Tag: Tampa Bay Rays

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips: Giants Roupp gets the start against Rays tonight at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants starter Landen Roupp gets the call against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oracle Park on Fri Aug 15, 2025 (AP file photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips:

#1 San Diego Padres Nick Pivetta pitched 6.2 innings and allowed just a run as the Padres won in a laugher on Wednesday afternoon at Oracle Park 11-1.

#2 The Padres also got offensive help from Ramon Laureano who had three hits. The Padres had 14 hits in their three game sweep of the Giants.

#3 The Padres with the win have won five in a row. With the win the Padres now move a game over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. With the loss the Giants are on five games out for the last spot for the NL Wild Card.

#4 Dominic Smith had his hit streak come to an end at 15 games which was the longest in the Majors. The longest hit streak for a Giants hitter since former Giant Donavan Solano did it in 2020 with a 17 game streak.

#5 Starters on Friday night at Oracle Park for the Tampa Bay Rays RHP Joe Boyle (1-2 ERA 3.82) and for the San Francisco Giants RHP Landen Roupp (7-6 ERA 3.11) first pitch 7:15pm PT.

Join Morris Phillips for the Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Drop Series Finale to Rays 8-3 as Early Deficit Proves Too Much

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J.T. Ginn #70 of the Athletics pitches in the top of the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Sutter Health Park on August 13, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento A’s went for their fifth series win in their last six tries on Wednesday night at Sutter Health Park. However, the Tampa Bay Rays had other plans as they took the series from the A’s in an 8-3 defeat.

J.T. Ginn, the starter in the rubber match, didn’t have a good outing and was roughed up in his two innings of work. Ginn surrendered six runs (five earned) on six hits while walking one as he labored through the first and second innings of the game.

“It didn’t look like he had a good feel for the sinker tonight or confidence in it,” Manager Mark Kotsay said to the media postgame. “When that pitch [sinker] isn’t in his arsenal, it’s difficult, I think, especially with the lineup and the number of left-hand batters that they had in there.”

The media attempted to speak with Ginn following his start, but he declined the scrum postgame without explanation.

The Bullpen

The bullpen came in and pitched well for the A’s except for a small hiccup in the top of the ninth inning.

Hogan Harris relieved Ginn in the third inning and pitched well, giving the A’s three innings of shutout ball, allowing only one hit while striking out three Rays hitters.

Ben Bowden tossed the sixth inning for the A’s, giving up no runs while working around a hit and a walk.

Michael Kelly came in for the seventh inning and recorded a perfect frame.

Sean Newcomb didn’t have his best stuff but recorded a scoreless eighth inning, working around two hits.

In the ninth, Elvis Alvarado, who has pitched well of late, surrendered a two-run homer to Junior Caminero after what should have been an inning-ending double play.

“The bullpen did a great job,” Kotsay said after the game. “Even Alvarado there in the ninth — that double play ball should’ve been turned. We’ve got to execute that play and we are out of that inning, and the bullpen throws up, what, seven zeroes. So we played sloppy defense tonight, and it cost us.”

The Bats

The A’s struggled against Rays starter Drew Rasmussen and the bullpen. The A’s managed only four hits and two runs in the series finale that Rasmussen pitched six innings of.

Lawrence Butler, who was hitting in the seven hole on Wednesday, got the A’s on the board in the third inning with a solo home run to left-center field. The A’s added their second and final run in the eighth inning via a Gio Urshela RBI single to pull the A’s to within 6-2 at the time. Tyler Soderstrom and Colby Thomas were the A’s other two hits, both singles.

Up Next

With the loss, the A’s fell to 54-69 on the season.

The A’s will spend an off day at home on Thursday before welcoming the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to Sacramento for a three-game series.

The A’s are scheduled to send Jack Perkins (1-2, 4.08 ERA) to the hill in game one on Friday, as the Angels are poised to send Yusei Kikuchi (6-7, 3.37 ERA) to the bump. First pitch at Sutter Health West Sacramento 7:00pm PT.

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. 

