Category: Sacramento A’s

Sacramento A’s game wrap: Hicks Takes Over as Two-Out Trouble Sinks A’s 8-4

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Tampa Bay Rays Liam Hicks looks on after being tagged out at the plate by Sacramento A’s catcher Brian Serven (not pictured) in the top of the third inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Wed Aug 12, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Maurcio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics kept Tampa Bay within reach for three innings, then watched the Rays turn a one-run game into a steep climb. Things are not changing for this Sacramento temporarily anchored ballclub. Liam Hicks’ three-run homer capped a four-run fourth inning and pushed Tampa Bay past the A’s 8-4, despite late solo homers from Zack Gelof and Lawrence Butler.

Jack Perkins escaped the first without allowing a run despite Hicks’ two-out double that sent Junior Caminero to third. The second was different. Jonny DeLuca opened with a double, Cedric Mullins beat out a bunt single, and Richie Palacios drove in DeLuca with a single to left. Taylor Walls moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt, and Mullins scored when Yandy Díaz reached on a fielder’s choice that included a fielding error by Perkins. Jonathan Aranda then grounded into a double play, limiting Tampa Bay to two runs.

The Rays added another run in the third when Caminero singled, Hicks followed with a base hit and Mullins doubled home Caminero. Hicks tried to score on the play, but Carlos Cortes started a relay through Donovan Walton to Brian Serven, who recorded the out at the plate. That defensive play mattered moments later.

In the bottom half, Walton was hit by a pitch and Gelof singled before Cortes drove a double into right. Both runners scored, cutting Tampa Bay’s lead to 3-2 and giving the A’s their best chance to turn the game around.

Tampa Bay answered immediately, scoring all of its fourth-inning runs with two outs. Díaz singled, Aranda followed with another hit, and Caminero brought Díaz home with a single to left. Hicks then changed the shape of the game with a three-run homer to right-center, scoring Aranda and Caminero for a 7-2 advantage.

Perkins finished five innings after DeLuca doubled again in the fifth but was left stranded. The right-hander allowed 12 hits and seven runs. His outing continued a difficult stretch that had already included an eight-game losing streak entering the start, while A’s starters carried a 6.62 ERA in August before the game. The club’s pitching staff also entered with a 5.49 season ERA, the highest in the majors.

The Athletics’ bullpen gave the offense a chance to chip away. Drew Rom retired all three batters he faced in the sixth, Scott Blewett worked around DeLuca’s single and stolen base in the seventh, and Seth Johnson handled a scoreless ninth. Hayden Juenger allowed Tampa Bay’s final run in the eighth when Palacios drew a walk, Walls singled and Díaz drove in Palacios with a base hit.

The A’s finally found the seats in the bottom of the eighth. Gelof hit his 13th homer to left-center, and after Cortes struck out, Butler added his ninth to right-center. The two solo shots made it 8-4, but Michael Grove stopped the inning there and Tampa Bay retired the side in order in the ninth.

Gelof’s day also carried a bigger streak. He entered with a 23-game home hitting streak, already the second-longest by an Athletic in the expansion era behind Carney Lansford’s 30-game run in 1984, and his third-inning single pushed it to 24. Tyler Soderstrom also extended his hitting streak to ten games with a first-inning double. He had already posted two other ten-game streaks this season, making him the first Athletic with three streaks of at least ten games in one season since Jay Payton in 2006.

After a Thursday breather, the A’s welcome the Rangers on Friday at 6:40 p.m. Pacific, with ESPN currently listing Kumar Rocker (4-9, 4.46 ERA, 103 K) opposite Gage Jump (5-7, 4.46 ERA, 84 K), although MLB still has both starters officially marked TBD.

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. 

A’s Drop Another Series as Rays Roll to 12-4 Victory in Sacramento

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Mason Barnett #63 of the Athletics pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays in the top of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on August 11, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Coming off a disastrous bullpen implosion on Monday night against the Rays, the A’s looked to flip the script and get back in the win column on Tuesday night at Sutter Health Park.

