Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) puts the tag on San Francisco Giants Luis Arraez (right) after trying to stretch a double into a triple in the top of the fourth inning at the Tropicana in Tampa Bay on Fri May 1, 2026 (AP News photo)
San Francisco Giants podcast Lincoln:Juarez:
#1 The Tampa Bay Rays Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero both hit home runs and Rays pitcher Shane McClanahan pitched six quality innings as the Rays blanked the Giants 3-0 Friday night.
#2 The Rays Taylor Walls hit a double to lead off the sixth inning and then stole third base and wound up scoring on Chandler Simpson’s sac fly for the Rays third and final run of the game.
#3 McClanahan was going smooth sailing unti the top of the fifth when the Giants Rafael Devers and Jung Hoo Lee both singled that put them both on first and third base. McClanahan got Jerar Encarnacion to hit into a double play that ended the inning. McClanahan allowed five hits and struck out five batters.
#4 Ray allowed three runs and four hits in six and one third innngs of work. Ray gave up a bunt single to Simpson and later picked Simpson off at first base when Simpson was trying to seal three pitches later on. Ray pitched well enough to win but didn’t get the run support.
#5 Giants go at it again on Saturday afternoon they’ll start RHP Landen Roupp (5-1 ERA 2.55) he’ll be opposed by the Tampa Rays RHP Griffin Jax (1-2 ERA 6.35) first pitch 3:10pm PDT.
Once again San Francisco Giants starter Robbie Ray throws to the Tampa Bay Rays line up at the Tropicana in Tampa Bay in the opening game of the three game series on Fri May 1, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Barbara Mason
After getting swept by the Philadelphia Phillies this week the San Francisco Giants (13-19) lost their fourth game in a row losing to the Tampa Bay Rays (19-12) 3-0 at the Tropicana in Tampa Bay. The Giants couldn’t get much offense going at all. It’s just more frustration for San Francisco as they watch their season record plummet. They only had six hits in the game and seldom had two runners on base in an inning.
Game recap: There was not a whole lot going on in the first inning for either team. The Giants went three up three down and the Rays had a single. Chandler Simpson had that single but was thrown out stealing second.
The Rays were first up on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning. Yandy Diaz hit a solo home run to right for an early 1-0 lead. Tampa Bay would add to that in the fourth inning with another long ball off the bat of Junior Caminero another solo home run for a 2-0 lead. The Giants went three and out in both the third and fourth innings. San Francisco had a very sluggish start in this game.
The Giants got some offense going in the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth inning they got a couple of hits and left Rafael Devers stranded on third base. They also got a hit in the sixth but the inning came to an end when Heliot Ramos grounded into a double play. San Francisco had generated some offense but had nothing to show for it.
The Rays would score another run in the bottom of the sixth inning extending their lead to 3-0. Taylor Walls doubled followed by a Simpson sacrifice. Walls scored on that sacrifice and the Rays had it all going on going into the seventh inning while San Francisco was running out of time to make any impact in this game.
Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray finished 6.1 innings allowing 4 hits, 3 runs (2 home runs) striking out 5. He was relieved by JT Brubaker who took over in the seventh inning. The Tampa Bay starting pitcher Shane McClanahan went six innings before being relieved by Ian Seymour in the seventh inning.
The Giants had a single in the seventh inning but you are not to go anywhere if you can’t string out some hits. This game was headed in the wrong direction for the Giants. Going into the eighth inning San Francisco was looking at not only a loss but possibly a shutout. The Rays had gone three and out in the bottom of the seventh.
It was just at a standstill for the Giants going three and out in the eighth. With two outs in the ninth inning, it was up to Luis Arraez to keep this game going. He ground out and that was the ball game with the Rays winning. This was the seventh shutout this season for San Francisco as they drop to a season record of 13-19.
Game notes: Friday evening, the Giants traveled to Tampa Bay for a three-game series with the Rays. The Giants have lost four games in a row getting swept this week by the Phillies and losing the opening game of the series to Tampa Ray.
The Giants lost both ends of the doubleheader Thursday on walk-offs. San Francisco had some great opportunities in the late innings of both of those games but just couldn’t pull off a win in either.
