Category: MLB

Willie Contreras Homers – Brewers Walk-Off Beating Giants 5-4

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San Francisco Giants Willy Adames connects for a top of the first inning home run against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Park in Milwaukee on Fri Aug 22, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (61-68) tied up the game in the ninth inning 4-4 in their matchup with the Milwaukee Brewers (80-48). It was just not enough. Willie Contreras hit a home run with two outs to lift the Brewers to their 81st win of the season for a 5-4 victory.

After fighting so hard it was heartbreaking for San Francisco when it really looked like extra innings. San Francisco hit three home runs in the game 1 from Luis Matos and Willie Adames had two long balls.

Game recap: One again the Giants took an early 2-0 lead much like in yesterday’s game. San Francisco struck in the first and second innings. Willy Adames got the team up on the scoreboard in the first inning hitting a solo home run to left.

In the second inning San Francisco hit a second home run off the bat of Luis Matos for a 2-0 lead. Starting pitcher for San Francisco Whisenhunt had three great innings. The first and second innings were three and out for the Giants.

He got out of the third inning giving up a double. He hit a bit of a wall in the bottom of the fourth inning giving up a couple of walks, a couple of wild pitches (one that brought in a Brewer run) a single and a double. He did go four innings, giving up two earned runs, two walks and one strikeout. He was relieved by Matt Gage going into the fifth inning with the game all tied up 2-2.

The bottom of the fourth inning was the turning point for Milwaukee. Sal Frelich doubled driving Christian Yelich home cutting the Giants lead in half.. The Brewers would tie up the game 2-2 in the same inning when Andrew Vaughn scored from third base on a wild Whisenhunt pitch.

Going into the sixth inning the only hits the Giants had so far in the game were the Willy Adames and Luis Matos home runs. San Francisco needed some base runners although they were handling the Brewers pretty well; Milwaukee only had four hits so far in the game.

With two outs and two runners on base the Giants had a great opportunity to do some damage. Casey Schmitt walked and with Wilmer Flores and Rafael Devers on base the bases were loaded. Jung Hoo Lee came to the plate looking to break this game wide open. It didn’t happen. Lee struck out leaving the bases loaded. An opportunity lost.

The two teams took the tie into the top of the seventh inning. After jumping out to take the lead in the early innings the Giants had really stalled out with only two hits in the game. The Brewers were not having a great game at the plate either with only four hits.

Milwaukee starting pitcher Jose Quintana went 5 1/3 innings allowing two hits, two runs, two walks and two strikeout in this closely contested game. It was just a matter of time before the Brewers got on track and it all came down in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Milwaukee scored two runs to take a 4-2 lead. Willie Contreras doubled Andruw Monasterio home for the first run of the inning. Andrew Vaughn grounded out allowing Brice Turang to score.

San Francisco had their third hit of the game in the top of the eighth inning. Adames hit his second home run of the game fighting to keep pace with the Brewers.

The Giants were down to their last three outs in the top of the ninth inning. Schmitt was first at bat and struck out. Lee grounded out and San Francisco was down to their last out. Luis Matos doubled and the Giants were back in business with the go-ahead run at the plate.

Dominic Smith singled and San Francisco had runners at first and third with Patrick Bailey at the plate. Bailey struck out but the Giants scored on a wild pitch to tie up the game 4-4. This game went into the bottom of the ninth and the Brewers had three at bats to walk this game off. A fly out and a ground out set the stage for a game winning Contreras home run. Milwaukee had their 81st win of the season 5-4.

After fighting back to tie the game it was another terrible loss for the Giants. They fought hard the entire game and came so close. They made the Brewers earn this win.

Game notes: The Giants opened a weekend series with Milwaukee in a weekend series. The Brewers are the best team in baseball right now and presented all kinds of problems for San Francisco. The Giants played this game in front of yet another packed house at American Family Field in Milwaukee.

