One evening after changing into the primary rookie to supply a four-homer sport as a part of a historic 6-for-6 efficiency, Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz completed 2-for-4 with a stroll in a 5-1 win Saturday over the host Houston Astros.
Kurtz will search to proceed his scorching streak on Sunday afternoon because the A’s pursue a four-game sweep of the Astros.
On Friday, Kurtz not solely grew to become the twentieth main league participant to hit 4 residence runs in a sport, he additionally matched the foremost league file of 19 complete bases. Kurtz, who made his huge league debut on April 23, is batting .309 for the season, with 23 homers and 59 RBIs in 243 at-bats over 67 video games.
Regardless of his spectacular outcomes, Kurtz — the fourth general choose within the 2024 draft out of Wake Forest — is dealing with uncharted waters.
“This child is 22 years outdated,” Athletics supervisor Mark Kotsay mentioned. “I do not know if he is reached the physicality that you just get whenever you’re 27. I do not know what else he can add on.
“Nick’s going by means of it a bit bit proper now. The damage and tear, the legs are heavy. The day in, time out, 13 (video games) in a row that we’re in direction of the top of, it takes its toll. All of those guys on this roster that have not performed a full season are feeling that. And we have nonetheless obtained a protracted approach to go.”
Rookie right-hander J.T. Ginn (1-2, 4.50 ERA) has the beginning project for the Athletics on Sunday.
Ginn allowed one run on 5 hits and one stroll with two strikeouts over 5 innings in opposition to the Texas Rangers on Tuesday. He didn’t issue into the choice of a 6-2 loss, nevertheless.
His earlier seven outings earlier than that begin have been in aid, and as a reliever, Ginn has a 4.11 ERA with out recording a choice. He has a 4.76 ERA in 5 begins.
Ginn has made two profession aid appearances in opposition to the Astros and has a 3.86 ERA with two runs, three hits and one stroll allowed with 5 strikeouts throughout 4 2/3 innings.
Rookie left-hander Colton Gordon (4-2, 4.53 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Astros. He’s 1-1 with a 5.82 ERA over his final 4 appearances and three begins, with extra earned runs allowed (11) than strikeouts (10) throughout 17 innings. Gordon was 3-0 with a 2.14 ERA in 4 begins final month, producing 18 strikeouts in opposition to solely two walks in 21 innings.
Gordon didn’t issue into the choice of a 6-4, 10-inning street loss in opposition to the Athletics on June 19 after he allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and one stroll with 4 strikeouts over 5 innings.
In one thing of a statistical oddity, the Astros have allowed opponents to attain first in 17 consecutive video games, going 7-10 in these contests. Houston has gained six of these video games on the street, however the group’s struggles at residence have been magnified throughout the streak.
With the loss to the Athletics on Saturday, the Astros have dropped eight of their final 9 video games at residence.
“We’re a very good group coming from behind,” mentioned Houston supervisor Joe Espada, whose Astros have 30 come-from-behind wins this season. “It is only a matter of not letting that be a dialog. We have simply obtained to proceed to grind at-bats and proceed to remain in video games.
“I do not like when that turns into a dialog or a story. We have to tag alongside some good at-bats and simply get an enormous hit, and we ought to be fantastic.”
–Discipline Degree Media
