That’s Amaury News and Commentary: ATH and LAD to meet in the 2025 World Series 

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Pennants from the 1988 World Series that featured the Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Dodgers that were on bid. Can the A’s and Dodgers meet again in another World Series sometime in the future? (photo from eBay)

ATH and LAD meet in the 2025 World Series

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Athletics of Sacramento overachieved this season, winning the American League West Division, beating the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series, and heading to the World Series in Los Angeles after the Dodgers won 120 games for a new MLB season record.

The most games won in an MLB regular season is 116, a record shared by the 1906 Chicago Cubs and the 2001 Seattle Mariners. The first game of the World Series begins on Friday, October 25, at the remodeled (Looking like new) Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

With the help of AI, the first pitch is thrown by the one and only Frank Sinatra, who was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan since his childhood in New York. For the young kids, who have no idea who this Sinatra guy is, he is probably the greatest singer in American pop history: a Grammy and Oscar winner. Born and raised in Hoboken, New Jersey, there is a statue of the iconic singer, actor, producer, and entrepreneur on the streets of Hoboken.

AT Dodgers Stadium, all 56,000 fans, plus some 5,000 extra standing room only, look at the scoreboard to see the legendary Sinatra throw the first pitch. For the record, Frank Sinatra was good friends with iconic Brooklyn Dodger Manager, Leo Durocher, and later with his Italiano Compagno, Tommy LaSorda. Frequently, after an afternoon game at Dodger Stadium, Frank and Tommy will drop by ‘La Dolce Vita’ in Beverly Hills, the place for celebrities.

I interviewed LaSorda many times, and inside his office were photos with Sinatra and a “Who’s Who in Showbiz. Tommy spoke conversational Español, The aerial Gondola connecting Union Station to the Dodger Stadium property is now completed (a project that took years), the same project which was imitated by then A’s President Dave Kaval during his proposal for the new A’s park at Jack London Square.

That was a failure due to the lack of leadership by the City of Oakland and the Oakland A’s organization; it was ‘the perfect storm’. These Gondolas going up from Union Station to Elysian Park at Dodger Stadium are packed with fans, not to mention the large parking lot.

Over 30 million cars are registered in the State of California, more than half in the LA area, but that parking lot is not that big. Those who cannot attend in person can watch on television, but watching all the games will be complicated.

The games will air on ESPN, FOX, Apple TV+ (for exclusive streaming games), the Roku Channel, and a wide range of games on RSN(Regional Sports Networks). Good luck finding your favorite. \ IMPORTANT: The home games for the ATH for this World Series, will have to be played at another stadium, not Sutter Health Park, because playing a World Series at a minor league park is not acceptable to standards of Major League Baseball.

So, although the Dodgers were not scheduled to play the A’s this year during the regular season in Sacramento, in this imaginary World Series the A’s would have to find a Major League park to play their “home”games.

The Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Dodgers last met in the World Series in 1988. The Dodgers won the series in five games, defeating the Athletics. I broadcast that series in Spanish. Unfortunately, I will not be in the 2025 World Series. “Set your dreams high, and don’t stop till you get there.” – Bo Jackson

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.

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NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast Mary Lisa: Jets can’t stop Blues 2nd period 4 goal barrage in 5-2 loss; St Louis forces a game 7 Sunday in Winnipeg

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St Louis center Brayden Schenn (third from right #10) celebrates with teammates after scoring a second period goal against the Winnipeg Jets in game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Enterprise Center in St Louis on Fri May 2, 2025 (AP News photo)

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast Mary Lisa:

#1 Cam Fowler, Brayden Schenn and Nathan Walker all scored goals in 2:13 in the second period for the St Louis Blues. The effort pushed the Winnipeg Jets out of the game 6 picture as the Blues force a game 7 as both teams will meet in Winnipeg on Sunday for the deciding game.

#2 The Blues Phillip Broberg scored a goal and got an assist teammate Alexy Toropchenko got a goal and the Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington stopped 21 shots.

#3 Jet’s goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stopped 18 shots but allowed the four goals of that second period and was pulled out of the game for Eric Comrie who saved four shots. Hellebuyck is struggling he has allowed four goals in road games in seven games. If the Jets plan to advance Hellebuyck needs to gear up for Sunday’s game.

