Category: Sacramento A’s

Braves Blast Five Homers to Even Series With A’s

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Gio Urshela in the game on Wednesday night against the Atlanta Braves. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — After the drubbing the A’s handed the Braves on Tuesday, Atlanta returned the favor on Wednesday night, defeating the A’s 9-2. With the loss, the A’s fell to 38-56 on the season.

Mitch Spence roughed up early but able to eat innings

A’s starter Mitch Spence had a rough go in the early innings on Wednesday night. He gave up a leadoff home run to Ronald Acuña Jr. on the third pitch of the game, and the Braves didn’t look back. Despite his ineffectiveness, Spence did manage to give the A’s six innings of work. Still, he allowed eight runs on nine hits and was tagged for five home runs in the outing.

“Yeah, I think the stuff overall was down. Obviously, the velo, the cutter wasn’t sharp,” Kotsay said postgame. “So for Spence, [he] just didn’t command the baseball. Balls were up, and you’re going to get hurt anytime you can’t pitch to the bottom of the zone or get something down to the bottom of the zone. And I think that was evident tonight.”

Spence was frustrated with his outing postgame but tried to focus on any positives.

“I made some good pitches, and unfortunately today kind of sucked. I just felt like everything they hit hard was a homer, so [I’m] just trying to take the positives from today.”

A’s offense goes quiet, Soderstrom and Clarke add two hits apiece

Braves starter Bryce Elder had his way with the A’s for most of the night, tossing 6.2 innings and giving up only two runs. The A’s managed eight hits, but Elder did a good job limiting the damage.

Kotsay praised Elder’s game plan in keeping the A’s offense in check.

“I think this is a command pitcher [Elder]. He works on location and setting up pitches, which he did a great job of tonight. He definitely used the sinker in the third down below. That was the biggest difference in the two starters tonight. You could tell that Elder kept the ball down in the zone.”

The bright spots for the A’s offense were Tyler Soderstrom, who went 2-for-4 with a double in the fourth and a single in the sixth while also scoring a run, and Denzel Clarke, who also went 2-for-4 with a double in the fifth and a single in the ninth. It’s a promising development for Clarke, who had struggled early in his career.

Kotsay praised Soderstrom’s efforts through the peaks and valleys as he continues to grow.

“Obviously it was a tough, tougher June in terms of extra-base hits. I think this kid’s battled through it. I think we’re seeing him come out of it where he is definitely making more hard contact, which is a great sign.”

Kotsay also spoke on Clarke’s development.

“For Denzel… we continue to talk about him in his growth, and at the plate tonight, the double is a great swing. He’s continuing to take good at-bats, which is important.”

I spoke to Denzel about how he feels with his at-bats recently and whether he feels like he’s turning a corner. He stressed the impact his teammates have had on him and reminded me that he’s still just a month and a half into his big-league journey—meaning early struggles are to be expected.

“Game’s slowing down for sure. Yeah, I think just naturally as human beings, [when] you put ourselves in any type of situation, we’re going to adapt. I have a great coaching staff and great teammates that have helped me just by being supportive, helping me with great advice… I’m slowly making adjustments to this level, which is really cool. I’m really happy about it, but I mean, it’s been a month and a half, so you can go anywhere from here, so I’ve got to stay consistent, be a good teammate as my teammates have been to me, and listen to the great coaches.”

Rubber game on Thursday

The A’s and Braves will go at it in the final game of the series on Thursday at 6 p.m. PST. The A’s are slated to send JP Sears (7-7, 4.76 ERA) to the hill as the Braves counter with Spencer Strider (3-7, 3.93 ERA).

Jacob Wilson remains day to day. He was seen postgame receiving treatment on his left hand, which was wrapped in a large cloth bandage.

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 Offense Explodes in 10-1 Win Behind Butler, Kurtz

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Nick Kurtz seen rounding the bases on Tuesday night after hitting his first career grand slam. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The Athletics needed a breakout game. Since clawing their way out of a disastrous May—where they lost 20 of 21 games—the A’s have been stuck in a middling purgatory. Wins have been hard to come by. Since the first week of May, they’ve only claimed series victories against the Orioles, Royals, and Rays. It’s been tough sledding, to say the least.

