A’s shut out Reds, stay hot in spoiler role against MLB playoff hopefuls
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Athletics beat Reds 3-0 behind strong pitching and three solo home runs.
- Since July 24, A’s tied for third-best MLB record at 26-18 despite standings.
- Remaining games offer young roster key development against playoff contenders.
Even with the MLB playoffs out of reach, the Athletics are closing out the season with a fight.
On Friday night, the A’s continued their weekslong hot streak with a 3-0 win against the Cincinnati Reds. The win moves the team to 68-80 on the season, but since July 24 the team is tied for the third-best record in the MLB at 26-18.
“We just want to make sure we finish the season strong,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said before Friday’s win. “That’s all.”
The latest win was powered by the team’s pitching staff. They shut out the Reds and allowed just 6 hits.
Starting pitcher J.T. Ginn led the way with six strikeouts across 4 1/3 innings. He battled through a first inning that started with back-to-back walks and a third inning with runners on second and third base.
Ginn left the game in the fifth inning with what the team later called a right calf cramp. He limped off the mound.
Four relief pitchers closed out the final 4 2/3 innings allowing just 4 hits. Left-hander Sean Newcomb got the save, which was his sixth of the season.
The Athletics’ offense came by way of three solo homers, including two into center field by Carlos Cortes, who the team called up from the minor leagues earlier this year.
His first home run came in the third inning. Cortes, playing left field, later slammed another shot in the eighth inning.
Center fielder Lawrence Butler was the first player to score, slamming a ball into center field during his first at-bat to lead off the first inning. The home run came two days after Butler hit a walk-off single against the Boston Red Sox.
A’s face teams in thick of playoff races
The A’s could play spoiler during the final weeks of the season if the team continues to win games. Their upcoming schedule is against multiple teams fighting to secure a spot in this year’s playoffs.
First up is Cincinnati (74-73) who ended Friday night a game-and-a-half behind the New York Mets for the final wild card spot in the National League. The Reds’ loss also put them a game behind the San Francisco Giants (75-72), who won Friday night as they also chase the Mets.
Next, the A’s will head to Boston (81-67) for the team’s second series against the Red Sox in the last week. The Red Sox would be the second wild card team in the American League, but are only 3 games above the surging Texas Rangers who have won six of their last seven games.
Then, on Sept. 23, the Athletics begin their penultimate series of the season against the Houston Astros (80-68) who narrowly lead a three-team race for the American League West crown, tied with the Seattle Mariners and two games ahead of the Rangers (78-70).
Spoiler isn’t the goal
Before Friday’s game, Kotsay said the goal of these final games was not to serve as a spoiler but rather to “gauge” the team’s current standing in the league and going into the 2026. He hopes his players finished the season strong, noting the team has played some of its best ball in the last two months.
“We want to be one of these teams next season and in September playing for a playoff spot,” Kotsay said.
Outfielder and designated hitter Brent Rooker echoed his manager’s comments, saying the final month is a “good test” for a team full of young players. Rooker hit one single in his four plate appearances Friday.
“It’s easy to kind of look at the light at the end of the tunnel, but you just got to be where your feet are and just perform every single day,” Rooker said before the game.
The A’s continue the series against the Reds with two more games this weekend. One more loss would clinch the A’s fourth consecutive season with a non-winning record.
Saturday’s game starts at 7:05 p.m. Luis Severino (6-11, 4.67 ERA) will start for the A’s against Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene (6-4, 2.59).
This story was originally published September 12, 2025 at 10:28 PM.
