Sacramento A’s starter JT Ginn will take the mound against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark on Tue Aug 4, 2026 (San Francisco Chronicle file photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:
#1 The Sacramento A’s have seen a number of their players suffering injuries that put them on the injured list one of the key players whose out of the line up Nick Kurtz sprained his thumb July 11th returned two weeks later but struggled at the plate going 1-18 in seven games and now will have to see a spcialist for his injured thumb and is headed back for the IL Monday.
#2 The Detroit Tigers swept the Athletics in a three game series on Sunday the A’s were dominated by Detroit pitching and had no run production in the 11-0 loss.
#3 A’s starter Gage Jump pitched 3.2 innings four hits and six earned runs the one thing you want to get out of your starter the low run count against the Tiger line up and Jump a first year pitcher on the A’s staff try as hard as he may allowed four runs in the top of the fourth as the Tigers took a 6-0 lead.
#4 The A’s have lost 29 of their last 36 games in a tough stretch, on this last homestand the A’s lost three out of four games to the Boston Red Sox and the three game sweep with the Tigers. The A’s in the standings are just 2.5 games over the last place Los Angeles Angels in the AL West.
#5 The A’s who played Sunday’s game in 105 degree heat in West Sacramento will head to Cincinnati to face the Reds in milder temperatures in the 80s. Starting pitchers for Sacramento RHP JT Ginn (8-6 ERA 3.46) for Cincinnati RHP Brady Singer (5-10 ERA 4.35) first pitch 3:40pm PDT on Tuesday night.
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.
Jeffrey Springs #59 of the Athletics pitches against the Detroit Tigers in the top of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on July 31, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After losing three of four games to the Boston Red Sox during the past week at Sutter Health Park, the A’s welcomed the Detroit Tigers to town for game one of a three-game series on Friday night.
The A’s fell to the Tigers on Friday night by a final of 13-1 in an ugly showing all the way around.
It was Jeffrey Springs who got the start for the series opener on Friday night. Springs, who is in his ninth season in the majors, is having the worst year of his career. Heading into Friday’s action, Springs led the league in losses (10), earned runs (72), and home runs allowed (27). In the series opener, Springs struggled with his command yet again as he was only able to get through four innings against the Tigers lineup. Across his four innings, Springs gave up two runs on four hits while walking a massive five batters and striking out just two. Springs managed to limit the damage, but it was certainly another underwhelming outing for the left-hander out of Appalachian State University in his 22nd start for the A’s this season.
“…Probably some fatigue and lack of strength in that front side led to a little bit of a lack of command tonight,” Mark Kotsay said of Jeffrey Springs after the game. “…Overall managing to get out of that fourth inning with only giving up one run and the pitch count was really high… he worked really hard for four innings… it shows some grit.”
The A’s bullpen had to cover five innings on Friday night after Springs was lifted following the fourth inning, and it pitched well until the eighth inning.
Hayden Juenger was first out of the bullpen for the A’s as he pitched the fifth inning. Juenger was effective, allowing just a walk and nothing else while also striking out two in his one inning of relief.
Brady Basso was next out of the bullpen for the A’s as he came in for the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. Basso allowed just one hit and no runs in the sixth and seventh innings as it appeared he was going to cruise through three innings of relief. However, Basso ran into trouble in the eighth inning and was unable to record an out as he faced three batters and they all reached base. In the end, Basso went 2+ innings and gave up three runs on four hits while walking none and striking out two.
Unfortunately for the A’s, the implosion from the bullpen didn’t end with Basso. Mark Kotsay turned to Luis Morales for the rest of the eighth inning, and it went poorly, to say the least. Morales surrendered a grand slam in the inning to allow the Tigers to blow the game wide open. It also didn’t stop at that point for the Tigers. Morales was back out in the ninth inning, where he surrendered another four runs in a completely ineffective outing. When the dust settled, Morales went two innings of eight-run, six-hit baseball while walking one and striking out one.
