Tag: texas rangers

Springs Shines Again as A’s Take Tight 2-1 Win Over Rangers

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Jeffrey Springs #59 of the Athletics pitches against the Texas Rangers in the top of the second inning at Sutter Health Park on April 14, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jeffrey Springs has had a great start to the 2026 campaign and is helping propel the Sacramento Athletics’ resurgence of late.

Springs, who carried a 2-0 record into his third start of the season on Tuesday against the Texas Rangers, has been impressing with his stuff so far this year. On Tuesday, it was another impressive outing from the left-hander out of Appalachian State University as the A’s defeated the Rangers 2-1.

Springs went six and a third innings of one-run, three-hit baseball while striking out five and walking two. Springs needed just 90 pitches in his outing, where he was pulled after striking out the first batter of the seventh and left to a nice ovation from the Sutter Health Park faithful.

Juston Sterner took over for Springs with one out in the seventh. Sterner immediately gave up a double but was able to settle down and not allow a run to score. He finished tossing two-thirds of an inning, allowing one hit but no runs while striking out one and walking none.

In the eighth inning, Mark Kotsay gave the ball to Hogan Harris, who had an eventful inning and only lasted two outs. After getting a flyout and a popout, he promptly walked the next two hitters he faced and was lifted from the game. Elvis Alvarado came in to finish the inning on one pitch, getting Jake Burger to line out to left field. All in, Hogan pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up no runs while walking two.

In the ninth inning, Mark Leiter Jr. came on to close the game for the A’s and was welcomed by a closer intro from the fans at Sutter Health Park. Leiter Jr. dominated the ninth in a one-two-three inning where he struck out two.

The A’s pitching was also aided by two terrific plays in the field, both victimizing Andrew McCutchen. Jacob Wilson made a great sliding play and spinning throw up the middle to rob McCutchen of a base hit in the sixth inning.

“When you are on defense with your pitchers on the mound, you wanna do whatever you can to make the plays to make their innings easier,” Jacob Wilson said after the game. “… being able to make the plays and see your guys fired up in the dugout… I’m excited to be able to do it again tomorrow.”

Denzel Clarke couldn’t let Wilson steal the show on defense, so he naturally had to add to his home run robbery lore. Denzel climbed the wall and took away what appeared to be a home run from Andrew McCutchen in the top of the fourth inning.

The A’s bats did just enough on Tuesday to earn the win in what could be described as a full team win. The Athletics only mustered four hits, but the timely hitting proved to win out in the end. The A’s rally came in the third inning with two outs after the A’s quickly made two outs in the inning. Denzel Clarke doubled, while Shea Langeliers and Nick Kurtz followed with two walks to set the table for Jacob Wilson. Wilson managed to rip a ball through the hole past third to score two runs that proved to be the difference in the game.

With the win, the A’s vaulted back over .500 with a 9-8 record to tie the Rangers for first place in the AL West. On Wednesday, the A’s and Rangers will go back at it in game three of the four-game series. The A’s will send J.T. Ginn (0-0, 3.27 ERA) to the hill, while the Rangers counter with Kumar Rocker (0-1, 4.50 ERA). First pitch is slated for 6:40 on what will be another chilly night in West Sacramento.

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: Braves have not lost a series so far this season; Ohtani record setter could be in All Time greats circle; plus more

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Atlanta Braves Mauricio Dubon clouts out a second inning RBI double against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Mon Apr 13, 2026 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Atlanta Braves remain unbeaten in series play so far—are they the early favorites for the World Series, or is it too soon to tell?

#2 Shohei Ohtani continues delivering historic-level performances—how is his 2026 start shaping his long-term legacy among all-time greats?

#3The Houston Astros are dealing with injuries, poor pitching, and internal issues—how serious is this early-season “crisis,” and can they recover?

#4 The Sacramento A’s came off a five game win streak defeating the New York Yankees twice and the New York Mets in a three game sweep but at home they continue to struggle losing to the Texas Rangers to open a six game homestand in Sacramento in a Monday night laugher 8-1. Is there a difference playing away than at home for the A’s?

