Tag: Sacramento A’s

Athletics podcast Jeremiah Salmomson Thu May 29, 2025: Jacob’s ladder to success; A’s open four game series in Toronto

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Sacramento A’s Jacob Wilson circles the bases after hitting a fifth inning home run against the Houston Astros on Wed May 28, 2025 at Daikin Park in Houston (AP News photo)

Athletics podcast Jeremiah Salmonson Thu May 29, 2025:

#1 Jeremiah, Once again the Sacramento A’s fell in the late innings losing Wednesday to the Houston Astros 5-3 at Daikin Park in Houston. The loss was the A’s 13th out of their last 14 games.

#2 The got another strong performance from their starter Luis Severino pitching six innings, allowing three hits, one earned run, two walks and four strikeouts.

#3 A’s reliever Justin Sterner pitched 2.3 innings, three hits, one earned run, and two unearned runs, walked a batter in the bottom of the seventh inning that allowed the Astros to come back and take the lead.

#4 Despite the loss the A’s rookie Jacob Wilson had an offensive day in third inning doubled in Luis Urias, Wilson later scored on Brent Rooker’s RBi double. Wilson in the fifth hit his seventh home run a solo shot that gave the A’s a 3-2 lead.

#5 The A’s are in Toronto Thursday night to face the Blue Jays the A’s will be starting LHP Jacob Lopez (0-2, 2.57 ERA) for the Toronto Blue Jays RHP Jose Berrios (1-2, ERA 4.22). The Jays are playing .500 ball in their last ten games going 5-5.

Jeremiah Salmonson does the A’s podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioserivce.com

Athletics game wrap: Severino’s Milestone and Wilson’s Big Day Not Enough As A’s Depart Houston With A 5-3 Loss

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Sacramento A’s Luis Urias (left) slides in before Houston Astros catcher Victor Caratini (17) can put the tag on in time in the top of the third inning at Daikin Park in Houston Wed May 28, 2025 (AP News photo)

Severino’s Milestone and Wilson’s Big Day Not Enough As A’s Depart Houston With A 5-3 Loss

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento A’s flashed early promise in Houston Wednesday afternoon, but once again faltered when it mattered most, falling 5-3 to the Astros after a late-inning collapse erased a strong outing from starter Luis Severino and a standout performance by rookie Jacob Wilson.

Severino, in his 12th start of the season, was sharp across six innings, giving up just two earned runs while striking out six. He reached a career milestone in the first inning, notching his 1,000th career strikeout by getting Jose Altuve to chase a pitch in the dirt.

The A’s took the lead in the third inning thanks to Wilson, who continued his rookie tear by doubling in Luis Urías and later scoring on Brent Rooker’s RBI double. Wilson wasn’t done. In the fifth, he crushed his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot to left that put the green and gold ahead 3-2.

Wilson now leads all MLB rookies in hits, RBI, and doubles, and has more walks than strikeouts, a rare feat for any player, let alone a rookie. His performance was a rare highlight on a team that has struggled to produce consistently, especially with runners in scoring position.

The Astros tied the game in the bottom of the third after an error by Wilson helped load the bases, leading to a sacrifice fly by Isaac Paredes. In the fourth, Cam Smith tied it up with a two-out RBI single. Despite the early runs, Severino minimized damage and exited after six full innings with the score knotted 2-2.

Wilson’s home run in the fifth briefly put the A’s back on top, 3-2, but things unraveled in the seventh. Reliever Justin Sterner gave up a solo shot to Zach Dezenzo, tying the game at 3-3. Two singles and a walk later, Victor Caratini punched a sharp grounder into center to drive in two, giving Houston a 5-3 lead it never relinquished.

The A’s offense stalled in the late innings. After Wilson’s home run, the club managed just one hit and two walks over the final four frames. Rooker, Soderstrom, and Langeliers each struck out at least twice. As a team, the A’s struck out 18 times, including the final two batters of the game against Astros closer Josh Hader.

