Sacramento A’s pitcher Aaron Civale delivers a pitch agaianst the Cleveland Guardians line up at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Sun May 3, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:
#1 The first two games of the Sacramento A’s series with the Cleveland Guardians was really disappointing as the teams fights to hand to stay in first place. Game three was a critical one to avoid getting swept.
2. Unlike game Saturday’s game the A’s got hits but did not leave runners stranded instead cashed in on them for the 7-1 win.
3. The A’s really spread out their hits with eight different players making contact which included three home runs.
4. Jeff McNeil proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back with a critical hit in the sixth. That combined with some great work on the mound from Aaron Civale equaled a great win for the Athletics.
5.The A’s head out on the road for six games, they have Monday off and open a three game series with the Philadelphia Phillies which gets underway on Tuesday evening.
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.
Cleveland Guardians Travis Bazzana slides safely into second base and Sacramento A’s shortstop applies the tag too late at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Sun May 3, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Daniel Dullum:
#1 Colby Thomas, Zack Gelof, Tyler Soderstrom homered to help the Sacramento A’s defeat the Cleveland Guardians 7-1 at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento and avoid getting swept.
#2 For Thomas a great way to start his home run count for 2026 hitting his first big fly of the season off Cleveland rookie pitcher Parker Messick to help the A’s take a 1-0 lead.
#3 For Messick he faced nine A’s hitters in a row and retiring each one until Gelof and Soderstrom came up and hit back to back home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
#4 The A’s got singles from Darell Hernaiz, Jeff McNeil, and Brent Rooker and picked up another run to make it 4-1. The A’s success this year has been their hitting if their on they win ball games.
#5 The A’s open a three game series in Philadelphia on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Ballpark against the Philadelphia Phillies. The A’s will start right hand pitcher Luis Severino (2-2 ERA 4.46) the Phllies have not announced a starter 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.
Sacramento A’s Zack Gelof (20) is greeted at home plate by Tyler Soderstrom (21) in the bottom of the fifth inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Sun May 3, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Mauricio Segura
After two frustrating days against the Cleveland Guardians, the Sacramento Athletics finally found the right answer Sunday afternoon at home: hitting balls over the fence, keep the line moving, and let Aaron Civale handle the rest.
The A’s came in having lost the first two games of the series and carrying a rough recent history against the Guardians, a team that had given them more headaches than a failing umpire microphone during an ABS challenge. They also entered the day still clinging to first place in the American League West, making this 7-1 win feel less like just another early May game and more like a badly needed deep breath. With the win the A’s remain 1.5 games up in first place in the AL West.
Civale had to work right away. Cleveland put two runners on in the first when Chase DeLauter and Kyle Manzardo each singled, but Civale escaped by getting José Ramírez to fly out and Daniel Schneemann looking at strike three. In the second, Travis Bazzana singled, stole second, and reached third on a groundout, but again Civale closed the door. Those early innings mattered because Cleveland had chances to change the mood of the afternoon before the A’s even got comfortable.
Instead, Colby Thomas woke up the ballpark in the bottom of the second. With one swing, he drove a fly ball to left-center for his first home run of the season, giving the Athletics a 1-0 lead and giving the afternoon its first real jolt. It was the kind of swing that does not just put a run on the board. It tells the dugout, “All right, boys, we are not spending this Sunday waiting around.”
Cleveland answered in the fifth when DeLauter launched his sixth homer of the year to left field, tying the game at 1-1. That could have been the moment the Guardians started dragging the A’s back into familiar trouble. Civale had already spent much of the day dodging Cleveland traffic, and Ramírez followed the homer with a walk. But Austin Wynns helped flip the inning by throwing out Ramírez trying to steal second, and Civale finished the frame without any more damage.
Then the A’s took the game by the throat in the bottom half. Zack Gelof opened the fifth with his second home run of the season, a fly ball to left that pushed the Athletics back in front. Before Cleveland could even sit with that, Tyler Soderstrom followed with his fourth homer, sending a drive to right-center and stretching the lead to 3-1. The back-to-back blasts changed everything. What had been a tight game suddenly had the snap and swagger of a team tired of being pushed around.
