Category: Sacramento A’s

Mariners come back late for second day in a row to take series with 6-5 win over A’s

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Seattle Mariners Leody Taveras (4) steals second base on Sacramento Athletics second baseman Luis Urias (17) in the top of the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Wed May 7, 2025 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Sutter Health Park

West Sacramento, California

Seattle Mariners 6 (22-14)

Sacramento Athletics 5 (20-18)

Win: Eduard Bazardo (1-0)

Loss: Noah Murdock (1-1)

Save: Andres Munoz (13)

Time: 2:58

Attendance: 9,657

By Stephen Ruderman

WEST SACRAMENTO–For the second day in a row, the Sacramento A’s blew a late lead and lost a tough one, as the Seattle Mariners came back from down 5-0 to take the series with a 6-5 win.

Wednesday, the A’s looked to win a series against the Mariners, who went into Sunday riding high on a six-game winning streak. The A’s came mighty close last night, but the Mariners scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning off Tyler Ferguson to hand the A’s a tough loss.

Leading the charge for Sacramento, as they looked to bounce back today would be Gunnar Hoglund making his second big league start. In his major league debut in Miami last Friday, he gave up just a run and struck out seven against the Marlins. Wednesday, Hoglund would be tested against one of the stronger teams in Baseball.

Hoglund started off nicely with a scoreless top of the first inning. The A’s offense was then ready to give him some support in the bottom of the first against Mariners’ starter Bryan Woo.

Jacob Wilson started the inning with an infield hit, and Tyler Soderstrom singled him over to third base. Brent Rooker was unable to get the job done, as he popped out to second-baseman Dylan Moore. That brought up Miguel Andujar, who grounded a single into left field that put the A’s on the board.

JJ Bleday then came up, and he lined a double out into the gap in right-center that scored a pair to make it 3-0. The A’s were unable to add on any further, but they had made an early statement following their tough loss Tuesday night.

Hoglund pitched two more scoreless innings in the second and third, and he threw his first one, two, three inning of the day in the top of the fourth.

Lawrence Butler led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run to right-center to make it 4-0. Seth Brown then singled with one out, and advanced to second on a ground out by Jhonny Pereda. Wilson came up with two outs, and slashed a double off the end of the bat that deflected off the glove of the diving first-baseman, Rowdy Tellez, down the right field line. That knocked in Brown, and the A’s now led it 5-0.

Perhaps, things were coming too easily for the A’s. The fact of the matter was that they were not going to be able to take two of three from a strong Mariners’ team without a fight.

Dylan Moore lined a base-hit to right with one out in the top of the fifth and stole second. Ben Williamson came up, and he shot a double just over the glove of left-fielder Seth Brown and into the gap in left-center to put the Mariners on the board.

Hoglund walked Cal Raleigh with one out in the top of the sixth, and that did it for the A’s young righty. In came Mitch Spence, who walked Randy Arozarena to put runners at first and second with one out for Seattle. Tellez came up and gulfed a three-run shot to right, and suddenly it was 5-4.

It was an unfortunate end to what was otherwise another solid outing by Hoglund, who ended up getting tagged for four runs.

Woo, who had hung in there despite the rough innings he faced in the first and fourth, finished his day with a scoreless bottom of sixth.

T.J. McFarland retired the first two men he faced in the top of the seventh, but he gave up a double to Jorge Polanco with two outs. Noah Murdock came in and got Julio Rodriguez to ground out to keep the A’s ahead.

Unfortunately, Murdock and the A’s would not be as lucky in the top of the eighth. Arozarena walked with one out, and Miles Mastrobuoni pinch-ran and stole second. Murdock was a strike away from getting out of the inning, as he was ahead of Leody Taveras 1-2, but Taveras grounded one just past the diving third-baseman, Miguel Andujar into left field for a base-hit. Mastrobuoni, and the game was tied.

Taveras then stole second, and Moore lined a double to right-center field to give the Mariners their first lead of the day. For the second day in a row, the A’s had blown a late lead, but you really have to give credit to the Mariners, who are just a good team.

