×
Deadspin | Randy Arozarena’s homer helps Mariners top Astros to end skid  Apr 10, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images   Randy Arozarena hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer into the second deck in left field in the fifth inning and the Seattle Mariners snapped a five-game skid with a 9-6 victory against the visiting Houston Astros on Friday night.  Yordan Alvarez hit a three-run homer for the Astros, who lost their fifth in a row.  Mariners starter Emerson Hancock (2-1) overcame one shaky frame to pitch five innings and allowed three runs on four hits. The right-hander walked two and struck out five.  With the score tied at 3-all, Josh Naylor led off the bottom of the fifth by grounding a single to center field. Arozarena followed with a 426-foot blast off Astros reliever Ryan Weiss (0-2).  The Mariners added four runs in the seventh. Dominic Canzone doubled home one run and another scored on a single by J.P. Crawford. The others came home on a wild pitch and groundout.  Alvarez’s three-run shot to right in the eighth off Cole Wilcox halved the Astros’ deficit. Matt Brash came in to get an inning-ending double play and Andres Munoz worked the ninth for his first save of the season.   Houston starter Tatsuya Imai didn’t make it out of the first inning despite not allowing a ball to leave the infield.  Crawford, moved into the top spot in the Mariners’ lineup with Brendan Donovan out with an illness, and Cal Raleigh drew back-to-back walks and Julio Rodriguez reached on an infield single to load the bases with no outs.  Naylor walked to bring home the first run and Arozarena was hit by a pitch to make it 2-0. The third scored when Luke Raley grounded out. Cole Young walked to re-load the bases, ending Imai’s night. The right-hander was charged with three runs on one hit in one-third of an inning, with four walks and the hit batter.  The Astros tied it with three runs in the second.  Isaac Paredes grounded a single to left and advanced on a wild pitch. After a base on balls to Christian Walker, Carlos Correa lined a single to center to load the bases. Hancock appeared on the verge of getting out of the jam when Cam Smith lined out to third and Joey Loperfido struck out. Christian Vazquez grounded a double down the left-field line, scoring all three runners.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Randy #Arozarenas #homer #helps #Mariners #top #Astros #skid

Deadspin | Randy Arozarena’s homer helps Mariners top Astros to end skid
Deadspin | Randy Arozarena’s homer helps Mariners top Astros to end skid  Apr 10, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images   Randy Arozarena hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer into the second deck in left field in the fifth inning and the Seattle Mariners snapped a five-game skid with a 9-6 victory against the visiting Houston Astros on Friday night.  Yordan Alvarez hit a three-run homer for the Astros, who lost their fifth in a row.  Mariners starter Emerson Hancock (2-1) overcame one shaky frame to pitch five innings and allowed three runs on four hits. The right-hander walked two and struck out five.  With the score tied at 3-all, Josh Naylor led off the bottom of the fifth by grounding a single to center field. Arozarena followed with a 426-foot blast off Astros reliever Ryan Weiss (0-2).  The Mariners added four runs in the seventh. Dominic Canzone doubled home one run and another scored on a single by J.P. Crawford. The others came home on a wild pitch and groundout.  Alvarez’s three-run shot to right in the eighth off Cole Wilcox halved the Astros’ deficit. Matt Brash came in to get an inning-ending double play and Andres Munoz worked the ninth for his first save of the season.   Houston starter Tatsuya Imai didn’t make it out of the first inning despite not allowing a ball to leave the infield.  Crawford, moved into the top spot in the Mariners’ lineup with Brendan Donovan out with an illness, and Cal Raleigh drew back-to-back walks and Julio Rodriguez reached on an infield single to load the bases with no outs.  Naylor walked to bring home the first run and Arozarena was hit by a pitch to make it 2-0. The third scored when Luke Raley grounded out. Cole Young walked to re-load the bases, ending Imai’s night. The right-hander was charged with three runs on one hit in one-third of an inning, with four walks and the hit batter.  The Astros tied it with three runs in the second.  Isaac Paredes grounded a single to left and advanced on a wild pitch. After a base on balls to Christian Walker, Carlos Correa lined a single to center to load the bases. Hancock appeared on the verge of getting out of the jam when Cam Smith lined out to third and Joey Loperfido struck out. Christian Vazquez grounded a double down the left-field line, scoring all three runners.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Randy #Arozarenas #homer #helps #Mariners #top #Astros #skidApr 10, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Randy Arozarena hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer into the second deck in left field in the fifth inning and the Seattle Mariners snapped a five-game skid with a 9-6 victory against the visiting Houston Astros on Friday night.

