Category: Sacramento A’s

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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.

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast Daniel Dullum: Schools over Stadiums looking to a put measure on Nevada ballot to stop public funding for A’s ballpark in 2026

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Alexander Marks spokesman for Schools over Stadiums as he appeared at the Las Vegas Stadium Authority hearing on Feb 27, 2025  to argue that $400 million of public money from SB238 to funding Hollywood Studios should go to education and schools. Marks says Schools over Stadiums intends to revisit putting a 2026 initiative on the Nevada ballot to block the public funding for the A’s Las Vegas ballpark. Marks said the A’s have not even broke ground yet for the project. (file photo from google)

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 Daniel, according to Schools over Stadiums spokesperson Alexander Marks the tax payers of Nevada are already paying over $36 million and there isn’t even shovel in the ground to start the Las Vegas A’s stadium build over at the Tropicana on the Las Vegas strip.

#2 The construction funding share from the A’s was due last December and Marks is questioning how this plan will fall into place with the deadlines already passed?

#3 The Las Vegas Stadium Authority and the A’s were expected to get shovels in the ground by now and criticism of the money already spent by the state tax payers to get the project going has ran up to $36 million Marks says for next year.

#4 Marks was talking about the transferrable $36 million tax credit that’s being built into the state budget for 2026 which State of Nevada lawmakers are writing up this month. The $36 million is just the first installment of the $380 million that will go towards building the A’s Las Vegas park from public tax dollars that Marks said should be going towards education and schools in Nevada.

#5 The $380 million is tax money that will allocated towards the ballpark but the total price tag to pay for the entire project is $1.75 billion that amount is what the A’s need to come up with to pay for the park. Marks says the A’s are getting F’s because the schools need that budget and that public money should not be going towards financing the ballpark.

#6 After trying to get a ballot initiative back in November in front of the Nevada voters to stop funding the project a judge stopped the question from going forward in last year’s state election which was during the general election. Marks says Schools over Stadiums are considering making another try at it again for 2026 to get the question on the ballot to stop public monies towards the A’s ballpark.

Daniel Dullum does the A’s Relocation podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stowers Steals the Spotlight as A’s Fall to Marlins 9-6 in Walk-Off Slam

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s manager Mark Kotsay (right) argues with umpires over calling Lawrence Butler out at home plate in the top of the fifth inning at Loan Depot in Miami on Sat Apr 3, 2025 (AP News photo)

Stowers Steals the Spotlight as A’s Fall to Marlins 9-6 in Walk-Off Slam

By Mauricio Segura

The green and gold had this one…until they didn’t.

On a sweltering 81 degree Saturday in Miami, the Athletics were three outs from securing another road win when the roof caved in, courtesy of Kyle Stowers’ thundering grand slam in the bottom of the ninth. What had been a seesaw affair turned suddenly, painfully, into a 9-6 Marlins victory, capped by Stowers’ second home run of the game.

It was the second walk-off grand slam surrendered by the A’s in just over a week, a gut punch delivered by a player who’s starting to make a habit of haunting pitchers late in games.

The drama spoiled a solid offensive showing by the A’s, who launched three homers and led 6-4 heading into the final frame. Brent Rooker got the party started with his ninth big fly of the year, a first-inning solo shot to dead center. JJ Bleday followed suit an inning later, and Luis Urías continued his tear with a two-run blast in the fourth.

Urías, who entered the game on a modest hot streak, is now up to five homers on the year and was one of three Athletics to reach base twice in the game. Gio Urshela also contributed with an eighth-inning RBI double that extended the lead to 6-4, setting the stage for what looked like a tidy bullpen finish.

But the late innings unraveled.

After a clean eighth from Justin Sterner, flame-throwing closer Mason Miller took over for the ninth. A hit-by-pitch, a walk, and a wild pitch trimmed the lead to one. With two outs and the bases juiced, Stowers jumped on a 1-0 pitch and sent it soaring into the seats in left-center.

It was Miller’s first blown save of the season and a rare blemish for a bullpen that had been quietly effective over the past week.

There were bright spots despite the loss. Jacob Wilson had two hits and scored twice, while Nick Kurtz added a sacrifice fly in the sixth to give the A’s a lead they held until the very end. Grant Holman and T.J. McFarland also chipped in with scoreless relief.

Still, the loss drops the Athletics to 18-16 on the season and highlights the volatility of late-inning leads. This one will sting, not just because of how it ended, but because of how close the A’s came to sealing it with power, patience, and just enough pitching.

They’ll look to regroup in Sunday’s finale before heading back home to face the Mariners.

