Category: MLB

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson Fri Apr 25, 2025: A’s on roll after Texas series; Host White Sox tonight after sweeping them on last road trip

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Sacramento A’s first baseman Nick Kurtz (16) sprints for first base for his first Major League hit in the bottom of the first inning against the Texas Rangers on Wed Apr 23, 2025. The A’s took two out of three games from the Ranger’s on Thu Apr 25, 2025. (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Sacramento A’s Luis Urias scored on a game winning run on Jacob Wilson’s single in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs as the A’s scored twice to walk off on the Texas Rangers 4-3 at Sutter Health Park on Thursday night.

#2 The A’s were down 3-2 in the ninth the A’s Max Schuemann walked with one out, Urias got a base hit to right center that Rangers center fielder Leody Taveras couldn’t handle for an error and it allowed Schuemann to score the tying run.

#3 The A’s Lawrence butler flew out and Wilson hit a 3-1 pitch for the base hit off Ranger closer Luke Jackson who drops his record 0-2 and Urias scores the game winner.

#4 The A’s have won some key games on the road come home and were 2-7 to open this series against the Rangers and end up taking two out of three against a solid first place club whose been predicted to be the American League representative for this year’s Fall Classic. The A’s made some noise in this last series.

#5 The A’s host the Chicago White Sox tonight at Sutter Health. The last time the A’s met the Sox it was in Chicago where the A’s swept the Sox in three games. The Sox are a struggling bunch at 6-19, their away record is 2-11 and have lost eight of their last ten games. The A’s are last in the Western Division at 12-13, 4-8 at home, and won six of their last ten games. Starting pitcher for Sox Friday night Sean Burke (1-3 ERA 6.23) for the A’s Luis Severino (1-3 ERA 3.31) fist pitch 7:05pm PDT.

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

Wilson’s Heroics Lift A’s to 4-3 Walk-Off Win, First Home Series Victory

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Jacob Wilson celebrating after hitting the game winning RBI single in the A’s victory against the Rangers on Thursday night. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — Chris Caray said it best on the A’s TV broadcast: “The A’s have arrived in West Sacramento,” Caray declared as Jacob Wilson was mobbed in right-center field after singling home Luis Urías to give the Athletics a 4-3 walk-off win over the Rangers.

Not only was it the A’s first walk-off win in Sacramento, but it also marked their first series win at their new home ballpark since relocating from Oakland this spring.

While I might seem unimpressed with Wilson’s late-game heroics, nothing about the walk-off surprised me. In fact, just before the hit, I turned to media members in the press box and said, “This is exactly the guy you want up right here.” That, of course, turned out to be true.

Jacob Wilson was the perfect man for the moment. His elite bat-to-ball skills prepared him for exactly that situation. The A’s had tied the game earlier in the inning after a walk and an untimely error in center field set the table for Wilson. Then, after seeking out advice from manager Mark Kotsay—who told Wilson before the at-bat, “He’s going to stay with the breaking ball, it’s [Luke Jackson’s] best pitch, so stay on the breaking ball”—Wilson did just that, drilling the ball to center field to score the winning run.

It was a true team win for the A’s. As Kotsay said, “Overall it was a group effort tonight. We used everyone except for Pereda on the bench. We got the matchups the way we wanted… it just felt good from a team standpoint tonight to get a win and a series win against a good team that’s leading the division.”

For a moment, things got dicey in the fourth inning. A’s starter J.T. Ginn struggled and was only able to go three and two-thirds innings, giving up three home runs—the only scoring for the Rangers. Two of those came on back-to-back swings.

However, the A’s bullpen was the unsung hero of the night, delivering another scoreless performance across four and a third innings. Hogan Harris, recently recalled from Las Vegas, tossed two and a third scoreless frames to steady the game for the A’s. “Phenomenal job by those two,” Kotsay said of Harris and Holman. “For Hogan, getting optioned early—he easily could have gone down to Triple-A and not been happy… but he went down there and threw the ball really well.”

Other notable performances included Tyler Soderstrom, who finished 2-for-4 with a two-RBI double, and Gio Urshela, who stayed hot with a 3-for-3 night before being pinch-hit for in the ninth inning.

