Nick Kurtz is on an absolute tear, and the Athletics are reaping the benefits. For the third consecutive game, the rookie slugger launched a home run—this time a go-ahead, three-run blast in the fifth inning—to propel Oakland to a 5-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Friday night.
The decisive moment came after Lawrence Butler and Jeff McNeil opened the inning with singles, setting the stage for a sacrifice bunt by Darell Hernaiz that moved both runners into scoring position. Kurtz then crushed a Tyler Mahle pitch 417 feet to center field, sending it over the wall for his eighth homer of the season and giving the Athletics a 4-2 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Rookie Henry Bolte added an insurance run later in the same inning, driving in Shea Langeliers with a two-out single to cap the scoring at 5-2.
The Athletics struck first in the second inning when McNeil ripped a two-out double to score Zack Gelof. But the Giants answered back quickly. Luis Arraez tied the game in the fourth with his first home run of the season, a leadoff shot off Athletics starter Aaron Civale. Then in the fifth, Harrison Bader put San Francisco ahead 2-1 with a solo homer of his own.
Civale (5-1) battled through five innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out three. The bullpen took it from there, with Joel Kuhnel, José Suarez, and Luis Medina each tossing a scoreless inning of relief. Hogan Harris closed it out in the ninth, earning his third save in four opportunities despite giving up a two-out single to Arraez—his fourth hit of the night—before retiring Matt Chapman on a groundout to end the game.
The Giants had a golden opportunity to tie it in the seventh when Bader singled and took third on a double by Arraez. But Chapman, the former Athletics third baseman, struck out on a 3-2 pitch, and Rafael Devers grounded out to Kurtz at first to squash the threat.
Mahle (1-5) took the loss for San Francisco, surrendering five runs on 10 hits over five innings. The Giants also suffered a scare when left fielder Heliot Ramos left the game with right quad tightness after going 1-for-3.
With the win, Oakland improved to 10-10 at home, while the Giants fell to 8-15 on the road. The Athletics now hold a 78-77 advantage in the all-time regular-season rivalry series, a lead that seemed precarious after San Francisco won five of six matchups last season to pull even.
Looking ahead, the Giants will send right-hander Trevor McDonald (1-0, 2.92 ERA) to the mound on Saturday, while the Athletics counter with righty Luis Severino (2-4, 4.07). If Kurtz keeps swinging this hot bat, Oakland fans might be in for another thrilling night.