Tag: Sports Radio Service

Sacramento A’s game wrap: The Green and Gold Turn One Big Inning Into a Royal Pain, 4 run second leads to 6-2 win for Sacramento; A’s now 1.5 game in first place

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Sacramento A’s Nick Kurtz (16) stands at second after hitting an RBI double in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals. Later Kurtz drew a walk for his 19th straight game this season tying former Boston Red Sox Ted Williams for the third longest bases on balls streak. Detroit’s Roy Cullenbine in 1947 is second on the list and first is former San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds 2002-03. (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics did not wait around to let stomachs settle after lunch to decide what kind of game this would be on Thursday afternoon.

On a clear 12:06 p.m. first pitch West Sacramento day, the Kansas City Royals opened with Maikel Garcia ripping a double to right, then pushed across the first run when Starling Marte lined a two-out single to right. It was a fast, quick punch from Kansas City, the kind that can make a home crowd shift in its seat before the nacho sauce kicks in prompting an early inning bathroom break. But the A’s answered right away, and that response set the tone for a 6-3 win built on patience, sharp contact, and just enough bullpen backbone.

Jacob Wilson, who came in riding a strong stretch at the plate and carrying the longest errorless streak by an Athletics shortstop in franchise history, opened the bottom of the first with a single. Shea Langeliers followed with a double, putting the tying run 90 feet away. After Nick Kurtz struck out and Colby Thomas walked after an upheld ABS challenge, Darell Hernaiz punched a grounder through the left side of the infield, deflected by third baseman Garcia, to bring Wilson home. Just like that, the A’s had wiped away Kansas City’s opening jab.

The Royals briefly grabbed the lead again in the second when Garcia, already a problem, launched his third home run of the season to left-center. For Kansas City, Garcia was everywhere. He doubled twice, homered, scored twice, and even stole third in the fourth. But the game turned into green and gold hues in the bottom of the second, when the A’s lineup stopped tapping on the door and kicked it in instead.

Lawrence Butler started the rally with a walk, Wilson followed with another single, and Langeliers drilled his second double of the game to left to score Butler and tie it 2-2. Then came Kurtz, whose eye at the plate has been one of the biggest stories of the Athletics’ season.

He entered the day with an ongoing Athletics-record 18-game walk streak and one of the best on-base marks in the league, but this time he did not wait for a free pass. Kurtz smashed a double to center, scoring Wilson and Langeliers, and suddenly the A’s led 4-2. Hernaiz later added another ground-ball single, bringing home Kurtz after an error by second baseman Nick Loftin helped him move into scoring position. By the end of the inning, the Athletics had scored four runs and turned a one-run deficit into a 5-2 lead.

That second inning was the day’s heartbeat. A well-built rally from an old baseball textbook: a walk, singles, doubles, pressure, and a defense forced into mistakes. Langeliers was right in the middle of it, finishing with three doubles and two runs scored. Wilson added two hits and two runs, continuing to look like one of the steadiest young bats in the lineup. Hernaiz drove in three runs, a big swing of production from the lower half of the order without needing to actually swing big.

Kansas City had chances to climb back. In the fourth, Garcia doubled again, stole third, Bobby Witt Jr. walked, and Lane Thomas was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. But Luis Medina, who had replaced Jeffrey Springs to start the inning due to a possible injury, escaped when Salvador Perez flew out to center. Medina again had to work through traffic in the sixth after Isaac Collins singled and Witt walked, but Scott Barlow came in and got Thomas to ground out to end the threat.

The A’s added insurance in the seventh, and once again it came from the same cast. Langeliers opened with his third double, Kurtz was intentionally walked (tying none other than Ted Williams for the all-time top spot), and pinch-hitter Jeff McNeil forced out Kurtz while moving Langeliers to third. Hernaiz then beat out another grounder to short, scoring Langeliers and giving the Athletics a 6-2 cushion. It was not glamorous, but it was useful, and in baseball, useful wins a lot of afternoons.

