Astros beat Athletics 6-4 in 12 innings for 3-game sweep
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Rookie Myles Straw had three hits, three stolen bases and scored the go-ahead run on Michael Brantley’s single in the 12th inning to help the Houston Astros complete their second three-game sweep of the season against the Oakland Athletics with a 6-4 victory on Sunday.
Yuli Gurriel added a single in the 12th for his second RBI of the game to give the Astros their sixth sweep in their last nine series in Oakland. Houston also swept the A’s at home in a three-game series in April.
The A’s were held to seven runs in the series with all the scoring coming on six homers. They have lost five straight following a 10-game winning streak and now trail Houston by a season-high 10 1/2 games in the AL West.
Three of those recent losses have been with Lou Trivino (2-3) in relief. He pitched a perfect 11th but ran into big trouble in the 12th for his second loss of the series and third in Oakland’s past four games. Straw, called up from the minors earlier in the week, got it started with a single and then stole second.
Alex Bregman walked with one out before Brantley and Gurriel followed with RBI singles that made it 6-4.
Josh James (3-0) pitched two perfect innings for the win.
The Astros overcame a pair of solo homers in the second by Robbie Grossman and Jurickson Profar to build a 4-2 lead. Gurriel hit an RBI double in the first, two runs scored on an infield grounder by Bregman in the fifth and Derek Fisher added an RBI single in the seventh.
But the A’s answered with solo homers by Ramón Laureano in the seventh off Will Harris and Matt Chapman in the eighth off Ryan Pressly to tie the game. That gave Oakland 28 homers during a 12-game streak.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: Houston’s long list of injured players including 2B Jose Altuve (hamstring) and OF George Springer (hamstring) got a day off from rehab for a recovery.
Athletics: LHP Brett Anderson, who was removed as a precaution Saturday after feeling something in his right side, got treatment and the A’s are hopeful he will be able to make his next start Friday at Texas.
SPEED KILLS
The Astros capitalized on their speed. Tony Kemp went from first to third on a single by Straw in the fifth. Straw then stole second and both runs scored on Bregman’s infield grounder. Shortstop Marcus Semien fielded the ball in the hole but his long throw to first was in the dirt and Matt Olson couldn’t scoop it. The ball rolled a few feet away and Straw raced home with the go-ahead run on Semien’s second error of the season. Straw then added another run in the seventh when he walked, stole second and scored on Fisher’s single.
GETTING TOSSED
Home plate umpire Alan Porter ejected two more A’s this game. He tossed Stephen Piscotty after he questioned a called third strike that ended the 10th inning. Manager Bob Melvin then came out to argue and was tossed as well. Porter ejected Semien on Saturday for arguing a foul ball call.
FOR STARTERS
Both starters ended up with no-decisions with Houston’s Gerrit Cole allowing two runs and four hits in six innings and Oakland’s Chris Bassitt giving up three runs and six hits in six innings.
UP NEXT
Astros: RHP Corbin Martin (1-1, 5.51) will make his fifth career start in the series opener Monday at Seattle.
Athletics: RHP Frankie Montas (6-2, 2.40 ERA) heads into the series opener Tuesday at the Angels having gone eight straight starts without allowing a home run.
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