Nick Kurtz #16 of the Athletics trots around the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros in the bottom of the six inning at Sutter Health Park on September 25, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — After winning the first two games of their series against the Astros, the A’s struggled on Thursday afternoon and failed to sweep, losing 11-5.

J.T. Ginn, who has had mixed results this season for the A’s, wasn’t sharp again. Ginn only managed to complete three and two-thirds innings as the Astros shelled him for seven runs on six hits. Making his final start of the year, Ginn also surrendered three walks while striking out four.

Mark Kotsay spoke after the game about where he felt Ginn’s issues stemmed from.

“We talk a lot about free bases really hurting us and setting the tone. And I think for J.T., that first inning he really fished his way into some trouble. And when you do that against a good team, it’s tough to maneuver and to get out of those types of jams. I think the command wasn’t there today. The pitches were up in the zone.”

The bullpen

The A’s bullpen also struggled after tossing great innings in the first two games of the series.

Brady Basso was first out of the pen to relieve Ginn in the fourth inning. Basso recorded the final out of the fourth and got two outs in the fifth before being lifted after giving up two runs on three hits while walking three.

Osvaldo Bido came in for Basso and tossed two and a third innings of solid work. Bido gave up one run on two hits while striking out three and walking one.

Scott McGough was the final arm out of the bullpen for Kotsay, pitching the eighth and ninth. McGough gave up one run on one hit while striking out two.

The bats

The A’s bats struggled against Astros starter Framber Valdez, whose only blemish was a Nick Kurtz solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to get the A’s on the board. It was the 34th home run of the season for Kurtz and a foreshadowing of things to come later in the game.

Kurtz did his best to pull the A’s closer in the eighth inning with another home run which was his 35th of the season. The second blast, a 389-foot shot to left-center field that left the bat at 105 mph, was the A’s second and third runs of the game.

After the game, Kotsay spoke to the approach from Kurtz that has allowed him to succeed against both righties and lefties this season.

“He hadn’t seen a ton of Framber and for the approach to be what it was to have success, he needed to hit the ball left-center and the results would come. And I think you saw that he stuck with the approach and did a really nice job of getting the ball elevated, which was tough to do off Framber and getting a couple balls that he could handle and drive the other way.”

Whenever Kurtz gets the ball in the air the opposite way, it almost always seems to have a chance to be a home run. That was an opinion Kotsay agreed with after the game.

“When Nick touches the baseball, especially in the air opposite field, good things happen and we saw it today.”

Kurtz, who always has the same demeanor postgame, was calm and determined in his comments as if this is a normal result he expects every game.

“My power is going to the backside of the field,” Kurtz said. “I had to realize that I could still do that on inside pitches. I don’t need to try to pull.”

Kurtz went on to describe his relationship with A’s hitting coach Darren Bush, who is highly regarded among the players and in the organization.

“Oh, he’s awesome. I’m able to go to him whenever something feels a little off, whether it’s a simple mental adjustment, whether it’s a swing adjustment. We’re talking on a day-to-day basis on what I feel and what he sees, so it’s been really great to have him here throughout the whole way, especially with a bunch of young guys…”

The A’s added two more runs in the ninth thanks to a JJ Bleday RBI double and a Max Schuemann RBI groundout. They finished with five runs on 12 hits and three walks.

Up next

The A’s will begin their final series of the year on Friday at 7:05 p.m. PST at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. They have yet to announce starters for the series against the Kansas City Royals. The Royals will send Noah Cameron (9-7, 2.90) to the hill.

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.

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

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