#MLBVideos: FULL GAME: Nick Kurtz becomes first MLB rookie to hit 4 HR in a game! 😳 (Athletics vs. Astros)

FULL GAME: Nick Kurtz becomes first MLB rookie to hit 4 HR in a game! 😳 (Athletics vs. Astros)

Just about set for first pitch here at Dyken Park in Houston. The Athletics won round one of this four game series. [Music] Here’s the game time weather which is presented by Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. It’s been hot and muggy in Houston. It’s raining outside, but we’ve got a domed environment here at Dyken Park. So, 84 degrees outside and the orange clad Houston Astros are taking the field. Let’s not start with them. Let’s start with the A’s lineup, which is brought to you by your Northern California Honda dealers. It’s Carlos Cortez after a tremendous start last night, leading off, followed by Curts and Rooker, Langalers, and then Sodor Strip. Jacob Wilson will bat sixth tonight. Butler seventh, Ursella eighth, and Max Schuman batting ninth. And it has been quite a road to the big leagues for the man on the mound tonight. And that is Ryan Gusto. 13 starts under the belt of Ryan Gusto if you count tonight. You see the record 6 and3 over 76 and two/3 innings pitched for the right-hander. And as I mentioned, it has taken some some grit and some guts and really just going for the gusto to get Ryan Gusto to the big leagues. And we’ll talk about it. So the defense behind Ryan Gusto will look like this. Cooper Hmel and left, Chaz McCormick in center, and Cam Smith and right. Dubon and Walker on the corners, Short and Altuve up the middle. Three gold glovers on the infield with Yaneer Diaz behind the plate and the right-handed starter Ryan Gusto on the mound. [Music] Well, we saw Jos Altbe out in the outfield now back in a position that I think everybody is familiar with seeing him in a position he is very familiar with and that’s at second base. [Applause] Well, we’re just waiting to get some folks off the diamond, off the playing surface, and home plate umpire Scott Barry will fire it up and get this party started. So, Gusto versus Cortez. Right-hander compact wind up and pitch and it’s swung through and missed. We are underway in Houston. We know about Carlos Cortez in the minor leagues 322 17 home runs in 77 batted in across 71 games. The AAA Las Vegas. There’s strike two, 0 and2 quickly, but he made an immediate impact in his first career start last night, collecting a sacrifice fly RBI, the first of his major league career, then an outfield assist, the first of his major league career, followed up by his first big league hit. 02 swing and miss. Three pitches, three strikes, one out for Gusto. [Applause] Well, first pitch of the ball game about 94. Gusto running this one up to 96. Very Leon attacking with that fast ball even though you see Diaz have to reach back across just beat Cortez to the inside. So here’s Curts now the DH tonight fouling away the first pitch. umpiring crew tonight. Let’s start behind the plate. Scott Barry, the home plate umpire. CB Buckner at first. Adam Beck at second and the crew chief Dan Asonia is at third. So 0 and one to Kurts is at 288 on the season and it is steadily climbing. 01 driven the other way and down for a hit. Hmel moves over to get it and it’ll be a long single for Curts. that extends his hitting streak to 12 games. Well, Chris, you took us around the horn, introduced us to the crew. Let’s take a closer look at the tendencies of our man behind the plate, Scott Barry. First MLB umpire with a visible tattoo sleeve on his upper right arm as you see there. And I love it because it is dedicated to his late wife who did pass away from colon cancer. And I think that’s a lovely, lovely tip of the cap and a nod not only by Mr. Barry, but by Major League Baseball as well, I think to understand as as they continue to to move forward and keep up with the times. You know, we all express our ourselves in in very different ways, but for Mr. Barry to be able to have his best friend and his wife with him every step of the way out here on the diamond, I know means a lot to him. One Rooker bouncing ball to third. It goes foul. Well, I’m not quite sure how foul that was. I think Mauricio Dubon, the way he reacted to the play felt like it may have been a little closer than it was. You see that ball just apparently just on the other side of that foul line as it crossed over the bag. So Rooker has a one ball, one strike count, one for four. He went last night with a run scored in the Athletics 5-2 victory, snapping their four-game losing streak, also snapping Houston’s four-game winning streak. swinging a miss. One and two. Gusto coming right after him with that fast ball. A pitch he uses a lot. 46% of the time you’re getting that four seam fast ball. He’s got a curve, a cutter, a sinker, a sweeping slider, a change up, and he does feature the traditional gyro slider. You probably see that gyro slider more to the left-handers than the right-handers. Looking to sweep that slider away with a little more lateral movement to the right-handers. Two balls and two strikes to Rooker, but Gusto will fire over to first. Curts back in standing up. Rooker in left field. his sixth game in left this season. So they’re steadily getting him out more on the defensive side of the ball this year. It’s a good thing to see. Has done well in the corner outfield spots. Two- two pitch and he swings through a fast ball and misses. Another strike out for Gusto. Two away on his two strikeouts. Well, we’ll take you back to June 16th earlier this season. squared off against the green and goal back in West Sack and had himself a decent ball game. Five innings, just three hits allowed. Punched out eight. Remember Gust had some folks in the ballpark. He was born in Santa Rosa, California. drafted by the Astros in 2019. Called Carolina home. It’s where he grew up. Which one of the Carolinas? There’s two of them. North. North Carolina. Tarhill territory. You ever been to North Carolina? I would have no reason to go to North Carolina. Whitewater rafting. That seems like right up your alley. Uh, when you got the best white water rafting in the country in West Virginia, that’s probably where you go, which is where I go. 1-1 pop back foul. There’s a little bit of animosity in your voice. Is there the competitive flare between West Virginia and North Carolina that I don’t know about? Not necessarily. I I just learned very quickly and very early that West Virginia does have some of the best, if not the best, rapid offerings in the country slash the world. And I was I was not aware of that, but I was made aware of that very quickly years ago. I think you and Emma are going to have to have a conversation about North Carolina that you’re not going to like. I’ve got numbers. One, two, breaking ball lifted high and deep to left field. Hmel on the run. He’s still going at the track and by the wall. It is a foul ball. Well, I think what we’ll see on the replay here is a fan’s going to reach over the wall and grab this thing. And it’s not really going to matter because it it’s foul. You can see where this ball ends up. And it’s close. But foul nonetheless. I thought after Simeon’s home run a few games ago where it scraped the left field foul pole, we wouldn’t see one that close again. And we do now. Well, and that one, remember that ball did shoot right off that foul pole and it ricocheted down into the stand. So, you couldn’t really see the ball travel. You weren’t sure quite where it ended up. Shay’s been swinging a hot stick over his last seven. 385 with two homers and seven batted in. He’s 10 for 26. Did go 0 for three. However, the sacrifice fly in the fifth inning last night. Gusto’s one-two pitch. Now two balls and two strikes. Curts on first after extending his hitting streak to 12 games with an opposite field single. Right side open for Langers. Gusto’s 2-2. Fouled back. [Applause] Looks like Gusto wants to climb that ladder with the fast ball once he gets ahead. Maybe even just with two strikes. He likes that fast ball up top. Something we have seen here twice with Cortez and with Brent Rooker. Landingers able to foul that off. The next 2-2 sprayed foul. Gusto at home this year. 3-2 529 RA in 12 games. where he has started eight of those 12. 296 opponent average when pitching at home. And here comes pitch number eight of this battle. Ripped into left, a base hit. What an at bat by Langalers. And he keeps the inning going for Sodstrom. Fantastic at bat. spoil the putaway fast ball a few times. You finally get him to come back down into the strike zone and Shay put a great swing on it. It’s one of those battles where if you’re gusto, you almost just kind of got to take a little walk around the mound, try to gather yourself a bit. You don’t want to let the frustration of that at bat leak into this at bat here, especially with two outs. Tyler Sodstrom, who can hurt you should you leave that mistake middle. Very good fast ball hitter and a breaking ball laced into the alley left center. McCormack on the run. It drops down and goes all the way to the wall. Curts will score. Here comes Langelers and Soderstrom has a two RBI double. A’s lead early and Sod all over it. [Applause] Gusto just trying to get ahead probably thinking quality pitch first strike in his mind and Tyler Sodstrom was waiting and the fact that Sod able to stay on this breaking ball that was elevated up out. I mean that’s a way McCormack can’t get to it. He can’t even knock it down. That ball gets all the way to the wall. Two runs come around to score. And now an opportunity for Wilson who takes low. Tyler Sodstrom collects RBI’s 58 and 59 of his season. The A’s lead two to nothing. Now Wilson batting in the six spot. Hitless over his last four games. Looking to change that here and now in a successful first of offense. There’s the first strike. One and one. Well, again, Sod just staying on it, but very awkward effort there from McCormick, who not only wasn’t able to get to it, but even just stop it. He seemed frustrated with himself after the ball landed. Hmel was there to back it up. Well, you you saw the way the ball hit and it sort of checked up instead of bouncing and continuing its its flight and I think that’s kind of what caught him by surprise. Two and one to Wilson. Fouled back right above us. Two and two. Well, for Jacob, you saw that 311 average. It’s still one of the best in Major League Baseball, but his average has dropped 28 points since the start of July. Had an off day last night, now batting sixth here tonight. You can see the note. No hits in his last 17 chances, but he’s worked the count full now. Three and two. [Music] Well, an opportunity here to get a big two out knock. Keep this line moving. See where he sets right there on that average list. Fifth in baseball. 