Bay Area Panthers Game Recap: Panthers Roar to Seventh Straight Jungle victory in Home Finale, 55-54

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Bay Area Panthers quarterback Josh Jones rushes pass Vegas Knight Hawks Bryce Hampton in for the touchdown. Sparking the roaring fans in the Jungle. (Photo credits to Sports Radio Services photographer Antonio Garcia)

By: Michael Villanueva

SAN JOSE–The Bay Area Panthers defended The Jungle one last time this regular season, hosting the Vegas Knight Hawks in an intense and high-energy night at the SAP Center. With sirens flashing and the crowd roaring in support of local heroes, First Responders Night made the Panthers’ last home game of the season memorable.  

The Panthers had already secured their postseason journey, entering the game at 10-3. Meanwhile, the Knight Hawks came in with everything on the line — sitting at 8-5, a win would lock them into the playoff picture. Vegas arrived riding a two-game winning streak, while the Bay Area was looking to rebound after a tough 46-38 road loss to the San Diego Strike Force just four days ago — their first defeat since May.

The Bay Area wasted no time setting the tone early. After his 21-yard run earlier in the game, quarterback Josh Jones scrambled in for a 5-yard score on just the fourth play of their opening drive. The Panthers scored first, 6-0, but kicker Axel Perez missed the extra point.

Momentum stayed with the Bay Area immediately after, as they recovered a short squib kickoff and capitalized with another touchdown. This time, Jones connected with Tosin Oyekanmi for a 4-yard score to extend the lead to 14-0 midway through the first quarter.

The defense held strong to cap off the quarter. The Knight Hawks’ offense was shut down on their opening possession, turning the ball over on downs. The Panthers regained possession and were back in control facing a 4th-and-6 as the first quarter came to a close.

Maurice Jackson sacked Josh Jones for a loss of eight yards, which turned the ball over on downs and started the second quarter with a rare Bay Area error. Vegas swiftly seized it. The lead was cut to 14-7 in just two plays as Vegas quarterback Johnson hit CJ Windham Jr. for a 13-yard touchdown.

Josh Jones took matters into his own hands once more on their turn, rushing for a 15-yard score after connecting with Tyrese Chambers for a 15-yard gain. The score was 20–7 after Axel Perez missed his second extra point of the evening. Vegas answered right back. On 4th down, Vegas QB Ja’Rome Johnson launched a 26-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Wimbush, bringing the Knight Hawks back within six after a successful extra point, 20-14.

The Bay Area offensive remained dominant. Jones gave Josh Tomas an 8-yard pass for a first down after opening the next drive with a 6-yard keeper. The Panthers reached the 1-yard line after a 14-yard pass to Tomas, who punched it in for another touchdown. Perez extended the lead to 28-14 by making a perfect drop-kick extra point this time.

However, Vegas continued to fight. The Knight Hawks gained possession of the ball at the 7-yard line after recovering the Panthers’ unsuccessful squib kick. Then Knight Hawks Johnson, cashed in with a short touchdown run, and the extra point was good — pulling Vegas within one score, 28-21.

The Knight Hawks attempted to score again as the half was coming to a close, but an interception in the end zone stopped a drive into the red zone, giving the Bay Area a 28–21 lead at the half inside The Jungle.
With an 18-yard touchdown run by Antonio Wimbush, Vegas started the third quarter with a change in momentum. Vegas took their first lead of the evening, 29-28, after making a perfect two-point deuce on the kickoff, even though the extra point was no good.

Josh Jones was unfazed and quickly recovered with a 10-yard completion before throwing his second touchdown pass of the game to Tosin Oyekanmi, who was 29 yards away. However, Perez missed his third extra point of the evening, another drop-kick, bringing the Panthers’ lead to 34-29.

When Vegas went into the red zone but was stopped on fourth down, the defense once again came through for the Bay Area. As the third quarter came to an end, the Panthers leaned on Josh Tomas to pick up two first downs, including a 9-yard gain in the air, with the ball back on their 7-yard line.

Josh Jones increased the lead with a 20-yard rushing touchdown to start the fourth quarter. The Bay Area led 41-29 after Perez made the extra point. 

With the help of a defensive penalty from the Panthers, Vegas launched a determined drive in response, and Ja’Rome Johnson scored from the one-yard line. It was 41-36 after the extra point. On the Bay Area’s next possession, Vegas’ defense came up huge — forcing a turnover on downs deep in Panther territory. 