San Francisco is coming off a losing series against the San Diego Padres got some better offense but lost by a run. They have struggled at the plate for a bit and they couldn’t turn it around. The Brewers just finished a four-game series with the Chicago Cubs splitting the series after winning games one and four.

With only 34 games left in the season and a half dozen teams in line vying for a wild card now is the time for San Francisco to turn their recent struggles around but opened the series with a loss to the Brewers on Friday night. Giants starter Carson Whisenhunt pitched four innings allowing four hits and two earned runs in the loss.

Game two in this series is slated for a 4:10 PM first pitch. Logan Webb will take the mound for the GIants with a 11-9 win/loss record and a 3.19 ERA. Freddy Peralta will start for Milwaukee with 15-5 win/loss record and a 2.78 ERA.

A’s Baseball Podcast Lincoln Juarez: A’s sweep Twins in Minnesota and win their second straight series

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Athletics’ Lawrence Butler (4) celebrates after hitting a three-run double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

A’s baseball podcast with Lincoln Juarez:

#1 The A’s swept the Twins Thursday afternoon in Minneapolis and got their second consecutive series win. Tyler Soderstrom stole the show going 4-for-4.

#2 The A’s outscored the Twins 18-8 in the series and the offense has stayed hot. Yet again we see them putting up big numbers.

#3 Nick Kurtz went 2-for-4 Thursday with a homer. We know how much you love to talk about him, good to see him still swinging the bat well.

#4 The A’s have the 14th best record since the All-Star break at 18-13. What’s been the key to the team’s success the last month?

#5 Looking ahead, the A’s match up against the Mariners for three games this Friday and the weekend, it seems like a good opportunity for them to play spoiler. The A’s will start RHP Luis Morales (1-0 ERA 1.86) the M’s have not announced a starter as of yet.

Lincoln Juarez does the Athletics podcasts each week 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. 

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Giants Looking for the next Barry Bonds?

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When the New York Yankees Aaron Judge was a free agent he passed on the San Francisco Giants and re upped with the Yankees shortly there after. (AP News photo)

Giants: Looking for the next Barry Bonds?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Over the last few years, the San Francisco Giants have attempted to sign some of the game’s biggest superstars, players who will truly bring fans to Oracle Park and, most importantly, lead the team to another World Series. No disrespect to Dominican-born Rafael Devers, who was acquired in a midseason trade from the Boston Red Sox; he is a very good player, but he is not in the same category as the ones you will see listed below.

Everybody will probably agree that the San Francisco Giants haven’t had a great player since Barry Bonds, a real superstar, who retired in 2007 after 22 years in the Major Leagues. No disrespect to Buster Posey, as good as he was, possibly Hall of Famer, but Bonds was in a much higher category of talent. As a business, baseball teams like to contract big stars.

The Giants signed future Hall of Fame pitcher Justin Verlander. It is good to have that talent; however, this should be Verlander’s last season with the Giants, and maybe his last season, period.

Verlander’s signing might have sold more tickets, because everybody wants to see successful players. However, with the Giants to this day, Justin Verlander is 1-10 with a 4.64 earned run average. Here is something that might surprise you: in World Series games, Verlander has a record of 1 win and 6 losses with a 4.64 earned run average.

Looking for that one big star, the Giants tried to sign these.

1-Aaron Judge.(No chance) He chose to stay with the Yankees, the team he had played for throughout his career. While the Giants made a strong offer, potentially matching the Padres’ offer of 10 years, $400 million, Judge’s preference was to remain in New York. Who can blame him?

The Yankees are the home of the sluggers and home to 27 World Series titles. When the Giants were trying to bring him to the Bay Area, I said it was never going to happen. He is a New York Yankee in the tradition of the great players like Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Maris, Berra, Jeter, etc. There was no reason he was coming to San Francisco (even though he was born 95 miles from San Francisco in Linden). California. However, in baseball and business, New York is New York.

