The Sacramento Athletics dropped a lopsided one on Saturday, September 19, falling to the Cleveland Guardians 12-6 at Progressive Field. Angel Martínez did the most damage for Cleveland, going 4-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI, while Sacramento starter Jacob Lopez was knocked around early — allowing 10 earned runs on 10 hits in just 2.2 innings. The Athletics managed six runs and flashed some offensive life, but the hole Lopez dug was simply too deep to climb out of in a nine-inning ballgame.

Athletics Pitching Collapses Early as Guardians Pile On

Lopez's night was a disaster from the jump. The left-hander surrendered 10 hits and 10 earned runs before recording the final out of the third inning, and that 10-run deficit effectively ended the game as a contest. Lopez issued zero walks — his problem was not command but an inability to get outs, as Cleveland's batters made contact and kept the line moving until the damage was done.

Chris Roycroft came on in relief and stabilized things somewhat, throwing 2.1 innings and allowing just one earned run on two hits. Geoff Hartlieb followed with a one-inning appearance, striking out two but giving up a pair of hits and an earned run. Drew Rom closed out the final two frames cleanly — one hit, one strikeout, no earned runs — the kind of outing you want to see, just six innings too late.

Martínez and DeLauter Lead Cleveland's Offensive Assault

Martínez was the story of the night for the Guardians. The infielder went 4-for-5, hit two home runs, and drove in four — a performance that put the game out of reach almost single-handedly. Chase DeLauter added a homer of his own, finishing 2-for-5 with three RBI. Steven Kwan and José Ramírez each went 2-for-4 or better, and Jo Adell chipped in two more hits. Cleveland's lineup ran up 12 hits on the night and made Sacramento's bullpen pay every time a reliever faltered.

Slade Cecconi picked up the win for Cleveland, tossing two scoreless innings with two strikeouts and no hits allowed. Tanner Bibee, who started for the Guardians and gave up six earned runs on 12 hits in 4.2 innings, was let off the hook entirely by the Guardians' overwhelming offensive output.

Athletics Offense Showed Fight but Could Not Close the Gap

Sacramento wasn't completely silent. Donovan Walton had the best night at the plate for the A's, going 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBI. Alika Williams went 2-for-4, Shea Langeliers was 2-for-4 with two hits, and Zack Gelof went 2-for-5 with an RBI. The Athletics actually tagged Bibee for 12 hits and six runs, which on most nights is enough to win a baseball game.

The metadata confirms Cleveland overcame a two-run deficit at some point in the game before blowing it wide open — and that swing speaks to how quickly the momentum shifted once Lopez lost the ability to get outs — Cleveland's hitters made contact relentlessly, not walks, that buried Sacramento early.

Key Performances — Sacramento Athletics

  • Donovan Walton: 3-for-3, 1 HR, 4 RBI
  • Alika Williams: 2-for-4
  • Shea Langeliers: 2-for-4
  • Zack Gelof: 2-for-5, 1 RBI

Key Performances — Cleveland Guardians

  • Angel Martínez: 4-for-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI
  • Chase DeLauter: 2-for-5, 1 HR, 3 RBI
  • Steven Kwan: 2-for-5, 1 RBI
  • José Ramírez: 2-for-4

What's Next for the Athletics

Sacramento will look to bounce back as this road series with Cleveland continues. The Athletics will need to find a reliable arm to eat innings at the top of the rotation — Lopez's 2.2-inning, 10-earned-run implosion is not something a pitching staff can absorb regularly. The offense showed it can generate hits — 12 of them against Bibee across 4.2 innings — and Walton's four-RBI night is a reason for optimism. The A's have the bats to compete. The pitching has to show up too.