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Athletics lead Astros for 1st place on AL race
Matt Olson’s homer backs Sean Manaea, A’s beat Astros again
Oakland Athletics’ Matt Olson hits a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
2020.09.10 – The Oakland Athletics lead the Houston Astros by 6.5 games for 1st place on the American League race.
Sean Manaea carried a perfect game into the sixth inning en route to winning his fourth straight start, Matt Olson hit a two-run homer and the Oakland Athletics beat the stumbling Houston Astros 3-1 on Thursday.
“Big series,” Oakland’s Mark Canha said. “We came in here with the right mindset. It was very businesslike and we made it happen. Well-played series.”
The division-leading A’s (27-15) moved 6 1/2 games ahead of second-place Houston in the AL West. The teams split Tuesday’s doubleheader that was forced by an Aug. 30 postponement at Houston because of Oakland pitcher Daniel Mengden’s positive coronavirus test result.
Oakland had four games postponed and is 5-3 since resuming play last Friday against the Padres. Houston (22-23), which won a majors-best 107 games last season and the past three AL West titles, lost for the eighth time in nine games.
“It’s not easy. We’re all frustrated,”Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “But these guys they never get down. They get down momentarily but then they bounce right back.”
The A’s have their largest division lead since they were 6½ games up on Sept. 25, 2013.
2020.09.10 (Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros) See video
2020.09.10 (Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros) See video
Manaea (4-2) struck out four and didn’t walk a batter over seven innings. The lefty has surged since going 0-2 over his initial five outings. He didn’t allow a runner until Josh Reddick doubled leading off the sixth.
“How many rockets did we hit off of him? We hit some balls extremely hard off of him they just didn’t find any holes,” Baker said. “We actually hit the ball harder than they did. It didn’t work.”
Chad Pinder provided insurance with an RBI single in the seventh as Oakland took four of five in the series. Liam Hendriks finished the 2-hour, 18-minute game for his 12th save.
Martín Maldonado grounded into a double play that scored Houston’s lone run off Manaea in the sixth. Olson connected in the bottom half on another smoky, sunless day that had the strange sight of ballpark lights on in the afternoon. Ash fell on the field for a third straight game.
Astros right-hander José Urquidy (0-1) didn’t allow a runner until Marcus Semien’s one-out walk in the fourth and didn’t give up at hit until Canha’s single in the fifth.
Urquidy allowed two runs and two hits over six innings in his second big league start.
Houston’s George Springer had his season-best nine-game hitting streak snapped.
“Everything was going the other guys’ way. Today was disheartening because we hit a lot of balls hard off Manaea,” Houston’s Josh Reddick said. “It’s been very heartbreaking but we have to keep moving forward.”
FIVE GAMES
This marked the 15th five-game series in Oakland history. The A’s have never swept one but won four of the games in a five-game set for the fourth time and first since July 5-8, 1984, at Milwaukee.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (strained forearm) threw a bullpen Wednesday in Houston. Baker was waiting to hear more details about the session and remains optimistic Verlander will return before season’s end. The Astros have mapped out the pitcher’s rehab schedule for the rest of September. “He’s supposed to be on the mound if everything goes well, no setbacks here, again pretty soon,” Baker said. “Hopefully if everything goes well he could be back at the end of the month.”
Athletics: 3B Matt Chapman still wasn’t ready to resume baseball activity as he had hoped. He is nursing right hip tendinitis that forced him out of Sunday’s series finale against San Diego. … LHP A.J. Puk, who hasn’t pitched this year and is on the injured list with an inflamed pitching shoulder that required injections, will be re-examined in the coming days by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles.
UP NEXT
The A’s are on the road with doubleheaders Saturday at Texas and Monday at Seattle.
Following an off day Friday, LHP Framber Valdéz (3-3, 3.61) pitches for the Astros on Saturday in a two-game interleague stop at Dodger Stadium.
RELATED: See below – 2020.09.09 (Oakland A’s 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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Laureano strikes back, 2-out hit in 9th puts A’s past Astros
Oakland Athletics’s Ramón Laureano drives in the winning run with a single against the Houston Astros during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
2020.09.09 – Ramón Laureano hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning that lifted the AL West-leading Athletics over the Astros 3-2 Wednesday night.
Laureano might have celebrated a little harder for this hit, suspended last month for charging the Houston dugout and triggering a bench-clearing brawl, he delivered the RBI single with gusto.
Laureano yelled over and over after yet another walkoff win by the A’s. They increased their division lead to 5 1/2 games over second-place Houston.
