Athletics 4, Astros 3: Josh Reddick belted a two-run homer in the eighth inning to erase a deficit and keep visiting Oakland perfect against Houston this season.
Chris Young added a solo shot for the American League West-leading Athletics, who rallied from a 3-0 deficit to improve to 10-0 versus the division-rival Astros in 2013. Oakland has won 12 straight meetings with Houston and is 15-1 in the all-time series.
Rookie Grant Green began Oakland's comeback in the sixth with a sacrifice fly and Young launched his ninth homer of the year with one out in the seventh to cut the deficit to 3-2. Nate Freiman led off the eighth with a single off Hector Ambriz and Reddick deposited a 3-2 offering from Wesley Wright (0-4) over the right-field wall.
Ryan Cook (3-2) struck out two in a perfect seventh and Grant Balfour did the same in the ninth for his 26th save of the season and club-record 44th straight successful conversion.
Chris Carter and J.D. Martinez each drove in a run for the Astros, who have lost six in a row and nine of 10. Houston also has dropped 10 of its last 11 at home.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Houston SS Jonathan Villar made his major-league debut, going 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base after being recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City earlier in the day. The Astros also designated 1B Carlos Pena and INF Ronny Cedeno for assignment. ... Oakland LHP Tommy Milone yielded three runs (two earned) over six innings, while Houston LHP Dallas Keuchel allowed one run in six frames. ... Oakland CF Coco Crisp led off the contest with a double, ending his streak of 21 consecutive games without an extra-base hit.
Oakland | Houston | |
Tom Milone | Player | Dallas Keuchel |
No Decision | W/L | No Decision |
6.0 | IP | 6.0 |
5 | Strikeouts | 5 |
6 | Hits | 5 |
4.50 | ERA | 1.50 |
Oakland | Houston | |
Nate Freiman | Player | Justin Maxwell |
2 | Hits | 2 |
0 | RBI | 1 |
0 | HR | 0 |
3 | TB | 4 |
.500 | Avg | .500 |