Tag: mlb

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Can Tony Vitello survive his Maiden season

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San Francisco Giants Tony Vitello argues with umpire David Rackley (right) after getting ejected in the seventh inning in a game against New York Mets Sun Apr 5, 2026 (AP News photo)

Can Tony Vitello survive his Maiden season

By That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

The San Francisco Giants are rich in managerial experience, talent, and advisors; under this 2026 team’s payroll, there are Bruce Bochy, Dusty Baker, and Ron Washington. All managers at the Major League level with extensive and successful resumes; two of the three are future Hall of Fame material. Except for Washington, the others are done with managing.

The Giants hired Tony Vitello in late 2025 primarily because Buster Posey (with higher management support), as the President of Baseball Operations, sought a high-energy, moderate leader who would change the team’s culture and develop young talent. Vitello was ‘all that’ at Tennessee, where he was intense and competitive and won, but in Major League Baseball, where egos are plentiful, you need to be an effective manager on the field with strategy and a psychiatrist in the locker room to win in the end. By the way, you also need the horses to win the race.

So far, during this young season heading into May, the Giants do not look like a team with the fire to win. The question is, can Vitello change this culture? The same culture that ended with a mediocre 81-81 last season under Bob Melvin, can they improve on that?

Vitello might be able to do it, maybe or not. I do not believe the Giants can tell this early in the season; they have to be evaluating as they go. After all, with all respect to Vitello, a man who played college baseball but never played professional baseball at any level (minor or major leagues). He was a good infielder at the collegiate level. Tony Vitello was the head baseball coach at the University of Tennessee for seven years.

In 2024, Stephen Vogt was named American League Manager of the Year with the Cleveland Indians; he never managed or coached at any level (professional or otherwise). As a matter of record, Vogt owns the record as the fastest person to go from player to Manager of the Year; he did it in 297 days.

He played in the major leagues for 11 seasons. I am not asking for Vitello to be fired this early. I know fans are quick to react, but they are the team’s prized customers who attend their games, follow the team, and spend money.

A good friend of mine told me about Vitello, “Give him this year and next.” OK, but we live in different times; fans paying good money to attend games might have a shorter patience span for Vitello, which is why they’re called “fans”.

Oracle is not Dodger Stadium; there is not a sellout here every game. Why can the Giants develop, draft, or acquire really athletic players like Reds Elly De La Cruz and Pirates O’Neill Cruz or Royals Bobby Witt Jr.? These are exciting, talented players, winning players, and that is what changes your culture.

Since 2018, the average tenure of a team manager has been between 3 and 4 years.

Quote: The phrase “managers are hired to be fired” is a long-standing baseball adage -Used by everybody.

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.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

Sacramento A’s game wrap: A’s Drown In Four Run Eighth-Inning Philly Surge 6-3; Sac Faces Being Swept Thursday

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Philadelphia Phillies Edmundo Sosa is out at second base as Sacramento A’s second baseman Jeff McNeil tries to complete the double play in the bottom of the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia on Wed May 6, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

Sacramento A’s couldn’t hold off the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night at Citizens Bank in Philadelphia as the Phillies down 3-2 rallied in the eighth inning scoring four runs to come away with a 6-3 win.

For seven innings, the Athletics looked like they would rinse away the sour taste of Tuesday’s 9-1 thumping and remind everyone why they were still sitting on top of the American League West. They entered Wednesday night 18-17, still holding a season-high tying two-game lead in the division despite losing three of their previous four, and they had spent the last ten days alone in first place.

That made this game feel like more than a random early-May interleague stop. It felt like a test of whether the Green and Gold could steady themselves and continue the momentum they ran with in April.

For most of the night, they did. Jeffrey Springs gave the A’s exactly the kind of road start they needed, working around early traffic while keeping Philadelphia’s lineup from landing the big punch. Kyle Schwarber doubled in the first, and the Phillies put two aboard in the second, but Springs kept the scoreboard clean. He got Alec Bohm to fly out and Felix Reyes to bounce into a forceout, then followed with a tidy third inning. For a pitcher who had allowed six home runs over his previous three starts after giving up none in his first four, this was a needed return to control.

The A’s scratched first in the third. Lawrence Butler opened the inning with a walk, moved to second on Nick Kurtz’s groundout, and scored when Jacob Wilson served a fly-ball single to right. Wilson then stole second, continuing to look like one of the steadiest bats in the order. His hit also extended his hitting streak to 10 games, another small but meaningful sign that his early-season wobble has turned into a real rhythm.