With the win, the A’s improve to 12-13 on the season.

Up Next: The A’s will stay home to host the Chicago White Sox for a three-game series beginning Friday night at 7:05 PM PST at Sutter Health Park. The A’s swept the White Sox last week in Chicago.

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Duca Thu Apr 24, 2025: Giants win another comeback game against Brewers

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San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski (right) is congratulated by third base coach Matt Williams (left) after hitting a third inning home run against the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu Apr 24, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Duca:

#1 For the third time in four days the the San Francisco Giants came back from behind late in the ball game and the Milwaukee Brewers furnished the mistakes that help the Giants win three out of the last four games.

#2 The Giants just edged out the Brewers on Friday 6-5. Brewers starter Tobias Myers who was making his Brewers debut and pitched in a short start. The Brewers reliever Tyler Alexander couldn’t hold the Brewer lead in the eighth inning as the Giants picked up two runs that proved to be the game winner.

#3 Giants starter Landon Roupp whose had a couple of good outings struggled in this one pitching 3.2 innings giving up six hits, four earned runs, walked three batters and struck out two. Michael kind of get your evaluation on Roupp’s outing today?

#4 In the eighth inning the Giants Mike Yastrzemski hit a into a fielders choice to second it allowed Tyler Fitzgerald to score tying the game at 5-5. Then Willy Adames hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Christian Koss to score which gave the Giants the 6-5 lead.

#5 For the second consecutive game Camilo Doval shut the door on the Brewers although he gave up one hit and left runners on at first and second Doval got three hitters to fly out and put away the game. For Doval it’s his fifth save. Do you see him coming back with more confidence in the relief role now?

#6 Next up for the Giants Bruce Bochy and the Texas Rangers. The Rangers took a tough loss in Sacramento to the Sacramento A’s on Wednesday night 5-2 the loss evened the series up between the two clubs. The Rangers are a first place club but can struggle on the road as they are 4-7 when away from Arlington. Starting pitchers for Friday at Oracle Park for the Rangers Nathan Eovaldi RHP (1-2 ERA 2.61) for the Giants RHP Justin Verlander who is looking for his first win after five appearances. Verlander (0-1 ERA 5.47) first pitch 7:15 pm PDT at Oracle Park.

Michael Duca does the San Francisco Giants podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants come back to win wacky thriller and series over Brewers 6-5

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San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman (right) is congratulated by teammate Jung Hoo Lee (51) after hitting a bottom of the fifth inning home run against the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu Apr 24, 2025 (AP News photo)

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Milwaukee Brewers 5 (13-13)

San Francisco Giants 6 (17-9)

Win: Tyler Rogers (2-0)

Loss: Tyler Alexander (1-2)

Save: Camilo Doval (5)

Time: 2:50

Attendance: 28,592

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants came out on top in a wacky and semi-wild series finale at Oracle Park on Thursday, as they picked up a dejected Landen Roupp, and came back to beat the Brewers and take the series with a big 6-5 win.

Landen Roupp led the Giants out onto the field on a gray and foggy day at the ballpark, and as this writer would describe it: a beautiful and tranquil day for baseball. Unfortunately, things didn’t start well for Roupp. He walked Brice Turang to start the game, and Sal Frelick singled to right to put runners at the corners with nobody out.

You know the old saying: When you come to the ballpark, you may see something you’ve never seen before. Christian Yelich came to the plate, and knocked in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to center field. However, Freclick was subsequently doubled off at first base, as he took off on the pitch and was all the way around second when the ball was caught by center-fielder Jung Hoo Lee. It was just your routine sacrifice double play.

It was very much a break for Roupp, who was getting hit hard. Rhys Hoskins and Jake Bauers both singled, but the double play allowed Roupp to get out of it without giving up more than one run.

On the mound for the Brewers was Tobias Myers, who was making his 2025 debut. As Steven Rissotto, the host of Rizzocast, and a producer for 95.7 The Game, noted, the Giants have tended to respond to the other team scoring, and that is exactly what they did in the bottom of the first.

