LeBron James (left) and Stephen Curry (right) on Team USA against France winning gold in 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris on Aug 10, 2024. The two could be teammates on the Golden State Warriors soon enough. (AP file photo)
Golden State Warriors podcast David Zizmor
#1 David, The Warriors are seriously negotiating a deal to bring LeBron James to Golden State. How serious would LeBron be in considering coming to Golden State at age 41 and would he be the key link at his age to help Golden State chase another championship.
#2 The concern about bringing LeBron on board also is a concern with his age at 41 but also what about Anthony Davis at age 33 and Stephen Curry at age 38 can they all fit in the get the Warriors to the top again?
#3 Talk about Draymond Green he declined an option year worth $27 million and is on the free agent market. Should Green have taken the option and how tough will it be for him to pursue another team on the free agent market or are the Warriors intending to work a contract solution with Green?
Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers seen here swinging against the San Diego Padres on Fri Jun 19, 2026 at Petco Park San Diego. Betts hit his 300rd career home run against the Sacramento A’s on Mon Jun 29, 2026 (AP News photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 Mookie Betts reached 300 career home runs that landed him among MLB’s top headlines on June 29, 2026?
#2 Why were both the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox climbing the MLB Power Rankings entering the final days of June?
#3 What made the pitching matchup between Detroit Tigers Tarik Skubal and New York Yankees Cam Schlittler one of the most anticipated games of the week?
#4 Which notable roster moves involving players such as Teoscar Hernández and Jacob Wilson made headlines in MLB transactions on June 29?
#5 How did the Houston Astros turn their season around during June, and what role did their defense play in their recent success?
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.
Oakland Ballers were thrilled to get a victory over the Yuba City Firebirds on Sun Jun 28, 2026 at Raimondi Park in Oakland (Oakland Ballers photo)
June 29 Follow the Bouncing Ballers
Monday, June 29, 2026
By Lewis Rubman
OAKLAND–Modesto, the home of the Ballers’newly minted regional rival in the South Division of the Pioneer Baseball League, has a long and honorable baseball tradition. Here’s a list of the professional teams, with their affiliations, that have called the city of health, wealth, and baseball
Their home:
· Modesto Reds (1946–1961)
o Affiliations: St. Louis Browns, independent
· Modesto Colts (1962–1964)
o Affiliations: Houston Colt .45s ]
· Modesto Reds (1966–1974)
o Affiliations: Kansas City Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals
· Modesto A’s (1975–2004)
o Affiliations: Oakland Athletics
· Modesto Nuts (2005–2025)
o Affiliations: Colorado Rockies, Seattle Mariners
For most of that time, the California League, of which the variously named Modesto clubs were members member, bore the rank of High-A in the majors’ food chain.. It was demoted to just plain old A in 2021. This had the effect of lowering the quality of minor league ball that fans from the East Bay could easily reach in San José and Stockton, as well as in Modesto, not to mention the quality of play available to local fans. (Hang down your head, Bob Manfred.).
Here’s a link that lists some of the players who went from Stanislaus County to The Show:
. This poster may strike a nostalgic chord among old time Athletics fans.
The Roadsters play in what now is called Modern Woodman Field. Before that it was known as John Thurman Stadium, and, before that, Del Webb Field. It has a more spacious outfield with higher fences than Raimondi Park, and its winds generally are less favorable to long ball hitters than the ones that chill the air in West Oakland.21-1
In spite of this long baseball tradition and the Roadsters’ good won-lost record (21-15 as I write this), their attendance figures for the three game series with the B’s was 740, 625, and 853. Yes, the heat was extreme in Modesto, and it’s only a hop, skip, and a jump to West Sacramento (and you know what’s going on at Sutter Health Park) , but there are breezes are breezes at Modern Woodman Field, and the temperatures drop there as the games progress or deteriorate, as the case may be.
Let’s start with the line score of the June 23rd contest.