Still, there have been bright spots: encouraging moments and emerging players who give fans hope for the future. Many of those standouts were on full display Tuesday night when the A’s routed the Braves 10-1 at Sutter Health Park.

Lawrence Butler’s Home Run Prowess

The A’s offense struck early and often, starting with Lawrence Butler. After a slow start to the season, Butler has become one of the top 10 right fielders in baseball and remains a hopeful All-Star replacement candidate. On Tuesday, he opened the game by launching an inside-the-park home run off the right-center field wall, where the ball caromed toward right, allowing him enough time to circle the bases. It was the A’s first regular-season inside-the-parker since Nick Swisher on June 11, 2006.

“I saw it bounce, and that’s when I was like, ‘maybe I’ve got a chance to get all the way around the bases,’” Butler said postgame.

Manager Mark Kotsay praised Butler for setting the tone early.

“It’s great when the offense gets going early,” Kotsay said. “Obviously for Law, he’s the spark plug, really. I mean, he set the tone tonight with the first at-bat and got the energy going… It’s always great to witness an inside-the-park home run.”

Butler wasn’t done. After walking in his second plate appearance, he crushed a Jesse Chavez 90 mph sinker 423 feet over the center-field wall for a traditional home run, giving the A’s a 10-0 lead in the third. The blast came off the bat at 105.5 mph.

Kotsay believes Butler is worthy of All-Star recognition—especially in his hometown of Atlanta.

“I think for Lawrence and the type of year he’s having right now, he definitely deserves that recognition,” Kotsay said. “What I’ve been impressed with is, yeah, he’s had some slides, but for the most part, he’s been pretty consistent around that .250 area. He’s taking his walks—that shows growth, that shows maturity. And then again tonight, he shows you the ability to go dead center, and that tells you a lot about where he’s at as a hitter.”

A’s Bats Don’t Relent

Butler wasn’t the only one swinging a hot bat Tuesday.

Brent Rooker and Max Schuemann each launched two-run homers in the first inning to stake the A’s to a 5-0 lead. Schuemann’s shot left the bat at 106.7 mph and landed on the clubhouse roof in left field. Rooker’s was a line drive over the left-field wall.

The A’s poured it on again in the second, chasing Braves starter Didier Fuentes after he loaded the bases with no outs. Jesse Chavez came in to relieve him, but he was no match for Nick Kurtz, who crushed a 3-2 changeup 403 feet to right-center for a grand slam. It was Kurtz’s first career slam and his 14th home run since debuting April 21. The ball left his bat at 108.5 mph.

Kotsay praised Kurtz’s development and readiness for the big leagues.

“I think the development is in line with why he was promoted, really—why he didn’t spend a ton of time in the minor leagues,” Kotsay said. “We talked about his approach being advanced, and it really is. His preparation is unbelievable. The focus that he has when he gets here to the field on his routines—it takes younger players some time to understand that. But Nick walked right in and understood it from day one… The power is real.”

Nick Kurtz appears to be a special talent—and one A’s fans have the privilege of watching develop at the big-league level night after night.

Springs Effective Without Best Stuff; Bullpen Finishes the Job

Jeffrey Springs didn’t have his best stuff, but he battled through six innings and held the Braves to just one run on six hits while striking out two.

“I think it went pretty well overall,” Springs said. “Honestly, mechanically and stuff, I wasn’t too happy with how I was moving. Not executing to strike very well from the deep counts. Just one of those nights where you’re kind of fighting yourself from pitch one.”

The bullpen finished things off with three scoreless innings. Justin Sterner handled the seventh and eighth, striking out two.

The ninth belonged to Elvis Alvarado, who has bounced between Triple-A and Sacramento this year with mixed results. On Tuesday, he turned in a crisp, seven-pitch scoreless inning.

“It’s one thing to pitch well at Triple-A,” Kotsay said. “When you get here, the roles are different. His role in Triple-A was more of the back end. You get here, you’ve got to earn that… I want to see an inning like that tonight, and that builds confidence for me as well as for Elvis. I think he’s growing into that… Every pitch matters, and we saw that tonight. That inning is going to continue to show me—and build confidence in having him get that opportunity [in the ninth].”

