Tag: mlb

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.

Ramos and the Giants Come Alive In Ninth to Beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3

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San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos connects for a ninth inning two run home run at Wrigley Field in Chicago Cubs on Sun Aug 24, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

When it looked grim going into the ninth inning, the San Francisco Giants (63-68) came to life turning this game around beating the Milwaukee Brewers (81-50) 4-3 Sunday. Matt Chapman doubled, Luis Matos singled and Jung Hoo Lee walked to load the bases in the ninth inning.

Heliot Ramos who had been hitless Sunday until the top of the ninth inning really came through. Ramos singled both Chapman and Matos home to take the lead 4-3. Closer Ryan Walker finished off the Brewers and the Giants had one of their best series wins this season.

Game recap: The Giants got after it in the second inning taking a 2-0 lead. Matos homered to left center for two-runs with WIlmer Flores on first base. Matos has been instrumental the entire series hitting a couple of home runs in game one looking really good in his return to Milwaukee since signing with San Francisco in the last off-season as a free agent.

Milwaukee cut the Giants lead in half in the bottom of the second inning. Brandon Lockridge singled Christian Yelich home from second base and the Brewers trailed by a single run 2-1. Milwaukee tied up the game in the bottom of the third inning 2-2. The Brewers doubled and singled in the inning. Yelich who was having a great day singled Caleb Durbin home from second base for the tie.

The Brewers took the lead in the fifth inning when Caleb Durbin, who was also having a banner day, hit the Brewers first home run of the game for a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth inning there was a pitching change for San Francisco. Ray had gone five innings, allowing six hits, three runs, four walks and no strikeouts. Ray was relieved by Joel Peguero in his second appearance on the mound.

There had also been a pitching change for the Brewers in the sixth inning. Starter Chad Patrick went 5 1/3 innings allowing four hits, two runs, two walks and seven strikeouts before being relieved by Nick Mears. Both relief pitchers got their respective teams out of the sixth inning and this game went into the top of the seventh.

The Brewers relief pitcher Shelby Miller took over on the mound in the seventh inning getting out of the inning. The game had reached the seventh-inning stretch in a one-run game with Milwaukee hanging onto the lead 3-2.

Joel Peguero would pitch into the seventh inning. There was a pitching change with two outs in the inning. Matt Gage came in to face Christian Yelich looking for the third out. With the way that Yelich has been playing in this series it was imperative to get that third out. Yelich lined out on the first pitch and it was on to the eighth inning.

San Francisco was running out of outs but the good news was that they had the top of the order to start the eighth inning with Jung Hoo Lee the first at bat. Relief pitcher Abner Uribe got the Brewers out of the inning and San Francisco was down to their last three outs.

With two outs this game took a huge turn in favor of the Giants. Matt Chapman doubled, Luis Matos singled, Jung Hoo Lee walked and the bases were loaded with Heliot Ramos at the plate. He had been 0-4 so far in the game but he connected when it really counted for a single and two runs scored for a 4-3 San Francisco lead going into the bottom of the ninth inning.

Giants Relief pitcher Ryan Walker came in to try and close out this game. With two outs, the Brewers were down to their last out. Sal Frelick singled when he was down to his final strike. Anthony Ziegler came to the plate and was down to his final strike. Ziegler struck out and this was one to celebrate for San Francisco taking a series from the best team in baseball.

The Giants fought back late in the game but came from behind to win not only the game but the series from the best team in baseball. They had an outstanding ninth inning scoring the tying run and the go-ahead run for a 4-3 lead that was enough to take the series. It was great to see Chapman and Ramos instrumental in that ninth inning. It was a well-deserved win after playing a really competitive series especially after struggling lately.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon the Giants played the rubber game of their three game series with the Brewers. Prior to the start of the game, under sparkling blue skies the stadium honored the late great Mr. Baseball Bob Uecker who passed earlier this year at the ripe old age of 90.

The sell-out crowd came early for this celebration of life that included dignitaries from the world of baseball, family, friends as well as the 42,000 plus fans on hand today for this very special commemoration.

The Hall-of-Fame Broadcaster was publicly honored at the perfect venue in fact no other venue would have been appropriate for Uecker than a game day at the stadium. A whole lot went into this celebration combining total respect, humor, memories, highlighting his unparalleled love of the game of baseball. It was a fitting tribute to a man who loved his job and his sport and will forever be remembered by baseball fans around the globe.