Springs kept protecting the 1-0 lead, and he even flashed some craft in the fourth by picking off J.T. Realmuto after Realmuto’s second single of the game. In the fifth, the A’s added another run with two outs. Zack Gelof lined a double to left, and Kurtz followed by ripping a sharp single to right, bringing Gelof home for a 2-0 lead. Kurtz was not done either.

Entering the night with the longest reaching-base streak in the majors this season, he pushed it to 30 games by reaching multiple times. That tied him with Matt Chapman’s 30-game run from 2018, the longest such streak by an Athletic in recent memory.

Philadelphia finally cracked Springs in the fifth. Brandon Marsh opened the inning with a triple to center and scored on Reyes’ groundout, cutting the A’s lead to 2-1. Springs still finished the frame by getting Schwarber called out on strikes after a confirmed ABS challenge, keeping the momentum from fully turning.

Then Tyler Soderstrom gave the A’s a little breathing room in the sixth. He jumped on Zack Wheeler and lifted a solo homer to left, his fifth of the season, pushing the lead to 3-1. At that point, the game had a clean shape for Sacramento. Springs was battling, the offense had produced just enough, and the bullpen had a two-run lead to guard.

But this is when baseball proved that baseball is never really predictable or reliable, and one can never let his guard down or get comfortable they have the game in the bag.

The Phils Adolis García trimmed the A’s lead to 3-2 with a solo homer to center in the bottom of the sixth, and Springs exited after Edmundo Sosa followed with a single. Justin Sterner escaped the inning, and Jack Perkins delivered a spotless seventh with two strikeouts, including Bryson Stott on an overturned ABS challenge. The A’s still led by one heading into the eighth.

Then the whole thing unraveled.

Schwarber walked to open the eighth, and Bryce Harper reached on a fielder’s choice that became more dangerous when Jeff McNeil’s throwing error allowed Schwarber to move up. García singled to load the bases with nobody out, and Sosa punished the mistake with a ground-ball single to center that scored Schwarber and Harper, flipping the game to 4-3 Phillies.

Realmuto lined out, but Marsh followed with another single to center to score García. Stott singled to reload the bases, and Justin Crawford’s groundout brought home Sosa. In one messy, grinding inning, Philadelphia turned a 3-2 deficit into a 6-3 lead.

The A’s made one last push in the ninth against Brad Keller. McNeil singled, Butler walked, and Kurtz drew another walk to load the bases with two outs. Darell Hernaiz pinch-ran for Kurtz, bringing Wilson to the plate as the tying run. But Wilson grounded softly back to Keller, ending the game and leaving the A’s with a 6-3 loss that felt more frustrating than lopsided.

This was not a lifeless defeat. Springs competed. Soderstrom homered. Wilson and Kurtz kept important streaks alive. But the bullpen’s recent danger signs showed up again, and one ugly eighth inning swallowed seven innings of mostly pristine baseball. For a first-place team trying to prove May will not become a repeat of old collapses, this was the kind of loss that does not need drama attached to it. It already came with enough sting.

Starting pitchers for Thursday’s night: For Sacramento RHP JT Ginn (0-1 ERA 4.30) for Philadelphia RHP Andrew Painter (1-3 ERA 5.28) first pitch 3:40pm PDT.

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 Lose series to Padres 5-1 Wed; Pads score twice in 7th and 8th for win

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San Francisco Giants #16 Rafael Devers hits a homerun (365 ft) to left field on Wednesday, May 6th, 2026, at Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. (Photo credits to Jay Choi SF Bay News Lab)

By Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Giants have now lost back to back games in two days to the San Diego Padres. After Tuesday night’s loss, the Giants, again, dropped Wednesday afternoon’s game and the homestand to the Padres.

Although the Giants starting and losing pitcher, Adrian Houser, had one of his best starts as a Giant, San Francisco would lose to San Diego, 5-1. Thursday’s game was meaningful and special for the Giants regardless of the results, because Wednesday was Willie Mays 95th Birthday. Happy Birthday to the 12-time Gold Glove winner, two time MVP winner and 1954 World Series Champion.

Giants Adrian Houser had just thrown 73 pitches and got through six one-run innings. A solid start and performance the Giants needed, however their hitting would be a big factor on their loss. three hits in their own home park, the whole game, is a direction to a loss. Earlier in the season when Houser started the season, there was speculation on his performance, so to see a turn around from him this afternoon was great for the team and the fans.