3-2 payoff pitch. Ground ball up the middle and through for a base hit. Sodrom will come around to score and Wilson has an RBI single. It’s three to nothing early. And this is what happens when you’re able to get base runners early at the beginning of the ball game. Feels like it’s just a little drop of blood in the water and then the sharks start to circle and that’s exactly what happened. Nick Curts drew blood with a knock. Langelers came up, took a bite out of it himself. Sodestrom followed suit as does Jacob Wilson. [Applause] This meeting on the mound is brought to you by the injury attorneys of Ashton and Price. Gusto 25 pitches in. He surrendered four hits, including an RBI single from Wilson. That was the last hitter. The hitter before Wilson was a two RBI double by Sodstrom. And the A’s have a three spot in the first. Just what you want to see after a nice complete win last night at 5-2 over these Houston Astros who are at top the American League West. Well, if you can get base runners early and you can push them across, I mean, I think it it’s fairly obvious, but you you give some run support to your guy on the mound who’s yet to be out there. Kind of puts him in a in a little bit of a different mindset. I mean, the two out hitting has been superb. We’ve seen that all road trip long, but these runs have scored with two outs. Now Butler will take a curveball in for a strike. 0 and one. You think about last night, great pitching, solid defense, timely hitting. The offense has continued here into game two in the first inning. 0 and two to Butler. Just Butler’s fourth game batting in the seven spot this year. an 0 for three with a run scored last night has Wilson to work with at first and a three to nothing lead. Well, we’ve seen Wilson move his way up and down this lineup at times, and I think if you remember how things were going early, it was about finding a spot for Jacob Wilson, maybe behind some guys who were also swinging the bat well because they would be on base, which meant RBI opportunities for the man with incredible batto ball contact skill. Gusto tried to sell strike three. Nobody buying. Not a bad spot, but it forces Gusto to have to fire across a 30th pitch this inning. But that’ll wait as he tosses over to first. Wilson back in diving safely. Two-2 pitch and now Butler works the count full. Three and two. Another good at bat here. Lingalers with a very nice at bat that resulted in a knock. Butler here taking it to a full count. 3-2 payoff. Wilson going. Butler swinging and missing. and that will retire the side. But three runs coming to score for the A’s in the first. We’ll see the Astros bats coming up next. So Cam Smith, the right fielder, the first of Houston’s lineup to come up. First pitch is just outside 1 and0. Smith hitless in his last three games with an at bat. He went 0 for three last night. Well, if Jeffrey Springs can establish himself in the strike zone, and I think maybe even do so with that fast ball like we saw Severino do last night. And there it is. I think he can very quickly put this Astros lineup on the defensive once again. Severino had no problem establishing the inside part of the plate last night and he found a boatload of success as Springs gets a swing and miss from his change up and that pitch despite the losing effort in Cleveland looked good against the Guardians. Sure did. And I I think as we kind of highlighted, you know, his first few starts of the month of July and how they went and coming off that little dust up with the guards, it’s that pitch right there, the change up that I think has helped reinstill some of the confidence for Jeffrey Springs. You go out there with your main weapon and you know it’s working, you feel like you can beat the world. 3-2 Smith blooper to center. That’ll drop down for a hit. Lead off single for the Astros right fielder. And with Jeffrey Springs on the mound tonight, it’ll be his 20th start of the season. And I think the key has been the fact that the left-hander has paid a lot of attention to the wise. When we talk about wise, we’re talking about why am I struggling? Why have I had success? How do I duplicate it? How do I move beyond some of the things that have really represented hurdles? And I think that’s part of, you know, growing into your veteran status. And for Jeffrey Springs, a guy who’s been around, understands how this game goes and how important it is to be able to identify the need to make adjustments. Here’s Altuve. And this is interesting. I was talking to you about this before the game, but Jeffrey Springs has never made a start against the Astros. Has two relief appearances and has never faced this man despite playing now in his eighth season in the big leagues and all of them being in the American League. Yeah, just three hitters on this team has he seen on Alvarez who is not here. Keratini who was not in the lineup or excuse me Elu waving at the bump but we’ll see right after Eluve and TL. Yep. who is not in the lineup. Two pitch bouncer fouled. Well, here’s the A’s defense tonight behind Jeffrey Springs. In the outfield, it’s Rooker in left, Butler in center, Cortez in right, Urella and Wilson on the left side of the infield, Schuman and Sodestrom on the right side with Langalers as the backs stop for Jeffrey Springs. So Sodstrom moves from left to first tonight. We know he can pick it pretty well over there. 02 to Altuve. Fly, foul, and out of play. The Astros [Applause] featuring a right-handed heavy lineup. Everybody in the lineup tonight against Jeffrey Springs will take their at bats from the right side till they decide to switch some things up. But it is reverse splits for Springs as his O2 misses high and outside. Yeah, lefties hitting .256 against Jeffree Springs. Righty’s sitting at that 226 clip, but there has been damage from the right side. 16 long balls surrendered to right-handers. One-two pitch, ground ball to third. Gio gets rid of it quickly onto Schuman. Over to first in a 543 double play gets the first two outs of the bottom of the first inning. Well, and sometimes you just got to switch things up a little. Lefties, righties, maybe a different way to attack. And our friends over at Statcast powered by Google Cloud going to give us a peek at how the lefty does attack lefties and righties differently. You see the slider usage on the left hand side against the left-handers at 179. And that’s I think one of the key points, how you start to deploy your arsenal. And I kind of touched on it with Gusto. And you’ve got a sweeping slider, you’ve got a gyro slider, but you can see against righties, the batting average on that slider 321. Left-handers, well, they just don’t see it quite as well. So, I think it stands to reason. Line drive to center. In comes Butler. And on the run, he makes the catch. So, Springs faces the minimum. The A’s lead three nothing. August is in ring of the action. You can get ready for explosive fireworks, exclusive gear, and more. From backpacks to hats, there’s something for every fan. These can’t miss promos won’t stick around for long. See what’s coming and lock in your seats at athletics.com/promotions. Going to be a busy and fun month of August for the athletics and fun month for the fans as well. The A’s lead three to nothing here in the top of the second with Ursella and Schuman at the bottom of the order coming up before turning it up to Cortez for a second time against Gusto. fired in 31 pitches in the first inning and did surrender those three runs off of four hits to Odo. Tipped into Diaz’s glove, make it two and one. Ursella had a great game last night going three for four, just his third three hit game of the year. The last time that happened was on April the 24th against the Texas Rangers. popped up high in the air. Walker moving into foul territory and making the catch. One down. Chris, we had mentioned the the road for Ryan Gusto to not only get to the big leagues, but frankly just to get onto a baseball field. It had been quite an effort for Ryan Gusto. You’re talking about a guy who, believe it or not, got a little Michael Jordan in him. Probably think, “What? What?” Ryan Gusto cut from his high school baseball team. Not once, not twice. Three times. Cut three different times. Told sorry, no go. did squeeze a year in his sophomore year, but outside of that, no love. So, he’s probably thinking, “Well, this might be it. This might be the end of the line. No more baseball for me.” But he got on the horn, started sending emails, found a college coach, and he said, “You know what? You, me, I’m coming to you. I’m not done playing baseball. We’re going to figure this thing out.” Swinging a miss now. one and two and not any junior college, Florida Southwestern State Junior College, which is a junior college powerhouse. And so you can imagine what that college coach is thinking when he receives an email, receives communication. Schuman’s able to hold up on the slider. Probably think, well, we’ve, you know, I think we’re good here. We’ve got guys. We’ve got room. Well, he he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. And I think the diligence and the willingness to stare the adversity in the face as he had done so all throughout his high school career and at that point in time seemingly into his non-existent college career. He was more than willing to do anything and everything it was going to require to get himself better, put himself in a position to be a ball player. And when you start thinking about a guy who sitting on the mount today in the big leagues, 6’4, 230 plus pounds, trying to figure out who he was physically, growing into his body, right? Just didn’t have the stuff. If you’re that big, you know, laying 84, 85 mph fast balls in there, you’re not you’re not catching too many folks’s attention. But I think when you understand his story, what you take away from it is the willingness to stare that adversity right in the face and do whatever was required to get him to that next level, that next stage. 3-2 and Schuman has to wear a fast ball up and in. Hit by a pitch. Schuman will reach. Head on over to first. Well, 3-2. You’d rather this one just kind of sail up and out as opposed to sail up and in. Shuven to wear that one right on the rear deltoid. So, Carlos Cortez up for a second time in as many innings. Struck out to start the game and takes up one ball and no strikes. and he got Cortez with that same fast ball first time around infield playing him to pull. Good lead for Schuman. Popped out of play. Take you back to yesterday. Pretty big day for Cortez. He got in on the action early. Sackf fly that would score Butler. Then stepped up and got his first big league knock after already gathering his first big league RBI. seen him make a great play out there. A great throw to cut down a double at second. Now locked in a little battle here. And I think it’s nice for a ball player to come up position player. You want to make an impact offensively and maybe if that doesn’t happen right out of the gate, you’re just looking for any way you can make an impact. And that strong throw appreciated very much so by the veteran and Mark Kay talked about it in the media scrum today. Cortez leading off the game. He said, “I want to give him as many chances to see right-handed starters as possible. Obviously with the performance that he had last night, makes sense to have him back in here tonight.” 