(SportsNetwork.com) – Drew Pomeranz tries to put the brakes on a personal two-
game losing streak on Sunday when the Oakland Athletics wrap up a three-game
series with the Houston Astros at the Coliseum.
After tossing seven scoreless innings to win his first start, Pomeranz has
allowed four earned runs in five innings in each of his last two outings.
Pomeranz was charged with the loss on Tuesday in Anaheim, as the Angels
reached him for five runs (4 earned) and eight hits in five innings to raise
his ERA to 4.24.
Pomeranz is 0-2 in four games (3 starts) versus the Astros with a 6.28 ERA.
Houston, meanwhile, will give the ball to right-handed rookie Asher
Wojciechowski, who is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA. Wojciechowski did not get a
decision on Monday in Seattle, as he gave up four runs and eight hits in four
innings.
On Saturday, Jose Altuve hit a three-run homer to help Houston to a 9-3 win.
George Springer added a solo homer and Jed Lowrie knocked in two runs for the
Astros, who were coming off a 5-4, 11-inning win over the A’s on Friday.
They have now won six of their last seven and are 10-7, their best 17-game
start since 2006.
Scott Feldman (2-2) pitched well until giving up three runs in the seventh
inning, including two on Eric Sogard’s triple. He struck out six, walked two
and allowed five hits in 6 2/3 frames.
“We put up (nine runs) on a pretty good pitching staff, so the guys swung the
bats well today and gave us some breathing room on the pitching side,” said
Feldman. “I was able to get away with a bad inning.”
Kendall Graveman (1-2) got his first major league win on Tuesday against
Houston but was knocked around on Saturday for six runs and nine hits in just
4 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old righty has an 8.27 ERA in his first four MLB
starts.
“It was a struggle for him early on,” said A’s manager Bob Melvin. “His ball
wasn’t really sinking or moving. He left some pitches in the middle of the
plate … not his best day.”
Oakland won two of three meetings with Houston from April 13-15.
