Tag: Sacramento A’s

A’s Rally Late to Defeat Angels 9-7 in Final Homestand Opener of 2026

Published on by Jeremiah SalmonsonLeave a comment

Brady Basso #66 of the Athletics throws a pitch during the first inning of the Los Angeles Angels and Athletics game at Sutter Health Park on September 22, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The A’s returned home to Sacramento on Tuesday for the first of two games against the Los Angeles Angels. The A’s, who went 0-6 on their six-game road trip, were limping to the finish line after what has been a disappointing 2026 season.

The A’s, thanks to late-game heroics, defeated the Angels 9-7 to open the final homestand of the season at Sutter Health Park.

Brady Basso got the start for the A’s in what was his 25th appearance and seventh start of the 2026 campaign. Basso, who was looking to build on his last home start, wasn’t able to replicate his success. Basso struggled early and often as he was only able to go two innings while surrendering five runs on six hits. In addition, Basso gave up two walks and a home run while striking out two during his outing.

First out of the bullpen for the A’s was Scott Blewett, who came in and pitched the third inning. Blewett was solid in his appearance as he gave up just one hit while striking out two in the frame.

Seth Johnson was next out of the bullpen for Mark Kotsay as he called on the right-hander for the fourth, fifth and part of the sixth inning. Johnson was solid, but he did give up one run on four hits in his two and two-thirds innings of work. Johnson also walked one and struck out one during his appearance.

Drew Rom came on next for the Athletics to record the final out of the sixth inning. Rom went back out and continued pitching for the A’s as he tossed the seventh inning without giving up anything. All in, Rom tossed one and a third innings of work, allowing nothing and striking out no one.

Luis Medina came in for the A’s in the eighth inning as he looked to keep things close after the A’s mounted a rally in the seventh. It wasn’t the cleanest of innings for Medina, but he managed to navigate through it, allowing only one hit and a walk but no runs.

In the ninth inning, it was Hogan Harris on for the A’s to close things out. Harris walked the first batter of the inning, but it was immediately erased by a twin killing from the A’s defense. Harris gave up two more singles, directly followed by an unlucky RBI hit off Harris to make things tighter at a 9-7 score. However, Harris was able to escape the inning allowing nothing else and secured the win for the A’s, 9-7. Harris allowed three hits and a run in his one inning of work while striking out one and walking one. 

On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s scored nine runs while compiling 14 hits and walking three times in the game.

Lawrence Butler got the A’s on the board with their first run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Butler launched a ball deep to the wall in right-center field that banged off the wall and gave Butler time to get to third on the play. It was the second triple for Butler this season, and the run that scored was his 60th RBI of the year.

Later that inning, the A’s got their second run of the game. Jeff McNeil reached on a fielder’s choice and error by the first baseman on a play that scored Lawrence Butler from third base. It was the A’s second run and, at the time, kept their rally going.

In the seventh inning, the A’s scored their third run of the game on yet another triple. This time, it was Carlos Cortes who drilled a ball to right field that the Angels couldn’t handle, and it went all the way to the wall. Cortes ended up at third base with his second triple of the year, and Alika Williams crossed the plate to give Cortes the RBI.

Later that inning, the A’s would get their fourth run of the game on an RBI single from Shea Langeliers. Carlos Cortes scored on the play to give Langeliers his 56th RBI of the year.

In what turned into a nightmare inning for the Angels, the A’s scored again on an RBI walk from Jeff McNeil that saw Henry Bolte cross the dish. It was the fifth run of the game and third of the inning for the A’s as they continued their comeback, making it a 6-5 game.

In what was a perfect bookend to the offensive night, the A’s scored four more runs in the eighth inning to complete the comeback against the Angels. Carlos Cortes, who wasn’t even in the starting lineup, launched a two-run home run over the wall in right field to give the A’s a 7-6 lead in the eighth inning. It was the 10th home run of the year for Cortes and gave him three RBIs on the night. The home run left the bat at 103.4 mph and landed on the bullpen roof 386 feet away from home plate.