Unfortunately for the A’s, they sealed their fate of another losing series as they fell to the Tampa Bay Rays 12-4.

Mason Barnett took the ball for the A’s to start the game in what was his 17th appearance for the club and his third start of the season. Barnett, much like Lopez yesterday in the first inning, gave up the lead immediately as the Rays took a 2-0 lead three batters into the game on a two-run shot. From there, Barnett continued to struggle with the long ball as he gave up two more home runs during his outing. Mason went a total of four innings in the game while giving up six runs (five earned) on five hits, while walking three and striking out no Rays hitters.

Mark Kotsay said that Barnett tweaked his hip during the game and that they hope he can continue to pitch with no setback. As for the performance Tuesday, Kotsay spoke on Barnett going as long as he could.

“He pitched that fourth inning knowing that he wanted to go out and give us as much as he possibly could … just the execution portion of his pitches (was lacking).”

In the bullpen, it was Brady Basso who was first out as he tried to keep the game where it was in hopes of an A’s comeback. Basso pitched OK, giving up one run on three hits across two innings of work while striking out two, but it was a solo home run that the Rays did their damage on.

In the seventh inning, Mark Kotsay turned to Elvis Alvarado next. Alvarado struggled, giving up two runs on one hit and a walk in his one inning of relief.

In the eighth inning, with the game mostly in the books, the A’s turned to Yunior Tur to get the final six outs of the game. Tur, like his fellow relievers, struggled to get outs as he gave up three runs in the eighth inning. In the ninth, Tur was able to settle in and retire the side in order, but the damage was already done by the Rays in the inning prior. Tur tossed two innings of three-run, two-hit baseball while walking no one and striking out three hitters.

On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s did their scoring in the middle of the game as the offense dried up in the later innings, aside from a ninth-inning burst. The A’s managed four runs on eight hits while not walking at all in the ballgame.

The A’s first two runs of the game came in the fourth inning when Lawrence Butler sent a long drive over the right-center-field wall for a two-run home run. Butler’s blast was his eighth of the season and tallied his 31st and 32nd RBIs of the year as he drove in Jacob Wilson, who singled two batters earlier.

The A’s scored two runs late in the game on a Carlos Cortes two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning. It was the 13th double of the year for Cortes and RBIs 29 and 30.

That was all the offense the A’s could muster as they went away quietly without much of a fight late in the game other than the brief ninth-inning rally.

With the loss, the A’s fell to 47-73 while the Rays improved to 73-46 on the year.

On Wednesday, the A’s and Rays will wrap up their three-game series with a matinee affair at 12:05 p.m. PDT. The A’s will send Jack Perkins (2-8, 7.04 ERA) to the hill while the Rays will start Drew Rasmussen (11-5, 2.75 ERA).

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 Bullpen Implodes in Eighth Inning as Rays Rally for 10-6 Win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Jacob Lopez #57 of the Sacramento Athletics pitches during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Monday, August 10, 2026 in West Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Jacob Soriano/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Fresh off their first series win since June, as they beat the Boston Red Sox in two out of three games this past weekend in Boston, the Sacramento A’s welcomed the Tampa Bay Rays to Sacramento for a three-game series beginning on Monday night. The Rays have been having a great season so far (71-46 entering Monday’s game) compared to the A’s (47-71 entering Monday’s game).

The A’s were able to flip the script early as they jumped out to the early lead, but as the late innings approached, the bullpen gave away yet another winnable game for the A’s as they fell to the Rays 10-6.

Jacob Lopez started the ballgame for the A’s as he was making his 19th appearance and 16th start for them. Lopez, with the exception of a home run in the first inning and some bad luck in the seventh inning, pitched exceptionally well for Mark Kotsay and the A’s. Lopez was sharp, allowing just one walk in his outing and striking out five. All in, Lopez went seven innings of two-run, five-hit baseball while needing 93 pitches to get through his outing.

