Tag: texas rangers

Rangers get longball from Langford and Garcia in 8-2 win in A’s last home night game in Oakland history

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Oakland A’s baserunner Brent Rooker (25) slides into second base ahead of the throw for a double as Texas Rangers shortstop Jonathan Omelas (21) waits for the throw in the bottom of the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Sep 25, 2024 (photo by Mauricio Segura Sports Radio Service)

Texas (75-83). 302 000 000. 5. 8. 1

Athletics (68-90). 010 000 000. 1. 9 0

Time: 2:49

Attendance: 35,270

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Oakland, CA

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The second day of the three day funereal—whoops!, I mean the final homestand—of the late Oakland Athletics ended with the deceased—I mean, departing—squad falling to the Texas Rangers, 5-1. in spite of having outhit their opponents, 9-8 on Wednesday night.

Neither team offered much in the way of starting pitchers. The Athletics gave the nod to Brady Bosso, a 26 year old rookie southpaw who has bounced up and down earlier this season between double A Midland, Triple A Las Vegas, and the team that will be moving to Sin City.

The rookie began the day with an attractive 1-0, 2.33 big league record, but Basso’s appeal slipped profoundly after what amounted to a cameo, three inning appearance. He was tagged with five runs, all earned, six hits, and the loss.

Two of the hits against him were home runs and accounted for four runs, Wyatt Langford’s two run blast to left in the first and Adolis García’s shot, also to left, in the third. He threw 54 pitches, only 28 of which counted as strikes, to 16 batters, and fell to 1-1, 4.03.

Cody Bradford, the Rangers’ starter, reached the major leagues on May 16 of last year and went 4-3, 5.30 for the World Series champion Rangers. He has done much better this year and managed to bring a 6-3, 3.59 record for a Texas team that was eliminated from playoff contention before the A’s.

I wouldn’t say he turned in a better performance than Bosso, just one that wasn’t as bad. He faced 21 batters over 3-2/3 frames while allowing six hits, three walks, and one, earned, run. He didn’t pitch enough innings to earn the win, which went to Matt Festa, the first of three Rangers relievers.

Festa, like the other two members of the Texas bullpen who worked Wednesday night, kept the A’s off the board. Festa did it for 2-1/3 innings. He gave up two hits and struck out an equal number of batters and improved his record to 6-1, 5.56). Andrew Chafin surrendered a hit and notched a K over 1-1/3 innings, and José Leclerc pitched the final 1-2/3 frames without allowing a baserunner.

.A trio of Athletic relief pitchers shut the Rangers out on a total of two hits in the six remaining innings.. The hits came off Joe Boyle, who pitched the fourth, fifth, and sixth episodes. Hogan Harris (two innings) and Grant Holman (one) disposed of the last ten Rangers to come to the plate.

Oakland’s sole run came with two down in the second inning, when Texas right fielder Adolis Garcia misjudged Daz Cameron’s fly by coming in on it while the ball sailed over his head for a triple and Darell Hernáiz singled him home.

The game was punctuated by repeated and voluminous chants of “SELL THE TEAM” and occasional weaker rendition of “Let’s Go, Oakland.”

Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker had two hit days. Rooker’s were an infield single and a bloop double. Marcus Semien led off the game with his 1,500th career hit.

Thursday, afternoon’s 12:37pm PT game probably will be the last major league baseball game played in the Coliseum or in Oakland. The probable pitchers will be the Athletics’ JT Ginn (0-1 4.40) and the Rangers’ Kumar Rocker (0-1, 2.57). The game has been sold out.

A’s Wilson gets a walk off hit in 9th to beat Rangers 5-4 to open series

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Oakland A’s Shea Langeliers (23) scores a run on Zack Gelof’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning as Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim stands by (right). (AP News photo)

Texas (74-83). 100 011 010. 4. 10. 1

Athletics (68-89). 201 001 001. 5. 6. 1

Time: 2:34

Attendance: 30,402

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Oakland, CA

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–When the second place Athletics defeated the third place Texas Rangers 5-4 in a mock battle between two of the American League West’s also rans in the antepenultimate major league game at the still beautiful Oakland Coliseum this chilly fall Tuesday evening, the outcome of the contest was not at first major concern of the more than 30,000 fans in attendance.