However, the A’s weren’t done yet. Later in the inning, Zach Gelof launched his own two-run homer to give the A’s a 9-6 lead and position themselves firmly in the driver’s seat. It was the 20th home run of the year for Gelof and his 51st and 52nd RBIs of the year. The ball left Gelof’s bat at 101.9 mph and landed 411 feet away on top of the visitors’ clubhouse.

The A’s and Angels will play the second and final game of their brief two-game series on Wednesday at 6:40 p.m. PDT. The A’s will send Jeffrey Springs (4-14, 6.18 ERA) to the hill as the Angels counter with Walbert Ureña (9-10, 2.74 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. 

Sacramento A’s game wrap: One Run, Nine Strikeouts, Zero Answers as A’s get blanked by Guardians 1-0

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Sacramento A’s manager Mark Kotsay (right) argues with first base umpire Jordan Baker (left) after ruling that Cleveland Guardians base runner Jo Adell was in the base line running up first base after getting hit in the back with the ball thrown by A’s pitcher Jack Perkins. Baker ruled Adell was not out and was in the base running lane, Kotsay argued otherwise and was ejected. (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

Gavin Williams kept finding a way to keep the Sacramento A’s off the board this afternoon in Cleveland. The Cleveland Guardians right-hander struck out nine over seven scoreless innings, and Jo Adell’s fourth-inning infield single supplied the only run the Guardians needed to finish a sweep of the A’s in Sunday’s 1-0 victory.

Rain delayed the start, and Williams made up for lost time by striking out Henry Bolte, Shea Langeliers and Lawrence Butler in order in the first. The A’s gave him his first real problem in the second when Zack Gelof singled to left and Donovan Walton followed with another single. Tommy White moved both runners up with a groundout, putting men at second and third with one out. Williams answered by striking out Alika Williams and getting Jonah Heim on a grounder to leave both runners stranded.

Jack Perkins matched Williams through the first three innings and kept Cleveland from turning early traffic into runs. Steven Kwan singled to begin the first and reached third, but Perkins escaped. In the fourth, José Ramírez doubled to right and moved to third on Chase DeLauter’s fly ball.

Adell then chopped a soft ball toward Perkins and reached on an infield single as Ramírez scored. An on-field delay followed, and Athletics manager Mark Kotsay was ejected by plate umpire Stu Scheurwater. Perkins recovered by getting Travis Bazzana to ground into a double play, keeping the deficit at one.

Perkins finished six innings with only that run against him, giving the A’s every chance to answer. That effort continued a better September stretch for the right-hander, who had posted a 4.30 ERA over his first three starts of the month after struggling through much of the summer. He also had thrown a career-high 6 2/3 innings in his previous start. The A’s, though, could not turn his work into support.

Bolte singled in the sixth, extending his September on-base streak to 18 games. He had reached safely in each of his first 17 games of the month before Sunday. Williams then picked him off first base. Butler drew a seventh-inning walk, only to be erased when Cleveland challenged a stolen-base ruling and the call was overturned. By then, A’s baserunners had become increasingly difficult to keep on the bases.

Their best shot was in the eighth. Jeff McNeil pinch-hit and singled off Hunter Gaddis, then Heim doubled to center to put runners at second and third with one out. Carlos Cortes struck out, prompting Cleveland to summon Cade Smith. Smith struck out Bolte to strand both runners and preserve the 1-0 margin.

Elvis Alvarado returned the favor in the bottom half. Kwan singled, Ramírez followed with another hit and DeLauter was intentionally walked to load the bases. Adell popped out to Zack Gelof, giving the A’s one final chance.

Smith stayed on for the ninth and struck out Langeliers before Butler grounded out. Gelof kept the game alive with a two-out single, his second hit of the game, but Walton struck out to end it. The loss completed an 0-6 final road trip for the Athletics after they had already dropped three games in Tampa Bay and the first two in Cleveland.

