Tag: mlb

Gelof Launches Early but Cleveland Takes Over in 5-2 win; Win puts Guardians first in AL Central

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Cleveland Guardians Brayan Rocchio (right) hits a two run double off A’s pitcher Mason Barnett as A’s catcher Jonah Heim watches at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Fri Sep 19, 2026 (AP News photo)

Gelof Launches Early but Cleveland Takes Over in 5-2 win

By Mauricio Segura

Zack Gelof gave the Sacramento Athletics a three-run lead, but the advantage vanished by the fourth inning and never returned in a 5-3 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. Henry Bolte opened with a walk and Lawrence Butler drew another two batters later, putting two aboard for Gelof. The left fielder sent a fly ball over the center-field wall for his 19th home run of the season, extending the career high he had already set. It was also all the scoring the A’s would produce.

Mason Barnett made that lead stand for three innings while working around steady traffic. Cleveland loaded the bases in the first after walks to Steven Kwan and Chase DeLauter and a Jo Adell single, but Travis Bazzana grounded into a double play.

The Guardians threatened again in the second when Nathaniel Lowe and Brayan Rocchio singled and Kwan drew another walk, yet Barnett struck out José Ramírez to leave the bases full. Barnett had just returned from Triple-A Las Vegas after throwing his first professional complete game, a six-hitter in a 3-2 victory, and followed that outing with three scoreless innings against Cleveland.

The fourth finally broke his grip. Patrick Bailey and Petey Halpin opened with singles, then Rocchio doubled to right to score both runners and cut the A’s lead to 3-2. Barnett struck out Kwan, but Ramírez followed with a ground-ball single to center that brought Rocchio home with the tying run. Barnett’s outing ended there after 3 1/3 innings, seven hits, three earned runs, four walks and four strikeouts.

Scott Blewett got the final two outs of the fourth, but Bazzana put Cleveland ahead in the fifth with a solo homer to center. An inning later, Ramírez added another solo shot, this one to right off Seth Johnson, stretching the Guardians’ lead to 5-3. Luis Medina and Elvis Alvarado kept Cleveland scoreless over the final two innings, but the Athletics’ bats never found a second burst.

Joey Cantillo was the reason. After Daniel Espino allowed Gelof’s homer in the first, Cantillo took over in the second and held the A’s scoreless for six innings. The Athletics managed only two hits against him, singles by Jeff McNeil and Alika Williams, while Cantillo struck out five. Hunter Gaddis handled the eighth, and Cade Smith finished the ninth by striking out Butler and Gelof before McNeil grounded out.

The A’s finished with only three hits, and two potential rallies disappeared on double plays. Tommy White grounded into one after McNeil singled in the fourth, and Shea Langeliers did the same after Bolte was hit by a pitch in the eighth. Butler also was caught stealing in the sixth.

Bolte still reached base twice, extending his September run of reaching safely to 16 games, while Langeliers went hitless and saw his career-best 12-game hitting streak end. The A’s began the game leading the majors with 26 September home runs, and Gelof quickly added another, but Cleveland answered with ten hits and enough power of its own to send the Green and Gold to a fourth straight loss on their final road trip.

The A’s get another crack at Cleveland Saturday behind A’s starter Jacob Lopez (6-4, 5.02 ERA, 107 K) against Guardians starter Tanner Bibee (6-15, 4.16 ERA, 140 K), with first pitch set for 3:10 p.m. Pacific.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Four Dodger Home Runs In Eighth Inning Destroys Giants in Game One 8-2

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Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts (right) slugs a bottom of the first inning solo home run off San Francisco pitcher Cesar Perdomo (left) as Giants catcher Drew Cavanaugh and plate umpire Louie Krupa watch at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Fri Sep 18, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the San Francisco Giants (64-90) traveled to the west coast for their final road series of the 2026 season taking on their rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers (94-60) the Giants came away getting clobbered 8-2 at Dodger Stadium in the first of a three game set.

The two teams will meet again at Oracle Park for a final three game series to finish off the season next weekend in San Francisco.

In front of a packed crowd, the Dodgers got a great start in this game taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning, a solo home run off the bat of leadoff hitter Mookie Betts. Jung Hoo Lee would tie up the game 1-1 in the second inning with a solo home run of his own.

In the top of the third inning, the Giants would break the tie and take the lead 2-1. The Dodgers tied up the game in the bottom of the fifth inning and it was a new ball game. It didn’t take Los Angeles long to take back the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning 3-2 in this see-saw battle.