As for the bullpen, Kotsay only has so much left to say. It needs to improve. On Morales specifically, the A’s are looking to go back to square one.
“We’re going to have to go back to the drawing board with Morales, and we’ve identified some things that he’s doing… he may be tipping his pitches, but at the same point, he still has to execute the pitches. Even though you throw 97, it’s got to be executed. It can’t be in the middle of the plate. So there’s still a lot for Morales to do from a standpoint of just making adjustments.”
On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s struggled to get things going against the Tigers’ bullpen game after the Casey Mize scratch earlier in the day. The A’s totaled just three hits and one run while walking three times against Detroit pitching over nine innings.
The A’s first and only run came in the first inning to help them jump out to an early lead. It was the red-hot Jonah Heim who stayed hot on Friday as he drilled an RBI double to center field that scored Jacob Wilson. It was Heim’s 12th double of the season and his 35th RBI.
That’s all she wrote on the offensive side for the A’s as they fell 13-1.
The A’s will take on the Tigers in game two of the series on Saturday at 6:40 p.m. PDT. Jack Perkins (2-4, 6.45 ERA) is scheduled to start for the A’s, while the Tigers will counter with Framber Valdez (5-7, 4.53 ERA).
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.
Debbie Sivyer founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies is seen on a Topps 1973 style card as a ball girl for the Oakland A’s during the A’s World Championship years
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
Somebody who knew former A’s ball girl Debbi Fields is Nancy Finley the niece of former Oakland A’s owner Charlie O. Finley and the daughter of Carl Finley, who was the team’s General Manager. I asked Nancy about Fields. Nancy Finley is the author of the book “Finley Ball”, which details the behind-the-scenes administrative history of the A’s during the dynasty years in the 1970s. You can buy the book on Amazon and at many bookstores.
Nancy Finley explained to me how the whole idea of having Ball Girls came about: “I overheard Dad on the phone with Charlie, telling him how pretty Kathy’s sister, Debbi, was. Charlie asked Dad what they could do to bring Kathy into the office. This is when Charlie or Dad came up with the Ballgirl position. They briefly tried this in KC. That was in 1965. Dad said it would be better if they had a pair of Ballgirls, one for first base, and one for third base”.
“Dad asked Kathy if her sister could meet with him after school. I remember when Debbi arrived to meet with Dad. Dad offered her this position and asked if Debbie had a friend she could recommend for the other Ball Girl. This turned out to be Mary Berry. Debbie Sivyer and Mary Berry started as Ball Girls in 1971. I remember when we had the green-and-gold outfits designed”.
The A’s were the first team in Major League Baseball to introduce ball girls on the foul lines, under baseball innovator Charlie O’. Finley. The iconic program began in 1968 and famously employed future Mrs. Fields Cookies founder Debbi Fields in its early years. The tradition continued across the baselines until the franchise concluded its 57-year tenure in Oakland at the end of the 2024 season
Fields was destined to hit the jackpot in the Holding Company business, with help from an investor. Fields sold her Mrs. Fields cookie empire to an investment firm, Famous Brands International (formerly Mrs. Fields Holding Company), for $100 million in 1992. Currently, she doesn’t own the company; she continues to serve as the brand’s iconic spokesperson.
Fields opened her first store in Palo Alto, California, in 1977. By offering free samples to attract customers, she turned a small startup into an internationally recognized brand that now operates in over 250 locations. In addition to her baking empire, she has authored several cookbooks.
When I first began broadcasting Major League Baseball, back in the mid-to-late 1970s for the Oakland A’s. I usually had more contact with Mr. Carl Finley, who was the GM and oversaw the team’s daily operation, than with Charlie Finley, the owner.
Charlie O. Finley occasionally visited Oakland after the A’s won World Series titles in 1972-73-74. Remembered as a groundbreaking and innovative executive, he is not in the National Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, but he is a member of the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame and the Athletics Hall of Fame.
I thank Nancy Finley for sharing these memories from her years with the Oakland A’s.
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.
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.