#4 The Jets could only muster two goals one by Cole Perfetti in the second period and Nino Niderreiter in the third period. The Jets just couldn’t get any offense going enough to keep up with the Blues.

#5 The Blues head to Winnipeg for game 7 how much momentum do you see the Blues coming off their game 6 win and how much of an advantage does the Jets have having home ice in game 7?

Mary Lisa does the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff analysis Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Ray shines with eight strikeouts over seven shutout innings, as Giants snap skid with 4-0 win over Rockies

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Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Colorado Rockies 0 (6-26)

San Francisco Giants 4 (20-13)

Win: Robbie Ray (4-0)

Loss: Antonio Senzatela (1-5)

Time: 2:02

Attendance: 35,036

San Francisco Giants starter Robbie Ray pitches to the Colorado Rockies line up in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Fri May 2, 2025

By Stephen Ruderman

Robbie Ray struck out eight and gave up just two hits over seven strong shutout innings, which is exactly what the Giants needed to snap their first three-game losing streak of the year with a 4-0 win over the Rockies Friday night.

Every team goes through their struggles, and that is what the Giants have somewhat gone through this week. They were swept by the Padres in a short two-game set down in San Diego, and it was only the third time this season that they had lost consecutive games. The Giants then lost the series opener to the Colorado Rockies, the worst team in Baseball, Thursday night.

The Giants had lost three in a row for the first time all year, and Friday night they looked to snap their skid. They had the perfect man on the mound in Robbie Ray, who came into Friday night’s game 3-0. The Giants also came in 6-0 in Ray’s starts this season.

Ray walked Brenton Doyle to start the game, which I’m sure got some Giants’ fans nervous. Not to worry, Doyle was thrown out trying to steal second base, and Ray set down the next two men he faced.

Rockies’ starter Antonio Senzatela threw a scoreless bottom of the first inning. Ray followed that up with a one, two, three inning in the top of the second.

With this somewhat slump the Giants have been in, they needed a big inning, and they got that in the bottom of the second.

Wilmer Flores led off the frame with a double to center field, and then he got to third on an infield hit by Heliot Ramos. LaMonte Wade came up to the plate. Wade, now one of the longest-tenured Giants, came into Friday night’s game hitting .123. The Giants needed a big inning, and Wade really needed a big hit.

Wade got that hit, as he pulled a pee-rod off the glove of Rockies’ first-baseman Michael Toglia that ricocheted into foul territory in right field. Wilmer Scored; Ramos went down to third; and the Giants had a 1-0 lead.

Sam Huff tacked on another run with a sacrifice fly to right that knocked in Ramos to make it 2-0. Christian Koss came to the plate, and Senzatela threw a wild pitch, which allowed Wade to come in from third to make it 3-0.

The Giants had their big inning. They put a big fat three spot on the board, and Ray was in complete control.

Matt Chapman added a run with a home run to left-center with one out in the bottom of the third to make it 4-0

Ray ended up retiring ten straight after Doyle was caught stealing in the top of the first, and the only real jam he found himself in was when the Rockies had a pair of runners on in the top of the sixth. Ray got out of that, and capped off his night with a one, two, three top of the seventh.

Ray really shined tonight, as he gave up just two hits over his seven shutout innings. He struck out eight, and walked two.

Bob Melvin brought in Hayden Birdsong, who has very-quietly gotten off to a superb start this season. Birdsong threw a scoreless top of the eighth, and a one, two, three, top of the ninth to end it.

Robbie Ray got his fourth win of the season, and Antonio Senzatela took the loss.

Oh yeah, the Giants got their 20th win, and improve to 20-13.

The Giants can make it two in a row Saturday afternoon. Jordan Hicks (1-3, 6.12 ERA), who has been off to a bumpy start in his return to the rotation, will take the ball. He will be opposed by Bradley Blalock (0-1, 10.29 ERA), who will make the start for Colorado.

As I said, it will be afternoon baseball at Oracle Park, as first pitch will be at 1:05 p.m.

