Category: MLB

Giants comeback in 3-2 win over A’s; Ramos gets gamer in 8th for SF

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San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos right circles the bases after hitting a home run off the Sacramento A’s in the bottom of the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun May 18, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Sacramento Athletics 2 (22-25)

San Francisco Giants 3 (28-19)

Win: Randy Rodriguez (3-0)

Loss: Tyler Ferguson (0-6)

Save: Ryan Walker (3)

Time: 2:19

Attendance: 40,051

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants came back with two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to complete the sweep of the Bay Bridge Series with a 3-2 win over the Oakland A’s Sunday.

Wilmer Flores single handedly carried the Giants in the first two games of this series. First, he knocked in eight of the Giants’ nine runs with his three home runs in the opener on Friday night. Then Saturday, he grinded through a nine-pitch at-bat to draw the walk-off walk that knocked in the lone run of the game.

Justin Verlander took the ball as the Giants looked for their first three-game sweep of the A’s since 2015. Verlander was still looking for that elusive first win in a Giants’ uniform, as he came in 0-3 in his first nine starts. Perhaps the tenth time would be the charm.

Verlander got off to a shaky start in the top of the first inning. The A’s loaded the bases with two outs following a double and a pair of walks. Fortunately, Verlander managed to wiggle his way out of it without any damage.

Left-hander Jeffrey Springs took the mound for Oakland. On the first pitch Springs threw in the bottom of the first, Heliot Ramos greeted him with a home run to the Giants’ bullpen out in left-center field.

The Giants had fired the opening salvo, and Verlander cruised through the second and third innings.

However, the A’s staged a two-out rally and loaded the bases against Verlander in the top of the fourth. Lawrence Butler then came up and lined a base-hit up the middle to center, and that knocked in a pair of runs to give the A’s their first lead of this series. Verlander was done after four innings, and he would remain winless after ten starts.

After Ramos’ home run to lead off the bottom of the first, Springs flat out dominated. All he did was retire 20-straight Giants. When Matt Chapman broke that streak with a two-out base-hit in the bottom of the seventh. Springs gave up just one run and two hits over six and two thirds innings. He didn’t walk a single guy, and he struck out five.

Following Verlander’s departure, Spencer Bivens pitched a pair of one two three innings in the fifth and sixth, and lefty Erik Miller struck out two in a scoreless top of the seventh. Randy Rodriguez then took the ball for the top of the eighth and threw a one two three inning.

Mark Kotsay brought in Tyler Ferguson for the bottom of the eighth. LaMonte Wade, who has finally been starting to swing the bat, led off the inning with a triple to Triples Alley in right-center. The sellout crowd of 40,051 finally got into it, and the Giants were in business.

Up came Patrick Bailey, who is also finally starting to heat up at the plate. Kotsay had the A’s play the infield in, and Bailey grounded a base-hit up the middle to center to tie it.

It was a brand-new game at 2-2, and the Giants looked to take the lead. Christian Koss then sacrificed Bailey over to second with a bunt down the first base line. It should be noted that when Nick Kurtz went to pick the ball up, Koss started back pedaling towards the plate. However, Kurtz knew better than to fall for the old Javy Baez trap, and he just took the ball over to first.

Up came Heliot Ramos, and he grounded a base-hit to left field. Bailey came sprinting home, and the Giants were back ahead. However, Ramos was tagged out after being caught in a rundown between first and second.

For anybody interested, the Ramos putout was 7-2-3-4-2. As my pal in the press box and Editor-in-chief of Sport Relay, Evan Thompson, said, it was a zip code. 72342 is the zip code of Helena and West Helena, Arkansas to be exact.

Anyway, while it wasn’t the best look for Ramos to be caught in the rundown after his big hit, it didn’t take away from his big day, as he knocked in two of the Giants’ three runs.

Melvin stuck with his man, Ryan Walker, for the top of the ninth. Walker rewarded his skipper with a one, two, three inning to pick up his eighth save, and the Giants had the sweep.

At the end, it was Randy Rodriguez who got the win, and Tyler Ferguson who took the loss.

The Giants improve to 28-19, and they will look to build off the sweep when the Kansas City Royals come to town Monday night to start a three-game series.

Robbie Ray (6-0, 3.04 ERA) will take the ball for San Francisco in the series opener Monday night. The Giants are 9-0 in his starts this season. Left-hander Kris Bubic (4-2, 1.66 ERA) will counter for Kansas City.