“I think Jacob was excellent tonight,” Kotsay said after the game. “This is an outing where we talk about Jacob taking the next step since he’s been back. He’s been really effective, really good. Tonight was probably the best.”

A much more mature Jacob Lopez from last season echoed those thoughts after the game.

“Overall, being able to get past six innings finally and give the team a good chance to win a ballgame felt good,” Lopez said. “…the ending was kind of tough, but I think it was a good game overall.”

The A’s bullpen immediately imploded when it came in to relieve starter Jacob Lopez.

Seth Johnson, who Mark Kotsay turned to in the eighth inning, couldn’t record an out as he faced four batters who all reached base. Johnson gave up three hits and four runs while walking one during his four-batter appearance.

Mark Kotsay elected to go with Jose Suarez to try to stop the bleeding, but Suarez wasn’t much better. Suarez was only able to get one out while giving up a near-identical line to Johnson. Suarez gave up four runs on three hits while striking out one and walking one during his stint in the game during the eighth-inning meltdown.

Last out of the bullpen for the A’s was Scott Blewett, who the A’s turned to for the final two outs in the eighth and the ninth inning. Blewett allowed one single in the eighth, but that was his only blemish in his outing as he tossed a scoreless ninth inning. Overall, Blewett allowed one hit and no runs across his inning and two-thirds of relief for the A’s.

However, even with Blewett’s solid outing, the damage was already done as the A’s bullpen gave up two walks, six hits and eight runs, all in the eighth inning.

On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s totaled six runs on 10 hits while collecting two walks.

The A’s scored two runs in the first inning to get right back at the Rays, who homered in the first inning.

Tyler Soderstrom got the A’s on the board with their first run of the game as he drilled an RBI double to center field to score Jeff McNeil, who was on first base. It was Soderstrom’s 56th RBI of the season.

The A’s second run of the inning came courtesy of a steal of home by Tyler Soderstrom. The A’s put the runner in motion from first base, and that led Soderstrom to break for the plate from third. Soderstrom slid into home safely as the Rays threw down to second base. It was Soderstrom’s second stolen base of the season.

In the fifth inning, the A’s scored their third run of the game as Zack Gelof sent a booming home run over the left-center-field wall to give the A’s a 3-1 lead at the time. The home run left the bat of Gelof at a scorching 109 mph and traveled 456 feet. It was Gelof’s 12th home run of the season and his 30th RBI.

The A’s added on again in the seventh inning when they scored three runs.

Zack Gelof led the attack in the seventh as he knocked an RBI double into center field to extend the lead for the A’s at the time. It was Gelof’s 12th double of the season and 31st RBI.

Jeff McNeil followed shortly after with his 36th RBI of the season on an RBI sacrifice fly for the A’s that gave them a 5-2 lead at the time.

The final run the A’s would score came on a Jacob Wilson RBI double in the seventh in what was his 16th double and 37th RBI of the season.

With the loss, the Rays improved to 72-46 as the A’s fell to 47-72.

The A’s will take on the Rays in game two of their three-game series at Sutter Health Park on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. PDT. The A’s have not announced their starter for Tuesday, but the Rays will send Nick Martinez (11-3, 2.65 ERA) to the hill.

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 Barbara Mason: A’s return to Sacramento open 3 game set with Tampa Bay Monday

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s Jeff McNeil (22) is greeted at the plate by Tommy White (47) after scoring in the top of the eighth inning at Fenway Park in Boston on Sun Aug 9, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:

#1 The Sacramento A’s down a run 3-2 going into the top of the eighth inning at Fenway Park against a rugged Boston Red Sox team ended up tying up the ball game and picked up a go ahead run in the top of the ninth inning to take a 4-3 lead and win their second straight game over one of baseball’s toughest’s clubs.

#2 Barbara after beating the Red Sox on Saturday 7-3 and snapping their nine game win streak how much confiendce does that do for a club going into the rubber game and to take a series like that for the A’s?