Wilson finished the day 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI’s. Urías added a double and a walk, but the rest of the lineup failed to capitalize. Lawrence Butler, who entered the game with hits in nine straight, struck out four times. Denzel Clarke also wore the collar, going 0-for-4 with four punchouts.

The bullpen’s struggles were all too familiar. Sterner, who began the season with an 18.2-inning scoreless streak, has now been tagged for runs in two of his last three outings. Grant Holman came in to mop up but could not undo the damage as Houston’s late offense proved decisive.

With the loss, the A’s drop to 23-33 on the season and remain mired in last place in the AL West. They have now dropped 17 of their last 22 games and are just 3-17 in their last 20. The green and gold are hitting .256 overall but just .244 with runners in scoring position, and the bullpen owns one of the worst ERAs in the majors at 5.96.

The road trip continues Thursday in Toronto, where A’s left-hander Jacob Lopez (0-2, 2.57 ERA) will look for his first win of the season for the Toronto Blue Jays RHP Jose Berrios (1-2, ERA 4.22). If the A’s are to turn this slide around, they will need more than Wilson’s brilliance and Severino’s steadiness, they’ll need consistency from a lineup that too often goes silent and a bullpen that can close the door when asked.

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 Woes Continue With 11-1 Astros Scoring Clinic in Houston

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Sacramento A’s centerfielder Denzel Clarke (1) can’t quite reach Houston Astros Jose Altuve’s two run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning at Daikin Park in Houston on

A’s Woes Continue With 11-1 Astros Scoring Clinic in Houston

By Mauricio Segura

By the time the sun had set over Daikin Park, the A’s were gasping for air under a deluge of offense from the Houston Astros. What started as a hopeful outing after breaking their 11-game skid on Sunday, quickly turned into a sobering reminder of how far the green and gold have slipped in just a matter of weeks.

Behind a vintage performance from Jose Altuve and another rocky outing for starter JP Sears, the A’s fell 11–1 on Tuesday night, dropping to 23–32 on the season.

The A’s came into the game with some promise. Miguel Andujar carried a 12-game hitting streak, Lawrence Butler was swinging a hot bat, and the team had shown signs of offensive life lately, batting nearly .300 over their last six games.

But none of that mattered to the Astros, who wasted no time pouncing on Sears in the second inning with a sequence that foreshadowed the lopsided night ahead.

Houston plated four in the second on a sharp double from Chas McCormick, another from Mauricio Dubón, and a two-run homer off the bat of Jeremy Peña. It only got worse in the third when Altuve launched the first of his two home runs, a solo shot that extended the lead to 5–0.

By the time Altuve returned to the plate in the fourth, he followed a Peña single with a second homer, his eighth of the season, putting the game completely out of reach at 9–1.

For Sears, it was his third straight loss and another step back in what had once been a strong campaign. After an impressive April, the lefty has now allowed ten home runs in May and was pulled in the fourth inning after giving up nine hits and seven earned runs, pushing his ERA to 4.40.

Not much went right for the A’s on either side of the ball. Offensively, they struck out 13 times and grounded into two double plays, including one with the bases loaded in the sixth that could have brought the team back into the game. Butler provided the lone highlight, launching a solo homer in the fourth for his eighth of the year, continuing an impressive stretch in which he’s gone 12-for-36 over his last nine games.

Rookie Denzel Clarke did notch his first Major League hit in the sixth, a soft single to third, but it was largely symbolic on a night when the green and gold were outplayed in every facet. A’s outfielder Drew Avans added his own milestone with a single in the ninth, also his first career hit, while Miguel Andujar extended his hit streak to 13 games, offering a small bright spot in an otherwise long evening.

The loss continues a brutal stretch for the Athletics, who have now dropped 16 of their last 20. Their starting rotation has not recorded a win in 13 games, and the bullpen, once again taxed, surrendered another pair of runs, including a two-run homer by Christian Walker in the sixth that sealed the Astros’ blowout.

