Despite Ninth Inning Rally A’s Swept By Kansas City Royals 8-4

The Oakland A’s just had a hard time getting around on the baseball as the A’s hitter Max Schuemann strikes out in the top of the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City on Sun May 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Despite a great ninth inning rally with two outs, the Oakland A’s (19-30) were swept Sunday by the Kansas City Royals (29-19) losing the third game of the series 8-4. Brent Rooker cracked a bomb, a 431 ft home run with Max Schuemann and JJ Bleday aboard to score three runs. Royals pitcher Brady Singer was spot on all afternoon giving Oakland all kinds of trouble and keeping them guessing the entire game.

Game recap: As this game wore on it became evident that Royals pitchers Brady Singer was going to be a huge problem for Oakland. When the dust had all settled Singer had pitched a gem. So much went on in this game and the bright spots in the game were all Kansas City.

We know from this series that the Royals can put runs up quickly and this game was no different. Kansas City had taken a 2-0 lead after the first inning and again the A’s were down very quickly. Oakland has not scored first in probably the last 13 games.

Bobby Witt Jr. doubled and Maikel Garcia scored for the early 1-0 lead. Veteran Salvador, Perez next at bat , singled and Bobby Witt Jr. crossed home plate for a 2-0 Kansas City lead. The game had gotten off on the wrong foot for Oakland as the A’s found themselves playing catchup once again.

In the fourth inning the A’s got back into the game scoring a single run when Tyler Soderstrom doubled and Brent Rooker scored. With the score 2-1, Oakland needed some offense; they needed some big hits.

The A’s had a chance to take the lead in the fifth inning with the bases loaded but came up empty. The A’s would leave 10 runners on base on 11 hits in this game something they have really been struggling with.

This game remained close going into the fifth inning before the Royals broke it all open. They scored twice in the fifth inning and four times in the 6th inning. In the fifth inning, Maikel Garcia doubled Michael Massey home.

In the sixth inning a huge hit, a triple, off the bat of Vinnie Pasquartino allowed three runners to score. Freddy Fermin, Hunter Renfroe and Michael Massey all crossed home plate and the Royals were cruising with an 7-1 lead. They extended their lead with one more run to close out the 6th inning now leading 8-1.

The Royals were unable to score for the remainder of the game but the A’s did put up a fight in the ninth inning. With the odds stacked against them, they put up four runs with two outs. Max Schuemann got the inning rolling with a single and then with two outs JJ Bleday had his second double of the day.

These guys refused to give in as Brent Rooker came to the plate hitting a home run, a three run bomb. This was his 11th home run of the season leading the team with long balls. The final was 8-4 in favor of Kansas City but the A’s fought to the bitter end. They just could not get the big hits in the game leaving two and three players stranded unable to bring them home.

A huge factor for the Royals win in this game was starting pitcher Brady Singer. He was spotless dominating Oakland punching out nine A’s. He seldom threw up the middle, his command was on point mixing up his repertoire and keeping Oakland guessing for much of the game. He went 6 innings allowing six hits and one run.

Oakland’s starting pitcher JP Sears went 4.1 innings allowing five hits, four runs, two walks with four strikeouts. What is always a highlight in any eighth or ninth inning for the A’s, Mason Miller pitched the bottom of the eighth inning only facing three Royals.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon, the A’s finished off what has been a more than disappointing series with the Royals. Oakland lost the first two game of this series and couldn’t avoid another sweep on Sunday as the A’s wrapped up a dismal road trip. JP Sears started this game for the A’s going 4.1 innings and was lifted in the middle of the fifth inning by A’s manager Mark Kotsay and Brady Singer was on the hill for the Royals who went six innings six hits and gave up one earned run.

Oakland now heads home after a grueling road trip that saw them play ten games in a row finishing 1 and 9. They will get a day off tomorrow trying to catch their breath and spend a little quality time at home. Tuesday they will go back to work and try to put an end to this eight game losing streak taking on the Colorado Rockies in a three game series. At the time of this post the starting pitcher for the A’s was undecided. Cal Quantrill will take the hill for the Rockies. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM.

A’s Continue to Look For Answers Losing Seventh in a Row to Royals 5-3

Oakland A’s pitcher TJ McFarland throws to the Kansas City Royals in the bottom of sixth inning at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City on Sat May 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (19-29) again came up short losing their seventh game in a row 5-3 in the second game of their series with the Kansas City Royals (28-19). They did get hits, 11 of them, they did have a solid 2nd and 7th inning but failed to score in either of them. They struggled on the mound and continue to search for ways to turn this season around. It is rapidly turning into a nightmare of epic proportion. The Royals are a very talented team 1.5 games out of first place in the American League Central and they are proving to be a very tough team.

