Kurtz cracks go-ahead HR in 9th to secure A's sweep

KANSAS CITY -- Nick Kurtz wasn’t having a great road trip, at least until Sunday rolled around.

Matched against Royals closer Carlos Estévez in the ninth inning of a tie game, Kurtz delivered in the clutch with a solo homer to right-center that put an exclamation point on the Athletics’ 3-2 victory and sweep of the weekend series.

Kurtz, who was reinstated from the injured list on Monday after missing 14 games with a left hip flexor strain, entered the series finale just 2-for-17 on a road trip through Anaheim and Kansas City. But he was 2-for-4 on Sunday and sent the A’s home with a bang as he unloaded off Estévez.

“There’s not a lot of times when one pitch or one play makes a whole game,” Kurtz said. “But to come up there and take the lead with a guy like [A's closer Mason Miller], who is going to close the door, it felt really good.”

The Athletics put together a three-game series of solid starting pitching and bullpen work, and also sprinkled in timely offense with Kurtz putting the finishing touches on a satisfying sweep.

Kurtz took the count to 2-2 before the ninth-inning homer.

“I had seen [Estévez] Friday night and all three pitches that he has,” Kurtz said. “I got a pitch I was looking for.”

A’s manager Mark Kotsay is happy for Kurtz’s return, which provides some length to the lineup.

“The injury to Kurtz was untimely, because he was swinging the bat really well,” Kotsay said. “There was only one rehab game, so it can take some time to get your timing back. Big swing. For him to come through there, that’s a great sign.”

The Royals scored twice off starter Jeffrey Springs in the third and Kansas City starter Noah Cameron blanked the A’s through five innings. But then the Royals went to their bullpen for the sixth and Austin Wynns made them pay. After joining the A’s in Anaheim earlier in the week via trade with the Reds in the aftermath of losing Shea Langeliers to an oblique injury, Wynns made his second newcomer splash of the weekend. He homered on Friday to jumpstart the A’s offense before connecting against John Schreiber on Sunday to give his new team a sudden jolt of energy in the sixth.

“I’m just trying to do my part,” Wynns said. “Their starter today, Cameron, he hides the ball so well and changes speeds. But we battled and we executed.”

The A’s had received a big Wynns endorsement from Reds manager Terry Francona before trading for the veteran catcher. Francona vouched for Wynns in a big way, according to Kotsay.

“Since getting this opportunity, [Wynns] has really stepped up,” Kotsay said. “He’s calling some great games and taking some big at-bats for us.”

With little margin for error, the A’s bullpen trio of T.J. McFarland, Tyler Ferguson and Miller did not allow a run over the final three innings. That’s another pleasant development for an Athletics team that has been searching for stability from its reliever corps.

For Miller, the ninth inning started in ominous fashion, as second baseman Max Schuemann had trouble with the sun and a Drew Waters popup ticked off his glove for what was ruled a single. But Miller stayed composed and retired the next three Kansas City hitters.

“That inning could have easily spiraled and gotten out of hand,” Kotsay said. “He settled down and got three outs.”

All in all, the A’s are hopeful that the Kansas City sweep will help them find the consistent winning formula that they displayed in a 20-16 start this season.

“I think we’re playing better baseball,” Kotsay said. “The bullpen now is starting to gain some confidence. They are starting to settle in.”