On Friday in Tampa Bay, Giants pitcher Robbie Ray once again started and threw a game good enough to win but didn’t get the run support in the 3-0 loss. Ray went 6.1 innings, allowed four hits, three runs, and five strike outs. For Rays starter Shane McClanahan a quality start pitching six innings allowing five hits and struck out five.
The Giants need to generate offense if they plan on winning any games in this series. These guys have some great hitters on their roster but the offense is just stagnant right now.
The Giants plan on starting Landen Roupp in game two of the series on Saturday. He has been pitching well and comes into the game with a 5-1 win/loss record and a 2.55 ERA. The Rays will start Jesse Scholtens (2-1 ERA 3.20). First pitch for this game is scheduled for 3:10 PM PDT Saturday afternoon.
New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza could be on the hot seat unless the Mets start winning ball games as the Mets had a 12 game losing streak in April at one point (AP News photo)
The Guillotine for Managers is busy early this season.
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
As April ended, it had already had two managerial casualties. Alex Cora was fired after managing the team for eight years and one World Series Title in 2018. He won 620 games during his tenure running the field for the Sox, one of their best managers in this legendary franchise, but their start of this season was pathetic, so he is gone, Adiós
Rob Thompson was also fired as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, finishing with a 366-270 regular season record, the highest winning percentage for a Phillies manager since 1900. Thompson managed the Phillies from 2022 to 2026. He is gone, Adiós.
There are other managers in the hot seat as of May 1. The Mets’ Carlos Mendoza is trying to keep the ship afloat in Queens. This 2026 Mets are off to the third-worst start in franchise history, 10-21 through their first 21 games. Ranks only second behind the 1962 Mets of Casey Stengel.
The 2026 Mets are off to a 10-21 record through their first 31 games; this performance ranks only behind the notoriously poor starts of 1962 (9-22 or worse) and 1964 (9-22). As we begin May, this Mets team is already 11.5 games out of first place, totally unacceptable for a team with a payroll this year of $335 Million, the largest in the game.
Houston Astros Manager Joe Espada (Espada in Spanish means Sword), his Houston Astros lost their 31st pitcher to free agency, Framber Valdéz. They ended April with a 12-20 record in last place in a very close and competitive American League West behind the first-place Sacramento A’s; however, in last place just 4 games out of first. This month of May will be crucial for Espada’s Houston Astros.
I believe Mets manager Carlos Mendoza will get the next walking to the Guillotine, for obvious reasons. The Mets are a rich team in talent and payroll expected to win, and they are deep in a hole of 11.5 games in the cellar. Even though it is early, that record is below the Mendoza line.
On April 30, 2026, the Philadelphia Phillies became the first team in 22 years to win both games of a doubleheader via walk-off, sweeping the San Francisco Giants. The Phillies won the opener 3-2 on a Justin Crawford single and the second game 6-5 in 10 innings on an Alec Bohm sacrifice fly
The story with the Giants is totally different because their rookie manager, Tony Vitello, should still be given a chance; he has only managed a bunch of games, and the whole season is still ahead. I will not ‘stick a fork’ in this Giants team yet; however, in this NY West with the Dodgers, Padres, and even the Diamondbacks, the Giants better start winning soon, because the Guillotine is waiting and it has no mercy.
You cannot win a pennant in April, but you can surely lose it.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday’s success or put its failures behind and start over again.” — Bullet Bob Feller.
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.
LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874
From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.
We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.
LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh beats Montreal Canadiens center Phillip Danault (24) chasing a loose puck in the first period during game 5 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amaile Arena in Tampa Bay on Apr 29, 2026 (AP News photo)
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Len Shapiro:
#1 How did the Montreal Canadiens secure their 3–2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5, and what impact did that have on the series?
#2 What were the key moments in the Philadelphia Flyers’ Game 6 overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins that allowed them to advance to the second round?
#3 In the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah Mammoth Game 5, how did the game unfold, and what role did overtime play in the final result?
#4 Which players had standout performances across the April 29 playoff games, and how did their contributions influence their teams’ outcomes?
#5 Which series were on the verge of elimination or advancement following the April 29 games, and how did those results shift the overall playoff picture?
Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton dribbles around the Seattle Storm’s Lexie Brown in the first quarter of Golden State’s lone preseason game Saturday at Chase Center. The game marked Thornton’s return to the court after a knee injury in July ended her breakout season.Yalonda M. James/S.F. Chronicle
Golden State Valkyrie podcast Michael Roberson:
#1 Golden State Valkyries Kayla Thornton spent nine months out due to a torn meniscus that interupted her 2025 season. Thornton returned on Sat Apr 25th to play in her first game after those long nine months in a pre season game against the Seattle Storm at Chase Center in San Francisco.
#2 Former UConn women’s basketball player Caroline Ducharme was wavied by the Golden State Valkyries on Tuesday. Ducharme during her five year WNBA career had suffered numerous injuries. Along with Ducharme being cut the Valkyrie cut Bailey Maupin.
#3 The Valkyrie are looking to make more cuts as they need to get down to 12 players by the WNBA May 8 deadline.
#4 Kaitlyn Chen is trying to make it on the Valkyrie roster which would be her second year if she were to land a spot. Chen worked hard over the off season playing in Prauge and in the US with the Athletes Unlimited. In her game against the Storm she looked more relaxed and had good ball possesion. Can she make the team?
#5 Kate Martin who was drafted by the Valkyrie and played at Iowa with former teammate Caitlin Clark. Martin was just surpirsed as anyone being drafted by the Valkyrie. Martin might not be long for the Valkyries she has competiton with Tiffany Hayes, Kaila Charles, and Juste Joyce for the second spot and Williams, Kayla Thompson, Janelle Salaun, and Cecillia Zandalisini are in front of Martin in the number three position.
San Francisco Giants Jung Hoo Lee hits an RBI single in the top of the ninth inning as Philadelphia Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs looks on in the second game of a doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Thu Apr 30, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Barbara Mason
The San Francisco Giants (13-18) fought back throughout the game but lost in a second walk-off to the Philadelphia Phillies (12-18) in the same day 6-5 in the night cap of a doubleheader Thursday .
The Giants losing in the front game by a 3-2 decision was tough enough but they re-lived it in the second game of this doubleheader. It was especially disappointing since the Giants had played an amazing defensive game but once again came up just short.
Game recap: In the night cap in the bottom of the first inning was not all what San Francisco wanted to see. Two back-to-back home-runs for Philadelphia gave the Phillies a 2-0 lead. Trae Turner and Kyle Schwarber gave Philadelphia that early lead. The Phillies would take the 2-0 lead into the fourth inning.
The Giants cut the Phillies lead in the fourth inning in half 2-1. Eric Haase singled, Heliot Ramos also had an infield single sending Haase to third base. Luiz Ramos hit a sacrifice driving Haase home. San Francisco continued to fight tying up the game 2-2 in the fifth inning and it was a brand new ball game. Rafael Devers sacrificed Casey Schmitt home from third base. With one out in the inning Schmitt had tripled setting up the run.
The Phillies challenged the Giants rally scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning driving the score out to 4-2, once again taking a two run lead. San Francisco starting pitcher was relieved with two outs in the inning and was relieved by Ryan Borucki who gave up a double, a walk and a single in that order and giving up the two runs.
The expected rain made an early appearance in a total downpour for 24 minutes during the top of the sixth inning before moving out and play got back underway. The break in the game was a good thing for the Giants as they re-grouped and tied this game back up 4-4.
Jung Hoo Lee walked and Drew Gilbert doubled moving Lee over to third. With two outs in the inning Matt Chapman walked and Luis Arraez singled driving both Gilbert and Lee home for the tie game.
The tie persisted through the seventh inning and into the top of the eighth inning. There was a change on the mound for the Phillies in the eighth with one out and Gilbert on first. Brad Keller took over pitching to Heliot Ramos who had his fourth strikeout in the game each against a different pitcher and that was two outs for San Francisco. Matt Chapman struck out for the third out. The Giants got out of the eighth inning and it was on to the ninth in yet another nail biter.
San Francisco got a great start in the top of the ninth. With one out Casey Schmitt was hit by a pitch and the Giants had a runner on first. Devers singled and Schmitt moved over to third.
With one out Willy Adames struck out for the second out and it was up to Jung Hoo Lee to bring Schmitt home. Lee came through with a single, Schmitt came home and San Francisco had taken their first lead of the game 5-4.
