Tag: Sacramento A’s

Make that 19 of 20 loses, adds to 8 game skid; Two four-spots lead the Twins to 10-3 win over A’s

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Sacramento A’s outfielder Denzel Clarke (1) reaches up to make the catch as the A’s would wind up losing their eighth straight loss against the Minnesota Twins at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Tue Jun 3, 2025 (Oakland A’s X photo)

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Sutter Health Park

West Sacramento, California

Minnesota Twins 10 (33-27)

Sacramento Athletics 3 (23-39)

Win: Pablo Lopez (5-3)

Loss: Jacob Lopez (0-4)

Time: 3:01

Attendance: 8,487

By Stephen Ruderman

WEST SACRAMENTO–The A’s have now lost 19 of their last 20, as the Twins put the game away with a pair of four-run innings late on Tuesday night, and won by a final of 10-3 at Sutter Health Park home of the Swinging A’s.

Let’s be honest: this series is a completely-lopsided matchup on paper. The Twins have been one of the hottest teams in Baseball over the last month. The A’s? Well, they came into this series having lost 17 of their previous 18 games. It then became 18 out of 19 when the Twins took the series opener 10-4 last night.

Mark Kotsay turned to Grant Holman to be the opener Tuesday night, and Holman did his job. He started the game nicely with a one two three top of the first inning, and then he was lifted with one out in the top of the second after allowing a walk and a base-hit. Jacob Lopez then came in and retired the next two to end the inning.

The A’s got to work against Twins’ starter Pablo Lopez in the bottom of the first. Lawrence Butler led off the inning with a double, and Brent Rooker got him in with a base-hit the other way to right field. The A’s had all the momentum they needed, but Lopez settled down and kept the damage to just a run.

Lopez threw a scoreless bottom of the second, but the A’s were able to manufacture another run in the bottom of the third. Tyler Soderstrom hit a triple to left with one out, and Shane Langeliers got him in with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 2-0.

Will Castro put the Twins on the board with a home run to left with one out in the top of the fourth. Jacob Lopez pitched through the rest of the fourth, and he threw a one, two, three top of the fifth.

However, the Twins would take the lead with a pair of home runs off Jacob Lopez in the top of the sixth. Trevor Larnach led off the inning with a home run to the grass in right to tie it. Then two batters later, Castro gave the Twins the lead with his second home run of the night. This one was a line-drive home run to left that barely got out.

The Twins were not done yet. Brooks Lee reached on an infield hit with two outs, and then Royce Lewis walked. Kotsay then pulled Lopez for Osvaldo Bido, who walked Harrison Bader to load the bases. Byron Buxton then came up, and he lined a base-hit up the middle to knock in a pair. It ended up being a four-run top of the sixth for the Twins, who now held a 5-2 lead.

Pablo Lopez ended up going five innings for Minnesota, and Cole Sands was summoned for the bottom of the sixth. The A’s looked to respond, as Langeliers led off the inning with a double. The A’s were able to manufacture the run and get him in to make it 5-3.

However, the Twins would blow it open and put the game away with another four spot in the top of the seventh. Minnesota added one more in the top of the eighth to make it 10-3, and the A’s offense went down without a whimper.

Pablo Lopez got the win, and Jacob Lopez took the loss.

The A’s are now 23-39. Despite their halfway-decent start, the A’s have now lost 19 of their last 20, and they are suddenly on pace for their third-straight 100-loss season. They are on pace to go 60-102 to be exact.

The A’s will look to get a win Tuesday night against Twins starter Zebby Matthews (0-, 6.43 ERA) in the third game of the series Wednesday night. A’s manager Mark Kotsay has yet to announce his starter.

First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m.

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria: A’s drop 7th straight game shelled by Twins 10-4 at Sutter Health

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Sacramento A’s left fielder Drew Avans (35) who scored a run and got a hit against the Minnesota Twins on Mon Jun 2, 2025 is seen here preparing for the game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento (Sacramento A’s X photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 The Minnesota Twins didn’t waste anytime in the top of the second inning scoring six runs that was the bulk of their ten run total against the Sacramento A’s to open the three game set against the A’s at Sutter Health Park.

