Tag: mlb

That’s Amaury News and Commentary-Athletics of the Lost Arc

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Aerial view of Sutter Health Park in Sacramento interim home of the Sacramento A’s. The A’s have not sold out one home game yet this season. The closest they came was for their home opener back on Mar 31, 2025 when they drew 12,119 in their 14,014 seat ballpark. (photo by ABC 10 Sacramento)

Athletics of the Lost Arc

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

At the current pace, the ATH playing at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento will draw around 700,000 people for the 2025 season. All the hype that preceded the season about “sold out” tickets before was like the hype failure of Ford’s Edsel.

In business, projecting success is crucial for attracting investment and building confidence. However, projecting success without a solid foundation can lead to problems and ultimately, failure. A strong business needs more than just a positive outlook; it requires a clear strategy, efficient operations, and a team capable of executing it.

Did the A’s “choose well” when they decided to play for three years in Sacramento? Only time will tell. I am not questioning the people or the City of Sacramento; they are just the consumers of the final product.

Common sense tells us that a Major League team playing for the first time in a city they have never played before will have at least a honeymoon of maybe a couple of dozen sellouts, but that has not happened. While the honeymoon has not turned into a divorce yet, it is not progressing as expected.

The Oakland Coliseum’s capacity for baseball was 45,000, compared to Sutter Park Sacramento’s capacity of 14,014 According to my research and all estimates, Sacramento is a dry-weather city for most of the summer.

During baseball season (April to September), they are lucky to get eight inches of rain. For those Oakland A’s fans who remember how rare rain-outs were at the Coliseum, Sacramento is in a different league regarding dry weather.

It is hard to comprehend that it has been 36 years since the first game of the 1989 World Series at the Oakland Coliseum vs. the San Francisco Giants. I worked on that historic event, which was temporarily delayed by the Loma Prieta earthquake.

The Haas family had a long record of success on the field, working with the community, and bringing championship teams to the people of Oakland and the Bay Area. It remains to be seen whether the current regime could duplicate such success.

Of all the promotions a team can have during their season schedule, the most seductive promotion is winning; that is the best thing a team can give to their fans, a winning season. As April concludes, we must wait and see if the 2025 A’s have “chosen wisely.”

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.

FUN THIS SUMMER FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY AQUA ADVENTURE WATER PARK OPENS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND FREMONT, CA.

Giants Fall Behind Early, Lose To Padres 7-4

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San Francisco Giant LaMonte Wade Jr (right) slide into third base safely advancing on a San Diego Padres throwing error. Padres third baseman Xavier Bogaerts is too late applying the tag at Petco Park in San Diego on Tue Apr 29, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (19-11) got a slow start in their series with the San Diego Padres (18-11) losing game one in their two-game series. The Giants fell behind early in the first inning 3-0 putting themselves behind the eight ball from the get-go.

The Giants did rally in the sixth inning scoring 3 runs getting within one run 5-4 with 3 innings left in the game. San Francisco has been excelling in coming back from deficits but it didn’t happen Tuesday night.

Game recap: San Diego got going early scoring three runs in the first inning. Xander Bogaerts singled Manny Machado home for the first run of the game. The Padres would add to their lead in the first when a Jose Iglesias single drove both Gavin Sheets and Bogaerts home for a 3-0 lead.

San Francisco did not get on the board until the fourth inning when Willy Adames hit a 399 foot long ball. The Giants brief rally came to an end when the Padres struck again scoring 2 more runs in the fourth taking a 5-1 lead. Luis Arrez hit a sacrifice fly bringing Jason Heyward home followed by a Manny Machado single driving in Elias Diaz.

San Francisco needed to answer before this game got out of control and that is exactly what they did in the sixth inning very nearly tying up this game. It was a three run inning for the Giants that started with a Jung Hoo Lee single driving Willy Adames home. San Francisco would add a couple more runs when LaMonte Wade Jr. doubled and Lee and Heliot Ramos both scored on an error. Trailing by a single run 5-4, the Giants were back in the game.

