{
  "id": 9711031,
  "title": "Rookie Lucas Spence hits 3 home runs as Astros beat Athletics to stay tied for AL West lead",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/rookie-lucas-spence-hits-3-home-runs-as-astros-beat-athletics-to-stay",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-25T05:32:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/rookie-lucas-spence-hits-3-053257957.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a pivotal American League West race game, Houston Astros rookie Lucas Spence hit three home runs, his first in major-league play, to lead his team to a 7-5 victory over the Athletics at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California on Thursday, September 24, 2026. Spence, who was recalled from Triple-A due to outfield injuries, became the 14th player in Astros history to hit three home runs in a game. His three homers came at 23 years and 240 days old, making him the second-youngest to achieve this feat. The Astros needed this win to stay tied atop the division with three games left in the season, as they were trailing earlier in the day. Reliever Miguel Ullola, making his 10th major-league appearance, pitched three scoreless innings of relief, allowing nine hits and striking out six. Despite challenges from the Astros outfield, who have the lowest OPS in the majors this season, Spence's performance was crucial in securing the team's position for playoff contention.",
  "summary": "Lucas Spence hit three home runs and another rookie Miguel Ullola pitched strong in relife as Houston beat the Athletics to stay atop AL West.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña back in lineup against Athletics",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/houston-astros-shortstop-jeremy-pena-back-in-lineup-against-athletics",
        "published": "2026-09-25T02:17:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Spence hits first 3 homers of career, helps Astros survive Athletics 7-5 to keep playoff hopes alive",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/spence-hits-first-3-homers-of-career-helps-astros-survive-athletics-7-9707644",
        "published": "2026-09-25T04:46:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}