Mike Yazstrzemski led off the inning with a base-hit to center and got to second on a balk when Myers tripped as he started his delivery from the set. Willy Adames grounded out, but Lee lined a double into the corner down the right field line to bring in Yaz and tie the game.

The Brewers got their lead right back, as Roupp’s struggles carried over into the second inning. It was actually quite simple. Garrett Mitchell walked to start the inning; stole second; got to third on a groundout; and scored on a wild pitch.

Mike Yastrzemski led off the bottom of the third, and he tied the game with a home run to the green tin atop the 24-foot-high Willie Mays wall in right. The Giants were in a great position to get their first lead of the day, as Adames and Lee walked, but Mitchell was able to wiggle his way out of it with the game still tied.

The Giants were unable to take the lead, and the Brewers made them pay in the top of the fourth. The Brewers had runners at the corners with one out for Eric Haase, who laid down a safety squeeze, but after Matt Chapman came in from third to field it, his throw was dropped by LaMonte Wade at first, and both runners scored to give Milwaukee a 4-2 lead.

Brice Turang singled Haase over to third, and up came Sal Frelick, who knocked in Haase with a chopper along the first base line to make it 5-2. Wade fielded the ball, and threw to second-baseman Tyler Fitzgerald, but Frelick was called safe by First Base Umpire Alex MacKay.

The Brewers had a 5-2 lead, and they had runners at first and second with one out. The Brewers were poised to blow this one open just as they did on Tuesday. However, the Giants challenged MacKay’s call at first, and it was overturned for a much-needed second out.

That did it for Roupp, and Bob Melvin brought in Spencer Bivens. Bivens’ first pitch to Christian Yelich was a cutter on the inside corner for a called strike, and Turang stole third. However, the Giants challenged the call by Third Base Umpire Brian Walsh, and the Giants were able to overturn back-to-back calls on back-to-back pitches for the final two outs of the inning.

That stymied the momentum for the Brewers, and eventually proved to be a massive turning point in this game.

The Giants were unable to do anything with a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth, but they struck in the bottom of the fifth against Abner Uribe. Lee walked to lead off the inning, and Matt Chapman hit a two-run home run to right-center to send a message and make it 5-4.

The Brewers took their 5-4 lead into the bottom of the eighth, as they brought in their left-hander, Tyler Alexander. Tyler Fitzgerald worked a walk to start the inning, and Wilmer Flores pinch-hit and lined a base-hit the other way to right to put runners on the corners with nobody out.

Luis Matos grounded out, and then Yastrzemski fouled off three-straight two-strike pitches from Alexander. Yaz then hit a ground ball to Durang at second, who was playing in along with the rest of the Brewers’ infield. Fitzgerald came home, but Durang’s rushed throw was high, and Fitzgerald scored to tie the game.

Brewers Manager Pat Murphy brought in Trevor Megill to face Adames. Adames worked the count full, and then hit a line drive right to left-fielder Christian Yelich, who was trying to position himself to make the catch and make a throw home to cut pinch-runner Christian Koss at the plate. However, Yelich dropped the ball, and Koss scored to give the Giants their first lead of the day.

Following his emergency save last night, Camilo Doval was summoned by his skipper, Bob Melvin, to close things out again today. However, things did not start well for Doval, who walked pinch-hitter Caleb Durbin on four pitches to start the inning, and fell behind 2-0 to Turang.

You couldn’t help but harkin back to last season, when Doval, as the full-time closer, had his ninth inning implosions. Doval was once again entrusted with picking up the save, and he was once again about to implode.

We have already seen numerous examples early on of how different 2025 has been than 2024 for the Giants, and we were about to see it again. After Patrick Bailey, who had just entered the game to catch, went out to talk to Doval, Doval settled down to retire Turang and Frelick.

Up came Yelich, who lined a base-hit to center to move the tying run to second. It wasn’t going to be easy, but Doval got Rhys Hoskins to fly out to center, and everyone went home happy.

The Giants are back to their season-high eight games over .500 at 17-9. This was their eighth comeback win of the season, and their third win when trailing after seven innings.