Patrick Bailey walked and the Giants were threatening to break this game open with the bases loaded. It was a tough blow when Gilbert struck out for the third out leaving the runners stranded but the Giants had fought back taking a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the ninth.
It was a shaky start in the ninth for the Giants. Pinch hitter Brandon Marsh doubled to center and Garrett Stubbs walked on four pitches. San Francisco closer Keaton Winn would now face the top of the Phillies batting order.
Trea Turner grounded into a double play and the Giants were one out away from the win. Schwarber doubled driving Marsh home and this game was once again tied. The Giants intentionally walked Bryce Harper and went on to get Garcia out. Again the Giants were so very close to winning this game but fell short.
The game went into the tenth inning. The Giants Ramos singled and San Francisco had runners on first and Drew Gilbert on third with no outs and a huge opportunity for the Giants. San Francisco again squandered a huge opportunity and did not score giving the Phillies another crack at sweeping this series.
It was like Deja vu for San Francisco, an absolute nightmarish bottom of the tenth. It was quick but hardly painless. Stott hit a sacrifice bunt advancing Garcia from second to third. Bohm sacrificed, Garcia scored and San Francisco had suffered two walk off losses in the same day. The final score was 6-5, the Phillies had swept the Giants.
Night Cap Game Notes: After losing a heartbreaker this morning in the first game of the doubleheader, the Giants took the field for the night cap of this doubleheader only to get swept by the Philadelphia Phillies Thursday night.
In the front game San Francisco led for 8 1/2 innings of the game before the Phillies rallied in the bottom of the ninth scoring two runs for the 3-2 win. The Giants took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning.
San Francisco was two outs away from a win but the Phillies Bryson Stott tripled driving in Adolis Garcia to tie up the game 2-2 and then the hammer fell when Justin Crawford hit an infield single, Stott scored for the 3-2 win. In second game of the doubleheader Adrian Houser who started for the Giants and went 4.2 innings, allowed four hits and three earned runs, two walks and two strike outs. For Phillies starter Tim Mayza two innings, allowed two hits, one walk, and two strike outs.
It was a horrible loss for the Giants after having fought so hard getting back into this game and having a great opportunity to win. It is sure to be a quiet flight to Tampa Bay where San Francisco will take on the Rays Friday night in a three-game series.
The Giants will have to do their best to put this series behind them and look ahead. Robbie Ray will take the mound for the Giants with a 2-3 win/loss record and a 2.70 ERA. The Rays will start leftie Shane McClanahan. He has a 2-2 win/loss record and a 3.91 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 4:10 PM.
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) celebrates scoring against Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) in the third period in game 5 during the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the T Mobile Center in Las Vegas on Wed Apr 29, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Tom Walker
Wed April 29, 2026
The Utah Mammoth surrendered the tying goal with 53 seconds left in regulation and go on to fall in double-overtime 5-4 as Mammoth faced elimination on Friday at the T Mobile Center in Las Vegas Wednesday.
The Western Conference First-Round Series contest between the Mammoth and Golden Knights returned to T-Mobile arena on Wednesday night for Game 5 with the two teams knotted up at 2-2. Returning to the Mammoth lineup for his first game since sustaining an upper body injury in a March 24 matchup against the Edmonton Oilers was forward Barrett Hayton, one of only three Utah players alongside Clayton Keller and Lawson Crouse to have played the final playoff game for the Arizona Coyotes on August 19, 2020, against the Colorado Avalanche. Hayton missed the last ten games of the regular season as well as the first four of this playoff series.
The first period was full of physical play between the squads but remained scoreless with each team mustering six futile shots on goal until Mammoth defenseman John Marino found the back of the Vegas net with under three minutes remaining for his first playoff goal, assisted by Keller and Nick Schmaltz, to go up 1-0. With 75 seconds remaining in the frame, Mikhail Sergachev was whistled for boarding against Brett Howden and it was costly. At 19:19, Pavel Dorofeyev evened the score on the power play with his second goal of the post-season, assisted by Tomas Hertl and Jack Eichel, to send the clubs back to their respective locker rooms tied 1-1.
Utah and Vegas remained knotted up at one goal apiece until just past the halfway mark of the second period when Mammoth forward Lawson Crouse put the puck past Carter Hart on a snap shot for his third goal of the playoffs, assisted by Keller and Sergachev, giving the visiting Mammoth a 2-1 lead over the Knights.
