Fiers stays hot as Astros top Athletics
The Sports Xchange
Jun 22, 2017
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Right-hander Mike Fiers pitched six strong innings for his fourth consecutive victory, Carlos Correa hit his 14th home run, and the Houston Astros defeated the Oakland Athletics 5-1 on Wednesday night.
Fiers (5-2) allowed one run on three hits, struck out five and walked three as he beat the A's for the first time in seven career starts (1-2).
The Astros defeated the A's for the ninth straight time at the Coliseum and improved to 5-0 in Oakland this season. They have won 14 of their past 15 games against Oakland overall. Houston, which has a major-league-best 49-24 record, has won the first three games of the series and goes for the sweep Thursday afternoon.
Evan Gattis and Jake Marisnick each had two RBIs for the Astros. Correa went 2-for-5 with a solo shot and scored twice.
A's left-hander Sean Manaea (6-4) allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings with eight strikeouts and two walks as his career-high five-game winning streak ended. Manaea fell to 0-2 in six career starts against Houston despite allowing a combined eight earned runs.
Fiers and Manaea matched zeros for the first five innings, but Houston broke through to score three runs in the sixth.
Jose Altuve lined a leadoff single to right, his first hit off Manaea in 14 career at-bats. Correa sent Altuve to third with a sharp single to center and took second on Jaycob Brugman's throw.
Gattis hit a two-run single to center, driving in Altuve and Correa to make it 2-0. Gattis moved to second on Yuli Gurriel's single to center and scored on Marisnick's two-out single to left, giving Houston a 3-0 edge.
Oakland cut Houston's lead to 3-1 in the seventh. Yonder Alonso lined a leadoff double to right and Fiers walked Ryon Healy, the final batter he faced.
Left-hander Tony Sipp got Brugman to ground into a fielder's choice. Pinch hitter Stephen Vogt, facing Luke Gregerson, brought Alonso home from third with a groundout.
Houston answered with a run in the eighth off Santiago Casilla. Gurriel singled with one out, moved to third on Alex Bregman's double and scored on Marisnick's sacrifice fly.
Correa homered with two outs in the ninth inning off Josh Smith, making it 5-1.
NOTES: Astros RHP Jandel Gustave underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Wednesday in Houston. Gustave made the Astros' Opening Day roster but has been on the disabled list since April 19. He had begun a throwing program at the team's facility in Florida and threw a few bullpen sessions but continued to have pain in his throwing arm. ... Athletics 3B Matt Chapman (left knee infection) missed his third straight game but is "feeling better," according to manager Bob Melvin. He is day-to-day. ... The A's will open a three-game series on the road against the Chicago White Sox on Friday. ... Oakland SS Marcus Semien (right wrist surgery) will begin a rehab assignment with Class A Stockton on Friday night. Semien, who has been on the disabled list since April 15, is expected to start at shortstop and play five to seven innings. ... A's C Stephen Vogt made his fourth career appearance and first since 2014 in left field after pinch-hitting for LF Rajai Davis in the seventh.
Jun 22, 2017
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Right-hander Mike Fiers pitched six strong innings for his fourth consecutive victory, Carlos Correa hit his 14th home run, and the Houston Astros defeated the Oakland Athletics 5-1 on Wednesday night.
Fiers (5-2) allowed one run on three hits, struck out five and walked three as he beat the A's for the first time in seven career starts (1-2).
The Astros defeated the A's for the ninth straight time at the Coliseum and improved to 5-0 in Oakland this season. They have won 14 of their past 15 games against Oakland overall. Houston, which has a major-league-best 49-24 record, has won the first three games of the series and goes for the sweep Thursday afternoon.
Evan Gattis and Jake Marisnick each had two RBIs for the Astros. Correa went 2-for-5 with a solo shot and scored twice.
A's left-hander Sean Manaea (6-4) allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings with eight strikeouts and two walks as his career-high five-game winning streak ended. Manaea fell to 0-2 in six career starts against Houston despite allowing a combined eight earned runs.
Fiers and Manaea matched zeros for the first five innings, but Houston broke through to score three runs in the sixth.
Jose Altuve lined a leadoff single to right, his first hit off Manaea in 14 career at-bats. Correa sent Altuve to third with a sharp single to center and took second on Jaycob Brugman's throw.
Gattis hit a two-run single to center, driving in Altuve and Correa to make it 2-0. Gattis moved to second on Yuli Gurriel's single to center and scored on Marisnick's two-out single to left, giving Houston a 3-0 edge.
Oakland cut Houston's lead to 3-1 in the seventh. Yonder Alonso lined a leadoff double to right and Fiers walked Ryon Healy, the final batter he faced.
Left-hander Tony Sipp got Brugman to ground into a fielder's choice. Pinch hitter Stephen Vogt, facing Luke Gregerson, brought Alonso home from third with a groundout.
Houston answered with a run in the eighth off Santiago Casilla. Gurriel singled with one out, moved to third on Alex Bregman's double and scored on Marisnick's sacrifice fly.
Correa homered with two outs in the ninth inning off Josh Smith, making it 5-1.
NOTES: Astros RHP Jandel Gustave underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Wednesday in Houston. Gustave made the Astros' Opening Day roster but has been on the disabled list since April 19. He had begun a throwing program at the team's facility in Florida and threw a few bullpen sessions but continued to have pain in his throwing arm. ... Athletics 3B Matt Chapman (left knee infection) missed his third straight game but is "feeling better," according to manager Bob Melvin. He is day-to-day. ... The A's will open a three-game series on the road against the Chicago White Sox on Friday. ... Oakland SS Marcus Semien (right wrist surgery) will begin a rehab assignment with Class A Stockton on Friday night. Semien, who has been on the disabled list since April 15, is expected to start at shortstop and play five to seven innings. ... A's C Stephen Vogt made his fourth career appearance and first since 2014 in left field after pinch-hitting for LF Rajai Davis in the seventh.
