Category: Sacramento A’s

A’s Late Rally Falls Short as Tigers Clinch Series in 8-6 Win

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Henry Bolte #33 of the Athletics standing on second base reacts after hitting a double against the Detroit Tigers in the bottom of the fourth inning at Sutter Health Park on August 01, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The A’s came into Saturday’s action against the Detroit Tigers in desperate need of a win. After losing three of four to the Red Sox and dropping game one to the Tigers, the A’s tried to get back on track against Detroit as the MLB trade deadline loomed and news broke during the game that Tarik Skubal had been traded to the Dodgers.

On Saturday, the A’s fell to the Tigers 8-6 and dropped another home series.

The A’s turned to Jack Perkins for the start on Saturday in hopes of winning game two and evening the series with the Tigers. Perkins, who was making his 27th appearance and ninth start for the club this season, was coming off a solid start against Boston last week in which he went five and two-thirds innings while giving up only two runs. On Saturday, Perkins struggled in his outing against the Tigers as they roughed him up for six runs on nine hits while he walked one and struck out nine. Although Perkins didn’t pitch as well as he would have liked, he did manage to get the A’s through five-plus innings, which was much needed.

“I think this is another outing that he can build on,” Mark Kotsay said of Perkins after the game. “… The positive is that he did have a nice night punching guys out with only one walk.”

The A’s bullpen has been heavily used over the last week during their homestand in Sacramento. On Saturday, the bullpen had to cover three and two-thirds innings.

First out of the bullpen and relieving Jack Perkins with one out in the sixth inning was Jose Suarez. Suarez got the last two outs of the sixth inning and recorded the first two outs of the seventh. In his one and one-third innings of work, Suarez gave up one run on no hits while walking one and striking out one.

To close out the seventh inning, the A’s turned to Scott Blewett. Blewett recorded the final out of the seventh and also pitched the eighth inning for the A’s. Blewett got hit around a decent amount but limited the damage as he gave up one run on four hits while walking none across his inning and one-third of work.

In the ninth inning, Mark Kotsay turned to Luis Medina for the final three outs. It wasn’t a clean inning for Medina. However, he did manage to allow no runs while scattering two hits across his inning of work and striking out one.

On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s had plenty of opportunities against the Tigers’ pitching staff, but they weren’t able to capitalize the way they needed to generate runs, at least until later in the game. The A’s finished with an impressive 15 hits and three walks, but they were only able to score six runs when it was all said and done.

The A’s first run came in the third inning when Lawrence Butler drove home Jacob Wilson on an RBI single to left field. It was Butler’s 29th RBI of the season as he continues to heat up a bit for the A’s after struggling for most of the season.

In the fourth inning, the A’s got their second run of the game when Jacob Wilson grounded out and scored Henry Bolte from third base to give Wilson his 34th RBI of the season and tie the game at 2-2.

The A’s next runs wouldn’t come until the eighth inning when they trailed the Tigers 8-2. In the eighth, the A’s scored three runs thanks to a Henry Bolte three-run home run over the wall in right-center field that scored Tommy White and Lawrence Butler. The home run, which traveled 411 feet and left the bat at 105.3 mph, was Bolte’s fourth of the season as he recorded RBIs 19, 20, and 21.

The A’s final run of the game came in the bottom of the ninth inning when Jeff McNeil laid down a textbook RBI bunt single to the left side of the diamond that scored Tyler Soderstrom from third base. It got the A’s to within two, making it an 8-6 game.

That was all the A’s offense could muster as they attempted the comeback but ultimately fell to the Tigers, 8-6.

With the loss, the A’s fell to 45-66 on the season.

Things got a bit chippy at the end of the game after the final out was recorded. The A’s and Tigers’ benches cleared, along with both bullpens, as a scrum formed along the third-base line. I couldn’t make out the cause, and after the game Mark Kotsay’s only comment was, “It was a little dispute over a play in the game.”

The A’s will take on the Tigers in the final game of the series and the homestand on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PDT. The A’s will send Gage Jump (4-6, 4.00 ERA) to the mound, while the Tigers will counter with Keider Montero (7-6, 3.34 ERA).