Wilson Avoids Serious Injury

The A’s also received good news postgame: X-rays on Jacob Wilson’s left hand came back negative.

“We did the X-rays. X-rays were negative, which is a great sign,” Kotsay said. “He did get squared up pretty good, so he’ll probably go day to day, and we’ll just evaluate him tomorrow.”

It’s a huge sigh of relief for both the A’s and Wilson, who is set to start at shortstop for the American League in next week’s All-Star Game in Atlanta.

“Big relief. Sigh of relief for sure,” Wilson said. “Just going into that moment, just the anxiety of waiting the 15, 20 minutes after it happened to just wait to see what it was going to be. Obviously, like I said, nothing’s broken, and it could’ve been a lot worse. So everything’s good.” 

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Sacramento A’s podcast Michael Roberson: A’s get around the ball with Butler’s inside the park HR and standard HR

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The Sacramento A’s Lawrence Butler (4) circles the bases in the bottom of the third inning for his second home run of the night against the Atlanta Braves at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Tue Jul 8, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Michael Roberson:

#1 Sacramento A’s right fielder Lawrence Butler hit a lead off inside the park home run against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night at Sutter Health Park. It was the first time in 82 years that an A’s player hit a lead off inside the park home run.

#2 For Butler it was his 12th home run of the season and he did it with no one on base. Butler hit the inside the park homer off of Braves starter Didier Fuentes of the right center field fence and the ball took a bounce in right field and got away from the Atlanta outfielders Stuart Fairchild and Eli White.

#3 The A’s All Star starting shortstop Jacob Wilson was hit on the left wrist and had to leave the game. Wilson is also the top candidate for the AL Rookie of the Year.

#4 Butler hit the first of three first inning home runs giving the A’s a 5-0 lead. Brent Rooker and Max Muncy both hit two run homers. For Rooker it was his 19th home run and Muncy hit his eighth home run.

#5 The starting pitchers for Wednesday for the Braves RHP Bryce Elder (2-6 ERA 5.92) and for the A’s RHP Mitch Spence (2-4 ERA 4.06) first pitch 7:05pm PT at Sutter Health Park.

Join Michael Roberson for the A’s podcasts Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Giants Rafael Devers missed three scheduled Workouts

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San Francisco Giant Rafael Devers (16) strikes out against the Boston Red Sox in the bottom of the ninth at Oracle Park on Fri Jun 20, 2025. Devers has missed three practices where he was supposed to train for playing first base and to be coached by former Giants first baseman Will Clark. Nonetheless Devers was in the line up on Tue Jul 8, 2025 against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Giants Rafael Devers missed three scheduled Workouts

Giants Rafael Dever missed three scheduled Workouts

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

San Francisco Giants legend Will Clark serves as a Special Assistant in the Giants’ front office. In this role, he represents the organization at various events. Clark stated on the No Filter Network that Rafael Devers, who was recently traded from the Boston Red Sox to the San Francisco Giants missed three scheduled workouts for him, which were intended to help Devers acclimate to playing first base.

The voice of the Red Sox initially reported this information, Will Fleming, on the WEEI afternoon radio show, and then later, Clark confirmed Fleming’s story. The Red Sox broadcaster has been critical of Rafael Devers since Devers was traded to the Giants, suggesting a lack of commitment from the recently acquired player and expressing doubt that Devers can ever become a face of the franchise.

While playing in Boston, Rafael Devers was a fan favorite and a talented hitter, but had a complicated reputation in Boston up to the trade to the Giants. In Boston, Devers was criticized for his defense and perceived lack of leadership, creating some tension with the Red Sox front office.

In the opinion of some, that precipitated the trade to San Francisco. Will Clark also revealed that manager Bob Melvin and third base coach Matt Williams asked him to meet with Rafael Devers and work around first base, but Devers failed to show for practice.

While Red Sox manager Alex Cora labeled the stunning trade “not personal,” reports indicate that Devers left Boston with souring relationships within the organization, and in just a few weeks with the Giants, a similar dynamic seems to be unfolding.