2-2. A breaking ball fooled Cortez. He strikes out for a second time. That’s the fourth strikeout for Gusto. And with two away, Curts will come up. Well, it’s not the fast ball this time around. That bender they kept away. That’s a pretty good pitch there from Gusto with depth. Was going to be a strike whether Cortez offered or not. Well, Curts has certainly been a bright spot for the Athletics. It’s time now for the Blue Moon Light bright spot. And when you look at Curts in the American League, he has certainly made an impact on the baseball. 38 extra base hits since April 23rd. That’s the day he made his major league debut. Now he goes inside out deep to left. Four. Forget about that baseball. [Applause] Come on. It’s It’s ridiculous. His 20th of the year. Make that 39 extra base hits for Curts on the year. And that is a screamer to left. Five to nothing. And Chris, this ball is just sort of flipped out of the ballpark by Nick Curts. I mean, that’s an 82 mph back door breaking ball that he absolutely melts. [Applause] It is just incredible to watch this power unleash itself. I mean, left field, center field, right field, it doesn’t matter. It just doesn’t matter. Take take a look. I tell you, if you close your eyes and just watch the ball fight and how about Pops? Let’s go. Oh, look Chris, if if you just watch him take batting practice far enough back where you can’t tell if it’s a left-hander or a right-hander, when he starts to work the ball out of the yard to the opposite field, it looks like, and it sounds like it’s coming off the bat of a right-handed power hitter. I mean, how about this? Opposite field home run leaders by left-handers. Nick Curts top of the list. This is ridiculous stuff that we are witnessing night in and night out. Rooker fouls it away. Remember last year how we were sometimes unable to find words to describe Mason Miller’s dominance. It is in that exact same breath for Curts and what he’s been able to do in his rookie season here in 2025. Well, I was talking to Blumber, Jeff Blum, Astros color analyst, just before the ball game, and we were talking about oppo pop. And he even remarked, he said the same thing that I just said. He said, “It it feels like at times the ball coming off his bat looks like it’s reserved for a right-handed hitter.” And then no sooner did I look over there. Bouncing ball up the middle, moving over his short sidearm throw to first. And that will retire the side. But Curts hits his 20th home run of the year. And guess what? It’s to the backside in a big loud way. The A’s add two more and lead five to nothing. Well, the A’s have already matched their fiveun total from last night here tonight after a two-run home run by Curts. Lead five to nothing here in the bottom of the second inning. And they’ve given Springs some run support in Springs’s first career start against Houston. You have to turn the clocks back all the way back to May the 2nd of 2021 where Springs was with the Rays when he last faced Houston. He got the win. Tossing a scoreless relief frame for the Rays. Yeah, it’s I mean it’s tough to not see a guy that long. It’s kind of like Severino against Cleveland. He had to go all the way back to 2018 before Yeah. his last start. And speaking of Severino, you were you touching on something important, his dominance in his start in route to his fourth win of the year last night. What type of conversation can Severino have with Springs or a guy that had that much success with the guy following the next night? Well, it’s it’s really just I think about game plan more so than actual stuff. And I think it’s understood Jeffrey Springs being a left-hander, a guy who’s going to rely more on his ability to deceive the opponent. And Severino, who as we have seen this season and saw last night, you know, at times he he can just come right after you and challenge you with that good forcing fast ball, which is what we saw last night. And so I think for Jeffrey Springs, you know, it’s just a reminder how important the fast ball can be, especially for a guy who goes about his business the way that this left-hander does with that change up. [Applause] They’re firing in all cylinders. It can be a great one-two punch with Severino and Springs. He has Walker at two balls and two strikes. Here’s the wind up and pitch and he strikes out Walker on the change up. Luis Severino has set the tone for the Athletics in this series. He’s our in shape endorphin player and it hasn’t just been this series, but over this road trip. Well, for Severino, we understand how important for him. It is to be able to go out and settle in early, feel comfortable early. and over his two starts in this road trip. I think he’s not only been able to do that, but I will continue to harp on his fast ball usage. We watch guys try to work their way through a lineup first time through at times with, you know, just the variations of the fast ball, whether it’s trying to sink it and run it in right on right. Maybe you throw that cutter against the left-handers. Try to straighten them out with that four seam fast ball. And Aaron Diaz has hit .295 against lefties, getting his first start of the series. Did have a pinch hit opportunity in the eighth last night. One hopper to short. Retreating Wilson. Here’s the gun and the stretch on the other end. They get Diaz by a half step. Yeah, Wilson right on the cut of the outfield grass. See a little bit of a soft one hop liner Jay Willie once he corrals it. Just going to rear back and fire away. Here’s the switch hitter Cooper Hmel. 167 on the year, two homers, four runs batted in. Has struggled recently at the plate as he has won for his last 24. Yeah, that is tough sledding. [Music] You can see that note. Dallas 18 players on the injured list. That’s the most in all of baseball. And I would think by a significant margin, Houston has had to go into their minor league ranks for some support here in a crucial part of the season. Well, that’s why player development is as important as it’s ever been. you start to get to the latter portion of the season, should you need help, you’d like to think that you have a a viable crop of talent to choose from, but I mean, 18 guys on an injured list and we’re just a few spots away from having a full roster worth of injured players. 3-2 payoff pitch. Hmel fouls it off of Langlers. And I don’t care how deep your minor league system is. I don’t care how talented your minor league system is. When you start talking about having to dip into it to that extent and maybe even going outside of the organization because just how rosters work, you just don’t have the pieces in place. 3-2 fly ball to left center. Lawrence on the run. He closes the gap and makes the catch. One, two, three inning for Jeffrey Springs. The A’s lead by five. Top of the third inning, Athletics lead five to nothing. Chris Kerry, Dallas Braden here in Houston. And we have seen an early offensive surge tonight. You think about the whole road trip, the A’s struggled to get hits in the first and second innings. That has not been the case tonight. Marty racked up five runs off of five hits. Langers is responsible for a hit and a run tonight. Popped foul and out of play. It’s a very special weekend for the game of baseball. Anybody who observes supports. Of course, the Athletics are wearing their typical batting helmets, but if you see Houston’s caps, there are patches on the right side to commemorate the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Coopertown. And all of the inductees, past, present, and future, as Gusto strikes out Langers looking. So, there’s that patch. Dallas National Baseball Hall of Fame and quite an impressive group is going to be inducted into Coopertown this weekend. Well, there’s that patch on those Kelly Green lids for the athletics. And you’re right, Chris, it is a wonderful time of year. time of year in a weekend in which baseball legends become immortalized. Sodstrom bangs one to deep right. That ball is not coming back. [Applause] And the Bluebirds are out in Houston. Soders’s 19th of the year, his 60th RBI. It’s now six to nothing green and gold. Well, these Astros fans have watched the green and gold drop 11 runs on their Astros here in about 11 and 2/3 innings. 11 and a third I should say. And Tyler Sodestrom, remember he had that RBI double, his first at bat, steps up here, delivers a solo shot to keep the scoring going. Wilson had an RBI single, snapping a four-game hitless streak. He’s ahead of two balls and no strike. Sometimes all you need is one to get you back in a good spot. saw it right through the middle and now at two and 0 will take again three balls and no strikes. Well, Lefties coming into the ball game slugging 514 against Gusto. Eight homers, 297 average. Jacob Wilson able to work the free pass. Let’s take a look at where this pitch that Sod rode out of the yard was. 86 mph right on a T. How about a sod pop to quench your thirst? Touchd. Fans in Houston must not like the carbonation. Yeah, they’re a little frustrated right now. How about Sodestrom and Curts each homering in this game, right? Sodestrom obviously did more than enough to earn the starting position at first base has had to move across to a different position with Curts and his ascent. And now Soderstrom continuing to perform offensively. Yeah, I mean this is quite an impressive thing to see. Two guys that play the position at a high level. Sodrom still learning how to play left and doing a great job over there. But two very legitimate and viable power threats from the left side for the A’s. That’s it. Left-handed thump. Here’s Butler. He shows butt but pulls back. One and0. Well, he got the reaction from Dubon. He was looking forward. Duban charging in but headed right back to his original starting position over there at shortstop which means that left side is still wide open should Lawrence Butler go back to that idea. He shows again and drops one down. Dubon charges gloves guns to first and Butler is out advancing Wilson to second. Well, I got to tell you, you got to give credit here to Mauricio Dubon because what he saw was Lawrence Butler pre- pitch go right to the bunt and you see the hands and you can see Dubon charge. The minute he sees Lawrence Butler start to work that bat up into his hands trying to push that bunt over to the third base side. This is just an exceptional read from Mauricio Dubon. And that’s why we highlight how valuable it is to have a guy with his baseball IQ that you can sprinkle anywhere in the field out there. I mean, you don’t win a gold glove by accident. They’re not just handing those out these days. Well, and you win it for essentially a new position as the super utility man. He’s got to be good everywhere. Well, no doubt. Popped up again by Ursella. Another chance for Walker and he completes the put out in foul ground, but Tyler Sodestrom leaves the building for the 19th time this year. It was a no doubtered a right bang. It’s six to nothing Athletics early. Bottom of the third inning, bottom of the order coming up for Houston for the first time here tonight. Six to nothing the score as Mauricio Duban is up against Jeffrey Springs. Duban gets hit on the first pitch. Springs missed his spot and Dubon is aboard. trying to get in there with that fast ball. Looks like it just clips that front knee or maybe high shin of Dubon. Oh, right off that kneecap. That does not feel good at all. Mong gonna take his time heading down to first base. He’s got Barry looking on. All right, here we go. Here’s Chaz McCormack. 