SACRAMENTO, CA – June 19, 2025 – The Houston Astros’ road trip ended on a sour note last night at Sutter Health Park, as Nick Kurtz delivered a two-run walk-off home run in the 10th inning to give the Oakland Athletics a dramatic 6-4 victory. The loss meant the Astros split the four-game series with the A’s 2-2.
Astros pitching saw Colton Gordon get the start, giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits over five innings. The loss ultimately went to closer Josh Hader (4-1), who surrendered the decisive home run in the 10th. For the Athletics, Jacob Lopez started strong, allowing one run over six innings, and Michael Kelly (1-0) picked up the win in relief.
The Athletics jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the second inning. Willie MacIver hit his first major league home run, a two-run shot off Gordon, putting Oakland up 2-0.
The Astros got one back in the top of the fifth when Victor Caratini hit an RBI single, cutting the lead to 2-1.
Oakland extended their lead in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run from Lawrence Butler, making it 3-1. They added another run in the seventh when Jacob Wilson blasted a solo homer, pushing the lead to 4-1.
However, the Astros mounted a thrilling comeback in the top of the eighth inning. With two outs, Victor Caratini launched a three-run home run off Mason Miller, tying the game dramatically at 4-4 and sending it to extra innings.
In the bottom of the 10th, with a runner placed on second, Nick Kurtz stepped to the plate against Josh Hader and crushed a two-run walk-off home run to center field, giving the Athletics the 6-4 victory. This was Kurtz’s second walk-off homer against the Astros in the series.
The Astros finished the game with 4 runs on 8 hits, while the Athletics had 6 runs on 11 hits, including four home runs.
The loss brought the Astros’ record to 43-32, concluding their road trip with a split series.
