Category: Sacramento A’s

A’s Boom Before the Break With 6-3 win over Jays Sends Sacramento into All-Star Smiles

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Sacramento A’s Tyler Soderstrom celebrates in the A’s dugout after hitting a two run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Sun July 13, 2025 (AP News photo)

Boom Before the Break Sends Sacramento into All-Star Smiles

By Mauricio Segura

Just before baseball paused for its midsummer break, the Athletics gave their fans something worth cheering. Under a blazing triple-digit Sacramento sun at Sutter Health Park, the Green and Gold uncorked a thunderous offensive performance and rode dominant pitching to a 6-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays Sunday, closing out the first half of the season with a statement win. With long balls from Austin Wynns, Tyler Soderstrom, and rookie phenom Nick Kurtz, Sacramento took flight early and never looked back.

Jeffrey Springs continued his recent run of excellence, slicing through Toronto’s potent lineup like a buzzsaw. The left-hander turned in six strong innings, scattering five hits and allowing just three earned runs, two of which came after he had already left the game.

It was Springs’ seventh win of the season and further proof that he’s found his rhythm after a rocky start in the early days of the season Over his last four starts, Springs has posted a 1.90 ERA, giving the A’s rotation a steady hand it desperately needed.

The offense wasted no time getting to work. In the second inning, veteran infielder Gio Urshela reached on a single, and catcher Austin Wynns turned on a Jose Berríos fastball and launched it over the left-field wall. It was Wynns’ sixth homer of the year, and it gave Sacramento a 2-0 lead that felt even larger given the way Springs was commanding the mound.

The third inning brought more fireworks. Rookie Nick Kurtz opened the frame with a double and came around to score when Soderstrom crushed a center-cut fastball for his 18th homer of the year. The 22-year-old catcher has been on a tear, with his power production putting him among the league leaders at his position. His blast gave the A’s a 4-0 cushion and chased Berríos from the game early.

Toronto’s offense, meanwhile, sputtered. They didn’t record a base runner until the fourth inning and didn’t scratch a run across until the fifth, when Davis Schneider hit a solo home run off Springs. Schneider’s shot briefly gave Toronto life, but Sacramento answered right back in the bottom half.

A throwing error by reliever Tommy Nance allowed Jacob Wilson to reach second, and Kurtz promptly made the Jays pay. The rookie crushed a two-run homer, his 17th of the season, into the left-center bleachers, pushing the A’s lead to 6-1. Kurtz now leads all MLB rookies in homers and continues to add to what is becoming a very compelling Rookie of the Year resume.

Kurtz’s home-field dominance is hard to ignore. 12 of his 17 homers have come at Sutter Health Park, and his slugging percentage at home has soared north of .700. With the All-Star break now here, he can take a well-deserved breather after propelling this young Athletics team with his bat and his glove.

Toronto did mount a bit of a rally late. Addison Barger hit a two-run homer in the seventh off reliever Justin Sterner to pull the Blue Jays within three, but Sean Newcomb and fireballing closer Mason Miller locked things down from there.

Miller struck out Ernie Clement and coaxed a game-ending double play from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to notch his 19th save of the season. It was a fitting milestone, as it marked the 100th appearance of Miller’s young but electric MLB career.

Sacramento’s bullpen has been much-maligned throughout the year, but the numbers heading into the break tell a different story. Over the last 20 games, the group has posted a 2.89 ERA and gone 3-0 with six saves. Miller, in particular, has stabilized the ninth inning with his blistering fastball and a strikeout rate that ranks among the best in the league.

With the win, the Athletics finish the first half at 41-57. It’s a modest record, yes, but one that reflects real progress given the context. After a brutal 1-20 stretch in late spring, the A’s have gone 18-17 over their last 35 games.

Now, the Athletics hit the All-Star break with momentum, with All-Star selections Brent Rooker and Jacob Wilson set to represent the team in Atlanta. Rooker, will also swing for the fences in the Home Run Derby, becoming the first A’s participant since Matt Olson in 2021.