Frustration on a gorgeous day at Oracle Park, as Padres complete sweep with 11-1 blowout

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San Diego Padres Ryan O’Hearn (left) is thrilled after hitting an fifth inning RBI double as San Francisco Giants second baseman Christian Koss (right) looks on at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Aug 13, 2025 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

San Diego Padres 11 (69-52)

San Francisco Giants 1 (58-61)

Win: Nick Pivetta (12-4)

Loss: Kai-Wei Teng (1-2)

Time: 2:34

Attendance: 35,080

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Giants have once again hit rock bottom, as the San Diego Padres completed the sweep with an 11-1 blowout .

The Giants only scored one run apiece in the first two games of this series, and fell to two games under .500 for the first time this season after their 5-1 loss Monday night. Tuesday, the Giants couldn’t avoid the sweep.

It was a foggy morning at Oracle Park, and the sun began to shine through as Kai-Wei Teng and the Giants took the field. Teng was appearing in his third game and making his second start since being called up. Teng gave up just three hits over five shutout innings Friday night against the Washington Nationals, which earned him the start today.

Teng walked Fernando Tatis to start the game, but got the pesky Luis Arraez to ground into a 3-6-3 double play. Teng pitched a scoreless inning to open things up in the top of the first, but the top of the second would be a nightmare.

Jake Cronenworth came up with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the second, and hit a ground ball up the middle that had the potential to be an inning-ending double play. Just as shortstop Willy Adames was about to field the ball, it hit off the second base bag and ricochetted into left-center field.

Two runs scored on Cronenworth’s base-hit, and everything went to hell for Teng and the Giants. The Padres scored seven runs in the top of the second, and knocked Teng out of the game. Figures.

When the seventh run scored on a passed ball, the fans at Oracle Park, just as they have done throughout this homestand, the fans at Oracle Park made their displeasure heard with a chorus of boos. They then gave the team a sarcastic round of applause when the inning finally ended.

Nick Pivetta made the start for San Diego, and gave up just a run over six and two thirds innings, as the Giants’ offense remained dead.

The Padres scored three more runs off Joey Lucchesi in the top of the fifth to make it a complete blow out at 10-0. They then scored another run off Tristan Beck for good measure in the top of the seventh to make it 11-0

When Christian Koss knocked in Jung Hoo Lee with a sacrifice fly in the seventh to put the Giants on the board, the 35,080 in attendance at Oracle Park today—or whatever was left of them at that point—gave a thunderous cheer. I was in the bathroom, so I couldn’t tell if it was sincere or not, but they certainly made their thoughts and feelings known today.

Lee had reached on a triple with one out, and he has now gotten a hit in 11 of his last 12 games. That was one of the few positives out of today’s game.

I guess you could say another positive was Christian Koss throwing a scoreless innings with eephus pitches in the top of the ninth. It was a little bit of comic relief to take the sting off this one.

It was also an absolutely-spectacular mostly-cloudy day with the sun shining through at Oracle Park. The hills in the East Bay were crystal clear, and shone under the clouds and sun.

Unfortunately, the Giants were humiliated and lost 11-1. They have now lost 13 of their last 14 and 17 of their last 21 at home. They also fell to three games under .500 for the first time this season at 58-61.

The Giants will be off Thursday, and that should do them some good. The Tampa Bay Rays will then be in for three games starting Friday night. Starting pitcher for Tampa Bay RHP Joe Boye (1-2 ERA 3.82) RHP Landen Roupp (7-6, 3.11 ERA) will take the ball for the Giants.

First pitch will be at 7:15 p.m PT.

Lopez Stifles Rays 6-0, Extends Scoreless Streak to 24 in A’s Victory

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Jacob Lopez #57 of the Athletics pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning at Sutter Health Park on August 12, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Thien-An Truong/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The A’s have had a season full of exciting and potentially surprising developments this season. Some A’s experiences this year include Tyler Soderstrom’s red-hot start, Jacob Wilson’s starting All-Star first half, and Nick Kurtz’s four-homer game and breakout month of July.

However, there’s another development brewing that should rival even the aforementioned storylines: Jacob Lopez and his rise into the anchor of the A’s rotation. Lopez was fantastic again on Tuesday, as the A’s defeated the Rays 6-0 on a beautiful Sacramento night.

Jacob Lopez, who now has a 24-inning scoreless streak going after Tuesday’s outing, tossed seven innings of scoreless ball, scattering four hits and striking out nine Tampa Bay hitters.

