Sacramento A’s Brian Serven slugs a three run home run in the top of the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid in Houston on Sun Aug 23, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Daniel Dullum
After trailing by six runs after four innings, the Athletics tied the game in the fifth inning and eventually surged ahead on Max Muncy’s solo home run in the seventh on Sunday, as the A’s defeated Houston 7-6.
The A’s won two of their three games in Houston. Muncy hit his home run to left-center off Astros reliever Steven Okert, and Jack Perkins earned his first victory since April.
In the top of the fifth, Donovan Walton led off with a base hit and Darrell Hernaiz walked. Brian Serven followed with a three-run home run, cutting the Astros lead in half.
Henry Bolte singled and, after a strikeout, Zack Gelof was hit by a pitch prior to Lawrence Butler’s run-scoring double. Tommy White delivered a two-run single to tie the game at 6-6.
The Athletics used a bullpen game and Houston scored three runs off opener Brady Basso in the first, including a two-run home run by Jose Altuve.
In the Astros second, Perkins walked the bases loaded and issued an RBI walk to Altuve, making it 4-0. Perkins gave up three hits with six strikeouts and five walks in five innings, but got his first win since April 18.
Hogan Harris earned his 13th save for the Athletics.
The A’s went 2-5 on the seven-game road trip to Kansas City and Houston. The back-to-back losses to the A’s dropped Houston to 65-66 and the Astros and Texas are now tied atop the AL West.
A’s host the Minnesota Twins starting a three game series. Starting pitchers: For Minnesota RHP Zebby Matthews (7-8 ERA 5.12) to Sacramento Jeffrey Springs (3-11 ERA 6.02) first pitch 6:40pm PDT at Sutter Health Park.
Sacramento A’s Lawrence Butler (4) is congratulated by Max Muncy (3) after scoring in the top of the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Sat Aug 22, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Daniel Dullum
A strong start from Jacob Lopez and a late rally gave the Sacramento Athletics a 4-3 win at Houston over the Houston Astros Saturday, snapping a eve-game losing streak.
Lopez gave up one run on three hits while striking out nine – a season high – while throwing 40 pitches in six innings. Luis Medina (5-3) picked up the win in relief and Elvis Alvarado earned his third save, striking out two in a scoreless ninth.
Houston was leading 3-1 in the top of the eighth when Jeff McNeil left off for the A’s with a base hit, followed by a walk issued to Zack Gelof. Alika Williams bunted them to second and third, McNeil scored on a wild pitch and Gelof scored the tying run on Lawrence Butler’s RBI single.
The A’s took a 4-3 lead when Tommy White hit a double and Jonah Heim drove him in with a run-scoring groundout.
Donovan Walton opened the scoring for the A’s with a solo home run to center that was hit an estimated 422 feet. The Astros tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double by Yainer Diaz. Houston took a 3-1 lead in the seventh on Daulton Varsha’s solo home run and an RBI single.
Hunter Brown started for the Astros and worked 5 2/3 innings. Bennett Sousa (1-2) took the loss.
In Sunday’s series finale, Brady Basso (0-0, 2.91) starts for the A’s and Cristian Javier (1-4, 5.44) is on the mound for Houston in a matchup of right-handers. Game time is 11 a.m. Pacific.
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.
San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) is congratulated at the dugout by teammate Drew Gilbert after hitting a home run off Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Boston.Mary Schwalm/AP Photo/Mary Schwalm
By Barbara Mason
The San Francisco Giants (52-77) were looking to tie up Saturday’s game two against the Boston Red Sox (70-59). They had a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the ninth inning and were three outs away sealing the deal.
They took the lead 1-0 early in the game with a Willy Adames solo home run in the first inning. Andrew Knizner hit a second home run in the third inning and San Francisco had a 2-0 lead that persisted into the ninth inning.
They had their opportunities to score some insurance runs but fell short. In the eighth inning they had two runners on base but couldn’t bring either home. They had a huge opportunity in the ninth inning loading the bases with two outs and again came away empty.
They left the door wide open for the Red Sox and Boston was not about to squander their last chance in this game. Eli White singled Caleb Durbin home, Nick Sogard doubled Andruw Monasterio home and this game was tied 2-2.
The Giants would have to fight their way into extra innings. It was up to the bullpen to protect the 2-0 lead and they failed. The final blow was a fielder’s choice off the bat of Wilyer Abreu. White scored on that hit; the Giants challenged the call and it was upheld and that was the ball game 3-2 in a Boston walk-off.