Eagles dominate Barracuda in opening game of semifinal series 6-3

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Colorado Eagles Collen Rosen celebrates his first period goal against the San Jose Barracuda during Game of the Pacific Division Playoffs at Tech CU Arena on Friday MAY 2, 2025. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The Colorado Eagles scored three goals in the second period en route to a 6-3 victory over the San Jose Barracuda in Game 1 of the Pacific Division Semifinals on Friday evening at Tech CU arena.

The Eagles enjoyed a first round bye as the division winner in the Pacific Division as this was their first game of the Calder Cup Playoffs. San Jose came off a two-game sweep over the Ontario Reign in its first round series.

Colorado (1-0) drew first blood late in the first period. A turnover in the neutral zone led to a counterattack. Jayson Megna found Calle Rosen in the slot and Rosen fired a one-timer past Cuda goalie Yaroslav Askarov for his first goal of the playoffs at the 16:16 mark.

San Jose (0-1) dominated the majority of the play in the opening 20 minutes as they outshot Colorado by a two-to-one margin at 12-6, including a couple of short-handed chances that were stopped by Eagles goalie Trent Miner. However, they trailed as they headed into the first intermission.

The Eagles doubled its lead with its first power play goal of the game early in the second period. Jacob MacDonald’s shot from the slot was tipped in front of the crease by Chris Wagner for his first goal of the playoffs at the 3:02 mark.

Colorado scored its third unanswered goal with its second straight power play goal when Donovon Houle took a double-minor penalty for high sticking. Rosen’s shot from the point was cleaned up by Megna for his first goal of the playoffs at the 7:19 mark.

San Jose broke through on the scoreboard with a shorthanded goal just over a minute later. Filip Bystedt stripped the puck from inside his own blue line and raced down the ice on a breakaway. Bystedt beat Miner through the five-hole with a wrist shot for his second goal of the playoffs at the 8:25 mark.

The Eagles regained their three-goal lead on a delayed penalty on the Cuda late in the middle frame. Macdonald found John Ludvig along the right point. Ludvig skated in and wired a wrist shot through a sea of traffic for his first goal of the playoffs at the 17:55 mark.

The Barracuda cut the Eagles lead in half late in the third period. Collin Graf picked up a loose puck along with the right end boards that jumped out from behind the net. Graf sent a seeing-eyed wrist shot that tied up Miner and went into the back of the net for his second goal of the playoffs at the 13:16 mark. Lucas Carlsson was credited with the only assist on the play.

San Jose made it a one-goal game at the 17:41 mark with a 6-on-5 goal as they pulled Askarov for an extra attacker. Patrick Giles centered a pass over to Colin White who blasted a one-timer past Miner for his first goal of the playoffs.

Colorado iced the game with two empty net goals in the final two minutes of the game of the game. Megna scored his second goal of the contest at the 18:29 mark and Ty Felhaber scored his first goal of the playoffs with 29 second remaining.

Miner finished the game stopping 25 of the 28 shots he faced to earn his first win of the playoffs. Askarov made 18 saves on 22 shots as he suffered his first loss of the playoffs.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-3 on the power play. Colorado went 2-for-3.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Megna (2G,1A) 2) Rosen (1G, 1A) 3) MacDonald (0G, 2A).

UP NEXT: Game 2 of the best of five series continues on Sunday May 4th at 6:00pm at Tech CU Arena.

A’s Arms A Blazing & Bats A Booming In Florida for 6-1 win; Sac winners 5 of last 6 games

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Sacramento A’s starter Gunnar Hoglund pitches to the Miami Marlins line up in the bottom of the first inning at Loan Depot Park in Miami on Fri May 2, 2025 (AP News photo)

A’s A Arms Blazing & Bats A Booming In Florida

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento A’s (18-15) cruised to a 6-1 win over the Miami Marlins (12-19) on Friday night at Loan Depot Park, but this was far from just another tally in the win column. This one had flair, confidence, and a possible changing of the guard.

Making his Major League debut, Gunnar Hoglund made a loud first impression on the mound. The former first-round pick delivered five dazzling innings, allowing just one run while striking out seven, including three different Marlins on swinging third strikes to end innings. It was the Marlins sixth loss in a row.