“It’s extremely important,” Laureano said. “It’s always good to win especially against a team that is behind us in the race.”
Tommy La Stella hit a tying, two-run double in the seventh before Laureano came through against Ryan Pressly (1-2). Pressly allowed Sean Murphy’s leadoff walk before hitting Tony Kemp in the foot as he pulled his bat back from a bunt attempt.
2020.09.09 (Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros) See video
Oakland Athletics’s Ramón Laureano celebrates with teammates after his single drove in the winning run against the Houston Astros during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
2020.09.09 (Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros) See video
“It’s totally debilitating because they live off walks. The last few innings we had walks,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “We’re pitching Murphy like it’s Johnny Bench or something. … We just gave that game away to them.”
Jesús Luzardo pitched a career-best seven innings for the A’s before Joakim Soria went 1-2-3 in the eighth. Liam Hendriks (3-0) got the win.
Then the A’s, quiet all night at the plate, finally delivered a key hit — just like they do.
“That’s kind of been the theme for us this year. We’ll look stagnant offensively for a while then have just enough for the end,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We always a good feeling when we’re home and we have our last at-bat.”
Laureano was suspended four games in August for his role in the benches-clearing fracas at the Coliseum, which began after he was hit by a pitch. Houston hitting coach Álex Cintrón received a 20-game suspension and a fine for gesturing and yelling toward Laureano at first base.
George Springer and Yuli Gurriel homered for Houston, which snapped a six-game losing streak with a win in Game 2 of Tuesday’s doubleheader.
Astros rookie Luis Garcia hung tough with Luzardo in a pitching matchup of prized rookies on an eerie Bay Area day during which the dark sky glowed orange from wildfire smoke that blocked the sun. Ash covered the green seats.
Shortstop Carlos Correa stole a likely run from the A’s with his strong throw on Laureano’s groundout in the sixth.
Houston is nearly done with a grueling three-city road trip featuring 11 games over 10 days. The Astros are 6-16 away from Minute Maid Park.
HONORING CLEMENTE
Astros SS Carlos Correa, C Martín Maldonado and bench coach Joe Espada wore No. 21 to honor Puerto Rican countryman Roberto Clemente. For Oakland, Puerto Rican Vimael Machin also wore Clemente’s number.
ROOKIE CHANCES
Garcia became the fifth rookie to start a game for the Astros this season and 15th to pitch for Houston overall in 2020.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: 3B Alex Bregman sat out aside from a pinch-hit appearance after being activated Tuesday from the 10-day injured list and playing the doubleheader opener. He is scheduled to play Thursday afternoon’s finale then after Friday’s off day try back-to-back games this weekend at Dodger Stadium. Bregman had been sidelined since Aug. 19 with a strained right hamstring he hurt that day at Colorado. … 2B Jose Altuve (sprained right knee) took groundballs mostly directed right at him. “We didn’t have him go to his right or left too much,” Baker said. “He looked pretty good the balls right at him. You’re a bit worried about his lateral movement.”
Athletics: SS Marcus Semien was back leading off after he returned in Tuesday’s opener from a four-game absence with a left side injury before sitting the nightcap. … RF Stephen Piscotty, a late scratch for the opener Tuesday because of left wrist soreness, received an injection that will sideline him for a couple of days. … 3B Matt Chapman didn’t begin baseball activity as he had hoped. He is dealing with right hip tendinitis that forced him out of Sunday’s series finale against San Diego.
ROSTER MOVE
The Astros activated RHP Josh James from the injured list and optioned C Garrett Stubbs to their alternate site.
UP NEXT
LHP Sean Manaea (3-2, 5.09 ERA) pitches the afternoon series finale for the A’s opposite Houston RHP José Urquidy (0-0, 4.91) in his second career start.
RELATED: See below – 2020.09.08 (Oakland A’s 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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Gurriel hits go-ahead sacrifice fly, Astros end 6-game skid
Oakland Athletics’ Khris Davis celebrates an RBI double against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
2020.09.08 – Yuli Gurriel hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the seventh inning set up by an Oakland error, and the Astros beat the Athletics 5-4 Tuesday to split a doubleheader and end a six-game losing streak.
In the opener, as ash from nearby wildfires fell inside the Coliseum, Khris Davis homered off previously unbeaten Zack Greinke to help the Athletics win 4-2.
The split kept the AL West-leading A’s 4 1/2 games ahead of second-place Houston.
“It feels great. We’ve still got a chance to overtake these guys,” Baker said. “We need these next two games.”