Eduard Bazardo and Gabe Speier combined for a one, two, three bottom of the eighth. Mariners’ closer Andres Munoz came in for the bottom of the ninth, and while Luis Urias led off the inning with a base-hit, Munoz retired the next three to end it.

Eduard Buzardo got the win for the Mariners; Noah Murdock took the loss; and Andres Munoz picked up his 13th save.

The A’s fall to 20-18, and they will have to face another good team in the Yankees, who will make their first trip to Sacramento over the weekend.

Aaron Judge and the Yankees will indeed come in with their torpedo bats—though Judge does not use one—to hit home runs out of the most intimate ballpark in Major League Baseball starting Friday night.

Osvaldo Bido (2-2, 4.71 ERA) will take the ball in the series opener for Sacramento on Friday. He will be opposed by Yankees’ right-hander, Will Warren (1-2, 5.65 ERA). First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m.

Raleigh’s Pinch-Hit Knock Sinks A’s in Late-Inning Heartbreaker 5-3

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Miguel Andujar on Tuesday night in the A’s contest against the Seattle Mariners (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The A’s and Mariners faced off in the second game of a three-game series on Tuesday at Sutter Health Park. In front of 9,615 fans, the A’s dropped game two of the series to the Mariners, 5-3.

“Yeah, really tough,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “The kid comes into my office and tells me he’s good to go, and you trust the player. He’s pitched quite a bit, and tonight was his fourth night [in a row]… The at-bat that changed the inning was the pitch inside to Arozarena that hit him… He answered the bell, and it just didn’t go well tonight.”

Kotsay was referring to a taxed bullpen and, specifically, reliever Tyler Ferguson, who took the loss on Tuesday. With Mason Miller and others unavailable, the A’s turned to Ferguson to close out the ninth with a 3-2 lead. But Ferguson didn’t have his best stuff and allowed three runs on two hits, walking one and striking out one in two-thirds of an inning.

The inning began well, with Ferguson striking out J.P. Crawford swinging, but things unraveled quickly. He walked Jorge Polanco, gave up a single to Julio Rodríguez, and then hit Randy Arozarena with a sinker that ran inside, loading the bases for pinch-hitter Cal Raleigh. Raleigh, who had the night off until that point, delivered a sharp two-RBI single into right field to put Seattle ahead, 4-3. Dylan Moore followed with a sacrifice fly to right, plating another run to make it 5-3. Hogan Harris then entered and struck out Rowdy Tellez to end the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, the A’s fought back but ultimately came up short and dropped the game, 5-3.

It was a tough finish for the A’s, who got strong contributions throughout the night.

Starter Jeffrey Springs pitched five innings of two-run ball, allowing five hits while striking out four. He walked two and gave up a solo homer to Julio Rodríguez in the first inning.

The bullpen—aside from Ferguson—was excellent. Noah Murdock, T.J. McFarland, Justin Sterner, and Hogan Harris combined for 3.1 scoreless innings.

Offensively, the A’s answered right away after Rodríguez’s homer in the top of the first, tying the game in the bottom half on a Miguel Andujar RBI single that scored Brent Rooker. In the third, trailing 2-1, the A’s tied it again on a Rooker RBI single that brought home Nick Kurtz, who had walked earlier in the inning. The A’s last run came in go-ahead fashion in the eighth when Andujar singled home Rooker to make it 3-2. Unfortunately for A’s fans, the rest is history.

With the loss, the A’s dropped to 20-17 on the season, good for second place in the AL West, two games behind the Mariners.

The two teams will meet in the rubber match Wednesday at 12:35 p.m. at Sutter Health Park. The A’s will send Gunnar Hoglund (1-0, 1.50 ERA, 7 K, 6 IP) to the mound against Seattle’s Bryan Woo (4-1, 2.58 ERA, 38 K, 38.1 IP).