San Diego extended their lead in the seventh inning courtesy of a Xander Bogaerts home run with Gavin Sheets on base pushing their lead back out to 7-4. Going into the eighth inning the Giants were running out of time. Jung Hoo Lee flied out, and both Matt Chapman and Wilmer Flores struck out. San Francisco was three outs away from losing game one in this series.

Giant’s pitcher Lou Trivino breezed through the bottom of the eighth inning and San Francisco had one final inning to at least score three runs to tie, a tall order. San Diego closer Robert Suarez came into the game looking to finish off the Giants. Ramos flied out, Wade Jr. popped out to third and it was up to Patrick Bailey to try to extend the ninth inning. He grounded out and that was the ball game 7-4 in favor of San Diego winning the first game of this two game series. The Giants had gone out quietly in the eighth and ninth innings.

San Francisco starter Logan Webb had a rough first inning giving up three runs settling down in the second and third innings but gave up two more runs in the fourth. He went five innings allowing nine hits and five runs with six strikeouts.

The Giants finished the game with seven hits. The Padres had 11 hits and San Francisco just couldn’t keep up with them. The Padres who had been struggling offensively lately turned that all around in this game stringing hits together.

Game notes: The Giants started their week off taking on the Padres (18-11) in a short two-game series for Tuesday and Wednesday. The Giants came into Tuesday night’s game after winning their series over the weekend with the Texas Rangers.

The Padres had a rough outing in their last series losing to the Tampa Bay Rays in a sweep. The Giants are currently tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers in first place with the Padres in third. The Padres will be looking to get back on the winning track after getting off to a pretty good start on the season.

The Giants have had a hot start to the season as well excelling in a number of come from behind wins. Last season they were leaving far too many runners stranded which has not been the case this year. They have their eye on sole possession of first place in the National League West. Logan Webb got touched up going five innings, allowing nine hits and five runs. For the Padres starter Nick Pivetta 5.1 innings, five hits and three earned runs.

Game two in this series is scheduled for an early first pitch at 1:10 PM on Wednesday. Landen Roupp will take the mound for San Francisco. He has a 2-1 win/loss record with a 4.56 ERA. Probable pitcher for San Diego is Michael King who comes into this game with a 3-1 win/loss record and a 2.18 ERA.

Sacramento A’s game wrap: Rangers Two Explosive Innings Demolish A’s 15-2

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Sacramento A’s catcher Shea Langeliers is way in front of the plate to put the tag on the Texas Rangers Wyatt Langford (36) in the bottom of the sixth at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Tue Apr 29, 2025 (AP News photo)

Rangers Two Explosive Innings Demolish The A’s 15-2

By Mauricio Segura

The green and gold were corralled and roped off by the Texas Rangers Tuesday night, as Texas unleashed an 11-run sixth inning en route to a 15-2 hot iron branding of the Sacramento Athletics at Globe Life Field. What began as a quiet duel between two evenly matched AL West squads quickly turned into a Texas-style blowout, snapping the A’s modest two-game win streak and dropping them back to an even 15-15 on the season.

Left-hander Jacob Lopez, making his first start of the year for the A’s, navigated early trouble but unraveled in the third inning. After walking a tightrope through two innings, Lopez surrendered three straight run-scoring singles to Jake Burger, Leody Taveras, and Jonah Heim, allowing Texas to build a 3-0 lead. The Rangers added another in the fourth and then torched the A’s bullpen in the sixth leaving just smoldering ash in their wake.

That inning alone saw the Rangers send 13 men to the plate. Marcus Semien got it started with an RBI single, followed by a bases-loaded, bases-clearing double from Adolis García. Rookie Wyatt Langford followed with a three-run double of his own, and Josh Smith capped the barrage with his second RBI single of the night. By the time the dust settled, the A’s had used three pitchers and watched an 0-4 deficit balloon to 0-12.

Shea Langeliers finally gave the Athletics something to cheer about in the seventh, launching his sixth home run of the year, a two-run shot to left. It was Langeliers’ 11th career blast against Texas, and his seventh at Globe Life Field, both the most he’s had against any opponent and in any visiting ballpark.

