Kurtz goes deep for third straight game to back Springs' gem

WEST SACRAMENTO -- After making a habit of producing late-inning magic with his game-changing power over the past week, Nick Kurtz decided to get it done early for a change.

One night after crushing his second walk-off home run in four days, Kurtz came back on Friday and launched another homer in his first at-bat, opening up the scoring for the Athletics in a 5-1 victory over the Guardians with a two-run shot off Tanner Bibee in the first inning.

Scorching would be an understatement to describe Kurtz’s recent power surge for the record books. The 22-year-old rookie first baseman has now homered in three straight games and five of his last six games.

“[TV broadcaster] Dallas [Braden] asked me, ‘What comes to your mind when I say the name Nick Kurtz?'" manager Mark Kotsay said. “I said, ‘Homers.’ I don’t know how much more I can add on to what he’s doing, outside of the fact that he comes ready to play every day. The energy, the focus, it’s a relaxed kind of confidence right now, and it’s fun to watch.”

Some historical context:

• Before Kurtz, the last A’s rookie to homer in three straight games was Matt Olson, who had four different such streaks in 2017, including a five-gamer from Sept. 15-19.

• Kurtz is just the fourth player in franchise history age 22 or younger to homer in three consecutive games, joining a group of A’s royalty that features Jose Canseco, Reggie Jackson and Jimmie Foxx. Canseco was the previous in 1986 (Sept. 11-13).

• Kurtz is the first A’s hitter with home runs in five games of a six-game stretch since Khris Davis, who did so from Aug. 4-11, 2018.

• Kurtz is the first A’s hitter age 22 or younger to homer in five games of a six-game stretch. In that age group, Jackson and Foxx hit five homers in a six-game span, but not specifically in five of six games.

• Prior to Kurtz, the last A’s player to homer in his first at-bat of a game after hitting a walk-off homer the game before was Seth Brown from May 7-8, 2021.

It’s quite a ridiculous stretch that Kurtz is on at the plate, one that seems like he is whacking any pitch that comes anywhere near the strike zone. Of his last 17 hits, 12 have gone for extra bases. On Friday, Kurtz turned on a 0-1 sinker low and in from Bibee and sent it the other way for a 406-foot blast.

Kurtz continues to slug his way into the AL Rookie of the Year conversation, which teammate Jacob Wilson has dominated for most of the year. His 10 homers are the second most among Major League rookies. Kurtz also leads all qualified MLB rookies with a .526 slugging percentage, while his .833 OPS is second behind Wilson's .902 mark.

“He’s a special kid,” A’s right fielder Lawrence Butler said of Kurtz. “He hits the ball really hard. He’s humongous. I mean, I would be terrified if I was a pitcher and saw him in the box. They still throw it in the zone. I don’t know why. But he keeps doing what he’s doing.”

Kurtz provided the power, but another A’s rookie stole the show. That would be Denzel Clarke, winner of the Electric Play of the Week presented by Chevrolet in each of the past three weeks, might be in line for a fourth consecutive award after laying out for a sensational diving catch in center field to rob Carlos Santana of a hit in the ninth inning.

“That was probably the biggest play of the game,” Kotsay said. “We talk about electric plays. He’s a three-time winner and possibly a four-time winner. … I’d like to see another center fielder in the game make that play.”

Jeffrey Springs did not need anything more than Kurtz’s homer with the way he was dealing. The A’s starter pitched into the eighth inning in what was arguably his best start of the season, limiting Cleveland to one run on three hits and one walk with six strikeouts across 7 1/3 innings to pick up his sixth win of the year.

Still, even Springs found himself in awe of Kurtz’s continued tear as he watched the 6-foot-5, 240-pound slugger assist him with an early one-run lead.

“It’s impressive,” Springs said. “Even when he gets out, they’re professional at-bats. You see guys pitch around him in big spots. They don’t want to get beat. … I’m a big fan.”