Bolte Homers, but A’s Can’t Hold Off Rangers in 5-3 Loss

J.T. Ginn #35 of the Athletics pitches during the top of the second inning against the Texas Rangers at Sutter Health Park on August 15, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Coming off a sweep at the hands of the Rays in their last series, the A’s bounced back on Friday against the Rangers as they took game one of the three-game series, 8-3. On Saturday, the A’s and Rangers faced off in game two of the series at 6:41 p.m. PDT at Sutter Health Park.

Thanks to a big sixth inning, the Rangers managed to just edge the A’s in a 5-3 tilt on Saturday night.

J.T. Ginn got the start for the A’s, which was his 22nd start in 25 appearances with the club this year. Ginn has made big strides over what he was a year ago for the A’s, proving more mature and able to work himself deep into games. On Saturday, Ginn ran into a bit of trouble immediately in the first inning, but he managed to work out of it and cruised through the fourth inning of the game. However, it was the fifth and sixth innings that did Ginn in as he gave up four runs across those two innings. All in, Ginn managed to get through six innings of work while surrendering four runs on eight hits while walking none and striking out seven.

“J.T. obviously has been our best this year,” Mark Kotsay said after the game. “So overall, a line like this in this ballpark, four runs, six innings, you don’t walk off here saying it’s not a battle. He had seven punchouts, I think one walk. So maybe not his best night, but he gave us a chance to win the game.”

First out of the bullpen for the A’s was Brady Basso as he came on to relieve Ginn in the seventh inning. Basso pitched well in his outing as he went one and two-thirds innings of work while allowing no runs on one hit and striking out two.

Mark Kotsay elected to go with Scott Blewett to wrap up the eighth inning, but Blewett didn’t throw any pitches in the eighth as the A’s executed a pickoff at first base to record the last out of the inning. It was Blewett back out to finish the game in the ninth inning. Scott wasn’t able to pitch a clean ninth as the Rangers got to him for a run to extend their lead to 5-3 heading into the bottom half. Blewett was able to get out of the ninth, limiting the damage as the Rangers scored one run on two hits while striking out once and walking one time against Blewett in his inning and a third of work.

The A’s offense appeared to be hot early, but they finished the game scoring just three runs on eight hits and walking three times.

The A’s recorded their first runs of the game in the second inning when Henry Bolte came up with the clutch two-out knock. Bolte, with two outs and two on, drove a ball just over the wall in left field that clanked off the outside of the foul pole.

The call was ruled foul after a quick meeting of the umpires, and Mark Kotsay asked for a crew chief review, a request the umpires granted. The review ultimately showed the ball hit the pole, and they correctly ruled it a home run. It was Bolte’s sixth home run of the season and gave him RBIs 23, 24 and 25 on the season. The ball traveled 341 feet and left Bolte’s bat at 102.1 mph and at a 22-degree launch angle to give the A’s the 3-0 lead at the time.

That was all the offense the A’s could muster as they went out in the ninth inning unable to mount a sufficient offensive comeback, or really any offense since the second inning.

With the loss, the A’s fell to 48-75 on the season as the Rangers improved to 61-63.

The A’s and Rangers will play the rubber game of their three-game series on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PDT. The A’s are scheduled to send Jacob Lopez (5-4, 5.38 ERA) to the hill to start for them as the Rangers will counter with Cody Bradford (0-1, 2.38 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 podcast Tony Harvey: McNeil and Butler do some home run damage beating Rangers 8-3

Jeff McNeil (22) high fives Lawrence Butler (4) after hitting a home run in the bottom of the sixth inning off the Texas Rangers at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Harvey:

#1 Sacramento A’s right hander Justin Sterner had right knee surgery in Los Angeles on Thursday. Sterner will miss the remaining of the 2026 season. Sterner came to Sacramento on Friday for rehabilitation process. Sterner had been out since July 17th going 2-3 with a 6.12 ERA over 42.2 innings.

#2 The A’s upended the Texas Rangers on Friday night 8-3 after getting swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in three games.

