Sacramento A’s right hand pitcher Luis Severino is looking for his fourth win against the Houston Astros at Denkin Park in Houston on Thu Jul 24, 2025 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast with Michael Roberson:
#1 Once again the Sacramento A’s get fine pitching but cannot get run support in their 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Wednesday. The Rangers starter Patrick Corbin with the support of three relievers kept the A’s hitters at bay.
#2 A’s starter JP Sears pitching five innings allowing three hits, allowing one earned run and seven strikeouts. Sears has been lights out this season didn’t get the decision and is 7-8.
#3 Sears is a trade block prospect. Sears has pitched consistently in spite of his eight loses and some team no doubt would like to pick him up before this month’s trade deadline someone who he could help in the post season.
#4 The A’s only run came when Nick Kurtz hit a double that scored Brent Rooker in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at 1-1. The A’s badly need to wake up their bats they were also beat by scores of 7-2 and 6-2 Friday and Saturday respectively by the Rangers.
#5 A’s open up a four game series on Thursday night at Daikin Park with the Houston Astros. Starter for the A’s RHP Luis Severino (3-11 ERA 5.10) and for the Astros RHP Jason Alexander (1-0 ERA 8.40) first pitch in Houston 5:10pm PT.
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.
Texas Rangers centerfielder Michael Helman makes a leaping catch on a fly out by the Sacramento A’s Tyler Soderstrom in the top of the sixth inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Wed Jul 23, 2025 (AP News photo)
Kurtz Comes Through but A’s Can’t Close That Lonestar Gap
By Mauricio Segura
In a game that often felt like a pitcher’s duel wrapped in a chess match, the Sacramento Athletics were edged out 2-1 by the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night at Globe Life Field. Despite flashes of promise and a gutsy rally in the sixth, the Green and Gold couldn’t quite crack the code against a sharp Rangers pitching staff.
Both teams came out swinging, or at least attempting to. The first inning was a quick snapshot of what would become a recurring theme: early contact, solid defense, and outs stacking up like dominoes. The Athletics’ top three, Jacob Wilson, Brent Rooker, and Nick Kurtz, were retired in order, all on fly balls and liners that found gloves instead of grass.
The Rangers, on the other hand, managed a bit of noise thanks to a Corey Seager double, but he was ultimately stranded at third after Marcus Semien’s flyout and an Adolis García strikeout.
By the second inning, it was clear: if anyone wanted to score Wednesday night, they’d have to fight for it. The A’s struck out three times in a row, victims of Patrick Corbin’s sharp control. Corbin, making one of his strongest starts of the season, carved up the Sacramento lineup like a man with a plan.
The breakthrough didn’t come until the bottom of the third, when Corey Seager connected with a pitch and sent it flying over the center field wall. It was Seager’s 15th homer of the season, a solo shot that gave Texas the narrowest of leads. For a while, it looked like that might be all the Rangers needed.
But the sixth inning changed the tone.
Brent Rooker broke through with a two-out single, and Nick Kurtz followed with a line-drive double to right that brought Rooker home, tying the game at 1-1. It was Kurtz’s 15th double of the year, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Shea Langeliers kept things moving with a soft infield single, putting runners on the corners and forcing Texas to pull Corbin in favor of Jon Gray. With a chance to take the lead, the A’s sent up Tyler Soderstrom as a pinch hitter, but his sharp fly ball landed in center fielder Michael Helman’s glove to end the threat.
The Rangers weren’t done. In the bottom of the seventh, a two-out rally sparked by Wyatt Langford’s walk and Jonah Heim’s fly-ball double gave Texas the lead once again. Heim’s shot to short left was just enough to score Langford and give the home team a 2-1 edge.
The Athletics had chances late but couldn’t capitalize. In the eighth, Rooker collected his third hit of the game, but Kurtz struck out to end the frame. And in the ninth, Langeliers gave the A’s a flicker of hope with a leadoff single, but a flyout and two strikeouts, the final one on Gio Urshela, snuffed out the comeback bid.