2-Shohei Ohtani (No chance) The Giants said they were offering him a contract that was very similar to, if not identical to, the one he ultimately signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers (In the $700s million range). President of baseball operations, Farhan Zaidi, confirmed that they met with Ohtani and his representatives and were willing to match the Dodgers’ offer, including the deferred money, according to MLB.com.

Ultimately, Ohtani chose to sign with the Dodgers. Why? Said he preferred LA to SF. Note: ESPN reported that the Giants’ offer was identical to the one made by the Dodgers. Ohtani went Hollywood. I first met him and interviewed Ohtani “Showtime” as a rookie with the LA Angels in 2018 at Anaheim. Very smart and pleasant player.

3-Carlos Correa (Not meant to be). He had a deal with the Giants in place for a 13-year, $350 million contract, but it fell through due to concerns about a surgically repaired ankle, and the Giants stated that he had failed his physical.

However, the Correa story continued in 2025, as he had played for the Minnesota Twins and was currently with the Houston Astros, whom he had played for from 2012 to 2015, before joining the Twins. Carlos Correa, who is beloved in Houston, hit a home run in his first at-bat with the Houston Astros just days after being traded from Minnesota.

This Puerto Rican story is as long as his full legal name, which is Carlos Javier Correa Oppenheimer Jr., and yes, he has seen the movie.

4-Juan Soto (Never close) There were rumors that the Giants were interested in Juan Soto, a free agent, but they did not make a strong push for him. Although all roads ended with a group of 10 different teams, Juan Soto landed in the Big Apple, and the New York Mets, secured him with a record-breaking contract for 15 years and $765 million, although he was jumping like a kangaroo from team to team, 2022-23 Padres and 2024 Yankees, he broke the Piñata with the Mets, where he is playing today, and will probably see him in the Playoffs. These Giants.

In 2025, they were not picked to win the NL West, but nobody expected them to be in 4th place at this time of the year. Buster Posey and company have a lot of work to do to improve this team. The mid-season acquisition of Rafael Devers did not change the chemistry of that lineup, and Willy Adames is having a better second half, but the team is not. There are only three ways you can find a superstar.

1-You develop him..

2-You trade for him.

3-You sign him as a Free Agent. Everybody will probably agree that the San Francisco Giants haven’t had a great player since Barry Bonds, who retired in 2007 after 22 years in the Major Leagues. The Giants initially drafted Barry Bonds out of high school in 1982 at Junípero Serra High in San Mateo (the same school as Tom Brady), but the Giants did not sign him due to a contract dispute over $5,000.

Bonds went on to play college ball at Arizona State University, hitting .347 with 45 home runs and 175 RBI. In 1984, he batted .360 and stole 30 bases. In 1985, hit 23 home runs with 66 RBI and a .368 average. That year, Bonds was a Sporting News All-American.

He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992, and in 1993, the Giants signed him as a free agent to a record-breaking six-year, $43.75 million contract. The rest is history. For the Giants today, 2025 it’s “Wait ‘Till Next Year”. Probably the most used phrase for a bunch of teams around mid-August and September.

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

Padres Rough-Up Verlander; Beat Giants 8-4 taking 3 out of 4 games

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Joel Peguero throws against the San Diego Padres in the bottom of the seventh inning at Petco Park in San Diego on Thu Aug 21, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Despite a great start in this game taking a 2-0 lead through the third inning. the San Francisco Giants (61-67) lost to the San Diego Padres (72-56) 8-4 losing the four-game series 3-1 Thursday. The Giants got a great start but could not hang onto it.

The Padres outhit them 11-7. Verlander was looking very good until the fourth inning. He is getting no run support; many of these losses pinned on Verlander was not on him. Rafael Devers and Willy Adames both had solo home runs but when you are trailing significantly, solo’s do not get the job done. The San Francisco offense continues to putter along.

Game recap: The first two innings were quiet for both teams but San Francisco broke through in the third inning taking a 2-0 lead. Andrew Knizner doubled Luis Matos home for the 1-0 lead and then Heliot Ramos grounded into a double play allowing Knizner to score taking the 2-0 lead.