#2 The loss Monday night represents Sacramento’s 38th of the season against 23 wins. The A’s are on a seven game losing streak and have lost 17 of their last 18 games. Their home record is an abysmal 9-20. The A’s are now ten games out of first place considering all their loses if by a miracle’s chance they get hot they can cut that deficit.

#3 A’s starting pitcher Luis Severino pitched 5.2 innings allowing nine hits and eight runs striking out only one batter Severino was absolutely shelled dropping his won loss record to 1-5.

#4 The A’s Lawrence Butler continues to hit with some consistency on Monday night he went 2-2 with two runs, two hits and three RBIs. It wasn’t enough but Butler like teammates Jacob Wilson and Brent Rooker continue to go through their paces.

#5 Starting pitchers for Tuesday night’s game for the Twins RHP Pablo Lopez (4-3 ERA 2.75) and for the A’s starter Grant Holman (4-1 ERA 4.74). First pitch 7:00pm at Sutter Health Park.

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

Severino Struggles Again as A’s Drop 18th in 19 Games

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Drew Avans on Monday night at Sutter Health Park in the Athletics 10-4 loss to the Twins (photo by Sacramento A’s)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO–The Athletics returned home to Sutter Health Park on Monday night, looking to turn the page on a challenging month of May that saw them win only eight games. But the A’s continued their slide with a 10-4 loss to the visiting Minnesota Twins.

There’s no two ways about it—the A’s have been reeling over the last few weeks. They have now lost 18 of their last 19 games, including seven straight. All this comes on the heels of an 11-game losing streak they had just snapped before heading on the road. It has been tough sledding, to say the least, for the A’s and manager Mark Kotsay.

Kotsay was asked after the game by Sacramento Bee sports journalist Chris Biderman how he felt the team responded to a meeting he had with them while on the road.

“We haven’t won a game, but that isn’t necessarily indicative of how they respond, right? In terms of how they played, this game was competitive all the way through six innings… the fight is what we talk about. We have control of showing up and preparing to play a major league game… we can’t control the results, but you can go about the way we play the game the right way, and I feel like they have done that.”

Luis Severino struggled again in what was another disappointing home start. He gave up six runs in the second inning and appeared at risk of an early hook. However, he managed to settle in and retired the next 12 batters he faced before allowing two more runs in the sixth. Severino finished his outing having given up eight earned runs on nine hits, with one walk and one strikeout. It was an ugly ledger, even if he found a groove in the middle innings.

The A’s scored some runs early in what looked like an attempt at a comeback. Brent Rooker drove in a run with an RBI groundout in the third inning to get the A’s on the board. In the fourth, Lawrence Butler sent a ball over the center field wall for a three-run homer, cutting the deficit to two. But the A’s offense failed to score again after the fourth and finished the game with just four runs.

The bullpen covered the final three and a third innings in relief of Severino. Hogan Harris pitched a scoreless inning despite issuing three walks. Elvis Alvarado followed with one and one-third innings, allowing three hits and a run. Sean Newcomb closed things out with one inning of two-hit, one-run ball.

With the loss, the A’s have now dropped seven straight and sit at 23–38 on the season.

The A’s and Twins will be back in action Tuesday night at 7:05 PM PST at Sutter Health Park. The Twins will send Pablo López (4–3, 2.75 ERA) to the mound. The A’s have yet to announce a starter as of this writing.

Injury Note: Jacob Wilson was slow to get up after a headfirst dive into first base in the sixth inning. He stayed in the game initially despite some neck discomfort but was later removed as the issue persisted. He will be evaluated by the A’s medical staff, though it is not believed to be anything serious.

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason Mon Jun 2, 2025: A’s open 7 game homestand tonight versus Twins

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Sacramento A’s baserunner Denzel Clarke (right) dives back into first base ahead of the tag of Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Ernie Clement (22) at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sun Jun 1, 2025 (Canadian Press via AP)

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason Mon Jun 2, 2025

#1 Before we get into yesterday’s game and the weekend series let’s take a step back and see just what transpired during the month of May. How did the A’s season take a turn and what can be done?

#2 Sunday the A’s were looking to avoid another sweep after losing the first three games of the series.

#3 Were there any bright spots in this disappointing series and how can this team begin to turn things around?

