Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) pitches in the top of the seventh inning against Oakland Athletics. Houston Astros host the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in Houston. ( Elizabeth Conley / Houston Chronicle )

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

Sean Manaea improved drastically on the worst star of his Oakland A’s career, bouncing back from a one out showing his last time out to last six innings against the AL’s best team, the Houston Astros. Despite going 6, Manaea (8-8, 4.58 ERA) surrendered a pair of homers to wind up the hard-luck loser against Astros ace Dallas Keuchel 3-1.

Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve took the Throwin’ Samoan deep in the third inning, while former Athletic Josh Reddick plated a run in the sixth of the A’s starter. Keuchel (11-2, 2.58) didn’t allow a run over his seven innings of work, yielding just three hits with one walk. He was highly efficient, walking only one while striking out three. He produced 16 groundouts without allowing a single fly out.

The A’s finally found a run in the eighth after the Houston Cy Young candidate departed the game. Matt Joyce launched his 18^th homer of the year off reliever Chris Devenski to break up the shutout. Ken Giles pitched a scoreless 1 2/3 innings, punching out three to pick up his 24^th save.

The A’s send Ace-Incumbent Kendall Graveman to the mound Saturday to face the winless Collin McHugh. Jharel Cotton takes the mound Sunday against Brad Peacock.