The Royals got one back in the eighth on Elias Díaz’s first home run of the season, a fly ball to right that cut the lead to 6-3. But Brady Basso kept the damage there, and Jack Perkins handled the ninth after Jac Caglianone opened with a pinch-hit single. Perkins retired Perez on a flyout, struck out Michael Massey, and ended it when Vinnie Pasquantino lined sharply to center, where Zack Gelof put it away.

For the Athletics, the win carried a little extra weight. They entered the day two games over .500, in first place in the AL West, and trying to finish April with their best record in the month since 2014. They did it with exactly the kind of game that makes a first-place stretch feel less like a fluke and more like a team learning how to win in different ways.

Friday will see former A’s player, now Guardians manager, Stephen Vogt, bring in his boys from Cleveland for a three game weekend series. One that will no doubt include fireworks from both sides. First pitch Friday is schedule for 6:40pm with J.T. Ginn (0-0 / 3.24 ERA / 19k’s) on the mound for Sacramento against the southpaw Hawaiian Joseph Cantillo (1-1 / 2.97 ERA / 34k’s).

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. 

First game doubleheader: Last Minute Rally By Phillies Equals San Francisco Loss 3-2

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Philadelphia Phillies Bryson Stott (5) hits a RBI triple in front of San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey (left) in the bottom of the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Thu Apr 30, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants lost the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday to the Philadelphia Phillies. After 8 1/2 innings and two outs away from winning at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia. The Phils Adolis Garcia singled in the ninth inning followed by a Bryson Stott triple tied up the game 2-2.

The icing on the cake for the Phillies was a Justin Crawford single, Stott scored and that was the ball game 3-2. The Phillies now lead the series 2-0 and the Giants will be fighting to avoid the sweep in game three which gets underway this afternoon.

San Francisco got started early taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Heliot Ramos started off the game with a double followed by a Matt Chapman double and San Francisco was in business.

Luis Arraez grounded out and Ramos scored the first run of the game for a 1-0 lead. Casey Schmitt singled Chapman home for a 2-0 advantage. The Phillies cut the San Francisco lead in half in the bottom of the inning when Kyle Schwarber hit a solo home run. The score was 2-1 going into the second inning.

The second and third innings were quick ones for both teams pretty much three and outs. The Giants had a walk in the second and the Phillies a single but not much else for either team. The third inning was uneventful for both teams. With the score 2-1 the Phillies threatened in the bottom of the fourth inning. Philadelphia hit a couple of singles and a double but were unable to cash in.

The Giants took the 2-1 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning. The Phillies had a couple of runners on base desperate to at lease tie up this game but once again came up empty. San Francisco pitcher Erik Miller dismissed the Phillies one, two three.

It all came down to the top of the ninth inning. The Giants needed at least one insurance run to cap this game off. They had a couple of singles but could not score. Matt Chapman already had two hits in the game but couldn’t come up with hit number three striking out for the third out.

The bottom of the ninth inning came around and it was the last chance for the Phillies. Ryan Walker took the mound trying to save this game for the Giants. Garcia singled but the triple off the bat of Bryson Stott was the deciding factor.

Garcia scored off that single and this game was tied 2-2. Now the Giants were fighting to at least get into a tenth inning. San Francisco had led for most of the game but the Phils Justin Crawford single blew this game out of the water when Stott scored and game one went to the Phillies 3-2. Crawford reached first base by a half step so the Giants were a half step away from a tie. Just a crazy disappointment for San Francisco.

Front game notes: Thursday afternoon the Giants played the first of a double-header against the Phillies as Wednesday’s game was postponed due to some nasty weather but Thursday a mix of clouds and sun greeted fans on hand for the early game for the first game of the double dip.

San Francisco had an awful offensive game in the first of the series garnering only two hits and getting shut-out 7-0 on Tuesday night. The Phillies picked up the win in the first game of the doubleheader 3-2.

In the first game of the doubleheader starter Logan Webb (2-3 ERA 4.29) had a great game going seven innings allowing seven hits but only one run and striking out six. The Phillies started Christopher Sanchez went 6.2, four hits, two earned, three walks, and seven strike outs.

