After winning their series against Texas, the Athletics dropped all four games vs. the Royals. Also, more players hit the shelf for the season.
Results
FRI: ATH 8, TEX 3
With the bases loaded in the 1st inning, Carlos Cortes doubled home three runs to put the Athletics up 3-0. That scoreline remained the same through five innings as Gage Jump kept the Rangers off the board. In the 6th, Jump walked a batter and allowed a one-out infield single. Then, Jake Burger took him deep to tie the game at three and end his outing (5.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 BB, 1 K). Jeff McNeil homered in the bottom of the frame to put the A’s back in front.
Lawrence Butler continued a quality stretch at the plate and hit a solo home run in the 7th. The lead extended in the 8th as a run scored on a throwing error after a fielder’s choice and McNeil finished up a 4/5 night with an RBI double. On the mound, Luis Medina, Drew Rom, Elvis Alvarado, and Hogan Harris allowed zero runs, one hit, and struck out four over 3.2 combined innings.
SAT: TEX 5, ATH 3
Initially ruled a foul ball, Henry Bolte was correctly awarded a three-run home run after his hit grazed the foul pole in left. The Rangers answered against J. T. Ginn in the 5th inning. After a leadoff double and a sacrifice bunt, Nicky Lopez singled home a run to make it 3-1.
They kept that momentum going in the 6th. Brandon Nimmo led off with a double, Corey Seager singled home Nimmo to cut the lead to one. But, Wyatt Langford would flip that advantage as the next batter. He hit a 421 ft., two-run home run to make it 4-3 in Texas’ favor. Pinch hitter Jarred Kelenic added an RBI single in the 9th. The Athletics didn’t muster a single hit off of the Rangers’ relievers in 3.1 innings.
SUN: ATH 5, TEX 2
Jake Burger got the scoring started with a solo home run in the 2nd inning off of Jacob Lopez. But, Lawrence Butler did one better in the bottom of the frame as he hit a two-run home run to put the A’s ahead. Burger picked up his second RBI an inning later as his RBI groundout tied things up.
Still tied through six innings, Zack Gelof broke that up with a two-run home run in the 7th. Tommy White hit his first MLB “tank” in the 8th and received the customary silent treatment from his teammates. Luis Medina, Drew Rom, Elvis Alvarado, and Hogan Harris, the same quartet that secured Friday’s win, allowed zero runs and just two hits in three innings of work.
MON: KC 9, ATH 5
Jeff McNeil got the scoring started right away with a leadoff home run in the 1st inning off of Michael Wacha. But, the tables would turn in a major way shortly after. Maikel Garcia singled home a run in the bottom of the 1st to tie the game. After a Vinnie Pasquantino flyout, Salvador Perez singled home two runs. Bobby Witt Jr. made it 5-1 with a two-run home run in the 2nd. Kyle Isbel’s RBI single with two outs in the 3rd ended Mason Barnett’s start. In total, he threw 83 pitches in just 2.2 innings and allowed six runs on seven hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
Tommy White (solo) and Brian Serven (two-run) hit home runs in the 5th to cut the lead to 6-4. Jac Caglianone singled home a run in the 6th off of Scott Blewett. The Royals added a pair of insurance runs, a Witt Jr. RBI double and Caglianone RBI single, in the 8th off of Seth Johnson. While it wasn’t nearly enough, Jonah Heim did plate a run in the 9th on a double play groundout.
TUE: KC 4, ATH 3
Tommy White continued a nice stretch at the plate with an RBI single in the 1st inning. That 1-0 scoreline would remain through the 5th as Brady Basso and Jack Perkins kept the Royals scoreless. The A’s added to their lead in the top of the 6th as Jeff McNeil singled home a run, then Max Muncy was walked with the bases loaded to make it 3-0. Perkins struck out the side in the bottom of the frame to end his outing.
