Category: Sacramento A’s

Sacramento A’s game wrap: Athletics Fall Short in Extra Innings 5-4 at Fenway

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Boston Red Sox Nate Eaton slides underneath Sacramento A’s catcher Shea Langeliers for the game winning run in the bottom of the tenth inning at Fenway Park in Boston on Wed Sep 17, 2025 (AP News photo)

Athletics Fall Short in Extra Innings 5-4 at Fenway

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics found themselves locked in another razor-thin battle in Beantown. From early long balls to late-inning strategy, and ultimately heartbreak in extras, the game provided plenty of edge of your seat excitement.

Unfortunately, after clawing their way through nine innings of back-and-forth baseball, the Green and Gold dropped a 5-4 decision to the Boston Red Sox on a frustrating walk-off fielder’s choice in the tenth.

Mason Barnett made his fourth career start and, consistent with his brief track record, worked in and out of trouble before turning things over to the bullpen. Boston wasted little time drawing first blood in the first inning when Masataka Yoshida singled home Trevor Story after a passed ball advanced the runner into scoring position.

Barnett’s uneven command left him exposed again in the second, as Rob Refsnyder hammered a solo homer to give the Sox a 2-1 edge. The Athletics had briefly tied it in the top half on a Lawrence Butler run manufactured by a Carlos Cortes double and a Darell Hernaiz sacrifice fly.

Sacramento’s offense threatened in the third when Nick Kurtz singled and Shea Langeliers drew a walk, but they came up empty after Brent Rooker’s flyout and Tyler Soderstrom’s strikeout. Jacob Wilson added a base hit, but Butler went down swinging to strand the bases loaded. That missed opportunity loomed large, as Barnett labored through the bottom half, yielding a Jarren Duran single and wild pitch before escaping further damage.

The A’s briefly found rhythm in the fifth. Langeliers and Rooker both reached base, setting the table for Soderstrom and Wilson. A walk forced in a run to tie it 2-2, and Hernaiz followed with the biggest swing of the night, a two-run single that put Sacramento ahead 4-2.

For a moment, the Fenway crowd hushed as the Green and Gold seized momentum. But the Red Sox quickly responded in their half, capitalizing on a defensive miscue at second base. Duran and Story reached, and Yoshida’s infield single plated a run. By the end of the inning, the margin was cut to 4-3.

From there, the bullpens took over. Tyler Ferguson, Justin Sterner, Elvis Alvarado, and Michael Kelly were summoned in succession, and each found themselves in high-leverage moments. In the sixth, Trevor Story tied the game with a sharp RBI single to center, and suddenly it was 4-4 heading into the late innings. The A’s had no answers for Boston’s relief corps, striking out frequently and failing to advance runners in scoring position. Wilson and Soderstrom combined for four hits, but timely execution was lacking.

The ninth inning embodied the night’s frustration. With two outs, Soderstrom singled and Wilson followed with another sharp liner to right, putting runners on the corners. Butler lofted a fly ball to left that died in Jarren Duran’s glove, ending the threat.

The game drifted into extras, where the A’s simply could not manufacture the big hit. Colby Thomas reached to start the tenth, but consecutive strikeouts and a pop out left Butler stranded at third.

That opened the door for Boston. With Nate Eaton placed at second under the new rules, the Red Sox bunted him to third, then watched as Nick Sogard chopped a grounder to second. Zack Gelof’s only play was to first, allowing Eaton to score the game-winner. Just like that, Sacramento’s bid for a third straight win in Boston vanished.

For the Athletics, the loss was another in a season filled with one-run battles. They fell to 18-21 in such games, with both of their victories against Boston this year decided by a single run. Despite offensive firepower, with Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, and Brent Rooker all pushing toward 30-plus home run seasons, the club remains plagued by inconsistent pitching and stranded baserunners.

Barnett’s line reflected the struggle: multiple innings cut short by missed execution and an early hook that forced the bullpen into heavy duty. Overall, it was a great showing of traditional baseball.

Starting pitchers for Thursday for Sacramento RHP JT Ginn (3-6 ERA 4.69) for the Boston Red Sox RHP Brayan Bello (11-7 ERA 3.25) first pitch 10:35am PT.