First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m.

Giants News and Notes:

With Sunday’s sold-out crowd of 40,051, the Giants have now sold out 11 games at Oracle Park this season. That is the most in a season since 2018.

Final Thoughts:

See, I told ya the Giants would be fine.

The Giants were tested in their first legitimate slump of the season, and they passed with flying colors. As each day goes by, and as the Giants pick up more and more dramatic comeback wins, the more I am convinced that we are witnessing a special season in the City by the Bay.

Headline Sports podcast Bruce MacGowan: Giants comeback Sunday to sweep A’s; Can 49ers Purdy live up to salary expectations?; Warriors to regroup after post season elimination

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San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos slugs a go ahead RBI single against the Sacramento A’s in the bottom of the eighth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun May 18, 2025 (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast Bruce MacGowan:

#1 San Francisco Giants came back down 2-1 with their 13th comeback of the season to sweep and defeat the Sacramento A’s 3-2 on Sunday. The Giants are now tied for the most comeback wins in MLB.

#2 San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy who signed a $265 million five year contract becomes the eighth highest paid quarterback in the NFL. Question is will Purdy get the protection from his offensive line or will he be running for his life. Also the 49ers have been scheduled for five prime time games despite struggling and losing their last four games in a row in 2024.

#3 Golden State Warriors will regroup after their rough post season losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves and losing their start player Stephen Curry due to a hamstring injury. The Warriors are still trying to decide Jonathan Kuminga’s role for next season and will he be back?

Bruce MacGowan is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman: Verlander gets the call still looking for that first win

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San Francisco starter Justin Verlander pitches against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Tue May 6, 2025. Will face the Sacramento A’s on Sun May 18, 2025 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman:

#1 San Francisco Giants had the bases loaded with Wilmer Flores at the plate and Sacramento A’s pitcher Mason Miller trying to close the door in relief with two out in the bottom of the tenth. Miller wound up walking Flores to force base runner Willy Adames in from third base for the game’s only run for a 1-0 win.

#2 Miller who is the A’s ace closer intentionally walked Mike Yastrzemski to get to Flores and the A’s had their backs to the wall with Flores coming up who had hit three home runs on Friday. Some questioned after the game why give Yastrzemski four wide ones to get to Flores?

#3 A’s starter Luis Severino pitched well enough to win the ball game going six innings allowing six hits and no runs scored. Severino looked like he could pitch into the ninth he was doing so well until relieved.

#4 San Francisco starter Landen Roupp pitched six innings, gave up five hits and no runs and also could have lasted two more innings.

#5 The A’s and Giants return for game three of the series Sunday the Giants could get the sweep if they can finish off the A’s. If so that would be the A’s fifth straight loss. The A’s will be starting LHP Jeffery Springs (5-3 ERA 4.27) for the Giants RHP Justin Verlander (0-3 ERA 4.31) who continues to look for his first win of the season.

Join Stephen Ruderman for the Giant podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB podcast The Show Charlie O Sun May 18, 2025: It’s raining boos and cat calls for Mets Soto in return to Bronx; O’s fire manager Hyde after falling 15-28; plus more news

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New York Mets Juan Soto is greeted with boos and tips his hat to the New York Yankees fans upon his return to Yankee Stadium in New York on Fri May 16, 2025 (AP News photo)

MLB podcast The Show Charlie O Sun May 18, 2025:

#1 New York Mets Juan Soto made his return to his old place of work Yankee Stadium this time as a member of the New York Mets. He was welcomed with loud boos, cat calls, and chants. Yankees fans have not got over his decision to leave and join the Mets. Soto said the fans still hurt a little over his departure.

#2 Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde after a 15-28 beginning to the 2025 season have fired Hyde. The O’s are in last place in the AL East and they have appointed third base coach Tony Mansolino as their interim manager. Mansolino has been on the coaching staff for the O’s since 2021.

#3 Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr allowed two unearned runs in four innings against the Texas Rangers on Friday. Last week on Sat May 11th McCullers gave up seven runs and was only able to get one out against the Houston Astros in the Astros loss 13-9 loss. McCullers received death threats that were directed at his children over the lost game. The Astros said the Houston Police and Major League Baseball security are aware of the threats.

 #4 Charlie have to ask you about the Friday night that the San Francisco Giants Wilmer Flores had hitting three home runs which included a grand slam home run and eight RBIs which were both career high plateaus. Flores is the player that the Giants can rely on in the line up right now.