The Athletics were not finished. Darell Hernaiz singled, Jeff McNeil followed with a hit to right, and Jacob Wilson kept the inning alive with a forceout that moved Hernaiz to third. Brent Rooker, continuing to climb out of a cold stretch after returning from the injured list, then beat out a ground-ball single to shortstop that scored Hernaiz and made it 4-1. It was not the prettiest RBI of Rooker’s career, but it counted just the same. Baseball does not ask whether the run wore a tuxedo.
The knockout punch came in the sixth. Gelof walked, Soderstrom singled, and Wynns drew a walk to load the bases. After Hernaiz flew out, McNeil stepped in and delivered the swing that broke Cleveland’s afternoon in half. His sharp double to right cleared the bases, scoring Gelof, Soderstrom, and Wynns to make it 7-1. McNeil entered the day swinging a hot bat, and this was the kind of veteran plate appearance that turns a comfortable lead into a padded chair.
Civale finished with six strong innings, allowing one run while scattering Cleveland’s threats and giving the A’s exactly what they needed after their pitching staff had been roughed up in the first two games of the series. Justin Sterner, Mark Leiter Jr., and Joel Kuhnel handled the final three innings, with Leiter striking out two in a clean eighth and Kuhnel finishing the ninth after a brief injury delay.
By the end, the A’s had ten hits, three home runs, and a game that felt refreshingly orderly after Cleveland had spent the series making life miserable. Thomas supplied the early spark, Gelof and Soderstrom turned the fifth into a fireworks show, McNeil delivered the big swing, and Civale made sure the Guardians never built anything larger than a threat.
The A’s hop on a plane Sunday night for Philadelphia, with a day off Monday so everyone can pose for selfies on the Rocky steps while wiping cheesesteak grease from their fingers. Then Tuesday, Luis Severino (2-2 / 4.46 ERA / 40k) takes the mound at 3:40 p.m. Pacific Time against a Phillies starter yet to be named.
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 Brent Rooker slides into home plate safely in the bottom of the fourth in the second game of a three game series against the Cleveland Guardians at Sutter Health Park on Sat May 2, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Mauricio Segura
WEST SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Athletics looked ready to punch the Cleveland Guardians first and keep swinging from the starting gate Saturday, that didn’t happen as Guardians manager Stephen Vogt and his group of Guardians poured it on the A’s in a 14-6 decison at Sutter Health Park on Saturday.
Jacob Lopez opened with a clean first, getting Steven Kwan to pop out, Angel Martínez to fly out, and José Ramírez to line out. Then the A’s offense walked in like it had somewhere better to be. Nick Kurtz started the bottom of the first with a ground-ball single to center, and Shea Langeliers followed with the loudest possible hello, launching his ninth home run of the season to center field for a quick 2-0 lead.
That early blast fit the way Langeliers has been swinging lately. He entered the day tied with Jacob Wilson for the most multi-hit games in the majors and had been one of the hottest bats on the roster. The A’s also came in sitting atop the AL West for a sixth straight day, carrying the kind of early-season confidence that can make a ballpark feel a little louder than the attendance number.
But Cleveland has been a thorn in the Green and Gold’s side for years, and Saturday became another reminder that the Guardians do not usually need an engraved invitation to make a mess. Austin Hedges cut the lead to 2-1 in the third with his first homer of the season, but the A’s answered in the fourth when Brent Rooker singled, Jacob Wilson beat out a ball to the pitcher, and Jeff McNeil drove in Rooker on a grounder to left after the Athletics successfully challenged the tag play. That made it 3-1, and for a moment, the A’s had the game in their hands.
Then the fifth inning arrived wearing muddy boots.
Hedges opened with a double, and after Brayan Rocchio lined out, Kwan singled him home. Martínez followed with another single, and Ramírez did what stars do when the door is cracked open. He drove a two-run double to center, turning a 3-2 A’s lead into a 4-3 Cleveland advantage. Ramírez then stole third and scored on Rhys Hoskins’ sacrifice fly, capping a four-run inning that flipped the entire afternoon.