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

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

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

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

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

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Harvey: A’s crushed in 13-1 laugher by Tigers at Sutter Health

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Detroit Tigers Dillon Dingler (not shown) celebrates with Ben Melgeri (53), Kevin McGonigle (7), Javier Baez (not shown) after hitting a grand slam homer in the top of the eighth inning, Sacramento A’s catcher Brian Serven (in foreground) at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Fri Jul 31, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Harvey:

#1 How did Lawrence Butler had hit well against the Boston Red Sox in the last series but Friday night struggled against Detroit pitching going 0-4.

#2 What kind of outing did A’s starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs have against the Tigers, pitching four innings allowing four hits and two runs.

#3 Did Nick Kurtz was the lead off hitter with two at bats and walked twice just couldn’t get the long ball going.

#4 Talk about how this A’s line up looks without Zack Gelof, Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, Joshua Kuroda Grauer.

#5 Of A’s players such as Lawrence Butler, Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson they needed their bats Friday night but they were silenced by Tigers pitching, and A’s starter Jeffrey Springs pitched well allowing four hits and two earned runs but the A’s bullpen later allowed 11 more runs in the 13-1 loss ?

Join Tony Harvey for the A’s podcasts Saturdays 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 Bullpen Implodes in 13-1 Loss to Tigers

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Jeffrey Springs #59 of the Athletics pitches against the Detroit Tigers in the top of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on July 31, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After losing three of four games to the Boston Red Sox during the past week at Sutter Health Park, the A’s welcomed the Detroit Tigers to town for game one of a three-game series on Friday night.

The A’s fell to the Tigers on Friday night by a final of 13-1 in an ugly showing all the way around.

It was Jeffrey Springs who got the start for the series opener on Friday night. Springs, who is in his ninth season in the majors, is having the worst year of his career. Heading into Friday’s action, Springs led the league in losses (10), earned runs (72), and home runs allowed (27). In the series opener, Springs struggled with his command yet again as he was only able to get through four innings against the Tigers lineup. Across his four innings, Springs gave up two runs on four hits while walking a massive five batters and striking out just two. Springs managed to limit the damage, but it was certainly another underwhelming outing for the left-hander out of Appalachian State University in his 22nd start for the A’s this season.

“…Probably some fatigue and lack of strength in that front side led to a little bit of a lack of command tonight,” Mark Kotsay said of Jeffrey Springs after the game. “…Overall managing to get out of that fourth inning with only giving up one run and the pitch count was really high… he worked really hard for four innings… it shows some grit.”

The A’s bullpen had to cover five innings on Friday night after Springs was lifted following the fourth inning, and it pitched well until the eighth inning.

Hayden Juenger was first out of the bullpen for the A’s as he pitched the fifth inning. Juenger was effective, allowing just a walk and nothing else while also striking out two in his one inning of relief.

Brady Basso was next out of the bullpen for the A’s as he came in for the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. Basso allowed just one hit and no runs in the sixth and seventh innings as it appeared he was going to cruise through three innings of relief. However, Basso ran into trouble in the eighth inning and was unable to record an out as he faced three batters and they all reached base. In the end, Basso went 2+ innings and gave up three runs on four hits while walking none and striking out two.

Unfortunately for the A’s, the implosion from the bullpen didn’t end with Basso. Mark Kotsay turned to Luis Morales for the rest of the eighth inning, and it went poorly, to say the least. Morales surrendered a grand slam in the inning to allow the Tigers to blow the game wide open. It also didn’t stop at that point for the Tigers. Morales was back out in the ninth inning, where he surrendered another four runs in a completely ineffective outing. When the dust settled, Morales went two innings of eight-run, six-hit baseball while walking one and striking out one.

As for the bullpen, Kotsay only has so much left to say. It needs to improve. On Morales specifically, the A’s are looking to go back to square one.