Vegas drew even once again at 15:37 when Dorofeyev banged in his second of the game, assisted by Shea Theodore and Ivan Barbashev. With under three minutes remaining, Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka turned the puck over from behind the net to Mark Stone who sent the puck to the waiting stick of Theodore who gave the Golden Knights their first lead of the game on his second goal of the series as the period came to a close.
The Mammoth began the third period with a golden opportunity to break even with Vegas when Cole Smith took a double-minor penalty eleven seconds into the frame for high-sticking against Keller. And Utah promptly squandered it as the Golden Knights held the line despite a flurry of Utah shot attempts.
Perhaps Vegas was still recovering from the extended penalty kill when Dylan Guenther lit the lamp at 5:54 for his third goal of the series, assisted by Kailer Yamamoto and MacKenzie Weegar, tying the score for the third time in the game.
With 7:18 remaining in the third, the Mammoth took their third lead of the game when Michael Carcone ripped the puck past Hart on a slap shot for his second goal of the series, assisted by Alexander Kerfoot and JJ Peterka, to go up 4-3. Vegas pulled Hart with 1:40 remaining to activate the extra attacker, and the gamble paid off as Dorofeyev completed the hat trick with 53 seconds remaining in regulation to tie things up for the fourth time in the game 4-4 with his fourth goal of the playoffs to force overtime.
In the first overtime period – which already indicates what happened, or didn’t – both teams came within inches of taking a 3-2 series lead as fans in the arena and at home were at the edges of their seats with their hearts pumping. At 13:42 Vegas knocked down the puck with a high stick with the subsequent Golden Knight player tipping it into the goal but it was immediately nullified on account of the high stick. On the same play, Sean Durzi cross-checked Ivan Barbashev in front of the net to earn a two minute minor penalty, but Barbashev embellished his reaction and took an offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalty resulting in 4-on-4 hockey which failed to yield any change in the outcome of the period.
At 3:42 of the second overtime period, Reilly Smith went to the sin bin for high-sticking against John Marino. With Utah’s youth and speed, the Mammoth seemed potentially on the cusp of putting the game away and returning home with an opportunity to clinch in front of the Delta Center fans.
Vegas successfully fought off some Grade A chances by Utah during the power play and earned a faceoff in their offensive zone 90 seconds into their penalty kill. Brett Howden won the faceoff against Lawson Crouse and 14 seconds later stunned the Mammoth with a shorthanded goal, assisted by Mitch Marner, to beat Utah 5-4 and send the series back to Salt Lake City where the Mammoth face elimination on Friday.
“Win one at home, I think that’s our focus,” said Associate Captain Lawson Crowse when asked in the locker room about his initial takeaway from the game. “We battled hard. Obviously it sucked giving up that goal late in the third for them to tie it, but we pushed, we never stopped working. An unfortunate ending, but like I said, we gotta go win one at home.” Defenseman John Marino added, “We’re a resilient group. i think we know the ebbs and flows of a playoff series. They win two, we win two. We gotta be ready to go.”
Mammoth Captain Clayton Keller said, “I like our group, we’re still confident. Obviously it sucks to lose that one tonight, but we get to go home and play in front of our fans and win a game at home. Each game we’re learning, we’re getting better, and we have to continue to do that, watch video, adapt to what they’re doing and go from there.” When asked what they need to do moving forward, Keller said, “You just gotta stick with it. You can’t change your game. Maybe when you get tired, it’s two extra periods of intense playoff hockey, you just stay with it, trust your teammates. I think line changes are huge. I think just setting up the next line, getting the next zone, just playing simple and going at it that way. We’re a confident group and we believe in one another and in our team and I think these are the most fun games to be a part of . Down 3-2, we get to go home and play in front of fans, if you’re not fired up for that you’ve got something wrong with you.”
