Tag: Pittsburgh Pirates

Giants Beat Pirates In the Tenth Inning 5-4 Tying Up the Series; Devers earning that money hits 32nd home run

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants Rafeal Devers rounds the bases after hitting his 32nd home run of the season in the top of the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Wed Sep 2, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After a marathon game Tuesday, the San Francisco Giants (58-82) took on the Pittsburgh Pirates (68-72) in game two of their three-game series and edged the Bucs with a 5-4 win at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

After playing a 4 1/2 hour long game, and that was regulation on Tuesday, the two teams didn’t suffer any fatigue in Wednesday’s game and had a shorter evening playing a 2:57 ball game.

The first inning in Wednesday’s game was quiet for the Pirates but the Giant’s Rafael Devers put San Francisco first up on the scoreboard with a solo home run and a 1-0 lead. The Pirates would tie up the game in the fourth inning and it was a new ball game 1-1.

The Giants fought back scoring two runs in the fifth inning and took the 3-1 lead into the seventh The Pirates began to inch their way back into this game scoring a run in the bottom of the seventh and another in the eighth inning tying up this game.

There would be no walk-off for Pittsburgh this time and the game went into extra innings. The San Francisco offense stepped up in the top of the tenth. Bryce Eldridge doubled and Christian Koss scored giving the Giants the lead 4-3.

A Turner Hill sacrifice drove Rafael Devers who had been intentionally walked home and San Francisco had an insurance run taking the 5-3 lead into the bottom of the tenth.

After giving up a single to Nick Gonzalez which drove in Bryan Reynolds San Franciso closer Dylan Smith took control of this game. He struck out the next two at bats and Rafael Flores Jr. lined out and that was the ball game. San Francisco had crossed the finish line and won this game and tied up this series.

GAME RECAP

Pittsburgh’s starting pitcher Bubba Chandler gave up a solo home run in the first inning to San Francisco’s Rafael Devers and the Giants had a early 1-0 lead in game two of their series. San Francisco starter Landen Roupp went three and out.

Both pitchers had solid second innings going three and out each of them striking out two batters in the inning.

The Giants had an opportunity to add to their score in the third inning loading the bases. Turner Hill fouled out for the third out leaving the three runners stranded. Landen Roupp had another good inning going three and out.

In the top of the fourth inning, Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler dismissed Jung Hoo Lee, Drew Cavanaugh and Nate Furman in that order and the game went into the bottom of the inning.

San Francisco starting pitcher Landen Roupp struggled through the bottom of the inning. He gave up a couple of singles and a walk loading the bases. He walked Esmerlyn Valdez for his second walk of the inning and with the bases loaded Spencer Horwitz scored and this game was tied 1-1. Roupp would get out of the inning without further damage.

The Giants went on a rally in the top of the fifth inning. Shay Whitcomb doubled, Drew Gilbert walked and Rafael Devers singled; San Francisco again had the bases loaded. The Giants cashed in this time. Bryce Eldridge hit a sacrifice Christian Koss scored from second and San Francisco had taken back the lead 2-1.

Turner Hill singled Gilbert home and the Giants had a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the fifth. Landen Roupp wanted to finish off the bottom of the inning strong and he successfully went three and out. It was a great shut-down inning for Roupp.

The Pirates went into their bullpen to start the sixth inning. Branden Eisert came in to relieve Bubba Chandler. He gave up a single to Cavanaugh but closed out the inning. The Giants Ryan Walker took over on the mound for Landen Roupp in the bottom of the sixth inning. He gave up a double and a walk but kept the Pirates from scoring.

The Giants went three and out in the top of the seventh inning. The Pirates threatened in the bottom of the inning. With two runners on base, the Giants made a pitching change.

Carson Seymour relieved Walker who had allowed a Rafael Flores Jr. walk and a Jake Mangum single to start the bottom of the seventh. Jared Triolo hit a sacrifice bunt and the Pirates had the bases loaded. Spencer Horwitz grounded out but Flores Jr. scored and Pittsburgh was knocking on the door trailing 3-2.

The Giants had a quick top of the eighth unable to extend their lead. They badly needed an insurance run or two. The San Francisco lack of offense bit them in the bottom of the eighth inning. Carson Seymour gave up a double to the dangerous Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz hit an infield single and Reynolds scored tying up this game 3-3.

It was a three and out in the top of the ninth inning for Pirates reliever Carmen Mlodzinski. Pittsburgh would be looking for another walk-off in the bottom of the ninth. Jason Foley took the mound for San Francisco looking to keep this game tied. He gave up a double and an intentional walk but thanks to some amazing defensive work from the Giants this game went into the top of the tenth inning.

The top of the tenth inning went the Giants way from the get-go. Osleivis Basabe hit a sacrifice bunt that advanced Christian Koss to third base. Rafael Devers was intentionally walked and with two runners on base, Bryce Eldridge doubled and Koss scored.