#5 The Sacramento A’s pitching have been getting lit up in their last few series. In their last homestand they host the New York Yankees and got ripped in a couple games 10-2 and 12-2 and then at Dodger Stadium they got piled on losing two tough games 11-1 and 12-2. The A’s lost in San Francisco 9-1 on Friday night.

Join Charlie O for the MLB podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast Daniel Dullum Sun May 18, 2025: Report-A’s have already started drilling in Tropicana foundation

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Large caisson drills can be seen lining the former Tropicana/future A’s stadium site in this still from an aerial video taken on May 10. (Image: Chris Holmes X/@seventensuited)

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 Reports in Las Vegas have said the Athletics have already started drilling as of this month in the foundation at the Tropicana site. The initial grading and preparation are now being formed with concrete being poured and steel caissons inserted to start the building of the park on the Tropicana’s nine acre corner which sits on 35 acres of land. There has been no ribbon cutting or ground breaking ceremony whatsoever since construction has started.

#2 On the stadium design one of the options is the roof will be retractable or a permanent roof with windows around and above the field so the sunlight will come through. The park will be temperature controlled.

#3 If the A’s decide to go retractable it’s unlikely that they will not open their roof for the months of June through mid September. It stays hot in Vegas like it does in Sacramento in the summer months. So the roof will stay shut.

#4 The questions of the aesthetics of the park on the outside is something that fans and media have question looking like the Sydney Opera House or an armadillo. Critics simply say the park doesn’t look anything like a Major League stadium.

#5 Reports say that A’s president Mark Badain said that the team is on track for the team’s target date to complete the project by opening day 2028. Further the A’s have secured the $1.75 billion for the construction costs for their share. The State of Nevada will soon come up with the SB1 bill public funding towards the stadium worth $380 million the A’s reportedly will not be taking that full amount towards the stadium costs.

#6 A’s owner John Fisher reportedly is still looking for investors to come up with $500 million to soften the $1.75 billion hit and reduce his share to $1.1 billion towards the construction costs.

Daniel Dullum does the Sacramento A’s relocation podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Severino Shines Again on the Road, but A’s Fall to Giants in Extra-Inning Walk-Off

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Luis Urias on Saturday in the game against the Giants at Oracle Park. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SAN FRANCISCO — Luis Severino and Landen Roupp engaged in an old-fashioned pitchers’ duel on Saturday night at Oracle Park. Neither starter gave up a run, as the Giants defeated the A’s in walk-off fashion, 1-0.

The game remained scoreless heading into the bottom of the 10th inning after the A’s failed to score in the top half. Mason Miller came in to face the Giants with Willy Adames as the designated runner at second base. LaMonte Wade then walked, followed by a sacrifice bunt from Patrick Bailey that moved the runners to second and third with one out. A’s manager Mark Kotsay elected to walk Mike Yastrzemski to load the bases and have Miller face Wilmer Flores. Flores then drew a walk after a tough at-bat, and the Giants won the game 1-0.

After the game, Kotsay defended the decision, saying, “Lefties have done a better job of taking good at-bats against Mason. I had full confidence with him against Flores there. Flores took a good at-bat and fouled a couple pitches off, and obviously, the walk is big.”

Kotsay continued, reflecting on where he felt the A’s came up short.

“We had chances with runners in scoring position early in this game—I think we were 1-for-10 or worse. That’s where the game was lost. Offensively, we didn’t execute and didn’t get the job done.”

Landen Roupp (6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K) and Luis Severino posted nearly identical lines, as both were dealing. Severino went six innings, allowing no runs on four hits while walking one and striking out five.

“I thought Sevy did a great job,” Kotsay said. “This is the start we needed out of him, like we talked pregame.”

It was another fantastic road performance from Severino, who continues to display extreme home/road splits. At home this season, Severino is one of the worst starters in baseball, sporting a 6.75 ERA across six starts, with a 1.50 WHIP and .271 opponent batting average. On the road, however, he’s been dominant. In four road starts, Severino has a 0.72 ERA, a .200 opponent batting average, and a 0.96 WHIP. The contrast is striking.

“I just have to figure out a way to pitch good at home,” Severino said Saturday. “I feel like if I only pitched on the road I would be freaking Cy Young. I need to get better at home. I need to figure out something.”

The A’s offense managed no runs to support Severino’s strong outing on Saturday night in San Francisco.

