Category: MLB

Giants mount eighth inning comeback to sweep the Cardinals 7-6

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San Francisco Giants Jung Hoo Lee slugs a single in the second inning against the St Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Sep 9, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Lincoln Juarez

SAN FRANCISCO – The Giants hoped to continue to play spoiler to the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday afternoon in the final game of a three-game set. St. Louis dropped the first two games of the series plunging them to 6.0 games back of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. For the Giants, a sweep of the Cardinals at home would’ve been their first since June 29-July 1, 2001.

A beautiful 80 degree afternoon at Oracle Park began with a 95mph called strike one to Cardinal leadoff hitter Bryan Torres who popped out to Shay Whitcomb at third for the first out of the day. The first of three quick outs to set the Cardinals down in order with the help of another great diving play by Bryce Eldridge at first base to end the inning.

Drew Gilbert leadoff the home first with a line drive up the middle and in the blink of an eye he was testing his luck for two bases. He dove in well ahead of Nathan Church’s throw for a leadoff double. Two batters later, Bryce Eldridge, who extended his on-base streak to 17 games Tuesday night, blooped a base-hit to left field to bring home Gilbert, extending his streak to 18 games. After reaching on a fielder’s choice, Jonah Cox was caught stealing to end the Giants rally in the first with a 1-0 lead.

It was the third time in as many games against the Redbirds the Giants scored in the first inning hoping for the same result from the first two games in which the Giants secured their first series win against St. Louis since sweeping a three-game set at Busch Stadium in 2023.

The one-run lead wouldn’t last as the Cardinals brought a run home on two hits in the top of the second. In the third, the Cardinals added more after an unfortunate sequence of events for Giants’ starter Blade Tidwell. In the process of having Ivan Herrera picked off between first and second base Tidwell was called for interference after running through the baseline, making contact with Herrera, allowing him to advance to second base.

Tidwell then walked Alec Burleson and gave up a 378ft homerun to Leo Bernal putting the St. Louis ahead 4-1. A situation that could’ve been two out with nobody on resulted in Tidwell being visibly frustrated on his way back to the dugout after the three-run inning.

He would only last another full inning, getting pulled in the fifth with the bases loaded from a single, hit-by-pitch, and walk with nobody out. Tidwell’s final line was 4.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K. He was replaced by left-hander Philip Abner, making his Giants debut.

St. Louis was held to just one in the fifth thanks to Abner rolling a double-play on the first pitch he threw. They got one more in the sixth and had a 6-1 lead the rest of the way.

It was a game in which the Giants offense struggled to get anything going past the first inning thanks to Cardinals’ starter Andre Pallante giving up the lone run across 5.0 innings of work. San Francisco was shutout after the first inning until the bottom of the eighth, when Bryce Eldridge came through with his second RBI-hit of the afternoon. It knocked in two to make it a 6-3 Cardinal lead. Jonah Cox followed with a base-hit of his own driving in another run to get the Giants within two.

Edridge stood on second base with Cox at first and Jung Hoo Lee in the box with two out. Jung Hoo lined a double off the brick wall in right bringing home both Eldridge and Cox, who shared a long, celebratory hug after Cox scored. On the next pitch Shay Whitcomb, who had been great all day defensively, smacked one to centerfield also off the wall to trade places with Jung Hoo Lee. The Giants came all the way back and had a 7-6 lead.

As the Oracle Park crowd gave a standing ovation to the Giants offense at the end of the eighth inning, Trent Harris made the trek to the mound to close out a Giants comeback win. Jose Fermin leadoff the ninth with a single on the first pitch prompting the Cardinals to pinch-hit with the Homerun Derby champion, Jordan Walker. Walker rolled into 6-4-3 double-play and one pitch later Trent Harris got his first career big-league save and Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson earned his first career win courtesy of the Giants’ eighth inning comeback.

St. Louis could not avoid the sweep heading into their nine-game homestand, their final of the season, where the final three games of the Giants, Cardinals season series will be played next Monday through Wednesday. The Cardinals look to make one last run at the final National League Wild Card spot with 15 games remaining.