After Monday’s off day, the A’s host the Angels Tuesday with the A’s Brady Basso (1-3, 4.50 ERA, 28 K) facing the Angels Yusei Kikuchi (1-6, 5.02 ERA, 58 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 Daniel Dullum: Groovin Gavin shuts down Sacramento’s hitting in Cleveland’s 1-0 win to sweep A’s. Athletics now on 6 game skid

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Cleveland Guardians Travis Bazzana (left) puts the tag on Sacramento A’s Lawrence Butler (4) after a steal attempt was called out by second base umpire Junior Valentine (back left) in the top of the seventh inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Sun Sep 20, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 Cleveland Guardians starter Gavin Williams had his mix of pitches working for him shutting out the Sacramento A’s at Progressive Field on Sunday 1-0.

#2 Taking a look at Williams numbers pitched seven innings, allowed three hits, struck out nine batters and moved into first place as the leading pitcher with 244 strikeouts.

#3 Things are getting tougher for the A’s who were coming off a 7-3 record in their previous ten games when they started this road trip which they started on Tuesday in Tampa Bay getting swept in all six games of the trip.

#4 Frustrations continue for A’s manager Mark Kotsay after A’s pitcher Jack Perkins fielded a slow ground ball in front of the pitcher’s mound but Perkins throw ended up hitting Guardians runner Jo Adell in the back in the basepath. Adell was allowed the base and Kotsay argued he was in the fielders lane rather than the runner’s lane and was ceromoniously tossed out for the third time this season.

#5 The A’s will try it again on Tuesday night at Sutter Health Field in West Sacramento after getting beat in all of their six road games. This time they host the Los Angeles Angels with a 6:40pm PDT start. Starting pitchers for Los Angeles LHP Yusei Kikuchi (1-6 ERA 5.02) for Sacramento LHP Brady Basso (1-3 ERA 4.50).

Join Daniel Dullum for the A’s podcasts Sundays 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. 

Walton’s Perfect Night Gets Drowned Out by Cleveland 12-6

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Sacramento A’s third baseman Zack Gelof makes the throw to first base to retire Cleveland Guardians Jo Adell in the bottom of the sixth inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Sat Sep 19, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento A’s gave themselves a two-run head start, then the Cleveland Guardians answered with a five-run first inning and never gave control back in a 12-6 Guardians victory. Sacramento opened with four straight two-out hits. Shea Langeliers singled, Lawrence Butler followed with another single, Zack Gelof drove Langeliers home, and Donovan Walton brought Butler across for a 2-0 lead. Walton then stole second, but the inning ended before the Athletics could add more.

Cleveland needed only five batters to erase it. Steven Kwan and José Ramírez singled before Chase DeLauter sent a three-run homer over the center-field wall. Jo Adell followed with a single, and Angel Martínez launched a two-run homer to center for a 5-2 advantage.

Jacob Lopez eventually got through the inning, but the damage had already changed the shape of the game. Lopez had posted a 3.60 ERA over his previous nine starts, yet Cleveland turned that recent success upside down.

Walton kept the A’s within sight. His third-inning single scored Butler and trimmed the deficit to 5-3, giving him two RBI singles in his first two trips. Cleveland responded with another long rally in the bottom half. DeLauter singled,

Martínez doubled, and David Fry drove both runners home with a double to left. Austin Hedges and Brayan Rocchio followed with RBI doubles. Lopez was replaced by Chris Roycroft, but Kwan singled home Rocchio, an inherited runner, leaving Lopez charged with 10 runs in 2 2/3 innings and giving Cleveland a 10-3 lead.

The Athletics did not fold. Alika Williams doubled in the fourth and scored on Henry Bolte’s single. Bolte had been one of Sacramento’s better September hitters, batting .298 with five home runs and seven stolen bases through 16 games. Cleveland answered again when Martínez hit his second homer of the game, this one to right field, pushing the margin to 11-4.