“I think this is a big example of a young starter maturing and coming into his own, really gaining confidence each start,” Kotsay said of Lopez after the win. “I think for Jacob it’s been a little bit of a process, and to see him having the amount of success he’s having, I think we all felt that there was a chance for him to really do some things on the mound that we hadn’t seen. And I think you’re seeing it firsthand now in the last four outings.”

As mentioned earlier, Lopez has not given up a run in the last 24 innings he’s pitched. His last run surrendered was to the Texas Rangers on July 21 in Texas. Since then? Lights out.

Mark Kotsay praised the adjustments he’s made this year and where things started to go right for Lopez.

“I think the turning point was really his ability to recognize that when he throws strikes and is aggressive, he has that ability to locate the breaking ball and really pitch to the inner third to righties. That opens up the plate for the changeup and the cutter. And I think he’s just really excelled at doing that.”

Lopez reiterated that after the game, saying, “It all starts with the fastball,” to reporters in the clubhouse.

Another highlight on Tuesday was the fact that Lopez also didn’t walk a single Tampa Bay hitter, a sign he’s going well.

“I mean, whenever you don’t give out free bases, it puts you in a good situation,” Lopez, a man of few words, said postgame.

Lopez’s teammates were also impressed with his work recently and how easy he makes it to play behind him.

“I mean, what Lopez has been doing is awesome,” Colby Thomas said postgame to the media scrum in the clubhouse. “I mean, it’s unbelievable. Playing behind him is awesome, and when he gets in there and he’s pounding the strike zone and he’s got confidence in his stuff, we’re  playing right behind him. We’re ready to go…”

The Bullpen

The bullpen would toss the final two innings for the A’s in what was a tale of two pitchers. Justin Sterner pitched the eighth inning with no trouble while striking out one hitter in his inning of relief. However, Tyler Ferguson came in for the ninth and wasn’t sharp. Ferguson walked the second and third hitters he faced to get himself into a bit of a tough spot in the ninth. Yet, even without his best stuff, Ferguson got out of the ninth inning unscathed, not allowing a run to seal the A’s 6-0 win.

The Bats

On the offensive side of things, the A’s made the most of the hits they had at the plate. The A’s managed to score six runs while only tallying eight hits in the game.

“I thought tonight the at-bats were really good,” Mark Kotsay said in the media shed after the game. “They were consistent throughout the lineup. I think everybody had great at-bats and did what they needed to do. We had some situational at-bats that we took that we had success in. We obviously grinded out some at-bats and put pressure on them. I thought overall the offense did a great job.”

The A’s initial scoring came on a Colby Thomas RBI double in the second inning to give the A’s the 1-0 lead early. The A’s would add three runs in the fourth inning on a Colby Thomas sacrifice fly, a Lawrence Butler RBI double, and an E2 off the bat of Luis Urías that scored Law Dog from second base. Lawrence Butler extended the A’s lead to 6-0 in the eighth inning on an RBI single to cap the A’s scoring for the night.

Kurtz on base streak ends

Elevated to the leadoff spot for the A’s on Tuesday, A’s slugging first baseman Nick Kurtz was unable to reach base safely. The A’s rookie had reached base safely in the last 26 games prior to Tuesday’s win against the Tampa Bay Rays. Kurtz finished 0-4 on the night with three strikeouts. 

Up Next

The A’s improved to 54-68 on the season after defeating Tampa Bay 6-0 on Tuesday night.

The A’s and Rays will play in the rubber game on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. PST at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. J.T. Ginn (2-4, 4.39 ERA) will go for the A’s and go up against Drew Rasmussen (9-5, 2.66 ERA) for the Rays.

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria: A’s end 3 game win streak in loss against Rays

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Tampa Bay Rays Brandon Lowe scores in the top of the first inning as Sacramento A’s catcher Shea Langeliers looks on in the third inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast;

#1 Tampa Bay Rays Brandon Lowe and Junior Caminero hit back to back home runs off the Sacramento A’s at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Monday night to help defeat the Rays 7-4 Monday night.

#2 With the home run by Lowe and Caminero the Rays increased their lead over the A’s in the top of the seventh inning 6-1.

#3 Tampa Bay pitcher Ryan Pepiot pitched six innings allowing a run until the A’s Tyler Soderstrom hit a three run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning.