The Dodgers had a huge eighth inning busting this game wide open hitting back-to-back home runs taking a 5-2 lead. They would hit two more home runs in the inning taking an 8-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning.

GAME RECAP

Los Angeles starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow struck out a couple of batters on his way to a three and out in the first inning of tonight’s game. Dodger leadoff batter Mookie Betts hit a solo home run (his 53rd leadoff home run) and it was a nice start for the Dodgers taking the early 1-0 lead.

The Dodger lead didn’t last very long. In the second inning of the game it was all tied up when Jung Hoo Lee hit a solo home run to right. After that run Glasnow would strike out the next three at bats, five strikeouts so far in this game. Giants starting pitcher Cesar Perdomo gave up a walk but breezed through the inning.

Glasnow gave up his second hit of the game to Scott Bandura, a single in the top of the third inning. Bandura had made his MLB debut back on September 13 getting his first major league hit that day. This is his sixth day on the Giants’ roster.

With one out, Brantley Gilbert walked and the Giants had two runners on base. Not to be denied, San Francisco took advantage of the opportunity scoring a run when Jonah Cox singled Bandura home taking the lead 2-1. Los Angeles had some work to do.

Dodger starting pitcher Glasnow went three and out in the top of the fourth inning clocking a couple more strikeouts nine in total through four innings. While not throwing many strikes, Giants starter Perdomo was so far getting the job done and keeping Los Angeles from crossing home plate as this game went into the fifth inning.

Glasnow again went three and out in the top of the inning. San Francisco’s Perdomo got into a jam in the bottom of the fifth. He gave up a Josue De Paula single, followed by a Mookie Betts single and with one out he gave up a Teoscar Hernandez single driving in De Paula and tying up this game 2-2.

That tying run would finish Perdomo and he was relieved by Jason Foley. With two outs, Max Muncy came to the plate and grounded out and that would close out the inning. Foley closed out the fifth inning.

With the exception of an opening walk in the top of the sixth inning, Glasnow closed out the inning. The Dodgers took back the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kyle Tucker walked and with two outs De Paula doubled Tucker home breaking the tie 3-2. De Paula was having a solid game already with two hits and one RBI.

After closing out the sixth inning Tyler Glasnow was relieved by Kris Bubic to start the top of the seventh inning. Glasnow finished the game with ten strikeouts. Bubic gave up a single but finished off the inning. The bottom of the seventh saw Carson Seymour take over on the mound going three and out. This game was still up for grabs going into the eighth inning.

Philip Abner took the mound for the Giants in the bottom of the eighth inning. It was a tough one for Abner giving up a solo home run to Max Muncy and the Dodgers had extended their lead to 4-2.

It went from bad to worse for Abner when the very next batter Kyle Tucker knocked one out of the park, back-to-back homers giving Los Angeles a 5-2 lead. Mookie Betts hit the third home run of the inning with De Paula on base giving the Dodgers a 7-2 lead.

This was his second home run of the game. The unbelievable happened when Will Smith hit the fourth home run of the inning. With two outs Abner was struggling to get out of the inning but finally got Hernandez out and the nightmarish inning had come to an end with Los Angeles breaking this game wide open by an 8-2 score.

Edwin Diaz closed out this game for the Dodgers. He gave up a single had a couple of strikeouts and Jung Hoo Lee fouled out and that was the ball game. Los Angeles had absolutely crushed the Giants 8-2.

GAME RECAP

Friday night’s game was of major importance to the Los Angeles Dodgers even though they have already clinched the NL West as of Thursday. The big issue right now is playoff seeding.

The Dodgers are trying to finish among the top two NL division winners which would earn them a first-round bye. This would send them directily into the NL Division Series. They currently have an advantage over Atlanta but they do need to keep on winning since Atlanta is still close behind.

Their magic number is six with nine games left to play. While San Francisco will not be playoff bound, they would have absolutely loved to play spoiler in this series.

Dodger starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow went six innings giving up only three hits, two runs, two walks with ten strikeouts. The Giants starter Cesar Perdomo went 4 2/3 innings allowing six hits, two earned runs, three walks and only one strikeout.

The turning point in this game was obviously the disastrous eighth inning. The Giants had played a pretty competitive game up until that point. They had led for some the game in the early innings but it was the four home runs in the eighth inning that turned the tide for Los Angeles breaking this game wide open.

There was not much going on offensively for the Giants coming away with only five hits while Los Angeles had 11, five of them home runs. This was a really frustrating game for San Francisco since they were competitive through the top of the eighth inning.