It was a game that could’ve gone either way, but in this latest chapter of a developing Sacramento season, the story ended with a familiar note: close, but not quite.
A’s open up a four game series on Thursday night at Denkin Park with the Houston Astros. Starter for the A’s RHP Luis Severino (3-11 ERA 5.10) and for the Astros RHP Jason Alexander (1-0 ERA 8.40) first pitch in Houston 5:10pm PT.
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.
The Sacramento A’s Lawrence Butler rounds the bases after hitting a first inning home run against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Tue Jul 22, 2025 (AP News photo)
Butler’s Blast Fizzles as A’s Fall to The Rangers 6-2
By Mauricio Segura
The Athletics wasted no time setting the tone in Arlington Tuesday night, but the early sparks quickly gave way to a slow burn as the Texas Rangers rode a powerful seventh inning to a 6-2 victory at Globe Life Field.
Lawrence Butler stepped into the box for the A’s and promptly crushed the very first pitch of the game deep to right field. His 14th home run of the season landed with a thud of authority and gave the Green and Gold an early 1-0 lead. It was a tone-setting blast, a moment of optimism. But as the game unfolded, Butler’s solo shot stood as one of the few bright spots in an otherwise frustrating night for the Sactown squad.
What followed in the top half of the first was less explosive. Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz both struck out swinging, and Brent Rooker grounded out to short. The A’s offense would struggle to find its rhythm for most of the night, plagued by missed opportunities and a barrage of strikeouts.
Sacramento starter J.T. Ginn held the Rangers scoreless through the first three innings with the help of sharp defense, including two double plays turned behind him. Jacob Wilson’s smooth hands at shortstop and Luis Urías’s steady presence at second were key in squashing Texas rallies before they got started.
But the Rangers began to claw back in the fourth, when Adolis García tied the game with a solo homer to center. It was a classic García swing—short, powerful, and gone in a heartbeat. Suddenly, Butler’s early blast felt distant, and the momentum had quietly shifted.
Still, there was hope. In the fifth, Tyler Soderstrom roped a double to right to lead off the inning, but the middle of the A’s order couldn’t cash in. Three straight strikeouts stranded Soderstrom, and a growing pattern of futility with runners on base emerged.
Then came the sixth. After Ginn handed things off to Sean Newcomb, Marcus Semien launched a go-ahead solo home run to left, making it 2-1 Rangers. The home crowd erupted, and the A’s found themselves trailing for the first time all night.
But the real damage came in the bottom of the seventh, a frame that turned a close game into a lopsided one. With two outs and two on, Sacramento reliever Hogan Harris served up a crusher to Corey Seager, who sent a three-run shot soaring into the Texas night. Just like that, it was 6-1, and the game slipped firmly out of reach.
Sacramento did show some life in the eighth. After an error and a walk, Shea Langeliers delivered a line-drive single to left, scoring Jacob Wilson and giving the A’s a flicker of hope. But a groundout from Soderstrom ended the rally with runners still aboard. It was the type of night where the green lights were few and far between.
Despite the late push, Texas bullpen arms Robert Garcia and Shawn Armstrong shut the door with authority. Armstrong struck out two in the ninth, and when Lawrence Butler, who began the game with a bang, went down swinging for the final out, the A’s were left to wonder what might have been.
In total, Sacramento struck out 14 times and left eight runners on base. They had their chances, especially in the seventh and eighth, but couldn’t deliver the big hit when it mattered most.
Series concludes Wednesday night at Globe Life at 5:05pm PT with the A’s starting RHP JP Sears (7-8 ERA 5.13) for the Rangers LHP Patrick Corbin (6-7 ERA 3.91).
