Photo credit: chron.com

By Jerry Feitelberg

There is an adage in baseball that goes something like this, “You never know what you are going to see in the game tonight.”

Was that ever true Tuesday night as the A’s lost on a play that will be remembered for a long, long time? The A’s came from behind to tie the game in the ninth. They took the lead, 5-4, on Stephen Piscotty’s home run in the 11th, but were not able to hold on as the Astros scored twice to win the game, 6-5, at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday night.

The Astros scored twice in the bottom of the 11th. The A’s All-Star closer Blake Treinen walked Josh Reddick. That proved to be Treinen’s undoing. Kyle Tucker singled to send Reddick to third. With the infield drawn in, Tony Kemp hit a ground ball to Marcus Semien. Semien’s throw home appeared to be in time to nail Reddick, but Jonathan Lucroy was not able to come upwith the throw and Reddick scored the tying run. Tucker went to second and Kemp was safe at first on a fielder’s choice. Treinen retired George Springer for the first out.

The next hitter was Alex Bregman. Bregman had homered twice in the game and Treinen was not about to give him anything that he could hit. Bregman hit a tapper that bounced off the plate and into fair territory. Bregman thought it was a foul, but when Lucroy tried to tag him out, Bregman jumped back. The ball squirted out of Lucroy’s hand and bounced off the home plate umpire. Lucroy picked up the ball but his  throw to first glanced off Bregman’s batting helmet and went down the first base line. Tucker scored the winning run. Bench coach Ryan Christenson who took over as manager when Bob Melvin was thrown out earlier in the game. He had to convince the umps to review the play. They finally did but the call was upheld and the game was over.

The A’s were held scoreless by Justin Verlander and two Houston relievers until the ninth inning. In the meantime, the Astros built a 4-0 lead. The Astros took an early 1-0 lead in the first when Alex Bregman clobbered his 18th big fly. The ‘Stros tacked on one in the second, one in the fourth and one in the seventh when Bregman homered again.

The A’s, as they have done so many times this season, plated four runs in the top of the ninth as they rocked Houston’s closer Ken Giles. Mark Canha and Jed Lowrie singled to start the rally. Khris Davis followed with a single to drive in Canha with Oakland’s first run. Matt Olson singled to drive in Lowrie. Gile struck out Piscotty and Matt Chapman, but he could not get by Marcus Semien, Semien, who had tripled and doubled earlier, doubled again to drive in Davis and Olson. The Astros failed to score in the bottom of the ninth and the game went into extra innings.

The A’s took the lead in the top of the eleventh when Stephen Piscotty did it again. He homered off Collin McHugh to put the A’s ahead 5-4. It was Piscotty’s 11th homer of the year and his fourth home in his last four game. The Astros rallied to score twice and they beat the A’s 6-5.

Game Notes: With the win, Houston improved to 612-32. The A’s fell to 51-41.

Blake Treinen blew the save and took the loss. His is record in now 5-2. McHugh was the winning pitcher for Houston.

Sean Manaea was not at his best Tuesday night. He went four-plus innings and allowed seven hits and three runs. He was not charged with the loss as the A’s got him off the hook with the four-run rally in the ninth.

Houston’s Justin Verlander pitched well as he went six innings and allowed no runs and just three hits. Verlander didn’t walk anyone and had six strikeouts. He threw 108 pitches and Houston manager A.J.Hinch removed him from the game.

The A’s announced that second baseman Jed Lowrie was selected to the AL All-Star team. Lowrie will be playing in the Midsummer classic for the first time and will be joining Blake Treinen representing the Green and Gold.

The A’s also made a roster move. They recalled Ryan Dull from Nashville and sent Frankie Montas down. The move initially appeared to be surprising as Montas pitched very well Monday night and was the winning pitcher. However, with the All-Star break starting next Monday and no action for four days, the A’s felt that it would be better for Montas to go to Nashville as he would not miss any playing time and he would be recalled when his turn would come up in the rotation.

Up Next: The A’s will send Chris Bassitt to the hill Wednesday night and the Astros will counter with Lance McCullers. Trevor Cahill pitches Thursday and Charlie Morton will work for the Astros. Game time is set for 5:10 pm PDT.