Author: Matthew Harrington

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

AP photo: Oakland A’s Coco Crisp hits a single to break a 0-0 deadlock in the 13th to score Ryon Healy for the walk off victory on Friday night at the Oakland Coliseum

OAKLAND, Calif. –July 22nd is a very good day for Coco Crisp. Four years to the date since he singled home Derek Norris to sweep a four game series against the Yankees, Crisp delivered again, sending the Oakland A’s (43-54) to a 1-0 13th inning walk-off win over the Tampa Bay Rays (38-58). Ryon Healey scored the lone run, with starters Sean Manaea and Tampa’s Jake Odorizzi each going eight scoreless innings but settling for the no decision in a quick-paced pitcher’s duel.

“Odorizzi pitched a hell of a game,” said Manaea of his foe. “It was pretty easy to have everything going, not having much time in the dugout. You didn’t really have time to think.”

The rookie Healey opened the bottom of the 13th by lacing a Dylan Floro (0-1, 4.15 ERA) offering down the line in left field for the game’s only extra base-hit, a double. Marcus Semien, opening the game on the bench after starting the first 94 games of the season, couldn’t advance Healey after striking out. Crisp delivered in the clutch though, driving the ball through the left side of the infield to bring Healey home from second for the win.

“Everybody was ready to get out of there,” said Crisp. “Both teams, the pitchers, hitters, everybody wanted the next day to come about. We didn’t want to be out here all day.”

Oakland nearly scored in the 11th inning, loading the bases while facing three different relievers. After reliever Enny Romero walked Reddick to load the bags with two outs but Khris Davis swung at the newly inserted Kevin Kepsen’s first pitch for a rally ending ground ball.

Despite picking up the win, not getting Manaea the win after his stellar outing was a minor disappointment for the A’s. Manaea pieced together his best start of his career, going eight innings with five hits, seven strikeouts and no walks yielded. His fastball was in the low 90’s while his slider was in the low 80’s, with both pitches working to get outs for the south paw.

“He’s pitched some good games,” said A’s manager Melvin. “But not like that. That’s the best. When we heard about our best pitching prospect coming up, that was the type of game you look for. That was dominating.”

Manaea, who returned from the disabled list June 30th, has cobbled together a run of impressive outings since then. Over his first three appearances, he yielded eight runs, though six came in his first start off the DL. He went a career high eight innings Friday, throwing 103 pitches, 71 for strikes lowering his ERA from 5.13 to 4.63.

The A’s bullpen took over pitching five scoreless innings. Ryan Madson took over the ninth while Ryan Dull pitched the 10^th and 11^th frames. John Axford (4-3, 4.95 ERA) pitched the final two frames for the win.

While the bullpen strategy will be augmented for Saturday’s game, so will the lineup for Melvin’s charges. Mevlin put Josh Reddick in the two-hole while slotting Jed Lowrie fifth in the lineup Friday.

“That was a key time to come up with a lineup change,” said Melvin with a laugh.  “We go 12 innings without scoring. I’ll probably do something a little different tomorrow.”

No matter the lineup, the A’s have a shot at a strong pitching performance. Kendall Graveman takes the mound Saturday looking for a decision in his fourth straight start. The sinkerballer has allowed five runs over his last 21 2/3 innings of work. He’ll be opposed by scuffling lefty Drew Smyly.

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

AP photo: Oakland A’s catcher Stephen Vogt waits for the toss in the third inning against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays at the Oakland Coliseum on Friday night as the Jays Josh Donaldson slide in for the score

OAKLAND, Calif. – The scene unfolded time in and time out in the first half of the season for the Oakland Athletics. The offense stakes the young starter to a small early lead only to see him squander it by giving up a ghastly amount of runs, ultimately falling in a blowout loss. Friday night, the A’s returned from the All-Star break by falling into old habits, jumping on the Toronto Blue Jays early at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum before giving up twice as many runs as they scored. But something was different Friday, thanks in large part to the three-through-five hitters in the A’s lineup.

The A’s (39-51) twice erased deficits Friday night, ultimately rallying back from a 7-3 fourth inning disadvantage by scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings to win 8-7. Stephen Vogt knocked in two runs, including the game-winning RBI in the seventh inning and Josh Reddick reached base four times.

“It was a huge win,” said Vogt. “There was a lot of emotion tonight. There was a lot of fire in our dugout. What a way to start off the second half.”