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 Jeremiah Salmonson Sat May 3, 2025: A’s get after it move into second in AL West and best road record in baseball

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s pitcher Gunnar Hoglund was dealing going six innings allowing six hits and one run against the Miami Marlins at Loan Depot Park in Miami on Fri May 2, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 The Sacramento A’s (18-15) continue to roll winning their fifth of out their last six games, their eighth out of their last ten games and moving into second place with a 6-1 win over the Miami Marlins (12-19).

#2 The started Gunnar Hoglund who made his big league start and surrendered only one run in six innings pitched on Friday night in Miami.

#3 From watching Hoglund on Friday Jeremiah he really had his mix of pitches working for him and had great control. Was there also an advantage for Hoglund that the Marlins had never seen him before.

#4 Going back to Thursday night to start the series A’s starter Jefferey Springs threw for six innings of shutout ball as the A’s won that series opener 3-0.

#5 The A’s have the best road record in baseball right now at 12-6 and have moved into second place in the AL West and they’ve got a lot of confidence behind them.

Join Jeremiah for the Sacramento A’s podcasts Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: ATH and LAD to meet in the 2025 World Series 

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Pennants from the 1988 World Series that featured the Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Dodgers that were on bid. Can the A’s and Dodgers meet again in another World Series sometime in the future? (photo from eBay)

ATH and LAD meet in the 2025 World Series

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Athletics of Sacramento overachieved this season, winning the American League West Division, beating the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series, and heading to the World Series in Los Angeles after the Dodgers won 120 games for a new MLB season record.

The most games won in an MLB regular season is 116, a record shared by the 1906 Chicago Cubs and the 2001 Seattle Mariners. The first game of the World Series begins on Friday, October 25, at the remodeled (Looking like new) Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

With the help of AI, the first pitch is thrown by the one and only Frank Sinatra, who was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan since his childhood in New York. For the young kids, who have no idea who this Sinatra guy is, he is probably the greatest singer in American pop history: a Grammy and Oscar winner. Born and raised in Hoboken, New Jersey, there is a statue of the iconic singer, actor, producer, and entrepreneur on the streets of Hoboken.

AT Dodgers Stadium, all 56,000 fans, plus some 5,000 extra standing room only, look at the scoreboard to see the legendary Sinatra throw the first pitch. For the record, Frank Sinatra was good friends with iconic Brooklyn Dodger Manager, Leo Durocher, and later with his Italiano Compagno, Tommy LaSorda. Frequently, after an afternoon game at Dodger Stadium, Frank and Tommy will drop by ‘La Dolce Vita’ in Beverly Hills, the place for celebrities.

I interviewed LaSorda many times, and inside his office were photos with Sinatra and a “Who’s Who in Showbiz. Tommy spoke conversational Español, The aerial Gondola connecting Union Station to the Dodger Stadium property is now completed (a project that took years), the same project which was imitated by then A’s President Dave Kaval during his proposal for the new A’s park at Jack London Square.

That was a failure due to the lack of leadership by the City of Oakland and the Oakland A’s organization; it was ‘the perfect storm’. These Gondolas going up from Union Station to Elysian Park at Dodger Stadium are packed with fans, not to mention the large parking lot.

Over 30 million cars are registered in the State of California, more than half in the LA area, but that parking lot is not that big. Those who cannot attend in person can watch on television, but watching all the games will be complicated.

The games will air on ESPN, FOX, Apple TV+ (for exclusive streaming games), the Roku Channel, and a wide range of games on RSN(Regional Sports Networks). Good luck finding your favorite. \ IMPORTANT: The home games for the ATH for this World Series, will have to be played at another stadium, not Sutter Health Park, because playing a World Series at a minor league park is not acceptable to standards of Major League Baseball.

So, although the Dodgers were not scheduled to play the A’s this year during the regular season in Sacramento, in this imaginary World Series the A’s would have to find a Major League park to play their “home”games.

The Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Dodgers last met in the World Series in 1988. The Dodgers won the series in five games, defeating the Athletics. I broadcast that series in Spanish. Unfortunately, I will not be in the 2025 World Series. “Set your dreams high, and don’t stop till you get there.” – Bo Jackson

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.

DELICIOUS CUBAN FOOD HABANA-CUBA RESTAURANT DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE 387 First Street San Jose CA 998cuba.com

A’s Arms A Blazing & Bats A Booming In Florida for 6-1 win; Sac winners 5 of last 6 games

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s starter Gunnar Hoglund pitches to the Miami Marlins line up in the bottom of the first inning at Loan Depot Park in Miami on Fri May 2, 2025 (AP News photo)

A’s A Arms Blazing & Bats A Booming In Florida

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento A’s (18-15) cruised to a 6-1 win over the Miami Marlins (12-19) on Friday night at Loan Depot Park, but this was far from just another tally in the win column. This one had flair, confidence, and a possible changing of the guard.

