The longtime rivalry between the A’s and Giants took a new twist over the Fourth of July weekend as the two teams squared off for a three-game series at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. Amid a backdrop of fireworks, sold-out crowds, summer pageantry, and sweltering heat, the “Interstate 80 Series” delivered plenty of drama, with the A’s grabbing the opener before the Giants stormed back to win the next two.
This was no ordinary series of baseball games. It was a clash steeped in Bay Area history, now played out in California’s capital, with Sacramento and central valley baseball fans treated to an incredible showcase of major league action in a minor-league venue brimming with a different intensity during some of the hottest days of the year so far. That intensity was the magnanimity of MLB; after all, just as the name reads, it’s major league.
Independence Day belonged to the A’s, who exploded for 11 runs to thrash the Giants in the series opener. Lefty starter JP Sears was dominant, delivering six shutout innings while scattering just four hits. The A’s lineup backed him with a relentless attack, including home runs from rookies Nick Kurtz and Denzel Clarke, who both showcased the raw power that has given A’s fans a glimpse of the franchise’s promising future.
Giants veteran Justin Verlander, pitching on the 20th anniversary of his MLB debut, had little to celebrate. He surrendered six earned runs by the fourth inning and failed to record a strikeout. It was his 14th straight start without a win, extending a dismal streak that has clouded his late-career return to the Bay Area. At 42, many believe he’s too old, washed up, and unworthy of start duties. On this night, he went a meager three innings before the call was made to make a change.
Defensive miscues compounded San Francisco’s troubles. Three errors, two in the infield and one on a misjudged fly ball, allowed the A’s to pile on, silencing the large contingent of traveling Giants fans in the stands.
The holiday crowd was the largest of the A’s short tenure at Sutter Health Park, officially announced at 12,322. The stadium, better known as the home of the Triple-A River Cats, buzzed with energy as fireworks burst overhead and the A’s gave their fans something to cheer about in a season marked mostly by transition and turbulence.
After a forgettable opener, the Giants bounced back in Game 2 behind a gutsy performance from starter Logan Webb and a reinvigorated lineup. Webb worked out of early trouble to go five innings, while the Giants’ bats came to life, led by shortstop Willy Adames. The veteran infielder drilled a solo homer and added two RBIs, continuing a hot stretch that has solidified his role as a centerpiece of San Francisco’s offense.
The Giants also got key contributions from Tyler Fitzgerald and Rafael Devers, each adding a pair of hits. The game was tight through five innings before the Giants broke it open with a three-run sixth, aided by a wild pitch and a defensive lapse from the A’s infield.
Luis Severino, who started for the A’s, was relatively solid through four but once again unraveled in the middle innings. It would be generous to say that his command faded, and the Giants capitalized, showing the kind of patience and clutch hitting that eluded them the night before. The truth is that he fell off a cliff in increasingly characteristic fashion. More and more, he is demonstrating that he can’t be counted on for more than 3-4 innings, and that means he probably shouldn’t have starter duties.
The win evened the series and restored balance to a rivalry that has remained intense despite the teams now playing in separate cities. For the A’s, the loss was a reminder of the inconsistency that has plagued them all season.
The finale on Sunday provided another showcase for Willy Adames, who capped his stellar weekend with a go-ahead homer and three RBIs in a 6–2 Giants victory. Adames homered in the fourth inning and later drew two bases-loaded walks, becoming the first Giants shortstop since Rich Aurilia in 2000 to notch back-to-back multi-RBI games.
San Francisco starter Hayden Birdsong, a promising rookie, turned in a composed five-inning performance, allowing just one run and striking out six. His fastball command and poise under pressure helped stymie the A’s offense, which never regained the explosiveness it displayed in Game 1.
Tyler Soderstrom provided the lone bright spot for the A’s, launching his 15th home run of the season, a solo shot in the fifth that briefly cut the Giants’ lead in half. But San Francisco’s bullpen slammed the door, retiring nine of the final ten A’s hitters to seal the series win.
The weekend closed with a celebratory mood for Giants fans, many of whom made the drive up I-80 to witness their team take two of three in what is truly their own triple A house, but that temporarily doubles as enemy territory.
Though temporary, the A’s residence in West Sacramento has already left an indelible mark. Sutter Health Park, originally built for minor league action, rose to the occasion. The ballpark has brimmed with character and charm, with expanded bleacher sections and festive food stalls giving it a county-fair-meets-ballgame ambiance. On the field, there may not be a better maintained plot of sports grass anywhere. The grounds crew has done, and continues to do, a job s incredible that it’s truly noting short of miraculous.
Local businesses, bars, and restaurants thrived during the Giants’ visit, with many hosting viewing parties and postgame celebrations. Drake’s: The Barn, a popular riverside venue, threw nightly events to coincide with each game, featuring DJs, pop-up food vendors, and live screen broadcasts. The July 4 game brought in an unprecedented wave of tourists and locals, further embedding MLB culture into the Sacramento summer.
Players were more measured in their praise. While the crowds were enthusiastic, some expressed frustration with one thing or another. Frankly, they should be ashamed. Whether it was snobby entitlement or just some simple ignorance, the fans who complained really didn’t appreciate all the positives; and sadly, they weren’t willing or able to listen to anyone who tried to point anything out that deviated from their sour view. Still, the energy was undeniable, and for fans in Northern California’s heartland, this series was a rare treat.
For the Giants, the series win keeps them within striking distance in the National League West, and with Adames heating up, their lineup looks ready to support their young pitching core down the stretch.
The A’s, now deep into their transitional phase ahead of their planned move to Las Vegas, continue to showcase young talent while struggling to find consistency. But if this weekend proved anything, it’s that the team can still draw excitement, and competition, under the right spotlight. The truth is the A’s can beat anyone. They’ve beaten nearly every club in the league. Their issue is consistency and pitching depth. Add just three medium high quality pitchers who can go a solid six innings and this team has 20 more wins and a secure shot at the playoffs.
Returning to the I-80 series itself, in a city that had long dreamed of big-league baseball, the 2025 Fourth of July weekend delivered. Whether it was the booming fireworks, the slugging shortstops, or the tightrope pitching performances, Sacramento witnessed a rivalry reborn. For fans of both teams, the memories of this sun-soaked weekend under Sutter Health Park’s lights will linger far beyond the box score.
Ahsan Awan has been covering sports for two decades and has been covering professional baseball since 2005. All images taken by Robert Longan and Jason Reed for American Presswire and ©2025 Robert Longan and Jason Reed 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.