Langeliers tried to drag the A’s back into it by himself, crushing his second homer of the game in the bottom of the fifth, this one a line drive to left-center for his tenth of the season. The blast pulled the Athletics within 5-4 and gave him three RBIs on the day. But every time the A’s found a spark, Cleveland came back with a bucket of water and a bigger match. David Fry opened the sixth with a solo homer to left, pushing the Guardians ahead 6-4.
The A’s still had one more honest push. Carlos Cortes singled to begin the sixth, Wilson ripped a double to center, and McNeil brought Cortes home with a sacrifice fly to make it 6-5. Lawrence Butler walked, putting runners at the corners with one out, but the rally died when Darell Hernaiz popped out and catcher Austin Hedges picked Butler off first. That play felt like a trapdoor opening under the inning.
From there, the game got away fast. In the seventh, Cleveland loaded the bases against Scott Barlow and Hogan Harris, then Fry walked to force in a run. Travis Bazzana followed with a two-run single to center, stretching the lead to 9-5. In the eighth, Kyle Manzardo came off the bench and hammered a three-run homer to right-center after two walks and a wild pitch, turning a close game into a 12-5 runaway.
The Athletics did scratch across one more run in the eighth when Cortes, McNeil, and Butler reached, and Kurtz punched a ground-ball single to right to score Cortes. Kurtz finished with two hits, but his Athletics-record walk streak ended at 20 games. That was a small historical footnote in a game that had much bigger problems.
Cleveland added two more in the ninth on a Rocchio RBI single and Kwan’s run-scoring double play grounder. Hedges finished with a homer, two doubles, and several fingerprints all over the game, while Ramírez, Bazzana, and Manzardo supplied the damage that buried the A’s. Langeliers gave Sacramento the thunder early, but the Guardians brought the storm late.
Starting pitchers to conclude the three game series on Sunday: For Cleveland LHP Parker Messick (3-0 ERA 1.73) for West Sacramento RHP Aaron Civale (2-1 ERA 3.23) first pitch 1:05pm PDT.
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.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Hayden Birdsong #60 delivers a pitch during the spring training game against the Cleveland Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark on March 10, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (John Medina Special to the Mercury News)
By Stephen Ruderman
GOODYEAR AZ–The Giants’ prospects showed their worth in San Francisco’s 5-4 win over the Cleveland Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear AZ on Tuesday.
Drew Gilbert finally returned after missing two weeks due to a left shoulder impingement. He struck out swinging in his first at-bat in the top of the third inning. Though hey, he was a bit rusty, and he was up against Guardians’ ace, Tanner Bibee.
Gilbert grounded out in the top of the fourth, but he singled the other way to left in the top of the seventh. Not a bad return for the Giants’ eccentric young outfielder.
Speaking of Giants’ prospects who hit for contact and don’t strike out much, catcher Jesus Rodriguez was back in the lineup after his big 5-for-7 weekend.
Rodriguez made a nice two-strike adjustment against Bibee, and lined a high fastball for a base-hit into left-center field in the top of the first. As center-fielder Steven Kwan went over to field it, Rodriguez decided to take a chance, and was able to hustle out a double.
Unfortunately, Rodriguez struck out his next two times. Still, his double in the first was quite impressive, and any team will love a guy who will do anything to take the extra 90 feet. The fight for the Giants’ backup catcher’s rule between Rodriguez and Daniel Susac will be an interesting one.
As for other big prospects, Bryce Eldridge, the biggest of them all, went 1-for-2 with a walk.
Seymour has strong four innings in first start:
Carson Seymour took the ball in his fourth appearance and first start of the spring.
Seymour gave up a run and just two hits over four innings. He walked one, and struck out three.
Birdsong has much-needed solid inning:
Hayden Birdsong pitched a much-needed scoreless inning in the bottom of the sixth.
It is no secret that the last seven and a half months have been a nightmare for Birdsong. After not being able to record a single out after facing six batters in his start against the Braves in Atlanta on July 21 of last year, Birdsong did not pitch again in the big leagues the rest of the season.
