Tag: Oakland A’s

Photo credit: @astros

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Houston Astros beat the Oakland A’s 5-4 in the rubber match at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday afternoon. It was a very competitive game as both teams organized come-from-behind rallies to either take the lead or tie the game. The Astros won the game in the bottom of the ninth when rookie Tyler White sent a Jeurys Familia pitch into the seats in left field to give the Astros the walk-off win.

A’s Trevor Cahill, who has not pitched well on the road this year, did not do well again Wednesday in Houston. Cahill’s road record was 1-3 with a 6.92 ERA in eight road starts. The A’s were hoping that Cahill would do better, but he didn’t. He went just 3 1/3 innings and allowed five hits, four runs (one unearned), struck out two and walked a season-high six batters. Astros’ starter, Dallas Keuchel, wasn’t much better. Keuchel went six innings and allowed eight hits and three runs. Neither Cahill nor Cahill figured in the decision.

The Astros put two runs on the board in the bottom of the first. Astros center fielder George Springer led off with a single. Power-hitting third baseman Alex Bregman bunted. On the play, Bregman was credited with a single and Chapman committed an error on the throw to first. Springer went to third and Bregman advanced to second on the error. Second baseman Jose Altuve, who’s the reigning AL MVP, followed with a single to drive in Springer. Bregman stopped at third base. Carlos Correa then lofted a fly ball to left field that was deep enough to allow Bregman to tag up and score. The Astros lead 2-0.

Neither team scored in the second inning, but A’s center fielder Ramon Laureano made a sensational over the shoulder catch off the bat of Tony Kemp. The 24-year rookie continued to amaze everyone with his defensive prowess.

The A’s plated three runs in the top of the third. Singles by Marcus Semien and Matt Chapman put men on at first and third with no out. Jed Lowrie’s single to left drove in Semien with the ‘s first run. Astro left fielder Tony Kemp almost made a fantastic play attempting to catch the ball. Fortunately for Oakland, Kemp could not hold on, and the A’s had their first run of the day. A’s right fielder Stephen Piscotty double down into the corner in left field to drive in Chapman and Lowrie and gave the A’s the lead 3-2.

The Astros regained the lead in the fourth inning. Cahill walked the leadoff hitter, Yuli Gurriel. Josh Reddick reached on a fielder’s choice. Gurriel was out at second. Cahill walked Max Stassi to put men on at first and second. Cahill walked Tony Kemp to load the bases. George Springer singled to drive in Reddick. Cahill walked Bregman to force in another run. At this point, A’s manager Bob Melvin ended Cahill’s day, and Shawn Kelley was brought in to pitch. Kelley ended the threat, and the Astros were back in front 4-3.

The score remained the same until the seventh. Former A’s pitcher, Brad Peacock, was now handling the pitching for Houston. With one out, Peacock was not able to find the strike zone. He walked Chapman, Lowrie, and Khris Davis to load the bases. He then plunked Piscotty with a pitch to allow Chapman to score and the game was tied 4-4.

The A’s used Lou Trivino in the seventh, Fernando Rodney in the eighth, and Jeurys Familia in the ninth. Trivino and Rodney kept the Astros off the board. Familia retired the first hitter he faced in the ninth, but White ended the game with one swing of the bat as he sent the pitch over the wall in left field. The Astros won 5-4.

Game Notes: With the loss the A’s fall to 80-54. They are 2 1/2 games behind the Astros in the race for first place in the AL West.

The Mariners lost to San Diego, and they trail the A’s by 5 1/2 games in the race for the second Wild Card post.

Up Next: The M’s head to Oakland to start a four-game series with the A’s. Game one is set for Thursday at 7:05 pm PDT.

Frankie Montas will pitch for Oakland, while Wade LeBlanc will be on the mound for Seattle.

Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s beat the Houston Astros 4-3 at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday night. The A’s snapped the Astros’ six-game winning streak and with the win, moved just 1 1/2 games behind the Astros for first-place in the AL West.

The A’s sent Edwin Jackson to do the pitching. Jackson gave up a run in the bottom of the second. Astros’ All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa singled leading off to get things going. Correa advanced to second on a passed ball. Marwyn Gonzalez groundout to first and that allowed Correa to go to third. Astros’ first baseman big Tyler White also grounded out, and Correa scored on the play. The Astros led 1-0 after two complete.

The A’s put three runs on the board in the top of the third. With two out, Astros’ starter Charlie Morton walked Jed Lowrie. He then hit Khris Davis with a pitch to put two men on with two out. A’s first baseman Matt Olson blasted his 24th home run of the year off the facade of the second deck in right field.