The heart of the A’s order, Reddick, Khris Davis and Vogt went eight for ten with two walks knocked in seven runs. Ryan Madson picked up his 18^th save of the season, while Ryan Dull (3-2, 1.94 ERA) picked up the win with his scoreless 1 2/3 innings.

Oakland jumped on Jays starter Marcus Stroman early, plating a pair of runs in the first inning on an RBI single by Davis and a run-scoring ground out by Marcus Semien, but Toronto scratched out a run off A’s starter Daniel Mengden in the bottom of the inning after Michael Saunders opened the inning on second base courtesy of a Stephen Vogt throwing error. Saunders would scamper home on after Russel Martin moved him to third on a ground out and Troy Tulowitzki pushed him home with a bounce-out to second.

Mengden scuffled in the third, allowing loading the bases with one out. The rookie, starting in place of Rich Hill who missed his start due to a blister, gave Toronto a run on a game-tying wild pitch. He then surrendered a pop out to Saunders that scored Josh Donaldson in the process for a 3-2 Jays lead.

Josh Reddick, ignoring the speculative grumblings on the trade rumor mill, stepped up to the plate to a “Careless Whisper” of his own. With WHAM!’s hit, a Reddick classic last season, blaring over the loud speaker the A’s outfielder stepped to the dish looking to make an impact.

“He gave me a heads up,” said Melvin. “He didn’t tell me which song but he said ‘You’re going to know it, and you’re going to like it.’ I know it, I like it. He should stick with it.”

He would do so, skying a Stroman offering over the wall in straightaway centerfield for his sixth homer of the season and a 3-3 tie ballgame.

“That’s one of the longest ones I’ve seen him hit,” said Vogt of Reddick.

“The three hitter is awfully important to a team,” said Melvin. “The season he’s having, before he got hurt, was probably an All-Star season for him. It took him a while to get his timing back. If he’s not in the lineup, we don’t win the game.”

The Jays jumped all over Mengden again in the top of the fourth after the first four batter reached base on three hits and a walk. By the time Mengden recorded the first out of the inning, three runs had already scored. Donaldson singled home Devon Travis for the fourth run of the frame, chasing Mengden after just 3 1/3 innings and seven runs (six earned) with six hits and a pair of wild pitches.

With a large lead built up, Jays manager John Gibbons gave his starter a long leash, perhaps a bit too long. The Athletics’ lone All-Star Vogt opened the bottom of a contentious fourth with a single and moved to second on a passed ball. Semien and Yonder Alonso both struck out looking, both disagreeing with home plate umpire Chris Wegner. Alonso was ejected after tossing his helmet down in frustration and barking at Wegner. Melvin came out to discuss the pair of borderline pitches with Wegner and, like Alonso, was ejected for the first time all season.

“It was something that needed to happen,” said Vogt after the game perhaps alluding to the spark the A’s were lacking up to that point or to Wegner’s strike zone.

Once the debate ended, Jake Smolinski made up for an earlier double play by single the catcher home and cutting the Jays lead to 7-4. While the A’s wouldn’t score any more runs, they weren’t done just yet. With two outs Reddick would reach base for the third time in the game on a single. Davis Crushed Stroman’s 0-1 offering over the 388 foot sign in right center to bring the A’s within one. Vogt would clear out Stroman’s 2-1 delivery for a solo shot, the fourth set of back-to-back A’s homers of the year, to tie the game at 7-all. It was Davis’ 20^th homer of the season, good for ninth in the American league, while Vogt hit his eight dinger of the campaign.

“He continues to amaze me,” said Vogt of Davis. “Then I got that heater up in the zone.”

The man who tied the game also put the A’s ahead in the bottom of the seventh. After reliever Brett Cecil picked up two quick outs, Reddick reached base for the fourth time on a walk, then Davis singled for his third hit of the game to put the leading run in scoring position. Vogt laced a single to center, but Kevin Pillar came up gunning and hit Martin in the air at the plate. Martin applied the tag at the plate on the knee as Reddick’s cleat touched home, with Wegner calling him out at the plate.

Bench coach Mark Kotsay, taking over for the ejected Melvin, called for a review. After a lengthy review, nearly three minutes, crew chief Wegner signaled safe for Reddick’s fourth run of the game and an 8-7 lead.

“That’s one of the closest ones I’ve seen,” said Vogt. “I thought he was safe, as objectively as I can see it.”

“We have to be aggressive there,” said Melvin. “It was the right call to send him. He was safe, made a good slide. It ended up a good outcome for us.”

