Atlanta Welcomes This Year’s All-Star Game; National League Wins In First Ever Home-Run Swing-Off 4-3

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The National League’s Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies admires his tiebreaking home run for the game winner in the Swing Off to defeat the American League at the 2025 All Star Game at Truist Field in Cobb County GA (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After nine innings, the All-Star Game was tied at 6-6. For the first time ever the winner was decided by a Home-Run Swing-Off. The hero of this game’s finish was Kyle Schwarber who hit three home runs to win the game for the National League.

All Star recap: Tuesday night the All-Star Game got underway, the 95th annual event being held at Truist Park home stadium of the Atlanta Braves in Cobb County. Starting the game for the National League for the second year in a row will be Pittsburgh Pirate Paul Skenes.

Taking the mound for the American League Cy Young winner Detroit Tiger Tarik Skubal got the honors. The two clubs will be managed by the Los Angeles Dodgers Dave Roberts (National League ) and the New York Yankees Aaron Boone (American League), the two skippers for the teams that reached the 2024 World Series. So the best of the best in the world of baseball took the field and this game got underway.

Second baseman from Detroit Gleyber Torres took the plate getting this game underway. Skenes breezed through the inning three up and three down. Torres and Riley Greener both struck out and Yankee great Aaron Judge grounded out.

The National League took the early lead in the bottom of the inning 2-0. Arizona’s Ketel Marte doubled the Braves Ronald Acuna Jr. and Dodgers Shohei Ohtani home. It was a great start for the National League with three hits to open this game.

Although all of these guys by nature are highly competitive, smiles abounded on both sides These guys were having the time of their lives as were the fans lucky enough to be able to attend the game. The Dodgers Freddie Freeman hit fourth in the inning drawing cheers from the fans after having played his first 12 seasons in Atlanta. He still remains a fan favorite here at Truist Park.

The Dodgers Clayton Kershaw took the mound to start the second inning all mic’d up which was a real treat for viewers. ( a bevy of players were mic’d in the game) the Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh lined out and Kershaw struck out Toronto Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero before heading back to the dugout. The Padres Jason Adam closed out the inning with a Orioles Ryan O’Hearn strikeout.

San Francisco’s Logan Webb pitched the top of the third inning closing it out with a couple of ground outs, and a fly out giving up a single. The Mariners Bryan Woo pitched a three up, three down bottom of the third and the National League took the 2-0 lead into the fourth inning.

The National League extended their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Padres Fernando Tatis Jr. got the inning going with a walk, the Cardinals Brendan Donovan singled and the Mets Pete Alonso had a huge hit, a home run to right and three more runs for the National League. They would tack one more on off a the Diamondbacks Corbin Carroll shot a solo home run and going into the top of the seventh inning they had a 6-0 lead.

As the sixth inning came to an end the game was halted for a beautiful tribute to the Braves Hank Aaron and his legacy of excellence. The 25-time all-star who broke through unbelievable barriers, hatred and racism, was honored on the field in a memorable and unforgettable moment.

As the seventh inning got underway, this game would get very interesting when the American League finally got up on the board. The Athletics Brent Rooker hit a home run and base runners the Blue Jays Alejandro KIrk and the Rays Jonathan Aranda scored and the National League’s lead had been cut in half 6-3. They would score another run when the Royals Maikel Garcia scored on a Royals Bobby Witt Jr. ground out and we had a new ball game 6-4.

This game went into the top of the ninth inning with the National League hanging onto the 6-4 lead. The American League started a rally with a runner on second base with one out. The Twins Byron Buxton scored on a Witt Jr. double and the American league only trailed by a single run with only one out 6-5.

With two outs, the Guardians Steven Kwan was looking at a 1-2 count down to their last strike. He hit an infield single and this game was tied 6-6 when Witt Jr. scored. The game went into the bottom of the ninth inning and the National League was looking for the walk off. It did not happen and we all got to witness history.

History was made with the first home run swing off ever. Three players from each team would get three swings apiece. The two teams would alternate and the team with the most HR’s would win the All-Star Game.

The American League chose Rooker, the Rays Randy Arozarena and Aranda, For the National League Miami Marlins Kyle Stowers, the Phillies Kyle Schwarber , and Alonso took the plate.

After the first round, the American League led 2-1 when Rooker hit a couple out of the park. Arozarena added a third home run. for a 3-1 lead. Schwarber hit all three out of the park and the National League led 4-3.