At the start of the game there was solid pitching from both teams pitchers. Especially from the Padres and winning pitcher, Matt Waldron, who rang up seven strikeouts and just two hits allowed in the Padres win. It would go back and fourth all the way until the top of the fourth inning, when Padres, Gavin Sheets would get a homer to right field to the Padres on the board, 1-0.

An inning later, in the bottom of the fifth, Rafael Devers would get his third homerun of the season on a fly ball to left field. His homerun would get the Giants on the board, but it would be their only time they got to scoreboard. The score is tied, 1-1. However the San Francisco Giants would strikeout 13 times in this game, which showed both on how solid the Padres pitching was and how much the Giants are struggling on offense and hitting.

After Devers hitting sequence, the Padres would lock in and take over the afternoon in San Francisco. Going into the final stretch of the game, in the top of the seventh inning, Padres Ty France would hit a triple and bring in two runs with that hit. The score would jump to, 3-1, Padres holding the lead. Frances triple would be his second of the season.

Then again, just an inning later, the Padres weren’t done and would put up more runs. Padres Xander Bogaerts sent a 424 ft homer over the left field fence, his seventh of the season, and add second more runs to the Padres box sheet. With the score 5-1 the Giants had their backs on the wall. San Francisco would still have a chance for a comeback.

With just one inning left, the Padres knew what time it was. It was Miller time. Padres closer Mason Miller in one inning would put up two strikeouts to close the game. San Francisco has lost eight of nine and they’re now at their lowest record, 14-23 on the season. The win Wednesday would go to pitcher Padres Matt Waldron with seven strike outs, two hits, and one earned run. Also the losing pitcher would be Adrian Houser, three hits, one earned run, and three strikeouts.

The Giants will get a chance to rest Thursday, and get ready for their next series. The Giants will host the Pittsburgh Pirates starting on Friday, May 8th at 7:15 p.m at Oracle Park. San Francisco will send out starter LHP Robbie Ray (2-4, 2.95 ERA), and Pittsburgh will send out RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (2-2, 4.76 ERA). The game will be broadcasted on NBCS BA.

He Was A Giant? Feature Jim King 1958 By Tony the Tiger Hayes

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Former San Francisco Giant Jim King on his 1958 Topps card (Card by Topps Chewing Gum Co 1958)

He Was A Giant? Feature Jim King 1958

By Tony the Tiger Hayes

Jim King – OF – 1958 – # 22

He Was A Giant?

Overnight, King – a 25-year-old rumpled journeyman – went from a Giants afterthought to leapfrogging a former National League Most Valuable Player to start the first major league game ever played in California.

Acquired from St. Louis days before the Giants’ 1958 Golden Gate premiere, King started in LF and batted second vs. the newly minted Los Angeles Dodgers as the dawn of West Coast-based Major League Baseball broke at San Francisco’s Seals Stadium on 4/15/58.

King and the Giants did not disappoint, as he batted 2-for-3, with an RBI and a run scored as the Orange & Black dominated the Dodgers on a Ruben Gomez six-hit, 8-0 shutout.

King pounded the first ever base hit to drive in a San Francisco run when he rifled a single to right in the third off Don Drysdale, scoring C Valmy Thomas to make it 2-0. Previously, 3B Jim Davenport had driven in a run with a sacrifice fly.

King’s time to shine in the fog belt however didn’t last long. Of all nine Giants to start the first ever San Francisco opener, King would see the least amount of action with the Orange & Black – just 34 contests – before disappearing into the minor leagues for years.

After his noteworthy opening day nod, King would start just nine more times for San Francisco – batting .214, 2, 8 before moving on.

Why Was He a Giant?

The left -handed swinging King was acquired from the Cardinals in exchange for C Ray Katt about a week before opening day as OF insurance.

At the time of the trade, King was quoted as saying he was “well satisfied” to be with San Francisco.

Right-handed batting Hank Sauer – the 1952 NL MVP as a Cub – was initially pegged to start in LF opening day for the Orange & Black along with Willie Mays in CF and rookie Willie Kirkland in RF. But Sauer was swapped out for King hours before first pitch.

Manager Bill Rigney preferred the matchup King provided vs. Dodgers powerhouse righty Don Drysdale. It’s possible that the skipper knew that two seasons previously, King – as a Chicago Cub – had a grand day against Drysdale in Brooklyn, batting 2-for-4, with a solo HR vs. the future Hall of Famer.

