Oakland A’s Sweep the Houston Astros
Laureano, Allen ejected in 7th after a bench-clearing altercation
Oakland Athletics’ Ramon Laureano (22) charges the Houston Astros’ dugout after being hit by a pitch thrown by Humberto Castellanos during the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
2020.08.09 – Following two competitive games at the Coliseum, the Oakland Athletics and Houston Astros showed a bench-clearing altercation as things got so angry the benches cleared during Oakland’s 7-2 victory over the AL West rival Astros.
The Athletics’ ninth straight win was far overshadowed by what erupted in the seventh inning. The skirmish came less than two weeks after the Astros tangled with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team they beat in the 2017 World Series.
Oakland’s Ramon Laureano got hit by a pitch — for the third time in the three-game series — this one by Humberto Castellanos with one out in the seventh, and pointed at the rookie right-hander.
Laureano then began exchanging words with animated Astros hitting coach Álex Cintrón, left first base, threw down his batting helmet and began charging toward him in the first base dugout.
Astros catcher Dustin Garneau left the bench to tackle Laureano before the A’s outfielder reached Cintrón, and a wild scene ensued.
“I was just trying to stop the situation before punches were really thrown and stuff got out of hand,” Garneau said. “That’s really what my whole goal was for that incident.”
2020.08.09 (Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros) See video
2020.08.09 (Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros) See video
Players rushed out of both dugouts to join the fray. Players who were sitting in the seats, observing COVID-19 social-distancing protocols, also rushed onto the field. Several Astros streamed out from their tunnel area.
Laureano was ejected by plate ump Ted Barrett, and the umpiring crew could easily be heard yelling at the players to “get back to the dugout!” through a ballpark with no fans.
“Ramon’s not going over there for no reason,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said, adding of Cintrón: “I think the league will know who that is and that person will get suspended. Hopefully that’s the case. Nowadays without fans in the stands and mikes everywhere my guess is they know who it is.”
Oakland batters were hit five times during the series, no Houston hitters were plunked.
A’s catcher Austin Allen was also ejected and Astros manager Dusty Baker was tossed a half-inning earlier for arguing balls and strikes. Houston lost its fifth in a row overall.
Oakland realized Laureano likely faces discipline.
“Look, we understand and you do the best you can with these things,” Melvin said. “Obviously we don’t want to get into a brawl like that and we understand the protocol. Unfortunately, it happened.”
Baker said he didn’t see what happened because, having been ejected, he couldn’t get the game feed on his clubhouse TV.
When asked whether Cintrón had crossed the line with his behavior, Baker reserved judgment.
“Who chirped first? Did Alex say something to him first or did Laureano say something?” Baker asked. “I don’t know what happened. I’ve chirped at players before myself. Guys always say, well, is it inappropriate for a coach to chirp at a guy, but are you supposed to just sit there and take it?”
“It’s in the heat in the moment, we’re all men out there, with high pride and anxiety and everything else. These things happen when you’re on the baseball field,” he said.
Ex-Astros player Fiers didn’t pitch this series. He went public to The Athletic in November about Houston’s detailed sign-stealing scam. The Astros have won the past three division crowns, a World Series in 2017 and AL pennant last year. The A’s won 97 each in 2018 and ’19 only to lose the AL wild-card game.
On July 28, Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly threw two pitches near the head of Houston hitters at Minute Maid Park and got suspended for eight games, a penalty that he appealed.
Matt Olson hit a three-run homer in the Oakland third and Matt Chapman connected the very next pitch, taking the score from 1-0 to 5-0 on consecutive offerings from Astros starter Cristian Javier (1-1).
Robbie Grossman also homered and Mark Canha contributed an RBI single.
The A’s (12-4) matched the 2013 club for the best record after 16 games over the last 30 years.
A’s rookie left-hander Jesus Luzardo (1-0) earned his first major league win in his second career start. His day was done after allowing back-to-back two-out walks in the sixth.
The 22-year-old Luzardo outdid 23-year-old Javier in a matchup of two top pitching prospects.
ROSTER MOVE
The Astros acquired LHP Brooks Raley from Cincinnati for a player to be named. The 32-year-old Raley was 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA in four games for the Reds before being designated for assignment on Thursday. This is his first year in the majors since 2013 with the Cubs. He played the last five seasons in South Korea.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: CF George Springer resumed hitting work in the batting cage but was still listed as day to day by Baker. The outfielder missed his third straight game after suffering a sprained right wrist diving for a ball during Thursday’s loss at Arizona.
