Category: Oakland Athletics

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: A’s trademark “Sacramento A’s” but will be known only as A’s for 2025-27 seasons

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Oakland A’s owner John Fisher addresses the media at Sutter Health Park on Thu Apr 4, 2024 announcing the A’s and Sacramento River Cats have reached a deal to use the ballpark for 2025-27 seasons for the A’s home games (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports with Charlie O:

#1 Some in the media have called this Oakland A’s owner John Fisher and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in making the A’s playing the interim years in Sacramento 2025-27 an inside job can you take us as to why that is?

#2 On Tuesday after the Coliseum and the City of Oakland made the offer to the A’s to play the next five years with a three year opt out at $97 million it was reject and Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao countered with a $60 million year offer and that was rejected. Was it a matter of the cost being too high for the A’s or they just wanted to reject the offer no matter what and get to Sacramento.

#3 Fisher and Sacramento Rivercats owner Vivek Ranadive know each other previously did that make the deal to go to Sutter Health and Sacramento an easy decision to make. Sources say the deal was around $35 million for the three interim years.

#4 It’s not over yet the Vegas deal could fall through, John Fisher may not be able to come up with his share of the construction costs at $1.5 million for the Tropicana ballpark and Schools over Stadiums who are a wild card are about to get their petition to ask Nevada voters to turn back the public monies for the ballpark is now going to the Nevada State Court of Appeals on Tuesday.

#5 If it does fail in Las Vegas how realistic is it that the A’s would consider Sacramento. Also the A’s have trademarked Sacramento A’s although they’ll call themselves just the A’s for the three interim years.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Wins Second Game of the Season Beating Tigers 4-0

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Oakland A’s pitcher Mason Miller (19) is congratulated by catcher Shane Langeliers (23) after defeating the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit on Sun Apr 6, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Behind some excellent pitching by Paul Blackburn as well as some very efficient relief pitching, the Oakland A’s (2-7) won their second game of the season beating the Detroit Tigers (6-2) in a shutout 4-0. The A’s also had some great offense with some solid work from Zach Gelof and Brent Rooker.

Game recap: The A’s got the party started early in the first inning. Brent Rooker hit a home run with Zach Gelof on base and Oakland had an early 2-0 lead. The A’s were not finished and continued to add to their lead in the sixth inning. Seth Brown singled driving Zach Gelof home who as it turned out would be a very busy guy in this game. With a 3-0 lead Rooker hit a single in the eighth inning driving, who else, Gelof home giving Oakland a 4-0 lead. This would turn out to be the final, a 4-0 shut-out.

Paul Blackburn did indeed get the job done going six innings giving up three hits, no runs and four strikeouts. He had an outstanding day. Austin Adams pitched the seventh inning with no hits, no runs and 2 punch-outs. Mason Miller took over in the eighth giving up a single hit and had one strikeout and going into the ninth inning was looking to close out this game.

Oakland was on the verge of their second win of the season. Miller got the job done, in fact, the A’s had an all-around excellent showing on the mound today. This was not only their second win of the season, it was their first road win of this young season. This was an outstanding offensive and defensive game for Oakland. The A’s only had five hits but made every one of them count.

Rooker, Seth Brown, Shea Langeliers and J.D. Davis all had hits and Gelof scored three runs. It was a banner day for the team and a real confidence builder.

Game notes: Saturday afternoon, the A’s were back at work taking on the Tigers in game two of their series. The A’s lost a close and highly competitive game Friday to the Tigers 5-4. Game One of the series was not decided until the eighth inning with Oakland coming up just short. They played catch-up through six innings and tied up the game in the seventh. The Tigers pulled out the win in the eighth inning. Saturday Oakland got their second win of the season and pitcher Paul Blackburn made it happen with a shutout.

Sunday the A’s will wrap up the series with the Tigers before heading to Texas on Tuesday for a series with the Rangers. First pitch for Game Three is scheduled for 10:40.

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: How will MLB work in a minor league park?

