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Barracuda draw first blood with 2-0 shutout win over Reign in Game 1 of best of three series

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San Jose Barracuda goalie Yaroslav Askarov warms up before Game 1 of the Pacific Division first round series against the Ontario Reign at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday APR 24, 2025. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

Pavol Regenda scored the eventual game winning goal early in the third period as the sixth seeded San Jose Barracuda shutout the third seeded Ontario Reign 2-0 in Game 1 of the best of three Pacific Division first round series on Thursday evening at Crypto.com Arena.

San Jose leads the series 1-0 and have two chances to advance to the second round of the playoffs.

An uneventful opening 20 minutes featured a scoreless period. A total of three power plays, two by San Jose and one by Ontario, proved to be an exhibition of infertility as neither team could take advantage. It was tough for both teams to establish any type of flow offensively as the Barracuda outshot the Reign 9-8.

The Cuda’s Yaroslav Askarov and the Reign’s Phoenix Copley both made a big save in the final 30 seconds of the first period. First Askarov made a pad save on a Jack Studnicka at the 19:30 mark and Copley challenged Donovon Houle’s wrist shot with a shoulder save with two seconds remaining in the opening frame.

The second period was even less entertaining than the first one. Each team had an abbreviated power play but once again zeros remained in the goal column of the scoreboard. Ontario outshot San Jose 8-7. The best chance came with 31 seconds remaining in the middle frame.

A bad change by the Barracuda led to a breakaway attempt for Studnicka but he chipped the puck wide of the net as Askarov came out from the crease and challenged the shot that affected Studnicka being able to put it on net.

San Jose broke the deadlock early in the third period. Luca Cagnoni found Ethan Frisch along the right point. Frisch skated in a sent a wrist shot on that was redirected by Regenda who was parked in front of the crease for his first goal of the series at the 7:12 mark.

The Barracuda doubled its lead on the power play just over a minute later. Cagnoni led a counterattack from inside his own zone when he found Colin White up in the neutral zone. White led a three-on-one odd man rush and sent a cross-ice pass over to Filip Bystedt who buried a wrist shot past Copley for his first goal of the series at the 8:38 mark.

Ontario was held without a shot on goal in the final frame despite starting the period with a four-minute power play when Zach Ostapchuk went into the sin bin for high sticking 21 seconds in. However, Samuel Fagemo canceled out the majority of the power play when he took a slashing penalty at the 1:35 mark. It was the first time in franchise history San Jose held an opponent without a shot in a third period.

Askarov finished the game stopping all 16 shots he faced for his first career Calder Cup Playoffs shutout. Copley made 23 saves on 25 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-7 on the power play. Ontario was 0-for-5.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Askarov (16 SV, 16 SA) 2) Regenda (1G, 0A) 3) Bystedt (1G,0A).

Barracuda left winger Danil Gushchin was a last-minute scratch by Cuda head coach John McCarthy as he suffered an illness to keep him out of the lineup.

UP NEXT: Game 2 of the first round series continues on Saturday April 26th at 6:00pm at Crypto.com Arena.

Giants come back to win wacky thriller and series over Brewers 6-5

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San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman (right) is congratulated by teammate Jung Hoo Lee (51) after hitting a bottom of the fifth inning home run against the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu Apr 24, 2025 (AP News photo)

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Milwaukee Brewers 5 (13-13)

San Francisco Giants 6 (17-9)

Win: Tyler Rogers (2-0)

Loss: Tyler Alexander (1-2)

Save: Camilo Doval (5)

Time: 2:50

Attendance: 28,592

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants came out on top in a wacky and semi-wild series finale at Oracle Park on Thursday, as they picked up a dejected Landen Roupp, and came back to beat the Brewers and take the series with a big 6-5 win.

Landen Roupp led the Giants out onto the field on a gray and foggy day at the ballpark, and as this writer would describe it: a beautiful and tranquil day for baseball. Unfortunately, things didn’t start well for Roupp. He walked Brice Turang to start the game, and Sal Frelick singled to right to put runners at the corners with nobody out.