#3 The A’s opened up the contest scoring three runs in the bottom of the third inning off Rangers starter Kumar Rocker when Carlos Cortez hit a three run double to right field making it 3-0.

#4 The A’s Jeff McNeil homered in the sixth inning and Lawrence Butler homered in the seventh inning. making it 5-3. In the bottom eighth inning Henry Bolte hit an infield ground out to score Tommy White making it 6-3 and McNeil hit a two run double to make it 8-3.

#5 Starting pitchers Saturday for the Texas Rangers LHP MacKenzie Gore (6-9 ERA 4.43) for Sacramento RHP JT Ginn (8-6 ERA 3.41) first pitch 1:05pm PDT at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.

Tony Harvey does the A’s podcasts each Saturday 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. 

Lack of Energy From Giants Offensively and Defensively Results in 6-0 Rangers Shutout; Rangers Bradford pitches 4.1 innings of shutout ball

Texas Rangers starter Cody Bradford throws to the San Francisco Giants line up in the top sixth inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Wed Aug 4, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

In an early afternoon matchup, the San Francisco Giants (48-67) lost a tough one Wednesday to the Texas Rangers (57-58) in game three of their series in a shutout. Two lefties took the mound, the Giants Carson Whisenhunt and the Rangers Cody Bradford.

Whisenhunt was looking for a quality start. Whisenhunt pitched 8.1 allowed five hits and four runs. Bradford 4.1 pitched 4.1 innings of shutout ball allowing five hits.

Through two innings the game remained scoreless. It all changed in the third inning when the Rangers were able to score three runs taking a 4-0 lead into the fourth inning.

San Francisco was again trailing early digging a pretty deep hole. The Rangers would add one more run, a solo home run off the bat of Brandon Nimmo for a 5-0 advantage. The hits just kept on coming for the Rangers scoring in the bottom of the eighth looking for a 6-0 shutout in the top of the ninth.

The final was indeed the shutout 6-0 and the series loss the Giants playing a real lackluster low energy game.

GAME RECAP

In the first inning both teams had a couple of runners on base but the game remained scoreless. San Francisco’s Eddys Leonard doubled in the second inning but was the only runner in the inning to get on base. Whisenhunt went three and out in a nice inning.

The third inning saw a breakthrough turnaround for the Rangers. The Giants went three and out in the inning but the Rangers turned on the heater in a huge bottom of the third. With two outs Texas went to work taking Whisenhunt apart.

The Rangers had four straight two out hits. After Wyatt Langford doubled, Brandon Nimmo singled followed by a Jake Burger single. The Nimmo single brought Langford home for a 1-0 lead. A Justin Foscue triple drove in Nimmo and Burger extending their lead to 3-0.

Texas would tack on one moe run to end the inning leading 4-0. The hits just kept on coming for Texas as Elias Diaz doubled Foscue home for the final run of the inning. The Giants were looking at a pretty significant deficit.

It was another frustrating at bat for the Giants in the fourth inning leaving two runners stranded. Whisenhunt remained in the game for the bottom of the fourth after the shaky third inning. He got the first at bat out but walked Evan Carter precipitating a change on the mound for San Francisco.

Seymour would relieve Whisenhunt after 4 1/3 innings. He has a 5-2 win/loss record and a 3.79 ERA. He got the Giants out of the inning when Ezequiel Duran hit into a double play.

San Francisco got something going in the top of the fifth innings hitting two singles, the first off the bat of Drew Cavanaugh and the second off Jung Hoo Lee. With two runners on base and only one out, there was a change on the mound for the Rangers.

Tyler Alexander would relieve Cody Bradford after a pretty decent outing for Bradford. Alexander would face Willy Adames striking him out for the second out. Rafael Devers grounded out and mid-way through the game San Francisco badly needed to get some runs up on the board.The Rangers created an even wide gap in the bottom of the fifth. Brandon Nimmo hit a solo home run giving Texas a 5-0 lead.

There was nothing going on for the Giants in the top of the sixth or seventh innings. They had two runners on base in the eighth but left them stranded. They had been able to keep the Rangers from doing any more damage but despite seven hits in the game San Francisco had been unable to score any runs. They were three outs away from losing the game and the series.

