The game was effectively settled long before the final out. Oakland built a lead early, extended it methodically, then blew it open with a five-run seventh inning that turned a comfortable advantage into a rout. The Athletics defeated Pittsburgh 11-2 at Sutter Health Park on Monday, with Nick Kurtz and Jeff McNeil doing most of the damage.
Kurtz was the story. He went 3-for-4 with two home runs, five RBI and a walk, finishing as the clear catalyst of Oakland's offense. His first homer, a 407-foot shot to left center in the second inning, gave Oakland a 3-0 lead with McNeil scoring ahead of him. He returned in the seventh with a 380-foot blast to left that scored Henry Bolte and McNeil and pushed the lead to 11-1. Kurtz carries a .289 average with 18 home runs and 57 RBI on the season. McNeil matched him in impact, going 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. He scored three times and drove in runs in three separate innings.
Oakland struck first in the second. McNeil singled to left to score Bolte, then Kurtz's two-run homer made it 3-0. The Athletics added two more in the fourth when McNeil homered to right, scoring Lawrence Butler. Zack Gelof singled to center in the fifth to score Tyler Soderstrom and push the lead to 6-1. The seventh inning finished it: Butler doubled to center to score Gelof, McNeil singled to right to score Butler, and Kurtz capped the frame with his second homer of the night.
J. T. Ginn earned the win, working 6.0 innings and allowing 1 run — unearned — on 6 hits with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts on 98 pitches. He moves to 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA. Pittsburgh starter Jared Jones absorbed the loss, his first of the season, lasting just 4.0 innings and allowing 5 runs on 8 hits with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts. Jones is now 1-1 with a 6.23 ERA. Endy Rodriguez provided Pittsburgh's lone highlight, going 3-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run to left center in the eighth.
Oakland improves to 35-36, second in its division. Pittsburgh falls to 36-36, fourth in its division. Both clubs had entered on losing streaks.