Tag: Houston Astros

World Series champion Astros beat the A’s 6-3

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Photo credit: @astros

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Houston Astros continued their mastery over the A’s as they defeated them 6-3 and improved to a 6-1 advantage this season.

Astros starter Lance McCullers worked seven innings and gave up just five hits and two runs. He gave up singles to the first two hitters and three doubles to Matt Chapman. None of the other A’s hitter could solve McCullers’ slants.

A’s starter Daniel Mengden, who was pounded in his last start against the Texas Rangers last week, couldn’t make it out the fifth inning Tuesday night.

The Astros’ Evan Gattis, who has killed the A’s in the past, was the hitting star for Houston with a home run and a double that drove in five of the Astros’ six runs.

In the bottom of the first, Oakland took an early 1-0 lead. Leadoff hitter Dustin Fowler singled to get things going. Marcus Semien reached on an infield single. Jed Lowrie hit into a 4-6-3 double play. Fowler advanced to third and scored when McCullers uncorked a wild pitch.

In the top of the second, the Astros vaunted offense came to life as they rocked Mengden for four runs on four hits, two of which went out of the park, and two walks. Astros’ shortstop Carlos Correa sent Mengden’s first pitch into the seats in left field to tie the game. Yuli Guriel doubled, and Mengden walked Josh Reddick to put men on at first and second with no one out. Designated hitter Evan Gattis, who has murdered A’s pitching in the past, hit his 11th of the year to put the Astros ahead 4-1. Mengden was able to get out of the inning without any further damage. The A’s put their second run of the night on the board in their half of the inning. The A’s third baseman Matt Chapman doubled to start the inning. He went to third on a groundout and scored on Stephen Piscotty’s sacrifice fly to center field. The A’s trailed 4-2 after two innings.

The Astros plated two more runs in the top of the fifth. With one out, Mengden walked Carlos Correa. He retired Yuli Guriel for the second out, but gave up a single to Josh Reddick and a double to Evan Gattis. Two runs scored on the play and A’s manager Bob Melvin removed Mengden from the game. Lefty Danny Coulombe retired Brian McCann for the final out of the inning.

Mengden’s pitching line was not very good. He allowed eight hits, six runs all earned, and was tagged for two home runs in just 4 2/3 innings of work.

The A’s plated their third run of the night, thanks to Collin McHugh’s wildness and an error by Carlos Correa. With one out, McHugh plunked Jed Lowrie with a pitch. Khris Davis reached on Correa’s error to put men on at first and second with one out. McHugh struck out Matt Olson for the second out. The next hitter Matt Chapman, who had three consecutive double, was hit on the wrist to load the bases. A’s manager Bob Melvin, and the trainer raced out to first base to see if Chapman was okay. After he was checked by the trainer, Chapman stayed in the game. Mark Canha followed with a single to drive in Lowrie. Houston brought in Brad Peacock to fave Stephen Piscotty. Peacock, the former athletic, struck out Piscotty for the third out. Houston has a 6-3 advantage after eight innings.

Astros’ closer Ken Giles gave up a single to Dustin Fowler, but was still able to record the three outs necessary to end the game and earn his 11th save of the year as Houston wins 6-3.

Game Notes: With the win, the Astros–who are in a battle for first place in the AL West with the Seattle Mariners–improved to 43-25.

The A’s dropped to 34-31. Oakland is now 10-22 against the AL West and 24-11 against the rest of the AL.

Lance McCullers was the winning pitcher and is now 8-3 for the season.

Daniel Mengden absorbed the loss, and his record dropped to 6-6.

Astros’ Ken Giles recorded his 11th save.

The line score for Houston was six runs, 11 hits, and one error.

The A’s line was three runs, seven hits, and no errors.

Time of the game was two hours and 57 minutes and 11,742 fans watched the A’s go down to a defeat.