Oakland Ballers (13-18) 005 000 003 8 12 0
Modesto Roadsters (18-13) 002 000 510 8 9 0
There was no winning or losing pitcher. Oakland won in the first round of the KO inning; Tremayne Cobb (5).
Tyler Williams (2)
Time: 3:40 Attendance 740
The series opener (or, if you prefer, the fourth game of the home and home series that the Roadsters took, two games to one, at Raimondi followed a familiar pattern. The visiting Oaklanders jumped to a 5-0 lead in the top of the third. Modesto cut that to 5-2 in their third turn at the plate. C.J. Blowers went six inning and allowed only two runs, both earned, on five hits while striking out five, but he walked another quintet and unleashed a wild pitch. All in.all, it was a good—outstanding in the context of the PBL—performance, and well above the righty’s usually level, as realize that his in-game ERA of 3.00 lowered his season’s ERA to 7.79. Valek Cisneros took the mound to start the frame and left it with his team trailing its hosts, 7-5. Langston Burkett fanned the first batter he faced before allowing a game- tying single to right by Justin Boyd that plated the inherited runner, Jacob Lojewski.The Ballers won the knock out inning in the first round, Tremayne Cobb’s five blasts besting Tyler Williams’s two. No matter who wins these carnival side shows, the knock out inning is an abomination.
No Ballers hit a real home run, but Esai Santos , Jaden Collura , Jeter Ybarra , and Davis Drewek
hit doubles, and Jaden Collura, and Davis Drewek had three games, and T.J. McKendrick got a pair of singles.
Modesto knotted the series on the night of Wednesday the 24th.
The Ballers treated their starting pitcher, Aidan Reese to an early 2-0 lead thanks to Jake Allgeyer’s four bagger to center with Santos on base. (He had struck out swinging but reached first on a passed ball), but the Roadsters revved their engine and made it to home in once in the the second, twice in the third, and another time in the fourth. Risse didn’t come out to the mound at the start of the home eighth; by then he had thrown112 pitches, only 70 of them strikes. Remember that any ball a batter lays wood on is counted as a strike, no matter how much it misses the zone by. Yet Risse walked only one batter and didn’t throw any wild pitches or hit any batters. Six of the outs he recorded came on fly balls; eight on grounders. Deven Hernández, who also lasted seven frames, and Johan Castillo, who was untouched in the last two innings, condemned Oakland to another blown lead loss.
Allgeyer’s shot in the first was the only round tripper for the Ballers, and Drewek, with two singles, was the only member of the squad to garner more than one hit.
On Thursday the 25th, the Ballers were presented with a repeat of the dilemma they had faced the previous Sunday, back home in West Oakland, a rubber match. They lost that game, part of the growing pains of their revamped roster. They lost again on Thursday.
Oakland Ballers (14-19) 100 000 000 1 10 2
Modesto Roadsters (20-13) 310 010 10x 6 10 2
Winning pitcher: Omar Serrano (1-0) Losing pitcher: Charlie Hurley (0-1)
Time: 2:40 Attendance: 853
It was another exercise in frustration. With a game time temperature of a sweltering 890, number two batter Esai Santos blasted a 437 foot homer into the depths beyond right center field. I won’t say that the B’s offense stopped there, but it sure did stall They left ten men on base, not counting the play that ended the first frame for Oakland. After Jaden Collura rounded first on a single, a throw from right fielder Justin Boyd to short stop Jacob Lojewski nabbed the Baller catcher. The play was scored as a pick off. Oakland batters went 0-9 with runners in scoring position.
The loss was pinned on Charlie Hurley, a fine name for a pitcher. It certainly beats Walker, although Hurley issued four of them in his five innings on the bump. He was succeeded by Hunter Day, making his Ballers debut. Before Oakland acquired him, he had pitched for the independent American Association Fargo-Moorehead RedHawks. He held Modesto to two hits, one of them a double, and a walk in his one inning stint. Jacob Petersheim, who was unimpressive in his debut on June 21st, was somewhat better in this game; the run he allowed in his two inning stint was unearned.
