Two decades ago, the young-teen version of Rhys Hoskins could be found on the right-field lawn at what is now called Sutter Health Park, hoping a home-run ball would come his way.
The Sacramento, Calif., native did himself one better on Friday night by sending a souvenir into the small set of seats in left field in his first major league game at his hometown ballpark.
Hoskins, a designated hitter and first baseman for the Cleveland Guardians, finished with three RBIs, also smacking a two-run double to deep right-center, in an 8-5 victory over the Athletics.
Hoskins will look to repeat his feats Saturday afternoon when the Guardians and Athletics play the middle contest of the three-game series in West Sacramento.
Hoskins, now 33, frequently attended games at the Triple-A ballpark and later was a college star at nearby Sacramento State.
At that point, nobody envisioned hitting big-league blasts at Sutter Health Park. But the Athletics vacated Oakland and are playing for the second straight season while waiting for their ballpark in Las Vegas to open in 2028.
“This is home,” Hoskins told reporters. “I have a lot of 12-, 13- and 14-year-old memories here. It was just a cool moment for me and my family. To get a win in that situation is even better.”
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt could see it was a special deal for Hoskins.
“It’s so cool when guys get to play in their hometown in front of their family, and obviously this is a unique one for Rhys,” said Vogt, who played in the park as a minor leaguer. “(He) never played in Sacramento before. So really fun for him to come through with some big hits, big at bats. Really happy, fun night for Rhys.”
Friday’s blast was his 188th since reaching the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017.
The Athletics were pleased to see Brent Rooker go 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs. The two-time All-Star went 0-for-13 with five strikeouts in his first three games since returning from an oblique injury he sustained on April 9.
But the two-run homer in the first inning of Friday’s game might get Rooker going.
“I thought ‘Rook’ had solid at-bats,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “Looked a lot better. That’s the ‘Rook’ we’re used to seeing, and we’ll continue to start seeing.”
A’s slugger Nick Kurtz was hitless in four at-bats but drew a walk in the seventh inning to reach base for the 26th straight game.
Kurtz has walked in 20 consecutive games, tying Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants for the second-longest streak in major league history. Bonds accomplished the feat spanning the 2002 and ’03 seasons. Roy Cullenbine of the 1947 Detroit Tigers holds the record with walks in 22 games in a row.
“You don’t really want to go up there looking for a walk,” Kurtz told reporters. “It’s kind of something that happens with being aggressive to the right pitches and laying off the other ones.
Facing Kurtz and the A’s will be Guardians right-hander Slade Cecconi (0-4, 6.23 ERA), who is looking for his first win in start No. 7. Cecconi fell to the Toronto Blue Jays last Sunday when he gave up four runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings of a 4-2 game.
Cecconi, 26, is 2-0 with a 4.19 ERA in three career starts against the Athletics. Shea Langeliers (4-for-6, one homer), Kurtz (3-for-7) and Rooker (4-for-9, one homer) have fared well against Cecconi.
The Athletics will turn to left-hander Jacob Lopez (2-1, 5.84 ERA), who has walked 21 batters in 24 2/3 innings. Lopez, 28, will start for the first time since beating the Seattle Mariners 5-2 on April 21. He gave up two runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings.
Lopez pitched one inning of relief against Texas last Sunday and gave up one run in one inning in the 2-1 A’s win.
He has never faced the Guardians. Hoskins (0-for-2) is the only Cleveland player who has batted against him.
–Field Level Media