Making his Major League debut, Gunnar Hoglund made a loud first impression on the mound. The former first-round pick delivered five dazzling innings, allowing just one run while striking out seven, including three different Marlins on swinging third strikes to end innings. It was the Marlins sixth loss in a row.

With a cool demeanor and a biting fastball-slider combo, Hoglund looked more like a seasoned veteran than a rookie testing big league waters. His first MLB strikeout came against Agustín Ramírez in the bottom of the first, and from there he never looked back.

Backing Hoglund was a lineup that showed both patience and power. After a scoreless first, the green and gold got cooking in the second thanks to a bases-loaded RBI single from Nick Kurtz. A walk from Jacob Wilson plated another, giving the A’s an early two-run edge.

The fireworks continued in the third with JJ Bleday, a former Marlin himself, launching his third homer of the year into the Miami night. Bleday would finish with two extra-base hits and a walk, wreaking havoc at the plate and in center field. By the fifth, the A’s poured it on with a sac fly from Shea Langeliers, followed by back-to-back RBI plays from Seth Brown and Luis Urías, one a clean single, the other an error capitalized with hustle and heads-up baserunning.

Seth Brown, who went 3 for 5 and stole his first base of the season, continued to prove why he’s one of the most underrated power threats in the American League. Urías chipped in with two runs scored and reached base twice, quietly serving as the glue in the middle of the order.

Defensively, the A’s were as sharp as they were opportunistic. Tyler Soderstrom made an acrobatic sliding catch in left field in the eighth that robbed Liam Hicks of extra bases and kept the momentum squarely in Athletics hands. Nick Kurtz, who earlier knocked in a run and reached base twice, handled first base like a seasoned pro.

Even as Miami managed a solo homer from Dane Myers in the sixth, it was little more than a blip. The Marlins simply couldn’t string together enough offense, despite singles from Eric Wagaman, who had three on the night, and a double from Ramírez.

Hogan Harris and Noah Murdock handled the final four innings with efficiency and power, combining for four strikeouts and no walks. Murdock sealed the win with a swinging strikeout of Connor Norby, slamming the door on any late hopes of a Marlins comeback.

With the win, the Athletics are beginning to resemble a team not just rebuilding, but retooling with intent. Gunnar Hoglund’s debut might just be the spark that ignites a new era for the green and gold.

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 Jeremiah Salmonson: Springs sprung into action pitching ace shuts Rangers out in 6 innings of work; A’s open series in Miami Friday

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s starter Jeffrey Springs wipes his brow in the A’s dugout in the fourth inning. Springs was dealing pitching six innings of shutout ball against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Thu May 1, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Sacramento A’s starter Jefferey Springs pitched six innings of scoreless baseball and surrendered only two hits. Springs line was two hits, one walk and two strikeouts against the Texas Rangers for the 3-0 win.

#2 The A’s have been getting good pitching and for Springs in his last five starts he’s given up three runs. Closer Mason Miller retired all three hitters in the ninth and picked up his tenth save of the season.

#3 Jacob Wilson got an RBI single in the top of the seventh inning and Luis Urias got himself an RBI single to contribute the A’s scoring.

#4 The A’s also got help from their bullpen after Springs left in the seventh. A’s relievers Mitch Spence, TJ McFarland, Justin Sterner, and closer Mason Miller all kept the shutout going against the Rangers.

#5 The A’s return to action on Friday night in Miami at Loan Depot Park. The A’s season road record are 11-6 five games above .500. The A’s and Miami Marlins neither team has announced a starter for Friday’s game. The Marlins are struggling in last place in the NL East. They are 8-8 at home at Loan Depot.

Join Jeremiah Thursdays for the A’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Depart Arlington On Sweet Victory Airlines; Sac’s Springs deals 6 innings of shutout ball for 3-0 win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s pitcher Jefferey Springs was dealing all game long shutting out the Texas Rangers through six innings. Springs was lifted after the sixth inning at Globe Field in Arlington on Thu May 1, 2028 (AP News photo)

A’s Depart Arlington On Sweet Victory Airlines

By Mauricio Segura

Jeffrey Springs may have had a rocky April, but May started off with a gem. The left-hander turned in a sharp six-inning outing, and the A’s bullpen slammed the door behind him as the green and gold shut out the Texas Rangers 3-0 on Thursday afternoon at Globe Life Field. With the win, the Athletics clinched their second consecutive series victory and moved one game above .500 for the third time this season, now standing at 17 and 15.

Springs entered the game having allowed 13 runs over his previous two starts. But against his former club, the Rangers, he was locked in. He scattered four hits across six innings, walked two, and struck out three. Most importantly, he kept the Rangers off the board. It was a much-needed rebound performance from a pitcher who had been shelled for seven runs just five days prior.