Saturday the Giants will be looking to bounce back. Probable starting pitcher for San Francisco will be Logan Webb. He has an 8-9 win/loss record and a 4.31 ERA. The Dodgers will start lefty Tarik Skubal. He has a 10-7 ERA 2.70. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 6:10 PM.

San Francisco Giants podcast Lincoln Juarez: Perdomo looking to rebound after last outing; Can SF pitching shutdown Dodgers Muncy?

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St Louis Cardinal Thomas Saggese (left) reaches base safely after San Francisco Giants pitcher Carson Seymour drops the ball and was charged with the error in the bottom of the seventh inning at Busch Memorial Stadium in St Louis on Thu Sep 17, 2026 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Lincoln Juarez:

#1 Can Giants left-hander César Perdomo rebound after allowing five runs over 4⅔ innings in his most recent start and keep the Dodgers’ lineup under control?

#2 How will the Giants attack Max Muncy, who has hit more home runs at Dodger Stadium than any other player in franchise history?

#3 Can Jung Hoo Lee provide enough offense for San Francisco against a Dodgers pitching staff that has been among the National League’s strongest?

#4 With Shohei Ohtani sidelined for Friday’s opener, how much will his absence affect the Dodgers’ lineup, and could San Francisco take advantage?

#5 Ohtani is eligible to return September 23 at the earliest. Can the Giants’ bullpen keep the games close late, particularly against a Dodgers club that enters the series with a 92-60 record compared with San Francisco’s 64-89 mark?

Lincoln Juarez does the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s game wrap: Six-Run Fourth Buries A’s 10-1 in Tampa Bay

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Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero celebrates after the Rays defeated the Sacramento A’s at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg on Thu Sep 17, 2026 (AP News photo)

Six-Run Fourth Buries A’s 10-1 in Tampa Bay

By Mauricio Segura

The Tampa Bay Rays turned the fourth inning into a runaway train and finished off a 10-1 win. The loss completed a three-game sweep and dropped the Sacramento A’s to 61-92, while Tampa Bay took all six meetings in the season series. The A’s had been 0-5 against the Rays with one game remaining before the finale.

For three innings, Jeffrey Springs matched Drew Rasmussen zero for zero. Sacramento even put pressure on the Rays in the third when Denzel Clarke singled with two outs, stole second, and then took third as Henry Bolte stole second behind him. Jeff McNeil grounded out to end the threat, leaving two runners in scoring position. Bolte had been tied for the Major League lead in September stolen bases before the game, and the A’s showed early that their speed could create trouble.

The game broke apart in the fourth. Jonathan Aranda opened the inning with a double, Junior Caminero drew a walk, and Liam Hicks followed with another. Springs got Jonny DeLuca on a force play at the plate, but Chandler Simpson lined a two-run single to center for a 2-0 lead. Ryan Vilade was then hit by a pitch, loading the bases again.

Richie Palacios followed with the swing that turned the inning from damage into disaster. His double to right brought home DeLuca and Simpson, and Vilade also scored after the throw got away from catcher Jonah Heim. Palacios advanced to third on the error and scored when Taylor Walls dropped a bunt single toward third. By the time Geoff Hartlieb replaced Springs, Tampa Bay had scored six times.

It was a rough ending for Springs in a familiar place. Before joining the Athletics, the left-hander pitched for Tampa Bay from 2021 through 2024, going 18-8 with a 2.63 ERA in 86 games, including 35 starts. He allowed six runs on five hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings, striking out four. Rasmussen went the other direction, holding the A’s scoreless over five innings while giving up four hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

Lawrence Butler finally gave the Green and Gold something to celebrate in the sixth. Casey Legumina replaced Rasmussen, and Butler greeted him with a solo homer to right, his 17th of the season. Butler also had a fourth-inning single, finishing with two of Sacramento’s five hits. The A’s began the day with a Major League-best 25 home runs in September, but Butler’s blast was all the power they could produce.

Tampa Bay answered before the A’s could build anything around Butler’s homer. Simpson singled, stole second, and then stole third as pinch-runner Cedric Mullins took second. Richie Palacios walked to load the bases, and Chris Roycroft issued bases-loaded walks to Walls and Aranda, pushing the score to 8-1.

The Rays added two more in the eighth after an error by Bolte helped extend the inning. With the bases loaded, Hicks hit a two-run infield single that scored Walls and Aranda. Drew Rom got the final out, but the damage had already pushed Tampa Bay into double digits.