Yordan Alvarez hit a three-run homer for the Astros, who lost their fifth in a row.

Mariners starter Emerson Hancock (2-1) overcame one shaky frame to pitch five innings and allowed three runs on four hits. The right-hander walked two and struck out five.

With the score tied at 3-all, Josh Naylor led off the bottom of the fifth by grounding a single to center field. Arozarena followed with a 426-foot blast off Astros reliever Ryan Weiss (0-2).

The Mariners added four runs in the seventh. Dominic Canzone doubled home one run and another scored on a single by J.P. Crawford. The others came home on a wild pitch and groundout.


Alvarez’s three-run shot to right in the eighth off Cole Wilcox halved the Astros’ deficit. Matt Brash came in to get an inning-ending double play and Andres Munoz worked the ninth for his first save of the season.

Houston starter Tatsuya Imai didn’t make it out of the first inning despite not allowing a ball to leave the infield.

Crawford, moved into the top spot in the Mariners’ lineup with Brendan Donovan out with an illness, and Cal Raleigh drew back-to-back walks and Julio Rodriguez reached on an infield single to load the bases with no outs.

Naylor walked to bring home the first run and Arozarena was hit by a pitch to make it 2-0. The third scored when Luke Raley grounded out. Cole Young walked to re-load the bases, ending Imai’s night. The right-hander was charged with three runs on one hit in one-third of an inning, with four walks and the hit batter.

The Astros tied it with three runs in the second.

Isaac Paredes grounded a single to left and advanced on a wild pitch. After a base on balls to Christian Walker, Carlos Correa lined a single to center to load the bases. Hancock appeared on the verge of getting out of the jam when Cam Smith lined out to third and Joey Loperfido struck out. Christian Vazquez grounded a double down the left-field line, scoring all three runners.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Randy #Arozarenas #homer #helps #Mariners #top #Astros #skid

Apr 10, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Randy Arozarena hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer into the second deck in left field in the fifth inning and the Seattle Mariners snapped a five-game skid with a 9-6 victory against the visiting Houston Astros on Friday night.

Yordan Alvarez hit a three-run homer for the Astros, who lost their fifth in a row.

Mariners starter Emerson Hancock (2-1) overcame one shaky frame to pitch five innings and allowed three runs on four hits. The right-hander walked two and struck out five.

With the score tied at 3-all, Josh Naylor led off the bottom of the fifth by grounding a single to center field. Arozarena followed with a 426-foot blast off Astros reliever Ryan Weiss (0-2).

The Mariners added four runs in the seventh. Dominic Canzone doubled home one run and another scored on a single by J.P. Crawford. The others came home on a wild pitch and groundout.

Alvarez’s three-run shot to right in the eighth off Cole Wilcox halved the Astros’ deficit. Matt Brash came in to get an inning-ending double play and Andres Munoz worked the ninth for his first save of the season.

Houston starter Tatsuya Imai didn’t make it out of the first inning despite not allowing a ball to leave the infield.

Crawford, moved into the top spot in the Mariners’ lineup with Brendan Donovan out with an illness, and Cal Raleigh drew back-to-back walks and Julio Rodriguez reached on an infield single to load the bases with no outs.

Naylor walked to bring home the first run and Arozarena was hit by a pitch to make it 2-0. The third scored when Luke Raley grounded out. Cole Young walked to re-load the bases, ending Imai’s night. The right-hander was charged with three runs on one hit in one-third of an inning, with four walks and the hit batter.

The Astros tied it with three runs in the second.

Isaac Paredes grounded a single to left and advanced on a wild pitch. After a base on balls to Christian Walker, Carlos Correa lined a single to center to load the bases. Hancock appeared on the verge of getting out of the jam when Cam Smith lined out to third and Joey Loperfido struck out. Christian Vazquez grounded a double down the left-field line, scoring all three runners.

