|
 Athletics first baseman Daric Barton delivered a two-run single
against the Astros' drawn-in infield and Oakland scored seven runs
in the ninth inning of a 12-5 victory Friday night at Minute Maid
Park.
With no outs, the bases loaded and Astros closer Josh Fields (0-2)
attempting to preserve a 5-5 deadlock, Barton slapped a sharp single
into right field past flailing Astros second baseman Jose Altuve,
scoring left fielder Brandon Moss and designated hitter Alberto
Callaspo.
Houston right fielder George Springer committed a throwing error on
the play, the Astros' third error of the game, allowing Craig Gentry
to score from first base for a three-run Oakland lead. Nick Punto
chased Fields with a double before Oakland (15-8) tackled on four
more runs.
"We do everything we can to put them in positions to be successful,
and right now, it's just not happening," Astros manager Bo Porter
said of his relievers. "They come into spots we feel are best suited
for them, and they're just not getting it done."
The Athletics improved to 10-1 at Minute Maid Park since the start
of last season when the Astros joined the American League West.
Oakland is 25-5 all-time against Houston and has claimed all three
season series.
Before Fields imploded, the Astros received three innings of
scoreless relief from their bullpen. Oakland did the Astros two
innings better, with Dan Otero, Sean Doolittle and Luke Gregerson
(1-1) keeping Houston (7-17) at bay after a shaky start from
right-hander Jesse Chavez. Athletics left-hander Fernando Abad
mopped up in the ninth, but not before he hit Astros catcher Jason
Castro with a pitch.
Fields and Anthony Bass plunked Moss in the ninth and, after
previous dustups between Oakland shortstop Jed Lowrie and Astros
right-hander Paul Clemens, it came as no surprise when Castro was
hit. Plate umpire Jordan Baker ejected Porter after he protested the
Abad non-ejection.
"It's the umpire's discretion, I guess, whether I got hit twice or
not," Moss said. "They've hit us a few times this series and we hit
one of their guys.
"I think Bo said it yesterday: The game of baseball takes care of
itself and that's what happened tonight. Some people may not like
it, Castro might not like it, but you stand behind your words."
The Astros' five errors Thursday night were a minor factor in their
10-1 loss. However, their early miscues Friday played a critical
role in the two innings that Oakland scored against Houston starter
Brad Peacock.
With one run already home and Athletics right fielder Josh Reddick
on third base after his RBI triple, Astros shortstop Jonathan Villar
allowed a grounder off the bat of Barton to squeeze by him and into
shallow left field. Reddick held at third on contact but scored on
the fielding error and, four batters later, Lowrie plated Barton and
Eric Sogard with a two-run single to right that gave the Athletics a
4-0 lead in the second inning.
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After Houston shaved a run off the deficit in the third, Peacock
undermined his own cause with a throwing error attempting to pick
off Sogard at second. Sogard advanced to third and scored when
catcher John Jaso lifted a sacrifice fly to left, upping the lead to
5-1 in the fourth.
The Athletics proved equally benevolent in the bottom of the fourth
inning, with third baseman Josh Donaldson committing a two-run
throwing error following a sharp grounder from Altuve, who later
scored on a Castro groundout to second that pulled Houston even.
Donaldson made up for his miscue with a two-run home run in the
ninth, his third two-run blast of the series and seventh homer in
2014.
"It was awesome to finish the way we did," Gentry said. "I thought
Mossy getting hit by that pitch and Callaspo with that nice single,
I think that really got us going. Once we got a couple of runs
across we were kind of relaxed and were able to let it go."
NOTES: Athletics assistant GM David Frost disputed a published
report stating that RHP A.J. Griffin will undergo season-ending
Tommy John surgery. Oakland announced Thursday that Griffin has a
scheduled visit with a Houston-area doctor on Tuesday for a second
opinion on his right elbow flexor tendinitis. ... The Astros placed
RHP Matt Albers on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to April
22) with right shoulder tendinitis. Albers has a 0.90 ERA but does
not have a decision in eight relief appearances. RHP Jose Cisnero
was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. ... Houston sent its top
pitching prospect, RHP Mark Appel, to extended spring training after
Appel struggled with the organization's use of tandem starting
rotations. Appel posted a 6.23 ERA and 1.62 WHIP in four starts for
Class A Lancaster.
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