This sometimes happens in baseball when a trade of this magnitude occurs, which is why the Red Sox got rid of such a talented player. Well, we might now have the answer. So, around and around it goes, where does this soap opera end? Nobody knows.

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

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson: Wilson first A’s shortstop since 1975 to start in All Star Game

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Sacramento A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson (5) is the first A’s shortstop since 1975 to start in an All Star Game since Bert Campaneris (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 The Sacramento A’s lost a tough series to the San Francisco Giants with a 6-2 loss on Sunday night. San Francisco takes the regular season series overall finishing, 5-1.

#2 Giant Willy Adames continues his batting presence going 1-3 at the plate with one run, one home run, two BB’s, and three RBI’s last Sunday evening. He now joins former legendary Giant Rich Aurilia with three or more RBIs in consecutive games since September 2000.

#3 A’s starting pitcher Jacob Lopez pitched 4.1 inning, allowed five hits, four earned runs, one walk and eight strikeouts. The Giants scored three runs off Lopez in the top of the fifth inning that caused most of the damage for Sacramento.

#4 The Atlanta Braves are in town to face off with the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. One of the most feared lead off hitters in the game the Braves Ronald Acuna Jr and is hitting .331, with nine home runs, 18 RBIs and 46 hits.

#5 It’s back to the drawing board for the A’s who host the Atlanta Braves Tuesday night at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. Starting pitcher for the Braves RHP Didier Fuentes (0-2 ERA 9.00) and for the A’s LHP Jeffrey Springs (6-6 ERA 4.07) first pitch 7:05pm PT.

 Jeremiah Salmonson does the A’s podcasts each Monday 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. 

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria: A’s open up series with Braves tonight at Sutter Health

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The Atlanta Braves Ronald Acuna Jr is one of the most successful lead off hitters in the game and will face off against the Sacramento A’s on Tue Jul 8, 2025 (Athlon Sports photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 The Sacramento A’s lost a tough series to the San Francisco Giants with a 6-2 loss on Sunday night. San Francisco takes the regular season series overall finishing, 5-1.

#2 Giant Willy Adames continues his batting presence going 1-3 at the plate with one run, one home run, two BB’s, and three RBI’s last Sunday evening. He now joins former legendary Giant Rich Aurilia with three or more RBIs in consecutive games since September 2000.

#3 A’s starting pitcher Jacob Lopez pitched 4.1 inning, allowed five hits, four earned runs, one walk and eight strikeouts. The Giants scored three runs off Lopez in the top of the fifth inning that caused most of the damage for Sacramento.

#4 The Atlanta Braves are in town to face off with the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. One of the most feared lead off hitters in the game the Braves Ronald Acuna Jr and is hitting .331, with nine home runs, 18 RBIs and 46 hits.

#5 It’s back to the drawing board for the A’s who host the Atlanta Braves Tuesday night at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. Starting pitcher for the Braves RHP Didier Fuentes (0-2 ERA 9.00) and for the A’s LHP Jeffrey Springs (6-6 ERA 4.07) first pitch 7:05pm PT.

 Tony Renteria does the A’s podcasts each Monday 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.

Sacramento Sports and Souvenirs with Rukshsana Haq

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You got to check it out the Sacramento Sports and Souvenirs store at 1035 Second Street Old Sacramento. They have the largest array of pro and college sports fan gear and souvenirs (photo by Sacramento Sports and Souvenirs)

Sacramento Sports and Souvenirs with Rukshsana Haq:

Old Sacramento’s original sports and souvenir’s store! We carry team sports t-shirts, Hoodies, and All kinds of Gift items.ie; Magnets, Mugs, Lanyards, Key chains, Pins, Zippos, Caps, Beanies, Scarves and more! Sacramento Sports and Souvenirs 1035 2nd Street Sacramento, CA 95814 call (916) 443-0556.