#5 Anaheim Angels star Mike Trout had been struggling before the pandemic and battled injuries since 2019. Seven years later Trout had a big break out game hitting two home runs his 407th and 408th of his career that helped tie up the game 7-7 and later a home that got the Angels the lead. The New York Yankees however got a walk off wild pitch that allowed the Yankees Jose Caballero to score the game winning run. Despite the loss Trout is showing flashes of his old talent once again.

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.

Early Hole Too Much for A’s in 8-1 Loss to Rangers

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Luis Severino #40 of the Athletics pitches against the Texas Rangers in the first inning at Sutter Health Park on April 13, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Athletics made their triumphant return to Sacramento on Monday night after completing a six-game New York road trip. The A’s made stops in Queens and in the Bronx to face the Yankees and the Mets three games apiece in the frigid New York temperatures. The A’s took two out of three from the Yankees prior to sweeping the Mets to go 5-1 on the trip and improve their record to 8-7 on the season.

The A’s welcomed the Texas Rangers to Sutter Health Park for the beginning of a four-game series on Monday night.

Poor pitching and a lack of offense early doomed the A’s as they fell to the Rangers 8-1 in nine innings.

Luis Severino got the start for the A’s and pitched poorly early on, putting the A’s in an early hole. Severino allowed five of the first six hitters of the game to reach base, including a three-run homer from Jake Burger to put the Rangers up three to nothing in the first inning.

Severino continued to struggle with command and gave up another home run to Burger in the third inning to put the Rangers up 4-0. Severino needed 60 pitches to get through the first three innings, but he calmed down after that and settled in well for the rest of his outing. Severino ended up tossing six innings of four-run, six-hit baseball while walking three and striking out seven.

“I just need to stop walking people,” Severino told the media after his start. “I feel like the first inning, everything happened in the first inning and after that I’m good. I need to be able to handle the first inning. I don’t know why I’m walking people just in the first inning and then after that I’m getting better. I need to figure it out.”

A’s manager Mark Kotsay thought Severino settled in nicely, but the damage done early proved costly.

“He got into the zone with Burger, made a mistake with a fastball over the heart of the plate after walking two guys, which always hurts,” Kotsay said postgame. “We talk about a solo homer, the impact isn’t as big. So for him to settle back in after that first inning and really pitch well, that’s the Sevvy we expect, and I think that’s the one we’re going to see going forward.”

Severino seems more comfortable this season even if the conditions are similar to last season. He has frequently mentioned the lack of a nearby clubhouse as a factor in some of his issues in Sacramento, after which the A’s added a small room this season in between the dugout and the restroom for him to find some mid-start reprieve.

Asked if the room has made it any better for him:

“Yeah, of course. A hundred percent,” Severino said after the game. “You have a little AC machine out there. You get to be there by yourself, you aren’t looking at anybody. So I think that’s helping, being by yourself. [You can] think about what adjustment you can do to go out there and compete.”

Jack Perkins was first out of the bullpen for the A’s in the seventh inning, coming in for Severino. Perkins pitched well in the seventh inning, facing only three batters and striking out two, but trouble found him when he went back out for the eighth inning.

Corey Seager hit a ground-rule double that was close to being caught by Lawrence Butler in right field, and then Perkins struck out Jake Burger. Yet, it was the next at-bat that turned the tide for Perkins. Joc Pederson hit a relatively routine ground ball up the middle to shortstop Jacob Wilson, but Edwin Jimenez did a poor job vacating his spot, and the ball hit him, allowing Pederson to reach and Seager to advance to third base. It proved costly, as Perkins allowed four runs after that and surrendered a total of five hits while walking a batter. He finished with one and two-thirds innings while adding four strikeouts.

After the game, Mark Kotsay voiced his displeasure over that play and a no-call on a check swing that Kyle Higashioka appeared to have offered at.

“Great point [my question about the play] for Perk, he went one, two, three in the first,” Kotsay told me postgame. “One out [when the play happened], we were trying to obviously keep the game at four. He goes out and not only was there bad luck with the ground ball, there was a check swing that Higashioka went on that obviously wasn’t called. Easily, the inning could have gone differently.”

In what was a mostly tough outing for A’s pitchers, Luis Medina shined, allowing nothing but a walk while striking out one in his one and a third innings of work to finish out the game.

