some of their best ball of the season and like a thief in the night it all disappeared.

Game recap: The Giants had a great start in the game scoring four runs in the first inning. Taking a 4-0 lead in any game is terrific but needs some back-up from the mound and the cooperation of the defense.

Matt Chapman hit a sacrifice and Heliot Ramos score for the early 1-0 lead. Wilmer Flores singled in the first and Rafael Devers scored pushing their lead out to 2-0. They would extend that lead to 4-0 when Jerar Encarnacion doubled and Casey Schmitt and Wilmer Flores both scored.

The Diamondbacks very nearly tied up the game in the second inning scoring three runs. Blaze Alexander singled Gabriel Moreno home and Adrian Del Castillo hit a home run with Alexander on base and Arizona was within a run 3-4. San Francisco got an insurance run in the third inning taking a 5-3 lead. Wilmer Flores hit a solo home run to left center and the Giants were back in business.

When it looked so promising the Giants would not score for the rest of the game. They’re bats checked out after the third inning. The Diamondbacks scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning tying up this game.

Arizona took the tie into the ninth inning looking for a walk-off. It was quick one with Jordan Lawlar singling Corbin Carroll home and that was the ball game in the hoped for walk-off 6-5. The Diamondbacks had taken a 2-0 series lead and the Giants had lost their fourth game in a row.

Game notes: Time may be the San Francisco Giants worst enemy as the 2025 season enters the final weeks. The Giants were looking for a win over the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday night after losing the first game of the series Monday night 8-1.

San Francisco has lost four games in a row; every loss sets their playoffs hopes back. Such a disappointment because of the promising turnaround the Giants had seen the past few weeks. Right now it all seems to be going in the wrong direction for the Giants.

Giants starter Tristan Beck threw for three innings allowing five hits, three earned runs, and one strike out. Beck was proceeded by four relievers. The second reliever Trevor McDonald pitched two innings allowed three hits, two runs, a walk and one strikeout. All the damage was done by the D-Backs as the Giants lost by a run Tuesday night.

In Wednesday’s game three the Giants will try to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Diamondbacks. First pitch for that game is scheduled for 12:40 PM PT.

Justin Verlander will take the mound for San Francisco. He has a 3/10 win -loss record and a 3.94 ERA. Arizona will start Brandon Pfaadt. He has a 13-8 win/loss record and a 5.31 ERA. The Giants will try to put an end to their losing streak as well as avoiding a sweep.

Soderstrom and Harris Spark Athletics to Narrow 2-1 Win at Fenway

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Soderstrom and Harris Spark Athletics to Narrow 2-1 Win at Fenway

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics keep finding ways to make things interesting. Tuesday night’s pendulum swung between frustration and redemption, the Green and Gold leaned on timely hitting from Tyler Soderstrom and Brett Harris to beat the Boston Red Sox 2–1 at Fenway Park.

It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough to extend a September surge that has kept the club competitive despite being mathematically eliminated from the postseason.

The night began with little to celebrate for Jeffrey Springs. The veteran left-hander, making his 31st appearance of the year, struggled again with efficiency. Springs surrendered the first run of the game in the third when Rob Refsnyder worked a walk and came around on Carlos Narváez’s double that deflected awkwardly off Lawrence Butler in center.

That lone blemish stung given the A’s inability to generate offense early. Shea Langeliers and Jacob Wilson reached in the first inning, but both were left stranded. By the middle of the fourth, Sacramento had more strikeouts than baserunners.

The game flipped in the sixth inning when the offense finally found an edge. Wilson singled to start the inning, and after Nick Kurtz went down swinging, Boston went to the bullpen. That decision cracked the door for Soderstrom, who came off the bench with two outs and promptly ripped a double into left field to score Wilson and tie the game.

A pinch-hit walk from Carlos Cortes kept the pressure on, and Harris delivered the dagger with a line drive single that brought Soderstrom across to give Sacramento its first lead at 2–1.

