Athletics’ Lawrence Butler (4) celebrates after hitting a three-run double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
A’s baseball podcast with Lincoln Juarez:
#1 The A’s swept the Twins Thursday afternoon in Minneapolis and got their second consecutive series win. Tyler Soderstrom stole the show going 4-for-4.
#2 The A’s outscored the Twins 18-8 in the series and the offense has stayed hot. Yet again we see them putting up big numbers.
#3 Nick Kurtz went 2-for-4 Thursday with a homer. We know how much you love to talk about him, good to see him still swinging the bat well.
#4 The A’s have the 14th best record since the All-Star break at 18-13. What’s been the key to the team’s success the last month?
#5 Looking ahead, the A’s match up against the Mariners for three games this Friday and the weekend, it seems like a good opportunity for them to play spoiler. The A’s will start RHP Luis Morales (1-0 ERA 1.86) the M’s have not announced a starter as of 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.
Minnesota Twins Kody Clemens (18) slid into the tag out by Sacramento A’s catcher Willie MacIver (left) in the bottom of the fourth inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on Thu Aug 21, 2025 (AP News photo)
Rookies and Redemption Fuel Sacramento in 8-3 Rout Over Minnesota
By Mauricio Segura
In a ballpark where the Twins typically dance to their own beat, it was the Sacramento Athletics who brought the bass drum and snare roll to Target Field Wednesday afternoon, hammering Minnesota 8–3 in a statement win defined by clutch hitting, patient at-bats, and a power display from a blossoming rookie.
Sacramento’s explosive second inning looked like something out of a hitting clinic, complete with base-to-base fundamentals and just enough chaos to unsettle starter José Ureña. After a one-out hit-by-pitch and a couple of timely singles, the Athletics loaded the bases and broke the game open.
Nick Kurtz, the young first baseman showing flashes of future All-Star credentials, drew a composed walk to push runners around. Then Lawrence Butler doubled home three, Brent Rooker doubled home another, and by the time the dust settled, it was 6–0 Green and Gold with the home crowd stunned into silence.
Ureña never found his footing again. His second inning unraveling included a wild pitch, two more walks, and a barrage of hard contact that left Minnesota scrambling for answers. He lasted only five innings, tagged for six earned runs.
His opposition, Jack Perkins, pitched four and two-thirds innings of gritty baseball. While he flirted with danger in the fourth when the Twins loaded the bases with no outs, a bizarre force-out at home and alert defense limited the damage to just two runs.
Despite a late rally attempt, Minnesota never closed the gap to within striking distance. Sacramento’s bats kept breathing in the middle innings. Kurtz, making good on his second-inning RBI walk, delivered a solo shot to dead center in the sixth off reliever Michael Tonkin.
It was Kurtz’s 26th homer of the season and a no-doubt blast that seemed to symbolize the Athletics’ intent: a team in rebuild mode that’s no longer waiting around to be competitive.
Tyler Soderstrom, who manned left field, also had himself a day at the plate, collecting three hits including a double and two sharply-hit singles. He reached base four times, consistently applying pressure and pushing the pace offensively. It’s becoming more apparent that Soderstrom, still only 23, is growing into the kind of versatile player Sacramento can lean on both now and in the years ahead.
Ben Bowden, Osvaldo Bido, and the rest of Sacramento’s bullpen picked up where Perkins left off. After allowing a run in the fourth, they shut the door across the next five frames, giving up just three hits combined. Minnesota managed a final gasp in the ninth when Royce Lewis doubled in Kody Clemens, but it was far too little too late.
While Butler’s bases-clearing double was the highlight reel moment, Sacramento’s offense functioned like a well-tuned orchestra. Nine hits scattered across the lineup. Seven different players reached base. And the A’s demonstrated not just power but a patient eye, drawing five walks to Minnesota’s four.
Max Schuemann added an RBI single in the seventh to make it 8–2, while catcher Willie MacIver, despite finishing hitless, contributed behind the plate with steady game-calling and a throw that cut down a runner at home in the fourth.
Minnesota’s promising young trio of Buxton, Larnach, and Lee were mostly neutralized. Buxton went 0-for-4, lining out twice to center fielder Lawrence Butler who covered a lot of ground and made multiple strong reads. Larnach did double in the fourth and score, but it wasn’t enough to change the momentum. Meanwhile, James Outman struck out three times in the loss and left runners stranded in key moments.
Managerial decisions, particularly the timing of Minnesota’s pitching changes, could be questioned in hindsight. Ureña was allowed to face one batter too many during Sacramento’s second-inning barrage, and by the time Tonkin entered in the sixth, the game was largely out of reach.
It was a win that reminded fans and pundits alike that the Athletics, though relocated and retooled, aren’t merely a placeholder franchise. They’re young, they’re scrappy, and as they proved Wednesday, they’re capable of outplaying anyone when things click. With a new identity in Sacramento and a clubhouse built on grit, the Green and Gold might just be laying the groundwork for something special.
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 catcher Shea Langeliers (23) celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the 10th inning of a baseball game in Minneapolis, Minn., on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:
#1 The Sacramento A’s Shea Langeliers belted his 28 home run of the season and the A’s defeated the Minnesota Twins 4-2 at Target Field on Wednesday night.
#2 Langeliers home run was a 401 foot rocket to right center that came off Twins pitcher Genesis Cabrera who dropped his record to 0-1. Ghost runner Nick Kurtz scored ahead of Langeliers.
#3 The A’s get a two run win but scored only once in nine tries with runners in scoring position.
#4 Langeliers hitting 16 of home runs out of 28 home runs in the second half since All Star break.
#5 Sacramento A’s RHP Jack Perkins (2-2, 4.28 ERA) will start for the Athletics on Thursday opposite the Minnesota Twins RHP José Ureña (0-1, 4.06).
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’ catcher Shea Langeliers (23) tags out Minnesota Twins’ James Outman (43) in the third inning of a baseball game at Target Field in Minneapolis, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Langeliers Powers Athletics Past Twins in Extra-Inning Thriller
By Mauricio Segura
The Sacramento Athletics had to sweat it out under the Minnesota lights, but a timely swing from Shea Langeliers ensured the Green and Gold walked away with another road victory.
The game featured stellar pitching, clutch defensive plays, and more than a few wasted chances, it was Langeliers’ bat that made the ultimate difference, blasting a two-run homer in the tenth inning to seal a 4-2 win over the Twins at Target Field on Tuesday night.
The evening started quietly, almost deceptively so. Sacramento went down in order in the top of the first as Minnesota starter Bailey Ober looked sharp, but rookie Tyler Soderstrom quickly disrupted that narrative in the second. He ripped a leadoff double to center, then came around to score on Darell Hernaiz’s sacrifice fly. The early run staked the Athletics to a 1-0 lead and gave starter J.T. Ginn a cushion to work with.
Ginn, who has shown flashes of dominance in his young career, kept the Twins at bay through the first two innings, striking out three and relying on his defense to handle sharp grounders. He wasn’t overpowering, but he was efficient, forcing Minnesota into easy outs while allowing his teammates time to add on.
That insurance came in the fourth when Soderstrom struck again, launching a solo homer to dead center to make it 2-0. For a moment, it seemed the Athletics had the right formula: score just enough and let their arms do the rest.
The Twins, though, found their spark in the fifth. James Outman doubled, and with two outs, Trevor Larnach lined a single to left that plated Minnesota’s first run. Two batters later, Brooks Lee laced another double to tie things up at 2-2. The inning marked the end of Ginn’s night, as manager Mark Kotsay turned to the bullpen to preserve the tie.
From that point, the game became a battle of nerves and relievers. Sacramento had its chances, particularly in the eighth when a pinch-hit single from Carlos Cortes and a passed ball put the go-ahead run in scoring position.
But with the bases loaded, Colby Thomas went down swinging to strand the rally. Minnesota threatened in its half of the frame, but Colby Thomas redeemed himself with a pair of running catches in center that kept the score knotted.
Sacramento again seemed poised to break through in the ninth when Hernaiz doubled to lead off, only to watch the next three hitters go down meekly. The Twins had their moment too, putting runners on the corners with two outs, but reliever Michael Kelly induced a deep fly ball from Austin Martin that died just shy of the wall in right. Both sides had flirted with a win in regulation, but neither could close it out.
That set the stage for Langeliers in the tenth. With Nick Kurtz placed at second under extra-inning rules, Langeliers wasted no time. On a 1-0 pitch from Minnesota reliever Brooks Kriske, the catcher unleashed a towering drive to right-center, his 28th homer of the season.
The Athletics dugout erupted as the ball cleared the wall, a mix of relief and celebration, knowing they had finally landed the decisive blow. The Green and Gold added no further damage, but the 4-2 lead was all they needed.