Walton took another swing at the deficit in the fifth. Gelof singled with two outs, and Walton drove a ball to right-center for a two-run homer, cutting Cleveland’s lead to 11-6. The blast completed a 3-for-3 performance for Walton with four RBIs, a home run and a stolen base. His production accounted for four of Sacramento’s six runs before Tommy White pinch-hit for him in the seventh.

There were other bright spots inside a rough score. Langeliers collected two singles and drew a walk after recently returning from surgery on a torn meniscus in his right knee. Bolte supplied an RBI single, while Gelof had two hits and scored twice. Carlos Cortes doubled in the fifth, and Williams doubled twice and scored once. The A’s also loaded the bases in the seventh after walks to Langeliers, Butler and Denzel Clarke, but Brian Serven grounded out to end the inning.

Cleveland added its final run in the sixth when Ramírez singled, moved to second on Adell’s groundout and scored on Martínez’s single to center. Martínez finished with four hits, two home runs, a double and four RBI, while DeLauter’s three-run homer supplied the early blow that flipped the game. After Walton’s fifth-inning homer, the Guardians’ bullpen kept the A’s scoreless over the final four innings. Slade Cecconi retired all six batters he faced in the eighth and ninth.

The trip wraps with brunch-hour baseball Sunday, when Jack Perkins (3-11, 6.14 ERA, 127 strikeouts) takes the mound for the A’s against Gavin Williams (13-8, 3.78 ERA, 235 strikeouts) for Cleveland, with first pitch scheduled for 10:40 a.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. 

Sacrameto A’s podcast Tony Harvey: A’s suffer their fourth straight loss opening 3 game set with Guardians Friday

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Cleveland Guardians Jose Ramirez (right) slugs a sixth inning home run off Sacramento A’s pitcher Seth Johnson while A’s catcher Jonah Heim looks on at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Fri Sep 18, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Harvey:

#1 The Cleveland Guardians Jose Ramirez hit his 1000th RBI when Ramirez homered for the 12th time this season. Ramirez became the second Cleveland player since Earl Averall to hit for 1000 RBIs. Averall leads Cleveland on the all time RBI list with 1,084.

#2 Ramirez and rookie Travis Bazzana each homered as each of those home runs counted as the Guardians beat the Sacramento A’s by two runs on Friday 5-3. With the win the Guardians move one game in front of the White Sox by one game.

#3 Going back to the top of the first inning the A’s Zack Gelof slugged a 393 foot centerfield three run home run while the A’s struck first it wouldn’t last long.

#4 The A’s went through five pitchers allowing ten hits and five earned runs starter Mason Barnett got rocked the most allowing seven hits, three runs, and four strikeouts and raised his ERA to 7.11.

#5 A’s go back to the drawing board Saturday for Sacramento LHP Jacob Lopez (6-4 ERA 5.02) for Cleveland RHP Tanner Bibee (6-15 ERA 4.16) first pitch 3:10pm PDT.

Join Tony Harvey for the A’s podcasts each Saturday 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. 

Gelof Launches Early but Cleveland Takes Over in 5-2 win; Win puts Guardians first in AL Central

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Cleveland Guardians Brayan Rocchio (right) hits a two run double off A’s pitcher Mason Barnett as A’s catcher Jonah Heim watches at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Fri Sep 19, 2026 (AP News photo)

Gelof Launches Early but Cleveland Takes Over in 5-2 win

By Mauricio Segura

Zack Gelof gave the Sacramento Athletics a three-run lead, but the advantage vanished by the fourth inning and never returned in a 5-3 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. Henry Bolte opened with a walk and Lawrence Butler drew another two batters later, putting two aboard for Gelof. The left fielder sent a fly ball over the center-field wall for his 19th home run of the season, extending the career high he had already set. It was also all the scoring the A’s would produce.

Mason Barnett made that lead stand for three innings while working around steady traffic. Cleveland loaded the bases in the first after walks to Steven Kwan and Chase DeLauter and a Jo Adell single, but Travis Bazzana grounded into a double play.