The San Francisco lead only lasted through the third inning. San Diego had a productive fourth inning coring two runs and tying up the game. Manny Machado singled Fernando Tatis Jr home and Xander Bogaerts hit a sacrifice fly and Luis Arraez scored for the 2-2 tally. It was a new ballgame.

Justin Verlander exited the game after 4 1/3 innings in another rough outing He had a great three opening inning but it all started to come apart in the fourth inning and continued into the fifth inning. He allowed seven hits, seven runs with four strikeouts. He was relieved by Matt Gage who got the Giants out of the inning.

The Padres were just getting started hitting lights out in the fifth inning scoring six runs. The Giants had a rough inning with a Casey Schmitt throwing error and a fielding error by Luis Matos allowing the Padres Ramon Laureano and Jake Cronenworth to both score taking their lead to 4-2.

Manny Machado doubled a couple of runners home; Freddy Fermin and Fernando Tatis Jr. both crossed home plate and San Diego was having a huge inning now leading 6-2. The hits just kept on coming for the Padres; Xander Bogaerts singled Machado home and Laureano singled Ryan O’Hearn home; when the dust had settled San Diego had a 8-2 lead.

After getting such a great start in the game, the Giants needed to not only stop the bleeding but to also start hitting. San Francisco answered in the sixth inning hitting a couple of solo home runs. Rafael Devers homered to right center and Willy Adames sent the ball sailing to center. They had cut the Padres lead in half but still had some work to do.

Neither team scored in the seventh inning and the Giants had a quiet eighth inning with the score remaining 8-4. The game went into the ninth inning and San Francisco was down to their last three outs. Christian Koss struck out, Luis Matos lined out, Patrick Bailey struck out and that was the ball game 8-4 in favor of the Padres.

Game notes: Thursday afternoon the Giants finished off their four-game series losing three out of four games in San Diego. After winning the first game of the series, the Giants dropped the next three games. They lost game three Wednesday night 8-1. Despite his record Verlander, had had some good games but just didn’t have the team support needed to win those games.

The Giants need to have some far better offense. The Padres have been dominant in the last two games and had better offense to win the series. The Padres started Dylan Cease who went five innings allowed six hits and four earned runs. Verlander went 4.1 innings, and allowed seven hits and seven earned runs..

After this most disappointing series the Giants will be off to Milwaukee for a three game series with the Brewers that gets underway Friday night. The Brewers are the first team this season to reach 80 wins and they are favored in this series.

San Francisco will have Carson Whisenhunt on the mound with a 1-1 win/loss record and a 5.02 ERA. The Brewers will start Jose Quintara. He has a 10-4 win/loss record and a 3.32 ERA.

Rookies and Redemption Fuel Sacramento in 8-3 Rout Over Minnesota

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Minnesota Twins Kody Clemens (18) slid into the tag out by Sacramento A’s catcher Willie MacIver (left) in the bottom of the fourth inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on Thu Aug 21, 2025 (AP News photo)

Rookies and Redemption Fuel Sacramento in 8-3 Rout Over Minnesota

By Mauricio Segura

In a ballpark where the Twins typically dance to their own beat, it was the Sacramento Athletics who brought the bass drum and snare roll to Target Field Wednesday afternoon, hammering Minnesota 8–3 in a statement win defined by clutch hitting, patient at-bats, and a power display from a blossoming rookie.

Sacramento’s explosive second inning looked like something out of a hitting clinic, complete with base-to-base fundamentals and just enough chaos to unsettle starter José Ureña. After a one-out hit-by-pitch and a couple of timely singles, the Athletics loaded the bases and broke the game open.

Nick Kurtz, the young first baseman showing flashes of future All-Star credentials, drew a composed walk to push runners around. Then Lawrence Butler doubled home three, Brent Rooker doubled home another, and by the time the dust settled, it was 6–0 Green and Gold with the home crowd stunned into silence.