Tyler Ferguson entered for the bottom half, inheriting the placed runner at second. The Twins tried to rally, moving Austin Martin to third on a lineout, but Ferguson buckled down. He coaxed a pop-up from Royce Lewis, issued a walk, and then slammed the door with a routine groundout to second to end the contest.
Soderstrom and Langeliers carried the bats, combining for three extra-base hits, three runs scored, and all four RBIs. On the pitching side, the Athletics bullpen was resilient, stringing together 5.1 shutout innings after Ginn exited. Sean Newcomb, Elvis Alvarado, Hogan Harris, Kelly, and Ferguson all contributed to silencing a Minnesota lineup that had multiple opportunities but failed to deliver the knockout punch.
For Sacramento, the win was more than just another tally in the standings. It was a showcase of timely hitting, defensive grit, and bullpen depth, the kind of ingredients any contender needs in late summer.
While the Athletics still have plenty of work to do in their push to remain relevant, nights like this are the kind that build confidence. Minnesota, meanwhile, will be left sulking its missed chances, going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and leaving nine men on base.
When the dust settled, it was Langeliers’ swing that stood above the rest, a reminder that sometimes one big hit is enough to tilt an entire game. For the Athletics, it came at just the right time.
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 (23) runs the bases after hitting his 27th home run against the Minnesota Twins in the top of the third inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on Tue Aug 19, 2025 (AP News photo)
The Athletics danced into Minneapolis with a 6–3 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field Tuesday night at Target Field. The win marked the A’s 57th of the season, extending a glimmer of hope amid a broadly disappointing season.
Shea Langeliers delivered a two run homer in the third inning, his 27th of the season, which not only handed Sacramento the lead but also further fueled his mammoth post–All-Star Break surge that is turning heads across the league.
Meanwhile, Tyler Soderstrom proved his bat remains red hot, stretching his hitting streak to 17 straight games with a run scored on Brett Harris’s sacrifice fly in the fourth. Oakland’s offense continued to roll in the fourth, capitalizing on an error and sustained pressure.
Harris, Luis Urías, and Nick Kurtz each delivered key RBIs, building a commanding 5–1 cushion and showcasing the depth and resilience of this squad. Though the Twins responded with solo homers from Brooks Lee and Ryan Jeffers, trimming the deficit to 5–3, the Athletics buried the rally in the sixth when Harris came through again with another RBI single.
Though the spotlight shone on the offense, lefty Jacob Lopez earned his share of applause too, working six innings of four hit, two earned run ball, striking out eight, and commandeering the win (now 7–6 on the season). He handed the game over to the bullpen, where Justin Sterner tossed two scoreless innings and Hogan Harris closed the door with his first career save, completing a perfect ninth.
For the Twins, Joe Ryan suffered a harsh night, surrendering five runs (two earned) over four innings and seeing his record slip to 12–6. Even so, contributors like Wallner, Lee, Jeffers, and base running threats kept the contest alive, though ultimately the comeback fell short.
What began as a routine summer road game morphed into a tight and electrifying midweek duel. The A’s now turn their attention to game two of the series, set for Wednesday, with rookie right hander JT Ginn taking the mound for the A’s and Bailey Ober going for Minnesota.
Ginn has battled through recent struggles, 12 earned runs over his last 11 and two thirds innings, but the A’s faithful will be hoping Tuesday night’s win serves as a pivot point for both the rookie and the team.
All told, what makes this victory so fun and revealing for fans is how it encapsulates everything about the 2025 Athletics: youthful zeal, flashes of pop, gritty pitching, and a bullpen that can lock things down on the road.
A’s and Twins continue the series on Wednesday at 4:40pm PT first pitch at Target Field in Minneapolis. Starting pitcher for the A’s JT Ginn (2-5 ERA 5.04) for the Twins Bailey Ober (5-7 ERA 5.17).
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 Jeffery Springs throws against the Los Angeles Angels at Sutter Health Field at West Sacramento on Sun Aug 17, 2025 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:
#1 Jeffrey Springs wasn’t the sharpest on Sunday and it cost the A’s as the Angels downed the A’s late, 11-5.
#2 Springs was getting hit around early in the game while doing his best to limit the damage. Springs was able to go four and two-thirds innings while giving up five runs (all earned) on eight hits during his outing. Springs struck out five Angels and walked three in the game.