Drew Cavanaugh did double in the ninth inning but with two outs Texas relief pitcher Cole Winn closed out the game. San Francisco had won the first game of this series but ended up losing the series dropping games two and three.

GAME NOTES

San Francisco had seven hits in the game the Rangers with nine yet a lopsided 8-0 final score pointing to timely hits by Texas and there were also five walks in the game which did not help. The four run third inning was the culprit that turned this game in favor of the Rangers.

The San Francisco offense did have those seven hits but could not string hits together leaving runners stranded throughout the game. The Giants also had some errors that led to two unearned runs. This was just a difficult game for San Francisco getting outplayed in every phase of the ball game offensively and defensively.

It was a tough outing for Whisenhunt who pitched only 3 1/3 innings not able to go deep in the game. He allowed five hits, four earned runs, three walks with four strikeouts setting the stage for the Rangers shut-out.

The Rangers starter Cody Bradford pitched 4 1/3 innings allowing five hits, no runs, two walks with five strikeouts. The Texas bullpen finished off San Francisco pretty easily.

The Giants will now head home for a series with the Detroit Tigers over the weekend. Keider Montero will take the mound for the Tigers with a 8-6 win/loss record and a 3.17 ERA. Right now the Giants are undecided as to who will pitch Friday night. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 7:15 PM.

Giants Fight Back Twice To Tie Rangers Only to Lose In a Walk-Off 5-4; Rangers 6 game losing streak comes to an end

Texas Rangers Alejandro Osuna (left) and Ezekial Duran (second from left) and the rest of the Rangers celebrate Duran’s run scoring walk off double in the last of the ninth innning to defeat the San Francisco Giants at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Tue Aug 4, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

It was the Texas Rangers (56-58) who jumped up on the scoreboard early in game Tuesday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington taking a 2-0 run lead in the first inning. While San Francisco (48-66) had some opportunities their offense was sluggish through the next four innings.

The Giants starting pitcher Blade Tidwell turned his nervous start around after the opening inning taking control and pitching nicely. The Giants kept the Rangers off the scoreboard for the next four innings but needed some production at the plate.

San Francisco was able to tie up the game in the seventh inning. The Rangers took back the lead in the eighth inning 4-2. San Francisco was not finished again tying up the game in the top of the ninth inning 4-4.

The Giants were three outs away from extra innings. The Rangers Ezequiel Duran hit a deep ball into the outfield that Jung Hoo Lee was unable to track and Jake Burger scored for the Texas walk-off 5-4.

GAME RECAP

Ranger’s pitcher MacKenzie Gore got a nice start for the team giving up a Willy Adames single but not much else. It was a busy bottom of the first for the Rangers scoring two runs.

Starting pitcher for San Francisco Blade Tidwell had a bit of a bumpy start giving up two runs giving the Rangers the first lead of the game. Tidwell gave up a walk, a couple of single and a double.

With two runners on base Brandon Nimmo doubled lead-off batter Joc Peterson home for the first run followed by Ezequiel Duran who singled Seager home for the 2-0 lead.

San Francisco had a opportunity in the top of the second. Daniel Susac doubled followed by a Buddy Kennedy walk and the Giants had two riunners on base with no outs. Gore got the next two strikeouts and Christian Koss grounded out to end the inning. Tidwell had a three and out in the bottom of the inning.

The Giants again got a couple of runners on base in the top of the third. Jung Hoo Lee who has been playing really well hit a double and Rafael Devers walked but they had two outs. Susac grounded out to end the inning for San Francisco. Tidwell had another terrific inning only giving up a single and this game was really moving along going into the fourth inning.

With the exception of the first inning, Tidwell had really reigned it in and had relaxed and settled in nicely. He had some opening trouble locating his pitches resulting in the two early Ranger runs but had turned things around. He gave up a single in the bottom of the fourth but easily got out of the inning and it was on to the fifth inning.