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 Nick Kurtz Rookie of the Year

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Sacramento A’s slugger Nick Kurtz is congratulated in the A’s dugout after hitting a two run home run against the Cincinnati Reds at Sutter Health Park in Cincinnati on Sun Sep 14, 2025 (AP News photo)

A’s Nick Kurtz Rookie of the Year

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

On November 18 at 6 PM ET, the BBWAA will announce its Rookie of the Year Award. In the American League, there is only one player who deserves such an accolade: Nick Kurtz.

Kurtz became a name in baseball this year. Kurtz of the Sacramento Athletics is the first and only rookie in Major League Baseball history to hit four home runs in a single game, a feat he accomplished on July 25, 2025, against the Houston Astros. His six-hit, four-homer performance also tied the MLB record for total bases in a game, set by Shawn Green in 2002.

The Athletics were the first team to have three consecutive players winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award. OF José Canseco in 1986,1B Mark McGwire in 1987, and shortstop Walt Weiss in 1988. For us who covered/broadcast that great era of A’s baseball, those three were key players in the championship seasons under the Walter Haas ownership.

Wednesday, with approximately ten games left in the regular season for most teams, the A’s have two top candidates for the 2025 Rookie of the Year Award. 22-year-old first baseman Kurtz and 23-year-old shortstop Jacob Wilson, who was also the starting shortstop for the American League in this season’s All-Star Game. Other American League rookies that are notable, but will not win the Rookie of the Year, are Boston outfielder Roman Anthony and Houston outfielder Cam Smith.

The A’s (now playing in Sacramento temporarily) are entering the last part of the season with the possibility of ending in fourth place again, like last season. The difference is that this 2025 season, the A’s have new blood, including very young and talented players, among them the two rookies like Kurtz and Wilson, who have propelled the team to a better record than the 69-93 Oakland A’s of 2024.

History: Jackie Robinson won the first official Rookie of the Year award in 1947. The award was given to only one player for both leagues in 1947 and 1948, but has been given to one player in each league since 1949. The award was later named the Jackie Robinson Award. 

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

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. 

Soderstrom and Harris Spark Athletics to Narrow 2-1 Win at Fenway

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Soderstrom and Harris Spark Athletics to Narrow 2-1 Win at Fenway

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics keep finding ways to make things interesting. Tuesday night’s pendulum swung between frustration and redemption, the Green and Gold leaned on timely hitting from Tyler Soderstrom and Brett Harris to beat the Boston Red Sox 2–1 at Fenway Park.

It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough to extend a September surge that has kept the club competitive despite being mathematically eliminated from the postseason.

The night began with little to celebrate for Jeffrey Springs. The veteran left-hander, making his 31st appearance of the year, struggled again with efficiency. Springs surrendered the first run of the game in the third when Rob Refsnyder worked a walk and came around on Carlos Narváez’s double that deflected awkwardly off Lawrence Butler in center.

That lone blemish stung given the A’s inability to generate offense early. Shea Langeliers and Jacob Wilson reached in the first inning, but both were left stranded. By the middle of the fourth, Sacramento had more strikeouts than baserunners.

The game flipped in the sixth inning when the offense finally found an edge. Wilson singled to start the inning, and after Nick Kurtz went down swinging, Boston went to the bullpen. That decision cracked the door for Soderstrom, who came off the bench with two outs and promptly ripped a double into left field to score Wilson and tie the game.

A pinch-hit walk from Carlos Cortes kept the pressure on, and Harris delivered the dagger with a line drive single that brought Soderstrom across to give Sacramento its first lead at 2–1.

From there, the bullpen took over and protected the slim advantage with an efficiency that has become a late-season trademark. Mitch Spence, called up again from Triple-A, navigated through the middle innings and handed things off to Hogan Harris, who picked off Nick Sogard to escape the eighth.

The ninth belonged to Zack Gelof defensively, as the second baseman entered on a double switch and immediately turned a crisp game-ending double play with Jacob Wilson.

While the scorebook highlights Soderstrom and Harris as the heroes, the bigger story remains Sacramento’s ability to outlast opponents despite offensive inconsistencies. The club entered the night ranked third in the majors in slugging since the All-Star break. Not bad, it leaves hope for next season for sure!

Starting pitchers for Wednesday’s game for the A’s RHP Mason Barnett (1-1 ERA 8.53) for the Red Sox RHP Lucas Giolito (10-4 ERA 3.31) first pitch 3:45pm PT.