There’s still plenty of work ahead in the second half, but if this young squad can keep flexing its muscle and get continued consistency from Springs and the bullpen, Sacramento just might play spoiler in the AL West down the stretch.

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.

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 Relocation podcast Daniel Dullum: Contrary to popular belief report says Fisher is still short construction money

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Sacramento A’s owner John Fisher (gold tie) spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony at the former Tropicana Hotel for the A’s future Las Vegas ballpark Mon Jun 23, 2025. A’s president Mark Badain is leaning forward to the far left, Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is seated to Fisher’s right and to Fisher’s left is Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Steven Hill. Reports say Fisher is still trying to raise the money to cover the construction costs for the Vegas ballpark. (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 According to reports Sacramento A’s owner John Fisher still hasn’t spent the money for the Las Vegas ballpark at the old Tropicana so he could get the $380 million in Nevada State public funds. SB1 was approved to pay for part of the A’s Vegas park going on two years now.

#2 Fisher said after the A’s ground breaking at the Tropicana that the cost of construction for the new park will now run up to $2 billion and according to reports Fisher doesn’t financially have anything near $1 billion despite being worth $3 billion.

#3 John Fisher and his family are not going to spend their own money namely the $1.75 billion out of pocket for the ballpark project but are trying to confirm loans from US Bank, Goldman Sachs, investments from K Pop star Suga, former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park and sale of his MLS team the San Jose Earthquakes.

#4 It was also reported at the ground break this month in Vegas that the two cranes that were pictured behind Fisher while he was speaking to the media there were rented cranes as props and they were never going to be in use that outside of moving dirt around there is nothing really seriously happening at the old Tropicana property in terms of getting a foundation started.

#5 Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred who was at the groundbreaking holding a shovel and putting it in the dirt held in a baseball diamond tray said he was confident that the project would go through but critics after the ground breaking said that Manfred should have made sure everything was covered before committing the A’s to Las Vegas but that didn’t happen and the ground breaking looks like a farce.

Daniel Dullum does the Sacramento A’s Relocation 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. 

Athletics post game wrap: Rooker Delivers a Firecracker as the Green and Gold Clutch One Before the Break; Rooker’s 20th delivers 4-3 win over Blue Jays

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Sacramento A’s Brent Rooker (25) is congratulated by teammates Nick Kurtz (16) and Tyler Soderstrom (21) after Rooker’s two run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Sat July 12, 2025 (AP News photo)

Rooker Delivers a Firecracker as the Green and Gold Clutch One Before the Break; Rooker’s 20th delivers 4-3 win over Blue Jays

By Mauricio Segura

Sacramento fans got a late-inning show Saturday night as the Athletics rallied past the Blue Jays, 4-3, in a tightrope thriller. It was a win defined by grit, timely slugging, and the kind of bullpen poise the A’s have been yearning for all season. Brent Rooker’s 20th homer of the year, an absolute missile to left-center, turned a tense fifth inning into a party, and the bullpen slammed the door behind him.

This was more than just a win. It was a momentum-builder heading into the All-Star break, and it came with a dash of redemption, especially against a Blue Jays team that had beaten the A’s in all five prior matchups this season. Sacramento fans, soaking up their team’s debut summer in the capital, had reason to cheer beyond just the home run blasts.

Rooker’s blast came just after rookie first baseman Nick Kurtz singled, giving the A’s their first lead of the night at 4-2 With that shot, Rooker became the first Athletic since Khris Davis and Matt Olson to hit 20 home runs in three consecutive seasons. His power, already enough to earn him a spot in next week’s Home Run Derby, was once again the difference-maker. But this game had more heroes than just the slugging designated hitter.

Center fielder Denzel Clarke quietly put together one of his more mature outings. His third-inning single may have traveled only a few feet off the bat, but it set off a chain reaction. He then capitalized on a wild throw to take second, and Lawrence Butler cashed him in with a single to cut Toronto’s early lead in half. Clarke also made a crucial play on defense in the sixth, snagging a liner off the bat of Bo Bichette that had rally written all over it.