The Giants swept a team in 2026 in three consecutive days for the first time, they won all three games in their road series against the Atlanta Braves but the final game of that series was over two months after the first two.

Tony Vitello and his squad of young prospects will welcome the San Diego Padres to town for a three-game series beginning Friday night at 7:15pm, hoping to spoil more playoff hopes. The Padres, another team trying to overcome the Diamondbacks for the final Wild Card spot.

Starters for Friday for San Diego LHP Robbie Ray (11-8 ERA 3.38) for San Francisco RHP Anthony Molina (3-0 ERA 2.79) first pitch 7:15pm PDT.

A’s Roast The Jays in the Sacramento Heat 2-0

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(Graphic by The Golden Bay Times)

A’s Roast The Jays in the Sacramento Heat 2-0

By Mauricio Segura


WEST SACRAMENTO–With the mercury close to 100 degrees throughout the duration of today’s series ending showdown, Henry Bolte needed one swing to give the Athletics a lead, and a five-man pitching relay made sure it held. Bolte launched a solo homer to left-center in the third inning, Tommy White scored on a wild pitch in the fourth, and the A’s shut out Toronto 2-0 to take two of three in the series.

Brady Basso set the tone with four scoreless innings in his sixth start of the season. The left-hander allowed three hits, walked two and struck out four, repeatedly escaping before Toronto could cash in. His biggest jam surfaced in the fourth, when Alejandro Kirk singled and Ernie Clement later moved him to third with two outs. Basso ended the threat by striking out Brandon Valenzuela, preserving a scoreless game and handing the offense a chance to move first. Basso had worked as both an opener and reliever throughout the season, making this another short-start assignment rather than a traditional turn through the rotation.

Bolte did exactly that in the bottom of the third. Facing Michael Lorenzen, the 22-year-old drove a fly ball over the wall in left-center for his 10th home run of the season. The blast continued a September surge that had already seen Bolte bat .367 with three homers, six RBI, eight walks and five stolen bases through his first eight games of the month. He also began the day with 19 steals, the most by an A’s player age 22 or younger since Rickey Henderson stole 56 in 1981.

The Athletics added their second run without needing another extra-base hit. White singled to right in the fourth and Max Muncy followed with a single to left, moving White to third. Lorenzen then bounced a wild pitch that brought White home and moved Muncy to second. Donovan Walton sent a fly ball to right that pushed Muncy to third, but Toronto kept the margin at 2-0.

That small cushion turned into a bullpen assignment, and Scott Blewett handled the most dangerous part of it. Brett Bateman doubled with one out in the fifth, and pinch-hitter Nathan Lukes followed with an infield single that put runners at the corners. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. then hit a grounder back to Blewett, who started a 1-4-3 double play with Walton and White to end the inning. In the sixth, Kirk drew a leadoff walk before Kazuma Okamoto bounced into another double play, this one started by Zack Gelof at third.

Luis Medina took the seventh and struck out Valenzuela and pinch-hitter Josh Smith after retiring Clement on a ground ball. Hogan Harris followed with a perfect eighth, getting Bateman, George Springer and Guerrero in order. Elvis Alvarado finished the ninth, striking out Kirk and Okamoto before Andrés Giménez singled. Clement then flied out to right, ending Toronto’s final chance.

The A’s offense produced only four hits, with Muncy collecting two of them, but it was enough because Toronto never crossed the plate. That made the result even more striking considering the Athletics had batted only .167 through their first five games against the Blue Jays this season. They finished the season series 2-4 against Toronto, but both victories were in this three-game set.

The pitching performance also extended a better stretch for an Athletics bullpen that had allowed one earned run or fewer in 14 of its previous 19 games. Blewett, Medina, Harris and Alvarado combined for five scoreless innings after Basso’s four, giving the A’s nine consecutive scoreless innings against a Toronto lineup that had scored four times the previous game.

