Tag: mlb

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria Tue May 12, 2025: A’s need to put their shoulder into current road trip facing off with LA and SF

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Athletics’ Jacob Wilson hits a walk off single against the Seattle Mariners during the 11th inning of a baseball game Monday, May 5, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
 (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria Tue May 12, 2025:

#1 Tony the Sacramento A’s are coming off two landslide loses to the New York Yankees where they saw Aaron Judge and Ben Rice rake in both contests on Friday and Sunday.

#2 The A’s were fortunate to win on Saturday coming back from six runs behind in the fourth inning to win it 11-7 as the Yankees middle relief staff had a malfunction and the A’s took advantage of it.

#3 The A’s had a shot at getting into first place last Tuesday night against first place Seattle after winning on Monday night bringing them one game off the pace the A’s all they had to do was put the finishing touches on the M’s but that was not to be as the A’s lost the contest 5-3 and fell back two games.

#4 The A’s pitching had trouble trying to get Yankees Aaron Judge out. Judge had four hits against A’s on Sunday. Judge raised his average to .409 and to say the least made every at bat count against the struggling A’s pitching staff.

#5 Ironically after losing four out of six games on the last homestand the A’s remain just two games behind the Mariners and tied for second with the Houston Astros. The A’s need to put there shoulder into the next six games facing two tough teams the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants it all starts tonight in LA.

Join Tony Renteria for the Sacramento A’s podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Carroll slaps two home runs, and Merrill Kelly further stymies Giants in 2-1 D-Backs win

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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll, right, is congratulated by Ketel Marte (4) after hitting a home run against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, May 12, 2025.Jeff Chiu/AP

Monday, May 12, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Arizona Diamondbacks 2 (22-20)

San Francisco Giants 1 (24-18)

Win: Merrill Kelly (4-2)

Loss: Justin Verlander (0-6)

Save: Shelby Miller (2)

Time: 2:17

Attendance: 27,387

By Stephen Ruderman

The San Francisco Giants’ woes from Minnesota followed them home; Merrill Kelly further stymied the Giants’ offense, and Corbin Carroll hit a pair of home runs to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 2-1 in the series opener, as the Giants have now lost four games in a row for the first time this season.

After taking two of three from a hot Cubs’ team in Chicago, the Giants were halted in their tracks, and swept by the even-hotter Minnesota Twins over the weekend. It was the first time the Giants were swept this season. However, the Giants’ offense was also stymied over the weekend, as they wasted key opportunities.

The Giants had to put it behind them as they returned home to take on their division rivals, the Arizona Diamondbacks, for the first time this season. Arizona came in after splitting an epic four-game series with the Dodgers down in Phoenix.

It took Justin Verlander nine starts to get his first world series win. Through eight starts as a Giant here in 2025, he had yet to get a win. As he took the ball on this semi-foggy night for his ninth start of the year, you just had to think that he was due.

Verlander escaped some trouble in the top of the first inning, and the Giants came up against Diamondbacks’ starter Merrill Kelly in the bottom of the first. Other than a brutal start on April 3 at Yankee Stadium, in which he gave up nine runs, Kelly has been off to a solid start, and he would dominate tonight.

Kelly began his night with a scoreless bottom of the first. He then threw a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the second.

Corbin Carroll basically slapped an opposite-field home run to the first row of the bleachers in left to lead off the top of the third. Kelly then followed that up with another one, two, three inning in the bottom of the third.

Verlander had to pitch through another jam in the top of the fourth, and the Giants had their first rally of the night against Kelly in the bottom of the fourth. The red-hot Heliot Ramos reached on an infield hit with one out, and Jung Hoo Lee flipped a base-hit to right to move Ramos down to third.

The Giants were in a perfect spot to respond and tie the game. However, they had wasted a lot of opportunities over the weekend in Minneapolis, and that would carry over into Monday night. Wilmer Flores proceeded to ground into an inning-ending double play, and the Giants were unable to get on the board.

That wasted opportunity came back to burn the Giants, as Carol hit his second home run of the night in the top of the fifth to make it 2-0. Willy Adames led off the bottom of the fifth with a double, as the Giants looked to respond. However, Kelly retired the next two, and the Giants were about to waste another rally.