San Francisco had taken back the lead 4-3. Turner Hill who was having a great day hit a sacrifice, Devers scored and the Giants had a 5-3 lead going into the bottom of the tenth. Could San Francisco get this game to the finish line?

It would be up to Dylan Smith to close this one out. Smith did give up one run but struck out the next two at bats followed by a Flores Jr. line out and that was the ball game. The Giants had tied up this series winning in extra innings 5-4.

GAME RECAP

Wednesday night’s game was a far happier story than the wild loss Tuesday. The Giants came back to win this game 5-4 in 10 innings. Rafael Devers got the Giants going in the right direction with his solo home run in the first inning which was his 32nd of the season.

Landen Roupp pitched well keeping the Giants in this game working through some difficult situations. Turner Hill had a great game factoring in a number of innings. His single in the fifth inning put San Francisco ahead 3-1.

The Pirates fought back and tied the game sending it into extra innings. The Giants broke through in the top of the tenth inning scoring twice to take a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the tenth. Dylan Smith did give up a run in the tenth but pulled it all together closing out the inning and winning this game for the Giants. This was an excellent bounce-back win for San Francisco.

Landen Roupp had a very good outing today. He went five innings, only allowing two hits, one run, two walks and four strikeouts. Of the 75 pitches thrown 46 were strikes. He did not allow a home run.

He held it together after Pittsburgh scored in the fourth inning settling in efficiently. He retired the side in order in the fifth and left the Giants with the lead 3-1. He kept the Pirate lineup under control, struck out the four and gave San Francisco five solid innings.

Thursday the Giants will be looking to take this series in game three. RHP Blade Tidwell will take the mound for the Giants. He has a 0-1 win/loss record and a 4.54 ERA. The Pirates will start RHP Lake Bachar (1-3 ERA 3.70) in Thursday’s game. First pitch is scheduled for 9:35 AM.

Nightmare Third Inning Factors Into Giants Loss to the Pirates 13-12 to open series

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb, right center, hands the ball to manager Tony Vitello (23) during the third inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday evening the San Francisco Giants (57-82) took on the Pittsburgh Pirates (68-71) in the first of a three-game series at PNC Park as the Pirates edged the Giants 13-12. San Francisco comes into this game on a winning note having won Monday’s game against the Atlanta Braves.

Tuesday they will be looking for their third win in a row. This game got off in the right direction for the Pirates scoring two runs in the first inning for the early 2-0 lead. San Francisco punched right back in the top of the second inning scoring five runs taking a 5-2 lead.

The bottom of the third inning turned into another problem start for San Francisco starting pitcher Logan Webb. The Pirates loaded the bases numerous times and when the inning had come to an end they had taken an 11-5 lead and scored nine runs.

The Giants would get back two runs in the sixth inning cutting the Pirates lead to 11-7. Pittsburgh’s Brandon Lowe hit a home run in the bottom of the seventh inning and San Francisco was running out of time trailing 12-7.

This entire game turned in favor of the Giants in the eighth inning when they scored five runs in the inning tying up this game 12-12. When it looked like extra innings, the Pirates Brandon Lowe scored on a throwing error by Giants third baseman Osleivis Basabe and that was the ball game, the Pirates salvaging this game and winning in a walk-off.

GAME RECAP

The Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb was looking for a strong start after stumbling in his last outing. He had a bit of a rough start in the first inning giving up three singles as well as hitting a batter. The Pirates Nick Gonzales singled Brandon Lowe home for the first run of the game. Oneil Cruz would single Bryan Reynolds home taking a 2-0 lead.

San Francisco answered in the top of the second inning with some tremendous at bats. Osleivis Basabe walked to start off the inning followed by a Drew Cavanaugh infield single.

With two runners on base Christian Koss singled Basabe home for their first run of the game. Tommy Hill hit another single and Cavanaugh scored and this game was tied. Rafael Devers cleared the bases with his 31st home run of the season, a three-run shot and San Francisco had taken a 5-2 lead.

It was looking really good for the Giants until they ran into a buzz-saw in the bottom of the third inning. The Pirates went on a scoring frenzy loading the bases a number of time in the inning.

It seemed to be a never ending inning for the Giants and when it was all said and done, the bottom of the inning had taken 35 minutes and the Pirates had scored nine runs taking an 11-5 lead. Pittsburgh had hit eight singles, two batters had walked and Nick Gonzalez had been hit by a pitch. Giants starting pitcher Logan was relieved in the third inning by Braxton Roxby.

The score remained 11-5 in favor of the Pirates going into the top of the sixth inning. San Francisco got back two runs in the sixth inning loading the bases. Christian Koss hit an infield single to start off the inning followed by a Tommy Hill single.