#4 The Blue Jays really played hard the entire series and it resulted in a series sweep. Addison Barger had a great game yesterday starting the fireworks in the eighth inning to seal the win.

#5 Monday the A’s will be looking for a fresh start to the month of June taking on the Twins in another four game series. Luis Severino will take the mound for the A’s struggling with a 1-4 win/loss and the Twins Joe Ryan will be a challenge with a 5-2 win loss record and a 2.57 ERA.

Barbara Mason does the A’s podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Falter Late in Toronto 8-4 After Early Punch

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Sacramento A’s Luis Urias (17) connects for a two run RBI double in the top of the fifth inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sun Jun 1, 2025 (Canadian Press via AP)

A’s Falter Late in Toronto 8-4 After Early Punch

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics came out swinging at Rogers Centre Sunday afternoon, jumping to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Lawrence Butler drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on Tyler Soderstrom’s groundout. Jacob Wilson and Brent Rooker followed up with singles, but the early spark soon cooled. The green and gold’s bats fell silent in key moments, stranding runners and squandering the chance to build on that opening punch losing to the Blue Jays 8-4 at Rogers Centre.

Wilson, the rookie sensation, was in the middle of it all, finishing the day with four singles and a stolen base, bringing his total swipes to five this season. The 24-year-old continues to show why he leads all rookies in batting average, now sitting at a dazzling .345, and is second in the majors in total hits. He showcased his versatility with a sacrifice fly in the eighth, tacking on a fourth run that gave the A’s a short-lived cushion. But that promising start would unravel in the bottom of the eighth, when the Jays’ bats turned the tables in brutal fashion.

Soderstrom’s ejection in the third inning, following a called third strike that saw him exchange words with home plate umpire Tom Hanahan, forced Logan Davidson to step in at first base. Davidson would find himself in the thick of a messy eighth that defined the day’s outcome. After the A’s built a 4-2 lead with Luis Urías’ two-run double in the fifth, the Toronto lineup waited for its chance to pounce.

The Athletics’ pitching staff, already known for a shaky 5.68 ERA this season, couldn’t hold back the Jays’ late surge. Justin Sterner, who entered in the eighth, faced the nightmare scenario. A catcher’s interference call against Willie MacIver put George Springer aboard, and the Jays wouldn’t waste the opportunity. Alejandro Kirk singled, and pinch-runner Alan Roden came in. That’s when Addison Barger turned the game upside down, smashing a three-run homer that soared beyond the right center fence, erasing the A’s lead and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

By the time Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drilled a two-run double to center, Toronto had seized an 8-4 advantage, and the A’s hopes had vanished. Grant Holman’s pickoff error only added salt to the wound, as the Jays kept piling on. For a moment, it looked like the Athletics would halt their five-game losing streak. Instead, they were left to ponder what might have been.

Earlier in the game, Denzel Clarke had shown flashes of excitement with a single and stolen base in the fourth, while Brent Rooker, riding a hot streak that has him slugging .800 since May 22, added two more singles to his tally. Drew Avans also made his mark, helping to keep Toronto’s outfielders honest with a sharp lineout and alert baserunning.

On the mound, starter JP Sears was steady if unspectacular. He worked five innings, giving up two runs and scattering six hits before giving way to the bullpen. The A’s relievers have struggled this year, and today was no exception. After Mitch Spence gave up a run-scoring single to George Springer in the fifth, the relievers combined to yield six more runs in the final four innings.

The loss extends the A’s skid to six games, deepening an already rough patch in which the green and gold have dropped 16 of their last 17 contests. The club’s record now sits at 23-36, just one game better than their mark after 59 games last year. Their May woes, highlighted by a 7-21 record, second worst in the majors, have seeped into June, as the Athletics continue to search for answers and a way to snap out of this tailspin.

As the A’s head back to West Sacramento the theme of the day remains painfully clear: a promising start, a sputtering finish. For the Athletics, another day on the road brought another gut-punch ending. The A’s will try and turn the page, but for now, it’s another long night for a team searching for something to hold onto.

It’s also a long flight from Toronto to Sacramento as the A’s will open a homestand on Monday night against the Minnesota Twins. For the Twins RHP Joe Ryan (5-2 ERA 2.57) for the A’s Luis Severino RHP (1-4, ERA 3.89) first pitch 7:00pm at Sutter Health Park.