Fortunately, Christian Koss came up with two outs, and lined a base-hit to right. Adames scored to put the Giants on the board, but Koss was tagged out on a rundown between first and second base.

Verlander pitched through some more trouble in the top of the sixth. After giving up a leadoff base-hit to Geraldo Perdomo in the top of the seventh, his night was over.

Verlander had a rough time Monday night, as he didn’t throw any one, two, three innings, and he gave up nine hits. However, he hung in there, and he was able to prevent the Giants’ bullpen from being taxed Monday night. Unfortunately, Verlander once again just could not get any run support, and as a result, he still remains winless through nine starts.

To give credit to the Giants, they kept coming, just as they always have this season. After Kelly threw a scoreless inning in the bottom of the sixth, Wilmer Flores led off the bottom of the seventh with a base-hit to left, and Patrick Bailey singled him over to second with one out.

However, Kelly struck out Luis Matos, and he got Koss to pop out to second to end the inning. It was another wasted opportunity for the Giants.

Tyler Rogers pitched a one, two, three inning in the top of the eighth, and Mike Yastrzemski drew a walk off Jalen Beeks to start off the bottom of the eighth. Matt Chapman struck out swinging, and then Ramos engaged Beeks in a lengthy duel.

The count went full to 3-2, and then Ramos fouled off four-straight pitches. The longer an at-bat goes, the more it swings in favor of the hitter. Ramos was getting a real feel for the pitches Beeks was throwing, and it seemed to frustrate the latter.

The 11th pitch of the at-bat was a changeup on the inside and at the knees that Ramos put perfect wood on and rocketed to left-center. However, it was right in the vicinity of left-fielder Lourdes Gurriel. Gurriel had to make a weird and clunky leap, but he was somehow able to catch it.

That was a real blow to the Giants. Randy Rodriguez threw a one, two, three inning in the top of the ninth, but Shelby Miller came in and shut the Giants down with a one, two, three inning in the ninth to end it.

Merrill Kelly was rewarded with his valiant eight-strikeout performance with the win. Justin Verlander was tagged with the loss, and he falls to 0-3. Shelby Miller picked up his second save, as the Diamondbacks have been going with the closer by committee strategy this season.

The Giants have now lost four in a row for the first time this season, as they fall to 24-18.

The good news is that the Giants have the undefeated Robbie Ray (5-0, 2.84 ERA) going Tuesday night. The even better news is that the Giants are 8-0 in Rays’ starts this season. Though, I guess the bad news is that the Giants are 0-2 in their new city connect jerseys, which they of course wear every Tuesday night at Oracle Park. Something will have to give.

Final Thoughts:

So, the Giants have lost four in a row for the first time this season. The offense is also struggling, as they have wasted a lot of opportunities the last few days.

The Giants are in a legitimate slump for the first time this season, and they are going to be tested. I get that after being mostly-abysmal in key RBI situations over the last three years, people are going to get upset and freak out when they consistently waste opportunities.

However, a big difference between this year and the last three years is that other than the last few days, the Giants’ offense has been money in key RBI situations this season. They also never give up, even now during their slump. They kept fighting Monday night. They made Merrill Kelly have to work in the bottom of the seventh, and of course Heliot Ramos got 11 pitches out of Jalen Beeks in an epic at-bat in the bottom of the eighth.

This is the third year I’ve been covering the Giants, and another thing that stands out between this year’s team and those of the last three years is that the 2025 Giants are a team on a mission. Over the course of the 162-grind, teams are going to slump. It happens. It’s never fun, and they are going to be tested, but I fully expect them to stay the course and fight through it.

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason: A’s experience another Bronx bombing lose two out of three to Yanks

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Sacramento A’s starter Luis Severino is relieved by A’s manager Mark Kotsay in the top of the fifth inning. Severino a former New York Yankee was touched up by his former club at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Mon May 12, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason Mon May 12, 2025

#1 Barbara, tough two losses for the Sacramento A’s and both of the losses were not even close and there was no mercy rule. The New York Yankees defeated the A’s on Friday night 10-2 and won against by ten runs on Sunday 12-2.

#2 New York Yankee slugger Aaron Judge got four hits and is hitting the Ted Williams line at .400. Ben Rice assisted with a grand slam as the Yankees poured it on A’s pitching.

