Lawrence Butler hits 3-run homer in the Athletics' 11-4 win over the Astros in home opener

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Lawrence Butler hit a three-run homer and an RBI single, Max Muncy followed Butler's fourth-inning drive with a solo shot after his earlier two-run double, and the Athletics pounded the Houston Astros 11-4 on Friday night for a victorious home opener.

The A's added a run in their decisive six-run fourth on Tyler Soderstrom's shallow popup that catcher Yainer Diaz couldn't corral some 10 feet up the first-base line as three other players converged. Jacob Wilson singled home a run two batters later before Butler and Muncy connected back-to-back. Soderstrom also doubled in a run for the A’s, who went 36-45 at home last season.

They scored 17 runs in their initial six games before breaking out Friday — all with two outs.

Houston (5-3) was coming off a sweep of the Red Sox and had won five straight since dropping its initial two games but fell behind early to the inspired A's in their first game at Sutter Health Park, where they started playing last year and plan to stay through next season before a move to Las Vegas in 2028.

Astros starter Cristian Javier (0-1) reached 600 career strikeouts when he fanned Butler in the second. The right-hander then surrendered three straight singles — with Denzel Clarke driving in the first run — and was done after 3 2/3 innings.

Diaz singled to start the third against Jeffrey Springs (1-0) then Jeremy Peña's one-out double set up a tying sacrifice fly by Yordan Álvarez. Springs beat Houston in his last start back in September.

Jose Altuve then appeared to draw a walk but catcher Shea Langeliers challenged and the automated ball-strike system review showed the pitch barely caught the bottom corner of the plate and was overturned to a called third strike — ending the inning.

RHP Tatsuya Imai (0-0, 13.50 ERA) pitches the middle game Saturday opposite A's RHP Luis Morales (0-1, 10.38).

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The national anthem is sung before a home-opener baseball game between the Athletics and the Houston Astros, Friday, April 3, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Athletics pitcher Jeffrey Springs throws to the Houston Astros during the first inning of a home-opener baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Athletics' Max Muncy, center, celebrates after scoring during the first inning of a home-opener baseball game against the Houston Astros, Friday, April 3, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Athletics' Lawrence Butler (4) celebrates after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning of a home-opener baseball game against the Houston Astros, Friday, April 3, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenia’s parliament on Friday appointed right-wing populist politician Janez Jansa as the new prime minister, in a shift for the small European Union country that was previously run by a liberal government.

Lawmakers backed Jansa in a 51-36 vote in the 90-member assembly. The new prime minister will need to come back to Parliament within the next 15 days for another vote to confirm his future Cabinet.

Jansa's appointment concludes a postelection stalemate in Slovenia after a parliamentary ballot two months ago ended practically in a tie. Former liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob's Freedom Movement won by a thin margin but he was unable to muster a parliamentary majority.

Jansa and his populist Slovenian Democratic Party signed a coalition agreement this week with several right-wing groups. The new government also has the backing of a nonestablishment Truth party that first emerged as an anti-vaccination movement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new term in office will be the fourth for the veteran Slovenian politician. Jansa, 67, is an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump and was a close ally of former populist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who was defeated in a landslide election last month.

Jansa in a speech listed the economy, fight against corruption and red tape, and decentralization as key goals of the future government. He has promised to lower taxes for the rich and support private education and healthcare.

Critical of the previous government's alleged “inefficiency," Jansa said the new government will turn Slovenia into “a country of opportunity, prosperity and justice, where each responsible citizen will feel safe and accepted."

Like Orban, Jansa was staunchly anti-immigrant during the huge migration wave to Europe in 2015. Also like Orban, Jansa has faced accusations of clamping down on democratic institutions and press freedoms during a previous term in 2020-2022. This led to protests at the time, and scrutiny from the European Union.

Golob in his speech described Jansa as “the greatest threat to Slovenia’s sovereignty and democracy."

Alleging that Jansa had threatened to arrest him, Golob said Jansa's "idea of democracy is that anyone who dares speak a word against you deserves only the worst.”

Jansa, a supporter of Israel, also has been a stern critic of the Golob government's 2024 recognition of a Palestinian state.

The vote on March 22 was marred by allegations of foreign influence and corruption. The around 2 million people in the Alpine nation are deeply divided between liberals and conservatives.

Janez Jansa, center, addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)

Janez Jansa arrives for a session of the Slovenian Parliament in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)

Janez Jansa addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)