What happened: Nick Kurtz homered twice and recorded five RBIs as the Athletics defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-2 in their series opener. Kurtz connected for a two-run shot in the early innings before adding a three-run blast in the seventh to cement the lopsided victory.

Why it matters: The performance provides a significant boost to the All-Star campaign for Kurtz, who now has 18 home runs on the season. While the Athletics improved to 6-9, the Pirates' losing streak extended to six games as their record fell to 8-10.

What to watch: The two teams meet again tomorrow for the second game of the set. Oakland will look to build on its two-game winning streak while Pittsburgh searches for a way to halt its current slide.