Golden State Valkyries Kaitlyn Chen fires up the sold out crowd at Ballhalla Chase Center in San Francisco during game 1 of the first round of the WNBA Playoffs on Sun Sep 27, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Amaury Pi Gonzalez
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
WNBA Golden State Valkyries attendance is larger than MLB Athletics
SAN FRANCISCO–The WNBA has 15 teams; the Indiana Fever and the Golden State Valkyries sell the most tickets. Attendance is increasing, especially for the Indiana Fever and the Golden State Valkyries, and for other teams in the league owned by or directly tied to the NBA.
Five WNBA teams play at the same location as their city NBA team, like the Fever and Valkyries. ‘During the 2026 regular season, the Valkyries averaged 18,064 fans per game and drew 397,408 total fans.
The MLB Athletics in Sacramento averaged 9,867 per game and drew 799,240 total fans, last among the 30 MLB teams. The Valkyries drew 8,197 more fans per game than the A’s. The only reason the Golden State Valkyries didn’t outdraw the A’s in total attendance is that the A’s play 162 games, with 81 at home and 81 on the road, while the WNBA has a 44-game season: 22 home and 22 on the road.
Amazing how one player changed everything in the WNBA. Caitlin Clark’s arrival in 2024 sparked unprecedented ticket sales, packed arena crowds for both home and away games, and skyrocketing merchandise and jersey numbers.
Now that the San Francisco Giants season has ended, the Golden State Valkyries are the hottest ticket in sports in the City by the Bay. The NFL San Francisco 49ers do not count, since they play at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Final Note: As a league, the WNBA is still losing between $40 and $50 million per season.
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.
Mandatory photo credit: Mauricio Segura (Golden Bay Times)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — 162 starting pitchers, 162 lineup cards, 162 first pitches, it all came to a close on Sunday afternoon as the A’s hosted the Astros for the final game of the 2026 regular season. The A’s had one last chance to play spoiler on Sunday as the Astros needed a win or a Rangers loss to clinch the AL West.
In the end, it didn’t matter if the Astros won or lost as the Rangers were unable to defeat the Twins. However, the Astros defeated the A’s 9-0 to claim the AL West crown.
The A’s went with a bullpen game for the final game of the season. Mark Kotsay elected to go with the right-hander Seth Johnson for the shortened start. Johnson breezed through the first inning but ran into issues trying to get out of the second inning as two walks would ultimately finish his outing. Brady Basso came in with two outs in the second inning to try and clean things up with the bases loaded, which he did, striking out the only batter he faced. Johnson’s final line was one and two-thirds innings while giving up no runs on one hit while walking two and striking out two.
Basso went back out to pitch the third inning for the A’s and struggled. Basso was only able to get two outs in the inning before being lifted. Similarly to Basso, Elvis Alvarado came on and cleaned up the inning, striking out the only batter he faced. However, the damage was already done against Basso. All in, Basso tossed one inning of relief while giving up four runs on three hits while walking one and striking out one.
Alvarado, having finished the third inning, came back out to pitch the fourth for the A’s. Alvarado pitched a clean fourth inning where he struck out two of the three batters he faced and didn’t allow a hit or a walk. All in, Alvarado struck out three of the four hitters he faced and didn’t allow any baserunners in his one and a third innings of work.
In the fifth inning, it was Scott Blewett who came in to pitch. Blewett pitched a strong fifth inning, retiring all three of the batters he faced by way of the groundball. However, he was only able to record one out in the sixth before being lifted. All in, Blewett tossed one and a third innings and gave up two runs on two hits while issuing no walks and not recording any strikeouts.
Chris Roycroft came in to pitch the rest of the sixth and part of the seventh inning. Roycroft also struggled for the A’s as he pitched one inning total and gave up two runs on three hits while walking four and striking out two.
The sixth pitcher of the day for the A’s was Geoff Hartlieb. Hartlieb came in to finish the seventh and also pitched the eighth inning. Hartlieb, like most of the bullpen, struggled to get outs. Hartlieb was able to finish the eighth inning, but he gave up one run on three hits while issuing one free pass and striking out one.
In the ninth, Mark Kotsay turned to Drew Rom. Rom came in and pitched a three-up-three-down ninth inning, allowing no baserunners.
On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s really struggled against the Astros pitching. The A’s weren’t able to score any runs as they were shut out in the game. The A’s hitters managed only five hits and three walks in the game to finish off the season.