#3 Judge got a two run base hit when the Yankees rallied for five runs in the top of the second inning against former Yankee pitcher Luis Severino. Severino was hoping to have some success against his former teammates but they knew too well.

#4 The line for Severino four innings nine hits, eight runs all earned, two walks and two strike outs. Certainly Severino was giving it his best effort but the Yankees were seeing his pitches and took advantage of it.

#5 The A’s try and turnover a new leaf they’ve had better luck on the road and open a six game road trip Tue May 12 against the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Dodgers Stadium. The A’s are still holding a second place tie in the AL West with the Houston. Starting pitchers for Tuesday for Sacramento A’s manager Mark Kotsay he hasn’t decided yet and for the Dodgers RHP Landon Knack (2-0 ERA 4.61) first pitch 7:10pm PDT.

Join Barbara Mason Mondays for the A’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic: Diamondbacks-Giants both playing .500 ball open series tonight at Oracle Park

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San Francisco Giants baserunner Heliot Ramos (right) gets down for the slide and Minnesota Twins shortstop Brooks Lee (left) waits for the throw for the out in the top of the sixth inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sun May 11, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic:

#1 Minnesota Twins DeShawn Keirsey Jr base hit single scored the Twins game winning run in the bottom of the tenth inning to help beat the San Francisco Giants at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sunday 7-6.

#2 The Giants caught a hot Twins team, they got swept and the Twins ended up winning their eighth straight game.

#3 The Giants added a run against Minnesota pitcher Jhoan Duran in the top of the tenth to make it 6-5. It was the last of the tenth that ghost runner Ty France advanced to third base on Brooks Lee’s single that scored Ryan Jeffers’ ground out. The Twins got an intentional walk and a groundout and then DaShawn Keirsey hit a line drive down the left field line off reliever Ryan Walker for the 7-6 win.

#4 Marko, talk about how frustrating things can get as Giants manager Bob Melvin was thrown out for arguing a check swing call. Melvin knowing the Giants have lost the first two games of the series up to that point was not too satisfied with some of the calls that the hitters were getting.

#5 Giants open up a new series against the Arizona Diamondbacks this time at Oracle Park in San Francisco where they Giants have had some success. Starting pitcher for the Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (3-2 ERA 4.09) for the Giants RHP Justin Verlander (0-2 ERA 4.50) first pitch 6:45pm PDT

Join Marko Ukalovic for Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Highest Paid Player talks about Sutter Health Park

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Sacramento A’s pitcher Luis Severino pitching against the Milwaukee Brewers line up on Sat Apr 19, 2025 at American Family Park in Milwaukee. Severino pitched against the New York Yankees on Sun May 11, 2025 at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento (AP News file photo)

A’s Highest Paid Player talks about Sutter Health Park.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Unless the Athletics, now playing in Sacramento, shock the baseball world and have one of their best seasons in history, the top story for the Athletics in Sacramento remains Sutter Health Park, in West Sacramento, their temporary home for three years.

Luis Severino was signed to the team’s history’s most expensive A’s contract this past winter. Three years for $67 million with a $10 million signing bonus. For some fans, it is hard to believe that a franchise that has Hall of Fame players like Reginaldo “Martínez Jackson (Reggie), Rickey Henderson, Jim “Catfish, “Hunter, Rollie Fingers, and Dennis Eckersley, all played during the Oakland A’s years at the Oakland Coliseum. (1968-2024)  We must remember that contracts like the one for Rickey Henderson of $3.5 million multi-years, today are like $60  million (at least) for just three seasons.

The New York Yankees won two out of three games this weekend at Sutter Health Park. Their #1 pitcher, Luis Severino (who pitched with the Yankees last year), told the YES Network how he felt about pitching at this park in Sacramento: “This is not a major league park,” which is true.

The Dominican pitcher is having a rough start to the season, with a record of 1-4 and a 4.70 ERA in nine starts. If the ATH wants to improve from their 69-93 last season’s record, Luis must pitch better; ultimately, the veteran should lead this pitching staff, as he is their ace #1 starter.

The ATH just embarked on a six-game road trip, three at Los Angeles against the World Champion Dodgers and three in San Francisco against the Giants. They returned home on the 19th for a seven-game homestand against the Angels and the Phillies. They leave Sacramento with a 21-20 record and in third place.

