See cat deliver the most purr-fect first pitch ever
A rescued kitten, named ChipPurr Jones, delivered an adorable ceremonial first pitch for the Gwinnett Stripers in Georgia.
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA — Athletics catcher Brian Serven left Wednesday’s game early after taking a ball to the face.
Serven was at bat in the bottom of the sixth inning when Angels pitcher José Fermin threw a 94 mph changeup that resulted in a foul ball.
The pitch just skimmed Serven’s bat, which he had in a bunt position, and ricocheted directly into his left cheek bone, just under his eye. He took the impact and fell to the dirt.
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay and the team trainer ran immediately onto the field to check on Serven as Angels’ infielders took a sportsmanship knee. Serven was down for several moments but slowly got up, signaling he was OK.
“We’re not sure,” Kotsay told reporters when asked if Serven would play in the A’s remaining games against the Houston Astros. “Right now, he’s getting a CT scan and they’re taking a look at the swelling area on the face. Scary moment for sure.
“Fortunately, looking at the video replay, the ball hit the bat, it also bounced off the earpiece. So we’re hoping that with the combination of that, in that direct impact area underneath the eye… There was a good amount of swelling.”
The A’s led 5-3 at the time of Serven’s injury and added two extra runs before they got out of the inning. It was the second of back-to-back matchups against the Angels.
Serven has only appeared in 29 games for the Athletics during the 2026 season. He’s put up a .184 batting average and a .620 OPS with five home runs and 14 RBIs.
The A’s defeated Los Angeles, 9-7, at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Tuesday, Sept. 22 and held on to win Sept. 23’s matchup 7-3.
Their final series to conclude the 2026 season begins Thursday, Sept. 24 against the Houston Astros.
Will Serven suit up? Kotsay said the A’s are not sure.
“We’ll know more tomorrow morning,” Kotsay said after the game.