Miami Marlins starter Eury Perez pitched seven innings of perfect ball before being lifted by Marlins manager Clayton McCullough against the Sacramento A’s at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Sun Jul 5, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Mauricio Segura
WEST SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Athletics spent most of the afternoon digging out of a perfect crater, nearly completing one of the season’s wildest comebacks, but still came up a run short in a heartbreaking 9-8 loss to the Miami Marlins.
A six-run deficit became an eight-run hole before the Green and Gold finally found life in the final two innings, but Miami held on to finish the sweep and hand Sacramento another frustrating defeat. The loss also continued a difficult stretch for an Athletics club that entered the day having dropped six of its previous seven games.
Miami wasted no time spoiling the day for rookie left-hander Gage Jump, who had been one of baseball’s hottest young pitchers since his promotion. Heriberto Hernández put the Marlins on the board in the first inning with a towering solo home run to center, and the visitors never let up. In the second, Otto Lopez lined a ground-rule RBI double into left-center before Liam Hicks lifted a sacrifice fly to center, stretching the lead to 3-0.
The third inning proved even more damaging. After Esteury Ruiz reached on an overturned challenge and promptly stole second, Leo Jiménez launched a two-run homer into the left-center-field seats. Later in the inning, Brian Navarreto ripped a ground-rule double before Lopez added another run with a sacrifice fly.
By the time the dust settled, Miami owned a commanding 6-0 advantage while Jump’s afternoon had come to an end after three innings. It was an unusual outing for the rookie, who entered with a 2.93 ERA after putting together one of the American League’s best rookie pitching months in June.
Sacramento’s offense had no answer for Eury Pérez. The hard-throwing right-hander carved through the lineup for seven perfect innings, as his fastball and breaking pitches kept hitters off balance throughout his dominant performance.
Miami kept adding insurance in the sixth when Lopez connected for a solo home run before Hernández struck again moments later with his second blast of the afternoon. Hernández finished with two home runs, a double, three RBIs and three runs scored, while Lopez reached base four times, homered, doubled, drove in three runs and scored three more. Jiménez also supplied a two-run homer as the Marlins built what appeared to be an insurmountable 8-0 cushion.
Much to the dismay of even Athletics fans, Pérez was pulled after seven innings denying him a chance to pursue a full perfect game. The decision was partly due to his recent return from injury and the fact that he had already thrown 92 pitches.
Still, the crowd of more than 8,000 was disappointed to lose the chance to witness a potentially historic performance, and fans made their frustration known to the Marlins throughout the rest of the game. However, Pérez’s exit finally opened the door for the A’s to stage their comeback.
It began in the eighth after Lawrence Butler drew a walk and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer followed with a single. Carlos Cortes ripped an RBI double into right field to get Sacramento on the scoreboard before Jonah Heim delivered the biggest swing of the afternoon. Facing reliever Lake Bachar, Heim crushed a grand slam to right field, instantly cutting the deficit to 8-5 and injecting life into both the dugout and the crowd.
Miami answered with an important insurance run in the ninth when Hicks grounded softly back to the mound, allowing Lopez to score from third and restore a four-run advantage.
Even that wasn’t enough to put the game away.
The Athletics loaded up one final rally against Pete Fairbanks. Zack Gelof opened the inning with a single before Butler doubled to put runners on second and third. A passed ball allowed Gelof to score, trimming the deficit to 9-6. Max Muncy later worked a walk, and Heim once again delivered in the clutch, lining a two-run single to center that brought Butler and Muncy home. Suddenly, Sacramento was within one run with the tying run aboard.
Miami finally escaped when Brian Serven grounded out to second base, ending an afternoon that nearly turned into one of the club’s most dramatic rallies of the season.
While the final score favored the Marlins, the Athletics did uncover a few bright spots. Heim finished with six RBIs thanks to his grand slam and two-run single, Cortes continued to swing a hot bat with a pair of doubles in as many games, and Kuroda-Grauer added another hit as he continues to impress early in his Major League career.
Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers also entered the day carrying the momentum of their first American League All-Star selections, another encouraging sign for a young core that continues to provide hope despite the club’s recent struggles.
The Athletics now head out on the road searching for a reset after dropping the series to Miami and ending a difficult homestand.
Next up, Sacramento opens a three-game series in Detroit on Tuesday, where Tarik Skubal (4-4, 3.15 ERA, 57 strikeouts) is scheduled to start for the Tigers, while the Athletics had not yet announced a probable starter as of Sunday afternoon. First pitch from Comerica Park is scheduled for 3:40 p.m. Pacific.
Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
Sacramento A’s Nick Kurtz slugs a two run home run in the bottom of the third inning against the Miami Marlins at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Fri Jul 3, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Mauricio Segura:
#1 The visiting Miami Marlins scored six times in the top of the first inning to pretty much set the tone for the rest of the game defeating the Sacramento A’s at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento 12-5.
#2 The Marlins in the first the Marlins took advantage of the A’s when catcher Shea Langeliers allowed a pass ball to get by him that allowed the Marlins Kyle Stowers to score to make it 2-0. The Marlins Heriberto Hernandez hit a 414 foot three run homer to give the Marlins a 5-0 lead. Jakob Marsee slugged a 381 foot home run to right field to make it 6-0.
#3 The only offense came in the third and fourth innings. In the third Nick Kurtz slugged a 457 foot two run home run to deep center to put the A’s on the scored board 7-2. The A’s in the fourth picked up three more runs when Jeff McNeil hit a three run double as the A’s pulled within two runs of the Marlins 7-5 but that would be the closest they’d get all night.
#4 Rough night for A’s starter Jack Perkins who got rocked allowing seven hits and seven runs in 3.2 innings that gave the Marlins their early lead at 7-2. What were some of the pitching mistakes that Perkins was making.
#5 A’s will try it all over again against the Marlins on Saturday. Starting pitcher for Miami RHP Sandy Alcantara (9-4 ERA 4.20) for Sacramento RHP Aaron Civale (5-5 ERA 5.05) first pitch 6:45pm PDT
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 Jeff McNeil (22) is greeted by teammates after scoring on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels on Sun Jun 28, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Daniel Dullum:
#1 How did Henry Bolte perform at the top of the A’s lineup, and what impact did he have on the team’s offense?
#2 What contributions did Shea Langeliers make behind the plate and at bat during the game?
#3 How effective was Jonah Heim as the designated hitter, and did he deliver any key offensive moments?
#4 What defensive or offensive plays by Lawrence Butler and Max Muncy stood out during the matchup?
#5 How did A’s starting pitcher Aaron Civale handle the Angels’ lineup, and what were the biggest factors in his outing.
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.
Los Angeles Angels Oswald Peraza (2) feels like he’s number one after hitting a RBI single in the top of the eighth inning against the Sacramento A’s at Angels Stadium in Anaheim on Sat Jun 27, 2026 (AP News photo)
Heim’s Blast Wasn’t Enough as Angels Tie The Series; Halos score late for 5-2 win
By Mauricio Segura
The Los Angeles Angels scored once in the seventh and twice in the eighth enough to get by the Sacramento A’s 5-2 at the Big A in Anaheim on Satuday night.
Runs were difficult to come by early as both starting pitchers settled into an impressive rhythm very quickly. Sacramento managed just one hit through the first three innings, but that hit traveled a long way. Jonah Heim opened the second inning by launching a solo home run to straightaway center field, giving the Green and Gold an early 1-0 advantage.
It was the only damage against Angels left-hander Reid Detmers through the opening frames as he piled up strikeouts and kept Sacramento’s lineup from putting together sustained rallies.
Jack Perkins matched him pitch for pitch for much of the early evening. The right-hander retired six straight batters after allowing a first-inning single and received some defensive help in the third when Colby Thomas made a diving catch in left field to rob Denzer Guzman of extra bases.
Perkins also showed off the new Automated Ball-Strike challenge system, successfully overturning a ball call into a strikeout against Wade Meckler in the fourth inning.