Going into the fifth inning San Francisco needed to make some offensive noise. It didn’t happen in the fifth with Gore closing out the top of the inning with only eight pitches going three and out.

The Rangers had a single in the bottojm of the fifth but Tidwell closed out the inning. It was getting later in the game but San Francisco still had plenty of time to make up the 2-run deficit.

The sixth inning was a three and out for Gore and Jason Foley who had relieved starting pitcher Tidwell. The Giants badly needed to make a move with only three innings left in the game.

The Giants made their move in the top of the seventh inning with a two-run home run off the bat of Osleivis Basabe who has been crushing the ball this past week. Drew Gilbert had walked earlier in the inning and just like that we had a new ball game 2-2. JT Brubaker relieved Foley in the bottom of the seventh inning going three and out.

The Giants Willy Adames, Rafael Devers, and Daniel Susac all struck out in the top of the eighth inning. The Rangers were looking to make a move in the bottom of the eighth. With Wyatt Langford on first and no outs Corey Seager singled. Brandon Nimmo came to the plate hitting another single and the Rangers had the bases loaded.

Ezequiel Duran answered with a double driving in Langford and Seager taking back the lead 4-2. The Giants intentionally walked Elias Diaz and again Texas had the bases loaded with two outs. Adrian Houser relieved Reiver Sanmartin who pitched 2/3 of the inning allowing the two runs. Houser got out of the inning that had proven to be disastrous.

It all came down to the top of the ninth inning, The Giants were down to their last three outs and were facing an excellent closer Jacob Latz who is known to be very stingy when it comes to the long ball.

Drew Gilbert singled followed by a Grant McCray walk and the Giants had a couple of runners on base with only one out. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch. It would be up to Brent Eldridge and he got the job done hitting a single that drove both Gilbert and McCray home and this game was again tied 4-4.

Now the Giants would have fight their way to extra innings. Dylan Smith would take the mound facing the top of the Rangers lineup. Jake Burger doubled, Wyatt Langford flied out and Corey Seager was intentionally walked.

Brandon Nimmo struck out and San Francisco had a huge second out. Ezequiel Duran was the last hope for the Rangers. He hit a deep ball into the outfield that Lee was unable to track and that was the ball game, The Rangers had the walk-off winning game two 5-4 tying up the series.

GAME NOTES

The Giants got an ideal start Monday taking the lead early beating the Rangers 5-1. They would be looking to replicate the early lead and the timely hits that they had in Monday’s game but for Tuesday falling one run short in the second game of the three game series.

This was an unfortunate loss for the San Francisco Giants unable to protect the late tie. Texas came up with the bigger hits in the final two innings. Again the Giants fell behind early and the offense was quiet for the first six innings of the game.

The San Francisco bullpen just couldn’t hold the tie. The Giants had a couple of great rallies but Texas pushed across the winning run in bottom of the ninth for the walk-off. The Giants did lose the game but showed a lot of fight coming back from the 2-0 deficit and tying up this game twice. The problem was that they didn’t get enough offense until late in the game and their bullpen couldn’t shut the door when the game was tied.

It was an impressive outing for Tidwell once he got through the first inning. It appeared that his nerves got the best of him but he turned it all around in the next four innings. He really calmed down and pitched really well. He finished five innings allowing six hits, two earned runs, one walk with three strikeouts.

The Rangers Mackenzie Gore had a great outing going six innings. He allowed only three hits, no runs, three walks and four strikeouts.

Wednesday the Giants will be looking to take the series in game three. Carson Whisenhunt will take the mound for San Francisco. He has a 2-2 win/loss record and a 6.63 ERA. Right now the Rangers are undecided as to who will pitch tomorrow. First pitch for game three is scheduled for 11:35 AM\.

Giants Take Game One Against Rangers 5-1

Texas Rangers fans and a San Francisco Giant fan were reaching and waiting for Giants Jung Hoo Lee’s home run ball in the top of the third inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Mon Aug 3, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (47-65) took to the road for a matchup with the Texas Rangers (55-57) Monday evening amid a well-published myriad of changes for the Giants. The Giants got what they have needed so badly in many of their losses, an early lead. Going into the fourth inning they had a 3-0 lead.