“We’re continuing to build him [Medina] up,” Kotsay told me. “This is a kid that we talk about a lot that hasn’t pitched in two years and needs to get out there and touch the mound. I thought for his inning and a third, he did a nice job.”

The A’s bats did little to nothing in the first game home after their East Coast road trip. The A’s tallied only five total hits and one run—a Lawrence Butler solo home run to right field in the eighth inning—and nothing else. Shea Langeliers added two hits in the game to raise his season average to .306 in what has been a hot start for the catcher.

Along with his home run, Lawrence Butler was responsible for some home run robbery in the fifth inning. Corey Seager was Butler’s victim on Monday as he tracked a ball to the short wall in right-center field and brought it back to save Luis Severino from giving up his fifth run of the game.

After the game, Severino was appreciative of Butler’s efforts, albeit in a loss.

“Law made a great play there,” Severino told me after the game. “Now I need to get something nice for him… I need to buy some shoes or something good. But yeah, he did a great play.”

The A’s fell back to .500 on the season at 8-8 with the loss as they prepare to take on the Rangers in game two of the four-game series on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. PST. Jeffrey Springs (2-0, 1.47 ERA) is slated to go for the A’s, while the Rangers will counter with MacKenzie Gore (2-0, 2.76 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. 

Sacramento A’s game wrap: Kurtz hits Mets where it hurts with HR; Sac gets shutout pitching from Civale in 1-0 series sweep; A’s in first in AL West

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Sacramento A’s Nick Kurtz looks upward and gives thanks to the Almighty after slugging his first home run of the season against the New York Mets in the top of the third inning at Citi Field in New York on Sun Apr 12, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK. — The Sacramento Athletics beat the New York Mets 1-0 at Citi Field on Sunday afternoon and swept them for the first time in franchise history.

With their fifth straight victory, the Athletics are in first place in the American League West a half game ahead of the second place Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels. The A’s came away 5-1 on their road trip against both New York teams, after giving up only the first game against the New York Yankees.

Nick Kurtz hit his first homer of the season, a fly ball to right field, in the third inning to put the A’s up 1-0. Kurtz laughed the shot off Freddy Peralta (1-1) after notching 36 home runs last season and the AL Rookie of the Year title.

In the sixth, Francisco Lindor singled on a sharp line drive to center fielder Denzel Clarke but the Mets failed to score a run.

A’s starting pitcher Aaron Civale set the tone early and never let up, working 5.2 scoreless innings while allowing just four hits. After surrendering a leadoff single in the first, Civale settled in and retired 13 consecutive batters at one point, keeping the Mets off balance all afternoon.

The bullpen continued the effort seamlessly. Hogan Harris, Scott Barlow, and Joel Kuhnel combined to finish the shutout, with Kuhnel locking down the ninth for his second save. It was a clinical performance from a staff that has quietly become a strength during this road trip.

After a slow start to the season, this road trip marks a turning point for the A’s.

The Athletics return home to West Sacramento and welcome the Texas Rangers (7-7) for a four-game series starting on Monday. A’s right-handed pitcher Luis Severino (0-1, 4.50 ERA) will face Rangers right-handed pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (1-2, 7.98 ERA ) in the opener. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. PT.

San Francisco Giants recap: Fun day in Scottsdale results in Giants’ 7-5 cactus league win over Rangers

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San Francisco Giants’ Adrian Houser throws during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Phoenix.Chris Carlson/AP

By Stephen Ruderman

SCOTTSDALE AZ–It was a fun day at Scottsdale Stadium, as the sun shined bright on a perfect day for baseball, and the Giants’ regulars exercised perfect fundamentals in what turned out to be a 7-5 Cactus League win for the Giants over the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers came all the way from across town in Surprise, and thus did something very rare in Spring Training. They took batting practice in another team’s park.

Two former Rangers’ managers were on hand in new Giants’ coach Ron Washington, and former Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy, who is back in the organization as a special advisor. Considering that Bochy just managed the Rangers over the last three seasons, and guided them to the world championship in 2023, it was no surprise to see him get embraced by his former players.

Prior to the game, during batting practice, Giants’ hitters were laying down bunts, and lining the ball the opposite way. It is part of the hitting approach of new Giants’ hitting coach Hunter Mense. Mense spent the last four years as the assistant hitting coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, and his small ball approach played a key role in getting the Blue Jays to the World Series last season.