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Sutter Health Park in Sacramento the home of the A’s for the 2025-27 seasons as it looked on Fri Mar 4, 2024 during the press conference for Oakland A’s owner John Fisher and Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 The Oakland Athletics announced today that they have agreed with the Sacramento Kings, the owners of the Sacramento River Cats, to play for three years at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento with an option for a fourth year, as they await for their supposed new ballpark in Las Vegas to somehow open.

#2 According to sources, Schools Over Stadiums will be in the Nevada Supreme Court arguing against the funding of SB1, the bill that gives government funding to the A’s ballpark. Another hurdle is the fact that A’s Owner John Fisher has not made any indication that he has the money to cover his part of the Tropicana stadium.

#3 It is quite a remarkable move for Sacramento and the Kings, considering the Kings nearly left Sacramento on several different occasions under the ownership of Joe and Gavin Maloof, two irresponsible owners with the same level of ethics and trustworthiness as John Fisher.

#4 What makes it even more infuriating is that the A’s will not even use Sacramento in their name while they bring Major League Baseball to the city for the first time. In fact, they won’t use any city’s name; for at least the next three years, they will be referred to as just the “Athletics” or the “A’s.”

#5 How will Major League Baseball work in a minor league park? How many changes will the Rivercats and A’s have to make to the park to make it work for the interim three years?

Daniel Dullum does the Oakland A’s Relocation Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Drop Another One Run Game Losing to Detroit 5-4

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The Oakland A’s right fielder Brent Rooker (25) chases after the baseball hit by the Detroit Tigers Gio Urshela for a double in the bottom of the eighth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Fri Apr 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (1-7) played a hotly contested game against the Detroit Tigers (6-1) coming up just short losing 5-4. Both Zach Gelof and Abraham Toro hit home runs in the losing effort. They went through five pitchers struggling with inconsistency on the mound. JP Sears had a good five opening innings but stumbled in the sixth losing a bit of command.

Game recap: It was a quiet start to the game with no runs scored in the first three innings. In the fourth inning, the Tigers broke the game open scoring three runs. It was a rough inning for Sears who gave up a homer to Matt Vierling followed by a Spencer Torkelson double with Andy Ibanez on base and Detroit took a quick 3-0 lead.

After 22 scoreless innings the A’s Brent Rooker homered with Zack Gelof aboard in the sixth inning trimming the Tiger lead to 3-2 and this game got a lot closer. The Tigers Mark Canha knocked the Tigers second home run of the game out of the park extending Detroit’s lead to 4-2. Oakland was forced to pull pitcher JP Sears who not only gave up the two homers but also six hits. Austin Adams took his place on the mound.

In the top of the 7th inning Tiger pitcher Tarik Skubal gave up the long ball a one run home run from Oakland’s Abraham Toro, his first of the season. The A’s were within one run of a tie with the Tigers 4-3 and this would initiate a pitching change for Detroit.

Will Vest would take over on the mound for the Tigers. Oakland went to work putting runners on second and third with one out. The A’s tied up this game 4-4 when Nick Allen grounded out to second and JJ Bleday scored.

Oakland’s Dany Jimenez pitched the seventh inning trying to pin down the strike zone. He found himself in back to back full counts followed by walks. With Tiger runners on first and second Jimenez was out and T. J. McFarland would come in and try to get out of the inning unscathed. Detroit’s Kerry Carpenter hit into a double play and Oakland had gotten out of the inning with the game remaining tied 4-4.

Spencer Torkolsen doubled trying to put a productive bottom of the eighth inning together for the Tigers. Lucas Erceg had taken the mound for Oakland the fifth pitcher for the A’s this afternoon. An RBI double from Gio Urshela broke the tie driving Torkolsen home and giving the Tigers a 5-4 lead.

Oakland started off the ninth inning with an Abraham Toro walk. Brian Noda would take first base also on a walk and the A’s had two runners on. Detroit’s Alex Lange would take the mound looking for the final out and the win. He struck out Zach Gelof and that was the ball game 5-4. Oakland had lost their 3rd one run game of the season.

Game notes: Friday afternoon the A’s traveled to Detroit to take on the Tigers in a three game series. The A’s have been struggling offensively while the Tigers have had an excellent start this year only dropping a single game in this young season.