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

Severino Roughed Up by Former Team 12-2 as A’s Drop Series to Yankees

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Lawrence Butler with his mom after she threw out the ceremonial pitch on Sunday. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — Mother’s Day 2025 featured the rubber game between the Athletics and Yankees at Sutter Health Park. The two prior games were both slugfests, and Sunday was no different. The Yankees defeated the A’s behind an offensive outburst, 12-2, in the matinee affair.

Luis Severino struggled against his former team, lasting only four innings. He gave up eight runs on nine Yankees hits while walking two and striking out two. It was his worst performance in green and gold, as he clearly didn’t have his best stuff—and the Yankees took full advantage. They scored five in the second inning and added another run in the third to jump out to an early lead. Severino gave up two singles to start the fifth inning and was then replaced by Mitch Spence out of the bullpen. Spence allowed both inherited runners to score, finishing Severino’s line at eight earned runs.

“I think walking the bottom of the lineup—I can’t do that. If I walk those guys, I have to face the top of the lineup with runners in scoring position,” Severino said to reporters after the loss.

Asked if he’s had to make any adjustments pitching at Sutter Health Park, Severino said, “I mean, it’s tough to pitch here. Like I said before, you aren’t used to… you have a routine your whole life and you come here, you work around whatever you have here… this is what we have, and we have to do whatever we have to and go out and compete.”

Severino also described how he’s struggled to stay active between innings without access to the clubhouse nearby. “When you pitch, usually the clubhouse is right next to the dugout. If you watch every starting pitcher, you won’t see them in the dugout. They’re done—they’ve gone inside… go inside, watch the game on the TV, get on the bike a little bit, and do something. It’s tough sometimes to be in the dugout when we score four runs, to sit there and do nothing because there’s nothing to do right there. It’s just different. Everybody’s different… for me, it’s being able to have the gym right there…”

Severino has not minced words about the challenges of pitching at Sutter Health Park. In defense of Luis, he’s not wrong. Per Statcast, Sutter Health Park has a 111 park rating—where 100 is average. The park also boasts a 118 home run factor, meaning players who compete elsewhere and in West Sacramento hit 18% more home runs at Sutter Health Park. That ranks it as the eighth most favorable home run park in MLB.

On the offensive side, the A’s managed a run in both the fourth and fifth innings—a Miguel Andujar RBI single and a JJ Bleday solo home run, respectively. That was all the offense they could muster, tallying just seven hits on the day.

The rest of the way, the A’s bullpen did what it could to keep the game close. Mitch Spence, a Rule 5 pickup for the A’s in 2023 who relieved Severino in the fifth, struggled in his two innings of work. He gave up three runs (two charged to Severino) on four hits, striking out four and walking one.

Elvis Alvarado made his second major league appearance on Sunday, pitching one inning and giving up one run on two hits while striking out two.

T.J. McFarland, who followed Alvarado, recorded only one out before exiting with what the team announced as a left groin injury. The 35-year-old, 6’3” lefty walked off under his own power and was relieved by Hogan Harris.

Harris pitched well aside from two walks, finishing with 1.2 innings of scoreless, hitless work.

The A’s went 2-4 on a disappointing homestand that manager Mark Kotsay described as such: “It was a tough homestand… we will learn from the homestand… on what we need to do to improve and turn the page. Day off tomorrow is going to be a good day off—guys are going to need it—and we will get back after it in L.A.”

Luis Severino (1-4, 4.70 ERA) was tagged with the loss, while Yankees starter Ryan Yarbrough (1-0, 3.70 ERA) earned the win.

The A’s fell to 21-20 while the Yankees improved to 23-17.

The A’s will have the day off Monday before taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium at 7:10 PM PST. The A’s have yet to announce a starter, while the Dodgers are slated to send Landon Knack (2-0, 4.61 ERA) to the mound.

Note of the day: The A’s are still waiting on the first MLB home run from first baseman Nick Kurtz. Known for his power in the minors, Kurtz has yet to lift the ball much for the A’s. He has one double and one triple in 52 at-bats but no other extra-base hits.

Giants Get Swept By Minnesota in Tenth Inning 7-6

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San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos praises the good Lord for his home run in the top of the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sun May 11, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (24-17) got swept by the Minnesota Twins (21-20) losing game three in ten innings 7-6. San Francisco had their bats working today and led for the first five innings of this game. The Giants had 9 hits in the game but the Twins were on task with 13 hits. Trailing going into the bottom of the tenth inning, the Twins had to come from behind for the walk-off.