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.

MLB The Show podcast Charlie O Sun Jun 1, 2025: Ohtani and Judge both homer in Yanks-Dodgers WS rematch; LA’s Betts returns after fracturing toe; plus more MLB news

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Shohei Ohtani the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar watches the flight of the baseball in the sixth inning for his 22nd NL leading home run against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Fri May 30, 2025 (AP News photo)

MLB The Show podcast Charlie O Sun Jun 1, 2025:

#1 In the 2024 World Series rematch on Friday the Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani and the New York Yankees Aaron Judge both homered in the first inning. It’s like the perfect scenario between both teams on the big stage. The Yankees are the winningest team in the AL and the Dodgers tied for second best record with three other team in the NL.

#2 The Dodgers Mookie Betts stubbed his toe in a dark bathroom but the injury isn’t enough to keep him off the ballfield. Betts stubbed his toe against a wall while walking in a dark bathroom on Wednesday. Betts fractured the toe and missed only Thursday and Friday’s games and was back in the line up on Saturday.

#3 After being out with a left knee injury Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout returned to the line up on Friday night. Trout who normally plays in the outfield was the designated hitter against the Cleveland Guardians and hammered a fourth inning base hit for his only hit of the game in four at bat attempts. Trout said that despite striking out in two at bats he felt good on his return. Saturday Trout went 3-4 so he’s getting his groove back in the DH role.

#4 Things continue to get rougher for the last place Colorado Rockies who lost their ninth out of their last ten games this time to the New York Mets 4-2. The Mets Francisco Lindor had himself a game hitting a homer from the left and right sides. Juan Soto snapped his 0-17 slump with a RBI double.

#5 The Sacramento A’s have now lost 15 of their last 16 games. They have shuttled players from their Las Vegas affiliate to Sacramento to see if they can tweak what’s wrong but A’s manager Mark Kotsay is still looking for solutions. It’s been since the first week of May that the A’s at one time were just one game from moving into first place in the AL West but have fallen back into the cellar now some 8.5 game off the pace.

Join Charlie O for the A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Fall Short 8-7 in See-Saw Thriller at Rogers Centre

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Toronto Blue Jays Daulton Varsho (5) who got injured gets tangled with Sacramento A’s third baseman Max Schuemann (12) after hitting a triple at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sat May 31, 2025 (Canadian Press via AP)

A’s Fall Short in See-Saw Thriller at Rogers Centre

By Mauricio Segura

In a game that saw no shortage of drama or fireworks, the Sacramento Athletics were narrowly edged out 8-7 by the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Saturday the loss extends the Sacramento losing streak to five games. It was a classic back-and-forth affair in which both teams showcased power and precision, but ultimately, the green and gold came up just shy of ending their losing skid.

The Athletics wasted no time making noise. In the top of the first, Jacob Wilson and Brent Rooker reached base to set the stage for Tyler Soderstrom, who launched a three-run blast to center field, his 12th of the year.

It was an early statement that the A’s were in no mood to be passive spectators. Soderstrom has been one of the few bright spots in an A’s offense that, despite struggling lately, is still tied for sixth in the league in slugging percentage.

Yet, Toronto didn’t flinch. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled in the bottom of the frame and came home on Addison Barger’s fourth homer of the season. Two walks and a clutch single by Nathan Lukes later, and the Jays had turned a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 lead before the first inning was done.

The second inning offered a glimpse of hope for the A’s. Luis Urías worked a walk, and Denzel Clarke, playing just his seventh Major League game, crushed his first big league homer to left field, retaking the lead at 5-4. Clarke, who was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas last week, has shown promise with his speed and a .263 average in the minors. The momentum felt palpable.

Unfortunately, it would not last. The A’s have been notorious this season for surrendering long balls, and today was no different. Bo Bichette’s solo shot in the bottom of the second tied things at five, marking the 87th home run allowed by A’s pitchers this season, on pace to break the franchise record of 220.

From there, the Blue Jays kept the pressure on. George Springer went deep in the third and fifth innings, his seventh and eighth of the year, highlighting a four-homer day for Toronto. The A’s bullpen, which entered the game with a 6.10 ERA, continued to falter.