The A’s went into this game without a single run in 17 innings and would be looking to get going on the offensive side. They sent JP Sears to the mound for this game. Sears couldn’t limit the Tiger offense and let his defense clean up any Detroit hits.

This was a tightly contested game but the A’s came up just short. Oakland is struggling on the mound with some real inconsistent pitching. They will take on the Tigers in game two tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 10:10 AM. Paul Blackburn will take the mound for Oakland and for the Tigers Kenta Maeda will get the nod.

John Fisher shows his face as A’s announce plan to play in Sacramento for next 3-4 years

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Sacramento River Cats owner Vivek Ranadive (center) and A’s owner John Fisher (right) shakes hands over the Oakland A’s moving to Sacramento for the 2025 season (AP News photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–The Oakland Athletics announced today that they have agreed with the Sacramento Kings, the owners of the Sacramento River Cats, to play for three years at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento with an option for a fourth year, as they await for their supposed new ballpark in Las Vegas to somehow open.

The A’s supposed ballpark in Las Vegas is scheduled to open for 2028 Season at the very earliest if they can clear many of the hurdles that still remain. One of those hurdles is ‘Schools Over Stadiums,’ a potential ballot measure that could kill the stadium deal.

According to sources, Schools Over Stadiums will be in the Nevada Supreme Court arguing against the funding of SB1, the bill that gives government funding to the A’s ballpark. Another hurdle is the fact that A’s Owner John Fisher has not made any indication that he has the money to cover his part of the stadium.

Meanwhile, the A’s lease at the Oakland Coliseum expires at the end of this season. With at least three years of the A’s not having a permanent home, they have looked to multiple locations to fill that gap. Those have included Sacramento, Salt Lake City and Oracle Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants. The A’s also looked at the possibility of signing one last lease at the Oakland Coliseum

This announcement comes just three days after negotiations between the A’s and the City of Oakland stalled. Oakland offered a five-year lease through the 2029 Season with an opt-out after the 2027 Season.

Oakland then came out with a new offer of a three-year lease with a $96 million extension fee with the stipulation that Major League Baseball would facilitate the A’s to an ownership group in Oakland; that Oakland would get to keep the team’s names and colors; or that Oakland would be considered for a future Major League Baseball Expansion Team.

It is quite a remarkable move for Sacramento and the Kings, considering the Kings nearly left Sacramento on several different occasions under the ownership of Joe and Gavin Maloof, two irresponsible clowns with the same level of ethics and trustworthiness as John Fisher.

“I told you Sactown that great news was coming!” tweeted Grant Napear, the former TV Play-by-Play Announcer for the Kings, who signed off what was possibly going to be the Kings’ final telecast in tears on April 14, 2011 when the Kings appeared headed for Anaheim the following NBA season.

This alone makes it all the more hypocritical and cynical of the Kings, Sacramento and Napear to celebrate this horrible occasion. What makes it even more infuriating is that the A’s will not even use Sacramento in their name while they bring Major League Baseball to the city for the first time. In fact, they won’t use any city’s name; for at least the next three years, they will be referred to as just the “Athletics” or the “A’s.”

For example: “Good evening, fans, and welcome to game one of this three-game series between the Seattle Mariners, and your A’s!!!”

Sacramento has long been considered as a potential home for a major league baseball team. The city has long supported the Kings, and has turned out well to watch the River Cats, who were the Triple-A affiliate of the A’s from 2000 to 2014, and who have been the Triple-A affiliate for the Giants since 2015.

I, as a resident and native of Sacramento, have always wanted this, even for just a few years. I’m getting what I have always wanted, but yet, I couldn’t be more angry and disgusted at the Cities of Sacramento and West Sacramento for allowing this repulsive charade to transpire, for doing business with clowns like John Fisher and Dave Kaval and for allowing the City of Sacramento to get flat-out used like this.

Vivek Ranadive, the owner of the KIngs, who also kept the team in Sacramento, was at today’s press conference at Sutter Health Park, and was the one who introduced John Fisher. Ranadive also bragged about his new relationship with Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.

“John, thank you for this opportunity to be part of the A’s legacy and show the world why Sacramento is a destination city for major league sports,” Ranadive shamelessly said. “I also want to thank MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. It’s an honor for West Sacramento to host Major League Baseball at Sutter Health Park.”