Except maybe for the occasional Ranger rooter or Bochy booster. For the rest, it was a chance to say goodbye to a place that had been a part of our collective experience for 56 years.

The game itself , although close, was for most of its durationon the lackluster side, as befitted its strategic importance. The loudest noise came in the top of the eighth, just before Jonah Heims tied the game at four with his 13th homer of the year, when the crowd exhorted the Fisher King to “‘SELL THE TEAM!”

That chant was matched in the top of the ninth when, with Mason Miller on the mound, the Rangers threatened to break a 4-4 tie. Pure baseball, briefly, had returned to East Oakland. Minutes after Geloff crossed the plate, It continued until Jacob Wilson’s game winning single in the bottom of the ninth. “SELL THE TEAM” resounded once more in the cold Coliseum air.

The nominal home team sent a rookie to the mound, Mitch Spence, making his 23rd big league start and carrying the baggage of an 8-9, 4.30 record with him. He lived up to his mediocre numbers, lasting only 4-2/3 innings and giving up three runs, all earned, on seven hits including a fourth inning solo home run to Nathabniel Lowe, two walks, and two hit batters.

It took Spence 92 pitches to face 16 Rangers in his brief tenure on the mound. The youngster escaped with a no decision that raised his ERA to 4.35. TJ McFarland took over to close down the top of the fifth after Texas had scored their third tally.

The A’s also used the arms Grant Holman (three up, three down, with a strike out in the sixth); TP Jeguson (the same as Holman, but with one more K); Scott Alexander (who surrendered the tying homer to Heilms); and Mason Miller, who earned his second win against two defeats in spite of allowing a couple of hits to go with his two strike outs).

Spence’s opposite number was 12 year big league veteran Nathan Eovaldi, who had gone 5-0 in last year’s post season and was 11–8,3.96 on taking the mound tonight. He performed adequately over his seven innings of work.

One of the four runs he allowed was unearned, He struck out a quarter of the 28 Athletics batters he faced while walking three. He gave up four hits. Of his 90 deliveries, 31 were balls. David Robertson allowed a walk in his eighth inning relief appearance, and Josh Sborz took the loss.

It came quickly. Zack Gelof led off against him in the bottom of the ninth with a single to left. He took off for second while Seth Brown was going down swinging, and Heim’s throw had him beat. But the A’s second baseman’s head first slide evaded the tag, and Gelof was in with a stolen base.

A single to center by this year’s first draft choice, Jacob Wilson, sealed the deal. Wilson also made a heads up play in the top of the fifth, throwing Marcus Semien out at third when the ex-Athletic made the basic mistake of trying to. advance from second on a ball hit in front of him with no one on base behind him.

Lawrence Butler went one for two with a double, a pair of walks, and another pair of pilfered bases, giving him 18 for the year without having been thrown out, the most in either league.

Tyler Soderstrom went two for four and slammed a double 110 mph in first and then a less powerfully hit one that bounced over the right field fence in the sixth. (He got picked off at second).

A large and ambivalent crowd is expected for Wednesday’s, 6:40pm PT encounter at the Coliseum. Southpaws Brady Baso (1-0, 2.33 for the A’s) and Cody Bradford (6-3, 3.59 for the Rangers) will duke it out on the hill.

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s open three game set with Mariners Tonight; Oakland trying to recover after Texas trip

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Oakland A’s starter Mitch Spence delivers against the Texas Rangers line up at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Sun Sep 1, 2024 (AP News photo(

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1  Texas took the early lead in the first inning 1-0. Adolis Garcia doubled Corey Seager home and the Rangers would extend their lead in the third inning to 2-0. 

#2 The A’s finally got on the board in the fifth inning. It was no surprise that it was Brent Rooker who started the Oakland rally hitting a single allowing Jacob Wilson to reach home for the single run.

#3 The A’s would tie up the game in the eighth inning when Max Schuemann singled and Zach Gelof scored for the 2-2 game.

