KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In a thrilling finish at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday, Nick Kurtz delivered a decisive blow for the Athletics with a solo home run in the ninth inning, propelling his team to a 3-2 victory and securing a three-game sweep over the Kansas City Royals. Kurtz faced Carlos Estévez and launched a 411-foot homer to right-center, marking his sixth of the season. This victory was particularly significant as it marked the Athletics’ first sweep in Kansas City since September of 2016.
T.J. Ferguson played a crucial role in clinching the win, expertly retiring all four batters he encountered and striking out two. His effective performance on the mound helped earn him a win, while Mason Miller continued to shine, adding another save to his record—that being his 14th this season.
This game also saw the Royals extending their struggles, enduring the longest losing streak of their season while failing to secure any wins in their latest homestand. The team now faces six consecutive losses in home series. Contributing to the Athletics’ comeback, Austin Wynns smashed a two-run homer to left-center field off reliever John Schreiber, leveling the score at 2-2 during the sixth inning. This powerful hit marked Wynns’ fifth home run, coming just shortly after his move from the Cincinnati Reds.
On the Royals’ side, starter Noah Cameron displayed a strong performance, striking out seven across five innings without allowing a run. The game began to slip from the Royals’ grasp after Kyle Isbel’s double off Nick Kurtz’s glove opened the third inning, leading to Bobby Witt Jr. breaking out of a slump with an RBI double. This was followed by a scoring play from Vinnie Pasquantino, giving Kansas City an early 2-0 advantage.
A pivotal moment unfolded in the fifth inning with the Athletics trailing 2-0. Lawrence Butler hit a key two-out double but was thwarted while attempting to steal third, ending the inning. Although initially ruled safe by third base umpire Adrian Johnson, he quickly reversed the decision, spurring an unsuccessful protest from A’s manager Mark Kotsay.
A concerning statistic for Kansas City is their performance in the sixth inning throughout this season. They have been significantly outscored, letting up 44 runs while only scoring 15 in that inning.
Looking ahead, the Athletics are set to host the Houston Astros on Monday, kicking off a four-game series, while the Royals will commence their road series in Texas, sending right-hander Seth Lugo (3-5, 3.18 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday.