Matt Kawahara

Nick Kurtz became the first rookie in baseball history to homer four times in a game as the Athletics beat the Astros for the second straight night. houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/…

Never in baseball's 150-year history has a player finished a game with at least six hits, six runs and eight RBIs until Nick Kurtz tonight. His 19 total bases tie Shawn Green's single-game record -- and Kurtz had one more RBI. There's a genuine argument it is the best game ever.

Nick Kurtz has hit four home runs. He is the 20th player in MLB history and the first A's player to record a four-homer game. He is 6-for-6 with eight RBIs, six runs scored and 19 total bases.

Cooper Hummel will pitch the ninth for the Astros.

Nick Kurtz's 15 total bases are the second-most by any opposing player against the Astros in a game, per Baseball Reference. Edgardo Alfonzo had 16 total bases in a three-homer game against them in 1999.

Nick Kurtz just hit a fastball from Kaleb Ort into the second deck in right field for his third home run of the night.

Nick Kurtz in six games against the Astros this season so far: 13-for-25, 10 extra-base hits, five home runs, 11 RBIs.

Ryan Gusto: 3.1 IP, 8 H, 8 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 2 HR. 81 pitches, 50 strikes. He threw 26 of 81 pitches after getting ahead 0-2 or 1-2 in the count. A’s hitters averaged a 91.5 mph exit velocity on 13 balls in play and whiffed on 15 of 43 swings.

Nick Kurtz is a triple short of the cycle in the fourth inning.

Spencer Arrighetti threw 3 1/3 innings and 62 pitches (39 strikes) in his rehab start for Double-A Corpus Christi tonight.

The minor-league debut of Hall of Famer Billy Wagner: 26 pitches, one out and a locker in the corner houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/… via @houstonchron

Brandon Walter said he felt elbow stiffness yesterday and went for an MRI. He said structurally the ligament looked OK and the MRI showed inflammation. Walter said the IL stint is disappointing but he is hopeful not to miss “too much time.”

Astros vs. A’s LHP Springs: RF Smith, 2B Altuve, DH Caratini, 1B walker, C Diaz, LF Hummel, 3B Dubón, CF McCormick, SS Short. P Gusto

Brandon Walter has elbow inflammation, becomes latest Houston Astros starter on injured list houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/…

Houston Astros owner Jim Crane and former team owner Drayton McLane settled dispute over Comcast SportsNet Houston after one day in court. houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/…

The Astros also claimed infielder Logan Davidson off waivers from the A’s and optioned him to Triple-A Sugar Land. Pitcher Nick Robertson was DFA’d to create a 40-man roster spot.

The Astros placed Brandon Walter on the 15-day IL with left elbow inflammation. Reliever Nick Hernandez recalled from Triple-A.

Ryan Gusto will start for the Astros on Friday against the A’s.

The A's battered the Astros for 12 hits to snap Houston's four-game winning streak. houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/… via @houstonchron

The Astros' Cristian Javier, attempting to return from Tommy John surgery, gave up one run in 2 2/3 innings for the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys on Thursday night. He threw 49 pitches. houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/… via @houstonchron