Back at 10th Wood, on Friday the 26th the B’s didn’t have to contend with a game time temperature of 89, as they had to the night before in Modesto. When home plate umpire Tony Pratercalled “Play” at 6:35, the thermometer read 64o.. Nor did the Miles’ Militia have to face the powerhouse Roadsters. Instead, they were up against the Yolo-Sutter Freebirds, bearers of an 11-22 record and standing two places behind the B’s in the South Division. They weren’t playing to a near empty ballpark, either. The opponents had changed, but the Ballers’ still were their own worst enemies, snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory after what could have been a comfortable, if not overwhelming, first inning advantage of six runs. But Yuba-Sutter scored in every inning but the first, and Oakland was shut out, starting in the third and lasting through the eighth.
The crowd of 1,878 dwindled as ballers couldn’t get out of their own way. An emblematic example of that distressing tendency occurred in the top of the sixth when Colusa made a wild throw to first on what would have been an inning ending 5-2-3 double play. That twin killing that wasn’t d could have provided some impetus to the faltering B’s once notable ability to overcome as well as to throw away imposing leads. They had entered the inning trailing 10-9. They left it behind trailing 14-9.
Once again, the line score outlines the disappointing facts.
Yuba Sutter Freebirds (12-22) 024 134 121 18 18 3
Oakland Ballers (14-20) 621 000 002 11 11 3
Winning pitcher: Sean Wiese (2-0) Losing pitcher: Dylan Delvecchio (0-1)
Time: 3:45 Attendance: 1,878
But the Ballers did manage to pull off a public relations triumph. They signed Liam Plunkett, a one time star of British cricket who now plays in Major League Cricket, a league that features a streamlined version of the tradition British sport. They were able to do this because of a wrinkle in the PBL’s eligibility rules that permits each team to carry one on its roster who isn’t likely to advance in professional baseball but whose presence there will be a box office draw.You’ve got to love the PBL and its idiosyncratic rules, even if the league is selective about telling you what they are.
June 27, 2026 was a Saturday, and that meant a 4:35 first pitch. I hopoe the line score will raise your spirits.
Yuba-Sutter Freebirds (12-23) 003 000 010 4 10 0
Oakland Ballers (15-28) 100 100 03x 5 6 2
Winning pitcher: Michael Riley (2-1) Losing pitcher: Corbin Barker (1-1) Save: Matthew Maloney (2)
Time: 2:36 Attendance: 1,921
The Ballers once more took an early lead, going ahead 1-0 in the first, only to give it up two innings later, when three Freebirds crossed the plate. But this time, the Ballers seemed to recover their 2025 mojo. Down 4-2 in after seven and a half innings, the Ballers had runners on first and second with one out against Brenton Thiels, who had relieved starter Chase Martínez an inning earlier. That caused Theis’s removal from the game brought Corbin Barker to the mound. He fanned Paul Winland on three pitches but walked Nick Lehey to clog the basepaths. Collura pinch hit for Davis Drewek. Collura drew a walk on a seven pitch 3-2 count, bringing Ybarra, who had led off the inning with a single to center, home with the tying run and leaving the bases still FOB, Full of Ballers. Conner Smith whiffed, and there were two down. Cobb drew a walk, and Santos was hit by a pitch, which scored two runs and put the Ballers ahead, 5-4, before Allgeyer struck out to end the inning.
Maybe something had clicked., because the Ballers came back to win Sunday’s 1:05 game with a ninth inning walk off that gave them the series and ended the week on a high note.