Head Coach André Tourigny opened his post-game remarks saying, “That was a hell of a game. I think both teams played really hard. We were really close. Unfortunately we give that 6-on-5 goal and could not get it done in overtime, but I’m really proud of the way the guys played. I still think there are a few things we can clean up and be a little bit better. I think we had a big improvement in our play since the last game, but there are still areas I think we can get better.” Of the effort of his players, Bear said, “I don’t feel there’s anybody in our lineup that wasn’t up to par tonight. I think everybody had a push, everybody had a contribution. There’s no such thing as a perfect game. There’s no such thing as any of our players not making a mistake. That’s not what we expect. But if you look at their effort, if you look at their focus, our urgency, our execution – I think we did a good job.
A win will force a Game 7 in Las Vegas on Sunday. A loss will end the season with a lot of soul searching, agonizing over what might have been, and analyzing what changes must be made to take the next step in 2026-27.
Sacramento A’s Nick Kurtz (16) stands at second after hitting an RBI double in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals. Later Kurtz drew a walk for his 19th straight game this season tying former Boston Red Sox Ted Williams for the third longest bases on balls streak. Detroit’s Roy Cullenbine in 1947 is second on the list and first is former San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds 2002-03. (AP News photo)
By Mauricio Segura
The Sacramento Athletics did not wait around to let stomachs settle after lunch to decide what kind of game this would be on Thursday afternoon.
On a clear 12:06 p.m. first pitch West Sacramento day, the Kansas City Royals opened with Maikel Garcia ripping a double to right, then pushed across the first run when Starling Marte lined a two-out single to right. It was a fast, quick punch from Kansas City, the kind that can make a home crowd shift in its seat before the nacho sauce kicks in prompting an early inning bathroom break. But the A’s answered right away, and that response set the tone for a 6-3 win built on patience, sharp contact, and just enough bullpen backbone.
Jacob Wilson, who came in riding a strong stretch at the plate and carrying the longest errorless streak by an Athletics shortstop in franchise history, opened the bottom of the first with a single. Shea Langeliers followed with a double, putting the tying run 90 feet away. After Nick Kurtz struck out and Colby Thomas walked after an upheld ABS challenge, Darell Hernaiz punched a grounder through the left side of the infield, deflected by third baseman Garcia, to bring Wilson home. Just like that, the A’s had wiped away Kansas City’s opening jab.
The Royals briefly grabbed the lead again in the second when Garcia, already a problem, launched his third home run of the season to left-center. For Kansas City, Garcia was everywhere. He doubled twice, homered, scored twice, and even stole third in the fourth. But the game turned into green and gold hues in the bottom of the second, when the A’s lineup stopped tapping on the door and kicked it in instead.
Lawrence Butler started the rally with a walk, Wilson followed with another single, and Langeliers drilled his second double of the game to left to score Butler and tie it 2-2. Then came Kurtz, whose eye at the plate has been one of the biggest stories of the Athletics’ season.
He entered the day with an ongoing Athletics-record 18-game walk streak and one of the best on-base marks in the league, but this time he did not wait for a free pass. Kurtz smashed a double to center, scoring Wilson and Langeliers, and suddenly the A’s led 4-2. Hernaiz later added another ground-ball single, bringing home Kurtz after an error by second baseman Nick Loftin helped him move into scoring position. By the end of the inning, the Athletics had scored four runs and turned a one-run deficit into a 5-2 lead.
That second inning was the day’s heartbeat. A well-built rally from an old baseball textbook: a walk, singles, doubles, pressure, and a defense forced into mistakes. Langeliers was right in the middle of it, finishing with three doubles and two runs scored. Wilson added two hits and two runs, continuing to look like one of the steadiest young bats in the lineup. Hernaiz drove in three runs, a big swing of production from the lower half of the order without needing to actually swing big.
Kansas City had chances to climb back. In the fourth, Garcia doubled again, stole third, Bobby Witt Jr. walked, and Lane Thomas was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. But Luis Medina, who had replaced Jeffrey Springs to start the inning due to a possible injury, escaped when Salvador Perez flew out to center. Medina again had to work through traffic in the sixth after Isaac Collins singled and Witt walked, but Scott Barlow came in and got Thomas to ground out to end the threat.
The A’s added insurance in the seventh, and once again it came from the same cast. Langeliers opened with his third double, Kurtz was intentionally walked (tying none other than Ted Williams for the all-time top spot), and pinch-hitter Jeff McNeil forced out Kurtz while moving Langeliers to third. Hernaiz then beat out another grounder to short, scoring Langeliers and giving the Athletics a 6-2 cushion. It was not glamorous, but it was useful, and in baseball, useful wins a lot of afternoons.