After Thursday’s off day, the A’s turn to Jeffrey Springs (4-13, 6.02 ERA, 104 K) against Seattle, which is expected to counter with George Kirby (9-11, 4.18 ERA, 133 K), with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 p.m. Pacific.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Giants win 2-1, on 2-game Winning Streak

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San Francisco Giants (#50) Christian Koss hit his fourth home run this season against the St. Louis Cardinals in an MLB game on Tuesday, September 8th, 2026, at Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. (Photo credit to Jae Choi)

By Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO – Tuesday morning, the San Francisco Giants learned the door to their postseason had closed. Due to tiebreaker procedures, the Giants are eliminated from the playoffs for the fifth straight year. So Tuesday evening, the Giants’ mentality was now just to have fun and win ball games. The Giants are in game two of three, hosting the St. Louis Cardinals. In Game 2 tonight at Oracle Park, the Giants (61-85) would get the win over the Cardinals (72-74), 2-1, and win this home series.

The Giants’ starting and winning pitcher of the game, Landen Roupp, would allow 2 hits, 0 runs, 4 BB, and 2 strikeouts in this game. This is also Roupp’s ninth win as a starter for San Francisco. St. Louis pitcher Quinn Mathews received his third loss as the starting pitcher for the Cardinals. Mathews would allow 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 ER, 4 strikeouts, and 2 homeruns.

San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers was named one of MLB Players of the Week. Devers batted .385 with six home runs, 13 RBI’s, and a 1.669 OPS from August 31st to September 6th. This is now his fifth career award and second straight for the Giants.

This game really off in San Francisco’s direction from early homers from Eldridge and Christian Koss. With one more win in tomorrow’s afternoon game, they can have the chance to sweep the Cardinals in this homestands. In the bottom of the first inning, Giants Bryce Eldridge would get the game started with his sixteenth homer of the season. Eldridge sent that ball to the left outfield and got the ballpark rocking early.

The Cardinals would have no response on their offensive side. So Giants Christian Koss decided to join in on the home run fun. In the bottom of the second inning, Koss would drill his third home run in the past four games. These two homers from Eldridge and Koss would be enough to give the Giants the lead and ultimately win this game.

St. Louis was able to find themselves in scoring positions. However, with smart pitching from Roupp and the Giants defense holding up. They were able to prevent the Cardinals from converting any runs. Especially by placing the ball low on his sinkers, forcing the Cardinals’ hitters to ground out.

It wouldn’t be until the top of the ninth inning that the game would see a drastic change. The St. Louis Cardinals weren’t gonna let up that easy against the Giants. With two outs, it was now or never to make a move. Cardinals Nathan Church would be able to get a single. On the next batter, Church would steal to second base on the first pitch. Leading up his teammate Bryan Torres to get a single, and bringing in Church to score.

With the score now being 2-1, but with two outs for the Cardinals. The Giants would just need one more stop to call the ballgame. So next batter, Cardinals Ivan Herrera would get grounded out, and that would conclude the ball game. With the Giants finding out this morning, there will be no playoffs. The team was all smiles after getting this Tuesday night win.

The San Francisco Giants won’t get a lot of rest as the team has to come back tomorrow afternoon to finish off this homestand with the Cardinals. Tomorrow’s win will give the Giants a sweep of the Cardinals. San Francisco will send out RHP Blade Tidwell (0-2), and St. Louis will go with RHP Andre Pallante (12-6). The game will be broadcast live on MLB.TV with first pitch at 12:45 p.m.

Blue Jays Even Series With A’s Behind 4-2 Win in Sacramento

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Jack Perkins #50 of the Athletics pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Sutter Health Park on September 08, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As the first fake fall in Sacramento came to a screeching halt on Tuesday with the return of near-100-degree temperatures, the A’s and Blue Jays engaged in game two of their three-game series at Sutter Health Park at 6:40 p.m. PDT. The A’s, having won the first game of the series in walk-off fashion on Monday, sent Jack Perkins to the hill to start the ballgame as they looked to secure the series win.

The Blue Jays spoiled the night for the A’s and evened the series as they took game two, 4-2.