Game recap: The Royals got on the scoreboard in the first inning taking a 2-0 lead. Salvador Perez got the Royals going early with a single driving two runners Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr. home. Again, the A’s found themselves trailing going into the second inning something that has plagued them throughout this road trip; falling behind early.

Oakland did tie up this game in the second inning off a Seth Brown home run with Zach Gelof on base. The A’s wasted no time answering the Royals start and knotting this game 2-2.

Oakland would be looking to break the tie but it was Kansas City that answered scoring single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings taking a 5-3 lead going into the ninth inning. Vinnie Pasquantino, and Nelson Velazquez both singled runners home and they topped it off in the seventh inning with a solo Kyle Isbel home run. With only two innings left in the game the A’s had their work cut out for them.

The eighth inning was a three and done for Oakland. Tyler Nevin grounded out, Zach Gelof struck out swinging and J.D. Davis grounded out. The A’s were three outs away from a seventh loss in a row.

With one out, Oakland had runners at the corners; Max Schuemann on third and Brett Harris on first. Oakland just couldn’t get the offense they needed when they needed it. They ended up losing the game 5-3 and had now lost seven straight games in a row.

Both teams finished the game with 11 hits each and it all came down to timing. Oakland had some solid innings. They doubled, homered and singled in that order in the second inning. They also hit three singles in the seventh inning but that was about it for the game. They did have their opportunities in this game but were not able to capitalize on those opportunities.

The A’s Ross Stripling went five innings allowing nine hits and four runs with only two strikeouts. The Royals offense had a nice offensive effort scoring in four frames. Oakland’s relief pitcher Lucas Erceg did give up the Isbel home run in the seventh inning but limited the damage getting out of the inning and closer Michael Kelly gave up a Royals single dismissing the next three at bats. The A’s came a hit or two shy of a win Saturday.

Game notes: Friday the A’s suffered their 6th loss in a row in game one of their series with the Royals. Oakland fell behind early and was not able to score until the ninth inning in a losing 6-2 effort. The A’s struggles seem to be without end right now as they look for answers that they can’t seem to find. They went into game two of this series looking to somehow right the ship and got beat again now dropping the first two games of this series. Oakland pitcher Ross Stripling will take the mound giving up nine hits and four runs in five innings. The Royals will start Seth Lugo was on the hill and he added to Oakland’s woes pitching 5.2 innings giving up six hits and two earned runs.

Sunday Oakland will finish up this series with Kansas City with first pitch scheduled for 11:10 AM. JP Sears will take the mound for Oakland with a 3-2 win/loss record and a 3.96 ERA. Brady Singer will be up on the hill for the Royals also with a 3-2 win/loss record and a 2.84 ERA. The A’s will continue to try and break the losing streak that they are currently on.

Royals Hand A’s Sixth Loss In a Row 6-2

Oakland A’s Abraham Toro (31) slides but will be tagged out by Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey (left) Toro got hung up on a pick off throw to first base and was out at second base by Massey in the top of the first inning at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City on Fri May 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (19-28) lost the first game of their series with the Kansas City Royals (27-19) 6-2. Nothing went right for the A’s in this game. They plowed through three pitchers in the sixth inning desperately trying to find answers.

The third pitcher Austin Adams in that rotation gave up a three run homer and that’s just about how things were going for the Oakland A’s Friday. The A’s did have a late game surge but it was too little too late. Shea Langeliers homered, a two-run shot with Abraham Toro scoring but that was all they got in the game.

Game recap: Mitch Spence got the start for the A’s with a 4.26 ERA. On the hill for the Royals; Cole Ragans got the nod with a 4.22 ERA.

The Royals got up on the scoreboard in the first inning taking an early 1-0 lead. Salvador Perez reached first base on an infield single driving Bobby Witt Jr home for the single run which persisted into the fifth inning.

Through five innings the A’s had only managed two hits while the Royals had five hits. Both pitchers were throwing a solid game keeping opposing batters guessing. As the fifth inning progressed T.J. McFarland was warming up in the bullpen and after 4 3/4 innings he relieved Spence. Spence finished with five hits, one run, one walk with four strikeouts.