Next up Wednesday, the A’s turn to Luis Severino in hopes of salvaging the short two-game set before heading north to Toronto. The right-hander has been strong on the road, but he’ll need support from both the offense and a weary bullpen if the A’s hope to avoid another sweep at the hands of an American League West foe.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Sacramento A’s podcast Shooty Babitt Tue May 27, 2025: The talk is getting louder that MLB playing minor league parks isn’t working

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Los Angeles Angels pitcher Hunter Strickland throws a pitch to the Sacramento A’s hitter Miguel Andujar in the bottom of the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on Tue May 20, 2025. There have been a number of publications questioning the quality of the Major League Baseball being payed in minor league parks. (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Shooty Babitt:

#1 Shooty, there have been a number of publications discussing the Sacramento A’s playing in a minor league park isn’t the best idea after all. The A’s have the worst home record in baseball at 9-19. The A’s have have been involved in lopsided games and at just recently completed an 11 game losing streak.

#2 The A’s completed a seven game homestand running from May 19-25 and lost six of those seven games all at home before winning Sun May 25 which turned out to be the game that ended their 11 game losing streak.

#3 The ballplayers have been restrained about criticizing playing at Sutter Health Park the minor league home of the Sacramento River Cats a San Francisco Giants triple A affiliate. Just small hints of the players not so excitable feelings have been dropped one by A’s pitcher Luis Severino who said Sutter Health was a minor league park and A’s manager Mark Kotsay saying the site lines when a ball is hit down the left field line you can’t see it from where he’s standing in the dugout.

#4 The long and short of it Shooty should the A’s put an end to this three year interim agreement with the Rivercats owner Vivek Ranadive and open up discussions with Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee to return to the Coliseum and play their final two years after this season in Oakland before moving to Las Vegas in 2028? The Coliseum isn’t perfect but it’s a big league stadium and it would be a good temporary place until the Vegas park is built?

#5 The A’s had the day off on Monday and open a two game series in Houston on Tuesday night at Daikin Field in Houston. The A’s will be going with starter LHP JP Sears (4-4 ERA 4.00) Astros RHP Hunter Brown (6-3 ERA 2.04) will start to open the brief series first pitch is 5:10pm PDT.

Shooty Babitt is a former 1981 second baseman for the Oakland A’s, Shooty worked as an NBC Sports Bay Area A’s analyst and is currently a scout for the A’s and filled in for Tony Renteria who does the A’s podcasts each Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason Mon May 26, 2025: At long last A’s end skid at 11 games beat Phils 5-4

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Sacramento A’s catcher Willie MacIver (left) and pitcher Mason Miller share congratulations after the win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Sun May 25, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:

#1 Barbara, the Sacramento A’s (23-31) can finally put to rest their long losing streak which stopped at 11 straight games on Sunday with a win over the Philadelphia Phillies (34-19) 5-4.

#2 First inning action the A’s get on the scoreboard first with Jacob Wilson hit a home run to left center. Logan Davidson doubled knocking Miguel Anduar and Brent Rooker A’s up 3-0.

#3 The Philadelphia Phillies JT Realmuto hit into a double play allowing Kyle Schwarber to score in the top of the second Phils get on the scoreboard making it 3-1, In the third inning Trea Turner’s single scored Brandon Marsh making it 3-2. In the fifth inning Turner hit sac fly to center that scored Alex Bohm tying it up 3-3, in the top of the eighth inning Turner hit a home run to left field to give the Phils a 4-3 lead. That would be the last time the Phils would score.

#4 The A’s Lawrence Butler hit a eighth inning triple that scored Davidson tying up the game4-4. The newest A’s acquisition Willie MacIver hit a single that scored Butler for the go ahead run and eventual game winner for a 5-4 score.

#5 The A’s have the day off on Monday and open a two game series in Houston on Tuesday night at Daikin Field in Houston. The A’s will be going with starter LHP JP Sears (4-4 ERA 4.00) Astros RHP Hunter Brown (6-3 ERA 2.04) will start to open the brief series first pitch is 5:10pm PDT.