With the loss, the A’s fall to 22-24 (8-13 at home), while the Giants improve to 27-19 (15-7 at home).

On Sunday, the A’s will try to avoid the sweep, sending Jeffrey Springs (5-3, 4.27 ERA) to the hill. He’ll be opposed by Giants starter Justin Verlander (0-3, 4.31 ERA). First pitch is slated for 1:05 p.m. PST at Oracle Park.

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson: How will A’s stop opponents from taking batting practice off pitching

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Sacramento A’s starter JP Series lasted four innings giving up six hits and four earned runs against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Fri May 16, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 San Francisco Giants Wilmer Flores connected for three home runs which included just one grand slam and had eight RBIs.

#2 San Francisco pitcher Logan Webb pitched eight innings, giving up five hits and one run. The A’s didn’t give Webb any trouble on Friday night.

#3 The A’s pitching from Friday night allowed nine runs, starter JP Sears went four innings allowing six hits, four earned runs, reliever Michel Ortanez one third of an inning two hits three runs. A’s pitching are struggling to keep runs off the board.

#4 Ever since the A’s last homestand they have cooled off tremendously and have got beat by landslide laughers. Against the New York Yankees last week they got beat by scores of 10-2 and 12-2. In their next series against the Los Angeles Dodgers they got swept by scores of 9-3, and 19-2.

#5 Starting pitchers for Saturday night’s contest for the Sacramento A’s Luis Severino (1-4 ERA 4.70) he’ll be matched up against the San Francisco Giants RHP Landen Roupp (2-3 ERA 4.95) first pitch at 6:05pm PDT.

Jeremiah Salmonson is a Sacramento A’s beat writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Flores Ties MLB RBI Lead With Career Night in Giants’ 9-1 Win

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Logan Webb in the game against the Athletics on Friday night at Oracle Park (Photo: San Francisco Giants on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SAN FRANCISCO — On any other night, Logan Webb would be the lead of this story. However, even with Webb’s brilliance in the Giants’ 9-1 win over the Athletics on Friday, Wilmer Flores takes center stage.

Wilmer finished the game 3-for-4 with three home runs. He launched a grand slam in the third inning, a three-run shot in the sixth, and capped off his incredible night with a solo blast in the eighth. The trio of homers gave Flores eight RBI, vaulting him into a tie with Aaron Judge for the most RBI in the majors at 41.

“Every time he hit a homer today, I was like, man, he’s a true professional. My favorite player, so it’s fun to watch him every day. He takes amazing at-bats all the time, and that just kinda kickstarted the game for us,” Logan Webb said of Flores.

Wilmer’s teammates and coaches consistently praise his work ethic and daily preparation around the Giants clubhouse. Friday felt like the perfect night to spotlight those traits after a career performance.

Bob Melvin spoke postgame about Wilmer’s toughness and the adversity he’s overcome. “It’s pretty remarkable where he’s come from (speaking on his journey after his season-ending knee injury and surgery last season) you know, last year to this year, having the surgery and coming into spring training a little uncertain… What’s he tied in the league with RBI in all of baseball? He’s a pretty tough kid.”

Melvin continued, emphasizing Wilmer’s reputation. “Look, everybody loves Wilmer here. Everybody around the league loves Wilmer. He’s about one of the most respected guys in the league you’re going to come across. It’s great to have someone have a game like that, but it’s doubly good that it was Wilmer.”

As much as Wilmer was the talk of the night, Logan Webb also shined in his start. Dealing through seven innings and allowing just two hits, Webb came back out for the eighth eyeing a complete game shutout if he could be economical in the eighth. Unfortunately, two infield singles and a run ended those hopes. Still, he finished the eighth having allowed just one run on five hits. Webb walked two and struck out five in a masterful performance — a much-needed effort to help get the Giants back on track.

The eighth was the only inning in which the A’s scored. Tyler Soderstrom singled home Luis Urias to put the A’s on the board. They wouldn’t score again.

Aside from Wilmer’s heroics, the Giants added one more run on a Willy Adames RBI single after Matt Chapman doubled in the at-bat before, making it 9-1 heading into the ninth.

After throwing 107 pitches (70 strikes), Logan Webb was relieved in the ninth by Camilo Doval, who sealed the win with a dominant 1-2-3 inning. Doval struck out all three batters he faced — Pereda looking, Butler swinging, and Andujar swinging.