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 pitcher JT Ginn gives praise to the good Lord after getting out of the sixth inning against the New York Mets on Sat Apr 12, 2025 at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento. Gin will make the start against the Texas Rangers on Tue Jul 22, 2025 at Globe Life Field in Arlington. (AP News file photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Michael Roberson:
#1 Jacob Lopez got the nod for Sacramento and looked sharp early, working around a walk and fanning two in the opening frame. But despite his best efforts, the Green and Gold bats were just as cold as the air-conditioned stadium they played in dropping the contest to the Texas Rangers 7-2.
#2 Despite a solo shot from rookie phenom Nick Kurtz and a few glimmers of offensive life, the A’s couldn’t overcome a middle-innings surge by the Texas Rangers, falling 7-2 at Globe Life Field in Arlington.
#3 Through the first three innings, the Athletics managed just one baserunner, a walk by Kurtz, and didn’t register a hit until his double in the fourth.
#4 Despite some bullpen stability from the Rangers Elvis Alvarado and Sean Newcomb, who each pitched scoreless innings, Texas kept applying pressure. A sac bunt and a pair of timely singles in the seventh and eighth innings added two more runs for the Rangers, stretching their lead to 7-2 and putting the game out of reach.
#5 For Tuesday the A’s will start RHP JT Ginn (1-2 ERA 4.91) for the Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (9-2 ERA 2.32) first pitch 5:05pm PT
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) scores against the Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka (right) on a single in the top of the fourth inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Mon Jul 21, 2025 (AP News photo)
Rangers Spoil Kurtz’s Blast as Green and Gold Falter in Arlington
By Mauricio Segura
It was a night that began with promise and power, but for the Sacramento Athletics, it ended with another frustrating loss deep in the heart of Texas, clap! Clap! Clap! Not! Despite a solo shot from rookie phenom Nick Kurtz and a few glimmers of offensive life, the A’s couldn’t overcome a middle-innings surge by the Texas Rangers, falling 7-2 at Globe Life Field in Arlington.
Jacob Lopez got the nod for Sacramento and looked sharp early, working around a walk and fanning two in the opening frame. But despite his best efforts, the Green and Gold bats were just as cold as the air-conditioned stadium they played in. Through the first three innings, the Athletics managed just one baserunner, a walk by Kurtz, and didn’t register a hit until his double in the fourth.
That double nearly turned the tide. Following a walk by Shea Langeliers and a two-out single from Tyler Soderstrom, Kurtz came around to score and evened things up at 1-1. It was a brief jolt of energy in what had been a sleepy offensive night. The Rangers had taken an early lead in the bottom of the third thanks to a solo homer from Josh Jung.
But that fourth inning RBI was the high-water mark for the A’s. The bottom of the fifth brought a collapse that Sacramento simply couldn’t recover from. After surrendering a leadoff single to Josh Smith, Lopez gave way to Elvis Alvarado, and the wheels came off. A walk, a double, and then a three-run homer from Michael Helman blew the game open and gave Texas a 5-1 lead.
Kurtz wasn’t finished. The 22-year-old continued to make his case for AL Rookie of the Year, launching his 19th home run of the season to lead off the sixth. No one else in the Sacramento lineup has hit more long balls, and Kurtz is now the MLB rookie leader in both homers and RBIs. With the swing of the bat, he trimmed the lead to 5-2 and injected a spark of hope.
But that hope, like the game, fizzled fast.
Despite some bullpen stability from Alvarado and Sean Newcomb, who each pitched scoreless innings, Texas kept applying pressure. A sac bunt and a pair of timely singles in the seventh and eighth innings added two more runs for the Rangers, stretching their lead to 7-2 and putting the game out of reach.
The Athletics threatened again in the top of the seventh when Gio Urshela led off with a double and Urías followed with a walk. But a failed bunt attempt from Lawrence Butler, a flyout from Jacob Wilson, and a groundout from Kurtz stranded both runners and killed the rally. The A’s never threatened again.
The A’s have now dropped three of their last four games and remain in last place in the AL West. Tuesday’s probable starter still to be announced. They’ll face off against Jacob deGrom, who enters with a 9-2 record and a sparkling 2.32 ERA.
