Tag: Sacramento A’s

Nick Kurtz to Debut for A’s After Meteoric Rise Through Minors

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Nick Kurtz in the A’s clubhouse on Tuesday. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — A new era at first base for the Athletics is upon us!

The A’s first selection in the 2024 MLB Draft, Nick Kurtz, will make his debut for the Athletics in Sacramento against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday evening.

Kurtz, the No. 4 overall selection in last year’s draft out of Wake Forest, will debut after just 32 minor league games and less than 10 months since being drafted — both unprecedented in MLB. In those 32 minor league games, Kurtz hit .366 with 11 home runs, 10 doubles, and 22 walks, good for a 1.121 OPS. Coaches and players who have seen him during his brief time in pro ball have described him as a very mature player despite his limited experience. 

A’s manager Mark Kotsay, speaking with the media on Tuesday, said, “He’s a pretty accomplished young hitter, and he’s got an advanced approach. As David mentioned, his demeanor, he’s a pretty even-keeled kid.

It’s safe to say there’s plenty of excitement surrounding Nick, both in the clubhouse and in the front office.

Kurtz will play first base on Wednesday as Tyler Soderstrom moves to the outfield.

As the A’s continue to struggle at home (2-8 over their first 10 home games), Kurtz might be just what the doctor ordered. Granted, A’s pitching is generally seen as the area most in need of improvement.

As for Kurtz and his appeal to fans, I’ll say this: I watched Nick clear the batter’s eye in center field and hit the scoreboard in right-center during batting practice on Tuesday afternoon. The kid is gonna be must-watch baseball.

Rangers Outslug A’s 8-5 Despite Late Push in A’s Sacramento Return

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Brent Rooker receives his Silver Slugger from the 2024 season. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The A’s were back home in Sacramento on Tuesday night after a road trip that took them through Chicago and Milwaukee. They swept the White Sox and dropped two of three to the Brewers, finishing the trip with a winning record of 4-3.

On Tuesday, the A’s welcomed in the AL West-leading Texas Rangers, who entered the game with a 13-9 start to the 2025 season. The A’s came in last place in the division at 10-12 but sat just three games behind the Rangers.

The A’s fell to Texas by a final score of 8-5.

A’s starter Osvaldo Bido was roughed up, lasting five and a third innings while allowing eight runs (all earned) on eight hits, including four home runs. It was a tough outing in a game where any decent contact seemed to have a chance to leave the yard.

Rangers starter Patrick Corbin went five innings, giving up two earned runs on seven hits and allowing two homers.

The A’s got on the board with solo home runs in the second and third innings from Miguel Andujar and Lawrence Butler, respectively. Aside from those, they didn’t generate many scoring chances until the sixth inning, where they loaded the bases but came up empty. They finally broke through again in the bottom of the seventh when JJ Bleday delivered an RBI single to score Brent Rooker and cut the deficit to 8-3.

Sacramento continued to chip away in the eighth as Luis Urias and Brent Rooker each added solo shots to pull the A’s within three at 8-5 heading into the ninth.

After a scoreless top of the ninth from the bullpen, the A’s went down in order in the bottom half to end the game.

Brent Rooker finished 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk. JJ Bleday went 2-for-4 with a walk, and Miguel Andujar had a strong night, going 3-for-5 with a homer.

After the game, manager Mark Kotsay praised the team’s fight but pointed to missed chances in the sixth inning. “The sixth inning was the inning we left opportunities on the bases… we left the bases loaded, second and third with nobody out really… We continued to take good at-bats after that… it could’ve been more. We just had our opportunities—had 11 hits and left 10 on the bases.”

Note: In the top of the seventh inning, A’s reliever Jose Leclerc recorded only one out before leaving with right shoulder soreness. After the game, Kotsay confirmed the injury, calling it “more of a strain than soreness.” It’s tough news for a bullpen already dealing with depth issues.

Up Next: The A’s and Rangers continue the series on Wednesday night at 7:05 PM PST at Sutter Health Park. J.P. Sears is scheduled to start for the A’s, while the Rangers counter with Kumar Rocker. A’s No. 1 prospect Nick Kurtz will make his debut at first base in the contest.

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria Tue Apr 22, 2025: A’s Bido looking for third win; Sac gets after first place Texas tonight

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Sacramento A’s pitcher Osvaldo Bido (45) will be doing the pitching Tue Apr 22, 2025 against the Texas Rangers at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento to open a three game set. Here Bido deals against the San Francisco Giants on Sat Aug 17, 2024 at the Oakland Coliseum (AP file photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 The Milwaukee Brewers (12-10) Rhys Hoskins went three for five with a home run and four RBIs. The Brewers set a franchise record with nine steals as it wasn’t even close as the Brewers won in a 14-1 laugher.