Vegas QB De Laura hit Randolph with a 33-yard touchdown bomb on their opening play. Vegas had a 42-41 lead, but the PAT failed. In the last two minutes, Vegas made a last push. Wimbush brought them to the 1-yard line, and Johnson punched it in. Wimbush brought them to the 1-yard line, and Johnson punched it in, but the two-point attempt was swarmed and stopped, making it 48-47 Vegas snagging the lead.

With 49 seconds left, the Panthers had one last chance. The Panthers have a final opportunity with 49 seconds remaining. Jones dropped back and hit Tyrese Chambers with a dart for a 27-yard game-winning touchdown after they had started at their own 20. The Panthers led 55-48 with 36 seconds left after he followed that up with a successful two-point conversion to Alexander.

Vegas wasn’t done yet. The Knight Hawks made a last-second touchdown pass to Windham Jr. after swiftly pushing the ball downfield. They needed a two-point conversion to win with no time remaining, but the pass was dropped in the end zone. The final score was 55-54 Bay Area Panthers win.

With six touchdowns overall, three through the air and three on the ground, quarterback Josh Jones was the Panthers’ alpha leader throughout the game. He also regularly performed well under pressure. The Bay Area outlasted a determined Vegas team thanks in large part to his poise and dual-threat skill. The Panthers’ regular season isn’t quite done, despite the dramatic way they ended their home schedule.

The Bay Area will now travel for their final two games, first against the Tucson Sugar Skulls on July 19 and then the Massachusetts Pirates on July 25 for the regular-season finale. The Bay Area Panthers are now 11-3 with two more games.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Luis Severino could be traded

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Ever since Sacramento A’s pitcher Luis Severino said that Major League Baseball shouldn’t be playing in a minor league stadium the A’s have exploring ways of unloading Severino. So far no one seems interested in picking up his $67 million contract. (AP News photo)

A’s Luis Severino could be traded

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

As Luis Severino was signed to a three year deal worth $67 million, the largest in A’s history. Severino is the most outspoken player on the A’s roster this season, primarily complaining about pitching in a minor league park, among other things.

And that shows. His ERA at home is 7.04, while outside of Sacramento, it’s a much more acceptable 3.04. Severino’s contract indicates that it pays him $25 million in 2026 and $22 million in 2027, unless he opts out on that final 2027 season.

If he does, he could be Adiós. Pitching is always tricky to predict, but it is conceivable that Severno could be traded to a team that needs pitching. Since it seems he is not happy in Sacramento, a place like Dodger Stadium could be suitable for him, since Dodgers pitchers have resembled nothing short of a hospital ward.

Since early in the season, the defending World Champs have 14 pitchers on the injured list. Starters like Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell, and relievers Evan Phillips and ex-A’s Blake Treinen, just to mention a few of the 14 that visited the IL still with all those injuries, the Dodgers are still in first place.

Severino was supposed to give the Oakland A’s (now playing in Sacramento) a veteran presence on the mound for a young pitching staff, but it has not worked that way. The trade deadline is scheduled for July 31 at p.m. ET.

There are a lot of veteran pitchers available who could be moved before this deadline and Luis Severino, who has won with better teams than the A’s is one of them. Record the most traded?

Jesse Chávez is a 38-year-old pitcher (reliever) who has been traded ten times in less than 15 seasons and traded more than any other player in history, including twice traded, so far, this 2025 season. Chávez pitched for the Oakland A’s 2012-2015. By the way, he is a great guy to talk baseball.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB Robots are here for the All-Star Game!

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A radar device is seen on the roof behind home plate at PeoplesBank Park in third inning of the Atlantic League All Star Game Wed Jul 10, 2019 as a test for robot umpires (AP News photo)

MLB Robots are here for the All-Star Game!

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

This next Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Atlanta will feature, for the first time, the use of its robot technology for ball-strike challenges. This represents a significant step toward utilizing this technology for the 2026 season and will eventually replace all human umpires in the not-too-distant future.

In 2023, the overall umpire accuracy in calling balls and strikes was 92.8%, according to Statcast data. This marks a slight increase from 92.45% in 2022. In other words, Umpires on average miss a call roughly once every 3.6 plate appearances.

Robots are cheaper than humans: The average salary for a Major League Baseball (MLB) umpire today is approximately $150,000 to $450,000 per year, depending on experience and seniority. It is the most challenging job in baseball; you usually get a lot of abuse from players (but you have the power to expel a player from the field) and, of course, the public, who are usually not kind to umpires. And if a fan gets ‘real nasty in vocabulary,’ umpires have the right to ask for that fan to be removed, also when a fan interferes with the play on the field.

