OAKLAND — The A’s have been the hottest-hitting team in the American League this month, and Wednesday the Oakland hit parade continued. That wasn’t enough for the last-place A’s to complete a series sweep of the A.L. West-leading Astros.
The A’s had runners on base in every inning expect the ninth, but Oakland left 10 runners on base and was 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position in an 8-1 loss to the Astros.
The game was played before 14,978 fans, a total boosted by a youth summer camp promotion. It was the third-largest crowd at the Coliseum this season.
Houston avoided being swept in its final appearance in Oakland.
The A’s had won five of their previous six games and have been one of the league’s top offenses in July. The A’s are batting a MLB-leading .280 this month and have hit an A.L.-best 35 home runs and 72 extra-base hits in 18 games. The A’s are 22 games under .500 this season (41-63) but have posted a 11-7 record so far in July.
Oakland’s offense appeared to be in high gear again Wednesday. Lawrence Butler and Miguel Andujar doubled to lead off the bottom of the first inning to tie the score after the Astros had gone ahead in the top half of the inning. Later, Andujar was thrown out at home plate by Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña trying to score on a grounder.
The A’s managed just seven singles the remainder of the game. Seth Brown had three of the singles for the A’s.
Astros starter Hunter Brown (9-6) pitched around traffic in every inning he worked but limited the damage. The right-hander struck out the side twice and allowed eight hits with one walk.
“He shut us down in that first inning when we had some momentum,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “He commanded the ball really well and really didn’t give us much of a chance.”
Brown had eight strikeouts in six innings to remain one of the hottest pitchers in baseball, winning for the eight time in his past nine starts. During his strong stretch, Brown has lowered his ERA from 6.18 to 4.00.
“Just trying to keep it rolling,” Brown said. “You’re just trying to put together good innings, good outings and make good pitches. You kind of start stringing some of that stuff together, you’re going to see some things happen that you want to happen, the things that you prepare for.”
Houston went ahead in the second after Jon Singleton reached on a two-base fielding error by Seth Brown at first base, then scored on Jose Alutve’s single to left field. Altuve tried to stretch the hit into a double but was thrown out by Andujar.
Peña added an RBI single that deflected off Oakland pitcher JP Sears’ foot and bounced into left field in the sixth.
Altuve and Alex Bregman each doubled in a run as part of a four-run seventh.
Sears (7-8), unbeaten in his three previous starts this month, allowed eight runs (seven earned) and nine hits in six innings.
The A’s put two on with two outs in the seventh before Astros center fielder Jake Meyers made a tumbling catch on Brent Rooker’s short flyball to end the inning.
The A’s plan to activate right-hander Ross Stripling (1-9, 5.82 ERA) off the injured list to start Thursday’s series opener against the Angels in Anaheim. Stripling has been on a rehab assignment recovering from a strained right elbow.