Prior to the game, it was chilly, and the wind was howling in from center field, which is quite uncommon in this ballpark. By gametime, the winds subsided, and the temperatures climbed up into the 70s.

Left-hander Carson Whisenhunt made the start for the Giants, and threw three shutout innings, giving up just one hit, and striking out five. Mense’s small ball approach was on full display in a three-run bottom of the fourth inning, when Jerar Encarnacion and Willy Adames kept the line moving with RBI base-hits.

In terms of relief pitchers, Spencer Bivens pitched through a jam in the top of the fourth. Ryan Walker, who is the favorite to reclaim the closer’s job this season, threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth. Left-hander Matt Gage struggled, as he gave up two runs in the top of the sixth.

The Rangers scored three runs in the top of the seventh to take a 5-4 lead, but the Giants’ non-roster invitees and minor leaguers responded with three runs in the bottom of the eighth, and the Giants won it 7-5.

The Giants were playing a split squad, and beat the Arizona Diamondbacks over at Talking Stick, 7-4. Infielder Josuar Gonzalez, one of the Giants’ top prospects, hit a double in his first cactus league at-bat in that game.

Of course these games don’t count, but the Giants are 12-2 on the spring.

Sacramento A’s podcast Mauricio Segura: A’s open six game road trip in St Louis; Morales gets the start for Sacramento Monday

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Sacramento A’s pitcher Luis Morales will get the start against the St Louis Cardinals on Mon Sep 1, 2025 at Busch Stadium in St Louis (AP file photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Mauricio Segura:

#1 The Texas Rangers Joc Pederson doubled with three RBIs. Ranger pitcher Jacob deGrom struckout six batters and pitched shutout ball for five innings in the Rangers 9-6 win over the Sacramento A’s. What did A’s starter JT Ginn need to do try and shut the Rangers hitting down?

#2 The loss was a sweep as the A’s lost all three game to the Rangers and just couldn’t really get past the Rangers throughout the series. How did you see the A’s hitting in the series?

#3 deGrom had been struggling he was 0-4 in his last five starts resulting in Ranger losses. deGrom’s last win was back on July 22 in deGrom first appearance since the All Star break. deGrom had skipped a start during that stretch due to shoulder fatigue. Despite deGrom’s earlier struggles he’s got experience and he gave the A’s line up fits?

#4 It’s getting rough for the A’s, they have now been swept nine times this year and this was the first time they were swept at home since May 19-22 by the Los Angeles Angels. The Rangers swept Sacramento in Texas for the first time this year. How frustrating how it got to be for Sacramento to have been swept that amount of times.

#5 On Monday the A’s open a six game road trip starting in St Louis. Starting pitcher for the A’s Monday Luis Morales (2-0 ERA 1.19) and for the St Louis Cardinals former A’s pitcher Sonny Gray (12-7 ERA 4.19) first pitch 11:115AM PT. How do you see this match up and can the A’s get it moving again on this road trip?

Join Mauricio Segura filled in for Barbara Mason who does the A’s podcasts Mondays 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. 

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson: Morales was humming for Sacramento in 7-0 shutout

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Sacramento A’s pitcher Luis Morales was dealing in the shutout against the Detroit Tigers at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Wed Aug 27, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 The Sacramento Athletics got superb pitching from starter Luis Morales who pitched seven innings, allowed two hits, two walks, and seven strike outs to help shutout the Detroit Tigers 7-0 at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento Wednesday night.

#2 The win is a sweep for the A’s in three games over the Tigers 8-3 on Monday, 7-6 on Tuesday and Wednesday night’s sweeper a 7-0 shutout.

#3 The A’s got key hitting in the first inning Tyler Soderstrom scored Nick Kurtz on a base hit to left for a 1-0 lead, in the second Zack Gelof hit a two run home run that put the A’s on top 3-0. Later in the second Brent Rooker hit a sac fly to center that scored Kurtz and it was 4-0 after 1.5 half.

#4 In the fourth the A’s added three more runs before it was over Brett Harris scored on an error as Gelof was safe on a throwing error by Tigers pitcher Casey Mize making it 5-0. In the top of the eighth Gelof doubled to center scoring Harris and JJ Bleday for all the damage and a 7-0 final.