The A’s missed out on their goals in the 2026 season, which is something A’s manager Mark Kotsay has reiterated many times over the past few seasons here in Sacramento.
“A tough season,” the A’s manager said after the game. “There’s no way around that. As a group, we feel obviously very disappointed in the results. As I talked about, the greatest lessons of learning are failures, and this season was one of those that I think we have a lot to learn from.”
Injuries didn’t do the A’s any favors in 2026. On the final day of the season, the likes of Tyler Soderstrom, Brent Rooker, Nick Kurtz, Luis Severino and others were all hurt.
Shea Langeliers, who himself spent time on the injured list during the 2026 season before coming back a couple of weeks before the end of the season, spoke to the media about how injuries impacted the season.
“I think all encompassing, just kind of a crazy year, the injuries we had to deal with as a team, just kind of battling through that,” Langeliers said after the game.
There’s certainly going to be even more change around the Athletics organization in 2027. Kotsay himself acknowledged that after the game.
“There’s been a lot of change. There’s going to be more change. It’s been a really tough year for everyone in the organization.”
Jack Perkins #50 of the Athletics pitches against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Sutter Health Park on September 26, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Athletics were back in action on Saturday night for their final night game of the 2026 season as they faced off against the Houston Astros at 6:40 p.m. PDT. The A’s tried to play spoiler again as the Astros and Rangers were tied at the top of the division. Whoever lost the division would miss out on the 2026 MLB postseason.
The A’s weren’t able to spoil the Astros’ hopes as they wanted, as Houston had its way with them, defeating them 13-2.
The A’s sent Jack Perkins to the hill to start Game 161 for the team as he was making his 37th appearance of the year and his 17th start. Perkins pitched OK, but the fifth inning unraveled for the right-hander to tank his outing. Perkins was pitching to a 3-1 deficit as he came out for the fifth inning, and it was a three-run home run that ultimately did him in. Perkins finished the fifth inning, but his outing was over after he gave up six runs on five hits while walking three and striking out nine (ties a season high).
First out of the bullpen for the A’s was Scott Blewett, who came in to pitch the sixth inning. Blewett struggled, but he managed to bear down and leave without allowing a run. Blewett gave up two hits followed by two strikeouts before being lifted with two outs in favor of Drew Rom. Rom got the final out of the inning on one pitch to give Blewett a final line of two-thirds of an inning, allowing no runs and two hits while striking out two.
For Rom, he got that final out of the sixth inning before coming back out to pitch the seventh inning. Rom struggled mightily in the seventh as he was only able to record two outs before being lifted. Rom tossed a total of one inning during his outing and gave up three runs on five hits while walking none and striking out none.
It was Yunior Tur who came in to finish off the seventh inning as he recorded a strikeout against the only batter he faced. Like Rom, Tur came out again in the eighth inning. In the eighth, Tur struggled to throw strikes, and it cost him as he gave up three runs on three hits while walking one and striking out one. Tur also pitched the ninth inning, where he gave up a solo home run but nothing more. Yunior’s final line was two and a third innings of four-run, four-hit baseball while walking one and striking out two.
On the offensive side of things, the A’s managed only two runs on six hits while walking twice.
The A’s got their first run of the game in the fourth inning on an odd play. Zack Gelof grounded a ball to shortstop, where Jeremy Peña stepped on second for the out before making an errant throw to first base. Gelof performed some shape-shifting acrobatics to avoid the tag and was safe at first. Gelof was credited with his 55th RBI of the year on the play as Lawrence Butler crossed home and scored from third base.
The A’s second run came in the seventh inning when Tommy White singled home Zack Gelof from second base, who reached earlier on a single of his own. It was the 10th RBI of the season for White with the A’s and made it a 9-2 game at the time.
That was all the A’s could muster on the offensive end as they couldn’t mount any late-game comeback.
With the win, the Astros set up a Game 162 showdown with the Rangers on Sunday. Since Houston holds the tiebreaker over Texas, an Astros win would secure the AL West. The Rangers would need a win of their own, coupled with an Astros loss, to claim the division.
The A’s and Astros will play the final game of the regular season on Sunday at 12:05 p.m. PDT at Sutter Health Park. Neither team has announced a starting pitcher for the game. However, A’s manager Mark Kotsay did confirm it will be a bullpen game for the series finale.
Henry Bolte (33) is congratulated by Sacramento A’s third base coach Bobby Crosby(8) after hitting a bottom of the sixth inning two run triple against the Houston Astros at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Fri Sep 26, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Harvey:
#1 Can Henry Bolte build on his two-RBI triple Friday night and provide another big offensive performance against the Astros?