“When I bought the Kings over 10 years ago, I said that Sacramento would never play second fiddle,” Ranadive ironically said as he allows Sacramento to play second fiddle.

“We’re excited to be here for the next three years playing in this beautiful ballpark, but also being able to be able to watch some of the greatest players in baseball, whether they be Athletics players or Aaron Judge and others launch home runs out of this very intimate, the most intimate ballpark in all of Major League Baseball for the next three years,” said Fisher, with his foot in his mouth.

It’s amazing that a major league is planning to play at least three years in a minor league ballpark that has a maximum capacity of 14,014. It will be interesting to see if the Major League Baseball Players Association and its executive director, Tony Clark, will do the right thing and fight this, or whether they’ll just bend over and take this.

“On behalf of all of MLB, I want to express my appreciation to West Sacramento, Sutter Health Park, the Kings and the greater Sacramento region for their excitement to host the A’s for interim play, as the A’s new permanent home is built in Las Vegas,” chimed in Manfred in a statement this afternoon.

As you see, folks, the fix is in. It is now up to the MLBPA, the City of Oakland, A’s fans and Baseball fans everywhere to keep making their voices heard, and demand that Fisher do the right and honorable thing and sell the team, so they can remain in Oakland where they truly belong.

Stephen Ruderman is a MLB beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Giants will be a team for 8 million people 

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Oracle Park in San Francisco will be the only Major League Baseball facility in the nine county Bay Area serving nearly 8 million people as the Oakland A’s will leave the Bay Area for Sacramento in the 2025 season. (file photo from giantenterprises.com)

Giants will be a team for 8 million people

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

With the Oakland A’s departing Oakland, where they have played since 1968, the San Francisco Giants will be (after 2024) all by themselves inside the 9-county San Francisco-Oakland-San José Bay Area. The most recent US Census shows the Bay Area is home to approximately 7.52 million people, the largest population area in California after the Greater Los Angeles Area.

In 2022, the metropolitan area population of New York City was 18,867,000. The New York Yankees and the New York Mets share this huge #1 market.

The Los Angeles Metro area population in 2023 was 12,534,000. The Dodgers and Angels share the biggest market in California and #2 in the country.

In 2018, the Chicago Metropolitan Area reported 9,459,000 residents. The Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox share the Midwest.

In 2022, the Houston Metropolitan Area reported 7,122,240 residents. The Astros are it, they rule Houston.

In Dallas-Fort Worth, the World Champion Texas Rangers play in a Metropolitan area with a population of 6,488,000, and the Rangers own big slice of Texas.

Then, there are the other MLB teams cities and Metropolitan areas across the country, with smaller populations, most in the millions, but much smaller.

This is a significant marketing change for the San Francisco Giants. It has been 27 years since MLB introduced Interleague games. Before that, the Giants of the National League only played teams in the National League, and across the Bay, the A’s of the American League only played American League teams. But the equation changes big time without the A’s in Oakland, even with Interleague play.

Starting in 2025, you can attend a Giants game at Oracle Park and see any other team, including the A’s. But the popular Bay Series is dead, since the A’s do not identify with a particular city anymore for the next three years, or four years. The once Philadelphia, once Kansas City, once Oakland, now renting in Sacramento while they build in Las Vegas, will only be called “The A’s”

If you live in the Bay Area and want to see a Major League game starting in 2025, there is only one place —the corner of 2nd and King, San Francisco. The Giants now own the Bay Area.

Have a great weekend, and may your favorite team win.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s to play home games in Sacramento in 2025; As the Park Turns – What Sacramento will not ask the A’s

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Outside of Sutter Health Park a simulated West Sacramento Bridge slide next to the real one equipped with glove in the children’s playground. Sutter Health Park will be the home of the 2025-28 Oakland A’s while the Tropicana Ballpark in Las Vegas will be constructed and ready by 2028. (photo by Sutter Health Park)

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s will be playing their 2025 season at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento as the A’s and Sacramento River Cats owner Vivek Ranadive have come to agreement and pathway for the A’s to play all their home games in Sacramento. The details of the plan are forthcoming at the end of the week according to Sactown Sports.