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

Willie MacIver almost single-handedly snaps A’s 11-game losing streak in major league debut, as A’s top Phillies 5-4 in finale

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Sacramento A’s catcher Willie MacIver throws the ball to the pitcher in the top of the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Sun May 25, 2025

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Sutter Health Park

West Sacramento, California

Philadelphia Phillies 4 (34-19)

Sacramento Athletics 5 (23-31)

Win: Tyler Ferguson (1-2)

Loss: Matt Strahm (1-3)

Save: Mason Miller (12)

Time: 2:19

Attendance: 10,068

By Stephen Ruderman

WEST SACRAMENTO–New A’s catcher Willie MacIver was the hero in his major league debut, as the A’s snapped their 11-game losing streak in dramatic fashion in a wild seesaw game that saw comebacks and ejections, and at the end, the A’s beat the Phillies 5-4 Sunday.

It wasn’t just the 11-game losing streak. The A’s have been horrible at their rental home here in West Sacramento, as they came into Sunday’s game 8-19 at home.

Gunnar Hoglund took the ball for Oakland, ahem I meant Sacramento, Sunday. Hoglund got off to a nice start with a one, two, three top of the first inning, with all three outs being flyouts.

The A’s certainly looked like a team taking out their anger over an 11-game losing streak on Phillies’ starter Jesus Luzardo in the bottom of the first. It started when Jacob Wilson clubbed the first pitch of the day from Luzardo for a home run off the clubhouse buildings out in left field.

Brent Rooker followed Wilson’s home run with a base-hit to left, and Miguel Andujar lined a base-hit to center with one out. With two outs, Logan Davidson shot a two-run double off the wall out in left-center to make it 3-0.

The A’s came out swinging, and something definitely felt different in that bottom of the first. However, there was still a long way to go, and the A’s would have to fight with every fiber in their being to snap the skid.

The Phillies would get on the board and plate a run without a hit in the top of the second. Brandon Marsh led off the top of the third with a double over the glove of A’s center-fielder Denzel Clarke, and into the gap in right-center. Two batters later, Trae Turner grounded a base-hit up the middle to center, which scored Marsh to make it 3-2.

The A’s wasted an opportunity to further add on to their lead against Luzardo in the bottom of the second. From there, Luzardo settled down for the most part.

Hoglund settled back down to throw a one, two, three, inning in the top of the fourth. However, the Phillies manufactured a run in the top of the fifth to tie it. It would be the end of the line for Hoglund, who gave up three runs and four hits over five innings.

The A’s finally had a rally going against Luzardo in the bottom of the seventh, as they put runners at first and second with one out. Tyler Soderstrom was unable to get the job done, as he flew out to right for the second out, and both runners had to hold.

Then when Miguel Andujar came up, things got a little spicy. The first pitch to Andujar was a called strike right on the outside corner that may have been a bit generous. When Mark Kotsay voiced his displeasure with Home Plate Umpire Roberto Ortiz from the A’s dugout, Ortiz gave Kotsay the boot. Kotsay came out and said his piece, and then he made the long trek to the A’s clubhouse beyond the left field fence.

Andujar ended up striking out on three pitches. On his way back to the dugout, Andujar had some choice words for Ortiz, and Andujar was tossed as well.

Luzardo would be done after seven for the Phillies. Despite giving up nine hits and the three-run bottom of the first, Luzardo walked just seven and struck out ten. Not a bad day on the mound.

With one out in the top of the eighth, Trea Turner hit a home run to left off Hogan Harris to give the Phillies their first lead of the day. The A’s were now six outs away from being swept and losing their 12th-straight.

Phillies Manager Rob Thomson brought in Matt Straham for the bottom of the eighth. Straham retired the first man he faced, as he got Luis Urias to fly out to center. However, Logan Davidson walked, and then Lawrence Butler lined a triple down the right field line to tie the game.

It was suddenly now a brand-new game. Up came A’s catcher Willie MacIver, who got the start behind the plate in his major league debut today. MacIver came up 0-for-3, but the fourth time would be a charm, as he flipped a base-hit to right-center to knock Butler in and put the A’s back ahead.