#2 After Michael Stefanic delivered a two-run pinch-hit single Friday, can he continue to make an impact for the A’s against Houston?
#3 Can Lawrence Butler carry the momentum from his RBI performance Friday into Saturday’s matchup?
#4 With Jack Perkins listed as the A’s probable starter, can he keep Houston’s powerful lineup—including Yordan Alvarez—under control?
#5 Can Shea Langeliers provide the power the A’s need against the Astros after returning from the injured list earlier this month?
Tony Harvey podcasted the Sacramento A’s Saturdays and will return next Saturday with the Sacramento Kings podcasts 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.
Jacob Lopez #57 of the Athletics pitches in the top of the first inning against the Houston Astros at Sutter Health Park on September 25, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The A’s and Astros were back in action on the final Friday night of the regular season at 6:40 p.m. PDT at Sutter Health Park. After the Astros’ win over the A’s on Thursday night, Houston was tied for the AL West lead with the Texas Rangers entering play on Friday and desperately needing a win.
The A’s continued to play spoiler in the American League on Friday as they defeated the Astros, 6-5.
Jacob Lopez took the ball for the A’s in his final start of the 2026 season. It was Lopez’s 27th appearance for the A’s and his 24th start of the 2026 season. Lopez pitched masterfully as he turned in one of his best starts of the year. Lopez went six innings of one-run baseball as he allowed only two hits and walked two while striking out four. The only real blemish for Lopez was a fourth-inning solo home run he gave up to Christian Walker. Otherwise, Lopez turned in an outing he would certainly be happy to end the season with.
In the seventh inning, the A’s went with right-hander Seth Johnson to be first out of the bullpen in relief of Lopez. Johnson pitched a solid inning, but he was bitten by the home run bug as he gave up a solo home run to Cam Smith with two outs. However, that was all he gave up in an otherwise clean inning in which he struck out one.
In the eighth inning, it was Geoff Hartlieb who came in for the A’s in hopes of keeping the game where it was. Hartlieb ran into trouble in the eighth as he gave up two hits to the first three batters he faced, followed by a walk. That was all Mark Kotsay needed to see as he went to his bullpen again with the bases loaded.
Luis Medina was next out of the A’s bullpen, hoping to come in and clean up Hartlieb’s mess. Medina couldn’t get that job done as he allowed all three of his inherited runners to score before getting out of the inning. So, Medina’s line looks okay, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Medina went two-thirds of an inning and gave up one hit, one walk, and struck out one. No runs were charged to Medina. Hartlieb’s final line wasn’t so kind as he went one-third of an inning while allowing three runs on one hit, walking two and striking out one.
With the A’s lead down to one run, Mark Kotsay called on Hogan Harris for the save in the ninth inning. Harris gave up a one-out walk, but faced the minimum as he induced a double play and struck out the only other batter he faced. With the save, Harris recorded his 17th save of the season, which marked only the second time a left-handed pitcher has recorded 17 saves for the A’s.
On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s scored a total of six runs on eight hits while being gifted four free passes from the Astros’ pitching.
The A’s scored their first runs of the game in the sixth inning as pinch hitter Michael Stefanic came up big with a two-run single. The single drove in Jeff McNeil and Zack Gelof, who reached base prior, and gave the A’s their first lead of the ballgame.
Two batters later, it was Jonah Heim who added to the lead with an RBI single to left field. Heim’s single scored pinch runner Denzel Clarke and gave Heim his 43rd RBI of the year.
As the sixth inning continued, the A’s offense also continued to damage the Astros and their playoff chances. Henry Bolte laced a two-RBI triple to right field to pile on and give the A’s their fourth and fifth runs of the inning. It was the second triple of the year for Bolte and RBIs 37 and 38.
Lawrence Butler decided to get in on the action next as he drove in Henry Bolte from third on a fielder’s choice that Bolte beat out at the plate. It was the 62nd RBI of the year for Butler and the A’s sixth run of the inning.
The A’s and Astros will play game three of their four-game series on Saturday at 6:40 p.m. PDT. The A’s will send Jack Perkins (3-12, 5.90 ERA) to the mound to start the game as the Astros will counter with Hayden Wesneski (5-2, 3.50 ERA). The Astros and Rangers remain tied for the AL West crown with just two games remaining for both teams.
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.
