Saracmento A’s first baseman Tommy Tanks White (47) get the put out on Baltimore Orioles base runner Blaze Alexander (23) in the top of the third inning at Sutter Health Field in West Sacramento on Sun Aug 30, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Daniel Dullum:
#1 Lawrence Butler drove in two runs early in the first inning for Butler has been making the difference of late?
#2 Brian Serven hit a two-run home run in the third inning. Serven has been seeing the ball very well of late talk about his hitting.
#3 Jeff McNeil doubled in a run in the second inning. What did that hit give the A’s in terms of momentum against Orioles starter Chris Bassitt?
#4 Jeffrey Springs started on the mound for the A’s. What happened after he allowed Coby Mayo’s three-run homer and Gunnar Henderson’s second home run?
#5 With Lawrence Butler, Brian Serven, Jeff McNeil, Zack Gelof, and Alika Williams among the A’s contributors, what ultimately went wrong for Sacramento as Baltimore scored seven unanswered runs to win 8–5?
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.
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Coby Mayo fields a Sacramento A’s grounder in the bottom of the first inning at Sutter Health Field in West Sacramento on Sun Aug 30, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Mauricio Segura
WEST SACRAMENTO–Gunnar Henderson needed only four at-bats to turn a promising Sacramento Athletics Sunday afternoon into a frustrating finish. The Baltimore shortstop went 4-for-4 with two home runs, a triple and five RBI, powering the Orioles past the A’s 8-5 and finishing a three-game sweep.
Henderson put Baltimore ahead first with a solo homer, but the Athletics answered immediately. Henry Bolte singled, Zack Gelof drew a walk and Lawrence Butler ripped a two-run double to bring both runners home. Butler’s hit pushed his hitting streak to eight games, continuing a stretch in which he had been one of Sacramento’s hottest bats. He had been batting .354 with five homers and 13 RBI over his previous 18 games, while Bolte had hit .317 during August and ranked among the major-league rookie leaders in hits.
The A’s kept stacking hits against former Athletics starter Chris Bassitt. Brian Serven singled and later scored on Jeff McNeil’s RBI double. Tommy White doubled, and Serven followed with a two-run homer to right-center, stretching the lead to 5-1. It was an especially productive swing for a catcher who had made the most of his chances with men aboard; before the game, Serven was batting .400 with runners in scoring position, and all four of his previous home runs had come with runners on base.
Then Henderson and Coby Mayo changed the game in a hurry.
Pete Alonso and Henderson opened Baltimore’s fourth-inning rally with singles, and Mayo followed with a three-run homer to left-center that cut the A’s advantage to 5-4. One inning later, Blaze Alexander singled, Alonso drew a walk and Henderson sent a three-run homer to right field for a 7-5 Orioles lead. Jeffrey Springs was removed after that swing, ending his outing at 4 2/3 innings with six hits, seven runs, one walk and six strikeouts.
The loss dropped Springs to 3-13 and extended his personal losing streak to 13 games. He had already been carrying one of the roughest stretches in Athletics history, with 30 home runs allowed over his previous 20 starts and a 12-game losing streak that was tied for sixth-longest in franchise history before this outing. His day also followed a season-long problem for Sacramento pitching: the A’s had allowed a major-league-high 205 homers before the game.
Once Baltimore moved ahead, the Athletics never found another run. Butler drew a leadoff walk in the fifth, but Donovan Walton grounded into a double play. Alika Williams singled with two outs in the sixth and was stranded. Anthony Nunez, Josh Walker and Yennier Cano handled the final outs for Baltimore, with Cano retiring Jonah Heim, Bolte and McNeil in order in the ninth.
Henderson was not finished after the two homers. Pete Alonso was hit by a pitch in the eighth and replaced by Jackson Holliday, and Henderson drove Holliday home with a triple to center for the final run. Henderson also had his fingerprints on the defensive side, fielding Butler’s bases-loaded grounder to end an Athletics threat and helping turn a double play later in the game.
Sacramento finished with nine hits but only five runs, while Baltimore scored eight times on seven hits. Serven went 2-for-4 with two RBI, Bolte had two hits, Butler drove in two and McNeil supplied an RBI double.
The A’s closed the month at 8-19 after beginning the day with the lowest winning percentage in the majors for August, and the defeat dropped them to 25-44 at home. Baltimore improved to 68-69 and moved within one game of the final American League wild-card spot.
