Tampa Bay Rays Junior Caminero hits an RBI single during the top of the fourth inning against the Sacramento A’s at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Wed Aug 12, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Bridget Mulcahy:
#1 What went wrong for A’s starter Jack Perkins, and how difficult was it for Sacramento to recover after Tampa Bay built an early lead?
#2 How important were Lawrence Butler’s two-run home run and Zack Gelof’s solo homer in giving the A’s a chance to get back into the game?
#3 What did Carlos Cortes contribute offensively, and did his performance provide a positive sign for the A’s going forward?
#4 How did the A’s pitching staff handle Tampa Bay’s lineup, particularly after the Rays scored seven runs through the first four innings?
#5 What can the A’s take away from the series despite the sweep, and which players—including Lawrence Butler, Zack Gelof and Carlos Cortes—gave fans the most encouraging performances?
Join Bridget Mulcahy does the Sacramento A’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com and read her for A’s commentary at the Davis Enterprise
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.
Tampa Bay Rays Liam Hicks looks on after being tagged out at the plate by Sacramento A’s catcher Brian Serven (not pictured) in the top of the third inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Wed Aug 12, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Maurcio Segura
The Sacramento Athletics kept Tampa Bay within reach for three innings, then watched the Rays turn a one-run game into a steep climb. Things are not changing for this Sacramento temporarily anchored ballclub. Liam Hicks’ three-run homer capped a four-run fourth inning and pushed Tampa Bay past the A’s 8-4, despite late solo homers from Zack Gelof and Lawrence Butler.
Jack Perkins escaped the first without allowing a run despite Hicks’ two-out double that sent Junior Caminero to third. The second was different. Jonny DeLuca opened with a double, Cedric Mullins beat out a bunt single, and Richie Palacios drove in DeLuca with a single to left. Taylor Walls moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt, and Mullins scored when Yandy Díaz reached on a fielder’s choice that included a fielding error by Perkins. Jonathan Aranda then grounded into a double play, limiting Tampa Bay to two runs.
The Rays added another run in the third when Caminero singled, Hicks followed with a base hit and Mullins doubled home Caminero. Hicks tried to score on the play, but Carlos Cortes started a relay through Donovan Walton to Brian Serven, who recorded the out at the plate. That defensive play mattered moments later.
In the bottom half, Walton was hit by a pitch and Gelof singled before Cortes drove a double into right. Both runners scored, cutting Tampa Bay’s lead to 3-2 and giving the A’s their best chance to turn the game around.
Tampa Bay answered immediately, scoring all of its fourth-inning runs with two outs. Díaz singled, Aranda followed with another hit, and Caminero brought Díaz home with a single to left. Hicks then changed the shape of the game with a three-run homer to right-center, scoring Aranda and Caminero for a 7-2 advantage.
Perkins finished five innings after DeLuca doubled again in the fifth but was left stranded. The right-hander allowed 12 hits and seven runs. His outing continued a difficult stretch that had already included an eight-game losing streak entering the start, while A’s starters carried a 6.62 ERA in August before the game. The club’s pitching staff also entered with a 5.49 season ERA, the highest in the majors.
The Athletics’ bullpen gave the offense a chance to chip away. Drew Rom retired all three batters he faced in the sixth, Scott Blewett worked around DeLuca’s single and stolen base in the seventh, and Seth Johnson handled a scoreless ninth. Hayden Juenger allowed Tampa Bay’s final run in the eighth when Palacios drew a walk, Walls singled and Díaz drove in Palacios with a base hit.
The A’s finally found the seats in the bottom of the eighth. Gelof hit his 13th homer to left-center, and after Cortes struck out, Butler added his ninth to right-center. The two solo shots made it 8-4, but Michael Grove stopped the inning there and Tampa Bay retired the side in order in the ninth.
Gelof’s day also carried a bigger streak. He entered with a 23-game home hitting streak, already the second-longest by an Athletic in the expansion era behind Carney Lansford’s 30-game run in 1984, and his third-inning single pushed it to 24. Tyler Soderstrom also extended his hitting streak to ten games with a first-inning double. He had already posted two other ten-game streaks this season, making him the first Athletic with three streaks of at least ten games in one season since Jay Payton in 2006.
After a Thursday breather, the A’s welcome the Rangers on Friday at 6:40 p.m. Pacific, with ESPN currently listing Kumar Rocker (4-9, 4.46 ERA, 103 K) opposite Gage Jump (5-7, 4.46 ERA, 84 K), although MLB still has both starters officially marked TBD.
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.