Unfortunately for the A’s, those were the only runs they could muster against Texas starter Jacob deGrom and reliever Dane Dunning, who combined for ten strikeouts and just five hits allowed.

The loss overshadowed several recent bright spots for the A’s. They entered Tuesday having won five of their last six and leading the season series against Texas 3-1. They also boasted the best road record in the majors, but now face the challenge of bouncing back with two games left in Arlington.

Jacob Lopez, despite showing promise in prior relief outings, lasted just 2.2 innings and was tagged with his first earned runs of the season. The bullpen, solid in recent weeks, was shelled for 12 runs over 5.1 innings.

Langeliers’ homer was one of the few silver linings. Tyler Soderstrom, who leads the team in home runs, went hitless and saw his RBI total remain at 24. Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker each had two hits, but the A’s struck out 11 times and grounded into two double plays.

The A’s will look to rebound Wednesday behind Luis Severino, who leads the majors in innings pitched, against Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi. If the green and gold want to leave Texas with a winning road trip, it’ll start with stopping the bleeding in Game 2.

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.

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria Tue Apr 29, 2025: Soderstrom’s double comes through for Sacramento again

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Sacramento A’s starter JP Sears deals to the Texas Rangers line up in the bottom of the first inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Mon Apr 28, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 Tyler Soderstrom’s double help beat the Texas Rangers at Globe Life in Arlington 2-1. The A’s starter JP Sears beat and just got by the Rangers 2-1.

#2 Sears who improved his record to 2-1 pitched 5 2/3 innings, surrendered one run and five hits in the first game of this three game series on Monday night. This was the first of a seven game road trip.

#3 The A’s surpassed the Rangers in the top of the fifth when Gio Urshela got on base with a leadoff double and Brent Rooker walked. Soderstrom at the plate ripped a single to the right field corner. It was Soderstrom’s 24th RBI for the season.

#4 A’s closer Mason Miller has 21 strikeouts and walked one batter in the first ten innings of work. Miller walked Marcus Semien to start the ninth inning but Miller got the next three batters out.

#5 A’s starter Jacob Lopez (0-0 ERA 0.00) gets the call for Sacramento who will be opposed by the Texas Rangers Jacob deGrom (0-1 ERA 3.33) first pitch 5:05pm PDT. Lopez has pitched in three games, going 4.1 innings and has five strike outs. The Rangers deGrom is pitching in his 11th year and this is his third year with the Rangers. deGrom has pitched in five games where the Rangers have won two games.

Join Tony Renteria does the A’s podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Soderstrom’s Two-Run Double Sends Athletics Past Rangers 2-1

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The Texas Rangers Jonah Heim (28) slides into third base before the ball is thrown to Sacramento A’s third baseman Gio Urshela (13) in the bottom of the seventh inning on Mon Apr 28, 2025 (AP News photo)

Soderstrom’s Two-Run Double Sends Athletics Past Rangers 2-1

By Mauricio Segura

Continuing their knack for close calls, The A’s knocked out a 2-1 victory over the Texas Rangers Monday night in Texas. Rookie slugger Tyler Soderstrom delivered the decisive blow with a two-run double in the fifth inning, helping the Athletics surpass the .500 mark at .517 with a 15-14 record.

The game opened quietly with both teams trading zeros until the top of the fifth. After a leadoff double by Gio Urshela and a walk to Brent Rooker, Soderstrom stepped in and smacked a fly ball into right field. Rangers right fielder Adolis García tracked it down but could not prevent Urshela and Rooker from racing home, giving the A’s a 2-0 advantage. The hit gave Soderstrom his 23rd and 24th RBIs of the season, keeping him among the American League leaders.

Before Soderstrom’s heroics, the Athletics had scattered hits off Texas starter Patrick Corbin but failed to break through. Max Schuemann singled in the third and advanced to third base, but a strikeout and a groundout ended the rally. The A’s offense found its moment in the fifth, right before Corbin exited in favor of Jacob Webb.

