BALTIMORE (AP) — Nick Kurtz hit a two-run triple in the fifth inning, and the Athletics edged the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 on Friday night.
Kyle Bradish (1-5) struck out 10 in seven innings for the Orioles, but infield defense cost them again during a three-run fifth for the A's. Pete Alonso and Adley Rutschman homered for two Baltimore runs.
Jacob Lopez (3-2) allowed two runs and three hits in 5 1/3 innings. The Orioles are 0-9 in games against left-handed starters this year.
Jack Perkins allowed an RBI single to Samuel Basallo in the bottom of the ninth that brought Baltimore within a run. Hogan Harris then came on and walked Leody Taveras to move the tying run to second, but he struck out Jeremiah Jackson for the final out and his second save of the season.
Baltimore led 1-0 in the fifth when the Athletics put men on first and second with nobody out. Apparently expecting a bunt, the Orioles had a rotation play on, which meant shortstop Gunnar Henderson was out of position for what could have been a double-play grounder by Zack Gelof. Instead, the ball went through for an RBI single.
Then Jeff McNeil hit a grounder right at Henderson that could have been a double play. But he didn't field it cleanly and the Orioles managed only one out on the play. Kurtz followed with his triple that put the A's up 3-1.
Baltimore lost at Miami on Thursday night on a throwing error by third baseman Coby Mayo.
Kurtz had two hits Friday and has now reached base in 32 straight games.
Baltimore reliever Trey Gibson, who was called up before the game when the Orioles put right-hander Cade Povich (left elbow inflammation) on the injured list, allowed an RBI single by Jacob Wilson in the eighth.
Baltimore scratched infielder Blaze Alexander before the game with right calf tightness.
The Orioles have dropped six of their last eight.
Aaron Civale (3-1) starts for the A's against Baltimore's Shane Baz (1-3) on Saturday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson throws to first base for an out on a ball hit by Baltimore Orioles' Pete Alonso during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Baltimore Orioles' Adley Rutschman, center, gettures towards the dugout after hitting a single against Athletics pitcher Jacob Lopez during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Athletics pitcher Jacob Lopez throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Make it 10 wins in a row for the Chicago Cubs again. That's twice in one season — for the first time in nine decades.
Ian Happ extended his on-base streak to 29 games, Michael Busch hit a three-run double and the Cubs clinched their second 10-game winning streak this year with a 7-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday night.
This is the first time since 1935 that Chicago has had two 10-game winning streaks in a season. The only time the Cubs had more was in 1906 with four.
“That means you’re doing something that’s pretty rare, and I think we realize that,” manager Craig Counsell said.
The 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers were the previous major league team with two 10-game winning streaks within the first 39 games of a season, according to Sportradar. They did it in their first 24 games.
“Baseball is a game of a ridiculous amount of stats and things to look up, so anytime you have to go that far back, it is obviously a good sign, especially on a positive like that,” Chicago second baseman Nico Hoerner said. “We're just going to keep it rolling.”
These Cubs have done it pretty quickly, too, with a pair of 10-game winning streaks by May 8.
“That’s a crazy sentence,” Hoerner said.
Milwaukee had two winning streaks of at least 10 games last season on the way to winning the NL Central title and finishing five games ahead of Chicago.
The Cubs (27-12) have won 20 of their last 23 games, with three consecutive losses separating those long win streaks.
“If you break it to small things, it’s just come and play a good game today, and we played a really good game today, a really well-rounded, well-pitched for sure, with some pressure a lot in a bunch of innings," Counsell said. "It's been the recipe for a lot of wins.”
When the Cubs had multiple 10-game winning streaks in 1935, their Hall of Fame catcher Gabby Hartnett was the NL MVP and Charlie Grimm the manager while winning 100 games. The only time they have done that since was their 2016 World Series championship year, when they won 103 games in the regular season.
“Two double-digit winning streaks in a season, that sounds pretty wild to me,” said Ben Brown, who threw four hitless innings in his first start this season after 12 relief appearances.
“That’s kudos to all the guys in the clubhouse, all the coaches, all the trainers, the sports staff,” he added. “That is some goosebumps to think about how talented this team is. It’s special to be a part of, it’s special to witness, it’s special to watch.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki (27) is greeted by Carson Kelly (15) near home plate after hitting a two-run home run off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Chicago Cubs designated hitter Michael Conforto connects for a double off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki gestures while running the bases after hitting a two-run home run off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
