Tag: Detroit Tigers

Sacramento A’s game wrap: Sacramento A’s silence Tigers bats in convincing 7-0 shutout win

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Sacramento A’s Zack Gelof runs the bases after hitting a two run home run in the bottom of the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Wed Aug 27, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s silence Tigers bats in convincing 7-0 shutout win

By Mauricio Segura

The A’s wasted no time setting the tone Tuesday night, jumping on Detroit early and never looking back in a crisp 7-0 victory that showed off both timely hitting and steady pitching. It was one of those nights where everything clicked for the Green and Gold, while the Tigers could never quite find a foothold.

Rookie first baseman Nick Kurtz got the offense rolling in the bottom of the first with a sharp single to left, and the A’s quickly loaded pressure on Casey Mize. Shea Langeliers worked a walk, and after a Brent Rooker strikeout, Tyler Soderstrom delivered a line drive single to left to score Kurtz for the game’s first run. From there, Sacramento was off and running.

Luis Morales, the A’s young starter, made sure Detroit couldn’t answer back. He worked a clean first inning, getting Colt Keith swinging and Gleyber Torres to fly out before snuffing out Kerry Carpenter with a lineout to first. The Tigers went quietly, and the home crowd could already feel a rhythm developing.

That rhythm turned into a drumbeat in the second inning. After JJ Bleday struck out, Brett Harris grounded a single through short, and Zack Gelof followed with a booming homer to left-center, his first of the season, to give the A’s a 3-0 cushion.

Sacramento was not done yet. Kurtz added his second hit of the night, Langeliers doubled to right, and Rooker lofted a sacrifice fly to center to make it 4-0. Mize was clearly on the ropes, and the Tigers were left scrambling.

Detroit’s best chance to strike back came in the top of the second when Spencer Torkelson crushed a triple into the gap, but Morales bore down, striking out Wenceel Pérez and coaxing a lineout from Zach McKinstry to escape unscathed. That was the theme all night: when the Tigers threatened, Sacramento’s pitchers slammed the door.

The A’s padded the lead again in the fourth thanks to a hustle double from Harris and a throwing error from Mize that let Gelof reach safely while Harris crossed the plate. At 5-0, the Tigers’ demeanor and drive sagged, and manager A.J. Hinch had no choice but to turn to his bullpen, summoning Rafael Montero. It did not matter, the hole had already been dug too deep.

Meanwhile, Morales just kept dealing. He scattered a handful of baserunners but never let Detroit string anything together. Every time the Tigers put someone on, he found a way, whether it was freezing Spencer Torkelson with a third strike or jamming Keith into soft contact. By the sixth inning, Detroit had yet to push a man past third base, and Sacramento fans were already thinking about the “zero” glowing on the scoreboard.

The bullpen did not flounder. Justin Sterner entered in the eighth and promptly struck out the side, making the Tigers look overmatched. By then, the A’s offense had tacked on two more runs courtesy of Gelof once again, this time hammering a line-drive double to center that plated JJ Bleday and Harris. It was a fitting cap to Gelof’s night, as he not only went deep but also drove in four runs.

Detroit’s last gasp came in the ninth when Gleyber Torres worked a leadoff walk. Any flicker of hope was stomped out quickly though, as pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones rolled into a double play and Andy Ibáñez grounded out to short to end it. The Tigers had been blanked, and the A’s faithful were treated to a shutout win that checked every box.

Sacramento’s offense was efficient, stringing together 11 hits, including three from Kurtz and a monster performance from Gelof. Harris chipped in with two hits and two runs scored, while Langeliers reached base twice and guided the young arms behind the plate. On the mound, Morales earned the win with six scoreless frames, while Sterner and Brady Basso finished things off without breaking a sweat.

For a team still finding its footing in Sacramento, this was the kind of crisp, no-drama victory. The pitching was airtight, the defense was clean, and the bats came through with power and patience. If the A’s can bottle up this formula, the Green and Gold will make life miserable for plenty of opponents still in the race for post season.

