Category: Sacramento A’s

A’s Edge Orioles5-4 for Second Straight Win Behind Early Offense and Clutch Relief

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Denzel Clarke made an incredible catch in deep left center field as he crashed into the wall on Friday night. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Athletics were back in action on Friday night after snapping their nine-game losing streak the Thursday against the Twins. Looking to build a streak, the A’s defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 in the first of a three-game series at Sutter Health Park.

JP Sears started the game for the A’s and pitched well. He didn’t have his dominant stuff on Friday, but that didn’t stop him from turning in a solid outing. Sears went five innings, allowing four runs on four hits while striking out three Baltimore hitters. He was a bit off with his command, walking three.

In relief, Grant Holman came in and pitched a scoreless sixth inning while striking out two. T.J. McFarland followed Holman and delivered a clean seventh as the A’s held onto a 5-4 lead. In the eighth, Tyler Ferguson took over and was only able to record one out, giving up a hit and two walks. Mark Kotsay had seen enough and went to his flamethrower, Mason Miller, to finish off the eighth inning. Miller came in and struck out the final two batters with the bases loaded to keep the A’s lead intact heading to the ninth. In the ninth, Mason Miller was as advertised. Miller picked up where he left off by striking out one and pitching a clean inning other than a walk. The A’s defeated the Orioles 5-4. 

The A’s offense came early in the game as they scored four runs in the third inning and added a fifth run in the fifth. Lawrence Butler had an RBI double, Jacob Wilson an RBI single, and Tyler Soderstrom an RBI groundout in the A’s four-run third. In the fifth, the A’s run came thanks to a Brent Rooker RBI single.

With the win, the A’s improved to 25-40 on the season and have won two in a row for the first time in a month.

The A’s will take on the Orioles and look for a series win on Saturday at 7:05 PM PST at Sutter Health Park. The A’s will send Luis Severino to the hill (1-5, 4.54 ERA), countered by Baltimore’s Charlie Morton (2-7, 6.20 ERA).

Note of the day: I know I talk about A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson a lot in my columns. However, whatever praise and attention I bring to him isn’t nearly enough for what he deserves. Jacob is on an absolute terror. After Friday, Wilson is now hitting .369 on the season with eight home runs. He has also had 11 three-hit games this season— the most in MLB. Wilson is proving day in and day out that he is the best big league shortstop in the game, and it’s only his rookie season.

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson: Soderstrom hits two HR including grand slam A’s snap 9 game skid beating Twins 14-3

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s Tyler Soderstrom circles the bases after hitting a two run home run in the bottom of the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Thu Jun 6, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 After losing nine games in a row it’s been awhile but the Sacramento A’s have overcome once again in a big way winning with a vengeance over the Minnesota Twins 14-3 on Thursday afternoon. How important was this win for the A’s in snapping their nine game losing streak.

#2 The A’s Tyler Soderstrom got hold of a pitch for a grand slammer and later hit off a two run homer. The A’s Max Muncy ripped a three run homer in the first inning to get things started for the A’s.

#3 Jacob Wilson got a home run before Soderstrom’s home run, Brent Rooker got three hits, three RBIs, and scored three times.

#4 A’s starter Mitch Spence now 2-1 surrendered a run and three hits in five innings of work for the A’s.

#5 The Baltimore Orioles and A’s open up a three game series on Friday night at Sutter Health. Starting pitcher for the O’s RHP Dean Kremer (5-5 ERA 4.70) for the A’s Mark Kotsay has not announced a starter yet.

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

A’s Snap Skid 14-3 in Explosive Fashion Behind Soderstrom’s Slam and Spence’s Strong Start

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Max Muncy on Thursday afternoon in the A’s 14-3 win over the Twins at Sutter Health Park

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The Athletics snapped their nine-game losing streak in a big way on Thursday afternoon 14-3 at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. The A’s put on a clinic in the Sacramento sun as they hammered the Twins for 17 hits and 14 runs.

The A’s offense was on a heater from the start, putting up four runs in the bottom of the first inning, capped by a Max Muncy three-run shot to left field. From there, they didn’t look back. The A’s added three runs in the third, four in the fourth, one in the fifth, and two in the seventh to down the Twins by a 14-3 final.

Everyone in the A’s starting lineup tallied a hit, but a few stood out. Tyler Soderstrom finished the game with a two-run shot and a grand slam, driving in six RBI. Jacob Wilson had a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a walk before the Twins turned to a position player on the mound. Wilson also launched a home run over the wall in left field—his eighth of the year.