Sacramento A’s game wrap: Butler Opens the Door, and Severino Slams It Shut! A’s defeat Royals 5-2

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Sacramento A’s Lawrence Butler (4) belts a three run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the bottom of the fourth inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Wed Apr 29, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

WEST SACRAMENTO–For one inning Wednesday night, it looked like Sutter Health Park might be setting the table for another tense, teeth-grinding Sacramento Athletics game against Kansas City Royals ended with an A’s victory 5-2.

The Royals pushed across a run in the first when Bobby Witt Jr. singled, Carter Jensen followed with another single, and Salvador Perez lined into a forceout that brought Witt home. It was not exactly a thunderclap, but it was enough to put the A’s in an early 1-0 hole and give the night that familiar uneasy feeling.

Then Luis Severino took the wheel and told everybody to sit down.

After that first-inning run, Severino turned into the grown-up in the room. He picked off Lane Thomas to end the second, cruised through a clean third and fourth, worked around a walk in the fifth, and kept Kansas City from turning scattered traffic into anything dangerous.

Entering the night, Severino’s season had included some rough home numbers and early-inning trouble, but this was the kind of start that changes the mood of a ballpark. He gave the Athletics seven strong innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out seven and walking two. For a team trying to protect its early grip on first place in the AL West, that was not just useful. That was oxygen.

The A’s tied it in the second with the kind of precise, simple baseball that does not need a cheerleading squad leading a YMCA chant. Jacob Wilson ripped a leadoff double to center, and Jeff McNeil followed with a double of his own to right, bringing Wilson home and evening the game at 1-1.

McNeil’s two-bagger carried a little extra shine, too, since he entered the night two doubles shy of 200 for his career. The inning could have grown bigger, but a replay challenge overturned a safe call at third and erased McNeil on a caught stealing, cutting the rally short.

The real blow came in the fourth. Wilson opened the inning with a single, McNeil added another, and Zack Gelof moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt. That brought up Lawrence Butler, who had entered in struggle mode at the plate. Baseball, being the wonderfully rude little game it is, often ignores recent math when a hitter finds one pitch he likes. Butler got his pitch from Michael Wacha and launched it to right-center for a three-run homer, his third of the season, turning a tied game into a 4-1 Athletics lead.

That swing changed everything. Suddenly, Severino had breathing room, and Kansas City went into chase mode. The A’s dugout had life again after a frustrating opening game of the series the night before. Butler’s shot opened the door, and the Green and Gold held the key.

The A’s kept applying pressure. In the same fourth inning, Nick Kurtz walked, extending the patient streak that had already become an Athletics record. He entered the game having drawn a walk in 17 straight games, tied for the third-longest streak in American League history, and his free pass made sure the line kept moving. Carlos Cortes, who came in riding an eight-game hitting streak and fresh off being named American League Player of the Week, added another single later in the inning. The Royals escaped further damage when Lane Thomas threw Kurtz out at the plate after a replay review, but the inning still belonged to the Green and Gold.

Kurtz made noise again in the sixth. After Darell Hernaiz singled off reliever Luinder Avila, Kurtz drove a fly ball to center for his fourth double of the season, scoring Hernaiz and stretching the lead to 5-1. It was the kind of add-on run that looks small in the box score but feels enormous in the dugout, especially against a Kansas City lineup that still had Witt and Perez lurking.

The Royals made one last push in the ninth. Witt singled, Perez singled, and a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Michael Massey’s sacrifice fly brought Witt home and trimmed the lead to 5-2, forcing the A’s to make a pitching change. Mark Leiter Jr. came in with two outs, walked Isaac Collins, watched Collins steal second, and then struck out Jac Caglianone to slam the door before the Royals could make the inning truly uncomfortable.

It was not a perfect night. The A’s ran into outs on the bases, left chances dangling, and had to sweat a little in the ninth. But it was a winning night, and those are always prettier when the starting pitcher dominates, the defense turns clean plays, and a cold bat wakes up with one loud swing. The Athletics beat the Royals 5-2 because Severino settled the game, Butler broke it open, and Kurtz and McNeil kept doing the little things that make a lineup annoying in the best possible way.