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 podcast Barbara Mason: A’s take momentum from sweep to Boston Tuesday

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The Cincinnati Reds Gavin Lux (2) is thrown out sliding into home plate in the fourth inning by Sacramento A’s catcher Willie MacIver (left) at Sutter Health Park on Sun Sep 14, 2025 (Dennis Lee-Imagn Images photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:

#1  Sacramento A’s rookie Nick Kurtz hit one of four of the Athletics home runs that put Sacramento ahead in the bottom of the fifth 7-4 over the visiting Cincinnati Reds 7-4 on Sunday afternoon.

#2 The A’s wound up sweeping the Reds and the loss pushes the Reds 2.5 back in the NL Wild Card as the A’s played spoiler.

#3 The A’s Jacob Wilson, Colby Thomas, and Brent Rooker hit home runs as the A’s came back from being down 3-0. The win also passes their 2024 win total with 12 regular season games remaining.

#4 Wilson and Thomas hit home runs in the bottom of the fourth. Nick Kurtz hit a home run with two out in the fifth inning for his 32nd of the season.

#5 Sacramento heads to Boston to open up a three game series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Starting pitcher for the A’s LHP Jefferey Springs (10-11 ERA 4.28) the Sox have not announced a starter for Tuesday night’s game first pitch 3:45pm PT.

Join Barbara for the A’s podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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

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

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

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

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

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Sacramento Bats Blast Reds 7-4 in Series Closer

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Sacramento A’s reliever Michael Kelly (49) shuts the door on the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Sun Sep 14, 2025 (Athletics X photo)

Sacramento Bats Blast Reds in Series Closer

By Mauricio Segura

WEST SACRAMENTO–For three innings on Sunday afternoon, it looked like the Sacramento Athletics were about to limp into another quiet loss. The Cincinnati Reds came out swinging, tagging rookie starter Luis Morales for an early barrage and silencing the home crowd with a pair of long balls.

But if the 2025 Athletics have proven anything, it’s that they can take a punch, reset, and then slug their way right back into a fight. By the time the dust settled, the Green and Gold had out-homered Cincinnati, flexed the depth of their power, and stormed to a 7-4 win that completed a series sweep and gave fans another taste of why this late-season stretch has been worth watching.

Cincinnati wasted no time getting on the board. Noelvi Marte ripped a solo homer in the first, his 13th of the season, and two innings later, Will Benson’s two-run shot off Morales had the Reds sitting pretty with a 3-0 lead. Morales, making just his seventh career start, looked rattled early. His command wavered, and although he settled down to induce some ground ball outs, the Reds appeared in control, capitalizing on every mistake he left over the plate.

In the bottom of the fourth, Jacob Wilson, who continues to flirt with a batting title in his rookie campaign, stepped up and launched a solo homer into the left-field seats, sparking life in the dugout. Moments later, Colby Thomas followed suit with his sixth homer, this one a laser to left-center that brought Sacramento within a run. Suddenly, Lodolo’s early strut turned into a careful grind.

The fifth inning delivered the decisive moment. After Wilson was hit by a pitch, Nick Kurtz stepped in, and as he’s done so many times this year, turned the game on its head with one violent swing. His two-run shot, a towering drive to left, gave Sacramento its first lead of the day at 4-3. For Kurtz, it was his 32nd of the season, putting him further ahead of the rookie leaderboard and reaffirming what scouts have been saying since spring: this is a cornerstone bat in the making.

With momentum firmly in their favor, the A’s added insurance in the sixth when Thomas singled and Brett Harris laced a double down the line to make it 5-3. Brent Rooker then joined the power parade in the seventh, belting his 29th of the year to dead center. By then, Cincinnati’s bullpen looked shell-shocked, and Sacramento’s confidence was on full display. Thomas capped his afternoon with another hit in the seventh, part of a three-hit day that showcased his knack for producing in the middle of rallies.

The Reds tried to claw back in the eighth, with Sal Stewart cutting the deficit to 7-4 on a solo homer, but the A’s bullpen had enough answers. Brady Basso, Tyler Ferguson, Sean Newcomb, and Justin Sterner combined to bridge the gap before Michael Kelly closed things out in the ninth.