From there, the bullpen took over and protected the slim advantage with an efficiency that has become a late-season trademark. Mitch Spence, called up again from Triple-A, navigated through the middle innings and handed things off to Hogan Harris, who picked off Nick Sogard to escape the eighth.

The ninth belonged to Zack Gelof defensively, as the second baseman entered on a double switch and immediately turned a crisp game-ending double play with Jacob Wilson.

While the scorebook highlights Soderstrom and Harris as the heroes, the bigger story remains Sacramento’s ability to outlast opponents despite offensive inconsistencies. The club entered the night ranked third in the majors in slugging since the All-Star break. Not bad, it leaves hope for next season for sure!

Starting pitchers for Wednesday’s game for the A’s RHP Mason Barnett (1-1 ERA 8.53) for the Red Sox RHP Lucas Giolito (10-4 ERA 3.31) first pitch 3:45pm 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 podcast: Giants fall back in NL Wild Card after recent loses; Jays Bichette no timetable for return; plus more MLB news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giant call up Bryce Eldridge replaced the injured first baseman Dominic Smith on Mon Sep 15, 2025 and went 0-3 against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his big league debut at Chase Field in Phoenix (photo from Bay Area News Group)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 What happened to the San Francisco Giants after winning some 15 out of 17 games and made to third in the NL Wild Card. They ran into a brick wall losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday and Sunday and lost in a landslide on Monday night to the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-1. The Giants are now two games back of the NL Wild Card.

#2 Not ready for prime time for Bryce Eldridge? Eldridge who started Monday’s game went 0-3 against the Arizona Diamondback and is now the Giants starting first baseman after being called up from Triple A Sacramento after Dominic Smith was injured stretching at first base to make a catch doing the splits on a throw by third baseman Matt Chapman. Smith ended up with a hamstring injury. Eldridge 20 years old was ranked number 29 in the ESPN rankings for prospects.

#3  The Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette is seeking a second medical opinion for his knee injury and could return as the designated hitter. Bichette has been out since Sep 7 and was seen by Dr. Dan Cooper. Jays manager John Schneider said there was no news and that Dr. Cooper was just checking the injury for the recovery process.

#4 Nick Kurtz has really set the tone at the Sacramento A’s since breaking in. He had that four home run game, he’s up to 32 home runs and is hitting .298, 32 home runs, 112 hits, and 80 RBIs. He’s a top candidate for the AL Rookie of the Year Award.

#5 The Chicago Cubs who are in first place for the NL Wild Card and are looking to shore up some pitching activated right hander Michael Soroka off the 15 day IL on Monday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs intend to use Soroka as a reliever. Soroka threw for two innings on Monday night in the Cubs 4-0 shutout win.

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

Oakland Ballers weekly report: Ballers host Championship series in game 3 Friday at Raimondi

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland Ballers mascot Scrappy the Possum is surrounded by Ballers fans after celebrating a series win during the Ballers last homestand at Raimondi Park in Oakland (photo by the Oakland Ballers)

September 15, 2025

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–It wasn’t always pretty, it wasn’t always free of errors, physical or mental, but it was an exciting three game series that saw the team from the town defeat the visiting Ogden Raptors, two games to one, in a hard fought trio of games that contrasted vividly with the Pioneer Baseball League’s reputation as a hitter friendly circuit. The rivals managed to score only ten runs between them and never were separated by more than two tallies.

The Ballers took the opener, 4-2 Their ace righty, Noah Milllikan, was tentative in the first two frames, loading the bases in the first and allowing an opposite field solo home run in the second to Christian Hall. Both the B’s and the Raptors have a slugging left handed first baseman named Christian. It probably doesn’t mean a thing, but it’s emblematic of how closely matched the rival squads were.