The run put Cecil (0-6, 5.52) on the wrong end of the decision.The A’s Bullpen would hold on, pitching a total of 5 2/3 innings of scoreless ball to send the Jays (51-41) to defeat.

“All of our relievers came in today and did a nice job for us,” said Melvin. “They had to go a bit earlier. I had to go to Axford an inning earlier than we wanted to, but Rzepczynski and Dull gave us an inning-plus. That was huge and Madson made quick work in the ninth.

The A’s turn to Sonny Gray in Saturday’s matinee while former Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey gets the ball for the Jays.

 

 

 

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

AP photo: The Houston Astros Luis Valbuena gets the warm welcome after hitting a walk off homer in the ninth to beat the Oakland A’s at Minute Maid Field on Friday

The Oakland Athletics roller coaster ninth inning Friday saw a five run go-ahead rally in the top of the inning but concluded on a dour note with Luis Valbuena’s walk-off home run for the Houston Astros. The A’s trailed 7-4 entering the final frame but sent closer Ryan Madson to the mound ahead 9-7 in the bottom half of the inning. Madson couldn’t hold on, leading to a 10-9 A’s defeat.

The A’s took a comfortable lead following a three-run fourth inning capped by a Stephen Vogt RBI triple and Marcus Semien’s 19^th homer of the year, but Houston scored a pair of runs on Carlos Correa’s 14^th long ball of the year off starter Daniel Mengden to pull within one 3-2. Houston then added another six runs in the bottom of the fifth, chasing Mengden on run-scoring singles from Correa, Valbuena and Marwin Gonzalez.

Astros starter Collin McHugh would depart the game in the seventh inning, yielding three earned runs. He would be charged with an unearned run in his final inning after Ken Giles’ wild pitch plated Jed Lowrie for a 6-4 score, advantage Houston. The Astros would get the run back in the bottom of the eight with Danny Worth’s run-scoring single off Andrew Triggs, setting up the wild ninth inning.

Billy Butler opened the inning reaching base, then Yonder Alonso extended it by working a full count off Astros closer Will Harris. He then took the 3-2 pitch over the wall for his fourth homerun of the season, pulling the A’s within one 7-6.

Marcus Semien struck out, but Jake Smolinski singled and Lowrie doubled, leading manager AJ Hinch to opt for Michael Feliz to finish off the inning. Khris Davis, batting in the two hole with Coco Crisp serving a one-game suspension, plated Lowrie and pinch runner Tyler Ladendorf on a base-clearing double for a 8-7 A’s lead. Josh Reddick would chip in a single to send Davis around for the insurance run off Feliz (6-1, 4.28 ERA). The Astros reliever was tagged with the blown save, but took the W in the comeback win.

Madson (3-3, 3.47 ERA) made quick work of the first batter he faced, shagging Gonzalez’s bunt attempt for the first out. Former batting champ Jose Altuve reached base on a single, then stole second with Correa at the plate. Madson got Correa to swing at strike three, but the shortstop reached base after the wild pitch eluded Vogt. Valbuena then launched the first pitch he saw from Madson into the right field stands for a 10-9 Astros win.

The A’s send the recently resurgent Kendall Graveman to the mound to face Liam McCullers in game three of the four game set.

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

sfgate.com photo: Oakland A’s pitcher Sonny Gray who was racked up for seven runs and hits by the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night at the Oakland Coliseum

OAKLAND, Calif. – One of Sonny Gray’s most memorable career moments came against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Unfortunately for the A’s, the night wasn’t Friday night, but three years ago when he made his major league debut in relief against the Buccos. His most recent outing against the Steel City swingers was one the hurler will hope to forget.

The Pittsburgh Pirates (39-41) erased a 3-0 deficit, roughing Gray up to the tune of seven runs in a 7-3 come-from-behind win Friday night at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum. Entering the game winless since April 22^nd, Gray (3-7, 5.42 ERA) scattered seven hits and runs over six innings to take the loss. Marcus Semien hit a two-run homerun for the A’s (35-45) and Jed Lowrie knocked in a run, but Oakland only mustered one hit in the final seven innings against starter Jeff Locke and the Bucs bullpen.

“We’re going to have to try a little harder to get him the win when he pitches well,” said A’s Manager Bob Melvin. “A lot of times, if you’re pitching in close games, you’re not getting the win. It’s about keeping your team in it to win the game.”

The 26-year-old appeared to be turning a corner after returning from a disabled list stint June 5^th. Over his last two starts he had allowed three runs over 12 innings. The young star lowered his earned run average .54 points during that span, starting to turn around an otherwise forgettable season. In the five starts since coming off the DL, Gray had allowed two runs or less in four entering Friday.