Although robots are knocking on the door in baseball, a famous umpiring school still operates in Florida. The Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School, located in Osmond Beach, provides training for aspiring umpires, featuring both classroom and on-field instruction.

Many of the graduates have gone on to work in Major League Baseball. They will probably go out of business when baseball implements total robotic control on the field of play. I would think humans still would be needed to supervise some of this robotic world of umpires, or perhaps not? Time will tell.

Some of us remember when each league, the American and National Leagues, had their umpires, from their founding (1901 for the AL and earlier for the NL), until 2000, when MLB merged the two leagues into a single, unified roster. During the 2024 regular season, 10.9% of called pitches in the strike zone were ruled balls, and 6.3% of called pitches outside of the strike zone were ruled strikes, according to MLB Statcast.

Major League Baseball is currently testing a challenge system with automated ball-strike calls during spring training, with the potential for regular-season implementation as early as next season (2026) if testing is successful.

This system, known as Automated Ball-Strike (ABS), enables teams to challenge balls and strikes, with the call then reviewed by the automated system. MLB has been experimenting with the automated ball-strike system in the minor leagues since 2019.

Robots are as American as Baseball: Joseph Engelberger was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1925. Joseph Engelberger is widely regarded as the “Father of Robotics.” While he didn’t invent the concept of a robot, he is credited with developing the first industrial robot in the United States, the Unimate, and co-founding Unimation, Inc., the first robotics company.

He collaborated with inventor George Devol, who held the patent for the robotic arm used in the Unimate. ‘ My Take: I am not a fan of robots in baseball, or anyplace else, for that matter, but I also do not like automobiles that drive by themselves, and all this automation we have today, were people go on vacation take two cell phones and a laptop and do not have time to smell the roses. For me, baseball was the most excellent game ever invented, but, as previously mentioned, everything changes, and time goes on. I am not against progress, but just like the famous quote, “sometimes the best trades in baseball are the ones you do not make,” I think of the past and still believe baseball was more enjoyable in the past, with less technology and more humanity. Quote; I never questioned the integrity of an umpire. Their eyesight, yes. – Leo Durocher, Manager.

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

https://goaquaadventure.com

@Central Park Fremont – Fremont CA

Ballers edge Vibes 6-5 with key eighth inning run

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Oakland Ballers celebrate their win over the Rocky Mountain Vibes at Raimondi Park in Oakland on Thu Jul 10, 2025 (Oakland Ballers photo)

Rocky Mountain Vibes (22-22) 121 010 000 5 9 1

Oakland Ballers (34-11) 002 201 01x 6 6 0

Time: 2:18

Attendance: 2,008

Thursday, July 10, 2025

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–After being thwarted late Wednesday afternoon by a lost challenge on what would have been a game ending strike out followed by crushing defeat in the knockout round crap shoot the Pioneer League uses to decide tie games, the Ballers had to wait until 8:53 this Thursday evening to break the tie for first place with a 6-5 triumph over the Rocky Mountain Vibes and— thanks to the Ogden Raptors’ defeat of the Missooula Paddleheads a bit before that— gain not just a playoff spot, but home field advantage against whomever they face in the full season tournament scheduled for early September to determine the league’s champion.

They did it in stirring fashion, overcoming a poor start by Dylan Matsuoka, who surrendered four runs, all earned, in as many innings. Half of the six hits he yielded went yard. The Rocky Mountain Vibes, the team that had stymied the B’s a day earlier, took the lead on a mighty blast over the center field fence by Sam Linscott, the second Vibe batter, tacked on two runs in the second on a two run round tripper by ex-Baller Steven Wilmer (batting .218 at the time), and Gary Lora’s leadoff four bagger in the third.

Oakland got on the board in the third plating two tallies on Tremayne Cobb’s double to right and Christian Almanaza’s opposite field homer to left and tied things up an inning later Nick Leehey’s two run homer to left. The Vibes came back with Carter Booth’s solo shot, a line drive over the left field fence off Gabe Tanner, who had relieved Matsuoka.

The home team caught up in their half of the sixth, notching a run after Danny Harris led off with a single and advanced 90 feet on each of two consecutive balks before Rocky Mountains’ starter, Malik Binns, was able to throw a pitch. Lou Helmig’s opposite field single to left through a partially drawn in infield brought in the tying run. a walk to Nick Leehay, and Binns was on his way to the showers, replaced by Wyatt Tucker.