The A’s now head to Texas, where left-hander Gage Jump (6-8, 4.69 ERA, 97 K) gets the opener against Jacob deGrom (9-9, 4.21 ERA, 159 K), with first pitch set for 5:05 p.m. Pacific.
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.
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Coby Mayo (16) puts out Sacramento Athletics’ Henry Bolte, left, during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif.Sara Nevis/AP Photo/Sara Nevis
By Mauricio Segura
WEST SACRAMENTO–Two late rallies stalled the Sacramento A’s just short of catching up to the Baltimore Orioles, as the Orioles took the 5-3 win. The A’s loaded the bases in both the sixth and seventh innings, then put the tying runs in scoring position in the ninth before their comeback finally ended.
The loss dropped the Green and Gold to 53-83. They had already clinched a fifth consecutive losing season, the franchise’s longest such run since six straight from 1993-98, despite having won four of their previous six games.
Starter Jack Perkins gave the A’s a workable start. He retired Baltimore in order in the first and escaped the second with a double play and a strikeout. Trouble began in the third when Coby Mayo drew a walk and advanced after Perkins threw away a pickoff attempt.
Colton Cowser moved Mayo to third with a fly ball, and Leody Taveras followed with a ground-rule double for the game’s first run. Perkins kept it there by striking out Jackson Holliday and Pete Alonso. Cowser added his 13th homer in the fifth, a solo shot to center that gave Baltimore a 2-0 lead. Perkins finished five innings with four hits allowed, two runs, four walks and five strikeouts.
Baltimore widened the gap against José Suarez in the sixth. Dylan Beavers and Mayo each singled, then Taveras drove both home with his second double of the game. Taveras finished with two doubles, three RBIs, a walk and a stolen base, supplying most of the Orioles’ offense.
Down 4-0, the A’s finally answered. Jonah Heim drew a walk, Jeff McNeil and Zack Gelof singled, and Lawrence Butler earned a bases-loaded walk to score Heim. Donovan Walton was then hit by a pitch with the bases full, forcing home McNeil and cutting the deficit to 4-2. Shane Baz was removed after 5 2/3 innings, and Alex Hoppe got Max Muncy on a grounder to leave three runners aboard.
The seventh may have hurt even more. Heim singled, Henry Bolte doubled him to third, and McNeil drew a walk with one out. Baltimore turned to Yennier Cano, who struck out Gelof and Butler back-to-back to strand another full set of bases. That was a costly miss for an A’s lineup that created plenty of traffic but struggled to convert it.
The Athletics pushed again in the eighth. Walton drew a one-out walk, Muncy followed with another, and Carlos Cortes delivered an RBI single to right to make it 4-3. But Heim grounded into an inning-ending double play, another opening gone before the A’s could pull even.
Baltimore gained breathing room in the ninth without a hit. Cowser reached on Gelof’s fielding error and raced to third when Butler’s throw also got away. Elvis Alvarado then uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Cowser to score for a 5-3 lead. The A’s still made one last run at it. McNeil singled with one out and Butler singled with two outs, then McNeil stole third while Butler took second. Tommy White grounded out to end it.
Butler’s steal was his tenth of the season, giving him 12 home runs and ten steals. He needed that one swipe to join Marcus Semien as the only Athletics this century with three straight seasons of at least ten homers and ten stolen bases. McNeil added two more hits after beginning the game batting .354 since the All-Star break, third-best in the majors among hitters with at least 100 plate appearances. Bolte also collected two hits, including a double, continuing an August in which he began the game batting .313.
The series wraps Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Pacific, with Baltimore sending Chris Bassitt (5-4, 4.74 ERA, 51 K) and Jeffrey Springs (3-12, 6.08 ERA, 92 K) for Sacramento.
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.
Sacramento A’s pitcher Jack Perkins gets the call against the Baltimore Orioles at Sutter Health Park at West Sacramento on Sat Aug 29, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Harvey:
#1 How important was the Sacramento A’s Jonah Heim’s seventh-inning solo home run in starting the A’s comeback, and what did his at-bat show about his approach against the Baltimore Orioles Brandon Young?
#2 What did Lawrence Butler’s eighth-inning RBI single do to change the momentum of the game, and how has his recent hitting helped the A’s offense?