Gunnar Hoglund, making his sixth start of the season, gave up six runs over five innings, struggling with right-handed hitters once again, who are hitting .326 against him this year.

The A’s offense did its best to claw back. Brent Rooker, who had been in a mini-slump earlier in May, belted his 13th homer of the season in the ninth, bringing the A’s within a single run. Tyler Soderstrom doubled with two outs, adding to his multi-hit day. But Shea Langeliers, representing the tying run, lined out to second baseman Ernie Clement, ending the Athletics’ rally and sealing another gut-wrenching loss.

Despite the defeat, there were glimpses of the A’s youthful spark. Lawrence Butler added three hits and a stolen base, extending his streak of successful swipes to eight. Wilson, the leading rookie in Major League Baseball for batting average and RBI, collected another hit to maintain his .344 average, continuing his breakout campaign.

For the Athletics, the loss extends their current road losing streak to nine games, matching their longest in three years. They now sit at 23-36, 12 games under .500, and have dropped 15 of their last 16 contests. The green and gold will look to rookie JP Sears on Sunday to stop the bleeding and salvage the final game of the series.

But in a game marked by dazzling home runs and missed opportunities, Saturday’s thriller was another chapter in a season where the A’s have consistently found themselves one swing, or one pitch, away from victory.

The A’s and Jays close out this series on Sunday. Starting pitcher for Sacramento JP Sears (4-6 ERA 5.18) and for Toronto Kevin Gausman (5-4 ERA 3.68) first pitch 10:37 am PDT.

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 Relocation podcast Daniel Dullum: A’s team prez Badain says they’ve already broke ground for Vegas ballpark

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Work being done on the Athletics Las Vegas ballpark construction site at the former Tropicana Casino and Hotel includes excavation and piling foundation work on May 14, 2025 (photo by Las Vegas Review Journal)

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 According to Sacramento A’s president Marc Badain cranes will be arriving at the old Tropicana site to start construction on the Las Vegas ballpark in late June.

#2 Badain addressed the Las Vegas Stadium Authority on Thu May 22 sharing work details for the construction plans. Badain also talked about the work that is already taking place as the foundation is already underway.

#3 Grading work already has taken place. Before July 1 100,000 cubic feet of dirt will be excavated. Construction crews have already doing tests on the pilings the foundation for the park. The pilings will be supporting the stadium.

#4 According to Badain Las Vegas Stadium Authority and the A’s have already broke ground at the old Tropicana site.

#5 Mortenson-McCarty is the contractor that is working on the park’s construction they will have their office compound set up and 75 percent should be on site by this coming week.

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

The Blue Jays Fly Away with an 11-7 Win over A’s

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Toronto Blue Jays Ernie Clement (22) dives into home plate safely as Sacramento A’s catcher Shea Langeliers (23) is too late with the tag in the bottom of the second inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Fri May 30, 2025 (Canadian Press via AP photo)

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics’ struggles continued Friday night at Rogers Centre as they fell to the Toronto Blue Jays 11-7 in a game marked by early power and persistent Toronto offense. Tyler Soderstrom provided the first jolt for the green and gold with a towering solo home run in the second inning, his 11th of the season, to open the scoring.

But Toronto immediately answered, tying it in the bottom of the frame and taking the lead for good in the second inning. Jeffrey Springs, who entered the game with a 3.97 ERA, was tagged for six runs in three innings.

Ernie Clement doubled and later homered, while Myles Straw contributed a run-scoring double that gave the Blue Jays the edge. Springs issued multiple walks, adding to a tough night for an A’s staff that had already posted the second highest ERA in the majors this season.

The Athletics’ bullpen, which came in with a 6.07 ERA, couldn’t contain the Blue Jays’ offense either. In the fifth inning, George Springer delivered an RBI single and Alejandro Kirk followed with a two-run single to push Toronto’s advantage to 9-5. A’s pitchers combined for nine walks on the night, consistently putting pressure on the defense.

Shea Langeliers briefly cut into the deficit with a solo home run in the fourth, his tenth of the year, while Brent Rooker added a two-run double in the fifth. Lawrence Butler extended his hitting streak in the ninth with an RBI double that scored Denzel Clarke, who had singled moments earlier. Miguel Andujar also doubled and came around to score in the ninth, highlighting a late rally that ultimately fell short.