Ureña never found his footing again. His second inning unraveling included a wild pitch, two more walks, and a barrage of hard contact that left Minnesota scrambling for answers. He lasted only five innings, tagged for six earned runs.

His opposition, Jack Perkins, pitched four and two-thirds innings of gritty baseball. While he flirted with danger in the fourth when the Twins loaded the bases with no outs, a bizarre force-out at home and alert defense limited the damage to just two runs.

Despite a late rally attempt, Minnesota never closed the gap to within striking distance. Sacramento’s bats kept breathing in the middle innings. Kurtz, making good on his second-inning RBI walk, delivered a solo shot to dead center in the sixth off reliever Michael Tonkin.

It was Kurtz’s 26th homer of the season and a no-doubt blast that seemed to symbolize the Athletics’ intent: a team in rebuild mode that’s no longer waiting around to be competitive.

Tyler Soderstrom, who manned left field, also had himself a day at the plate, collecting three hits including a double and two sharply-hit singles. He reached base four times, consistently applying pressure and pushing the pace offensively. It’s becoming more apparent that Soderstrom, still only 23, is growing into the kind of versatile player Sacramento can lean on both now and in the years ahead.

Ben Bowden, Osvaldo Bido, and the rest of Sacramento’s bullpen picked up where Perkins left off. After allowing a run in the fourth, they shut the door across the next five frames, giving up just three hits combined. Minnesota managed a final gasp in the ninth when Royce Lewis doubled in Kody Clemens, but it was far too little too late.

While Butler’s bases-clearing double was the highlight reel moment, Sacramento’s offense functioned like a well-tuned orchestra. Nine hits scattered across the lineup. Seven different players reached base. And the A’s demonstrated not just power but a patient eye, drawing five walks to Minnesota’s four.

Max Schuemann added an RBI single in the seventh to make it 8–2, while catcher Willie MacIver, despite finishing hitless, contributed behind the plate with steady game-calling and a throw that cut down a runner at home in the fourth.

Minnesota’s promising young trio of Buxton, Larnach, and Lee were mostly neutralized. Buxton went 0-for-4, lining out twice to center fielder Lawrence Butler who covered a lot of ground and made multiple strong reads. Larnach did double in the fourth and score, but it wasn’t enough to change the momentum. Meanwhile, James Outman struck out three times in the loss and left runners stranded in key moments.

Managerial decisions, particularly the timing of Minnesota’s pitching changes, could be questioned in hindsight. Ureña was allowed to face one batter too many during Sacramento’s second-inning barrage, and by the time Tonkin entered in the sixth, the game was largely out of reach.

It was a win that reminded fans and pundits alike that the Athletics, though relocated and retooled, aren’t merely a placeholder franchise. They’re young, they’re scrappy, and as they proved Wednesday, they’re capable of outplaying anyone when things click. With a new identity in Sacramento and a clubhouse built on grit, the Green and Gold might just be laying the groundwork for something special.

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: When your hot your hot Langeliers belts 28th home run

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Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the 10th inning of a baseball game in Minneapolis, Minn., on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 The Sacramento A’s Shea Langeliers belted his 28 home run of the season and the A’s defeated the Minnesota Twins 4-2 at Target Field on Wednesday night.

#2 Langeliers home run was a 401 foot rocket to right center that came off Twins pitcher Genesis Cabrera who dropped his record to 0-1. Ghost runner Nick Kurtz scored ahead of Langeliers.

#3 The A’s get a two run win but scored only once in nine tries with runners in scoring position.

#4 Langeliers hitting 16 of home runs out of 28 home runs in the second half since All Star break.

#5 Sacramento A’s RHP Jack Perkins (2-2, 4.28 ERA) will start for the Athletics on Thursday opposite the Minnesota Twins RHP José Ureña (0-1, 4.06).

Jeremiah Salmonson does the Sacramento 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. 