“This hasn’t been his best year,” said Melvin. “He’ll figure it out. He’ll get better as the year goes on. But there’s always going to be a year that’s not as good as other years. So far this is the one. He’s been good for us.”

The game opened on a similarly promising vein for Gray, with the righty mowing the Pirates down in order to open the game. Marcus Semien continued his All-Star worthy season in the bottom of the frame, staking Gray to a 2-0 lead after taking Pirates starter Jeff Locke deep with leadoff man Jed Lowrie on base. Semien fought back from a 1-2 count, fouling off six pitches before launching his 17^th homer, marking 10 straight games with at least one homer for the Athletics.

“He keeps getting better and better,” said Melvin of Semien. “His production keeps going up and up. Hopefully that merits some (All-Star) consideration going forward. You can’t ignore the numbers.”

After another perfect inning for Gray, the A’s added another run in the bottom of the inning on a pair of two-out hits. Yonder Alonso beat the shift, bunting down the first base line, then came home from first on Lowrie’s double for a 3-0 lead.

After two flawless innings, the floor suddenly fell out from underneath Gray. Jody Mercer hit a solo home run on a 94 mile-per-hour fastball high and tight in the third, then an inning later Andrew McCutchen scored after doubling and coming around on a wild pitch. The wild pitch was Gray’s 13^th of the season, the most in the league.

“He gets chases on hard breaking balls down,” said Melvin. “He’s going to have his share of wild pitches. He’s going to be tough to block. His breaking ball looks like his fastball hard and down. He’ll bounce a few.”

The Pirates major damage came in the fifth and sixth innings, with Pittsburgh plating five runs between the two frames. Matt Joyce and Josh Harrison opened the fifth up with back-to-back singles, then Mercer picked up his second RBI of the game with a third single bagger. Chris Stewart bounced into a fielder’s choice that brought in a run and added to Pittsburgh’s advantage 5-3.

“The ball crept up in the zone,” said Melvin of Gray’s struggles. “Early on the ball was down. There’s a lot of movement when the ball is down.”

Gray returned to form to open the sixth, inducing ground outs from Gregory Polanco and McCutchen for two quick outs. He slipped against Gray. Starling Marte, plunking the Pirates left fielder for the free bag then issued another free pass to David Freese. Joyce brought Marte around on a two-out single, then was brought home himself along with Freese on Harrison’s two-run double. Gray got Mercer to end the inning, but found himself in a 7-3 hole after six innings. He would depart the game, exiting with seven earned runs allowed on seven hits.

“This was obviously not a very good start,” said Gray. “There in the sixth I got two quick outs, I have to be able to shut that inning down and get back out there for the seventh.”

While Gray started out strong, Locke (8-5, 5.13 ERA) looked to be the one on his way to an early shower Friday. He reversed his fortunes after allowing the three runs over the first six outs, allowing only two A’s base runners on no hits over the next three innings.

“He wasn’t throwing many strikes early on with his fastball,” said Melvin. “With his changeup he was. Then he started to locate his fastball a little better. It was basically fastball-changeup with a few breaking balls.”

The Pirates bullpen yielded just one hit, a single to Jake Smolinski over the next four innings to close the door and take game one of the series.

While Gray’s struggles have been at the top of the list for the A’s rotation issues along with a spattering of injuries, Rich Hill was the bright spot early in the season. He leads the team in wins above replacement with 2.0 even after not making an appearance since May 29^th and sports a 2.25 ERA. The veteran southpaw returns to the mound Saturday night, squaring off against righty Chad Kuhl, a rookie making just his second appearance (both starts) in his major league career.

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

AP photo: The Oakland A’s Billy Burns gets mobbed by teammates after his walk off single vs. the Los Angeles Angels in the ninth at the Oakland Coliseum on Friday night

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Oakland Athletics had a whirlwind of a ninth inning Friday night at O.Co Coliseum, but luckily the low came first, followed by the high. After Ryan Madson blew a save in the top of the frame, Billy Burns singled home the winning run with two outs in the bottom half of the frame for a 3-2 Athletics win over the Los Angeles Angels.

Kendall Graveman pitched passed the sixth inning for the first time this season, stymying the Angels (29-38) to just one run over his seven innings of work. The 25-year-old scattered just three hits, one each in the game’s first three innings, while allowing the lone run on a solo home run to Kole Calhoun in the third inning to tie the game 1-1 at the time.