That sixth inning was the beginning of a five-arm relay by the A’s bullpen that held a dangerous Blue Jays lineup to just one run over four innings. After Jacob Lopez grinded through five frames, allowing two runs and scattering five hits, the bullpen stepped in.

Elvis Alvarado, Michael Kelly, Sean Newcomb and Mason Miller combined for four innings of one-run ball. Miller, as he’s done time and again this season, closed it out in the ninth with his signature upper-90s heat and a pair of strikeouts, earning his 18th save and preserving the win.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing. The A’s were outhit 7-6 and missed a couple of early scoring chances. Kevin Gausman had Sacramento’s young lineup looking overmatched through four innings. But the Green and Gold hung tough, aided by a pair of costly catcher interference calls, both against Toronto’s Tyler Heineman, that gave the Athletics extra outs and kept innings alive. Those moments don’t show up in the highlight reels, but they mattered.

And then there was the quiet steadiness of Miguel Andujar. Coming off the injured list earlier in the week, Andujar broke out of an 0-for-14 slump with two hits and a stolen base, injecting life into the middle of the order. Pinch-runner Max Schuemann came in for him in the eighth and swiped second with ease, setting the table for an insurance run that never came but wasn’t needed.

Toronto made things interesting in the eighth when Alejandro Kirk hit a sacrifice fly to bring the Jays within one, but Newcomb’s strikeout of Addison Barger ended the threat. The Blue Jays got the tying run aboard in the ninth, but Mason Miller made sure it didn’t matter, striking out Ernie Clement and George Springer in succession to send the crowd home buzzing.

With the win, the Athletics improve to 40 and 57, snapping a two-game skid and avoiding a season sweep at the hands of the Jays. They’re still anchored to the bottom of the AL West, but this is not the same team that lost 20 of 21 earlier in the year. There’s energy now. Swagger. And a rookie class that looks like it belongs.

Kurtz continues to pace MLB rookies in home runs, Butler is heating up again after a midweek lull, and Clarke, despite his strikeouts, is showing flashes of becoming a dynamic two-way threat. The young core is working together, and if Rooker keeps swinging like this, it’s only going to get more fun in Sacramento.

Starting pitchers for Sunday for the Blue Jays RHP Jose Berrios (5-3 ERA 3.53) for the A’s LHP Jeffrey Springs (7-6 ERA 3.92) a 1:05pm PDT.

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.

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. 

Fireworks After the Firestorm as Athletics Nearly Burn the Jays; Sacramento loses in nailbiter 7-6

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Sacramento A’s starter Luis Severino pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays in the top of the second inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Fri Jul 11, 2025 (AP News photo)

Fireworks After the Firestorm as Athletics Nearly Burn the Jays; Sacramento loses in nailbiter 7-6

By Mauricio Segura

There was no shortage of heat at Sutter Health Park on Friday night, and we’re not just talking about the triple-digit temperature that greeted the first pitch. Under a fiery Sacramento sky, the Athletics fell just short of a miracle comeback, dropping a 7-6 heartbreaker to the Toronto Blue Jays in front of 7950 fans at Sutter Health Park. While the box score won’t show a win, this one will stick in the memory bank, if only for the sheer chaos and late-game fireworks.

Luis Severino, who’s been carrying the weight of the season’s struggles, started for the Green and Gold and immediately found himself navigating minefields. The right-hander entered the game with a league-worst home ERA, and his woes continued. Though he managed to escape the early innings without damage, Toronto’s bats came alive in the fifth inning and didn’t show mercy.

The fifth began with a throwing error from second baseman Zack Gelof and quickly spiraled into disaster. A rare double steal saw Vladimir Guerrero Jr. swipe second and George Springer sprint home, putting the Jays up 2-0. That was just the spark.

After a pair of RBI singles and a bases-loaded single from Myles Straw, the floodgates burst open. When Nathan Lukes laced a two-run double, his seventh of the season, the scoreboard screamed 7-0 in favor of the visitors. Severino was done for the night, his ERA inflating to 5.30 as the Sacramento crowd sighed and sweat in unison.