George Springer reached on rookie shortstop Vimael Machin’s error to start the seventh and eventually scored on Gurriel’s fly.
Oakland loaded the bases against Enoli Paredes (2-2) in the sixth but couldn’t capitalize. Ryan Pressly earned his eighth save.
“It’s big. I think a lot of stuff hasn’t really gone our way on this trip and that’s a really, really good team over there,” Springer said.
J.B. Wendelken (1-1) got the loss as the typically reliable A’s bullpen couldn’t close it out.
Matt Olson hit a three-run homer for the A’s, the 100th of his career.
The A’s played as the visiting team in Game 1 for the makeup of a postponement from Aug. 30 after pitcher Daniel Mengden’s positive coronavirus test result. Oakland missed four games in all, including three in Seattle that forced the club to play three doubleheaders in a seven-day span that began Tuesday.
2020.09.08 (Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros) See video
2020.09.08 (Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros) See video
In the first game, Robbie Grossman hit a go-ahead double in the sixth and Ramón Laureano added an RBI single for Oakland.
Davis hit a solo homer and RBI double in a rare start facing Greinke.
Davis, the major league homer leader in 2018 with 48, snapped an 0-for-8 stretch playing for the first time since Aug. 26 at Texas. He began the day 3 for 8 lifetime against Greinke with a home run and a double.
“For a guy that’s a star like he is to not get the type of playing time, you would think he’d put some pressure on you,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “But he doesn’t. He does anything but. He’s as team-oriented of a guy that we have here.”
Greinke (3-1) allowed four runs and seven hits over six innings. He struck out six.
He seemed unconcerned about the Astros’ recent struggles.
“It doesn’t matter, everyone makes the playoffs, so we’ll be all right still,” Greinke said. “If we don’t make the playoffs then we didn’t deserve to make the playoffs. We’re still looking good in that case.”
A’s opening day starter Frankie Montas (3-3), 0-2 over his previous three outings, gave up two runs on six hits in five innings. Liam Hendriks finished for his 11th save.
Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in the fifth for Houston. The Astros had their longest losing streak since dropping seven straight in June 2019.
New A’s lefty Mike Minor made his first start with Oakland in the second game after being acquired from Texas last week. He got into trouble in the fourth, when the Astros drew a pair of bases-loaded walks and scored on Carlos Correa’s hit by pitch.
ODD TRIP HOME
Baker, who has homes in Northern California, said it was “very strange” traveling to Oakland amid the wildfires.
“I’ve been keeping up with it on TV and every time I look up there’s another fire,” Baker said. “Boy, the world’s in bad shape right now. I came off the plane here the first night and you could smell it, smell it in the air and your eyes are burning. … It looks like Mother Nature’s mad at us, the way we’re living, or not living, or whatever. I’m just hoping that this all changes here very quickly.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: Houston activated 3B Alex Bregman from the 10-day injured list. He wasn’t in the Game 2 lineup. Bregman batted second in the first game to try to get him as many at-bats as possible “to find his stroke.” He went 0 for 3, striking out twice with a walk. Bregman had been sidelined since Aug. 19 with a strained right hamstring he hurt that day at Colorado. … 2B Jose Altuve (sprained right knee) did some running as he resumed baseball activity. “He went out and ran today and he looked pretty good, he looked real good actually,” Baker said. … RHP Lance McCullers Jr., on the IL since Sunday with neck nerve irritation, underwent a procedure in Houston that alleviated much of the discomfort.
Athletics: SS Marcus Semien returned from a four-game absence with a left side injury to play the first game. … RF Stephen Piscotty was a late scratch for the opener because of left wrist soreness and also sat the nightcap. … 3B Matt Chapman hopes to do some baseball work Wednesday but doesn’t necessarily expect to return this series from right hip tendinitis that forced him out of Sunday’s series finale against San Diego.
UP NEXT
RHP Luis Garcia (0-0, 2.08 ERA) makes his first major league start Wednesday night after pitching in relief Friday for his big league debut. Oakland LHP Jesús Luzardo (2-2, 4.23) looks to end a two-start skid.
RELATED: See below – 2020.09.07 (Oakland A’s 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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Murphy hits homer, A’s take 1st from Astros
Oakland Athletics’ Robbie Grossman steals second base as the Houston Astros’ Aledmys Diaz fields the throw during the second inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Monday, Sept. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
2020.09.07 – Sean Murphy homered and Tony Kemp added an RBI double as the Oakland Athletics beat the Houston Astros 6-0 on Monday night with both teams missing star players.
