Nick Kurtz closing in on Mark McGwire in Athletics history with lengthy on-base streak

The Athletics continued their recent run of comeback victories on Thursday, rallying past the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 in 10 innings at Angel Stadium while rookie first baseman Nick Kurtz moved closer to franchise history with another game reaching base.

Kurtz finished with an RBI single in the sixth inning and extended his on-base streak to 44 consecutive games, the longest streak in Major League Baseball this season. The streak moved him past Ping Bodie’s 43-game run from 1917 for the third-longest single-season on-base streak in Athletics franchise history. Only Mark McGwire, who reached base in 48 straight games in 1996, and Jimmie Foxx, who assembled a 47-game streak in 1932, remain ahead of Kurtz.

Kurtz also became the youngest player since Albert Pujols in 2001 to record an on-base streak of at least 44 games at age 23 or younger. Among players age 23 or younger since 1900, only Ted Williams (69 games in 1941 and 44 games in 1941), Stan Musial (55 in 1943), Greg Gross (52 in 1975), Joe DiMaggio (52 in 1937), Pujols (48 in 2001), and Alvin Davis (47 in 1984) have produced longer streaks.

The Angels grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the first inning when Nolan Schanuel hit a two-run homer after a single by Mike Trout. Los Angeles starter Jose Soriano struck out five of the first six Athletics hitters and finished with seven strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings.

The Athletics responded in the sixth when Shea Langeliers doubled and Kurtz lined an RBI single up the middle. In the seventh, Darell Hernaiz tied the game with an RBI single that scored Zack Gelof.

Athletics starter Luis Severino kept the game close with seven innings of three-hit ball, allowing two runs while striking out 10 without issuing a walk.

The game stayed tied until the 10th inning, when Gelof’s fielder’s choice allowed Kurtz to score the winning run after the Angels failed to complete a double play. Mark Leiter Jr. closed out the victory for his fourth save as the Athletics secured three wins in the four-game series.

The win was the Athletics’ 14th comeback win of the season, tied with the Cleveland Guardians for the most in the American League and fourth-most in Major League Baseball.

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