You know the old saying: When you come to the ballpark, you may see something you’ve never seen before. Christian Yelich came to the plate, and knocked in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to center field. However, Freclick was subsequently doubled off at first base, as he took off on the pitch and was all the way around second when the ball was caught by center-fielder Jung Hoo Lee. It was just your routine sacrifice double play.

It was very much a break for Roupp, who was getting hit hard. Rhys Hoskins and Jake Bauers both singled, but the double play allowed Roupp to get out of it without giving up more than one run.

On the mound for the Brewers was Tobias Myers, who was making his 2025 debut. As Steven Rissotto, the host of Rizzocast, and a producer for 95.7 The Game, noted, the Giants have tended to respond to the other team scoring, and that is exactly what they did in the bottom of the first.

Mike Yazstrzemski led off the inning with a base-hit to center and got to second on a balk when Myers tripped as he started his delivery from the set. Willy Adames grounded out, but Lee lined a double into the corner down the right field line to bring in Yaz and tie the game.

The Brewers got their lead right back, as Roupp’s struggles carried over into the second inning. It was actually quite simple. Garrett Mitchell walked to start the inning; stole second; got to third on a groundout; and scored on a wild pitch.

Mike Yastrzemski led off the bottom of the third, and he tied the game with a home run to the green tin atop the 24-foot-high Willie Mays wall in right. The Giants were in a great position to get their first lead of the day, as Adames and Lee walked, but Mitchell was able to wiggle his way out of it with the game still tied.

The Giants were unable to take the lead, and the Brewers made them pay in the top of the fourth. The Brewers had runners at the corners with one out for Eric Haase, who laid down a safety squeeze, but after Matt Chapman came in from third to field it, his throw was dropped by LaMonte Wade at first, and both runners scored to give Milwaukee a 4-2 lead.

Brice Turang singled Haase over to third, and up came Sal Frelick, who knocked in Haase with a chopper along the first base line to make it 5-2. Wade fielded the ball, and threw to second-baseman Tyler Fitzgerald, but Frelick was called safe by First Base Umpire Alex MacKay.

The Brewers had a 5-2 lead, and they had runners at first and second with one out. The Brewers were poised to blow this one open just as they did on Tuesday. However, the Giants challenged MacKay’s call at first, and it was overturned for a much-needed second out.

That did it for Roupp, and Bob Melvin brought in Spencer Bivens. Bivens’ first pitch to Christian Yelich was a cutter on the inside corner for a called strike, and Turang stole third. However, the Giants challenged the call by Third Base Umpire Brian Walsh, and the Giants were able to overturn back-to-back calls on back-to-back pitches for the final two outs of the inning.

That stymied the momentum for the Brewers, and eventually proved to be a massive turning point in this game.

The Giants were unable to do anything with a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth, but they struck in the bottom of the fifth against Abner Uribe. Lee walked to lead off the inning, and Matt Chapman hit a two-run home run to right-center to send a message and make it 5-4.

The Brewers took their 5-4 lead into the bottom of the eighth, as they brought in their left-hander, Tyler Alexander. Tyler Fitzgerald worked a walk to start the inning, and Wilmer Flores pinch-hit and lined a base-hit the other way to right to put runners on the corners with nobody out.

Luis Matos grounded out, and then Yastrzemski fouled off three-straight two-strike pitches from Alexander. Yaz then hit a ground ball to Durang at second, who was playing in along with the rest of the Brewers’ infield. Fitzgerald came home, but Durang’s rushed throw was high, and Fitzgerald scored to tie the game.

Brewers Manager Pat Murphy brought in Trevor Megill to face Adames. Adames worked the count full, and then hit a line drive right to left-fielder Christian Yelich, who was trying to position himself to make the catch and make a throw home to cut pinch-runner Christian Koss at the plate. However, Yelich dropped the ball, and Koss scored to give the Giants their first lead of the day.

Following his emergency save last night, Camilo Doval was summoned by his skipper, Bob Melvin, to close things out again today. However, things did not start well for Doval, who walked pinch-hitter Caleb Durbin on four pitches to start the inning, and fell behind 2-0 to Turang.