The A’s announced Tuesday after they reviewed the “leaked to the media” proposal/offer to the A’s to extend their Coliseum lease for five years (minimum of three) for $97 million plus other demands. The A’s put a press release stating that they did not agree and that no further meetings were planned with Oakland officials. This long A’s stadium saga is not as long as ‘As the World Turns”, the legendary TV Soap Opera that ran on CBS for 54 years. But it is becoming like the Telemundo “Esmeralda”.

Nobody knows how this is going to end. Many say, “It is not a done deal,” leaving from Oakland to Las Vegas. I agree that the only “done deal” in life are taxes and death and that The Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel has closed its doors after more than six decades of memories. The famed venue, home to the city’s longest-running cabaret, The Folies Bergere, nearly made it to its 67th anniversary before closing on Tuesday, April 2. We know these things are a “done deal”.

However, we know that Sacramento will not ask for the following:

1-Sacramento will not ask the A’s for $97 million to play there for three years or maybe five. 2-They will not ask the A’s to sell half of their stake in the Alameda-County Coliseum, among other demands Oakland had in that proposal, including extending their lease. Oakland is not Sacramento.

However, Sacramento is especially interested in the A’s because, as a “trial for a few years” at Sutter Park, if they get the A’s, they are banking that they can prove to Major League Baseball that their city of Sacramento should be seriously considered for a future expansion team.

Sutter Park’s 14,000-plus capacity is not MLB standard, but for the A’s in the last few years, including the first home stand this 2024 season, that is a good crowd. Opening Night at Oakland 2024 last Thursday, 13,522 fans attended the game against Cleveland, and at least half were rooting for the Guardians, maybe more. The A’s fans’ noise came from the crowd boycotting in the parking lot.

But let’s get to the point. David Samson was the President of the Major League Miami Marlins from 2002 to 2017. He was involved with the new Marlins Park next to Little Havana in Miami—the ins and outs of the new Marlins Park.

Samson hosts “Nothing Personal,” a top-rated podcast. He has been following the A’s stadium situation for a long time. This is what Mr. Samson said a day before the A’s met with the City of Oakland, and they did not agree to the 3-5 year extension at the Oakland Coliseum. By the way, Samson also predicted that nothing would be decided upon during the meeting (the third) between the A’s and Oakland. He has experience as an MLB team President, especially when his team, the Marlins, was building their new ballpark, which they play today,

Mr. Samson said this on his podcast: “The A’s need to find a stadium to play before Las Vegas Stadium if they even open. In other words, they need to get a deal in Sacramento and negotiate a deal with their TV partner. Figure out the logistics with the Rivercats.

They have to make sure it is a Major League-ready facility and what this is code for; it doesn’t mean the fans have to have concession stands or that there is good ingress and egress. When you say Major League ready, all that means is players’ facilities behind the scenes you do not see as a fan. It means the weight room, the food room, how the players get to the clubhouse, how they get to the bullpen, all the pleasures and comfort that Tony Clark loves to make sure players enjoy during the season.” (quote)

Commissioner Rob Manfred is under pressure to deliver a playing baseball-ready park for the Oakland A’s while building their new facility in Las Vegas, expected to be ready for Opening Day 2028. Manfred said MLB needs a schedule.

The other teams (including the A’s) deserve a schedule very soon; that is the norm. Tony Clark is the Executive Director of the Major League Players Association. Sure, he will have to say that if Sutter Park is a “baseball-ready” facility, everybody knows it is a minor league park, but the A’s are running out of options. The A’s and the City of Oakland have been butting heads for a long time. Some say today (Wednesday), Sacramento might have a deal in place.

The Next chapter is being scripted.

Adiós.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg also does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s listening to Sacramento for interim Sutter Health Park possibilities

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Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento home of the San Francisco Giants triple A minor league Sacramento River Cats. The Oakland A’s could call it home starting in the 2025 season if the Rivercats and A’s reach a lease agreement. (photo by visitsacramento.com)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said the Oakland A’s need to get a deal in gear and soon as MLB is pressed to get the schedules ready for the 2025 season by July.