#4 The Rangers Josh Jung in the bottom of the ninth took a mighty swing and sent the ball out of the park for a 6-4 Texas win and a Mason Miller blown save.

#5 The Seattle Mariners will come calling on Monday night at the Oakland Coliseum. The M’s will start Logan Gilbert (7-10, 3.09) for the A’s Osvaldo Bido (5-3, 3.21) first pitch 4:07 pm PT.

Barbara Mason does the Oakland A’s podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Rangers Beat A’s In a Second Walk Off In a Row 6-4

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Oakland A’s reliever Mason Miller (19) walks off the field after the Texas Rangers Josh Jung (6) took Miller deep for a walk off home run in the bottom of the tenth inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Sun Sep 1, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Oakland A’s (59-78) fought back in their game three with the Texas Rangers (65-72) Sunday tying it up in the eighth inning 2-2. Mason Miller got out of the bottom of the ninth inning but did not fare as well in the tenth.

Oakland took the lead in the tenth inning scoring two runs and taking a 4-2 lead. Things were looking very promising for Oakland. Miller pitched the tenth inning walking Wyatt Langford and with two runners on base Josh Jung knocked the ball out of the park for their second walk off win of the series winning 6-4 on Sunday at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

What was even more disappointing was that Miller was one strike away from an out twice in the tenth and just came up short.

Game recap: Texas took the early lead in the first inning 1-0. Adolis Garcia doubled Corey Seager home and the Rangers would extend their lead in the third inning to 2-0. Josh Smith singled Justin Forcue home and Texas had a great start in this game. Through seven innings the Rangers had seven hits (they would finish with ten hits) and Oakland had 11 (they would finish with 16 hits).

The A’s finally got on the board in the fifth inning. It was no surprise that it was Brent Rooker who started the Oakland rally hitting a single allowing Jacob Wilson to reach home for the single run.

The A’s would tie up the game in the eighth inning when Max Schuemann singled and Zach Gelof scored for the 2-2 game. Schuemann pushed his luck and attempted to reach second base and was thrown out.

This game went into the bottom of the eighth all knotted. It would be up to Michel Otanez to keep Texas from scoring giving the A’s one more chance to take the lead in the ninth inning. The A’s were still looking for their first homer of the game. Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker both had 3 hits apiece through eight innings but no long balls.

Oakland’s Mitch Spence went five innings allowing five hits, two runs, three walks and five strikeouts. He was relieved by Ross Stripling who allowed a couple of hits but no runs. He pitched the sixth inning before being relieved by T.J. McFarland in the seventh inning going three up and three down. Michel Otanez took over on the mound in the eighth inning also going three up and three down.

In the ninth inning Lawrence Butler had his fourth hit of the game, a single. Brent Rooker came to the plate singled and Butler reached third base with one out and Shea Langeliers at the plate.

Langeliers made contact but unfortunately hit into a double play and the game remained tied at two. Texas had another opportunity for a walk off after winning in a walk off in game two. Mason Miller took the mound for Oakland looking to extend this game into extra innings. Miller allowed a single but that would be it for the Rangers and this game went into the tenth inning.

JJ Bleday and Daz Cameron both struck out in the tenth and it was up to Seth Brown to save this game and he came up huge hitting a triple bringing home second base runner Shea Langeliers. Oakland took a 3-2 lead which they extended when Zach Gelof doubled and Seth Brown crossed home plate for a 4-2 Oakland lead.

Miller struck out first at bat Corey Seager on a full count looking to save this game. Josh Smith flied out for the second out. Adolis Garcia connected singling Marcus Semien home and we had a 4-3 ball game with two outs.

Miller walked Wyatt Langford and the Rangers had runners on first and second with Josh Jung at the plate. Jung took a mighty swing and sent the ball out of the park for a 6-4 Texas win and a Mason Miller blown save.

Despite the loss, Lawrence Butler continued to be on fire with four hits in this game. Brent Rooker also finished the game with four hits. Zach Gelof had three hits in the game and Seth Brown was terrific in the tenth inning with the triple that gave the A’s the lead in the top of the tenth.