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. 

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Raleigh setting records joins Mantle for most HRs by a switch hitter in a season; Cards Contreas ejected in wild argument; plus more news

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St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Willson Contreras (40) is held back by manager Oliver Marmol (37) after he was ejected by umpire Derek Thomas (53) during the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium Mon Aug 25, 2025.Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Seattle Mariner catcher Cal Raleigh is setting records on Monday night he belted his 50th home run of the season against the San Diego Padres at T Mobile Field in Seattle. Raleigh has the most home runs hit by a catcher in a single season. Raleigh also joins Mickey Mantle as two of the only switch hitters to hit 50 or more home runs in season. Mantle hit 52 1956 and 54 1961.

#2 It was a wild argument by St Louis Cardinals designated hitter Wilson Contreas who was called out on a third strike that was inside the lower part of the imaginary box. Cards manager Oliver Marmol was also thrown out but had to restrain Contreras who almost made contact with plate umpire Derek Thomas and Contreas threw his bat at Cards hitting coach Brant Brown which was intended for the umpire. Umpire crew chief Jordan Baker said that Contreras was saying vulgar stuff to Thomas and that’s why he was tossed.

#3 After having quadruple bypass heart surgery Los Angeles manager Ron Washington said on Monday night that he feels great and said he was looking forward to recovering in New Orleans where he lives. Washington who was known to be a long time smoker and since quit said that doctors told him he could start doing light work in about eight weeks. Washington rejoined the Angels in Arlington to be with the team but he wasn’t there to work but to have fun with the guys.

#4 For the third straight game the Cleveland Guardians were shutout this time by the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night 9-0. The Guardians had not been shutout in three straight games since the 1991 season. “Everyone’s frustrated,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “We need to hit. We need to score more runs. We need to get things going on offense, and we’re all aware of it. We’re all working through it, and it’s going to take all of us individually doing our best.”

 #5 The Sacramento A’s continue to roll winning their seventh in their last ten games this time at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento against the Detroit Tigers on Monday night 8-3. The A’s win puts them just two games out of climbing out of the AL West cellar for a tie with the fourth place Angels.

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

Langeliers’ Grand Slam Lifts A’s Past Tigers 8-3

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Shea Langeliers #23 of the Athletics hits a grand slam home run off of Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers in the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park on August 25, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — It was a tale of two games at Sutter Health Park as the A’s defeated the Tigers in an 8-3 thriller on Monday night.

A’s starter J.T. Ginn and Tigers starter Tarik Skubal, an AL Cy Young favorite, engaged in a full-on pitchers’ duel in West Sacramento. Ginn, whose last home start didn’t go well and who refused to speak to the media afterward, was spinning a gem through five innings of shutout baseball with eight strikeouts.

On the flip side, Tarik Skubal was matching Ginn and setting a pace of his own with nine strikeouts through five innings.

The game totally shifted in the sixth and seventh innings as the offense started going for both teams. The Tigers scored three runs in the sixth inning, and the A’s scored five on Tarik Skubal and the Tigers in the seventh inning. From that point, the A’s took off and didn’t look back against the Tigers.

All in, A’s starter J.T. Ginn tossed five and a third innings of three-run baseball while giving up seven hits. Ginn added eight strikeouts in the game while only walking one.

The Bats

The A’s bats were quiet for the better part of the game against Skubal. Yet, they caught fire and never looked back in the sixth inning.

Jacob Wilson got the A’s on the board with an RBI groundout in the sixth inning. It was a big answer for the A’s after giving up three runs in the top half of the inning, and it pulled them to within two runs of the Tigers as the game was 3-1 at the time.

Then came the seventh inning.

Colby Thomas got the A’s their second run in the seventh inning with a solo home run to set the tone in the inning.