The Guardians threatened again in the second when Nathaniel Lowe and Brayan Rocchio singled and Kwan drew another walk, yet Barnett struck out José Ramírez to leave the bases full. Barnett had just returned from Triple-A Las Vegas after throwing his first professional complete game, a six-hitter in a 3-2 victory, and followed that outing with three scoreless innings against Cleveland.

The fourth finally broke his grip. Patrick Bailey and Petey Halpin opened with singles, then Rocchio doubled to right to score both runners and cut the A’s lead to 3-2. Barnett struck out Kwan, but Ramírez followed with a ground-ball single to center that brought Rocchio home with the tying run. Barnett’s outing ended there after 3 1/3 innings, seven hits, three earned runs, four walks and four strikeouts.

Scott Blewett got the final two outs of the fourth, but Bazzana put Cleveland ahead in the fifth with a solo homer to center. An inning later, Ramírez added another solo shot, this one to right off Seth Johnson, stretching the Guardians’ lead to 5-3. Luis Medina and Elvis Alvarado kept Cleveland scoreless over the final two innings, but the Athletics’ bats never found a second burst.

Joey Cantillo was the reason. After Daniel Espino allowed Gelof’s homer in the first, Cantillo took over in the second and held the A’s scoreless for six innings. The Athletics managed only two hits against him, singles by Jeff McNeil and Alika Williams, while Cantillo struck out five. Hunter Gaddis handled the eighth, and Cade Smith finished the ninth by striking out Butler and Gelof before McNeil grounded out.

The A’s finished with only three hits, and two potential rallies disappeared on double plays. Tommy White grounded into one after McNeil singled in the fourth, and Shea Langeliers did the same after Bolte was hit by a pitch in the eighth. Butler also was caught stealing in the sixth.

Bolte still reached base twice, extending his September run of reaching safely to 16 games, while Langeliers went hitless and saw his career-best 12-game hitting streak end. The A’s began the game leading the majors with 26 September home runs, and Gelof quickly added another, but Cleveland answered with ten hits and enough power of its own to send the Green and Gold to a fourth straight loss on their final road trip.

The A’s get another crack at Cleveland Saturday behind A’s starter Jacob Lopez (6-4, 5.02 ERA, 107 K) against Guardians starter Tanner Bibee (6-15, 4.16 ERA, 140 K), with first pitch set for 3:10 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.

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson: Rays blitz A’s 10-1 in Thursday matinee at Tropicana

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Tampa Rays Chandler Simpson (right) scores ahead of the throw as Sacramento A’s catcher Jonah Heim waits for the ball on a three run double by Richie Palacios in the last of the fourth inning at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay on Thu Sep 17, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Can’t put out a team that’s on fire like the Tampa Bay R as the Sacramento A’s were landslided 10-1 at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg on Thursday afternoon.

#2 Once again A’s starter Jeffrey Springs got lit up pitching 3.1 innings, allowing five hits and six earned runs. Springs picks up his 15th loss against only four wins for the season.

#3 Springs pitched shutout ball until the bottom of the fourth inning and that’s when the Rays let into him with a six run rally and it was difficult to stop the bleeding.

#4 The A’s couldn’t get any offense going just picking up one run in the top of the sixth by Lawrence Butler whose been swinging a hot bat of late hit a solo shot for the A’s only run.

#5 The A’s will try and turn the page after getting swept in Tampa Bay this time in Cleveland on Friday night against former A Stephen Vogt and the Guardians at Progressive Field. Starting pitchers for Sacramento RHP Mason Barnett (1-4 ERA 7.08) for Cleveland RHP Daniel Espino (0-0 ERA 2.92) first pitch 4:10pm PDT.