The Angels finally cracked the scoreboard later that same inning. Nolan Schanuel drew a walk before Jorge Soler lined a single into left. With one out, Jo Adell ripped a ground ball into the left-field corner that rolled all the way to the wall for a two-run triple, scoring both runners and putting Los Angeles in front 2-1.
Sacramento answered in the sixth after Nick Kurtz lined a single to right. A wild pitch moved him into scoring position before Lawrence Butler worked a walk. Following another out, Thomas delivered again, lining a sharp single into left to score Kurtz and knot the game at 2-2.
The Athletics appeared ready for a bigger inning after another wild pitch advanced both runners, but Chase Silseth entered from the bullpen and struck out Max Muncy to leave the go-ahead runs stranded.
The missed opportunity quickly became costly. Justin Sterner escaped trouble in the bottom of the sixth by stranding Jo Adell at third base, but the Angels reclaimed the lead an inning later. Josh Lowe singled, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and raced home when Guzman’s two-out single glanced off Muncy’s glove at third base and rolled into left field.
Sacramento’s best chance to swing the game back came in the eighth. Shea Langeliers singled, Butler walked and Heim drew another free pass to load the bases with one out. The rally ended there, however, as pinch hitter Carlos Cortes struck out and Muncy lined out to center, allowing reliever Sam Bachman to preserve the one-run lead.
The Angels made certain the missed chance would loom even larger. Soler singled to begin the bottom of the eighth, and after Adell was hit by a pitch, pinch-runner Vaughn Grissom scored on Oswald Peraza’s sharp single to center. Logan O’Hoppe followed with another RBI single, extending the lead to 5-2 before Sacramento turned an inning-ending double play.
Kirby Yates handled the ninth without allowing a baserunner, retiring Jeff McNeil, Joey Meneses and Henry Bolte to close the game. Bolte endured a difficult afternoon, finishing hitless while striking out three times. Heim supplied Sacramento’s biggest offensive spark, reaching base three times with his home run and a walk, while Thomas contributed an RBI single and highlighted the defense with his diving grab in left.
Perkins deserved a better outcome after limiting the damage over his outing, but Sacramento’s offense managed only five hits and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The Athletics also left the bases loaded in the eighth, a missed opportunity that proved to be the turning point as the Angels scored twice in the bottom half to put the game away.
The rubber match offers Sacramento an opportunity to leave Southern California with another series victory. Aaron Civale (5-4, 4.88 ERA, 46 strikeouts) is scheduled to start for the Athletics against Angels left-hander Sam Aldegheri (2-3, 5.47 ERA, 16 strikeouts), with first pitch set for 12:15 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 Nick Kurtz (16) is greeted in the dugout after scoring on a single by Shea Langeliers (23) in the top of the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at the Big A in Anaheim on Fri Jun 26, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Harvey:
#1 The Sacramento A’s Shea Langeliers got their sixth straight single in the top of the fifth inning during a seven run rally that help defeat the Los Angeles Angels 9-3 on Friday night. This coming after the Angels fired general manager Perry Minasian (Ma-Nah-ssian) on Thursday.
#2 A’s pitcher JT Ginn pitched six innings allowed eight hits, three earned runs, struck out five and walked a batter. Ginn was key in holding off the Angels. Ginn had a rugged June with a 6.14 ERA allowing 44 home runs overall Ginn 6-4 ERA 3.25.
#3 Angels starter Walbert Urena was perfect until the fifth inning. Urena threw for 15 straight strikes doing it over 36 pitches 31 of those for strikes and he retired the first 12 hitters he faced.
#4 Max Muncy got an infield hit that ended Urena’s perfect game and the eventually loaded the bases. The A’s built a 7-1 lead and did most of the damage in the fifth inning.
#5 The A’s and Angels due battle again at the Big A in Anaheim taking a look at the starting pitchers for Saturday night for Sacramento RHP Jack Perkins (2-3 ERA 6.26) for Los Angeles LHP Reid Detmers (3-5 ERA 3.93) first pitch 6:38pm PDT
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.