Through five innings the score remained 1-0 in favor of Kansas City and this was still anybody’s game. This game went sideways for the A’s in the bottom of the sixth when Michael Massey homered, a two run shot and the Royals took a 3-0 lead.

Oakland went through three pitchers in the sixth inning T.J. McFarland went 0.1 followed by Austin Adams for another 0.1 and Brandon Bielak came in and gave up a three run homer for a 6-0 Royal lead and this game was turning into a disaster with three innings left in the game.

Kansas City threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning with runners at the corners but Bielak got out of the inning with no further damage. The top of the eighth inning was uneventful for Oakland with a JD Davis strikeout, a Max Scheumann flyout, a Tyler Nevin walk and a Bret Harris strikeout. Not much was going well for the Oakland A’s to start this series.

The A’s did make a little noise in the ninth inning in a late game surge when Shea Langeliers hit a home run with Abraham Toro but that was just too little too late. The final was 6-2.

Game notes: This weekend the A’s traveled to Kansas City for a three game series with the Royals that opened on Friday night. The A’s just finished off a four game series with the Houston Astros in which they were swept. Oakland is really facing numerous disturbing struggles right now that begins with their offense as well as what is going on with their starters and their bullpen. Unfortunately the success they had been having is a distant memory and they have not found any answers to turn it back into a positive direction.

The A’s will back at it Saturday in the second game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PM with Ross Stripling on the mound for Oakland with a 1-7 win/loss record and a 4.98 ERA and Seth Lugo with a 6-1 win loss record and a 1.66 ERA.

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast: Was Nevada Court’s Decision to turn down Schools over Stadiums the wrong ruling? Fisher and A’s make final payment on Coliseum property

The Oakland A’s proposed rendering of the Armadillo ballpark located at the Tropicana site at Tropicana and Las Vegas Blvd on the Las Vegas Strip (AP News photo)

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 It took two court hearings at the Nevada Supreme Court of Appeals for Schools over Stadiums to be rejected but what were the reasons the court rejected the stopping of SB1 a initiative by Schools over Stadiums to stop the public funding of a Las Vegas A’s Tropicana Stadium?

#2 The court once again ruled that the language to have a ballot measure reject the public funding was “confusing” and “legally deficient” what makes this court decision questionable is that it took five justices to rule on it on a split vote with one judge dissenting.

#3 Behind closed doors you can only imagine, guess but can not prove that the court was under pressure from Nevada governor Joe Lombardo and the strongest union in Las Vegas the Culinary union to name one of the unions to make sure this petition never sees the light of day.

#4 Justice Patricia Lee concurred in her ruling saying saying the petition was “inadequate” and violated Nevada’s constitution because Schools over Stadiums “failed to put forth a full text of the measure proposed.”

#5 Schools over Stadiums countered by saying that they plan to continue the fight the public funding of SB1 for an A’s ballpark at the Tropicana for the 2026 election. Schools over Stadiums said they are organizing another constitutional challenge to SB1.

Daniel Dullum does the Oakland A’s Relocation podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s just couldn’t get it done in Houston; Oakland sets their sights in Kansas City

Oakland A’s starter Joey Estes throws against the Houston Astros line up in the bottom of the first inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Thu May 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 In Houston on Thursday night at Minute Maid Field the Houston Astros (19-25) easily handed the Oakland A’s (19-27) 8-1 loss to sweep the four game series.

#2 Rookie Joey Loperfido hit his first Major League home run went in the right field bleachers gave the Astros a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.

#3 The Astros who had struggled have turned things around thanks to the A’s. The Astros now are on a five game win streak and have won seven of their last eight games.

#4 For the A’s Abraham Toro hit a double and Zack Gelof hit an RBI single each that wasn’t enough as the A’s have lost a season high of five straight games.

#5 The A’s open up a three game series against the Kansas City Royals (26-19) on Friday night. The A’s have not announced a starter and the Royals will start Cole Ragans (2-3, ERA 4.22) first pitch 4:40pm PT first pitch.

Join Jeremiah Salmonson for the Oakland A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Swept in 4 games by Astros In Yet Another Lackluster Performance 8-1

The Oakland A’s shortstop Max Schuemann throws to first base to retire the Houston Astros Jeremy Pena in the bottom of the sixth inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston on The May 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (19-27) were swept by the Houston Astros (19-25) in the fourth game of their series. Lack of offense and trouble on the mound spelled disaster for Oakland in the 8-1 loss. The relief pitching was good but starting pitcher Joey Estes gave up every hit and run in this game. It was a rough outing for Estes.