Morales, despite his shaky start, was backed up perfectly by a relief corps that has quietly transformed itself since the All-Star break. Once one of the shakiest units in baseball, Sacramento’s bullpen has carried a 3.01 ERA since late June, among the best in the majors.

The win carried significance beyond the box score. By sweeping Cincinnati, the Athletics improved to 69-80 on the season, officially eliminating them from AL West contention but keeping a flicker of Wild Card math alive, at least for another day.

More importantly, the team continued to prove it can hang with opponents by out-homering them, a formula that has worked like clockwork. Sacramento is now 44-9 when it clears the fences more often than its opponent, a staggering .830 winning percentage that underscores just how central power has become to its identity.

That reliance on the long ball might not always be sustainable, but this September surge is giving fans glimpses of the future. Kurtz, Wilson, and Thomas are all rookies. Together, they combined for four hits, three runs, and three home runs in Sunday’s victory.

It’s the kind of production that hints at a foundation being built, not just a streak of hot bats. Wilson, hitting .318, continues to press Aaron Judge for the AL batting crown, something an Athletic hasn’t won since Ferris Fain in 1952. Kurtz, meanwhile, already has more home runs than any A’s rookie since Yoenis Céspedes, and Thomas is quickly proving he can be more than just a depth piece.

Rooker, the veteran presence among the mashers, keeps doing his part too. His seventh-inning homer not only gave Sacramento breathing room, it also put him among the league leaders in doubles and extra-base hits. If the rookies are the promise of tomorrow, Rooker is the reminder that established power can still set the tone today.

It wasn’t a perfect afternoon. Morales lasted just 4.2 innings and was tagged for three early runs, raising questions about how many more innings his arm can handle this year. But even that storyline had a silver lining. Morales is just weeks removed from pitching in Double-A, and for all the lumps he’s taken, the A’s are 4-2 in his starts. That kind of trial by fire is how young rotations are forged.

By the time Kelly induced TJ Friedl’s final out in the ninth, the 8,778 fans in attendance were on their feet, savoring a series sweep that carried the weight of both momentum and meaning. It’s been a long, uneven season for Sacramento, one defined by brutal losing streaks and flashes of promise. Sunday’s win leaned hard into the latter, a young team showing fight, flashing power, and sending a message that the future might not be as far away as it sometimes feels.

As the A’s now pack their bags for Boston, they do so with a swagger that only comes from beating a team at its own game. Cincinnati brought the early thunder, but Sacramento answered with a storm of its own. And if this weekend was any indication, the Athletics’ blueprint is clear: keep swinging, keep slugging, and let the long ball carry them wherever it can.

Sacramento heads to Boston to open up a three game series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Starting pitcher for the A’s LHP Jefferey Springs (10-11 ERA 4.28) the Sox have not announced a starter for Tuesday night’s game first pitch 3:45pm PT.

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. 

Kurtz’s 493-Foot Grand Slam Powers A’s Past Reds 11-5 on Hall of Fame Night

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Nick Kurtz #16 of the Athletics hits a grand slam during the bottom of the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Sutter Health Park on September 13, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Scott Marshall/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento A’s and some of the Cincinnati Reds celebrated a special day at Sutter Health Park on Saturday night as the A’s inducted their Athletics Hall of Fame 2025 Class. The players inducted were Mark Mulder, Barry Zito, and Tim Hudson, alongside longtime broadcaster Monte Moore.

It was a special group honored during the sunset hour in West Sacramento, albeit after a 10-minute delay caused by fireworks tripping the stadium’s fire alarm systems. The stadium and all PA capabilities were temporarily disabled, presumably a protocol set up by the fire systems. However, once the teams took the field, it was business as usual as the A’s defeated the Reds 11-5.

Luis Severino didn’t pitch well in his Sutter Health Park return since coming back from injury and making two starts on the road. Severino went five innings for the A’s, giving up five runs on six hits while walking two Reds hitters. As has been the case much of the 2025 season, he was hit around at Sutter Health Park and has only been able to earn six wins so far this season with the Athletics.

Mark Kotsay spoke about the start after the game.

“…The attack into the zone is what we’re looking for and obviously the result wasn’t great, but he gave us five innings and kept us in the game.”

The bullpen

The bullpen, which has turned into a strength for Kotsay and his staff this season, came in and pitched lights out once again. Michael Kelly relieved Severino and tossed a scoreless sixth inning, giving up just a hit and a walk while striking out one.