–Field Level Media

Source link
#Deadspin #Randy #Arozarenas #homer #helps #Mariners #top #Astros #skid

Deadspin | Bryson DeChambeau denies PGA Tour talks, ‘committed to’ LIV solution  Apr 10, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Bryson DeChambeau looks on from the second green during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-Imagn Images   Despite clear signs that the future of LIV Golf looks murky at best, Bryson DeChambeau continues to say he is committed to the 5-year-old upstart league, Flushing It Golf reported Friday.  DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith remain some of LIV’s biggest stars, although their future in the league appears in doubt after it was revealed that the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund no longer will provide funding beyond this season.  DeChambeau remains undaunted, saying he is not exploring a return to the PGA Tour at the present time  “I’m working as hard as I can to find a solution,” DeChambeau told Flushing It Golf. “I’m committed to making team golf work in the best way possible. I think there’s a place for it in the ecosystem and I want to continue to grow the game across the world. That’s always been our mission, and it’s never been more true than now.”  LIV is now working on a junior golf initiative, according to DeChambeau.  “We’re building a bunch of junior golf events right now and each (LIV) team is looking to build junior golf academies,” he said. “That’s something that we’ve been working on for almost three or four months now. “We’re looking to host an event here coming up, probably in the next, I’d say, couple of months.”  In June of 2022, DeChambeau joined LIV on a reported 5 million contract that is set to expire at the end of this season. He was reportedly seeking a 0 million deal to stay with LIV before the league’s funding issues were revealed.   “We’re still working on a potential contract,” DeChambeau said. “I haven’t given up on that and I think there will be a solution. But as of right now, my job is to help make the league work after this year. I just feel like I have a responsibility. I’ve put a lot of effort into it. So that’s what I’m going to do, we’re going to make this work.”  Even with reports that LIV has increased revenue streams in five years of operation, it is likely nowhere near enough to fund the league as it had been operating in its early years.  “There’s a lot of moving parts like in any business,” DeChambeau told Flushing It Golf after he withdrew from last month’s event at Mexico City. “It’s a startup, right? And so there’s going to be times where we’re squeezed and punched. This is one of those moments. But I’m going to do everything in my power to make it work and I really see the value in franchise golf.”  DeChambeau, 32, prevailed in a playoff in consecutive weeks in March by winning at both LIV Golf Singapore and LIV Golf South Africa. The two-time U.S. Open champion has won five individual LIV Golf titles.  DeChambeau did have the opportunity to return to the PGA Tour earlier this year through the Returning Member Program but declined. That program was developed as Brooks Koepka departed LIV for his return to the PGA Tour earlier this year.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Bryson #DeChambeau #denies #PGA #Tour #talks #committed #LIV #solutionApr 10, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Bryson DeChambeau looks on from the second green during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-Imagn Images

Despite clear signs that the future of LIV Golf looks murky at best, Bryson DeChambeau continues to say he is committed to the 5-year-old upstart league, Flushing It Golf reported Friday.

DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith remain some of LIV’s biggest stars, although their future in the league appears in doubt after it was revealed that the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund no longer will provide funding beyond this season.

DeChambeau remains undaunted, saying he is not exploring a return to the PGA Tour at the present time

“I’m working as hard as I can to find a solution,” DeChambeau told Flushing It Golf. “I’m committed to making team golf work in the best way possible. I think there’s a place for it in the ecosystem and I want to continue to grow the game across the world. That’s always been our mission, and it’s never been more true than now.”

LIV is now working on a junior golf initiative, according to DeChambeau.

“We’re building a bunch of junior golf events right now and each (LIV) team is looking to build junior golf academies,” he said. “That’s something that we’ve been working on for almost three or four months now. “We’re looking to host an event here coming up, probably in the next, I’d say, couple of months.”


In June of 2022, DeChambeau joined LIV on a reported $125 million contract that is set to expire at the end of this season. He was reportedly seeking a $500 million deal to stay with LIV before the league’s funding issues were revealed.

“We’re still working on a potential contract,” DeChambeau said. “I haven’t given up on that and I think there will be a solution. But as of right now, my job is to help make the league work after this year. I just feel like I have a responsibility. I’ve put a lot of effort into it. So that’s what I’m going to do, we’re going to make this work.”