“We’re going to have to go back to the drawing board with Morales, and we’ve identified some things that he’s doing… he may be tipping his pitches, but at the same point, he still has to execute the pitches. Even though you throw 97, it’s got to be executed. It can’t be in the middle of the plate. So there’s still a lot for Morales to do from a standpoint of just making adjustments.”

On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s struggled to get things going against the Tigers’ bullpen game after the Casey Mize scratch earlier in the day. The A’s totaled just three hits and one run while walking three times against Detroit pitching over nine innings.

The A’s first and only run came in the first inning to help them jump out to an early lead. It was the red-hot Jonah Heim who stayed hot on Friday as he drilled an RBI double to center field that scored Jacob Wilson. It was Heim’s 12th double of the season and his 35th RBI.

That’s all she wrote on the offensive side for the A’s as they fell 13-1.

The A’s will take on the Tigers in game two of the series on Saturday at 6:40 p.m. PDT. Jack Perkins (2-4, 6.45 ERA) is scheduled to start for the A’s, while the Tigers will counter with Framber Valdez (5-7, 4.53 ERA).

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

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

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

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

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

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s can’t hold a lead; Sox Abreau and Contreras homer in 5-4 Bosox win

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Sacramento A’s Lawrence Butler slides in ahead of the throw as Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong waits for the throw in the bottom eighth inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Thu Jul 30, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Boston Red Sox sluggers Wilyer Abreau and Wilson Contreras hit back to back home runs in the top of the eighth inning to help the Sox edge the Sacramento A’s at Sutter Health Park on Thursday night 5-4.

#2 The Sox Ceddanne Rafaela had two hits for two RBIS and the Sox came back from behind in the top of the eighth for the comeback victory.

#3 The win for the Sox was their eighth in their last 12 games. The A’s lose the four game set to Boston losing three out four.

#4 For the A’s Lawrence Butler whose bat has come alive again got two hits and scored two runs. Jacob Wilson contributed with two hits and an RBI.

#5 The A’s open up a three game set against the Detroit Tigers at Sutter Health RHP Casey Mize (4-6 ERA 2.70) make the start for Detroit for Sacramento LHP Jefferey Springs (3-10 ERA 6.23) first pitch 6:40pm PDT.

Join Jeremiah Salmonson for the A’s podcasts Thursdays 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 Drop Series Finale to Red Sox 5-4 Despite Strong Start From Barnett

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Mason Barnett #63 Athletics pitches against the Boston Red Sox in the top of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on July 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After dropping game three on Wednesday to the Red Sox, the A’s tried to split the series with Boston on Thursday in the final game of the four-game series.

The Athletics couldn’t salvage the series split on Thursday as they fell to the Red Sox 5-4 in nine innings.

Mason Barnett got the spot start for the A’s, who had floated the idea of going with an opener on Thursday. Barnett, who made his 15th appearance and first start for the A’s on Thursday, pitched well. Barnett breezed through the first four innings before running into trouble in the fifth inning. Barnett gave up three runs in the fifth that would ultimately lead to the end of his outing. All in, Barnett gave up three runs on four hits while striking out six and walking just one Red Sox hitter.

Mark Kotsay was pleased with Barnett’s outing and felt it was something he could continue to build on moving forward.

“I thought Barnett did a great job… the goal was to get through five innings tonight, keep building him,” Mark Kotsay said after the game. “… Ultimately thought he executed his pitches tonight… so we’re going to keep building with him, keep putting him out there.”

Mason Barnett was also pleased with his outing, albeit with the caveat of the fifth inning.

“I felt good,” Barnett said after the game. “Stuff felt great, especially early on. Glad I was able to get four strong ones out there. The last one, that last inning, started off with a fastball getting away from me. And then after that I was trying to get the ball on the ground and did that, but they just put it in places where it’s tough to make plays. Sometimes that’s just how baseball goes, but overall I felt good and think I can build off it.”

In the sixth inning, the A’s went to the bullpen for the first time in the game in relief of starter Mason Barnett. Scott Blewett was the first out of the bullpen for the A’s, and he impressed in his two innings of work. He immediately got himself into a jam in the sixth inning but managed to get out of it without allowing a run. Blewett allowed no runs on two hits across his two innings of work while walking none and striking out one.