Brady Basso pitched the seventh for the A’s and tossed a perfect frame, retiring the three hitters he faced without incident. Following Basso, Kotsay gave the ball to Elvis Alvarado to pitch the eighth inning. Alvarado pitched well in a scoreless inning, allowing just one hit.

The ninth inning belonged to Hogan Harris, who pitched a clean frame with the exception of a walk he stranded on the bases.

“I love talking about the success of the bullpen right now,” Kotsay said after the game. “It’s funny, Rollie Fingers was standing next to me before the ceremony started and he said, ‘Hey, I’ve got a story for you. I went into the clubhouse today and was kind of asking around, “Who’s the closer?” And they all went, “We all are!”’ That was great. That’s the mindset down there. There’s a group of guys down there that are thriving on their opportunity, prepared for it, and when they get the ball, they’re going in and having success.”

The bats

The A’s bats chased the Reds starter early after putting up five runs on four hits against flamethrower Hunter Greene.

The A’s got on the board with a Brent Rooker solo homer to left-center in the second inning, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Only three batters later, Friday night’s hero Carlos Cortes stepped up and homered of his own. On the 12th pitch of the at-bat, Cortes sent a ball 398 feet to right field to give the A’s a 3-2 lead.

The offense added on in the third inning when Jacob Wilson hit a two-RBI ground-rule double off the leg of Greene, putting the A’s up 5-2.

The bats weren’t done, continuing to pile on against the Reds bullpen. In the seventh, Wilson hit his second RBI double of the game, scoring Shea Langeliers. One inning later, Lawrence Butler drove in Darell Hernaiz with an RBI single.

Nick Kurtz capped the scoring with a booming eighth-inning grand slam that traveled an eye-popping 493 feet to dead center. Kurtz cleared the batter’s eye with his mammoth shot, sending Sacramento into a frenzy.

“I really can’t speak any more about Nick. I don’t know if there’s words that can describe that at-bat… he continues to just impress,” Kotsay said. “The impact on that baseball was one, like I’ve seen with a couple guys that showed up today and were part of that Hall of Fame ceremony, and I think you guys know who I’m talking about. Canseco and McGwire used to hit walls like that—in a different era. Nick’s not in that era.”

Severino and many of the Athletics joked about the state of their vehicles following the power display from Kurtz.

“Hopefully my car is alright. I mean, my car was parked right behind that, but hopefully it’s good,” Severino said. “It’s unbelievable. I can’t imagine anybody else going deep center field 500 feet. That’s crazy.”

“I think we’re going to have to make up a new word for what he did to that ball,” Lawrence Butler said. “That was insane. He’s done insane stuff all year. I don’t know what else he has to do to top everything he’s done this year. I mean, this is one of the greatest rookie years I’ve ever seen.”

Overall, the A’s offense put up 11 runs on 12 hits while walking seven times against the Reds pitching staff.

Fact of the Game

Lawrence Butler became the first Athletics player to have a 20-homer/20-stolen base season since fellow No. 4, Coco Crisp, did it in 2013.

Theo Derosa asked Butler after the game how it feels to be the first player since Crisp to achieve the milestone. 

“Yeah, that feels really good. That’s amazing. He wore number four. I wear number four too, so that’s pretty cool to hear that.”

Up next

The A’s will take on the Reds in the series finale Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PST at Sutter Health Park. Luis Morales (3-1, 2.73 ERA) is slated to start for the A’s against Nick Lodolo (8-7, 3.10 ERA) for the Reds.

⚡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 Daniel Dullum podcast: One downtown location A’s missed 12th and Broadway in What could have been

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AI generated photo of A’s ballpark at 12th Street and Broadway in downtown Oakland a simulated dream of what could have been (AI generated photo)

Sacramento A’s Relocation Daniel Dullum podcast:

#1 Daniel, One other location the A’s would’ve could’ve should’ve had considered was 12th and Broadway in downtown Oakland across the street from the Broadway Street Marriott Hotel what a dream location it would have been the BART subway underneath Broadway and there is very little doubt that a park in that location would have drawn sell outs every night and owner John Fisher wouldn’t have to worry about any ballpark village that park location alone would have been a cash cow.