As mentioned earlier, it was Jack Perkins taking the ball for the A’s in what was his 34th appearance for the club this season (his 14th start). Perkins got off to a bit of a rough start, allowing two home runs in the second inning, but he settled in nicely until he was eventually chased in the sixth inning. Perkins allowed the first two batters of the sixth to reach base via singles, and that prompted Mark Kotsay to come and get him. When it was all said and done, Perkins allowed four runs on seven hits across five-plus innings of work while striking out three and allowing no walks.

“Honestly, this is probably the first one this year that I can really say that I feel like I took a good step in the right direction,” Perkins said to the media after the game. “Obviously the no walks was huge, but I think the way my pitches were working off of each other, getting the sinker involved more… the way the other pitches performed, I thought I did really well.”

A’s manager Mark Kotsay was also pleased with the way Perkins performed.

“Command was better and for him to get into the sixth inning after the last start… tonight was a different guy.”

Chris Roycroft was first out of the bullpen for the A’s in the sixth inning, taking over for Perkins. Roycroft was unable to help Perkins out and keep any inherited runners from scoring, but he limited the damage to keep the A’s in the game. Roycroft pitched two innings of no-run, three-hit baseball while walking none and striking out one during his outing.

In the eighth inning, the A’s turned to Geoff Hartlieb. Hartlieb allowed no runs, one hit and one walk and managed two strikeouts across his two innings of work, allowing Mark Kotsay to save the rest of the bullpen as he finished the game.

At the plate, the A’s totaled two runs on six hits while walking only once.

The A’s first run of the game came in the fourth inning when Carlos Cortes sent a booming home run over the wall in right-center field. It was the ninth home run of the season for Cortes and his 40th RBI, which pulled the A’s to within a run, 2-1, at the time. The home run left the bat of Cortes at 99.4 mph and landed 388 feet from home plate.

The A’s second run of the game came later, in the seventh inning, when Donovan Walton went yard to get the A’s back on the board. It was the sixth homer of the year for Walton and his 23rd RBI. The homer left Walton’s bat at 104.9 mph and landed 369 feet away from home plate over the wall in right field.

That would be all the offense the A’s could muster in the game.

With the win, the Blue Jays are back at the .500 mark at 73-73, while the A’s fell to 59-88. Jack Perkins was charged with the loss for the A’s (3-11), while José Soriano was credited with the win (12-7).

The A’s and Blue Jays will play the rubber game of the three-game series on Wednesday at 12:05 p.m. PDT at Sutter Health Park. On Wednesday, the Blue Jays will send Braydon Fisher (3-4, 3.20 ERA) to the hill while the A’s will go with Brady Basso (1-2, 4.32 ERA) to start the game.

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: From My Notebook– September 11, 2001 =An incredible day in America and Baseball

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Windows of the World Restaurant in the World Trade Center New York City as it looked well before 911. (photos from Reddit)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

From My Notebook” September 11, 2001 – An incredible day in America and Baseball

By Amaury Pi-González

This September 11, we remember a unique event in world history; it has been 25 years since it took place, and nobody, especially in the United States, can forget it. Unlike the surprise1941 attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, which was on a U.S.Navy base and precipitated WWII, 9-11 was an attack on civilians thousands of people working in offices, thousands died.

In baseball, the entire schedule of 15 games was postponed following the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C.and Pennsylvania. For most people in the United States, this day is engraved in their memory forever. I was getting ready at home to broadcast the San Francisco Giants baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Pac Bell Park ( today Oracle Park) more on that below.

The suspension was later extended to a six-day shutdown. Many thought there would be more attacks; those were terrifying days for this country and for the whole world, as some commentators even called it the beginning of WW III.

My Personal connection to WTC: The epicenter of the attack was the Wall Street section of New York City. I was honorably discharged from the US Army. and living in New York, working at Scheinman, Hochstin & Trotta, a stock brokerage firm on lower Broadway, doing clerical work for the OTC (Over-the-Counter) stocks department. I was good with numbers.