Before & After

The Arkansas native originally appeared in the majors in 1955 with the Cubs and received a good amount of playing time against right-handers, bashing 26 long balls over 1955-56. A move to the Cardinals in 1957 proved less fruitful, leading to his swap to the Giants the following spring.

The Giants would part ways with King during the early summer of ‘58. He was initially sent to Triple-AAA Phoenix, but after batting just .200 in 20 games he was offered to the independent Triple-AAA Toronto club to make way for a bevy of young Giants prospects (Willie McCovey, Leon Wagner, Felipe Alou) on the come.

King wouldn’t make it back to the big leagues until 1961 when he was added to the roster of the expansion Washington Senators. Remarkably, King would flourish in D.C., starting in the Solons outfield for the next six seasons.

King’s 24 HR in 1963 were the most ever by a left-handed Senators hitter. King batted for the cycle for Washington in a 3-2 loss to Boston (5/26/64). He also became a member of the exclusive “Three HR Game” club in ‘64, but the woeful Senators also dropped that contest to Kansas City, 5-4 (6/8/64).

He Never Had A Bobblehead Day. But…

In an action packed early season tilt at Seals Stadium (5/5/58), the visiting Pirates took a seemingly insurmountable 11-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth, before the Giants began an unimaginable comeback.

With the bases loaded and one out, King touched off a madcap Giants rally when he sizzled a two-run, pinch-hit double off Bucs starter Vernon Law.

King’s two-bagger would be followed by two more consecutive pinch-hit doubles (Johnny Antonelli, Bob Speake) which added three more runs. Then there was a three-run homer by Ray Jablonski and a solo jolt off the bat of Orlando Cepeda.

The Giants had reloaded the bases again when King’s turn at bat came again, but manager Bill Rigney opted for pinch-hitter Don Taussig (the eighth pinch-hitter of the inning!) Taussig popped out to 2B Bill Mazeroski in shallow center to end the 11-10 almost miracle comeback.

Giant Footprint:

After King’s impressive opening day performance, Rigney intended on utilizing a LF platoon with King and the more seasoned right-handed hitting Sauer.

But the brawny Sauer – who reported his age as 39, but was actually two years older – soon pushed King to the bench for good with a torrid batting binge. Over the first two weeks of the ‘58 campaign, the “Snooz” torched National League pitching with a .389 average, 7 HR and 13 RBI.

A year-round California resident, Sauer fell in love with cool climate and neighborly vibe of Seals Stadium.

“They kid me a lot out there in left field. All you have to do is kid them back and you’re all set,” said Sauer, who after retiring in 1959, would become a longtime Giants hitting coach. “I think I could play in all 77 home games. You don’t get tired so easily in San Francisco because of the weather.”

Giants Fall to the Padres on Cinco de Mayo, 10-5

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San Diego Padres Sung-Mun Song hits a double on a sharp fly ball to center field in Game 2 of 3 at Oracle Park on Tuesday, May 5th, 2026, at San Francisco, CA. (Photo credits to Jay Choi SF Bay News)

By Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO – Coming off of San Francisco Giants pitcher Caleb Kilian’s first Major League save last night and the team snapping their six-game losing streak, the Giants had a hard time picking up where they left off Monday with a loss to the Padres. Monday night’s win was special because it was the Giants’ 500th win in the all-time series between them. However, the Padres were in control the whole game and bounced back against the Giants Tuesday night 10-5.

The series between these two teams is now 3-2, with the Giants holding the lead thanks to their road wins earlier in the season. After Monday night’s win, the Giants have already matched their season win total versus the Padres from all of last season, as they went 3-10 against San Diego in 2025. This homestand between them is now tied, and the winner in Wednesday’s game will decide who wins this homestand.

Bottom of the first inning, Giants Casey Schmitt got his sixth homer of the season and was able to bring two runs in to give San Francisco an early 2-0 lead over San Diego. Schmitt also got himself a homer before, so in the last two days, he has gotten himself two homers. Not too far, in the top of the second, San Diego Padres Xander Bogaerts joins the party and gets his sixth homer of the season. Padres Bogaerts’ homer would cut the Giants’ lead to one, 2-1.