Mason Barnett #63 of the Athletics pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays in the top of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on August 11, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Coming off a disastrous bullpen implosion on Monday night against the Rays, the A’s looked to flip the script and get back in the win column on Tuesday night at Sutter Health Park.
Unfortunately for the A’s, they sealed their fate of another losing series as they fell to the Tampa Bay Rays 12-4.
Mason Barnett took the ball for the A’s to start the game in what was his 17th appearance for the club and his third start of the season. Barnett, much like Lopez yesterday in the first inning, gave up the lead immediately as the Rays took a 2-0 lead three batters into the game on a two-run shot. From there, Barnett continued to struggle with the long ball as he gave up two more home runs during his outing. Mason went a total of four innings in the game while giving up six runs (five earned) on five hits, while walking three and striking out no Rays hitters.
Mark Kotsay said that Barnett tweaked his hip during the game and that they hope he can continue to pitch with no setback. As for the performance Tuesday, Kotsay spoke on Barnett going as long as he could.
“He pitched that fourth inning knowing that he wanted to go out and give us as much as he possibly could … just the execution portion of his pitches (was lacking).”
In the bullpen, it was Brady Basso who was first out as he tried to keep the game where it was in hopes of an A’s comeback. Basso pitched OK, giving up one run on three hits across two innings of work while striking out two, but it was a solo home run that the Rays did their damage on.
In the seventh inning, Mark Kotsay turned to Elvis Alvarado next. Alvarado struggled, giving up two runs on one hit and a walk in his one inning of relief.
In the eighth inning, with the game mostly in the books, the A’s turned to Yunior Tur to get the final six outs of the game. Tur, like his fellow relievers, struggled to get outs as he gave up three runs in the eighth inning. In the ninth, Tur was able to settle in and retire the side in order, but the damage was already done by the Rays in the inning prior. Tur tossed two innings of three-run, two-hit baseball while walking no one and striking out three hitters.
On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s did their scoring in the middle of the game as the offense dried up in the later innings, aside from a ninth-inning burst. The A’s managed four runs on eight hits while not walking at all in the ballgame.
The A’s first two runs of the game came in the fourth inning when Lawrence Butler sent a long drive over the right-center-field wall for a two-run home run. Butler’s blast was his eighth of the season and tallied his 31st and 32nd RBIs of the year as he drove in Jacob Wilson, who singled two batters earlier.
The A’s scored two runs late in the game on a Carlos Cortes two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning. It was the 13th double of the year for Cortes and RBIs 29 and 30.
That was all the offense the A’s could muster as they went away quietly without much of a fight late in the game other than the brief ninth-inning rally.
With the loss, the A’s fell to 47-73 while the Rays improved to 73-46 on the year.
On Wednesday, the A’s and Rays will wrap up their three-game series with a matinee affair at 12:05 p.m. PDT. The A’s will send Jack Perkins (2-8, 7.04 ERA) to the hill while the Rays will start Drew Rasmussen (11-5, 2.75 ERA).
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.
Jacob Lopez #57 of the Sacramento Athletics pitches during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Monday, August 10, 2026 in West Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Jacob Soriano/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Fresh off their first series win since June, as they beat the Boston Red Sox in two out of three games this past weekend in Boston, the Sacramento A’s welcomed the Tampa Bay Rays to Sacramento for a three-game series beginning on Monday night. The Rays have been having a great season so far (71-46 entering Monday’s game) compared to the A’s (47-71 entering Monday’s game).
The A’s were able to flip the script early as they jumped out to the early lead, but as the late innings approached, the bullpen gave away yet another winnable game for the A’s as they fell to the Rays 10-6.
Jacob Lopez started the ballgame for the A’s as he was making his 19th appearance and 16th start for them. Lopez, with the exception of a home run in the first inning and some bad luck in the seventh inning, pitched exceptionally well for Mark Kotsay and the A’s. Lopez was sharp, allowing just one walk in his outing and striking out five. All in, Lopez went seven innings of two-run, five-hit baseball while needing 93 pitches to get through his outing.
“I think Jacob was excellent tonight,” Kotsay said after the game. “This is an outing where we talk about Jacob taking the next step since he’s been back. He’s been really effective, really good. Tonight was probably the best.”
A much more mature Jacob Lopez from last season echoed those thoughts after the game.
“Overall, being able to get past six innings finally and give the team a good chance to win a ballgame felt good,” Lopez said. “…the ending was kind of tough, but I think it was a good game overall.”
The A’s bullpen immediately imploded when it came in to relieve starter Jacob Lopez.
Seth Johnson, who Mark Kotsay turned to in the eighth inning, couldn’t record an out as he faced four batters who all reached base. Johnson gave up three hits and four runs while walking one during his four-batter appearance.