On the mound, JP Sears, fresh off winning his previous two starts, once again demonstrated his reliability. Although Sears did not factor into the decision, he kept Texas scoreless through five innings, allowing just five hits and striking out five.

Sears has now maintained an ERA of 3.21 across his first five starts, continuing a season where he has walked just six batters in 28 innings. The southpaw also extended his streak to 44 consecutive starts without a wild pitch, the longest since Catfish Hunter back in the 70s.

After Sears’ departure, the bullpen kept the Rangers at bay despite a late surge. Jonah Heim, a familiar face to A’s fans, knocked in Texas’ lone run with an RBI single off JP Sears’ replacement, Mitch Spence, cutting the Athletics’ lead to 2-1 in the sixth. However, Spence, Tyler Ferguson, and finally Mason Miller locked things down.

Miller, who has converted all eight of his save opportunities this season, slammed the door shut in the ninth with a high-velocity performance that left Texas hitters grasping at air. Known for topping out at 103.7 mph and leading all relievers with a staggering 58.3 percent strikeout rate, Miller continued his early-season dominance by walking Marcus Semien but retiring the next three batters to secure the save.

There were also defensive gems worth noting. Max Schuemann made a sliding catch in center field to rob Adolis García in the second and followed it with a diving stop at third base in the ninth that helped extinguish a Rangers rally. Lawrence Butler contributed with a running grab in foul territory, while JJ Bleday, entering the game as a pinch hitter and staying on in center, showcased solid range with two putouts.

Offensively, Miguel Andujar stayed hot with two hits, continuing a stretch where he has hit .328 over his last 17 games. Jacob Wilson, who entered the night ranked 10th in the majors in batting average at .324, added a single and a sacrifice bunt.

The victory marked the Athletics’ fourth in their last five games, and they are now 8-5 on the road, the second-best road record in the majors. The green and gold are also winning the close ones lately, improving to 3-4 in one-run games after starting the season 0-4 in such contests.

The Athletics and Rangers resume their four-game series Tuesday night it’s Jacob vs. Jacob, the A’s will be starting Jacob Lopez (0-0 ERA 0.00) vs. Jacob deGrom (0-1 ERA 3.33) they are scheduled to take the mound for Texas at 5:05pm PDT in Arlington.

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.

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason Mon Apr 28, 2025: A’s open five game road trip tonight in Texas

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Sacramento A’s Luis Urias slugs a two run home run in the bottom of the tenth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Sutter Health Field in West Sacramento on Sun Apr 27, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason Mon Apr 28, 2025:

#1 The Sacramento A’s second baseman Luis Urias in the tenth inning on Sunday hit a one out two run home run that put the A’s ahead of the Chicago White Sox for a 3-2 win to take the series from the Sox.

#2 Urias’ hit one his home runs off the Sox Jordan Leasure who dropped his record to 0-2. Urias got two RBIs on the home run with Jacob Wilson running at second.

#3 The White Sox had a 2-1 lead against A’s pitcher Grant Holman. The Sox got a run on a one out RBI single by Luis Robert Jr. Then Edgar Quero got a base hit to advance Robert to third. The Sox couldn’t advance Robert as Andrew Vaughn hit into a double play.

#4 The A’s Justin Sterner threw seven shutout innings against the Sox and has not surrendered a run in 13 2/3 inning. A’s reliever Tyler Ferguson walked a batter and he didn’t give up another base runner. Then closer Mason Miller came in to shut the door striking out all three Sox hitters in the top of the ninth.

#5 The A’s open a series with the Texas Rangers tonight at Globe Life Field in Arlington. The A’s will be starting JP Sears (3-2 ERA 3.21) for the Rangers LHP Patrick Corbin (2-0, ERA 2.77) first pitch 5:05 pm PDT first pitch.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Red Sox Duran held back from going after fan; Yanks Williams replaced by closer Luke Weaver; plus more MLB news

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Boston Red Sox Jarren Duran is excited after stealing home plate against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland in the top of the third inning on Sat Apr 26, 2025 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Boston Red Sox Jarren Duran whose Netflix documentary was the subject of his attempted suicide three years ago. Duran has had plenty of support from his Red Sox teammates, fans, and players from opposing teams. A fan in the front row seat by the Sox dugout was yelling “something inappropriate” to Duran and Duran had to be held back by a base coach. The fan realized he was in hot water started to run up the stairway but was stopped by Cleveland Guardians security and thrown out of Progressive Field.