Bryce Eldridge walked and the Giants had the bases loaded. Jonah Cox singled Koss home for the first run and Jung Hoo Lee grounded out allowing Hill to score and San Francisco had cut into the Pirates lead.

The Pirates extended their lead to 12-7 in the bottom of the seventh when Brandon Lowe hit a solo home run making it even more difficult for a San Francisco comeback.

San Francisco relief pitcher Cesar Perdomo had given up the home run in the inning but it did not effect his work on the mound. He continued to throw strikes and got the Giants out of the inning striking out Oneil Cruz. It was on to the eighth inning.

San Francico got a rally going in the top of the eighth loading the bases with only one out. They had a great opportunity to do some major damage with Osleivis Basabe at the plate. There was a pitching change for the Pirates after relief pitcher Evan Sisk walked three batters in a row.

Luke Weaver would take the mound for Pittsburgh walking the first batter he faced putting another run on the board for San Francisco. In an unbelievable turn, and thanks so some shaky pitching by the Pirates, the Giants tied up this game 12-12.

This was the second time in the game that San Francisco had scored five runs in an inning. Basabe walked and Bryce Eldridge scored, Drew Cavanaugh doubled Jonah Cox and Jung Hoo Lee home and Nate Furman singled Basabe and McCray home for the five runs and the tie ball game.

The Giants had one last chance to take the lead going into the ninth inning. They were unable to score and unfortunaely the Pirates were able to put two runners on base in the bottom of the ninth.

With two outs Brandon Lowe scored on a throwing error from third baseman Basabe and that was the ball game. The Pirates won in a walk-off 13-12. San Francisco had fought so hard to tie up this game and it all came down to an errant throw that lost the game for the Giants.

GAME NOTES

It was another rough one for Webb. They pulled him out of the game after only two innings. He had given up nine hits, nine earned runs, two walks with only one strikeout. It was another tough one for the pitcher.

Braxton Roxby relieved Webb for one inning also struggling giving up four hits, two runs. One bright spot for the San Francisco Giants was the appearance of Cesar Perdomo in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. He was called up by the Giants today making his major-league debut. He had a great outing going four innings, giving up three hits, one earned run with 4 strikeouts.

There were a number of contributing factors that lost this game for the Giants. They certainly had enough offense to have won this game. The bullpen couldn’t protect the lead when they had it.

The Giants needed their relievers to shut the door late and they did not. San Francisco allowed far too many runs after taking the lead. And obviously the third inning was a huge blow for the Giants.

It all came down to the ninth inning defensive mistake with the game tied. Brandon Lowe was able to cross home plate on a throwing error, that being the final difference in the game.

The Pittsburgh offense was relentless scoring 13 runs throughout the game. When you score 12 runs on the road you would normally expect to win the game but it came down to the pitching and the defense. They just could not preserve the means to go into extra innings.

Tuesday the Giants will be looking to tie up this series. Both teams will be stretched after today’s 4 1/2 hour game. Landen Roupp will take the mound for the Giants. He has a 8-13 win/loss record and a 4.25 ERA. The Pirates will start Jared Jones. He comes into this game with a 2-6 win/loss record and a 4.83 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 3:40 PM.

MLB The Show podcast Jessica Kwong: Baseball’s biggest surprise team; Who are the MVP candidates?; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

New York Yankees Al Sanchez thanks the Good Lord for his ninth inning single against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tue Jul 7, 2026 at the Tropicana in St Petersburg (AP News photo)

MLB The Show podcast Jessica Kwong:

#1 The New York Yankees of all teams set a Major League mark for a team to strike out 17 times in two straight games. The Yankees KO’d 17 times on Monday and Tuesday nights at the Tropicana in St Petersburg to set the record. The Yankees a have a rough time of things having lost eight of their last ten games.

#2 Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Ryan O’Hearn hit for ten RBIs in a game against the Atlanta Braves. No one has ever done that for the Bucs. O’Hearn set a club record on Tuesday night the record was last set on May 30, 1939 when Johnny Rizzo hit nine RBIs agianst the St Louis Cardinals some 54 years before O’Hearn was born.

#3 Kansas City Royals Tyler Tolbert set a Major League record hitting in 12 straight plate appearances. Tolber reached the record with an infield hit in the Royals 16-12 win over the New York Mets Tuesday. Tolbert hit a two run home run in the second, then singled in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh ending the streak in the ninth inning with a fly out in the ninth inning.

#4 Detroit Tigers third base coach Joey Cory separated with the Tigers after “philosophical differences” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said of Cora and quoting, “I love Joey. Joey loved being a Tiger. He’s been instrumental in his time here. But similar to a family, sometimes it doesn’t last forever. and “We both just agreed it’s probably best for the players and everybody to separate.”