When the festivities came to the end that no wanted to see game three get underway. This could have without doubt been an entire day of love, celebration and tribute to Mr. Baseball. He is with all of us in spirit as his beloved Brewers got down to the business of baseball this afternoon.

The Giants tied up the series Saturday in a blazing display of great offense, solid pitching from start to finish and clean defense beating the Brewers 7-1.

San Francisco will now travel home for a series with the Chicago Cubs that gets underway Tuesday night at Oracle Park. Justin Verlander will have another go looking for win number two. He has a 1-10 win/loss record and a 4.64 ERA. The Cubs will start Matthew Boyd who comes into the game with a 12-6 win/loss record and a 2.61 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 6:45 PM. The Giants are 6.5 game behind for the last Wild Card spot in the NL.

Sacramento A’s relocation podcast: Badain says Fisher has the money for construction for A’s Las Vegas park

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Sacramento A’s president Mark Badain says that 50 percent of the concrete has been poured into the A’s Las Vegas ballpark foundation and that the contractors will be building upwards sometime very soon (photo from Las Vegas Business Press)

Sacramento A’s relocation podcast:

#1 Sacramento A’s team president Mark Badain announced that the A’s have the funding to cover at least $2 billion for the construction costs for the A’s Vegas ballpark.

#2 A’s owner John Fisher had said before the costs for his share of the construction would run as high as $2 billion. There is no guaranteed maximum price that has been set as of yet.

#3 Badain said at the Las Vegas Stadium Authority that the A’s will have a budget and they will build on it. That Fisher’s word is he will have the financing in place for that dollar amount.

#4 It was also reported that there are at least 200 contractors on site and they are moving ahead with the construction of the stadium. Construction crews are working in the southeast side of Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana Ave. The crews have been at it since April. Almost 600 pilings are in the ground and there are multiple cranes that are on the site with concrete being poured.

#5 Badain said that 50 percent of the foundational work is done and that later he expects the concrete work to go vertical and that passerby can see the work over the ten foot wall on the 35 acre site that was the former home of the Tropicana Casino and Hotel.

Join Daniel Dullum for the A’s relocation podcasts Sundays 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. 

MLB The Show podcast Charlie O: Phils Wheeler recovery six to eight months blood cot surgery; Bucs Chandler shuts down Rockies in MLB debut; plus more

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Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler will be out from six to eight months recovering from should clot surgery in his throwing arm the Phillies announced on Sat Aug 23, 2025 (AP News photo)

MLB The Show podcast Charlie O:

#1 Philadlephia Phillies star pitcher Zack Wheeler underwent surgery this past week to have a blood clot removed from his throwing shoulder. Wheeler is expected to miss the remainder of the season and his recovery is expected to be six to eight months and is expected to return by opening day 2026.

#2 Bubba Chandler was all the rage at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Friday night as the 22 year old rookie pitched in his first big league game entering in the top of the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies. Chandler is a top prospect and came through in relief pitching four innings, not allowing a a run, two hits and striking out three.

#3 On Friday the Tampa Bay Rays Carson Williams hit a home run and was 2-4 with three RBIs in his big league debut on his second day in the show. Williams said in the Rays post game show, “It’s every kid’s dream, and it just got even better.”

#4 Former Oakland Athletic and New York Met pitcher Frankie Montas has been placed on the 15 day IL with a right elbow UCL injury on Friday. Montas so far is 3-2 ERA 6.28 in nine games and had started in seven games. The Mets are six games back in the NL East behind the Philadelphia Phillies.

#5 Friday the Sacramento A’s got close but not enough as they were edged out by the Seattle Mariners 3-2. The M’s Bryan Woo pitched effectively enough to keep the A’s in check going a strong seven innings allowing one hit, one earned run, and seven strikeouts. The A’s who had just swept the Minnesota Twins got cooled off by some good pitching in Seattle.

#6 The A’s came right back on Saturday to even the series with a 2-1 win behind the great pitching of starter Jefferey Springs who pitched 5.1 allowed two hits and one earned run.