Mark Kotsay elected to go with Jose Suarez to try to stop the bleeding, but Suarez wasn’t much better. Suarez was only able to get one out while giving up a near-identical line to Johnson. Suarez gave up four runs on three hits while striking out one and walking one during his stint in the game during the eighth-inning meltdown.
Last out of the bullpen for the A’s was Scott Blewett, who the A’s turned to for the final two outs in the eighth and the ninth inning. Blewett allowed one single in the eighth, but that was his only blemish in his outing as he tossed a scoreless ninth inning. Overall, Blewett allowed one hit and no runs across his inning and two-thirds of relief for the A’s.
However, even with Blewett’s solid outing, the damage was already done as the A’s bullpen gave up two walks, six hits and eight runs, all in the eighth inning.
On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s totaled six runs on 10 hits while collecting two walks.
The A’s scored two runs in the first inning to get right back at the Rays, who homered in the first inning.
Tyler Soderstrom got the A’s on the board with their first run of the game as he drilled an RBI double to center field to score Jeff McNeil, who was on first base. It was Soderstrom’s 56th RBI of the season.
The A’s second run of the inning came courtesy of a steal of home by Tyler Soderstrom. The A’s put the runner in motion from first base, and that led Soderstrom to break for the plate from third. Soderstrom slid into home safely as the Rays threw down to second base. It was Soderstrom’s second stolen base of the season.
In the fifth inning, the A’s scored their third run of the game as Zack Gelof sent a booming home run over the left-center-field wall to give the A’s a 3-1 lead at the time. The home run left the bat of Gelof at a scorching 109 mph and traveled 456 feet. It was Gelof’s 12th home run of the season and his 30th RBI.
The A’s added on again in the seventh inning when they scored three runs.
Zack Gelof led the attack in the seventh as he knocked an RBI double into center field to extend the lead for the A’s at the time. It was Gelof’s 12th double of the season and 31st RBI.
Jeff McNeil followed shortly after with his 36th RBI of the season on an RBI sacrifice fly for the A’s that gave them a 5-2 lead at the time.
The final run the A’s would score came on a Jacob Wilson RBI double in the seventh in what was his 16th double and 37th RBI of the season.
With the loss, the Rays improved to 72-46 as the A’s fell to 47-72.
The A’s will take on the Rays in game two of their three-game series at Sutter Health Park on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. PDT. The A’s have not announced their starter for Tuesday, but the Rays will send Nick Martinez (11-3, 2.65 ERA) to the hill.
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.
Sacramento A’s Jeff McNeil (22) is greeted at the plate by Tommy White (47) after scoring in the top of the eighth inning at Fenway Park in Boston on Sun Aug 9, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:
#1 The Sacramento A’s down a run 3-2 going into the top of the eighth inning at Fenway Park against a rugged Boston Red Sox team ended up tying up the ball game and picked up a go ahead run in the top of the ninth inning to take a 4-3 lead and win their second straight game over one of baseball’s toughest’s clubs.
#2 Barbara after beating the Red Sox on Saturday 7-3 and snapping their nine game win streak how much confiendce does that do for a club going into the rubber game and to take a series like that for the A’s?
#3 The A’s who allowed two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning got some relief pitching that held the Red Sox to no runs until the end of the game getting releif help from Brady Basso, Elvis Alvarado, and Hogan Harris.
#4 The A’s just got by the Sox Sunday but the Red Sox are no laughing matter they took out the A’s on Friday night 13-1 but the A’s regrouped and came back to the ballpark and won it Sunday 7-3 and squeaked by Sunday the Sox are a force to reckon with.
#5 A’s return back to West Sacramento for a three game series with the first place Tampa Bay Rays at Sutter Health Park. The Rays are no slouches and could be a handful for the A’s pitching staff but after taking two in Boston the A’s might have some momentum goimg into this series on Monday night. Starting pitchers for Tampa Bay RHP Freddy Peralta (5-9 ERA 5.37) and for Sacramento LHP Jacob Lopez (5-4 ERA 5.64) first pitch 6:40pm PDT.
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.
Donavon Walton is congratulated by the Sacramento A’s dugout after scoring the go ahead run in the top of the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston on Sun Aug 9, 2026 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Daniel Dullum:
#1 The Sacramento A’s down a run 3-2 going into the top of the eighth inning at Fenway Park against a rugged Boston Red Sox team ended up tying up the ball game and picked up a go ahead run in the top of the ninth inning to take a 4-3 lead and win their second straight game over one of baseball’s toughest’s clubs.
#2 Daniel after beating the Red Sox on Saturday 7-3 and snapping their nine game win streak how much confiendce does that do for a club going into the rubber game and to take a series like that for the A’s?