Note of the night: A’s first baseman Nick Kurtz remains homerless through 13 games and 42 at-bats in the majors but walked twice Tuesday night. After the game, I asked manager Mark Kotsay what he’s seen from Kurtz’s recent approach.

“I think his at-bats have been good,” Kotsay said. “You don’t just come up here and dominate from day one. I think Nick’s at-bats continue to get better, and the walks are an indication that he’s laying off pitches he was chasing earlier when he got called up. These were good at-bats tonight, and he continues to build off of them.”

A’s fans continue to wait with bated breath for the first Nick Kurtz home run. However, Mark Kotsay doesn’t seem worried one bit. 

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman: Giants end 3 game losing streak with huge win over Cubs 14-5

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San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey (left) and pitcher Hayden Birdsong (right) discuss things over in the bottom of the sixth inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Mon May 5, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman:

The San Francisco Giants are playing a good team in the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field both team started Tuesday with records of 22-14. Monday’s tough 9-2 loss for the Giants is not indicative of the way they’ve playing of late. As they came back with nine runs in the top of the 11th on Tuesday night for a 14-9 win.

The Giants ran into a tough patch losing a two game series to the San Diego Padres and then dropping the first game on Monday’s game in Wrigley. The Giants got some pay back smacking the Cubs around Wrigley and snapping their three game loss streak.

Stephen Ruderman is a San Francisco Giants beat writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Yanks Judge is hitting out of his mind at .423; Big moves for PNC fall fan taking his first steps; plus more MLB news

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New York Yankees Aaron Judge takes a hack against the Tampa Bay Rays in the bottom of the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium on Sat May 3, 2025. Judge is burning up the American League with a .423 clip. (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 New York Yankees mega star Aaron Judge despite going 1-5 on Sunday Judge is hitting an amazing .423 and has a 14 game hitting streak and is hitting .474 with ten extra bases hits during the streak and and has got on base for 30 games.

#2 The 20 year old fan who fell from a 21 foot wall above the warning track at PNC onto the warning track during a Chicago Cubs-Pittsburgh Pirates game last week on Monday. Kavan Markwood has “a long way to go” to recovery. Markwood had slipped off the railing and landed on the warning track. Markwood took his first steps on Monday. Jennifer Phillips an organizer has established a GoFundMe page for Markwood saying that it will be a “a slow, slow process, but seeing him up and moving was a huge win and definitely lifted everyone’s spirits.”

#3 New York Yankee pitcher Gerrit Cole is focused on getting his brace removed off his right elbow two weeks ago after having reconstruction surgery last month. The next step of Cole is to start throwing again a goal to return for the 2026 season.

#4  Cincinnati Reds rookie leftfielder Tyler Callihan made a sliding attempt against the Atlanta Braves trying to get to a ball that turned into an inside the park home run on Monday night as the Reds were shutout by the Reds 4-0. In the bottom of third the Braves Matt Olson hit a fly that Callihan tried track down but ended up crashing into the padded wall in foul ground up the left field line. Callihan hit the wall jarring the ball out of his glove and fell on his back in pain grabbing his left arm. Callihan ended up with a broken left arm.

#5 Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman both homered and got to Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara once again in a 7-4 win over the Marlins on Monday night. The Dodgers got two hits from Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez and the Dodgers have now won eight of their last nine game on the ten game road trip.

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.

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria: A’s Wilson with third walk off hit for season; Sac now 1 game out of first place

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Sacramento A’s hitter Jacob Wilson connects for a game winning 11th inning walk off base hit at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Mon May 5, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 Sacramento A’s Jacob Wilson knocked in the winning run as the A’s edged the Seattle Mariners 7-6 in 11 innings at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Monday night in the first of a three game set.

#2 Wilson had himself quiet and evening getting three hits and three RBIs and a base hit which tied up the ball game against the M’s pitcher Andres Munoz in the tenth that scored ghost runner JJ Bleday.

