Athletics Launch Three Homers on Three Pitches in 13-9 Defeat

Henry Bolte, Breyson Guedez, and Nick Kurtz combined for three consecutive home runs on three pitches during a five-run fourth inning in Mesa.

MESA, Ariz. — The San Diego Padres secured a 13-9 victory over the Athletics on Friday, despite a fourth-inning sequence where Oakland hitters launched three home runs on three consecutive pitches. Padres starter Michael King surrendered the trio of long balls, which accounted for five of the Athletics' nine runs at Hohokam Stadium. This power display occurred during a Cactus League exhibition game that saw the two clubs combine for 22 total runs.

Henry Bolte initiated the scoring barrage with two runners on base and an 0-1 count. He connected on a King offering for a three-run home run that traveled 401 feet into the right-field seats. The blast immediately cut into the Padres' lead and set the stage for a rare statistical anomaly in spring training play. Bolte’s swing marked the first of three straight swings that resulted in clearing the outfield fences.

Breyson Guedez followed Bolte by attacking the very next pitch delivered by King. Guedez produced the longest hit of the afternoon, a solo shot measured at 450 feet that landed in the right-field bleachers. This second consecutive home run brought the Athletics within striking distance and forced the Padres' coaching staff to monitor the mound closely as the momentum shifted rapidly toward the Oakland dugout.

Nick Kurtz completed the trifecta on the third pitch of the sequence. Unlike his predecessors who pulled the ball to right, Kurtz drove a solo home run just over the wall in left field. This opposite-field strike concluded a three-pitch span that generated five runs and three hits. Kurtz, the reigning American League Rookie of the Year, demonstrated the same power that defined his award-winning 2025 campaign.

Statistical records from the previous season highlight Kurtz's impact on the Athletics' roster. In 2025, the infielder participated in 117 games, maintaining a .290 batting average alongside a .383 on-base percentage. His rookie year totals included 36 home runs and 86 RBIs, figures that solidified his status as a cornerstone of the Oakland offense. Friday's performance in Mesa served as a continuation of that high-slugging trajectory.

Despite the 450-foot blast from Guedez and the efficiency of the three-pitch rally, the San Diego Padres maintained control of the scoreboard. The Padres' lineup produced 13 runs to overcome the five-run outburst surrendered by King in the fourth. While the Athletics showcased elite exit velocity and distance during their mid-game surge, the final four-run margin favored the visiting San Diego squad.

The contest served as a pivotal evaluation point for both pitching rotations and defensive alignments in Arizona. King’s outing will be remembered for the three-pitch lapse, yet the Padres' ability to respond offensively ensured the victory. Oakland's nine-run total was heavily bolstered by the 401-foot, 450-foot, and left-field shots, but defensive lapses elsewhere allowed San Diego to pull away. This high-scoring affair provided a detailed look at the power potential of the Athletics' young core in a competitive environment.