Sacramento never found another answer. Alex Cook retired Tommy White, Alika Williams and Jonah Heim in order in the ninth, ending an afternoon in which the A’s managed five hits and left seven runners on base. The first two games of the series were decided by one run, but the finale offered no such suspense.

The road trip now shifts to Cleveland, where the A’s Mason Barnett (1-4, 7.08 ERA, 38 strikeouts) is set to face the Guardians Daniel Espino (0-0, 2.92 ERA, 21 strikeouts), with first pitch scheduled for 4:10 p.m. Pacific.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson: Rays blitz A’s 10-1 in Thursday matinee at Tropicana

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Tampa Rays Chandler Simpson (right) scores ahead of the throw as Sacramento A’s catcher Jonah Heim waits for the ball on a three run double by Richie Palacios in the last of the fourth inning at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay on Thu Sep 17, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Can’t put out a team that’s on fire like the Tampa Bay R as the Sacramento A’s were landslided 10-1 at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg on Thursday afternoon.

#2 Once again A’s starter Jeffrey Springs got lit up pitching 3.1 innings, allowing five hits and six earned runs. Springs picks up his 15th loss against only four wins for the season.

#3 Springs pitched shutout ball until the bottom of the fourth inning and that’s when the Rays let into him with a six run rally and it was difficult to stop the bleeding.

#4 The A’s couldn’t get any offense going just picking up one run in the top of the sixth by Lawrence Butler whose been swinging a hot bat of late hit a solo shot for the A’s only run.

#5 The A’s will try and turn the page after getting swept in Tampa Bay this time in Cleveland on Friday night against former A Stephen Vogt and the Guardians at Progressive Field. Starting pitchers for Sacramento RHP Mason Barnett (1-4 ERA 7.08) for Cleveland RHP Daniel Espino (0-0 ERA 2.92) first pitch 4:10pm PDT.

Join Jeremiah Salmonson for the A’s podcasts each Thursday 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: A’s four runs down and one run short in loss to Rays 4-3

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Sacramento A’s Henry Bolte is congratulated by third base coach Bobby Crosby before heading home after hitting his 11th home run of the season against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg on Wed Sep 16, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

The Tampa Bay Rays did all of its scoring before the Sacramento Athletics could answer on Wednesday night, then protected a one-run lead the rest of the way. The Rays scored twice in each of the first two innings against Brady Basso and held off Sacramento for a 4-3 win, handing the A’s their second straight loss in the series.

Basso was two outs into the first before Tampa Bay strung together three consecutive doubles. Junior Caminero started the run with a drive to center, Jonny DeLuca followed with an RBI double to left, and Chandler Simpson sent another double into right to score DeLuca. The Rays went right back to work in the second. Jorge Mateo singled, stole second and scored on Nick Fortes’ double. Ryan Vilade later singled home Fortes for a 4-0 lead.

Basso never found room to settle. He allowed four runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings, with no walks and no strikeouts, and took the loss to fall to 1-3. The left-hander had thrown seven scoreless innings across his previous two starts, but Tampa Bay broke that stretch quickly.

The Athletics answered in the third, and two young hitters supplied the power. Tommy White opened the inning with a solo homer to left, his third of the season. After Carlos Cortes and Brian Serven were retired, Henry Bolte drove a solo shot to center for his 11th homer, trimming the deficit to 4-2. White’s homer carried a little extra meaning after he spoke about the memories he shared with his father at that ballpark and how he fell in love with baseball there.

Bolte’s blast continued a strong September. He began the game batting .313 for the month with four home runs, six stolen bases and a .450 on-base percentage. He also had already reached 20 steals for the season, the most by an Athletics player age 22 or younger since Rickey Henderson stole 56 at age 22 in 1981.

Once Basso left, Sacramento’s bullpen gave the offense every chance to finish the comeback. Seth Johnson retired all seven batters he faced and struck out four over 2 1/3 innings. Drew Rom, Scott Blewett and Hogan Harris followed, and the four relievers combined for 5 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing only two hits, issuing no walks and striking out six.

The A’s moved within one in the sixth. Jeff McNeil doubled off Kevin Kelly and Shea Langeliers followed with a single through the middle to score him. The hit extended Langeliers’ career-best hitting streak to 12 games. The catcher had only recently returned after surgery on a torn right meniscus, making his continued production one of the brighter parts of the late-season stretch.

Sacramento had chances to find the tying run but could not produce another hit when it mattered most. Tommy White singled in the fifth and again in the seventh, finishing 3-for-4 with the homer. McNeil went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Lawrence Butler singled in the fourth, but Donovan Walton grounded into a double play to end that inning.