#2 The Brewers Logan Henderson struck out nine hitters in his big league debut. The Sacramento A’s (10-12) had been going well before Sunday’s game where they had won four out of their last five games and were getting around .500 but were just helpless in this loss at American Family Park.

#3 A’s starter Jefferey Springs was lit up Sunday he pitched 2.1 innings, giving up five runs and six hits, four earned runs, three strike outs and one home run.

#4 The Brewers take the three game series two out of three. The Brewers went to work early scoring four in the first, and rallied later in the game for five more runs in the seventh. A’s pitching just couldn’t hold the Brewers.

#5 The A’s went 4-2 on this last road trip and are 8-4 on the road overall. The A’s come home to open a three game series at Sutter Health Park on Tuesday. The A’s are 2-7 at home and host the Texas Rangers who are first in the AL West at 13-9 and lead second place Seattle by one game. Starting pitchers for the Rangers LHP Patrick Corbin (1-0 ERA 3.86) for the A’s Osvaldo Bido (2-1 ERA 2.61) first pitch slated for 7:05pm PDT.

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

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason: A’s open homestand with Rangers Tuesday; A’s hoping to improve on home record

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The Milwaukee Brewers Christian Yelich slides behind the Sacramento A’s catcher Shea Langeliers scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning at American Family Park in Milwaukee on Sun Apr 20, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:

#1 The Milwaukee Brewers (12-10) Rhys Hoskins went three for five with a home run and four RBIs. The Brewers set a franchise record with nine steals as it wasn’t even close as the Brewers won in a 14-1 laugher.

#2 The Brewers Logan Henderson struck out nine hitters in his big league debut. The Sacramento A’s (10-12) had been going well before Sunday’s game where they had won four out of their last five games and were getting around .500 but were just helpless in this loss at American Family Park.

#3 A’s starter Jefferey Springs was lit up Sunday he pitched 2.1 innings, giving up five runs and six hits, four earned runs, three strike outs and one home run.

#4 The Brewers take the three game series two out of three. The Brewers went to work early scoring four in the first, and rallied later in the game for five more runs in the seventh. A’s pitching just couldn’t hold the Brewers.

#5 The A’s went 4-2 on this last road trip and are 8-4 on the road overall. The A’s come home to open a three game series at Sutter Health Park on Tuesday. The A’s are 2-7 at home and host the Texas Rangers who are first in the AL West at 13-9 and lead second place Seattle by one game. Starting pitchers for the Rangers LHP Patrick Corbin (1-0 ERA 3.86) for the A’s Osvaldo Bido (2-1 ERA 2.61) first pitch slated for 7:05pm PDT.

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

A’s Tap Out Long Before Happy Hour in Milwaukee 14-1

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Milwaukee Brewers Rhys Hoskins high fives teammates in the Brewers dugout after hitting a third inning home run against the Sacramento Athletics at American Family Park on Sun Apr 20, 2025 (AP News photo)

A’s Tap Out Long Before Happy Hour in Milwaukee

By Mauricio Segura

The Athletics’ trip to Milwaukee ended in a forgettable way Sunday, as the Brewers ran wild early and never let up in a 14-1 demolition at American Family Field.

The afternoon unraveled quickly for the green and gold. Starter Jeffrey Springs, who had entered with a 3-1 record, struggled right from the start. A mix of stolen bases, walks, errors, and even a balk saw Milwaukee race out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning alone. Springs lasted just 2.1 innings, tagged for five runs as his ERA swelled to 5.96.

The Brewers smelled blood and kept coming. Rookie Logan Henderson, making his big league debut for Milwaukee, struck out Brent Rooker for his first Major League punchout and retired the side in order in the first. Henderson kept the A’s lineup quiet into the middle innings, picking up a win he will not soon forget.

Meanwhile, the Brewers’ offense turned the game into a track meet. Brice Turang stole three bases, and Milwaukee swiped six overall, exploiting an A’s defense that looked rattled all day. Rhys Hoskins delivered a solo home run and a two-run single, Christian Yelich doubled in another run, and Sal Frelick collected three hits and two stolen bases to fuel the onslaught.

The A’s offense, by contrast, was almost entirely silent. Seth Brown broke through in the fifth with a solo homer, his first of the year, to avoid the shutout. Jacob Wilson continued to be a steady bright spot, collecting two hits to raise his batting average to .342, good for ninth in the majors.

