Nick Kurtz Is Crushing Homers Again, And His 38-Game Streak Is The Last Thing The Struggling Giants Needed

Alright, sports fans, get ready because something wild is happening down south! Friday night saw the Athletics take down the San Francisco Giants 5-2, but the scoreboard doesn't even tell half the story. The real fireworks came from Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz, who smacked a go-ahead, three-run blast that blew the game open. This dude, after a rocky start to the season, is absolutely on fire, and frankly, the Giants look like they have zero answers for him!

Kurtz Just Can't Be Stopped Right Now

Remember when Nick Kurtz was homerless through the first 13 games? Or that later 15-game drought? Yeah, put that in the rearview mirror. This 23-year-old phenom has found his swing again, hitting a homer for the third consecutive game! He's gunning for his fourth straight tonight, and honestly, who's gonna stop him? His blast Friday was his eighth of the season, a beauty over the wall in left-center. He said he was "looking for something early to get the job done and looking to get it in the air." Tyler Mahle threw a first-pitch cutter, and Kurtz sent it to the moon. This isn't just a one-game fluke either. He also went deep in the final two games of a series against the St. Louis Cardinals. He's rocking a 5-for-10 line in this three-game tear, and get this, he's reached base in 38 consecutive games! That's insane! That's the longest on-base streak by an Athletics player since Jason Giambi did it in 39 straight games way back in 1997 and 1998. This is the same guy who hit 36 bombs last season and was the unanimous American League Rookie of the Year. He summed it up best himself, saying "I've been feeling better in batting practice and things are starting to come together a little bit. It takes time throughout the season, you may come out hot, you may come out cold and then get hot. It's a roller coaster of emotions." Right now, he's at the top of the loop.

Giants Can't Catch a Break

Last season, the Giants had the A's number, winning five of six matchups. But the first clash this year didn't go their way at all. While Luis Arraez and Harrison Bader did hit solo homers, the Giants left a frustrating 10 men on base and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. You just can't win baseball games like that, especially when you're 8-15 on the road. Arraez had a huge night personally with four hits, his 23rd time reaching that mark, but even he knew it wasn't enough, saying "It's good for me but it's not good for the team. We want to win the game." Giants manager Tony Vitello tried to stay positive, insisting his club "played a solid game." He even said, "As a coaching staff, you have to feel like if we played like we did, the law of percentages like that is we win the game. I thought the team played real well." Well, the numbers tell a different story, coach. To make matters worse, left fielder Heliot Ramos had to leave Friday's game after 5 1/2 innings with right quadriceps tightness. He's out for Saturday, too. Talk about a tough break. So, tonight the A's are back at it against the Giants at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. The Athletics are sending right-hander Luis Severino (2-4, 4.07 ERA) to the mound. He's been decent lately, allowing only five runs over his last four starts, going 2-2 in that span. But he's dropped his last two, including giving up two runs and six hits last Sunday. Severino has historically struggled against Arraez (5-for-9) and Willy Adames (6-for-17, one homer), so those are key matchups to watch. The Giants will counter with right-hander Trevor McDonald (1-0, 2.92 ERA) for his third start of the season. He impressed beating the Padres on May 4, giving up just one run over seven innings. Can Kurtz keep the homer streak alive? Can the Giants finally get some clutch hits? Tonight's game feels huge for both clubs, even if it's not our boys in blue.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.