#3 In the 11th inning A’s Gio Urshela got on board with on a sacrifice bunt and the M’s intentionally walked two hitters to load the bases with Wilson coming up. Wilson got a walk off base hit off M’s pitcher Casey Legumina that went up the middle when the infield was playing in for the win. It was Wilson’s third walk off hit this season.

#4 A’s reliever Mason Miller walked two hitters in the top of the ninth and struck out M’s hitter Cal Raleigh to retire the side. Miller who had a blown save in Miami comes through big on Monday night against the first place Mariners.

#5 Tuesday night’s match up at Sutter Health as RHP Emerson Hancock (1-1 ERA 6.62) making the start for the Mariners and for the A’s LHP Jefferey Springs (4-3 ERA 4.98) for a 7:05pm first pitch. Springs picked up the win against the Texas Rangers in Arlington after going six innings, two hits and no runs scored on Thu May 1.

Join Tony Renteria for the Athletics podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Dan Wilson’s Gamble Backfires as Jacob Wilson Lifts A’s to Walk-Off Win

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Jacob Wilson celebrates his walk-off hit on Monday night at Sutter Health Park (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — Jacob Wilson is unbelievable! Monday, Jacob went 3-6 with three RBI and had the game tying hit in the 10th inning to go along with the walk-off knock in the 11th. 

The A’s, after Jacob Wilson tied the game with an RBI single in the 10th, proceeded to load the bases with no outs and a chance for three batters to win it. Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker, and Tyler Soderstrom all struck out to end the threat and send the game to the 11th inning. Hogan Harris held the Mariners scoreless in the top half, giving the A’s another chance to walk it off.

Soderstrom began the bottom of the 11th as the designated runner at second base. Gio Urshela dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move him to third with one out. That’s when the madness began for Mariners skipper Dan Wilson. He chose to walk Shai Langeliers—an understandable decision to set up a potential inning-ending double play. What came next, however, defied logic.

The Mariners manager intentionally walked A’s center fielder JJ Bleday to load the bases for Jacob Wilson. On paper, the move could be justified by setting up a force at any base, but it ignored Wilson’s elite skill set and his scorching numbers this season. Entering the at-bat, Wilson was hitting .419 with runners in scoring position—an outrageous figure.

With the table set, Wilson did what he does best—he lined a ball into center field for a base hit and the game-winning RBI, lifting the A’s to a 7–6 victory. He was mobbed by teammates near second base as they celebrated their 20th win of the season and another thrilling moment in their strong turnaround after a slow start.

A’s starter Luis Severino went six innings, allowing four runs on five hits while striking out five and walking four.

In addition to their 10th and 11th inning heroics, the A’s scored in the first, second, fourth, and seventh innings. Miguel Andujar drove in a run with a sac fly in the first, and Jacob Wilson added an RBI single in the second. In the fourth, Shai Langeliers homered and Butler delivered an RBI single. Langeliers added another RBI with a sac fly in the seventh.

The A’s bullpen was once again excellent, tossing five innings of two-run ball while surrendering just three hits.

Sacramento will go for the series win Tuesday night as game two of the three-game set begins at 7:05 p.m. PST from Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.

Cubs Score Five Runs In Sixth Inning Beating San Francisco 9-2

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Chicago Cubs Carson Kelly (15) rounds the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning as the San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman (foreground) can only watch at Wrigley Field in Chicago Mon May 5, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (22-14) kept pace with the Chicago Cubs (22-14) going into the fourth inning. With the game tied, the Cubs made their move scoring 2 runs taking a 4-2 lead. The sixth inning was the killer for the Giants. The Cubs scored five runs winning the game 9-2. Chicago’s defense was superb finishing the game with 9 hits and put out an equally dangerous offensive effort.

Game recap: Two quick opening innings took this game into the third inning. The Giants had one hit in the first two innings, a single by Matt Chapman in the second but that was it for the offense. The Cubs also had two quiet innings to start the game.