GAME RECAP
San Francisco got a great start in Saturday night’s game two against the Red Sox. They scored early when Willy Adames hit a solo home run taking a 1-0 lead. Giants starting pitcher Blade Tidwell had three straight strikeouts in the first inning.
Tidwell gave up a single in the second inning but had little trouble getting through the inning.
San Francisco added to their score in the third inning with another solo home run the second long ball from Andrew Knizner now leading 2-0.
The Giants took that 2-0 lead into the top of the eighth when they had Osleivis Basabe and Jung Hoo Lee on base but left them both stranded. A missed opportunity for an insurance run or two.
In the top of the ninth inning another missed opportunity this one even more glaring; bases loaded with two outs. Bryce Eldridge lined out and this game hinged on the San Francisco bullpen, Dylan Smith and Sam Hentges.
It was a terrible bottom of the ninth inning for the two pitchers. Between them they walked two runners and hit a third; they loaded the bases with no outs allowing three runs and the walk-off 3-2 in favor of Boston. San Francisco had led though 8 1/2 innings but they just could not finish.
GAME NOTES
This was a particularly painfull loss for the Giant since they had led almost the entire game. They couldn’t get any insurance runs despite having some great opportunities. They went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. They left 11 runners on base. Of course the final blow was the ninth inning bases loaded situation.
No complaints at all regarding the innings on the mound for Blade Tidwell. He was excellent pitching 5 2/3 scoreless innings allowing only three hits and striking out a career high seven.
He gave San Francisco a perfect start. Unfortunately the bullpen could not protect the 2-0 lead. Dylan Smith did help keep Boston off the scoreboard but Sam Hentges came into the ninth and the Red Sox put a lot of pressure on him. A walk and a hit put the tying run in motion. Boston’s hitting in the ninth inning was the difference in this game.
The final play was the toughest one to stomach. Bryce Eldridge made an amazing diving stop at first and threw home but he pulled catcher Andrew Knizner off the plate and Eli White was able to cross home plate and was called safe. The Giant did challenge the call but the call was not overturned and that was the ball game.
Sunday the GIants will try to salvage the series and avoid getting swept. Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson will start for San Francisco. He will get another start after a great outing last Wednesday.
In that game he pitched two shutout innings allowing only one hit, no walks or strikeouts. The Giants did go on to win that game. The Giants will see him again in action Sunday. Jake Bennett will take the mound for the Red Sox. He has a 7-6 win/loss record and a 3.46 ERA. First pitch for that game is scheduled for 12:15 PM.
Houston Astros starter Hayden Wesneski delivers to the Sacramento A’s line up in the top of the first inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Fri Aug 21, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Harvey:
#1 A’s starter J.T. Ginn: How would you evaluate Ginn’s start, especially his ability to keep the Astros off the scoreboard through the first five innings?
#2 Sacramento’s Lawrence Butler: What did Butler show at the plate, and what will the A’s need from him offensively going forward?
#3 A’s Zack Gelof: How important is Gelof’s continued development to the A’s rebuilding efforts after this difficult stretch?
#4 Sacramento’s Jonah Heim: What did Heim’s performance contribute to an A’s lineup that managed only three hits?
#5 Houston Astros Raynel Delgado: What did you make of Delgado’s performance, including the defensive play that helped complete a strike-’em-out, throw-’em-out double play?
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 pitcher JT Ginn will start for the A’s against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Fri Aug 21, 2026 (AP file photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:
#1 On Thursday the Sacramento A’s were swept in a four game series against the Kansas City Royals 6-2 at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City. In the loss it further sinks the A’s in the AL West.
#2 The Royals Bobby Witt Jr hit a home run that scored three runs and wound up beating the A’s 6-2 needlesss to say Witt had a himself a series against the A’s with key hits that help the Royals win most of the four games.
#3 The A’s now have lost 17 of their last 21 games and Wednesday night’s game for example they lost in the late innings when relievers Hayen Juneger and Drew Rom were both rocked in the eighth inning for seven runs.
#4 The A’s got some offense when they scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning. The A’s loaded the bases on three walks in a row and Brian Serven’s base hit and ground out scored runs for the A’s
#5 The A’s open a three game series with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Field on Friday. Starting pitchers for Sacramento RHP JT Ginn (8-7 ERA 3.53) for Houston RHP Hayden Wesneski (2-1 ERA 5.16) for 5:10pm PDT.
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.
Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Athletics in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026.Colin E. Braley/AP Photo/Colin E. Braley
By Mauricio Segura
Every time the Sacramento Athletics found ways to put runners on base, Kansas City kept finding ways to make those runners disappear. The Royals Bobby Witt Jr. supplied the early jolt, Isaac Collins delivered the biggest hit with men aboard, and the Royals finished a four-game sweep with a 6-2 win that sent the A’s to 49-79 and extended their losing streak to four.