Game wrap: This turned out to be a rough one for the Oakland A’s in the final game of the series. As it turned out one inning turned out to be Oakland’s demise in this game and has been the case the entire series. In this game it was the third inning.

Both teams were unable to score in the first two innings. The Astros turned this game upside down in the third inning. Houston really took it to A’s pitcher Joey Estes. Yainer Diaz got the third inning going hitting a double driving in Jon Singleton, Kyle Tucker and Jeremy Pena for a 3-0 lead.

Jake Meyers came to the plate and doubled, Yainer Diaz scored and the Astros had a 4-0 lead. Houston’s rookie Joey Loperfido came to the plate and hit his first major league home run, a two run shot giving the Astros a 6-0 lead.

Houston would tack on two more runs in the fourth inning for an 8-0 lead. Pena sacrificed and Tucker scored followed by a run scored on a balk by Alex Bregman. There was a pitching change on the mound for Oakland after three innings.

Joey Estes finished the 3.2 innings giving up eight hits, eight runs, four walks with four strikeouts. He constantly fell behind the count struggling through the three innings. Hogan Harris would relieve Estes going 3.1 innings keeping Houston from doing any further damage.

He finished with no hits, no runs with three strikeouts. Tyler Ferguson finished off this game in the ninth inning with no hits, no runs and one strikeout.

Oakland did avoid the shutout when in the seventh inning Zach Gelof singled Tyler Soderstrom home for their single run of the game. The final was 8-1.

Houston’s Cristian Javier pitched a stellar game going six scoreless innings allowing 2 hits, no runs with 8 strikeouts. This was the Astros fifth win in a row, the team now having won seven of their last eight games. Oakland has now lost five games in a row. The A’s have a horrendous stretch going on where they have given up 86 runs combined in their last 12 games.

Game notes: Thursday evening the A’s wrapped up their series with the Astros at Minute Maid Park. Oakland who got swept in this four game series. Joey Estes the A’s starter went 3.2 innings, giving up eight hits and eight runs and Astros starter Cristian Javier pitched six innings, giving up two hits and no earned runs.

The A’s will now take on the Kansas City Royals another team that is playing very well right now. With the trouble that is brewing on the mound for Oakland the starting pitcher for game one in this three game series is undecided at the time of this post. The Royals have settled on Cole Ragans to start this game with a 2-3, 4.22 ERA. First pitch for this Friday night matchup is scheduled for 4:40 PM PT.

Oakland Stagnate in Third Loss to the Houston Astros 3-0

The Houston Astros Framber Valdez throws to the Oakland A’s line up in the top of the first inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Wed May 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

There was nothing going on for the Oakland A’s (19-26) in their third game against the Houston Astros (18-25). They generated next to zero offense. The bright spot in this game was Aaron Brooks who took the mound for Oakland. He had a nice game but the caveat in this game was the lack of offense The bats were silent partially due to the excellent pitching of Houston’s Framber Valdez but they only managed 2 hits in the 3-0 loss.

Game recap: The first inning was a rough way to start for the A’s. The Astros scored their first two runs in the bottom of the first due to a throwing error by second baseman Zach Gelof. The Astros Jose Altuve scored off that error for a 1-0 lead.

Alex Bregman sacrificed and Kyle Tucker scored from second giving Houston a 2-0 lead going into the second inning. The Astros extended their lead in the fourth inning when Dubon sacrificed and Pena scored from third base clocking their third run of the game. The Astros had six hits through four innings while Oakland had a single hit through five innings.

Through five innings the A’s had a litany of strike outs and ground outs. Astros pitcher Framber Valdez had struck out six A’s and he was showing little signs of letting down. He had only allowed the one hit, no runs and six strikeouts through five innings.

Oakland had so far shown a real lack-luster performance and were behind the eight ball trailing 3-0. A’s starting pitcher Aaron Brooks had allowed six hits and three runs through the first five innings with four strikeouts. Houston was dominating Oakland at every turn threatening to take a 3-0 series lead.

Oakland had runners on first and second in the seventh inning but left them stranded when Tyler Nevin grounded out to end the inning. Valdez went seven innings in this game finishing with two hits, no runs and eight strikeouts. After a solid seven innings, Valdez was relieved by Seth Martinez in the eighth inning.