Aranda missed all three pitches and the game was decided. It was history in the making and it was the National League who made that history with win 4-3 in a wild finish. MVP of the game was as expected Schwarber.

This game had everything that goes into an exciting All-Star Game with a little extra thrown in making it one of the most exciting and unique games ever, one to remember, one that will go down in history.

All Star notes: Monday night the All-Star Game got underway with the highly anticipated Home Run Derby. The favored Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh came within an inch of not moving on from the first round to win the whole shebang.

After the first round Raleigh was tied with the Sacramento Athletics Brent Rooker, each of them hitting 17 homers. Raleigh moved on in thanks to his longest hit of the round which surpassed Rooker’s by roughly an inch. Raleigh’s blast traveled 470.62 feet while Rooker’s came up just short at 470.54 feet knocking Rooker out of the derby. So the Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh took the tiebreaker and moved on to win the derby.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Rays selling club to developer that will keep them in Tampa Bay

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Tropicana Field the day after Hurricane Milton destroyed the roof on Oct 10, 2024. The cost to fix the Tropicana was in excess of Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternburg’s budget while trying to build a ballpark in St Petersburg forcing Sternburg to sell the team (AP file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternberg has reached an agreement with Florida developer Patrick Zalupski in principle on a deal to sell the Rays for $1.7 billion. The deal keeps the Rays in Tampa Bay and is expected to close in September. Zalupski is a homebuilder in Jacksonville and was a buyer who strongly believes in keeping the team in Tampa Bay.

#2 Amaury, Sternberg bought the Rays in 2004 for $200 million. After last year’s Hurricane Milton tore the roof off of Tropicana Field the Rays were forced to play their home games at the New York Yankees spring training facility at George M Steinbrenner Field. Zalupski plans to build a new ballpark and keep the club in Tampa Bay.

#3 Sternburg basically could not go forward with owning the team. Before the Hurricane Sternburg planned to build a new stadium at the Historic Gas Plant District and was planning to design a recreational retail and residential area in St Petersburg replacing the old Tropicana. That was all shot down after Sternburg realized the excess costs in repairing the Trop and later tearing it down to build the new park.

#4 Meanwhile the Sacramento A’s development for their new ballpark is still in question as A’s owner John Fisher is looking for someone to buy the MLS San Jose Earthquakes for $600 million to cover part of the costs of his construction costs. K Pop star Suga and former MLB pitcher Chan Ho Park are putting together $70 million as an investment into the A’s. Yet in still that may not be enough to cover the balance of the construction costs for the Las Vegas ballpark.

#5 If Fisher can not meet the costs of building the Las Vegas park and he stated that the park costs could go up from $1.75 billion to $2 billion if that proves too much could you see the other MLB owners putting the pressure on Fisher to sell much like they did with Sternburg?

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.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria: Construction underway at the Tropicana for A’s Vegas ballpark

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Las Vegas Vegas ballpark construction is underway as there was doubt the A’s lack of funding for the construction project could get the project off the ground. (photo by the Las Vegas Review Journal Jul 11, 2025)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 There is video showing that construction is underway at the former Tropicana Hotel and Casino location for the new A’s Las Vegas ballpark on the strip. There were reports that dirt was just being moved around because Sacramento A’s owner John Fisher didn’t have the funds yet to cover the balance of the construction costs but regardless of that status the A’s and the Las Vegas Stadium Authority are moving forward with the conrtruction.

#2 The contractors are putting rebarb cages in building the foundation and lots of construction activity at the old Tropicana site so it’s evident that the build is underway.

#3 Fisher is working on selling the MLS San Jose Earthquakes at the tune of $600 million and the recent investments by K pop star Suga and former MLB pitcher Chan Ho Park who are putting in $70 million for minority ownership of the A’s. Still it’s short of the balance and Fisher will have to find investors to make up that balance.

#4 After the A’s held the ground breaking ceremony at the Tropicana inside a tent with a baseball diamond tray that held dirt they went forward with the shovels in the ground and still there were doubters that this project was going to get underway and some said that this groundbreaking was all for show.

#5 Next up the questions will be can the A’s complete this stadium project can they get the money to complete the financing and not short change the contractors and builders. Those questions most likely will come up one way or the other the project has started and the A’s will have to see it through.

Tony Renteria is a Sacramento A’s reporter for 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. 