To make matters worse, Birdsong’s struggles continued this spring. He gave up five runs over just a third of an inning to the Seattle Mariners when he started the Giants’ cactus league opener on Feb. 21 in Peoria. He then gave up three runs in a relief inning against the Colorado Rockies on Feb. 26 in Scottsdale.
Birdsong made his first appearance in 13 days when he was brought in for the bottom of the sixth. It was no easy task, as he immediately had to face one of the best hitters in baseball in Steven Kwan. Birdsong got out to a quick 0-2 count, but Kwan worked the count full. Kwan then fouled off the next two, but Birdsong got him to ground out to second.
That was a big break for Birdsong, but he faced trouble when Bryan Rocchio immediately followed up Kwan’s strikeout with a double. Birdsong then faced another dangerous hitter in Jose Ramirez, and struck him out. Chase DeLauter grounded out to second, and Birdsong ended up with a scoreless inning.
When you come to the ballpark, you may see something you’ve never seen before:
You know the old saying. When you come to the ballpark, you may see something you’ve never seen before. Well the 4,844 in attendance here at Goodyear Ballpark had two such instances Tuesday.
The Giants had a runner at second in Jared Oliva with two outs in the top of the third with Jesus Rodriguez at the plate. Oliva broke for third, and the throw from Guardians’ catcher David Fry hit Rodriguez’s bat and went out of play.
Since Rodriguez had stood still in his place in the batter’s box, Home Plate Umpire Nic Lentz correctly did not call interference. Of course, since the throw ended up going out of play, Oliva was awarded home plate.
Now, had Rodriguez and/or his bat moved while Fry was throwing and the same thing happened, Rodriguez would have been called out for interference, and Oliva would have been returned to second base.
Then with one out and no one on in the top of the eighth, Grant McCray hit a ground ball that hit off the glove of Guardians’ first-baseman Juan Brito. The ball ricochetted over to pitcher Pedro Avila, who rolled over to the bag at first for one of the most incredible 3-1 putouts you will ever see.
Even in Spring Training, you may see something you’ve never seen before when you came to the park. Tuesday, we were fortunate enough to see two of them.
Other notes:
The Giants scored two more unearned runs off Bibee in the top of the fourth.
Tyler Fitzgerald made it a three-run fourth for the Giants with a two-run home run down the left field line off Guardians’ reliever Steven Perez.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addresses the news media at the NBA All Star Game weekend in Los Angeles on Sat Feb 14, 2026 (AP News photo)
Headline Sports podcast Charlie O:
#1 WNBA and the players association are still negotiating over a new collective bargaining agreement. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he is not ready to set a deadline to get a deal in place. The WNBA season is scheduled to start May 8th. Silver said that it’s getting pretty close to the 11th hour when it comes to bargaining.
#2 In essence the WNBA players want a more equitable revenue share model (gross revenue)Stronger working conditions and support systems, Significantly higher salaries and better pay structure, Broader benefits (retirement, mental health, parental), Both sides are still negotiating, and there’s no deal yet — and even talk of a potential work stoppage if terms aren’t met.
#3 What specific qualities or past achievements of Klint Kubiak made him an appealing choice for the Las Vegas Raiders head coach?
#4 Stephen Vogt is the manager of the Cleveland Guardians, entering his third season in 2026 after being appointed in November 2023. He achieved historic success by winning the AL Manager of the Year award in both 2024 and 2025, his first two seasons, leading the team to an AL Central title in 2025. You got to know Vogt when he was a player at the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants no suprise that he’s come this far?
#5 Currently the Sacramento Kings are on a 14 game losing streak. It’s been a long tough streak for the Kings but the All Star break couldn’t have come at a better time?
Sacramento A’s outfielder Brent Rooker models the Sacramento uniform the A’s will use when on the road for the 2026 season. (photo by Sacramento A’s X)
MLB Notes 2025 -Giants get No Satisfaction
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
The San Francisco Giants got “No Satisfaction” like the great Rolling Stones song, as they ended the season with an 81-81 record, a tie, and. a .500 mark. Not going to the postseason. The Giants last qualified in 2021. They have a lot of work to do in the next few months to try to join the “big boys” of this division, LA and SD.