After the Thomas homer, three Athletics reached base to set the table for Shea Langeliers. Langeliers did not disappoint, launching a 2-1 fastball from Tarik Skubal an estimated 450 feet into the Sacramento night. Shea’s bomb put the A’s up 6-3 and in control of the game.

The A’s would add two more runs in the eighth inning as Nick Kurtz came off the bench and clubbed a pinch-hit homer to left field and gave the A’s the 8-3 lead.

The Bullpen

The A’s bullpen was lights out once again on Monday, allowing zero runs across three and two-thirds innings of work.

Sean Newcomb pitched one and a third innings of work, giving up a couple of hits but no runs.

Michael Kelly relieved Newcomb and also delivered a scoreless one and a third innings of work.

Elvis Alvarado, who many view as the A’s potential closer of the future, tossed a perfect ninth inning to seal the deal for the A’s.

Up Next

The A’s are now 61-72 after defeating the Tigers on Monday night.

The A’s will look to win the series as they take on the Tigers on Tuesday in game two of their three-game series. Osvaldo Bido (2-4, 5.37 ERA) is slated to go for the A’s as the Tigers plan to counter with Charlie Morton (9-10, 5.09 ERA).

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 podcast Barbara Mason: A’s get beat like a drum in Seattle 11-4; Sac opens three game set with Detroit Monday night at Sutter Health

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Sacramento A’s pitcher JT Ginn looks to the sky after being relieved in the top of the sixth inning against the New York Mets on Sat Apr 12, 2025 at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. Ginn will be the starter against the Detroit Tigers on Mon Aug 25, 2025 at Sutter Health to open the three game series.

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:

#1 Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh slugged his 48th and 49th home runs against the Sacramento A’s which leads the Majors. Raleigh set a single season record for catchers with home runs.

#2 The M’s crushed the A’s 11-4 on Sunday and got plenty of offense against A’s pitching scoring twice in the first, three runs in the second inning, and six runs in the third inning that’s all the damage that Seattle needed to win the ball game.

#3 Raleigh who bats from both sides clouted both of his home runs in the first and second innings off A’s left hand pitcher Jacob Lopez giving the M’s a 5-1 lead.

#4 Despite Sunday’s loss the A’s finished 6-7 in Seattle against a very difficult and very challenging M’s team. When these teams met this season neither club never gave up.

#5 The A’s return to Sacramento to host the Detroit Tigers on Monday night at Sutter Health Park. Starting pitchers for the Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal whose having a Cy Young type year (11-3 ERA 2.32) for the A’s RHP JT Ginn (2-5 ERA 4.95) first pitch at 7:05pm PT.

Join Barbara Mason for the A’s podcasts Mondays 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. 

Sacramento A’s Outslugged in Seattle 11-4 as Cal Raleigh Powers Mariners to Victory

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Seattle Mariner Cal Raleigh belts one his two home runs in the bottom of the first inning against the Sacramento A’s at T Mobile Field in Seattle on Sun Aug 24, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s Outslugged in Seattle 11-4 as Cal Raleigh Powers Mariners to Victory

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento A’s bus arrived at T-Mobile Park this morning looking to build momentum, but instead found themselves stuck in a nightmare that started early and never really stopped. The Mariners, fueled by Cal Raleigh’s booming bat and Randy Arozarena’s relentless presence on the bases, pounded the Green and Gold 11-4.

The loss was less a contest than a crash course in how quickly a game can spiral out of control when the opponent smells blood. Things unraveled almost immediately. After Sacramento’s top of the first fizzled with three straight outs, Seattle wasted no time in setting the tone.

Arozarena singled to left, and Raleigh followed with a two-run shot that landed deep in the seats. It was his 48th home run of the season, but he wasn’t done. The Mariners were up 2-0 before many fans had even settled into their seats.