Join Jeremiah Salmonson for the A’s podcasts each Thursday 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: A’s four runs down and one run short in loss to Rays 4-3

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Sacramento A’s Henry Bolte is congratulated by third base coach Bobby Crosby before heading home after hitting his 11th home run of the season against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg on Wed Sep 16, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

The Tampa Bay Rays did all of its scoring before the Sacramento Athletics could answer on Wednesday night, then protected a one-run lead the rest of the way. The Rays scored twice in each of the first two innings against Brady Basso and held off Sacramento for a 4-3 win, handing the A’s their second straight loss in the series.

Basso was two outs into the first before Tampa Bay strung together three consecutive doubles. Junior Caminero started the run with a drive to center, Jonny DeLuca followed with an RBI double to left, and Chandler Simpson sent another double into right to score DeLuca. The Rays went right back to work in the second. Jorge Mateo singled, stole second and scored on Nick Fortes’ double. Ryan Vilade later singled home Fortes for a 4-0 lead.

Basso never found room to settle. He allowed four runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings, with no walks and no strikeouts, and took the loss to fall to 1-3. The left-hander had thrown seven scoreless innings across his previous two starts, but Tampa Bay broke that stretch quickly.

The Athletics answered in the third, and two young hitters supplied the power. Tommy White opened the inning with a solo homer to left, his third of the season. After Carlos Cortes and Brian Serven were retired, Henry Bolte drove a solo shot to center for his 11th homer, trimming the deficit to 4-2. White’s homer carried a little extra meaning after he spoke about the memories he shared with his father at that ballpark and how he fell in love with baseball there.

Bolte’s blast continued a strong September. He began the game batting .313 for the month with four home runs, six stolen bases and a .450 on-base percentage. He also had already reached 20 steals for the season, the most by an Athletics player age 22 or younger since Rickey Henderson stole 56 at age 22 in 1981.

Once Basso left, Sacramento’s bullpen gave the offense every chance to finish the comeback. Seth Johnson retired all seven batters he faced and struck out four over 2 1/3 innings. Drew Rom, Scott Blewett and Hogan Harris followed, and the four relievers combined for 5 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing only two hits, issuing no walks and striking out six.

The A’s moved within one in the sixth. Jeff McNeil doubled off Kevin Kelly and Shea Langeliers followed with a single through the middle to score him. The hit extended Langeliers’ career-best hitting streak to 12 games. The catcher had only recently returned after surgery on a torn right meniscus, making his continued production one of the brighter parts of the late-season stretch.

Sacramento had chances to find the tying run but could not produce another hit when it mattered most. Tommy White singled in the fifth and again in the seventh, finishing 3-for-4 with the homer. McNeil went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Lawrence Butler singled in the fourth, but Donovan Walton grounded into a double play to end that inning.

Tampa Bay starter Nick Martinez worked five innings, allowing two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and no walks to earn his 15th victory. The Rays then used Kevin Kelly, Cam Booser and Cole Sulser to cover the final four innings. Sulser retired Zack Gelof, Walton and White in order in the ninth for his third save.

The series wraps Thursday with Jeffrey Springs (4-13, 5.93 ERA, 105 K) starting for the Athletics against Drew Rasmussen (14-5, 2.81 ERA, 160 K) for Tampa Bay, with first pitch scheduled for 10:10 a.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 Bridget Mulcahy: Rays beat A’s 4-3; Tampa’s Martinez gets 15th win in 5 innings of work

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Sacramento A’s Lawrence Butler (right) is tagged out by the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Jorge Mateo (left) i the bottom of the fourth inning at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg on Wed Sep 16, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Bridget Mulcahy:

#1 It was the Tampa Bay Rays Nick Martinez who pitched five innings for his 15th win over the Sacramento A’s for a 4-3 win

#2 The Rays Jonny DeLuca helped the offense with and RBI double going 2 for 4 Wednesday night in Tampa for the Rays fifth straight win in a row.

#3 The A’s Tommy “Tanks” White homered in the top of the third inning for a 347 foot home run in left field and Henry Bolte clubbed his 11th home run of the season.

#4 The A’s Shea Langeliers got a RBI single in the sixth inning and extended his hit streak to 12 games.