Sacramento had an opening immediately. Henry Bolte singled to begin the game, but Jeff McNeil followed with a double play. Zack Gelof then drew a walk and Lawrence Butler singled, only for Max Muncy to strike out. Kansas City needed far less traffic. Witt turned the first pitch he saw from Gage Jump into a solo homer to left-center, giving the Royals a 1-0 lead. Maikel Garcia followed with a double, but Darell Hernaiz recovered from a fielding error on Salvador Perez’s grounder and helped cut Garcia down at home.
The A’s missed an even bigger chance in the second. Carlos Cortes singled, Donovan Walton drew a walk and Hernaiz added an infield single to load the bases with one out. Randy Dobnak escaped when Bolte struck out and McNeil grounded out. Sacramento put two more aboard in the third after a Muncy walk and Cortes’ second hit, but Brian Serven struck out. Dobnak worked four scoreless innings despite allowing six hits and four walks.
Kansas City made its chances count. Witt singled in the third, Perez followed with another hit and Vinnie Pasquantino drew a walk to load the bases. Collins then lined a two-run single to left for a 3-0 lead. In the fourth, Michael Massey singled and Nick Loftin tripled him home. Jump intentionally put Witt on, then retired John Rave on a fielder’s choice that erased Loftin at the plate. Perez followed with an RBI single to make it 5-0.
Jump entered the game with 85 strikeouts through his first 15 career starts, the third-highest total in Athletics history over that span, behind only Tim Hudson and Sonny Gray. Kansas City still reached him for five runs in four innings, ending his afternoon before the A’s finally mounted their only scoring push.
The response began in the fifth against Carlos Duran. Butler drew a walk, Muncy and Cortes followed with walks of their own, and Serven singled home Butler with the bases loaded. Connor Thomas replaced Duran and Walton brought Muncy home on a groundout, trimming the deficit to 5-2. Hernaiz lined out to end the threat.
Taylor Rashi then made his A’s debut after being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas. He allowed a run in the fifth when Collins reached and Massey doubled him home, but Rashi prevented further damage and worked a scoreless sixth. His appearance made him the 58th player used by the Athletics this season.
The Green and Gold never generated another rally. Butler singled to open the seventh, but Craig Kimbrel entered and retired Muncy and Cortes before Butler was caught stealing. The A’s did not put another runner on base. John Schreiber handled the eighth and Nate Pearson retired Bolte, McNeil and Gelof in order in the ninth.
Butler finished with two hits and a walk, while Cortes had two hits and a walk of his own. Walton doubled and drove in a run, and Serven supplied the other RBI. The lack of road offense has been a season-long problem for Sacramento, which entered the game with the second-fewest road runs in the majors and a .224 batting average away from home.
The next stop is Houston, where Sacramento starter J.T. Ginn (8-7, 3.53 ERA, 114 K) is set to face Houston starter Hayden Wesneski (2-1, 5.16 ERA, 18 K), with first pitch scheduled for 5:10 p.m. Pacific.
Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
Sacramento A’s Henry Bolte warms up before the contest against the Kansas City Royals at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City on Wed Aug 19, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Mauricio Segura
The Sacamento Athletics watched a four-run advantage disappear in one brutal inning as Kansas City rallied for a 9-7 victory at Kaufman Stadium on Wednesday night. Sacramento scored twice in the first and three more in the fifth, while Jeffrey Springs delivered one of his better outings of the season, but the Royals turned the eighth inning into the difference with seven runs against Hayden Juenger and Drew Rom.
Henry Bolte started the game with a single and immediately scored when Jeff McNeil doubled to center. Zack Gelof followed with an RBI single that brought home McNeil, giving the A’s a 2-0 lead before Kansas City starter Seth Lugo recorded an out. Gelof later stole second, but the Athletics could not add another run in the inning.
Springs, making his first major league start since returning from a right hip injury, gave the A’s a strong chance to win. The outing was also the 200th appearance of his career. He entered with an 11-game losing streak, the longest active skid in the majors, but held Kansas City to two runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings, with two walks and one strikeout. He allowed only one run through five innings before Vinnie Pasquantino homered in the sixth. Springs left with a 5-2 lead and received a no-decision.
The Athletics built that cushion with a three-run fifth. Donovan Walton and Max Muncy opened the rally with back-to-back singles, and Bolte drove in Walton with another base hit. McNeil followed with an RBI single that scored Muncy, and Gelof brought Bolte home on a force play. Bolte finished 2-for-5 with two runs and an RBI, while McNeil went 2-for-4 with two RBI. McNeil entered the game batting .380 since the All-Star break, while Bolte had been one of the club’s hottest hitters in August.