With a cool demeanor and a biting fastball-slider combo, Hoglund looked more like a seasoned veteran than a rookie testing big league waters. His first MLB strikeout came against Agustín Ramírez in the bottom of the first, and from there he never looked back.

Backing Hoglund was a lineup that showed both patience and power. After a scoreless first, the green and gold got cooking in the second thanks to a bases-loaded RBI single from Nick Kurtz. A walk from Jacob Wilson plated another, giving the A’s an early two-run edge.

The fireworks continued in the third with JJ Bleday, a former Marlin himself, launching his third homer of the year into the Miami night. Bleday would finish with two extra-base hits and a walk, wreaking havoc at the plate and in center field. By the fifth, the A’s poured it on with a sac fly from Shea Langeliers, followed by back-to-back RBI plays from Seth Brown and Luis Urías, one a clean single, the other an error capitalized with hustle and heads-up baserunning.

Seth Brown, who went 3 for 5 and stole his first base of the season, continued to prove why he’s one of the most underrated power threats in the American League. Urías chipped in with two runs scored and reached base twice, quietly serving as the glue in the middle of the order.

Defensively, the A’s were as sharp as they were opportunistic. Tyler Soderstrom made an acrobatic sliding catch in left field in the eighth that robbed Liam Hicks of extra bases and kept the momentum squarely in Athletics hands. Nick Kurtz, who earlier knocked in a run and reached base twice, handled first base like a seasoned pro.

Even as Miami managed a solo homer from Dane Myers in the sixth, it was little more than a blip. The Marlins simply couldn’t string together enough offense, despite singles from Eric Wagaman, who had three on the night, and a double from Ramírez.

Hogan Harris and Noah Murdock handled the final four innings with efficiency and power, combining for four strikeouts and no walks. Murdock sealed the win with a swinging strikeout of Connor Norby, slamming the door on any late hopes of a Marlins comeback.

With the win, the Athletics are beginning to resemble a team not just rebuilding, but retooling with intent. Gunnar Hoglund’s debut might just be the spark that ignites a new era for the green and gold.

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.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast Len Shapiro Fri May 2, 2025: Leafs eliminate Sens in six games with 4-2 win; Knights edge Wild 3-2 to advance to next round; plus more NHL news

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Toronto Maple Leafs William Nylander (right) and Matthew Knies (23) as Autin Matthews scores on the Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) in game six of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Canadian Tire Centre on Thu May 1, 2025 (AP News photo)

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast Len Shapiro:

#1 In the Eastern Conference first round Max Pacioretty ended a 2-2 deadlock for the Toronto Maple Leafs at 5:39 in the third period and eliminated the Ottawa Senators 4-2 and in the series by the same score in game six at Canadian Tire Centre Thursday night. Senators goalie Linus Ullmark was beat by Pacioretty glove side with a wrist shot from the left face off circle.

#2 The Vegas Golden Knights Jack Eichel scored his first goal in the playoffs and also added an assist as the Knights eliminated the Minnesota Wild 3-2 in game six in the First Round of the Western Conference playoffs at the Xcel Energy Center Thursday night.

#3 Colorado Avalanche Valeri Nichushkin led with two goals to help prevent the Avalanche from being eliminated in game 6 on Thursday night with a 7-4 win at Ball Arena in Denver. The series is now tied up 3-3 with game seven in Dallas on Saturday. The Aves Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists, Martin Necas scored a goal and got an assist.

#4 The Edmonton Oilers eliminated the Los Angeles Kings in game six four games to two. The Oilers got a two goal win 6-4 and got goals from Connor Brown, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent Hopkins, Darnell Nurse, Trent Frederic, and Adam Hendrique. Plenty of help in putting this first round to bed on Thursday night.

#5 Friday night the Winnipeg Jets who hold a 3-2 lead over the St Louis Blues play game six at the Enterprise Center. It’s been a grind of a series with the Jets winning the last game 5-3 on Wednesday night in Winnipeg. The Blues have home ice and tie this series up in game 6.