#2 It’s always about the location and if Howard Terminal didn’t work for the City of Oakland and MLB at the time 12th Street would have been a hub and baseball’s teams should consider locations like this with lots of potential.

#3  Friday Sep 6th a State of Nevada District Judge ruled that an attempt to stop some of the $380 million coming from the Nevada State Legislature will be allowed to be allocated. The Nevada State Education Association and Schools over Stadiums union pointed out that the bill violated the state constitution.

#4 After Friday’s ruling the A’s are rolling ahead with the construction of the park and are working on pouring cement that’s going vertical.

#5 None of the $380 million has not been spent yet and approvals to spend the money have not been met. The State of Nevada is waiting for A’s owner John Fisher to come up with his share of the construction cost. The reason why Schools over Stadiums constitution challenge was not consider was because the public money will not be made available until the A’s pay their share of the construction cost.

Join Daniel Dullum for the Sacramento A’s relocation podcasts each weekend at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

⚡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. 

Cortes Homers Twice as A’s Shut Out Reds 3-0

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Carlos Cortes #26 of the Athletics is congratulated by third base coach Eric Martins #3 after he hit his second solo home run of the game against the Cincinnati Reds in the bottom of the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on September 12, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — Fresh off an off day on Thursday, the Athletics welcomed the Cincinnati Reds to Sacramento on Friday night. The A’s controlled the game from the start and took game one of the three-game series 3-0.

J.T. Ginn, who has had a very up-and-down season recently for the A’s, was playing with his food all night in Sacramento. However, Ginn managed to escape without allowing any damage and tossed four and a third innings before being removed with an injury. The word from the A’s clubhouse was Ginn left with a “right calf cramp.” Ginn, who walked four and didn’t appear to have his best command, only surrendered two hits in his scoreless outing.

Kotsay was impressed with Ginn’s ability to work out of trouble, but eight three-ball counts and four walks remain an issue for him.

“I think there’s still a lot of room for growth for J.T.,” Kotsay said postgame. “We talk about it a lot, getting ’em out there, getting these starts to get more experience on what it takes.”

Ginn spoke after the game about how he thought he was pitching before the injury and shared a similar assessment to Kotsay’s.

“I thought I could’ve done better filling up the zone early, but I think I pitched out of some big situations and made pitches when I had to, so I thought it was good.”

Ginn continued on the severity of the injury that caused him to leave the game and whether he felt it would be an issue moving forward.

“The first pitch of that last at-bat there I felt it and it kind of just stuck around… I think it was just a cramp, so I think I’ll be ready to go.”

The A’s bullpen did what it has been doing for much of the last month. The bullpen came in and slammed the door on the Reds.

Tyler Ferguson relieved J.T. Ginn after the injury and recorded the last two outs of the fifth inning without incident. Ferguson then went on to toss a scoreless sixth inning for the A’s, allowing one hit and one walk across his inning and a third of relief.

Hogan Harris came on to pitch the seventh inning and allowed no runs and only one hit.

Justin Sterner wasn’t as sharp as he might normally be as he gave up two hits to the Reds but ultimately escaped unscathed in a scoreless eighth inning.

Finally, Mark Kotsay went to Sean Newcomb in the ninth inning. Newcomb, who has become accustomed to high-leverage roles after having success this season with the A’s, struck out the side in a scoreless top of the ninth inning.

On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s kept steady pressure on the Reds all night thanks to a trio of long balls.

Lawrence Butler led off the game with a laser solo shot to center field to immediately get the A’s on the board. It was Butler’s fourth leadoff homer this season and the seventh of his career.

However, the real hero of the night was Carlos Cortes. Cortes, who has had a spot-start and inconsistent role so far this year for the A’s, came up big with two solo home runs. The first came in the third inning when he launched a ball 408 feet into the Sacramento night. His second was an equally majestic 413-foot shot that put the A’s up 3-0 and sealed the victory.

Mark Kotsay spoke highly of Cortes and the preparation he brings no matter the situation.

“Yeah, great night for Carlos,” Kotsay said after the game. “It’s one of those times where it seems like baseball always rewards a guy that gets into the lineup late, and tonight was that night for Carlos with some great at-bats. He comes prepared every day. He doesn’t get a ton of opportunities. You give him some pinch-hit at-bats, he’s had a few starts, but his at-bats have always been consistent with them being good professional ab’s.”