Even with reports that LIV has increased revenue streams in five years of operation, it is likely nowhere near enough to fund the league as it had been operating in its early years.

“There’s a lot of moving parts like in any business,” DeChambeau told Flushing It Golf after he withdrew from last month’s event at Mexico City. “It’s a startup, right? And so there’s going to be times where we’re squeezed and punched. This is one of those moments. But I’m going to do everything in my power to make it work and I really see the value in franchise golf.”

DeChambeau, 32, prevailed in a playoff in consecutive weeks in March by winning at both LIV Golf Singapore and LIV Golf South Africa. The two-time U.S. Open champion has won five individual LIV Golf titles.

DeChambeau did have the opportunity to return to the PGA Tour earlier this year through the Returning Member Program but declined. That program was developed as Brooks Koepka departed LIV for his return to the PGA Tour earlier this year.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Bryson #DeChambeau #denies #PGA #Tour #talks #committed #LIV #solution">Deadspin | Bryson DeChambeau denies PGA Tour talks, ‘committed to’ LIV solution  Apr 10, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Bryson DeChambeau looks on from the second green during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-Imagn Images   Despite clear signs that the future of LIV Golf looks murky at best, Bryson DeChambeau continues to say he is committed to the 5-year-old upstart league, Flushing It Golf reported Friday.  DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith remain some of LIV’s biggest stars, although their future in the league appears in doubt after it was revealed that the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund no longer will provide funding beyond this season.  DeChambeau remains undaunted, saying he is not exploring a return to the PGA Tour at the present time  “I’m working as hard as I can to find a solution,” DeChambeau told Flushing It Golf. “I’m committed to making team golf work in the best way possible. I think there’s a place for it in the ecosystem and I want to continue to grow the game across the world. That’s always been our mission, and it’s never been more true than now.”  LIV is now working on a junior golf initiative, according to DeChambeau.  “We’re building a bunch of junior golf events right now and each (LIV) team is looking to build junior golf academies,” he said. “That’s something that we’ve been working on for almost three or four months now. “We’re looking to host an event here coming up, probably in the next, I’d say, couple of months.”  In June of 2022, DeChambeau joined LIV on a reported 5 million contract that is set to expire at the end of this season. He was reportedly seeking a 0 million deal to stay with LIV before the league’s funding issues were revealed.   “We’re still working on a potential contract,” DeChambeau said. “I haven’t given up on that and I think there will be a solution. But as of right now, my job is to help make the league work after this year. I just feel like I have a responsibility. I’ve put a lot of effort into it. So that’s what I’m going to do, we’re going to make this work.”  Even with reports that LIV has increased revenue streams in five years of operation, it is likely nowhere near enough to fund the league as it had been operating in its early years.  “There’s a lot of moving parts like in any business,” DeChambeau told Flushing It Golf after he withdrew from last month’s event at Mexico City. “It’s a startup, right? And so there’s going to be times where we’re squeezed and punched. This is one of those moments. But I’m going to do everything in my power to make it work and I really see the value in franchise golf.”  DeChambeau, 32, prevailed in a playoff in consecutive weeks in March by winning at both LIV Golf Singapore and LIV Golf South Africa. The two-time U.S. Open champion has won five individual LIV Golf titles.  DeChambeau did have the opportunity to return to the PGA Tour earlier this year through the Returning Member Program but declined. That program was developed as Brooks Koepka departed LIV for his return to the PGA Tour earlier this year.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Bryson #DeChambeau #denies #PGA #Tour #talks #committed #LIV #solution