#2 Manfred addressed Tony Clark and the players union to sign off on the A’s playing and using Sutter Health Park a minor league facility in Sacramento because there is not much time left.

#3 The A’s brass of John Fisher and David Kaval are to meet with Sacramento River Cats owner Vivek Ranadive on Wednesday and sources have it that they’ll get a deal done at a much less asking price that the Oakland Coliseum was asking for.

#4 The Coliseum asking price was $17.5 million per season over what the A’s are currently pay at $1.5 million. The Coliseum was asking for $19.4 million per season. Also A’s owner John Fisher would walk away from $70 million in TV money from NBC California.

#5 If the A’s accept the deal on Wednesday this season will mark the final time the A’s will play in Oakland once they leave for Sacramento and later Las Vegas. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said “Oakland made a fair and reasonable offer to the A’s. We await their response and look forward to continuing discussions as necessary.” Thao is also facing a recall and a deficit for Oakland’s next fiscal year.

Join Jerry for the Oakland A’s podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Red Sox beat A’s 1-0 to complete three-game sweep; Loss is 6th out of last 7 games for Oakland

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Oakland A’s pitcher TJ McFarland gives up the intentional pass to Boston Red Sox hitter Trevor Story (foreground) to load the bases with one out in the top of the eighth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Apr 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg and Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND- The Boston Red Sox beat the Oakland A’s 1-0 Wednesday afternoon to complete a three-game sweep. The A’s have lost six of the seven games played this season. The pitching for both teams was excellent—the game’s only run came in the fourth inning.

The A’s starter, Ross Stripling, pitched well enough to win.“Strip was great. [He] pounded the zone…..I think the biggest difference this outing from his first was he actually crowded some guys with his sinker, which is a good sign. Obviously, he’s a guy that’s gonna keep hitters off balance. He did a great job today…..It was a great outing for him.” said A’s manager Mark Kotsay.

The A’s had their chances but could not get a hit when needed. They threatened to score in the fifth, seventh, and ninth innings. They failed all three times. Each team’s bullpen held the opposition scoreless. The game summary follows below.

The Red Sox drew first blood in the top of the fourth inning. Stripling had the Sox under control for the first three innings. With one out in the fourth, Singles by Triston Casas, Matsataka Yoshida, and Cedanne Radaela loaded the bases.

Second Baseman Emmanuel Valdez’s fly ball to short right field drove in Casas with the first run of the game for Boston. The A’s mounted a threat in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, A’s third baseman, J D Davis, doubled to deep center field—Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta Struck out Seth Brown on a 95 Mile-per-hour four-seam fastball.

The next hitter, Brent Rooker, mired in an early season slump, blasted a ball Ceddanne Rafaela caught at the 400-foot sign. The Red Sox lead 1-0 after four. Kotsay said the A’s simply got beat by good pitching, “We know those first five games weren’t clean games. These last two games were clean; they were competitive. We had a chance to win both games. That’s the type of baseball that I was expecting us to play. We had opportunities with the bases loaded. We also got a couple balls dead center that is this park seem not to go anywhere…..the at-bats [today] were better, even though we didn’t score…..the Red Sox’ bullpen has got it going right now, [and] it was a challenge.”

In the bottom of the fifth, the A’s loaded the bases with one out. Singles by Tyler Nevin, his first Major League hit, Nick Allen, and Ryan Noda gave the A’s a chance to put some runs on the board. The next hitter, Zack Gelof, hit into a 6-4-3 to end the inning.

The Red Sox loaded the bases in the eighth inning. Lefty T.J. McFarland was on the hill for the A’s. McFarland retired Abreu for the first out. Jarren Duran singled. It was Duran’s fourth hit of the day. Rafael Devers doubled to put men on at second and third.

The A’s issued Sox shortstop Trevor Story an intentional walk to load the bases. The threat ended when Triston Casas grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. The Sox still lead 1-0 halfway through the eighth. The Red Sox dodged a bullet in the eighth; with one out, Zack Gelof singled.