Logan Webb pitched six spotless innings giving up only five hits. They scored a couple of runs in the second inning adding one more in the third, a Jung Hoo Lee solo home run.

Lee would hit a second home run in the eighth inning extending the San Francisco lead to 4-0. Lee would sacrifice Grant McCray home and the Giants were looking for a shut-out going into the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Rangers foiled the possible shut-out when Ezequiel Duran hit a solo home run but San Francisco did come away with the 5-1 win.

GAME RECAP

San Francisco starting pitching Logan Webb had a three strike-out inning to open the game. Each pitcher had a walk in the first inning but no hits going into the second inning.

The Giants would light up the scoreboard in the second inning scoring two runs. Daniel Susac reached second on a Ranger error and would score when Drew Gilbert singled. Osleivis Basabe sacrificed Gilbert home for a second run and a 2-0 San Francisco lead.

The Giants continued pounding the ball with a third run, a Lee solo home run in the third inning. The Giants Logan Webb gave up a couple of singles in the bottom of the third but no runs and added one more strikeout. After three innings the Giants got the early start they had been looking for.

Rangers starting pitcher Cal Quantrill gave up a single in the fourth inning, no runs and Logan Webb had the same result with one single in the inning.

Both pitchers had quality innings in the fifth and sixth innings. Going into the seventh innings there were pitching changes for both teams. For Texas Ben Peoples relieved Quantrill and for San Francisco Sam Hentges relieved Webb. Both pitchers got through the inning and San Francisco took the 3-0 lead into the eighth inning.

San Francisco’s Lee hit his second home run of the game in the eighth inning and the Giants were weaving their way toward a shut-out now with a 4-0 lead. Both teams had six hits through eight innings but it was the Giants that had the timely hits.

The game went into the ninth inning and the Giants were three outs away from winning the first game of the series. Lee had been instrumental in this game and would add another RBI sacrificing Grant McCray, who had walked, home.

San Francisco was looking at a 5-0 shut-out win to open this series. The Rangers had something else in mind and with one out the shut-out was snuffed in thanks to an Ezequiel Duran solo home run.

It has been a tough start for the Rangers committing five errors in this game, not their finest hour but they did avoid the shut-out. Their offense was equally sub-par. The final was 5-1 in favor of San Francisco.

GAME NOTES

The Giants dominated in game one of the series from start to finish. They scored early and the work on the mound from Logan Webb was terrific. Webb kept the Rangers’ offense under control limiting hard contact and preventing any big innings. Webb gave the Giants the chance to play from in front for a change.

San Francisco capitalized on scoring opportunities while the Rangers did not cash in with runners on base. The Giants played a far cleaner game defensively while the Ranger struggled with five errors. This was one of the best all-around games San Francisco has played recently.

San Franciscos’ Logan Webb pitched through six innings allowing five hits, no runs, one walk and eight strikeouts. Webb was relieved by Keaton Winn in the seventh inning going 2/3 s of an inning. Sam Hentges would relieve Winn in the seventh inning closing out the inning and would also pitch through the eighth. It was some solid work from the mound in this game.

Quantrill pitched through six innings as well. He allowed four hits, three runs, one earned run, one walk and four strikeouts.

San Francisco had a great start in game one and would be looking to score early in the second game of the series Tuesday. This was key to their win Monday night. Blade Tidwell will take the mound for the Giants in game two.

Tidwell was traded to the Giants by the New York Mets on July 30th of 2025. He had a shoulder injury that prevented him from debuting with the Giants in 2025. Tidwell will be returning to the big leagues for the first time since late April where he was operating out of the bullpen. Tidwell’s ERA is 3.00. The Rangers MacKenzie Gore will start Tuesday. He has a 6-9 win/loss record and a 4.77 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 5:05 PM.

