Chicago Cubs designated hitter Seiya Suzuki runs the bases after hitting a three run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Tue June 17, 2025 (AP News photo)
Headline Sports podcast Jessica Kwong:
#1 Jessica the Chicago Cubs are competing they are six and half games in front of the second place Milwaukee Brewers and have won six of their last ten games. The first four hitters in the Cubs line up all scored runs on Tuesday night and Wednesday night’s game was rained out.
#2 At the press conference for new San Francisco Giant Rafael Devers he said he was there to play wherever they want him to play. When Devers was at the Red Sox he said he wanted to play at third base when he was moved to DH for Alex Bregman. Devers unhappy wanted to leave Boston and now says he’s willing to play anywhere the Giants want him to. How do you see this working out.
#3 Jessica, the awkward thing about Devers coming to San Francisco is that his old team the Boston Red Sox are coming to Oracle Park on Friday night. It’s curious to see the greeting his old team will give him when he comes up to the plate against them.
#4 Philadelphia Phillie right fielder Nick Castellanos was scratched from Tuesday’s line up for “an inappropriate comment” according to Phillies manager Rob Thomson. Castellanos was upset after being replaced moving Max Kepler to right and inserting Johan Rojas to center.
#5 What happened to the New York Yankees they have now lost five straight games and were shutout by the Los Angeles Angels at Anaheim Stadium on Tuesday night 4-0. The Yankees are hanging onto a 2.5 game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays.
San Francisco, California, USA, June 17, 2025; At Oracle Park, Robbie Ray, 38, the starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, throws a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning. (Photo Credits to D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images)
SAN FRANCISCO- The Cleveland Guardians defeated the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night to start their nine-game homestand. The Giants were beaten by the Cleveland Guardians in a final score, 3-2.
Giants Manager Bob Melvin placed Rafael Devers into the No.3 spot in the roster and DH role. In the third inning, Devers excellently earned himself an RBI double, a strong 111mph blast into Triples alley that scored Willy Adames and put San Francisco ahead 2-1. Later, he would add a single in the ninth, part of a desperation rally that nearly turned the tide.
Throughout the game, the Giants’ offense had opportunities but found it tough to take advantage of them. San Francisco only finished 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position, leaving 13 men behind overall, even though they put runners on base in almost every inning. Dom Smith’s RBI single in the second inning leveled the game early and was the only other Giant to drive in a run.
Robbie Ray pitched six innings and allowed three earned runs on five hits while striking out five batters, giving San Francisco a strong display. His only big error occurred in the sixth inning when Gabriel Arias hit a game-winning solo home run to put the Guardians ahead for good.
Arias hit his first home run since April 16th. “When you get six innings with three runs, a lot of times you win the game like that,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said after the game, putting Ray’s performance in perspective. He believes you are expecting more from him because he has been so excellent.
Slade Cecconi of Cleveland held his own, giving up just two runs in five innings while keeping the Giants in check. San Francisco put up a strong fight in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases following consecutive hits by Jung Hoo Lee and Devers, as well as a walk by Heliot Ramos, but closer Emmanuel Clase jammed the door shut. The Guardians’ bullpen took it the rest of the way. He earned his 15th save of the season by striking out Casey Schmitt on a high heater to close the game.
There were good signs for San Francisco despite the defeat. The club kept fighting in the last innings, and Devers seemed at ease at the plate. However, moral victories are not reflected in the standings, and the Giants are aware that if they hope to tie the series, they will need to perform better in the closing moments. In the ninth, the Giants had a chance to walk it off after loading the bases, but Emmanuel Clase closed the game off with a strikeout. After the game, Melvin noted, “We had a rally going, and it looked like we had a chance in the ninth, which we’ve done so many times here, but just couldn’t.”
On Wednesday night, the two teams will play again, The Guardians will start LHP Logan Allen (4-4 ERA 4.28) and the Giants’ veteran right-hander Justin Verlander (0-3 ERA 4.33) is expected to make his comeback from the injured list. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m., and he will face Logan Allen from Cleveland.
With the loss, The Giants are now on a three game losing streak and are 41-32 on the season. Guardians have now just snapped their previous three game losing streak.
Luis Urias in the loss to the Astros on Tuesday night at Sutter Health Park. (Photo: Athletics on X)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
WEST SACRAMENTO — The A’s tried to keep their four-game winning streak alive on Tuesday against the Houston Astros, but poor pitching and a lack of offense doomed them in a 13-3 blowout loss at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.
