Athletics drop finale 6-3 to Houston

Spence was solid in no-decision

The Oakland Athletics took the field today hoping to complete a road sweep over the division-leading Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Mitch Spence got the start today against Framber Valdez.

Lawrence Butler got things started just a few pitches into the game when he reached on a throwing error by Astros first baseman Jon Singleton. Brent Rooker swapped places with him after a fielder’s choice. Brent Rooker stole second, his ninth of the season. Shea Langeliers walked. But JJ Bleday struck out looking and Zack Gelof grounded out 1-3 to end the top half of the inning.

In the bottom of the second, Singleton doubled, and Jason Heyward homered to right, scoring Singleton. It was Heyward’s first homer in an Astros uniform.

Lawrence Butler extended his hit streak to twenty games with a little dump-shot double down the left field line. Rooker popped out to right field, moving Butler to third with two outs. Langeliers struck out looking, however, to end the inning.

With two outs in the third, Yainer Diaz singled, and Kyle Tucker doubled. But Spence got out of trouble with a fielder’s choice to Nick Allen to end the inning.

Singleton led off the fourth with a double to right field. Jake Meyers dropped a sacrifice bunt to move him to third. Mauricio Dubón grounded out to end the inning. Singleton remained stranded at third.

Spence cruised through the Astros fifth on a mere six pitches.

The A’s cut the lead in half in the top of the seventh on a leadoff double by Jacob Wilson and a single by Daz Cameron. Headed to the bottom of the seventh, the Astros led 2-1.

Brent Rooker tied the game in the top of the eighth with his 36^th homer to straight away center field.

T.J. McFarland replaced Spence in the eighth. After getting super-dangerous Yordan Alvarez to fly out, Yainer Diaz and Kyle Tucker both singled. Mark Kotsay replaced McFarland with Grant Holman. Jeremy Peña flied out, but Diaz moved to third, now with two outs. Singleton blooped a single to center, scoring Diaz and moving Tucker to third. Jake Meyers doubled, scoring Tucker easily and moving Singleton to third. Holman intentionally walked Heyward to load the bases. Mauricio Dubón singled to score two more. Bregman ended the inning with a pop out to Gelof, but not before the Astros scored four, brining the score to 6-2.

Houston’s closer, Josh Hader came in to pitch the ninth. The A’s were not ready to roll over, as Tyler Nevin homered with one out to bring the score to 6-3. Cameron grounded out for the second out of the inning. Armando Alvarez pinch hit for Seth Brown. Alvarez struck out to end the game.

The A’s hit the road for six games in Chicago, split between the North and South side stadiums, starting with the White Sox tomorrow.