 #5 Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani will pitch the Friday right after the All Star break according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Ohtani had left in the seventh inning of last Friday’s game due to tightness in his right biceps in the bottom of the sixth inning while hitting.

Join Jessica for MLB The Show podcasts every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s game wrap: Pirates Plunder Sacramento; Bucs O’Hearn with six RBIs career high in 12-4 beating of Sac

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s left fielder Tyler Soderstrom (21) goes down to make a catch on the fly against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Wed Jun 17, 2026 (Golden Bay Times photo)

By Mauricio Segura

WEST SACRAMENTO–The Pittsburgh Pirates wasted no time turning the game sideways, roughing up Sacramento A’s starter Aaron Civale for five runs in the first two innings and forcing the Athletics to spend the rest of the night chasing a game that had already picked up speed without them.

The Pirates battered Civale early and never gave the Athletics much room to breathe in a 12-4 win. Civale, making his return from the injured list after right shoulder tendonitis, did not get the smooth reception he wanted. Spencer Horwitz opened the game with a double to right, Brandon Lowe drew a walk, and Bryan Reynolds bounced a ground-rule double into right to score Horwitz. Ryan O’Hearn followed with a two-run double to left, and just like that, Pittsburgh had a 3-0 lead before the Athletics had taken a swing.

Braxton Ashcraft made that lead look even bigger by setting down the A’s in order in the first. Nick Kurtz struck out, Shea Langeliers lined out, and Tyler Soderstrom also lined out, giving Sacramento no early leeway. Pittsburgh kept pecking away in the second. Jared Triolo singled, Horwitz doubled again, Lowe singled home Triolo, and Reynolds drove in Horwitz with a single to center. The Pirates led 5-0 after two innings, and the Athletics were already staring up a steep hill.

Civale’s outing ended after he issued a leadoff walk to Lowe in the fourth. José Suarez took over, but O’Hearn greeted him with a two-run homer to left, pushing Pittsburgh ahead 7-0. O’Hearn was the hammer all game, finishing with a double, homer, single, and five RBIs. Horwitz also gave the Pirates a major boost from the top of the order, reaching four times with two doubles and two walks while scoring three runs.

For the Athletics, there were a few bright spots buried in the rubble. Jonah Heim picked up singles in the fourth and sixth. Kurtz, who entered the game as one of the most productive hitters in baseball and had been on a strong June tear, singled to open the sixth.

Langeliers followed with a walk, and after Soderstrom’s grounder and a Pittsburgh error moved the action along, Jacob Wilson lined a two-run single to center. That cut the deficit to 7-2 and gave the home side a little movement, even if it was not enough to truly rattle the Pirates.

Pittsburgh had its biggest burst in the seventh. Marcell Ozuna led off with a homer to center, Jake Mangum singled, Triolo and Henry Davis were hit by pitches, and the inning snowballed from there. Horwitz drew a bases-loaded walk, Lowe lifted a sacrifice fly, and O’Hearn added a two-run single to center. By the time the inning ended, the Pirates had turned the game into a 12-2 burial.

Henry Bolte gave Sacramento a quick jolt in the bottom half, launching a solo homer to center off Evan Sisk. It was a nice response from the rookie, who entered the day batting over .300 and had been one of the more interesting young bats in the Athletics’ lineup.

Zack Gelof added another swing worth remembering in the ninth, driving a solo homer to left off Isaac Mattson. Gelof’s blast extended his career-best hitting streak to 21 games, continuing one of the best individual runs by an Athletics hitter this century.

The problem was that most of the A’s offense came too late and too far apart. Sacramento struck out 11 times and managed only six hits. Lawrence Butler had a rough night with four strikeouts, while Kurtz struck out three times. Ashcraft gave Pittsburgh six strong innings, allowing two runs, only one earned, on four hits and three walks. He kept Saccramento from gathering momentum until the game was already leaning heavily toward Pittsburgh.

The loss was another reminder of the Athletics’ strange season. They have enough offense to make pitchers sweat, enough power to flip a game in one swing, and enough young talent to keep things interesting. But the pitching has been leaking runs too often, especially at home, and this one got away before the Green and Gold could make their bats matter.

For Game 1 of a new four game weekend series against the Angels Thursday, Sacramento will send rookie left-hander Gage Jump (2-1, 3.09 ERA, 23 K) to the mound against Angels right-hander José Soriano (8-4, 2.79 ERA, 92 K). This matchup has real bite if Jump can keep the ball in the yard and Soriano brings his usual trouble. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. Pacific.