The struggles started early. Starter JP Sears was only able to pitch three and a third innings in an abbreviated outing. Sears allowed five runs on five hits, walked three, and surrendered three home runs. Lacking command throughout, he threw 36 pitches just to get through the first inning. It was a rough showing and not what the A’s needed to try and extend their recent momentum.
Osvaldo Bido took over and didn’t fare much better. He gave up four runs on four hits over one and two-thirds innings, as A’s pitching continued to search for answers. Hogan Harris finally stopped the bleeding with a scoreless inning, but the Astros got right back to work against T.J. McFarland, scoring two more runs to stretch the lead to 11-0.
The A’s managed to break through in the seventh inning, scoring three runs on an Astros error, a Luis Urías groundout, and a Gio Urshela RBI single. But any momentum was short-lived.
Sean Newcomb gave up two more runs in his lone inning of work. By the ninth, manager Mark Kotsay waved the white flag and sent catcher Willie MacIver to the mound. MacIver needed just eight pitches to deliver a scoreless frame, the lone highlight in an otherwise forgettable night.
With the loss, the A’s fell to 30-45 on the season. They’ll look to bounce back on Wednesday in game three of the four-game set. Luis Severino (2-6, 4.47 ERA) will get the start for Sacramento, facing off against Houston’s Framber Valdez (7-4, 3.10 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.
Chicago Cubs Ian Happ (right) hits a walk off single against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the bottom of the tenth inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Sun Jun 15, 2025. The Cubs are one of the toughest teams in baseball. But the New York Yankees and Mets have the toughest fans in baseball. (AP News photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
Toughest Fans in Baseball
By Amaury Pi-González
Although it is very subjective, analyzing fans in all 30 cities and parks across baseball shows us that there is no doubt certain places are consistently more of a ‘pressure cooker ‘ for players, and yes, for fans, than others. Baseball was rooted on the East Coast.
The whole history of the game is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. In 1908, the Mills Commission issued its final report, which stated that “the first scheme for playing baseball” was devised by Abner Doubleday at Cooperstown, NY, in 1839.
There are other influential pioneers, such as Abner Doubleday and Alexander Cartwright. There is no doubt that passion among baseball fans for their teams runs deeper on the East Coast. Tradition is a significant part of this passion for their respective teams, namely the Yankees, Red Sox, and Phillies, especially when they come to mind.
While in the Midwest, there is no doubt that Chicago Cubs fans are at the top of the passion meter, followed closely by the currently suffering Chicago White Sox fans, with their number one fan being Pope Leo. While here on the West Coast, the attitudes are quite different, and I might say a little less passionate.
There is one series among two teams that draws the most passion, the Dodgers vs. the Giants. This rivalry, which originated in New York, is particularly intense among fans. However, I have witnessed that this rivalry is much more passionate in San Francisco than in Los Angeles.
When the Dodgers visit San Francisco, the Giants fans bring the “beat the Dodgers” chants and all the heat. However, when the Giants visit Los Angeles, the passion is significantly lower; for most Dodger fans, it’s just a matter of bringing their suntan lotion, and the Giants are just another team.
In my opinion, it’s a “one-sided” rivalry, hotter when they play by the bay than when they play by Hollywood. Talking about fans’ passion? For Oakland A’s fans, (I say Oakland A’s fans) because there are no Sacramento or Las Vegas fans.
For these fans, it’s as if they had to survive a horrid divorce between the city, the owner, and the team, all of which are intertwined. This divorce has hurt everybody, beginning with the fans. Most of the hate directed by fans is aimed at Athletics owner John Fisher, as evidenced by scores of fans in the Bay Area, following the team’s move to Sacramento for three years with a final destination to Las Vegas by 2028.
That “ugly divorce” weighs very heavily on real A’s fans from Oakland and the Bay Area. The national and local media also have no love lost for Mr. Fisher. The national media has taken the A’s ownership to task, and the local media has cooled off.
I have a very good friend who was a season ticket holder for the Oakland A’s. He threw a party last year to burn his tickets in front of a group of his close friends. He is a good man, a good fan who enjoys the game, but as he told me, “This owner betrayed me: why should I sponsor him buying tickets for his team”?
Quote: Baseball is not necessarily an obsessive-compulsive disorder, like washing your hands 100 times a day, but it’s beginning to seem that way. We’re reaching the point where you can be a truly dedicated, state-of-the-art fan, or you can have a life. Take your pick. –Thomas Boswell.