Mark Kotsay spoke on the offensive explosion after the game, saying, “There was good energy today. That’s what we have to do, and we have to come here with a mindset that, you know, as I say a lot, just prepare for the day—and today was a really good day of preparation. Especially for a 12:35 game after another loss.”

The A’s locker room was filled with laughs and excitement after the win that snapped the nine-game skid. Among the praise was plenty heaped on Mitch Spence, who served as the opener and dealt in his five innings of work. Spence ate innings efficiently, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out four. It seemed the whole locker room was shouting some form of praise or good-natured joke at Mitch as we interviewed him afterward.

In relief of Spence, Sean Newcomb pitched an inning and two-thirds, giving up two runs on two hits. The rest of the A’s bullpen held the Twins scoreless. Michael Kelly, who had been suspended by MLB for the past year for violating the league’s policies on sports betting, made his return to the mound on Thursday. Kelly tossed an inning and a third of scoreless, hitless ball. Mason Miller came in to finish the game in the ninth, facing the minimum and issuing one walk.

With the win, the A’s snapped their nine-game losing streak and avoided a sweep at the hands of the Twins. They improved to 24-40 on the season. The A’s will welcome the Baltimore Orioles to town on Friday for a three-game series at Sutter Health Park. The Orioles plan to send Dean Kremer (5-5, 4.70 ERA) to the hill for the 7:05 PM PST opener. The A’s have yet to announce a starter.

Note of the Day: Jacob Wilson leads all MLB shortstops in batting average (.363), on-base percentage (.402), and OPS (.925). This comes in his rookie season after getting a taste of the big leagues last year.

I asked A’s manager Mark Kotsay for his thoughts on the tremendous season Wilson is putting together. “It’s been excellent. For a young man to win rookie of the month, first and foremost, speaks to what he has been doing right now in terms of his performance… Going into the season, the big concern was the wear and tear on him. I think at this point he’s holding up really well.”

A’s Drop 20th in 21 Games as Freefall Continues in Sacramento; Another A’s loss to Twins 6-1 means 9 game skid grows

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Luis Urias in the game on Wednesday night. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The Athletics’ freefall in Sacramento continued on Wednesday night at Sutter Health Park. The A’s lost to the Twins in game three of a four-game series on Tuesday by a final score of 6-1.

The A’s have now lost 20 of their last 21 games and are riding a nine-game losing streak—this coming shortly after an 11-game skid that preceded it.

The A’s opted to use an opener on Tuesday, with Justin Sterner taking the mound in the first inning. Sterner allowed a solo home run to Ryan Jeffers, giving the Twins an early lead.

Sterner was followed by Jeffrey Springs in the second. Springs had flashes of solid work but ultimately surrendered four runs on five hits across his outing. He also walked two and struck out seven.

Springs addressed the team’s struggles after the game. “Yeah, I mean it’s tough. Obviously, when you’re on a stretch like this, it feels like everything is magnified. I felt like overall we played a pretty good game—we just, you know, weren’t able to push any runs across.”

Hogan Harris finished the night on the mound for the A’s, throwing one and a third innings while allowing a run on two hits and issuing two walks. The A’s pitching wasn’t atrocious, but it wasn’t enough to keep them in the game given the lack of offensive support.

The A’s only run came in the fifth inning on a Jacob Wilson double that scored Lawrence Butler. Outside of that, the A’s managed just four other hits and went down quietly in the 6-1 loss.

The A’s are in total freefall. They are in desperate need of snapping out of this stretch, which has begun to spiral into historically bad territory. As much as this isn’t on Mark Kotsay or any one member of the coaching staff, you wonder how long this can go on before changes are made. I’m not calling for any moves, but it would be a disservice not to acknowledge what may be looming for the club.

The A’s will look to avoid a sweep on Thursday when they face the Twins at 12:35 p.m. in West Sacramento. Mitch Spence is expected to serve as the opener, likely followed by Gunnar Hogland. The Twins have yet to announce a starter.

With the loss, the A’s dropped to 23-40 on the season.