Through all of the madness, it was Tyler Rogers who got the win. Tyler Alexander took the loss, and Camilo Doval notched his fifth save, tying Ryan Walker. However, Bob Melvin was quick to stress that Walker would still be the guy in a potential save situation Friday night.

Speaking of Friday night, Bruce Bochy’s Rangers are coming in for a 2010 World Series rematch, and it will be a weekend of old friends and memories. Former Giant Joc Pederson will also make the trip with the Rangers, but most importantly, Brandon Crawford will have his official retirement ceremony before the game on Saturday.

Justin Verlander (0-1. 5.47 ERA), who will remain on the opposite end of Bruce Bochy, will take the ball for the Giants Friday night, and look for his first win in the orange and black. The veteran right-hander, Nathan Evoldi (1-2, 2.64 ERA) will make the start for Texas.

First pitch will be at the accustomed Friday night time of 7:15 p.m.

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips Thu Apr 24, 2025: Giants four run sixth enough to get by Brewers 4-2

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San Francisco Giants second baseman Christian Koss (left) and shortstop Willy Adames (2) both jump for joy after the Giants defeated the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Apr 23, 2025 in game 3 of the four game series (San Francisco Giants X photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1  Wilmer Flores’ two run single helped the San Francisco Giants get back in the drivers seat scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 on Wednesday night.

#2 Jung Hoo Lee remained consistent at the plate with three hits and the Giants record against right handed pitching improved to 14-2 which leads Major League Baseball.

#3 The Giants starter Logan Webb improved his record to 3-1 and he out pitched Brewer starter Freddy Peralta who dropped his record to 2-2. Webb pitched 6.1 innings, striking out six batters, walking three and dropped his ERA to 1.98.

#4 Giants reliever Ryan Walker got into a base loaded jam and the Brewers were able to score two runs off Walker in the ninth. With the score 4-2 Giants reliever Camilo Doval came in and got the last two out and picked up his fourth save of the campaign.

#5 Game 4 concludes this series the Brewers will be going with starter RHP Tobias Myers (season debut) he’ll be matched up against RHP Landen Roupp (2-1 ERA 4.09) first pitch at 12:45pm PDT at Oracle Park.

Morris Phillips does the SF Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Langeliers Goes 4-for-4, Kurtz Debuts as A’s Down Rangers 5-2

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Nick Kurtz after his first major league hit on Wednesday night. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The A’s evened the series with the Texas Rangers on Wednesday evening at Sutter Health Park, powered in part by Nick Kurtz’s RBI single in his MLB debut, as they defeated the Rangers 5-2.

J.P. Sears earned the win for the A’s, tossing five innings of two-run ball while allowing five hits and striking out five. The loss went to Rangers starter Kumar Rocker, who was rocked by the A’s offense, giving up five runs on seven hits in just one and two-thirds innings.

The A’s bats got going early, batting through the order in the first inning and putting up four runs. Lawrence Butler immediately got the A’s on the board with a long solo home run to center field that traveled 425 feet, according to Statcast. The A’s quickly added to the lead as Shea Langeliers singled home Tyler Soderstrom, followed by Kurtz singling in Langeliers to make it 3-0. Gio Urshela capped the scoring in the inning with an RBI double, giving the A’s a 4-0 lead.

It was a welcome change for the A’s, who have often trailed early at home, to jump out to a fast start.

In the bottom of the second, the A’s scored again on a Jacob Wilson bases-loaded walk to make it a 5-0 ballgame. It was Wilson’s first walk of the 2025 season. The A’s wouldn’t score again, but they wouldn’t need to.

After Sears exited with a 5-2 lead, the A’s bullpen shut down the Rangers with four innings of shutout ball. Justin Sterner tossed a hitless sixth, Mitch Spence allowed one hit in a scoreless seventh, Tyler Ferguson delivered a clean eighth, and Mason Miller slammed the door in the ninth, striking out three and allowing just a two-out double. It was an electric performance from the A’s pen following Sears’ strong outing.

Langeliers led the A’s with a perfect 4-for-4 night, driving in a run and scoring once. Gio Urshela went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.

With the win, the A’s improved to 11-13 on the season and have a chance to take the series from the Rangers on Thursday.