James Colyer set the Vibes down in order in the seventh.

Oakland finally, and definitively, took the lead in their half of the eighth. Hunter Bryn took the rubber to relieve Tucker at the start of the inning. He walked Harris, who was erased when Cam Bufford’s grounder to third forced Harris out at second. But the speedy Bufford beat the throw to first and then stole second. Another single by Helmig, this time to right, drove in Bufford with what proved to be the winning run.

Carson Lambert, probably the league’s best reliever, didn’t allow a baserunner in the two innings he hurled, fanning five of the six batters he faced on the way to earning his second win against no losses.

Friday’s encounter with the Vibes will start at 6:35. It may be anti-climactic, but you can be sure it’ll be celebratory.

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Villanueva: Giants hoping to rebound from Phillies thrashing; SF opens series with Dodgers Friday

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San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski has had success at the plate as he and the Giants prepare to open a three game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Fri Jul 11, 2025 (AP News file)

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Villanueva:

#1 Philadelphia Phillies Bryce Harper hit home run and hit for three doubles on Wednesday afternoon as the Phillies upended the San Francisco Giants 13-0 at Oracle Park.

#2 The Phillies Jesus Luzardo struck out seven batters and gave up three hits in seven innings of work as the Giants starter Justin Verlander continues to search for his first win of the season takes the loss.

#3 Verlander now (0-7) at 42 years old pitching in his first season with the Giants had a rough outing his line for the afternoon, four runs (two earned), seven hits, and seven strikeouts, no walks in six innings of work. Verlander who won the Cy Young Award three times just continues to battle to pick up his first win.

#4 The Phils scored an unearned run in the second inning and Harper in the top of the fourth inning crushed his tenth home run to left field as the Phillies poured it on all afternoon.

#5 Friday the Los Angeles Dodgers come to Oracle Park for three games against the Giants. Starting pitcher for the Dodgers RHP Dustin May (5-5 ERA 4.52) for the Giants RHP Logan Webb (8-6, ERA 2.62) first pitch 7:15pm PT.

Join Michael Villanueva for the San Francisco Giants podcast each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Maxime Raynaud Shines in Summer League Debut as Kings Edge Magic

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Maxime Raynaud being interviewed by NBA TV during the Kings 84-81 victory over the Magic on Thursday night. (Photo: Jeremiah Salmonson)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

LAS VEGAS–The Sacramento Kings opened their 2025 Summer League schedule on Thursday afternoon in Las Vegas, Nevada, by defeating the Orlando Magic 84-81.

Maxime Raynaud’s Kings Debut
Kings rookie center out of Stanford, Maxime Raynaud, led the Kings with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and two assists. Maxime got the Kings out of the gate immediately, scoring the first 11 of the Kings’ 14 points in the game.

Kings head coach for Summer League, Dipesh Mistry, spoke after the game on Max’s impact.

“Max plays so hard, but he’s so smart and he can play everywhere on the floor… he’s kind of limitless in his potential and he can affect the game in so many ways with his energy and effort, but then also his skill.”

Maxime was pleased with the effort in the win, describing his defensive approach to the media postgame.
“I feel like that’s everything I can bring as a big, anchoring the defense,” Maxime said. “You got to be the loudest guy on the floor, being able to direct the guys—calling screen left, right, pin downs, all this—and then later in the game, once you recognize action, being able to kill the play before it even happens.”

Maxime impressed Kings Nation with his debut, and it will be good to see his development into training camp.

Devin Carter
Much has been made in recent weeks of what Devin Carter will showcase at the NBA Summer League. On Thursday, Carter was solid but didn’t wow in the first game of Summer League. While the primary ball handler, Carter did a nice job of getting downhill and touching the paint. However, he seemed disconnected with the group at times. Carter also could be seen flexing his shoulder at times, seemingly in pain, but there’s no indication he is injured. Carter finished with eight points, three rebounds, and two assists.

Nique Clifford Debut
Nique Clifford shined in the second half of his Kings debut. He started the game a bit tentative and not as aggressive as the Kings wanted him to be. However, at halftime, Coach Mistry addressed the aggressiveness, and Nique turned up the intensity. Nique had 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in the second half to help the Kings secure the win.

