Kurtz‘s Historic Homer Propels Athletics Past Reds
OAKLAND, CA – September 16, 2023 – Jace Kurtz launched a towering 493-foot grand slam - the longest home run in major League Baseball this season – as the oakland Athletics defeated the Cincinnati reds 11-5 Friday night. The blast ignited the A’s offence and dealt a notable blow to Cincinnati’s playoff hopes.
The Athletics’ victory, coupled with the Reds’ loss, tightens the National League wild-card race with just weeks remaining in the regular season.Cincinnati entered the game with an opportunity to gain ground,but now finds itself 1 1/2 games behind the New York Mets for the final playoff spot. This outcome underscores the intense competition for postseason berths and the critical importance of every game down the stretch.
Brent Rooker also contributed a home run for Oakland,while rookie Carlos Cortes added a two-run shot,his third in the last two games. Jacob Wilson drove in two runs with a pair of doubles, bolstering the A’s offensive attack.
Cincinnati’s starting pitcher, Hunter Greene, struggled through 2 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on four hits and four walks. His ERA rose from 2.59 to 3.01.The Reds fell to 74-74 on the season, while the Athletics improved to 69-80.
San Francisco remains a half-game behind the Mets in the wild-card standings.