Len Shapiro does the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB podcast with Michael Duca Fri May 2, 2025: Ex- Yankee Mariano Rivera and wife named as defendants in church civil suit child abuse case; Man in PNC fall listed as critical; plus more MLB news

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Former New York Yankee Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera and his wife Clara have been named as defendants in a civil lawsuit claiming their responsible for an older child abusing a younger child in the church the Riveras own Westchester County New York (photo from Mariano Rivera Instagram)

MLB podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Former New York Yankees Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera and his wife Clara have been accused of being a non protector a girl that was abused by an older child at Rivera’s church that they own in Westchester County in New York. The Rivera’s were added to a defendants list in a civil lawsuit by the girl and the mother stating that the girl was abused in 2018. It is important to note that the Rivera’s have not been charged with any crime.

#2 A scary and tragic fall took place at PNC Park in Pittsburgh during Wednesday night’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates. A man fell above the 21 foot Roberto Clemente wall in right field. The training staffs from the Cubs and Pirates attended to the man and he was taken from the right field warning track on a cart. Pittsburgh Public Safety, Pittsburgh Police and EMS said the man was listed in critical condition and listed it as an accident.

#3 Kansas City Royals left hand pitcher Noah Cameron took a no hitter into the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night in his big league debut. Cameron was called up to replace pitcher Cole Ragans who is out with a sore groin. Cameron stayed in until the Rays Curtis Mead broke up the no hitter with a base hit to left field. Royals manager Matt Quataro came out and replaced Cameron and the next day (Thursday) he was demoted to the triple A Omaha. Cameron became the first pitcher who debuted to go seven innings since the Toronto Blue Jays Nick Kingham who got two outs in the seventh against the St Louis Cardinals on April 29, 2018.

#4 The Colorado Rockies ended the month of April with a 2-1 win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. It didn’t make a difference the Rockies still went down with the losingest April in the history of Major League Baseball going 5-25. The Rocks had a eight game losing streak going until they snapped the skid on Wednesday. Last season the White Sox had won just six games in the month of April.

#5 The Sacramento A’s who started the 2025 season in the cellar have got a bump up in their last homestand they took out of three from the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox. On this current road trip they took three out of four from the Rangers and have improved their home record to 6-9 and moving five games over .500 on the road record to 11-6. For the A’s has it been getting the key hits? The right kind of pitching? and to manager Mark Kotsay’s credit just great managing?

Join Michael Duca Fridays for the MLB podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson: Springs sprung into action pitching ace shuts Rangers out in 6 innings of work; A’s open series in Miami Friday

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Sacramento A’s starter Jeffrey Springs wipes his brow in the A’s dugout in the fourth inning. Springs was dealing pitching six innings of shutout ball against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Thu May 1, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Sacramento A’s starter Jefferey Springs pitched six innings of scoreless baseball and surrendered only two hits. Springs line was two hits, one walk and two strikeouts against the Texas Rangers for the 3-0 win.

#2 The A’s have been getting good pitching and for Springs in his last five starts he’s given up three runs. Closer Mason Miller retired all three hitters in the ninth and picked up his tenth save of the season.

#3 Jacob Wilson got an RBI single in the top of the seventh inning and Luis Urias got himself an RBI single to contribute the A’s scoring.

#4 The A’s also got help from their bullpen after Springs left in the seventh. A’s relievers Mitch Spence, TJ McFarland, Justin Sterner, and closer Mason Miller all kept the shutout going against the Rangers.

#5 The A’s return to action on Friday night in Miami at Loan Depot Park. The A’s season road record are 11-6 five games above .500. The A’s and Miami Marlins neither team has announced a starter for Friday’s game. The Marlins are struggling in last place in the NL East. They are 8-8 at home at Loan Depot.

Join Jeremiah Thursdays for the A’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Rockies score two late off Rogers to top Giants 4-3 in series opener

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The Colorado Rockies Jordan Beck (left) dives in to score on the San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey on a Hunter Goodman single in the top of the eighth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu May 1, 2025 (AP News photo)

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Colorado Rockies 4 (6-25)

San Francisco Giants 3 (19-13)

Win: Angel Chivilli (1-2)

Loss: Tyler Rogers (2-1)

Save: Zach Agnos (2)

Time: 2:19

Attendance: 27,198

By Stephen Ruderman

In the great game of baseball, even the worst teams will occasionally beat the best teams, and that is what happened at Oracle Park Thursday night, as the Rockies scored two runs off Tyler Rogers in the top of the eighth inning to top the Giants 4-3 in the series opener.