#4 Shea Langeliers hit a solo shot in the fifth inning. The home run by Langeliers was his 12th home run since the All Star break and he is now tied with the Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Schwarber for the most home runs in MLB.

#5 For Tuesday night the Rays will start Shane Baz (8-8 ERA 4.92) for the A’s LHP Jacob Lopez (5-6 ERA 3.59) first pitch at 7:05pm PT.

Tony Renteria podcasts Athletics each Tuesday 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. 

Langeliers, Soderstrom Homer but A’s Fall to Rays in Series Opener

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Jeffrey Springs #59 of the Athletics pitches in the top of the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Sutter Health Park on August 11, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The Athletics returned home on Monday night from a six-game road trip where they went 4-2 during stops in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Flying high, the A’s couldn’t keep the good times going as they fell to the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 on Monday night.

The A’s pitching let them down on Monday in a game the A’s battled to stay in but ultimately couldn’t keep pace with the Rays.

Jeffrey Springs got the start for the A’s despite not feeling great physically going into it, A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. 

“Pregame he wasn’t feeling great physically, but took the mound, took the ball, and again, you commend that effort and grind that he wanted to go out there and give us what he had.”

Give them what he had he certainly did, laboring through three and a third innings and allowing four runs, all earned. Springs did his best to scatter the seven hits he gave up while also only walking one Tampa Bay hitter.

“…Just kind of felt out of sync from the get-go,” Springs told reporters after the game. “…Just dealing with some stuff, felt like the body was kind of out of sync and fighting myself, and wasn’t able to make pitches and make the adjustment unfortunately. Just didn’t do my job, basically.”

Osvaldo Bido relieved Springs and gave Kotsay three and two-thirds innings of work while surrendering six hits in that stretch. Bido managed to work in and out of trouble most of the night. However, he gave up two solo home runs — that would prove to be the only run-costing mistakes on the night — in the seventh inning.

Michael Kelly came on in the eighth but wasn’t sharp, recording only one out and giving up a run, a hit, and two walks before being lifted for Hogan Harris. Harris would finish the eighth and ninth innings, working one and two-thirds innings and giving up just one hit.

On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s scoring came thanks to two home runs from middle-of-the-order bats. Yet, it was too little too late as Mark Kotsay alluded to after the game.

“I think offensively we put together some good at-bats there late in the game and got ourselves back into it, which isn’t easy to do, especially against this club.”

Shai Langeliers got the A’s on the board with a solo home run in the fifth inning that traveled an impressive 425 feet and left the bat at 109.4 mph. The A’s would score one more time courtesy of a Tyler Soderstrom three-run homer that at the time brought the A’s to within two, 6-4, in the eighth. Soderstrom’s blast went 414 feet into the Sacramento night and left the bat at 104.3 mph.

The A’s fell to 53-68 with the loss as they continue to try and claw their way back toward the .500 mark on the season. That continues to be the focus of the club down the stretch with less than two months left in the season.

Game two of the series will be on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. PST at Sutter Health Park. Jacob Lopez (5-6, 3.59 ERA) will toe the rubber for the A’s as Tampa Bay will send Shane Baz (8-8, 4.92 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. 

MLB The Show podcast Jessica Kwong Wed Jul 15, 2025: Rays playoffs possible in Minor League park; Manfred and Players Union considering Olympic Games during All Star Break; plus more news

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If the Tampa Bay Rays make post season they will host their home games at George M Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Bay. The park seats 10,000 and it’s possible it could host the World Series if the Rays make it that far. (photo by DRaysBay)

MLB The Show podcast Jessica Kwong Wed Jul 15, 2015

#1 MLB ok’d the possibility for the Tampa Bay Rays to play at their temporary home park George M Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Bay if the Rays were to get into the post season. The park seats 10,000 fans and is sure to be sold out if the Rays make the post season. The other alternate was to have the Rays play at LoanDepot Park in Miami at big league park but the Rays and MLB will have the Rays play at the Minor League park.

#2 MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and the Players Association union head Tony Clark are exploring the idea of having MLB players in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. If agreed upon by both side and the Olympic Committee the game would be an extension of the All Star break. Manfred said it would be a great opportunity for baseball to be on the global stage.