Up Next

The A’s will take on the Reds in game two of the three-game series on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. PST at Sutter Health Park. Luis Severino (6-11, 4.67 ERA) is set to go for the A’s, while Hunter Greene (6-4, 2.59 ERA) will start for the Reds.

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s host Reds for Three Starting Friday night at Sutter Health Park

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Sacramento A’s Lawrence Butler (4) and teammates jump for joy after Butler’s game winning RBI in the bottom of the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento to beat the Boston Red Sox on Wed Sep 10, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Nick Kurtz is one of three A’s now to have hit 30 home runs joining former A’s Bash Brothers Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco. Quite an accomplishment for someone who just joined the A’s two months after the season had started.

#2 The A’s were coming off two tough loses against the Boston Red Sox losing by shutout scores of 7-0 and 6-0 Monday and Tuesday back with a 5-4 win on Wednesday.

#3 Jeremiah talk about Lawrence Butler and his walk off home run that won it for the A’s and ended Boston Red Sox pitcher Aroldis Chapman’s seven week hitless streak?

#4 Kurtz is on a roll he now becomes the 32nd rookie to hit 30 home runs as a rookie. Canseco did it in 1986 with 33 home runs and McGwire did it with 49 in 1987.

#5 Lets see if that win can inspire the A’s as they open a series against the Cincinnati Reds at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento Friday night. Starting pitcher for the Reds RHP Brady Singer (13-9 ERA 3.98) starting pitcher for the A’s has not been announced yet by manager Mark Kotsay.

Join Jeremiah Salmonson for the A’s podcasts 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. 

A’s Walk Off Red Sox 5-4 to Avoid Sweep

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Mason Barnett #63 of the Athletics pitches against the Boston Red Sox in the top of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on September 10, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The A’s avoided being swept at the hands of the Red Sox during a matinee affair on Wednesday, defeating the Red Sox 5-4 in walk-off fashion.

The A’s bats did just enough of everything during the getaway day game to emerge victorious.

Shea Langeliers, who had the day off behind the plate but was in the lineup as the DH, got the A’s going in the first inning with a solo home run to put the A’s up 1-0.

The Red Sox scored in the second inning, but the A’s answered right back thanks to a Nick Kurtz solo home run to left field to reclaim the lead 2-1.

The Red Sox came back with solo runs in both the third and fourth innings to take a 3-2 lead over the A’s.

In the fifth inning, the A’s were able to answer back once more and take the lead again from Boston. This time, it was Tyler Soderstrom who came through, driving an opposite-field two-RBI double to left field to give the A’s the 4-3 lead.

Mason Barnett, making his third major league start on Wednesday, labored but still managed to give the A’s three and two-thirds innings of three-run, seven-hit baseball. Barnett walked just one and struck out four but was hit around whenever he left pitches in the zone.

The A’s bullpen, which has been stellar as of late, continued to pitch well until late in the game when they finally surrendered the lead.

Sean Newcomb was the first arm out of the pen for the A’s as he got the last batter of the fourth inning and then pitched spotless fifth and sixth innings.

Justin Sterner followed and pitched two perfect innings in the seventh and eighth to keep the A’s in front.

After the game, manager Mark Kotsay spoke about the dominance of the bullpen in the second half.

“These two relievers you’re talking about, Newcomb and Sterner, in the second half have been a large portion of the success and rhythm that has taken place down in the bullpen.”

Trouble came in the ninth inning when Elvis Alvarado gave up a run on two hits, recording only one out. Hogan Harris, who had been warming in the bullpen all inning just in case, came in and recorded the final two outs of the ninth, giving up a walk but nothing else.

The A’s came into the bottom of the ninth tied 4-4, needing a run to win. The Red Sox brought in Aroldis Chapman, who hadn’t allowed a hit since July 23, to try to keep the game tied. Shea Langeliers led off the ninth with a double to snap that streak for Chapman and was then moved over to third by a Brent Rooker fly ball to right field.

That set the stage for Lawrence Butler, who stepped up and drove an RBI single the other way to give the A’s the dramatic 5-4 win in nine innings.

Up Next

The A’s will have an off day on Thursday in Sacramento prior to welcoming the Cincinnati Reds to town. Neither team has announced a starter for Friday’s game, scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Sutter Health Park.