The Giants returned home to San Francisco after getting swept in their short two-game set in San Diego. It was only the third time all year that the Giants had even lost consecutive games. In fact, through 31 games, the Giants came into Wednesday night’s game having yet to lose three-straight games all season. That’s pretty impressive.

What’s even more impressive is that the Giants have gotten off to this great start playing almost nothing but good teams. The only subpar team the Giants had yet to play prior to Wednesday night’s game was the Los Angeles Angels. Oddly enough, the Giants lost two of three in Anaheim.

Wednesday night, the Giants would welcome the 5-25 Colorado Rockies into Oracle Park for a four-game series. The Rockies won their fifth game of the season yesterday, as they beat the Braves on a getaway afternoon in Denver by a final 2-1. Not only did the Rockies come in with just five wins, they had yet to win consecutive games all year.

It took Justin Verlander nine starts to earn his first world series win. Tonight, Verlander would look for his first win in a Giants’ uniform in his seventh start of the still-young season. He has had some rough starts as well, but he has been burned by a lack of run support from a usually-reliable Giants’ offense.

Verlander was coming off a pair of strong starts, and a cold and foggy night against the Rockies was the perfect setting for his first win. Verlander got off to a solid start, as he pitched through an error in the top of the first inning.

Heliot Ramos wasted no time against the Rockies’ veteran left-hander, Kyle Freeland, as he led off the bottom of the first with a home run to left-center field. It was Ramos’ fifth home run of the season, and his second in as many days.

The Giants looked to do more in the bottom of the first, as a pair of singles set things up nicely with one outs for Mike Yastrzemski, who got a head start on his fifth-straight Mustache May. However, Yaz grounded into a double play to end the inning.

The Rockies tied the game in the top of the third, and the Giants once again struggled to provide run support for Verlander. The game became a pitcher’s duel as it made its way through the middle innings.

Verlander finally threw his first one, two, three inning of the night in the top of the sixth, and the Giants’ offense finally made some real noise in the bottom of the sixth. Willy Adames led off the inning with a base-hit to left, and then he ran like the wind and scored when Wilmer Flores lined a double down the right field line.

The Giants had the lead back, and they looked to add more. Matt Chapman got Flores over to third on a flyout to right, and up came Yastrzemski. Yastrzemski doubled off the wall in left, and Flores scored to make it 3-1.

The Rockies made a statement when Ryan McMahon led off the top of the seventh with a home run to straightaway center to make it 3-2. Mickey Moniak then flew out to left for the first out, and that did it for Verlander, who had pitched into the seventh inning for the first time this season.

Verlander gave up two runs and five hits over six and a third innings of work. He walked one and struck out four. Most importantly, he was in line for his first win of the season.

However, after Angel Chivilli threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh for Colorado, Verlander would lose his win in the top of the eighth. Bob Melvin summoned his setup man, Tyler Rogers. Left-fielder Heliot Ramos made a tremendous sliding catch on a Texas Leaguer off the bat of Alan Trejo to start the inning, but the inning quickly went south for Rogers afterwards.

With one out, Brenton Doyle lined a base-hit to right and stole second base. Jordan Beck then lined a ground-rule double down the left field line to tie it. Michael Toglia grounded out to third for the second out, and Rogers had a chance to get out of it with the game still tied.

Hunter Goodman came up with two outs, and lined a base-hit the other way to right. Right-fielder Mike Yastrzemski was in perfect position to throw Beck out of the plate, but as he set up to throw, he lost his footing, and his throw sailed past catcher Patrick Bailey. Beck scored, and the Rockies took a 4-3 lead.

The Giants looked to respond, as Wilmer Flores led off the bottom of the eighth with a base-hit off Chivilli. However, after former Giant Scott Alexander came in with one out, Brett Wisely, who came in to pinch-run for Wilmer, was thrown out trying to steal second.

