Langeliers, Butler homer to help the A's win 3rd straight, 5-1 over the Astros

HOUSTON (AP) — Shea Langeliers and Lawrence Butler homered, Nick Kurtz followed his historic four-homer game with two hits and the Athletics won their third straight game, beating the Houston Astros 5-1 on Saturday night.

A night after becoming the first major league rookie to hit four home runs in a game, Kurtz went 2 for 4 to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. He’s batting .549 during the streak.

Langeliers led off the sixth inning by sending Bennett Sousa’s 3-2 fastball into the Crawford Boxes in lerft for his 16th home run of the season and a 2-0 lead.

With two on and two out and the A’s clinging to a 2-1 in the ninth, Butler launched a 1-2 fastball from Hector Neris 409 feet to right for his 15th home run.

The Athletics limited the Astros to four hits. Jacob Lopez went the first 4 1/3 innings without allowing a run. After Justin Sterner allowed a run in 1 2/3 innings, Sean Newcomb (3-5) struck out four while facing the minimum in the seventh and eighth. Mason Miller finished the game with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Astros All-Star Hunter Brown (9-5) allowed one run on four hits over five innings, lowering his ERA to 2.54, but he failed to pitch into the sixth inning for the third straight.

Butler three-run homer in the ninth increased the A’s lead to four runs.

Houston's opponents have scored first in a franchise-record 17 straight games.

Houston LHP Colton Gordon (4-2 4.53 ERA) was set to face RHP J.T. Ginn (1-2 4.50 ERA) on Sunday in the series finale.

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

Athletics' Lawrence Butler, right, hits a three-run home run as Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz watches during the ninth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Athletics' Lawrence Butler celebrates after hitting a three-run home run against the Houston Astros during the ninth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Athletics' Lawrence Butler (4) and Gio Urshela (13) celebrate after a baseball game against the Houston Astros Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Athletics' Shea Langeliers celebrates after hitting a home run against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Athletics' Lawrence Butler hits a three-run home run against the Houston Astros during the ninth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — John Marino scored at 4:03 of the third period to break a tie and give the Utah Mammoth a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.

Marino also assisted on Nick Schmaltz's 17th goal of the season and Karel Vejmelka made 26 stops as the Mammoth won for the fifth time in six games.

Mikko Rantanen scored and Jake Oettinger had 25 saves for Dallas, which has lost nine of its last 11 games.

Schmaltz broke a scoreless deadlock with 7 seconds left in the second period, tipping in a feed from Marino. It was the fourth latest goal in any regulation period in Utah's short franchise history.

The Mammoth nearly made it 2-0 just 38 seconds into the third, but Lawson Crouse had his goal wiped off the board for high-sticking.

Rantanen leveled the score with a power-play goal at the 2:04 of the third.

Marino answered two minutes later, snapping the puck home from long distance to put the Mammoth up 2-1 with his second winning goal of the season.

Utah improved to 16-1-1 this season when leading after two periods.

Stars: host Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Mammoth: host Seattle on Saturday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Dallas Stars defenseman Kyle Capobianco, right, moves the puck against Utah Mammoth defenseman Sean Durzi during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley (55) shoots the puck against Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston, right, moves the puck against Utah Mammoth left wing Lawson Crouse during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson, center left, fights for the puck against Utah Mammoth defenseman John Marino (6) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)