Tampa Bay starter Nick Martinez worked five innings, allowing two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and no walks to earn his 15th victory. The Rays then used Kevin Kelly, Cam Booser and Cole Sulser to cover the final four innings. Sulser retired Zack Gelof, Walton and White in order in the ninth for his third save.

The series wraps Thursday with Jeffrey Springs (4-13, 5.93 ERA, 105 K) starting for the Athletics against Drew Rasmussen (14-5, 2.81 ERA, 160 K) for Tampa Bay, with first pitch scheduled for 10:10 a.m. Pacific.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Sacramento A’s podcast Bridget Mulcahy: Rays beat A’s 4-3; Tampa’s Martinez gets 15th win in 5 innings of work

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Sacramento A’s Lawrence Butler (right) is tagged out by the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Jorge Mateo (left) i the bottom of the fourth inning at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg on Wed Sep 16, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Bridget Mulcahy:

#1 It was the Tampa Bay Rays Nick Martinez who pitched five innings for his 15th win over the Sacramento A’s for a 4-3 win

#2 The Rays Jonny DeLuca helped the offense with and RBI double going 2 for 4 Wednesday night in Tampa for the Rays fifth straight win in a row.

#3 The A’s Tommy “Tanks” White homered in the top of the third inning for a 347 foot home run in left field and Henry Bolte clubbed his 11th home run of the season.

#4 The A’s Shea Langeliers got a RBI single in the sixth inning and extended his hit streak to 12 games.

#5 The A’s conclude this three game series with the Rays Thursday with LHP Jeffrey Springs (4-13 ERA 5.93) and for the Rays RHP Drew Rasmussen (14-5 ERA 2.81) first pitch is 10:10AM PDT at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg.

Bridget Mulcahy does the A’s podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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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 Survive An Ugly Seventh To Beat Cardinals 6-5 In Ten Innings

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San Francisco Giants Drew Gilbert (right) is congratulated by Grant McCray (58) after hitting a two run home run in the top of the tenth inning at Busch Stadium in St Louis on Wed Sep 16, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Wednesday aftternoon the San Francisco Giants (64-89) finished up their three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals (75-78) with a one run 6-5 win in ten innings at Busch Stadium in St Louis.

With this series tied at one apiece it will be up for grabs today. The game got underway amid some some very warm temps, low 90s at first pitch. Both teams had quiet starts through the first two innings.

It was the Giants who drew the first run of the game. San Francisco would take the only run of the game into the seventh inning. The Giants lit up in the seventh inning scoring three runs taking a 3-0 lead.

In a crazy bottom of the seventh San Francisco had gone from playing clean ball to back-to-back errors allowing the Cardinals to score a run and load the bases scoring yet another run trailing 3-2.

The Giants were able to score an insurance run in the eighth inning taking a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning. The Cardinals scored two runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game but were unable to cross the finish line and this game went into extra innings.

San Francisco hit a two run home run to start the top of the tenth taking back the lead 6-4. It got dicey in the bottom of the tenth inning and although St. Louis did load the bases and score one run they came up a run short. The final was 6-5 in favor of San Francisco; they had won the game and the series.

GAME RECAP

San Francisco starting pitching Anthony Molina had a couple of great opening innings going three and out in both of them. St. Louis starter Matthew Liberatore was equally effective although did give up a walk in the first inning and a single in the second. Both starters were successfully limiting the traffic on the bases.

The Giants broke through in the third inning scoring the first run of the game. Jonah Cox singled followed by a Bryce Eldridge walk. With the two runners on base, Cox scored when Brett Harris hit into a double play and San Francisco was first up on the scoreboard and the Cardinals would have to play catch-up in a very close game. Molina closed out the fourth inning pitching with continued exceptional work.

The Giants had runners at first and third in the fifth inning but left them both stranded missing an opporunity to extend their lead. Molina gave up a single in the bottom of the inning, San Francisco taking the 1-0 lead into the sixth inning.

In the sixth inning the Giants again put two runners on base but just couldn’t bring them home. With two outs and nobody on base there was a pitching change for San Francisco. Anthony Molina had been terrific going 5 2/3 innings of shutout baseball with an 82 pitch count. He was relieved by Philip Abner who closed out the inning.