Up Next: Game two of the three-game series will be played Wednesday night at the Coliseum. The A’s Paul Blackburn will make his second start of the year. Blackburn will be going against Gerrit Cole, who owns a 7-1 record and a sparkling 2.16 ERA.

A’s will welcome the World Champion Houston Astros on Tuesday night

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By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Oakland A’s (34-32; fourth place in the AL West) start a three-game series with the World Champion Houston Astros on Tuesday night.

The Astros are currently in a dogfight with the Seattle Mariners for first place in the AL West. They are currently 42-25 and have one more loss than the M’s.

The Astros come to Oakland having won seven of the last 10 games. They will be sending three tough pitchers at the A’s. On Tuesday night, Lance McCullers Jr. will pitch for Houston. McCullers’ season record is 7-3, and his ERA is 3.94. McCullers has beaten the A’s twice this season and will be hoping to record his third win over them on Tuesday. In his two prior starts against the A’s he has allowed just two earned runs, four walks, and has struck out 10.

The A’s will counter with Houston native Daniel Mengden. Mengden had a terrific May but was pounded by the Texas Rangers in his last start. Mengden was tagged for four big home runs and six runs in just four innings of work.

On Wednesday, Astros’ Gerrit Cole will face the Green and Gold. Cole is having a terrific season with a record of 7-1 and a sparkling ERA of just 2.16.

The A’s Paul Blackburn will make his second start since coming off the DL. Blackburn is 1-0, and his ERA is 1.50. He went six innings and allowed just one run and three hits in recording the win over the Kansas City Royals. He threw 67 pitches and looked sharp.

Thursday’s game will feature Justin Verlander going for the Astros against the A’s Frankie Montas. Verlander, a former Cy Young Award winner and MVP with the Detroit Tigers, has a record of 8-2 and a 1.45 ERA.

The Astros are 14-5 in games that Verlander has started since he came to Houston from the Tigers last year. Montas has made three starts and won them all. He is 3-0 and has a 1.25 ERA. In three starts (and wins), Montas has allowed three runs in 2 2/3 innings of work.

The A’s pitchers will have their hands full trying to contain the Astros’ powerful lineup. Second baseman Jose Altuve is leading the league in hitting again. Shortstop Carlos Correa is a tough out. Alex Bregman at third, and Yuli Guriel round out the infield. George Springer, Josh Reddick, Jake Marisnick, or Marwyn Gonzalez will handle the outfield chores. Evan Gattis, who also doubles as a DH, Brian McCann, and former Athletic, Max Stassi are all guys that can hit and cause damage. The Astros’ bullpen is deep with Collin McHugh, Brad Peacock, Hector Rondon, Will Harris, and Tony Sipp seeing action. Chris Devenski and Ken Giles are the closers.

The A’s are just 1-5 against Houston this year. The A’s also have power up and down the lineup. Matt Chapman and Matt Olson are threats to go deep, and pitchers have to be careful not to make a mistake with their pitch selection. If they fail to locate the ball, Olson and Chapman will send the pitch into the seats. Jed Lowrie, who was hot early in the season, has cooled off a bit but is still a dangerous hitter. DH Khris Davis leads the A’s in homers and RBIs and is a very dangerous hitter. Davis can hit the ball out of any park. Chad Pinder, Mark Canha, Dustin Fowler, and Stephen Piscotty all have power.

Johnathan Lucroy and Josh Phegley are the catchers. Lucroy is a better contact hitter while Phegley has power but hasn’t played very much this season.

The Astros have had the advantage over the A’s the last couple of years. If the A’s are going to make progress, they will need to take the series from the Astros. That will be a tough task, but the A’s know they can play with the big boys. Just ask the Boston Red Sox.

Verlander outduels Samardzija in Astros’ 4-1 win over Giants

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Photo credit: @LeopoldusEsq

By Jeremy Harness

The Giants’ up-and-down season continues.

They were facing an uphill battle from the very beginning, since they were going up against Justin Verlander, the man who lifted the Houston Astros to their first-ever World Series title last October.