#2 On Saturday Duran hit a triple. Then on the next pitch he stole home plate. It was the Red Sox first steal of home plate in 16 years. Duran said he was going when Cleveland pitcher Doug Nikhazy went into his stretch. The Sox ended up winning the second game of the doubleheader in Cleveland 7-3.

#3 New York Yankees pitcher Devin Williams was removed from the closing role. In his last outing Williams had another blown save after blowing a save in his previous game. Williams 30 is a right hander and has an 11.25 ERA. The Yankees are going with Luke Weaver as the closer.

#4 Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman threw 53 pitches in the third inning against the New York Yankees. It was the most pitches by a pitcher in three years. Gausman was frustrated with plate umpire Chris Conroy and said after being relieved that he was let Conroy know he was going to watch his bad umpiring.

#5 The Sacramento A’s who had struggled in their first two homestands with a record of 2-7 have improved on that record are now 6-9. The A’s in their last home stand took two out of three from the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox and have moved out of last place in the AL West.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The Bambino in Cuba in 1920 – Meeting Professor González-Echevarría

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(Adolfo Luque Cuban Pioneer 1920’s Cincinnati Reds photo from the author Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

The Bambino in Cuba in 1920 – Meeting Professor González-Echevarría —

That’s Amaury News and Commentary-

Amaury Pi-González

Babe Ruth visited and played baseball in Havana, Cuba, in October 1920. He played a series of games with the New York Giants against Cuban teams Habana and Almendares, earning $20,000 (equivalent to $260,280 in 2020) for the appearance.

His first game was on October 30, 1920, where he played center field. They played two games in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba’s second largest city, at the Cuban Park. Ruth loves to gamble and visited El Hipódromo Oriental Park, also Jai Alai, staying at the Hotel Plaza in room #216. According to reports from the Cuban media, he spent almost all the money he made playing in Cuba and lost it in the casinos.

At the end of the series, he ended with a .345 average, two home runs, a triple, and a double. As Babe Ruth is part of the great history of baseball, his trip to Cuba during the 1920s brought to my mind a friend and professor who was also born in Cuba, as we met in New York.

During the 1998 baseball season, as I was working as a play-by-play announcer in Spanish for the San Francisco Giants, I had the pleasure of meeting. Professor Roberto González-Echevarría, a Cuban-born critic of Latin American literature and culture and Sterling Professor of Hispanic and Comparative Literature at Yale University.

A man whom I had always admired. In the typical tradition of Cuban baseball writers, he is a remarkable man, a teacher at Yale University. We share many memories of Cuba from past years; speaking with him is always a pleasure and to me he is a treasure.

Professor Roberto González Echevarría and I met in the  Press Box at the Shea Stadium, home of the New York Mets. He asked me if I could introduce him to Giants manager Dusty Baker. We went to the Giants’ dressing room and Dusty’s manager’s office, where I introduced the professor to Dusty.

It was an enlightening conversation among the three of us, with González-Echevarría doing most of the questioning for a project the author was working on. I always enjoyed my friendship with the professor, and my favorite of his books, “The Pride of Havana,” A History of Cuban Baseball.

In that book, he documented the great Adolfo Luque’s career, who pitched in the 1920s in the Major Leagues and had a sensational season in 1923 with the Cincinnati Reds when he finished with a record of 27-8 and a 1.93 ERA, started 41 games, and completed 37 games. Towards the end of his baseball career, I remember attending the games in Cuba with my father when Luque managed the Leones del Habana of the old Cuban Professional League..

