PITTSBURGH (AP) — Lawrence Butler hit a go-ahead, three-run homer, Nick Kurtz added a solo shot and the Athletics beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Friday night.
Mitch Keller didn’t allow a baserunner until Kurtz, a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in the fourth to get the Athletics within 3-1.
It was the 33rd homer for Kurtz, who had plenty of family and friends in attendance as he tied Jose Canseco (1986) for the second-most home runs by an A’s rookie. Mark McGwire hit 49 in 1987.
Carlos Cortes had a one-out single in the fifth and Zack Gelof walked with two outs before Butler launched his 21st homer, to put the Athletics up 4-3.
Spencer Horwitz, Bryan Reynolds and Nick Gonzales drove in first-inning runs against Luis Severino for a 3-0 lead.
Severino (7-11) allowed three runs — one earned — on seven hits in five innings. Michael Kelly retired Tommy Pham on a double-play grounder with one out and runners on the corners in the ninth for his second big league save.
Keller (6-15) gave up four runs on four hits in five innings.
Gelof left in the bottom of the fifth after re-injuring his right wrist diving for a ball between first and second. The second baseman underwent surgery on March 26 and has played just 30 games this season.
The Athletics (73-81) have won two straight and seven of eight, while the Pirates (65-89) have lost five in a row and 12 of 13.
A’s rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson returned to PNC Park, where he spent a lot of time as a child, and while his dad Jack Wilson played shortstop for the Pirates from 2001-09.
Kurtz, the Yankees’ Aaron Judge and the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani are the only players with an OPS (on base plus slugging) percentage above 1.000 this season.
Athletics RHP Luis Morales (4-1, 3.08) starts Saturday. The Pirates haven’t announced a starter.
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