Mets learned that Money is not the Answer. The New York Mets, with the highest payroll in baseball, featuring Juan Soto at $765 million and Francisco Lindor at $341 million, among others, had a shot but failed to win game #162.
They are not going to the postseason. Manager Carlos Mendoza? His job is in danger. In New York, there is always danger for managers. The Cincinnati Reds had the 22nd-largest payroll among all 30 teams, approximately $90 million, and one of the best managers, Terry Francona.
They clinched a wild-card spot in the last game of the season. The last time the Reds were in a postseason was in 2020. Cleveland Guardians (formerly the Indians) completed a historic comeback, overcoming a 15 1/2 game deficit to take the lead this month and won the AL Central Division on the last day of the season by leaving the Detroit Tigers in the rear view mirror.
The feat that makes it the largest deficit ever erased to win a division in Major League Baseball history. Manager and ex-Oakland A’s catcher Stephen Vogt, in his second season as manager, took the team to the top. Blue Jays, Oh Canada!
They won the LA East Title over the Yankees. Last time the Blue Jays were in the postseason? 2016. Again, Vlad Guerrero Jr. justifies his $500 million, multi-year contract. New York, New York, Start spreading the news.
The Yankees secured a wild-card spot and advanced to the postseason as they finished in second place behind the Toronto Blue Jays. While the Blue Jays have their eyes on their third World Series title, the Yanks are going after their 28th.
Could the #1 city in the country have another parade? As I was on vacation, I ran into their last parade in Lower Manhattan in 2009, the last World Series they won. The Seattle Mariners won the AL West division, clinching their first AL West title since 2001.
Catcher Cal Raleigh had 60 home runs, 125 RBIs, and a .248 batting average. First catcher ever to hit 60 home runs in a single season, and the 12th catcher in history to have multiple 30-plus HR seasons. Cal Raleigh holds the MLB record for most home runs by a switch-hitter in a single season, surpassing Mickey Mantle’s 1961 record of 54 home runs with his 55th of the 2025 season, and, like above-mentioned, he ended with 60 home runs.
He is one of two top candidates for the AL MVP, with Yankee Aaron Judge, who won the batting title. hitting .330 with 53 home runs and 114 RBIs, plus an OPS of 1,149. The Brewers from Milwaukee ended with the best record in baseball, 97-65, winning the AL Central Division and marking their best year in franchise history.
They have never won a World Series. In 1982, they lost their only World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals, in the battle of the “beer cities.” Four million Blue. The Los Angeles Dodgers surpassed 4 million in attendance.
The Dodgers hold the record for the longest active streak of consecutive playoff appearances in MLB, a streak that stands at 13 seasons. They were the favorites to win the World Series prior to the start. With the MLB postseason underway, the Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners, and defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers are all involved.
“All World” Ohtani hit his 55th home run during their last game of the season at Chávez Ravine. My pick for the team that could go all the way, not mentioned here, is the San Diego Padres. They have all the talent necessary to make it all the way to the 2025 World Series Champions.
A’s Big News ! The A’s biggest news at year’s end. The Athletics will be introducing a new gold/yellow alternate jersey for the 2026 season, featuring “Sacramento” written on the front, in honor of their temporary home at Sutter Health Park. Why?
Lots of people, not only in California but all over the country, had NO IDEA where the A’s were playing. I know I missed other teams that are in the postseason, but I am exhausted.
Quote: Baseball was made for kids, and grown-ups only screw it up. ~Bob Lemon Adiós muchachos!
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
Sacramento A’s starter Jefferey Springs who get lit up by the Cleveland Guardians on Sun Jul 20, 2025 is hoping for a better outcome as the A’s face the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field for a three game series against the Rangers on Mon Jul 21, 2025 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:
#1 The A’s ran into a hot hitting of the Cleveland Guardians David Fry and Angel Martinez who were too much for the A’s and the A’s also ran into some good pitching and never catch up getting defeated on Sunday 8-2.
#2 The A’s Nick Kurtz hit a couple of doubles. Kurtz has been seeing the ball rather well for the A’s in the lineup.