Game three Thursday will be an afternoon delight, with KC’s LHP Noah Cameron (2-1 ERA 5.13) battling it out against Sacramento’s LHP Jeffrey Springs (3-2 ERA 3.79) at 12:05 p.m.

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. 

Giants-Phils second game of series postponed due to rain; Doubleheader scheduled for Thursday at Citizens Bank

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Tarp covers the field at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia as the game for Wed Apr 29, 2026 between the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies was postponed due to rain. The two clubs will make up the rain out in a doubleheader on Thu Apr 30, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday the San Francisco Giants (13-16) dropped game one of their series with the Phillies (10-19) 7-0. The Phillies have struggled to start the season but lately they have turned things around and they played a great offensive game yesterday finishing the game with 11 hits.

The chief complaint was the Phillies inability to score runs but that was certainly in question in yesterdays game as they shutout San Francisco scoring seven runs. Wednesday’s game was postponed due to inclement weather and will be played as a doubleheader the front game starting Thursday at 9:35 AM. The nightcap will be played at 2:30 PM PDT.

There does seem to be the slight possibility that it will rain Thursday but in the early hours and right now the skies will be cloudy for all of game two and for game three a mix of clouds and sun so it does look good for the double header.

After the poor offensive effort in Tuesday’s game one, the Giants could use this breather. They only had two hits in the game although the solid outing for Phillies pitcher Jesus Luzardo had a whole lot to do with it. Thursday the hope for the Giants is for Logan Webb to return the favor. San Francisco desperately needs to get their bats working.

A lot of what we have seen this season from San Francisco is inconsistency. Along with that Willy Adames has been quiet in the past few games. They just seem to have those games where the bats go stagnant. Two Giants Matt Chapman and Jung Hoo Lee have been consistent game after game.

The Giants have been enjoying some measure of success however winning a few series in a row. They just ran into a buzzsaw at the hands of Jesus Luzardo in game one of the series,

Thursday the weather will have to cooperate and it appears that it will. With a win in the night cap they will be tied in the series and the Giants can go onto take the series with a doubleheader win.

First pitch scheduled in the front game 9:35 am PDT with RHP Logan Webb (2-3 ERA 4.86) on the mound for San Francisco for Philadelphia LHP Christopher Sanchez (2-2 ERA 2.94) starting pitchers for the night cap at 2:35pm PDT to be announced.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s ownership shopping for Investors

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Sacramento A’s owner John Fisher during baseball owner’s meetings in Arlington Texas on Thu Nov 16, 2023. Fisher is looking for minority partners to buy shares of the A’s that would help go to pay towards construction costs for the Las Vegas ballpark (AP file photo)

A’s ownership shopping for Investors

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

There were rumors that the Sacramento A’s were for sale. Although it was not true at this time, what is true is that A’s ownership, led by John Fisher, is shopping for minority investors. They need the funds for their new billion-dollar stadium in Las Vegas.

The A’s ownership is selling a portion of its equity. while keeping the Fisher family in majority control. They are willing to sell small, local minority shares and to build community connections with plans to set shop permanently in Sin City by 2028.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the A’s have spent $300 million on Las Vegas ballpark construction. They continue to actively seek investors to finance their roughly $2 billion, 33,000-seat stadium, while $380 million in public funding is already secured, and Fisher is raising up to $550 million to reduce personal debt following a $100 investment from Aramark Sports and Entertainment.

Institutional Investments in Major League Baseball.

