The A’s hosted the Toronto Blue Jays from July 11 to 13, 2025, at Sutter Health Park for an exciting and tightly contested three-game series. Fans witnessed veteran pitching, youthful firepower, heroic moments, and a dramatic shift in momentum as the American League East’s top contender clashed three times with a retooling A’s squad led by over a half dozen young stars who might just lea the club to contention if they can continue to play together.
The opener delivered non-stop action, with Max Scherzer returning to form and the Blue Jays edging out Oakland 7–6. Toronto exploded for six unearned runs in a wild fifth inning, turning a tight game into a 7–1 lead before the A’s surged late with three homers courtesy of Nick Kurtz, Tyler Soderstrom, and Max Muncy, who connected in the seventh and ninth innings. Unfortunately, despite the great rally, the A’s fell just short. Fans were entertained and on the edge of their seats though, and that’s what it’s all about.
Scherzer struck out eight over six innings, securing his first win in nearly a year. Meanwhile, Luis Severino battled through 4⅔ innings with eight punchouts but was tagged with the loss. The game featured 22 total hits, nine extra-base hits, and remains one of the most entertaining near-misses in recent A’s history.
Oakland rebounded on July 12, taking a 4–3 win in a tight contest. Jacob Lopez delivered a strong outing for the Blue Jays, but the A’s bats proved timely. Late offense was the theme: Oakland scored in the eighth to tie, then got the go-ahead run in extras thanks to clutch hitting from their middle order.
Mason Miller closed out the game with a clean ninth, reinforcing his growing reputation as a top-tier closer. Given how sharp he is at closing, one must wonder whether he can come in earlier, or whether he’s ready for a start. The win evened the series and marked a key morale boost for a youthful A’s unit keen to prove its mettle.
In the rubber match on July 13, Toronto returned to form with a 6–3 win to clinch the series 2–1. The Blue Jays capitalized early, scoring two runs in the third and another in the fifth. Their bullpen neutralized a late rally, holding off the threat as the A’s scored once in the sixth and twice more in the ninth.
Jeffrey Springs took the loss despite pitching well, while Blue Jays starter Jose Berríos bounced back from a previous rough outing with six innings of solid work. Ultimately, the visitors’ bullpen secured three innings of scoreless relief, sealing the victory and series win.
Throughout the series, Sutter Health Park proved to be an amazing stage for big moments. The atmosphere crackled under stadium lights and hot summer air. Proximity to the field amplified every homer, diving catch, and strikeout, giving fans an intimate experience usually reserved for Triple-A action. That makes sense because it’s a Triple-A stadium. However, fans have an opportunity to embrace the special circumstance. Rather than criticizing what the venue isn’t relative to MLB standards, fans should applaud and take full advantage of the special intimate surroundings.
When there’s a game in town, the Rivertown establishments buzz with pre- and post-game energy, and the ballpark’s food stalls are busy. Despite being designed for minor‑league baseball, the venue rises to the occasion. Find a better kept field anywhere. The grounds crew is unquestionably the best in the business.
The A’s begin a challenging road stretch that begins July 18 versus the Cleveland Guardians. Then they stay on the road and travel to Arlington, Texas for a series versus the Texas Rangers. That will be followed by four games in Houston versus the Astros. They don’t return home until July 28 when they take on the Seattle Mariners. The First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM Pacific time.
Ahsan Awan has been covering sports for two decades and has been covering professional baseball since 2005. All images taken by Robert Longan, Jason Reed, and Ahsan Awan for American Presswire and ©2025 Robert Longan, Jason Reed, and Ahsan Awan for their specific unique images for American Presswire and subject to unlimited use under license unless otherwise noted. Robert Longan can be found on X as @robbielphoto and on Instagram as @lngn_media. Jason reed can be found on X as @fieldofdd and on Instagram as @fieldofdaydreams. Ahsan Awan can be found on X as @quackarazzi and on Instagram as @quackarazzi. American Presswire can be found on X as @ampresswire and on Instagram as @ampresswire.