The milkman then settled down to throw a total of 106 pitches before tiring and exiting the game after seven innings on the mound, marred only by an unearned run in the sixth, facilitated by second baseman Danny Harris IV’s throwing error that allowed Carmine Lane to cross the plate. Harris’s near fatal error came after he had given a master class in fielding with a couple of sparklers earlier in the struggle.

The Ballers’ set up man,Conner Richardson’s eighth inning mirrored Millikan’s first, no runs, one hit, and three stranded. Connor Sullivan earned the save with two K’s and a fly to right that got the Ballers off on the right foot before Ogden came back to tie the series on the 12th.

Friday the 12th saw the Raptors knot up the series with a 2-1 squeaker. Five Ogden hurlers combined to hold the home team to one run on five hits—all singles—, three walks, a wild pitch, and a hit batter. Starting starboarder Cole Stasio led the way and yielded the sole Oakland tally.

It came on a two out rally in the fourth in which Lou Helmig walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and came home on Harris’s single to center. Ogden got both of their runs in the seventh on Conner Bagnieski’s lead off single to right and, after Cole Jordan flew out to the center field warning track, Christian Hall’s two run four bagger to right center.

Alain López and Ryan Velázquez, who earned the save, each pitched a scoreless inning to frustrate Oakland’s hopes for a comeback.

Saturday’s rubber game was classic baseball, the type of game that we old timers savor. The Raptors got plenty of nothing, and the Ballers didn’t get much of anything either. Each squad got five hits, none for extra bases.

The Raptors’ starter, Austyn Coleman, surrendered one run over 6-2/3 episodes, and it was both unearned and a legacy that Coleman”s successor, Cameron Edmonson, allowed to score . That heartbreaking tally came when Nick Leehey led off with a single to center. TJ McKenzie ran for him and, to nobody’ s surprise, stole second.

After Tremayne Cobb fouled out to first, Esai Santos drew a base on balls. Then McKenzie and Santospulled off a double steal, in the process of of which Ogden catcher Carmine Lane lost control of the ball. After that, it was all over except for the anxiety and then the shouting.

Sunday the 14th and Monday, the 15th, were travel days for Oaktown’s standard bearers Their destination is Idaho Falls, home of the Chukars, who also took their series, 2-1, against the regular season Northern Division Champion Missoula Paddlewheelers. The Chukaars will not be a negligible opponent; they took Sunday’s deciding game, 22-3. Contrast that to the nail biters, I’ve just been talking about.

The games in Idaho Falls are scheduled for Tuesday the 16th and Wednesday and the 17th. Then a day to travel back to West Oakland for what could be the last of the best three out five game Championship Division series. Or the suspense could continue until one team manages to win for a third time, and, with it, the 2025 Pioneer Baseball League crown.

Games one and two of the Championship Round will be played in Idaho Falls on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 16th and 17th. Then it’s one day to travel to West Oakland, and at 6:35 Friday evening, September 19, it will be game three of the best three out of five series. The division champions will battle it out until one of them notches its third win and goes home as the champions of 2025 Pioneer Baseball League season.

Giants Watch Playoff Hopes Dwindle Losing to Diamondbacks 8-1

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants Casey Schmitt who hit a third inning home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks is greeted in the dugout by teammates at Chase Field in Phoenix on Mon Sep 15, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Every game going forward is critical for the San Francisco Giants (75-74). They have to break out of their current funk after dropping two games to the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend. Going into Monday night’s series with the Arizona Diamondbacks (75-75) the Giants have to at the very least win the series.

It did not go as planned and San Francisco got walloped by Arizona 8-1. You could see the pain and disappointment etched on the faces of the players in the dugout. This not how they wanted to start this series.

Casey Schmitt hit a solo home run to get San Francisco on the board but that would be it for the Giants. They only had two hits in the entire game. With Monday night’s loss, Tuesday’s game takes on even more importance.

Game notes: Arizona took an early lead in this game 1-0. A pickoff error from Giants pitcher Kai-Wei Teng allowed Arizona’s Geraldo Perdomo to score for the one-run lead. The Giants answered back in the third inning to tie up the game at one apiece.