The A’s showed a flicker of life in the second inning when rookie Jacob Wilson lined a solo home run to left. For a moment, it looked like the start of a back-and-forth slugfest. That illusion didn’t last long. Seattle responded immediately in the bottom half with Jorge Polanco drawing a walk and Arozarena ripping a run-scoring double.

Then Raleigh came up again and crushed another homer, his 49th, a two-run shot that pushed the Mariners ahead 5-1. Just like that, any sense of balance disappeared.

The bottom of the third cemented the rout. Sacramento starter Jacob Lopez, already shaky, walked Mitch Garver to open the frame and surrendered a single to Polanco. J.P. Crawford added another free pass to load the bases.

Victor Robles then drove in two with a sharp single, and the Mariners smelt blood. The Athletics turned to Eduarniel Núñez out of the bullpen, but he hit Arozarena with a pitch to reload the bases and extend the misery.

Raleigh, mercifully, struck out, but Julio Rodríguez picked him up with a two-run single. Josh Naylor delivered the knockout punch of the inning with a two-run double, stretching the Mariners’ lead to 11-1.

It wasn’t just that the Mariners scored, it was how they scored, aggressive baserunning, clutch hits, and walks that piled up as Sacramento’s pitchers struggled to find the strike zone. By the end of the third, the game was functionally over.

Sacramento’s offense, meanwhile, was almost invisible. Strikeouts came in waves, with Shea Langeliers, Tyler Soderstrom, and Darell Hernaiz combining for ten on the afternoon. Brent Rooker, the team’s most consistent power threat this year, went hitless with a pair of strikeouts.

The A’s lineup often looked overmatched by Mariners starter Logan Gilbert, who racked up nine strikeouts over six innings and allowed just one earned run, the Wilson homer in the second.

The only offensive spark came late, long after the Mariners had eased off the gas. In the seventh, Sacramento managed to string together a mini-rally when Wilson singled and JJ Bleday followed with another knock.

Willie MacIver drove in a run with a base hit, and after a hit-by-pitch brought in another, the A’s trimmed the deficit slightly. A Jacob Wilson RBI groundout in the eighth brought the final tally to 11-4, but by then, Seattle’s bullpen was simply managing traffic rather than facing any real pressure.

Wilson was a rare bright spot, finishing with two hits, including the home run and two RBI. MacIver also added an RBI single, but it was otherwise a quiet day for the Sacramento bats. The team finished with just eight hits compared to Seattle’s 11, and the strikeout total (16 in all) told the real story of how thoroughly the Mariners staff dominated.

Defensively, the A’s settled down after the early barrage, with Joey Estes providing three scoreless innings of relief to stop the bleeding. But by then, the damage had already been inflicted. Sacramento simply couldn’t match Seattle’s offensive firepower, and once Raleigh and Arozarena set the tone, the Mariners never looked back.

The Green and Gold now face the harsh reality of another lopsided loss, part of a season that’s been defined by inconsistency. Young players like Wilson, Butler, and Soderstrom continue to gain experience, but the gulf between rebuilding Sacramento and playoff-bound Seattle was on full display in this matchup.

For the Mariners, it was another showcase of why they’re feared in the American League down the stretch. For Sacramento, it was another reminder of just how long the road back to contention may be.

Starting pitchers for the Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal whose having a Cy Young type year (11-3 ERA 2.32) for the A’s RHP JT Ginn (2-5 ERA 4.95) first pitch at 7:05pm 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.

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s offense sputters Tigers Enns effective shutting down A’s hitting

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Sacramento A’s pitcher JT Ginn (70) deals to the Detroit Tigers line up in the bottom of the sixth inning on Thu Jun 26, 2025 at Comerica Park in Detroit (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Detroit Tigers starter Dietrich Enns threw five innings of shutout ball against the Sacramento A’s for a 8-0 win. It was Enns return to the big leagues on Thursday at Comerica Park.

#2 Enns now 1-0 allowed a base hit and two base on balls in his first game back since Sep 24, 2021 when he pitched two shutout innings against the Miami Marlins when he was with the Tampa Bay Rays.