Mason Miller came in for the top of the ninth and set down the first guys he faced. Of course, the Phillies would not make it easy, as Alec Bohm reached on an infield hit with two outs to extend the game for Brandon Marsh.

Johan Rojas came in to pinch-run for Bohm at first. On the first pitch to Marsh—which missed up and away for ball one—Rojas broke for second, but he was called out by Second Base Umpire and Crew Chief Bill Miller after a perfect strike from MacIver behind the plate.

The Phillies challenged with nothing to lose, and the call was confirmed. In his major league debut, Willie MacIver almost single-handedly snapped the A’s 12-game losing streak. Welcome to the big leagues, kid!

Tyler Ferguson, who finished off the top of the eighth for Oakland, got the win; Matt Straham took the loss; and Mason Miller picked up his 12th save.

The A’s get their 23rd win and improve to 23-31.

The A’s will hit the road for a six-game road trip, which will feature two in Houston Tuesday and Wednesday, and then four north of the border in Toronto against the Blue Jays starting on Thursday.

The A’s will be off on Memorial Day Monday, but they will begin their two-gamer against the Astros in Houston on Tuesday with JP Sears (4-4, 4.00 ERA) on the hill. Hunter Brown (6-3, 2.04 ERA) will counter for Houston.

First pitch will be at 7:10 p.m. in Houston, 5:10 p.m. back wherever the A’s call home in Northern California.

MLB The Show podcast Charlie O Sun May 25, 2025: Red Sox Bregman out with right quad strain; Mets slumping Soto gets a breakthrough with RBI double; plus more MLB news

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Boston Red Sox Alex Bregman bends over in pain after straining his right quad against the Baltimore Orioles on Sat May 24, 2025 at Fenway Park in Boston. Bregman has been placed on the 10 day IL. (AP News photo)

MLB The Show podcast Charlie O Sun May 25, 2025:

#1 Between games of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Alex Bregman had a significant injury. The injury is similar to the one he had back in 2021 when h e was out for two months. The injury put Bregman on the ten day IL with a right quad strain.

#2 New York Mets Juan Soto said after hitting the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher’s Tony Gonsolin’s splitter that was right over the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning with two down and the bags loaded “Don’t catch it” as Soto wound up getting a double and drove in runs that led to 5-2 win. Soto breaks out of his slump. Soto in five at bats had two hits and two RBIs on Saturday night.

 #3 Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees says he a work in progress and he’s saying that after he hit back to back home runs on two consecutive nights at Coors Field in Denver against the Colorado Rockies in a 13-1 win. Judge is hitting .395, with 18 home runs and 46 RBIs. If he’s a work in progress than you can only wonder what his finished work will look like?

#4 The Texas Rangers continue to have more troubles in losing players after it was learned that Joc Pederson broke his right hand when he was hit by a 87.5 mph cutter by White Sox right hand pitcher Bryse Wilson. Pederson hit the ground after he was hit. Ironically Pederson stayed in the game and scored on Marcus Seimien’s sac fly. Pederson is in a two year contract with the Rangers worth $37 million. The Rangers are on a six game losing streak

#5 The A’s continue with their losing streak as it reaches 11 games. In the bottom of the tenth inning the bases loaded sac fly to the Philadelphia Phillies centerfielder Brandon Marsh threw the ball to catcher Realmuto for the sweep tag on the A’s base runner Logan Davidson review ruled Davidson out. The Phillies wind up scoring three runs in the top of the 11th inning and put the A’s away 9-6.

Charlie O does the MLB The Show podcast Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Drop 11th Straight in Extra-Inning Heartbreaker to Phillies 9-6

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Shea Langeliers in the game against the Phillies on Saturday night in Sacramento. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The Athletics just can’t buy a win. The A’s battled on Saturday against one of the best teams in baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies. However, another late-inning bullpen meltdown cost the A’s in a 9-6 loss in 11 innings. The loss marked their 11th straight, and they now face the possibility of a winless 0-7 homestand if they can’t find a way to win on Sunday afternoon.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay described the emotions after the game, saying, “This game is challenging, and we’re in one of those really challenging times that tests character. And you know, you can either make excuses for it, or you can stand up and, you know, accept the accountability. And I think that these guys are doing that.”