Los Angeles Angels starter Walbert Urena pitched five innings of shutout ball against the Sacramento A’s at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Sat Jun 20, 2026 (AP News photo)
Angels Turn the A’s Lineup Into Background Noise; Halos starter Urena and 3 relievers shutout Sac 7-0
By Mauricio Segura
WEST SACRAMENTO–Friday, the Sacramento Athletics pulled a rabbit out of a batting helmet, climbing from a seven-run hole to win in 10 innings. One game later Saturday, the Angels buried the Green and Gold before any late magic could get even a toe on the field. Los Angeles beat the Athletics 7-0, using early pressure, a four-run sixth inning and a pitching relay that turned Sacramento’s bats into a long quiet drive home.
The A’s had a chance to change the tone right away. Nick Kurtz opened the bottom of the first with a double to center, Tyler Soderstrom was hit by a pitch, and Jacob Wilson loaded the bases with a single to right. That brought Jonah Heim to the plate with one out and the crowd was ready for a jolt. Instead, Heim struck out, Lawrence Butler grounded out, and the inning ended with three runners stranded. It was the best chance the Athletics had all game, and it vanished before the Angels broke a sweat.
Los Angeles went to work in the second against J.T. Ginn. Jo Adell doubled to center, Wade Meckler reached on a free pass, and Donovan Walton sent a ground ball into right field to score Adell. Jose Siri followed with a sacrifice fly to left, bringing home Meckler and giving the Angels a 2-0 lead. Ginn avoided further trouble after Tyler Heineman doubled and Zach Neto earned another free pass, but the damage had already put the A’s in chase mode.
For a while, Ginn settled in. He escaped a bases-loaded spot in the third when Walton hit into a force at home and Siri grounded out. He then retired the Angels in order in the fourth and fifth, giving the Athletics a window to get back into the game. The problem was Walbert Ureña kept slamming that window shut. Ureña worked five scoreless innings, allowing four hits while striking out five. Each time the A’s looked ready to build something, he yanked the rug from under their feet.
The sixth inning turned the game from manageable to miserable. Walton singled, Siri singled, and Scott Barlow replaced Ginn with one out. Heineman then singled to right, loading the bases for Neto, who doubled down the left-field side to score Walton and Siri. Nolan Schanuel followed with a two-run double to right, sending Heineman and Neto home and pushing the Angels ahead 6-0. Ginn’s line ended at 5 1/3 innings, seven hits and four runs, a rough turn after entering the game with a 2.91 ERA and a career-best three-game winning streak.
Denzer Guzman added the final run in the seventh, homering to left off Geoff Hartlieb. For the Angels, it was a full-team effort. Walton had three hits and scored twice, Adell added three hits of his own, Neto drove in two, and Schanuel matched him with two RBIs. The Angels finished with 13 hits and made the A’s pay almost every time traffic gathered on the bases.
The Athletics did have one more opening in the seventh. Henry Bolte singled, Max Muncy drew a free pass, and Kurtz loaded the bases with another free pass after Ryan Zeferjahn replaced Samy Natera Jr. But Shea Langeliers grounded out, and the last real threat disappeared. Zeferjahn handled the eighth, and Kirby Yates finished the ninth with two strikeouts, closing a combined five-hit shutout.
For the A’s, the loss also snapped some of the momentum from a strong recent run. They had won two straight and seven of their previous 10, had moved back to .500, and had already taken the first two games of the series against Los Angeles. They also entered with one of baseball’s hottest offenses, but this time the power never showed. Kurtz doubled, Wilson singled, Butler singled, Jeff McNeil doubled, and Bolte singled. But no one scored.
Game 4 of the series Sunday gives the Athletics a chance to put this dud in the rearview mirror. the A’s Jack Perkins (2-3, 6.15 ERA, 49 K) gets the ball against Reid Detmers (3-5, 3.68 ERA) for the Angels, with first pitch set for 1:05 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 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.