Golden State Valkyries Game Recap: Valkyries lose a close one at Ballhalla to Mercury, 78-77

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DeWanna Bonner (14) and Alyssa Thomas (25) talk as they head up court in the first half as the Golden State Valkyries played the Phoenix Mercury at Chase Center in San Francisco on Monday, July 14, 2025. (Photo credits to Carlos Avila Gonzalez/ S.F. Chronicle)

By: Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO – The Golden State Valkyries returned to Ballhalla on Monday night to face the Phoenix Mercury in a Western Conference showdown. Phoenix came into the game on a two-game winning streak and an 8-2 record in their previous ten games, placing them firmly in second place in the standings. Meanwhile, the Valkyries returned to their home court following a tough four-game road trip in which they went 1-3, bringing their last 10 games to an equal 5-5. With Golden State now in fourth place out West, this game had big playoff matchup possibilities.

Mercury entered the night ranked fifth in the WNBA in offensive rating, with an efficient, high-scoring team led by Satou Sabally, who averages 19.1 points per game, and a mix of seasoned firepower and sharp perimeter shooting. Yet the Valkyries were more than ready for the challenge. Head coach Natalie Nakase, Golden State has developed its identity on defense, allowing the league’s lowest opponent field goal %. Nakase credits her players’ performance to being “eager” and “all-around position players” who contribute on both ends of the court. With also special congratulations to coach Nakase who won Coach of the Month for June from the WNBA. This is Nakase’s first WNBA Coach of the Month honor, who earns the award in just her second month as a first-year head coach.

Tiffany Hayes drove hard to the rim for a layup to start the game, and Golden State quickly took advantage. Yet Phoenix responded with a hot start, hitting four straight three-pointers to grab a 12-2 lead midway through the first. Mercury started quickly and aggressively, piling up four rebounds and four assists in the first few minutes.

After a much-needed timeout, the Valkyries began to settle in. Veronica Burton hit a three to keep the offense going, and Golden State began to find its groove. Hayes quickly energized the home crowd, scoring back-to-back three-pointers and taking a defensive charge to shift the momentum. She ended the quarter with 8 points (2-of-2) from beyond the arc and 2 rebounds, showing her aggressiveness on both ends.

Golden State’s ball movement began to weaken Phoenix’s defense, with drives and kick-outs leading to open perimeter shots. Late in the quarter, Kayla Thornton hit a three and drew a foul for a four-point play, giving the Valkyries their first lead.

After a hot start, the Mercury didn’t score again until the final 18 seconds of the quarter, which is testament to the Valkyries’ determination and defensive improvements.

Golden State led 20-16 at the end of the first, shooting 7-of-16 from the field and 5-of-8 from three. Their perseverance on loose balls and transition defense was critical, as they finished the quarter with more rebounds (10) and assists (7) than their opponents.

Golden State opened the second quarter with the first basket, this time from Monique Billings, who hit a midrange jumper after Veronica Burton’s drive-and-dish. The Valkyries’ offensive rhythm was built on tireless effort — frequent drives, second-chance looks, and quick passing.

Phoenix, however, began to find its groove behind DeWanna Bonner, who hit a three and followed it up with a transition layup for a quick five points. Both teams pushed the pace, turning defensive rebounds into fast-break opportunities. Golden State answered with their swift scores, but the Mercury’s ability to get to the free-throw line began to tilt the momentum.

By the 3:40 mark, Phoenix had taken the lead at 30–29 after back-to-back trips to the foul line. Golden State responded with a tough and-one finish by Burton, but continued to struggle on the other end, allowing Phoenix easy looks in transition without fouling.

Phoenix led 36-32 at halftime, thanks to trips to the free throw line. After going 1-of-3 from the line in the first half, the Mercury finished 7-of-10, taking advantage of the Valkyries’ fouls in the paint.

Golden State’s defense remained aggressive, but their offensive output dropped. After starting the game 7-of-16, they were only 11-of-37 (29.7%) after halftime. Tiffany Hayes remained the Valkyries’ leading scorer, with 9 points, while Monique Billings added energy and physicality with 6 rebounds.

Bonner led Phoenix with 8 points, and Alyssa Thomas was everywhere, contributing four points, five rebounds, and six assists to keep the attack going.