#3 Mark Kotsay reflected after the game on what he saw from Springs. “I thought he settled in nicely and had a chance to get out of that game with five innings pitched, three runs. Moore hits a ball that’s off the plate. It was a good pitch. Sometimes you make a good pitch and the hit finds a spot in the field where he gets a hit. Ultimately I thought he gave us a good start.”
#4 The A’s bullpen stepped up in a big way again on Sunday, something that has become commonplace for the staff as of late. However, a late-inning collapse of Michael Kelly and Ben Bowden did the A’s in.
#5 Tuesday, the A’s and Twins are slated to begin at 4:40 PM PST at Target Field in Minneapolis. Jacob Lopez (6-6, 3.30 ERA) is set to go for the A’s as the Twins will counter with Joe Ryan (12-5, 2.72 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.
Denzel Clarke made an incredible catch in deep left center field as he crashed into the wall on Friday night. (Photo: Athletics on X)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
WEST SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Athletics were back in action on Friday night after snapping their nine-game losing streak the Thursday against the Twins. Looking to build a streak, the A’s defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 in the first of a three-game series at Sutter Health Park.
JP Sears started the game for the A’s and pitched well. He didn’t have his dominant stuff on Friday, but that didn’t stop him from turning in a solid outing. Sears went five innings, allowing four runs on four hits while striking out three Baltimore hitters. He was a bit off with his command, walking three.
In relief, Grant Holman came in and pitched a scoreless sixth inning while striking out two. T.J. McFarland followed Holman and delivered a clean seventh as the A’s held onto a 5-4 lead. In the eighth, Tyler Ferguson took over and was only able to record one out, giving up a hit and two walks. Mark Kotsay had seen enough and went to his flamethrower, Mason Miller, to finish off the eighth inning. Miller came in and struck out the final two batters with the bases loaded to keep the A’s lead intact heading to the ninth. In the ninth, Mason Miller was as advertised. Miller picked up where he left off by striking out one and pitching a clean inning other than a walk. The A’s defeated the Orioles 5-4.
The A’s offense came early in the game as they scored four runs in the third inning and added a fifth run in the fifth. Lawrence Butler had an RBI double, Jacob Wilson an RBI single, and Tyler Soderstrom an RBI groundout in the A’s four-run third. In the fifth, the A’s run came thanks to a Brent Rooker RBI single.
With the win, the A’s improved to 25-40 on the season and have won two in a row for the first time in a month.
The A’s will take on the Orioles and look for a series win on Saturday at 7:05 PM PST at Sutter Health Park. The A’s will send Luis Severino to the hill (1-5, 4.54 ERA), countered by Baltimore’s Charlie Morton (2-7, 6.20 ERA).
Note of the day: I know I talk about A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson a lot in my columns. However, whatever praise and attention I bring to him isn’t nearly enough for what he deserves. Jacob is on an absolute terror. After Friday, Wilson is now hitting .369 on the season with eight home runs. He has also had 11 three-hit games this season— the most in MLB. Wilson is proving day in and day out that he is the best big league shortstop in the game, and it’s only his rookie season.
Sacramento A’s Tyler Soderstrom circles the bases after hitting a two run home run in the bottom of the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Thu Jun 6, 2025 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:
#1 After losing nine games in a row it’s been awhile but the Sacramento A’s have overcome once again in a big way winning with a vengeance over the Minnesota Twins 14-3 on Thursday afternoon. How important was this win for the A’s in snapping their nine game losing streak.
#2 The A’s Tyler Soderstrom got hold of a pitch for a grand slammer and later hit off a two run homer. The A’s Max Muncy ripped a three run homer in the first inning to get things started for the A’s.
#3 Jacob Wilson got a home run before Soderstrom’s home run, Brent Rooker got three hits, three RBIs, and scored three times.
#4 A’s starter Mitch Spence now 2-1 surrendered a run and three hits in five innings of work for the A’s.
#5 The Baltimore Orioles and A’s open up a three game series on Friday night at Sutter Health. Starting pitcher for the O’s RHP Dean Kremer (5-5 ERA 4.70) for the A’s Mark Kotsay has not announced a starter yet.
Former Cincinnati Red Pete Rose jumps on home plate to score the winning run against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the tenth inning at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati on April 18, 1985. Rose lifetime banned was lifted by Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred. (AP News photo)
Headline Sports podcast Jessica Kwong:
#1 President Trump’s support of Pete Rose to get off the lifetime banned list was a factored that influenced Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to remove Rose from the permanent ban list. This could be a pathway for Rose to get election in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Manfred also took former Chicago White Sox Shoeless Joe Jackson off the lifetime ban list and Jackson has a shot at getting into the Hall.