To Severino’s credit, the struggles aren’t new. He’s been a tale of two pitchers in 2025, solid on the road but cursed at home. With this loss, he now owns an 0-8 record at home with a sky-high 7.04 ERA. The veteran just hasn’t been able to find rhythm in Sacramento, and Friday was no exception.

But if there’s one thing this team doesn’t lack, it’s grit.

Down 7-0, the Athletics found their swing in the sixth inning, sparked by rookie sensation Nick Kurtz. The 22-year-old, already leading MLB rookies with 15 home runs, added to his resume with a two-run bomb to center, his 16th on the season. Just three batters later, Tyler Soderstrom sent another shot to dead center, cutting the deficit to 7-3 and electrifying the home crowd.

Despite that jolt, the momentum hit a wall until the ninth. Down to their final three outs and trailing by four, the A’s dug deep again. Max Muncy, who’d been mired in a mini-slump, jolted one over the center field fence for his ninth home run, trimming the lead to three.

Zack Gelof worked a walk and Denzel Clarke slapped a single to left, putting runners at the corners with one out. A wild pitch from Toronto’s Jeff Hoffman brought home Gelof. Two pitches later, Brent Rooker laced an RBI single to left, scoring Clarke and making it a one-run game. The stadium, now fully alive, was bouncing.

Then came the turning point.

With the tying run at first and two outs, Kurtz, the hero of the sixth, stepped up. But Hoffman, digging deep, got the strikeout he needed. The Sacramento rally ended at the edge of glory.

Still, what had looked like a sleepwalk to the All-Star Break turned into a legitimate thriller. And even in a loss, there were bright spots.

Kurtz continues to play like a future star. His home run was his 11th at Sutter Health Park, and he now leads all rookies not just in homers but also in clutch moments, with seven of his long balls coming in the eighth inning or later.

Soderstrom, too, is heating up. His 17th home run was his fourth in the last eight games, and his improved approach at the plate shows.

The bullpen, a sore spot for much of the year, held its own after Severino’s early exit. Osvaldo Bido, just recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas, threw two solid innings, and the back-end arms kept the game close enough for the offense to make noise.

Defensively, it wasn’t the A’s sharpest outing, with an error contributing to the fifth-inning meltdown. But there were flashes. Denzel Clarke’s work in center was once again stellar, and he continues to justify his spot in the lineup with both glove and bat.

Despite the loss, the Athletics are showing something that’s easy to overlook in a sub-.500 season: resilience. Even after being outscored 7-0 midway through the fifth, they battled back with heart and hustle. And while the comeback fell just short, the buzz around the club, especially its young core, is very real.

As they head into the weekend with two more games against Toronto before the All-Star Break, one thing is clear. The Sacramento A’s aren’t mailing it in. They’re taking their swings, throwing punches, and making every inning count. The standings may not show it, but this team is building something.

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

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: A’s Luis Severino could be traded

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Ever since Sacramento A’s pitcher Luis Severino said that Major League Baseball shouldn’t be playing in a minor league stadium the A’s have exploring ways of unloading Severino. So far no one seems interested in picking up his $67 million contract. (AP News photo)

A’s Luis Severino could be traded

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

As Luis Severino was signed to a three year deal worth $67 million, the largest in A’s history. Severino is the most outspoken player on the A’s roster this season, primarily complaining about pitching in a minor league park, among other things.

And that shows. His ERA at home is 7.04, while outside of Sacramento, it’s a much more acceptable 3.04. Severino’s contract indicates that it pays him $25 million in 2026 and $22 million in 2027, unless he opts out on that final 2027 season.

If he does, he could be Adiós. Pitching is always tricky to predict, but it is conceivable that Severno could be traded to a team that needs pitching. Since it seems he is not happy in Sacramento, a place like Dodger Stadium could be suitable for him, since Dodgers pitchers have resembled nothing short of a hospital ward.

Since early in the season, the defending World Champs have 14 pitchers on the injured list. Starters like Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell, and relievers Evan Phillips and ex-A’s Blake Treinen, just to mention a few of the 14 that visited the IL still with all those injuries, the Dodgers are still in first place.