In the eighth inning, Mark Kotsay went with Luis Medina, who had pitched well over his last five appearances, allowing just two runs. However, the Red Sox weren’t kind to Medina, greeting him with back-to-back home runs to open the eighth inning. However, that would be all the damage done to Medina as he finished the frame allowing just those two hits while striking out one in his one inning of work.

In the ninth inning, now down by a run, the A’s turned to Elvis Alvarado to keep the game within one run. Alvarado turned in a solid performance as he faced the minimum in the ninth thanks to a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning after issuing a leadoff walk. Alvarado allowed one walk and no hits across his one inning of relief while striking out one.

On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s kept a steady diet of offense going throughout the game, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Red Sox. The A’s finished with nine hits and two walks while scoring four runs.

The A’s first run of the game came in the third inning when Jacob Wilson hit an RBI single to center field that scored Carlos Cortes. It was Wilson’s 33rd RBI of the season.

In the fourth inning, it was Lawrence Butler, who has been heating up as of late, who recorded an RBI double to score Jonah Heim. It was Butler’s 27th RBI of the year.

Later in the inning, it was Donovan Walton who hit an RBI single that scored Lawrence Butler to give the A’s their third run of the game and make it a 3-0 game at the time.

In the sixth inning, the A’s scored their final run of the game on a Carlos Cortes sacrifice fly that scored Lawrence Butler from third base. It was a close play at the plate as Butler scored on a shallow fly ball to left field.

The A’s will stay home to take on the Detroit Tigers in game one of a three-game series on Friday at Sutter Health Park. The Tigers plan to start Casey Mize (2-6, 2.70 ERA), while the A’s will counter with Jeffrey Springs (3-10, 6.23 ERA).

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

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

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

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

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

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Sacramento A’s podcast Bridget Mulcahy: Monasterio’s homer is the difference as Sox defeat A’s at Sutter Health 4-2 Wednesday

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Boston Red Sox Andruw Monasterio (right) celebrates with teammate Romy Gonzalez (23) after hitting a two run home run in the top of the tenth against the Sacramento A’s at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Wed Jul 29, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Bridget Mulcahy:

#1 The Sacramento A’s Jonah Heim got the game’s first run in the bottom of the second inning with a 418 foot centerfield home run to get the A’s on the scoreboard with a 1-0 lead.

#2 Jahmal Jones evened up the ball game with a 375 foot centerfield home run in the top of the fifth inning to tie it up 1-1 for the Red Sox.

#3 In the bottom of the fifth inning the A’s Lawrence Butler got the A’s their lead back with a 375 foot home run making 2-1.

#4 The Red Sox Nick Sogard hit a top the sixth inning RBI single to tie the game up for the second time making it 2-2.

#5 In the top of the tenth inning with a ghost runner Romy Gonzalez on board Andruw Monasterio slugged a 428 foot centerfield home run that put the Sox in front by two runs 4-2 as the Sox now take a 2-1 series lead with game four on Thursday night.

Join Bridget Mulcahy for the Sacramento A’s podcasts each Wednesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Red Sox Outlast A’s in 10 Innings 4-2 as Kurtz Exits Early With Injury

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Nick Kurtz #16 of the Athletics is looked over by trainer Jeff Collins and manager Mark Kotsay #7 after being hit in the arm with a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the bottom of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on July 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The A’s played game three of a four-game series against the Red Sox on Wednesday night inside the friendly confines of Sutter Health Park. The A’s had evened the series at a game apiece on Tuesday as they looked to win two in a row against the Red Sox.

The Red Sox took the lead in the series again as they defeated the A’s 4-2 in 10 innings.

Jacob Lopez took the ball for the A’s at 6:41 p.m. as he made his 17th appearance for the A’s this season and his 14th start. Lopez didn’t have a particularly clean outing, but he pitched reasonably well for the A’s as he went five and one-third innings. Lopez allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits while scattering two walks and striking out eight in his outing. It was another strong performance from Lopez, who built on his previous scoreless outing last week in Minnesota.