Up Next: The A’s and Rangers face off in the rubber match on Thursday at 7:05 PM PST at Sutter Health Park. Jacob deGrom is slated to start for Texas, while J.T. Ginn is the probable for the A’s.

Four-run sixth inning and last-minute save by Doval carry Giants to 4-2 win over Brewers

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb (62) throws against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Milwaukee Brewers 2 (13-12)

San Francisco Giants 4 (16-9)

Win: Logan Webb (3-1)

Loss: Freddy Peralta (2-2)

Save: Camilo Doval (4)

Time: 2:34

Attendance: 29,049

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants played a much cleaner game Wednesday night, as Logan Webb was strong over six and a third innings, and Camilo Doval stepped into his old role to avert disaster and close out a 4-2 win over the Brewers.

After the Giants won the series opener on Monday, the Brewers pounded them into submission Tuesday night. It was one of those games where you had to forget about it and be ready to go the next day.

The next day came, and the Giants had their ace in Logan Webb on the mound. Webb was coming off his first loss of the season on Friday night in Anaheim, which he really didn’t deserve. He gave up just two runs and struck out 12 over six innings. Unfortunately, the Giants just couldn’t provide him with any offense.

Anyway, Webb and the Giants took the field on the first foggy night of the season at Oracle Park. It wouldn’t be easy for Webb out of the gate, as he had to work through jams in each of the first two innings. However, he survived them both without any damage, and proceeded to set down the next 11 hitters he faced over three-straight one, two, three innings.

Brewers’ starter Freddy Peralta had a very similar outing. He escaped a jam in the bottom of the fourth inning, and notched five shutout innings under his belt.

Just like the championship days, the Giants have utilized the ground attack and have taken advantage of errors and defensive mistakes by their opponents this season. They would do it again Wednesday night, as they loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the sixth to knock Peralta out of the game.

In came Nick Mears to face Wilmer Flores. With the count at 1-2, Mears threw a nasty slider just below the knees on the outside corner, but Flores grounded it up the middle and off the glove of the diving shortstop, Joey Ortiz, for a base-hit to center field, and two runs scored to put the Giants up 2-0.

The Giants would get some help from the Brewers’ defense as the inning went along. With runners at the corners at one out, LeMonte Wade hit a potential double play ball to second-baseman Brice Turang that Turang tried to backhand, but it hit off his glove, and Matt Chapman scored to make it 3-0.

Christian Koss came up with two outs and hit a ground ball to Ortiz at short. Ortiz ranged to his left to field it, but his off-balanced throw to first sailed off the glove of first-baseman Rhys Hoskins, and Flores came in to score to cap off a four-run inning.

Webb gave up a base-hit and a walk to start the top of the seventh, and he closed out his night by getting Caleb Durbin to fly out to left. Webb ended up going six and a third scoreless innings and struck out six. Lefty Erik Miller came in and got out of it with the shutout still intact.

Tyler Rogers pitched a one, two, three inning in the top of the eighth, and Ryan Walker came in for a non-save situation in the top of the ninth. It was Walker’s first time on the mound since he gave up four runs and blew the save on Sunday in Anaheim.

Unfortunately, Walker was hit around again. The Brewers loaded the bases with one out following a pair of base-hits and a hit batsman. Turang then came up and lined a ground rule double off the end of the bat down the left field line, which scored a pair of runs and cut the Giants’ lead in half to 4-2.

Bob Melvin summoned Camilo Doval, who lost the closer’s job last August, but who had quietly amassed three saves so far this season. It was a big opportunity for Doval, who lost the job following a string of rough outings in the middle of last season. Doval seized on this opportunity, as he struck out Jackson Churio, and got Christian Yelich to ground out to end it.

Logan Webb got the win; Freddy Peralta took the loss; and Camilo Doval picked up his fourth save. Ryan Walker has five saves.

The Giants improve to 16-9, and they have a chance to take the series with a win Thursday afternoon. Landen Roupp (2-1, 4.09 ERA) will take the ball for the Giants. As for the Brewers, right-hander Tobias Myers will make the start in his 2025 debut.

