by Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s were hoping to sweep the three-game series against the Houston Astros Wednesday night in Houston. That, However, was not the case as the Astros, and Jed Lowrie, in particular, beat the A’s 6-1. The A’s had lefty Drew Pomeranz on the hill as he was trying to record his second win of the win. The Astros’ starter, Collin McHugh, had his game working for him and he kept the A’s hitters off-balance all night. Lowrie drove in three runs with a homer and a double to get a bit of revenge against his former mates. The A’s chose not to re-sign Lowrie after the 2014 season and he returned to Houston as a free agent where he played before coming to the A’s in 2013.

The Astros took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. All-Star second baseman, Jose Altuve led off the game with a booming double to left centerfield. Altuve stole third, but that turned out to not be necessary as Lowrie hit his third home run of the year into the left field seats. The A’s scored their only run of the night in the top of the second inning. Designated hitter Billy Butler singled up the middle. It was the tenth straight game that Butler has hit safely in and it is an Oakland A’s team record for a player in his first year with the A’s. Butler’s single was followed by an Ike Davis single and an Eric Sogard single to load the bases. A’s shortstop Marcus Semien beat out an infield hit to drive in Butler with the lone A’s run of the night.

In Houston’s half of the third, they scored again. George Springer singled with one out. That man, Jed Lowrie, did it again to his old mates as he sliced a pitch down the right field line driving in Springer all the way from first. It’s Lowrie three and A’s 1 after three.

The Astros added a run in the fifth. Center Fielder Jake Marisnick tripled and Jose Altuve singled to make it 4-1. Houston added a run in the seventh on a Luis Valbuena homer and Evan Gattis hit his first home run of the year in the bottom of the eighth to make it 6-1. Former A’s reliever Luke Gregerson pitched the ninth and closed it out for Houston.

Game notes-Drew Pomeranz went 5 plus innings giving up six hits and four runs. He struck out five and walked one. Pomeranz’ record for 2015 in now 1-1. Houston’s Collin McHugh went 5 2/3rds innings also gave up six hits but allowed just one run and struck out eleven A’s hitters and did not issue a walk in recording the win. McHugh is now 9-0 in his last nine decisions going back to 2014. Josh Reddick made the defensive play of the night in right field making a diving and tumbling catch that will make the highlight reels on the sports channels.

The A’s have an off day on Thursday as they travel to Kansas City to meet the American League champions in a three-game set over the weekend. The A’s are now 5-5 while the Royals are blazing hot and were unbeaten until Wednesday when they lost their first game of the year to the Minnesota Twins. The A’s will be seeking a measure of revenge as the Royals ousted the A’s in the one-game playoff last year.

Game time is 5:10 pm at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on Friday.