This was within walking distance of the Twin Towers. I saw the second tower under construction by Cortland Street; it was in 1969, as I remember, about a year before the building was completed. On many occasions, I walked right in front of that under-construction area with my friends from the office, going to lunch in that very busy part of Lower Manhattan.

I remember I used to stop to look through the little windows in the wooden fence, and there was a lot of water at the bottom that they were draining, which was normal since it was so close to the Hudson River. My niece was living in NYC working and going to school. On that morning she saw one of the buildings collapse from her apartment and later she found out some friends of her had perished on that day.

Her parents visited NYC that Thanksgiving and were taken by the amount of memorials, the dust and the damage that existed. A few years before the attack, In 1998 yours truly and Jaime Jarrin were broadcasting the World Series between the Yankees and the Mets for LBC (Latino Broadcast Network/Caracol) after a game Jarrín asked me, (since I used to live in NY and knew the area) if we could go to the restaurant at the top of the World Trade Center, the famous “Windows on the World” but as we arrived at the lobby at street level, they told us it was closed because it was very foggy and there was no visibility; so never experienced Windows on the World, and never will, because those buildings are gone.

Now as I remember that as an irony, “closed because it was very foggy and no visibility”, when the day of the terrorist attack all reports pointed to a clear sunny day in the island of Manhattan. Back to September 11, 2001,at my house in Fremont, California, my wife Gail and I watched in horror on television what happened as the buildings totally collapsed after the planes had flown into the WTC.

Gail was getting ready to leave for work. We watched people jumping to their deaths. I cried and we both couldn’t believe what we were seeing. I am sure you experienced the same effect if you are old enough to remember that event a quarter of a century ago.

For me, born in Cuba and living as a young kid during the Cuban Missile Crisis, at the edge of a nuclear apocalypse, the 911 attacks brought me very bad memories of those years.A nightmare.

2001 was a memorable and unforgettable year. Broadcasting the Giants at a Baseball Park just one year old. The Manager was Dusty Baker, and the team ended with a 90-72 record, good for second place.

Quote: “The New York in your hats represents more than just the Yankees. It represents the city of New York.” Joe Torre, NY Yankees Manager.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Judge comes off IL Tuesday night back since May 31; Ohtani returned Monday goes 0-3 with walk as DH; plus more news

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New York Yankees Aaron Judge will return to action Tuesday night after suffering a rib injury and going on the IL on May 31, 2026. (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 New York Yankees Aaron Judge a three time MVP will return after being on the injured list since May 31st from a rib injury. Judge 34, made a diving catch in late April and played hurt but had to be taken out of the line up makes his first return Tuesday night.

#2 Los Angeles Dodgers two way player Shohei Ohtani after missing four days returned to the line up on Monday night after suffering from neck and arm injuries. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says that Ohtani is not day to day but will take a look how he comes out of Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Reds. Ohtani was the DH and walked once in three plate appearances.

#3 Milwaukee Brewers rookie outifelder Luis Lara has made a number of defensive plays in the last two months since arriving in the show. Lara 5 foot 7 made a leaping catch on Chicago Cubs Pedro Ramirez’s line drive that would have cleared the center-right field fence.

#4 Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jesus Luzardo who never pitched a ninth inning of his first 149 starts got the job done throwing a 1-0 shutout. Luzardo struck out 12 batters and allowed two hits. Blanking the Atlanta Braves. You got to work with Luzardo during his Oakland A’s days and he never really got to pitch in the late innings due to the pitch count but there he was Monday night putting away the Braves.

#5 Amaury, Talk about Peter Crow Armstrong he’s been getting around on the baseball hitting his 41st home run putting him second in home runs behind the Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Schwarber who leads the Majors with 43.

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.

 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. 