It didn’t get much better for the Giants on Wednesday, as they fell to the Verlander-led Astros, 4-1, inside of Minute Maid Park. The star right-hander went six strong innings and surrendered only a run on three hits in the process.

He walked only one and struck out nine batters, as he improved his 2018 mark to 6-2 with an eye-popping ERS of 1.08.

Jeff Samardzija continues to struggle to stay in the game as he makes his way back from a pectoral strain he suffered at the start of the season. He failed yet again to reach five full innings – he went only 4 2/3 innings on Wednesday.

He actually matched Verlander for four innings, as the two hurlers put zeroes on the board for the first three frames before the Giants got a run off Verlander in the fourth. Houston evened things up in the bottom half of the inning, when Andrew McCutchen committed a fielding error that allowed a run to score.

The wheels came off for Samardzija in the fifth, when George Springer – who also came up huge for the Astros in the World Series – smashed a two-run homer over the short porch in left field. Carlos Correa followed that up with a run-scoring single to give Houston a three-run advantage that they would not relinquish.

Gorkys Hernandez and Brandon Belt each had two hits for the Giants, while Correa and Springer also had a pair of hits for Houston.

The Giants get a much-needed day off before taking on the Cubs for a three-game series starting Friday at 11:20 am PST.

Cole dominates as Astros cruise past Giants 11-2

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Photo credit: @BR_MLB

By Jeremy Kahn

Like a fine wine, the defending World Champion Houston Astros got better with age, especially when they added another great pitcher to their vaunted starting rotation.

Gerrit Cole, who was the Pittsburgh Pirates first overall pick in the 2011 draft came to the Astros in an offseason trade and he continues to be dominant.

Cole pitched six strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits, walking three and striking out eight and the Astros defeated the San Francisco Giants 11-2 at Minute Maid Park.

The two runs that Cole allowed was a family affair of sorts, as he allowed a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning to Brandon Crawford, the Giants hottest hitter and who is the brother in-law of Cole.

Crawford’s sister Amy is married to Cole, who improves to 5-1 in his first season with the Astros, who continue to lead the American League West.

The Astros got on the board in the bottom of the third inning, as former Oakland A’s catcher Max Stassi doubled off of Andrew Suarez to score Evan Gattis. George Springer, the World Series MVP in their run to the World Championship over the Los Angeles Dodgers then singled in Stassi, and followed Alex Bregman doubled in Springer.

Tony Kemp added to the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, as he singled in Yuli Gurriel and J.D. Davis, who scored three runs and walked three times on the night.

Crawford finally got the Giants on the board in the top of the fifth inning, as he a Cole offering for his fifth home run of the season.

It was another tough night on the mound for Suarez, who went just four innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out two.

The usual consistent Giants bullpen was roughed up against the Astros, as the trio of Pierce Johnson, Reyes Moronta and Josh Osich went the final four innings, allowing six runs on six hits walking four and striking out four.

The Astros blew the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Kemp hit a sacrifice fly to score Davis. Bregman then picked up his second double of the night that scored Gattis, and then reigning American League Most Valuable Player Jose Altuve got in on the act, as he hit a two-run single that scored Stassi and Bregman.

Kemp finished off the blowout, as he hit a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning that scored Gurriel and Davis.

It was a career night for Kemp, who ended the night with two hits and a career-high five runs batted in and the Astros have won five out of their last six.

NOTES: Jeff Samardzija goes to the mound on Wednesday afternoon, as the Giants look for the split against the Astros Justin Verlander, who leads the major league with a miniscule 1.05 earned run average.

Samardzija is coming off a season-high 6.2 inning outing on Friday night against the Colorado Rockies, as he received a no-decision in a game that the Giants eventually lost in 12 innings.

Verlander threw a complete game against the Los Angeles Angels, where he allowed five hits and the Astros shutout the Angels 2-0 at Anaheim Stadium.

