Houston Astros vs Oakland Athletics Box Score on Jun 20, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jun 21, 2017

OAKLAND, Calif. -- George Springer sparked a five-run first inning with a leadoff home run, and rookie right-hander Francis Martes allowed three runs over 5 2/3 innings, lifting the Houston Astros to an 8-4 victory against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night at the Oakland Coliseum.

The Astros won for the eighth straight time at the Coliseum and beat Oakland for the 13th time in the past 14 games. They've won the first two games of the four-game series and own the best record in the major leagues at 48-24.

Martes (2-0) allowed six hits, struck out four and walked three in his second career major league start and third appearance.

Carlos Beltran went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, his 10th blast of the season, for the Astros. Josh Reddick came off the seven-day concussion disabled list and went 2-for-4 with a double, a run and a walk. Alex Bregman went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk. He was also hit by a pitch and reached base safely four times.

A's right-hander Sonny Gray (2-3) gave up five runs -- all in the first inning -- on seven hits over five innings. He struck out five, walked four and threw 108 pitches, 60 for strikes. Gray is 0-2 over his past five starts and hasn't won a game since May 24 against Miami.

Khris Davis went 3-for-4 with two doubles, one RBI and one run for the A's. Chad Pinder hit a solo home run in the third.

The A's trailed 5-3 through six innings but cut Houston's lead to 5-4 in the seventh. Rajai Davis lined a double to right off reliever Michael Feliz and scored on Jaycob Brugman's one-out single.

The Astros answered with two runs in the eighth to make it 7-4. After Bregman hit a leadoff double, Liam Hendriks walked Jake Marisnick and then walked Jose Altuve with two outs, loading the bases. Carlos Correa lined his next pitch to center for a two-run single.

Then in the ninth, Beltran homered to right against A's rookie Michael Brady, who made his major league debut.

Houston scored five times in the top of the first inning, sending 10 batters to the plate and forcing Gray to throw 38 pitches.

Springer led off the game with a blast into the left-center field seats, his 21st homer of the season. He hit his eighth career leadoff home run, tying the franchise record he already shared with Craig Biggio.

After Reddick walked and went to second on Altuve's bunt single, Gray got Correa to ground into a double play. But Brian McCann doubled Reddick home, Beltran walked, and Yuli Gurriel sent an RBI double to left-center, making it 3-0.

The Astros weren't done in the first. Bregman singled sharply to center, driving in Beltran and Gurriel, increasing Houston's lead to 5-0.

Oakland cut Houston's lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the first when Jed Lowrie lined a two-out single and scored on Khris Davis' double off the right-center wall.

The A's made it 5-2 in the third on Pinder's 448-foot blast into the left-center field seats, his ninth homer of the season.

Oakland scored another run in the fourth inning as Khris Davis lined a leadoff single, went to third on Yonder Alonso's double and scored on Ryon Healy's sacrifice fly.

NOTES: Astros RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (lower back discomfort) will come off the disabled list Saturday and start against the Seattle Mariners, manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday. McCullers, who has been on the disabled list since June 12, is 6-1 with a 2.58 ERA in 13 starts this season. ... Astros RHP Charlie Morton (right lat strain) will begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Fresno. Morton, who threw a 50-pitch bullpen session Monday, has been on the disabled list since May 28. He is 5-3 with 4.06 ERA in 10 starts for the Astros this season. ... Oakland 3B Matt Chapman (left knee infection) missed his second straight game and continued being treated with antibiotics. "It's getting better," the rookie said. "It's better than yesterday." A's manager Bob Melvin said Chapman is still day-to-day. ... The A's signed OF Austin Beck, the No. 6 overall pick in baseball's 2017 draft. Beck took pre-game batting practice with the A's. "It's really exciting," Beck said. "It's kind of always what you dreamed of doing as a little kid. The work's just starting." Beck will report Wednesday to the A's farm team in the Arizona League.