A third-inning solo home run from 2025 AL Rookie of the Year<\/a> Nick Kurtz<\/a><\/strong> was all the Athletics<\/a> needed to defeat the New York Mets<\/a>, 1\u20130, Sunday afternoon at Citi Field.<\/p>\n Athletics starter Aaron Civale<\/a><\/strong> scattered four hits across 5 2\/3 scoreless innings, walking none and striking out three to get the road victory. He outdueled Mets starter Freddy Peralta<\/a><\/strong>, who allowed four hits with three walks and six strikeouts over six innings. His lone blemish was the Kurtz homer.<\/p>\n This win gave the Athletics a series sweep of the Mets for the first time in franchise history. They have now won five straight and eight of their past eleven.<\/p>\n The Mets had two reach in the bottom of the first. Francisco Lindor<\/a><\/strong> led off with a single and was thrown out at second on a strike-him-out-throw-him-out double play, with Jorge Polanco<\/a><\/strong> as the strikeout victim. Jared Young<\/a><\/strong> also singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but a strikeout by Bo Bichette<\/a><\/strong> quelled the threat.<\/p>\n The Athletics had two reach in the top of the second. Carlos Cortes<\/a><\/strong> led off with a single and advanced to third on a pair of groundouts. A two-out walk and stolen base by Darell Hernaiz<\/a><\/strong> put two runners in scoring position. But Denzel Clarke<\/a><\/strong> stranded them when he struck out looking.<\/p>\n After the Kurtz homer gave the Athletics a 1\u20130 lead, they squandered a chance to tack on in the fourth. A one-out walk by Max Muncy<\/a><\/strong>, followed by a Jeff McNeil<\/a><\/strong> double, put runners on second and third with one out. However, Hernaiz struck out swinging and Clarke flied to center, stranding two more.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Civale mowed down 13 straight Mets hitters, beginning with the Bichette strikeout. Luis Torrens<\/a><\/strong> broke the streak when he smacked a leadoff single in the sixth. He advanced to second on a one-out single by Lindor. Polanco followed with a two-hopper to second. McNeil gloved it and fired to second for the force, but Polanco beat out Hernaiz\u2019s relay to first, preventing the inning-ending double play. With runners on the corners and two outs, Hogan Harris<\/a><\/strong> took the mound to pitch to Mark Vientos<\/a><\/strong>. An end-of-the-bat fly to straightaway right ended the inning and stranded both runners.<\/p>\n Harris combined with Scott Barlow<\/a><\/strong>, Elvis Alvarado<\/a><\/strong>, and Joel Kuhnel<\/a><\/strong> to stymie the Mets the rest of the way. Only one runner even reached base \u2014 a two-out Tyrone Taylor<\/a><\/strong> walk in the eighth. Alvarado, relieving Barlow, rendered it harmless when he got Lindor to ground to second.<\/p>\n Civale delivered 5 2\/3 scoreless innings by attacking the zone early and forcing the Mets into contact they couldn\u2019t elevate. His 13 consecutive hitters retired, beginning with the Bichette strikeout in the first, made the lone run hold up. He didn\u2019t walk a hitter and avoided extended innings.<\/p>\n Harris, Barlow, Alvarado, and Kuhnel combined for 3 1\/3 scoreless innings and allowed only one baserunner. Harris handled the highest\u2011leverage moment by stranding runners on the corners in the sixth. Barlow retired two before issuing a walk, but Alvarado erased it by inducing a Lindor groundout. Kuhnel finished the ninth on four pitches.<\/p>\n Kurtz picked a great time to end his season-opening homerless drought. On most days, one run wouldn\u2019t have been enough to win. But on this one, it was all<\/em> the Athletics needed to win.<\/p>\n The Athletics stranded runners on second and third in both the second and fourth innings.<\/p>\n Not counting the homer, the Athletics only reached scoring position twice all game \u2014 the second and fourth innings.<\/p>\n Kurtz drew a one-out walk in the fifth. Normally, that wouldn\u2019t be notable. However, that was the last time in the game that any Athletics hitter reached base.<\/p>\n Civale (2\u20130) earned the win as Peralta (1\u20131) took the loss. Kuhnel notched his second save with a 1-2-3 ninth.<\/p>\n The Athletics (8\u20137) and Mets (7\u20139, fifth in NL East) both head to Calfornia for Monday-night games. At Dodger Stadium, the Mets will face the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> (11\u20134, first in NL West). Mets lefty David Peterson<\/a><\/strong> (0\u20132, 6.14 ERA, 14 2\/3 innings in three starts) will square off against Dodgers lefty Justin Wrobleski<\/a><\/strong> (1\u20130, 4.00 ERA, nine innings combined from one start and one relief appearance). First pitch will be at 7:10 pm Pacific.<\/p>\n The Athletics took five of six on the New York road trip and are now tied for first in the AL West. They will open a seven-game homestand Monday. First up is a four-game set against the team they are tied with for the early division lead \u2014 the Texas Rangers<\/a>. Athletics right-hander Luis Severino<\/a><\/strong> (0\u20131, 5.40 ERA, 13 1\/3 innings in three starts) will take the hill against Rangers righty Nathan Eovaldi<\/a><\/strong> (1\u20132, 7.98 ERA, 14 2\/3 innings in three starts). First pitch will be at 6:40 pm Pacific.<\/p>\n Tuesday, April 7 \u2014 Yankees 5, Athletics 3<\/a> <\/p>\nAthletics \u2013 Mets Game Summary<\/h3>\n
A Complete Shutdown<\/h4>\n
What Went Right for the Athletics<\/h3>\n
Starting Pitching<\/h4>\n
Relief Pitching<\/h4>\n
Decisive Swing from Kurtz<\/h4>\n
What Went Wrong for the Athletics<\/h3>\n
Runners Left in Scoring Position<\/h4>\n
Only Reached Scoring Position Twice<\/h4>\n
Very Little Offense<\/h4>\n
Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n
More from the Author on the Rest of the Road Trip<\/h4>\n
\nWednesday, April 8 \u2014 Athletics 3, Yankees 2<\/a>
\nThursday, April 9 \u2014 Athletics 1, Yankees 0<\/a>
\nFriday, April 10 \u2014 Athletics 4, Mets 0<\/a>
\nSaturday, April 11 \u2014 Athletics 11, Mets 6<\/a><\/p>\nMain Photo:<\/h4>\n