Game notes: Saturday the A’s lost a close game to theRangers (65-72) after tying up the game in the sixth inning. They are looking for their 60th win of the season and it has not come easy. In today’s rubber game Oakland will have another chance of reaching that milestone. At season’s end last year they finished with 50 wins and with roughly a month left to play they could finish with a very nice second half of the season. In today’s game, Mitch Spence will take the mound with a 7-9 win/loss record and a 4.54 ERA. The Rangers will be looking to Walter Pennington to win the series for Texas.

Monday night the A’s will travel home to take on the Seattle Mariners in a four game series at the Coliseum. They continue to look for their 60th win of the season and right now it is like pulling teeth. It is painful, it is just not happening. Osvaldo Bido will take the mound for the Athletics with a 5-3 win/loss record and a 3.21 ERA. Seattle will start Logan Gilbert with a 7-10 win/loss record and a 3.09 ERA. First pitch on the holiday is scheduled for 4:07 PM.

A’s Drop Game Two In Rangers Series 3-2 In a Walk Off; Butler homers but A’s fall short

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Oakland A’s Lawrence Butler (4) rounds the bases after slugging his 19th home run of the season in the top of the fourth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Sat Aug 31, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (59-77) fought their way back into this game after trailing 2-0. Another Lawrence Butler home run cut the Texas Rangers (64-72) lead in half in the fourth inning. The A’s tied up the game in the 6th inning when Brent Rooker doubled Lawrence Butler home.

It was a new ball game but it all came crashing down when A’s pitcher Tyler Ferguson loaded the bases with one out. A single from Leody Taveras was all it took for the 3-2 Ranger’s win.

Game recap: The Rangers took the early lead in the second inning 2-0. Jonas Heim hit a 373 feet home run with Nathaniel Lowe on base and that would be the only scoring for the Rangers going into the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Oakland A’s had some catching up to do trailing by a couple of runs. In the fourth inning Lawrence Butler cut the Rangers lead in half with a 367 feet home run. This was his sixth home run in five games. The A’s tied up this game in the 6th inning with a Brent Rooker double and a Lawrence Butler score. Neither team was able to reach home plate going into the bottom of the ninth inning.

Tyler Ferguson remained on the mound for the ninth inning after pitching the eighth and ran into some trouble. He hit Nathaniel Lowe followed by a Carson Kelly single. Jonas Heim popped out but then Ferguson walked Travis Jankowski and the bases were loaded with one out. Texas had a serious chance to walk off this game and that is exactly how this game ended. Leody Taveras singled and Ezequiel Duran ( who ran for Lowe) scored for the 3-2 win.

Oakland fought their way back into this game but they were unable to score another run in the game after the sixth inning. They went three and out in the seventh and eighth innings. They left two runners on base in the ninth inning but could not bring them home. Oakland finished this game with five hits, the Rangers with nine hits.

Oakland’s Joey Estes had a nice outing going six innings and allowing six hits, two runs, no walks with seven strikeouts. The Rangers starter Cody Bradford went seven innings allowing four hits, two runs, no walks with eight strikeouts in a solid game.

Game recap: After winning game one of their series with the Rangers Friday night 9-2, the A’s took the field in game two looking for another win. . Friday night the game was attended by over 28,000 fans and on Saturday night another well attended game for game two at Globe Life with 28,454.

It was a well pitched game Rangers starter Cody Bradford went seven innings, allowed four hits, two earned runs and eight strike outs. For the A’s Joey Estes six innings, six hits, two earned runs and seven strikeouts.

Sunday Oakland will be looking to win this series in game three. Mitch Spence will take the mound for the A’s with a 7-9 win/loss record and a 4.54 ERA. At the time of this post, the Rangers have not decided on a starting pitcher. First pitch for this game is scheduled for Sunday at 11:35 AM.