Yuba-Sutter Freebirds (12-24) 310 000 060 10 9 1
Oakland Ballers (16-20) 000 131 303 11 13 2
Winning pitcher: Valek Cisneros (3-0) Losing pitcher: Tristan Wolf (1-2)
Time: 2:48 Attendance:1,844
Jeter Ybarra, who had been one of the few bright spots in the Ballers’ disappointing first months, had been in a bit of funk recently. His fielding was mediocre, and his failure of hustle on the basepaths was glaring. He might have been playing through pain, although I’m not aware of any announcement to that effect. Whatever it was that that was bothering him isn’t affecting him now. He went three for three on Sunday the 28th. He went three for five, with a double, a home run, and a home run., He still is the league leader in that category, with15.
It seemed as if the B’s had slipped back into their lead blowing sink hole when they had recovered from a 4-0 disadvantage by scoring a run in the fourth, three in the fifth, another in the sixth, and three more in the seventh. But the Freebirds surged ahead, 10-8 with a six spot in the top of the eight. But Oakland had some last minute heroics left in them and came from behind to win in walk off fashion in the bottom of the ninth with Ybarra leading the charge. He led off with a single to right, Brandan O’Sullivan pinch ran for him, which might have been a signal that something physical had kept the B’s first sacker from running all out in the recent past.. Or it might have just been good tactics, given the PBL’s designated pinch hitter and pinch runner rules. In any case, it was an unnecessary move because Winland walked, and Leehey drove an 0-1 pitch over the fence in left center to send the B’s fans home happy. Maybe, just maybe, they’ve turned the corner.
News surface recently about a lawsuit against the city of Oakland and their tenants, the Ballers, brought by the Ajor Property Group, for damages to their facility at 1661 20th St. The plaintiffs claimed that balls hit out of Raimondi Park have caused them at least $350,000 since its renovation in 2024. The Ballers have replied that they will make good any costs to the city incurred by the suit and admits that some damage has occurred. The team also maintains that many of the claims made by Ajor have not been verified. The property in question is next to the Prescott Market, home of several pre- and post-game festivities. The Market also has indoor plumbing, which is important to Ballers’ fans because replacement of the current port-a-potties in the ballpark has been delayed because the city has yet to approve the installation of real rest rooms in the venue.
That’s about all I know about the case.
The Ballers face a tough schedule this coming week. They’ll travel to Long Beach to face the second place Coast on the 30ththrough July 2nd. Then it’s back to Modesto for the rest of the week.
Los Angeles Dodgers two way player Shohei Ohtani does the bat flip after hitting a three run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Sacramento A’s at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Mon Jun 29, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria:
#1 How important was Shohei Ohtani’s performance in helping the Dodgers offense against Sacramento pitching?
#2 Did Eric Lauer provide the Dodgers with enough quality innings to set the tone for the game?
#3 How did rookie pitcher Gage Jump handle facing the powerful Dodgers lineup in one of his biggest tests of the season?
#4 Talk about the Dodgers Max Muncy with five at bats one run scored, two hits and two RBIs?
#5 How well did Shea Langeliers perform against the National League leaders as he continued his push for an All-Star selection?
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.
Arizona Diamondbacks Geraldo Perdomo (right) hits a three run double as San Francisco Giants catcher Eric Haase reaches for the ball in the last of the fifth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Mon Jun 29, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Barbara Mason
Arizona Diamondbacks (42-42) and Eduardo Rodriguez proved to be too hot to handle for the San Francisco Giants (35-49) in the first game of their three game series. He pitched for seven innings allowing five hits but only one earned run improving his ERA to 2.21. The Giants attempted a rally in the top of the ninth inning but came up short losing the game 5-4.
Game recap: The Diamondbacks got going early taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Ketel Marte hit a solo home run to right field, his 15th of the season. It took awhile but San Francisco was able to tie up this game in the top of the fifth inning 1-1.
Victor Bericoto got the rally going first with a double and then reaching third base when Eric Haase grounded out to first. Jonah Cox grounded into a fielder’s choice for the second out but Bericoto scored to even the game at one apiece.
The bottom of the fifth inning must have seemed unending for San Francisco. A couple of walks and a single later, the Diamondbacks had the bases loaded with only one out. Geraldo Perdomo doubled bringing Nolan Arenado, Ketel Marte and Tommy Troy home giving Arizona a 4-1 lead.