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

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

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

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

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

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

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Sacramento A’s game wrap: Reynolds Canon Blasts Sink the A’s 6-5

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s Jacob Wilson (right) dives in ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe’s tag at home plate scoring in the bottom of the first inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Tue Jun 16, 2026 (Golden Bay Times photo)

Reynolds Canon Blasts Sink the A’s

By Mauricio Segura

WEST SACRAMENTO–It seemed like the Sacramento A’s had the Pittsburgh Pirates by the throat and were headed toward a second straight win. Instead, Pittsburgh raised the black flag, fired a few cannon blasts, and stole the night. Bryan Reynolds turned the ballpark into his own personal batting cage, Brandon Lowe saved his best swing for the ninth, and the Pirates edged the Sacramento Athletics 6-5 after spending the early innings trying to crawl out of a ditch.

The Green and Gold did not wait around in the first inning. Nick Kurtz opened the bottom half with a free pass, Tyler Soderstrom followed with another, and Jacob Wilson loaded the bases with the third. Carlos Cortes went down swinging, but Zack Gelof made the inning matter.

He slapped a grounder toward first baseman Spencer Horwitz, and when the play turned messy, Kurtz, Soderstrom and Wilson all scored. Gelof ended up at second on Horwitz’s throwing error, and Lawrence Butler followed with a run-scoring double to left. Just like that, the Athletics had a 4-0 lead and Mitch Keller looked like a man trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube with sliding gloves.

Jack Perkins protected that early cushion nicely through three innings. He gave up a Bryan Reynolds single in the first but stranded him, then settled in with a smooth second and third. Perkins struck out Endy Rodríguez and Tyler Callihan in the second, then got Jake Mangum, Jared Triolo and Horwitz in order in the third. For a pitcher making only his third start of the season after spending most of the year in relief, his performance is exactly what manager Mark Kotsay hoped for.

Pittsburgh finally broke through in the fourth. Reynolds singled to center, Ryan O’Hearn followed with a base hit to right, and Nick Gonzales got the Pirates on the board with a groundout that scored Reynolds. The Athletics still led 4-1, but the Pirates were no longer stuck at the curb waiting for the bus.

The game tightened in the sixth. Reynolds lifted a homer to center to make it 4-2, and O’Hearn doubled moments later. Perkins was replaced by Justin Sterner, but Rodríguez greeted the new arm with a single to center that scored O’Hearn and cut the A’s lead to 4-3. The inning nearly grew worse, but Jacob Wilson helped end it with a wild-looking relay that erased Rodríguez at third after Mangum singled.

Gelof answered in the bottom of the sixth with a swing that has become part of his month-long success story. TED Talk pending! He sent a solo homer to left, pushing the Athletics back ahead 5-3 and extending what had been a career-best 19-game hitting streak entering the contest. It also continued a strong run for an A’s offense that came in swinging with a franchise-record 23 homers over its previous seven games. For a moment, the Green and Gold had reclaimed their dominant status.

Reynolds took it right back in the seventh. After Hogan Harris replaced Sterner, Horwitz drew a free pass and Lowe struck out, bringing Reynolds up with two outs. He launched his second homer of the game, this one to right, tying it 5-5. Reynolds finished 4-for-5 with two homers, three RBIs and three runs, a one-man problem the Athletics never solved.

The A’s had chances late. Alika Williams doubled to open the bottom of the seventh and moved to third on a wild pitch, but he was stranded after Kurtz struck out, Shea Langeliers grounded out and Wilson hit into a force play. In the eighth, Gelof drew a free pass and stole second, but Colby Thomas and Henry Bolte both struck out to end another opportunity.

Then Lowe delivered the swing Pittsburgh had been waiting for. Elvis Alvarado took over in the ninth, got Horwitz on a fly ball, then watched Lowe drive a line-drive homer to right for a 6-5 Pirates lead. Alvarado recovered to retire Reynolds and O’Hearn, but the damage had already been done.

The Athletics made one last push against Gregory Soto in the ninth. Kurtz singled to left, and Langeliers followed with a single to center, putting the tying run at second with one out. Soderstrom then struck out after an ABS challenge changed ball four into strike two, a brutal turn under the circumstance. Wilson lined out to right field to end the game, leaving the A’s with a loss that stung after they had played well through the first six innings.

Game 3 tomorrow closes out the series setting up a right-handed chess match, with Aaron Civale (5-2, 4.20 ERA, 39 K) scheduled for the Sacramento Athletics against Pittsburgh’s Braxton Ashcraft (5-3, 3.30 ERA, 90 K), with first pitch set for 6:40 p.m. Pacific.

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

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

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

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

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

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

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria: A’s open up the floodgates crush Bucs in series opener 11-2 at Sutter Health

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Three Sacramento A’s leap for joy Tyler Soderstrom (left), Lawrence Butler (4), and Henry Bolte (right) after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Mon Jun 15, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 Tony, the Sacramento A’s opened up on the Pittsburgh Pirates with an 11-2 win at Sutter Health Park on Monday night after getting beat by the Colorado Rockies Sunday 23-9. It was quite the turnaround for the A’s to open the series.