#3 A’s pitcher Jeffrey Springs now 5-6 had a tough afternoon surrendering three runs and five hits, two walks in five innings of work. As the Tigers demolished A’s pitching.

#4 The closest the A’s came to scoring was when they had runners at first and second in the top of the third with one down. Enns got Jacob Wilson to fly to right and Brent Rooker hit into a double play.

#5 The A’s are off to the Bronx and the New York Yankees on Friday for the first of three games. Starting pitcher for Sacramento RHP Mitch Spence (2-2 ERA 3.84) for New York RHP Will Warren (4-4 ERA 4.56) first pitch 4:05pm PDT.

Jeremiah Salmonson is a Sacramento A’s beat writer 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. 

Sacramento A’s game wrap: Detroit slams the door on the Green and Gold 8-0

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Detroit Tigers Zack McKinstry (39) slid safely into second base under Sacramento A’s second baseman Luis Urias (17) in the bottom of the sixth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thu Jun 26, 2025 (AP News photo)

Detroit Slams the Door on the Green and Gold
By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics trudged through a long, lifeless afternoon at Comerica Park, managing just four hits and zero runs in a shutout loss to the Detroit Tigers, who capitalized on timely hits and crisp execution to walk away with an 8-0 victory on Thursday.

From the opening pitch, Detroit’s approach was surgical, while Sacramento’s lineup never found a pulse. The Tigers didn’t waste time either. Spencer Torkelson launched a solo homer in the second inning to open the scoring, and that early shot would hold up as the winning run in what quickly became a lopsided affair.

The Athletics’ best shot at producing offense came in the third, when Max Schuemann singled and swiped second before advancing to third on a deep flyout. But Brent Rooker followed that by grounding into an inning-ending double play, a cruel turning point that deflated any early momentum.

That twin killing wasn’t an outlier either. Rooker hit into another double play in the sixth, one of three the A’s grounded into on the day. Sacramento simply could not string together anything remotely threatening, and that futility was stacked up by nine quick outs from their top three hitters, who went a combined 0 for 12.

On the flip side, Detroit’s bats came alive in key spots. Jahmai Jones delivered the knockout punch early with a two-run double in the third. Later, Gleyber Torres continued the Tigers’ damage parade with a two-run homer in the seventh that pushed the lead to five to zero.

By the time Zach McKinstry tripled in two more in the eighth and Jake Rogers tacked on a sac fly, the damage was beyond repair. McKinstry was a thorn in the A’s side all day, racking up three hits, driving in two, and adding a stolen base just for good measure.

Defensively, the Green and Gold added to their own misery with an error in the sixth that nearly allowed another run to score before a strong relay nailed the runner at home.

But the lone highlight of the day for Sacramento may have been that single defensive stand because there was nothing else worth circling. Even the pinch-hitters offered no spark. Lawrence Butler and Tyler Soderstrom, sent up late in the game to inject life into a stagnant offense, went down quietly like the rest of the lineup.

On the mound, the A’s staff wasn’t particularly poor, but the Tigers were opportunistic. Starter Jeffrey Springs allowed three runs across three innings, and J.T. Ginn gave up Torres’ home run in relief. T.J. McFarland, tasked with mopping up, was shelled in the eighth as the Tigers broke the game wide open.

The A’s have once again dropped a game in which their game of play has looked more like a ghost than a threat. Even while showing signs of life here and there, they go cold quickly, a trend that has defined much of their season. 

If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the team’s young core continues to get big-league reps, needless to say, in frustrating fashion. But moral victories don’t show up in the standings, and on this afternoon, the Athletics were simply overmatched and outplayed in every phase. 

Now it’s a quick flight up the coast to take on the Bronx Bombers Friday at 4:05pm. Starting pitcher for Sacramento RHP Mitch Spence (2-2 ERA 3.84) for New York RHP Will Warren (4-4 ERA 4.56) first pitch 4:05pm 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. 

