MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Byrnes

All-Star Game Recap:
The ASG was an Athletics showcase with DH Brent Rooker hitting a 3-run homer in his only at-bat and SS Jacob Wilson adding a 2-run double in four trips to the plate.

The duo accounted for five of the eight AL rbi’s but the National League broke a 6-6 tie by winning the Home Run Swingoff 4-3.

Athletics Batting:
While losing two-of-three in Cleveland, the A’s bats continued to deliver on their end.
The Athletics batted .275 as a team in the series and had a season best 20 extra-base hits (xbh) over the three games (12 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs).

The lone A’s win, 8-2 in game two, ruined former A’s All-Star catcher Stephen Vogt’s Bobblehead Day but A’s fans in attendance “Believe in Stephen Vogt” and gave him his due Athletics respect.

First baseman Nick Kurtz (.583) destroyed Guardians pitching with four doubles, a triple, and his 18th home run which was achieved in just 61 games.

For reference he is tied with LF Tyler Soderstrom for second best home run total on the team and Soderstrom matched that total in 100 games.

Adding four runs and four rbi’s, Kurtz has hits in 10-of-12 games and has homered in six of his last nine games.
Kurtz may pass SS Jacob Wilson as front runner for AL Rookie of the Year if he continues at this pace.
Catcher Shea Langeliers has come out of the break hot as well, hitting .461 with three doubles, and his 13th and 14th home run of 2025.

With hits in each game, Langeliers added four runs and a team-leading five rbi’s to end his 1-for-24 skid going into the break.

Acrobat CF Denzel Clarke looks to have taken the position from Athletics 2024 xbh’s leader JJ Bleday (67) and hitting an even .500 versus Cleveland, with three doubles and a triple shows that may be a great idea.
Clarke has hit safely in 10-of-12 games (.333), and has his batting average up to .230 on the year after hovering under the Mendoza Line (.200) most of the first half.

Third baseman Miguel Andujar continues to hover around a .300 batting average with hits in both games he appeared in but manager Mark Kotsay continues to sit him when he is hot. At some point Kotsay has to make Andujar the everyday hot corner because of his consistent contact at the plate. Gio Urshela went 0-4 in his place in the series finale.

Athletics Pitching:
Five days off didn’t seem to do anything for the A’s starters as only game 2 winner Luis Severino (3-11) lasted five innings in their outing.

With the trade deadline looming, Severino had to have a good game as he continues to tell the world his only issues in 2025 are due to Sutter Health Park and the mound.

He doesn’t want to be in West Sacramento and his 8-2 win may get a playoff team to add him for depth.
Starters JP Sears (7-8) and Jeffrey Springs (8-7) lasted only four innings each in their starts, and combined for 11 earned runs on 15 hits to each take a loss in the series.

All relievers not named Osvaldo Bido combined for nine innings of three hit, one run relief to start the second half strong.

Bido has been hit hard all season and has been demoted to long middle relief of late. He allowed three earned runs with a home run in three innings.

Rookie Jack Perkins is showing he can eat innings by having another three inning scoreless outing.
Upcoming Series:

The Athletics (42-59) continue their road trip by heading to Texas to take on the Rangers (50-50).
Spending the next seven days in near triple digit weather shouldn’t be an issue for the team as the A’s saw 104° during the Blue Jays Series and their bats came alive.

A’s LHP Jacob Lopez (3-5, 4.20) pitches against Rangers RHP Jack Leiter (5-6, 4.37) and he hopes that the All-Star break reverses his recent pitching results.

In July Lopez has an era near 6.00 while Leiter hasn’t fared much better with an even 5.00 era in nine July innings pitched.
GameTime:
July 21, 2025 505pm
Globe Life Field
Arlington, Texas
Timothy