#2 The A’s Nick Kurtz also hit his 17th home run of the season a 407 foot two run shot that gave the A’s a two run 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning.

#3 Jeff McNiel slugged a 359 foot home run scoring Lawrence Butler ahead of him for a two run home run that gave the A’s a 5-1 lead.

#4 Kurtz hit another home run in the bottom of the seventh inning a three run home run a 380 foot shot that put the A’s way ahead 11-1 with the final score ending up 11-2 A’s.

#5 Starting pitchers for Tuesday in game two of the series: Starter pitchers for Pittsburgh RHP Mitch Keller (5-4 ERA 5.14) for Sacramento RHP Jack Perkins (2-3 ERA 6.25) first pitch slated for 6:40pm PDT.

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

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

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

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

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

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

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Sacramento A’s game wrap: Kurtz and McNeil Turn Pirates Into Plank Walkers; Sac dominates Bucs 11-2 at Sutter Health

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s slugger Nick Kurtz (16) rounds the bases after hitting one of his two home runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Mon Jun 15, 2026 (Golden Bay Times photo)


Kurtz and McNeil Turn Pirates Into Plank Walkers

By Mauricio Segura

WEST SACRAMENTO–Nick Kurtz gave the Sacramento Athletics exactly what they needed after a missed chance in the first inning: a reminder that baseball is finicky and rewards on its own terms instead of when most expected. The A’s deafeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-3 at Sutter Health Park on Monday night. 

Sacramento loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the first on singles by Kurtz, Shea Langeliers and Tyler Soderstrom, only to see three straight strikeouts leave them stranded like Tom Hanks on a pacific island, minus the volleyball. That could have turned into a sour opening. Instead, the A’s simply waited one inning before turning the game in their favor for good.

Henry Bolte started the second with a double to right, and Jeff McNeil followed with an RBI single to left that scored Bolte and snapped his 0-for-20 skid. Kurtz then delivered the real damage, driving a two-run homer to left-center that put the Athletics ahead 3-0 and gave J.T. Ginn room to work.

Ginn used that room well. He handled traffic and kept Pittsburgh from building anything dangerous. Bryan Reynolds singled in the first, Endy Rodríguez reached in the second, and the Pirates put two aboard in the third before Ginn got Ryan O’Hearn looking to end the inning.

Pittsburgh’s only run against him followed a Zack Gelof fielding error in the fourth. Nick Gonzales reached, Rodríguez singled, and Jake Mangum dropped a run-scoring hit into left. But Ginn quickly stopped the inning from growing, getting Esmerlyn Valdez to bounce into a pitcher-to-second-to-first double play. Ginn finished six innings, allowing six hits, one unearned run, two walks and three strikeouts.

The Athletics added another burst in the bottom of the fourth. Lawrence Butler singled, Bolte moved him over, and McNeil launched a two-run homer to right, ensuring his slump stayed buried. Suddenly, the same player who entered searching for a hit had three RBIs by the fourth inning. For Sacramento, the runs were starting to roll off the assembly line.

Soderstrom and Jacob Wilson opened the fifth with back-to-back hits, including Wilson’s ground-rule double down the right-field line. Gelof then extended his career-best hitting streak to 19 games with an RBI single to center, scoring Soderstrom and pushing the lead to 6-1. Gelof’s streak had already been one of the better runs in the majors, and even with an error earlier in the game, he still found a way to add another mark to it with his bat.

The seventh inning turned the game from comfortable to completely out of reach. Gelof reached on an error by Brandon Lowe, Butler doubled him home, Bolte added an infield single, and McNeil singled to right to score Butler. Then Kurtz returned for his second big swing of the game, sending a three-run homer to left.

His second blast gave him three hits, two home runs and five RBIs, and it fit neatly with the tear he has been on. Kurtz entered riding a seven-game hitting streak and ranked among the league’s best in on-base percentage, walks, OPS and run production. Against Pittsburgh, he looked every bit like a hitter pitchers cannot treat casually.

Pittsburgh found one final run in the eighth when Rodríguez homered to left-center off Mason Barnett, but Justin Sterner’s scoreless seventh and Barnett’s two-inning finish kept the Pirates from making the score interesting. Spencer Horwitz doubled with two outs in the ninth, but Brandon Lowe flied out to left to close an 11-2 Athletics win.

The A’s finished with 15 hits, including three from Kurtz, three from McNeil, two from Soderstrom and two from Bolte. Butler also scored twice and drove in a run, while Wilson’s double helped set up the fifth-inning push. After a rough loss in their previous game, the Green and Gold responded with the kind of complete win that gives a team a little swagger back.