#3 Tough skid for Sacramento they have now lost nine of their last ten games when playing in Cleveland.
#4 Cleveland pitcher Gavin Williams improved his record to 6-4 and went seven innings to pick up his first win since June 1st. Williams has gone 2-1 in his last nine starts.
#5 The A’s open up a three game series in Texas Monday night and will start LHP Jacob Lopez (3-5 ERA 4.20) for the RHP Rangers Jack Lieter (5-6 ERA 4.37) first pitch 5:00pm PT.
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.
Cleveland Guardians David Fry (left) claps his hands after hitting a three RBI double in the fourth inning as the Sacramento A’s infielder Max Schuemann (12) looks away at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Sun Jul 20, 2025 (AP News photo)
Guardians Tame the Green and Gold 8-2 in Cleveland Clunker
By Mauricio Segura
The Sacramento Athletics arrived at Progressive Field looking to build momentum, but they left shaking their heads after a frustrating 8-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians Sunday. A red-hot David Fry and the bat of Angel Martínez proved too much to handle, while the A’s offense sputtered early and never found enough rhythm to mount a comeback.
Gavin Williams set the tone for Cleveland from the first pitch, silencing the top of the A’s order with two strikeouts in the first frame. The Guardians wasted no time grabbing the lead in the bottom half, as Angel Martínez lined a double into left, then came home on a sharp RBI single from Fry. It was the beginning of a very long day for the Green and Gold.
Lawrence Butler, Nick Kurtz, and Brent Rooker, a trio the A’s have leaned on this season for run production, couldn’t solve Williams. Each struck out multiple times as Williams racked up nine K’s through seven innings. The A’s struck out 15 times overall, and through the first four innings, they looked overmatched.
Meanwhile, the Guardians were putting on a clinic in timely hitting. After adding a second run in the second on Austin Hedges’ RBI single, the game quickly slipped away in the fourth. Sacramento starter Jeffrey Springs was trying to grind through his outing when Cleveland strung together three hits and a critical fielder’s choice to load the bases. David Fry stepped up and delivered again, clearing the bags with a bases-clearing double that made it 5-0.
While the A’s showed small signs of life in the middle innings, including a pair of hits in the fifth and a run scored by Tyler Soderstrom on a wild pitch, they never seriously threatened the Guardians’ control of the game. Soderstrom and Schuemann each tallied two hits, but the damage was minimal and sporadic.
The lone bright spot in the lineup was Nick Kurtz. The rookie first baseman doubled twice and drove in a run in the eighth, providing a small glimmer of fight. Denzel Clarke also contributed a double and a run scored, but the team’s inability to string together consecutive productive at-bats kept them chasing shadows all afternoon.
On the pitching side, Sacramento’s bullpen fared no better than its starter. After Springs departed following four innings, Michael Kelly and Osvaldo Bido were tasked with holding the line. They gave up three additional runs, including a solo shot from Angel Martínez in the seventh and an RBI single from the same bat in the eighth. Martínez finished a triple shy of the cycle and was a headache from the leadoff spot all game long.
Defensively, the A’s were steady but not spectacular. There were no errors, but Cleveland’s sharp contact exposed the gaps. Tyler Soderstrom, despite a multi-hit game, was targeted in left field where several crucial hits landed. Denzel Clarke and Lawrence Butler made routine plays in the outfield but weren’t tested with anything exceptional.
By the time Shea Langeliers ripped a double in the ninth, the game was all but over. Jakob Junis closed the door on Sacramento without incident. The Athletics never quite looked synced up, and the lack of offensive urgency gave the feeling of inevitability.
The Guardians, on the other hand, played like a team ready for October baseball. Their pitching was dominant, their bats timely, and their approach disciplined. For the A’s, the loss drops them further into the abyss of a development-heavy season, where flashes of talent continue to be overshadowed by inconsistency.
The good news for Sacramento? There are still games left to iron out the kinks and give younger players experience. The bad news? Games like today make it clear just how wide the gap still is between the A’s and the league’s top-tier clubs.
Sacramento A’s open up a series with the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington Monday night the A’s will start LHP Jacob Lopez (3-5 ERA 4.20) the Rangers have not determined a starter yet.
