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 After committing a costly ninth-inning throwing error that helped
the Oakland A's score twice and pull even, the Houston third baseman
delivered an RBI double with two outs in the top of the 10th,
leading the Astros to a 5-4 win against his former team at the O.co
Coliseum.
"I felt like I put us in that situation," Lowrie said. "Just
grateful for the opportunity to come up in the 10th and come
through."
Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, who had three hits, lined a
leadoff single off right-hander Edward Mujica (2-4) in the 10th.
Altuve stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Lowrie
lined Mujica's 3-2 fastball for an opposite-field double down the
left field line to score Altuve.
"It's a great way to come back and stay in the moment and obviously
contribute against your former team, " Astros manager A.J. Hinch
said of Lowrie.
Houston rookie shortstop Carlos Correa went 2-for-4 with a two-run
homer, his 14th blast of the season.
Third baseman Brett Lawrie and catcher Stephen Vogt hit solo home
runs for the A's.
The Astros, who were swept by Texas, ended a three-game losing
streak.
Houston trailed 2-1 entering the eighth inning, but Altuve lined a
one-out single off A's reliever Fernando Rodriguez, and Correa
launched a two-out homer into the left field seats to put Houston
ahead.
"It was a big moment," Correa said. "That's probably the best homer
I've hit so far."
The home run came in Correa's 51st game, exactly two months after he
made his major league debut. The Astros added another run in the
eighth, cashing in on a walk, a single by right fielder Colby Rasmus
and an error on A's center fielder Billy Burns to make it 4-2.
The A's rallied to score twice off closer Luke Gregerson in the
bottom of the ninth to force extra innings.
Gregerson issued a four-pitch, leadoff walk to Vogt. He got Lawrie
to hit a ground ball, but Lowrie threw wide of second base for an
error as Vogt raced to third. First baseman Ike Davis lined a single
to center, driving in Vogt to make it 4-3 and moving Lawrie to
third.
Lowrie has played most of his career at shortstop, but he didn't use
his move to third as an excuse for the bad throw.
"It was just a (horrible) throw," Lowrie said. "Definitely not
acceptable."
Gregerson struck out shortstop Marcus Semien but walked second
baseman Eric Sogard, loading the bases. Speedy center fielder Billy
Burns brought home Lawrie with a grounder. Altuve got the force at
second, but Burns barely beat Correa's throw to first.
Houston challenged the call, but it stood after a video review.
Gregerson (5-1) retired left fielder Coco Crisp on a fly ball to the
warning track in right field, ending the inning.
"There was no doubt in my mind that it was at least off the wall,"
Melvin said of Crisp's drive. "I thought it was out when he hit it,
but (it was) just a little short."
Astros right-hander Will Harris tossed a scoreless 10th for his
first save of the season.
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Rookie right-hander Aaron Brooks pitched his second straight gem for
the A's but got a no decision. Brooks allowed just one run on four
hits over seven innings in his third career major league start and
second since being traded by the Kansas City Royals to the A's on
July 28. Brooks, who earned his first big league win Saturday
against the Cleveland Indians, struck out seven and walked one.
"It's a big opportunity, I feel like something that Royals weren't
able to do for me right now," Brooks said. "I'm really thankful
Oakland is confident and willing to give me that shot."
Astros right-hander Scott Feldman gave up two runs and five hits
over six innings, but two of those hits were solo blasts by Vogt and
Lawrie. Feldman struck out three and walked two.
Houston jumped in front with a run in the top of the first inning.
Center fielder Carlos Gomez dropped a drag bunt down the third base
line on a 1-1 count, surprising the A's and beating out a single.
Correa moved Gomez to third with a single to left field, and Lowrie
brought the runner home with a sacrifice fly.
The A's pulled even in the second on Vogt's 15th home run of the
season, a one-out blast to center.
Oakland took a 2-1 lead in the fifth when Lawrie crushed a leadoff
homer that hit high off the facing beyond the 400-foot mark in
center and bounced off a window in a luxury suite. The home run was
Lawrie's 10th of the season.
"That ball was crushed," Melvin said. "He has the power to do that.
You watch him take (batting practice) and see how athletic and
strong he is."
NOTES: Oakland LHP Sean Doolittle (strained left shoulder) will
begin a rehab assignment Friday night with Class A Stockton. ...
Oakland RF Josh Reddick (stiff lower back) was in the starting
lineup for the first time since being hurt Sunday. He went 1-for-5.
... Astros LHP Scott Kazmir returned to the Oakland Coliseum exactly
two weeks after the A's traded him to Houston for a pair of
minor-leaguers. Kazmir pitched Wednesday against Texas, so he won't
face his former team during the four-game series. ... Houston OF
Preston Tucker (right arm contusion) was out of the lineup for the
second consecutive game but entered the game in left field in the
eighth and went 0-for-1.
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