The Giants went three up, three out in the third inning but the Cubs Dansby Swanson doubled in the bottom of the third followed by top of the order batter Ian Happ who hit a two run home to right center taking a 2-0 lead. The Giants had an error in the first that would be followed by more infield problems.

San Francisco tied up the game in the fourth inning when Luis Matos homered to left center driving Matt Chapman home for the 2-2 score. The Giants rally was stopped short when the Cubs pushed the score back out to 4-2.

With two outs the Giants were almost out of the inning but the Cubs Nico Hoerner singled, Dansby Swanson singled and Nicky Lopez singled in an offensive flurry. Swanson’s single drove in base runners Crow-Armstrong and Hoerner who both scored for the 4-2 tally. San Francisco had a second Giant’s error in the inning. San Francisco finally got out of the inning but the damage had been done.

The Cubs had more in store for the visiting Giant’s. Chicago went crazy in the fateful sixth inning scoring five runs and taking a 9-2 lead. Carson Kelly got the inning going with a solo home run.

The Cubs would extend their lead when they loaded the bases with no outs. Relief pitcher Spencer Bevins had a rough time loading the bases and walking in another run for a 6-4 lead. Hoerner sacrificed and a third run crossed home plate.

Chicago finished off the inning with a Seiya Susaki single that drove in both Nicky Lopez and Dansby Swanson for a 9-2 lead going into the seventh inning.

A quiet seventh and eighth inning took San Francisco into the top of the ninth inning down to their last three outs. The Giants went quietly into the night losing game one to Chicago 9-2. The four errors San Francisco had contributed to this loss. The Giants have had quite a time with errors this season; already 20 so far.

San Francisco Giant’s starting pitcher Landen Roupp went 5.0 innings finishing with five hits, two earned runs, no walks and four strikeouts.

Game notes: Monday evening the Giants took on the Cubs kicking off a six game road trip. San Francisco has dropped into third place in the National League West but is within a game and half of first place. Both clubs have good records but Chicago is holding down first place in the National League Central , three full games ahead of the second place Reds. The Cubs won their series with the Brewers over the weekend and the Giants also won their weekend series against the Colorado Rockies. The opening game of this game was pretty clear that the Cubs have the pitching which they got out of starter Matthew Boyd and plenty of hitting with a five run rally in the bottom of the sixth.

Tuesday the Giants Justin Verlander (0-2 ERA 4.38) will take another crack at it on the mound looking for his first win as a Giant. The Cubs will start Colin Rea 2-0 who comes in with a 1.46 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 4:40 PM

6th inning bases loaded no outs

Sacramento Athletics podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s continue with best road record in baseball at 12-7

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Sacramento A’s Tyler Soderstrom slugs an RBI single that scored teammate Nick Kurtz in the top of the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at Loan Depot in Miami on Sun May 4, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Athletics game wrap:

#1 Sacramento A’s rookie Nick Kurtz hit a triple in the top of the ninth inning and wound up scoring on a base hit by Tyler Soderstrom that helped the A’s beat the Marlins 3-2 on Sunday.

#2 Kurtz hit a pitch from Marlins pitcher Anthony Bender down the left field line and Soderstrom hit a single that helped give the A’s with two outs and get the two out of three game series win. The A’s with the win are now 13-7 and have the best road record in the AL.

#3 The A’s jumped on the lead in second inning when Miguel Andujar and Jacob Wilson got base hits on Marlins pitcher Edward Cabrera. Andujar and Wilson scored when Gio Urshela hit a double. Later Usrshela was thrown out by Dane Myers at home on a Jhonny Pereda single to end the inning.

#4 The Marlins tied up the game with two down and the bases empty and got a rally pitcher JP Sears for two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. But that was all they were going to get as the Marlins fell short by a run to Sacramento 3-2.

#5 The A’s return back to Sacramento and host the Seattle Mariners on Monday night at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento for the first of a three game series. Starting pitcher for the M’s Bryce Miller (2-3 ERA 3.52) for the A’s Louis Severino (1-3, ERA 3.30) first pitch 7:05pm PDT.