Join Charlie O for MLB The Show podcast each Sunday 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: Langeliers Lifts Sacramento to 2-1 Extra Inning Thriller

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Sacramento A’s players are all about the congratulations after defeating the Seattle Mariners in ten innings at T Mobile Field in Seattle on Sat Aug 22, 2025 (AP News photo)

Langeliers Lifts Sacramento to 2-1 Extra Inning Thriller

By Mauricio Segura

For nine innings at T-Mobile Park, the Sacramento Athletics and the Seattle Mariners traded zeros like boxers circling one another, neither willing to blink. It was a heated contest where every pitch carried weight, every swing felt decisive, and both lineups discovered how elusive runs can be on a night dominated by pitching and defense. The A’s finally found daylight in the tenth, seizing a 2-1 victory that showcased grit more than fireworks.

Sacramento broke the stalemate first in the fourth inning when Jacob Wilson doubled to center and Darell Hernaiz followed with a line drive single to plate him. The early run gave Jeffrey Springs something to work with, and the left-hander responded by inducing weak contact and letting his defense shine behind him.

Tyler Soderstrom was particularly steady in left field, robbing Julio Rodríguez of sharp contact and turning potential damage into outs. But Seattle wasn’t about to go quietly. Randy Arozarena, who had been kept quiet in his first two trips, tied the game with a solo blast in the sixth, a reminder that one mistake can change everything.

From that point, the bullpens traded zeroes with an almost surgical precision. Michael Kelly, Sean Newcomb, and Tyler Ferguson combined for scoreless relief, striking out five over three innings. Seattle’s arms were equally stubborn, with George Kirby and his successors silencing Sacramento bats just enough to force the game beyond regulation.

By the ninth, both clubs were gasping for a breakthrough. The Athletics nearly broke through in the eighth after a leadoff walk, but a pair of pop-ups killed the chance. Seattle likewise threatened in the seventh, only to see Victor Robles stranded at second after swiping a bag.

It took the pressure-cooker rules of extra innings to finally crack the Mariners. Colby Thomas began the tenth on second base, and Brett Harris, fresh off the bench, executed a textbook sacrifice bunt to move him to third.

The Athletics had been searching all night for one swing with meaning, and Shea Langeliers delivered it, drilling a sharp double down the right-field line to bring Thomas home. The dugout erupted, finally exhaling after so many squandered chances. Sacramento added baserunners but couldn’t stretch the lead further, leaving Seattle three outs to respond.

The Mariners threatened in the bottom half, putting runners aboard when Jorge Polanco walked and J.P. Crawford reached on a fielder’s choice. With the tying run at second and the winning run on base, Hogan Harris was called upon to clean up the mess.

He got exactly what the Athletics needed: a grounder to third from Arozarena, where Brett Harris calmly initiated the force at second to end it. The final out was less a roar than a sigh of relief, the kind of finish that underscored just how fragile the margin was all night.

Langeliers’ double will rightfully be remembered as the decisive swing, but this game belonged equally to the Athletics’ arms. Springs kept Seattle off balance, while the bullpen backed him with shutdown efficiency.

Wilson’s early knock and Hernaiz’s timely RBI set the table, and Harris’ sacrifice in extras proved just as critical as the double that followed. Baseball purists might call it a throwback game, on scoring, tight defense, and just enough offense to matter. For Sacramento, it was a statement win that showed this club can grind as hard as anyone when runs are scarce.

Starting pitchers for Sunday’s contest at T Mobile: For the A’s LHP Jacob Lopez (7-6 ERA 3.28) for the M’s RHP Logan Gilbert (3-5 ERA 3.85) first pitch at 1:10pm 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. 

Giants Offense Shines Beating Brewers 7-1

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb was dealing against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Park in Milwaukee on Sat Aug 22, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giant’s (61-68) bats were lit in their game two against the league leading Milwaukee Brewers (81-48). They finished the game with ten hits beating the Brewers soundly 7-1.

Solid pitching with some very productive offense was the perfect formula for a win Saturday. The highlight in the game was the three run home run off the bat of Casey Schmitt. Giant’s pitcher Spencer Bivens closed out the game beautifully.

Game recap: Milwaukee took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Caleb Durbin doubled Jake Bauers home. The Brewers took the 1-0 lead into the top of the sixth inning. Freddy Peralta had walked four runners in the opening innings but had allowed only a couple of singles through five innings. Logan Webb was having a solid game through five with one single two doubles and one walk. He gave up the one run in the bottom of the second inning.

The Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta went five innings only allowing two hits no runs but gave up four walks in the early innings. He was relieved by Grant Anderson who struggled in the sixth inning giving up three hits with one run scored. Milwaukee also had a couple of errors in the same inning which resulted in two runs scored. That was it for Anderson who was relieved by Carlos Rodriguez.

San Francisco starting pitcher Logan Webb went six innings allowing five hits but only the one run. He had two walks and five strikeouts. Webb was relieved by Joey Lucchesi in the seventh inning and Spencer Bivens pitched the eighth inning and closed out the ninth inning.

The San Francisco bats came alive in the sixth scoring three runs, with three hits and taking advantage of two very uncustomary Brewer errors. WIlly Adames was safe at first base on a Milwaukee throwing error.

Dominic Smith had a single advancing Adames to second.. Casey Schmitt doubled driving Adames home for the first San Francisco run of the game and it was a tie score 1-1. Luis Matos grounded into a fielder’s choice and Smith scored.

Casey Schmitt scored on another Milwaukee error taking a 3-1 lead. It had been a very productive inning for San Francisco and Milwaukee had given the Giants some help with the errors.

By the time the dust had settled in a wild seventh inning San Francisco had taken a 6-1 lead in another very productive inning. Rafael Devers singled, Dominic Smith doubled and Casey Schmitt capped it off with a home run to left center for three more runs taking a 6-1 lead.

Patrick Bailey singled Matt Chapman, who had walked, home for a 7-1 lead and San Francisco was hitting lights out. They had nine hits to the Brewers five. All of the Giant’s runs had come in the sixth and seventh innings.

San Francisco pitcher Spencer Bivens had some great stuff going tonight closing out the game with a ground out, strike out and a final ground out. San Francisco had the kind of game they would like to see more often. The final was 7-1 and this series was tied. The Giants had clean defense with no errors and some great offense.

Dominic Smith, Luis Matos, and Patrick Bailey had two hits apiece and Casey Schmitt also had two hits one of which was the three run home run. Some pretty good pitching, some great hitting finishing with ten hits resulted in a great win for San Francisco. taking some of the sting out of yesterday’s loss and tying up the series.

Game notes: After a heartbreaking loss in Friday’s game one the Giants were back on the field for game two against the league-leading Brewers. The Giants offense was just shy of hits after tying up the game 4-4 in the top of the ninth inning. The Brewers were down to their last out if a walk-off was in the cards. Well Milwaukee had a full deck thanks to William Contreras’ solo home run winning the game 5-4.

Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb went six innings allowed five hits, one earned run and struck out five. The Brewers starter Freddy Peralta five innings, allowed two hits, four walks and six strikeouts.

Sunday’s game three will decide the winner of this series. San Francisco will be looking for more of the winning offense they had in Saturday’s game. The Giants Robbie Ray will take the mound with a 10-6 win/loss record and a 2.85 ERA. The Brewers right now are undecided as to who will start Sunday’s game. First pitch is scheduled for 11:10 AM as San Francisco will be looking to win the rubber game.

A’s Ninth Inning Charge Stopped Short in Seattle 3-2

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Fans cheer as the solo home run ball from Seattle Mariners’ Jorge Polanco flies over the fence past Athletics right fielder JJ Bleday during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

A’s Ninth Inning Charge Stopped Short in Seattle 3-2
By Mauricio Segura

The Athletics opened their night at T-Mobile Park with a clean, heavy swing and a little electricity. Brent Rooker saw Bryan Woo’s early offering in the first and lined it into the left center seats for his 26th home run, a quick jolt that set the tone for a crisp, pitcher-forward game. The M’s edged the A’s 3-2 at T Mobile Field in Seattle.

Luis Morales met the moment early, rolling through the Mariners order with a mix of ground balls and harmless air, helped by clean reads from Lawrence Butler in center and JJ Bleday in right. Through four innings the Green and Gold carried a 1-0 lead that felt sturdy, the kind of narrow edge that rewards patience and punishes mistakes.

Seattle’s answer arrived in the fifth in the form of a veteran’s swing. Eugenio Suárez turned on a pitch and sent a liner over the left field wall for his 40th, a no-nonsense shot that reset the scoreboard and the mood. Morales limited the damage there, but Woo matched him and then some.