#3 How did Zack Gelof keep the A’s alive with his RBI single in the 10th inning, and what more could have been needed from the A’s lineup in that situation?
#4 How would you evaluate Jacob Lopez’s five-inning start, considering that he allowed two runs but only one was earned?
#5 Saturday for game two of the three game set starting pitcher for Baltimore RHP Shane Baz (4-14 ERA 4.04) for Sacramento RHP Jack Perkins (3-9 ERA 6.68) first pitch 7:05 pm at Sutter Health Park.
Tony Harvey is a news correspondant for NBC Radio and does the Sacramento A’s podcasts Saturdays 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.
Kiss it goodbye as the Sacramento A’s Jonah Heim heads home after hitting a seventh inning home run against the Baltimore Orioles at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Fri Aug 28, 2026 (AP News photo)
A’s Rally Falls One Run Short in Ten 4-3
By Mauricio Segura
WEST SACRAMENTO- The Athletics found themselves in a two-run hole for most of the game, tied it in the eighth, then watched Baltimore build another two-run lead in the tenth. Coby Mayo and Christian Encarnacion-Strand delivered consecutive two-out RBI singles off Brady Basso, and the Orioles held off the A’s 4-3 in ten innings. Sacramento still had life in the bottom half when Zack Gelof singled home automatic runner Alika Williams with two outs, but Alex Hoppe retired Lawrence Butler to finish the game. The loss dropped the Athletics to 53-82 and clinched a fifth consecutive losing season.
Baltimore built its first advantage against Jacob Lopez in the second. Coby Mayo was hit by a pitch, Leody Taveras drew a one-out walk, and Dylan Beavers brought Mayo home with a two-out single to right. Taveras then scored when Carlos Narváez reached on Lopez’s fielding error.
Lopez prevented the inning from getting worse when Blaze Alexander’s infield single sent Beavers toward the plate and the left-hander threw home to Jonah Heim for the out. Lopez recovered, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks over five innings while striking out six. The outing extended his run to nine straight starts allowing two runs or fewer, continuing the longest such stretch by an Athletics traditional starter since Justin Duchscherer went 11 straight in 2008.
The A’s had chances against Brandon Young but struggled to turn baserunners into runs. Tommy White and Max Muncy singled in the second, only for Carlos Cortes to strike out and Heim to ground out. Muncy added another single in the fifth, while Gelof singled, stole second and watched Butler draw a walk in the sixth. Young escaped all of it. He carried the 2-0 lead into the seventh before Heim finally broke through, driving a two-out solo homer to right for his 12th of the season. Young finished seven innings with five hits, one run, one walk and four strikeouts.
The comeback reached even in the eighth. Henry Bolte was hit by a pitch from Rico Garcia, Jeff McNeil singled to left, and Gelof moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Butler followed with a single to left that scored Bolte, tying the game 2-2. The same play also kept the Athletics from taking the lead, as Beavers threw McNeil out at home. Butler entered the game riding a five-game hitting streak and batting .362 over his previous 16 games, and his tying single pushed that streak to six.
From there, neither side gave much away. Luis Medina retired the Orioles in order in the eighth. Hogan Harris worked around a Colton Cowser walk in the ninth with help from Heim, who threw Cowser out trying to steal second. Baltimore’s Andrew Kittredge answered with a scoreless bottom of the ninth despite Cortes’ one-out single, sending the game to extras.
That put Basso in a difficult spot with Narváez beginning the 10th at second. After Alexander lined out, Basso intentionally put Pete Alonso on first. Gunnar Henderson ran for Alonso, Jackson Holliday struck out, and Baltimore was down to its final out of the inning. Mayo then singled Narváez home, and Encarnacion-Strand followed with another single to score Henderson for a 4-2 lead. It was a rough turn for Basso, who had posted a 1.74 ERA and allowed no run in 11 of 13 appearances since his July recall before this game.
The Athletics made one final push. With Williams starting at second, Hoppe struck out Bolte and retired McNeil before Gelof lined a single to center to make it 4-3. Butler then grounded out to end it. Gelof finished 2-for-4 with a stolen base, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI, while Muncy also had two hits. The A’s collected nine hits to Baltimore’s six, but the Orioles made their six count just enough.
