Athletics defeat Astros 6-4 with a Kurtz walk-off Homer

Kurtz Walks it Off Again, this Time in the 10th

As Major League Baseball celebrated Juneteenth and the Athletics celebrated African American Heritage Night at Sutter Health Park, the A’s took on the Houston Astros in West Sacramento.

The A’s sent 27-year-old lefty Jacob Lopez to the mound to face off against Colton Gordon for Houston.

The A’s got things rolling in the bottom of the first inning against Gordon, with Laurence Butler and Jacob Wilson each singling. But Rooker struck out looking and Tyler Soderstrom fouled out to the catcher. That brought up Max Muncy, who walked to load the bases. Kurtz also fouled out to Caratini to end the inning and the threat.

With one out in the second, Willie MacIver launched his first career homer to give the A’s the lead, 1-0.

Lawrence Butler saw how much fun MacIver had and decided to hit a rocket of his own onto the berm to make it 2-0.

Jacob Lopez struck out the sides in the top of the third, getting his A’s back into the dugout quickly. With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Luis Urías singled. MacIver followed that with a ground rule double, moving Urías to third. But Clarke struck out looking and Butler grounded out to end the inning.

Jake Meyers opened the fifth inning with a single and Mauricio Dubón doubled moving Meyers to third. He scored on a ground out by Jeremy Peña. Headed to the bottom of the fifth, the A’s still led 2-1.

In the op of the sixth, Lopez worked it was not a jam once again. He loaded the bases with one out on two walks and a single. Caratini struck out for the second out and Dubón did the same to end the inning.

The A’s extended their lead in the sixth thanks to some defensive miscues by the Astros. Max Muncy singled to open the inning. Kurtz reached on an error by the pitcher Gordon. MacIver grounded into a force out and reached when Altuve botched the throw to first. That allowed Muncy to score.at the end of six, the A’s now led 3-1.

J.T. Ginn replaced Lopez in the seventh. His final line was: six innings, one earned run, four hits and three walks. He struck out nine Astros on the night.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh Jacob Wilson launched his ninth homer of the year to deep left field. That gave the A’s a 4-1 lead.

In his second inning of work, Ginn got two quick outs but then gave up a walk to Christian Walker and then a base hit to Jake Meyers. That brought Kotsay to the mound to bring in Mason Miller. On his first pitch of the night Miller gave up a three-run homer to Victor Caratini. That tied the score at 4 each. Caratini had been 0-3 with three strikeouts for the night prior to that home run.

Bryan Abreu came on to pitch the eighth for the Astros. Nick Kurtz walked to start the inning. Luis Urías singled, moving Kurtz to third. JJ Bleday hit for MacIver, setting up a left-right matchup for Bleday with no outs. Bleday struck out swinging. Denzel Clarke also struck out swinging. Unfortunately, Butler grounded out to end the inning.

Miller returned to pitch the ninth. Jeremy Peña singled on a line drive to left fielder Tyler Soderstrom who misplayed the ball allowing Peña to take second with no outs. Miller got the next three batters to pop up to Max Schuemann, who pinch ran for Urías in the top of the inning.

Astros closer Josh Hader entered the game in the bottom of the ninth. Wilson flied out to right for the first out of the inning. Rooker struck out and Soderstrom popped out to send the game to extras.

Michael Kelly came in to pitch the tenth. Yainer Diaz was the placed runner on second to start the inning. Christian Walker drew a walk. Max Muncy ended the inning by starting a great double play.

Hader remained in the game, and Soderstrom was the placed runner on second for the A’s. Hader bounced a pitch in the dirt and Soderstrom moved to third with no outs for Muncy. Muncy struck out, bringing up Monday’s hero Nick Kurtz. And he did it again. Nick Kurtz hit one over the centerfield wall to give the A’s a 6-4 walk-off victory.