Make that 19 of 20 loses, adds to 8 game skid; Two four-spots lead the Twins to 10-3 win over A’s

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s outfielder Denzel Clarke (1) reaches up to make the catch as the A’s would wind up losing their eighth straight loss against the Minnesota Twins at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Tue Jun 3, 2025 (Oakland A’s X photo)

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Sutter Health Park

West Sacramento, California

Minnesota Twins 10 (33-27)

Sacramento Athletics 3 (23-39)

Win: Pablo Lopez (5-3)

Loss: Jacob Lopez (0-4)

Time: 3:01

Attendance: 8,487

By Stephen Ruderman

WEST SACRAMENTO–The A’s have now lost 19 of their last 20, as the Twins put the game away with a pair of four-run innings late on Tuesday night, and won by a final of 10-3 at Sutter Health Park home of the Swinging A’s.

Let’s be honest: this series is a completely-lopsided matchup on paper. The Twins have been one of the hottest teams in Baseball over the last month. The A’s? Well, they came into this series having lost 17 of their previous 18 games. It then became 18 out of 19 when the Twins took the series opener 10-4 last night.

Mark Kotsay turned to Grant Holman to be the opener Tuesday night, and Holman did his job. He started the game nicely with a one two three top of the first inning, and then he was lifted with one out in the top of the second after allowing a walk and a base-hit. Jacob Lopez then came in and retired the next two to end the inning.

The A’s got to work against Twins’ starter Pablo Lopez in the bottom of the first. Lawrence Butler led off the inning with a double, and Brent Rooker got him in with a base-hit the other way to right field. The A’s had all the momentum they needed, but Lopez settled down and kept the damage to just a run.

Lopez threw a scoreless bottom of the second, but the A’s were able to manufacture another run in the bottom of the third. Tyler Soderstrom hit a triple to left with one out, and Shane Langeliers got him in with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 2-0.

Will Castro put the Twins on the board with a home run to left with one out in the top of the fourth. Jacob Lopez pitched through the rest of the fourth, and he threw a one, two, three top of the fifth.

However, the Twins would take the lead with a pair of home runs off Jacob Lopez in the top of the sixth. Trevor Larnach led off the inning with a home run to the grass in right to tie it. Then two batters later, Castro gave the Twins the lead with his second home run of the night. This one was a line-drive home run to left that barely got out.

The Twins were not done yet. Brooks Lee reached on an infield hit with two outs, and then Royce Lewis walked. Kotsay then pulled Lopez for Osvaldo Bido, who walked Harrison Bader to load the bases. Byron Buxton then came up, and he lined a base-hit up the middle to knock in a pair. It ended up being a four-run top of the sixth for the Twins, who now held a 5-2 lead.

Pablo Lopez ended up going five innings for Minnesota, and Cole Sands was summoned for the bottom of the sixth. The A’s looked to respond, as Langeliers led off the inning with a double. The A’s were able to manufacture the run and get him in to make it 5-3.

However, the Twins would blow it open and put the game away with another four spot in the top of the seventh. Minnesota added one more in the top of the eighth to make it 10-3, and the A’s offense went down without a whimper.

Pablo Lopez got the win, and Jacob Lopez took the loss.

The A’s are now 23-39. Despite their halfway-decent start, the A’s have now lost 19 of their last 20, and they are suddenly on pace for their third-straight 100-loss season. They are on pace to go 60-102 to be exact.

The A’s will look to get a win Tuesday night against Twins starter Zebby Matthews (0-, 6.43 ERA) in the third game of the series Wednesday night. A’s manager Mark Kotsay has yet to announce his starter.

First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m.

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria: A’s drop 7th straight game shelled by Twins 10-4 at Sutter Health

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s left fielder Drew Avans (35) who scored a run and got a hit against the Minnesota Twins on Mon Jun 2, 2025 is seen here preparing for the game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento (Sacramento A’s X photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 The Minnesota Twins didn’t waste anytime in the top of the second inning scoring six runs that was the bulk of their ten run total against the Sacramento A’s to open the three game set against the A’s at Sutter Health Park.

#2 The loss Monday night represents Sacramento’s 38th of the season against 23 wins. The A’s are on a seven game losing streak and have lost 17 of their last 18 games. Their home record is an abysmal 9-20. The A’s are now ten games out of first place considering all their loses if by a miracle’s chance they get hot they can cut that deficit.

#3 A’s starting pitcher Luis Severino pitched 5.2 innings allowing nine hits and eight runs striking out only one batter Severino was absolutely shelled dropping his won loss record to 1-5.

#4 The A’s Lawrence Butler continues to hit with some consistency on Monday night he went 2-2 with two runs, two hits and three RBIs. It wasn’t enough but Butler like teammates Jacob Wilson and Brent Rooker continue to go through their paces.

