BASEBALL: Nick Kurtz's grand slam propels A's past Cardinals

Nick Kurtz blasted a grand slam, and Zack Gelof also went deep as the Oakland Athletics rolled to a 6-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.

Kurtz extended his on-base streak to 36 games with a double, while Darell Hernaiz collected three hits. J.T. Ginn delivered six strong innings, allowing just one unearned run to help the A’s snap a two-game losing streak.

Making a memorable major league debut, Henry Bolte recorded two hits, a walk, and an RBI. Colby Thomas and Michael Stefanic each added two hits for Oakland.

For the Cardinals, Alec Burleson had three hits, and Nathan Church added two hits and an RBI. JJ Wetherholt and Masyn Winn also had two hits, but St. Louis fell for the third time in four games.

Ginn (2-1) gave up nine hits and one walk while striking out three, earning his second consecutive win. Matthew Liberatore (2-2) of St. Louis allowed four runs and nine hits over five innings, striking out five and walking two.

The Athletics trailed 1-0 in the fifth before Hernaiz and Stefanic singled, and Shea Langeliers walked to load the bases. Kurtz capitalized, crushing a 2-2 slider from Liberatore to deep left-center for his third career grand slam. Victor Scott II nearly made a leaping catch but came up short.

The Cardinals cut the deficit to 4-2 in the seventh when singles by Pedro Pages and Wetherholt loaded the bases. Ivan Herrera followed with a sacrifice fly to score Pages. Oakland responded immediately: Kurtz doubled, advanced to third on an infield single by Thomas, and Bolte’s sacrifice fly brought him home for Bolte’s first MLB RBI.

Gelof extended the lead in the eighth, launching a solo homer over the center-field fence off Gordon Graceffo for a four-run advantage.

In the ninth, St. Louis loaded the bases against Jack Perkins in a non-save situation, but Perkins retired Herrera on a pop-up and struck out Burleson to end the game.

Earlier in the fourth, Nolan Gorman and Winn started the frame with hits. Thomas bobbled Winn’s hit, allowing Gorman to reach third, and Church followed with an RBI single to center.

The Athletics’ 6-2 win showcased a balanced attack and timely hitting, putting them back on track after consecutive losses.

—Field Level Media/Reuters