Arctos Partners: Cubs, Padres, Dodgers, Red Sox, Astros, Giants Sixth Street: San Francisco Giants RedBird Capital: Boston Red Sox (via Fenway Sports Group) Guggenheim Partners: Los Angeles Dodgers Point72 Ventures: New York Mets

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.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

MLB The Show podcast Jessica Kwong: Former Phils skipper Thompson says no ill will toward Philadelphia front office; Mets manager Mendoza walking on eggshells; plus more news

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Former Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thompson says he has no ill will towards his former team or the Phillies front office over his firing (AP News photo)

MLB The Show podcast Jessica Kwong:

#1 Former Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thompson said he holds no animosty towards the Phllies organization as the Phils fired Thompson on Tuesday. The Phillies offered him another position in the organization. Thompson knows he was fired for the Phils 9-19 start.

#2 New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza showed up to the park knowing that the egg shells he walks on are the constant reporting regarding his job status, the Mets are 10-19. Aware of what happened to former Red Sox manager Alex Cora and former Phils manager Rob Thompson. The Mets have won three of their last ten games they picked up a big win on Tuesday against the Washington Nationals 8-0.

#3 Los Angeles Dodgers two way star Shohei Ohtani started on Tuesday night but was not hitting for the second time in 13 games. Ohtani wasn’t in the line up when he pitched in his last game.Manager Dave Roberts said that Ohtani’s goal is to make every start and there has to be some compromise.

#4 Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jose Soriano whose been lights out pitched six innings of shutout ball but Chicago White Sox catcher Drew Romo who bats both slugged two home runs in back to back at bats and the Sox handed Soriano his first loss of 2026 in a 5-2 win for the Halos. Soriano is now 5-1

 #5 Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chad Patrick might have had vision problems in the second inning of the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks but after the Brewers trainers looked him over as Patrick stayed in the ball game and ended up getting the win. Patrick said he couldn’t see. He vomited between innings and Patrick said it felt like his eyeballs were on top of his head.

Jessica Kwong does the MLB The Show podcast everyother Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s podcast Bridget Mulcahy: Severino goes after second win against Royals Wednesday

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Sacramento A’s reliever John Sterner looks on after a Kansas City Royals Kyle Isbel bunt in the top of the tenth inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Tue Apr 28, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Bridget Mulcahy:

#1 How did Bobby Witt Jr.’s extra-inning performance impact the outcome of the game, and what does it say about his role in clutch situations?

#2 What were the key differences in pitching effectiveness between the Royals’ bullpen and the Athletics’ relievers during the late innings?

#3 How did injuries (like those affecting players such as Tyler Soderstrom or Jonathan India) influence each team’s lineup and overall performance?

#4 In what ways did the game reflect each team’s season trajectory—Royals trying to climb the standings versus the Athletics competing near the top of their division?

#5 What strategic decisions (such as pitching changes or batting order adjustments) proved most critical in the game’s shift during extra innings?

Bridget Mulcahy is a Sacramento A’s podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

San Francisco 49ers 2026 draft podcast David Zizmor: Niners expect big things from top draft pick Stribling

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 Mississippi wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling (1) during the first half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Oxford, Miss. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

San Francisco 49ers draft picks podcast David Zizmor:

#1 San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling who played four seasons at Washington State, Oklahoma State, and Ole Miss was a huge player in college football and had some productive offense talk about what he’ll mean the 49ers passing game.

#2 Defensive lineman Romello Height spent six seasons at Auburn, USC, Georgia Tech, Texas Tech and is a huge presence for pass rushing and can get to opposing quarterbacks.

#3 49ers running back Kaelon Black who played six college seasons at Indiana University, and James Madison will be a factor for the 49ers back field. Black won the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll at James Madison.

David Zizmor is a San Francisco 49ers analyst for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Royals Flush A’s in tenth 4-1 After Witt Hits the Jackpot 

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Kansas City Royals Bobby Witt Jr smashes a three run home run in the top tenth to help defeat the Sacramento A’s at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Tue Apr 28, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

WEST SACRAMENTO–For nine innings Tuesday night at Sutter Health Park, the Sacramento Athletics and Kansas City Royals played the kind of game that makes every pitch feel like it is carrying a piano on its back. There were stranded runners, stolen bases, replay challenges, defensive gems, and enough missed chances to fill a clubhouse laundry cart. In the end, Kansas City landed the one clean uppercut that mattered most, as Bobby Witt Jr.’s three-run homer in the 10th inning sent the Royals to a 4-1 win over the Green and Gold.