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason: A’s move back into first place in AL West with win over Texas

Sacramento A’s starter JT Ginn (35) leaves in the fourth inning after feeling some pain in his left ankle assisted by trainer Jeff Collins against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Sun Apr 26, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:

#1 Sacramento A’s starter JT Ginn had an amazing game until the fourth inning he tweaked something in left ankle and had to exit the game when releiver Joel Kuhnel took the mound. The A’s used five pitchers and wound up winning Sunday’s contest 2-1 and taking the series 2-1.

2. The A’s took an early 2-0 lead scoring both runs in the first inning. Carlos Cortez continued his offensive excellence driving in both runs. He had three hits on four at bats. This game got uncomfortably close but the A’s hung on.

3. Despite being so early in the season this game carried some importance when it comes to momentum-it’s been a while since the A’s have been at the top of the standings and seeing them occupy first place has been a long time coming.

4. Shea Langliers continues to prove that he is one of the best offensive and defensive catchers in ht league with hits in both games two and three.

5.The A’s will start a thre-game series Tuesday taking on the 10-17 Kansas City Royals in Sacramento. First pitch for that game is scheduled for 6:40 PM with Jacob Lopez (2-1 ERA 5.70) taking the mound for the A’s while the Royals will start Kris Bubic (2-1 ERA 4.08).

Barbara Mason does the Sacramento 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 Daniel Dullum: A’s Cortez has been a big key in the line up

Sacramento A’s Carlos Cortes swings for a fourth inning single against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Sun Apr 26, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 Sacramento A’s hitter is Carlos Cortes is in a groove on Sunday he provided more punch with a first inning two run triple that was key in the A’s 2-1 one run win over the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington to win the rubber game two games to one. With the win the A’s move back into first place in the AL West by one game on top of the Rangers.

#2 No doubt that Cortes is seeing the ball good he slugged a 106.3 MPH line drive off the glove centerfielder Evan Carter on the warning track that scored the A’s Tyler Soderstrom and Brent Rooker.

#3 A’s pitcher JT Ginn left in the fourth inning due to sorness in his elbow with one out and the A’s in front 2-0. The relief staff of Joel Kuhnel, Jacob Lopez, Justin Sterner, Hogan Harris and Jack Perkins pitched the rest of the way to shutout the Rangers.

#4 Brent Rooker returned to the A’s line up hitting clean up as the designated hitter going 0-4 a bit rusty but walked and scored a run Rooker is expected to get his timing back.

#5 Next up for the A’s the Kansas City Royals LHP Kris Bubic (2-1 ERA 4.08) the A’s have not announced a starter for Tuesday’s game at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.

Join Daniel Dullum for the Sacramento A’s podcasts Sunday nights 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 game wrap: Green and Gold Fly Home With a 2-1 One-Run Nerve Test

Sacramento A’s pitcher Justin Sterner pitches to the Texas Rangers line up in releif in the sixth inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Sun Apr 26, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s game wrap: Green and Gold Fly Home With a 2-1 One-Run Nerve Test

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento A’s did not exactly storm out of Texas on Sunday afternoon. They tiptoed through traffic, ducked a few falling anvils, and still somehow walked away with a 2-1 win over the Rangers. In a game that began with a first-place tie in the American League West, the Green and Gold grabbed two runs in the first inning, then spent the next eight innings protecting them like a man carrying soup across a trampoline to retain sole poscession of the top spot.

The biggest swing came early. After Nick Kurtz struck out and Shea Langeliers grounded out, Tyler Soderstrom and Brent Rooker worked back-to-back walks against Kumar Rocker. That brought up Carlos Cortes, who has been one of the hottest bats on the roster during this road trip. Cortes turned on a line drive to center field, racing all the way to third as Soderstrom and Rooker scored. Just like that, the A’s had a 2-0 lead before Texas could settle into the day.

That triple fit right into Cortes’ recent surge. Entering the game, he had gone 10-for-20 on the road trip with three homers, two doubles and five RBIs, and he kept applying pressure Sunday. He added singles in the fourth and eighth, finishing with three hits and both Athletics RBIs. For a lineup that stranded chances later, Cortes’ first-inning swing became the whole offensive meal, not just the appetizer.