Nothing else went right for the Athletics, who committed two more throwing errors and allowed four unearned runs. By the seventh inning, the Brewers had blown the game wide open with a seven-run frame, burying any hopes of a green and gold comeback.

Despite the ugly loss, the Athletics return home with some positives in hand. They finished their six-game road swing with a 5-2 record and improved to 8-5 away from home this season, tied for the best road winning percentage in the majors. It is a stark contrast to their struggles at home, where they are just 2-7.

Next up, the Athletics will open a six-game homestand starting Tuesday against the defending champion Texas Rangers. Osvaldo Bido, who has posted a 2.61 ERA in his first four starts, is scheduled to take the ball.

The loss drops the A’s to 10-12 overall.

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.

Headline Sports podcast Marko Ukalovic: Yanks Williams struggling in relief role; Braves Verdugo off to a hitting start in first two games; plus more MLB news

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Atlanta Braves Alex Verdugo (8) is greeted at by Braves manager Brian Snitker (43) after scoring a third inning run against the Minnesota Twins at Truist Field in Cobb County GA on Sat Apr 19, 2025 (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast Marko:

#1 After joining the New York Yankees pitcher Devin Williams doesn’t look like the All Star thrower he was when he pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers last season. The Tampa Bay Rays Brandon Lowe’s two run single off Williams was part of a four run rally. The Rays Jon Aranda hit a two run homer in the tenth against Yoendrys Gomez for extra measure to defeat the Yankees 10-8 that snapped the New York five game win streak.

#2 The Atlanta Braves Alex Verdugo said he’s not taking credit for the Braves going 2-0 since being recalled this week. Verdugo got four hits and scored two runs on Saturday night against the Minnesota Twins for a 4-3 win. Verdugo in those two games has been the key to the Braves line up so far.

#3 Forget baseball the face of baseball two way star Shohei Ohtani and his wife Mamiko Tanaka have announced the birth of their child on Saturday. “I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy beautiful daughter,” Ohtani wrote in an Instagram post. “To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents.”

#4 Toronto Blue Jays right hand pitcher Jose Berrios was suspected Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh was tipping his pitches to the Mariners bench. When Raleigh was walking back to the dugout Berrios let Raleigh know what he thought of it. The Jays lost to the Mariners 8-4 in 12 innings on Saturday. Berrios said “people are trying to fight with us in the field, I don’t respect that. I don’t like that.”

#5 Marko, how do you explain the Sacramento A’s having baseball’s second best road record at 8-4 and a home record of 2-7. The A’s picked up their fourth win in five games on this current road trip against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. Are they having a tough time at Sutter Health Park or are the visitors just pumped and ready to win in Sacramento?

Marko Ukalovic filled for Charlie O who does Headline Sports podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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Rooker and Langeliers Stir The Brew in Milwaukee; Athletics even series with 3-1 win

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Sacramento A’s starter Luis Severino (40) delivers against the Milwaukee Brewers line up in the bottom of the first inning at American Family Park in Milwaukee on Sat Apr 20, 2025 (AP News photo)

Rooker and Langeliers Stir The Brew in Milwaukee

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics may have changed addresses but their fighting spirit packed its bags right along with them. Behind clutch home runs from Brent Rooker and Shea Langeliers, the green and gold snuck by the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 Saturday night at American Family Field.

From the first pitch, it was clear that runs would be at a minimum. Both starting pitchers, Luis Severino for the A’s and Chad Patrick for the Brewers, settled in quickly.

Severino, a two-time All Star known for his fiery fastball during his Yankees days, looked sharp. His only blemish came in the third inning when Garrett Mitchell doubled and later scored on a routine groundout by Caleb Durbin to give Milwaukee an early 1-0 lead.

The A’s answered back in the fifth. JJ Bleday and rookie Jacob Wilson sparked the rally with back-to-back singles. Miguel Andujar, a former Rookie of the Year runner-up, laced a double to left field, scoring Bleday and tying the game at 1-1. Andujar, who has been quietly productive since joining the Athletics, continues to show flashes of the player who once roamed the Bronx outfield.

The game turned in the sixth inning with a single swing off of Brent Rooker’s bat. His thunderous sixth home run of the season deep to center, gave the A’s a 2-1 lead. It was a vintage Rooker swing, all muscle and impeccable timing, that left Milwaukee’s outfielders as spectators.

Severino kept mowing down Brewers hitters into the late innings. By the ninth, manager Mark Kotsay turned the ball over to Mason Miller’s triple-digit heater to seal the win. But before Miller could slam the door, Shea Langeliers gave him a little extra cushion with his fifth homer of the year, another blast to center field off reliever Joel Payamps, making it 3-1.