Jacob Wilson, who has been one of the bright spots for the A’s this season, delivered an RBI single in the third that plated Butler. Wilson, batting over .340 in May, continued to show his potential as a key contributor for the green and gold. Despite these efforts, the Athletics never managed to hold a lead at any point in the game.

The defeat dropped the Athletics to 23-35, now 11 games under .500. They have lost 15 of their last 17 games and are 3-18 over their last 21 contests. In addition, they’ve allowed 50 home runs in May alone, the most in the majors. Friday’s game also extended the A’s streak to 11 straight games allowing at least one home run, with Clement and Barger both going deep for Toronto.

The A’s will look to snap their eight-game road losing streak Saturday as RHP Gunnar Hoglund (1-2 ERA 5.13) takes the mound in search of his second win of the season. With a team ERA that ranks second highest in the majors and a bullpen that has struggled to hold leads, Hoglund will need to set the tone early to give the Athletics a chance. The Blue Jays will counter with RHP Braydon Fisher (1-0 ERA 0.00) first pitch 12:07pm PDT.

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.

A’s Fail to Cage Blue Jays 12-0 at Rogers Centre to open series

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Toronto Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr (27) slugs a two run home run in the bottom of the second inning against the Sacramento A’s at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Thu May 29, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

It was a night to forget for the green and gold at Rogers Centre, where the Sacramento Athletics were steamrolled 12-0 by the Toronto Blue Jays in a one-sided affair that started badly and only got worse. This marks the third straight loss for the A’s and their 14th defeat in the last 15 games, during which they’ve been outscored by a staggering 117 to 44.

Things unraveled in the second inning, when the Blue Jays erupted for eight runs off A’s starter Jacob Lopez, who was chased from the game after recording just five outs. Toronto’s Ernie Clement ignited the rally with a three-run homer to left center.

It was his second of the season and only the beginning of what would be a career night. After a pair of singles and another walk, Bo Bichette delivered an RBI double before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. launched a towering two-run shot, his eighth home run of the year, to make it 6-0.

Lopez was replaced by Anthony Maldonado, but the floodgates remained open. Clement returned to the plate and ripped a two-run double, finishing the inning with five RBIs.

Clement’s five-RBI frame tied a Blue Jays franchise record. Only Edwin Encarnacion had ever driven in five runs in a single inning before, doing so in 2014. For Clement, a 28-year-old journeyman with just eight RBIs all season entering the game, it was a career-defining performance.

But the damage didn’t stop there. In the third, Bichette and Springer went back-to-back with solo home runs to left field. That ballooned the lead to 11-0 and cemented what had become a highlight reel for Toronto’s top hitters. Bichette’s blast was his sixth of the year. Springer, who also singled and scored earlier, added his sixth as well.

The A’s offense, meanwhile, never got going. They struck out 14 times and were held to just four hits, two of which came after the game was already well out of reach. Lawrence Butler recorded a single and a walk, and Brent Rooker hit his tenth double of the season, but the A’s never advanced a runner past second base.

Their best chance came in the sixth, when Luis Urías and Logan Davidson reached base with no outs, only for Butler to strike out and the rally to fizzle with a lineout and forceout.

Toronto starter José Berríos dominated from the outset, allowing just two hits across six shutout innings while striking out nine. He improved to 5-4 on the season with a 2.78 ERA. The Blue Jays bullpen combined to retire nine of the final eleven batters.

The Athletics’ pitching struggles were on full display. Lopez was tagged for seven earned runs, while Maldonado allowed four more in his brief appearance. Sean Newcomb and Hogan Harris provided some length out of the bullpen, but by then the damage was irreparable.

The Blue Jays tacked on their final run in the seventh with a sacrifice fly from Alejandro Kirk, scoring Addison Barger, who had reached with a single and moved over on Ali Sánchez’s double. Even Toronto’s substitutions kept producing, highlighting the depth gap between these two clubs.

The Athletics will attempt to regroup and stop the bleeding when the series continues Friday. A’s Left-hander Jeffrey Springs (5-3 ERA 3.97) is slated to start for the green and gold, looking for his sixth win of the season. He’ll be opposed by former A’s pitcher and Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt, who brings a 4-3 record into the matchup with a 3.38 ERA.

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.