You couldn’t help but harkin back to last season, when Doval, as the full-time closer, had his ninth inning implosions. Doval was once again entrusted with picking up the save, and he was once again about to implode.

We have already seen numerous examples early on of how different 2025 has been than 2024 for the Giants, and we were about to see it again. After Patrick Bailey, who had just entered the game to catch, went out to talk to Doval, Doval settled down to retire Turang and Frelick.

Up came Yelich, who lined a base-hit to center to move the tying run to second. It wasn’t going to be easy, but Doval got Rhys Hoskins to fly out to center, and everyone went home happy.

The Giants are back to their season-high eight games over .500 at 17-9. This was their eighth comeback win of the season, and their third win when trailing after seven innings.

Through all of the madness, it was Tyler Rogers who got the win. Tyler Alexander took the loss, and Camilo Doval notched his fifth save, tying Ryan Walker. However, Bob Melvin was quick to stress that Walker would still be the guy in a potential save situation Friday night.

Speaking of Friday night, Bruce Bochy’s Rangers are coming in for a 2010 World Series rematch, and it will be a weekend of old friends and memories. Former Giant Joc Pederson will also make the trip with the Rangers, but most importantly, Brandon Crawford will have his official retirement ceremony before the game on Saturday.

Justin Verlander (0-1. 5.47 ERA), who will remain on the opposite end of Bruce Bochy, will take the ball for the Giants Friday night, and look for his first win in the orange and black. The veteran right-hander, Nathan Evoldi (1-2, 2.64 ERA) will make the start for Texas.

First pitch will be at the accustomed Friday night time of 7:15 p.m.

Scott Perry Returns to Sacramento With Optimism and Big Decisions Ahead

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Scott Perry is introduced and joined by his wife in Sacramento on Wednesday. (Photo: Kevin John on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO — “Good morning everyone, I’m so excited to be back in Sacramento, California. It is a joy and a blessing for me…”

Scott Perry opened his second tenure in Sacramento with a tone of optimism and resolve from the main press conference room inside Golden 1 Center on Wednesday morning.

Perry, who had previously spent a few months with the Kings in 2017 before leaving for New York to join the Knicks, is now back in Sacramento for the long haul as General Manager of the club.

One of the most pressing decisions Perry faces is selecting his head coach. The new Kings GM did not commit to interim coach Doug Christie, but he also didn’t rule him out.

“I’ve spent time with Doug Christie already,” Perry said. “I admire him as a player and his career. I watched him this year from afar… He’s one of the first people I met with when I arrived here in Sacramento… I want to have a few more conversations in and around this job, and hopefully we can come to a decision in the next week or so.”

The Kings and Perry appear eager to get to work. The next few months should give Kings fans a strong indication of the long-term direction the franchise is heading.

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria Tue Apr 22, 2025: A’s Bido looking for third win; Sac gets after first place Texas tonight

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Sacramento A’s pitcher Osvaldo Bido (45) will be doing the pitching Tue Apr 22, 2025 against the Texas Rangers at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento to open a three game set. Here Bido deals against the San Francisco Giants on Sat Aug 17, 2024 at the Oakland Coliseum (AP file photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 The Milwaukee Brewers (12-10) Rhys Hoskins went three for five with a home run and four RBIs. The Brewers set a franchise record with nine steals as it wasn’t even close as the Brewers won in a 14-1 laugher.

#2 The Brewers Logan Henderson struck out nine hitters in his big league debut. The Sacramento A’s (10-12) had been going well before Sunday’s game where they had won four out of their last five games and were getting around .500 but were just helpless in this loss at American Family Park.

#3 A’s starter Jefferey Springs was lit up Sunday he pitched 2.1 innings, giving up five runs and six hits, four earned runs, three strike outs and one home run.

#4 The Brewers take the three game series two out of three. The Brewers went to work early scoring four in the first, and rallied later in the game for five more runs in the seventh. A’s pitching just couldn’t hold the Brewers.