For Tuesday the A’s will start RHP JT Ginn (1-2 ERA 4.91) for the Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (9-2 ERA 2.32) first pitch 5:05pm PT
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 starter Jefferey Springs who get lit up by the Cleveland Guardians on Sun Jul 20, 2025 is hoping for a better outcome as the A’s face the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field for a three game series against the Rangers on Mon Jul 21, 2025 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:
#1 The A’s ran into a hot hitting of the Cleveland Guardians David Fry and Angel Martinez who were too much for the A’s and the A’s also ran into some good pitching and never catch up getting defeated on Sunday 8-2.
#2 The A’s Nick Kurtz hit a couple of doubles. Kurtz has been seeing the ball rather well for the A’s in the lineup.
#3 Tough skid for Sacramento they have now lost nine of their last ten games when playing in Cleveland.
#4 Cleveland pitcher Gavin Williams improved his record to 6-4 and went seven innings to pick up his first win since June 1st. Williams has gone 2-1 in his last nine starts.
#5 The A’s open up a three game series in Texas Monday night and will start LHP Jacob Lopez (3-5 ERA 4.20) for the RHP Rangers Jack Lieter (5-6 ERA 4.37) first pitch 5:00pm PT.
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.
Cleveland Guardians David Fry (left) claps his hands after hitting a three RBI double in the fourth inning as the Sacramento A’s infielder Max Schuemann (12) looks away at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Sun Jul 20, 2025 (AP News photo)
Guardians Tame the Green and Gold 8-2 in Cleveland Clunker
By Mauricio Segura
The Sacramento Athletics arrived at Progressive Field looking to build momentum, but they left shaking their heads after a frustrating 8-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians Sunday. A red-hot David Fry and the bat of Angel Martínez proved too much to handle, while the A’s offense sputtered early and never found enough rhythm to mount a comeback.
Gavin Williams set the tone for Cleveland from the first pitch, silencing the top of the A’s order with two strikeouts in the first frame. The Guardians wasted no time grabbing the lead in the bottom half, as Angel Martínez lined a double into left, then came home on a sharp RBI single from Fry. It was the beginning of a very long day for the Green and Gold.
Lawrence Butler, Nick Kurtz, and Brent Rooker, a trio the A’s have leaned on this season for run production, couldn’t solve Williams. Each struck out multiple times as Williams racked up nine K’s through seven innings. The A’s struck out 15 times overall, and through the first four innings, they looked overmatched.
Meanwhile, the Guardians were putting on a clinic in timely hitting. After adding a second run in the second on Austin Hedges’ RBI single, the game quickly slipped away in the fourth. Sacramento starter Jeffrey Springs was trying to grind through his outing when Cleveland strung together three hits and a critical fielder’s choice to load the bases. David Fry stepped up and delivered again, clearing the bags with a bases-clearing double that made it 5-0.
While the A’s showed small signs of life in the middle innings, including a pair of hits in the fifth and a run scored by Tyler Soderstrom on a wild pitch, they never seriously threatened the Guardians’ control of the game. Soderstrom and Schuemann each tallied two hits, but the damage was minimal and sporadic.
The lone bright spot in the lineup was Nick Kurtz. The rookie first baseman doubled twice and drove in a run in the eighth, providing a small glimmer of fight. Denzel Clarke also contributed a double and a run scored, but the team’s inability to string together consecutive productive at-bats kept them chasing shadows all afternoon.
On the pitching side, Sacramento’s bullpen fared no better than its starter. After Springs departed following four innings, Michael Kelly and Osvaldo Bido were tasked with holding the line. They gave up three additional runs, including a solo shot from Angel Martínez in the seventh and an RBI single from the same bat in the eighth. Martínez finished a triple shy of the cycle and was a headache from the leadoff spot all game long.
Defensively, the A’s were steady but not spectacular. There were no errors, but Cleveland’s sharp contact exposed the gaps. Tyler Soderstrom, despite a multi-hit game, was targeted in left field where several crucial hits landed. Denzel Clarke and Lawrence Butler made routine plays in the outfield but weren’t tested with anything exceptional.