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.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani is seen throwing live batting practice as pitching coach Mark Prior second from left watches before the game against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sat May 31, 2025 (AP News photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 Amaury, it was a huge night for Los Angeles Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani returning to the mound for the first time he faced the San Diego Padres on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Ohtani had not pitched in a game since September 2023.
#2 Former Red Sox Rafael Devers two hours before he learned he was being traded to the San Francisco Giants was asked what did it mean for the Sox to sweep the visiting New York and how it defined the earlier part of the 2025 season? Dever’s reply was nonchalant “That has passed” Also Devers was asked if he would play first base and he refused saying “I know I’m a ballplayer, but at the same time, they can’t expect me to play every single position out there.”
#3 Amaury a shocker the Colorado Rockies have put together two wins in a row with a win over the Washington Nationals. The Rockies got a two run win over the Nats on Monday night 6-4. The previous wins for the Rockies on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves 10-1 at Truist Field in Cobb County. The Rockies have been the worst team in the majors all season talk about these last two wins was this a matter improved confidence just to get these two in a row.
#4 Recent polls amongst 78% MLB players are concerned about betting on the game. As you may recall Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr’s children got death threats over a lost bet someone overseas made. The person who made the threat apologized but players are concerned that betters could take their lost wagers a bit too far.
#5 More Ohtani news: On the night that Ohtani returned to the mound his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara reported to federal prison in Pennsylvania to start his 57 month sentence. Mizuhara, 40 was charged for bank fraud, tax fraud, and faced 33 years in prison. Prosecutors ask for a 57 month sentence and the defense asked for 18 months.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
Sacramento A’s Nick Kurtz delivers a 447 foot two run walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth to win it for the A’s 3-1 against the Houston Astros at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Mon Jun 16, 2025 (AP News photo)
On the Sacramento A’s podcast with Tony Renteria:
#1 Sacramento A’s first baseman Nick Kurtz launches a walk off two run home run against the Houston Astros that broke a 1-1 deadlock at Sutter Health Park for a 3-1 win on Monday night.
#2 The A’s Brent Rooker walked against Astros pitcher Bryan Abreu that started the ninth inning and Rooker has now reached base 12 straight home games.
#3 Kurtz has been on a tear ripping his seventh home run of the 2025 season and his blast was 447 feet over the right field fence. Again proving the A’s have some solid young talent.
#4 Tony, A’s outfielder Denzel Clarke won the Electric Play of the week on Monday for the third week in a row. He was named the for the award after his home run robbing catch on Mon Jun 9 in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels.
#5 The Astros and A’s duel again at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Tuesday night. Starting pitcher for the Astros RHP Jason Alexander (0-0 ERA 18.00) for the A’s JP Sears (5-5 ERA 5.08) with a 7:05pm first pitch.
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.
The Athletics celebrate after the Nick Kurtz home run in the bottom of the ninth inning on Monday night . (Photo: MLB on X)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
WEST SACRAMENO–After a treacherous month of May, the Athletics have finally made it through and into June. After getting swept in Anaheim for the second time in just a few weeks, the A’s went into Kansas City and returned the favor with a sweep of the Royals this past weekend. On Monday, they welcomed the Houston Astros to Sacramento for the first of a three-game series. The A’s defeated the Astros 3-1.
Pitching dominated the game on both sides, as the starters and bullpens for each team were phenomenal. However, it was Nick Kurtz who played the hero for the A’s.
With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth, Brent Rooker worked a walk against Astros reliever Bryan Abreu. Nick Kurtz stepped in and quickly got ahead 2-0 in the count. Looking fastball, Kurtz swung out of his shoes on a breaking ball that fooled him, bringing the count to 2-1. “…When you have a swing like that,” Kurtz said following the game, “there’s a good chance they’re going to throw it again.” Throw it again Abreu did. But this time, he missed his spot with another breaking ball inside, and Kurtz turned on it—launching the game-winning two-run homer 447 feet into the trees beyond the berm in right-center field. “I knew it pretty much right away… that’s the scenario you dream about as a kid, and being able to do it at this level was really cool,” Kurtz said of his walk-off shot.
Kurtz sent the A’s home happy, but the unsung hero of the night was the A’s pitching staff.
Mitch Spence started the game for the A’s and dominated, tossing five innings of seven-hit, one-run ball. His only major blemish was a slider that leaked over the plate, which Jose Altuve launched for a home run in the first inning. J.T. Ginn, fresh off the injured list, followed with three shutout innings of one-hit baseball while striking out five. Ginn was nasty—exactly what the doctor ordered in his return. Mason Miller pitched a clean top of the ninth, striking out two to keep the game tied.