J.T. Ginn did his part before leaving after an injury delay in the fourth. He opened with a ground-ball single to Brandon Nimmo, then immediately erased it with a double play off Joc Pederson’s bat. Texas threatened in the second when Josh Jung doubled, Josh Smith walked, and a balk moved both runners into scoring position. Ginn responded by striking out Danny Jansen to keep the Rangers empty-handed. He worked around another single in the third and left with a 2-0 lead after Evan Carter was hit by a pitch and stole second in the fourth.

From there, the bullpen turned the game into a long, sweaty trust exercise. Joel Kuhnel escaped the fourth. Jacob Lopez worked a clean fifth but ran into trouble in the sixth when Jung doubled and Carter’s sacrifice bunt turned into a throwing error, allowing Jung to score and cutting the lead to 2-1. When Jake Burger walked and Josh Smith reached on a bunt single, Texas had the bases loaded with nobody out and every reason to believe the game was about to flip.

Justin Sterner refused to let it happen. He struck out Jansen, struck out Sam Haggerty, and got Nimmo to line out to center. That was the game’s hinge, the moment when the Rangers had the door open and the Athletics slammed it shut with both hands. It also continued a strong bullpen stretch for the A’s, who entered the day having allowed just four runs over their previous seven games from the relief corps.

The A’s offense had chances to breathe easier but could not cash in. Langeliers doubled in the fifth and singled in the seventh. Nick Kurtz singled in the seventh, and Zack Gelof stole second as a pinch-runner in the eighth. In the ninth, Lawrence Butler singled, Darell Hernaiz moved him over with a sacrifice bunt, Kurtz was intentionally walked, and Soderstrom walked to load the bases. But Brent Rooker struck out, leaving the lead stuck at one run.

That made Jack Perkins’ finish even bigger. After Hogan Harris handled the seventh and Perkins struck out two in the eighth, the right-hander returned for the ninth with no margin for foolishness. Nimmo lined out sharply to left. Andrew McCutchen struck out swinging. Corey Seager then grounded out to Kurtz, who flipped to Perkins covering first, ending a tight win that felt more like a street fight than a clean baseball game.

Side note: Kurtz also made a little franchise history with his ninth-inning intentional walk, extending his walk streak to 16 straight games and breaking the all-time Athletics record he had shared with Topsy Hartsel, Max Bishop and Rickey Henderson.

This win did not come with fanfare, but it came with grit, bullpen nerve, and and a sprinkle of Cortes thunder. Sometimes that is all a club needs. The Green and Gold did not bury Texas. They simply outlasted them on their own turf.

The Kansas City Royals are scheduled to visit the A’s and West Sacramento on Tuesday night at Sutter Health Park starting pitcher for the Royals LHP Kris Bubic (2-1 ERA 4.80) the A’s have not announced a starter for Tuesday night yet first pitch 6:40pm PDT.

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. 

Sacramento A’s game wrap: Oh So Close in Texas, but Sactown Falls by One 4-3

Sacramento A’s catcher Austin Winns (right) puts the late tag on Texas Rangers Danny Jansen (left) who scores on an RBI fly out hit by Brandon Nimmo in the last of the third inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Sat Apr 25, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

For five innings Saturday night, the Sacramento Athletics looked like a team ready to grab the wheel once again, and drive off with a clean road win. They struck first, built a three-run lead, and got a strong early outing from Jeffrey Springs. Then baseball did what baseball loves to do. It got weird, turned sideways, and reminded everyone that a lead in the third inning is not a savings account. The Texas Rangers rallied back, Josh Jung delivered the biggest swing of the night, and the A’s fell 4-3 after a game that started with promise and ended with a quiet ninth inning.

The first inning gave no hint of the early offense to come. Shea Langeliers, Nick Kurtz, and Colby Thomas all struck out in the top half, while Springs answered with a clean bottom half, retiring Brandon Nimmo, Andrew McCutchen, and Corey Seager in order. The A’s broke through in the second when Jacob Wilson ripped a sharp double to left. After Max Muncy struck out, Darell Hernaiz shot a ground-ball single into left field, bringing Wilson home for a 1-0 lead. Austin Wynns reached on Corey Seager’s fielding error, but the Athletics could not add more.