#3 Jessica all the talk in baseball is surrounding the 2025 All Star Game in Atlanta where the National League’s Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies hit three home runs in the newly formatted Swing Off instead of playing extra innings it’s a home run derby to decide the winner of the All Star game.

#4 MLB and the All Star Game paid tribute to the late home run king Henry Aaron show a play by play video on the Truist Field baseball diamond of Aaron at the plate needing one more home to break Babe Ruth’s home run record. Aaron on a 1-0 count facing the Los Angles Dodgers Al Downing slugged a pitch that went into the Atlanta Braves bullpen at Fulton County Stadium April 8, 1974. It was a celebration that included pyrotechnics effects it lasted one minute and left you wanting more.

#5 Jessica, all the controversy surrounding Milwaukee Brewers sensation Jacob Misiorowski (4-1) with complaints that he pitched only five games and he gets an All Star selection and there were Philadelphia Phillies pitchers who pitched much more and had more wins. It was pointed out that by Phillies players that pitchers Ranger Suarez and Chris Sanchez were left out in favor of Misiorowski. Phillies Trea Turner said the idea was “terrible”, Nick Castellanos said the All Star Game is turning into the “Savannah Bananas”, and catcher JT Realmuto said “Nothing against the Misiorowski kid. But [Suarez and Sanchez] are deserving of being on the team in the first place. There’s no doubt.”

Jessica Kwong is a podcast contributor and podcasts every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast Jerimiah Salmonson Wed Jul 15, 2025: Rays playoffs possible in Minor League park; Manfred and Players Union considering Olympic Games during All Star Break; plus more news

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Logo for the 2028 Summer Olympics where MLB plans to have players compete and represent their respective countries at the 2028 All Star break (image from Cronkite News Arizona)

MLB The Show podcast Jeremiah Salmonson Wed Jul 15, 2015

#1 MLB ok’d the possibility for the Tampa Bay Rays to play at their temporary home park George M Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Bay if the Rays were to get into the post season. The park seats 10,000 fans and is sure to be sold out if the Rays make the post season. The other alternate was to have the Rays play at LoanDepot Park in Miami at big league park but the Rays and MLB will have the Rays play at the Minor League park.

#2 MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and the Players Association union head Tony Clark are exploring the idea of having MLB players in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. If agreed upon by both sides and the Olympic Committee the game would be an extension of the All Star break. Manfred said it would be a great opportunity for baseball to be on the global stage.

#3 Jeremiah, all the talk in baseball is surrounding the 2025 All Star Game in Atlanta where the National League’s Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies hit three home runs in the newly formatted Swing Off instead of playing extra innings it’s a home run derby to decide the winner of the All Star game.

#4 MLB and the All Star Game paid tribute to the late home run king Henry Aaron show a play by play video on the Truist Field baseball diamond of Aaron at the plate needing one more home to break Babe Ruth’s home run record. Aaron on a 1-0 count facing the Los Angles Dodgers Al Downing slugged a pitch that went into the Atlanta Braves bullpen at Fulton County Stadium April 8, 1974. It was a celebration that included pyrotechnics effects it lasted one minute and left you wanting more.

#5 Jeremiah, all the controversy surrounding Milwaukee Brewers sensation Jacob Misiorowski (4-1) with complaints that he pitched only five games and he gets an All Star selection and there were Philadelphia Phillies pitchers who pitched much more and had more wins. It was pointed out that by Phillies players that pitchers Ranger Suarez and Chris Sanchez were left out in favor of Misiorowski. Phillies Trea Turner said the idea was “terrible”, Nick Castellanos said the All Star Game is turning into the “Savannah Bananas”, and catcher JT Realmuto said “Nothing against the Misiorowski kid. But [Suarez and Sanchez] are deserving of being on the team in the first place. There’s no doubt.”

Jeremiah is a podcast contributor and podcasts A’s baseball analysis Thursdays 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. 

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Rays selling club to developer that will keep them in Tampa Bay

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Tropicana Field the day after Hurricane Milton destroyed the roof on Oct 10, 2024. The cost to fix the Tropicana was in excess of Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternburg’s budget while trying to build a ballpark in St Petersburg forcing Sternburg to sell the team (AP file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternberg has reached an agreement with Florida developer Patrick Zalupski in principle on a deal to sell the Rays for $1.7 billion. The deal keeps the Rays in Tampa Bay and is expected to close in September. Zalupski is a homebuilder in Jacksonville and was a buyer who strongly believes in keeping the team in Tampa Bay.