Backing him up was a bullpen that has grown into one of the team’s biggest strengths. Mitch Spence, T.J. McFarland, Justin Sterner, and fireballer Mason Miller combined for three scoreless innings to seal the victory. Miller, touching triple digits on the radar gun once again, notched his ninth save in as many tries and struck out Marcus Semien to end it.

Offensively, the A’s didn’t need a home run to do their damage, a rarity for a team that ranks fifth in the majors in long balls. Instead, they pieced together a series of timely hits. Miguel Andujar, continuing his torrid stretch at the plate, drove in the game’s first run with a single in the opening frame. Jacob Wilson, the club’s hottest rookie, added an RBI single in the seventh to make it two to nothing. A sacrifice fly by Luis Urías in the eighth brought Brent Rooker home and capped the scoring.

Wilson finished with two hits, pushing his average to .325, good for eighth in the league. Andujar is now batting .338 over his last 18 games and looks every bit the consistent presence the A’s were hoping for when they picked him up.

Though the A’s managed only three runs, they made them count. They left just five runners on base and executed a rare outfield-assisted double play to end the second inning, erasing a walk by Semien and halting any early Texas momentum.

Rangers starter Tyler Mahle, who entered with a sparkling 1.14 ERA, saw that number creep upward after allowing two runs on seven hits over six and a third innings. He took the loss, dropping to 3-1.

This win marks six victories in the last nine games for the A’s, who now hit the road to face Miami. For a team that started the season 6-10, their recent surge has them tied for third in the AL West and just two and a half games back of division-leading Seattle.

If Springs’ bounce-back and the bullpen’s dominance are signs of things to come, the A’s may finally be rounding into form.

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 game wrap: A’s Rooker and Butler Saddle Up Deep In The Heart of Texas for 7-1 win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s pitcher Luis Severino is all fired up after striking out the Texas Rangers Jake Burger in the bottom of the third inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Wed Apr 30, 2025 (AP News photo)

A’s Rooker and Butler Saddle Up Deep In The Heart of Texas for 7-1 win

By Mauricio Segura

For eight innings, the A’s and Rangers were locked in a tense, low-scoring tug of war that hinted at extra innings. But in the ninth, Lawrence Butler slammed the door on that idea, and kicked it right off its hinges.

With one swing, Butler delivered the green and gold a defining moment in their young season, a grand slam to straightaway center field, the exclamation point on a six-run ninth inning that propelled the Athletics to a 7-1 victory over Texas at Globe Life Field.

The late-inning fireworks began modestly enough. Tyler Soderstrom led off with a single and was lifted for pinch-runner Seth Brown. Brent Rooker, quiet for most of the evening, then launched a go-ahead two-run homer, his eighth of the season, to give the A’s a 3-1 lead.

That alone would’ve been a satisfying turn for a team that entered the game averaging just 2.5 runs over its last four contests. But the A’s weren’t finished.

After a Shea Langeliers single and two walks loaded the bases, Butler stepped to the plate with two outs. He fell behind in the count, then crushed a 2-2 pitch to dead center, clearing the wall with authority and igniting a boisterous celebration in the A’s dugout.

Butler’s fifth homer of the year capped a redemptive night for the 23-year-old, who had entered the game 1-for-8 in the series with four strikeouts. The blast also marked the first grand slam of his career.

Until the ninth, both teams had struggled to cash in on scoring chances. Starter Luis Severino battled through six innings, scattering nine hits but limiting the Rangers to just one run. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third and left with the game tied 1-1, thanks in part to crisp defense behind him, especially third baseman Gio Urshela, who snuffed out a Josh Jung chopper with a highlight-worthy play in the fourth.

Severino, who has yet to surrender a home run on the road this season, extended his scoreless streak away from Sutter Health Park to 14 innings. The A’s bullpen, a mixed bag of youth and redemption stories, held the line from there. Justin Sterner, Grant Holman, and Tyler Ferguson combined for three shutout frames, with Ferguson recording the final three outs for his first save of the year.

Jacob Wilson, who entered the night hitting .321, contributed a third-inning RBI bunt single to open the scoring, a rare small-ball spark from a team that ranks among the league’s best in slugging. That early lead was erased by an Adolis García RBI in the fourth, but the Rangers failed to score again despite putting runners on in nearly every inning after.

The victory pushes the Athletics above .500 and continues their trend of tight late-game wins. Four of their last five victories have come by one run or in late-inning surges. While they still rank near the bottom in run differential and defensive miscues, it’s clear they’re not short on the never-give-up attitude.

Next up: left-hander Jeffrey Springs (3-3, 6.04 ERA) taking the mound against Rangers righty Tyler Mahle (3-0, 1.14 ERA). If tonight was any preview, the A’s are bringing firepower, even if it takes eight innings to light the fuse.

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.