#5 The A’s went 4-2 on this last road trip and are 8-4 on the road overall. The A’s come home to open a three game series at Sutter Health Park on Tuesday. The A’s are 2-7 at home and host the Texas Rangers who are first in the AL West at 13-9 and lead second place Seattle by one game. Starting pitchers for the Rangers LHP Patrick Corbin (1-0 ERA 3.86) for the A’s Osvaldo Bido (2-1 ERA 2.61) first pitch slated for 7:05pm PDT.

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

Barracuda wrap up regular season shutout 4-0 by Calgary

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San Jose Barracuda vs Calgary Wranglers on Sunday April 20th at Scotiabank Saddledome (via calgarywranglers)

By Madison Montez

Calgary was looking to end the regular season on a high note and they did just that. The Wranglers successfully broke passes, forced turnovers, and outscored San Jose, to shutout the Barracuda 4-0

After San Jose got out to an early lead in Friday’s game, Calgary returned the favor. Carter King, the Calgary native, scored his first American Hockey League goal to give Calgary their first lead of the game. Former Barracuda Alex Gallant recorded the primary assist.

Calgary extended their lead to 2 at the 10:29 mark of the second period. Clark Bishop, the captain, potted his 19th of the season. Carter King recorded the primary assist, knotching two points in the night. On their second powerplay opportunity, Calgary took advantage and extended their lead to 3. Lucas Ciona with his first power-play goal of his American Hockey League career.

Taking advantage of a 5 on 3 power-play, Calgary extended their lead to 4 at 4:25 of the third. Dryden Hunt scored his 16th of the season.

Although the Barracuda didn’t get out to the greatest start, they dominated shots on goals for majority of the game. After the first period, San Jose outshot Calgary 9-8. San Jose absolutely dominated the second period, outshooting Calgary 12 to 4. To end the game, Calgary outshot San Jose 7 to 6.

Both teams were equal taking the same amount of penalties in Sunday’s game. San Jose committed 6 penalties and Calgary committed 7. Only Calgary was able to capitalize on the powerplay. Calgary with four chances and San Jose with three chances. Coming into Sunday’s game, San Jose was ranked first and Calgary was ranked fifth.

For San Jose, Gabriel Carriere got the start in the season finale, his second start in a row. Carriere recorded the loss, making 15 saves on 19 shots. Ignatjew who entered the game during the second period in Friday’s game, got the start for Calgary. Ignatjew recorded the win, making 27 saves on 27 shots.

THREE STARS OF THE GAME:

  • 1. Waltteri Ignatjew
  • 2. Carter King
  • 3. Lucas Ciona

The Barracuda will be back in action in the post-season on Thursday against the Ontario Reign at Crypto Arena.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria: Can Kings get this play in game against Mavericks?

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Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis (11) picked up his 61st double double of the season against the Phoenix Suns at Golden 1 Arena in Sacramento Sun Apr 13, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis and Jonas Valanciunas each chalked up a double double as the Sacramento Kings clinched for their first play in game after defeating the Phoenix Suns 109-98 Sunday.

#2 Sabonis scored 20 points and had 12 rebounds for his 61st double-double of the season. Valanciunas scored 22 points and ten rebounds.

#3 The Kings Zach LaVine scored 20 points and the Kings improved to 40-42 and are ending their regular season on positive note with a win.

#4 The Kings will meet the Dallas Mavericks for the play in game. The Kings finished the season in ninth place and the Mavericks finished at tenth place. The Play In game is one and done on Wed Apr 16 for a 7:00pm PDT tip off at Golden 1. How do you see this post season match up?

Tony Renteria podcasts the Sacramento King each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Forgot to take their Peanuts to Sacramento?

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A’s Forgot to take their Peanuts to Sacramento!

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Are they still rooted in Oakland? Peanut plants are annuals. They complete their life cycle in one growing season, usually taking 4 to 5 months from planting to harvest. Well, the MLB season is six months, so these peanuts are still safe in Oakland?