The Mariners right-hander ran seven innings with only the early Rooker blast on his ledger, living at the knees and inducing a string of routine outs as the middle innings tilted toward the home dugout. Oakland-area memories have taught A’s fans not to trust one-run cushions on the road, and the seventh confirmed the suspicion.

After Morales handed things to Elvis Alvarado, Julio Rodríguez bounced out to first and then the gates opened. Josh Naylor got a heater he could lift and sent his 16th out to right center for a 2-1 Seattle lead. Two batters later Jorge Polanco rode a fly ball to almost the same neighborhood for his 19th, and the inning that began with a tie ended with the Mariners up 3-1.

The A’s flirted with a counterpunch in the top half thanks to an error by second baseman Cole Young that put Tyler Soderstrom aboard, but a deep fly from Jacob Wilson died in center and Butler’s hard grounder turned into a 4-6-3 double play, the kind of two-step that drains a dugout.

Still, the A’s kept pressing. In the eighth, with two outs, Brett Harris gave way to pinch hitter Carlos Cortes, who sliced a sharp double into right to jolt the visitors, only for Gabe Speier to enter and end it with a strikeout. Justin Sterner returned a steady bottom of the eighth, aided by a successful challenge that flipped an out-call at first into a single for J.P. Crawford, only for Tyler Soderstrom to gun Crawford down trying for second. That throw mattered more than it looked in the moment because it kept the deficit at two and set the stage for a final act that had real weight.

Andrés Muñoz took the ball for the ninth, the building braced for velocity, and the A’s refused to blink. Shea Langeliers struck out to start the inning, but Rooker lined a single to left to restart the heartbeat. Soderstrom followed with a ground-ball single to left, Rooker eased into second, and the game tilted. Wilson then shot a grounder up the middle for another single, Rooker scored, and manager Mark Kotsay sent in Colby Thomas to run.

Butler showed patience and drew a walk to load the bases, one out, the tying run ninety feet away and the go-ahead run on second against Seattle’s closer. Darell Hernaiz lifted a fly to center that did not travel far enough to challenge Rodríguez, and Muñoz finally slammed the door with a strikeout of Bleday, his last fastball good enough to finish a 3-2 Mariners win that felt like it travelled the long way around to get there.

For the Sacramento A’s, the night carried both the promise and the frustration that define close losses on the road. Rooker’s bat remains a force, Soderstrom stacked quality at-bats, and Wilson delivered under pressure. Morales gave them the shape of a win through five and change, but two swings in the seventh turned the ledger. Woo earned the quiet star, scattering traffic and refusing to yield anything after the first inning. Seattle’s bullpen teased the ninth with doubt and then survived it, which is usually the difference between a good flight home and replaying every pitch while the cabin lights dim.

The A’s will point to the little margins. A double play in the seventh stopped a budding answer. A routine fly in the ninth kept a runner anchored at third. Three swings defined Seattle’s offense, and the final one belonged to Muñoz with the game on the line. It was a narrow loss and a useful snapshot of why margins matter, not a moral victory, just a reminder that the road from one run up to one run short can be a brutal statement in the show.

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. 

Willie Contreras Homers – Brewers Walk-Off Beating Giants 5-4

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San Francisco Giants Willy Adames connects for a top of the first inning home run against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Park in Milwaukee on Fri Aug 22, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (61-68) tied up the game in the ninth inning 4-4 in their matchup with the Milwaukee Brewers (80-48). It was just not enough. Willie Contreras hit a home run with two outs to lift the Brewers to their 81st win of the season for a 5-4 victory.

After fighting so hard it was heartbreaking for San Francisco when it really looked like extra innings. San Francisco hit three home runs in the game 1 from Luis Matos and Willie Adames had two long balls.

Game recap: One again the Giants took an early 2-0 lead much like in yesterday’s game. San Francisco struck in the first and second innings. Willy Adames got the team up on the scoreboard in the first inning hitting a solo home run to left.

In the second inning San Francisco hit a second home run off the bat of Luis Matos for a 2-0 lead. Starting pitcher for San Francisco Whisenhunt had three great innings. The first and second innings were three and out for the Giants.

He got out of the third inning giving up a double. He hit a bit of a wall in the bottom of the fourth inning giving up a couple of walks, a couple of wild pitches (one that brought in a Brewer run) a single and a double. He did go four innings, giving up two earned runs, two walks and one strikeout. He was relieved by Matt Gage going into the fifth inning with the game all tied up 2-2.

