A rough night for Raiders rookie Fernando Mendoza in 18-12 preseason loss to the 49ers

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza saw what it was like to face a strong NFL pass rush, even against a San Francisco defense comprised of reserves, and he was sacked twice and threw an interception in the 49ers' 18-12 preseason victory over the Raiders on Thursday night.

“It's the NFL, there are monsters on the other side of the ball and you need to get the ball out quick,” Mendoza said. “It teaches you, you need to play on time, and there's less margin for error. So I think it's a great experience having that heat and duress because diamonds are built under pressure.”

Eddy Piñeiro made all six field goal attempts, including 51- and 54-yarders in the final 1:51 for the 49ers (2-1). Las Vegas' Matt Gay, who played briefly for San Francisco last season, made 4 of 5 field goals, his miss coming from 54 yards in the third quarter.

Mendoza completed 7 of 14 passes for 57 yards, making him 25 of 40 for 240 yards with a touchdown, two interceptions and four sacks for the three preseason games. He led five drives against the 49ers, one ending in a field goal and another in the missed attempt.

It wasn't quite the exclamation point the top overall draft pick wanted to put on the preseason, and now he will have to search for practice repetitions with Kirk Cousins expected to be the starter when the season begins. Cousins took the vast majority of snaps in training camp for the Raiders (1-2), who now go full time into game planning.

“(Mendoza) needs another three preseason games, and all those rookies do," Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said. “Now that the season is starting, the practice reps get smaller and that's just life. But us as coaches, we've got to get them ready to play and keep developing.”

Both coaches took notably different approaches to this preseason finale, with Kubiak playing almost his entire starting offense and defense for two series and the Niners' Kyle Shanahan going with backups the entire game.

Now both coaches have serious decisions to make before the rosters are cut to 53 on Sunday.

“I’m looking forward to figuring out exactly our final team here over these next three days," Shanahan said. "We got a lot of tough decisions; they’re not easy ones. I want to see how the practice squad pans out and really what our opening day roster is going to be. I just like when the season starts. Preseason gets a little bit old, and I like when it gets real and it’s going to get real, real fast.”

Cousins directed two drives, both ending in field goals. He completed 8 of 11 passes for 51 yards.

Mike Washington Jr., who could open the season as the starting running back with Ashton Jeanty out with an undisclosed injury. rushed for 49 yards on eight carries. Washington rushed for 168 yards in the preseason, averaging 7.3 per carry.

49ers backup quarterback Mac Jones and what was mostly the second-team offense was held to one first down and 20 yards on two drives against the Raiders' starting defense, minus pass rusher Maxx Crosby who didn't play in any preseason games. Jones finished 1 of 5 for 7 yards.

The Raiders went with Mendoza for the third period and gave him the starting offense, except for rookie Trey Zuhn III taking over for Tyler Linderbaum at center. Mendoza threw high to Jalen Nailor on his second play, and the ball popped into the air into the hands of San Francisco linebacker Tatum Bethune for an interception.

49ers: CB Ephesians Prysock (shoulder) and TE Brayden Willis (concussion) were injured. LB Jalen Graham was evaluated for a concussion and cleared.

Raiders: DE Keyron Crawford (ankle) was hurt late in the third quarter.

49ers: Open Sept. 10 against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.

Raiders: Open Sept. 13 against Miami at home.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jordan Watkins celebrates after a first down during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026}, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

San Francisco 49ers safety Ashtyn Davis (29) tackles Las Vegas Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr. (30) as San Francisco 49ers linebacker Jaden Dugger (53) loses his helmet during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026}, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones looks for a receiver during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026}, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Keion White (56) sacks Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026}, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

NEW YORK (AP) — George Lombard Jr. made history this month when he became the first New York Yankees shortstop to homer in his major league debut.

Three weeks into his career, however, the rookie set a dubious mark by committing an error for the sixth straight game in Thursday night’s 5-1 loss to the Houston Astros.

Lombard has seven errors in his first 20 games and, after his latest miscue, the 21-year-old said his defense was not acceptable.

“It’s something we’re trying to figure out,” Lombard said. “It’s not acceptable. It can’t happen at this level. If you make your pitchers have to get extra outs it just makes it way harder on us, and teams are going to capitalize. So it’s something that we’re definitely going to have to clean up and I've got to be better tomorrow.”

With Christian Walker on second base in the eighth inning, Yainer Diaz hit a grounder that caromed off Lombard’s glove. The ball ricocheted to third baseman José Caballero and he was charged with a throwing error for his wild toss to first as Walker scored Houston’s fifth run.

“The one today, it’s kind of that in-between ball. So you’re like, is the third baseman getting there?” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Is he not? There’s a little indecisiveness there. So I think that played into that a little bit.”

Lombard became the first Yankees shortstop since Roger Peckinpaugh in 1915 to commit an error in six consecutive games. On Wednesday night, Lombard misplayed a grounder by Walker in the seventh that allowed the tying run to score before the Yankees pulled away for a 9-3 victory.

Lombard has a .925 fielding percentage and has turned 15 double plays after the Yankees used Anthony Volpe and Caballero at shortstop until calling up their top prospect. New York shortstops have combined to make 16 errors overall.

Last season, Volpe led American League shortstops with 19 errors while playing with a torn labrum in his shoulder for the final four months.

“The good thing about George is you know he’s so skilled and gifted out there and foundationally he’s really good, too," Boone said. “So he will get through it.”

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

New York Yankees' George Lombard Jr. looks on during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)