The Royals got one back in the eighth on Elias Díaz’s first home run of the season, a fly ball to right that cut the lead to 6-3. But Brady Basso kept the damage there, and Jack Perkins handled the ninth after Jac Caglianone opened with a pinch-hit single. Perkins retired Perez on a flyout, struck out Michael Massey, and ended it when Vinnie Pasquantino lined sharply to center, where Zack Gelof put it away.
For the Athletics, the win carried a little extra weight. They entered the day two games over .500, in first place in the AL West, and trying to finish April with their best record in the month since 2014. They did it with exactly the kind of game that makes a first-place stretch feel less like a fluke and more like a team learning how to win in different ways.
Friday will see former A’s player, now Guardians manager, Stephen Vogt, bring in his boys from Cleveland for a three game weekend series. One that will no doubt include fireworks from both sides. First pitch Friday is schedule for 6:40pm with J.T. Ginn (0-0 / 3.24 ERA / 19k’s) on the mound for Sacramento against the southpaw Hawaiian Joseph Cantillo (1-1 / 2.97 ERA / 34k’s).
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.
Philadelphia Phillies Bryson Stott (5) hits a RBI triple in front of San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey (left) in the bottom of the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Thu Apr 30, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Barbara Mason
The San Francisco Giants lost the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday to the Philadelphia Phillies. After 8 1/2 innings and two outs away from winning at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia. The Phils Adolis Garcia singled in the ninth inning followed by a Bryson Stott triple tied up the game 2-2.
The icing on the cake for the Phillies was a Justin Crawford single, Stott scored and that was the ball game 3-2. The Phillies now lead the series 2-0 and the Giants will be fighting to avoid the sweep in game three which gets underway this afternoon.
San Francisco got started early taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Heliot Ramos started off the game with a double followed by a Matt Chapman double and San Francisco was in business.
Luis Arraez grounded out and Ramos scored the first run of the game for a 1-0 lead. Casey Schmitt singled Chapman home for a 2-0 advantage. The Phillies cut the San Francisco lead in half in the bottom of the inning when Kyle Schwarber hit a solo home run. The score was 2-1 going into the second inning.
The second and third innings were quick ones for both teams pretty much three and outs. The Giants had a walk in the second and the Phillies a single but not much else for either team. The third inning was uneventful for both teams. With the score 2-1 the Phillies threatened in the bottom of the fourth inning. Philadelphia hit a couple of singles and a double but were unable to cash in.
The Giants took the 2-1 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning. The Phillies had a couple of runners on base desperate to at lease tie up this game but once again came up empty. San Francisco pitcher Erik Miller dismissed the Phillies one, two three.
It all came down to the top of the ninth inning. The Giants needed at least one insurance run to cap this game off. They had a couple of singles but could not score. Matt Chapman already had two hits in the game but couldn’t come up with hit number three striking out for the third out.
The bottom of the ninth inning came around and it was the last chance for the Phillies. Ryan Walker took the mound trying to save this game for the Giants. Garcia singled but the triple off the bat of Bryson Stott was the deciding factor.
Garcia scored off that single and this game was tied 2-2. Now the Giants were fighting to at least get into a tenth inning. San Francisco had led for most of the game but the Phils Justin Crawford single blew this game out of the water when Stott scored and game one went to the Phillies 3-2. Crawford reached first base by a half step so the Giants were a half step away from a tie. Just a crazy disappointment for San Francisco.
Front game notes: Thursday afternoon the Giants played the first of a double-header against the Phillies as Wednesday’s game was postponed due to some nasty weather but Thursday a mix of clouds and sun greeted fans on hand for the early game for the first game of the double dip.
San Francisco had an awful offensive game in the first of the series garnering only two hits and getting shut-out 7-0 on Tuesday night. The Phillies picked up the win in the first game of the doubleheader 3-2.
In the first game of the doubleheader starter Logan Webb (2-3 ERA 4.29) had a great game going seven innings allowing seven hits but only one run and striking out six. The Phillies started Christopher Sanchez went 6.2, four hits, two earned, three walks, and seven strike outs.