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips: Verlander goes after his second win of the season against Padres Thursday

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San Francisco Giant pitcher Justin Verlander will get the start against the San Diego Padres on Thu Aug 21, 2025. Here he doffs his cap to the Oracle Park crowd in San Francisco upon striking out his 3500th career batter against the Washington Nationals on Sun Aug 10, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips:

#1 San Diego Padres Gavin Sheets hit two home runs against the San Francisco Giants and it was two of four home runs against Giants pitching.

#2 The Padres provided some good defense too as Fernando Tatis Jr robbed the Giants Rafael Devers of a home run as the Pads landslided the Giants 8-1 on Wednesday night.

#3 Giant starter Landen Roupp had to leave the game on a cart after getting hit in the back of the right thigh on a line drive by Ramon Laureano in the bottom of the third inning. Roupp fell on the mound and his left knee gave in and Roupp ended up falling face first to the ground. He ended up holding his knee and later it was reported he suffered a sprained left knee.

#4 Giants Casey Schmitt hit his eighth home run of the season in the top of the fifth which accounted for San Francisco’s only run of the game.

#5 For Thursday afternoon’s contest at Petco Park the Giants will start RHP Justin Verlander (1-9 ERA 4.23) against the Padres RHP Dylan Cease (5-11 ERA 4.61) to end the four game series.

Join Morris for the Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s game wrap: A’s win fourth game out of last five; Sac 3 wins away from getting out of cellar

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Athletics’ catcher Shea Langeliers (23) tags out Minnesota Twins’ James Outman (43) in the third inning of a baseball game at Target Field in Minneapolis, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Langeliers Powers Athletics Past Twins in Extra-Inning Thriller

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics had to sweat it out under the Minnesota lights, but a timely swing from Shea Langeliers ensured the Green and Gold walked away with another road victory.

The game featured stellar pitching, clutch defensive plays, and more than a few wasted chances, it was Langeliers’ bat that made the ultimate difference, blasting a two-run homer in the tenth inning to seal a 4-2 win over the Twins at Target Field on Tuesday night.

The evening started quietly, almost deceptively so. Sacramento went down in order in the top of the first as Minnesota starter Bailey Ober looked sharp, but rookie Tyler Soderstrom quickly disrupted that narrative in the second. He ripped a leadoff double to center, then came around to score on Darell Hernaiz’s sacrifice fly. The early run staked the Athletics to a 1-0 lead and gave starter J.T. Ginn a cushion to work with.

Ginn, who has shown flashes of dominance in his young career, kept the Twins at bay through the first two innings, striking out three and relying on his defense to handle sharp grounders. He wasn’t overpowering, but he was efficient, forcing Minnesota into easy outs while allowing his teammates time to add on.

That insurance came in the fourth when Soderstrom struck again, launching a solo homer to dead center to make it 2-0. For a moment, it seemed the Athletics had the right formula: score just enough and let their arms do the rest.

The Twins, though, found their spark in the fifth. James Outman doubled, and with two outs, Trevor Larnach lined a single to left that plated Minnesota’s first run. Two batters later, Brooks Lee laced another double to tie things up at 2-2. The inning marked the end of Ginn’s night, as manager Mark Kotsay turned to the bullpen to preserve the tie.

From that point, the game became a battle of nerves and relievers. Sacramento had its chances, particularly in the eighth when a pinch-hit single from Carlos Cortes and a passed ball put the go-ahead run in scoring position.

But with the bases loaded, Colby Thomas went down swinging to strand the rally. Minnesota threatened in its half of the frame, but Colby Thomas redeemed himself with a pair of running catches in center that kept the score knotted.

Sacramento again seemed poised to break through in the ninth when Hernaiz doubled to lead off, only to watch the next three hitters go down meekly. The Twins had their moment too, putting runners on the corners with two outs, but reliever Michael Kelly induced a deep fly ball from Austin Martin that died just shy of the wall in right. Both sides had flirted with a win in regulation, but neither could close it out.