Casey Schmitt homered to center for the tie. With the game tied this was anybody’s game and San Francisco had a nice opportunity to take the lead going into the fourth inning. It didn’t even come close to happening.

Unfortunately the rest of the game was all Arizona. The Diamondbacks did not score agains until the sixth inning but they broke this game wide open in the sixth scoring 6 runs taking a 7-1 lead.

Ildemaro Vargas singled driving two runners, Corbin Carroll and Gabriel Moreno home for a 3-1 lead and they never looked back. The Diamondbacks followed that up with a Jordan Lawlar double that drove Blaze Alexander home and extended their lead to 4-1.

A James McCann 2-run home run upped their score to 6-1. Arizona was hot and showed no signs of letting up. Perdomo tripled Jake McCarthy home for a 7-1 lead.

The Diamondbacks finished San Francisco off in the eighth inning. Again it was Geraldo Perdomo at the plate doing more damage doubling. Jake McCarthy scored on that double for the 8-1 lead that turned out to be the final.

It was an awful game for the Giants managing only two hits. With the 8-1 loss Monday, Tuesday’s game takes on even more importance putting pressure on the mound and at the plate. They have to get the bats working because they were positively stagnant at the plate.

The Giants started a three-game series with the Diamondbacks only to lose a critical game at Chase Field and drop back two games in the NL Wild Card race.

Game notes: Every game going forward is crucial because of this traffic jam in the National League race for the third wild card spot. The Mets and the Reds were both off Monday night. Right now the Reds are tied with the Giants for second place in the NL Wild Card.

The Giants lost Monday’s game against the Diamondbacks. They are coming off a horrendous loss to the Dodgers 10-2 Sunday. They have to start stringing hits together if they want to have any chance to string wins together.

They do have the time, although limited, to do just that but losing now is not an option. They have to get the bats working and of course there have been some rough starts on the mound for the team. For Giants starter Kei Wei Teng pitched four innings, two hits, didn’t allow a run, one walk and five strike outs. but relievers Joey Lucchesi and Keaton Winn gave up runs in the ninth inning as the Diamondbacks piled it on.

First pitch in Tuesday’s game two is scheduled for 6:40 PM. Right now the Giants are undecided as to who will take the mound. The Diamondbacks will start Eduardo Rodriguez. He has a 8-8 win/loss record and a 4.98 ERA.

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason: A’s take momentum from sweep to Boston Tuesday

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Cincinnati Reds Gavin Lux (2) is thrown out sliding into home plate in the fourth inning by Sacramento A’s catcher Willie MacIver (left) at Sutter Health Park on Sun Sep 14, 2025 (Dennis Lee-Imagn Images photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:

#1  Sacramento A’s rookie Nick Kurtz hit one of four of the Athletics home runs that put Sacramento ahead in the bottom of the fifth 7-4 over the visiting Cincinnati Reds 7-4 on Sunday afternoon.

#2 The A’s wound up sweeping the Reds and the loss pushes the Reds 2.5 back in the NL Wild Card as the A’s played spoiler.

#3 The A’s Jacob Wilson, Colby Thomas, and Brent Rooker hit home runs as the A’s came back from being down 3-0. The win also passes their 2024 win total with 12 regular season games remaining.

#4 Wilson and Thomas hit home runs in the bottom of the fourth. Nick Kurtz hit a home run with two out in the fifth inning for his 32nd of the season.

#5 Sacramento heads to Boston to open up a three game series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Starting pitcher for the A’s LHP Jefferey Springs (10-11 ERA 4.28) the Sox have not announced a starter for Tuesday night’s game first pitch 3:45pm PT.

Join Barbara for the A’s podcasts each Monday 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. 