Kemp added an RBI double in the second for the AL West-leading A’s (24-14) against his former club in the first of five games over four days between the division rivals.
“It was big. First run of the game like that is huge,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We’re going to need everybody. We’ve got some guys down right now, we’re going to need everybody on our roster. That’s the way we’ve always operated here.”
Ramón Laureano provided insurance with a seventh-inning sacrifice fly and Stephen Piscotty singled home a run in the eighth.
Bassitt (3-2) struck out four and didn’t walk a batter over seven scoreless innings, allowing seven hits, saying, “I just had every pitch kind of working.” He had lost his previous two outings and was winless since beating the Angels on Aug. 12.
“He was on tonight,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “… We didn’t score. We’re facing better pitching, some of the best pitching in the league. You hate to get shut out. I hate shutouts because that means you don’t have a chance to even win 1-0.”
2020.09.07 (Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros) See video
2020.09.07 (Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros) See video
Carlos Correa had two hits for the Astros (21-20) as Houston’s losing streak reached five games.
The teams play a doubleheader Tuesday in which the opener is Houston’s home game. It is a makeup of a postponement from Aug. 30 following A’s right-hander Daniel Mengden’s positive coronavirus test result a day earlier.
Oakland missed four games in all, including three in Seattle that forces the club to play three doubleheaders in a seven-day span starting Tuesday.
The A’s had lost four of five including being swept in a doubleheader at Houston on Aug. 29 before the postponed contest the next day. They began a grueling week featuring three doubleheaders.
Oakland won 97 games each of the past two seasons but finished second in the AL West to the Astros and lost the AL Wild Card Game each time.
“Obviously we’d want to be in their spot and be up top but that’s not the case,” Astros outfielder Josh Reddick said of his former A’s. “We do realize how important this series is, five games in four days, it’s going to be a grind.”
Reddick was back in the Astros lineup. He bruised his right elbow and lost feeling after hitting the wall Sunday but felt better Monday. X-rays were negative.
“No panic,” said Reddick, who reached 10 years of service time.
Houston starter Cristian Javier (4-2) was done after five innings and had his winning streak snapped at three.
HONORING CLEMENTE
Correa, Martin Maldonado and coach Joe Espada will wear No. 21 Wednesday on Roberto Clemente Day to honor their Puerto Rican countryman.
“Roberto Clemente was our Jackie Robinson. He was the greatest humanitarian this game has ever seen,” Correa said. “It’s a dream come true to wear 21.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: 3B Lance Bregman is expected to be activated at some point for the doubleheader Tuesday after being sidelined since Aug. 19 with a strained right hamstring he hurt that day at Colorado. “We’ve been really monitoring him. He’s been trying to get back on the field. He knows how much we need him but at the same time we have to take care of him,” Baker said. … RHP Chris Devenski and LHP Blake Taylor were placed on the injured list with elbow discomfort. RHP Chase De Jong and RHP Humberto Castellanos were activated from the IL. … RHP Lance McCullers Jr., on the IL since Sunday with neck nerve irritation, flew back to Houston following the series in Anaheim to be seen by a team doctor. “It’s a nerve problem stemming from the neck and going down into the arm,” Baker said. “We’re trying to calm that down.” … 2B Jose Altuve (sprained right knee) is yet to do baseball activities. He was hurt sliding into third base during Thursday’s game against Texas and went on the IL on Saturday.
Athletics: Gold Glove 3B Matt Chapman underwent an MRI exam on his right hip that revealed tendinitis. The injury forced him out of Sunday’s 5-3 series finale loss to the Padres. It’s not an injury list situation yet, and Melvin said “we’ll hold out as long as we possibly can.” Chapman isn’t expected to play for at least a couple of days. “He’s not happy about it, he’s frustrated,” Melvin said of Chapman sitting out this series. Chapman struck out 10 times in the three-game series with San Diego. … SS Marcus Semien hit in the cage and was set to hit batting practice outside as well. Melvin is optimistic he will play this series, perhaps as soon as one of Tuesday’s games. … LHP A.J. Puk has further shoulder soreness and didn’t throw Sunday as planned and didn’t feel well enough to throw or play catch Monday. “We’re shutting him down in the interim,” Melvin said, noting Puk will likely see a doctor.
UP NEXT
A’s RHP Frankie Montas (2-3, 6.06 ERA) is scheduled to pitch the second game of the series as the Astros counter with unbeaten RHP Zack Greinke (3-0, 2.91) trying to win his third straight start.
RELATED: See 2020.09.06 (Oakland Athletics vs. San Diego Padres)
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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