The A’s will take on the Astros in game two of the series on Tuesday at 7:05 PM PST at Sutter Health Park. JP Sears (5-5, 5.08 ERA) is slated to start for the A’s, countered by Houston’s Jason Alexander (0-0, 18.00 ERA).
With the win, the A’s have now won four straight and are 30-44 on the season. The Astros fell to 41-31 with the loss.
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.
Former Boston Red Sox designated hitter Rafael Devers heads back to the dugout after striking out against the Tampa Bay Rays as Rays catcher Danny Jansen looks on in the bottom of the seventh inning at Fenway Park in Boston on Mon Jun 9, 2025 (AP News Photo)
San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic:
#1 How shocking is for Boston Red Sox fans for three time All Star Rafael Devers to get traded to the San Francisco Giants after the Red Sox were going to build their franchise around Devers?
#2 In exchange for Devers the Red Sox will get left handed pitcher Kyle Harrison and right hand pitcher Jordan Hicks talk about their departures and on the face of it it looks as if the Giants got the better end of this deal.
#3 One of the key factors of the trade was Devers was converted to a designated hitter and was taken off third base and was replaced there by Alex Bregman. Devers had played third base all his career and wanted to continue there but was moved to DH and was not happy about. Sources say that Devers requested for a trade.
#4 Devers was in Sunday’s line up against the New York Yankees playing his last game with the Red Sox. Devers as learned of the trade well after the game and just before the beginning of the Giants-Los Angeles Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium before Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN started.
#5 Marko, how much does this deal hurt the Red Sox and help the Giants and do the Houston Astros who lost Bregman to the Red Sox get the last laugh?
Boston Red Sox Roman Anthony (right) Rafael Devers (11) share congratulations after their win against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on Sun Jun 15, 2025 it was hours later that this would be Devers last game with the Sox and he would be traded to the San Francisco Giants (AP News photo)
San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman:
#1 How shocking is for Boston Red Sox fans for three time All Star Rafael Devers to get traded to the San Francisco Giants after the Red Sox were going to build their franchise around Devers?
#2 In exchange for Devers the Red Sox will get left handed pitcher Kyle Harrison and right hand pitcher Jordan Hicks talk about their departures and on the face of it it looks as if the Giants got the better end of this deal.
#3 One of the key factors of the trade was Devers was converted to a designated hitter and was taken off third base and was replaced there by Alex Bregman. Devers had played third base all his career and wanted to continue there but was moved to DH and was not happy about. Sources say that Devers requested for a trade.
#4 Devers was in Sunday’s line up against the New York Yankees playing his last game with the Red Sox. Devers as learned of the trade well after the game and just before the beginning of the Giants-Los Angeles Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium before Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN started.
#5 Stephen, how much does this deal hurt the Red Sox and help the Giants and do the Houston Astros who lost Bregman to the Red Sox get the last laugh?
Sacramento A’s Nick Kurtz (right) is congratulated by Tyler Soderstrom (21) scores after hitting a home run in the top of the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Sun Jun 15, 2025 (AP News photo)
A’s podcast with Barbara Mason:
1.After getting swept in their last series by the Angels the A’s turned things around sweeping the Kansas City Royals over the weekend. Both the Angels and the Royals have similar records but the A’s were able to handle them winning Sunday’s game after trailing 2-0 going into the sixth inning.
2.Going into Sunday’s game the A’s were assured a series win win or lose but they fought back in the sixth inning to tie up the game. Each team finished the game with nine hits but it was the long ball that won this game for the Athletics.
3.Jacob Wilson continues to contribute in every game along with Lawrence Butler, and also got some hits from Denzel Clark, Luis Urias and Brent Rooker.
4.Jeffrey Springs and went six innings allowing the two runs but it was the relief pitching that earned the win for the Athletics.
5.The next series for the A’s will be the Houston Astros in Sacramento Monday night. The series gets underway today -a four game series with the division leaders. This will be a tough series for the team with Mitch Spence on the mound for the A’s. The Astros will start Lance McCullers Jr. How can the A’s handle the Astros.
6. The A’s will be holding a ceremonial groundbreaking on Mon Jun 23 at the old Tropicana Site in Las Vegas announcing they will have shovels in the ground. Actually team president Mark Badain said they’ve already started construction for the Vegas ballpark the big question that will asked did the A’s come up wit h the $1.75 billion for their share of the constructions costs?
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
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