Game 2 brings another right-handed duel, with Jack Perkins (2-3, 6.25 ERA, 43 K) taking the ball for Sacramento against Mitch Keller (5-4, 5.14 ERA, 58 K) for Pittsburgh, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 p.m. Pacific Tuesday night.

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. 

Las Vegas A’s podcast Daniel Dullum: Rockies score 3 touchdowns beating A’s 23-9 in slugfest; Colorado avoids gettng swept

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s Tyler Soderstrom (21) is greet by Nick Kurtz (16) after scoring on a single in the bottom of the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin NV on Sun Jun 14, 2026 (AP News photo)

Las Vegas A’s podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 Do the math three touchdowns in football is 24 points and in baseball that’s a record for runs in Colorado Rockies franchise history and they avoided getting swept by the Las Vegas A’s Sunday with a 23-9 rout to conclude the A’s homestand for the week at Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin NV.

#2 The A’s won the first two games of the series but in this one the pitching absolutely brokedown surrendering three runs in the fourth, six in the fifth, four in the seventh, and five runs in the eighth.

#3 A’s starter Jeffery Springs got pounded by the Rockies line up going four innings allowing seven hits, six runs, striking out five batters. Despite the pounding the A’s are just a half game back of the Seattle Mariners for first place in the AL West.

#4 The Rockies fell on hit short of setting an all time hit record in a game ending the contest with 24 total hits. The Rockies set the record back on Sep 25, 2011 when they got 25 hits.

#5 The A’s are back in Sacramento on Monday and the drawing board as well as they prepare to face the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates have struggled in their own right losing seven of their last ten games and are 8.5 games back of the NL Central. Starters for Pittsburgh RHP Jared Jones (1-0 ERA 4.73) for Sacramento RHP JT Ginn (4-3 ERA 4.15) first pitch at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento 6:40pm (PDT)

Daniel Dullum does the Sacramento A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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

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

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

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

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

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Rodriguez walks off massive 7-6 12-inning gut-check win for Giants over Pirates

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants Willy Adames hits a two run single in the tenth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun May 10, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sunday, May 10, 2026

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Pittsburgh Pirates 6 (22-19)

San Francisco Giants 7 (16-24)

Win: Ryan Borucki (1-1)

Loss: Justin Lawrence (0-2)

Time: 3:51

Attendance: 41,085

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–What a massive gut-check win for the Giants, who showed real resilience Sunday, as they came back from down two runs three times, and the youngster, Jesus Rodriguez, came up with the walk-off base-hit to beat the Pirates 7-6 in 12 innings here on Mother’s Day.

Fittingly, the Giants couldn’t make it two in a row after their win on Friday. Not just that, but they had their brains bashed in by the Pirates in a 13-3 shellacking Saturday night.

Prior to the game, the Giants made a series of roster moves. Ryan Walker, who came into the season as the closer, was sent down to Triple-A Sacramento. Gregory Santos was sent down to Sacramento as well. Sam Hentges was activated off the 15-day Injured List. Dylan Smith, whom the Giants acquired from the Tigers on March 30, was called up.

The Giants had their hopes in Tyler Mahle. Mahler of course has been off to a rough start this season, but he was solid in his last outing, when he threw five and third shutout innings against the Rays at the Trop last Sunday.

The Pirates got to Mahle for runs in each of the first two innings. Pirates’ starter Bubba Chandler, in turn, threw a pair of scoreless innings innings to start his day.

Jung Hoo Lee lined a double down the right field line with two outs in the bottom of the third. Honestly, I thought it wouldn’t amount to anything, but Luis Arraez lined a base-hit to left to get Lee in, and the Giants were on the board.

Heliot Ramos tied the game with a bomb half-way up into the bleachers in left with one out in the bottom of the fourth. Unfortunately, Oneil Cruz responded with a home run of his own to put the Pirates back ahead in the top of the fifth.

The Pirates got to Mahle for another run in the top of the sixth to make it 4-2, and Keaton Winn finished the inning. Mahler gave up four runs and five hits over five and two thirds innings. He walked two, and struck out eight. It was not the worst day for Mahle, and he gave the start the Giants needed from him..

Isaac Mattson came in for Chandler to start the bottom of the sixth, and the Giants would tie the game with three doubles. Rafael Devers led off the inning with a double. Ramos followed that up with a double of his own to make it 4-3, and Matt Chapman then doubled to tie it.

Winn and Sam Hentges—the latter making his Giants debut—combined for a scoreless top of the seventh. Caleb Kilian then got away with a pair of walks in the top of the eighth.

Dennis Santana came in for Pittsburgh in the bottom of the eighth. Devers led off with a towering shot that almost hit the green tin atop the Willie Mays Wall in right. He had a shot at a triple, but he watched his shot from the right-handed batter’s box, and selfishly cost his team a crucial 90 feet.