Game recap: The Giants got game three off with a bang taking a 1-0 lead much the same as Saturday but Sunday there was something different; the San Francisco bats were connecting. They started the first inning going in the right direction.

Heliot Ramos hit a sacrifice and Mike Yastrzemski scored from third for the early lead. The Giants would add to their lead in the fourth inning when again Ramos connected, this time a two run home run taking a 3-0 lead.

Just when it was looking great for the Giants, the Twins checked in with a two run home run off the bat of Brooks Lee in the fourth inning driving in Trevor Larnach with San Francisco still leading 3-2.

The Giants got an insurance run in the fifth inning when the other Lee, Jung Hoo, hit a sacrifice fly and Yastrzemski scored from third base after advancing on a balk. Through five innings the Giants were really hitting.

Lee who had been quiet the past few games already had two hits and Matt Chapman was also having a good game. Ramos was having a killer game offensively hitting the home run in the fourth inning while also making some amazing diving catches robbing the Twins of hits.

After five innings the Giants struck again in the fifth inning when Lee sacrificed and Yastrzemski scored for a 4-2 tally. The Twins answered in the bottom of the fifth when another sacrifice drove a base runner over home plate. Byron Buxton hit the sacrifice and Kody Clemens scored. Going into the sixth inning the score was 4-3 in favor of the Giants.

The Giants starting pitcher Landon Roupp was relieved in the sixth inning by Erik Miller. Roupp had pitched five innings allowing six hits, three runs, no walks and three strikeouts. Roupp had three really good innings to start the game and gave up the three runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

Miller struggled from the start of the sixth inning. With no outs, the Twins had loaded the bases getting hits from Brooks Lee and Will Castro with Ryan Jeffers walking. Royce Lewis came to the plate and singled, Lee scored and this game was tied 4-4 still with no outs.

The Twins already had nine hits in this game. This was it for Miller and he was relieved by Camilo Doval. Doval’s first pitch resulted in San Francisco’s first out of the inning at home plate saving the go-ahead run.

The Giants got their second out at second base but Castro scored from third base taking their first lead of the game 5-4. With the bases still loaded San Francisco’s Doval got out of the inning, striking out Buxton and coming away with minimal damage.

The Giants had some coming back to do going into the seventh inning. San Francisco was facing a very solid pitcher in the Twins Louis Varland. Varland had a great inning retiring the Giants in order in this very close game. The Twins would face a new relief pitcher for the Giants Hayden Birdsong who has a nice mix of balls. Birdsong gave up a double to start the inning but got a strikeout for the third out getting out of the inning.

Willy Adames got his first hit of the series , a single, to start the eighth inning. Matt Chapman had his second hit of the game and the Giants had runners at first and second with Ramos at the plate.

Ramos came through big time hitting the ball hard and Adames scored tying up the game 5-5. With only one out, San Francisco had runners at the corners. The Giants could not take advantage of the scoring possibility and it was on to the ninth inning after the Twins were unable to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Giants had led for most of the game and were now fighting for this game. San Francisco went quietly in the ninth inning. Tyler Rogers would take the mound looking to keep the Twins off the scoreboard. Rogers struck out the top of the Twins batting order, Buxton, Larnach and France as this game went into extra innings.

One of the best closers in the game today Jhoan Duran took the mound for the Twins facing Chapman, Ramos and David Villar. Chapman singled with Lee advancing to third. Villar who has not had a lot of at bats came through grounding out but allowing Lee to score giving San Francisco a 6-5 lead. Wilmer Flores struck out for the third out. The Twins had one last inning to at least tie up this game.

Ryan Walker came into the game to try and close out the game for the Giants. San Francisco got the first out of the inning at first base but France scored from third to tie up the game 6-6. Lightning struck when Dashawn Keirsey Jr. singled and Brooks Lee scored for the walk off 7-6.

Game notes: After losing the first two games of their series with the Twins, the Giants came into this game with one purpose in mind and that is to avoid the sweep. The Giants have not been swinging the bats very well. They had three hits in the first game and four in the second game and needed more to win the third game.