230 average, no homers, two RBI, 61 at bats. Dubon at first and McCormack checking his swing but not going around. One ball and no strikes. One of the keys to success last night for Severino and the A’s pitching staff was taking care of the middle of the order. Three through nine last night when a combined two for 23. And when you’re on the road against an order like this against a team that is a top one of the divisions in Major League Baseball and you’re able to get them to go two for 23 as a unit. I think you win those games most of the time. Well, and a lot of that does have to do with, you know, what the traffic situation looks like with guys ahead of them. But if you can neutralize a third of the lineup at a time, I I think you like your chances of of having, you know, some success. And especially if that third is the middle third of the lineup, [Applause] that’s where you anticipate, I think, the majority of the damage to come from. And I think Chris, anytime that you know, one of your teammates has an outing like that where they’ve been able to styy the opposition to that extent, what happens the next day is there’s probably just that little bit more added pressure for them to perform and not get dominated like that twice in a row. That’s where you can start to use your opponent’s aggression against them. Maybe they start to expand the strike zone a bit more. Springs from the stretch. Line drive off of the pitcher and McCormack’s going to be safe. That hits Springs on the backside and now first and second with nobody out. He says he’s okay. [Applause] Well, I think it caught him in an area where there may be a little more cushion than in some other areas. [Applause] Look out. Caked up. He’ll be all right. It reminds me of a And at bat a few years ago, Shawn Murphy wore one right off the backside. Almost just kind of popped it. Why did I know you were going to go to that exact moment? Well, because I think a lot of folks are probably thinking the same thing here. I mean, that is right off the caboose. And I’m not talking about Bobby Dynamites up there. It just goes to show the Athletics have elite lower body muscles, good foundation, good base. Throw to short now. Three balls and no strikes. And Springs running the risk of loading up the bases for Cam Smith waiting on deck. Three 0 is a strike. We’ve kept yourself in the at bat here. see if he can’t get Zack Short, who you know is looking to try to at least move these runners up. Maybe get him to tap into something weakly here. Strike two. Schuman shades the second base bag. now backs out a bit and the 3-2 pitch is swung through and missed. So, Springs gets his second strike out of the game in the first of the third inning. One away. Well, and you go back to that 3-1 fast ball that he dotted at the bottom of the zone. You could see Short and the way he took it sort of leaning out over the plate. maybe not a real strong interest in firing and I think Langaliers and the left-hander Jeffrey Springs recognized that and said you’re getting another fast ball. I just don’t think you’re ready to hit. Smith bouncing ball back to Springs. Quickly to second. Schuman on to first and they get out of it. One to four to three. Springs got exactly what he wanted. It’s six to nothing A’s through three. We are in inning number four and the Athletics lead six to nothing as Schuman comes up for a second time against Gusto. He was hit by a pitch and later scored the team’s fourth run of the game. Check swing foul low and one. Well, Max Schuman started the game at shortstop and led off last night playing second base and batting ninth tonight. Has been such an incredible piece for the athletics. as he takes high one ball and one strike. And Marky said he fills that number 26 spot on the roster perfectly. Sometimes there are days you want to start him, but you you know he’s going to be a confident at bat later in the game. And Schuman is earning more and more opportunities. He made a nifty defensive play at second base against Texas turning a double play. And then now here had a hit last night playing over at second tonight. Now he grounds it to his counterpart Altu at second. One away. Let’s check out our T-Mobile coverage camp. We highlighted Jeffrey Springs and his ability to keep the opposition off balance. Sometimes when you do get that weak contact, you’ve got to be able to defend yourself and get involved in the mix. And he does. Come back right to him. Fires it over to second base. And he gets that inning ending 143. Here’s Cortez swinging and missing on a fast ball. 0 and one. You know, one of the things that you really pride yourself on is being able to work around some of the traffic, especially if it is selfinduced. All you want to do is minimize any sort of potential threat. You don’t want it to mount and if you can, you’d like to bring it to an abrupt end. And that’s exactly what he did there. And you see him talking to his catcher right now just about some some mechanical feels. 02 into center. for a base hit. Good two strike approach by Cortez. A one out single and that’ll bring up Curts. Well, and you can see where they’re set up. They want this up out of the strike zone probably on both accounts. Extended away and elevated. They get neither. And what Cortez gets is a fast ball that he can put in play. Curts two hits, a homer. two RBI’s, two runs scored, extending his hitting streak to 12 games. I mean, running out of words to say. Well, just watch then cuz it is a thing of beauty. Every time he steps to the plate, you’re just waiting for something different to happen. I mean, we mentioned it. This is a This is a guy doing things that you’re just not used to seeing, especially with guys his age. He’s going for homer number two of the game on that swing. How about this, Chris? over that 12game hitting streak north of 500. 22 for 43 including tonight. Two for two, a two-run homer, a single. He scored twice. One, two, high in the air deep left center field. Traveling back is Hmel and it is off the wall. Cortez coming around to score and Curts has a double to the deepest part of the ballpark. Churn it up. Big Amish. A swing as smooth as butter, baby. [Applause] My goodness. I mean, you close your eyes and squint, it’s almost like it’s a sprinkler up there cuz it just continues to spray, spray, spray in all directions. [Applause] And Nick Kurts picking on the left side here recently. That RBI double is going to help Joe Aspatada make his decision. Gusto gone. A’s lead seven to nothing. We’re back here in Houston and it’s been all A’s tonight. RBI double from Curts. His third RBI of the game. His second extra base hit of the game. his 40th extra base hit of the season. And it’s seven to nothing with Rooker coming up. Well, after the double, Joe Espada, we got Ryan Gusto. It’s Nick Hernandez on now for the Astros. just his third appearance this season. Chris, I know we’ve been, you know, we’ve been watching what Nick Curts has has done here recently and I think it’s really starting to to take hold across the game. Swing and a miss. Rooker down on strikes. But when trying to contextualize what we’re watching unfold, just take a look at this. MLB history, age 22 or younger to log 19 homers or more, 50 or more RBI’s, and a 975 OPS through their first 65 games of their career. Nick Curtz, Houston’s Yordon Alvarez, and Hall of Famer Albert Puhol. That’s the list. It is three deep. One of them’s a Hall of Famer. I think a lot of folks have big aspirations for Yordon Alvarez and what we are seeing unfold with Nick Curts right now and what we have heard terms of evaluation from Hall of Famers themselves. The sky is the limit for this young man. And it has been amazing by the athletic scouting department. They have been open and honest saying that if they had the number one pick last year, they would have gone with Curts. And Curts has more than played the part. 2-1 high in the air to deep left. Shay Langalers has homered and it’s a nine to nothing game. [Applause] The athletics are just terrorizing the baseball right now. My goodness. [Applause] Breaking ball elevated. able to go up and get around it. And the man they call Shay Bangalers has lifted off again to the deep part of the Crawford boxes. Sodstrom had a home run last inning. Now he’s ahead at two balls and no strikes. He like Curts has a pair of extra base hits and three RBI’s tonight as well as two runs scored. Nine runs off of nine hits. Fouled away. I mean, the offensive talent has never been in question for the Green and Gold. Oh, no. For many of these guys being in their first, second, or third years of major league service, the future is very bright on the offensive side of the game. Swing and a drive down the right field line, but foul. And you mentioned it earlier, but when you start to look up and down this lineup and you think about what Curts is providing from the left side, Soderstrom and what he’s capable of, Lawrence Butler, I I mean, you you’ve got three really good left-handers right there alone. That’s a third of your lineup that you can account for. And there’s pop, there is speed. We’re seeing the ability to hit for average. And then you flip it over and you think about a guy like that man right there, two-time all-star and Brent Rooker, the fellow who just left the ballpark and Shay Langalers. Let’s not forget about Jacob Wilson who was pacing Aaron Judge 32 and he’s caught looking. Shay Langalers homers for a 15th time this year. A two-run shot to as Dallas said the deepest part of the Crawford boxes. It’s nine to nothing. A’s, you more of a cinnamon pretzel guy or a regular? No, you’re going to have to hit me with that salt. Hit me with that salt, brother. I can appreciate the cinnamon. That’s dessertesque. I love the cinnamon pretzel. You You You would. Okay. Well, that’s fine. You know what else I like? Tell me immediately. Nine to nothing lead. I’m a huge fan of those as well. At least we can agree on something. Altuve takes a high strike. One and one. It has been all A’s. Nine runs off of nine hits including home runs from Curts Langaliers and Soderstrom. Yeah. O Yair Diaz behind the plate for the Astros just hasn’t caught many baseballs tonight. They’ve ended up over the wall, off the wall, up the gap. And again, I I think for Jeffrey Springs, you know, you’re you’re staked to an early lead and then you watch this offense just continue to bludgeon the ball the way they have, it almost helps really center your focus even more. So lead off walk. Altbe is aboard. Here comes Victor Keratini. Well, you were talking about the Diaz not catching many baseballs. Well, there have been a few people wearing orange catching a lot of baseballs. The problem is they’re over the wall. Yep. on the wrong side of it. Those are called souvenirs. But again, I think this speaks to conversation we were having yesterday. As you know, we roll into town on the road during the second half. We’ve been met with, you know, a lot of compliments for what this offense looks like. I think people all across the game have either heard of and are now watching the talent that they’ve heard