|
 "The last thing she said to me was hit a homer for me for my
birthday present since you're not here," Hoes said.
Hoes gift-wrapped a tiebreaking solo home run with one out in the
top of the 12th inning, and the Astros held on for a 3-2 victory
against the Oakland A's at the O.co Coliseum.
Hoes ripped left-handed reliever Fernando Abad's first pitch to left
field for his third home run of the season. He entered the game
batting .176 and went hitless in his first four at-bats before
homering off Abad (2-4). It was his first home run since May 13
against the Texas Rangers. Hoes, who was recalled from Triple-A
Oklahoma City on Jun 26, made just his 32nd start of the season.
"It's a real good feeling, especially because it's my mom's
birthday," Hoes aid. "To be able to do that for her, it's a special
thing."
Astros right-hander Chad Qualls pitched a perfect 12th for his 11th
save of the season.
The Astros beat the A's for the third straight time, a franchise
first. Last year, the Astros were 34-66 after 100 games. This year
they are 42-58. Since May 11, they are 31-32.
"Very improved," A's left-hander Scott Kazmir said of the Astros,
his hometown team. "For them to pull it out shows the signs of a
good team."
The first-place A's (61-38) remain two games ahead of the Los
Angeles Angels in the American League West.
"We know we're just working to build for the future," Hoes said. "We
want to get to where those guys are at right now. They've been to
the playoffs the last two years and won the division. That down the
line is something we want to work to. We want to build something
that we can start winning division titles and going to the playoffs.
We know that we have to compete with those guys and also beat those
guys."
Astros left-hander Brett Oberholtzer allowed just two runs on seven
hits over seven innings but didn't figure in the decision. He walked
two and had no strikeouts in a start for the first time in his
career. Oberholtzer went 0-1 with a 1.54 ERA in his first two career
starts at the Coliseum and made it three straight gems at Oakland
without a victory.
Kazmir allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits over seven
innings but got a no-decision. Kazmir struck out six, walked one and
left the game after throwing 106 pitches with the score tied 2-2.
Kazmir, an American League All-Star, allowed one or fewer earned
runs for the fourth straight start. He lowered his ERA to 2.32,
third best in the AL.
"He pitched the way he has all year for us," A's manager Bob Melvin
said. "We just didn't score him enough runs."
Astros first baseman Chris Carter, who was traded by Oakland to
Houston after the 2012 season, went 3-for-5 with two doubles. He
drove in two runs with a third-inning single. Houston second baseman
Jose Altuve went 3-for-6.
The Astros led 2-1 through five innings, but the A's pulled even
with a run in the sixth. Third baseman Josh Donaldson doubled with
one out off the left field fence, moved to third on catcher Derek
Norris' sharp single and scored on shortstop Jed Lowrie's sacrifice
fly.
[to top of second column] |
After Kazmir and Oberholtzer exited, the game turned into a battle
of the bullpens.
Astros right-hander Josh Fields, who struck out 16 of the previous
24 batters he faced before Tuesday, struck out two more in two
scoreless innings. In the bottom of the 10th, Houston left-hander
Tony Sipp gave up a one-out single to second baseman Nick Punto, who
took second on a wild pitch with two outs. Sipp retired right
fielder Josh Reddick on a ground ball to first base.
Houston reliever Jose Veras retired the first two batters he faced
in the 11th but gave up a single to pinch hitter John Jaso, then
walked Lowrie. Left-hander Darin Downs (2-1) came on to retire first
baseman Brandon Moss and earned the win.
A's right-hander Luke Gregerson pitched a perfect eighth and lefty
Sean Doolittle a scoreless ninth. Right-hander Dan Otero pitched 1
2/3 scoreless innings before Abad retired catcher Jason Castro on a
ground ball for the final out of the 11th, stranding a runner.
Abad retired the first batter he faced in the 12th, but Hoes drilled
his fastball above the yellow "home run" line on the left field wall
above the out-of-town scoreboard. Hoes said he initially thought he
hit a double when the ball left his bat. Astros manager Bo Porter
wasn't sure if Hoes hit the ball high enough to get out.
"I was just saying, 'Get up, get up,' and I'm glad it got out of the
ballpark," Porter said. "Boy, that's a big hit there. Did a good job
of getting extension on the fastball."
NOTES: Oakland RF Josh Reddick (strained right knee) was activated
from the 15-day disabled list before the game and went 0-for-2 off
the bench. Reddick, who was out since June 29, had a five-game rehab
stint with Class A Stockton. INF/OF Andy Parrino was sent down to
Triple-A Sacramento on Monday, opening a spot on the 25-man roster
for Reddick. ... Astros CF George Springer (sore right knee,
quadriceps) missed his second consecutive game. He remains
day-to-day. ... Astros 1B Jose Guzman, a late scratch Sunday against
the Chicago White Sox due to back discomfort, was in the lineup and
went 0-for-4.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
