Bolte, Stefanic power Athletics to 6-5 win over Astros

Sixth-Inning Surge Decides Close One

Sacramento Athletics outfielder Bolte and first baseman Stefanic combined for two runs each in the sixth inning to lead the home team to a 6-5 victory over the Houston Astros at Sutter Health Park on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

The 6,500-plus crowd witnessed a late-game rally that erased a deficit, but it was the Athletics' offensive burst in the middle of the game that proved decisive. The final score saw the Athletics edge out the Astros by a single run, securing the win in front of an attendance of 9,012.

Game Flow and Key Plays

The Astros took an early lead in the fourth inning when Walker homered to left field for a 1-0 advantage. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the sixth. Stefanic singled to center, driving in McNeil and Gelof to give Houston a 2-1 lead.

Heim followed with a single that scored Clarke, extending the Astros' lead to 3-1. Bolte then tripled to center, scoring White and Heim to make it 5-1. Butler grounded into a fielder's choice, allowing Bolte to score and bringing the score to 6-1.

The Astros responded late, with Smith homering in the seventh to make it 6-2. In the eighth, Altuve's sacrifice fly scored Wade Jr., and Diaz's single scored Alvarez. Finally, Paredes scored on a wild pitch by Medina, closing the gap to 6-5.

The Athletics held on for the win.

Pitching Performance

Jacob Lopez earned the win for the Athletics, pitching six innings while allowing two hits and one earned run. He struck out four batters and walked two. Hogan Harris secured the save, pitching one inning.

He allowed no hits or earned runs, struck out one batter, and walked one. On the losing side, Hunter Brown took the loss after pitching 5.1 innings. He allowed two hits and one earned run, struck out four, and walked four.

Bennett Sousa recorded the final out, appearing in one inning with three hits and three earned runs allowed. Other Astros relievers included AJ Blubaugh, Logan VanWey, and Joshua Hendrickson. The Athletics' bullpen also included Seth Johnson and Geoff Hartlieb, who faced difficulties in the late innings, while Luis Medina recorded a hit in his 0.2 innings of work.

Final Records

The Athletics improved their season record to 64-96 with the victory. The Houston Astros fell to 79-81. The game featured exactly two home runs, both hit by the Astros, contributing to their five-run total. The Athletics' six runs came from a mix of singles, a triple, and a fielder's choice, showcasing a balanced offensive effort that ultimately proved sufficient to take the series point.

Sources

ESPN