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic: Giants open up series with Arizona in a bid to get back in NL Wild Card

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants starter Kei Wei Teng is the starting pitcher against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Mon Sep 15, 2025 at Chase Field in Phoenix (MLB.com photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 The San Francisco Giants was in the top three for the NL Wild Card after losing both Saturday and Sunday to their rival Los Angeles Dodgers dropped down to 1.5 back for the last Wild Card spot.

#2 The Giants claim their not scoreboard watching but it’s hard to ignore what the New York Mets are doing. The Mets who had lost eight in a row snapped their losing skid and defeated the Texas Rangers on Sunday taking advantage of the Giants loss on Sunday moving up a half game in the NL Wild Card.

#3 The trouble for the Giants started on Saturday when starting pitcher Logan Webb was lit up for six runs and ten hits in a six run fifth inning that started the Giants slide.

#4 Sunday the Giants Robbie Ray left some pitches up and also missed some pitches going four innings allowing five runs and six hits walking four and striking out five in a 10-2 loss to the Dodgers.

#5 Giants will try and make up some ground as they continue to chase the Mets in the NL Wild Card. The Giants open up a series with the Arizona Diamondback at Chase Field. Starting pitcher for the Giants RHP Kei Wei Teng (2-4 ERA 7.54) for the Diamondbacks RHP Zach Gallen (11-14 ERA 4.84) 6:40pm PT on Monday night.

Join Marko for the Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Bats Blast Reds 7-4 in Series Closer

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s reliever Michael Kelly (49) shuts the door on the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Sun Sep 14, 2025 (Athletics X photo)

Sacramento Bats Blast Reds in Series Closer

By Mauricio Segura

WEST SACRAMENTO–For three innings on Sunday afternoon, it looked like the Sacramento Athletics were about to limp into another quiet loss. The Cincinnati Reds came out swinging, tagging rookie starter Luis Morales for an early barrage and silencing the home crowd with a pair of long balls.

But if the 2025 Athletics have proven anything, it’s that they can take a punch, reset, and then slug their way right back into a fight. By the time the dust settled, the Green and Gold had out-homered Cincinnati, flexed the depth of their power, and stormed to a 7-4 win that completed a series sweep and gave fans another taste of why this late-season stretch has been worth watching.

Cincinnati wasted no time getting on the board. Noelvi Marte ripped a solo homer in the first, his 13th of the season, and two innings later, Will Benson’s two-run shot off Morales had the Reds sitting pretty with a 3-0 lead. Morales, making just his seventh career start, looked rattled early. His command wavered, and although he settled down to induce some ground ball outs, the Reds appeared in control, capitalizing on every mistake he left over the plate.

In the bottom of the fourth, Jacob Wilson, who continues to flirt with a batting title in his rookie campaign, stepped up and launched a solo homer into the left-field seats, sparking life in the dugout. Moments later, Colby Thomas followed suit with his sixth homer, this one a laser to left-center that brought Sacramento within a run. Suddenly, Lodolo’s early strut turned into a careful grind.

The fifth inning delivered the decisive moment. After Wilson was hit by a pitch, Nick Kurtz stepped in, and as he’s done so many times this year, turned the game on its head with one violent swing. His two-run shot, a towering drive to left, gave Sacramento its first lead of the day at 4-3. For Kurtz, it was his 32nd of the season, putting him further ahead of the rookie leaderboard and reaffirming what scouts have been saying since spring: this is a cornerstone bat in the making.

With momentum firmly in their favor, the A’s added insurance in the sixth when Thomas singled and Brett Harris laced a double down the line to make it 5-3. Brent Rooker then joined the power parade in the seventh, belting his 29th of the year to dead center. By then, Cincinnati’s bullpen looked shell-shocked, and Sacramento’s confidence was on full display. Thomas capped his afternoon with another hit in the seventh, part of a three-hit day that showcased his knack for producing in the middle of rallies.

The Reds tried to claw back in the eighth, with Sal Stewart cutting the deficit to 7-4 on a solo homer, but the A’s bullpen had enough answers. Brady Basso, Tyler Ferguson, Sean Newcomb, and Justin Sterner combined to bridge the gap before Michael Kelly closed things out in the ninth.