#3 The A’s who allowed two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning got some relief pitching that held the Red Sox to no runs until the end of the game getting releif help from Brady Basso, Elvis Alvarado, and Hogan Harris.

#4 The A’s just got by the Sox Sunday but the Red Sox are no laughing matter they took out the A’s on Friday night 13-1 but the A’s regrouped and came back to the ballpark and won it Sunday 7-3 and squeaked by Sunday the Sox are a force to reckon with.

#5 A’s return back to West Sacramento for a three game series with the first place Tampa Bay Rays at Sutter Health Park. The Rays are no slouches and could be a handful for the A’s pitching staff but after taking two in Boston the A’s might have some momentum goimg into this series on Monday night. Starting pitchers for Tampa Bay RHP Freddy Peralta (5-9 ERA 5.37) and for Sacramento LHP Jacob Lopez (5-4 ERA 5.64) first pitch 6:40pm PDT.

Join Barbara Mason for the A’s podcasts each Sunday 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. 

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic: Adames puts in the work but admits doesn’t have the results

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Willy Adames (2) of the San Francisco Giants leaps for joy after hitting a bottom of the fifth inning home run against the Detroit Tigers on Fri Aug 7, 2026. Adames has gotten lots of attention after Apple TV analyst Wayne Randazzo questioned Adames’ work ethic (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic:

#1 San Francisco Giants infielder Willy Adames called BS on Apple TV broadcaster’s Wayne Randazzo’s commentary saying that Adames was not putting in the work. Adames was very much bothered by the Randazzo commentary questioning his work ethic.

#2 Adames admits anyone could questions his fielding or hitting, batting just .222, 19 home runs, 48 RBIs, and 97 hits Adames said “obviously I’m not happy with the way I’ve played this year. This has to be the worst year of my career on both sides of the ball.”

#3 Giants fell to the Detroit Tigers on Saturday 8-0 and on Sunday after trying the Tigers 1-1 coughed up two runs in the top of the tenth inning for a 3-1 loss tough series for San Francisco.

#4 The Giants who got two hit on Saturday and scored only a run on Sunday have been absent on offense getting seven hits but stranding a lot of runners on the pond.

#5 The Giants open a three game series with the Houton Astros Monday night. Starting pitchers for Houston RHP Hayden Wesneski (2-0 ERA 3.86) for San Francisco RHP Blade Tidwell (0-0 ERA 3.18) with a 6:45pm PDT first pitch.

Marko Ukalovic does the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s podcast Daniel Dullum: A’s shock baseball world make that two straight over mighty Red Sox

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Donavon Walton is congratulated by the Sacramento A’s dugout after scoring the go ahead run in the top of the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston on Sun Aug 9, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 The Sacramento A’s down a run 3-2 going into the top of the eighth inning at Fenway Park against a rugged Boston Red Sox team ended up tying up the ball game and picked up a go ahead run in the top of the ninth inning to take a 4-3 lead and win their second straight game over one of baseball’s toughest’s clubs.

#2 Daniel after beating the Red Sox on Saturday 7-3 and snapping their nine game win streak how much confiendce does that do for a club going into the rubber game and to take a series like that for the A’s?

#3 The A’s who allowed two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning got some relief pitching that held the Red Sox to no runs until the end of the game getting releif help from Brady Basso, Elvis Alvarado, and Hogan Harris.

#4 The A’s just got by the Sox Sunday but the Red Sox are no laughing matter they took out the A’s on Friday night 13-1 but the A’s regrouped and came back to the ballpark and won it Sunday 7-3 and squeaked by Sunday the Sox are a force to reckon with.

#5 A’s return back to West Sacramento for a three game series with the first place Tampa Bay Rays at Sutter Health Park. The Rays are no slouches and could be a handful for the A’s pitching staff but after taking two in Boston the A’s might have some momentum goimg into this series on Monday night. Starting pitchers for Tampa Bay RHP Freddy Peralta (5-9 ERA 5.37) and for Sacramento LHP Jacob Lopez (5-4 ERA 5.64) first pitch 6:40pm PDT.