The A’s continue to be let down by the bullpen. It’s largely the same group that helped secure wins earlier in the season. Granted, TJ McFarland is hurt and some arms have shuffled between Triple-A and the big leagues, but the core unit remains intact. Yet, once again, the bullpen surrendered a late lead on Saturday night.

The game was tied heading into the bottom of the eighth when A’s DH Brent Rooker sent a ball over the left-center field wall to give the A’s a late lead. As Rooker rounded the bases, A’s flamethrower Mason Miller could be seen getting ready in the bullpen.

In the ninth, Kotsay did indeed go to Miller to close it out. Miller, who gave up three runs just a day earlier, struck out Brandon Marsh to open the frame. It felt like order had been restored. But that feeling didn’t last, as Max Kepler launched a game-tying solo home run into the trees in right field. Miller would escape the inning without further damage, but the blown save was already in the books.

In the tenth, neither team scored, despite having chances. The A’s loaded the bases but couldn’t capitalize, as Brandon Marsh made a game-saving throw from center field to cut down Logan Davidson at the plate.

In the 11th, the Phillies broke through for three runs to all but seal the deal. The A’s couldn’t answer in the bottom half and fell by a 9-6 final.

The A’s have now dropped 11 straight games—the longest losing streak in MLB this season—and fall to 22-31 on the year.

With the win, the Phillies improved to 34-18 and have now won nine straight.

The A’s will try to avoid a sweep on Sunday as they send Gunnar Hogland (1-2, 5.06 ERA) to the mound against former Athletic Jesús Luzardo (5-0, 1.95 ERA). First pitch is set for 1:05 PM PST at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s manager shows discontent with Sutter Health Park

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A’s manager Mark Kotsay checks things out against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the ninth inning on June 29, 2024 at Chase Field in Phoenix. Kotsay recently said that he can not see the ball when it’s going down the left field line from the A’s dugout at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento. (AP file photo)

A’s Manager shows Discontent with Sutter Health Park

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Players complaining is one thing, and many times it goes ignored by…well, they’re players in a way spoiled, after all, they are playing in the Major Leagues, making more money than most of us can count. But when the Manager is also unhappy with where his home team is playing, that is another thing.

This was the case for A’s Manager Mark Kotsay during a game against the LA Angels recently at Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento. Imagine a manager sitting in the dugout watching the game, and during a controversial play and call by an umpire, he had to say this to the media: “I’m completely blind on anything that goes down the left field line.” Because Kotsay could not see they play as it was happening

It should not be a surprise since the ownership decided to play 81 home games in a Minor League Park, during that play A’s Manager said, “I was relying on the umpire crew to see the play and make the call, and then from his replay team to tell him to challenge it.”

According to today’s MLB regulations, MLb has 15 seconds to ask for replay reviews. What happens at Sutter Health Park should not surprise anybody, but when stuff like this happens, it is confirmation of the ineptness of their front office management.

The A’s most expensive signing this off-season, Luis Severino, their number one starter, has called Sutter Health Park “not a big league park.” He has also highlighted issues with the clubhouse location and the stadium’s size and noted how they affect his routine and rhythm as a pitcher. For the record, he is not having a good start.

With all the problems the Oakland A’s had at the Oakland Coliseum, as dated as it was, it was still a Major League facility—not the best, but still to Major League standards, the condition of the field was excellent all the time, I spoke to many players who played for the A’s and from visiting teams who told me the infield and outfield were always in excellent condition, some infielders told me: “it is soft and smooth infield and easy to field the ball”. Some fans who traveled from the Bay Area and many hardcore veteran A’s fans who were curious about the experience in Sacramento said they had concerns about the long lines for concessions, the lack of MLB-standard amenities, and the cost of parking and food.