Sacramento A’s Lawrence Butler (4) belts a three run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the bottom of the fourth inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Wed Apr 29, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Mauricio Segura
WEST SACRAMENTO–For one inning Wednesday night, it looked like Sutter Health Park might be setting the table for another tense, teeth-grinding Sacramento Athletics game against Kansas City Royals ended with an A’s victory 5-2.
The Royals pushed across a run in the first when Bobby Witt Jr. singled, Carter Jensen followed with another single, and Salvador Perez lined into a forceout that brought Witt home. It was not exactly a thunderclap, but it was enough to put the A’s in an early 1-0 hole and give the night that familiar uneasy feeling.
Then Luis Severino took the wheel and told everybody to sit down.
After that first-inning run, Severino turned into the grown-up in the room. He picked off Lane Thomas to end the second, cruised through a clean third and fourth, worked around a walk in the fifth, and kept Kansas City from turning scattered traffic into anything dangerous.
Entering the night, Severino’s season had included some rough home numbers and early-inning trouble, but this was the kind of start that changes the mood of a ballpark. He gave the Athletics seven strong innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out seven and walking two. For a team trying to protect its early grip on first place in the AL West, that was not just useful. That was oxygen.
The A’s tied it in the second with the kind of precise, simple baseball that does not need a cheerleading squad leading a YMCA chant. Jacob Wilson ripped a leadoff double to center, and Jeff McNeil followed with a double of his own to right, bringing Wilson home and evening the game at 1-1.
McNeil’s two-bagger carried a little extra shine, too, since he entered the night two doubles shy of 200 for his career. The inning could have grown bigger, but a replay challenge overturned a safe call at third and erased McNeil on a caught stealing, cutting the rally short.
The real blow came in the fourth. Wilson opened the inning with a single, McNeil added another, and Zack Gelof moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt. That brought up Lawrence Butler, who had entered in struggle mode at the plate. Baseball, being the wonderfully rude little game it is, often ignores recent math when a hitter finds one pitch he likes. Butler got his pitch from Michael Wacha and launched it to right-center for a three-run homer, his third of the season, turning a tied game into a 4-1 Athletics lead.
That swing changed everything. Suddenly, Severino had breathing room, and Kansas City went into chase mode. The A’s dugout had life again after a frustrating opening game of the series the night before. Butler’s shot opened the door, and the Green and Gold held the key.
The A’s kept applying pressure. In the same fourth inning, Nick Kurtz walked, extending the patient streak that had already become an Athletics record. He entered the game having drawn a walk in 17 straight games, tied for the third-longest streak in American League history, and his free pass made sure the line kept moving. Carlos Cortes, who came in riding an eight-game hitting streak and fresh off being named American League Player of the Week, added another single later in the inning. The Royals escaped further damage when Lane Thomas threw Kurtz out at the plate after a replay review, but the inning still belonged to the Green and Gold.
Kurtz made noise again in the sixth. After Darell Hernaiz singled off reliever Luinder Avila, Kurtz drove a fly ball to center for his fourth double of the season, scoring Hernaiz and stretching the lead to 5-1. It was the kind of add-on run that looks small in the box score but feels enormous in the dugout, especially against a Kansas City lineup that still had Witt and Perez lurking.
The Royals made one last push in the ninth. Witt singled, Perez singled, and a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Michael Massey’s sacrifice fly brought Witt home and trimmed the lead to 5-2, forcing the A’s to make a pitching change. Mark Leiter Jr. came in with two outs, walked Isaac Collins, watched Collins steal second, and then struck out Jac Caglianone to slam the door before the Royals could make the inning truly uncomfortable.
It was not a perfect night. The A’s ran into outs on the bases, left chances dangling, and had to sweat a little in the ninth. But it was a winning night, and those are always prettier when the starting pitcher dominates, the defense turns clean plays, and a cold bat wakes up with one loud swing. The Athletics beat the Royals 5-2 because Severino settled the game, Butler broke it open, and Kurtz and McNeil kept doing the little things that make a lineup annoying in the best possible way.
Game three Thursday will be an afternoon delight, with KC’s LHP Noah Cameron (2-1 ERA 5.13) battling it out against Sacramento’s LHP Jeffrey Springs (3-2 ERA 3.79) at 12:05 p.m.
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.