Miller, who touched 102 miles per hour on the radar gun, made quick work of Milwaukee’s final three batters. Brice Turang flied out harmlessly to right. Jackson Chourio, the Brewers’ highly touted rookie, struck out swinging. Christian Yelich, the former MVP, fought but ultimately went down on a foul tip to end the game.

It was a textbook road win for the Athletics: timely hitting, solid defense, strong starting pitching, and a closer who simply overpowers hitters.

For all the talk about the A’s rebuild, nights like this are a reminder that the green and gold have plenty of pieces worth watching. As the team continues to forge its new identity away from Oakland, performances like these give their fans reason to believe that better days are not just in the distant future but already unfolding.

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

Late Rally Falls Short as A’s Bow to Brewers 5-3

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Sacramento A’s pitcher JT Ginn delivers to the Milwaukee Brewers in the bottom of the first inning at American Family Park in Milwaukee on Fri Apr 18, 2025 (AP News photo)

Late Rally Falls Short as A’s Bow to Brewers 5-3

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics’ recent hot streak cooled on Friday evening, as they dropped the opening game of their weekend series against the Milwaukee Brewers by a score of 5-3 at American Family Field. Despite a late-inning push, the green and gold couldn’t overcome an early Brewers lead fueled by timely hits and solid pitching.

Brewers starter Freddy Peralta kept the A’s lineup quiet early, striking out six through five innings and scattering seven hits. His effort limited the Athletics’ damage to just one run during his tenure on the mound. Peralta improved to 2-1 with a tidy 2.31 ERA.

Meanwhile, the Athletics’ J.T. Ginn, fresh off a winning performance against the Mets last weekend, found tougher sledding against Milwaukee’s lineup. Ginn surrendered three runs on five hits and two walks through 4 2/3 innings. Christian Yelich proved to be Ginn’s toughest challenge, driving in two runs including a key RBI single in the third inning that contributed to the early Brewers advantage.

Milwaukee jumped ahead in the third when rookie Caleb Durbin recorded his first Major League hit, later scoring on Jackson Chourio’s double. Yelich’s subsequent RBI single made it 2-0. In the fifth, Yelich added his second RBI single of the game, stretching Milwaukee’s lead to 3-0 and chasing Ginn from the game.

The A’s offense, which had powered through Chicago earlier this week with nine extra-base hits in a single game, struggled to replicate that magic against Milwaukee pitching. Oakland’s batters could only muster scattered singles through most of the contest. Tyler Soderstrom, who entered leading the Majors in home runs with nine, managed two singles but couldn’t deliver the powerful swing he’s become known for this season.

Gio Urshela finally put the A’s on the board in the sixth, driving in JJ Bleday on a fielder’s choice. But Milwaukee quickly answered back with two more runs in the seventh, capitalizing on fielding errors and timely hits to push their advantage to 5-1.

Down but not out, the A’s fought back in the ninth. Brent Rooker, who had an impressive series against the White Sox going 6-for-13, doubled to score Max Muncy, and Tyler Soderstrom added a sacrifice fly to narrow the deficit to 5-3. With the tying run at the plate, Milwaukee’s Trevor Megill struck out Shea Langeliers, extinguishing Oakland’s comeback hopes and securing the Brewers’ victory.

Despite the setback, there were positive notes for Oakland. Lawrence Butler extended his hitting streak to four games and continues to impress with his recent performances. Miguel Andujar had a strong night at the plate, collecting three singles.

With this loss, Oakland’s record slips slightly to 9-11, while Milwaukee moves to 11-9. The A’s will look to bounce back Saturday with Luis Severino (0-3 ERA 4.01), seeking his first win of the season, facing Chad Patrick (1-0 ERA 1.76) at 4:10 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.

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson: Swinging A’s stay hot on road trip sweep Sox in Chi-Town

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Sacramento A’s Brent Rooker (25) congratulates Tyler Soderstrom (21) who hit his Major League leading ninth home run in the top of the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field in Chicago on Thu Apr 17, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 A combination of four pitchers for the Sacramento A’s did in the Chicago White Sox in by shutting them out 8-0 at Rate Field on the South Side of Chicago Thursday. JP Sears started it off by pitching six innings, three hits, no runs and two strike outs.

#2 A’s manager Mark Kotsay used three pitchers to help combine for the shutout over the Sox, after Sears left he was relieved by Noah Murdock who went 1.2 innings, with one hit and two strikeouts, middle reliever TJ McFarland pitched one third of an inning no runs, no walks and no strikeouts, and Jason Alexander mopped up going one inning with two strikeouts.