By the time Shea Langeliers ripped a double in the ninth, the game was all but over. Jakob Junis closed the door on Sacramento without incident. The Athletics never quite looked synced up, and the lack of offensive urgency gave the feeling of inevitability.
The Guardians, on the other hand, played like a team ready for October baseball. Their pitching was dominant, their bats timely, and their approach disciplined. For the A’s, the loss drops them further into the abyss of a development-heavy season, where flashes of talent continue to be overshadowed by inconsistency.
The good news for Sacramento? There are still games left to iron out the kinks and give younger players experience. The bad news? Games like today make it clear just how wide the gap still is between the A’s and the league’s top-tier clubs.
Sacramento A’s open up a series with the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington Monday night the A’s will start LHP Jacob Lopez (3-5 ERA 4.20) the Rangers have not determined a starter yet.
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.
David Wright waves to the New York Mets fans after his jersey number 5 was retired by the club at Citi Field in New York on Sat Jul 19, 2025 (AP News photo)
MLB The Show podcast Charlie O:
#1 The New York Mets have inducted David Wright into the Mets Hall of Fame on Saturday. Wright broke in in the Majors 21 years ago and the Mets retired his number 5. Wright recalled saying he was excited to get to the big league and after getting off the plane arriving at the Grapefruit League he was curious what number he was going to wear and was happy to see he was going to sport number 72.
#2 New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone was keeping a close eye on on right hand pitcher Luis Gil who was working in his second rehab assignment on video and Boone said he was happy with what he saw on the tape. “Stuff was good, decent command,” said Boone, who watched a recording of Friday’s game Saturday morning. “More importantly, another step and kind of building that pitch count into 57 pitches.” Gil had been rehabbing with the Yankees double A affiliate. Boone said his fast ball was playing and that Gil had suffered a sprained lat.
#3 Former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher and former Sacramento A’s scout Jeff Bittiger has passed away at age 63 the A’s announced Sunday. Bittiger was a scout for the last 22 years and all with the A’s organization. Bittiger broke in in the bigs on Sept 2, 1986 he also pitched for the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox.
#4 Houston Astros second baseman Brendan Rodgers collided with a teammate in a triple A minor league assignment for Sugar Land on Friday night. It was Rodgers first game of his assignment as he was recovering from an left oblique strain. Rodgers in the collision broke his nose and suffered a concussion. The Astros say the will evaluate Rodgers condition over the next few days.
#5 Charlie since starting the second half of the season the Sacramento A’s have won three of their last five games. The two games they did lose were close games in efforts to try and come back. They are having a strong showing to start the second half and are seven games behind the LA Angels to climb out of the cellar so still a lot of work for the A’s
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 Shea Langeliers (right) is congratulated by Jacob Wilson (left) after hitting a two run home run off Cleveland Guardians pitcher Nic Enright in the top of the eighth inning at Progressive Field on Sat Jul 19, 2025 (AP News photo)
Kurtz, Clarke and Langeliers Spark Sacramento’s Electric 8-2 Comeback in Cleveland
By Mauricio Segura
It was a quiet beginning that gave way to a symphony of power as the Sacramento Athletics staged a thrilling turnaround in Cleveland, turning an early deficit into an 8-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday night at Progressive Field.
The night started unassumingly for the Green and Gold, with the top of the order going down in order in the first inning. By the bottom of the third, Cleveland had taken a 2-0 lead thanks to José Ramírez’s two-run blast into the right field seats.
Sacramento’s bats woke up with a vengeance in the top of the fourth. Brent Rooker and Nick Kurtz each smacked sharp doubles to bring in a run, and catcher Shea Langeliers followed with another RBI double to even the score.
Miguel Andujar added the go-ahead blow with a line drive RBI single to center, giving the A’s a 3-2 lead. The three-run outburst was as sudden as it was efficient, a masterclass in execution against Guardians starter Logan Allen.
