Kurtz does it again with homer off Hader in 10th to lift Athletics over Astros

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Nick Kurtz hit a two-run homer off closer Josh Hader in the 10th inning to give the Athletics a 6-4 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday night.

Willie McIver launched his first major league homer and drove in two runs for the Athletics. Lawrence Butler and Jacob Wilson also connected on solo shots as the A’s won their fifth in seven games.

The A’s regrouped after blowing a 4-1 lead in the eighth when Victor Caratini hit a three-run homer with two outs on the first pitch from closer Mason Miller.

Tyler Soderstrom began the bottom of the 10th as the automatic runner at second base and moved to third on a wild pitch. Hader (4-1) struck out Max Muncy before Kurtz smashed a 2-1 sinker to center field for his second game-ending homer against Houston in four days.

Michael Kelly (1-0) retired three batters for the win.

McIver, the A’s rookie catcher who made a rare pitching appearance and threw a scoreless inning in relief Tuesday, had another memorable moment when he drilled a 2-0 fastball from Astros starter Colton Gordon over the fence in center. Two batters later, Butler connected for his 11th homer of the season.

After the A’s put runners at the corners with nobody out in the eighth, Astros reliever Bryan Abreu got out of it with consecutive swinging strikeouts and a weak groundout.

The A’s have allowed 70 home runs at Sutter Health Park, the most given up by a home team in the majors this season.

Astros RHP Hunter Brown (8-3, 1.88 ERA) faces the Angels in Anaheim on Friday.

Athletics LHP Jeffrey Springs (5-5, 4.52) pitches against the Guardians at home Friday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Athletics' Lawrence Butler gestures skyward after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 19, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Athletics' Willie MacIver, left, is caught in a rundown and later tagged out during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Athletics' Willie MacIver hits and reaches on an error resulting in a run batted in against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 19, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Athletics' Jacob Wilson reacts after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 19, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Athletics' Nick Kurtz is splashed by gatorade after he hits a walk off two run home run against the Houston Astros during the 10th inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 19, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in his seventh triple-double of the season, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 111-99 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points and Onyeka Okongwu had 22 for the Hawks, while both Zaccharie Risacher and Luke Kennard scored 12.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 24 points. OG Anunoby had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges added 18 points.

Ariel Hukporti, who replaced Karl-Anthony Towns (illness) in the starting lineup, grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds for New York.

The Knicks got off to a quick start, taking an 11-2 lead. Trailing 30-29, the Hawks scored the final four points of the first quarter and never trailed again.

Atlanta extended its lead to 60-45 on Okongwu’s short jumper with 1:16 remaining in the second quarter before Brunson’s runner cut the Knicks’ deficit to 60-47 at halftime.

Alexander-Walker’s driving layup with 1:14 left in the third quarter gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the game at 94-68 and they were ahead 94-70 at the end of the quarter.

The Knicks scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter and pulled within 94-81 before Kennard connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to end the streak.

New York mounted a final rally following consecutive 3-pointers by Bridges to edge within 108-99, but never got any closer.

The Hawks, who have won two in a row following a season-high, seven-game losing streak, became the first team to hold the Knicks to fewer than 100 points this season.

Atlanta's Trae Young (bruised right quadriceps) and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) each missed their third straight games.

Hawks: Visit Toronto on Saturday.

Knicks: Host Philadelphia on Saturday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu reacts after scoring a 3-point basket during first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) passes the ball around New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (55) during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, bottom, and Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) battle for the ball during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, right, is defended by New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)