#2 The Boston Red Sox Ceddanne Rafaela hit the shortest walk off home run since Statcast was keeping track since 2015. The home run went just 308 feet just 24 feet short of the shortest homer of all time.
#3 Jessica, game 1 of the NBA Finals gets underway on Thursday night between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma Thunder at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The Thunder are favorites but the Pacers are coming off a successful series against the New York Knicks how do you see this match up.
#4 The NHL Finals are underway between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. Game 1 was won by Edmonton on Wednesday night 4-3 the game went into overtime and this is a rematch from last season if game 1 is an indicator of what’s to come for the rest of the series this is going to be another back and forth set of contests.
#5 Jessica what’s wrong with the Sacramento A’s they have now lost their 19th out of their last 20 games. Losing on Wednesday to the Minnesota Twins 6-1 in a three game sweep. The A’s have now lost nine straight games.
Sacramento A’s outfielder Denzel Clarke (1) reaches up to make the catch as the A’s would wind up losing their eighth straight loss against the Minnesota Twins at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Tue Jun 3, 2025 (Oakland A’s X photo)
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Sutter Health Park
West Sacramento, California
Minnesota Twins 10 (33-27)
Sacramento Athletics 3 (23-39)
Win: Pablo Lopez (5-3)
Loss: Jacob Lopez (0-4)
Time: 3:01
Attendance: 8,487
By Stephen Ruderman
WEST SACRAMENTO–The A’s have now lost 19 of their last 20, as the Twins put the game away with a pair of four-run innings late on Tuesday night, and won by a final of 10-3 at Sutter Health Park home of the Swinging A’s.
Let’s be honest: this series is a completely-lopsided matchup on paper. The Twins have been one of the hottest teams in Baseball over the last month. The A’s? Well, they came into this series having lost 17 of their previous 18 games. It then became 18 out of 19 when the Twins took the series opener 10-4 last night.
Mark Kotsay turned to Grant Holman to be the opener Tuesday night, and Holman did his job. He started the game nicely with a one two three top of the first inning, and then he was lifted with one out in the top of the second after allowing a walk and a base-hit. Jacob Lopez then came in and retired the next two to end the inning.
The A’s got to work against Twins’ starter Pablo Lopez in the bottom of the first. Lawrence Butler led off the inning with a double, and Brent Rooker got him in with a base-hit the other way to right field. The A’s had all the momentum they needed, but Lopez settled down and kept the damage to just a run.
Lopez threw a scoreless bottom of the second, but the A’s were able to manufacture another run in the bottom of the third. Tyler Soderstrom hit a triple to left with one out, and Shane Langeliers got him in with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 2-0.
Will Castro put the Twins on the board with a home run to left with one out in the top of the fourth. Jacob Lopez pitched through the rest of the fourth, and he threw a one, two, three top of the fifth.
However, the Twins would take the lead with a pair of home runs off Jacob Lopez in the top of the sixth. Trevor Larnach led off the inning with a home run to the grass in right to tie it. Then two batters later, Castro gave the Twins the lead with his second home run of the night. This one was a line-drive home run to left that barely got out.
The Twins were not done yet. Brooks Lee reached on an infield hit with two outs, and then Royce Lewis walked. Kotsay then pulled Lopez for Osvaldo Bido, who walked Harrison Bader to load the bases. Byron Buxton then came up, and he lined a base-hit up the middle to knock in a pair. It ended up being a four-run top of the sixth for the Twins, who now held a 5-2 lead.
Pablo Lopez ended up going five innings for Minnesota, and Cole Sands was summoned for the bottom of the sixth. The A’s looked to respond, as Langeliers led off the inning with a double. The A’s were able to manufacture the run and get him in to make it 5-3.
However, the Twins would blow it open and put the game away with another four spot in the top of the seventh. Minnesota added one more in the top of the eighth to make it 10-3, and the A’s offense went down without a whimper.
Pablo Lopez got the win, and Jacob Lopez took the loss.
The A’s are now 23-39. Despite their halfway-decent start, the A’s have now lost 19 of their last 20, and they are suddenly on pace for their third-straight 100-loss season. They are on pace to go 60-102 to be exact.
The A’s will look to get a win Tuesday night against Twins starter Zebby Matthews (0-, 6.43 ERA) in the third game of the series Wednesday night. A’s manager Mark Kotsay has yet to announce his starter.
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