Gelof & Butler Go Boom: A’s Finally Turn Sutter Health Park Into a House of Horrors for Visitors

WEST SACRAMENTO — For the first time in what felt like an eternity, the A’s actually looked like the home team. Not just the team that happens to wear the home whites, but the squad that makes visitors miserable. On Sunday, Zack Gelof and Lawrence Butler each launched two-run missiles, Tommy White introduced himself to the big leagues in the most memorable way possible, and the A’s punched the Rangers in the mouth for a 5-2 win.

HOME SWEET HOME (FINALLY)

This wasn’t just a win. This was a statement. The A’s had gone 0-12-1 across their previous 13 series at this ballpark. Thirteen. That’s not a slump, that’s a hostage situation. But Sunday’s victory gave them their first home series win since June 12-14 in Las Vegas, and their first in West Sacramento since April 28-30. Consider the curse broken — at least for one glorious afternoon.

THE LONG BALL DOES THE TALKING

Texas struck first when Jake Burger went yard in the second, but the lead was short-lived. Butler answered with a 394-foot rocket that curved around the right-field pole — the kind of hit that makes opposing pitchers wake up in a cold sweat. The A’s were up, and they weren’t looking back.

Burger drove in a second run on a forceout in the third to tie things up, finishing 3-for-4 on the day. But the A’s had more firepower in the tank.

GELOF DELIVERS THE KNOCKOUT BLOW

In the seventh, with the game hanging in the balance, Gelof stepped up and crushed a 403-foot bomb off Jakob Junis into the Rangers bullpen. The A’s had the lead again, and this time they weren’t giving it back.

Then came the encore: Tommy White, the 2024 second-round pick and A’s 10th-ranked prospect, tattooed his first career major league homer in the eighth to give the A’s some much-needed breathing room. Kid’s been in the league since July 17, and he just announced his presence with authority.

PITCHING HELD IT DOWN, TOO

Jacob Lopez (6-4) was the steady hand the A’s needed, striking out six while allowing two runs on five hits over six innings. After three straight no-decisions, he finally got the W. Meanwhile, shortstop Jacob Wilson nearly saw his major league-record errorless streak end at 114 games after misplaying a grounder in the fourth — but the official scorer was kind, ruling it a single. The streak lives.

And in the ninth, Hogan Harris shut the door with two strikeouts for his 12th save. Game over. Series won. Party in West Sacramento.

WHAT’S NEXT

The Rangers get a day off before hosting the Nationals, with Jackson Kent facing Cal Quantrill. The A’s, meanwhile, head to Kansas City for a four-game set starting Monday, with Mason Barnett on the mound. The Royals haven’t named their starter yet — probably because they’re still trying to figure out how to stop this suddenly dangerous A’s lineup.