“He’s a Swiss Army knife,” Dipesh Mistry said. “You [Nique] going to rebound, you can push, and I challenged him… you get the ball, you got to go. He’s trying to run a play. It’s kind of slow. But he finally got it, and then he started attacking the basket, and you can kind of see his force at the rim.”

Kings Take on Chicago on Saturday
The Kings will take on the Chicago Bulls in their next game on Saturday at 5 PM PST. The game will take place inside Cox Pavilion, adjacent to Thomas & Mack Center.

A’s and Braves Battle in The Heat; Sac’s Soderstrom gets 11th inning walk off single to beat Atlanta 5-4

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Sacramento A’s Tyler Soderstrom circles the bases after belting a first inning three run home run off the Atlanta Braves at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Thu Jul 10, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Tony Renteria

WEST SACRAMENTO- The Altanta Braves and the Sacramento Athletics who play at Sutter Health Park faced off in the rubber match of this three game series on Thursday night. The temperature at the 6:05 PM first pitch time was 99 degrees.

The Braves were coming off a huge win on Wednesday after a bitter loss to the A’s Tuesday night and came looking to to play some tough baseball and that is exactly what happened on this hot Thursday evening. An 11 inning battle that saw the A’s get a 5-4 victory.

The A’s Started strong in the first inning with a left field double by Brent Rooker, Nick Kurtz followed with a walk, and then a towering three run blast to deep left by Tyler Soderstrom off a curve ball by starting pitcher Spencer Strider that 454 feet in deep right center.

In the top of the fourth Austin Riley lead off with a double, and Sean Murphy traded places with him with a double of his own in the left field pocket along the foul line. Then Jurickson Profar took a JP Sears fastball over the left center field fence to tie it up three to three.

In the top of the seventh the Braves Ozzie Albies hit a home run to to deep right center for a 4-3 lead. In the bottom of the eighth the A’s Nick Kurtz matched that feet with a home run of his own but this time to deep left center.

The game headed to into extra innings, in the bottom on the 11th with Brent Rooker on second, Tyler Soderstrom the hero from the first inning came through again with a single to deep center that brought Rooker in for the winning run.

The Braves head to St. Louis and Busch Stadium to take on the third place St Louis Cardinals, while the A’s host the fist place Toronto Blue Jays who are leading the American League East. Starting pitcher for the Blue Jays RHP Max Scherzer (0-0 ERA 4.76) for the A’s RHP Luis Severino (2-10 ERA 5.30) first pitch at Sutter Health Park 7:05pm PT.

San Francisco Giants Morris Phillips podcast: Giants open rivalry series with Dodgers Friday night

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San Francisco Giants starter Justin Verlander still in search of that first win of the season lost to the Philadelphia Phillies on Wed Jul 9, 2025 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants Morris Phillips podcast:

#1 Philadelphia Phillies Bryce Harper hit home run and hit for three doubles on Wednesday afternoon as the Phillies upended the San Francisco Giants 13-0 at Oracle Park.

#2 The Phillies Jesus Luzardo struck out seven batters and gave up three hits in seven innings of work as the Giants starter Justin Verlander continues to search for his first win of the season takes the loss.

#3 Verlander now (0-7) at 42 years old pitching in his first season with the Giants had a rough outing his line for the afternoon, four runs (two earned), seven hits, and seven strikeouts, no walks in six innings of work. Verlander who won the Cy Young Award three times just continues to battle to pick up his first win.

#4 The Phils scored an unearned run in the second inning and Harper in the top of the fourth inning crushed his tenth home run to left field as the Phillies poured it on all afternoon.

#5 Friday the Los Angeles Dodgers come to Oracle Park for three games against the Giants. Starting pitcher for the Dodgers RHP Dustin May (5-5 ERA 4.52) for the Giants RHP Logan Webb (8-6, ERA 2.62) first pitch 7:15pm PT.

Join Morris Phillips for the San Francisco Giants podcast each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria: A’s Spence gets lit up by Braves 9-2 Wednesday night

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Sacramento A’s pitcher Mitch Spence (21) was rocked in six innings of pitching. The Atlanta Braves hit a season high of five home runs and routed the A’s at Sutter Health Field in West Sacramento on Wed Jul 10, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 Ronald Acuna Jr took Sacramento A’s pitching yard twice with a lead off blast off on Wednesday night as the Atlanta Braves crushed Sacramento 9-2 at Sutter Health Field in the second game of the three game set.

#2 Acuna’s two home runs plus three more Braves home runs gives the Braves the most home runs in a game at five.