The A’s had entered the night riding one of their best early-season stretches in years, sitting 15-13 and holding first place in the AL West after a 4-2 road trip. They had also been living well in tight games, already piling up seven one-run wins. For most of Tuesday, it looked like another grind-it-out Sacramento special might be brewing. Instead, the game turned into a reminder that extra innings can be cruel, especially when one swing changes the whole room.

The A’s struck first in the second inning with a clean, simple rally. Zack Gelof opened the frame with a ground-ball single, moved to second on Jeff McNeil’s groundout, and came home when Jacob Wilson lined a single into center. Wilson, who came in swinging a hot bat after a strong road trip, gave the A’s a 1-0 lead and kept his early-season rebound moving in the right direction.

Aaron Civale made that run stand for a while. He worked around Vinnie Pasquantino’s first-inning double, Lane Thomas’ second-inning single and stolen base, and Bobby Witt Jr.’s stolen base in the third. Civale did not dominate with much hoopla, but he pitched like a man carefully defusing small bombs. He kept Kansas City scoreless through five innings, mixing contact, timely outs, and help from catcher Shea Langeliers, who threw behind Witt at third to kill a threat in the third.

The Royals finally got him in the sixth. Salvador Perez, who had a strong history against Civale entering the night, launched a solo homer to center to tie the game 1-1. That was the only run charged in Civale’s outing, and it was also another example of Perez being a long-running nuisance for him. Civale had allowed three career homers to Perez before the game, matching his most against any hitter, and Perez added another painful chapter here.

The A’s had chances to take the game back, but the big hit kept hiding like it owed somebody money. In the first, Langeliers singled, Nick Kurtz walked, and Colby Thomas walked to load the bases, but Tyler Soderstrom struck out to end the inning. In the fourth, Gelof walked and stole second, and McNeil walked, but Wilson grounded into a forceout. In the seventh, Langeliers doubled with two outs, only for Kurtz to ground out. Then came the eighth, the inning that may sting the most. Colby Thomas singled, Carlos Cortes followed with a single, and Darell Hernaiz walked to load the bases. Jeff McNeil flew out to left, and the game stayed tied.

Cortes still gave the A’s a spark. The newly named American League Player of the Week entered the game on a seven-game hitting streak after tearing through Seattle and Texas, and he kept finding ways into the middle of things. He was hit by a pitch in the sixth, singled in the eighth, and walked in the tenth. It was not the thunderous show he had put on during the road trip, but even on a quieter night, his fingerprints were on the A’s best rallies.

The bullpens carried the game into extras. Scott Barlow escaped the sixth by catching Lane Thomas stealing third. Mark Leiter Jr. worked a clean eighth, and Jack Perkins handled the ninth with three quick outs. But in the 10th, the automatic runner changed the math. Nick Loftin began at second, Kyle Isbel reached on a bunt single, and after Maikel Garcia popped up a bunt, Witt crushed a fly ball to right-center. Just like that, a tense 1-1 game became a 4-1 Royals lead.

The A’s still made Kansas City sweat in the bottom of the tenth. Nick Kurtz started at second, Carlos Cortes drew a walk after an overturned ABS challenge, and Gelof reached on an infield single to load the bases with two outs. But Hernaiz lined out to Michael Massey at second, ending the game and leaving the Athletics with the kind of loss that makes a dugout stare quietly at the grass.

This was not a disaster for the A’s, but it was a missed opportunity. They pitched well enough to win, defended well enough to win, and created enough traffic to win. They simply could not cash in when the registers were open. Against a Royals team that waited all night for one clean shot, that proved costly. Baseball can be beautifully unfair that way. For nine innings, the A’s held the door. In the 10th, Witt kicked it open.

With Tuesday night’s loss, the A’s are one game in front of second-place Seattle. Wednesday, they will match up Luis Severino (1-2 ERA 5.17) against Michael Wacha (2-1 ERA 2.51) for a 6:40 p.m PDT. Game 2 start.