The A’s bullpen entered the game with the highest ERA in the majors, and the eighth inning showed why. Maikel Garcia opened with a triple against Juenger and scored on Pasquantino’s single. Salvador Perez then drew a walk, bringing Rom into the game with two runners aboard and nobody out.
Kansas City kept applying pressure. Kyle Isbel singled home Pasquantino, and Isaac Collins followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Perez and tied the game 5-5. Rom then intentionally walked Bobby Witt Jr., loading the bases for John Rave.
Rave delivered the biggest swing of the game, a three-run double to right that scored Tyler Tolbert, Isbel and Witt. Garcia, batting for the second time in the inning, added an RBI single that brought home Rave and pushed the Royals ahead 9-5.
Sacramento still had one final response. With two outs in the ninth, Walton singled and moved to second before Muncy launched a two-run homer to center, trimming the deficit to 9-7. Muncy finished 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBI, but Bolte grounded out to end it.
The loss was especially difficult because the A’s had put themselves in position to reward Springs for a strong return. Instead, another late collapse left the starter without a victory and gave Kansas City its third straight win in the series.
The series finale will match Sacramento rookie left-hander Gage Jump (5-7, 4.50 ERA, 85 K) against Kansas City right-hander Randy Dobnak (2-1, 1.73 ERA, 25 K), with first pitch scheduled for 11:10 a.m. Pacific Thursday.
Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
Sacramento A’s Jeff McNeil gets an RBI single in the top of the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kaufman Stadium on Wed Aug 19, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Bridget Mulcahy:
#1 How did Max Muncy hit a home run to deep 414 feet to help the A’s make a late comeback attempt in the ninth inning although the A’s fell two runs short in a 9-7 loss?
#2 Jeff McNeil hit an RBI double and later scored on Zack Gelof’s single in the top of the first inning?
#3 Henry Bolte got a two run single and help get the A’s a two run 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning?
#4 Zack Gelof got a hit and two RBis in the top of the fifth inning to get the A’s a four run 5-1 lead?
#5 What went wrong for A’s pitchers Hayden Juenger and Drew Rom in the eighth inning, for Juneger didn’t retire a batter in the eighth inning allowing two hits and three earned runs and Rom pitched an inning allowed three hits and four earned runs.
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.
Kansas City Royals Tyler Tolbert runs to first base after hitting a two run ninth inning single to help defeat the Sacramento A’s at Kaufman Stadium on Tue Aug 18, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Mauricio Segura
The Sacramento A’s needed three outs to turn six scoreless innings and a three-run lead into a much-needed victory. Instead, the Kansas City Royals erased the entire margin in the bottom of the ninth, with Tyler Tolbert delivering a game-tying two-run single before Bobby Witt Jr. ended it with an RBI single to left for a 4-3 Royals win.
Sacramento struck first against Daniel Lynch IV, but the opening inning also offered an early hint of how precious every run would become. Zack Gelof drew a one-out walk, Jeff McNeil singled, and Jonah Heim loaded the bases with another walk. Tommy White then sent a ground-ball single into left to score Gelof. McNeil tried to score as well, but Nick Loftin’s throw reached catcher Carter Jensen in time for the out at home, limiting the Athletics to one run.
The pitching plan worked beautifully for most of the game. Brady Basso opened with 2 1/3 scoreless innings before Jack Perkins took over. Together, they held Kansas City scoreless through six on three hits. The Athletics also turned two double plays behind Perkins, while Jonah Heim and Alika Williams erased Carter Jensen on a successful challenge of a stolen-base attempt in the third. Perkins finished his work by striking out Kyle Isbel, Loftin and Witt in order in the sixth.
The A’s finally added breathing room in the top of that inning. Henry Bolte singled, Gelof drew his second walk, and McNeil lined a run-scoring single to left. After the runners advanced on a groundout, Lawrence Butler drew a walk to load the bases, and Max Muncy followed with a bases-loaded walk that scored Gelof for a 3-0 lead. McNeil’s two-hit performance continued a strong second half; he entered the game batting .373 since the All-Star break.
Kansas City began cutting into the advantage in the seventh. Jac Caglianone doubled off Drew Rom and scored when Vinnie Pasquantino doubled to right. Luis Medina stopped the inning there, then helped produce a double play in the eighth. Trouble returned with two outs when Isaac Collins and Witt drew walks and Caglianone reached on an infield single after an overturned challenge. With the bases loaded, Hogan Harris got Maikel Garcia to line out to right, preserving a 3-1 lead.