The Astros tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. The Astros loaded the bases with two out. A’s manager Bob Melvin left Jackson in to face Alex Bregman. Bregman doubled down the left field line to drive in two, and the game was tied at three apiece.

The game was now a contest between the two bullpens. Shawn Kelly got the final out of the fifth, and he pitched a scoreless sixth as well. Fernando Rodney and Jeurys Familia held the Astros scoreless in the seventh and eighth. The Astros ‘pen did the same to the A’s until the top of the ninth. Astros closer Roberto Osuna struck out Marcus Semien for the first out of the ninth. Ramon Laureano worked Osuna for a walk. Jonathan Lucroy singled to men on at first and second. Left Fielder Nick Martini doubled to deep right-center field. Laureano scored. Lucroy would have scored, but the ball bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double. Osuna retired Matt Chapman and Jed Lowrie to end the threat.

Blake Treinen pitched the ninth for the A’s. Treinen set the Astros down 1-2-3 to secure the A’s 4-3 win.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s are now 80-53, and the Astros are now 81-53.

Jeurys Familia was the winning pitcher, and Roberto Osuna took the loss.

The A’s announced the Brett Anderson was being placed on the 10-day DL due to a forearm strain in his left arm. His teammate, Sean Manaea, also went on the DL with rotator cuff tendinitis in his left shoulder. He went to an orthopedic doctor in LA for a second opinion. It is not known when he will return to action. The A’s recalled Ryan Dull from Nashville to take his spot on the roster.

The A’s announced that Frankie Montas will face Seattle Thursday night. Mike Fiers will pitch on Friday, and Daniel Mengden will start on Saturday.

Up Next: The A’s and Astros conclude their series Wednesday at 11:10 am PDT.

Trevor Cahill (5-3, 3.44 ERA) will start for the A’s Wednesday, and the Astros’ Dallas Keuchal will be his opponent. Cahill has not pitched well on the road this year, and the A’s are hoping for a reversal of fortune.

Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Houston Astros, who had struggled when they had three All-Stars on the DL, pounded the Oakland A’s at Minute Maid Park on Monday night by a score of 11-4. Jose Altuve, George Springer, and Carlos Correa, are all back in the Astros’ lineup and they showed the A’s why they are the defending World Series champions.

The A’s scored two in the second and two in the third on the strength of a two-run Marcus Semien blast in the second and a two-run Matt Chapman big fly in the third to lead 4-0 halfway through the third.

The Astros put five on the board in the bottom of the third. With one out, Martin Maldonado singled to start the rally. The Astros then hit three consecutive doubles to close the gap to 4-3. George Springer, Alex Bregman, and Jose Altuve all doubled. Marwyn Gonzalez singled to drive in Altuve with the fourth run of the frame. Gonzalez advanced to second on the throw home and he scored on Tyler White’s single to put the Astros ahead 5-4.

Neither team was able to put any runs on the board until the bottom of the eighth. Houston scored six times in the bottom of the eighth to put the game out of reach. Rookie Lou Trivino gave up a single to Josh Reddick. Reddick went to third on Nick Martini’s fielding error. Trivino retired Maldonado for the first out, but walked Springer. Bregman homered to up the lead to 8-4. Altuve walked and that ended the night for Trivino.

A’s manager Bob Melvin brought in Emilio Pagan to pitch. Pagan, who was recalled from Nashville due to Sean Manaea going on the DL, retired Carlos Correa for the second out. He then walked Gonzalez and was rocked by a blast by Tyler White. The A’s did not score in the ninth and the game was over. The Astros won 11-4

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s fall to 79-53 and are now 2 1/2 games behind the Astros.

A’s Brett Anderson took the loss. His record is now 3-4. He went just 2 2/3 innings and gave up seven hits and five runs.

Astros’ Gerrit Cole was not at his best, but he still received credit for the win. His record is now 12-5. He pitched six innings and allowed four hits and four runs.

Astros’ Alex Bregman and Tyler White each homered. Both players had four RBIs.

After the game, Bregman had this to say about the recent success of his team: “We just had to get right. If we’re healthy, we’re the best team in the world.”

Up Next: Game two of the three-game series will be at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday night at 5:10 pm PDT.

Edwin Jackson (4-3, 2.97 ERA) will go for the A’s. The Astros will counter with Charlie Morton (13-3, 3.05 ERA). Neither pitcher was effective the last time they pitched. Jackson was rocked by the Rangers and Morton was tagged for six runs by the Mariners.