The bottom of the fourth inning was the turning point for Milwaukee. Sal Frelich doubled driving Christian Yelich home cutting the Giants lead in half.. The Brewers would tie up the game 2-2 in the same inning when Andrew Vaughn scored from third base on a wild Whisenhunt pitch.

Going into the sixth inning the only hits the Giants had so far in the game were the Willy Adames and Luis Matos home runs. San Francisco needed some base runners although they were handling the Brewers pretty well; Milwaukee only had four hits so far in the game.

With two outs and two runners on base the Giants had a great opportunity to do some damage. Casey Schmitt walked and with Wilmer Flores and Rafael Devers on base the bases were loaded. Jung Hoo Lee came to the plate looking to break this game wide open. It didn’t happen. Lee struck out leaving the bases loaded. An opportunity lost.

The two teams took the tie into the top of the seventh inning. After jumping out to take the lead in the early innings the Giants had really stalled out with only two hits in the game. The Brewers were not having a great game at the plate either with only four hits.

Milwaukee starting pitcher Jose Quintana went 5 1/3 innings allowing two hits, two runs, two walks and two strikeout in this closely contested game. It was just a matter of time before the Brewers got on track and it all came down in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Milwaukee scored two runs to take a 4-2 lead. Willie Contreras doubled Andruw Monasterio home for the first run of the inning. Andrew Vaughn grounded out allowing Brice Turang to score.

San Francisco had their third hit of the game in the top of the eighth inning. Adames hit his second home run of the game fighting to keep pace with the Brewers.

The Giants were down to their last three outs in the top of the ninth inning. Schmitt was first at bat and struck out. Lee grounded out and San Francisco was down to their last out. Luis Matos doubled and the Giants were back in business with the go-ahead run at the plate.

Dominic Smith singled and San Francisco had runners at first and third with Patrick Bailey at the plate. Bailey struck out but the Giants scored on a wild pitch to tie up the game 4-4. This game went into the bottom of the ninth and the Brewers had three at bats to walk this game off. A fly out and a ground out set the stage for a game winning Contreras home run. Milwaukee had their 81st win of the season 5-4.

After fighting back to tie the game it was another terrible loss for the Giants. They fought hard the entire game and came so close. They made the Brewers earn this win.

Game notes: The Giants opened a weekend series with Milwaukee in a weekend series. The Brewers are the best team in baseball right now and presented all kinds of problems for San Francisco. The Giants played this game in front of yet another packed house at American Family Field in Milwaukee.

San Francisco is coming off a losing series against the San Diego Padres got some better offense but lost by a run. They have struggled at the plate for a bit and they couldn’t turn it around. The Brewers just finished a four-game series with the Chicago Cubs splitting the series after winning games one and four.

With only 34 games left in the season and a half dozen teams in line vying for a wild card now is the time for San Francisco to turn their recent struggles around but opened the series with a loss to the Brewers on Friday night. Giants starter Carson Whisenhunt pitched four innings allowing four hits and two earned runs in the loss.

Game two in this series is slated for a 4:10 PM first pitch. Logan Webb will take the mound for the GIants with a 11-9 win/loss record and a 3.19 ERA. Freddy Peralta will start for Milwaukee with 15-5 win/loss record and a 2.78 ERA.

A’s Baseball Podcast Lincoln Juarez: A’s sweep Twins in Minnesota and win their second straight series

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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.

Lincoln Juarez does the Athletics podcasts each week 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. 

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Giants Looking for the next Barry Bonds?

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When the New York Yankees Aaron Judge was a free agent he passed on the San Francisco Giants and re upped with the Yankees shortly there after. (AP News photo)

Giants: Looking for the next Barry Bonds?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Over the last few years, the San Francisco Giants have attempted to sign some of the game’s biggest superstars, players who will truly bring fans to Oracle Park and, most importantly, lead the team to another World Series. No disrespect to Dominican-born Rafael Devers, who was acquired in a midseason trade from the Boston Red Sox; he is a very good player, but he is not in the same category as the ones you will see listed below.

Everybody will probably agree that the San Francisco Giants haven’t had a great player since Barry Bonds, a real superstar, who retired in 2007 after 22 years in the Major Leagues. No disrespect to Buster Posey, as good as he was, possibly Hall of Famer, but Bonds was in a much higher category of talent. As a business, baseball teams like to contract big stars.

