Cortes and Butler homer to rally A's to 4-3 win over the Brewers

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Carlos Cortes and Lawrence Butler hit towering home runs in the seventh inning to rally the Athletics to a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night and win the series.

The A's took two of three at Las Vegas Ballpark, home to their Triple-A affiliate. They are playing this week before their future fans as a stadium is scheduled to open on the Strip in 2028.

The A’s had already set the franchise record for a three-game series with 12 homers before this game and then added three more. That included one from Alika Williams, who had his first career home run with a solo shot in the sixth.

Then in the seventh, Cortes hit a 461-foot solo shot to right-center field and Butler followed two batters later with a two-run homer that traveled 463 feet to center. Both came off Chad Patrick (3-3).

Five A's relievers shut out the Brewers over the final five innings, with Scott Barlow (2-0) getting the win and Elvis Alvarado his first save.

Milwaukee starter Brandon Sproat allowed four hits and a run over six innings and exited with a 3-1 lead.

Gary Sanchez smashed a 466-foot solo home run in the second inning for the Brewers. Jackson Chourio also homered for a 3-0 lead.

The Athletics' Nick Kurtz's three-game homer streak ended, but Zack Gelof extended his hitting streak to 15 games.

A's designated hitter Brent Rooker did not play for the second game in a row because of knee soreness. Manager Mark Kotsay said a more thorough evaluation will be made during the club's off day Thursday.

Rooker, a two-time All-Star who has hit 30-plus home runs the past three seasons, is hitting .200 with 10 homers.

Brewers: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (7-2, 1.50 ERA) faces the Philadelphia Phillies at home on Friday.

Athletics: Have not announced a scheduled starter for Friday’s game against the Colorado Rockies.

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Milwaukee Brewers' David Hamilton (6) slides into second base as Athletics second baseman Jeff McNeil (22) readies to catch the ball during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Athletics starting pitcher Jack Perkins throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Milwaukee Brewers' Gary Sanchez (99) is greeted by Milwaukee Brewers' Sal Frelick (10) after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Athletics' Alika Williams hits a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Athletics designated hitter Carlos Cortes hits a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Iran retaliated against U.S. air and cruise missile strikes as hostilities escalated Thursday with attacks against Kuwait and Bahrain in renewed fighting after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Tehran would “pay the price” for stalled negotiations.

The exchange came shortly after the U.S. launched a second round of airstrikes overnight Thursday. Bahrain is the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

The new assault across multiple Iranian cities came as efforts to negotiate an end the war appeared to have stalled, with Iran insisting it would maintain its grip on the Strait of Hormuz. Talks have also faltered because of Israel's attacks against the Iranian-allied Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. On Monday, Iran and Israel targeted each other.

In a first exchange of missile fire from Iran and airstrikes by the U.S. on Wednesday, Iranian missiles were launched at missiles at Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. Those came in the wake of American strikes in reprisal for the shooting down of a U.S. helicopter in the strait.

The U.S. Central Command said it completed its latest round of airstrikes just before the sun rose Thursday in Iran. It said the strikes targeted military surveillance, communications and air defense sites and were carried out by the U.S. Air Force, Marines and Navy. It did not elaborate on the damage done by the strikes.

Explosions from the strikes echoed around Iran’s capital, Tehran, as well as in the port city of Bandar Abbas and other southern areas along the strait.

Here's the latest:

Kuwait says it has closed its airspace over ongoing Iranian attacks and said flights were being diverted to alternative airports, without elaborating.

Flights had been circling outside of Kuwait for some time before the announcement after it said its air defenses were firing.

Kuwait International Airport had taken a direct Iranian hit in recent days, which killed one person and wounded dozens.

Kuwait's military said its air defenses were firing Thursday morning after Iran threatened retaliation for U.S. airstrikes overnight. Bahrain separately sounded its missile alert sirens in the island kingdom that hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters.

President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)