Getting his first Major League hit, Giants catcher Jesus Rodriguez singled on a line drive to right field, bringing the Giants Adames to score, and Gilbert to third with one out. Rodriguez would change the score and extend the lead to 3-1. His set up was nicely done, so then Giants Jung Hoo Lee grounded into a force out, but was able to help bring in Gilbert to score. They’d end the second inning with a new score, 4-2.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Padres were ready to start getting some hits, thanks to the Giants’ defensive errors. San Diego would put up five runs to give them their first lead of the night, 6-4. Especially credit to Padres Sung-Mun Song, who got a triple and brought in two runs. This was also Sung-Mun Song’s first career hit in the Majors.

Also, Giants shortstop Willy Adames had himself a throwing error that helped Song get a triple. An error the Giants wish they could’ve prevented in this game. San Francisco would pull out Logan Webb from pitching after four innings. The Padres had put up six runs on him, and also a five-run frame in his last inning of the game. The Giants would bring out JT Burbaker, but in his first inning, he threw already 39 pitches with another run to increase the Padres’ lead, 7-4.

Reaching the top of the sixth inning, the Giants would do another pitching change to LHP Ryan Borucki. However, the Padres would still see some success as they were able to get another run in on a single from Miguel Andujar, making the score now 8-4. The Giants’ offense has been quiet after the second inning, and San Francisco has struggled to get some hits going, to get them back in the game.

It would take San Francisco Giants Jesus Rodriguez to get some life in the ballpark as he got his first career homer in the Majors. Rodrigues would end this game with his first career hit and home run in the Majors. His homer in the bottom of the seven would change the score to 8-5. Although the Padres would have something to say about that homer from Rodriguez.

The Padres would go into the eighth inning and put up two runs. This was a big improvement for San Diego after their loss yesterday to the Giants. The Padres were determined to bounce back from last night, and that’s how they jumped back by hitting and making the most of the Giants errors and bullpen.

The winning pitcher for tonight’s game was San Diego Padres Walker Buehler. Buehler would have five strikeouts, seven hits, 5.1 IP, and one HR. On the other hand, the home team starting pitcher, Giants Logan Webb, would receive his fourth loss in the season. Webb would put up seven hits, six runs, four IP, and four strikeouts. Padres Bogaerts would receive player of the game, going 2-of-4 in his batting, and with his two RBI’s.

The Giants and Padres will see each other for the sixth time already this season, Wednesday, with the first pitch being held at 12:45 p.m. back in Oracle Park on NBCS BA. Wednesday’s game will be the last home game the Giants will host the Padres until September 11th, where they’ll return for the game on their 11th matchup of the season between them. However, the Giants will travel down to San Diego from June 30th through August 2nd.

Wedneday’s starters: San Francisco will send out RHP Adrian Houser (0-3, 7.12 ERA). While San Diego will send out RHP Matt Waldron (0-1 ERA 9.88).

Sacramento A’s game wrap: Harper & Phillies Give No Brotherly Love to A’s in 9-1 Pounding

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Sacramento A’s starter Luis Severino pitching to the Philadelphia Phillies in the second inning at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia on Tue May 5, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics arrived in Philadelphia riding atop the American League West, hoping to make a statement. And they did, but not the one they intended.The problem Tuesday night was simple and brutal: Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sánchez never let the Green and Gold get comfortable, and Bryce Harper treated the middle innings like his personal stage as the Phillies knocked out the A’s 9-1 at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark.

For the first two innings, Luis Severino hopped over lava pools but did not fall. Harper singled in the first, Adolis García walked, and Brandon Marsh followed with a single to load the bases with two outs. Severino escaped when J.T. Realmuto flew out to right. In the second, Bryson Stott doubled and Alec Bohm walked, putting two more Phillies in scoring position. Again, Severino found his footing, striking out Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber to keep the game scoreless. It was not pretty, but it was gritty, the kind of early survival act that can swing a game if the offense answers.

The A’s offense, however, stayed mostly silent. Sánchez retired the side in order in the first, second, fourth, and fifth innings, mixing weak contact with strikeouts and never letting the Athletics stack pressure. Their first real chance came in the third when Brett Harris was hit by a pitch and Jacob Wilson singled him to third with two outs, but Brent Rooker lined sharply to center to end the inning. That ball had life, but Justin Crawford had a glove that he uses quite well to put it lightly, and the Phillies kept the door shut.

