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Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kurtz does it again with homer off Hader in 10th to lift Athletics over Astros
Athletics' Lawrence Butler gestures skyward after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 19, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) Athletics' Willie MacIver, left, is caught in a rundown and later tagged out during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) Athletics' Willie MacIver hits and reaches on an error resulting in a run batted in against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 19, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) Athletics' Jacob Wilson reacts after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 19, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) Athletics' Nick Kurtz is splashed by gatorade after he hits a walk off two run home run against the Houston Astros during the 10th inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 19, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) Athletics' Nick Kurtz is splashed by gatorade after he hits a walk off two run home run against the Houston Astros during the 10th inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 19, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) Athletics' Lawrence Butler gestures skyward after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 19, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) Athletics' Willie MacIver, left, is caught in a rundown and later tagged out during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) Athletics' Willie MacIver hits and reaches on an error resulting in a run batted in against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 19, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) Athletics' Jacob Wilson reacts after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 19, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) Athletics' Nick Kurtz is splashed by gatorade after he hits a walk off two run home run against the Houston Astros during the 10th inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 19, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Nick Kurtz hit a two-run homer off closer Josh Hader in the 10th inning to give the Athletics a 6-4 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday night. Willie McIver launched his first major league homer and drove in two runs for the Athletics. Lawrence Butler and Jacob Wilson also connected on solo shots as the A's won their fifth in seven games. Advertisement The A's regrouped after blowing a 4-1 lead in the eighth when Victor Caratini hit a three-run homer with two outs on the first pitch from closer Mason Miller. Tyler Soderstrom began the bottom of the 10th as the automatic runner at second base and moved to third on a wild pitch. Hader (4-1) struck out Max Muncy before Kurtz smashed a 2-1 sinker to center field for his second game-ending homer against Houston in four days. Michael Kelly (1-0) retired three batters for the win. McIver, the A's rookie catcher who made a rare pitching appearance and threw a scoreless inning in relief Tuesday, had another memorable moment when he drilled a 2-0 fastball from Astros starter Colton Gordon over the fence in center. Two batters later, Butler connected for his 11th homer of the season. Advertisement Key moment After the A's put runners at the corners with nobody out in the eighth, Astros reliever Bryan Abreu got out of it with consecutive swinging strikeouts and a weak groundout. Key stat The A's have allowed 70 home runs at Sutter Health Park, the most given up by a home team in the majors this season. Up next Astros RHP Hunter Brown (8-3, 1.88 ERA) faces the Angels in Anaheim on Friday. Athletics LHP Jeffrey Springs (5-5, 4.52) pitches against the Guardians at home Friday. ___ AP MLB:
Washington Post
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Athletics' Shea Langeliers exits vs. Twins after grabbing left side while batting
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Shea Langeliers of the Athletics left Thursday's game against the Minnesota Twins after grabbing his left side during an at-bat in the sixth inning. The team later said he had left flank soreness. Langeliers fouled off a pitch and went to the dugout with a 2-2 count. The A's were ahead 12-1 at the time. Logan Davidson finished Langeliers' at-bat and struck out looking. Langeliers, the A's usual starting catcher, was the designated hitter Thursday. Willie MacIver was behind the plate. Langeliers is batting .237 with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs. ___ AP MLB:
Associated Press
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Athletics' Shea Langeliers exits vs. Twins after grabbing left side while batting
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Shea Langeliers of the Athletics left Thursday's game against the Minnesota Twins after grabbing his left side during an at-bat in the sixth inning. The team later said he had left flank soreness. Langeliers fouled off a pitch and went to the dugout with a 2-2 count. The A's were ahead 12-1 at the time. Logan Davidson finished Langeliers' at-bat and struck out looking. Langeliers, the A's usual starting catcher, was the designated hitter Thursday. Willie MacIver was behind the plate. Langeliers is batting .237 with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs. ___ AP MLB:
Washington Post
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