Mason Barnett #63 of the Athletics pitches against the Houston Astros in the top of the second inning at Sutter Health Park on September 24, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The A’s welcomed the Houston Astros to Sacramento on Thursday for the first of a four-game series to wrap up the 2026 season. For the A’s, there’s very little to play for as they have been firmly out of the playoff picture for months. On the other hand, the Astros are fighting for their playoff lives as they must win the AL West to make it in, as they entered play a half-game back of the Texas Rangers on Thursday.
The A’s fell to the Astros in game one, 7-5.
Mason Barnett got the ball for the A’s on Thursday in what was his 20th appearance and sixth start for the club in 2026. Barnett held his own in the game and was able to provide some length for the A’s, but he didn’t pitch well enough to be in line for the win. The home run proved to be the main struggle for Barnett on Thursday, as he gave up a three-run home run in the second inning and a solo shot in the sixth. All in, Barnett tossed six innings of four-run, four-hit baseball while striking out eight (a career high) and walking two hitters.
First out of the bullpen for the A’s was Scott Blewett as he came in to pitch the seventh inning for Mark Kotsay in relief of Mason Barnett. Blewett struggled in his inning, giving up a home run and two other hits, but he managed to limit the damage and keep the Astros to just one run during his inning.
In the eighth inning, the A’s turned to Chris Roycroft to keep the game where it was as they trailed 5-4. Unfortunately for the A’s, Roycroft, like Barnett and Blewett before him, was also bitten by the home run bug. Roycroft gave up a solo home run but nothing more in his inning of work while also striking out two.
In the ninth inning, it was Elvis Alvarado for the second night in a row to finish things off for the A’s on the pitching side. Like all the A’s pitchers in the game, Elvis also gave up a home run. Alvarado started his appearance by giving up a solo home run, but was effective after as he didn’t give up anything else in his outing, other than one more inconsequential hit.
At the plate, the A’s picked up where they left off against the Angels early in the game. In total, the A’s had five runs, 11 hits and walked three times.
Jeff McNeil got the scoring going for the A’s in the third inning when he launched a game-tying three-run home run over the wall in right-center field. It was McNeil’s ninth home run of the season and RBIs 53, 54 and 55. The momentum-shifting home run left the bat at 98.4 MPH and landed 379 feet away in the visitors’ bullpen.
Keeping the party going, Zack Gelof decided to get in on the action as he launched a back-to-back home run with McNeil, which was the 21st of the season for him. Gelof’s home run left the bat at 101.8 MPH and came to rest 413 feet away in straightaway center field to give the A’s the 4-3 lead. It was Gelof’s 53rd RBI of the season.
The A’s didn’t score again until the eighth inning, but it was Gelof again for the A’s. Zack Gelof made it a 6-5 game and got the A’s to within one run as he sent his second home run of the game over the left-center-field wall. It was Gelof’s 22nd of the season and gave him his 54th RBI of the campaign.
That would be all the A’s could get on the offensive end as they fell to the Astros 7-5 on Thursday.
The A’s and Astros will play game two of the four-game series on Friday at 6:40 p.m. PDT. As of this writing, the Astros have not announced a starter while the A’s will go with Jacob Lopez (6-5, 5.68 ERA).
Sacramento A’s Donavon Walton runs the bases after hitting a three run home run in the top of the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Wed Sep 23, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:
#1 Jeremiah, the A’s jumped on the Los Angeles Angels in the bottom of the first inning scoring four runs to take a 4-0 lead.The win helps the A’s avoid losing 100 games for the season.
#2 In the first the A’s got hitting with a Lawrence Butler RBI scoring Henry Bolte making 1-0. Donavon Walton hit a three home run making it 4-0.
#3 In the second inning Bolte slugged a right field double that scored Malika Williams A’s take a 5-0. The A’s get a leg up scoring early in the ball game.Bolte had a big night with two singles and two doubles Wednesday.
#4 The A’s picked up two more runs when Shea Langeliers hit a two run double in the bottom of the sixth inning that scored Bolte and Williams for a 7-3 lead and the eventual win.
#5 A’s closer Elvis Alvarado closed the door on the Angels in the top of the ninth striking out two batters and a ground out for a one, two, three innings.