Deadspin | Guardians look to handle Nick Kurtz, A’s in series opener  Apr 30, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16) hits an RBI double against the Kansas City Royals during the second inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images   Two teams that finished April with at least a share of the lead in their respective American League divisions go head-to-head to begin May when the Cleveland Guardians face the Athletics on Friday night in West Sacramento, Calif.  Cleveland left-hander Joey Cantillo (1-1, 2.97 ERA) and Athletics right-hander J.T. Ginn (0-0, 3.24) are the scheduled starters in the opener of the three-game series. The Guardians are seeking to repeat a series win earned in their first-ever trip to West Sacramento last June.  To do so, they’ll have to deny the A’s a fourth consecutive series win. The Athletics took two of three from the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals to move atop the AL West at a season-best three games over .500.  Leading the way has been 23-year-old Nick Kurtz, whose two-run, tie-breaking double in the second inning of Thursday’s 6-3 win over the Royals temporarily stole the headlines from a start in which he’s drawn a major-league-leading 33 walks.  “When he got here, there was an advanced approach for his age,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said about his second-year first baseman after the win. “The main thing we’re seeing is … being patient, being selective, getting his walks, getting on base.”  The Guardians limited Kurtz, who had just 37 games of major-league experience at the time, to a 2-for-11 series performance with one solo homer and one walk when they visited Sacramento last June.   Kurtz exacted a measure of revenge a month later in a rematch series in Cleveland, going 7-for-12 with four doubles, a triple, a home run and a walk.  He has never faced Cantillo in what will be a lefty-on-lefty matchup. Cantillo has allowed just seven home runs against left-handed hitters over 45 games in his three-year career.  The 26-year-old is coming off his first loss of the season at Toronto, a hard-luck 5-3 defeat last Saturday in which he allowed three runs but just one earned in five innings.   He has never faced the A’s in his career.  Also a third-year big-leaguer, Ginn has just one inning of experience against the Guardians. That came last July 18 in Cleveland, when he entered the game in the fifth inning with the A’s down 7-1 and allowed one run. The A’s lost 8-6 after a late-inning rally fell short.  In his most recent outing, Ginn was pulled in the fourth inning from a game the A’s led 2-0 at Texas last Sunday. The A’s went on to win 2-1, but he did not get a decision.  He’ll see a Guardians team kicking off a seven-game trip after losing two of three at home to the Tampa Bay Rays. The club had Thursday off following a 3-1 victory in the series finale, which had them alone atop the AL Central before the Detroit Tigers won Thursday to draw even.  Fans in West Sacramento will get their first look at Guardians prospect Travis Bazzana, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, three spots ahead of where the A’s selected Kurtz.  Bazzana, a 23-year-old Australian, is still looking for his first big-league hit after going 0-for-6 with two walks in two games against the Rays, but he is confident that he’s ready for the big time.  “I would’ve hoped by 2026 I was able to impact this team,” he told reporters during his debut series earlier in the week. “I’m feeling really strong and in a perfect place to really help the team win.”  – Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Guardians #handle #Nick #Kurtz #series #openerApr 30, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16) hits an RBI double against the Kansas City Royals during the second inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

Two teams that finished April with at least a share of the lead in their respective American League divisions go head-to-head to begin May when the Cleveland Guardians face the Athletics on Friday night in West Sacramento, Calif.

Cleveland left-hander Joey Cantillo (1-1, 2.97 ERA) and Athletics right-hander J.T. Ginn (0-0, 3.24) are the scheduled starters in the opener of the three-game series. The Guardians are seeking to repeat a series win earned in their first-ever trip to West Sacramento last June.

To do so, they’ll have to deny the A’s a fourth consecutive series win. The Athletics took two of three from the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals to move atop the AL West at a season-best three games over .500.

Leading the way has been 23-year-old Nick Kurtz, whose two-run, tie-breaking double in the second inning of Thursday’s 6-3 win over the Royals temporarily stole the headlines from a start in which he’s drawn a major-league-leading 33 walks.

“When he got here, there was an advanced approach for his age,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said about his second-year first baseman after the win. “The main thing we’re seeing is … being patient, being selective, getting his walks, getting on base.”

The Guardians limited Kurtz, who had just 37 games of major-league experience at the time, to a 2-for-11 series performance with one solo homer and one walk when they visited Sacramento last June.

Kurtz exacted a measure of revenge a month later in a rematch series in Cleveland, going 7-for-12 with four doubles, a triple, a home run and a walk.

He has never faced Cantillo in what will be a lefty-on-lefty matchup. Cantillo has allowed just seven home runs against left-handed hitters over 45 games in his three-year career.


The 26-year-old is coming off his first loss of the season at Toronto, a hard-luck 5-3 defeat last Saturday in which he allowed three runs but just one earned in five innings.

He has never faced the A’s in his career.

