Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) – Jed Lowrie hit a two-run homer and finished
with three RBI as the Houston Astros avoided a three-game series sweep by
defeating the Oakland Athletics 6-1 on Wednesday.
Luis Valbuena and Evan Gattis also homered and Jose Altuve finished with two
hits, an RBI, a steal and a run scored for the Astros, who had starter Collin
McHugh (2-0) surrender just one run on six hits with no walks and 11
strikeouts over 5 2/3 solid frames.
Marcus Semien drove in the lone run and starter Drew Pomeranz (1-1) was tagged
with the loss after giving up four runs on six hits in five-plus frames for
Oakland, which outscored Houston 12-1 over the first two games.
Lowrie opened the scoring for the Astros in the first with a towering two-run
blast to left, scoring Altuve, who hit a leadoff double and stole third.
Oakland responded in the second. Billy Butler, Ike Davis and Eric Sogard all
singled to load the bases with two outs. Semien grounded to short and beat out
Lowrie’s throw to first for an RBI single and a 2-1 score.
Lowrie struck again in his next at-bat, as he drove a liner to right for an
RBI double to plate George Springer, who reached with a two-out single.
With one out in the fifth, Jake Marisnick tripled on a liner to right and came
home on Altuve’s grounder up the middle for a 4-1 Houston lead.
Valbuena stroked a solo shot to left field during the seventh and Gattis
followed with one of his own an inning later to account for the final score.
Game Notes
Every player wore 42 on the back of their jersey in honor of Jackie Robinson
Day … Altuve extended his hitting streak to six games … McHugh extended
his winning streak to nine games, dating back to Aug. 12, 2014 … The Astros
will host the Angels for a three-game set starting Friday, while the Athletics
will travel to Kansas City Friday for the first of three games.