about and it’s I think the fact that it’s coming from some of the places that I think initially put folks on notice about this lineup. We just showed you Tyler Sodestrom. Remember the the home run barrage early this season. I mean, he’s at 19, [Applause] but then as I mentioned with what Jacob Wilson has done all season long, pacing Aaron Judge, early conversations about, you know, how long would they be able to hover around that 400 average? You and I were just talking about the great month of July and you brought it up. The great month of July that we watched Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker experience, but you know, these are all things and all points of this roster where folks have been very excited about and you’re starting to watch it unfold. And I think tonight has been a a wonderful peak. And a tip into Langalers’s glove. He holds on and that’s another strikeout for Springs. One away. [Music] [Applause] Springs on a string. It’s exactly what that change up is. Feel like there’s a slight fabric of DNA that extends from the hand to the baseball with Jeffree Springs. You’re watching him just manipulate that thing at will. Dallas, do you think that there’s any sense for this team after being swept by the Rangers in some ways there were some frustrating plays that took place? They took that anger into this series against Houston. Well, as a competitor, you get frustrated when you’re not executing. And when you’re not doing the little things that you know you just have to do to to play a clean game, a clean brand of baseball, which is what you’re trying to do, you almost have that have that moment where you just say to yourself, what just happened over these last 72 hours just we can’t let that continue to happen. We all agree. Yes. And I know folks at home are thinking, well, does that really happen? Do you get together and have the Well, to an extent, you have those team meetings that we know have occurred throughout the season. But there’s really no need to have to bring the room up and discuss things like that. They’re professionals. They know what’s at stake. They know what they need to do. And it’s ball games like this that make you feel good about being able to get back to the brand of ball that you know you can play. So two balls and two strikes to Christian Walker who struck out swinging back in the second. Springs had 57 pitches. Tuve on first. Sodestrom holds him on and the two-2 home. Walker is caught looking on a change up at the bottom of the zone. [Applause] He’s not happy with Scott Barry. Has a few words and heads back to his dugout and maybe a few more. Well, he went down his first at bat flailing at the change up. Can’t pull the trigger on this one, but it doesn’t matter. Scott Barry saw it for a strike. Christian Walker is going to agree to disagree. Bouncing ball to short. Wilson grabs it, flips to the covering Schuman at second. And that will retire the side. Nine nothing. The A’s lead. They’re looking for more. So, Jacob Wilson to lead off the fifth. The A’s up nine to nothing in game two of this four-game series against Houston. First pitch high from Hernandez. One ball and no strikes. Pitch in now. Two and0. [Applause] Wilson ahead in the count and Hernandez to the plate is a big swing and miss. Two and one. It’s an interesting setup. Well, he’s extreme third base side. One pokes the bat head out. Goes foul. And you’re seeing him create a little torque. You see him in the way the angle of that back foot is almost at a 45 degree angle there. And it looks like what he’s doing is is really trying to leverage, you know, the front side of that anchor. And when I say anchor, I’m talking about that back foot and the front side of it. So the ball of his right foot is where he’s really trying to sink into and drive off of. Strikes out Wilson swinging. So the benefit of that positioning is to to generate torque and he was able to get a fast ball by one of the best hitters in baseball. Well, and what it does is it just keeps, you know, there’s a lot of different ways guys set up, but what it does for him is, you know, it gets, we talk about getting into your glutes, getting into the lower half as you start to work down the mound. And you want to be in a position where you can utilize the ground. And you know, you’re trying to stay anchored as long as you can so that you can benefit from using the energy from the earth. [Applause] And with that front leg cocked the way it is, what that’s doing is just trying to reinforce a cue for him, which is just trying to stay closed, trying to stay linear down the slope. Butler strikes out. Back-to-back strikeouts for Hernandez. Three straight going back to the fourth inning. Slider kept it just slightly away but caught a lot of the strike zone. Gio has a pair of pop outs to first in foul ground. He’s 0 for two and swinging and missing on a fast ball 0 and one with that slider. You can see again Hernandez on third base side just trying to create a a tough angle on these right-handed hitters. [Applause] Anything about left-handed pitchers against left-handed hitters and if the pitcher extreme first base side of the rubber for those lefties, it feels like it’s almost coming out of right center, right field from behind them. Just an uncomfortable visual. Well, if Gio is unable to reach and is retired be the first inning. The A’s haven’t scored in an offensive inning tonight. Three in the first, two in the second, one in the third, and three in the fourth. Fouled back now two and two. [Applause] Hernandez is set and his two two pitch is outside. Three and two. Well, no reason to stop at nine and he’ll walk Urchella. Two out walk. And now we’ll hear a word from the Monteray Bay Aquarium. Schuman up. He was hit by a pitch. He later scored then also grounded out. Swinging on the first pitch. A fast ball. He misses. 0 and one. fast ball in terms of velocity isn’t going to blow you away, but I wonder if that setup is at all deceptive for right-handed hitters. Well, the setup doesn’t really matter much. I mean, because you’re you’re looking for that baseball out of a window at release. So, whatever you might be doing with your lower half really doesn’t matter much in terms of what the pitcher is doing and what the hitter is looking for. 02 lifted in the air to left. Hmel has it and makes the catch. He’s unable to score in the fifth. They still lead by nine. [Music] I mean, they got a they they have a shake shack here. Were you unaware of that? Completely. Really? You’re not You’re not lying to me right now? No. Come on. Would I steer you wrong? Do you really want me to answer that question? I know where I’m going tomorrow. See, I’ll be darned. That’s crazy. Well, you’re darned. I mean, I’m surprised you didn’t see it when you stopped off at Pluckers right after you hit the golden chick. Well, that was in Dallas. Bouncing ball to Wilson. Strong throw to first and one is down. But you know me, I love to get out and explore. Yeah. Yeah, you do. You guys don’t call me Christopher Columbus for nothing. I think you just be better served walking around. I mean, I’ve watched you do all sorts of things with your phone in your hand. It’s a technological generation and you can’t say that you don’t use your phone either. No, there’s just there’s a world unfolding right in front of you. You know, I get it. You got to tweet for work. That’s fine. I did have uh pluckers in in Dallas and it was it was good. Delicious. It was good. You didn’t want to have it with me and that’s fine. You had eyes for something else. Some breaded up chicken. Well, they had they have breaded up chicken fingers there. They just say it’s boneless wings. They’re these three massive tenders that are that are boneless wings. And we all know that boneless wings aren’t real wings. So, I think they’re delicious. Oh, no. I mean that you cut out all the the the issues of having the bone in the chicken. Yeah. I mean I I got to believe boneless chicken wings at this point are just born those are born in a lab, right? That’s not a that’s not real. I mean the bone provides the bone provides integrity. It provides structure. It provides flavor. Uhhuh. It’s a handle. You’re talking about eating food from a lab. Multi-purpose. If we had a shot of what you’re eating in this booth right now, the the the gummy clusters that you’re crumbling up now and hiding. Huh? Yeah. Corroding your body with high fructose corn syrup. [Applause] Look, we all have decisions to make. And that right there, buddy, give me a piece of cornbread. I mean, sausage, chicken. I’ll take both those bell peppers. Look at the bark on it to Schuman. Two down. Oh, there they are. Look at this. Captain Healthy. [Applause] We know you like your sour candy. Okay, it’s fine. Could I stand to lose a few lbs? Absolutely. Am I going to stop eating artery clogging food on this road trip? No, I’m not. Well, it’s just, you know, doubling down on the lunch is is just something we might talk about off off air. Uhhuh. Yeah. Can’t wait for the body by Dallas program. Line drive beyond the reach of Wilson. McCormack has another hit. [Applause] a ball game like this, if you’re the Astros, you’re just trying to do whatever you can to either get an inning going or keep an inning going. At this point, you’d like to get the guy who has kept you off the scoreboard out of the game. The Jeffrey Springs at just 71 pitches, 72 on its way. Right in line with his body of work. Can’t believe you exposed the nerd gummy clusters. I thought this was the trust tree, partner. Zack short high in the air to left. This one’s trouble. And it is gone. Short second home run of the year and the Astros get two back. It’s 9 to2. And you kind of have to take that slow and steady approach here. down by nine as I said just trying to chip away however you can. That right there I think shows you it’s it’s a change up but middle elevated Jeffrey Springs just at that point trying to make a pitch that I think he can have put in play. [Applause] Almost had it. Oh, came down hard on that railing. Is that a pink shirt or a salmon color shirt? Salmon. Definitely salmon. I You know, I got corrected a lot when I was in the Northeast. They don’t call it pink or salmon. They call it Nantucket Red. Wow. Do you ever peruse like a Home Depot or a Lowe’s and just hang out by the paint swatch section? Looking for Nantucket Red. Nope. Chartreuse. Periwinkle. Lavender. Nantucket red. [Applause] Fouled away. [Applause] So, Springs at 77 pitches, one strike away from finishing the fifth with a 9-2 score. One-two pitch change up low. Two and two. the set at bat here against Cam Smith. Begins that third time through the order. Sticks with the change up. It’s outside. Three and two. Don’t want to get to Altuve if you don’t have to. After Houston has scored two runs on back-to-back hits, including a Zack Short homer, his second of the year. 3-2 payoff pitch lifted in the air to left. Rooker on the run and he will make the catch at the warning track. So, Springs through five innings. He’s surrendered two runs after a short homer. That looks pretty good. I love waffle fries. 