First pitch will be at 12:45 p.m.

Nick Kurtz to Debut for A’s After Meteoric Rise Through Minors

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Nick Kurtz in the A’s clubhouse on Tuesday. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — A new era at first base for the Athletics is upon us!

The A’s first selection in the 2024 MLB Draft, Nick Kurtz, will make his debut for the Athletics in Sacramento against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday evening.

Kurtz, the No. 4 overall selection in last year’s draft out of Wake Forest, will debut after just 32 minor league games and less than 10 months since being drafted — both unprecedented in MLB. In those 32 minor league games, Kurtz hit .366 with 11 home runs, 10 doubles, and 22 walks, good for a 1.121 OPS. Coaches and players who have seen him during his brief time in pro ball have described him as a very mature player despite his limited experience. 

A’s manager Mark Kotsay, speaking with the media on Tuesday, said, “He’s a pretty accomplished young hitter, and he’s got an advanced approach. As David mentioned, his demeanor, he’s a pretty even-keeled kid.

It’s safe to say there’s plenty of excitement surrounding Nick, both in the clubhouse and in the front office.

Kurtz will play first base on Wednesday as Tyler Soderstrom moves to the outfield.

As the A’s continue to struggle at home (2-8 over their first 10 home games), Kurtz might be just what the doctor ordered. Granted, A’s pitching is generally seen as the area most in need of improvement.

As for Kurtz and his appeal to fans, I’ll say this: I watched Nick clear the batter’s eye in center field and hit the scoreboard in right-center during batting practice on Tuesday afternoon. The kid is gonna be must-watch baseball.

Rangers Outslug A’s 8-5 Despite Late Push in A’s Sacramento Return

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Brent Rooker receives his Silver Slugger from the 2024 season. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The A’s were back home in Sacramento on Tuesday night after a road trip that took them through Chicago and Milwaukee. They swept the White Sox and dropped two of three to the Brewers, finishing the trip with a winning record of 4-3.

On Tuesday, the A’s welcomed in the AL West-leading Texas Rangers, who entered the game with a 13-9 start to the 2025 season. The A’s came in last place in the division at 10-12 but sat just three games behind the Rangers.

The A’s fell to Texas by a final score of 8-5.

A’s starter Osvaldo Bido was roughed up, lasting five and a third innings while allowing eight runs (all earned) on eight hits, including four home runs. It was a tough outing in a game where any decent contact seemed to have a chance to leave the yard.

Rangers starter Patrick Corbin went five innings, giving up two earned runs on seven hits and allowing two homers.

The A’s got on the board with solo home runs in the second and third innings from Miguel Andujar and Lawrence Butler, respectively. Aside from those, they didn’t generate many scoring chances until the sixth inning, where they loaded the bases but came up empty. They finally broke through again in the bottom of the seventh when JJ Bleday delivered an RBI single to score Brent Rooker and cut the deficit to 8-3.

Sacramento continued to chip away in the eighth as Luis Urias and Brent Rooker each added solo shots to pull the A’s within three at 8-5 heading into the ninth.

After a scoreless top of the ninth from the bullpen, the A’s went down in order in the bottom half to end the game.

Brent Rooker finished 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk. JJ Bleday went 2-for-4 with a walk, and Miguel Andujar had a strong night, going 3-for-5 with a homer.

After the game, manager Mark Kotsay praised the team’s fight but pointed to missed chances in the sixth inning. “The sixth inning was the inning we left opportunities on the bases… we left the bases loaded, second and third with nobody out really… We continued to take good at-bats after that… it could’ve been more. We just had our opportunities—had 11 hits and left 10 on the bases.”

Note: In the top of the seventh inning, A’s reliever Jose Leclerc recorded only one out before leaving with right shoulder soreness. After the game, Kotsay confirmed the injury, calling it “more of a strain than soreness.” It’s tough news for a bullpen already dealing with depth issues.

Up Next: The A’s and Rangers continue the series on Wednesday night at 7:05 PM PST at Sutter Health Park. J.P. Sears is scheduled to start for the A’s, while the Rangers counter with Kumar Rocker. A’s No. 1 prospect Nick Kurtz will make his debut at first base in the contest.