Salaün opened the third quarter for Golden State with a nice midrange jumper, kicking off the second half quickly. However, Mercury reacted quickly with back-to-back midrange makes of their own, quick-fire shot exchanges. Both teams began out aggressively, swapping buckets, with Veronica Burton and Alyssa Thomas showing as vital players for their respective teams.

The battle in the paint continued strong, with Monique Billings of Golden State and DeWanna Bonner of Phoenix both offering excellent rebounding, defensive presence, and timely contributions. Burton caught fire midway in the quarter, hitting back-to-back threes to pull the Valkyries within two points. Just seconds later, Billings hit three of her own, giving Golden State a 50-49 lead and throwing the Ballhalla crowd into chaos.

Although both teams continued to move the ball well and produce high-percentage looks, it was the defense that characterized the quarter. Each possession was challenged physically, and hard-earned.
Phoenix led 59-58 after the third quarter, holding on by a single point.

DeWanna continued her excellent performance, finishing the quarter with 16 points and 7 rebounds, while Veronica Burton led Golden State with 14 points and Billings added seven rebounds and ten points.

Golden State found more energy beyond the arc, increasing their shooting from 5-of-15 to 10-of-23, which helped them stay within striking distance. However, Phoenix’s foul trouble arose, as they started the fourth quarter with 15 personal fouls.

Golden State played with passion, hustle, and fought all night, but fell just short in a playoff-like game. The Valkyries finished the game 14-of-33 from three (42.4%), showing major improvement from deep, but Mercury outscored them in the areas that mattered most down the stretch: paint points, fast break opportunities, and clutch free throw attempts.

DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas were the game changers, combining for 39 points on 14-of-22 shooting and adding 17 rebounds and 13 assists in the victory. Bonner had a monstrous 22-point, 11-rebound double-double, while Thomas had 17 points and 11 assists, marking her 14th career 15-point, 10-assist game, the most in WNBA history. Their productivity and leadership down the stretch were critical in keeping Phoenix ahead during the game’s most important minutes.

Phoenix’s bench also scored 26 points, extending their winning streak to three games and keeping them in second place in the West. Veronica Burton led Golden State with 17 points, Tiffany Hayes added 15, while Monique Billings had 9 rebounds and 10 points. Salaün made a huge difference late, scoring 5 points in the final 10 seconds to keep Golden State alive.

However, after a tough and questionable foul on the Valkyries, Phoenix’s Thomas got sent to the free throw line and won the game for Phoenix by one point. Ballhalla hosted another sellout game making it the 11th sold out game.

The final score was 78-77, The Valkyries will look to bounce back from after two close game loses as they head north for a road matchup against the Seattle Storm on Wednesday evening at 12:00pm at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason: A’s end first half with a series win over Toronto

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Sacramento A’s Jacob Wilson is the first A’s shortstop to start in an All Star Game since Bert Campaneris started for the American League in 1975. (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:

1. The Athletics wrapped their three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays winning the series against a very tough team that right now is holding down first place in the American League East.

2. The A’s had a great offensive game to finish off the series with Austin Wynns, Tyler Soderstrom and Nick Kurtz belting pitches out of the park.

3.Pitching had so much to do with this win, Jeffrey Springs going 6 2/3 innings and putting this game away it was “Miller TIme” he did what he does just about every time he takes the mound – he sends opposing teams packing.

4.For while it has been Jacob Wilson as a leading contender for rookie of the year but now there’s a new kid on the block in Nick Kurtz who is now also a contender both of them hitting light standards and a threat every time they take the plate.

5.Following the All-Star game, the A’s head out to Cleveland for a three-game series with the Guardians next Friday night. With the game this far out, who will start for the A’s is still undecided although probable for the Guardians is Slade Ceccioni.

Barbara Mason does the A’s podcasts Mondays 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. 

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic: How Giants look going into the second half of the season

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San Francisco Giants Luis Matos connects for a two run home run in the bottom of the ninth to tie up the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jul 13, 2025 (photo by San Francisco Giants)

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic:

#1 Marko tough loss for the San Francisco Giants after getting behind to the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0 they got a brief reprieve when pinch hitter Luis Matos slugged first pitch two run home run in the last of the ninth inning to tie the game 2-2 only to lose it on three runs in the top of the 11th inning.

#2 Giants All Star Robbie Ray was looking for his tenth win of the first half of the season pitching six innings, allowing three hits, two runs both earned, two walks and six strikeouts. A hard effort but he just didn’t get enough run support.