9-2 the score. A’s fans are happy right now. Nine-2 the score. The top of the sixth inning. Top of the order coming up for a fourth time. And it’s Carlos Cortez who’s one for three with a single and a run scored. He’ll take a first pitch strike against Hernandez. Ball and a strike. Cortez two hits in his first two career Major League starts. did have his first career major league run scored after that single in the fourth inning. He was brought home by a Curts RBI double off the left center field wall. He has had himself a ball game already. Taken low. Two balls and two strikes. Check swing. Did he go? Yes, he did. Cortez down on strikes for a third time. And it’s time now for stats with Lowe’s. And Curts, well, we’re not done talking about him. 22 extra base hits this month. And he leads by a significant margin. He now has 13 doubles, a triple, eight home runs, and 22 RBI’s this month. Launches this high in the sky, but it’ll go foul. So, back-to-back three hit games. Curts went three for five last night with two doubles and an RBI. He’s got a single, a two-run homer, an RBI double, and all three runs scored after reaching 01 in the air to deep left. Houston, you do have a problem. His name is the big Amish. [Applause] Ha. This kid is incredible. 10-2. His second home run of the night, his 21st of the year. And the Astro Faithful are fed up with Curts. And if you’ve got a seat to this ball game in the cropping boxes, just hold tight. Nick Curts will get you a souvenir sooner or later. I mean, what used to be impressive about a week ago is almost expected at this point with Nick Curts. And I mean, much like that homer back in the second inning, now he he look he drove both of those homers, but it feels like it’s almost just a flick of the wrist for Nick Curts. And you could you could see almost just a a defeated Hmel out and left. Watch that ball go up into the air and he just knew it. That is not coming back. I mean, it’s just it’s foolish. Nine homers this month. Second homer tonight. Second two-run or two homer game this season. And we’re still in the sixth inning. He might have two more chances. the way this offense is firing in all cylinders tonight. I mean, it really I feel like it’s at the point now where you just you sit and watch. You know, I’m not telling I’m not telling you folks at home anything that you haven’t already discerned for yourself. He can hit it at any ballpark we’re ever going to see. He can go the other way. He can cut the swing down. 3-2. Rooker. Did he go? He did not. He’ll reach for the first time. Just Just take a look at how easy this comes. All right. Change up a way that he stays on. And it’s really just a poke of the bat. I mean, that is just a flip of the wrist. [Applause] And again, that looks like it comes off the bat of a right-handed hitter who pulled that ball and got just about every bit of it that he could. [Applause] Oh, I love it. Take another peek. See you. Take a bow. curtsy. There’s going to come a point very soon where either his dad or his teammates are just going to start to come to expect it. Celebrations aren’t going to be as up and down jumping because the frequency of it is happening so consistently, especially to left. Well, look at this homers by direction. And it goes without saying what kind of poolside power he has. Popped up. Walker makes the catch and foul ground. Two away. So understanding what kind of power he possesses and where you typically see most of that damage done from these big sluggers, which is to their pool side. More homers to the backside. More opposite field long balls for Nick Curts. than pullside and that is I mean that’s the definition of easy juice with what you have seen from him defensively as well and what we are watching unfold offensively I mean I don’t know that there’s a better option in baseball at first base right now than Nick Curts [Applause] [Applause] you know, and something else to consider when you start to evaluate where he’s at amongst first baseman and in baseball. I mean, look at the extension. Beautiful two-handed follow through as well. But when you compare him to the rest of the crop of first baseman and I mean you know you start the you start the separation about 250 plate appearances or more. I mean, Nick Curts’s name is all over the leaderboards, and the idea that he is positioned where he’s at in some of these categories, understanding that, you know, it’s essentially 100 plus at bats fewer than everybody else that he’s chasing in some of these categories. It gets even more impressive considering he was 1 for5 with 11 strikeouts entering play tonight as a designated hitter. Well, that stat line has completely changed with a 4 for four night so far. Three extra base hits, two of them being homers and four runs scored as well as four runs batted in. 3-2 fouled away. Well, coming into tonight, Chris, there were 32 first baseman in baseball with at least 250 plate appearances as a first baseman. Nick Curts, well, he’s got 265 coming into tonight. Weighted runs created plus of 163, first in all of baseball. Hard hit rate first. Payoff pitch in the dirt. Sodrom walks. And now first and second for Jacob Wilson. And that hard hit rate 44.1% as I told you. Best in baseball. 622 slugging percentage for Nick Curts. The best in baseball. His 982 OPS. Chris, the best in baseball. 19 home runs coming into tonight. Good for fourth. He now sits at 21. His 38 extra base hits him tied for fifth again coming into tonight. And the average as we’re watching it climb was at 288 coming into tonight’s affair. That was tied for eighth. And when you think about this, anyone with more extra base hits than Nick Curts has at least 148 more plate appearances than he does. I mean, it just it’s it’s incredible. It really is. Other players are starting to take notice as well. Well, and and I think what other players have done and some of those numbers are also why you’re paying attention. You know, think about think about the polar bear, the way he’s been clubbing the ball. He had the most home runs on that list of first baseman with at least 250 plate appearances again coming into the night with 22. Nick Curts sits now just one behind him at 21. Differences, he’s got 180 more plate appearances than Curts. [Applause] I mean, everywhere you look, you can find another reason why you’re so impressed with what he’s done. Jay Willie, look out. Two, two, fly ball to center. In comes McCormack and he makes the catch. But Curts homers again, his second of the night. His fourth hit of the night. Makes it a 10 to2 game. Big ocean guy. From what I hear though, we could have some visitors here around November. You’re more of an ocean person than the ever expanding great cosmos. Uh yes. Yep. We’ve got a a whole world here unexplored. No need to strap yourself to a rocket. And how about those hydrothermal vents? Those are pretty cool. They are. How can it get so hot in a place where it should be so cold? Science. 02 check swing. Matthews did not go around. He’s pinch hitting for Altuve in a 10 to2 game. [Applause] One, two, swing and miss. Struck out Matthews and one is away. The A’s nonprofit partner of the game program is here. We are highlighting local organizations doing great work all across Sacramento. Select nonprofits will receive game tickets, a shout out at the ballpark, social media recognition, and more. Plus, a donation from the A’s Community Fund. If you’re a 501c3 serving the Sacramento region, apply today at athletics.com/donation. Keratini sends a charge to center, but not deep enough. Caught by Butler. Two down. Here comes John Singleton in place of Christian Walker. I know you love the ocean and for the athletics, it has been a whale of a game offensively. Well, a a tsunami of offense, Chris. [Music] Pitch high, one ball and no strikes. Singleton started last night as the DH went 0 for four. They’ll hit the other way. Backhanded dive by Wilson. Gets to his feet. Throws to first and they got him. From offense to defense, leather larsenity by Jacob Wilson. That’ll end the sixth. A’s lead by eight. Well, let’s take a look see at our Cash Creek Casino Resort upcoming schedule. Next week, the Seattle Mariners come to town. Then an off day on the 31st. Then August starts and the first to meet the A’s are the Arizona Diamondbacks in West Sacramento. Then back on the road with an off day Monday the 4th. A Mid-Atlantic road trip against the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles. 10 to2 the score here. A’s lead by eight in the top of the seventh. It’s Lawrence Butler up for a fourth time. He’ll swing on the first pitch and miss when it’s time for a change. Thanks Speedy oil change and auto service. Engine light on. We can fix that. It’s Caleb Ort out of the bullpen. Rightander on now for Joe Espatada as we start to creep into the later stages. Line drive and it’s caught by Shay Wickham. Few defensive changes on Houston’s side. Whitam checks in at third. Bryce Matthews at second base. And John Singleton is at first. Gio Relo for two with a walk. And with the score opened up the way it has, Joe Espatada opting to get some of those regulars off their feet. Well, the A’s have been cooking tonight and across the league, the stove is starting to heat up. The trade deadline looming. New York Mets made a move today getting another sodto, but this one is a lefty reliever from the Baltimore Orioles to help continue to bolster that bullpen in Queens. [Applause] [Applause] That will be an interesting finish in the National League East. Well, they’ve got some left-handers that I’m sure they’d like to be able to account for in that division. There’s Elvis Alvarado starting to warm up now for the A’s in their bullpen. Three balls and two strikes. And you see it. Mets and Phillies tied for first at 59 and 44. Miami is the third place team. Well, it almost makes you feel like, hey, Sodto, uh, you’re going to go get Bryce Harper, you’re going to go get Kyle Schwarber. Do not let them reach base. Sound good? How about the month of July that JT Rail Muto has had, too. He’s really heating up at the plate. Last time I checked, he was in the 370s for the month of July. Schuman now taking strike one. Growing up around the Braves, you always thought that the big rivalry was Braves and Mets with the amount of success Chipper Jones had against New York at Shay Stadium. That is a big rivalry between the Mets and the Phillies, especially late in the season when both teams are good. There’s a lot of uh metropolitan passion out of New York. Fouled away now. One and two. Fanatical, yes. Maniacal at times, yes. Appreciated 100%. I remember hearing a story about when the Eagles won their Super Bowl. Was that Nick Fos year? I think it was 2017. They had to Crisco. Yep. The lamp post so nobody would climb up. That’s Look, that’s knowing your It’s knowing your city. Fouled back. That is not an environment that would be very comfortable for visiting opponents to go to in the postseason. And when you saw what the the New York Knicks were doing during the NBA playoffs, how deep they went, how crazy it was outside of Madison Square Garden, those could be two fan bases that going to have a lot of fun in the postseason. [Applause] Not to mention, the Yankees are right in the thick of it, too. Could you imagine a Yankees and Mets World Series in 2025 with all the storylines during the offseason? Juan Sto going from one side to the other on the Yankees feeling like, you know, maybe we got the better better end of the deal that we did not land Juan Sodto in. And the Yankees, they they’ve added just getting Ryan McMahon from Colorado. Yeah. play third base. And that’s and that’s the thing right there is to play third base. I know a lot of folks, you know, instantly and I think it happens when you start to talk about players from Colorado specifically, but you start to highlight, you know, well, what do the road numbers look like? Because there’s such a strong bias in place about what anybody in Colorado does offensively in that ballpark. But they just they needed help at the position. They needed help defensively. 