“I thought Jacob did a good job tonight,” Kotsay said after the game. “Obviously he took us into the sixth inning again, which is a good sign for these young starters just continuing to give us these efforts, getting them deep into their games. Eight strikeouts tonight, which might be a season high for him.”

It indeed was a season high for Lopez, who looks to continue to build on this recent momentum to solidify himself as a big league starter.

Mark Kotsay turned to Hayden Juenger first out of the bullpen in relief of Lopez with one out in the sixth inning. Juenger tossed one and one-third innings in relief, giving up two hits and no runs while striking out one in his outing that saw him get the final two outs in the seventh inning.

With two outs in the seventh, it was Kotsay back to the bullpen as he called on Elvis Alvarado. Alvarado got the final out in the seventh and the first two outs in the eighth while giving up nothing but a walk and striking out two. It was an impressive performance from Alvarado, who has had a very up-and-down season.

Mark Kotsay turned the ball over to Brady Basso with two outs in the eighth inning. Basso finished the eighth and pitched the ninth inning, giving up two hits but no runs during his one and one-third innings of work.

Since the A’s couldn’t get it done in regulation, Mark Kotsay went with José Suarez in the 10th inning. It was a disaster immediately for Suarez, who promptly gave up a two-run home run to the first batter he faced in the inning. Suarez managed to complete the 10th inning, giving up two runs (one earned) on one hit while walking none and striking out none.

On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s couldn’t get much going other than the long ball. Unfortunately for them, both home runs they hit were solo shots. The A’s finished with eight hits and two walks in the game while striking out 14 times against the Red Sox pitching staff.

Jonah Heim got the A’s on the board first and gave them the 1-0 lead in the second inning when he drilled a solo home run to center field. It was Heim’s 500th career hit, 11th home run of the season, and 34th RBI for the switch-hitting catcher. Heim’s home run left the bat at 104.2 mph and landed 418 feet away from home plate as it clanked off the brick building beyond the wall.

The A’s continued their offense by the long ball as they scored their second run of the game on a Lawrence Butler solo home run to center field in the fifth inning. It was Butler’s sixth homer of the year and his 27th RBI as the ball left the bat at 103.4 mph and traveled 422 feet.

That would be all the A’s could muster on offense as they fell 4-2 to the Red Sox in 10 innings.

Nick Kurtz, who left the game after the first inning with a forearm contusion, was evaluated after the game by the A’s staff.

“We’re going to have an MRI done in the morning, so we’ll have a better idea of what exactly is going on,” Mark Kotsay told the media after the game. “The x-rays were kind of unclear right now. So we’re hoping for the best.”

The A’s will take on the Red Sox in the final game of the four-game series on Thursday at 6:40 p.m. PDT at Sutter Health Park. The Red Sox are scheduled to start Sonny Gray (12-2, 2.78 ERA), while Mason Barnett (1-1, 4.74 ERA) will start for the A’s. 

Jump, Serven Lead A’s Past Red Sox 4-3 to Even Series

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Gage Jump #61 of the Athletics pitches in the top of the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Sutter Health Park on July 28, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The A’s faced off against the Boston Red Sox in game two of a four-game series on Tuesday at Sutter Health Park. The A’s came into the game after falling 4-2 in the opening game of the series on Monday night.

In game two on Tuesday, the A’s evened the series and defeated the Red Sox 4-3.

Gage Jump got the ball for the A’s in what was his 11th appearance, all starts, for the green and gold this season. Jump pitched well for the A’s as he tossed six innings of scoreless, three-hit, seven-strikeout baseball to get back on track after giving up six runs in his last start in Arizona. Jump needed 90 pitches, 53 of which were strikes, to get through his outing while also issuing four walks, his lone misstep in the performance.

“I thought Gage was great tonight,” Kotsay said of Jump after the game. “… You mentioned the four walks, but overall being able to make pitches when he had to, right? And that’s part of what we were looking for. Part of what we were looking for is consistency, being able to manage innings and get through a game where he got some solid contact. So he got deep into the game and any kind of start can go six without giving up a run, it’s a great night.”