They are all over supermarkets in the nine-county Bay Area. Is it possible that some people still ignore the fact that the Athletics are gone? Many super-markets and even small Mexican and Latin Bodegas still have Oakland A’s peanuts on their shelves, like a reminder that if Tony Bennett left his Heart in San Francisco, the Athletics left their Peanuts in Oakland and all the other eight counties in the Bay Area.

Is this disrespectful to Sacramento? Which, starting this season, took over at the smaller media market in the country for Major League Baseball, now #30? and last, Even Milwaukee, the previous smaller market, is ahead of the ATH peanut gang.

The Philadelphia-Kansas City-Oakland-Sacramento-Las Vegas Athletics still have the Elephant as their all-time logo. However as I was looking for a quote, I found out that “What did the peanut said to the Elephant? Nothing, peanuts can’t talk!

Did you know that “The Peanut Vendor” (also known as “El Manisero”), a Cuban son-pregón (street vendor’s cry) composed by Moisés Simons, is widely considered the first major hit of Latin music in the United States?

“Take Me Out to the Ball Game”,. which includes the lyric: ‘Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks” was written in 1908 by Jack Norworth

Soldiers found that peanuts were a tasty and very affordable energy source. As the soldiers returned to their homes, they brought their new love of peanuts along with them, creating a high demand for peanuts. They quickly became a tasty and affordable snack to have during a baseball game, when baseball was the National Pastime in this country. Since those great historic days, the NFL rules.

An Athletics fan at a local Safeway bought five of these bags with the Oakland A’s Logo. When I asked him why he was getting so many? He responded, ” ‘I did not know they were gone already!” I think he liked peanuts more than baseball.

In Spanish, “peanuts” can be translated as “cacahuates “(in Spain) and also as Maní in many Latin American countries.

National Peanut Day is celebrated annually on September 13. That would be the day to promote peanuts at the park when the A’s host the Cincinnati Reds in Sacramento. But I am not here to give any ideas to the A’s marketing Department. Because, at the end, it is only peanuts.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame

Martinez’s hat trick highlights the Earthquakes 6-1 route of DC United

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San Jose Earthquakes striker Josef Martinez blows a kiss to the crowd at Pay Pal Park as he celebrates one of his three goals with teammate and fullback Ian Harkes against DC United on Sunday APR 6, 2025. (San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Josef Martinez proved why he is still one of the league’s most dangerous strikers.

Martinez recorded a hat trick during the San Jose Earthquakes 6-1 thrashing victory over DC United on Sunday afternoon at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose has won for the first time since Week 2 against Sporting KC. DC United has lost three matches in a row.

It was a celebration of the first ever MLS game between the two clubs 29 years ago when they played at Spartan Stadium in San Jose. A game that featured the game winning goal by former Clash and U.S. Men’s National Team player Eric Wynalda in the 88th minute. Wynalda and former DC United fullback Jeff Agoos reacted the goal during a ceremony before the game.

Quakes head coach Bruce Arena made one change to his starting XI as Niko Tsakiris made his first start of the season at attacking midfield.

San Jose drew first blood in the eighth minute off of a set piece. Cristian Espinoza’s corner kick to the center of the box was headed by Chicho Arrango. The ball deflected off of Christian Benteke and into the back of the net for Arango’s team leading fourth goal of the season.

The Earthquakes struck again in the 16th minute. A pretty give and go between Niko Tsakiris and Josef Martinez helped double San Jose’s lead. Martinez headed the ball over to Tsakiris and the third-year midfielder headed it back down the line along the left wing. Martinez raced in with the ball and beat DC United goalkeeper Joonhong Kim with a laser of a shot to the near post for his second goal of the season.

Four minutes later the Quakes scored its third unanswered goal of the opening 45 minutes. Beau Leroux was fouled inside the box by Matti Petola that resulted in a penalty kick for San Jose. Cristian Espinoza cashed in the penalty for his first goal of the season with a shot to upper middle of the net.

“A good afternoon. But let’s be fair, I don’t think that’s a fair scoreline today. That’s not a 6-1 game, but I’m going to take it. If we can schedule this game every 30 years, we would be in good shape,” Arena said.