That set the stage for Langeliers in the tenth. With Nick Kurtz placed at second under extra-inning rules, Langeliers wasted no time. On a 1-0 pitch from Minnesota reliever Brooks Kriske, the catcher unleashed a towering drive to right-center, his 28th homer of the season.

The Athletics dugout erupted as the ball cleared the wall, a mix of relief and celebration, knowing they had finally landed the decisive blow. The Green and Gold added no further damage, but the 4-2 lead was all they needed.

Tyler Ferguson entered for the bottom half, inheriting the placed runner at second. The Twins tried to rally, moving Austin Martin to third on a lineout, but Ferguson buckled down. He coaxed a pop-up from Royce Lewis, issued a walk, and then slammed the door with a routine groundout to second to end the contest.

Soderstrom and Langeliers carried the bats, combining for three extra-base hits, three runs scored, and all four RBIs. On the pitching side, the Athletics bullpen was resilient, stringing together 5.1 shutout innings after Ginn exited. Sean Newcomb, Elvis Alvarado, Hogan Harris, Kelly, and Ferguson all contributed to silencing a Minnesota lineup that had multiple opportunities but failed to deliver the knockout punch.

For Sacramento, the win was more than just another tally in the standings. It was a showcase of timely hitting, defensive grit, and bullpen depth, the kind of ingredients any contender needs in late summer.

While the Athletics still have plenty of work to do in their push to remain relevant, nights like this are the kind that build confidence. Minnesota, meanwhile, will be left sulking its missed chances, going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and leaving nine men on base.

When the dust settled, it was Langeliers’ swing that stood above the rest, a reminder that sometimes one big hit is enough to tilt an entire game. For the Athletics, it came at just the right time.

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. 

Giants Offense Struggles Again Losing to Padres 8-1

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp is checked by the trainer after getting hit by a line drive in the bottom of the third inning by San Diego Padres hitter Ramon Laureano. Roupp had to be carted off the field and left with a left knee sprain at Petco Park in San Diego on Wed Aug 20, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giant’s (61-66) offense did not show up again in game three of their four game series with the San Diego Padres (71-56). They only had four hits in the game, in fact, they only had four hits in Wednesday’s 8-1 loss. Their offense has really stalled out. San Francisco’s Casey Schmitt hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, one of the few bright spots in this game.

Game recap: The first three innings were all San Diego. They scored the first run of the game in the first inning when Ryan O’Hearn singled Fernando Tatis Jr. home for a 1-0 lead. The Padres extended their lead in the second inning when Gavin Sheets homered to right for a 2-0 San Diego lead.

The Giants had three very quiet innings to start the game but such was not the case for the Padres. In the third inning they scored four runs taking a 6-0 lead. Manny Machado hit a solo home run to center and San Diego had a 3-0 lead. Sheets had his second home run of the game with O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano on base and the Padres were cruising leading 6-0.

San Francisco starting pitcher Landen Roupp really got roughed up by the Padres. He pitched for 2 1/3 innings allowing five hits, five runs, two walks and two strikeouts. It was a tough outing for the pitcher. He was relieved by Joey Lucchesi who got San Francisco out of the third inning. Tristan Beck relieved Lucchesi through the next four innings.

San Francisco finally got up on the scoreboard in the fourth inning now trailing 6-1. Casey Schmitt hit a solo home run to left center for their first run of the game but they had a lot of work still to do. They let the Padres score early taking a significant lead and catching them would be not easy. San Diego was in the driver’s seat through the first seven innings.

San Diego starting pitcher JP Sears worked through six innings allowing four hits, one earned run and two strikeouts. He was relieved by Wandy Peralta.

San Diego’s Ryan O’Hearn hit the Padres fourth home in the seventh inning of the game taking a 7-1 lead. The Giants only had four hits through eight innings. They had a couple of singles in the second inning and the home run in the fourth inning. Heliot Ramos doubled in the fifth inning but for the most part that was the extent of the San Francisco offense in today’s game.