#5 The A’s conclude this three game series with the Rays Thursday with LHP Jeffrey Springs (4-13 ERA 5.93) and for the Rays RHP Drew Rasmussen (14-5 ERA 2.81) first pitch is 10:10AM PDT at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg.

Bridget Mulcahy does the A’s podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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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: Caminero Has Last Word as A’s Fall to Rays 2-1

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Tampa Rays Junior Caminero (center) celebrates his ninth inning walk off home run to defeat the Sacramento A’s at the Tropicana in St Petersburg on Tue Sep 15, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s game wrap:

By Mauricio Segura

A pitcher’s duel kept the Sacramento A’s within reach all night, but the Tampa Bay Rays Junior Caminero needed only one swing in the ninth to erase any hope of a Green and Gold victory, sending the ball into the right-field bleachers. His opposite-field home run off Elvis Alvarado gave Tampa Bay a 2-1 victory and handed the A’s a painful start to their final road trip of the season. It was Caminero’s American League-leading 41st homer and his second game-ending shot in five days.

For most of the game, Jack Perkins gave Sacramento every opportunity to steal one. The right-hander delivered the best start of his major league career, working 6 2/3 innings while allowing four hits, one unearned run and one walk with eight strikeouts. It was a dramatic reversal from his previous meeting with Tampa Bay, when the Rays tagged him for a career-high 12 hits and seven runs over five innings. Perkins began the evening with a 6.53 ERA, but his ability to miss bats had been a season-long strength, with 119 strikeouts in 103 1/3 innings before this outing.

Tampa Bay scratched out the first run in the second without driving it home with a hit. Chandler Simpson doubled to right, moved to third on Richie Palacios’ grounder and scored when a passed ball got away from catcher Jonah Heim. Perkins limited the damage by striking out Jorge Mateo, beginning a long stretch in which Tampa Bay could do little against him.

The A’s had their own problems with Griffin Jax. Alika Williams doubled in the third and Shea Langeliers singled in the fourth, but neither advanced into scoring position. Jax worked five scoreless innings, allowing only those two hits while striking out seven without issuing a walk. He needed just 67 pitches before Tampa Bay turned the game over to its bullpen.

Sacramento finally found an opening against Ty Johnson in the sixth. Henry Bolte singled to left with one out, then Jeff McNeil sent a single into right that pushed Bolte to third. Johnson’s wild pitch did the rest, allowing Bolte to score and McNeil to move to second. Shea Langeliers struck out before Cam Booser replaced Johnson and retired Lawrence Butler, leaving the score tied at 1-1.

Bolte’s contribution continued a productive September. He began the series batting .318 for the month with four homers, seven RBI, 10 walks, 11 runs and six stolen bases, and his 20 steals for the season led American League rookies.

Perkins protected the tie until the seventh. Liam Hicks drew a walk and Simpson collected his third hit of the game, putting two runners aboard with two outs. Luis Medina replaced Perkins and struck out Palacios to strand both. Simpson finished 3-for-3, accounting for half of Tampa Bay’s six hits while raising his batting average to .308.

Medina and Hogan Harris carried the tie through the eighth. The A’s bullpen escaped after Mateo reached on an overturned call and stole second, with Harris retiring Yandy Díaz and striking out Jonathan Aranda. Sacramento then had one final chance in the ninth, but Bryan Baker retired McNeil, Langeliers and Butler in order. Langeliers nearly found grass in left, only for Simpson to make a sliding catch.

That brought Caminero to the plate against Alvarado. After falling behind 0-2, Caminero turned on a 100.4 mph fastball and sent it down the right-field line for a 344-foot homer, ending the game three pitches into the bottom of the ninth.

The series continues with a contrast on the mound as left-hander Brady Basso (1-2, 3.86 ERA, 28 K) gets the ball for the A’s against Tampa Bay right-hander Nick Martinez (14-4, 2.92 ERA, 98 K), with first pitch 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.