Ramón Laureano hit a two-run homer, rookie Seth Brown connected for his first big league home run and the Oakland Athletics beat the Houston Astros 7-3 to win the series.
The Astros won the opener 6-2 on Thursday night to give them five straight victories over the A’s after a four-game sweep to start the season.
But Oakland’s offense, which sputtered as the A’s limped out to a 1-7 start, got going on Friday night in a 6-2 win powered by three homers and kept it going in the series finale by piling up a season-high 11 hits. The A's and Astros are scheduled off Sunday.
Oakland Athletics' Jed Lowrie, right, watches his two-run single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Saturday, April 10, 2021, in Houston. (AP PhotoEric Christian Smith)
There were two outs in the fifth when the A’s got a single from Mark Canha. Laureano followed with his drive, which bounced off the train tracks atop left field, to push the lead to 4-0.
The bases were loaded with two outs in the seventh when Jed Lowrie knocked a single into shallow center field to stretch Oakland’s advantage to 6-0.
Brown sent a homer into the second deck in the eighth inning to give the Athletics five home runs in the last two games after they managed just three in their first eight.
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Frankie Montas, right, backs off the mound as Houston Astros' Kyle Tucker, back left, rounds the bases after hitting a solo run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Saturday, April 10, 2021, in Houston. (AP PhotoEric Christian Smith)
Saturday’s victory was helped by a strong start by Frankie Montas (1-1), who struggled in his debut, allowing seven runs in less than three innings of a 10-3 loss to the Dodgers. He was much better against the Astros, yielding six hits and one run in six-plus innings to snap a career-long three-game losing streak dating to September.
Montas held Houston scoreless and retired seven in a row before Kyle Tucker’s solo homer to start the seventh ended his day.
Sergio Romo took over for Montas and plunked Aledmys Díaz before he was chased by Jose Altuve’s RBI double with two outs. Jake Diekman took over and he was greeted with a run-scoring triple by Michael Brantley that cut the lead to 6-3. But Diekman retired Carlos Correa to limit the damage.
Oakland Athletics' Ramon Laureano, right, celebrates his two-run home run with third base coach Mark Kotsay during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Saturday, April 10, 2021, in Houston. (AP PhotoEric Christian Smith)
Houston starter José Urquidy (0-1) allowed seven hits and four runs while striking out seven in six innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: DH Mitch Moreland sat out a second straight game on Saturday with a tight hamstring.
Houston Astros' Kyle Tucker, right, watches his solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Saturday, April 10, 2021, in Houston. (AP PhotoEric Christian Smith)
Astros: 3B Alex Bregman was out of the lineup on Saturday as he deals with what manager Dusty Baker said were “sore legs.” He is expected to return for the next game. ... RHP Pedro Báez was transferred from the COVID injured list to the 10-day injured list with a sore right shoulder. ... RHP Austin Pruitt was transferred to the 60-day injured list after having elbow surgery this offseason.
UP NEXT
Athletics: Oakland has a day off on Sunday and Chris Bassitt (0-2, 5.56 ERA) will start the opener of a two-game series at Arizona on Monday.
Astros: Houston is also off on Sunday before opening a three-game series with Detroit on Monday. The Astros haven’t announced their rotation for that series.
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