“That was the best we’ve seen him in a while,” said A’s manager Bob Melvin. “He found out he can throw his sinker in the zone no matter where it is as long as it’s down. He’ll get a lot of ground balls. That was vintage Kendall.”

Despite his start, Graveman had to settle for the no-decision after giving way to the bullpen. Sean Doolittle surrendered a double to lead off the inning against Andrelton Simmons, then saw the tying run move 90 feet from home on Kole Calhoun’s sacrifice bunt. Doolittle coaxed a shallow pop-up from Calhoun to third base and closer Ryan Madson finished off Mike Trout on a fly out for the third out of the frame to preserve Graveman’s efforts. Madson then allowed the tying run in the 9^th inning after allowing a one-out single to Jefry Marte followed by what appeared to be a game-saving catch by substitution Jake Smolinski.

To the naked eye, it appeared Smolinski had robbed Redwood City native Daniel Nava on a basehit in the gap in right field, diving into the alley to steal a hit then double off pinch runner Todd Cunningham at first. After review, it was ruled that Smolinski had trapped the ball, putting Nava at first and Cunningham at third.

“Intitally I thought that I had caught the ball,” said Smolinski. “I went over to (Burns) and asked what it looked like to him.”

“He asked me directly ‘I caught it, right’?,” said Burns, smiling while recanting the ninth inning exchange. “I said ‘No’. I was covering my lips. I didn’t want anybody to read my lips, I thought maybe it was one of those calls they couldn’t over turn.”

Johnny Giavotello then lofted the game-tying sacrifice fly off Madson. Despite blowing the save, Madson (3-2, 2.67 ERA) wound up the winner thanks to Burns’ walk-off in the bottom of the ninth. The winning single came with two outs in the inning and runners on first and third base. Jed Lowrie and Yonder Alonso both failed to reach base for quick outs but Marcus Semien walked and Smolinski singled to advance him to third.

“In a game like that, we felt like we were in a pretty good position,” said Melvin. “Then all of the sudden we’re down. The guys were pretty spirited in the dugout going into that inning. Then we have two outs, nobody on. We get the walk then (Smolinski) has his second really good at bat of the night and it puts Billy in position to win the game. Not only can it swing emotionally to you negatively giving up a run, now we have two outs and nobody and guys continued to battle.”

Burns then shot a single just past the glove of Simmons at short to get the shaving cream pie and a W for the green and gold. Fernando Salas (3-3, 4.02) was tagged, with the loss.

“It felt great,” said Burns of his first career walk-off hit. “Especially when you don’t really get hits the hwole game and then come up and come through for the team, find a way to find a hole. But the real hero tonight was Kendall Graveman throwing seven solid innings. He was awesome tonight. I just happened to be the last hitter.”

Graveman’s lone mistake of an otherwise heroic start came on the homer to Calhoun, with the sinkerballer leaving an intended backdoor slider over the plate to the lefty hitter. Otherwise, Graveman’s sinker was sharp Friday, retiring 13 of 21 hitters by way of the ground out. He also picked up four strikeouts in his best start of the season, allowing one run in five-plus innings for just the third time this year and first outside the month of April.

“The one mistake I had was on a breaking ball,” said Graveman. “I thought the stuff was good. I thought the sinker and cutter really complimented each other well today. It helped me to get deep into the game today.”

Graveman entered play sporting a 5.28 ERA and was entering play amidst a string of uninspiring starts. He had allowed five runs over 4 1/3 innings against the Astros on June 4^th, then gave up one run but only lasted four innings in Cincinnati Sunday afternoon. He managed to pull his ERA south of 5.00 with his stellar outing, and looks to go on another run like he had from May 19th to 30^th when he allowed two runs or less over three straight starts.

“It’d be huge if he continue that for us,” said Melvin. “We’re down a couple of starters, we’re relying on some younger guys to pitch toward the top of our rotation.”

While Graveman was entering play on a low note, Angels starter Matt Shoemaker was coming in off his best performance of the season. The righty fired eight innings of three-hit ball with 11 punch-outs of the Cleveland Indians on Saturday evening. The A’s would scratch a run across in the second inning with an sacrifice fly from Yonder Alonso that scored Danny Valencia. They then took the lead for a second time two innings later when Khris Davis crushed Shoemakers 1-1 changeup to left centerfield for his 16^th homer of the season.