DC United broke through late in the first half to get on the scoreboard. In the second minute of stoppage time, Derek Dodson serviced a ball into the middle the box and Benteke’s header hit off the right post and into the back of the net for his team-leading fifth goal of the season.

The second half opened with DC United controlling the pace of play and created quick scoring chances. Quakes goalkeeper Daniel stopped back-to-back point-blank chances by Benteke in the 51st minute to keep the visiting team from making it a one-goal game.

Martinez’s second goal of the match iced the game for San Jose in the 81st minute. Amahl Pellegrino slid a past through one of the DC United defender’s legs just outside the box over to Martinez who kept himself onsides on the play. Martinez chipped the ball past Kim for his third goal of the season.

“Today is special,” Martinez reflected after the match. ” It’s not because of the three goals (I scored), it’s because my son was here. That’s what’s most important for me. We worked hard this weekend, we pushed a lot. We deserved (to win) this game.”

Pellegrino joined the scoring party when he finished off a beautiful looking tic-tac-toe type of goal. Mark-Anthony-Kaye sent a long ball over to Jamal Ricketts. The center back, who came into the match as a sub in the 76th minute, headed the ball into the middle of the box where Pellegrino one-touched a right footed shot past Kim for his first goal of the season.

Martinez recorded his hat trick after taking a pass off of a long ball from Espinoza. The Man of the Match made one touch with the ball before chipping the ball high over Kim into the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season in the second minute of stoppage time.

“When you have the right mentality in every game and every training session, then things start to work out in your favor,” Espinoza said.

Daniel finished the match stopping nine of the ten shots on goal to earn his third win of the season. Kim made three saves on nine shots on goal in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with three corner kicks. DC United had four.

San Jose is currently 19-15-9 (72 GF, 69 GA) against D.C. United, with a 10-5-7 (41 GF, 31 GA) record at home. San Jose is now unbeaten in their last four against D.C. dating back to 2019 (2-0-2).

The Quakes scored six goals for the first time in MLS play since Sept. 19, 1999, when as the Clash, they defeated the Miami Fusion 6-1 powered by a brace from Ronald Cerritos.

With his 20th-minute penalty kick goal, Espinoza passed Landon Donovan for fourth on the club career scoring list with 33.

With his three goals, Martínez passed Bradley Wright-Phillips for sixth on the MLS career scoring list, going from 117 to 120 goals. The Venezuelan now has 12 goal contributions (11g/1a) in 15 matches vs. D.C.

Martínez also became the seventh player in club history to record a hat trick. Only Chris Wondolowski has multiple three-goal games for San Jose (5).

Assisting on Martínez’s 16th-minute goal, Tsakiris notched his first helper of the season and second of his early MLS career.

Assisting on Pellegrino’s 90th-minute goal, Jamar Ricketts notched his first career MLS assist. Kaye also assisted on the goal, amassing his second helper of the season and 28th in his MLS career.

Daniel now leads all MLS goalkeepers with 37 saves, four ahead of Charlotte’s Kristijan Kahlina with 33.

UP NEX: San Jose travels down south to take on their SoCal rival LAFC on Saturday April 12th at 7:30pm at BMO Stadium.

A’s Stun Rockies With Triple Play and Long Ball Barrage in 7-4 Comeback Win

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Sacramento A’s Jacob Wilson reaches second base after hitting a double for two RBIs in the top of the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver on Sat Apr 5, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

What began as a historic defensive feat for the Colorado Rockies ended as a thunderous offensive statement from the Sacramento A’s, who powered their way to a 7-4 comeback win Saturday night at Coors Field. Fueled by a relentless late-inning surge and capped by a dominant ninth from flame-throwing closer Mason Miller, the green and gold captured their second straight win in Denver.

The highlight reel started early for Colorado, who turned the first triple play of the 2025 Major League season in the top of the second. With runners on first and second, Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson grounded sharply to third baseman Ryan McMahon, who initiated a textbook 5-4-3 triple play. It was a moment of defensive brilliance, but the Rockies’ good fortune would be short-lived.