The Giants signed future Hall of Fame pitcher Justin Verlander. It is good to have that talent; however, this should be Verlander’s last season with the Giants, and maybe his last season, period.

Verlander’s signing might have sold more tickets, because everybody wants to see successful players. However, with the Giants to this day, Justin Verlander is 1-10 with a 4.64 earned run average. Here is something that might surprise you: in World Series games, Verlander has a record of 1 win and 6 losses with a 4.64 earned run average.

Looking for that one big star, the Giants tried to sign these.

1-Aaron Judge.(No chance) He chose to stay with the Yankees, the team he had played for throughout his career. While the Giants made a strong offer, potentially matching the Padres’ offer of 10 years, $400 million, Judge’s preference was to remain in New York. Who can blame him?

The Yankees are the home of the sluggers and home to 27 World Series titles. When the Giants were trying to bring him to the Bay Area, I said it was never going to happen. He is a New York Yankee in the tradition of the great players like Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Maris, Berra, Jeter, etc. There was no reason he was coming to San Francisco (even though he was born 95 miles from San Francisco in Linden). California. However, in baseball and business, New York is New York.

2-Shohei Ohtani (No chance) The Giants said they were offering him a contract that was very similar to, if not identical to, the one he ultimately signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers (In the $700s million range). President of baseball operations, Farhan Zaidi, confirmed that they met with Ohtani and his representatives and were willing to match the Dodgers’ offer, including the deferred money, according to MLB.com.

Ultimately, Ohtani chose to sign with the Dodgers. Why? Said he preferred LA to SF. Note: ESPN reported that the Giants’ offer was identical to the one made by the Dodgers. Ohtani went Hollywood. I first met him and interviewed Ohtani “Showtime” as a rookie with the LA Angels in 2018 at Anaheim. Very smart and pleasant player.

3-Carlos Correa (Not meant to be). He had a deal with the Giants in place for a 13-year, $350 million contract, but it fell through due to concerns about a surgically repaired ankle, and the Giants stated that he had failed his physical.

However, the Correa story continued in 2025, as he had played for the Minnesota Twins and was currently with the Houston Astros, whom he had played for from 2012 to 2015, before joining the Twins. Carlos Correa, who is beloved in Houston, hit a home run in his first at-bat with the Houston Astros just days after being traded from Minnesota.

This Puerto Rican story is as long as his full legal name, which is Carlos Javier Correa Oppenheimer Jr., and yes, he has seen the movie.

4-Juan Soto (Never close) There were rumors that the Giants were interested in Juan Soto, a free agent, but they did not make a strong push for him. Although all roads ended with a group of 10 different teams, Juan Soto landed in the Big Apple, and the New York Mets, secured him with a record-breaking contract for 15 years and $765 million, although he was jumping like a kangaroo from team to team, 2022-23 Padres and 2024 Yankees, he broke the Piñata with the Mets, where he is playing today, and will probably see him in the Playoffs. These Giants.

In 2025, they were not picked to win the NL West, but nobody expected them to be in 4th place at this time of the year. Buster Posey and company have a lot of work to do to improve this team. The mid-season acquisition of Rafael Devers did not change the chemistry of that lineup, and Willy Adames is having a better second half, but the team is not. There are only three ways you can find a superstar.

1-You develop him..

2-You trade for him.

3-You sign him as a Free Agent. Everybody will probably agree that the San Francisco Giants haven’t had a great player since Barry Bonds, who retired in 2007 after 22 years in the Major Leagues. The Giants initially drafted Barry Bonds out of high school in 1982 at Junípero Serra High in San Mateo (the same school as Tom Brady), but the Giants did not sign him due to a contract dispute over $5,000.

Bonds went on to play college ball at Arizona State University, hitting .347 with 45 home runs and 175 RBI. In 1984, he batted .360 and stole 30 bases. In 1985, hit 23 home runs with 66 RBI and a .368 average. That year, Bonds was a Sporting News All-American.

He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992, and in 1993, the Giants signed him as a free agent to a record-breaking six-year, $43.75 million contract. The rest is history. For the Giants today, 2025 it’s “Wait ‘Till Next Year”. Probably the most used phrase for a bunch of teams around mid-August and September.

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