Join Barbara Mason for the Athletics podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants game wrap: Adames hits two HRs, and Giants win series in 9-3 laugher over Rockies

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San Francisco Giants game wrap:

San Francisco Giants Wilmer Flores (41) congratulates Willy Adames (right) who had two home runs after the game against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun May 4, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sunday, May 4, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Colorado Rockies 3 (6-28)

San Francisco Giants 9 (22-13)

Win: Logan Webb (4-2)

Loss: German Marquez (0-6)

Time: 2:29

Attendance: 41,087

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–Willy Adames hit two home runs, and the Giants took the series over the Rockies in a 9-3 laugher.

As the Giants looked to take the series against the Rockies Sunday, they had the perfect man on the mound in their ace, Logan Webb. To be honest though, Webb had a bit of a rocky time—no pun intended—in the top of the first inning. Webb only gave up one hit, but the Rockies hit the ball hard off him.

The Rockies also had the perfect man on the mound for the Giants in German Marquez, who came into today’s game 0-5 with a 9.82 ERA. Mike Yastrzamski lined out to begin the bottom of the first inning, but with one out, Willy Adames battled his way through a long at-bat, as he fouled off four two-strike pitches

The longer an at-bat goes, the more the momentum is going to swing in favor of the hitter, because he’s getting a great look at what the pitcher is throwing. Even if Adames strikes out, it’s a great at-bat, because he got a lot of pitches out of Marquez, and because he can give a detailed scouting report to his teammates on what Marquez is featuring.

Adames ended up with the best result possible. On the tenth pitch, he hit a home run to left-center field, which not only got the Giants on the board, but got this sold-out crowd into the game early.

Webb then settled down with a scoreless top of the second and a one, two, three top of the third. Marquez also settled down with a scoreless bottom of the second, and he retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the third.

With two outs, up came Adames, who hit his second home run of the game. This one was a mammoth blast to left field that went about a third of the way up into the bleachers. Okay, maybe it wasn’t a total mammoth blast, but it certainly seemed and felt like one.

Webb worked through some trouble in the top of the fourth, and he got a chopper off his leg which he turned into a 1-3 putout. Webb immediately shooed to the dugout to make sure nobody came out, but Dave Groeschner came out anyway. Of course Webb was fine, and he stayed in the game.

After Marquez threw his first one, two, three inning of the day in the bottom of the fourth, the Rockies got on the board in the top of the fifth. Mickey Moniak led off the inning with a triple, and Jacob Stallings got him in with a base-hit to left to make it 2-1.

Alan Trejo reached on an error, and Webb was in trouble. However, Webb then got Brenton Doyle to ground into a double play, and he struck out Jordan Beck to end the inning with the Giants still ahead.

The Giants had their response in the bottom of the fifth. Luis Matos led off with a double, and Patrick Bailey singled him over to third. Christian Koss grounded out, but Mike Yastrzemski knocked in a pair with a base-hit to center, and that made it 4-1.

That did it for Marquez, as the Rockies brought in Angel Chivilli.

Only three times in the history of Oracle Park has a player hit three home runs in a game. Kevin Elster did it for the Dodgers the day the park opened on April 11, 2000; Pablo Sandoval of course did it in Game 1 of the 2012 World Series against the Tigers; and Joc Pederson did it in a wild game against the Mets on May 24, 2022.

Willy Adames had a chance to be the fourth man to do it. He hit a long fly ball deep to right-center field, but the ball hit off the wall. Yaz scored to make it 5-1, so not all was lost.

The Giants had scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth, and Webb remained in control. The Giants scored four more in the bottom of the seventh to make it a laugher at 9-1, but Willy Adames was unable to get that elusive third home run. Still, 3-for-5 with a pair of home runs, a double and three RBIs ain’t shabby.

Webb went seven innings when all was said and done. He walked two, and struck out six.