Randy Rodriguez threw a scoreless top of the ninth, but the Giants were unable to do anything against Zach Agnos in the bottom of the ninth. Agnos closed it out with a one, two, three inning, and the Rockies win it 4-3.

Angel Chivilli got the win; Tyler Rogers took his first loss of the season; and Zach Agnos picked up his second save.

The Giants have lost three in a row for the first time this season, as they fall to 19-13. The Rockies, meanwhile, have won consecutive games for the first time this season, and they improve to 6-25.

The Giants will look to snap their three-game slide tomorrow, and they will have no better man on the mound to do so than Robbie Ray (3-0, 3.73 ERA.) The Giants are 6-0 in Ray’s six starts this season. The Rockies will counter with Antonio Senzatela (1-4, 5.22 ERA).

First pitch will be at the old 7:15 p.m., which is still the start time for Friday night games at Oracle Park.

Giants News and Notes:

Tyler Fitzgerald was placed on the 10-day injured list prior to the game with a fracture in one of his left ribs. Brett Wisely was called up to take Fitzgerald’s place on the 25-man roster.

Final Thoughts:

Baseball is a beautiful game, but it’s also cruel at times. Even the worst teams occasionally beat the best teams.

In 2018, the 108-win world champion Boston Red Sox went 16-3 against the 115-loss Baltimore Orioles. That means the 115-loss Orioles beat the 108-win Red Sox three times.

A’s Depart Arlington On Sweet Victory Airlines; Sac’s Springs deals 6 innings of shutout ball for 3-0 win

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Sacramento A’s pitcher Jefferey Springs was dealing all game long shutting out the Texas Rangers through six innings. Springs was lifted after the sixth inning at Globe Field in Arlington on Thu May 1, 2028 (AP News photo)

A’s Depart Arlington On Sweet Victory Airlines

By Mauricio Segura

Jeffrey Springs may have had a rocky April, but May started off with a gem. The left-hander turned in a sharp six-inning outing, and the A’s bullpen slammed the door behind him as the green and gold shut out the Texas Rangers 3-0 on Thursday afternoon at Globe Life Field. With the win, the Athletics clinched their second consecutive series victory and moved one game above .500 for the third time this season, now standing at 17 and 15.

Springs entered the game having allowed 13 runs over his previous two starts. But against his former club, the Rangers, he was locked in. He scattered four hits across six innings, walked two, and struck out three. Most importantly, he kept the Rangers off the board. It was a much-needed rebound performance from a pitcher who had been shelled for seven runs just five days prior.

Backing him up was a bullpen that has grown into one of the team’s biggest strengths. Mitch Spence, T.J. McFarland, Justin Sterner, and fireballer Mason Miller combined for three scoreless innings to seal the victory. Miller, touching triple digits on the radar gun once again, notched his ninth save in as many tries and struck out Marcus Semien to end it.

Offensively, the A’s didn’t need a home run to do their damage, a rarity for a team that ranks fifth in the majors in long balls. Instead, they pieced together a series of timely hits. Miguel Andujar, continuing his torrid stretch at the plate, drove in the game’s first run with a single in the opening frame. Jacob Wilson, the club’s hottest rookie, added an RBI single in the seventh to make it two to nothing. A sacrifice fly by Luis Urías in the eighth brought Brent Rooker home and capped the scoring.

Wilson finished with two hits, pushing his average to .325, good for eighth in the league. Andujar is now batting .338 over his last 18 games and looks every bit the consistent presence the A’s were hoping for when they picked him up.

Though the A’s managed only three runs, they made them count. They left just five runners on base and executed a rare outfield-assisted double play to end the second inning, erasing a walk by Semien and halting any early Texas momentum.

Rangers starter Tyler Mahle, who entered with a sparkling 1.14 ERA, saw that number creep upward after allowing two runs on seven hits over six and a third innings. He took the loss, dropping to 3-1.

This win marks six victories in the last nine games for the A’s, who now hit the road to face Miami. For a team that started the season 6-10, their recent surge has them tied for third in the AL West and just two and a half games back of division-leading Seattle.

If Springs’ bounce-back and the bullpen’s dominance are signs of things to come, the A’s may finally be rounding into form.

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.