Despite Sunday’s loss, Athletics look to be at its best series win over the Astros
A four-game sweep of one of the best teams in baseball seemed unlikely.
On the hill for the Astros: Zack Greinke, acquired as the final trade deadline seconds ticked off to add deception and finesse to a powerful and devastating Houston rotation. In the visitor’s dugout yet again: a great team with more talent than just ability to pump the breaks on a five-game skid.
Greinke stifled the A’s with a high-80s fastball that was nearly interchangeable with a mid-80s changeup and fall-off-the-table curveball, but Alex Bregman was the one-man wrecking crew the Astros needed. Anderson served up a juicy 0-2 slider he wanted back-foot and in the dirt that Bregman deposited in the left-field seats for a three-run home run. It secured the Astros’ 4-1 win on Sunday afternoon.
A four-game sweep certainly seemed within realm, though — a feat that at least got it’s most revealing peak when Marcus Semien hit a solo home run off Greinke’s 3-2 fastball to give the A’s an early lead.
Anderson left the sixth inning with a runner on and a blister flare (he said he would be OK), but wove his way through some jams, including a pair of shallow pop ups with one out and runners on third. The Astros clearly knew they’d need to rack up the runs; Chad Pinder, in right field today, chopped down a gutsy Jose Altuve gunning for home in the first inning.
But, perhaps despite the loss, the A’s already made a substantial statement. Oakland entered the home series with a 2-9 record against their AL West foes. A decent showing against the division’s unspoken gatekeeper could separate them from scary wild card contenders to completely formidable American League competitors.
Each win displayed some of the A’s best looks.
Night one, the lineup out-slugged them. Night two they outlasted them. Day three they out small-balled them.
Justin Verlander took the mound with a sub-2 ERA at the Oakland Coliseum and Tanner Roark matched his efficiency blow-for-blow, inning by inning. A bullpen struggling to keep leads intact and regain its 2018 confidence pitched seven shutout innings to pave the path for a 13-inning marathon victory. And Chris Bassitt, once on the rotational bubble, showed the national audience his strikeout-worthy curveball and mettle.
And, perhaps most notably, the offense put up 19 runs against a pitching staff with a collective 3.76 ERA (good for fourth-best in the majors).
“Four game sweep is pretty tough, especially against a team like that,” manager Bob Melvin said “Come tomorrow when you look at three out of four, it’s a plus.”
Monday’s off-day will be key for an exhausted bullpen — the A’s were down three relievers, including Yusmeiro Petit and perhaps Blake Treinen — and sandwiches a big series against the New York Yankees that could really test the A’s postseason potential.