Athletics: RHP Jordan Weems, on the injured list with a lat strain, will throw to hitters soon at the club’s San Jose alternate site. “I know everything’s progressing well,” Melvin said. … LHP A.J. Puk (strained throwing shoulder) is playing catch out to about 90 feet but Melvin said, “It’s going to be a while before he gets on a mound.”
UP NEXT
LHP Sean Manaea (0-2, 8.03 ERA) tries again for his first victory of 2020 when the A’s open a three-game road series vs. the Angels. RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (1-1, 9.22) pitches as the Astros return home to face the San Francisco Giants.
RELATED: See below 2020.08.08 (Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros)
Read more at: Oakland Athletics Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Oakland Athletics, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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Semien homer again and Oakland beat Houston 3-1
Oakland Athletics’ Marcus Semien, right, slides in to steal second base as Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve (27) misses the ball in the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
2020.08.08 – Marcus Semien homered in the first after hitting a walkoff single to end a 13-inning win 15 hours earlier, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Houston Astros 3-1 on Saturday for their eighth straight victory.
“A lot of our games have been close but we’re playing good defense, timely hitting. The pitching’s been very consistent, it’s almost surprising when we give up runs,” Semien said. “That’s a good sign. I think we’re playing good ball, regardless of the batting averages up there, whatever, we’re doing what we have to do to win games.”
Frankie Montas (2-1) pitched seven shutout innings, allowing two hits without walking a batter and striking out five for the AL West-leading A’s.
The three-time reigning division champion Astros lost their fourth in a row. The last three defeats have been by a total of four runs.
Semien became the first player in A’s franchise history with a game-ending hit and a leadoff homer on back-to-back days. He delivered again after singling home the winning run in the bottom of the 13th of a 3-2 win in Friday night’s series opener.
2020.08.08 (Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros) See video
2020.08.08 (Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros) See video
Matt Chapman homered in the eighth and added an RBI groundout in the sixth as Oakland (11-4) matched the 2014 club for the best record through 15 games over the last 30 years.
“It’s huge,” Montas said of taking the first two from the Astros.
The rivals each received much-needed long outings from their starters with bullpens depleted.
Jake Diekman pitched one scoreless inning of relief. Liam Hendriks surrendered Alex Bregman’s one-out RBI single in the ninth before finishing for his fifth save in six chances as the Astros avoided their first shutout.
Houston starter Framber Valdéz (0-2) gave up two runs on seven hits and struck out nine with one walk over seven innings. He threw 103 pitches for the most by a Houston starter this season.
The Astros’ bullpen was several pitchers short after the long game Friday, so manager Dusty Baker appreciated Valdéz’s work to put the Houston pitchers in improved position for Sunday’s series finale.
“We’re limping right now. Things aren’t going our way,” Baker said. “We’re not getting any sympathy and don’t want any from anybody.”
GREINKE’S SEAT
Zack Greinke had a nice seat between innings of his Friday night start — the Houston pitcher sat in the stands, with the cutouts.
“It’s great. Really nice. I would prefer to be able to sit in more places, more spread out,” he said. “Right now they kind of have us kind of close to each other in the stands. I just find a way to get a little bit farther out of the way.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: CF George Springer missed his second straight game after suffering a sprained right wrist diving for a ball during Thursday’s loss at Arizona. “He’s about the same, it’s only been 12 hours,” Baker said. “I know he’s Superman, but he’s not ready. … He’s not playable.” … RHP Justin Verlander (Tommy John surgery) isn’t progressing as quickly as the pitcher would like, Baker said, but that’s just the ace’s style considering he “wanted to pitch yesterday,” Baker said.
UP NEXT
A’s rookie left-hander Jesus Luzardo (0-0, 2.31 ERA) makes his second career start after pitching five scoreless innings Tuesday vs. Texas in his starting debut. Cristian Javier (1-0, 1.42) counters for Houston.
RELATED: See below 2020.08.07 (Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros)
Read more at: Oakland Athletics Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Oakland Athletics, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
EMI Sports Central – EMI Sports Bay Area: Join the conversation on sports news for SF Bay Area teams: Follow @EMIsports on Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook and sign up for our FREE email newsletters.