It was an uneventful eighth inning for Oakland. Max Schuemann struck out and Seth Brown grounded into a double play. Oakland pitcher Aaron Brooks was relieved in the bottom of the eighth by T.J. McFarland. Brooks had a good outing going seven innings finishing with seven hits, three runs and five strikeouts. He was one of the bright spots in this game.

Oakland got a couple of runners on base in the ninth inning with one out but Shea Langeliers grounded into a double play and that was the ball game 3-0. Houston will be going for the sweep in Thursday’s game. Should the Astros win game four, they will be tied for third place with the A’s in the American League West.

Post game notes: Tuesday, the A’s came close in their second game of a four game series with the Astros but fell short in the tenth inning losing 2-1. This was Oakland’s third loss in a row and they have shown a steady decline for awhile now.

There is trouble in the bullpen and that has hurt the team. Yes they do have a number of excellent starting pitchers, relief pitchers and closers but they are not deep in that department. They have also struggled offensively lately leaving runners stranded as well as not being able to string hits together or even get hits at all for that matter.

The A’s have been managing defensively but they have fallen off considerably since their six game winning streak that began last April 28 and ran through May 4th. They have lost eight of their last ten games so something is very wrong right now.

The A’s had been playing well, in fact exceeding expectations, and then it all came to a screeching halt. They were either beating or keeping pace with some very good teams earlier which included splitting a four game series with the Yankees.

This team needs to recover the success they were having; the magic that was bringing so much success earlier in the season or they will, much as last year, be left behind. This is a critical juncture for the Oakland A’s right now.

The Oakland A’s will try to avoid the sweep in game four of this series. First pitch is scheduled for 5:10 PM. Joey Estes (1-0 ERA 1.80) will take the mound for Oakland and Cristian Javier (2-1 ERA 4.01) will be on the hill for the Astros.

A’s Fall Short In Tenth Inning Losing to Houston Astros 2-1; Astro starter tossed for foreign substance in glove

Houston Astros starter Ronel Blanco (56) after having his glove confiscated by the umpires talks with second base umpire Tripp Gibson after being thrown out of the game for having a foreign substance in his glove against the Oakland A’s in the top of the fourth inning at Minute Maid Field on Tue May 14, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (19-25) hung in this game until the bitter end. Pitcher Mason Miller struck out five Astros late in the game giving the Oakland offense a couple of opportunities but they just came up short. Against a team like the Houston Astros (17-25) you have strike when you get the chance and the A’s had multiple opportunities but just could not get the job done offensively. The Astros ended up walking this game off 2-1.

Game recap: Through the first three innings the A’s JP Sears allowed a double in the first inning and a single in the third inning. Houston’s Alex Bregman hit a home run in the second inning, a solo shot, for the only Houston run through three innings giving the Astros a 1-0 lead.

Sears was keeping this game competitive. Oakland had the bases loaded in the first inning but came away empty something they have struggled with this season; leaving far too many runners stranded. The A’s singled in the 2nd inning and doubled in the third leaving more runners stranded.

JP Sears went five innings before being relieved by Austin Adams. He allowed five hits but only the one home run with two strikeouts. He had a good day on the mound and he kept Oakland very much in this game. The A’s were running out of time and after an uneventful seventh inning Oakland had a couple of innings to either tie or take the lead in the game. This remained anybody’s game.

Oakland’s Luca Erceg took over on the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning. He threw back-to-back strikeouts coupled with a Dubon line out and the side was retired. The Astros would face the top of the Oakland lineup in the eighth inning.

It was a productive eighth inning for Abraham Toro who doubled and Brent Rooker who singled driving Toro home and this game was tied 1-1. The bottom of the eighth inning saw the entrance of Mason Miller on the mound facing Jose Altuve.

Miller did was he does so well, he struck out Altuve for the first out and was looking for more. Miller walked Kyle Tucker on some very close pitches. He has been taking care of some of hottest hitters in the game today. He went on to strike out Yordan Alvaraz and Jeremy Pena and it was on to the ninth inning.

Oakland came up short in the ninth inning unable to score. The inconsistency of the umpire was more than frustrating and was really getting under some of the players skin. Mason Miller would try to force this game into extra innings.

Miller faced another huge Houston threat Alex Bregman and struck him out. A line out and a strike out later and it was off to the tenth inning. In two innings he had struck out five Astros.