Gage Jump was also happy with his outing while speaking to reporters after the game.

“Happy with it,” Jump said. “We put up a run and so as soon as that happened, my ultimate goal was to keep the lead as long as I could. I feel like I made some mistakes, but I think the important pitches I made, so learn from it, but yeah, really happy with the game.”

In the seventh inning, the A’s turned to the bullpen. Mark Kotsay elected to go with Luis Medina in the seventh inning, which was fairly uneventful other than a single given up by Medina. However, Kotsay stayed with Medina in the eighth inning, and that proved too much for the young right-hander. In the eighth inning, Medina was only able to get two outs as he was chased by the Red Sox. Medina finished with a line of one and two-thirds innings, giving up one run on two hits while walking two.

Next up, it was Hogan Harris, who came in for the A’s with two outs in the eighth inning to get the final out of the frame. Harris stayed in for the ninth inning, and it wasn’t pretty, but he was able to close out the game for the A’s. Harris finished by giving up two runs on three hits while striking out three in his one and one-third innings of relief.

On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s got just enough across to down the Red Sox even as they made a late push against the A’s bullpen. The A’s scored four runs and managed nine hits while walking only twice in Tuesday’s matchup.

The A’s first run came in the bottom of the second inning when Henry Bolte lined a ball up the middle to get the A’s on the board with the first run of the game.

The rest of the A’s offense came late in the contest as they didn’t score again until the seventh inning.

The A’s second and third runs of the game came in the seventh inning when backup catcher Brian Serven hit his first home run in MLB since Aug. 21, 2022, when he was a member of the Colorado Rockies. It was Serven’s seventh career round-tripper and put the A’s up by three heading into the eighth.

In the eighth inning, the A’s scored their final run of the game. Lawrence Butler drove a pinch-hit RBI double over the head of Ceddanne Rafaela in center field to give the A’s back a three-run lead, 4-1, heading into the ninth inning. It turned out to be the game-winning RBI after the A’s bullpen gave up two runs in the ninth inning. For Butler, it was his 10th double and 26th RBI of the season.

The A’s will look to continue their momentum on Wednesday as they play game three of their four-game series against the Red Sox at 6:40 p.m. PDT. Jacob Lopez (5-4, 6.12 ERA) is scheduled to start for the A’s while Patrick Sandoval (0-0, 3.21 ERA) will go for the Red Sox.

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 Tony Renteria: A’s Perkins takes no hitter into sixth; Sox Rafalea grand slam in sixth does in A’s 4-2

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Sacramento A’s starter Jack Perkins was dealing pitching five innings of no hit ball and going 5.2 innings allowing two runs and three walks against the Boston Red Sox at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Mon Jul 27, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 Sacramento A’s pitcher Jack Perkins was going through the Boston Red Sox line up through five innings until the Red Sox Ceddanne Rafalea in the top of the sixth inning belted a grand slam homer that was all the runs the Sox would need in defeating the A’s 4-2 at Sutter Health Park to open the four game series.

#2 Perkins had control over the Sox one of the toughest line up in baseball as they have now won 18 of their last 20 games keeping the Sox off balance with a no hitter going into the sixth.

#3 The Sox Connor Wong hit a sixth inning double off Perkins for the first Sox hit. Perkins was relieved for Jose Saurez who faced Wilyer Abreu putting him on base with a walk and loading the bases. That set the table for Rafaela who hit his 11th home run.

#4 Perkins start was an impressive pitching no hit ball into the six inning going 5.2 innnings allowing two runs and walking three he had a good mix of pitches working that kept the Sox off balance earlier in the game.

#5 Red Sox and A’s play game two of the current four game series starting pitchers for Boston LHP Jake Bennett (6-3 ERA 2.58) for Sacramento LHP Gage Jump (3-6 ERA 4.42) first pitch at 6:40pm PDT.

Tony Renteria is a podcast contributor 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. 