It was time for a pitching change and Sam Hentges relieved Mahle who had pitched 4 1/3 innings allowing four hits, four earned runs, three walks with three strikeouts. Hentges lasted for only 1/3 of an inning allowing one hit and two walks. He was relieved by JT Brubaker who closed out the bottom of the inning.
This had so far been a difficult start for San Francisco. From the opening Arizona home run to the lengthy bottom of the fifth inning, the Giants were really struggling. Their biggest challenge so far in the game had been left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. The Giants had not been able to generate much offense early with this guy on the mound.
The Diamondbacks would tack on another run in the bottom of the sixth with their second home run of the game taking a 5-1 lead. This one off the bat of Nolan Arenado, his eighth home run of the season and so far Arizona was in command of this game and showing no signs of letting up.
With two San Francisco runners on base and one out in the top of the eighth inning, there was action in the Arizona bullpen. Casey Schmitt sacrifice flied to center for the second out but Drew Gilbert scored with Luis Arraez moving over to third base.
There was a pitching change for Arizona with Kevin Ginkel relieving Rodriguez who finished seven innings allowing five hits, one run and one strikeout. Ginkel pitched 2/3 of an inning before being relieved by Brandyn Garcia who closed out the inning.
The game went into the top of the ninth inning with the Giants trailing 5-2. Heliot Ramos led off the inning with a solo home run cutting the Diamondbacks lead to 5-3 followed by a Bryce Eldridge single.
Drew Cavanaugh singled Eldridge home and we had a one-run ball game with only one out. Unfortunately Drew Gilbert fouled out and Matt Chapman popped out and that was the ball game. The Giants forged a great rally but came up just short losing the game 5-4.
San Francisco rallied in the top of the ninth inning but came up just short. It all started with Arizona starting pitcher Rodriguez who kept the Giants’ hitters off balance and limited their scoring opportunities for most of the game.
The Diamondbacks set the tone with the Marte leadoff home run giving Arizona an advantage. The Giants offense never really produced a sustained rally until the ninth inning. They didn’t string together enough quality at-bats with runners on base until that final inning.
Game notes: The Giants came into Monday night’s game on a high after winning their last two series against the Atlanta Braves. They took a series off the Sacramento Athletics to start the past week followed by a series win over the weekend against the number one team in the National League East, the Braves.
The Giants started Tyler Mahle who went 4.1 innings allowing four hits and four earned runs, three walks and three strikeouts. Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez pitched seven innings allowing five hits, one earned run and one strikeout.
San Francisco will be looking to even up this series Tuesday in game two. The Giants probable starting pitcher will be Landen Roupp. He has a 5-7 win/loss record and a 4.07 ERA. The Diamondbacks will start Brandon Pfaadt. He has a 0-1 win/loss record and a 5.92 ERA. First pitch for game two is scheduled for another 6:40 PM start.
Sacarmento A’s Jeff McNeil (left) congratulates Alika Williams (12) after scoring on Henry Bote’s fifth inning single against the Los Angeles Angels on Fri Jun 26, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:
#1 The Sacramento Athletics took on the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend losing the series after winning the first game another series loss after losing a series to the Giants last week.
#2 The A’s have now dropped to fourth place in the standings although they are only two games out of first place in a tightly contested division.
3. The hero of the game Sunday was Josh Lowe who set the Angels up early winning game three of the series.
4. What went so wrong for the Athletics in this series after winning convincingly in the series opener Friday night. Was it the defense, the bullpen, the offense or a combination of things gone wrong.
5. The A’s will now be tested to the max Monday night when they take on the best team in baseball for a three game series. Monday night the Dodgers come to town at Sutter Health Park in their first meeting this season with the A’s.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Robbie Ray pitches against the Atlanta Braves at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jun 28, 2026 (AP News photo)
San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic:
#1 How did Robbie Ray’s performance on the mound help the Giants secure the 3–2 victory over the Braves?