I can imagine what many A’s players believe (but will not say) about playing in this facility. It would not be an exaggeration on my part (from personal experience through the years) of what players are thinking. They are probably the ONLY team in Major League Baseball that cannot wait to go on a long road trip.

This popular quote is in doubt for the A’s today in Sacramento

“There’s nothing like playing at home.” – This quote expresses the unique and positive feeling of playing in front of a home crowd.

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.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

Lopez Shines in Duel, but A’s Fall 4-3 to Phillies After Ninth-Inning Collapse

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Jacob Lopez during his start on Friday. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — For the second straight night, the A’s got a great effort from their starting pitcher. This time, it was Jacob Lopez who turned in a fantastic outing to give the A’s a chance to snap their losing streak. Yet, an all-too-familiar late-inning bullpen mishap spoiled the A’s chances as they lost to the Phillies 4-3 at Sutter Health Park.

Lopez was fantastic. His only blemish was a solo home run by Trea Turner to lead off the game. Otherwise, he tossed a masterful seven innings of three-hit, one-run ball, striking out eight and surrendering only one walk.

After the game, Lopez described his turnaround from his last start for the A’s: “I went back to Las Vegas and just really focused on getting ahead and being the aggressor and pounding the strike zone…”

Lopez indeed displayed his strike-throwing prowess, with his only walk coming against Kyle Schwarber in the first inning.

“This was a great night. A big performance out of Jacob. He’s going up against one of the best pitchers in the game right now and matched him inning for inning pretty much,” Mark Kotsay said of Jacob Lopez following the loss.

On the other side, Zack Wheeler stifled the A’s offense, allowing just three hits over six and two-thirds innings of work.

Justin Sterner relieved Lopez in the eighth and tossed a scoreless inning to keep the game a 1-0 affair.

In the top of the ninth, the A’s brought in Mason Miller looking to keep the game close. Unfortunately for the A’s, Miller was not sharp, surrendering three runs on four hits while recording only two outs. He was relieved by Anthony Maldonado, who recorded the final out of the frame.

Down 4-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth, the A’s didn’t give in. Brent Rooker singled to start the inning, followed by a walk to Shea Langeliers. After Miguel Andujar struck out, Nick Kurtz—who seems to be finding his power stroke—hit a booming 425-foot home run to straightaway center to bring the A’s within one. That would be the last of the scoring, however, as the A’s ultimately fell 4-3.

“One thing I want to talk about is the fight that the club showed and the at-bats they took in the ninth inning. That says a lot about where we’re at—the focus that we have—and that we are able to continue to focus on the positives through a difficult time. There’s not a lack of effort in that locker room. There’s still fight in that locker room, and these guys will get through this,” Kotsay said about his team’s outlook during this rough stretch.

With the loss, the A’s skid balloons to 10 games as they fall to 22-30 on the season. The Phillies have now won eight straight and sit at 33-18 in 2025.

On Saturday, the A’s will try once again to snap the losing streak as they send Jeffrey Springs (5-3, 3.91 ERA) to the hill against Cristopher Sánchez (4-1, 3.10 ERA), who will start for Philadelphia. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM PST at Sutter Health Park.

Note of the day: Denzel Clarke made his major league debut on Friday, manning center field for the Athletics. Clarke, who was pinch-hit for in the ninth, went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts looking. It’s worth noting that neither of those strikeouts came on pitches that should have been called strikes—home plate umpire Bill Miller missed the mark on both strike-three calls, as replay clearly showed they were outside the zone. Clarke dazzled in the field, catching a ball in left-center that had a 20% catch probability.

After the game, Denzel spoke with the media about his debut: “The experience was awesome. Playing against guys that you grew up watching on TV on the same field as them is really, really cool… I honestly thought I would be really nervous going into today, but I felt really relaxed. Same game, just a different level. I’m just very happy to go out there and play the game I love at the highest level today.”