Join Daniel Dullum for the A’s podcasts each Sunday 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 game wrap: Muncy Has the Final Say in A’s Boston Breakthrough; Sac hands Bosox second straight loss 4-3

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Boston Red Sox Eli White (left) slides safely and the Sacramento A’s catcher Jonah Heim takes a leap while getting out of the way in the bottom of the fifth inning at Fenway Park in Boston on Sun Aug 10, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

With two outs in the ninth inning, Max Muncy gave the Sacramento Athletics the hit they needed, driving an RBI double that scored Donovan Walton and lifted the A’s to a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox. The win gave Sacramento two straight victories for the first time since June 25-26 and ended a run of 12 consecutive series losses, a stretch that had lasted since the A’s took two of three from Colorado in mid-June.

The Athletics struck first against Erik Miller. Henry Bolte opened with a single, and Jacob Wilson followed with a bunt single. Miller’s throwing error allowed Bolte to reach third and Wilson to move to second, setting up Tyler Soderstrom’s RBI groundout for a 1-0 lead. Boston answered in the second when Eli White singled home Willson Contreras, but Soderstrom helped put the A’s back ahead in the fourth. He tripled to right and scored when Tommy White grounded out, giving White his first major league RBI.

J.T. Ginn protected that 2-1 lead until the fifth. Eli White and Jake Rogers opened the inning with singles, and Nick Sogard reached on a fielder’s choice when Ginn’s throw went wide, allowing White to score. Wilyer Abreu followed with a sacrifice fly that brought Rogers home and pushed Boston in front 3-2. Ginn still gave the A’s six strong innings, allowing five hits and three runs, only one earned, while issuing two walks and striking out two. The outing kept Sacramento within one run and gave the offense a chance to recover late.

That chance became a milestone in the eighth. Jeff McNeil singled for the 1,000th hit of his major league career, then stole second. With two outs, Jonah Heim drove a double to left that scored McNeil and tied the game 3-3. McNeil had entered the game sitting on 999 hits, and he became the first player to reach 1,000 while wearing an A’s uniform since Mitch Moreland in 2021.

The ninth belonged to Sacramento’s bench and Muncy. After two quick outs against Aroldis Chapman, pinch-hitter Alika Williams singled to right. Walton replaced him as a pinch-runner and stole second, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. Muncy then doubled to center to bring Walton home. A wild pitch moved Muncy to third and McNeil drew a walk, but Boston escaped without further damage.

Hogan Harris had to earn the final three outs. Jahmai Jones opened the bottom of the ninth with a single, and Caleb Durbin reached on a walk after an overturned challenge. Harris responded by getting Nick Sogard on a force play at third before Ceddanne Rafaela lined out to left to end it. Harris earned his 11th save, while Elvis Alvarado, who handled a perfect eighth, picked up the victory.

There was another piece of history tucked inside the win. Wilson completed his 111th consecutive error-free game at shortstop, passing Mike Bordick’s 110-game major league record from 2002. Wilson handled several chances during the game, including helping turn a double play in the fourth, and his streak now stands alone at the position.

The A’s now turn toward Tampa Bay at home, with Jacob Lopez (5-4, 5.64 ERA, 70 strikeouts) set to face Freddy Peralta (5-9, 5.37 ERA, 116 strikeouts) in the opener, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 p.m. Pacific.

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

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 game wrap: Jump Starts the Turnaround as A’s End Nine-Game Skid; Sac 7-3 win ends Sox Nine Game Win Streak

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s starter Gage Jump (61) rears back to pitch to the Boston Red Sox line up at Fenway Park in the first inning on Sat Aug 8, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

Gage Jump came through as the Sacramento A’s savior in the Boston sun this afternoon. The rookie left-hander struck out a career-high 11 over six innings, and the A’s rallied from an early two-run deficit to beat the Boston Red Sox 7-3. The victory ended the Athletics’ nine-game losing streak and stopped Boston’s own nine-game winning run, giving the Green and Gold a chance to win after woe after woe of gut wrenching baseball.