#5 A’s have a day off Thursday before opening the next leg of their homestand against the Texas Rangers Friday. RHP Jack Lieter (8-7 ERA 3.81) will start for the Rangers and the A’s LHP Jefferey Springs (10-8 ERA 4.15). First pitch 7:05pm PT in West Sacramento.

Jeremiah Salmonson does the A’s podcasts each Thursday 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. 

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson: Will A’s trade Sears before deadline?; A’s in Houston for 4 game set

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JP Sears seen here pitching against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Fri Jul 4, 2025 is being sought by different clubs for his services from the Sacramento A’s. Will he be dealt before the July trade deadline? (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Once again the Sacramento A’s get fine pitching but cannot get run support in their 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Wednesday. The Rangers starter Patrick Corbin with the support of three relievers kept the A’s hitters at bay.

#2 A’s starter JP Sears pitching five innings allowing three hits, allowing one earned run and seven strikeouts. Sears has been lights out this season didn’t get the decision and is 7-8.

#3 Sears is a trade block prospect. Sears has pitched consistently in spite of his eight loses and some team no doubt would like to pick him up before this month’s trade deadline someone who he could help in the post season.

#4 The A’s only run came when Nick Kurtz hit a double that scored Brent Rooker in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at 1-1. The A’s badly need to wake up their bats they were also beat by scores of 7-2 and 6-2 Friday and Saturday respectively by the Rangers.

#5 A’s open up a four game series on Thursday night at Daikin Park with the Houston Astros. Starter for the A’s RHP Luis Severino (3-11 ERA 5.10) and for the Astros RHP Jason Alexander (1-0 ERA 8.40) first pitch in Houston 5:10pm PT.

Jeremiah Salmonson does the A’s podcasts Thursday 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. 

Kurtz Comes Through but A’s Can’t Close That Lonestar Gap in 2-1 loss

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Texas Rangers centerfielder Michael Helman makes a leaping catch on a fly out by the Sacramento A’s Tyler Soderstrom in the top of the sixth inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Wed Jul 23, 2025 (AP News photo)

Kurtz Comes Through but A’s Can’t Close That Lonestar Gap

By Mauricio Segura

In a game that often felt like a pitcher’s duel wrapped in a chess match, the Sacramento Athletics were edged out 2-1 by the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night at Globe Life Field. Despite flashes of promise and a gutsy rally in the sixth, the Green and Gold couldn’t quite crack the code against a sharp Rangers pitching staff.

Both teams came out swinging, or at least attempting to. The first inning was a quick snapshot of what would become a recurring theme: early contact, solid defense, and outs stacking up like dominoes. The Athletics’ top three, Jacob Wilson, Brent Rooker, and Nick Kurtz, were retired in order, all on fly balls and liners that found gloves instead of grass.

The Rangers, on the other hand, managed a bit of noise thanks to a Corey Seager double, but he was ultimately stranded at third after Marcus Semien’s flyout and an Adolis García strikeout.

By the second inning, it was clear: if anyone wanted to score Wednesday night, they’d have to fight for it. The A’s struck out three times in a row, victims of Patrick Corbin’s sharp control. Corbin, making one of his strongest starts of the season, carved up the Sacramento lineup like a man with a plan.

The breakthrough didn’t come until the bottom of the third, when Corey Seager connected with a pitch and sent it flying over the center field wall. It was Seager’s 15th homer of the season, a solo shot that gave Texas the narrowest of leads. For a while, it looked like that might be all the Rangers needed.

But the sixth inning changed the tone.

Brent Rooker broke through with a two-out single, and Nick Kurtz followed with a line-drive double to right that brought Rooker home, tying the game at 1-1. It was Kurtz’s 15th double of the year, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Shea Langeliers kept things moving with a soft infield single, putting runners on the corners and forcing Texas to pull Corbin in favor of Jon Gray. With a chance to take the lead, the A’s sent up Tyler Soderstrom as a pinch hitter, but his sharp fly ball landed in center fielder Michael Helman’s glove to end the threat.