Oakland A’s podcast with Augie Mesenburg: Rooker goes yard twice, Bleday goes deep for 2 run HR

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Oakland A’s Brent Rooker (25) is congratulated by Lawrence Butler (4) after hitting a top of the seventh home run against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Fri Aug 30, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Augie Mesenburg:

#1 Oakland A’s Brent Rooker hit home runs in the first and seventh innings at Globe Life Field in Arlington against the Texas Rangers on Friday night. With the two home runs Rooker has 31 home runs and no doubt he’s seeing the baseball just fine.

#2 Shea Langeliers connected for his 23rd home run of the season. Langeliers has had his share of good at bats and he provided one of the many runs for the A’s.

#3 JJ Bleday hit a three run homes in the top of the third inning against the Rangers.

#4 A’s pitching gave two runs to the Rangers and kept their run total under control with great pitching from starter JP Sears pitching seven innings, allowing five hits and one run.

#5 The good pitching by the A’s could very well help them close in on third place and this is their best opportunity facing the third place Rangers.

#6 The A’s will start RHP Joey Estes (6-6, ERA 4.37) and for the Rangers LHP Cody Bradford (4-2, 3.31) first pitch at Globe Life on Saturday night slated for 4:05pm PT.

Augie Mesenburg is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com and is a reporter for 1080 KWAI Honolulu

A’s Bounce Back Beating Rangers 9-2 Clocking Four Home Runs

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Oakland A’s JJ Bleday (33) helped pour it on the Texas Rangers with a three run home run in the top of the third inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Fri Aug 30, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (59-76) got a perfect start in game one of their series with the Texas Rangers (63-72). They hit four home runs in this game, two of them from Brent Rooker who now have 33 home runs this season. JP Sears went seven outstanding innings on Friday night. The final was 9-2.

Game wrap: Brent Rooker got the party started early in this game hitting his 32nd home run of the season in the first inning giving the A’s an early 1-0 lead. Texas’ pitcher Jon Gray got into a rhythm going three and out in the second inning. Both pitchers had settled into the game nicely. JP Sears got a taste of what Gray got in the opening inning. He gave up a home run off the bat of the Rangers Nathaniel Lowe and this game was tied 1-1.

In the third inning it was JJ Bleday’s turn to knock his 20th home run of the season out of the park, a three-run homer. Jacob Wilson and Brent Rooker were on base and Oakland had taken a 4-1 lead. Things had gotten a little shaky for Ranger pitcher Jon Gray already giving up two hits, two walks and four earned runs.

Texas would relieve Jon Gray in the fifth inning who finished with three hits, four earned runs, two walks and five strikeouts. Walter Pennington relieved Gray getting out of the fifth inning. Grant Anderson pitched the sixth inning.

He was relieved by Dane Dunning in the seventh inning who gave up two hits one of which included Brent Rooker’s 33 rd home run of the season and his second of the game. The A’s had a 5-1 lead going into the eighth inning.

JP Sears went seven outstanding innings allowing five hits, one earned run, two walks and four strikeouts. Michel Otanez relieved Sears in the eighth inning.

The Rangers made it a three-run ball game when Nathaniel Lowe hit an infield single reaching first base. Travis Jankowski scored on a throwing error by first baseman Seth Brown. Oakland continued to lead 5-2 after eight innings. The A’s were three outs away from winning the first game of this series.

Oakland got the run back in the ninth inning and then some when Lawrence Butler doubled driving Max Schuemann home and the A’s had a 6-2 lead. They would extend that lead 7-2 when JJ Bleday doubled Butler home.

Shea Langeliers came to the plate hitting a two run blast giving Oakland a 9-2 lead and the A’s were sailing deep in the heart of Texas with four home runs in this game. They have hit 15 home runs in their last four games.

This game went into the bottom of the ninth inning with Oakland three outs away from the win. Ross Stripling took the mound looking to close out this game. Stripling did walk one runner but dismissed three Rangers and Oakland had won game one of this series 9-2.

Game notes: Friday evening the A’s started another road series taking on the Rangers. Thursday, they dropped a heartbreaker losing to the Cincinnati Reds after leading 6-1 at one time during the game eventually losing it 10-9.

They had a great offensive game clocking four home runs, three of them off the bat of Lawrence Butler and finished the game with 14 hits. It was the pitching that came up short in that game and Oakland got a better effort on Friday night with starter JP Sears going seven innings allowing five hits and one earned run.