#3 The White Sox didn’t even put up a threat with only four hits. The A’s had runners circling the bases all afternoon with one run in the fifth, two in the sixth, one in the seventh, and three in the ninth.

#4 In the series the A’s won game one by a lopsided score on Tuesday 12-3, on Wednesday a little close but a win for Sacramento 3-1, and Thursday afternoon no mercy in the 8-0 shutout for the A’s.

#5 The A’s go into Milwaukee with confidence after a sweep in Chicago. The Milwaukee Brewers are second place in the NL Central and are 7-3 at American Family Park. The Brewers have won six of their ten games. The A’s have the second best road record at 7-3 in baseball behind the San Francisco Giants who are 9-3 away.

Join Jeremiah for the A’s podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Crush White Sox 8-0 with Power and Precision to Complete Sweep

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Sacramento A’s Tyler Soderstrom slugs a top of the seventh inning home run against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field in Chicago on Thu Apr 17, 2025 (AP News photo)

A’s Crush White Sox with Power and Precision to Complete Sweep

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics (9-10) arrived at Rate Field in Chicago this week with momentum and left with a sweep. Powered by a relentless offense and sharp pitching, the green and gold dominated the Chicago White Sox (4-14) 8-0 on Thursday afternoon, locking down their third straight win and continuing to turn heads around the American League.

It took only two batters to make it clear the Athletics meant business. Lawrence Butler opened the game with a ground-rule double to right and Jacob Wilson immediately followed with an RBI double, giving the A’s a 1-0 lead before the White Sox could blink.

It was a fitting start for Wilson, who has been a steady force for the Athletics lineup all season. Already boasting a hit in 16 of the team’s first 18 games, Wilson continues to lead by example with his consistency at the plate.

While the first-inning fireworks set the tone, the A’s continued to chip away patiently. Brent Rooker and JJ Bleday kept the pressure on with smart at-bats, and although a few early rallies fizzled, the green and gold showed they were just getting warmed up.

In the fifth inning, Lawrence Butler struck again. This time, he launched a no-doubt solo home run to right field, pushing the Athletics’ lead to 2-0 and sending a jolt of energy through the dugout. Butler’s performance was another chapter in his growing story as a key figure in the A’s youthful core.

The sixth inning is where the A’s broke the game open. Brent Rooker led off with a single and JJ Bleday followed by blasting a two-run home run into the right-field seats. It was Bleday’s second homer of the season and a much-needed boost for the A’s offense, which has found its rhythm in recent games. By the time the sixth ended, the Athletics were up 4-0 and showing no signs of letting the White Sox back into the game.

Meanwhile, JP Sears was quietly delivering one of his best outings of the year. Sears, who had previously struggled against Chicago in his career, flipped the script with six scoreless innings. He worked efficiently, mixing speeds and locations to keep the White Sox hitters off balance.

Sears did not allow a single runner past second base during his outing, and when he exited after six, the A’s bullpen kept the shutout intact with precision work from Noah Murdock, T.J. McFarland, and Jason Alexander.

In the seventh inning, the Athletics continued their barrage. Tyler Soderstrom, the breakout star of the early season, crushed a solo home run to right, marking his Major League leading ninth homer of the year. Soderstrom’s power has been a difference-maker for the A’s, leading the majors in home runs and producing runs at a historic pace for a player so early in his career.

The Athletics were not done yet. In the ninth, Max Schuemann tripled to start the inning and was immediately driven home by Jacob Wilson’s second RBI double of the game. Not wanting to be left out of the late-inning fun, Brent Rooker then launched a two-run homer of his own, his fifth of the season, capping off the A’s scoring at eight runs and putting the White Sox away for good.

The A’s offense finished the afternoon with 13 hits, four of them for extra bases, and showed the type of balanced attack that has defined their recent surge. Wilson, Butler, Rooker, Bleday, and Soderstrom all had key contributions, a sign that the lineup is becoming increasingly dangerous from top to bottom.

Defensively, the A’s were equally sharp. Solid outfield play from Bleday and Butler helped preserve the shutout, while first baseman Tyler Soderstrom anchored several key outs with sure hands and smart positioning.

For a team that spent much of the early season at the bottom of the standings, the sweep over Chicago is a statement. The A’s have now won five of their last six games and are beginning to look like a team ready to climb out of the basement. Their road record, a sparkling 7-3, is the second-best in the majors and shows a level of resilience that could prove critical as the season unfolds.

Next, the A’s head to Milwaukee for a three-game series against a strong Brewers team. With JT Ginn scheduled to start and the offense firing on all cylinders, the green and gold will look to keep the momentum going and continue surprising those who counted them out early.

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.