Boston struck first in the opening inning. Jahmai Jones singled, stole second and then took third as Caleb Durbin stole second. Andruw Monasterio followed with a two-run single to right, putting the Red Sox ahead 2-0. That was all Boston managed against Jump. He scattered six hits and two walks, striking out 11 while keeping the Athletics within range. The outing was a major rebound after he allowed six runs in 3 2/3 innings against Detroit in his previous start.

The A’s began their comeback in the fourth. Jacob Wilson doubled to left, Tommy White kept the inning moving with a two-out single, and Brian Serven beat out a soft grounder that brought Wilson home. One inning later, the Athletics moved ahead for good. Alika Williams was hit by a pitch, Wilson doubled again, and Jonah Heim lined a two-run single to left that scored both runners for a 3-2 advantage.

The sixth inning turned a narrow lead into breathing room, and it came from the bench. Lawrence Butler drew a walk, stole second, then moved to third as Jeff McNeil drew another walk and later stole second. Pinch-hitter Donovan Walton followed with a ground-rule double into right-center, scoring both runners and pushing the lead to 5-2. It was exactly the kind of inning the Athletics had struggled to produce during their skid: traffic on the bases, aggressive running and a hit that cashed in both runners.

Tyler Soderstrom added a solo homer in the seventh, and Henry Bolte added another in the ninth to make it 7-2. The two long balls gave Jump and the bullpen some extra room before Boston mounted one last threat. McNeil, meanwhile, remained stuck on 999 career hits after drawing a walk and later flying out. He entered the game needing just one more to become the latest player to reach 1,000 while wearing an A’s uniform.

The final inning carried some tension. Jones doubled and scored on Durbin’s single. Willson Contreras then singled, Monasterio drew a walk, and the bases were loaded with two outs. Hogan Harris, who had entered in the eighth, got Eli White to line out to center and finished the 7-3 win for his tenth save. The Athletics’ bullpen allowed only one run over the final three innings after entering the game with the highest ERA in the majors.

There was also a piece of history at shortstop. Wilson entered the game with a 109-game errorless streak, one shy of the Major League record for a shortstop. He handled the position without a miscue and reached 110 straight games, tying the mark set by Baltimore’s Mike Bordick in 2002. For a team that had spent more than a week stacking losses, the afternoon finally delivered something worth carrying forward.

Sunday’s series decider will send J.T. Ginn (8-6, 3.51 ERA, 105 strikeouts) to the mound for the Athletics at 10:35 a.m. Pacific, while Boston had still not announced its starter as of publication.

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.

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Harvey: Will firing the general manager turn the page?; A’s crushed 13-1 after showing Forst the door

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former Sacramento A’s general manager David Forst seen here at a general manager’s meeting Nov 7, 2023 in Scottsdale AZ was fired as A’s general manager on Fri Aug 7, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Harvey:

#1 Tony the Sacramento A’s made a major move letting go of their general manager David Forst Friday before they were set the play the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The news didn’t motivate the offense or defense as the A’s got clobbered 13-1.

#2 Dan Feinstein was named to be Forst’s replacement as interim general manager. Feinstien was Forst’s assistant general manager. Feinstein had been the assistant GM since 2015 or ten years and nine months. Feinstein as general manager lost his first game as general manager to the Red Sox who beat Sacramento on Friday night.

#3 While a change may not make much of difference A’s owner John Fisher made the move in firing Forst as the A’s have lost 31 of their last 35 games. The A’s with Friday’s loss have now lost nine straight games.Fisher said in a statement that it was a mutually agreed upon decision.

