Cubs steal the show during A’s ‘home’ opener at Triple-A stadium in Sacramento

• The strange setting was the least of the happenings at the Athletics’ home opener in Sacramento. The Cubs stole the show in an 18-3 win.
• Cubs catcher Carson Kelly hit for the cycle, the first Cubs player to do so in 32 years.
• Meanwhile, a drone interrupted play in the 7th inning, creating yet another memory for the 12,000 fans in attendance at the Triple-A ballpark.

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Monday, March 31, was a bit strange as the A’s made their “home” debut in a Sacramento Triple-A ballpark. It was their first home game outside of Oakland since 1967.

The Chicago Cubs upstaged the new residents, winning 18-3 in front of a crowd of just over 12,000. 

Cubs fans, A’s fans and curious Sacramento residents lined up outside the gates hours before the game began, while players from both teams said the atmosphere was great despite the lopsided score.

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Which Cubs player had the biggest impact?

Those fans certainly saw something unusual as catcher Carson Kelly became the first Cubs player to hit for the cycle in 32 years. The single, double and home run came fairly straight forward, but the all-elusive triple was in doubt. 

“Odds are not in my favor, right? And I didn’t get it done the first time. This time, I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m just going to put a good at-bat together,” Kelly said. “Hit it, I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, pretty good,’ and then I hit first, and I saw it ricochet, and I was like, ‘Oh boy, this is it right here, I got to go.’ So it’s probably the fastest you’ll ever see me run, too.”

Kelly’s manager, Craig Counsell, called it a historic performance and much-needed as the Cubs try to find their stride after a 1-3 start to the season. 

“I didn’t realize he had a chance at a cycle, but when that ball kicked off the wall the dugout started going crazy, so figured something was going on,” Counsell said. “They’re fun days, man. They’re rare days and they’re once-in-a-lifetime type days for players.”

What else got everyone’s attention?

That wasn’t the only unusual circumstance Monday night. In the 7th inning, the game was paused for a few minutes as a drone hovered over right field. It was captured by one of the visiting clubhouse attendants after Counsell said something to the umpire.

What’s next for the A’s this season?

As for the A’s, they will share Sutter Health Park with the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A team, the Sacramento Rivercats, while they await their new stadium in Las Vegas. That means more than 150 baseball games in a six-month span at the ballpark.

The A’s would have certainly liked a better showing in their home debut, but outfielder Brent Rooker believes his teammates have the right attitude.

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“I think we recognize the situation,” Rooker said. “I think we recognize the need for a temporary home until we get to where we’re going, and I think we are fully ready and fully prepared to embrace this as our home for the next three years –– both the stadium and the city –– and to make the very best of it.”

The A’s organization plans to break ground on their new stadium in Las Vegas this summer and have it completed in time for opening day in 2028.