Photo credit: @astros

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Houston Astros, defending World Champions and losers of six of their last seven games, pounded the A’s with a vengeance. The New York Yankees swept a four-game series from the Astros in Houston and the lost two of three to Arizona in Phoenix. The Astros found themselves in second place in the AL West, and they came out swinging against A’s starter, lefty Brett Anderson. The Astros scored early and often, and the game was over by the middle of the fourth. Houston starter Dallas Keuchel won his second of the year, and the former Cy Young award winner pitched eight innings and allowed the A’s just one run and five hits. For the A’s and their fans, it was not a night to remember as the Astros won 16-2 at O.co Coliseum Monday night.

The Astros wasted no time as they took advantage of Brett Anderson’s wildness to score twice in the first inning. The Astros’ center fielder, George Springer, led off with a double. Anderson retired Jose Altuve for the first out. Springer advanced to third on a wild pitch. Anderson then issued a free pass to Carlos Correa. Yuli Guriel popped out to first baseman Matt Olson. Anderson walked Alex Bregman to load the bases. Marwin Gonzalez, playing left field, singled to drive in Springer and Correa. With Evan Gattis at bat Gonzalez was caught in a rundown trying to steal second. The A’s realized that Bregman could score before the out was recorded and the throw came home, and Bregman was tagged out as he attempted to score. The Astros led 2-0 after the first inning.

The Astros scored three times in the top of the second. Josh Reddick started the rally going with a single with one out. Max Stassi, another former Athletic, doubled to left-center. The next hitter, George Springer, who started the game with a double, hit a ball in his wheelhouse that was a no-doubt-about-it home run that went about 20 rows deep into the left-field seats. It was Springer’s eighth of the year. The A’s trailed 5-0 midway through the second inning.

The Astros didn’t score in the third inning but made up for in the top of the fourth as they scored six times on four hit. A’s first baseman Matt Olson made a throwing error that helped contribute to the Astros’ onslaught. The key hits were Max Stassi’s second double of the night, and Marwin Gonzalez’ home run that broke that broke the game wide open. The Astros have pounded the A’s for 11 runs and 12 hits in just four innings of play.

The A’s got on the board in the bottom of the sixth, but they had a long way to go to get back in the game. The A’s trailed 11-1 after six innings.

Houston added two more runs in the eighth. Derek Fisher took A’s reliever Wilmer Font deep for his third big fly of the season. Ylui Guriel walked and then score on a double off the bat of Alex Bregman. The Astros lead 13-1 after eight complete. The Astros continued to punish the A’s pitching as they scored three more in the ninth.

The A’s, with two out in the night, scored their second run when Mark Canha and Johnathan Lucroy doubled. The Astros won 16-2.

Game Notes and Stats: Almost all of the hitting highlights belong to Houston. George Springer had a double, home run, and four singles as he was the 115th player in Major League history to have six hits in a nine-inning game. There have been more no-hitters (298) than six-hit games in nine innings.

Marwin Gonzalez had two hits, including a home run and Max Stassi, a Yuba City, California, native, also had two hits to pace the Astros’ attack. The line score for Houston was 16 runs, 20 hits, and two errors.

The A’s scored twice on eight hits, and they made one error.

Sean Manaea will pitch for Oakland Tuesday night, and he will be opposed by righty Lance McCullers.

The A’s had a moment of silence for Stephen Piscotty’s mother, Gretchen, who passed away Sunday from complications of ALS. The Sports Radio Service writers send our condolences to the Piscotty family.

Up Next: The A’s and Astros play Game 2 of the series Tuesday night at 7:05 pm PT.