The Rangers weren’t done. In the bottom of the seventh, a two-out rally sparked by Wyatt Langford’s walk and Jonah Heim’s fly-ball double gave Texas the lead once again. Heim’s shot to short left was just enough to score Langford and give the home team a 2-1 edge.

The Athletics had chances late but couldn’t capitalize. In the eighth, Rooker collected his third hit of the game, but Kurtz struck out to end the frame. And in the ninth, Langeliers gave the A’s a flicker of hope with a leadoff single, but a flyout and two strikeouts, the final one on Gio Urshela, snuffed out the comeback bid.

It was a game that could’ve gone either way, but in this latest chapter of a developing Sacramento season, the story ended with a familiar note: close, but not quite.

A’s open up a four game series on Thursday night at Denkin Park with the Houston Astros. Starter for the A’s RHP Luis Severino (3-11 ERA 5.10) and for the Astros RHP Jason Alexander (1-0 ERA 8.40) first pitch in Houston 5:10pm PT.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

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. 

Butler’s Blast Fizzles as A’s Fall to The Rangers 6-2

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The Sacramento A’s Lawrence Butler rounds the bases after hitting a first inning home run against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Tue Jul 22, 2025 (AP News photo)

Butler’s Blast Fizzles as A’s Fall to The Rangers 6-2

By Mauricio Segura

The Athletics wasted no time setting the tone in Arlington Tuesday night, but the early sparks quickly gave way to a slow burn as the Texas Rangers rode a powerful seventh inning to a 6-2 victory at Globe Life Field.

Lawrence Butler stepped into the box for the A’s and promptly crushed the very first pitch of the game deep to right field. His 14th home run of the season landed with a thud of authority and gave the Green and Gold an early 1-0 lead. It was a tone-setting blast, a moment of optimism. But as the game unfolded, Butler’s solo shot stood as one of the few bright spots in an otherwise frustrating night for the Sactown squad.

What followed in the top half of the first was less explosive. Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz both struck out swinging, and Brent Rooker grounded out to short. The A’s offense would struggle to find its rhythm for most of the night, plagued by missed opportunities and a barrage of strikeouts.

Sacramento starter J.T. Ginn held the Rangers scoreless through the first three innings with the help of sharp defense, including two double plays turned behind him. Jacob Wilson’s smooth hands at shortstop and Luis Urías’s steady presence at second were key in squashing Texas rallies before they got started.

But the Rangers began to claw back in the fourth, when Adolis García tied the game with a solo homer to center. It was a classic García swing—short, powerful, and gone in a heartbeat. Suddenly, Butler’s early blast felt distant, and the momentum had quietly shifted.

Still, there was hope. In the fifth, Tyler Soderstrom roped a double to right to lead off the inning, but the middle of the A’s order couldn’t cash in. Three straight strikeouts stranded Soderstrom, and a growing pattern of futility with runners on base emerged.

Then came the sixth. After Ginn handed things off to Sean Newcomb, Marcus Semien launched a go-ahead solo home run to left, making it 2-1 Rangers. The home crowd erupted, and the A’s found themselves trailing for the first time all night.

But the real damage came in the bottom of the seventh, a frame that turned a close game into a lopsided one. With two outs and two on, Sacramento reliever Hogan Harris served up a crusher to Corey Seager, who sent a three-run shot soaring into the Texas night. Just like that, it was 6-1, and the game slipped firmly out of reach.

Sacramento did show some life in the eighth. After an error and a walk, Shea Langeliers delivered a line-drive single to left, scoring Jacob Wilson and giving the A’s a flicker of hope. But a groundout from Soderstrom ended the rally with runners still aboard. It was the type of night where the green lights were few and far between.

Despite the late push, Texas bullpen arms Robert Garcia and Shawn Armstrong shut the door with authority. Armstrong struck out two in the ninth, and when Lawrence Butler, who began the game with a bang, went down swinging for the final out, the A’s were left to wonder what might have been.

In total, Sacramento struck out 14 times and left eight runners on base. They had their chances, especially in the seventh and eighth, but couldn’t deliver the big hit when it mattered most.

Series concludes Wednesday night at Globe Life at 5:05pm PT with the A’s starting RHP JP Sears (7-8 ERA 5.13) for the Rangers LHP Patrick Corbin (6-7 ERA 3.91).

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.