While many sports enthusiasts were likely focused on the NBA Finals unfolding at Madison Square Garden on Monday night, a peculiar baseball showdown was occurring roughly 2,500 miles away.
The Brewers squared off against the Athletics at Las Vegas Ballpark, marking the A’s inaugural game in Las Vegas since announcing their relocation.
Milwaukee secured a thrilling 15-14 triumph after 12 innings. This game set a new benchmark for the MLB season, surpassing the previous high of 25 runs, which occurred when the Giants overpowered the Rockies 19-6 on May 31. In this encounter, the Brewers slightly outpaced the A’s in hits, tallying 18 to their 16.
As anticipated at a minor league venue, Las Vegas Ballpark witnessed an impressive display of power, with both teams launching a total of 11 home runs.
The Athletics were particularly prolific, contributing seven home runs, with Nick Kurtz and Tyler Soderstrom each accounting for two.
Andrew Vaughn, who homered for Milwaukee, led the team with four RBIs. Three other Brewers, Brice Turang, William Contreras, and Jake Bauers, had three RBIs apiece. Tyler Soderstrom matched Vaughn and led his own squad with four RBIs alongside two home runs.
On the other side, the Brewers and A’s each used seven pitchers in contest, and the staffs threw a total of 441 pitches, a season high.
The starters, Kyle Harrison for the Brewers and Jeffrey Springs for the Athletics, allowed a combined 13 runs. It was the longest game thus far this season, taking four hours and 14 minutes.
After heading into extras tied 10-10, each team scored four runs in the tenth inning to keep things tied 14-14. The 11th inning saw no runs scored, but in the top of the 12th, automatic runner Christian Yelich scored the deciding run when A’s second baseman Jeff McNeil threw wide to home on a grounder by Turang.
The Central Division-leading Brewers have been slugging the past few days, having scored seven or more runs in their last five games.
The A’s are expected to move into their new ballpark in Las Vegas for the start of the 2028 season.