Story fielded J J Bleday’s ground behind second base. Trevor stepped on second to get the out on Gelof. Story’s throw to first to complete the double play went awry, and Bleday went to second on the error. Sox reliever Chris Martin could not field Davis’s ball. Bleday went to third on the play. Martin struck out Seth Brown to end the inning.

The A’s had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen walked Shea Lamgeliers and Lawrence Butler. Pinch hitter Abraham Toro hit into a fielder’s choice. Langeliers went to third on the play. All the A’s needed to tie the game was a hit. Jansen ended the A’s thoughts of tying the game when he struck out Ryan Noda to preserve the win for the Red Sox. The Sox win 1-0.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s are 1-6 to start the 2024 season. Boston improved to 5-2. The Line score for Oakland was no runs, eight hits, and no errors. Boston’s line was one run, ten hits, and two errors. The Winning pitcher was Nick Pivetta. Pivetta lost his first start 1-0 and won his second start 1-0.

Kenley Jansen recorded his second save. The A’s Ross Stripling pitched well for the A’s. Stripling went seven innings, allowing eight hits and one run. Stripling did not walk a batter and struck out three. Stripling threw 85 pitches, 61 for strikes. Stripling is now 0-2 for 2024.

The game lasted two hours and 21 minutes. There were 6,436 fans in attendance. The A’s are off on Thursday. They will start JP Sears and the Tigers have not yet decided on a starter in Detroit on Friday. The game will start at 10:10 a.m.

A’s Drop Second Game of Three-Game Series, 5-4 to Red Sox in 11 Innings

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JD Davis Oakland A’s third baseman slugs a single in the bottom of the tenth inning at the Oakland Coliseum against the Boston Red Sox on Tue Apr 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics (1-5, 4th AL West) lost a heartbreaker 5-4 to the Boston Red Sox (4-2, 3rd AL West) in 11 innings at the East Bay Coliseum.

Just over 5,000 faithful fans cheered for their home team for more than three hours (3:04), just to be let down after 11 innings of play in the city of Oakland.

The game got off to a good start for the visiting Red Sox, as they posted a tally in the top of the first inning. Boston shortstop Trevor Story hit an RBI double, scoring third baseman Rafael Deavers, to put them up 1-0.

The Beantown Boys followed that up in the top of the second with another run. Left Fielder Jarred Duran did the damage this time, with a linedrive single, sending home, appropriately named, Triston Casas. The DH after crossing the plate, put Boston up 2-0, early in the contest.

The A’s didn’t take too long to respond, as they got themselves on the scoreboard in the bottom of the frame. Catcher Shea Langeliers belted a 2-run homer, to even the score at 2, after the second inning. Third Baseman J.D. Davis also scored on the home run.

For the third consecutive inning, Boston managed to put up at least one run. Second Baseman Pablo Reyes belted a single to center field, knocking in right fielder Tyler O’Neill. The BoSox were up again, 3-2.

Once again, Oakland responded immediately in the bottom of the same inning. Center Fielder J.J. Bradley blasted a two-run homer, putting the home team back in the lead, 4-3. First Baseman Ryan Noda was the other runner batted in,

Next there was a 3 inning scoring drought, until the top of the seventh. Trevor Story created his own narrative by slicing another rbi base hit. This one was a single to right field, scoring Duran. The game was tied at 4, which stood for the allotted 9 innings.

Extra innings were in store for the fandom. Neither team was able to cross the plate in the 10th inning.in Finally in the 11th, Boston decided to end the baseball battle in their turn of the stanza.

Since Boston was the visiting team, any run would not end the game immediately, but would put the onus on Oakland. Boston did just that, ALMOST. They did not exactly hit someone in; however, Tyler O’Neal was responsible for the GW RBI, by ignominiously hitting into a double-play, that was enough to allow Wilyer Abreu to score the winning run.

Boston won the game dramatically 5-4. The winning pitcher was RHP Josh Winckowski (1-0), while RHP Mitch Spence (0-1) took the L.

The two combatants will be back in action Wednesday Afternoon at 12:37 PDT, with projected pitchers: Oakland’s RHP Ross Stripling (0-1, 7.20) vs. Red Sox’ RHP Nick Pivetta (0-1, 1.50).