San Francisco had more opportunity to advance their 1-0 lead in the top of the seventh inning. First at bat Andrew Knizner was hit by a pitch and advanced to first followed by a Christian Koss single. With the two runners on base Jonah Cox singled Knizner home and Koss scored on a throwing error taking a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

Carson Seymour would take the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning. It had been looking so good with the Giants playing some really clean ball. Unfortunately this game did a 360 in the seventh. With two outs and one runner on base San Francisco had back-to-back errors.

The Cardinals scored a run on the second error and were finally up on the scoreboard 3-1. With Seymour struggling, there was another pitching change for the Giants with Trent Harris relieving Seymour. It was a bit of an ugly start for Harris throwing a wild pitch that scored a second St. Louis run and this was a one run game 3-2. Harris went on to get the third out.

The Giants badly needed an insurance run and they achieved just that in the top of the eighth inning. Shay Whitcomb hit a single reaching second base on a throwing error. Andrew Knizner singled Whitcomb home and San Francisco had a little breathing room leading 4-2.

Harris did give up a double in the bottom of the eighth inning but closed out the inning. The Giants were three outs away from winning game three and the series despite some very unfortunate miscalculations. Leading by two runs they had a great chance to close out this game with a win in regulation.

There was not much going on in the top of the ninth inning and this game went into the bottom of the ninth. Dylan Smith would take the mound for the Giants looking to close out this game.

Smith walked Nolan Gorman the first at bat followed by a Thomas Saggese infield hit and the Cardinals had two runners on base with no outs. There would be more discussion on the mound but no changes.

The first out came at the expense of Nathan Church. The winning run Ivan Herrera came to the plate and Smith walked him loading the bases. The Giants were in deep trouble.

Fermin hit a sacrifice fly driving Gorman home and this was a one-run game 4-3. With two outs Smith gave up a single to Leo Bernal and Saggese scored and this was a tie game 4-4.

With two outs St. Louis had runners at first and third and that was it for Smith. Sanmartin relieved Smith and got out of the inning when one of the Cardinals best hitters Alec Burleson grounded out and San Francisco had survived a walk-off going into the tenth.

The Giants got a home run in the top of the tenth inning off the bat of pinch hitter Drew Gilbert with Grant McCray onboard taking back the lead 6-4 and San Francisco was back in business. What an amazing way to start extra innings.

The Cardinals continued to fight and with one out they had runners on first and third. Again the Giants were looking at another awful situation with the bases loaded when St. Louis drew a walk.

There had been some real struggles on the mound for both Smith and Joel Kuhnel. Kuhnel got the final out in this agonizing game although he did allow one run. The final of this crazy game was 6-5

GAME NOTES

After a bit of a blowout yesterday, the Giants had a mixed bag in game three. San Francisco again took the first lead of the game but some late inning defense almost cost the Giants this game.

The positive we can take from this game is that San Francisco found a way to win this wild game despite giving away some scoring opportunities late. They did win the series and the game 6-5.

The offense did enough early with some important contributions throughout the lineup. They survived the ninth inning and did not collapse completely after the defensive problems. St. Louis did put a lot of pressure on San Francisco late in the game.

The defensive collapse late in the game was problematic. This was by far their biggest negative in this game. San Francisco had played a clean, solid game going into the late innings and then it all seemed to fall apart committing back-to-back errors.

They sure gave St. Louis a lot of opportunities turning a game that looked pretty comfortable into a nail-biter. Routine defensive plays were not being made cleanly and there was a lot of pressure on the pitching staff because outs just were not being recorded.

The Giants defense continues to be an issue especially late in games when it most matters. Sloppy defense can erase good pitching and hitting in a flash. The Giants just made this game far more difficult than it had to be.

So the Giants were resilient and found a way to win but the late-inning defense was absolutely unacceptable. Shay Whitcomb who was playing second base had an error and Casey Schmitt followed that error with a second one. Those miscues helped to create the Cardinals’ rally and the reason that this game became so tight.

A bright spot in this game for sure was the outing that came from Anthony Medina. He was excellent; he went 5 2/3 innings allowing no runs. The Cardinals were having a lot of trouble accomplishing anything against him. He left the game with a shutout intact turning the game over to the bullpen which turned into chaos defensively as well as some command issues from the bullpen.

Friday night the Giants will take on their rival the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-game series their last road trip of the season. Cesar Perdomo will take the mound for San Francisco with an 0-1 win/loss record and a 3.68 ERA. The Dodgers will start Tyler Glasnow. He has a 4-1 win/loss record and a 3.50 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 7:10 PM.