Kurtz Blasts Tigers as A’s Put the Brake on Skid in 3-0 shutout

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Willie MacIver (65) congratulates Sacramento A’s pitcher Jacob Lopez (57) after the last out of the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wed Jun 25, 2025 (AP News photo)

Kurtz Blasts Tigers as A’s Put the Brake on Skid in 3-0 shutout
By Mauricio Segura

Nick Kurtz’s power surge couldn’t have come at a better time for the Athletics. The 22-year-old slugger jolted Comerica Park with a three-run homer in the third inning Wednesday night, sending the Green and Gold to a 3-0 victory over the Tigers and snapping a three-game losing streak.

It was Kurtz’s 11th home run of the season, and perhaps his most impactful yet, handing Sacramento their first win on this nine-game road trip and some desperately needed momentum at the season’s halfway mark.

Kurtz’s blast wasn’t just timely, it was efficient. Following back-to-back walks to Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker, he launched a 2-0 fastball to straightaway center, leaving no doubt as it cleared the wall and put the A’s on top. That single swing accounted for all the offense in a game that otherwise showcased crisp defense and some much-needed stinginess from the A’s bullpen.

Starter Jacob Lopez continued his quiet rise, blanking Detroit across five innings and scattering just four hits while notching five K’s. Lopez has now allowed just two earned runs in his last 18 innings, extending his most consistent stretch since joining the rotation. The bullpen held strong behind him for once, capped off by Mason Miller’s electric ninth for his 15th save, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts and touching 102 mph on the radar gun.

The A’s, now 33-49, still sit at the bottom of the AL West, but Wednesday’s win offered a reminder of the young talent percolating through the roster. Kurtz has now homered in five of his last ten games, and Rooker’s on-base streak reached 14. Lawrence Butler added his 12th stolen base and contributed a walk in a performance that highlighted the green and gold’s patience at the plate.

The victory also helped stop a troubling trend. Entering Wednesday, the A’s had dropped five of their last seven games. But the combination of selective hitting, clutch power, and bullpen shutdown work offered a rare clean performance. In fact, this marked only the fourth time all year the A’s shut out an opponent. Knock on wood it continues.

Detroit, meanwhile, wasted a solid start from Jack Flaherty, who struck out six across six innings but paid dearly for his one mistake to Kurtz. The Tigers managed just six baserunners all night, and none of them got past second base. Comerica Park fell quiet as A’s defenders made quick work of routine fly balls and grounders, helping the A’s log their 56th all-time win in Comerica Park.

As the A’s prepare to face Detroit again Thursday, LHP Jeffrey Springs (6-5 ERA 6.24) is slated to take the mound against Tigers starter Dietrich Ennis (0-0 ERA 0.00) first pitch 1:10pm 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. 

Athletics podcast Michael Roberson: A’s get clobbered by Tigers 11-4 at Comerica

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Sacramento A’s manager Mark Kotsay heads back to the dugout in the eighth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Tue Jun 24, 2025 (AP News photo)

Athletics podcast Michael Roberson:

#1 Detroit Tigers Dilon Dingler hit a three run home run and got help from Kerry Carpenter who also belted a two home run as the Tigers handled the Sacramento A’s 11-4 at Comerica Park in Detroit on Tuesday night.

#2 The Tigers Riley Greene had a big night with four hits, a double, two RBIs and scored two runs. Wenceel Perez got two hits for two RBIs.

#3 The Tigers starter Tarik Skubal improved his record to 9-2 allowing four runs, six hits, and eight strikeouts in six innings pitched and he got lots of run support and has the longest win streak for pitchers in MLB.

#4 Keys for the A’s Brent Rooker and Denzel Clarke both slugged two run home runs in the first and second innings respectively. It wasn’t enough as the A’s needed a lot more offense than that to get back into this game losing by eight runs.

