Bolte and Stefanic each hit 2 RBIs in sixth to lift Athletics past Astros 6-5

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Henry Bolte and Michael Stefanic both drove in two runs in the sixth inning, and Jacob Lopez tossed four strikeouts in the Athletics’ 6-5 win over the Houston Astros on Friday, assuring the AL West champion will be baseball’s first postseason team without a winning record in a full season.

The Astros still lead the AL West following Texas' 10-2 loss to the Twins. Both teams are 79-81, and the division winner will be the first in history at .500 or worse.

Lopez (7-5) went six innings, giving up two hits and one run. His only run came off a no-doubt solo homer from Christian Walker that gave the Astros a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning.

The lead lasted into the bottom of the sixth until an error from Jose Altuve sparked the offensive explosion from the A’s.

Hunter Brown (6-4) was pulled for Bennett Sousa following a sacrifice bunt that advanced runners to second and third with one out, but the pitching began to unravel once the bullpen took over.

Sousa’s third pitch was roped to center field by the pinch-hitting Stefanic for a two-run single that put the A’s ahead 2-1. The bleeding continued as the A’s dropped in another hit, and Jonah Heim immediately followed it up with a first-pitch RBI.

AJ Blubaugh replaced Sousa and was met with a Henry Bolte bases-clearing two-run triple that extended the lead to 5-1.

The inning was capped by a grounded fielder’s choice that allowed Bolte to slide into home, avoiding the tag to expand their lead.

Bolte finished the night 2 for 5, and Stefanic went 1 for 1, with both picking up two RBIs.

Cam Smith's solo homer in the seventh cut the Astros’ deficit to four, and they scored three more in the eighth.

Luis Medina struck out Smith to escape the inning with the A's still ahead, and Hogan Harris picked up his 17th save with a hitless ninth.

Houston can clinch a postseason berth with a win against the A’s and a Texas loss versus the Twins on Saturday.

The Athletics will start RHP Jack Perkins (3-12) for Saturday’s matchup against the Astros. Houston has not announced a starter.

See AP's full MLB coverage here

Houston Astros' Christian Walker flips the bat after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

People watch as Houston Astros center fielder Lucas Spence catches a fly ball hit by Athletics' Tommy White during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Athletics third base coach Bobby Crosby (8) congratulates Henry Bolte (33) after Bolte hit a two-RBI triple during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Athletics' Lawrence Butler hits an RBI single on a fielder's choice during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A new European soccer league kicked off in Romania’s capital this week, giving amputee players from countries lacking domestic leagues an opportunity to compete on an international stage.

The European Amputee Football Federation, or EAFF, inaugurated the new Conference League in Bucharest. The games were held Thursday and Friday, and the final concluded on Friday when Maccabi Haifa FC of Israel was crowned the winner after beating Scotland’s Ayr United 4-0.

The victory meant a lot to Ben Binyamin of the team from Israel. Back in 2023, the Israeli player had his right leg blown off during the Hamas attack on the Tribe of Nova music festival, which left him fearing he would never play soccer again.

“I am very happy that we won this tournament, we won without conceding a single goal,” he told The Associated Press. “Football itself for us is our physiotherapy, our life, and our second family. It helps us in life. It gives us strength.”

Four teams participated in the tournament: FCSB of host nation Romania, Maccabi Haifa FC of Israel, Ayr United of Scotland and Panathinaikos AC PwD of Greece.

“We are very satisfied, very happy to bring pride to the country,” Binyamin added.

Inspired by the European club competition model in able-bodied soccer, the EAFF described the new league as a “historic milestone” that represents “another important step in the development of European amputee football.”

“The Conference League creates an international opportunity for clubs from countries where domestic amputee football leagues are not yet established,” it says on its website.

Played in a seven-versus-seven format, on 60-meter (196-foot) by 40-meter (131-foot) fields, amputee soccer is a game for amputees and people living with limb defects. Players have one leg and a pair of crutches, while goalkeepers have both legs but one hand or arm.

Established in 2015, the EAFF aims to help people with amputations or limb defects gain access to amputee soccer throughout Europe. The World Amputee Football Federation was established in 2002 and a World Cup is held every four years.

The new league hopes to attract more spectators to amputee soccer and gives teams opportunities to build international relationships. The EAFF also organizes a Nations League, Champions League, Europa League, and holds other initiatives like women’s and junior camps.

Iain Matthew, manager of the Scottish team, told the AP that while his team’s 0-4 loss to Maccabi Haifa was disappointing, the league itself offered valuable experience for his players.

“The competition is great for smaller nations … to get European football experience,” he said. “I think we could have played better, we could have defended better, but you’ve got to praise your players for what they’ve done over the week.”

McGrath reported from Leamington Spa, England.

Maccabi Haifa's Ben Binyamin poses with the trophy during the medal ceremony at the end of the amputee soccer inaugural EAFF Conference League in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

Maccabi Haifa's players line up before an amputee soccer match between Maccabi Haifa and Panathinaikos in the inaugural EAFF Conference League in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

FCSB's Marian Sacacol, left, challenges for the ball with Ayr United's Charlie Hewson during an amputee soccer match between FCSB and Ayr United in the inaugural EAFF Conference League in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

FCSB's players warm-up before an amputee soccer match between FCSB and AFAS in the inaugural EAFF Conference League in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

Panathinaikos' Vasileios Gogolos stretches during an amputee soccer match between Maccabi Haifa and Panathinaikos in the inaugural EAFF Conference League in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)