#2 Amaury, Sternberg bought the Rays in 2004 for $200 million. After last year’s Hurricane Milton tore the roof off of Tropicana Field the Rays were forced to play their home games at the New York Yankees spring training facility at George M Steinbrenner Field. Zalupski plans to build a new ballpark and keep the club in Tampa Bay.

#3 Sternburg basically could not go forward with owning the team. Before the Hurricane Sternburg planned to build a new stadium at the Historic Gas Plant District and was planning to design a recreational retail and residential area in St Petersburg replacing the old Tropicana. That was all shot down after Sternburg realized the excess costs in repairing the Trop and later tearing it down to build the new park.

#4 Meanwhile the Sacramento A’s development for their new ballpark is still in question as A’s owner John Fisher is looking for someone to buy the MLS San Jose Earthquakes for $600 million to cover part of the costs of his construction costs. K Pop star Suga and former MLB pitcher Chan Ho Park are putting together $70 million as an investment into the A’s. Yet in still that may not be enough to cover the balance of the construction costs for the Las Vegas ballpark.

#5 If Fisher can not meet the costs of building the Las Vegas park and he stated that the park costs could go up from $1.75 billion to $2 billion if that proves too much could you see the other MLB owners putting the pressure on Fisher to sell much like they did with Sternburg?

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

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

A’s game wrap: Late Lightning Fizzles as Sacramento Falls in Tampa 6-5

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Tampa Bay Rays Junior Caminero (right) gets in ahead of the tag by the Sacramento A’s third baseman Max Schuemann (left) during a double in the bottom of the sixth inning at George M Steinbrenner Stadium in Tampa Bay on Wed Jul 2, 2025 (AP News photo)

Late Lightning Fizzles as Sacramento Falls in Tampa 6-5

By Mauricio Segura

The A’s once again took their fight to the ninth inning, but heroics came up just short. In a wild Wednesday matinee, the Sacramento Athletics fell 6-5 to the Tampa Bay Rays, unable to fully erase a four-run deficit built during a disastrous sixth inning.

Sacramento got the jump early. Brent Rooker stayed scorching in day games, sending a solo homer into the Tampa sun in the first inning, his 18th of the year. Max Schuemann added a solo shot in the second, and Mitch Spence looked in control through five, scattering three hits while holding the Rays to a single run, a rare inside-the-park homer from Jake Mangum.

But the sixth inning unraveled fast for the green and gold. Spence, who entered the frame having allowed just one run, was tagged for five, including back-to-back homers by Josh Lowe and Yandy Díaz. A pitching change to Hogan Harris did little to slow Tampa’s momentum. Junior Caminero doubled, Chandler Simpson and Matt Thaiss followed with RBI singles, and just like that, a 2-1 lead became a 6-2 hole.

Still, these A’s have built a reputation for late-inning theatrics. Max Muncy jolted the dugout with a solo homer in the ninth, his seventh of the season. Austin Wynns followed with a double, and Gio Urshela drove him in. Suddenly, the bases were buzzing after singles by Max Schuemann, pinch-hitter Lawrence Butler, and Tyler Soderstrom, cutting the deficit to 6-5.

With the tying run 90 feet away and the go-ahead at second, Sacramento handed the bat to Brent Rooker. He had already homered once. He had also struck out twice. This time, it was more heartbreak than heroics. Rooker whiffed on a high fastball. Nick Kurtz followed, and despite his impressive rookie campaign, he couldn’t connect either, going down swinging to end the rally.

The loss snapped the A’s brief two-game win streak and dropped them to 36-53 on the season. Still, if there’s a silver lining, it’s the team’s continued fire in the late innings. Sacramento has now scored 56 runs in the ninth or later, fifth most in the majors. And their recent offensive struggles may be easing, with the team stringing together multi-hit innings and showcasing the kind of lineup depth they’ve lacked for much of the season.

Sacramento returns home for a nine-game stretch, starting with a Fourth of July showdown against the rival Giants. With JP Sears set to take the mound Friday and the Bay Bridge rivalry heating up, there’s little time to dwell on missed chances.

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.