#5 Starting pitchers for Tuesday night’s game for the Twins RHP Pablo Lopez (4-3 ERA 2.75) and for the A’s starter Grant Holman (4-1 ERA 4.74). First pitch 7:00pm at Sutter Health Park.

Tony Renteria does the A’s podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Ballers late innings runs payoff in 9-6 win over Jackalopes

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Oakland Ballers scored twice in the eighth and three times in the ninth to cash in late in the game to defeat the Grand Junction Jackalopes Sun Jun 1, 2025 at Raimondi Park in West Oakland (Oakland Ballers photo)

Grand Junction Jackalopes (3-9) 000 310 200 6 12 5

Oakland Ballers (7-5) 130 000 23x 9 12 0

Time: 2:29

Attendance: 2,367

Sunday, June 1, 2025

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–It’s been said that history doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme. Last Sunday’s 9-6 Ballers triumph over the Jackalopes bore many resemblances to last evening’s 12-10 defeat at the hands of the visitors.

Both games featured an eighth inning, come from behind rally by the B’s. There was, of course, a noticeable difference; in the second of the two games, the sixth and final encounter of the series, the hometown team didn’t just turn a rout into a nail biter; it converted an impending loss into a well earned victory.

There was no fire visible from the stands today, but the scoreboard’s malfunctioning gave an encore performance. The Jackalopes once more committed five errors while the B’s defence, although not flawless, wasn’t charged with any errors.

For something new and completely different, second baseman Nick Leehey, fresh from his graduation from UC Davis, signed with the Ballers and made his professional debut. He fielded well but went 0-4 with three strikeouts, all swinging.

Each team used five pitchers. Right hander Zach St. Pierre started for Oakland and lasted four innings, during which he threw 66 pitches to 20 batters and yielded three runs, all of them earned, on seven hits and two walks while fanning two.

He was followed by Caleb Franzen (three runs, all earned), three hits and a walk, a pitch count of 34 in 2-1/3 innings; Connor Richardon made a cameo appearance of 2/3 of an inning and wasn’t charged with any runs, but the last two runs attributed to Franzen were one that Richardson had inherited from Franzen to score. Brody Eglite threw a 13 pitch perfect eighth to earn the win and now is 1-0). Connor Sullivan notched his mowed the Jackaloopes down, one, two, three in top of the ninth to earn his third save of 2025.

Oakland opened the scoring in a scrappy but not particularly confidence inspiring way. Tremayne Cobb, still struggling to regain his mojo at the plate—although I can’t think of a player who wouldn’t want to have his post game BA of .404—drew a leadoff walk.

The Jacks’ third baseman, Robin Fernández, committed an error that allowed the next batter, Pat Monteith, to take first while Cobb moved up 90 feet, into scoring position. A full count walk to Davis Drewek made the basepaths FOB (Full of B’s), to put new wine into the old bottle of Red Barber’s way of categorizing three on base Brooklyn Dodgers.

Cam Bufford hit into a 6-4-3 double play, plating Cobb, and the Ballers went ahead, 1-0, without recording a hit or run batted in.

They added another three runs to their lead in the next episode. Consecutive singles by Tyler Lozano, Daryll Bogs II, and Cobb clogged the basepaths. Monteith blooped a Texas League single to right that drove in Buggs and Lozano and advanced Cobb to third. Cobb came home when Drewek, the next B to come to the plate, singled to left.

In their half of the fourth, Grand Junction removed any complacency the Ballers and their fans might have begun to harbor. The Jackalopes cut their deficit by three runs on an RBI single by Isaac Núñez, a bases loaded walk to Luis Hernández, and a sacrifice fly to center by Zeb Roos in the next inning, they completely wiped out Oakland’s lead. Evan Scavotto doubled with two down and scored on Mason Minzey’s single to right against Caleb Franzen, who had relieved St. Pierre at the start of the frame.

Franzen kept the visitors off the board until the top of the seventh. With one away, he walked Kendall Foster, who reached third on a single to right by Robin Fernández. Exit Franzen, enter Conner Richardson. Scavotto singled to left, and Minzey’s doubled to the same field. Both runs were charged to Franzen. More important, Grand Junction now was ahead, 6-4.