2-2 ground ball to third. Whitam gobbles it up onto Matthews over the first. Still at five 4-3 double play. Ends the top of the seventh. A will go to the stretch. Up eight runs. When it’s time for a change, think speedy oil change and auto service. Engine light on. We can fix that. Beautiful skyline. Beautiful score line. I am with you, partner. And Elvis, Colorado on now to keep that score line right where it’s at. at least on the Houston Astros behalf. We have watched Elvis Alvarado, I think, start to really make some strides. See, gets Diaz to fly out for the first out of the inning. Jeffrey Springs also a pretty good line. 88 pitches for the left-hander. Got him six innings worth of work under his belt. Scattered four hits about Dyken Park tonight. two earned runs, one free pass, five punch outs. Did allow a long ball, but at this point a moot point. We were talking about it in the open is just wanted to see a bounceback start from him even though it wasn’t a horrible start against Cleveland. A shorter start than he would have liked, but now a quality start here tonight in line for the win in a 10 to2 game. Couldn’t ask much more from your your number one and number two guys in Severino and Springs here in Houston. Well, this is exactly how you draw it up, especially against a team that is capable of what the Astros are capable of. So Udas is at second and Schuman bumps over to short. Three and one a to come up in the top of the eighth inning. Cortez, Curts, and Rooker swinging a miss. three and two. Well, there’s a couple things that are sitting right in front of Nick Curts, and that’s a potential three-h homer game. That is still the potential for a for a nice trip around the bases. A uniform trip around the bases. 3-2. And Alvarado battles back, striking out Hmel with a fast ball at 100. Alvarado aka the weapon in waiting and you can see why and I think what we’ve seen and even in this shot right here just the head of Alvarado how still it is Houston’s had to employ a few different guys from the minor league. Shay Whitam back up from the AAA club. They added another player to their AAA ranks here today by claiming Logan Davidson. Yeah. Off waiverss from the athletics. So Logan Davidson is now an Astro. Whitam fouls it away. Now two and one. And remember all the injuries that we have discussed with the Astros, you know, they’re looking for help. And for a guy that can play all seven defensive spots behind the pitcher, that might help. Bouncing ball to first. Sodestro moves over and will step on the bag. Alvarado one, two, three. Inning of relief through seven. It’s 10 to2 across A’s Lord. There’s been no shortage of rookie power. Whether it was José Conco in 86, how about Mark Magcguire in 87, Giani in 95 or Yoispus in 2012. They’ve added a new one here in 2025. And it is that man, Nick Curts. the power that he possesses, his ability to go to all fields. We’ve seen it on full display tonight as he has contributed so much in this 10 to2 game. Well, his dad’s getting a good shoulder workout in with all the fist pumps. Cortez in the air towards left. That’s hanging the line and it is foul. Lot of fist pumps. I don’t know if we’ve seen him churning the butter yet. Not quite. I think we’ll get there. Getting a lot of good feedback from the folks out in Lancaster. It is a phenomenal nickname and you’ve had some good ones. The problem is is now we’re going to start spotting sections at the ballpark in West Sacramento where there’s going to be people instead of clapping, they’re all going to be churning in one motion together. Love it. And visiting fans are going to be thinking, “What the heck is going on?” That’s all right. They’ll learn very quickly. Or they’ll churn very quickly. Ground ball to short, quite literally. He throws over to first. Well, you got to go all the way back to 1998. I was a freshman in high school. That was the last time that you had an A’s rookie with a fiveh hit game. First pitch. Oh my. Oh my goodness. It’s unbelievable. [Applause] This kid is on another planet. [Applause] [Music] Nick K is in a universe all his own. [Applause] That high five line is very different than any other five high five line we have seen. His teammates at this moment in time are more so in awe of what Nick Curts is doing as opposed to celebrating what they’re seeing. They’ve never seen anything like this. I’ve run out of words. Colobby Thomas up swinging through a fast ball now. One and two. Well, and he has sent Astros fans, quietly yet begrudgingly out to the parking lot. They don’t know what to make of it. Best game of his young major league career is here tonight in Houston. And for very good reason. We can start with three of them. Here’s the last one. 97 mph fast ball top shelf churned and burned on. Raise a bar and raise a fast ball. The big Amish can do it all. Hammer time. Second deck. Swing and a miss. So 11 to2 the score. [Music] [Applause] How about that? Last Athletic was a three homer game. Well, it was the Law Dog. And wasn’t that in July in Cincinnati? Mhm. Something about the month I I think it was August. It was during that that tear. Langalers fouls it away. I I’m thinking about that three homer game in July in Philadelphia for Butler as well. Something about this month. [Applause] [Applause] I I I sit here and I just try to think about what the future holds for a guy like Nick Curts and and what you’re seeing unfold right Now, I mean, it could have been a four homer game. That double, the left center was just a few feet short of what would have be a four homer game instead of a three homer game. When our men on radio, Johnny Dasco has been saying it this entire road trip. The three homer game is coming. the three homer game is coming. And he was right. It happens here tonight on July the 25th of 2025 in Houston. I mean, this this is a night as Lingaliers works a two-out walk here. This is a night that Nick Curts along with his family will never forget. [Music] The way he’s hit against Houston, you wonder this ballpark playing to his strengths for many years to come. Think of the man at the plate, Tyler Sodstrom, and how well he’s hitting Seattle in his young career. Could this be a place? Bouncing ball, foul. 0 and one. Well, the thing with Nick Curts and the swing that you are seeing is there’s I I don’t know that there’s a ballpark that technically suits him with his ability to drive the ball out of anywhere. And I and I say that facitiously because I think it’s understood that, you know, parked in in the friendly confines of some certain ballparks, you can really start to project what the offense might look like. But I I mean opposing pitchers at this point would just be better served to let Nick Curts walk up to the plate, let his song finish, turn around and throw the ball over the wall yourself. This has been fun. Fun game to take in now. Two and two. Sodro’s had a nice night. Two for three, a double, a homer, three RBI’s, two runs scored. Swing and a miss. Sodestrom down on strikes, but Curts homers for the third time tonight. Love him or hate him tonight. You can’t possibly hope to contain him here in Houston. It’s 11-2. Alado against McCormack. First pitch swinging and missing. Two words, Nick Curts. That’s my summary for you. Enough said. Enough said. I like to talk and I I haven’t seen anything quite like this, this type of dominance offensively in a game where it’s just being able to hit the ball anywhere he wants to at will. I mean, when you draft a guy and he comes up inside of a year, I don’t know if the expectation is to perform like this. It’s to see him be able to grow in the big leagues. He is performing not only like an all-star, but like an all-star MVP. That is the face of the sport right now. Bouncing ball to Ursella. One down. And look, it is what it is. We for a long time were talking about what Jacob Wilson was doing and how quickly he had acclimated to this level and how quickly his skill set was translating, how impactful it was already in such a short amount of time. I think that conversation is happening right now and on another level with Nick Curts. When you talk about the value he has brought, the value he provides day in and day out. I mean, there’s there’s nobody better right now. Nobody. Oh, and one to Short who homered back in the fifth inning. 11 to2 the score. You start to ask yourself, what is he going to do next? Well, and you know, I wouldn’t bet against him. Like Jacob Wilson, every time Curts comes up to the plate, you’re on the edge of your seat cuz you know something is about to happen. And recently, more often than not, it’s been something special. One, two, Alvarado strikes out short looking. Second strikeout for Elvis and Alvarado here tonight. I think we understand why, but it’s sort of quietly going about his business with all the noise that Nick Curts has been making. [Applause] Well, for a group in Houston that is expecting Friday night fireworks after the game, they didn’t realize it was going to happen during the game. Mhm. And not from their team as Ben Bowden starts to warm up in the Ace bullpen. Three 0 from Elvis is a strike. [Applause] Three and two. Elvis has battled back into some counts. has faced the minimum out of the bullpen so far. Sat down all five hitters he’s faced, including two strikeouts. Is 3-2 payoff pitch fouled off [Music] 3-2 is up. The inning will continue for Matthews. [Applause] I think a night like tonight starts to put everybody on notice about what this team is capable of, especially from an offensive perspective. I mean, I’ve highlighted what what you’ve seen from a guy like Elvis Alvarado and how he can continue to fit into a group down there in the bullpen and what that means to a lineup that is capable of doing what we have seen the athletics do here tonight. They’re not doing this, I don’t want to say short-handed, but remember the injuries of Denzel Clark and Max Muny who were both surging offensively in the right direction. [Applause] Well, there’s been quite a few souvenirs deposited out in the ballpark tonight. That’s homer number three off the bat of Nick Curts. And we found him. He’ll go home happy. [Applause] Two balls and two strikes now. Three and two. Taylor Trmelll waits on deck. Payoff pitch. Stra him out. Elvis Alvarado has three strikeouts on his night. We’re back here at the ballpark. Elvis Alvarado two scoreless innings of relief in an 11-2 