A’s Walk Off Blue Jays in 6-5 Thriller at Sutter Health Park

Published on by Jeremiah SalmonsonLeave a comment

(L-R) Tommy White #47, Jeff McNeil #22 and Carlos Cortes #26 of the Athletics celebrate McNeil’ walk-off infield single scoring Donovan Walton to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 at Sutter Health Park on September 07, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The A’s returned home to Sacramento on Labor Day Monday after a successful series up north in Seattle. After losing two of three to the Texas Rangers, the A’s went to Seattle and took three of four from the struggling Mariners to come home with a winning 4-3 trip. Monday, the A’s welcomed our friends from the North, the Toronto Blue Jays, to town for the first of a three-game series at 7:05 p.m. PDT.

The A’s defeated the Blue Jays in a walk-off thriller on Monday night, 6-5, to take the first game of the three-game set.

Jacob Lopez took the ball for the A’s to start Monday’s series opener. Lopez, who has spent time in Triple-A Las Vegas and with the big league club this season, made his 24th appearance of the year and his 21st start for the A’s this season in game one. Lopez pitched lights out, but the seventh inning would soil his otherwise fantastic performance. Lopez tossed six innings of three-hit, one-run baseball, but it was in the seventh inning where he allowed four hits and three runs that did him in. Lopez was pulled after not being able to get an out in the seventh inning with a final line of six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while allowing one walk and striking out one.

Mark Kotsay was happy with Lopez after the game, saying they got “another solid six” from the left-hander.

Lopez was also happy after the game, mostly because the A’s won the game, but also with his first six innings of work.

“We won, so that’s the priority,” Lopez told reporters after the game. “The first six innings were great. Just the seventh inning [I] made some bad pitches, obviously. And I think I just ran out of gas.”

Luis Medina was the first man out of the bullpen for the A’s, coming in for Lopez as he unraveled in the seventh. Medina pitched the seventh inning and two outs of the eighth, allowing no runs, one hit, a walk and two strikeouts in his inning and two-thirds of work.

Mark Kotsay called on Hogan Harris to try to get the four-out save. Harris got the final out of the eighth and pitched the ninth inning, where he ran into trouble. Harris wasn’t able to complete the save as he gave up a game-tying home run to Andrés Giménez in the ninth to tie the game. Harris managed to get out of the rest of the inning, allowing no more runs and finishing his inning and a third of work allowing one run on one hit while walking one and striking out one.

On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s managed to score early and often to get out to an early lead against the Blue Jays. The A’s totaled six runs on six hits while walking four times (three from Henry Bolte) against the Blue Jays pitching staff.

The A’s first run came in the first inning when Zack Gelof hit an RBI ground-rule double over the wall in left field to score Henry Bolte. It was Gelof’s 15th double of the year and his 43rd RBI.

Later that inning, the A’s got their second run of the game when Zack Gelof scored on a caught-stealing throwing error. The third baseman for the Blue Jays made two errors on the play that allowed Gelof to score.

In the third inning, the A’s scored their third and fourth runs of the game. The third run came when Henry Bolte scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Zack Gelof. It allowed the diving Bolte to score before the tag could be applied. Later in that inning, Carlos Cortes singled home Zack Gelof to give the A’s their fourth run of the game and the 39th RBI of the year for Cortes.

In the fifth inning, it was Henry Bolte again, this time doing it all himself as he sent a fly ball over the right-field wall for a solo home run. The home run was Bolte’s ninth of the year and it was his 32nd RBI as the ball traveled 341 feet from home plate.

The A’s final run came in the bottom of the ninth inning to walk off the Blue Jays. Jeff McNeil beat out an infield single to shortstop that scored Donovan Walton from third base to secure the win for the A’s. It was McNeil’s 53rd RBI of the season and his first hit of the game.

With the win, the A’s improved to 58-87 while the Blue Jays fell to 72-73. Hogan Harris got the win (his fourth), while Louis Varland of the Blue Jays got the loss (his fifth).

The A’s will take on the Blue Jays in game two of the series on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. PDT at Sutter Health Park. Jack Perkins (3-10, 6.50 ERA) is scheduled to start for the A’s, while José Soriano (11-7, 3.52 ERA) is set to start for the Jays.