Oakland had two runners on base in the tenth inning but failed to score. The A’s Michael Kelly took over on the hill trying to keep Oakland in the game. Victor Caratini singled Cabbage home and this game went to Houston; the Astros won this one in a walk off 2-1. Houston has now won 5 of their last 6 games.

Game notes: Tuesday the Oakland A’s went into game two in their series with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Field in Houston. The Astros took care of business in game one soundly beating Oakland 9-2 in game one of the series thanks to an offensive flurry that included a couple of home runs from Alex Bregman who was unstoppable.

Houston had a very slow start this season but they have sure turned it around the past few games. The way they are playing right now they could very well make their way to the top of the West. Oakland had a lot of trouble handling the Astros offense even though they did have nine hits on Monday night. This was also another game in which Oakland did not clock a single home run. This so far has turned out to be a very tough series for the Oakland A’s who have now dropped the first two games of the series.

The Astros starter Ronel Blanco was ejected by third base umpire Laz Diaz for having a foreign substance in his glove the top of the fourth inning. While the umpires were discussing the foreign substance found in Blanco’s glove Blanco was talking with manager Joe Espada on the mound. It was decided by the umpires that Blanco would be ejected.

The umpires confiscated the glove and first base umpire first base umpire Erich Bacchus said that was the stickiest substance that he’s ever felt on a glove and that he’s been checking gloves for years now. Blanco said it might have been rosin that he might have put on his left arm and sweat and that’s maybe what they’ve found.

This game was a huge disappointment for Oakland having fought so hard and coming so close but just coming up short. They will try to avoid the sweep Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 5:10 PM. Aaron Brooks (0-0 ERA 0.00) will take the mound for the Athletics and Framber Valdez (2-1 ERA 3.64) will be on the hill for Houston.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Schools over Stadiums turned down in Nevada Supreme Court; A’s $1.5 billion Vegas ballpark funding murkier

The locked, closed and unused Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas which was closed on Apr 2, 2024 and is the proposed site for the Oakland A’s new ballpark. photo by Sports Radio Service on Apr 8, 2024.

On That’s Amaury podcast:

#1 Amaury, the Nevada Supreme Court rejected Schools over Stadium ballot referendum that would have approved petition language that would reject SB1 the use of public funds at the tune of $380 million for the November 2024 election.

#2 The A’s who hired a Los Angeles investor to help them find minority partners to invest shares into the team and help pay for the construction costs for the Las Vegas ballpark has so far not panned out any new news in finding partners.

#3 Also Bally’s where the Tropicana Hotel waits to be imploded in April 2025 needs to determine where they want to put the nine acre park on the 36 acre location at Tropicana and Las Vegas Blvd. At first it was thought the park would be location on the back corner from the strip but now Bally’s or the A’s are not really sure where their going to put the ballpark.

#4 Schools over Stadiums who were rejected for the second time to get language to reject the public funding of the ballpark will attempt to appeal again. Schools over Stadiums released a statement after the Supreme Court denied the application for petition language, “Schools Over Stadiums remains committed to stopping Nevada tax dollars from paying for a stadium for a California billionaire, and we are disappointed Nevada voters will not have their say in 2024. With this guidance, Schools Over Stadiums plans to refile our petition next year and win in 2026. Nevada voters deserve the opportunity to decide where their money goes.”

#5 Meanwhile the A’s who will be playing their 2025-27 seasons at Sutter Health Ballpark in Sacramento are working with Sacramento Rivercats owner Vivek Ranadive. Ranadive who is anticipating that the Las Vegas deal will fall through and will get on board with John Fisher and the A’s to help build a ballpark and keep the A’s in Sacramento permanently that has yet to be determined.

#6 African American Sports and Entertainment wanted to join forces with the A’s at one time to keep the A’s in Oakland and help buy a share in the team and buy the Oakland Coliseum location and turn it into a sports and entertainment complex. John Fisher has been very silent on all these moving parts.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

#1

Struggling A’s Fall to Struggling Houston Astros 9-2; Houston’s Bregman has big night two homers and 4 RBIs

The Oakland A’s shortstop Max Scheuemann (12) applies the tag on the Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (right) for the out in the bottom of the sixth inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Mon May 13, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Two struggling teams faced each other at Minute Maid Park Monday evening. The Oakland A’s (19-24) and the Houston Astros (16-25) began a three game series both of them in the same division and both of them looking for a win. The Astros broke this game wide open in the eighth inning scoring four times for a final score of 9-2.