#3 Ray will not pitch in the All Star Game after pitching here on Sunday did you see that being a tough decision for Ray passing up the opportunity to pitch in the All Star Game?

#4 The Giants Luis Matos made the best of it tying the game up in the bottom of the ninth inning with a two run home run. Rafael Devers had a good opportunity to win it when he hit one in the bottom of the tenth and a ghost runner on second that would have won it but it got flagged down by Dodger centerfielder James Outman and kept the Dodgers alive who scored three times in the top of the 11th to get the 5-2 win.

#5 Giants head into the All Star Break with a record of 52-44 and return to the second half of the season in Toronto for three games starting Fri Jul 18th.

Marko Ukalovic does the San Francisco Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Some Players are never Happy

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San Francisco Giants hitter Willy Adames flies out to second in the ninth inning against the Sacramento A’s at Sutter Health Park at West Sacramento on Sat Jul 5, 2025. Adames also stated on Sun July 13, 2025 that there were more Dodger fans than Giants fans at Oracle Park in San Francisco. (AP News photo)

Some Players are never Happy.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

While in Sacramento A’s pitcher Luis Severino complains about Sutter Health Park the home of his 2025 ballclub for this whole season and maybe for the next two years, plus also the park so far has not brought him the victories he was expecting.

Meanwhile, 80 miles away at Oracle Park in San Francisco the home of the Giants, shortstop Willy Adames was not happy with the crowd at Oracle Park during the last game Sunday against the Dodgers which the Giants lost 5-2.

Adames said (quote) “too many Dodgers fans”. And although he acknowledged the energy of the crowd and said it felt like a playoff atmosphere, he also said he “would prefer a stronger presence for the Giants fans”.

Oracle Park was sold out during these games, and the Sunday game, which was not televised on their regular Comcast Bay Area channel, aired nationwide on MLB Network. It looked like there were more fans in blue than orange.

It is impossible to say precisely how many were Dodgers fans; tickets are counted the game was sold out at 41,048, but what is not counted is which fan is rooting for which team.

But that is part of the fun of baseball. You buy a ticket, and you could be dressed as a chicken, you still can root for whatever team you want to root for. The Los Angeles Dodgers had their longest losing streak since September with a seven-game losing streak in July 2025.

This skid is their worst since the 11-game losing streak they experienced in 2017. However, the Dodgers lost the first game of this three-game series but won two games and left the Golden Gate still in first place, now six games ahead of the Giants, who dropped to third place.

Most people making the money these MLB players make would be more than happy. But Major League players, are privileged and spoiled souls, they travel and stay at the Ritz Carlton and other 5-star luxury hotels, travel charter, everything is done for them, they get $150 just for per-diem, for each day they stay away from home.

When you go on a trip you pack your bag(s) at home and you do not see that luggage until you arrive at the hotel and is already inside your room for a series of games on that city. Everything is done for you, your team traveling secretary can accommodate sometimes for complimentary tickets on the road for family and acquaintances.

I know because I have traveled with team charters. So it is truly a privilege life, and sometimes the more you get the more spoiled you become, and that is they case for some players in Major League Baseball, that even complaining of the fans at home that aren’t even your fans, kind of bothers you. Such in life in the Big Leagues.

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

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

NASCAR Sonoma Raceway/Toyota SaveMart 350: Van Gisbergen proves untouchable in Sonoma

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Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #88 Red Bull Chevrolet, leads the field during the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday. Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Van Gisbergen proves untouchable in Sonoma

By Tom Zulewski

SONOMA – About the only thing that fell short on the day for Shane Van Gisbergen came when his celebratory kick of a rugby ball only went as far as the edge of the back wall on pit road.

“I blame that one on the wind,” Van Gisbergen joked.

Other than that wind-blown flub, SVG delivered a dominating performance in his No. 88 Red Bull Chevrolet and rolled to his third road-course win in the last five weeks, taking the checkered flag at the Toyota/SaveMart 350 on a warm, breezy afternoon July 13 at Sonoma Raceway.

After finishing second to teammate Connor Zilisch in the XFINITY Pit Boss/Food Maxx 250 on July 12, the New Zealander rebounded well enough to lead 97 of the 110 laps and was able to fend off a late challenge from runner-up Chase Briscoe, who started and finished second.

Even as Van Gisbergen had to deal with the closing stretch of three cautions over the final 11 laps, his pit crew led by crew chief Steven Doran wasn’t worried in the least.