The Rangers starter Jon Gray went 4.2 innings, allowing three hits and four earned runs. Sears helped keep the Rangers under wraps on offense while the A’s line up scored nine runs to put away Texas.

Sunday’s game two will feature Joey Estes starting with a 6-6 win/loss record and a 4.37 ERA. The Rangers Cody Bradford will take the mound with a 4-2 win/loss record and a 3.31 ERA. First pitch for game two is scheduled for 4:05 PM PT.

A’s Squander Healthy Lead Falling to the Reds In a Walk Off 10-9

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The Oakland A’s JJ Bleday gets congratulated in the dugout after hitting a top of the fourth inning home run against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark on Thu Aug 29, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (58-76) had a huge lead, 6-1, going into the bottom of the fourth inning. The Cincinnati Reds (64-70) rallied in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings taking a 7-6. It was tough going on the mound for the A’s who loaded the bases a number of times walking in runs.

Oakland did take a 9-7 lead in the top of the ninth but closing pitcher Grant Holman loaded the bases and the Reds walked away with this game 10-9. Lawrence Butler had another excellent game with three home runs.

The A’s got early runs much as they had in the game two. In the first inning, Oakland scored two runs. Seth Brown who has had a terrific series singled Brent Rooker home for a 1-0 lead. Daz Cameron came to the plate and grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop allowing JJ Bleday to score. Oakland extended their lead in the second inning with a Lawrence Butler two run home run (428 feet). After two innings, the A’s had a 4-0 lead.

Not to be outdone, the Reds Will Benson connected for a home run to center (438 feet) in the third inning and Cincinnati was on the board 4-1.

Oakland continued to grind away and unloaded a couple more home runs in the fourth inning. Two solo home runs came off the bats of Lawrence Butler , his second of the game (407 feet) and JJ Bleday (407 feet) giving the A’s a 6-1 lead.

Oakland’s J.T. Ginn started to struggle a bit in the fourth inning giving up a home run to Tyler Stephenson. It was a solo shot but Oakland still had a 6-2 lead. It all came apart in the fifth inning for Ginn loading the bases and walking a run in. Elly De La Cruz grounded out to first and Dominic Smith scored. The Reds had begun to make a move trailing 6-4.

Cincinnati scored another run in the sixth inning. Joe Boyle had relieved Ginn but he also loaded the bases and walked in a run. The Reds continued to chip away at the A’s lead now trailing 6-5.

T.J. McFarland relieved Boyle having to deal with a bases loaded situation and he also walked in a run in a disastrous sequence and this game was tied 6-6. There had been a huge momentum shift when the Reds’ Jonathan India sacrificed into a double play and Dominic Smith scored giving Cincinnati their first lead of the game 7-6. It had been a three run inning for the Reds in a crazy reversal of fortune.

When it began to look grim for Oakland, Lawrence Butler came to the plate to start off the ninth inning and slugged a 427 foot home run to tie up the game 7-7. Butler had really put on a show on this road trip.

JJ Bleday was also having a stellar day already with four hits and he did not disappoint hitting number five and the A’s had runners on second and third with no outs looking to take the lead. Seth Brown who was also having a terrific day knocked a single bringing Brent Rooker and JJ Bleday home taking back the lead 9-7. Oakland had hit four home runs three of them off the bat of Lawrence Butler.

This game went into the bottom of the ninth inning and it was in the A’s court. They needed their defense to step up and close out this game. Oakland pitcher Grant Holman would get his first opportunity to complete a save.

He walked the first at bat, and then went on to load the bases. Tyler Stephenson singled Rece Hinds home and the Reds trailed 8-9. Cincinnati walked off this game when TJ Friedl singled both Elly De La Cruz and Stephenson home. The final score was 10-9 and the Reds had avoided the sweep.

It was a horribly disappointing game for the A’s. They fought hard to get back into the game with some memorable performances from Lawrence Butler, JJ Bleday and Seth Brown. The team finished the game with 14 hits. There was a real letdown on the mound today loading the bases over and over. This was a horrible pitching game starting in the fifth inning and it just went south from there.