Harper cracked it open in the bottom of the third. Severino had battled around traffic through two innings, but Harper turned on a pitch and sent it over the wall in right center for his eighth homer of the season, giving Philadelphia a 1-0 lead. Severino settled down after that, working through the fourth and fifth without further damage. He allowed baserunners, including singles by Bohm, Crawford, and Marsh, but the Phillies kept stranding them. For a while, the game still felt close enough for one A’s swing to rewrite it.

That swing never came. In the sixth, Harris walked and Wilson moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt, but Rooker flew out and Nick Kurtz struck out on a foul tip. In the seventh, Colby Thomas and Zack Gelof opened the inning with back-to-back singles, finally giving the Athletics a serious threat. Sánchez responded like a pitcher who smelled the finish line. Tyler Soderstrom struck out, Austin Wynns moved both runners up with a groundout, and Darell Hernaiz struck out swinging to leave two more aboard. That was the moment the night began to tilt hard toward Philadelphia.

The bottom of the seventh turned a close game into a long one. Turner doubled against Mark Leiter Jr., moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on García’s sacrifice fly. Harper walked, Marsh singled, and Realmuto doubled to left, bringing home two more. Tyler Ferguson entered, but Stott greeted him with a two-run homer to right center, and suddenly a 1-0 game had become 6-0. It was the kind of inning that makes every missed chance from earlier feel twice as heavy.

Philadelphia added more in the eighth. Crawford doubled, Turner singled him home, and Harper struck again, launching his second homer of the night, this one to center, scoring Turner and pushing the lead to 9-0. Harper finished as the loudest bat in the ballpark, with two home runs, three runs scored, and three RBI, while Turner, Marsh, Realmuto, and Stott helped turn the Phillies lineup into a steady parade.

The Athletics avoided the shutout in the ninth against Jhoan Duran. Kurtz singled, Gelof walked, Soderstrom walked after a confirmed challenge, and Hernaiz drew a bases-loaded walk to score Thomas. But Wynns and Harris both struck out, leaving the final at 9-1. For the A’s, it was a night of missed chances, quiet bats, and one bullpen inning that got away fast. For Philadelphia, it was Sánchez setting the tone and Harper making sure everyone remembered the melody.

A’s will try it again Tuesday night at Citizens Bank a 3:40pm PDT first pitch: Starting pitchers for Sacramento LHP Jefferey Springs (3-2 ERA 3.96) for Philadelphia RHP Zack Wheeler (1-0 ERA 2.45)

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. 

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Villanueva: Promotions of McDonald, Eldridge, and Rodriguez motivate veteran players to step up and end losing streak

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San Francisco Giants recent call up Bryce Eldridge splinters his bat against the San Diego Padres in the bottom of the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Mon May 4, 2026 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Villanueva:

#1 Michael, with the promotions of Trevor McDonald, Bryce Eldrige, and Jesus Rodriguez from Triple A Sacramento it looked like it motivated the parent San Francisco Giants into snapping their six game losing streak Monday.

#2 Starter Trevor McDonald threw for seven innings, allowing two hits, didn’t allow a run, and struck out eight batters. Was it a matter of the San Diego Padres weren’t familar with McDonald or he kept them off balance with some good pitches.

#3 Once the Giants returned to Oracle park and won on Monday 3-2 they picked up their seventh win in their last nine home games. They do respond to the home cooking.

#4 First baseman Rafael Devers also responded hitting in his second multi hit game of the season with two RBIs. Is he seeing the ball a lot better?

#5 Michael, talk about tonight’s starters for the San Diego Padres RHP Walker Buehler (1-2 ERA 5.40) for San Francisco RHP Logan Webb (2-3 ERA 4.30) first pitch at 6:40pm PDT at Oracle Park.

Michael Villanueva is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast Tony Renteria: What are the factors that led to SF’s 6 game skid?; Braves on MLB’s best start; plus more news

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Atlanta Braves Drake Baldwin (right) celebrates after hitting a two run home run against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver on Sat May 2, 2026 (AP News photo)

MLB The Show podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 How have the Tampa Bay Rays managed to maintain their hot streak, and what are the key factors behind the San Francisco Giants’ six-game losing skid?

#2 Braves’ dominant start to the season What has fueled the Atlanta Braves’ league-best start, and how significant is rookie pitcher JR Ritchie’s early impact on their success?

#3 Padres ownership change What could the potential long-term effects be of the San Diego Padres’ new ownership group on team spending, culture, and competitiveness?