The Giants while they scored six runs and a two run 6-5 lead going to the bottom of the tenth inning couldn’t get closer Ryan Walker to close the door on the Twins. Walker allowed one earned run and two hits as the Twins scored twice in a walk off to sweep the Giants on Sunday.

This was a tough loss for San Francisco in game three compounded with getting swept in this series. The Giants will now head back to San Francisco and try to regroup and prepare to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-game series that will get underway Monday evening. Justin Verlander (0-2 ERA 4.50) will take the mound for San Francisco and the Diamondbacks will start Merrill Kelly (3-2 ERA 4.09). First pitch for the game is scheduled for 6:45 PM.

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast Daniel Dullum: Severino’s remarks on A’s minor league park speaks volumes for players

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Sacramento A’s pitcher Luis Severino is fired up after striking out the Texas Rangers hitter Jake Burger with the bases loaded in the bottom third inning on Wed Apr 30, 2025 at Globe Life Field in Arlington. Severino said on Fri May 9, 2025 that the A’s interim home at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento is not a big league park. (AP file photo)

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 The New York Yankees network the YES Network in an interview on Friday with the former Yankee abd current Sacramento A’s pitcher Luis Severino asked his thoughts about playing in a minor league park and Severino said, “This is not a big league park.”

#2 Severino did not add anymore to the minor league ballpark statement but it did reverberate when the Yankees press who are covering the Yankees trip in Sacramento this weekend as to what a player’s thoughts are playing at the San Francisco Giants triple A affiliate Sacramento Rivercats minor league park.

#3 The Yankee broadcasters on the YES Network also added that “This is gonna be a summer this grass is never gonna forget.” inferring that the ballparks natural playing surface will be used over some 150 games just this season and the turf might show it’s age after so much use.

#4 Severino said the wind can take a baseball and do some damage to a pitcher if a hitter hits it in the direction of the wind and in a minor league park things could go bad fast.

#5 Severino said a few words regarding playing at a minor park is there any doubt that he’s sharing the feelings of the other players as well?

Join Daniel Dullum Sundays for the A’s Relocation podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Lack of Hitting Hurts Giants in Second Loss to Twins 2-1

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San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb pitching in the bottom of the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sat May 10, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants lost game two of their series with the Minnesota Twins 2-1 Sunday. Again there was not a lot of hitting going on, in fact only one hit more than Saturday’s game with four hits. Heliot Ramos did hit a solo home run but some stellar pitching from the Twins did not give up much else. Both starting pitchers had solid efforts, Logan Webb finishing seven innings.

Game recap: The Giants got on the scoreboard in the second inning taking a 1-0 lead. Heliot Ramos hit a home run to left centerfield, a solo shot.

The Twins not only tied up the game but took the lead in the bottom of the third inning. They answered with a long ball of their own off the bat of Trevor Larnach with Christian Vazquez on base taking a 2-1 lead.

Neither team would score through the next three innings with the Twins hanging onto the slim 2-1 lead. The Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan finished six innings allowing only 2 hits and one run. He had seven strikeouts and 2 line-outs. Griffin Jax would relieve him in the seventh inning plowing through Jung Hoo Lee, Matt Chapman and Wilmer Flores, the upper echelon of the Giants starting lineup.

The Giants starter Logan Webb also had a nice outing pitching seven innings allowing four hits and two runs. He finished with eight strikeouts, ten ground outs and two flyouts. He got into a bit of trouble in the seventh giving up a single to Castro who was thrown out trying to reach second. Harrison Bader hit a double with two outs in the inning but Webb struck out the next at bat Christian Vasquez and getting out of the inning.

The Twins Cole Sands relieved Griffin Jax in the eighth immediately giving up a double to Heliot Ramos and the Giants had a bit of a rally that was soon to be extinguished. LaMonte Wade Jr. lined out and Ramos advanced to third and with one out the Giants had a great opportunity to tie up the game. Disaster hit when Ramos was picked off at third after taking a sizable lead. Patrick Bailey popped out for the third out and San Francisco was three outs away from losing game two.

San Francisco relief pitcher Randy Rodriquez relieved Webb in the bottom of the eighth dismissing the top of the Minnesota batting order Byron Buxton, Trevor Larnach and Ty France in that order. The Giants were down to their last three outs.