In the bottom of the 7th, Kansas City got on the board as Vinnie Pasquantino doubled home a run against Drew Rom. Luis Medina replaced Rom and got two groundouts to end the inning. After walking three batters in the 8th, Medina had to be replaced by Hogan Harris for the final out, which may have impacted how the 9th went. Going for the four-out save and up 3-1, Harris got Pasquantino to fly out to begin the inning. Salvy Perez reached first on catcher’s interference, then Michael Massey singled before Carter Jensen was walked to load the bases. Pinch hitter Tyler Tolbert singled home two runs to tie the game and Harris’ night was over. Elvis Alvarado entered the game and got the second out, but Bobby Witt Jr. walked it off one batter later with a single to left.
WED: KC 9, ATH 7
Jeff McNeil kept his solid run at the plate going with an RBI double in the 1st inning. Zack Gelof singled him home to make it 2-0. An RBI double from Salvador Perez in the 4th cut the lead in half. But, the Athletics answered back in the 5th. Four straight singles from Donovan Walton, Max Muncy Henry Bolte, and McNeil put two more runs on the board. Gelof grounded into a fielder’s choice that plated the final run of the frame, making it 5-1.
After a 1-2-3 5th, Jeffrey Springs came back out for the 6th in his return from the IL. He allowed a solo home run to Vinnie Pasquantino and exited after a single from Carter Jensen later in the inning. His final line was two earned runs on five hits with one strikeout in 5.2 innings. Scott Blewett finished the 6th and Elvis Alvarado pitched a 1-2-3 7th. Then, the 8th inning happened. Hayden Juenger allowed a triple, RBI single, and walked a batter to start the inning. He was swiftly replaced by Drew Rom. Jensen flew out, but then Rom walked Tyler Tolbert to load the bases. Kyle Isabel singled home one run before an Isaac Collins sacrifice fly tied the game at five. Bobby Witt Jr. was intentionally walked to load the bases and John Rave cleared ‘em with a three-run RBI double. Maikel Garcia capped off the inning with an RBI single to make it 9-5. Max Muncy hit a two-run HR in the 9th, but Bolte grounded out to end the game one batter later.
THU: KC 6, ATH 2
It was a rough outing for Gage Jump in the series finale. He gave up a solo home run to Bobby Witt Jr. in the 1st inning. Isaac Collins singled home two more runs in the 3rd. In the final inning for Jump, Nick Loftin tripled home a run and Salvy Perez added an RBI single in the 4th. In just four innings, the rookie lefty allowed fives run on eight hits, walking three, and striking out three.
Brian Serven had an RBI single in the 5th to get the A’s on the board and Donovan Walton scored another with a groundout. Michael Massey responded with an RBI double in the bottom of the frame. The 6-2 loss made it a mop (four-game sweep) for Kansas City.
What Else?
- While it’s nearly impossible to imagine a world in which the A’s pick up Jeff McNeil’s club option for next season, it has been nice to see him contributing in recent weeks. In his last 15 games, the veteran infielder has a .364 OPS and has driven in ten runs.
- Due to the lack of more reliable options, Luis Medina and Elvis Alvarado are higher on the pecking order of high leverage innings than they should be. But, I think both 27-year-olds could be nice pieces in middle relief if the Athletics end up beefing up the pen this offseason. Both have electric stuff with some issues with walks. If those are your guys working innings 5-7 consistently rather than 7-9, you might be in decent shape.
- On the injury front, Tyler Soderstrom is done for the rest of the season as he will undergo hip surgery (per MLB.com) and it seems Luis Severino and Jacob Wilson will also be on the shelf for the rest of 2026 for Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. That means the rest of the season that the club will be without those three players, Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, and Nick Kurtz. On the silver lining side of things, Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and Denzel Clarke are working their way back with the latter already playing in games on a rehab stint.
What’s Next?
The Athletics head to H-Town for a weekend series against the Astros. Then, the Twins visit Sutter Health Park for a three-game set.
(Top photo of Jeff McNeil, courtesy: Athletics)