Madison Bumgarner, who is currently on the 60-day disabled list with a broken left pinkie, threw 30 pitched to live hitters for the first time since his injury and it was indicated by Bruce Bochy, that Bumgarner could begin his rehab assignment this Saturday for the Sacramento Rivercats at Raley Field.

Closer Mark Melancon, who like Bumgarner is on the disabled list, began his rehab assignment on Monday with the Rivercats and threw just six pitches. Melancon could throw again on Wednesday, as he threw just six pitches on Monday.

Osich was recalled by the Giants earlier in the day, as Jose Valdez was placed on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Saturday with inflammation in his right elbow.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Astros finish the two-game series Wednesday at 11:10 am PST.

Astros beat A’s 4-1 to finish 3-game sweep

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Photo credit: @astros

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Houston Astros rallied for two runs in the seventh and two in the eighth to defeat the A’s 4-1 to sweep the three-game series. The A’s starter, Daniel Mengden, pitched one of the best games of his career, but his effort was not quite good enough as opposing pitcher, Gerrit Cole, was a wee bit better. Cole, in his first year in the American League, improved to 4-1 and his ERA is just 1.43. Mengden’s record is now 2-4.

It was an old-fashioned pitching duel as Mengden and Cole baffled the hitters for the first five innings of the game. The A’s broke through in the bottom of the sixth after Matt Joyce singled with one and Jed Lowrie followed with a double. Cole walked Khris Davis to put men on at first and second with one out. Cole rose to the occasion as he struck Matt Olson and Matt Chapman to end the threat. The A’s led 1-0 after six.

Mengden was cruising along quite nicely until there were two outs in the top of the seventh. Former A’s prospect Max Stassi hit a bomb that went over the right-center-field wall for his third of the season. The next hitter Derek Fisher outdid Stassi as his home run went way, way back into the second deck of the bleachers in center field.

A’s manager Bob Melvin took Mengden out of the game and brought in Yusmeiro Petit to get the final out of the inning

Game Notes: The A’ s announced that starting pitcher, Trevor Cahill has been placed on the 10-day DL.

The A’s have five pitchers on the DL: Cahill, Paul Blackburn, Liam Hendriks, Jharel Cotton, and Ryan Buchter.

The A’s recalled Dustin Fowler from Nashville to fill the spot on the roster. Fowler had his first at-bat in the Majors in the bottom of the seventh, and he popped out to the Astros’ second baseman Jose Altuve.

The Astros used four pitchers to down the A’s on Wednesday. Cole got the win, but relievers Joe Smith and Will Harris were credited with holds and Ken Giles was credited with his fifth save of the season.

The A’s split the six-game home series with a record of 3-3.

Up Next: The A’s start a 10-game road trip on Friday in New York as they face the red-hot New York Yankees at 4:05 pm PT. Then it’s off the Boston for three and Toronto for four. It doesn’t get any easier as the A’s return home to play the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks. Whoever put this schedule together at MLB must have it in for Oakland.

Astros top A’s 4-2

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Photo credit: @astros

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Houston Astros downed the A’s 4-2 in the second game of the three-game series. The A’s had their ace, Sean Manaea, going for his fifth win of the season. That did not happen as the very talented Astros team sent Manaea to the showers in the sixth inning, and he had no choice but to absorb his fourth loss of the year.

Lance McCullers, who dominated the A’s when the Astros won 11-0 on April 29th. McCullers went just five innings, and the A’s could have made it closer, but they couldn’t get it done, and the Astros’ bullpen did its job as the A’s could not get anything done in the last four innings of the game.

The A’s put a run on the board in the bottom of the first without the benefit of a hit. Lance McCullers walked the A’s leadoff hitter Marcus Semien. Semien advanced to second on a wild pitch. With one out, Jed Lowrie hit a fly ball to deep right-field for the second out. Semien tagged up and went to third. With Khris Davis at bat, McCullers uncorked his second wild pitch of the inning and Semien slid in safely for the score. Davis doubled on the next pitch, but the A’s could do no more.