Houston’s Alex Bregman had two home runs and a double in the game. Oakland’s JJ Bleday, Brent Rooker and Tyler Soderstrom each had a couple of hits but the Astros simply outplayed Oakland offensively. Three Oakland errors did not do a whole lot for the A’s cause.

Game recap: It is no picnic playing in front of the Houston crowd; they are loud and proud and they do love their Astros despite the season they are having right now. Astro fans had a lot to cheer about in the opening innings.

Houston scored in the first two innings taking a 2-0 lead. An A’s throwing error allowed Jeremy Pena to score for the early 1-0 lead. Houston added a second run in the third inning when Kyle Tucker doubled and Jose Altuve who had been hit by a pitch scampered home giving the Astros a 2-0 lead.

The A’s got to within on run of tying this game in the fourth inning. Soderstrom singled Brent Rooker home now only trailing by a single run 2-1. The Astros would beef up the score when Alex Bregman homered giving Houston a 3-1 lead.

JJ Bleday answered the call in the fifth inning hitting a double bringing Abraham Toro home for a 3-2 tally with the Astros hanging onto a one run lead. Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti was relieved in the sixth inning by Rafael Montero. He had gone five innings allowing five hits and two runs with five strikeouts.

Oakland’s Ross Stripling finished the game going five innings giving up four hits and two runs with a single strikeout. He had thrown 52 pitches when he exited the hill relieved by lefty T.J. McFarland. McFarland had a solid sixth inning excusing the Astros via a strike out and a double play going into the seventh inning. Through six innings the A’s had more hits than the Astros 6 to 5.

Esteury Ruiz was caught stealing looking for his 58th steal in the seventh inning. It was a hitless inning for the A’s with Abraham Toro striking out for the third out. In the bottom of the inning, Houston got their second home run of the game off the bat of, once again, Alex Bregman extending their lead to 4-2.

Mitch Spence who had relieved T.J. McFarland allowed the Bregman long ball. McFarland got out of the inning with only the one run and the A’s had a couple of innings left to turn this game in their favor.

Before the inning came to an end Oakland was looking at two outs and facing Jose Altuve. Altuve does what he does best driving another run home. Jake Meyers scored on the Altuve single and Houston was on a roll leading 5-2. Oakland just could get out of the seventh inning facing another threat Kyle Tucker trying to get that final out. The A’s escaped with the two runs but the 5-2 deficit was a tough call with only two innings left.

The A’ would have to get to work in the late innings. They had their work cut out for them and they desperately needed base runners. JJ Bleday flied out and with one down Brent Rooker singled. Tyler Soderstrom doubled with two Oakland outs and the A’s had runners on second and third.

With the two runners on base Seth Brown watched a third strike go by and the third out for Houston. Oakland had missed a golden opportunity leaving Rooker and Soderstrom stranded.

This game saw another Oakland error, this one from Max Schuemann in the eighth inning with two Astro runners on base and no outs. Oakland relief pitcher Easton Lucas walked Jon Singleton to load the bases and then faced Alex Bregman.

Bregman who had already slugged two home runs doubled driving in Trey Cabbage and Jeremy Pena and Houston had broken this game wide open 7-2. More Astros came home off a Victor Caratini double.

Bregman and Singleton crossed home plate giving Houston a 9-2 lead with Jose Altuve at the plate. Oakland pitcher Lucas was having a rough time allowing 3 hits and 4 runs as this inning finally came to an end. Oakland went quietly into the night in the ninth inning with a three up and three down finish.

Post game notes: Monday evening the A’s traveled to Houston and lost to their division rival Astros 9-2. Houston still has the deep roster that took them to the playoffs numerous times but despite that they have struggled on the mound.

Earlier Monday, it was announced that the Astros Jose Altuve was having the day off but come game time he was on the field so the A’s had to deal with him. Altuve ended up scoring one run and one hit in four at bats. A’s starter Ross Stripling was on the hill facing this daunting Houston lineup. Stripling pitched five innings, gave up four hits and one run. Astro starter Spencer Arrighetti pitched five innings, gave up five hits and two runs.

The A’s will try to right the ship in game two Tuesday with first pitch scheduled for 5:10 PM. JP Sears (3-2 ERA 4.20) will be on the hill for the A’s and for Houston Ronel Blanco (4-0 ERA 2.23) will get the nod.