Grand Slam Sinks Strong Perkins Start in A’s 4-2 Loss

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Jack Perkins #50 of the Athletics pitches during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Monday, July 27, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Jacob Soriano/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Athletics are in what could be an injury-riddled free fall. Imagine you jump from an airplane for a skydiving excursion, and as soon as you deploy your parachute, someone shoots a thousand holes into it. Well, the skydiver is the A’s, the parachute their season, and the holes in the parachute the team’s injuries so far this season.

Coming into Monday’s series opener against the Boston Red Sox, the A’s were 3-7 over their last ten games and were coming home to a ballpark in Sacramento where they have struggled mightily.

The A’s fell to the Red Sox 4-2 on Monday night.

Jack Perkins got the ball for the A’s in what was his eighth start of the year and his 26th appearance of the season. Perkins was highly effective for the vast majority of his outing as he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning while not allowing any runs. However, it was the sixth inning that would ultimately be the end of the line for Perkins.

Connor Wong led off the sixth inning with a double for the Red Sox to snap the no-hitter, but Perkins managed to induce back-to-back groundouts to record two outs in the inning. Yet, A’s manager Mark Kotsay had the bullpen going after the leadoff double, and after Perkins walked the next hitter, Kotsay elected to go to the bullpen even with Perkins at only 69 pitches.

The decision didn’t pay off for Kotsay as Jose Suarez ended up giving up a grand slam, and Jack Perkins was charged with two earned runs that scored on the homer. All said and done, Perkins went five and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on one hit while walking three and striking out four Red Sox hitters.

After the game, Kotsay explained his decision to remove Perkins with only 69 pitches.

“How many times has Jack Perkins been in the sixth inning in a big game, right?” Kotsay told me after the game. “The success of this year hasn’t been very good. So we’re looking at building positives here with him and getting him out of that game, giving an opportunity to get an out. He walks off that mound with a positive mindset and builds off this outing.”

It was a perfectly reasonable explanation from Kotsay on his thought process to pull Perkins with so few pitches. However, it didn’t make the results any less frustrating for the A’s.

As for Perkins’ outing as a whole, Kotsay was complimentary of the way Jack went about his business.

“I thought this was a step in the right direction,” Mark Kotsay said of Perkins. “Obviously he’s a young starter… so there’s progress, and really that’s what we have to look at right now with Jack. And I think tonight, him getting into the sixth inning, throwing the baseball really well, a lot of positives to that outing.”

Out of the bullpen, the A’s went to Jose Suarez first to relieve Perkins. Suarez pitched just one-third of an inning, closing out the sixth while allowing two runs on two hits and walking one in the rough outing.

Mark Kotsay elected to go with Elvis Alvarado in the seventh inning, and it was eventful, albeit while Alvarado didn’t allow a run. Alvarado allowed two hits in his scoreless inning of work while striking out one Red Sox hitter.

In the eighth inning, the A’s went with Hayden Juenger, who tossed a scoreless eighth while allowing no hits and no walks.

In the ninth inning, with the A’s down 4-2, they went with Hogan Harris in an effort to keep the game close heading to the bottom of the ninth. Harris tossed a clean top of the ninth, allowing no hits or walks while striking out one.

On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s struggled to get much of anything going against the Red Sox staff. The A’s managed just two runs on six hits and drew only one walk in the game.

The A’s got their first run of the game just two batters in when Tyler Soderstrom sent a ball over the left-center-field wall for a solo home run to give the A’s the early lead. Soderstrom’s home run was his 17th of the season and gave him his 50th RBI of the year. The ball left the bat at 99.7 mph and traveled 375 feet.

The A’s second run of the game also came on a solo home run. This time it was Jonah Heim with the blast in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull the A’s within two and make it a 4-2 game. It was Heim’s tenth home run and 33rd RBI of the season.

That was all the scoring the A’s could muster as they dropped Game 1, 4-2, to the Red Sox.

The A’s will take on the Red Sox in Game 2 of the series Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. PDT at Sutter Health Park. Gage Jump (3-6, 4.42 ERA) is slated to start for the A’s, while the Red Sox will counter with Jake Bennett (6-3, 2.58 ERA).

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

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

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

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

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

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.