The Astros tied the game in the top of the second. With one out, Astros’ third baseman Alex Bregman slammed his third home run of the year over the wall in the right field wall. Manaea retired the next two hitters to end the inning.

The A’s regained the lead in the bottom of the third. Semien singled to start the rally. McCullers, who was having problems with his control, walked Matt Joyce and Jed Lowrie to load the bases with no out. Khris Davis lined out to deep right field. Astros’ right fielder George Springer made a nice running catch as the ball almost went over his head. Semien scored, and Joyce tagged and advanced to third. Matt Olson hit into a double play to end the inning. The A’s lead 2-1 after three.

Houston put two on the board in the top of the fifth. With two out, Manaea hit just grazed Brian McCann uniform with an inside pitch. The next hitter, Jake Marisnick, hitting a buck 51, doubled to put men on at second and third. Manaea now had to face the red-hot hitter George Springer. Springer doubled to drive in McCann and Marisnick. Springer now has eight hits in his last nine at-bats. The Astros lead 3-2 halfway through the fifth inning. The A’s Bruce Maxwell committed a blunder on the base paths that may have cost the team a chance to tie the game. Maxwell doubled to start the inning. Marcus Semien followed with a ground ball that squeezed into shallow left field. Maxwell hesitated as he didn’t know if the ball would be fielded and when it wasn’t, he took off for third. Maxwell, who is not a speed demon, was cut down when left fielder Marwyn Gonzalez hustled in to field the ball and threw Maxwell out as he was sliding into the base. Houston leads 3-2 after five innings.

The Astros tacked on another run in the sixth inning. With one out, Yuli Guriel doubled. Manaea retired Bregman for the second out. He now had to face the ever-dangerous Marwin Gonzalez. Gonzalez came through for Houston as he singled to left to drive in Guriel with the Astros’ fourth run of the night. A’s manager Bob Melvin trudged out to the mound and took the ball from Manaea and brought in rookie reliever Lou Trivino. Trivino gave up a hit but was able to get the third out without any further damage.

The Astros’ relievers’ Brad Peacock, Chris Devenski, and Ken Giles shit down the A’s offense to secure the win for Houston. The Astros beat the A’s 4-2.

Game Notes and Stats: There was a very emotional moment in the second inning when Stephen Piscotty came to bat. Piscotty, who lost his mother Gretchen to ALS on Sunday, decided to play in the last two games of the homestand and then go on bereavement leave when the A’s go on the 10-game road trip. Piscotty received an extremely warm, heartfelt reception from the fans. He was very touched by the show of support and tapped his heart before going to bat. He singled, and every one of the 9,764 fans in the stadium knew that that was for his mother.

With the win, the Astros moved back into a virtual tie for first place with the Los Angeles Angels. The A’s drop to 18-18. McCullers improves to 5-1 while Manaea is now 4-4. Ken Giles recorded his fourth save of the year.

Up Next: The final game of the three-game set will be played Wednesday afternoon at the Coliseum. Game time will be at 12:35 pm PT.

Astros’ bats come alive in 16-2 hammering of A’s

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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.

A’s survive Gerrit Cole, but get done in by seventh inning miscues in 8-4 loss to Astros

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Photo credit: @astros

By Morris Phillips

Make no mistake, there simply isn’t room for mistakes when facing the World Champion Astros.

The A’s got an idea of what it will take to compete against arguably the best team in the majors over the weekend, and errors aren’t a part of the winning equation. In a tie game in the seventh inning on Sunday, and with a chance to capture the three-game series, the A’s started booting the ball around.

A leadoff walk, followed by three Oakland errors propelled Houston’s three-run rally, in their 8-4 win over the A’s that gave them the initial series of the season between the AL West foes. Afterwards, the A’s had no one to blame but themselves.