#3 The Braves 13 game drought in winning in California comes to an end with their win in Sacramento on Wednesday.

#4 A’s starter Mitch Spence got touched up for four runs in the first inning and two in the second his final line after six innings pitched allowed eight hits, nine earned runs, one walk and three strike outs for the loss.

#5 Series is tied at 1-1 as the rubber game will commence at 6:05pm PT Thursday night. It’s a get away game for the Braves who head to St Louis on Friday. The A’s will host the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night. For Thursday night’s starters the Braves will go with RHP Spencer Strider (3-7 ERA 3.93) for the A’s LHP JP Sears (7-7 ERA 4.76).

Tony Renteria is filling in for Jeremiah Salmonson the A’s podcasts are heard each Thursday 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. 

Braves Blast Five Homers to Even Series With A’s

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Gio Urshela in the game on Wednesday night against the Atlanta Braves. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — After the drubbing the A’s handed the Braves on Tuesday, Atlanta returned the favor on Wednesday night, defeating the A’s 9-2. With the loss, the A’s fell to 38-56 on the season.

Mitch Spence roughed up early but able to eat innings

A’s starter Mitch Spence had a rough go in the early innings on Wednesday night. He gave up a leadoff home run to Ronald Acuña Jr. on the third pitch of the game, and the Braves didn’t look back. Despite his ineffectiveness, Spence did manage to give the A’s six innings of work. Still, he allowed eight runs on nine hits and was tagged for five home runs in the outing.

“Yeah, I think the stuff overall was down. Obviously, the velo, the cutter wasn’t sharp,” Kotsay said postgame. “So for Spence, [he] just didn’t command the baseball. Balls were up, and you’re going to get hurt anytime you can’t pitch to the bottom of the zone or get something down to the bottom of the zone. And I think that was evident tonight.”

Spence was frustrated with his outing postgame but tried to focus on any positives.

“I made some good pitches, and unfortunately today kind of sucked. I just felt like everything they hit hard was a homer, so [I’m] just trying to take the positives from today.”

A’s offense goes quiet, Soderstrom and Clarke add two hits apiece

Braves starter Bryce Elder had his way with the A’s for most of the night, tossing 6.2 innings and giving up only two runs. The A’s managed eight hits, but Elder did a good job limiting the damage.

Kotsay praised Elder’s game plan in keeping the A’s offense in check.

“I think this is a command pitcher [Elder]. He works on location and setting up pitches, which he did a great job of tonight. He definitely used the sinker in the third down below. That was the biggest difference in the two starters tonight. You could tell that Elder kept the ball down in the zone.”

The bright spots for the A’s offense were Tyler Soderstrom, who went 2-for-4 with a double in the fourth and a single in the sixth while also scoring a run, and Denzel Clarke, who also went 2-for-4 with a double in the fifth and a single in the ninth. It’s a promising development for Clarke, who had struggled early in his career.

Kotsay praised Soderstrom’s efforts through the peaks and valleys as he continues to grow.

“Obviously it was a tough, tougher June in terms of extra-base hits. I think this kid’s battled through it. I think we’re seeing him come out of it where he is definitely making more hard contact, which is a great sign.”

Kotsay also spoke on Clarke’s development.

“For Denzel… we continue to talk about him in his growth, and at the plate tonight, the double is a great swing. He’s continuing to take good at-bats, which is important.”

I spoke to Denzel about how he feels with his at-bats recently and whether he feels like he’s turning a corner. He stressed the impact his teammates have had on him and reminded me that he’s still just a month and a half into his big-league journey—meaning early struggles are to be expected.

“Game’s slowing down for sure. Yeah, I think just naturally as human beings, [when] you put ourselves in any type of situation, we’re going to adapt. I have a great coaching staff and great teammates that have helped me just by being supportive, helping me with great advice… I’m slowly making adjustments to this level, which is really cool. I’m really happy about it, but I mean, it’s been a month and a half, so you can go anywhere from here, so I’ve got to stay consistent, be a good teammate as my teammates have been to me, and listen to the great coaches.”

Rubber game on Thursday

The A’s and Braves will go at it in the final game of the series on Thursday at 6 p.m. PST. The A’s are slated to send JP Sears (7-7, 4.76 ERA) to the hill as the Braves counter with Spencer Strider (3-7, 3.93 ERA).

Jacob Wilson remains day to day. He was seen postgame receiving treatment on his left hand, which was wrapped in a large cloth bandage.

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.