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Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson dives but can’t reach a ball hit for a single by Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (AP Photo\/Gene J. Puskar)<\/p>\n
PITTSBURGH \u2014 Lawrence Butler hit a go-ahead, three-run homer, Nick Kurtz added a solo shot and the Athletics beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Friday night.<\/p>\n
Mitch Keller didn\u2019t allow a baserunner until Kurtz, a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, homered with two outs in the fourth to get the Athletics within 3-1.<\/p>\n
It was the 33rd homer for Kurtz, who had plenty of family and friends in attendance as he tied Jose Canseco (1986) for the second-most home runs by an A\u2019s rookie. Mark McGwire hit 49 in 1987.<\/p>\n
Carlos Cortes had a one-out single in the fifth inning and Zack Gelof then walked with two outs before Butler launched his 21st homer, a 424-foot shot to right-center to put the Athletics up 4-3.<\/p>\n
Spencer Horwitz, Bryan Reynolds and Nick Gonzales drove in first-inning runs against Luis Severino for a 3-0 lead.<\/p>\n
Severino (7-11) allowed three runs \u2014 one earned \u2014 on seven hits in five innings. Michael Kelly retired Tommy Pham on a double-play grounder with one out and runners on the corners in the ninth for his second big league save.<\/p>\n
Keller (6-15) gave up four runs on four hits in five innings.<\/p>\n
Gelof left in the bottom of the fifth after re-injuring his right wrist diving for a ball between first and second. The second baseman underwent surgery on March 26 and has played just 30 games this season.<\/p>\n
The Athletics (73-81) have won two straight and seven of eight, while the Pirates (65-89) have lost five in a row and 12 of 13.<\/p>\n
Nice moment<\/p>\n
A\u2019s rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson returned to PNC Park, where he spent a lot of time as a child, and even threw out a first pitch while his dad Jack Wilson played shortstop for the Pirates from 2001-09.<\/p>\n
Key stat<\/p>\n
Kurtz, the Yankees\u2019 Aaron Judge and the Dodgers\u2019 Shohei Ohtani are the only players with an OPS (on base plus slugging) percentage above 1.000 this season.<\/p>\n
Up next<\/p>\n
Athletics RHP Luis Morales starts Saturday. The Pirates will go with RHP Bubba Chandler.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n PORTAGE \u2014 After receiving the ball to start the second half trailing by seven, Portage was in prime position to …<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Altoona won the four-team Mountain Lion Tennis Invitational II at Mansion Park on Friday in girls high school …<\/p>\n