Bryce Eldridge AP photo

Giants survive bullpen meltdown, beat Cardinals 5-4 in extras

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Photo: San Francisco Giants’ Bryce Eldridge hits an RBI double against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

By Vince Cestone

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants nearly suffered another loss to a bullpen meltdown, but they survived on a clutch Bryce Eldridge hit in the 10th and a Shay Whitcomb infield hit in the 11th to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 in extra innings.

With the Giants up 3-2 in the ninth inning, manager Tony Vitello went to Dylan Smith for a two-inning save, but just like it did against the Cincinnati Reds in the third game of the series, his outing went south but to a lesser extent. The Giants didn’t blow a 9-3 lead this time, but the Cardinals were able to even the score. After Joshua Baez started the inning with an infield hit, shortstop Thomas Saggese singled. The next batter Nathan Church tried to bunt but popped out. With the runners staying put, Bryan Torres then walked, setting it up for pinch hitter Jose Fermin, who hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at three. Smith retired the next batter Alec Burleson on a flyout to send the game to extra innings.

Before all the craziness, it looked good for the Giants. Ace Logan Webb was on the hill for the Giants, and he did a great job, pitching six innings of one-run ball. He struck out eight batters, gave up three hits, and walked only two batters. Webb looked like he was going to get the win, until the bullpen meltdown happened a few innings later.

Before then, the Giants started the scoring in the very first inning. Left fielder Turner Hill led off the bottom of the first with a walk. The following batter Rafael Devers doubled him in to give the Giants a 1-0 lead. The next three batters were retired in order by Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy.

The Giants added on in the third inning, with the help of the Cardinals defense. After Christian Koss singled on a comebacker to the pitcher who seemed to have mishandled the ball but still was deemed a hit, McGreevy airmailed the ball to first over the head of Burleson, allowing Koss to get to second. The next batter Hill grounded out to first, advancing Koss to third. The hot-hitting Devers then walked. That set it up for Eldridge, who hit a sacrifice fly to center field to increase the Giants’ lead to 2-0.

The Giants tacked on a third run in the fifth inning on back-to-back doubles from Devers and Eldridge. Both collected two hits in the game.

But then the Cardinals came roaring back. In the top of the sixth inning, the Cardinals got on the board with a two-out, solo home run by Burleson off Webb. That made the score 3-1 and the comeback was on.

St. Louis scored again in the seventh inning after a leadoff walk by Nolan Gorman. After the relief pitcher Trent Harris struck out the next two batters, Nathan Church doubled in Gorman, who advanced to second earlier in the inning on a passed ball, to cut the Giants’ lead to 3-2. This set up the ninth-inning comeback by the Cardinals.

After the Giants left the bases loaded with two outs in the ninth, the Cardinals brought in their ghost runner in the 10th. Right fielder Jordan Walker grounded out to start the inning, advancing the ghost runner Burleson to third. The next batter Leo Bernal hit a bloop single to right, just in front of Jung Hoo Lee, to give St. Louis a 4-3 lead.

But the Giants answered right back in the bottom of the 10th. With Hill as the ghost runner at second for San Francisco, the Cardinals intentionally walked Devers when the count got to 3-1. The next hitter Eldridge promptly singled to center, brining Hill home to tie the score at four. Later in the inning, the Giants had the bases loaded and one out, but Drew Gilbert grounded into an unusual 2-1 double play that ended the rally for the Giants. The catcher Bernal picked up the little tapper that landed right in front of home plate, stepped on home, and then threw to first to end the threat. The Cardinals had survived and went to the 11th with the game still tied.

After Giants reliever Jason Foley held St. Louis scoreless in the top of the 11th, San Francisco went to work in their half of the inning. Drew Cavanaugh, who came into the game as a pinch hitter in the ninth, led off the inning with a sacrifice bunt, advancing the ghost runner Nate Furman to third. That left it up to the third baseman Whitcomb, who punched a high chopper over the head of the shortstop Saggese, bringing in the winning run as the Giants walked off the Cardinals 5-4.

For the Cardinals, the starting pitcher McGreevy went 6 2/3 innings, giving up six hits, three runs, and two walks. He struck out four batters.