Severino was supposed to give the Oakland A’s (now playing in Sacramento) a veteran presence on the mound for a young pitching staff, but it has not worked that way. The trade deadline is scheduled for July 31 at p.m. ET.

There are a lot of veteran pitchers available who could be moved before this deadline and Luis Severino, who has won with better teams than the A’s is one of them. Record the most traded?

Jesse Chávez is a 38-year-old pitcher (reliever) who has been traded ten times in less than 15 seasons and traded more than any other player in history, including twice traded, so far, this 2025 season. Chávez pitched for the Oakland A’s 2012-2015. By the way, he is a great guy to talk baseball.

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

A’s and Braves Battle in The Heat; Sac’s Soderstrom gets 11th inning walk off single to beat Atlanta 5-4

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Sacramento A’s Tyler Soderstrom circles the bases after belting a first inning three run home run off the Atlanta Braves at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Thu Jul 10, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Tony Renteria

WEST SACRAMENTO- The Altanta Braves and the Sacramento Athletics who play at Sutter Health Park faced off in the rubber match of this three game series on Thursday night. The temperature at the 6:05 PM first pitch time was 99 degrees.

The Braves were coming off a huge win on Wednesday after a bitter loss to the A’s Tuesday night and came looking to to play some tough baseball and that is exactly what happened on this hot Thursday evening. An 11 inning battle that saw the A’s get a 5-4 victory.

The A’s Started strong in the first inning with a left field double by Brent Rooker, Nick Kurtz followed with a walk, and then a towering three run blast to deep left by Tyler Soderstrom off a curve ball by starting pitcher Spencer Strider that 454 feet in deep right center.

In the top of the fourth Austin Riley lead off with a double, and Sean Murphy traded places with him with a double of his own in the left field pocket along the foul line. Then Jurickson Profar took a JP Sears fastball over the left center field fence to tie it up three to three.

In the top of the seventh the Braves Ozzie Albies hit a home run to to deep right center for a 4-3 lead. In the bottom of the eighth the A’s Nick Kurtz matched that feet with a home run of his own but this time to deep left center.

The game headed to into extra innings, in the bottom on the 11th with Brent Rooker on second, Tyler Soderstrom the hero from the first inning came through again with a single to deep center that brought Rooker in for the winning run.

The Braves head to St. Louis and Busch Stadium to take on the third place St Louis Cardinals, while the A’s host the fist place Toronto Blue Jays who are leading the American League East. Starting pitcher for the Blue Jays RHP Max Scherzer (0-0 ERA 4.76) for the A’s RHP Luis Severino (2-10 ERA 5.30) first pitch at Sutter Health Park 7:05pm PT.

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria: A’s Spence gets lit up by Braves 9-2 Wednesday night

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Sacramento A’s pitcher Mitch Spence (21) was rocked in six innings of pitching. The Atlanta Braves hit a season high of five home runs and routed the A’s at Sutter Health Field in West Sacramento on Wed Jul 10, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 Ronald Acuna Jr took Sacramento A’s pitching yard twice with a lead off blast off on Wednesday night as the Atlanta Braves crushed Sacramento 9-2 at Sutter Health Field in the second game of the three game set.

#2 Acuna’s two home runs plus three more Braves home runs gives the Braves the most home runs in a game at five.

#3 The Braves 13 game drought in winning in California comes to an end with their win in Sacramento on Wednesday.

#4 A’s starter Mitch Spence got touched up for four runs in the first inning and two in the second his final line after six innings pitched allowed eight hits, nine earned runs, one walk and three strike outs for the loss.

#5 Series is tied at 1-1 as the rubber game will commence at 6:05pm PT Thursday night. It’s a get away game for the Braves who head to St Louis on Friday. The A’s will host the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night. For Thursday night’s starters the Braves will go with RHP Spencer Strider (3-7 ERA 3.93) for the A’s LHP JP Sears (7-7 ERA 4.76).

Tony Renteria is filling in for Jeremiah Salmonson the A’s podcasts are heard each Thursday 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. 

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.