“Defensively, we just gave it up,” Jonathan Lucroy admitted. “We gave them too many free bags, and you give guys free bags, you’re going to get hurt, especially against a team like that. We got to be better on the defensive side.”

Until the pivotal frame, the A’s seemed to have a grasp on the monumental task at hand. Tied 3-3 after 6 1/2 innings, the A’s had given as good as they got, and were in position to capture the game, and the series. That despite getting shutout 11-0 on Saturday, and suffering through the entirety of Gerrit Cole’s 12-strikeout performance.

By striking out 12 A’s, Cole set an Astros franchise record for strikeouts in the month of April with 61. That number allowed Cole–the Astros’ key off-season trade acquisition from the Pirates–to join and surpass Randy Johnson, Mike Scott and J.R. Richard, as good a trio of strikeout pitchers to come out of any MLB organization.

But in and around all the strikeouts, the A’s scratched together single runs in the third, sixth and seventh to tie.  The A’s were in position to steal one, only to rob themselves.

The A’s get a much-needed day off Monday before heading to Safeco Field, where they’ll open a three-game series against the Mariners Tuesday at 7:10 pm PT.

What just happened? Astros blowout the A’s on Saturday night 11-0

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment
Altuve
Astros celebrate Photo: @astros

by Charlie O. Mallonee

The Oakland Athletics ran headlong into reality at 100 mph as the World Champion Houston Astros reminded the “Green and Gold” who they were playing as they were humbled on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park. The Astros shutout the Athletics 11-0 before a delighted sellout crowd who came to see their champs crush the young upstarts.

Lance McCullers Jr. dominated the A’s. In fact, he held them hitless through the first five innings. Mark Canha broke up the potential no-hitter in the top of the sixth inning when he hit a single to center. Stephen Piscotty then singled to right moving Canha up to second and A’s fans began to have hope that their team had solved McCullers’ pitches and were about to break open the game. Bruce Maxwell promptly hit into a double play and Matt Joyce flied out to left field to end the inning. That would prove to be the only two hits that McCullers would allow in his 7.0-innings of work.

The A’s would have only two additional baserunners in the contest as they managed to get a base hit and a base-on-balls off Astros reliever Hector Rondon in the eighth inning. Tony Sipp came in to mop it up for Houston in the top of the ninth to preserve the win.

Oakland used six pitchers who gave up 11 runs (10 earned) off 13 hits which included four home runs. A’s pitchers walked six Astros and struck out six.

On the Hill

This game was really all about pitching. For Houston, it was about pitching to perfection. For Oakland, it was about pitching breakdowns.

Houston

McCullers
Lance McCullers Jr. was in command on the mound Photo: @astros
  • Lance McCullers Jr.: he picks up his third win of the season to raise his record to 3-1 in five starts. He pitched 7.0-innings giving up no runs off just two hits. He walked none and struck out seven A’s batters. He threw 100 pitches (65 strikes).
  • Hector Rondon: he had the rockiest inning of the night for the Astros giving up a hit and a base-on-balls in his 1.0-inning on the bump. He threw 21 pitches (11 strikes).
  • Tony Sipp was brought in to work the top of the ninth and he did his job very well. Sipp gave up no runs, no hits, allowed no baserunners and struck out one.

Oakland

  • Daniel Mengden: Mengden would not want to use this as an excuse but he did bury his grandfather in Austin on Friday. He worked just 2.1-innings giving up five runs (4 earned) off six hits. He walked one and struck out one. Mengden was not sharp on Saturday and took the loss as his record drops to 2-3 on the young season.
  • The A’s used five relief pitchers in the contest.
  • Oakland has to be concerned about the performance of Wilmer Font who they just picked up from the Dodgers. Oakland hoped that Font would be able to work long relief and possibly spot start. On Saturday night, he gave up three runs (all earned) off three hits which were all home runs. That is not the way any pitcher wants to start out with a new team. It may be time to go back to the drawing board on that decision.