González-Echevarría’s books, from Cuba’s José Martí to Cervantes’ Don Quixote to books about baseball in the United States and Cuba, are great reads for everybody. My favorite is”The Pride of Havana: A History of Cuban Baseball,” where he highlights Adolfo Luque, a historical Cuban pitcher.

As published in 1999 and winning the Dave Moore Award in 2000. It is an excellent contribution to Cuban baseball history and culture. Cuban players (not black) were some of the first Latino pioneers to make it to the Big Leagues, Like Adolfo Luque, who pitched for 20 years (1913-1935)

A Piece of History: Bullfights and Baseball are deeply rooted in Cuban history. Cuba’s independence from Spain came in 1902. The Spanish colonizers of the island wanted Cubans to master Bullfighting, but after Cuba gained its independence, the Americans taught Cubans the game of baseball. Cubans were enamored with the great baseball game (“la pelota,” as we call it in Cuba) and forgot about bullfighting. Cuba was a pioneer of baseball in Latin America.

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.

Athletics Stun White Sox 3-2 in Extra-Inning Thriller

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Sacramento A’s shortstop Luis Urias (17) prepares himself to field anything that comes his way against the Chicago White Sox at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Sun Apr 27, 2025 (photo by Mauricio Segura Golden Bay Times)

Athletics Stun White Sox 3-2 in Extra-Inning Thriller

By Mauricio Segura

WEST SACRAMENTO–When it comes to drama, the green and gold seem to have developed a flair for it this month. Sunday’s matchup at Sutter Health Park against the Chicago White Sox turned from a tense pitchers’ duel into a heart-pounding finale, with Luis Urías sending 9127 fans home happy by launching a two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the tenth for a 3-2 Athletics win.

The afternoon got off to a rocky start when Chicago’s Joshua Palacios cracked a leadoff home run, giving the White Sox an early 1-0 advantage before many fans had even settled into their seats. The Athletics, however, showed their resilience in the bottom half.

Lawrence Butler slapped a single to center, and Brent Rooker, who has been terrorizing Chicago pitching with a .400 average over his last ten games against them, ripped an RBI double to tie the game at one.

From there, the bats cooled considerably. Osvaldo Bido, starting for the Athletics, bounced back after a rough outing earlier in the week. While he allowed a few base runners, he kept the White Sox from inflicting further damage, backed by solid defensive plays, including a standout diving stop by Jacob Wilson in the sixth inning.

Bido’s effort was an epitome of the Athletics’ recent pattern: starters grinding, bullpen shining. The bullpen entered Sunday with a sparkling 2.75 ERA over the last 11 games, and continued to impress.

Pitching dominated the middle innings as both teams struggled to cash in on opportunities. Mason Miller, who entered with a perfect 8-for-8 save conversion record and some of the fastest pitches in the majors, struck out the side in the ninth to send the game to extras, reminding everyone why he remains one of baseball’s toughest late-inning arms.

After Chicago pushed across the go-ahead run in the top of the tenth on a sharp single from Luis Robert Jr., the Athletics faced the daunting task of rallying against the White Sox bullpen. Jacob Wilson, starting the inning on second base, watched from the bases as JJ Bleday struck out swinging.

That set the stage for Urías, who had already been heating up with a .300 average over his last six games. With one powerful swing, Urías sent a soaring drive over the left-center fence, igniting the crowd and securing the Athletics’ second walk-off win of the homestand.

The victory capped a 3-3 homestand and continued the Athletics’ knack for close games, improving their record in one-run contests to 3-4. Despite a run differential of minus 23 and a roster full of fresh faces, the Athletics are holding their own in the American League West, now sitting just two games out of first.

They now head out on a seven-game road trip, with a four-game set against the Texas Rangers. Left-hander JP Sears (3-2), who carries a strong 3.21 ERA into Monday’s series opener. For the Rangers LHP Patrick Corbin (2-0 ERA 3.77) will start against the A’s. The A’s will look to keep the momentum rolling. Given the Athletics’ impressive 8-5 road record, the green and gold may find the trip a welcome change of scenery.

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.