Brewers explode for eight-run top of the sixth in 11-3 route of Giants

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Milwaukee Brewers Christian Yelich gets around on the baseball for his fifth home run of the season for a grand slam in the top of the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Tue Apr 22, 2025 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Milwaukee Brewers 11 (13-11)

San Francisco Giants 3 (15-9)

Win: Jose Quintana (3-0)

Loss: Jordan Hicks (1-3)

Time: 2:48

Attendance: 28,573

By Stephen Ruderman

An eight-run top of the sixth inning did the Giants in, as Brewers smoked their way to an 11-3 win on Tuesday night at Oracle Park.

After a tough loss in Anaheim on Sunday, the Giants bounced back with a 5-2 win Monday night. Tuesday night, the Giants would try to build on that, and get back to their season-high of eight games over .500.

Before the game, Hunter Pence threw out the ceremonial first pitch to his wife, Alexis. Pence was at the ballpark for Earth Day on behalf of his organization, Healthy Planet Project, which focuses on efforts to clean the city, reduce pollution and bring awareness to Global Warming.

The Giants took the field for the second time this season in their new City Connect jerseys. Jordan Hicks took the ball following a shaky start in Philadelphia last Thursday, and he pitched a pair of scoreless innings to start his night. Meanwhile, the veteran left-hander, Jose Quintana, who pitched in five games for the Giants in 2021, threw a one, two, three bottom of the first, as well as a scoreless bottom of the second.

However, Hicks had his doldrums in the top of the third. Caleb Durbin led off the inning with a double, and Brice Turang singled him over to third. Jackson Churio grounded into a fielder’s choice to open the scoring, and after Christian Yelich doubled Churio over to third, William Contreras knocked them both in with a base-hit to left field to make it 3-0.

The Giants of course responded to the Brewer’s three runs in the bottom of the third, as David Villar led off the inning with a double. Villar got to third on a ground out by Patrick Bailey, and then scored on a broken-bat bloop single to right by Tyler Fitzgerald to put the Giants on the board.

Hicks pitched through some more trouble in the top of the fourth, and he finally threw his first one, two, three inning of the night in the top of the fifth. Quintana was back in control, as he pitched two more scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth.

Unfortunately, Hicks and the Giants just ran into a brick wall in the top of the sixth. A pair of base-hits and a wild pitch made it 4-1. Hicks then walked Garrett Mitchell, and that ended his night.

Lou Trivino was brought in, and things didn’t get any better. Trivino got Durbin to fly out for the first out of the inning, but Turang singled to right to make it 5-1. Churio was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and up came Christian Yelich. What did Yelich do? He hit a grand salami to straightaway center to turn this into a laugher.

The Brewers now led it 9-1, and they still weren’t done. Sal Frelick walked with two outs, and Jake Bauers added insult to injury with a two-run shot to right-center to make it 11-1.

As for Hicks, he gave up five earned runs in five-plus innings. Trivino ended up giving up five runs as well.

You really have to give it to the Giants. They never gave up, and in fact, they loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Unfortunately, they were unable to come through in the sixth, but they rallied again and scored runs in the seventh and eighth to make it 11-3. The Giants even rallied in the bottom of the ninth, but nothing came out of it, and the Brewers won it 11-3.

Jose Quintana, who pitched six innings got the win, and Hicks took his third loss of the young season.

The Giants fall to 15-9, and they will look to bounce back Wednesday night with their ace, Logan Webb (2-1, 2.40 ERA) on the hill. Freddy Peralta (2-1, 1.91 ERA) will take the ball for Milwaukee.

First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m., something I’m still getting used to in the Giants’ seventh season of 6:45 weeknight games.

Giants News and Notes:

Giants’ top prospect, Bryce Eldridge returned from his left wrist injury to make his 2025 debut for the Giants’ Double-A affiliate, the Richmond Flying Squirrels, who were in Akron, Ohio tonight.

In his first at-bat, Eldrige picked up right where he left off last season and the beginning of Spring Training this year, as he hit a home run to right-center.