#4 Tony, do you think one of the decisons for the Forst firing is that there were no big moves before the trade deadline, the teams long skid, and their fall from first place in the early months of the season?

#5 The A’s on July 13th fired their pitching coach Scott Emerson at the time Emerson was fired the A’s were in the middle of a nine game losing streak. How much of difference in hindsight would it have made if the A’s hadn’t fired Emerson considering their long slide they’ve been on?

Join Tony Harvey for the A’s podcasts each Saturday 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 game wrap: Tolle Ties A’s in Knots as Boston Rolls 13-1

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Payton Tolle pitches to the Sacramento A’s line up in the top of the first inning at Fenway Park in Boston on Fri Aug 7, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics needed something to interrupt an eight-game losing streak, but Payton Tolle gave them almost nothing to work with. Boston’s left-hander struck out 14 over six innings, while the Red Sox piled up 15 hits in a 13-1 rout. The loss stretched the A’s skid to nine games and dropped them to 45-71. It was another hard turn in a stretch that already had the Athletics at 4-24 over their previous 28 games and riding a run of 12 consecutive series losses.

Tolle set the tone immediately. He retired all 12 Athletics hitters he faced through four innings, with nine of those outs coming by strikeouts. Henry Bolte and Jonah Heim struck out in the first, Tolle struck out the side in the second, and he did it again in the fourth against Bolte, Jacob Wilson and Heim. The A’s could not produce a baserunner until the fifth.

Boston had already built a five-run advantage by then. Andruw Monasterio drew a one-out walk in the second before Jarren Duran sent a two-run homer to left-center. Anthony Seigler followed with a double, and Jake Rogers doubled him home. Nick Sogard then drew a walk before Wilyer Abreu doubled in Rogers and Sogard for a 5-0 lead. Jack Perkins survived the third without further damage, but his outing ended after three innings with five runs allowed on five hits, three walks and three strikeouts.

The game moved further away from the Athletics in the fourth after Hayden Juenger replaced Perkins. Rogers opened with a double and Sogard singled him to third. A throwing error by Juenger on a pickoff attempt allowed Rogers to score, then Abreu singled home Sogard. Masataka Yoshida added an RBI double, and Monasterio singled home Yoshida before being thrown out trying for second. Boston had four more runs and a 9-0 lead. It was another difficult inning for an A’s bullpen that began the game with a 5.59 ERA, the highest in the majors.

Tyler Soderstrom finally broke through against Tolle to start the fifth, driving a solo home run to right-center for his 18th homer of the season. The blast ended Tolle’s perfect-game bid and accounted for the Athletics’ only run. Soderstrom had entered the game with 17 homers. Max Muncy added an infield single in the sixth, but that was the A’s only other hit. Tolle completed six innings with two hits allowed, no walks and 14 strikeouts, and Boston pitching finished with 16 strikeouts overall.

The Red Sox kept adding. Ceddanne Rafaela singled to begin the sixth, and a throwing error by Jonathan Ornelas helped put two runners in scoring position. Caleb Durbin and Yoshida each delivered sacrifice flies to make it 11-1. In the seventh, Rafaela singled home Rogers and Durbin doubled home Rafaela, pushing the margin to 13-1.

There were at least two small defensive footnotes for the Athletics. Wilson played six innings at shortstop without an error, extending his errorless streak to 109 games, one shy of Mike Bordick’s major-league record of 110. Carlos Cortes then took the mound for the eighth and retired Monasterio, Duran and Seigler in order. It was Cortes’ eighth pitching appearance of the season, extending the Athletics record he already held for the most pitching appearances by a position player in one year.

The A’s get another chance against Boston in Game 2, with left-hander Gage Jump (4-7, 4.59 ERA, 73 K) facing fellow lefty Jake Bennett (7-4, 2.90 ERA, 50 K) at 1:10 p.m. Pacific, and Jump will be looking to summon the form that produced six scoreless innings against the Red Sox in his previous start against them.

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.