Willie MacIver (65) congratulates Sacramento A’s pitcher Jacob Lopez (57) after the last out of the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wed Jun 25, 2025 (AP News photo)

Kurtz Blasts Tigers as A’s Put the Brake on Skid in 3-0 shutout
By Mauricio Segura

Nick Kurtz’s power surge couldn’t have come at a better time for the Athletics. The 22-year-old slugger jolted Comerica Park with a three-run homer in the third inning Wednesday night, sending the Green and Gold to a 3-0 victory over the Tigers and snapping a three-game losing streak.

It was Kurtz’s 11th home run of the season, and perhaps his most impactful yet, handing Sacramento their first win on this nine-game road trip and some desperately needed momentum at the season’s halfway mark.

Kurtz’s blast wasn’t just timely, it was efficient. Following back-to-back walks to Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker, he launched a 2-0 fastball to straightaway center, leaving no doubt as it cleared the wall and put the A’s on top. That single swing accounted for all the offense in a game that otherwise showcased crisp defense and some much-needed stinginess from the A’s bullpen.

Starter Jacob Lopez continued his quiet rise, blanking Detroit across five innings and scattering just four hits while notching five K’s. Lopez has now allowed just two earned runs in his last 18 innings, extending his most consistent stretch since joining the rotation. The bullpen held strong behind him for once, capped off by Mason Miller’s electric ninth for his 15th save, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts and touching 102 mph on the radar gun.

The A’s, now 33-49, still sit at the bottom of the AL West, but Wednesday’s win offered a reminder of the young talent percolating through the roster. Kurtz has now homered in five of his last ten games, and Rooker’s on-base streak reached 14. Lawrence Butler added his 12th stolen base and contributed a walk in a performance that highlighted the green and gold’s patience at the plate.

The victory also helped stop a troubling trend. Entering Wednesday, the A’s had dropped five of their last seven games. But the combination of selective hitting, clutch power, and bullpen shutdown work offered a rare clean performance. In fact, this marked only the fourth time all year the A’s shut out an opponent. Knock on wood it continues.

Detroit, meanwhile, wasted a solid start from Jack Flaherty, who struck out six across six innings but paid dearly for his one mistake to Kurtz. The Tigers managed just six baserunners all night, and none of them got past second base. Comerica Park fell quiet as A’s defenders made quick work of routine fly balls and grounders, helping the A’s log their 56th all-time win in Comerica Park.

As the A’s prepare to face Detroit again Thursday, LHP Jeffrey Springs (6-5 ERA 6.24) is slated to take the mound against Tigers starter Dietrich Ennis (0-0 ERA 0.00) first pitch 1:10pm PDT.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.