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 Shea Langeliers (right) is congratulated by Jacob Wilson (left) after hitting a two run home run off Cleveland Guardians pitcher Nic Enright in the top of the eighth inning at Progressive Field on Sat Jul 19, 2025 (AP News photo)
Kurtz, Clarke and Langeliers Spark Sacramento’s Electric 8-2 Comeback in Cleveland
By Mauricio Segura
It was a quiet beginning that gave way to a symphony of power as the Sacramento Athletics staged a thrilling turnaround in Cleveland, turning an early deficit into an 8-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday night at Progressive Field.
The night started unassumingly for the Green and Gold, with the top of the order going down in order in the first inning. By the bottom of the third, Cleveland had taken a 2-0 lead thanks to José Ramírez’s two-run blast into the right field seats.
Sacramento’s bats woke up with a vengeance in the top of the fourth. Brent Rooker and Nick Kurtz each smacked sharp doubles to bring in a run, and catcher Shea Langeliers followed with another RBI double to even the score.
Miguel Andujar added the go-ahead blow with a line drive RBI single to center, giving the A’s a 3-2 lead. The three-run outburst was as sudden as it was efficient, a masterclass in execution against Guardians starter Logan Allen.
From that point forward, Sacramento’s pitching staff made sure the lead would never be threatened. Severino delivered a strong six-inning performance, allowing just two runs on four hits and striking out six.
Jack Perkins came in for relief and slammed the door over two scoreless frames, showing maturity beyond his years by inducing ground balls and staying ahead in counts. By the time Justin Sterner took over in the ninth, it was just a matter of wrapping up a win.
The real action came in the eighth and ninth innings, courtesy of some of the A’s brightest young talents. Nick Kurtz led off the eighth with his second double of the night, a rocket into the right-center field gap. Langeliers, fresh off an earlier RBI, stepped up and launched his 14th homer of the season over the right-field wall to give the A’s breathing room at 5-2.
Not to be outdone, rookie Denzel Clarke showcased his speed and flair in the ninth with a blistering triple to center. Jacob Wilson followed by unloading on a hanging pitch for a two-run homer, extending the lead to 7-2.
Kurtz capped off his monster night with a solo shot of his own, a majestic fly ball to left-center that put the exclamation point on Sacramento’s offensive explosion. With two doubles, a homer, and three RBIs, the first baseman gave a performance that not only boosted his rising profile but also proved why the A’s view him as a cornerstone of their future.
Defensively, the A’s were crisp and well-positioned throughout. Jacob Wilson turned a pair of slick double plays, Max Muncy showcased his versatility by shifting between third and second base without missing a beat, and Clarke’s glove in center saved extra bases more than once.
Even when Cleveland tried to apply pressure with aggressive baserunning, Sacramento countered with calm execution, like catcher Austin Wynns gunning down Angel Martínez in the fifth to kill a budding rally.
Manager Mark Kotsay’s decision-making was on point, from the timely pinch-hitting move to bring in Tyler Soderstrom to the defensive switches that solidified the infield late. Soderstrom made the most of his appearance, swiping second base and adding another spark to the team’s aggressive tone on the basepaths.
The Guardians, meanwhile, never found their rhythm after Ramírez’s early homer. Carlos Santana walked twice but couldn’t produce a hit, and Daniel Schneemann was struck out twice by Severino in key spots. Cleveland’s bullpen didn’t fare much better, as both Matt Festa and Nic Enright were tagged in Sacramento’s scoring surges.
While the Athletics still sit in the thick of a long road to .500, Saturday’s game offered a tantalizing glimpse into a promising future if they remain consistent enough. Power from the corner spots, speed in the outfield, timely hitting from the middle of the order, and a bullpen that locks things down, all the elements of a competitive club were on display.
The A’s conclude the three game series Sunday at Progressive Field against the Guardians. Starting pitcher for the A’s LHP Jeffrey Springs (8-6 ERA 3.93) for Guardians RHP Gavin Williams (5-4 ERA 3.70) first pitch 10:40AM PT.
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.
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