A's catcher MacIver gets go-ahead hit, throws out runner to end game in big league debut at age 28
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Willie MacIver hit a go-ahead single in the eighth inning of his major league debut. Minutes later, the 28-year-old catcher threw out a runner trying to steal second for the final out that ended the Athletics' 11-game losing streak. 'I woke up hoping for a Gatorade bath at the end of the game and, man, I've never felt such a good feeling with such cold water,' he said after the A's beat Philadelphia 5-4 on Sunday and stopped the Phillies' nine-game win streak.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
A's catcher MacIver gets go-ahead hit, throws out runner to end game in big league debut at age 28
Athletics pitcher Mason Miller points to catcher Willie MacIver after winning a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics pitcher Hogan Harris, left, and catcher Willie MacIver, right, walk to the dugout during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics catcher Willie MacIver, left, high-fives pitcher Mason Miller, right, after winning a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics catcher Willie MacIver throws the ball to the pitcher during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics pitcher Mason Miller points to catcher Willie MacIver after winning a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics pitcher Mason Miller points to catcher Willie MacIver after winning a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics pitcher Mason Miller points to catcher Willie MacIver after winning a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics pitcher Hogan Harris, left, and catcher Willie MacIver, right, walk to the dugout during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics catcher Willie MacIver, left, high-fives pitcher Mason Miller, right, after winning a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics catcher Willie MacIver throws the ball to the pitcher during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics pitcher Mason Miller points to catcher Willie MacIver after winning a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Willie MacIver hit a go-ahead single in the eighth inning of his major league debut. Minutes later, the 28-year-old catcher threw out a runner trying to steal second for the final out that ended the Athletics' 11-game losing streak. 'I woke up hoping for a Gatorade bath at the end of the game and, man, I've never felt such a good feeling with such cold water,' he said after the A's beat Philadelphia 5-4 on Sunday and stopped the Phillies' nine-game win streak. Advertisement MacIver was among five players brought up from the minors on Friday. He started Sunday in place of Shea Langeliers in the day game after a night game. 'This is part of the talk that we had in spring training, it was going to take the whole army that was in the room,' said manager Mark Kotsay, who watched the end from the clubhouse following his first ejection this season. MacIver, hitting .389 with two homers and 30 RBIs at Triple-A Las Vegas, grounded out in the second and fourth against Jesús Luzardo, then struck out in the sixth. After Trea Turner homered in the eighth off Hogan Harris for a 4-3 lead, another Friday call-ups sparked the rally. Advertisement Logan Davidson walked and scored on Lawrence Butler's triple against Matt Strahm. MacIver fouled off a fastball, then drove a cutter into center field to bring home the go-ahead run. 'I'm always upset about walks,' Strahm said. 'I just feel like I've had too many too close together.' A day after blowing a ninth-inning lead, Mason Miller allowed a two-out single in the ninth to Alec Bohm. Johan Rojas pinch ran and MacIver, who had been in the minors since 2018, threw to shortstop Jacob Wilson, who tagged the sliding Rojas on an elbow. 'I had family here, friends, teammates, ex-teammates,' MacIver said. 'It's a dream come true. I can't even put it into words.' Advertisement Rojas at 29.9 feet per second has the fifth-highest sprint speed in the majors among players with 10 or more opportunities, according to Statcast. MacIver was selected by Colorado in the ninth round of the 2018 amateur draft from the University of Washington. He played in the 2021 Futures Game with Bobby Witt Jr., Julio Rodríguez and Spencer Torkelson. MacIver became a minor league free agent last November and signed a minor league contract with the Athletics a month later. 'I'm so grateful for my family and for my support system,' he said. 'They've been everything to me and I obviously wouldn't be here without them and like I can't thank them enough. ... The fact that they could be here and see my first hit and how that game ended, man, it's awesome.' Advertisement Davidson started at first a day after Nick Kurtz left the game because of a left hip issue. He had two hits and two RBIs a day after a forgettable debut. Davidson entered as a pinch runner for Kurtz in the 10th inning. He was thrown out at the plate, called for obstruction and ended a 9-6 loss by striking out. 'There's a lot of confidence that I have in this kid,' Kotsay said. 'I've invested a lot of time, we've had a lot of conversations through the last two seasons about what it was going to take for him to be a big leaguer and he has not backed down from anything that I've given him and to see the reward come today and just his first start and contributing and having such an impact to the win, was awesome.' ___ AP MLB:
