Tag: Houston Astros

The Oakland A’s shortstop Max Scheuemann (12) applies the tag on the Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (right) for the out in the bottom of the sixth inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Mon May 13, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Two struggling teams faced each other at Minute Maid Park Monday evening. The Oakland A’s (19-24) and the Houston Astros (16-25) began a three game series both of them in the same division and both of them looking for a win. The Astros broke this game wide open in the eighth inning scoring four times for a final score of 9-2.

Houston’s Alex Bregman had two home runs and a double in the game. Oakland’s JJ Bleday, Brent Rooker and Tyler Soderstrom each had a couple of hits but the Astros simply outplayed Oakland offensively. Three Oakland errors did not do a whole lot for the A’s cause.

Game recap: It is no picnic playing in front of the Houston crowd; they are loud and proud and they do love their Astros despite the season they are having right now. Astro fans had a lot to cheer about in the opening innings.

Houston scored in the first two innings taking a 2-0 lead. An A’s throwing error allowed Jeremy Pena to score for the early 1-0 lead. Houston added a second run in the third inning when Kyle Tucker doubled and Jose Altuve who had been hit by a pitch scampered home giving the Astros a 2-0 lead.

The A’s got to within on run of tying this game in the fourth inning. Soderstrom singled Brent Rooker home now only trailing by a single run 2-1. The Astros would beef up the score when Alex Bregman homered giving Houston a 3-1 lead.

JJ Bleday answered the call in the fifth inning hitting a double bringing Abraham Toro home for a 3-2 tally with the Astros hanging onto a one run lead. Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti was relieved in the sixth inning by Rafael Montero. He had gone five innings allowing five hits and two runs with five strikeouts.

Oakland’s Ross Stripling finished the game going five innings giving up four hits and two runs with a single strikeout. He had thrown 52 pitches when he exited the hill relieved by lefty T.J. McFarland. McFarland had a solid sixth inning excusing the Astros via a strike out and a double play going into the seventh inning. Through six innings the A’s had more hits than the Astros 6 to 5.

Esteury Ruiz was caught stealing looking for his 58th steal in the seventh inning. It was a hitless inning for the A’s with Abraham Toro striking out for the third out. In the bottom of the inning, Houston got their second home run of the game off the bat of, once again, Alex Bregman extending their lead to 4-2.

Mitch Spence who had relieved T.J. McFarland allowed the Bregman long ball. McFarland got out of the inning with only the one run and the A’s had a couple of innings left to turn this game in their favor.

Before the inning came to an end Oakland was looking at two outs and facing Jose Altuve. Altuve does what he does best driving another run home. Jake Meyers scored on the Altuve single and Houston was on a roll leading 5-2. Oakland just could get out of the seventh inning facing another threat Kyle Tucker trying to get that final out. The A’s escaped with the two runs but the 5-2 deficit was a tough call with only two innings left.

The A’ would have to get to work in the late innings. They had their work cut out for them and they desperately needed base runners. JJ Bleday flied out and with one down Brent Rooker singled. Tyler Soderstrom doubled with two Oakland outs and the A’s had runners on second and third.

With the two runners on base Seth Brown watched a third strike go by and the third out for Houston. Oakland had missed a golden opportunity leaving Rooker and Soderstrom stranded.

This game saw another Oakland error, this one from Max Schuemann in the eighth inning with two Astro runners on base and no outs. Oakland relief pitcher Easton Lucas walked Jon Singleton to load the bases and then faced Alex Bregman.

Bregman who had already slugged two home runs doubled driving in Trey Cabbage and Jeremy Pena and Houston had broken this game wide open 7-2. More Astros came home off a Victor Caratini double.

Bregman and Singleton crossed home plate giving Houston a 9-2 lead with Jose Altuve at the plate. Oakland pitcher Lucas was having a rough time allowing 3 hits and 4 runs as this inning finally came to an end. Oakland went quietly into the night in the ninth inning with a three up and three down finish.

Post game notes: Monday evening the A’s traveled to Houston and lost to their division rival Astros 9-2. Houston still has the deep roster that took them to the playoffs numerous times but despite that they have struggled on the mound.

Earlier Monday, it was announced that the Astros Jose Altuve was having the day off but come game time he was on the field so the A’s had to deal with him. Altuve ended up scoring one run and one hit in four at bats. A’s starter Ross Stripling was on the hill facing this daunting Houston lineup. Stripling pitched five innings, gave up four hits and one run. Astro starter Spencer Arrighetti pitched five innings, gave up five hits and two runs.

The A’s will try to right the ship in game two Tuesday with first pitch scheduled for 5:10 PM. JP Sears (3-2 ERA 4.20) will be on the hill for the A’s and for Houston Ronel Blanco (4-0 ERA 2.23) will get the nod.

Oakland A’s pitcher Alex Wood (57) waits for the ball after walking the Seattle Mariners Luis Arias in the bottom of the second inning at T Mobile Field in Seattle on Sun May 12, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

It’s awfully hard to win a game when you fall behind 5-0 by the second inning. It’s even more difficult when you fail to score a single run until the fifth inning. This was the scenario for the Oakland A’s (19-23) Sunday in Seattle.

A rough outing on the mound plus a poor offensive effort spelled the difference in the game. Oakland lost this to the Seattle Mariners (25-19) game 8-4. They faced a team with one of best pitching in the league. Seattle’s Luis Castillo went six innings while the A’s Alex Wood lasted only two innings before turning it over to Kyle Muller

Game recap: This game started under sunny skies as the stadium continued to fill with families celebrating Mother’s Day treating mom to a fun-filled day at the ball park. Yesterday 32,000 plus fans attended the game and huge attendance is expected today on this Mother’s Day.

The players and umpires got into a celebratory mood with an array of pink sweatbands, bats, socks and Seattle catcher Seby Zavala was decked out in pink from head to toe. This was no ordinary boring pink but an electric hot pink making the outfield a blaze of color. The final attendance was over 41,000 fans.

The Mariners struck first in this game when Mitch Garver singled driving Dylan Moore home for the 1-0 lead going into the second inning. In both games one and two Seattle scored the first run of the game and today again took the first lead.

Seattle’s Sam Haggerty had his first hit of the season in the second inning driving in Ty France for a 2-0 lead. Oakland pitcher Alex Wood had already thrown 59 pitches some of them erratic. Dylan Moore sacrificed flied and Luis Urias scored for yet another run 3-0.

Wood then threw a pitch that really hurt when Julio Rodriguez knocked it out of the park, a two-run home run and Seattle had taken a 5-0 lead. In games where the Mariners led by 5 runs, they were 12-1 and Seattle had broken this game open. So far, the A’s had run into an offensive buzzsaw.

In the third inning Abraham Toro attempted a steal and was thrown out for the third out and not much was going right for Oakland in this game.

The A’s got their first run of the game in the fifth inning when Oakland’s Max Schuemann hit a solo home run with so much ground to make up trailing 5-1. The A’s got little chance to even think about a comeback when Seattle struck again with a two-run home run courtesy of Mitch Garver and the Mariners had extended their lead to 7-1.

The sixth inning saw a long ball from each team. The A’s Abraham Toro hit a solo shot and the Mariners Seby Zavala had a solo home run as well. Trailing by the 8-2 deficit, single runs were not going to get the job done for the A’s. So much damage was done on the mound and coming back was a bleak prospect. Oakland was running out of frames.

The A’s continued to fight and in the eighth inning Brent Rooker hit a two-run home run but with only one inning left in the game they were up against immeasurable odds trailing 8-4. It was a quick ninth inning for Oakland coming up short and the Mariners had won this game 8-4 as well as the series.

Post game notes: Sunday afternoon the A’s and the Mariners closed out their three series, a rubber match in a reversal of fate series. In game one it was all Seattle crushing the A’s 8-1. Oakland could not generate very much offense while the Mariners were dominating on both sides. All eyes were watching to see how the A’s would respond in game two and respond they did to the tune of an 8-1 victory of their own.

The Mariners came out in the first inning with Mitch Garver’s RBI scoring Dylan Moore to put the M’s ahead 1-0. The Mariners came right out and struck again in the bottom of the second this time with four runs including a home run by Julio Rodriguez. The Mariners starter Luis Castillo pitched six innings giving up seven hits and two runs and the A’s starter Alex Wood went two innings four hits and gave up five runs.

The Oakland A’s will be relieved to get back on the road after this series taking on the Houston Astros Monday evening. Putting this series behind them is a must as they take on another division rival. Ross Stripling (1-6 ERA 5.14) will take the mound for Oakland while Spencer Arrighetti (0-4 ERA 8.44) will be on the hill for Houston. First pitch is scheduled for 5:10 PM.