The Oakland Athletics are looking to secure a four-game sweep of the Houston Astros on Sunday, following a decisive 5-1 victory on Saturday. This win was marked by the continued impressive performance of rookie first baseman Nick Kurtz, who aims to build on his recent achievements after becoming the first rookie to hit four home runs in a single game. During his historic outing, Kurtz achieved a remarkable 6-for-6 performance, making him only the 20th player in major league history to accomplish this feat.
In Saturday’s game, Kurtz contributed significantly, finishing 2-for-4 at the plate with a walk. His season statistics are noteworthy, as he holds a batting average of .309, alongside 23 home runs and 59 RBIs over 243 at-bats in 67 games since making his big league debut on April 23, 2024. Despite his success, Athletics manager Mark Kotsay acknowledged the challenges that come with being a young player in the league.
“This kid is 22 years old,” Kotsay stated. “I don’t know if he’s reached the physicality that you get when you’re 27. Nick’s going through it a little bit right now. The wear and tear, the legs are heavy. It takes its toll.”
As the A’s prepare for Sunday’s matchup, rookie right-hander J.T. Ginn will take the mound. Ginn, with a record of 1-2 and a 4.50 ERA, pitched five innings in his last outing against the Texas Rangers, allowing one run on five hits and one walk, but did not factor into the decision in a 6-2 loss. Historically, Ginn has seen mixed results, posting a 4.11 ERA as a reliever without recording a decision, and a higher 4.76 ERA across five starts.
The Astros will counter with rookie left-hander Colton Gordon, who has a record of 4-2 and a 4.53 ERA. Gordon’s recent performances have been inconsistent, going 1-1 with a 5.82 ERA in his last four appearances, where he allowed more earned runs than strikeouts. He previously excelled in April, recording a 2.14 ERA over four starts, but has struggled to replicate that form in recent outings.
In a notable trend, the Astros have allowed opponents to score first in 17 consecutive games, with a record of 7-10 in those contests. This statistic highlights Houston’s struggles, particularly at home, where they have lost eight of their last nine games. Manager Joe Espada emphasized the need for his team to stay positive.
“We’re a really good team coming from behind,” Espada said. “It’s just a matter of not letting that be a conversation. We need to tag along some good at-bats and just get a big hit, and we should be fine.”
As the Athletics aim to continue their winning streak, all eyes will be on Kurtz and Ginn as they look to deliver another strong performance against the struggling Astros.