San Francisco got the ninth inning going with a Christian Koss bunt . The top of the Giant’s batting order Mike Yastrzemski hit into a double play and Willy Adames struck out for the third out and that was the ball game 2-1 in favor of Minnesota back to .500 with this win. The Twins Jhoan Duran closed the game beautifully for the Twins.

Game notes: After a less than memorable offensive effort in Saturday’s game one, the Giants were looking for a whole lot more wood on the ball in game two of their series with the Minnesota Twins. They managed only 3 hits in game one and that will not win very many ball games.

San Francisco starter Logan Webb pitched seven innings allowing five hits and two runs, one walk and nine strikeouts but didn’t get the run support. The Twins starter Joe Ryan threw for six innings giving up two hits, one run, and struck out seven batters.

The Giants will be back at it Sunday in game three trying to avoid a sweep. Landen Roupp will take the mound for San Francisco with a 2-3 win/loss record with 4.93 ERA. The Giants have to start generating a lot more offense falling pretty flat so far in this series. The Twins will start Pablo Lopez (3-2 ERA 2.18) looking for a sweep with first pitch scheduled for 11:10 AM PDT .

A’s Outslug Yankees 11-7 Behind Langeliers’ Blast, Sears’ Strong Start

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Luis Urias after his solo shot in the second innings of Saturday’s matinee affair.

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — Yesterday, it was Jasson Dominguez launching homers out of Sutter Health Park. On Friday, Dominguez hit three home runs, including a grand slam, to lift the Yankees over the A’s.

In Saturday’s matinee affair, it was Aaron Judge and the A’s who left the yard, as the Sacramento wind was blowing strong out to right-center field. Judge hit two mammoth shots, but the A’s answered with three homers of their own en route to an 11-7 victory. 

The A’s and Yankees combined for six home runs on Saturday afternoon. 

A’s starter JP Sears delivered another solid outing as he continues to solidify himself as the A’s best starter. Sears gave up one run on four hits while striking out four and walking one over five innings. His only blemish was a solo homer by Judge in the fourth inning, and he left the game with a 4-1 lead.

The A’s offense backed Sears early with a solo homer from Luis Urías in the second inning and a Brent Rooker three-run shot in the third, putting the A’s firmly in control.

The Yankees responded with a big sixth inning, scoring five runs behind home runs from Judge and Oswaldo Cabrera to take a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.

But the A’s weren’t done. In the seventh, Shai Langeliers launched a three-run homer to straightaway center field, a 418-foot blast aided by the delta breeze, to put Sacramento back in front. The A’s never looked back, adding four more runs in the eighth on a two-RBI single from Tyler Soderstrom and a two-RBI double from Shea Langeliers.

Mason Miller came on in the eighth to record the final two outs, then finished the game in the ninth, allowing one run but securing the save as the A’s defeated the Yankees 11-7.

The A’s bullpen, aside from Miller, was a mixed bag in the win. Justin Sterner relieved Sears in the sixth and struggled, giving up five runs on three hits in just two-thirds of an inning. Grant Holman and Tyler Ferguson stabilized things, combining for 1.2 scoreless innings before Miller took over.

A’s reliever Grant Holman (4-0, 0.82 ERA) got the win on Saturday as Yankees reliever Fernando Cruz (1-1, 2.66 ERA) was tagged for the loss. Mason Miller locked down the save (11th save of the season).  The A’s improved to 21-19 as the Yankees fell to 22-17 in the 2025 campaign.

In the rubber game of the series on Sunday, slated for a 1:05 p.m. first pitch, the A’s will send Luis Severino (1-3, 3.62 ERA) to the hill. As of this writing, the Yankees have yet to announce a starting pitcher.

Note of the day: Jacob Wilson continues to put it all together for the A’s and Manager Mark Kotsay.

“With young players you try and manage the emotions, you try to manage the peaks and valleys as best you can, and right now Jacob is swinging the bat exceptionally well. He is showing the ability to work counts and get on base with a walk, so he’s doing everything you want him to do from the leadoff spot.”

Since being elevated to the leadoff spot on Friday, Wilson is 3-for-8 with a walk. He’s currently slashing an impressive .358 average with only eight strikeouts and a 1.1 WAR this season. His .358 average ranks second in MLB, trailing only Aaron Judge’s .396.