Morales, despite his shaky start, was backed up perfectly by a relief corps that has quietly transformed itself since the All-Star break. Once one of the shakiest units in baseball, Sacramento’s bullpen has carried a 3.01 ERA since late June, among the best in the majors.

The win carried significance beyond the box score. By sweeping Cincinnati, the Athletics improved to 69-80 on the season, officially eliminating them from AL West contention but keeping a flicker of Wild Card math alive, at least for another day.

More importantly, the team continued to prove it can hang with opponents by out-homering them, a formula that has worked like clockwork. Sacramento is now 44-9 when it clears the fences more often than its opponent, a staggering .830 winning percentage that underscores just how central power has become to its identity.

That reliance on the long ball might not always be sustainable, but this September surge is giving fans glimpses of the future. Kurtz, Wilson, and Thomas are all rookies. Together, they combined for four hits, three runs, and three home runs in Sunday’s victory.

It’s the kind of production that hints at a foundation being built, not just a streak of hot bats. Wilson, hitting .318, continues to press Aaron Judge for the AL batting crown, something an Athletic hasn’t won since Ferris Fain in 1952. Kurtz, meanwhile, already has more home runs than any A’s rookie since Yoenis Céspedes, and Thomas is quickly proving he can be more than just a depth piece.

Rooker, the veteran presence among the mashers, keeps doing his part too. His seventh-inning homer not only gave Sacramento breathing room, it also put him among the league leaders in doubles and extra-base hits. If the rookies are the promise of tomorrow, Rooker is the reminder that established power can still set the tone today.

It wasn’t a perfect afternoon. Morales lasted just 4.2 innings and was tagged for three early runs, raising questions about how many more innings his arm can handle this year. But even that storyline had a silver lining. Morales is just weeks removed from pitching in Double-A, and for all the lumps he’s taken, the A’s are 4-2 in his starts. That kind of trial by fire is how young rotations are forged.

By the time Kelly induced TJ Friedl’s final out in the ninth, the 8,778 fans in attendance were on their feet, savoring a series sweep that carried the weight of both momentum and meaning. It’s been a long, uneven season for Sacramento, one defined by brutal losing streaks and flashes of promise. Sunday’s win leaned hard into the latter, a young team showing fight, flashing power, and sending a message that the future might not be as far away as it sometimes feels.

As the A’s now pack their bags for Boston, they do so with a swagger that only comes from beating a team at its own game. Cincinnati brought the early thunder, but Sacramento answered with a storm of its own. And if this weekend was any indication, the Athletics’ blueprint is clear: keep swinging, keep slugging, and let the long ball carry them wherever it can.

Sacramento heads to Boston to open up a three game series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Starting pitcher for the A’s LHP Jefferey Springs (10-11 ERA 4.28) the Sox have not announced a starter for Tuesday night’s game first pitch 3:45pm 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. 

Ray just doesn’t have it, as Dodgers smoke Giants 10-2 to take series

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin (left) gets the ball from pitcher Robbie Ray (right) as he’s relieved in the top of he fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sun Sep 14, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Los Angeles Dodgers 10 (84-65)

San Francisco Giants 2 (75-74)

Win: Tyler Glasnow (3-3)

Loss: Robbie Ray (11-7)

Time: 3:09

Attendance: 40,112

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Los Angeles Dodgers got to Robbie Ray, and smoked the San Francisco Giants 10-2 to take this pivotal series at Oracle Park

This series began in epic fashion when Patrick Bailey sent everybody home happy with a walk-off grand salami in the bottom of the tenth inning in the series opener Friday night. The Giants then jumped out to an early 4-1 lead Saturday night, but Logan Webb was unable to hold it. The Dodgers put up a big fat six-spot to open up a 9-4 lead Saturday, and won 13-7 Sunday in what was just a wild game.

