Nick Kurtz, Colby Thomas, Carlos Cortes, and J.J. Bleday went deep as the Oakland Athletics pounded the Los Angeles Angels 17-4 on Saturday night, racking up 21 hits.
Kurtz, the 22-year-old rookie phenom, crushed a 447-foot homer to left-center in the fourth off reliever Chase Silseth, his 29th of the season. He also walked twice and scored three runs. Thomas opened the barrage with a first-inning homer, while Cortes and Bleday each delivered pinch-hit three-run blasts in the eighth and ninth.
Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi (6-11) struck out Shea Langeliers in the first inning for his 1,000th career strikeout, but quickly unraveled. He lasted just two innings, giving up seven earned runs on six hits while throwing only 32 strikes in 61 pitches.
Oakland’s J.T. Ginn (3-6) earned the win, limiting the Angels to one earned run on five hits with five strikeouts over five innings.
The Angels showed some late power when Matthew Lugo and Jo Adell connected for back-to-back solo shots in the eighth off Scott McGough — the sixth time this year Los Angeles has gone back-to-back.
Key Moment:
With two outs in the first, Taylor Ward misplayed a routine fly in left that would have ended the inning. Instead, it fell in for a bases-clearing double by Tyler Soderstrom, sparking a three-run frame and setting the tone for the blowout.
Key Stat:
The Angels gave up 17 runs, their second-worst defensive showing of the season. Their worst outing came in a 20-3 loss to Texas on August 27.
Up Next:
The series wraps up Sunday with Oakland sending Luis Severino (6-11, 4.65 ERA) to face Angels rookie Mitch Farris (1-0, 1.80 ERA).