Tony Vitello asked the umpires to review it, and the call was confirmed. It would not have mattered had the call been overturned. It is never acceptable for a player to watch his shot if it is not a no-doubter than everyone in the ballpark knows his gone. Devers’ selfish act cost his team a run, as the Giants unsurprisingly wasted the opportunity.

Devers’ selfishness was not the only controversy in the bottom of the eighth. Don Kelly brought in the lefty, Gregory Soto, to face Drew Gilbert with two outs. Gilbert came into the at-bat 2-for-30 in his career against lefties, but Tony did not pinch-hit for him. Gilbert grounded out to first to end the inning.

Joel Peguero threw a scoreless top of the ninth, and Soto threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth.

Peguero was back out for the top of the tenth, with Nick Gonzalez as the Manfred runner at second. O’Hearn grounded out, but Puguero hit Marcell Ozuna. Spencer Horwitz then came up, and shot a double into the gap in right-center. Dylan Smith finished off the top of the 10th, and prevented any further damage in his Giants debut.

The Pirates had their third two-run lead of the game, and the Giants were three outs away from falling to 10 games under .500.

Yohan Ramirez was in for the Pirates, and Luis Arraez was the Manfred runner at second. Tony sent up Bryce Eldridge to pinch-hit for Casey Schmitt to start the bottom of the tenth. Eldridge struck out on three pitches.

The Giants were down to their final out, but Willy Adames found it in him to shorten his swing, and line a base-hit to left-center to tie it. The throw from Pirates’ left-fielder Nick Yorke was spiked into the ground, and for the third time Sunday, the Giants had come back from a two-run deficit to tie the game. Jesus Rodriguez then chased two pitches in the dirt, as he struck out to end the inning.

I was certain the game was over when Tony brought in Ryan Borucki in for the 11th. With runners at first and second with one out, and Brandon Lowe at the plate, Kelly put on the hit and run, just as Tony did each of the last two nights. This proved to be a massive break for the Giants, as Lowe lined one right to where Adames was going, and he casually threw to first to turn the inning-ending 5-3 double play.

The Giants were unable to score against Ramirez in the bottom of the 11th, and Borucki’s first pitch in the top of the 12th was a wild pitch. The Pirates once again seemed to have the momentum, but Borucki worked another houdini act to get out of it.

Justin Lawrence was in for the Pirates in the bottom of the 12th, and Ramos was the Manfred runner. Let’s get right to it. Jesus Rodriguez was up with the bases loaded and one out. Rodriguez was 0-for-5, but he lined a base-hit the other way to right, or so we thought. Ramos completely misread the ball, and went back to third to tag up. Thankfully, O’Hearn didn’t see it, and Ramos scored the winning run to mercifully end this absolute cluster you know what of a game.

For his effort, Ryan Borucki got his first win of the season. Justin Lawrence took the loss.

The Giants got a much-needed win to improve to 16-24, and give them a little momentum into what is going to be a brutal four-game series at Dodger Stadium starting Monday night.

Trevor McDonald (1-0, 1.29 ERA) will make his second start of the season, and the Dodgers will counter with Roki Sasaki (1-3, 5.97 ERA).

Just win one in LA, and I can accept that for the time being.

First pitch will be at 7:10 p.m.

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic: Giants take two of three from Bucs in 12 innings 7-6

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants Christian Koss (center) scores on Willy Adames’ single in the bottom of the tenth inning against the Pittsbugh Pirates at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun May 10, 2026 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic:

#1 The San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates battled it out in a 7-6 duel that saw the Giants win it in 12 innings to take two out of three from the Bucs at Oracle Park on Sunday.

#2 The Giants Jesus Rodriguez hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 12th inning that helped the Giants come back from two two run deficits.

#3 The had the bases loaded against Pirates pitcher Justin Lawrence and Matt Chapman at the plate who hit a double that moved ghost runner Heliot Ramos to third base and Drew Gilbert drew an intentional walk. Rodriguez followed up and got a base hit to score Ramos for the Giants extra innings win. The fought and clawed in this one to get in win column.

#4 Giant reliever Ryan Boruki just got by with runners at first and third in the 11th and got out of the 12th with the bases loaded.

#5 It’s off to Dodger Stadium in the Southland for a huge series with the Dodgers starting on Monday night. Starters for Monday night Trevor McDonald (1-0, 1.29 ERA) will make his second start of the season, and the Dodgers will counter with Roki Sasaki (1-3, 5.97 ERA).

Tuesday starting pitchers for the Giants RHP Adrian Houser (0-4 ERA 6.19) for the Dodgers LHP Yoshnunobu Yamamoto (3-2 ERA 3.09) first pitch for both games 7:10pm PDT at Chavez Ravine.

Join Marko Ukalovic for the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com