The 2025 home opener for the Athletics did not go as planned as they suffered a heavy 18-3 defeat against the Chicago Cubs at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento. This game marked the beginning of their temporary stay in Sacramento before their permanent move to Las Vegas. Cubs’ catcher Carson Kelly achieved a rare feat by hitting for the cycle, becoming the first player in the league to do so this season and the first Cubs player since 1993.
Sutter Health Park, which will be the Athletics’ home for the next three seasons, is shared with the Sacramento River Cats, the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A affiliate. In honor of the late Rickey Henderson, A’s players wore his No. 24 during the game, with Henderson’s daughters throwing out the first pitch.
Despite the minor-league status of the ballpark with a capacity of 14,014, some renovations were completed before the A’s arrival, including a new two-story clubhouse, renovated hitting tunnels, and expanded dugouts and bullpens.
Prior to the game, A’s outfielder Brett Rooker expressed his hopes for an energetic atmosphere resembling a big SEC college baseball game. A’s owner John Fisher also shared his confidence and excitement about the team’s future.
The media setup outside the ballpark and the condition of the field, particularly in the left-field corner, were noted as not meeting major league standards.
If the new fixed-roof ballpark in Vegas is not ready by 2028, the A’s have the option to play in West Sacramento for a fourth season.
Cubs roll to blowout win
The Cubs took an early lead with back-to-back home runs in the first inning and continued to dominate with runs in subsequent innings. The game saw a total of 18 runs on 21 hits by the Cubs, leading them to a 15-run victory.
Shortstop Jacob Wilson provided a bright moment for the A’s by hitting the team’s first home run in the new stadium, marking his first career home run as well. The game even experienced a brief drone delay in the seventh inning.
With the win, the Cubs improved to 3-4 on the season, while the A’s dropped to 2-3. The two teams will conclude their series on Wednesday before the A’s head back on the road to face the Colorado Rockies on Friday.