With the win, the Giants improved to 26-19 on the season and bumped their run differential to +45. The A’s dropped to 22-23, with their run differential falling to -59.

A’s Note: The A’s have allowed 37 runs in their last three games — their most in a three-game span since May 9-11, 2016, when they gave up 40.

Giants Note: With three home runs, Wilmer Flores becomes only the fourth Giant in franchise history to hit at least three homers and drive in eight runs. He joined Joc Pederson (May 24, 2022), Willie Mays (April 30, 1961), and George Kelly (June 14, 1924).

The A’s and Giants continue the series Saturday at 6:05 PM PST at Oracle Park. The Giants will send Landen Roupp (2-3, 4.95 ERA) to the mound, while the A’s counter with Luis Severino (1-4, 4.70 ERA).

Athletics podcast Jeremiah Salmonson Fri May 16, 2025: A’s get pounded again by Dodgers 19-2; Open 3 game series Friday in SF against Giants

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Los Angeles Dodgers Hyeseong Kim (left) slides in safely for a stolen base under the glove of the Sacramento A’s Max Schuemann (12) in the bottom of the second inning at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Thu May 15, 2025 (AP News photo)

Athletics podcast Jeremiah Salmonson Fri May 16, 2025:

#1 The Sacramento A’s used four pitchers against the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Dodgers sprayed the ball all over the yard at Dodgers Stadium to pound Sacramento 19-2 on Thursday night.

#2 There was no mercy rule for the A’s Thursday night the only mercy they got was when the last out was recorded in the top of the ninth inning.

#3 The A’s worst inning was when the Dodgers scored seven runs in the third inning off A’s reliever Jason Alexander who pitched 2.1 innings, allowing seven hits and nine runs.

#4 A’s pitching coughed up five homers to the Dodgers in the contest to Max Muncy his third, Shohei Ohtani hit two home runs he has 15 now, James Outman his second, and Andy Pages for his eighth of the season.

#5 The A’s are glad to be getting out of LA and will open a three game series against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. The Giants aren’t much of consolation despite losing two out of three to the Arizona Diamondbacks in their last series they can rake. The A’s pitching staff will have to regroup or suffer more of the same fate.

Join Jeremiah Salmonson for the A’s podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB podcast Michael Duca Fri May 16, 2025: Rivalry baseball gets going with Mets-Yankees; Twins Buxton-Correa out for the count with concussion protocols; plus more MLB news

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New York Mets slugger Juan Soto after hitting an eighth inning solo shot against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thu May 1, 2025 at Citi Field in New York. Soto and the Mets gear up to face off with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium Fri May 16, 2025 (AP News photo)

MLB podcast Michael Duca Fri May 16, 2025:

#1 Their talking rivalries in baseball and the ones that are brought up are the New York Mets and New York Yankees and how former Yankee and current Met outfielder Juan Soto will hear will jeers from the Yankees fans in the right field bleachers. Also another rivalry that has some bad blood the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros as they are in the middle of a four game series in Arlington. Do you see some possibilities that there could be some animosities amongst these teams this weekend?

#2 It was a collision for the ages in a game at Camden Yards against the Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins centerfielder Byron Buxton and shortstop Carlos Correa collided chasing down a pop fly in the shallow part of the outfield. Buxton got the ball but Buxton and Correa both banged heads. Correa had to leave the game and Buxton was able to stay until the end of the inning but left afterwards. Both players have been put on concussion protocols.

#3 Former Oakland A’s second baseman/outfielder Tony Kemp announced Thursday that he is retiring from Major League Baseball after playing in the show for nine years. Kemp 33 played for the Astros (2016-19), Cubs (2019), Athletics (2020-23) and Orioles (2024). Kemp had wrote on Instagram that he was thankful to God for allowing him to be a Major League player and that after 12 years in pro baseball and nine of them in the majors he’s decided to hang up his spikes.

#4 The Colorado Rockies have taken the spotlight away from the 2024 Chicago White Sox as baseball’s first team in the modern era to lose 36 of it’s first 43 games. The Rockies had Thursday off and Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said the plan was to take the day off and reset. The loss on Wednesday night to the Texas Rangers was the Rockies 11th out of their last 12 games.

#5 Michael, the baseball executive committee meets in December 2027 do you see that committee taking into consideration Pete Rose for a shot at getting elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot or will his betting on baseball while a manager overshadow his chances?

Michael Duca does the MLB podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com