5 2/3 shutout baseball

Sacramento A’s game wrap: Caminero Has Last Word as A’s Fall to Rays 2-1

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Tampa Rays Junior Caminero (center) celebrates his ninth inning walk off home run to defeat the Sacramento A’s at the Tropicana in St Petersburg on Tue Sep 15, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s game wrap:

By Mauricio Segura

A pitcher’s duel kept the Sacramento A’s within reach all night, but the Tampa Bay Rays Junior Caminero needed only one swing in the ninth to erase any hope of a Green and Gold victory, sending the ball into the right-field bleachers. His opposite-field home run off Elvis Alvarado gave Tampa Bay a 2-1 victory and handed the A’s a painful start to their final road trip of the season. It was Caminero’s American League-leading 41st homer and his second game-ending shot in five days.

For most of the game, Jack Perkins gave Sacramento every opportunity to steal one. The right-hander delivered the best start of his major league career, working 6 2/3 innings while allowing four hits, one unearned run and one walk with eight strikeouts. It was a dramatic reversal from his previous meeting with Tampa Bay, when the Rays tagged him for a career-high 12 hits and seven runs over five innings. Perkins began the evening with a 6.53 ERA, but his ability to miss bats had been a season-long strength, with 119 strikeouts in 103 1/3 innings before this outing.

Tampa Bay scratched out the first run in the second without driving it home with a hit. Chandler Simpson doubled to right, moved to third on Richie Palacios’ grounder and scored when a passed ball got away from catcher Jonah Heim. Perkins limited the damage by striking out Jorge Mateo, beginning a long stretch in which Tampa Bay could do little against him.

The A’s had their own problems with Griffin Jax. Alika Williams doubled in the third and Shea Langeliers singled in the fourth, but neither advanced into scoring position. Jax worked five scoreless innings, allowing only those two hits while striking out seven without issuing a walk. He needed just 67 pitches before Tampa Bay turned the game over to its bullpen.

Sacramento finally found an opening against Ty Johnson in the sixth. Henry Bolte singled to left with one out, then Jeff McNeil sent a single into right that pushed Bolte to third. Johnson’s wild pitch did the rest, allowing Bolte to score and McNeil to move to second. Shea Langeliers struck out before Cam Booser replaced Johnson and retired Lawrence Butler, leaving the score tied at 1-1.

Bolte’s contribution continued a productive September. He began the series batting .318 for the month with four homers, seven RBI, 10 walks, 11 runs and six stolen bases, and his 20 steals for the season led American League rookies.

Perkins protected the tie until the seventh. Liam Hicks drew a walk and Simpson collected his third hit of the game, putting two runners aboard with two outs. Luis Medina replaced Perkins and struck out Palacios to strand both. Simpson finished 3-for-3, accounting for half of Tampa Bay’s six hits while raising his batting average to .308.

Medina and Hogan Harris carried the tie through the eighth. The A’s bullpen escaped after Mateo reached on an overturned call and stole second, with Harris retiring Yandy Díaz and striking out Jonathan Aranda. Sacramento then had one final chance in the ninth, but Bryan Baker retired McNeil, Langeliers and Butler in order. Langeliers nearly found grass in left, only for Simpson to make a sliding catch.

That brought Caminero to the plate against Alvarado. After falling behind 0-2, Caminero turned on a 100.4 mph fastball and sent it down the right-field line for a 344-foot homer, ending the game three pitches into the bottom of the ninth.

The series continues with a contrast on the mound as left-hander Brady Basso (1-2, 3.86 ERA, 28 K) gets the ball for the A’s against Tampa Bay right-hander Nick Martinez (14-4, 2.92 ERA, 98 K), with first pitch scheduled for 3:40 p.m. Pacific.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

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 Overwhelm Cardinals Winning Game Two 10-3; SF skids ends at 4

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By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (62-89) went into game two of their series with the St. Louis Cardinals (75-76) looking for a more efficient start as well as tying up this series and tie up the series they did a huge way winning in a Tuesday night laugher 10-3 at Busch Stadium in St Louis.

San Francisco got all over St. Louis starting pitcher Andre Pallante big time scoring three runs in the first inning. There is no better way to start any game than taking a significant lead in an opening inning.

The Cardinals were able to hit a solo home run in the bottom of the inning. Both team were quiet in the second inning but in the third San Francisco again began to flex their muscle scoring four runs and taking a 7-1 lead.