“It’s pretty awesome they had that confidence because I certainly didn’t,” Van Gisbergen said. “You never know with NASCAR. On the restarts, everyone goes crazy.”

Van Gisbergen added on TNT’s post-race show, “We had a really fast car, but a really fast car doen’t always win the race.”

The first late caution came at lap 97 when a wheel fell off the 51 car of Cody Ware. It traveled a good distance down track, but didn’t hit any other cars as they drove by. Briscoe led briefly after the final caution came out at lap 105 when Ricky Stenhouse spun in Turn 8, but Van Gisbergen got to the front with little trouble on the final restart and won by 1.128 seconds.

“At the end of these races, a lot can happen,” Briscoe said. “It was a split decision if we should pit or not, but we stayed out and that could go a lot of different ways. I tried to do my best just to stay behind Shane, but even if I had gotten the lead, there was probably only a 10 percent chance I could hold on to it.”

Van Gisbergen short-pitted and finished second to Ross Chastain in Stage 1, but had to survive a bump-and-run fest from a hard-charging Kyle Larson before securing the Stage 2 win. For the first time during the weekend, a caution flag came out early in Stage 3 for an on-track incident..

Ryan Blaney slid off-track after making contact with Chris Buescher as they battled for the third position and the No. 12 Menards Chevrolet got stuck in the dirt to bring out the yellow at lap 62, 48 laps short of the finish.

From there, the green-flag pit stops put Van Gisbergen back in front, and he moved into a tie with Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell with three wins on the season.

After Briscoe, Chase Elliott, Michael McDowell and Bell completed the top five. There were six cautions that took up 17 laps, and the average winning speed was 75.087 mph. With six races left until the playoffs, William Byron leads Elliott by 14 points in the standings. Larson is 44 behind in third.

Among the non-winners who would fill out the playoff field, Tyler Reddick, Chris Buescher, Alex Bowman and Bubba Wallace would advance. Wallace has only a three-point lead over Ryan Preece.

A’s Boom Before the Break With 6-3 win over Jays Sends Sacramento into All-Star Smiles

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Sacramento A’s Tyler Soderstrom celebrates in the A’s dugout after hitting a two run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Sun July 13, 2025 (AP News photo)

Boom Before the Break Sends Sacramento into All-Star Smiles

By Mauricio Segura

Just before baseball paused for its midsummer break, the Athletics gave their fans something worth cheering. Under a blazing triple-digit Sacramento sun at Sutter Health Park, the Green and Gold uncorked a thunderous offensive performance and rode dominant pitching to a 6-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays Sunday, closing out the first half of the season with a statement win. With long balls from Austin Wynns, Tyler Soderstrom, and rookie phenom Nick Kurtz, Sacramento took flight early and never looked back.

Jeffrey Springs continued his recent run of excellence, slicing through Toronto’s potent lineup like a buzzsaw. The left-hander turned in six strong innings, scattering five hits and allowing just three earned runs, two of which came after he had already left the game.

It was Springs’ seventh win of the season and further proof that he’s found his rhythm after a rocky start in the early days of the season Over his last four starts, Springs has posted a 1.90 ERA, giving the A’s rotation a steady hand it desperately needed.

The offense wasted no time getting to work. In the second inning, veteran infielder Gio Urshela reached on a single, and catcher Austin Wynns turned on a Jose Berríos fastball and launched it over the left-field wall. It was Wynns’ sixth homer of the year, and it gave Sacramento a 2-0 lead that felt even larger given the way Springs was commanding the mound.

The third inning brought more fireworks. Rookie Nick Kurtz opened the frame with a double and came around to score when Soderstrom crushed a center-cut fastball for his 18th homer of the year. The 22-year-old catcher has been on a tear, with his power production putting him among the league leaders at his position. His blast gave the A’s a 4-0 cushion and chased Berríos from the game early.

Toronto’s offense, meanwhile, sputtered. They didn’t record a base runner until the fourth inning and didn’t scratch a run across until the fifth, when Davis Schneider hit a solo home run off Springs. Schneider’s shot briefly gave Toronto life, but Sacramento answered right back in the bottom half.

A throwing error by reliever Tommy Nance allowed Jacob Wilson to reach second, and Kurtz promptly made the Jays pay. The rookie crushed a two-run homer, his 17th of the season, into the left-center bleachers, pushing the A’s lead to 6-1. Kurtz now leads all MLB rookies in homers and continues to add to what is becoming a very compelling Rookie of the Year resume.