The Padres would tack on one more run for the 8-1 final. San Diego finished the game with ten hits and four home runs. With Wednesday night’s win, the Padres trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by one game in the National League West. The Giants had hits in the game and the one Casey Schmitt home run. San Francisco will have the chance to tie up the series in Thursday’s game four.

Game notes: Wednesday evening the Giants got a beating by the Padres in game three of their four game series. The Padres have a 2-1 series lead. The Giants took game one 4-3 Monday night and the Padres answered back in game two Tuesday winning it by the score of 5-1.

San Francisco needs to get their bats working after a less than stellar offensive effort Tuesday. They only had four hits in the losing effort. They did have a promising start in game two with a Jung Hoo Lee home run in the first inning but the offense was very quiet for the rest of the game. Wednesday was not much different as the Giants were crushed by the Pads by seven runs.

Thursday the four-game series will wind up with a 1:05 PM start. The Giants will start Justin Verlander who has struggled at times. He has a 1-9 win/loss record and a 4.23 ERA. He will be looking to finish off this series with a win. Dylan Cease will take the mound for the Padres with a 5-11 win/loss record and a 4.61 ERA.

Sacramento A’s game wrap: A’s Langeliers continues to hit the big fly in 6-3 win over Twins

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Sacramento A’s Shea Langeliers (23) runs the bases after hitting his 27th home run against the Minnesota Twins in the top of the third inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on Tue Aug 19, 2025 (AP News photo)

The Athletics danced into Minneapolis with a 6–3 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field Tuesday night at Target Field. The win marked the A’s 57th of the season, extending a glimmer of hope amid a broadly disappointing season.

Shea Langeliers delivered a two run homer in the third inning, his 27th of the season, which not only handed Sacramento the lead but also further fueled his mammoth post–All-Star Break surge that is turning heads across the league.

Meanwhile, Tyler Soderstrom proved his bat remains red hot, stretching his hitting streak to 17 straight games with a run scored on Brett Harris’s sacrifice fly in the fourth. Oakland’s offense continued to roll in the fourth, capitalizing on an error and sustained pressure.

Harris, Luis Urías, and Nick Kurtz each delivered key RBIs, building a commanding 5–1 cushion and showcasing the depth and resilience of this squad. Though the Twins responded with solo homers from Brooks Lee and Ryan Jeffers, trimming the deficit to 5–3, the Athletics buried the rally in the sixth when Harris came through again with another RBI single.

Though the spotlight shone on the offense, lefty Jacob Lopez earned his share of applause too, working six innings of four hit, two earned run ball, striking out eight, and commandeering the win (now 7–6 on the season). He handed the game over to the bullpen, where Justin Sterner tossed two scoreless innings and Hogan Harris closed the door with his first career save, completing a perfect ninth.

For the Twins, Joe Ryan suffered a harsh night, surrendering five runs (two earned) over four innings and seeing his record slip to 12–6. Even so, contributors like Wallner, Lee, Jeffers, and base running threats kept the contest alive, though ultimately the comeback fell short.

What began as a routine summer road game morphed into a tight and electrifying midweek duel. The A’s now turn their attention to game two of the series, set for Wednesday, with rookie right hander JT Ginn taking the mound for the A’s and Bailey Ober going for Minnesota.

Ginn has battled through recent struggles, 12 earned runs over his last 11 and two thirds innings, but the A’s faithful will be hoping Tuesday night’s win serves as a pivot point for both the rookie and the team.

All told, what makes this victory so fun and revealing for fans is how it encapsulates everything about the 2025 Athletics: youthful zeal, flashes of pop, gritty pitching, and a bullpen that can lock things down on the road.

A’s and Twins continue the series on Wednesday at 4:40pm PT first pitch at Target Field in Minneapolis. Starting pitcher for the A’s JT Ginn (2-5 ERA 5.04) for the Twins Bailey Ober (5-7 ERA 5.17).

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.