San Francisco Giants game wrap: Giants take series from Rangers with 3-2 walk-off win with little league home run

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San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos dives in at home plate taking advantage of a Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger’s throwing error in the bottom of the ninth inning for a walk off by little league home run win at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Apr 27, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sunday, April 27, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Texas Rangers 2 (15-13)

San Francisco Giants 3 (19-10)

Win: Camilo Doval (2-1)

Loss: Luke Jackson (0-3)

Time: 2:37

Attendance: 40,118

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants keep finding ways to win, and Sunday, it was on a little league home run, as the Giants walked off the Rangers 3-2 to take the series.

Following Brandon Crawford’s retirement ceremony prior to the game Saturday, Sunday was your more typical laidback day at the ballpark. In fact, it felt more like a weekday game than a Sunday afternoon game. It was another tranquil gray and overcast afternoon at Oracle Park, as Northern California goes through its final bout of winter-like weather.

After Patrick Bailey fisted a walk-off single for the Giants’ fourth walk-off win of the season Saturday, the Giants were looking to take the series against the Rangers. They also had a chance to reach a new season-high nine games over .500.

Jordan Hicks, who has had a rough go of things in his return to the rotation, made the start, and he ran into problems right off the bat in the top of the first inning. Jake Burger doubled with one out, and then only moved one base to third on a squib double to left field off the bat of our old friend, Joc Pederson.

Hicks struck Adolis Garcia out on a foul tip for the second out of the inning, but Marcus Semien fisted a base-hit to right field to knock in both runs and give the Rangers a 2-0 lead.

Jack Leiter, the son of longtime starting pitcher Al Leiter, took the ball for Texas, and the Giants would have their response in the bottom of the first. Their response was a base-hit and three walks, but a response is a response, and the Giants had scored a run to make it 2-1.

Hicks settled down after his rocky top of the first, as he faced the minimum over the next three innings. Leiter, too, settled down, as he pitched scoreless innings in the bottom of the second and third.

Heliot Ramos reached on a chopper along the third base line to start the bottom of the fourth and stole second. After LaMonte Wade popped out to third for the first out of the inning, Bruce Bochy pulled Leiter for left-hander Jacob Latz. Patrick Bailey, the hero Saturday, flew out to left to get Ramos to third.

Christian Koss needed a big hit, and he came through with a base-hit to left-center. Ramos scored, and just like that, we were tied.

Hicks pitched one last scoreless inning in the top of the fifth to cap off his afternoon. It wasn’t a quality outing, but Hicks was solid after his rocky first inning. Overall, he gave up two runs and seven hits. He didn’t walk anybody, and he struck out three.

Bob Melvin brought in Hayden Birdsong, who has been dominant early on in the season, for the sixth inning. Birdsong was greeted by a rude awakening when Pederson tripled to lead off the inning, but it would be no problem. Birdsong set the side down in order without allowing Pederson to cross the plate, and the game stayed tied.

Birdsong proceeded to throw two more scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth. He struck out five in his three innings of work, and moved his ERA down to 1.13.

Camilo Doval threw a one, two, three inning in the top of the ninth, and the Giants had a chance for yet another walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth.

Bochy brought in former Giant Luke Jackson for the bottom of the ninth to face Heliot Ramos. The first pitch was a slider that Ramos chopped to the third base side of the mound. Jackson went over to his right to get it, but he flung the ball into right field. As Ramos rounded second and headed for third, first-baseman Jake Burger threw to third, and that was thrown away. Ramos scored, and the Giants won it on a walk-off little league home run.

The Giants got their fifth walk-off win of the season to improve to a new season-high nine games over .500 at 19-10. The Giants have not only gotten off to a great start this season, they have gotten off to a great start playing almost nothing but good teams.

Now, the Giants will head down to San Diego for a short two-game set against the Padres, who have cooled off a bit since their hot start. The teams will enjoy a day off Monday in San Diego, and then they will get going Tuesday night. The Giants will have their ace in Logan Webb (3-1, 1.98 ERA) on the mound, and he will be opposed by right-hander Nick Pivetta (4-1, 1.20 ERA).

First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m.