The Oakland A’s shortstop Max Schuemann throws to first base to retire the Houston Astros Jeremy Pena in the bottom of the sixth inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston on The May 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (19-27) were swept by the Houston Astros (19-25) in the fourth game of their series. Lack of offense and trouble on the mound spelled disaster for Oakland in the 8-1 loss. The relief pitching was good but starting pitcher Joey Estes gave up every hit and run in this game. It was a rough outing for Estes.

Game wrap: This turned out to be a rough one for the Oakland A’s in the final game of the series. As it turned out one inning turned out to be Oakland’s demise in this game and has been the case the entire series. In this game it was the third inning.

Both teams were unable to score in the first two innings. The Astros turned this game upside down in the third inning. Houston really took it to A’s pitcher Joey Estes. Yainer Diaz got the third inning going hitting a double driving in Jon Singleton, Kyle Tucker and Jeremy Pena for a 3-0 lead.

Jake Meyers came to the plate and doubled, Yainer Diaz scored and the Astros had a 4-0 lead. Houston’s rookie Joey Loperfido came to the plate and hit his first major league home run, a two run shot giving the Astros a 6-0 lead.

Houston would tack on two more runs in the fourth inning for an 8-0 lead. Pena sacrificed and Tucker scored followed by a run scored on a balk by Alex Bregman. There was a pitching change on the mound for Oakland after three innings.

Joey Estes finished the 3.2 innings giving up eight hits, eight runs, four walks with four strikeouts. He constantly fell behind the count struggling through the three innings. Hogan Harris would relieve Estes going 3.1 innings keeping Houston from doing any further damage.

He finished with no hits, no runs with three strikeouts. Tyler Ferguson finished off this game in the ninth inning with no hits, no runs and one strikeout.

Oakland did avoid the shutout when in the seventh inning Zach Gelof singled Tyler Soderstrom home for their single run of the game. The final was 8-1.

Houston’s Cristian Javier pitched a stellar game going six scoreless innings allowing 2 hits, no runs with 8 strikeouts. This was the Astros fifth win in a row, the team now having won seven of their last eight games. Oakland has now lost five games in a row. The A’s have a horrendous stretch going on where they have given up 86 runs combined in their last 12 games.

Game notes: Thursday evening the A’s wrapped up their series with the Astros at Minute Maid Park. Oakland who got swept in this four game series. Joey Estes the A’s starter went 3.2 innings, giving up eight hits and eight runs and Astros starter Cristian Javier pitched six innings, giving up two hits and no earned runs.

The A’s will now take on the Kansas City Royals another team that is playing very well right now. With the trouble that is brewing on the mound for Oakland the starting pitcher for game one in this three game series is undecided at the time of this post. The Royals have settled on Cole Ragans to start this game with a 2-3, 4.22 ERA. First pitch for this Friday night matchup is scheduled for 4:40 PM PT.