From that point forward, Sacramento’s pitching staff made sure the lead would never be threatened. Severino delivered a strong six-inning performance, allowing just two runs on four hits and striking out six.
Jack Perkins came in for relief and slammed the door over two scoreless frames, showing maturity beyond his years by inducing ground balls and staying ahead in counts. By the time Justin Sterner took over in the ninth, it was just a matter of wrapping up a win.
The real action came in the eighth and ninth innings, courtesy of some of the A’s brightest young talents. Nick Kurtz led off the eighth with his second double of the night, a rocket into the right-center field gap. Langeliers, fresh off an earlier RBI, stepped up and launched his 14th homer of the season over the right-field wall to give the A’s breathing room at 5-2.
Not to be outdone, rookie Denzel Clarke showcased his speed and flair in the ninth with a blistering triple to center. Jacob Wilson followed by unloading on a hanging pitch for a two-run homer, extending the lead to 7-2.
Kurtz capped off his monster night with a solo shot of his own, a majestic fly ball to left-center that put the exclamation point on Sacramento’s offensive explosion. With two doubles, a homer, and three RBIs, the first baseman gave a performance that not only boosted his rising profile but also proved why the A’s view him as a cornerstone of their future.
Defensively, the A’s were crisp and well-positioned throughout. Jacob Wilson turned a pair of slick double plays, Max Muncy showcased his versatility by shifting between third and second base without missing a beat, and Clarke’s glove in center saved extra bases more than once.
Even when Cleveland tried to apply pressure with aggressive baserunning, Sacramento countered with calm execution, like catcher Austin Wynns gunning down Angel Martínez in the fifth to kill a budding rally.
Manager Mark Kotsay’s decision-making was on point, from the timely pinch-hitting move to bring in Tyler Soderstrom to the defensive switches that solidified the infield late. Soderstrom made the most of his appearance, swiping second base and adding another spark to the team’s aggressive tone on the basepaths.
The Guardians, meanwhile, never found their rhythm after Ramírez’s early homer. Carlos Santana walked twice but couldn’t produce a hit, and Daniel Schneemann was struck out twice by Severino in key spots. Cleveland’s bullpen didn’t fare much better, as both Matt Festa and Nic Enright were tagged in Sacramento’s scoring surges.
While the Athletics still sit in the thick of a long road to .500, Saturday’s game offered a tantalizing glimpse into a promising future if they remain consistent enough. Power from the corner spots, speed in the outfield, timely hitting from the middle of the order, and a bullpen that locks things down, all the elements of a competitive club were on display.
The A’s conclude the three game series Sunday at Progressive Field against the Guardians. Starting pitcher for the A’s LHP Jeffrey Springs (8-6 ERA 3.93) for Guardians RHP Gavin Williams (5-4 ERA 3.70) first pitch 10:40AM PT.
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.
Jul 18, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) slides into second with an RBI double as Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio (4) waits for the throw during the ninth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Sacramento A’s podcast Lincoln Juarez:
1. The A’s are currently 16.5 games back of the first place Astros with a first half that didn’t go as planned, how do the A’s approach the second half of the season
2.All-Star recap: Jacob Wilson was the first A’s player to start in the All-Star game since Josh Donaldson in 2014. Brent Rooker got eliminated by less than an inch in Monday night’s Home-Run Derby.
3. JP Sears surrendered six earned runs in Cleveland Friday night in just four innings of work. Coming off a loss and no-decision he sits at 7-8 with a 5.13 ERA. If the A’s were to make any sort of run, they need him to be better. What can he do to get more consistent results?
4. How do the A’s approach the July 31 trade deadline? Rooker to the Giants? Where does Luis Severino play after July 31?
5. Looking at the week ahead, after three games in Cleveland the A’s play three in Arlington against the Rangers and four in Houston against the first place Astros. What can the A’s expect from them against division rivals and teams ahead of them in the division standings?
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