While both teams weren’t sure what to expect of their Friday night starters, their Saturday starters are even more intriguing. Longtime mainstay on the other side of the Bay, Tim Lincecum will don the Angel road grays tomorrow in his debut with the club after signing a few backs. For the A’s, Andrew Triggs gets the call from Triple A Nashville. A long relief man in his earlier stint with the club, Triggs is expected to be capped at something less than 70 pitches tomorrow.

“We’re not too worried about what we get from him,” said Melvin. “We’ll have an extra pitcher here tomorrow regardless. We’ll have a deep bullpen tomorrow. We’ll mix and match tomorrow. He’s thrown up to 70 pitches, but we’re not really expecting him to do that.”

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

AP photo: The Cincinnati Reds Adam Duvall 40 scores on a wild pitch by the Oakland A’s Sonny Gray Tyler Holt 23 congratulates Duvall at the plate in the seventh inning at Great American Ball Park on Friday night

Sonny Gray carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning but wound up the 2-1 hardluck loser in Cincinnati Friday night. Gray struck out four while walking only one Reds batter and Stephen Vogt hit a solo home run but neither could save the A’s (25-35) from a sixth-straight loss.

The Reds (23-38) rallied in the seventh inning to come from behind and sour Gray’s second start since coming off the disabled list. Gray sandwiched a pair of outs around a Brandon Phillips single, but Adam Duvall’s two-out double tied the game.

Eugenio Suarez singled to advance Duvall, then Gray’s wild pitch brought him home. Gray (3-6, 5.34 ERA) would finish the seventh inning and retire two batters in the eighth. Sean Doolittle retired the final Cincinnati hitter.

While Gray was tagged with the loss, Reds started Anthony DeSclafani managed to swing a no-decision. He yielded a solo home to Vogt, the catcher’s fifth of the season, with two outs in the third. He exited after six, but reliever Blake Wood (5-1, 3.73) vulutred the win in relief. Tony Cingrani picked up his sixth save of the year.

Oakland turns to Daniel Mengden in his major league debit Saturday. Cincinnati counters with former Athletic Dan Straily on the hill.

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

AP photo: The Houston Astros Evan Gattis (11) is greeted at the plate by teammate Carlos Correa (1) after belting a homer off Oakland A’s reliever Andrew Triggs in the fourth inning as A’s catcher Stephen Vogt stands in the background at Minute Maid Field on Friday

Jesse Hahn allowed seven runs in the first inning, dooming the Athletics early in a 12-2 road loss to the Houston Astros Friday night to end a five-game win streak. Houston (26-) also touched up mop-up man Andrew Triggs for five runs, with Evan Gattis knocking in four runs and Colby Rasmus and Tony Kemp knocking in a pair each to move ahead of Oakland (25-30) a half-game out of the AL West cellar. Marcus Semien hit his eleventh homer of the season while Billy Butler plated a run with his RBI double.

Hahn (2-3, 6.10 ERA) failed to retire three of the first four batters he faced but allowed only one run to that point on Rasmus’ RBI single. Evan Gattis ground out to second to push Jose Altuve across for a 2-0 lead. The A’s starter would fail to retire the next five hitters he faced, including a two-run triple by Tony Kemp, to get the hook from manager Bob Melvin with his team trailing 7-0. Long man Triggs came in and worked around a single to punch out Carlos Correa and end the inning with the Astros batting around the order.

Triggs surrendered a pair of runs in the fourth on a two-run shot by Gattis then gave an RBI single to Correa to exit the game with two outs in the fifth inning, two runners on and Oakland trailing 10-0. Marc Rzepcynski came on for Trigg, but allowed a pair of inherited runners to score on singles by Rasmus and Correa.

On the other side of the blowout, Doug Fister (5-3, 3.51) pitched six innings of four-hit ball for his fifth win of the season. The former Mariner and Tiger struck out three while walking a pair. He made way for Tony Sipp in the seventh, allowing the A’s to finally break through.

After battling Fister to an 18-pitch at-bat earlier in the game to no avail, Marcus Semien came through in the seventh. He greeted Sipp with a deep fly to left field for season homer number 11. He was replaced by Chris Devenski in the eighth inning. The righty allowed back-to-back doubles to Stephen Vogt and Billy Butler for the A’s second and final run.

Saturday’s game will be doubly challenging for the A’s with intended starter Rich Hill being scratched from his start with a groin injury. Kendall Graveman will be moved up a day in the rotation to take on Collin McHugh. Oakland hopes to avoid having another position player take the mound, as they did Friday with utility man Tyler Ladendorf making his pitching debut.