Evan Massie had started for the Jacks and pitched decently. With his team’s resurgence, he stood to be the winning pitcher. He should have stood in bed. (Thank you, Dizzy Dean). Aydan Alger lasted 2/3 of an inning and coughed up the lead thanks to singles by Monteith and Drewek and a two out single by Dannie Harris IV that caused Alger to get the hook. Another single by Christian Almanza, this one off Tai Atkins, and Oakland was back on top, this time to stay.

A trio of Jackalopes hit for extra bases; Zeb Roos, Evan Scavotto, and Mason Minzey connected for a two bagger apiece. None of the Ballers had an extra base hit, but four of them had a multihit afternoon. Monteith, Drewek, and Buggs formed the trio each member of which contributed a pair of safeties; Harris went three for five and drove in three runs.

The win left Oakland tied with three other teams for fourth place in the overall Pioneer Baseball League standings. The team is scheduled to fly Monday morning at 8:00 o’clock to Portland. They’ll bus from there to Flathead County, MT, where they’ll take on the GlacierRange Riders, of the teams with whom they’re deadlocked for a six game series.

Next on the itinerary are three mid-week games against the Missoula Paddleheads. Then, it’s on to Ogden to battle the Raptors on Friday the 13th through Sunday the 16th. After a brief day of rest, they’ll return, as Al Jolson predicted, weary at heart, back where they started from, back in their own back yard to duke it out once more in a six game set-to with Grand Junction.

Severino Struggles Again as A’s Drop 18th in 19 Games

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Drew Avans on Monday night at Sutter Health Park in the Athletics 10-4 loss to the Twins (photo by Sacramento A’s)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO–The Athletics returned home to Sutter Health Park on Monday night, looking to turn the page on a challenging month of May that saw them win only eight games. But the A’s continued their slide with a 10-4 loss to the visiting Minnesota Twins.

There’s no two ways about it—the A’s have been reeling over the last few weeks. They have now lost 18 of their last 19 games, including seven straight. All this comes on the heels of an 11-game losing streak they had just snapped before heading on the road. It has been tough sledding, to say the least, for the A’s and manager Mark Kotsay.

Kotsay was asked after the game by Sacramento Bee sports journalist Chris Biderman how he felt the team responded to a meeting he had with them while on the road.

“We haven’t won a game, but that isn’t necessarily indicative of how they respond, right? In terms of how they played, this game was competitive all the way through six innings… the fight is what we talk about. We have control of showing up and preparing to play a major league game… we can’t control the results, but you can go about the way we play the game the right way, and I feel like they have done that.”

Luis Severino struggled again in what was another disappointing home start. He gave up six runs in the second inning and appeared at risk of an early hook. However, he managed to settle in and retired the next 12 batters he faced before allowing two more runs in the sixth. Severino finished his outing having given up eight earned runs on nine hits, with one walk and one strikeout. It was an ugly ledger, even if he found a groove in the middle innings.

The A’s scored some runs early in what looked like an attempt at a comeback. Brent Rooker drove in a run with an RBI groundout in the third inning to get the A’s on the board. In the fourth, Lawrence Butler sent a ball over the center field wall for a three-run homer, cutting the deficit to two. But the A’s offense failed to score again after the fourth and finished the game with just four runs.

The bullpen covered the final three and a third innings in relief of Severino. Hogan Harris pitched a scoreless inning despite issuing three walks. Elvis Alvarado followed with one and one-third innings, allowing three hits and a run. Sean Newcomb closed things out with one inning of two-hit, one-run ball.

With the loss, the A’s have now dropped seven straight and sit at 23–38 on the season.

The A’s and Twins will be back in action Tuesday night at 7:05 PM PST at Sutter Health Park. The Twins will send Pablo López (4–3, 2.75 ERA) to the mound. The A’s have yet to announce a starter as of this writing.

Injury Note: Jacob Wilson was slow to get up after a headfirst dive into first base in the sixth inning. He stayed in the game initially despite some neck discomfort but was later removed as the issue persisted. He will be evaluated by the A’s medical staff, though it is not believed to be anything serious.

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason Mon Jun 2, 2025: A’s open 7 game homestand tonight versus Twins

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s baserunner Denzel Clarke (right) dives back into first base ahead of the tag of Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Ernie Clement (22) at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sun Jun 1, 2025 (Canadian Press via AP)

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason Mon Jun 2, 2025

#1 Before we get into yesterday’s game and the weekend series let’s take a step back and see just what transpired during the month of May. How did the A’s season take a turn and what can be done?

#2 Sunday the A’s were looking to avoid another sweep after losing the first three games of the series.