#6 A’s open up a four game set with the Houston Astros after concluding their brief two game set with the Angels. Starting pitchers for Thursday for Houston RHP Peter Lambert ((8-10 ERA 3.70) for Sacramento RHP Mason Barnett (1-4 ERA 7.16) fiist pitch 6:40pm 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 Brian Serven was hit from a deflected ball off his bat that hit him eye in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Wed Sep 23, 2026. Serven will get a CT scan updates coming. (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Bridget Mulcahy:
#1 Bridget, the A’s jumped on the Los Angeles Angels in the bottom of the first inning scoring four runs to take a 4-0 lead.The win helps the A’s avoid losing 100 games for the season.
#2 In the first the A’s got hitting with a Lawrence Butler RBI scoring Henry Bolte making 1-0. Donavon Walton hit a three home run making it 4-0.
#3 In the second inning Bolte slugged a right field double that scored Malika Williams A’s take a 5-0. The A’s get a leg up scoring early in the ball game.Bolte had a big night with two singles and two doubles Wednesday.
#4 The A’s picked up two more runs when Shean Langeliers hit a two run double in the bottom of the sixth inning that scored Bolte and Williams for a 7-3 lead and the eventual win.
#5 A’s closer Elvis Alvarado closed the door on the Angels in the top of the ninth striking out two batters and a ground out for a one, two, three innings.
#6 A’s open up a four game set with the Houston Astros after concluding their brief two game set with the Angels. Starting pitchers for Thursday for Sacramento and Houston are to be announced. First pitch 6:40pm PDT at Sutter Health Park.
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 Los Angeles Angels in the top of the second inning at Sutter Health Park on September 23, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The A’s and Angels played their final game against each other this season on Wednesday as they wrapped up a brief two-game series at Sutter Health Park. The A’s, having defeated the Angels in comeback fashion on Tuesday, looked to complete the quick sweep against the Halos with Jeffrey Springs on the hill.
The A’s managed the two-game sweep as they defeated the Angels 7-3 on Wednesday night.
Jeffrey Springs, in what was his final start for the A’s and his 29th of the season, pitched OK, but not to the quality that Springs would have preferred. Springs went four and a third innings for the A’s while allowing three runs on five hits and surrendering two home runs and two walks. Springs breezed through his first three innings before running into home run issues in the fourth inning. In the fifth, Mark Kotsay appeared to have a short leash on Springs and pulled the left-hander after a one-out hit by pitch.
First out of the bullpen for the A’s was Geoff Hartlieb, making his 16th relief appearance for the A’s in 2026. Hartlieb wasn’t able to get out of the inning without allowing the inherited runner from Springs to score, but he did manage to escape the inning without allowing any other runs. Hartlieb went back out for the sixth inning and pitched a clean, three-up, three-down inning while finishing with one and two-thirds innings of no-run, one-hit baseball.
Luis Medina was next out of the bullpen for the A’s to pitch the seventh inning. Medina wasn’t perfect, but he tossed a scoreless frame while allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out one.
Hogan Harris came in and pitched the eighth inning and allowed no runs and one hit while striking out one Angels hitter to keep the game at 7-3.
In the ninth inning, Mark Kotsay went with Elvis Alvarado to close the game, albeit not in a save situation with a four-run lead. Alvarado dominated in the ninth inning, striking out two and getting a weak ground ball to end the game.
On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s tallied seven runs on 13 hits while walking three times.
The A’s got going early as they scored four runs in the first inning to jump out to a quick lead over the Angels.
It was Lawrence Butler who got the A’s on the board first with a hot-shot RBI single to left field that glanced off the Angels shortstop en route to the outfield. Henry Bolte scored on the play to give Butler his 61st RBI of the year.
Later in the first inning, the A’s got three more courtesy of a three-run homer from Donovan Walton that just managed to fly over the right-field wall in the corner. It was RBIs 30, 31 and 32 for Walton and his ninth long ball of the season. The home run left the bat at 89.8 mph and landed 322 feet away from home plate.
The A’s offense continued to rally in the second inning, when they expanded their lead to 5-0 over the Angels. This time, it was Henry Bolte who doubled home Alika Williams to give the A’s their run, Bolte’s 15th double of the year and his 36th RBI.
The A’s next runs came in the sixth inning when Shea Langeliers added two more runs with a two-RBI double. It was the 21st double for Langeliers and his 57th and 58th RBIs, giving the A’s a 7-3 lead at the time.
The A’s will stay home to take on the Houston Astros in their final series of 2026, a four-game set beginning Thursday at 6:40 p.m. PDT. Houston will send Peter Lambert (8-10, 3.70 ERA) to the hill, while the A’s have yet to announce a starter.
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.
