Overview

• Nick Kurtz went 6-for-6 with four home runs, a double and a single, scoring six runs and driving in eight in a 15-3 win over the Astros to tie the MLB record with 19 total bases
• He became the first rookie ever to hit four homers in one game and joined Shawn Green as only the second player in history to go 6-for-6 with four long balls
• The Athletics swept the division-leading Astros in four games, outscoring Houston 32-7 for their first four-game road sweep under manager Mark Kotsay
• Through 67 games this season, Kurtz is batting .309 with 23 home runs and 59 RBIs after debuting in April
• Manager Mark Kotsay’s strategy of fast-tracking prospects has seen Kurtz and fellow rookie Jacob Wilson drive renewed optimism as Oakland challenges atop the standings