Game 2 is set for 7:05 p.m. Pacific Saturday night, with Baltimore sending Shane Baz (4-14, 4.04 ERA, 135 strikeouts) to the mound, and Jack Perkins (3-9, 6.68 ERA, 104 strikeouts) for the Athletics according to Manager Kotsay Friday night in his post game presser.
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.
Sacramento A’s Alika Willians (12) reacts to hitting a two run RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Wed Aug 26, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:
#1 Sacramento A’s Lawrence Butler contributed to the offense with a home run and Alika Williams hit a two run triple as the A’s took two of three games from the Minnesota Twins in a 7-4 Wednesday win.
#2 The Twins with the two loses to the A’s have now dropped two games back of the Cleveland Guardians for the last and final AL playoff spot.
#3 The A’s Tommy White got three hits and helped the A’s win their fourth game in their last five games helping the A’s to end a five game losing steak.
#4 Further the win also improves JT Ginn’s win loss record to 9-8 allowing six hits and four runs against the Twins for the win on Wednesday.
#5 The Baltimore Orioles who have won five of their last ten games and the A’s who have won four of their last five games open their series Friday. RHP starting pitcher for the Orioles Brandon Young (9-3 ERA 3.50) the A’s have not announced a starter for Friday yet.
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.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) faces the Milwaukee Brewers line up on Sun May 24, 2026 at American Family Ballpark in Milwaukee Sun May 24, 2026 (AP News photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 How are the Los Angeles Dodgers balancing their massive payroll expectations with early-season performance concerns?
#2 What impact has Aaron Judge had on the New York Yankees playoff outlook through the first part of the season?
#3 Are the recent pitching injuries across Major League Baseball changing how teams manage starting rotations and bullpen usage?
#4 Can the surprising start by the Baltimore Orioles be sustained over a full 162-game season?
#5 What are the biggest storylines surrounding the upcoming MLB trade deadline, and which contenders are most likely to make aggressive moves?
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.
Sacramento A’s Nick Kurtz had a successful game against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Sat May 9, 2026 in game 2 of the three game series hitting two doubles and successfully reaching base for the 33rd time . (AP News photo)
Sacrmento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:
1.Over the weekend the A’s played a three game series with the Baltimore Orioles looking for a sweep on Sunday after winning the first two games of the series.
2. The A’s did not have much offensive production in game three Sunday compared to the first two games of the series but again saw some players who have come through time after time this season.
3. Sacramento threatened in a number of innings having a great chance in the later innings to at least tie up the game but fell short losing 2-1.
4. It was a rough outing for Luis Severino who allowed the two runs that eventually won the game for the Orioles. The Relief pitching allowed no hits and gave the A’s a chance to get back into the game.
5. The Green and Gold will be back home for their next series that gets underway on Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals with first pitch at 6:40 PM.
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.
Sacramento A’s LHP starter Jeffery Springs will face the St Louis Cardinals at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Tue May 12, 2026 (AP file photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Daniel Dullum:
#1 Sunday the Sacramento A’s just missed getting a sweep over the Baltimore Orioles by just a run 2-1 going 3-3 for the road trip.
#2 The A’s saw some successes on the trip getting some great hitting support from Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, and some solid pitching from Aaron Civale on Saturday for the win.
#3 On Sunday the Orioles wanted to avoid getting swept with some great pitching from former A’s pitcher and current Oriole Chris Bassitt who pitched six innings.
#4 Tough game for the A’s they didn’t get enough offense and scored only just a run and couldn’t get the sweep.
#5 A’s open up a six game homestand against the St Louis Cards Tue-Thu and San Francisco Giants Fri-Sun. The A’s have had some success with their starting pitching starter for St Louis on Tuesday RHP Andre Pallante against Sacramento LHP Jeffery Springs (3-2 ERA 3.89) first pitch 6:40pm PDT.
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.
Sacramento A’s Jacob Wilson (5) slides into second base after getting forced out by Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) in the top of the second inning at Camden Yards in Baltimore Orioles on Sun May 10, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Mauricio Segura
The Sacramento Athletics were determined to finish their Baltimore road trip with a series sweep while adding more distance between themselves and the Mariners in the AL West standings. Instead, they were handed the kind of 2-1 loss that felt like unwrapping the gift they wanted, only to realize it was the Temu version. The Green and Gold had chances, had pitching, had traffic, and even had a late runway to tie the game. What they did not have was the one extra swing that turns a quiet afternoon into a happy flight home.