Sportstalk Show hosts Charlie O, Michael Villanueva, Stephen Ruderman, Mauricio Segura and Vince Cestone, interview Rukshsana Haq owner of Sacramento Sports and Souvenirs.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Welcome to A’s Baseball! Your Seats are Waiting

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Seats at Sutter Health Park at section 105 seat 20 (photo by rateyourseats.com)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Welcome to A’s Baseball! Your Seats are Waiting;

Welcome to A’s Baseball! Your Seats are Waiting

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

For the first time in their history, the Sacramento A’s hosted the San Francisco Giants at Sacramento for a three-game series on July 4, 5, 6. The Giants won two of the three games, previously on May 16 and 18, and 19, while in San Francisco, the A’s were beaten again by the Giants who won two out of three at Sutter Health Park this past weekend.

That is it for the Northern California rivals (excluding the Bay Area) for the current 2025 season. Many Giants fans drove or took Amtrak to this recent series at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento. Used to attend Oracle Park to see their adored Giants, by the beautiful San Francisco bay, a real Major League Park with all the amenities and great fan experience, they witnessed with their own eyes their team playing in a Triple A Park, ironically the same park where their Triple A team makes his some, the Sacramento Rivercats.

It’s like a wealthy family living in Pacific Heights, in San Francisco, and then visiting a Trailer Park outside Colma. However, for the A’s, such is life during this 2025 season. Many players enjoy playing on the road; some have publicly expressed this sentiment, while others have shared the same opinion with their families and fellow players.

However, in the end, they must adjust to everything. I hate to repeat this, which has been said a zillion times. Baseball is a game of adjustments. In this case, you need to adjust to the specific settings of where you play, including major or minor league parks and cities.

Sacramento is not a Major League City, nor is it home to a Major League Park; that is why the River Cats play at Sutter Health and not at Oracle Park. The two California rivals now go different ways. The Giants return home to San Francisco for a very interesting home-stand, which could define if they are contenders or pretenders, as they will play three against the Philadelphia Phillies and three against the hated Los Angeles Dodgers.

The A’s go on the road to visit two Major League cities; first a three-game series against the Braves in Atlanta, then they cross the border and go north to Canada to play the red-hot first-place Toronto Blue Jays. Good luck to both the A’s and Giants for the rest of the way. One team is trying to be relevant during the second half and advance to the postseason, while the other is “surviving” its first of (at least three) temporary seasons at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.

Attention A’s Fans…your seats are still waiting! Quote: Many players express a love for the history and tradition of older parks. For example, Ted Williams, while acknowledging the need for a new park in Boston, also stated, “I won’t shed a tear,” according to redsox.com. Rob Neyer wrote about the special feeling of a walk-off home run in Fenway, stating, “Say what you want, but that moment would not have been the same in a ballpark”.

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

@Central Park Fremont – Fremont CA

http://goaquaadventure.com

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason: A’s Springs goes after seventh win, faces Braves Tuesday night

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Sacramento A’s pitcher Jeffrey Springs pitches to the Texas Rangers in the bottom of the first inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Thu May 1, 2025. Springs will be the starting pitcher against the Atlanta Braves on Tue Jul 8, 2025 at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. (AP News file photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:

#1 The Sacramento A’s lost a tough series to the San Francisco Giants with a 6-2 loss on Sunday night. San Francisco takes the regular season series overall finishing, 5-1.

#2 Giant Willy Adames continues his batting presence going 1-3 at the plate with one run, one home run, two BB’s, and three RBI’s last Sunday evening. He now joins former legendary Giant Rich Aurilia with three or more RBIs in consecutive games since September 2000.

#3 A’s starting pitcher Jacob Lopez pitched 4.1 inning, allowed five hits, four earned runs, one walk and five strikeouts. The Giants scored three runs off Lopez in the top of the fifth inning that caused most of the damage for Sacramento.

#4 The Giants have won five of six against the Athletics this season, and the Giants home record at eight games above .500 as they return Monday night back to San Francisco. They finished their 10-game road trip with a 5-5 record on Sunday night. The A’s current home record drops to 16-29.

#5 It’s back to the drawing board for the A’s who host the Atlanta Braves Tuesday night at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. Starting pitcher for the Braves RHP Didier Fuentes (0-2 ERA 9.00) and for the A’s LHP Jeffrey Springs (6-6 ERA 4.07) first pitch 7:05pm PT.