The Rockies scored a pair of runs off Spencer Bivens in the top of the eighth to make it 9-3. Lou Trivino came in for the ninth and ran into a bit of trouble, but he ended up pitching a scoreless inning to end it.

Logan Webb got the win, and Garman Marquez got the loss.

The Giants responded to their first three-game losing streak of the year with a three-game winning streak, as they improve to 22-13.

The Giants will head to the friendly confines of Wrigley Field in Chicago to take on the Cubs, who themselves are off to a great start at 21-14. The Giants will have three in Chicago Monday through Wednesday, and then three in Minnesota against the Twins over the weekend Friday through Sunday.

Landen Roupp (2-2, 5.10 ERA) will take the ball for the Giants in the series opener Sunday night. Left-hander Matthew Boyd (2-2, 2.70 ERA) will go for the Cubs. First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m. at Wrigley, 4:40 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

Giants News and Notes:

Sunday’s crowd of 41,087 was the eighth sellout of the season here at Oracle Park. The Giants are just two sellouts shy of their highest total since 2018, which is 10 (2022 and 2024).

Athletics Edge Marlins 3-2 with Late-Inning Heroics from Rookie and a Steady Sears

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Sacramento A’s Nick Kurtz (left) dives into third base for a triple as the Miami Marlins third baseman Connor Norby (right) puts on the tag a little late at Loan Depot Park in Miami on Sun May 4, 2025 (AP News photo)

Athletics Edge Marlins with Late-Inning Heroics from Rookie and a Steady Sears

By Mauricio Segura

The green and gold keep finding new ways to win, and on Sunday, it came down to a clutch swing from a newcomer and ice-cold nerves from a bullpen looking to bounce back. Tyler Soderstrom’s ninth-inning RBI single broke a 2-2 tie, lifting the Sacramento Athletics to a 3-2 win over the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park. The victory helped the Athletics close out the road trip 5-2 and keep pace in the AL West with their eighth win in 12 games.

Nick Kurtz, the A’s No. 1 prospect, kickstarted the decisive frame with a one-out triple, the first of his week-long career, before Soderstrom, pinch-hitting for Luis Urías, lined a go-ahead single to center to drive him in. Soderstrom also swiped second for good measure, flashing the kind of confident hustle that’s becoming his trademark.

That one run proved enough for right-hander Tyler Ferguson, who nailed down his first career save with a clean ninth, striking out Kyle Stowers to end it.

The A’s had taken an early 2-0 lead in the second inning on Gio Urshela’s two-run double, but the Marlins answered in the fourth when Dane Myers’ sharp double into right brought home two to even the score. It stayed gridlocked from there, as both bullpens traded scoreless innings until Soderstrom’s dagger in the ninth.

JP Sears continued his quietly dominant run as the A’s most reliable starter. The lefty tossed 5.2 innings of one-run ball, striking out four and walking none. Sears has now issued two walks or fewer in all seven of his starts and holds a 2.94 ERA. His control remains elite, only 1.60 walks per nine innings this season, and he’s yet to allow a first-inning run all year.

The Athletics’ defense backed Sears well, especially Jacob Wilson and Gio Urshela, who both made key plays on tough grounders. Offensively, Wilson collected two more hits and continues to thrive with runners on, now batting .400 in those situations. Meanwhile, Miguel Andujar extended his hot streak with another multi-hit game and a stolen base, pushing his average to .347 over his last 19 contests.

The bullpen was airtight. Mitch Spence followed Sears with 2.1 innings of one-hit ball before giving way to Ferguson. Together, they locked up Miami over the final 3.1 innings, a welcome sight after Saturday’s bullpen meltdown.

With the win, the Athletics improve to 19-16 and secure a second best spot in the AL West just half a game in front of 3rd place Houston and 2.5 games behind Seattle.

They return home Monday to face the first-place Seattle Mariners starting for the M’s Bryce Miller (2-3 ERA 3.52) with A’s starter Luis Severino (1-3 ERA 3.30) on the mound, looking to ride this momentum through the homestand.

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.