The game started with Keegan Akin retiring the A’s in order in the first, striking out Nick Kurtz and Brent Rooker around a Shea Langeliers groundout. Baltimore also went quietly in its half, though Taylor Ward briefly reached on a walk before Langeliers erased him trying to steal second. That throw, with Jacob Wilson applying the tag, was a sharp early reminder that this was going to be a game where every inch mattered.
The Athletics struck first in the second after Chris Bassitt replaced Akin. Tyler Soderstrom opened the inning by driving his 12th double to right, then moved to third when Wilson reached on Bassitt’s fielding error. Carlos Cortes, who came in as one of the hottest bats on the club and had been hitting .418 over his previous 16 games, did the useful thing and lifted a sacrifice fly to left. Soderstrom scored, and the A’s had a 1-0 lead without needing a big inning.
Luis Severino made that lead stand for a while. He retired the Orioles in order in the second, getting Pete Alonso and Samuel Basallo on grounders before handling Leody Taveras himself. Baltimore finally broke through in the third when Dylan Beavers doubled, Weston Wilson walked, and Blaze Alexander moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Gunnar Henderson then chopped a grounder to first that brought Beavers home, tying the game 1-1. Severino kept it there by getting Ward on strikes after a successful Athletics challenge overturned the original call, then retiring Adley Rutschman on a lineout to Wilson.
The middle innings turned into a test of patience. Jacob Wilson singled to start the fourth, but Cortes grounded into a double play. Zack Gelof and Jeff McNeil went down quietly in the fifth, and the Athletics missed a Baltimore threat in the bottom half when the Orioles loaded the bases with two outs. Severino escaped by getting Rutschman to fly to left, preserving the tie and giving the A’s another chance to scratch something together.
Baltimore finally grabbed the lead in the sixth. Basallo doubled sharply to right, Taveras singled him to third, then stole second. Beavers followed with a line-drive single to left, scoring Basallo for a 2-1 Orioles lead. Manager Mark Kotsay turned to Justin Sterner with runners still aboard, and Sterner did exactly what the A’s needed. After walking Weston Wilson to load the bases, he struck out Alexander and Henderson to stop the inning from becoming much worse.
The Athletics had their best late chance in the seventh. Cortes singled to center, then stole second as Lawrence Butler struck out. Gelof followed with a ground-ball single to center, and Cortes tried to score from second. Taveras charged, threw home, and Basallo made the tag for the final out. It was the game in one snapshot: the A’s aggressive enough to force the issue, Baltimore clean enough to make them pay.
Luis Medina then delivered one of the brightest Athletics moments of the afternoon. Entering in the seventh, he carved through Ward, Rutschman, and Alonso with three straight strikeouts. He followed with a clean eighth, getting Basallo on strikes before Taveras and Beavers flew out to Soderstrom. Medina’s two scoreless innings gave the A’s exactly the kind of bullpen lift they needed after entering the day with recent relief struggles.
The offense simply could not cash in. In the eighth, Kurtz walked and moved to second on a wild pitch, then Langeliers walked to put the tying run in scoring position. Rooker struck out, and Soderstrom flew out to right. In the ninth, Butler worked a two-out walk against Rico Garcia, but Gelof popped out to Henderson to end it.
For the Athletics, the loss snapped some road-trip momentum but not the bigger picture. They entered the day having won three straight, sitting in sole possession of first place for the 14th consecutive day. Kurtz’s walk pushed his on-base streak to 34 games, while Langeliers again showed value behind the plate even on a day when his bat stayed quiet. Severino battled through 5.1 innings, allowing two runs while keeping the A’s close, and Medina turned in a relief outing that deserved a louder ending.
This one will not go into the scrapbook, but it still said plenty. The A’s can pitch, defend, and fight through tight games. Today however, they just could not find the final hit hiding somewhere in Camden Yards.
The A’s head home to Sacramento tonight with a well-earned Monday breather on deck. By Tuesday, the feathers will be flying again, as the Cardinals come to town for a three-game set. Jefferey Springs (3-2 / 3.89 ERA / 39 K) will begin the series for the green and gold, while Andre Pallante (3-3 / 4.34 ERA / 29 K) is set to throw for St. Louis. Game time is 6:40pm from West Sacramento.
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.