That escape only delayed the ending. Harris retired Pasquantino to begin the ninth, but Salvador Perez reached on catcher interference, Michael Massey singled, and Jensen drew a walk to load the bases. Tolbert, batting for Isbel, grounded a two-run single into left to tie the game. Elvis Alvarado replaced Harris, and manager Mark Kotsay ejected by first-base umpire Alex Tosi. Alvarado retired Collins, but Witt followed with a single to left that brought Jensen home with the winning run.
The finish landed directly on one of the Athletics’ biggest season-long problems. They entered the game with 36 losses in games they had led, tied with Kansas City for second most in the majors, and 11 losses after holding leads of three runs or more. Both totals increased by one. Harris had also saved six of the A’s previous seven wins and entered with a 1.95 road ERA, making the ninth-inning collapse especially costly.
If the current probables hold, Wednesday’s matchup will feature Athletics left-hander Gage Jump (5-7, 4.50 ERA, 85 strikeouts) against Royals right-hander Seth Lugo (5-7, 4.59 ERA, 108 strikeouts), with first pitch scheduled for 4:40 p.m. Pacific.
Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
Kansas City Royals Bobby Witt Jr hits a two run home run in the bottom of the second inning against the Sacramento A’s at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City on Mon Aug 17, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Mauricio Segura
The Sacramento Athletics scored first, but Kansas City Royals ensurerd the early lead did not last coming back later to defeat the A’s 9-5 at Kaufman Stadium Monday night. Jeff McNeil opened the game with a solo home run to right, continuing a second-half surge that had him batting .380 since the All-Star break. Henry Bolte and Zack Gelof followed with singles, giving the A’s a chance to build something bigger, but Carlos Cortes grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Kansas City answered with three runs in the bottom half. Bobby Witt Jr. drew a walk, Jac Caglianone singled, and a Mason Barnett wild pitch moved both runners up. Maikel Garcia tied the game with an RBI single before Salvador Perez brought home two more with a two-run single to center. The Royals were ahead 3-1, and they never trailed again.
Barnett’s trouble continued in the second. Kyle Isbel drew a walk, advanced on another wild pitch, and scored when Witt launched a two-run homer to left-center. In the third, Michael Massey singled, Isaac Collins drew a walk, and Isbel drove in Massey with a single for a 6-1 lead. Hayden Juenger replaced Barnett after 2 2/3 innings. Barnett allowed six runs on seven hits and four walks, striking out two. He had entered the game with an 8.78 ERA in his first three starts of the season after beginning the year as a reliever.
There was a little baseball symmetry in Barnett’s assignment. Kansas City originally drafted him in 2022 before trading him to the A’s with Will Klein and Jared Dick for Lucas Erceg in 2024. Erceg would later pitch the ninth inning for the Royals against the team that acquired Barnett.
The A’s finally broke through against Michael Wacha in the fifth. Tommy White led off with a solo homer, his second major league home run and his second in as many games after hitting the first of his career a day earlier. Donovan Walton followed with a double, moved to third on Alika Williams’ flyout, and scored when Brian Serven hit a two-run homer to left. In a span of four batters, the Athletics had cut a five-run deficit to 6-4.
Kansas City answered again in the sixth. Witt singled, stole second and scored on Caglianone’s RBI single against Scott Blewett, pushing the lead to 7-4. The Royals added two more in the eighth against Seth Johnson. Carter Jensen doubled, Witt doubled him home, and Caglianone followed with another RBI single. Witt finished 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBI, four runs scored, a walk and a stolen base. Caglianone added three hits and two RBI.
The A’s had one last opening in the ninth. Cortes singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, and White and Walton drew walks to load the bases with nobody out. Steven Cruz replaced Erceg and got pinch-hitter Jonah Heim to ground into a double play. Cortes scored, but White was left at third with two outs. Serven then grounded out to finish the 9-5 loss.
Those double plays were more than a one-game annoyance. The Athletics entered the game fourth in the majors with 95 grounded-into double plays, then added three more against Kansas City. The first erased a promising opening inning, the second wiped out Butler’s leadoff single in the sixth, and the third turned a bases-loaded ninth into a single run.
The Green and Gold will try to square the series Tuesday as Jack Perkins (2-9, 7.27 ERA, 94 strikeouts) faces left-hander Daniel Lynch IV (4-4, 2.88 ERA, 40 strikeouts), with first pitch scheduled for 4:40 p.m. Pacific.
Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