game. We’re in the top of the ninth inning. And well, the bullpen has had to be active tonight. But to save some more arms as there are two more games in this series, Joe Espatada has gone to the bullpen or not really. He’s gone to a position player. When it’s time for a change, think speedy oil change in auto service. Engine light on. We can fix that. It’s Cooper Hmel and Udas flies it to left. Taylor Trmell is underneath. Here’s Lawrence Butler hitless tonight with a pair of strikeouts looking for his first. There’s 78 registering as a slider. I think that’s probably his fast ball. [Applause] now. One and two. Well, he’s a get and go type of guy. Line the other way and a base hit for Butler. Well, whatever we got to do to get Nick Curts another at bat, huh? I’ll say it. Lawog just going to shoot it to left. Get himself a knock for the night. Ursello rips it to left. That’ll drop down and kick off the wall. Butler going from first to third or will head into second base standing up a single and a double and it’s Schuman now. [Applause] [Music] Well, Gio just trying to open up and do damage here. You can understand why. You got a left fielder out there on the mound trying to put one in the Crawford boxes. And Chris Nick Curts has a helmet on, a bat in his hand. He is in the hole. Can you imagine? Yes, I can. I already have. Schuman ground ball. Nice play by the third baseman. Whitam throws to first. Butler comes in to score. Schuman has an RBI ground out. Now 12-2. And it’s up to Cortez. to keep Kirks’s chances alive for a six possible atbat, please. Strike one. I think you can understand if things start to open up a bit. Line drive through for a hit. Urella held up at third and the chance has come alive buddy. [Applause] I mean, how about that? first player in A’s history with five hits, five runs, five RBI, and three homers, buddy. I might jump out of this booth. He’s in a hitter friendly count. I mean, isn’t every count for him hitter friendly? Swing and a drive deep to left. He’s done it four times. [Applause] What a magical night for the big Amish. Smooth as butter, baby. Shut it up. Incredible. Simply incredible. Oh my god. Oh my god. Is right. Astros fans here at the ballpark behind the dugout are on their feet tipping their cap. first player in athletics history with a four homer game. Chris, I have been fortunate enough to watch a lot of baseball, watch a lot of good baseball, seen a lot of incredible things happen. History has been made tonight [Applause] and I don’t think you or I will ever forget tonight. You go ahead and add the humble chapter to the book. Just another Opposite field pump for Nick Curts. My goodness. In the air, left center field on the run. McCormack and he makes the catch. This is something special, something out of a story book. Six for six, four homers. and six RBI’s, six runs scored. He has more than introduced himself to the world here tonight. Chris Nick Curts tonight has as many home runs as the Houston Astros have total hits. This is a This is a like you said, a night I’m not going to forget. A night that he certainly isn’t going to forget. Four homers, five extra base hits, a July of storybook proportion. I mean, just such a special night for a special individual. I mean, tonight’s the night that he has put the baseball world on notice. You’re looking at the best first baseman in the game right now. I felt that way before tonight’s ball game and that just reinforces the feeling. [Applause] I mean, Nick Curts, the youngest player in baseball history with a four homer game. Time now for your play of the day presented by your California Ford dealer. There’s one knock, one homer. Two knocks, two homers. We’re not done yet. We’re just getting started. Three knocks, three homers. Well, let’s spray it around a little, huh? All right. Four knocks, four homers, folks. And there’s two more hits to come. Six for six, eight RBI, six runs scored. And sitting next to first base coach Bobby Crosby right now, trying to put words to it, and he can’t. and partner. If you’re wondering how the month of July has gone for Nick Curts, well, his 417 average is the best among AL hitters. The 488 on base percentage is the best. The 1042 slugging percentage also the best. And you’re right, so is the 1529 OPS, but the 21 runs he scored, those are the most. The 13 doubles, nobody has more. How about the 10 homers this month? Line drive in the alley in left center field. That’ll drop down for a hit. And Trel will attempt to take second. The throw in is good, but just late. Well, those 10 homers, those are more than anybody in the month of July in the American League. The 24 RBI also more than anybody in the American League. And the 24 extra base hits, Chris, are also the high water mark in the American League. There has been nobody better this month than the Big Amish. [Applause] first player in athletics history and first rookie in major league history with a four homer game. They were talking about what his future will look like if he’s doing this now. in his early 20s. Well, what is he going to be able to do when it’s all said and done? Whenever that is. Bouncing ball to second. Udas has it, throws to first. He very well might be at some point in time getting ready to write a speech for a weekend like we’ve got coming up here. It went to Wake Forest. He’s a pretty intelligent guy. I’m sure that speech would be excellent, but we get the unique pleasure of watching this play out for hopefully a very, very long time. And Diaz is up in a 15-2 game. Pop back foul and oh, very close. Now, that would have been possibly a back breaker for you. Johnny Dasco calling a three homer game for Curts and then catching a foul ball. [Applause] Well, you know something that I fly ball to right. Cortez on the run. He still goes, but it slices foul. And I’m glad we just had that happen. And I’m glad you’re able to bring up the name of Cortez because we need to give him a lot of credit because without him shooting that ball back up the middle, we don’t get the Nick Curts at bat. So congratulations for Mr. Cortez. Couple of knocks tonight for himself, but you’re able to pass that baton along and history is made because of it. [Applause] [Music] Okay, [Applause] no balls in. Two strikes, [Applause] bounced foul. 15-2 the score. The type of game that can really start to turn things around the right direction. O2 pitch high. Usually when you have games like this, they don’t happen on the back end of a three-leg road trip. [Applause] [Applause] And this has been a Houston crowd that has been behind their team for years and years and years of success. And they have been silenced tonight by one man. [Applause] Fly ball well hit left center field. Colobby Thomas moving over and neither of them can find it in the laps. Diaz going to push for second. He’ll get there and Trel trots home to score. [Applause] Well, I know there’s been a lot of excitement in the ballpark tonight. A lot of good things have gone your way, but you got to finish the ball game. And you’re right. Looks like a couple defenders just sort of lost track of the baseball. [Applause] That’ll go down as an RBI double. And the pitcher Cooper Hmel is up. Strike one on the inside corner. As we speak, I I know you have quite a few contacts in the game. I’m getting a boatload of texts talking about Curts and they say all the same thing. You just witnessed history. Yeah. I mean, an incredible night. [Applause] baseball world has been put on notice. I sure have loudly popped up and out of play. There’s a new first baseman on the scene. He’s the DH tonight and he hails from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He’s 6’5, 240 lbs, 22 years old. And I know there’s a Hall of Fame slugger himself by the name of Jim Tomy who is probably watching tonight who has a huge smile on his face. We caught up with Mr. Tomy during our time in Detroit and he had a lot of good things to say about Nick Curts. Three balls and two strikes. The Athletics having scored tonight in every inning but two. Just the fifth in the seventh. The only scoreless frames in the air to right drawing Cortez back. Now he slows and makes the catch. Diaz will move up 90 ft. The Astros are down to their final out and it’s Shay Whitam coming up. 15-3 the score. One out away from a historic individual performance and a big athletics win. Strike one. [Applause] Driven to deep left. Colby Thomas broke back now comes in. This should do it and it does. The Athletics win 15-3 on the shoulders of Nick Curts. Well, it was a historical night for a lot of different reasons. A lot of loud noise off the bat of Nick Curts. Glad his family was in the ballpark to see it. This will be a night that none of these guys on the green and gold will ever forget. A’s win tonight 15-3 on the shoulders of Nick Curts, the first major league rookie ever to have a four homer game. Nick, can you walk us through what you’re feeling right now? The emotions. I mean, do you has it set in yet that you’ve made history? Uh, no. I can’t, you know, it’s hard to hard to think about this day being, you know, kind of real still feels like a dream. Um, so it’s just it’s pretty remarkable. I’m kind of speechless. Don’t really know what to say. I I was going to ask you, man, how do you put in perspective, and you and I have kind of talked about it at times, but you’re you’re just a year or so away from being drafted and understanding you’re just starting the adventure of becoming a professional, let alone a big leager. And here you are today, as Chris said, the youngest man to have a four homer game in baseball history, the first rookie to achieve this mark. What does it mean to you to be able to have this moment so quickly, so soon in your young career? Yeah, it’s absolutely crazy. Um the thing a year ago I was probably in Arizona right now right after the draft and just getting ready to go out and you know play in Stockton. Now I’m here and you know today kind of happened. It’s it’s it’s insane. I kind of I don’t even know what to say. Dallas I mean I got no idea. Well Nick, today is made even more special knowing that you had family and friends in town watching it. They’ve always known that you’ve had these abilities. I mean, what do you think was going through their heads as this moment happened? Yeah, I have no idea. I just see see pops and mom there and the godparents as well. Uh, so it’s it’s pretty awesome to have them here. I just got in this morning. So, to be here is really cool. Well, I got to tell you, brother, you’re going to have to ask Hefe for a couple extra ice bags because Pops’s fist pump, that shoulder is probably barking right now. Get out of here, man. Go enjoy an incredible an incredible ball game with the rest of your of your friends, your family, and your teammates. An incredible night for you, Mr. Curts. Enjoy it, big dog. Absolutely. Thank you, guys.

FULL GAME: July 25, 2025 – Athletics vs. Astros
Going a perfect 6-for-6 with four home runs vs. the Astros, Kurtz became the first Athletics player in franchise history with a four-homer game, the first rookie in MLB history with a four-homer game, and the 20th player overall.

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