The Giants were trying to take the rubber match on a beautiful fall day for baseball at Oracle Park after their rough loss Saturday night. Robbie Ray looked to be the stopper today, and he started the day nicely with a one, two, three top of the first inning. However, he would have a rough go of things against the Dodgers’ star-studded lineup afterwards.

The Dodgers opened the scoring on a sacrifice fly by Enrique Hernandez in the top of the second. The Dodgers only scored one run in that inning, but Ray really had to work, and that would prove costly as his day went along.

The Giants responded against Dodgers’ starter Tyler Glasnow in the bottom of the second, and tied the game on a sacrifice fly by Casey Schmitt. However, the Dodgers manufactured another run to retake the lead in the top of the third.

Ray pitched a scoreless top of the fourth, but things fell apart for him in the top of the fifth. Mookie Betts walked to lead off the inning, and Teoscar Hernandez singled him over to second, Freddie Freeman then hooked a double down the right field line to make it 3-1, and Ray was done.

Bob Melvin summoned his young fireballer, Joel Peguero, but things didn’t get much better. Peguero walked Tommy Edman, and then former Giant Michael Conforto hit a pinch-hit single to right-center that scored a pair.

The Dodgers led 5-1, and they still weren’t done. Well, not with scoring at least. Peguero disengaged from the rubber three times with Miguel Rojas at the plate, and since 2023, disengaging three times from the rubber with the same batter at the plate is a balk. That meant Edman scored, and the Dodgers now led 6-1. Melvin came out to raise a stink, but to no avail.

During that fifth inning, the Dodgers fans who made the trek up north made their presence felt. The bleachers only looked less like the visitor’s section at a college football game than usual today, but the amount of blue throughout the ballpark truly set the tone.

Tyler Glasnow settled down in the middle innings to retire 11-straight batters. While the Giants did not go down quietly in the later innings, they still only scored two runs.

You could say the most embarrassing part of the game came in the bottom of the ninth, after the Dodgers had already opened their lead to 10-2. Drew Gilbert hit a one-out double, but on appeal, he was called out for missing first base. The Giants challenged the call, obviously, but it was upheld.

The Dodgers indeed won 10-2.

Unfortunately, the Mets ended their eight-game losing streak on a walk-off home run by Pete Alonso to beat the Texas Rangers 5-2. That means the Giants fall to a game and a half back of the Mets for the third wild card in the National League with 13 games to go.

Well, here we are. There are just two weeks left to go in the Regular Season, and the Giants will head to Arizona to begin their final road trip of the season. They will have three against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix starting Monday night, and then they will go over to Los Angeles for four against these very Dodgers starting Thursday night.

Kai-Wei Teng (2-4, 7.54 ERA) will take the ball for the Giants in the series opener at Chase Field Sunday night. Zac Gallen (11-14, 4.84 ERA) will counter for Arizona.

Final Thoughts:

Series losses happen, especially against good teams like the Dodgers. The Giants wasted some opportunities to gain sole possession of the third wild card in the National League, as they went 3-4 during the Mets’ eight-game losing streak.

The good news is that the Mets remain in complete freefall, and have a much harder schedule than the Giants. The Giants have their four-gamer in Los Angeles next weekend, but the Mets have to host the Padres for three this week, and then they have to go to Wrigley Field to play the Cubs next week.

The Giants have 13 games left to play, and the Mets have 12. Assuming the Mets, who hold the tiebreaker against the Giants, go 6-6 in their final 12 games, which could be a stretch for them given how they’ve been playing, the Giants would have to go 9-4. It’s very doable, but we’ll just have to watch and see what crazy stuff happens as the final two weeks of the Regular Season play out.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Cubs 85-64 +8.5

*2. Padres 82-68 +5.0

  1. Mets 77-73 —

GIANTS 75-74 1.5

Diamondbacks 75-75 2.0

Reds 74-75 2.5

Cardinals 73-77 5.0