Houston Astros vs Oakland Athletics Box Score on Jun 22, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jun 22, 2017

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Jake Marisnick and Marwin Gonzalez hit three-run homers in the second inning and rookie right-hander David Paulino pitched 5 1/3 solid innings, leading the Houston Astros to a 12-9 victory over the Oakland Athletics and a sweep of their four-game series on Thursday.

The Astros defeated the A's at Oakland Coliseum for the 10th straight time and have won 15 of the past 16 games overall against Oakland. Houston, which swept the A's in Oakland for the third straight time, had their seventh series sweep of the season and fifth on the road.

Paulino (2-0) gave up three runs and seven hits, struck out six and walked two. He was coming off his first career major-league victory, a 7-1 win over Boston on Saturday. Now he has his first winning streak in the big leagues.

The Astros improved to a major league-best 50-24. The last-place A's (31-42) trail the first-place Astros by a season-high 18 1/2 games in the American League West.

Former A's player Josh Reddick went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and a solo homer, his seventh home run of the season, for the Astros. He also walked and scored four runs, matching his career high. Evan Gattis had three RBIs.

The A's trailed 10-0 after two innings but made a late push, scoring six times in the eighth inning to cut Houston's lead to 12-9. Rajai Davis, Maxwell, Adam Rosales and Matt Olson doubled during the inning. Reliever Dayan Diaz gave up five runs and retired only one batter before giving way to Michael Feliz, who gave up one run.

Chris Devenski pitched a perfect ninth with three strikeouts for his third save.

A's right-hander Jesse Hahn (4-4) gave up 10 runs (nine earned) -- both career highs -- in two innings. He allowed six hits, including two home runs, walked three and struck out none. Hahn had gone 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA in his three previous starts.

Astros center fielder George Springer was hit by a pitch while leading off in the top of the first inning and left the game with a left hand contusion. Springer, who has 21 home runs and a major league-high eight leadoff homers, is day to day. Springer was hit by Hahn's 92 mph fastball on a 3-1 count and replaced by Marisnick.

Catcher Bruce Maxwell was called up from Triple-A Nashville and went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run for the A's. Maxwell took the roster spot of catcher Stephen Vogt, a two-time American League All-Star who was designated for assignment as the A's continued a youth movement.

Vogt was hitting .217 with four home runs and 20 RBIs in 54 games this season. In recent weeks, his playing time had been reduced.

The Astros took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. After hitting Springer, Hahn had back-to-backs walks and then gave up sacrifice flies to Carlos Beltran and Gattis.

Houston scored eight times in the second to make it 10-0. Yuli Gurriel hit a leadoff single and moved to third on Norichika Aoki's double. Marisnick followed with blast to left-center field, his career-high 10th homer of the season.

The Astros reloaded the bases on Reddick's double, a walk to Carlos Correa and an error by A's first baseman Yonder Alonso. Gattis hit a two-run single, extending Houston's lead to 7-0, and Gonzalez launched a home run to right, his 13th of the season, making it 10-0.

NOTES: A's 1B/OF Matt Olson was recalled from Triple-A Nashville and started in right field. He went 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and a run. ... Oakland 3B Matt Chapman (left knee infection) was placed on the disabled list. He had missed the previous three games while being treated orally with antibiotics. He was sent to a hospital to receive antibiotics intravenously. ... 2B Jose Altuve was out of the lineup for the fourth time this season, getting a rare day off. He appeared in 72 of the Astros' first 73 games with 70 starts. ... Astros LF Norichika Aoki went 3-for-5 with two doubles.