#2 What role did Luis Arraez play in the Giants’ offense, and how did his return from the injured list impact the game?
#3 How did Heliot Ramos contribute after returning from the injured list, and what significance did his return have for the Giants’ lineup?
#4 Why was the sixth inning a turning point for the Giants, and how did defensive miscues by the Braves help Matt Chapman and the rest of the San Francisco offense?
#5 How did Caleb Kilian finish the game, and what happened during the Braves’ final scoring threat in the ninth inning?
Los Angeles Angels Josh Lowe watches his grand slam in the bottom of the second inning against the Sacramento A’s at the Big A in Anahiem on Sun Jun 28, 2026 (AP News photo)
Grand Slam Blaze Torches A’s 4-1 By Mauricio Segura
The Sacramento Athletics finale against the Los Angeles Angels needed a win, but one explosive inning by the halos led to a 4-1 game and series loss Sunday. Sacramento put runners on base throughout the afternoon yet never found the big swing, while Los Angeles needed just one thunderous swing from Josh Lowe to seize control.
The game stayed scoreless through the opening inning as both Aaron Civale and Sam Aldegheri showed their mound dominance. Shea Langeliers recorded the Athletics’ first hit with a single in the first, and Lawrence Butler and Max Muncy followed with back-to-back singles in the second, but Aldegheri escaped each threat to keep the Green and Gold off the scoreboard.
Everything changed in the bottom of the second. Vaughn Grissom singled, Wade Meckler drew a walk, and Oswald Peraza added another hit to load the bases. After a brief on-field delay, Lowe stepped in and crushed a grand slam to right field, instantly turning a scoreless contest into a four-run Angels advantage. It was the game’s defining moment, accounting for every Los Angeles run.
Civale recovered well after the damaging inning. The veteran right-hander retired eight of the next nine batters he faced and received help from a successful Athletics challenge in the fifth when Denzer Guzman was erased on a pickoff play after the original safe call was overturned. Civale finished five innings, allowing four earned runs, while the Athletics bullpen of Elvis Alvarado and José Suárez combined for three scoreless innings to keep the deficit from growing.
Sacramento finally scratched across a run in the fifth. Jeff McNeil lined a single to center before Alika Williams followed with another base hit. Henry Bolte advanced both runners with a groundout, and Joey Meneses lifted a sacrifice fly to center that brought McNeil home and trimmed the margin to 4-1. It was the Athletics’ lone breakthrough despite putting multiple runners aboard several times.
The opportunities continued to appear but never materialized into a rally. Butler singled three times and reached base in each of his final three plate appearances, continuing a productive stretch at the plate. McNeil collected a hit and scored the club’s only run, while Williams added a single and helped set up the fifth-inning scoring chance.
Langeliers reached safely twice with a single and a walk, but the Angels left-hander struck him out in two key situations with runners aboard. Aldegheri completed five innings, allowing just one run before turning the game over to José Fermín, Ryan Zeferjahn and Samy Natera Jr., who combined to blank the Athletics over the final four innings.
One of the game’s biggest missed opportunities came in the eighth. Bolte worked a leadoff walk and Meneses followed with another free pass, bringing the tying run to the plate with nobody out. Instead, Langeliers and Jonah Heim struck out before pinch hitter Nick Kurtz lifted a harmless fly ball to center, allowing the Angels to escape without damage.
The Athletics finished with nine hits compared to the Angels’ seven, but Los Angeles made its biggest chance count while Sacramento stranded runners throughout the afternoon. Butler’s three-hit effort led the offense, yet the club went just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Meanwhile, the Angels capitalized on their lone bases-loaded opportunity, and Lowe’s grand slam stood as the difference from the second inning until the final out.