#4 Astros vs. Dodgers rivalry renewed How does the ongoing rivalry between the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers—rooted in the 2017 World Series—continue to influence current matchups and player performances?

#5 League-wide tensions and fan reactions What do recent fan protests (such as those seen in Boston) reveal about growing frustrations with MLB team management, and how might this impact front-office decisions?

Join Tony Renteria does the MLB The Show podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: At long last SF Giants snap their six game losing streak at home

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San Francisco Giants Rafael Devers admires his sacrifice fly that scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Mon May 4, 2026 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 After the San Francisco Giants got swept twice losing six straight games they came back to Oracle Park in San Francisco snapping the skid with a win over the San Diego Padres.

#2 Casey Schmitt hit his fifth home run of the season to tie it up with the Padres at 1-1. Schmitt had been struggling and the plate and had been caught trying to advance to second base three times during the past week and was looking for something positive to happen.

#3 The Giants to started the game got some solid hitting in the bottom of the second inning with Rafael for an RBI single to give the Giants a 2-1 lead.

#4 In the bottom of the sixth Devers hit a sacrifice fly to right field that allowed Luis Arraez to score and add another Giants run making it 3-1.

#5 The Padres in the top of the ninth fell short after getting a home run from former Oakland Athletic Ramon Laureano his fifth of the season cutting the Giants lead to one run but the Giants snap their six game losing streak with a 3-2 win.

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.

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Trevor McDonald

McDonald shines, kids make debut as Giants beat Padres 3-2

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Photo: Giants pitcher Trevor McDonald throws against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, May 4, 2026 at Oracle Park. Photo by Jay Choi/SF Bay News Lab.

By Vince Cestone

SAN FRANCISCO–It was one of the worst road trips the San Francisco Giants may have ever had–three walk-off losses, with two on the same day, and an 0-6 trip where the offense looked listless. But that all changed on Monday night as the Giants got some home cooking and a strong start behind Trevor McDonald, as they beat the San Diego Padres 3-2 at Oracle Park on Monday night.

After the disastrous road trip to Philadelphia and Tampa Bay, Giants fans had something to be excited about as top prospect Bryce Eldridge was called up, along with top catching prospect Jesus Rodriguez. The Giants acquired Rodriguez in the trade that sent embattled closer Camilo Doval to the New York Yankees. While Eldridge nor Rodriguez got a hit in the game, their presence may have lit a fire into the struggling veterans.

After the Giants fell behind 1-0 in the first inning on a Jackson Merrill two-out, first inning home run, Casey Schmitt, who was playing third base for Matt Chapman, hit a solo home run in the bottom of the inning to tie the score 1-1. After Luis Arraez (2-for-4) hit the first of his two doubles in the game, Heliot Ramos reached on a fielder’s choice when Arraez beat the shortstop’s throw to third base. The next batter Rafael Devers singled him in to give the Giants a 2-1 lead.

Then, McDonald took over, pitching seven innings of one-run ball. He struck out eight batters and gave up just two hits and no walks. McDonald was just called up on Monday from Triple-A Sacramento, where he had a 5.40 ERA in 15 innings pitched. He found his A stuff at just the right time when the Giants needed a strong outing the most.

The Giants tacked on an important insurance run in the sixth inning when Devers hit a sacrifice fly to give the Giants a 3-1 lead. Arraez had led off the sixth with his second double of the game.

On the bullpen side, Keaton Winn pitched a scoreless, 1-2-3 eighth inning. But the big story was the Giants gave Caleb Kilian a chance to close out the game over Ryan Walker, who has three blown saves on the year. After Kilian gave up a leadoff home run to Padres left fielder Ramon Laureano, he retired the next three hitters in order, including strikeouts of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, to give the Giants a 3-2 win at Oracle Park. 33,000-plus fans went home happy.

The callups from Sacramento had decent at-bats, even though they didn’t record a hit. Eldridge (0-for-3) just missed a pitch in the first inning, popping out to first. He did draw a walk in the game and struck out once. Rodriguez (0-for-3) hit the ball hard twice but into outs.

The Giants are now 14-21 on the year but look like a new, energetic team. They hit the ball well all night but nothing to show for it, as the at-bats looked much better on Monday night.

Up next, the Giants will play Game 2 against the Padres on Tuesday night. Former Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler (1-2, 5.40 ERA) will pitch for the Padres. The Giants have not announced their starter for Tuesday. Game time is 6:45 p.m.