#3 The A’s who allowed two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning got some relief pitching that held the Red Sox to no runs until the end of the game getting releif help from Brady Basso, Elvis Alvarado, and Hogan Harris.
#4 The A’s just got by the Sox Sunday but the Red Sox are no laughing matter they took out the A’s on Friday night 13-1 but the A’s regrouped and came back to the ballpark and won it Sunday 7-3 and squeaked by Sunday the Sox are a force to reckon with.
#5 A’s return back to West Sacramento for a three game series with the first place Tampa Bay Rays at Sutter Health Park. The Rays are no slouches and could be a handful for the A’s pitching staff but after taking two in Boston the A’s might have some momentum goimg into this series on Monday night. Starting pitchers for Tampa Bay RHP Freddy Peralta (5-9 ERA 5.37) and for Sacramento LHP Jacob Lopez (5-4 ERA 5.64) first pitch 6:40pm PDT.
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.
New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge (99) is on the 10 day IL and will miss the All Star Game and there no definite date when he will return (AP file photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 Can the New York Yankees stop their slide against the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays? The Yankees have struggled since losing Aaron Judge to injury and entered a pivotal four-game series trailing the Rays in the division.
#2 Which contenders will emerge as MLB trade deadline buyers and sellers? With the trade deadline less than a month away, front offices are evaluating whether to add or subtract, while ESPN’s updated rankings highlight the top available trade candidates.
#3 Who will build momentum heading into the All-Star break? The final week before the break features several high-stakes series that could reshape playoff races and influence trade deadline decisions.
#4 Can Eury Pérez and the Miami Marlins sustain their surge? Pérez dominated with seven perfect innings in Sunday’s dramatic win over the Athletics, fueling renewed attention on Miami’s postseason chances.
#5 Which players were the biggest All-Star surprises—and who got snubbed? The release of the 2026 All-Star rosters has sparked league-wide debate over deserving selections, notable omissions, and what the choices say about this season’s standout performers.
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.
Christian Walker of the Houston Astros (left) was being assisted by a coach and the team trainer after getting hit by a pitch against the Boston Red Sox on Sat May 2, 2026
MLB The Show podcast Charlie O:
#1 How did Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker power his team past the Chicago Cubs on Saturday?
#2 Why was Gerrit Cole’s return for the New York Yankees overshadowed by the Tampa Bay Rays?
#3 Which MLB team earned its major-league-leading 36th victory thanks to the Atlanta Braves Chadwick Tromp’s walk-off hit?
#4 What concern emerged for the Houston Astros despite their shutout win over the Cubs?
#5 According to recent MLB power rankings, which team climbed to the No. 1 spot ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cubs?
Atlanta Braves Drake Baldwin (right) celebrates after hitting a two run home run against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver on Sat May 2, 2026 (AP News photo)
MLB The Show podcast Tony Renteria:
#1 How have the Tampa Bay Rays managed to maintain their hot streak, and what are the key factors behind the San Francisco Giants’ six-game losing skid?
#2 Braves’ dominant start to the season What has fueled the Atlanta Braves’ league-best start, and how significant is rookie pitcher JR Ritchie’s early impact on their success?
#3 Padres ownership change What could the potential long-term effects be of the San Diego Padres’ new ownership group on team spending, culture, and competitiveness?
#4 Astros vs. Dodgers rivalry renewed How does the ongoing rivalry between the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers—rooted in the 2017 World Series—continue to influence current matchups and player performances?
#5 League-wide tensions and fan reactions What do recent fan protests (such as those seen in Boston) reveal about growing frustrations with MLB team management, and how might this impact front-office decisions?
Shortstop Taylor Walls #6 of the Tampa Bay Rays turns a double play against the San Francisco Giants at Tropicana Field on May 03, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Calvin Hernandez/Getty Images)
San Francisco Giants podcast Lincoln Juarez:
#1 How did the pitching matchup between Tyler Mahle and Steven Matz influence the pace and outcome of the game at Tropicana Field?
#2 What were the key moments that allowed the Tampa Bay Rays to secure a 2–1 walk-off victory in extra innings?
#3 How did Jonathan Aranda’s performance (including his 4-hit game) impact the final result for Tampa Bay?
#4 In what ways did the Giants struggle offensively during this game and the broader road trip leading up to it?
#5 How did small-ball tactics—like bunts and situational hitting—help the Rays tie the game late and eventually win?
Lincoln Juarez filled in for Marko Ukalovic. Lincoln does the Giants podcasts Fridays and Marko regularly does the Giants podcast each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