The loss dropped the Athletics to 40-44 after they had entered the day having split the first two games of the series. Even with the setback, several encouraging trends remain intact. Rookie Henry Bolte has continued to swing a hot bat since his promotion and entered the day leading all qualified major league rookies with a .305 batting average, while Langeliers remains in the spotlight after advancing to Phase 2 of American League All-Star voting and ranking among the league leaders with 19 home runs.
The Athletics now head home for an intriguing matchup with the reigning World Champs Los Angeles Dodgers. Rookie left-hander Gage Jump (3-1, 2.04 ERA, 35 strikeouts) gets the ball for Sacramento against Dodgers left-hander Eric Lauer (3-5, 4.87 ERA, 42 strikeouts), with first pitch set for 6:40 p.m. Pacific at Sutter Health Park.
Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
The Golden State Valkyries’ Kaila Charles (6) puts up a shot as New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) defends in the fourth quarter at Chase Center on Sunday. Eakin Howard/Getty Images
By Michael Roberson
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Golden State Valkyries (13-7) handled the New York Liberty (12-8) 76-67 inside a packed and raucous Chase Center.
Golden State led from wire to wire, and had the margin as wide as 22 points late in the game. The Final score was not as indicative of the dominance of the home team.
The Valkyries came into the game with an identical record with the Libertyy, but proved they were not alike after 20 games played in 2026. After the initial 10 minutes of play, the Liberty were in striking distance, trailing by five points, 20-15.
The second quarter was the key moment when the Valkyries actually took over. New York showed true pride during the quarter, pulling within one point multiple times; however, Golden State went on an 11-0 run to end the half, totally discombobulating the “Big Apple” team at recess.
At the half, the Liberty found themselves down by 12 points instantaneously, 41-29. Although New York had a few chances to take the lead, they instead were picking up themselves from the proverbial matt/floor.
No player from the Golden State side had at least 10 points at the midway point, while Jonquel Jones provided 14 points for the Liberty. The Liberty wanted to find a solution to their first half woes, and a third quarter blitz was necessary. Unfortunately that did not come to fruition.
Golden State continued the consecutive points run, but scored the first two points of the second half. Although New York eventually scored, the Valkyries opened up the lead to as many as 20 points in the third stanza. At that point, multiple Golden State players were in double-figures.
After 30 minutes of WNBA game time, the Valkyries led by 16 points, 64-48. All the momentum was on the Golden State side, as well as the capacity crowd. The only question left was if the home team would hold on to the insurmountable lead?
In the final quarter, Golden State produced their largest advantage of 22 points, and kept the Liberty at bay on the Bay. To their credit, New York did cut into that massive deficit, and made the margin a single digit loss of nine points, 76-67. Not what they wanted, but did show a fighting spirit. They also gave the Valkyries credit for their suffocating defense as a major factor.
Four Valkyries hit the magic plateau of double-digit scoring. Kaila Charles led the way with 13 points, while Kayla Thornton chipped in 11, and both Cecilia Zandalasini and Janelle Salaun tallied 10 apiece.
The Liberty had just two, including the aforementioned Jonquel Jones with 21 points and 7 rebounds and Breanna Stewart offered 15 points for their cause.
The Valkyries will next be in action Saturday, July 4, as they travel to Atlanta to take on the Dream on the country’s 250th birthday. at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET on CBS. The Liberty travel back to New York Friday, July 3, to host the Minnesota Lynx at 7:30 PM ET.Reply
Sacramento A’s Jeff McNeil (22) is greeted by teammates after scoring on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels on Sun Jun 28, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Daniel Dullum:
#1 How did Henry Bolte perform at the top of the A’s lineup, and what impact did he have on the team’s offense?
#2 What contributions did Shea Langeliers make behind the plate and at bat during the game?
#3 How effective was Jonah Heim as the designated hitter, and did he deliver any key offensive moments?
#4 What defensive or offensive plays by Lawrence Butler and Max Muncy stood out during the matchup?
#5 How did A’s starting pitcher Aaron Civale handle the Angels’ lineup, and what were the biggest factors in his outing.
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.
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