At the Plate

Astros

  • Jose Altuve: “The little big man” showed why is worth the “big bucks” by going 4-for-5 in the game scoring two runs and picking up two RBI. He hit his second home run of the year off Font and picked up his fifth double the season off Mengden. The man is a monster.
  • Alex Bregman had a big game for the ‘Stros. He went 2-for-3 at bat picking up two RBI. He also walked twice. Bregman now has 12 RBI for the young season.
  • George Springer hit his fifth HR of the season. He upped his RBI total to 17.

Athletics

  • They had three hits: Chapman, Canha, and Piscotty. All singles.

Up Next

Because the A’s had the big win on Friday night, Sunday becomes “the rubber game” of the match. Yes, the Athletics have the opportunity to win the series on the road in Houston if they can beat the Astros on Sunday afternoon.

Houston is going to send RHP Gerrit Cole to the hill on Sunday. Cole is 2-1 on the year in five starts. He has struck out 49 batters and walked just eight. Cole has allowed just three home runs. He has a WHIP of 0.77.

The A’s will counter with Trevor Cahill who is 1-0 on the season in two starts. He has an ERA of 2.25 in 12 innings pitched. Cahill has struck out 14 hitters and walked just four. He has a WHIP of 1.08.

This game has the potential of being a real pitchers duel. Game time 11:10 PDT.

The Season of Sean Manaea Continues; A’s Handcuff Astros in 8-1 Win

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

Photo credit: @Athletics

By Matthew Harrington

Sean Manaea is a Cy Young front-runner. Oakland A’s fans are happy to hear those words uttered, not from overly optimistic fanboys but uttered from the mouths of the nation’s finest sports writers. Six starts into the 2018 season, the Throwin’ Samoan has given the A’s something they didn’t expect when mapping out the 2018 season: a bonafide ace.

Manaea (4-2, 1.03 ERA) held the Houston Astros (17-10) reigning World Champions and one of the hottest teams on the planet, to just one run at home Friday night, with the A’s (14-12) throttling Houston 8-1. Manaea followed up his masterpiece no-hitter over Chris Sale and the Boston Red Sox Saturday by emphatically outdueling another team’s ace, Dallas Keuchel, Friday. Manaea fired seven innings, allowing four hits while striking out seven. He now leads the American League with four wins, holds the AL’s lowest ERA at 1.03 and leads the Majors with a 0.62 WHIP. To put it simply, he’s the best.

The only run Manaea gave up Friday the Astros had to scrap for. George Springer reached base in the bottom of the fourth after Marcus Semien’s throwing error, moved to second base on a sacrifice fly then came home on Carlos Correa’s RBI single. When all was said and done, Manaea’s line would read one run, unearned. He also allowed just the one walk, throwing 65 of 95 pitches for strikes.

The A’s spotted Manaea a run in the top of the fifth to tie the game on Matt Chapman’s sixth homer of the season, then Pinder tagged Keuchel (1-4, 4.00) with a two-run shot for a 3-1 lead in the top of the 6th. Matt Olson would single home a run in the seventh, but Mark Canha’s fourth homer in the inning off Keuchel would be the backbreaker and a 6-1 lead.

For how well Manaea was pitching,  a 6-1 lead felt like a 500-run lead, not a five-run lead. The A’s made the mountain all the more insurmountable when Jed Lowrie tripled home two runs for an 8-1 lead. Ryan Dull and Santiago Casilla pitched scoreless innings to give Oakland the win.

Manaea’s performance moves Oakland just 2.5 games back of the lead in the AL West leaders Los Angeles & Houston. If Manaea continues to pitch up to the potential that made him the centerpiece of the Ben Zobrist trade in 2015, they could make some noise in division. They’ll look to continue their quest for legitimacy Saturday when Daniel Mengden opposes the Astros’ Lance McCullers in Game 2 of the series.