The Cardinals despite loading the bases in the third only scored a single run. The Giants would score a second run in the top of the fourth taking an 8-2 lead. The 8-2 score remained through the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

Back-to-back San Francisco doubles in the eighth inning made it a 9-2 ball game. The Cardinals scored one more run in the bottom of the eighth and the possibility of a rally for St. Louis was all but gone. San Francisco would score their final run of the game tying up the series in game.

GAME RECAP

After losing a close one Mondday in game one the Giants were on a mission Tuesday night in game two. They scored early and often taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Bryce Eldridge led the charge hitting a two run home run. Jonah Cox reached first base and Turner Hill singled him home for a great opening inning leading 3-0. St. Louis’ Burleson hit a solo home run in the bottom of the inning.

The Cardinals Andre Pallante allowed a Christian Koss single in the second inning and the Giants Blade Tidwell went three and out.

San Francisco got exactly the start they were looking for and pushed their lead out even further in the top of the third scoring four runs. The production at the plate in the inning was an offensive masterpiece.

Cox led off with a bunt single followed by a Jung Hoo Lee double driving Cox to third base. Turner Hill grounded out and Cox scored with Lee moving over to third base the score now 4-1.

Drew Cavanaugh walked followed by a McCray single driving in Lee for another run and a 5-1 lead. Christian Koss singled both Cavanaugh and Grant McCray home. St. Louis was relieved to finally get out of the inning but they were now facing a 7-1 deficit.

It had been a tough one for their starter Pallante. Giants pitcher Tidwell struggled a bit in the bottom of the inning giving up a run. He gave up a single, followed by hitting Fermin and then a walk loading the bases with no outs.

A sacrifice fly scored one run but that would be the only run in the inning for St. Louis. Tidwell went on to force the sacrifice, and a couple of strikeouts to end the inning. The Cardinals could have done massive damage in the inning but instead came away with a single run, the score 7-2.

San Francisco scored another run in the top of the fourth. Bryce Eldridge walked and a Osleivis Basabe double drove him home for an 8-2 tally. Tidwell was having a great outing in this game going three and out as this game headed into the fifth inning.

Despite some struggles the Cardinals Pallante remained in the game going three and out in the top of the inning. The Giants Tidwell also went one, two, three, in the bottom of the fifth shutting the door on the St. Louis offense.

There was a pitching change in the top of the sixth inning for the Cardinals. Brycen Mautz relieved Pallante dismissing the Giants three and out. San Francisco’s Tidwell closed out six innings going three and out and he could not have had a better showing. Through six inning, the Giants had 8 hits and the Cardinals with only two.

The Cardinals Mautz walked a couple and struck out a couple to close out the top of the seventh inning. The Giants Blade Tidwell gave up a single and with two outs in the bottom of the inning he was relieved by Jason Foley. He may have been pulled due to a 95 pitch count.

San Francisco had back-back doubles in the eighth inning with two outs scoring another run. Both Brett Harris and Eldridge had the two doubles that drove Harris home extending their lead to 9-3. San Francisco’s Foley gave up one run in the bottom of the eighth. Going into the ninth inning the score was 9-3 in favor of the Giants.

San Francisco would hit their second home run of the game in the top of the ninth courtesy of Turner Hill. The Cardinals went down quietly in the bottom of the ninth and that was the ball game 10-3. The Giants had tied up this game and would be looking for a series win tomorrow.

First pitch for Wednesday’s game three is scheduled for 10:15 AM. Anthony Molina will take the mound for the Giants. He has a 3-1 win/loss record and a 5.29 ERA. Matthew Liberatore will start for the Cardinals. He has a 5-14 win/loss record and a 5.53 ERA.

GAME NOTES

This was an encouraging game for the Giants from start to finish. They jumped all over Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante scoring three runs taking a very early lead and didn’t let their foot off the accelerator for the rest of the game scoring in five innings dominating the entire game. They had it all covered offensively and defensively.

We saw another incredible game from Bryce Eldridge show-casing some crazy power. He hit a two run home run in the first inning getting this game going in the right direction. It was supposedly the longest home run at Busch this season. (461 feet). He finished with three RBIs continuing to look like one of San Francisco’s most exciting young players.

Blade Tidwell delivered an excellent start, he was particularly impressive going nearly seven innings. He was relieved in the seventh after giving up a single with two outs. While it would have been nice to see him go the full seven, his pitch count was getting up there with 95. He did a great job keeping the Cardinals offense under control. This allowed San Francisco to continue to build a comfortable lead before the bullpen took over.

One of the biggest positives for the remainder of the season are the team’s younger players including Eldridge. They all continue to get meaningful major-league experience and have more than proven that they can contribute offensively.