Sacramento starter JP Sears, who carried a career 1.80 ERA against the Rockies into the game, again kept them largely in check. Sears allowed three runs over six solid innings, using a mixture of command and guile to keep Coors Field’s hitter-friendly environment from becoming a launching pad.

Trouble found Sears in the second inning, when Kyle Farmer’s two-out double set up Sean Bouchard’s first homer of the year, a no-doubt two-run blast to left. Colorado tacked on another in the third, capitalizing on a walk and double-play ball to bring home Brenton Doyle for a 3-0 lead.

Then came Sacramento’s slow, steady comeback.

A fourth-inning wild pitch from Germán Márquez scored Lawrence Butler to get the A’s on the board. In the sixth, JJ Bleday and Shea Langeliers both drew walks before Tyler Soderstrom laced an RBI double. Márquez exited, and Jacob Wilson greeted reliever Jimmy Herget with a go-ahead two-run double to left, putting the A’s up 4-3.

That sixth inning outburst was no fluke, the A’s have been living and dying by the long ball. Coming into the night, 58.6% of their runs had come via homers, the fifth-highest mark in the majors. Saturday’s game only padded that stat.

In the seventh, Brent Rooker continued his hot start to the season by blasting his fourth home run, a solo shot to center. Two batters later, Langeliers, who now has three homers on the year, crushed a two-run bomb to give the A’s a commanding 7-3 lead.

Lawrence Butler had himself a night, going 3 for 4 with a double, single, walk, and a caught stealing. The speedy right fielder is now batting .400 against the Rockies in the series and flashed some aggressive base running that kept the Rockies’ defense alert.

Jacob Wilson also extended his season-opening hit streak to eight games and remains one of only two players in the majors without a strikeout this season. His plate discipline and clutch contact continue to impress, and Saturday’s two-run double proved vital.

The Rockies tried to claw back in the eighth with a solo homer from Ryan McMahon, but their rally fizzled when Kyle Farmer flew out to end the inning.

Then came the closer, Mason Miller.

The electric right-hander closed the door with his third save of the year, striking out two in the ninth while allowing a single and a wild pitch. Miller has now struck out eight of the 11 batters he’s faced this season and remains unscored upon.

Despite a rocky 3-5 start to the year, the A’s have now taken two straight at Rocky Mountain altitude, showcasing the same scrappy resilience they showed in Friday’s extra-innings victory.

The A’s next be looking for the sweep Sunday behind A’s right-hander Joey Estes 0-1 ERA 13.50 vs. Rockies starter RHP Chase Dollander 0-0 ERA 0.00 first pitch 12:10pm PDT.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s fail to sell out opening home series; Vegas officials approve land permits for A’s ballpark

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Rendering of the A’s Las Vegas ballpark as shown during Mar 6, 2025 at the Las Vegas Stadium Authority meeting (image by negativ)

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 The first three games at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento the Athletics didn’t sell out. The A’s were near the 14,014 capacity on Monday night’s opener with 12,119 but the were far from it on Tuesday with 10,000 plus and for a Wednesday day game when only 9,000 plus showed up.

#2 Some A’s fans that traveled from the Bay Area came up only to check out the new digs and stayed a few innings on Wednesday and left to go back to the Bay.

#3 The issue during the A’s opening home series against the Chicago Cubs was brought up as to whose to blame for the A’s relocation. Was it owner John Fisher’s fault as former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said at the time the city of Oakland and the A’s were so close to a deal at Howard Terminal and they just backed out saying they had a binding deal with the Rio in Las Vegas?

#4 Was it the fault of Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred who some say wanted the A’s out of Oakland and wanted the Bay Area to be a one team market rather than a two team market and could he have been influenced to move the team by the San Francisco Giants who would have the market all to themselves?

#5 On Wednesday the Clark County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the land permits for the A’s Las Vegas ballpark as the A’s move a step closer to beginning construction for their $1.75 billion ballpark. The A’s are hoping to have the park ready in Vegas by 2028.

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