A’s hold off Astros in 13th inning for seventh straight win 3-2
Oakland Athletics pitcher Chris Bassitt works against the Houston Astros in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
2020.08.07 – Marcus Semien singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 13th in a game that matched the longest this season with baseball’s new extra-innings rule, and the AL West-leading Oakland Athletics beat the Houston Astros 3-2 on Friday night for their seventh straight win.
Alex Bregman hit an RBI double in the top of the 13th inning only for the A’s to tie it on Austin Allen’s single in the bottom half against Cy Sneed (0-2). J.B. Wendelken (1-0) worked three strong innings and the A’s finally delivered after squandering bases-loaded chances in the 10th and 12th.
“There’s added pressure, especially at this level and you know that all you have to do is hit the ball in the outfield, but it’s really not that easy,” Semien said.
Houston lost its third straight.
The Astros were supposed to visit Oakland months ago in late March for their first road trip of 2020 after a sign-stealing scam that blemished baseball during the offseason. Coronavirus delayed the Bay Area trip.
A plane flew over earlier Friday with a banner reading “Houston Asterisks” after the three-time reigning division champs were mired in scandal.
Robbie Grossman hit a tying homer in the seventh and Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman made a terrific stop on Jose Altuve’s sharp grounder to keep the game tied in the 10th.
2020.08.07 (Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros) See video
2020.08.07 (Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros) See video
Zack Greinke and Chris Bassitt dueled early. Greinke remained winless over his initial three outings, while Bassitt has allowed just two earned runs over 16 2/3 innings so far.
“That was an enjoyable game to watch for the most part, just good baseball,” Greinke said.
Kyle Tucker’s double put the Astros ahead in the third.
Oakland wasted Chapman’s one-out double in the fourth. Ramon Laureano tripled leading off the sixth and Greinke got out of that, too.
“We left some guys on base, but so did they,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “It’s a game of attrition sometimes.”
These were the top two teams in the West the past two years — with the A’s having won 97 games each season only to finish second in the division before losing the wild-card game both times. Houston won a majors-best 107 games in 2019.
“If we’re going to go where we want to go, that’s the team you have to go through in your division,” Melvin said. “I think there are a lot of teams that are probably, and rightly so, upset with them this year but you can’t let that get in the way of going out there and concentrating on what you need to do to win a game. And if it gives you motivation then so be it.”
CHRISTENSON GESTURE
Major League Baseball was in touch with the A’s about their bench coach making a gesture that appeared to be a Nazi salute following Thursday’s series finale against the Rangers.
The A’s are giving Ryan Christenson the benefit of the doubt that he intended no harm.
“Ryan Christenson is fully supported by everybody in our clubhouse and they know who he is. So do I. Obviously it didn’t look great but that was not his intent at all. I know that for a fact,” Melvin said. “He’s just not that guy.”
RESPECT FOR BAKER
As a player with the Giants, Melvin had Astros manager Dusty Baker as a hitting coach. He not only admires Baker, he is thrilled for his latest chance at age 71.
“He’s been a resource for me, he’s been a father figure for me in this game as far as managing,” Melvin said. “I always look forward to seeing him. I don’t necessarily enjoy managing against him because he’s had such great success — what 2,000 wins and I don’t know how many manager of the years — Dusty is one of the great ones and respected by everybody in the game.”
Baker feels the same way about Melvin, too. They keep in touch regularly.
“He’s one of my favorite guys,” Baker said.
NO FIERS
A’s right-hander Mike Fiers, the whistleblower in the Astros scandal when he went public with the sign-stealing scam last November to The Athletic, isn’t facing his former club. Fiers pitched Thursday’s series finale against Texas.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: An MRI exam revealed CF George Springer has a sprained right wrist after he injured it diving for a ball during Thursday’s loss to Arizona. “It’s good news, nothing’s broken,” Baker said, listing Springer as day to day. “That’s a very positive sign.”
UP NEXT
LHP Framber Valdéz (0-1, 2.53 ERA) seeks his first victory of 2020 opposite A’s righty opening day starter Frankie Montas (1-1, 2.25).
RELATED: See 2020.07.26 (Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels)
Read more at: Oakland Athletics Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Oakland Athletics, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
EMI Sports Central – EMI Sports Bay Area: Join the conversation on sports news for SF Bay Area teams: Follow @EMIsports on Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook and sign up for our FREE email newsletters.