On the bright side Lawrence Butler is the first player in MLB with two three-homer games in one season since Aaron Judge accomplished that last year. He is the 25th player in Major League history to do so. As far as A’s history goes Butler is just the second player with two three-homer games in one season since Geronimo Berroa in 1996.

Game notes: Thursday the A’s took on the Reds in game three of their series looking for a sweep and couldn’t seal the deal. It wasn’t easy and what makes it even more difficult is the fact that this series is on the road the A’s had a lead and let it get away.

A’s starter JT Ginn went five innings, allowing four hits and four earned runs. Red starter Julian Aguiar pitched four innings allowing ten hits and six runs and despite getting lit up the Red managed to catch the A’s for a one run win.

The A’s will continue their road trip traveling to Texas for a three game series with the Rangers that will get underway on Friday night. JP Sears will take the mound for Oakland looking to take game one of the series. Sears will bring his 4.35 ERA and his 10-9 win/loss record to start game one. The Rangers will be looking to Jon Gray for a win in the opener. He comes in with a 5-5 win/loss record and a 4.32 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 PM.

Bleday 4 hits today

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: WNBA’s Clark and Reese pack the house; Oilers can make Stanley Cup Finals history; plus more news

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The Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese (left), Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark (center), and the Los Angeles Sparks Cameron Brink (right) during the WNBA draft on Mon Apr 15, 2024. Reese and Clark have been big draws for the WNBA and Brink is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. (AP file photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie, this has been the year of the rookie in the WNBA and the league has never seen such coverage of their players starting with the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese who both have everyone even those who don’t follow the league that closely talking.

#2 The NHL Stanley Cup Finals could see it’s first team since the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs come back down 0-3 and win it with four straight win if the Edmonton Oilers can pull it off on Monday night in Florida in game 7 against the Florida Panthers. The task would not only be historic but it’s a tall order if the Oilers can pull it off on Panthers ice.

#3 Charlie, the FBI raid on Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is just an added sad chapter to what is happening to Oakland as a city. Thao’s last interaction with the relocating Oakland A’s who leave after this season for Sacramento was when she and the Oakland Coliseum Joint Authority wanted $92 million for the A’s to play their remaining three years before they move to Las Vegas and Thao and the Coliseum ran the A’s away with the high rent ticket. When it rains it pours for the A’s and City of Oakland situation.

#4 Their known as the lovable losers the Chicago Cubs who had some success are back on hard times dead last in the National League East eight games back, four games below .500, the Cubs have lost six of their last ten games and open a four game series in San Francisco on Monday night. How has the Cubs demise surprised you?

#5 Three time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer will make his 2024 debut for the Texas Rangers today against the Kansas City Royals. Scherzer hasn’t pitched in a game since game 3 of last year’s World Series. In the off season he had to have lower back surgery, in rehab he had thumb soreness which doctors determined it was nerve issues that extended into his right triceps.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants return home to face Astros to start six game homestand tonight

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San Francisco Giants Brett Wisely gets the throw too late as the Texas Rangers Marcus Semien slides in safely in the bottom of the first inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Sun Jun 9, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 Marcus Semien who got hit in the helmet in his next at bat clobbered a three run home run as Semien’s home run helped the Rangers in an offensive win 7-2 over the Giants.

#2 Adolis Garcia later stole home plate and scored. The Rangers scored three in the first inning, two runs in the second, and another two runs in the fifth inning.

#3 The first pitch of the game knocked Semien’s helmet off his head,  “The first pitch, you don’t expect that, but luckily I’m OK.”

#4 The Giants Mike Yastrzemski who hit a home run Sunday to provide in one of two of the Giants runs. The Giants fell short in the five run loss.

#5 The Giants open a three game homestand starting Monday night at Oracle Park in San Francisco. Starting for the Houston Astros Spencer Arrighetti (3-5, ERA 5.79) and for the Giants Kyle Harrison (4-3, ERA 4.18) first pitch 6:45pm PT.

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