Kurtz’s home-field dominance is hard to ignore. 12 of his 17 homers have come at Sutter Health Park, and his slugging percentage at home has soared north of .700. With the All-Star break now here, he can take a well-deserved breather after propelling this young Athletics team with his bat and his glove.

Toronto did mount a bit of a rally late. Addison Barger hit a two-run homer in the seventh off reliever Justin Sterner to pull the Blue Jays within three, but Sean Newcomb and fireballing closer Mason Miller locked things down from there.

Miller struck out Ernie Clement and coaxed a game-ending double play from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to notch his 19th save of the season. It was a fitting milestone, as it marked the 100th appearance of Miller’s young but electric MLB career.

Sacramento’s bullpen has been much-maligned throughout the year, but the numbers heading into the break tell a different story. Over the last 20 games, the group has posted a 2.89 ERA and gone 3-0 with six saves. Miller, in particular, has stabilized the ninth inning with his blistering fastball and a strikeout rate that ranks among the best in the league.

With the win, the Athletics finish the first half at 41-57. It’s a modest record, yes, but one that reflects real progress given the context. After a brutal 1-20 stretch in late spring, the A’s have gone 18-17 over their last 35 games.

Now, the Athletics hit the All-Star break with momentum, with All-Star selections Brent Rooker and Jacob Wilson set to represent the team in Atlanta. Rooker, will also swing for the fences in the Home Run Derby, becoming the first A’s participant since Matt Olson in 2021.

There’s still plenty of work ahead in the second half, but if this young squad can keep flexing its muscle and get continued consistency from Springs and the bullpen, Sacramento just might play spoiler in the AL West down the stretch.

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. 

Giants Allow The Dodgers To Breathe in 5-2 Loss That Concludes the Season’s First Half

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San Francisco Giant starter Robbie Ray pitched six innings allowing three hits and two runs and six strikeouts against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun July 13, 2025 (Bay Area News Group photo)

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Needing a big win, the Giants instead got another reminder that their struggling offense needs a break.

That break comes over the next five days for the All-Star festivities in Atlanta after they squandered an opportunity to tighten the race in the NL West with a 5-2 loss in 11 innings to the first-place Dodgers.

The Giants conclude the first 96 games of the season with a competitive 52-44 record that has them in position to grab one of the six NL playoff spots. But their .230 team batting average ranks 26th of 30 teams, and serves as a constant reminder the season could go south quickly.

“We have some guys that are coming around a little bit,” manger Bob Melvin said of his team’s offense. “We have some guys that will come around a little bit more. We have some guys in the middle of the lineup that are going to do more damage.”

“I think the win-loss, the standings are great,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But I think there’s just a lot of improvement that we need to do, we need to be better at.”

On Sunday, in front of a sold out Oracle Park crowd, the Giants went scoreless over the first eight innings only to be rescued by Luis Matos’ game-tying, pinch-hit home run. After starter Yoshinobo Yamamoto and crafty reliever Alex Vesia manipulated the Giants into a string of outs, Matos gave the home team unexpected life. But they barely breathed, going hitless the rest of the game.

Robbie Ray was All-Star worthy, allowing just two runs in six innings, but he got no support. That lack of help prevented Ray from gaining a 10th victory before the All-Star break. Ray expertly avoided Shohei Ohtani and allowed just three hits, but departed trailing 2-0. Miguel Rojas surprised Ray with his home run in the fifth that increased the Dodgers’ lead.

The two extra frames offered a baseball-only juxtaposition with the Dodgers stringing together three hits despite all coming off weak contact to plate three runs. Meanwhile, the Giants were denied when Rafael Devers’ rocket to center in the 10th was tracked down by James Outman.

“Ball 106 mph off the bat there,” Melvin recounted. “They hit balls like what 40 mph in the last inning? It’s just the way it is sometimes.”

Spencer Bivens took the loss despite retiring Mookie Betts and Will Smith after the decision was made to walk Ohtani to leadoff the inning. Ben Casparius got the win despite almost getting victimized by Devers.

The Giants open the season’s second half in Toronto against the AL East-leading Blue Jays on Friday night.

During the game’s final inning the Giants selected Tennessee Volunteers’ shortstop Gaven Kilen with the 13th overall pick of the 2025 MLB Draft.