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. 

Giants Get Shut-Out By new manager Don Mattingly and Phillies 7-0

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Philadelphia Phillies then bench coach Don Mattingly (8) watches from the dugout in a game against the Colorado Rockies in the sixth inning at Coor Field in Denver on Apr 5, 2026 at Coor Field in Denver. Mattingly now manages the Phillies as of Tue Apr 28, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

A disastrous sixth inning spelled a loss in the first game of the San Francisco Giants (13-16) three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies (10-19) losing 7-0. San Francisco could not get much of anything offensively going finishing the game with only two hits. The Phillies scored four runs in the sixth inning and starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo had a terrific outing.

Game recap: The game was scoreless through the first three innings of the game. The standoff came to an end when the Phillies scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. This had been a pitchers duel until Philadelphia’s Brandon Marsh hit a sacrifice with the bases loaded driving Trea Turner home for the Philadelphia 1-0 lead.

The sixth inning would be a repeat of the fourth when the Phillies again loaded the bases and then a flurry of hits gave them a 4-0 lead. A Turner single, a Kyle Schwarber walk and a Bryce Harper double loaded the bases driving Turner home and the score was 2-0. Garcia doubled driving Harper and Schwarber home for a 4-0 lead.

That would be it for San Francisco Tyler Mahle who finished the game with six hits and five earned runs. Matt Gage would take the mound getting the Giants out of the inning but there had been a lot of damage done late in the game.

The game went into the seventh inning and the Giants had a lot of work to do and not much time to do it. The Phillies Jesus Luzardo was doing an incredible job only giving up two hits through seven innings with eight strikeouts. This was his longest start of the season.

San Francisco went three and out in the seventh and eighth innings and were three outs away from losing the first game of the series. The Phillies would extend their lead in the bottom of the eighth. Justin Crawford singled Marsh home and Turner singled Marsh home for a shutout the final score 7-0. The Giants went quietly in the top of the ninth inning three and out.

Luzardo had a terrific outing finishing seven innings allowing only two hits no runs and eight strikeouts. He only had 88 pitches. The Giants could not create any offense at all in the loss. San Francisco pitching gave up 11 hits. The Phillies showed no signs of struggling offensively at least in game one.

Game notes: It’s no secret that the Phillies are struggling and those struggles came to a head Tuesday morning when manager Rob Thompson was fired. The Phillies have had a disappointing 10-19 start to the season. Their interim manager Don Mattingly won his first game at the helm.

The Giants are currently riding a three-series win streak but things didn’t start the series in Philadelphia as expected with 7-0 shutout loss. The Phillie faced a red-hot San Francisco team but cooled them off with timely hitting and pitching on Tuesday.

The Phillies have had an awful time scoring although they have MVP Bryce Harper and and two-time home run leader Kyle Schwarber aboard they didn’t have much of awful time Tuesday. Mattingly being named interim should delight the Giants. He has in the past made some, quite frankly, incompetent decisions, some of which favored San Francisco when he was managing in Los Angeles.

He had constantly made some strategic errors but that aside he is a respected manager who had a great career. These changes for the Phillies could possibly hurt the team but it’s doubtful that it will make that much of an impact. But for the first game for Mattingly he helped more than hurt.

San Francisco will need to look past Tuesday’s game to set the stage for a fourth series win. Matt Chapman who is celebrating his 33rd birthday didn’t get much a birthday present with Tuesday’s loss. Giants starter Tyler Mahle pitched five innings, allowed six hits, five earned runs, three walks, three strike outs. Phillies starter Jesus Luzardo pitched seven innings, allowed two hits, and struck out eight.

San Francisco will have another go on Wednesday in game two with first pitch scheduled for 3:40 PM. Logan Webb will take the mound looking to even the series. He has a 2-3 win/loss record and a 4.86 ERA. The Phillies will start Christopher Sanchez. He comes into the game with a 2-2 win/loss record and a 2.94 ERA.