A’s Dominate Pirates Behind Kurtz and Ginn’s Stellar Performances

June 15, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA: The Oakland Athletics showcased their potential with a commanding 11-2 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Sutter Health Park, fueled by impressive performances from first baseman Nick Kurtz and pitcher J.T. Ginn. Kurtz delivered a spectacular offensive display, hitting two home runs and driving in five runs, while Ginn continued his trend as the team's most reliable starter.

The A’s initially faced challenges in the first inning when they filled the bases with no outs but failed to score as Pirates pitcher Jared Jones struck out three consecutive batters to escape the threat. Ginn, however, settled in quickly, shutting down the Pirates through the first two innings with only a single and a walk against him.

In the second inning, the A’s broke through with a three-run rally. Center fielder Henry Bolte started the scoring with an RBI double, followed by Kurtz’s powerful two-run home run, marking his 17th of the season and putting the Athletics ahead 3-0. The momentum continued as Jeff McNeil added to the tally with a two-run homer in the fourth inning, extending their lead to 5-1.

Ginn maintained control on the mound, completing six innings while allowing just one unearned run. He struck out three and induced significant groundouts, keeping the Pirates at bay. The A’s added more runs in the seventh, highlighted by Kurtz’s second homer of the night, a three-run shot, bringing his total to 18 for the season and solidifying the Athletics’ offensive output.

Tonight’s victory not only marked an impressive series opener but also saw the team set a franchise record for the most home runs in a seven-game stretch. With the victory, the Athletics showcased their potential as they head deeper into the season.