They did not wait long to stretch the lead. In the third, Langeliers opened with a sharp single to left, and Kurtz followed with a walk. Thomas then lined a single into center, scoring Langeliers and moving Kurtz to second. Tyler Soderstrom’s groundout pushed both runners up, and Wilson added a sacrifice fly to right to score Kurtz. Just like that, the Green and Gold had a 3-0 lead and looked sharp enough to make Texas pay for every extra base.

But the Rangers answered in the bottom of the third with a rally that was less thunderstorm and more slow leak. Danny Jansen was hit by a pitch, Evan Carter walked, and Sam Haggerty dropped down a soft bunt single to load the bases. Nimmo lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Jansen. After Springs struck out McCutchen, Seager lined a single to center, bringing home Carter and cutting the Athletics’ lead to 3-2. Springs escaped by striking out Jake Burger, but Texas had shoved itself right back into the game.

From there, the middle innings became a wrestling match. Langeliers singled again in the fourth, Wilson added another single in the fifth, and Springs settled down after the shaky third. He worked through a one-out single by Jansen in the fourth and retired the Rangers in order in the fifth, including a nice first-to-pitcher groundout that saw Kurtz and Springs handle Nimmo cleanly. For a while, it felt like the A’s might survive the earlier scare.

The turning point came in the sixth. Seager opened with a single to right, and after Burger flew out sharply to left, Jung changed the entire night with one swing. He launched his fourth home run of the season to right-center field, scoring Seager and flipping a 3-2 Athletics lead into a 4-3 Rangers advantage. It was the kind of swing that does not just change the scoreboard. It changes the temperature in the building. Springs got through the rest of the inning, but the damage was done.

The Athletics had chances, though not many clean ones. In the eighth, Carlos Cortes came off the bench for Muncy and drilled a sharp double to right with one out. That put the tying run in scoring position, but Jeff McNeil, also entering as a pinch-hitter, flew out to left, and Wynns followed with a flyout to center. Texas had opened the door just enough for trouble, but the A’s could not kick it in.

Mark Leiter Jr. gave the Athletics a flawless bottom of the eighth, retiring Seager, Burger, and Jung in order, which kept the deficit at one. That gave the top of the order one last chance in the ninth against Jacob Latz. But the inning disappeared quickly. Zack Gelof grounded out to short, Langeliers was called out on strikes, and Kurtz grounded out to third to end it.

Wilson was one of the bright spots for the Athletics, finishing with a double, a single, a run scored, and a sacrifice fly. Langeliers collected two hits, Hernaiz drove in the first run, and Thomas added an RBI single. But the A’s also struck out ten times and managed only one run after the third inning. Texas did not pile up offense all night, but it did enough, and Jung’s two-run homer was the difference between a clean Athletics win and a frustrating one-run loss.

Sunday the rubber game series tied 1-1 starting pitchers for Sacramento RHP JT Ginn (0-0 ERA 3.74) for Texas RHP Kumar Rocker (1-1 ERA 3.48) first pitch 11:35am PDT.

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. 

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Harvey: A’s move one game in front of Rangers for first place with win

Sacramento A’s slugger Carlos Cortes is thrilled after hitting a solo home run off Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi in the top of the first inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Fri Apr 24, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Harvey:

#1 How did Luis Severino perform as the starting pitcher for the A’s against the Rangers, and what adjustments did he make after his recent struggles?

#2 What impact did Carlos Cortes have batting in the third spot of the lineup, and how did his role influence the A’s offensive production?

#3 How did Zack Gelof perform while playing in center field, and what does his usage there suggest about the team’s roster flexibility?

#4 In what ways did Shea Langeliers contribute offensively or defensively in the game, particularly in helping the A’s secure their 8–1 win?

#5 How did the overall performance of key A’s players like Luis Severino, Carlos Cortes, and Zack Gelof contribute to the team taking sole possession of first place after the game?

Tony Harvey of NBC Radio does the Sacramento A’s podcasts Saturdays 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.