 Barbara Mason does the A’s podcasts each Monday 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. 

Giants Win First Series Since June Behind Adames, Pitching Staff over A’s 6-2

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Willy Adames after going 5-11 with two walks in the series against the Athletics in Sacramento. (Photo: San Francisco Giants on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — After the home cooking that Logan Webb enjoyed on Saturday night, the Giants looked to win their first series since June 20-22 against the Boston Red Sox. The Giants had taken two out of three from the Red Sox directly following the Rafael Devers trade, but it had been mostly downhill since. They were swept by the Marlins at home, then dropped two of three to the White Sox in Chicago. It was a grim stretch for the Giants, who were trying to find their offensive rhythm in the early days of the Devers era in San Francisco.

On Sunday night, they finally got back on track, winning their first series since Boston by taking two of three from the A’s, including a 6-2 victory in the rubber match.

The feeling in the clubhouse postgame was one of relief. Granted, the Giants still have work to do as they return home to face tough National League opponents—the Phillies and Dodgers for three games each—but the club can breathe a little easier.

“We played cleaner, got some big hits,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said after the win. “Willy was fantastic this series, swinging the bat great at this point in time. We got some hits when we needed to and just did enough on the pitching end…”

The big series win was in large part thanks to shortstop Willy Adames. Adames, who struggled at the plate early in his new six-year, $182 million contract signed this offseason, went 5-for-11 with two walks in the series against Sacramento. Melvin praised Adames even more after the game.

“[He, Adames] just looks more comfortable at the plate. When you get some hits and knock some runs in, it makes you feel a little more comfortable. I think maybe there was some pressure on him early on and he kinda got past it, and now we are seeing some better swings… He’s been pretty instrumental in the wins.”

The Giants’ pitching also played a key role in the series victory. Starter Hayden Birdsong labored through his outing on Sunday, throwing 90 pitches with only 46 strikes. Yet, he held the A’s to just one run on three hits, despite walking five.

“Obviously Birdie was a little off with his command,” Melvin said. “I think he finished 50/50 balls to strikes but found a way to get outs when he needed to, and I think that’s progress for what he has been dealing with recently.”

The Giants bullpen—Spencer Bivens in the sixth, Randy Rodriguez in the seventh, and Tyler Rogers in the eighth—allowed only one combined hit over three scoreless innings. Camilo Doval pitched the ninth and gave up a run on two hits and a walk in a slightly shaky but manageable outing that kept the game firmly in the Giants’ hands. The pitching staff did an excellent job silencing the A’s bats in the final two games after Sacramento exploded for 11 runs on Friday night.

With the win, the Giants improved to 49-42, while the A’s dropped to 37-55. If the season ended today, the Giants would be tied with the San Diego Padres for the third wild card spot in the National League. They hold a one-game lead over the Cardinals, who trail them, and sit seven games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. Not ideal, considering the Giants were a game out of first when they played the Dodgers in L.A. at the end of June—but such is the game of baseball.

The Giants will return home to take on the Philadelphia Phillies in a three-game series starting Monday at 6:45 p.m. PT. Landen Roupp (6-5, 3.48 ERA) is scheduled to start for San Francisco, countered by Cristopher Sánchez (7-2, 2.68 ERA) for Philadelphia.

Note of the day: In the early innings of the game, Jacob Lopez and Hayden Birdsong combined to strike out 11 straight batters—Lopez with seven in a row, and Birdsong with four. Birdsong is known for his swing-and-miss movement and velocity, while the league is still learning what makes Lopez so deceptive. Lopez, who typically sits around 89–91 mph with his fastball, told me that the fastball is the key to his strikeouts.

“I think I have a pretty good fastball,” Lopez said.

When I followed up and asked if that was due to “late life” on the pitch, he quipped, “I don’t know, I’ve never hit against myself.”

From someone who never has—and never will—face Lopez in the box, it certainly seems that “late life” is the likely explanation. Lopez ranks in the 97th percentile in MLB for extension, releasing his pitches just over seven feet from the mound, which often leads to a fastball that appears to jump on hitters. Whatever it is, Lopez put his strikeout ability on full display Sunday night.