Nearly 26,000 fans showed up at Oracle Park on Labor Day Monday, an unusually small crowd on a holiday. But the ones that showed up saw a great game, as the Giants’ grit displayed on Monday night bodes well for 2027.

Up next, the Giants will try to make it two in a row against the Cardinals on Tuesday night. The Giants’ Landen Roupp (8-13, 4.17 ERA) will take on the Cardinals’ Quinn Matthews (1-2, 4.38 ERA). Game time is at 6:45 p.m. at Oracle Park.

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason: A’s open up 3 game set with Blue Jays in Sac Monday night

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Sacramento A’s pitcher Jacob Lopez will be dealing against the Toronto Blue Jays at Sutter Health Park on Mon Sep 7, 2026 to open a three game series in West Sacramento (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:

#1 A’s–Mariners game on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, which Seattle won 2–0 the A’s did take three of four from the M’s.

#2 How would you evaluate Gage Jump’s performance despite allowing Seattle’s two fourth-inning runs?

#3 What stood out about Max Muncy’s recent offensive production, following his home run and two-RBI performance in Saturday’s 6–2 win?

#4 How did Lawrence Butler and the A’s offense struggle against Bryan Woo, who held Sacramento to just one hit over eight scoreless innings?

#5 What did Zack Gelof’s performance contribute to the A’s lineup, and what more did Sacramento need from its hitters in the series finale?

#6 Toronto Blue Jays come calling in Sacramento opening a three game series on Monday night starting pitchers for Toronto RHP Dylan Cease (10-5 ERA 2.25) for Sacramento LHP Jacob Lopez (6-4 ERA 4.71) first pitch at 6:40pm PDT.

Barbara Mason does the Sacramento A’s podcasts Sundays 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: MLB- Sacramento makes Official $1.8 Billion bid called the “Sacramento Pitch”

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Press conference regarding bringing a Major League expansion team to West Sacramento with Sacramento Pitch officials onThursday, May 28, 2026, at Drake’s: The Barn in West Sacramento (CapRadio photo)

MLB: Sacramento makes Official $1.8 billion bid called the “Sacramento Pitch”

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

SACRAMENTO–MLB “Sacramento Pitch”: California’s capital city is seeking an expansion team Major League Baseball plans to award two new expansion teams before Commissioner Rob Manfred’s term ends in January 2029.

The two new teams will likely debut around the 2029 to 2033 season. During a recent podcast taped in Sacramento,I asked our special guest, ex-MLB player Steve Sax, who was born in West Sacramento, the same area where AAA Sacramento River Cats play their home games, as well as the temporary home for the team once known as the Oakland A’s, played all their home games, with hopes to move permanently to Las Vegas for the 2028 season.

Steve Sax believes the City of Sacramento could be a successful place for Major League Baseball, and that the city and surrounding areas of the State Capital have already made a bid of $1.8 billion, and mentioned that the Sacramento area has a great tradition of baseball.

They will face competition, especially from frontrunners like Salt Lake City, Utah, population 218,000, and Nashville, Tennessee, 720,000. Many consider Salt Lake City and Nashville the two favorite cities to land an expansion team, as both cities announced their intentions years ago.

Sacramento is the largest media market in the U.S. that currently lacks its own dedicated Major League Baseball team. Sacramento County’s population is listed as 1.62 million, and the area is still expanding, with many moving from the Bay Area and other northern California communities.

The Golden State is the most populous in the US, with approximately 40 million residents and an economy larger than France’s. There are 32 museums in Sacramento, and they cover everything from medical history to the Gold Rush, the State of California, art, and the California State Railroad Museum.

As for bringing Major League Baseball, with its own team, to the State’s Capital, Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty said Sacramento is fully “MLB ready” and represents a legitimate, highly competitive candidate for a Major League Baseball expansion team. California has the most Major League teams: LA Angels, LA Dodgers, SF Giants, SD Padres, and the Athletics in Sacramento, in transition for Las Vegas 2028.

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.

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.