#3 Were there any bright spots in this disappointing series and how can this team begin to turn things around?

#4 The Blue Jays really played hard the entire series and it resulted in a series sweep. Addison Barger had a great game yesterday starting the fireworks in the eighth inning to seal the win.

#5 Monday the A’s will be looking for a fresh start to the month of June taking on the Twins in another four game series. Luis Severino will take the mound for the A’s struggling with a 1-4 win/loss and the Twins Joe Ryan will be a challenge with a 5-2 win loss record and a 2.57 ERA.

Barbara Mason does the A’s podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Falter Late in Toronto 8-4 After Early Punch

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s Luis Urias (17) connects for a two run RBI double in the top of the fifth inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sun Jun 1, 2025 (Canadian Press via AP)

A’s Falter Late in Toronto 8-4 After Early Punch

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics came out swinging at Rogers Centre Sunday afternoon, jumping to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Lawrence Butler drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on Tyler Soderstrom’s groundout. Jacob Wilson and Brent Rooker followed up with singles, but the early spark soon cooled. The green and gold’s bats fell silent in key moments, stranding runners and squandering the chance to build on that opening punch losing to the Blue Jays 8-4 at Rogers Centre.

Wilson, the rookie sensation, was in the middle of it all, finishing the day with four singles and a stolen base, bringing his total swipes to five this season. The 24-year-old continues to show why he leads all rookies in batting average, now sitting at a dazzling .345, and is second in the majors in total hits. He showcased his versatility with a sacrifice fly in the eighth, tacking on a fourth run that gave the A’s a short-lived cushion. But that promising start would unravel in the bottom of the eighth, when the Jays’ bats turned the tables in brutal fashion.

Soderstrom’s ejection in the third inning, following a called third strike that saw him exchange words with home plate umpire Tom Hanahan, forced Logan Davidson to step in at first base. Davidson would find himself in the thick of a messy eighth that defined the day’s outcome. After the A’s built a 4-2 lead with Luis Urías’ two-run double in the fifth, the Toronto lineup waited for its chance to pounce.

The Athletics’ pitching staff, already known for a shaky 5.68 ERA this season, couldn’t hold back the Jays’ late surge. Justin Sterner, who entered in the eighth, faced the nightmare scenario. A catcher’s interference call against Willie MacIver put George Springer aboard, and the Jays wouldn’t waste the opportunity. Alejandro Kirk singled, and pinch-runner Alan Roden came in. That’s when Addison Barger turned the game upside down, smashing a three-run homer that soared beyond the right center fence, erasing the A’s lead and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

By the time Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drilled a two-run double to center, Toronto had seized an 8-4 advantage, and the A’s hopes had vanished. Grant Holman’s pickoff error only added salt to the wound, as the Jays kept piling on. For a moment, it looked like the Athletics would halt their five-game losing streak. Instead, they were left to ponder what might have been.

Earlier in the game, Denzel Clarke had shown flashes of excitement with a single and stolen base in the fourth, while Brent Rooker, riding a hot streak that has him slugging .800 since May 22, added two more singles to his tally. Drew Avans also made his mark, helping to keep Toronto’s outfielders honest with a sharp lineout and alert baserunning.

On the mound, starter JP Sears was steady if unspectacular. He worked five innings, giving up two runs and scattering six hits before giving way to the bullpen. The A’s relievers have struggled this year, and today was no exception. After Mitch Spence gave up a run-scoring single to George Springer in the fifth, the relievers combined to yield six more runs in the final four innings.

The loss extends the A’s skid to six games, deepening an already rough patch in which the green and gold have dropped 16 of their last 17 contests. The club’s record now sits at 23-36, just one game better than their mark after 59 games last year. Their May woes, highlighted by a 7-21 record, second worst in the majors, have seeped into June, as the Athletics continue to search for answers and a way to snap out of this tailspin.

As the A’s head back to West Sacramento the theme of the day remains painfully clear: a promising start, a sputtering finish. For the Athletics, another day on the road brought another gut-punch ending. The A’s will try and turn the page, but for now, it’s another long night for a team searching for something to hold onto.

It’s also a long flight from Toronto to Sacramento as the A’s will open a homestand on Monday night against the Minnesota Twins. For the Twins RHP Joe Ryan (5-2 ERA 2.57) for the A’s Luis Severino RHP (1-4, ERA 3.89) first pitch 7:00pm at Sutter Health Park.

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.