#5 A’s and Tigers get after it Wednesday night at Comerica. Starting pitcher for Sacramento LHP Jacob Lopez (1-4 ERA 4.25) for Detroit RHP Jack Flaherty (5-8 ERA 4.83) first pitch 3:40pm PDT

Michael Roberson is a MLB podcast contributor 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

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Sacramento A’s game wrap: Rooker’s Firepower Fizzles as A’s Bullpen Gets Burned Again in Detroit 11-4

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Detroit Tigers’ Gleyber Torres, left, scores around Athletics catcher Austin Wynns, right, in the eighth inning during a baseball game, Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
 (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Rooker’s Firepower Fizzles as A’s Bullpen Gets Burned Again in Detroit 11-4

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics came out swinging Tuesday night, blasting two home runs in the first two innings and chasing Tarik Skubal from the game after six. But once the Detroit Tigers got into the A’s bullpen, it was lights out for the A’s in an 11–4 loss at Comerica Park, their third straight defeat.

Things started with a bang. After a weather delay, Jacob Wilson drew a leadoff walk and Brent Rooker wasted no time launching his 16th homer of the year, a two-run shot to left that put the A’s up early.

Rooker has been red hot, slashing .345 over his last 30 games, and continued to show why he’s been the engine of Sactown’s offense.

In the second, Tyler Soderstrom singled, and Denzel Clarke followed with a towering two-run blast to center, the second homer of his young career. That made it 4-2, reclaiming the lead after Kerry Carpenter had tied it with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first off Luis Severino.

Severino was looking to improve his impressive road ERA, a sparkling 0.93 entering the game, and for a few innings, he was in control. But the third inning unraveled quickly. Gleyber Torres singled, Riley Greene doubled, and Wenceel Pérez cashed them both in with a two-run double to tie the game at four.

After a hit-by-pitch and a popout, Dillon Dingler unloaded on a three-run homer to left center, flipping the game on its head. The Tigers led 7-4, and Severino’s night was done after five innings and 97 pitches. It marked the eighth time in 17 starts he had surrendered at least four earned runs.

The A’s offense had chances, stringing together ten hits overall, but couldn’t find the knock needed to capitalize. They were thrown out on the bases twice in the seventh, first Soderstrom, then Wilson, each erased trying to stretch singles into doubles thanks to pinpoint throws from Pérez and Javier Báez. Sacramento’s last real threat came and went without a run.

Detroit, on the other hand, didn’t slow down. After knocking Severino out, they took full advantage of the green and gold’s weary bullpen. Hogan Harris gave up two in the seventh, aided by a throwing error from Soderstrom, and then T.J. McFarland gave up two more in the eighth as the Tigers padded their lead to 11-4.

Riley Greene had a big night, going 4-for-5 with a pair of RBI and raising his average to .321. Pérez, Dingler, and McKinstry each drove in multiple runs in a Tigers lineup that punished every A’s mistake.

The A’s bullpen ERA ticked up yet again. After briefly stabilizing last week, they now own a 5.94 ERA, second worst in the majors, and are on pace to set franchise records for both home runs allowed and blown saves.

The A’s are now 4-24 when out-homered, and with Tuesday’s long ball tally at three for Detroit and two for Sac, that trend continued. The loss drops the A’s to 32–49, firmly in last place in the AL West. Despite a strong June from their starters, the team’s Achilles heel remains their bullpen.

They have imploded way too often, and the defense, which committed its 50th error of the season tonight, continues to drop the ball (pun intended) in key moments.

Tuesday night was almost rained out, but unfortunately, the Sacramento bullpen was the one responsible for the deluge that followed. The A’s will try to regroup Wednesday with lefty Jacob Lopez (1-4 ERA 4.25) on the mound. The rookie has posted a 0.56 ERA over his last three starts and will face off against Jack Flaherty (5-8 ERA 4.83). First pitch is set for 3:40 PM 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

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⚡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.