Also a third-year big-leaguer, Ginn has just one inning of experience against the Guardians. That came last July 18 in Cleveland, when he entered the game in the fifth inning with the A’s down 7-1 and allowed one run. The A’s lost 8-6 after a late-inning rally fell short.

In his most recent outing, Ginn was pulled in the fourth inning from a game the A’s led 2-0 at Texas last Sunday. The A’s went on to win 2-1, but he did not get a decision.

He’ll see a Guardians team kicking off a seven-game trip after losing two of three at home to the Tampa Bay Rays. The club had Thursday off following a 3-1 victory in the series finale, which had them alone atop the AL Central before the Detroit Tigers won Thursday to draw even.

Fans in West Sacramento will get their first look at Guardians prospect Travis Bazzana, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, three spots ahead of where the A’s selected Kurtz.

Bazzana, a 23-year-old Australian, is still looking for his first big-league hit after going 0-for-6 with two walks in two games against the Rays, but he is confident that he’s ready for the big time.

“I would’ve hoped by 2026 I was able to impact this team,” he told reporters during his debut series earlier in the week. “I’m feeling really strong and in a perfect place to really help the team win.”

– Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Guardians #handle #Nick #Kurtz #series #opener">Deadspin | Guardians look to handle Nick Kurtz, A’s in series opener  Apr 30, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16) hits an RBI double against the Kansas City Royals during the second inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images   Two teams that finished April with at least a share of the lead in their respective American League divisions go head-to-head to begin May when the Cleveland Guardians face the Athletics on Friday night in West Sacramento, Calif.  Cleveland left-hander Joey Cantillo (1-1, 2.97 ERA) and Athletics right-hander J.T. Ginn (0-0, 3.24) are the scheduled starters in the opener of the three-game series. The Guardians are seeking to repeat a series win earned in their first-ever trip to West Sacramento last June.  To do so, they’ll have to deny the A’s a fourth consecutive series win. The Athletics took two of three from the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals to move atop the AL West at a season-best three games over .500.  Leading the way has been 23-year-old Nick Kurtz, whose two-run, tie-breaking double in the second inning of Thursday’s 6-3 win over the Royals temporarily stole the headlines from a start in which he’s drawn a major-league-leading 33 walks.  “When he got here, there was an advanced approach for his age,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said about his second-year first baseman after the win. “The main thing we’re seeing is … being patient, being selective, getting his walks, getting on base.”  The Guardians limited Kurtz, who had just 37 games of major-league experience at the time, to a 2-for-11 series performance with one solo homer and one walk when they visited Sacramento last June.   Kurtz exacted a measure of revenge a month later in a rematch series in Cleveland, going 7-for-12 with four doubles, a triple, a home run and a walk.  He has never faced Cantillo in what will be a lefty-on-lefty matchup. Cantillo has allowed just seven home runs against left-handed hitters over 45 games in his three-year career.  The 26-year-old is coming off his first loss of the season at Toronto, a hard-luck 5-3 defeat last Saturday in which he allowed three runs but just one earned in five innings.   He has never faced the A’s in his career.  Also a third-year big-leaguer, Ginn has just one inning of experience against the Guardians. That came last July 18 in Cleveland, when he entered the game in the fifth inning with the A’s down 7-1 and allowed one run. The A’s lost 8-6 after a late-inning rally fell short.  In his most recent outing, Ginn was pulled in the fourth inning from a game the A’s led 2-0 at Texas last Sunday. The A’s went on to win 2-1, but he did not get a decision.  He’ll see a Guardians team kicking off a seven-game trip after losing two of three at home to the Tampa Bay Rays. The club had Thursday off following a 3-1 victory in the series finale, which had them alone atop the AL Central before the Detroit Tigers won Thursday to draw even.  Fans in West Sacramento will get their first look at Guardians prospect Travis Bazzana, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, three spots ahead of where the A’s selected Kurtz.  Bazzana, a 23-year-old Australian, is still looking for his first big-league hit after going 0-for-6 with two walks in two games against the Rays, but he is confident that he’s ready for the big time.  “I would’ve hoped by 2026 I was able to impact this team,” he told reporters during his debut series earlier in the week. “I’m feeling really strong and in a perfect place to really help the team win.”  – Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Guardians #handle #Nick #Kurtz #series #opener

Post Comment