Houston Astros claim series over Oakland Athletics behind Verlander gem
The A’s fell to the Houston Astros, 4-2, on Wednesday afternoon in Houston.
With the loss, the A’s record against the Astros fell to 2-9 so far this season. There would be no comeback in this game after the A’s fell behind on a third-inning home run by George Springer.
Justin Verlander entered the game with a 0.84 WHIP, the best in baseball, and put a visual to the numbers. He held the A’s to two hits and one unearned run, all from a mini A’s rally in the first inning generated on a pair of errors by Alex Bregman and Josh Reddick.
Chris Bassitt started off strong, delivering a good sinker around the zone for five quick strikeouts in two innings. But the Astros caught up to him. Springer and Jose Altuve hit a pair of two-run home runs off his high fastball to give the Astros a lead.
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— Houston Astros (@astros) July 24, 2019
The A’s put up a run in the ninth inning when Ramon Laureano and Khris Davis hit back-to-back singles and Robbie Grossman plated Laureano on a fielder’s choice, but the rally fell short.
Next up for the Athletics is a home series against the Texas Rangers, who are six games behind the A’s for the AL’s second wild-card spot.