I have to admit, I was dupped, dead wrong, lured in by ghosts of seasons past along 501 Crawford Street. On the heels of taking the series in San Francisco, I told anyone who would listen that the Astros would “pad their lead” during the upcoming 9 game homestand against the likes of the Mariners, Angels and A’s. Instead of winning each of those series, they dropped each of those series. The most devastating loss occurring Sunday afternoon. A’s 7. Astros 6.
With the loss, the Astros have now dipped below the .500 mark, sitting at 65-66.
Things started off promising enough. In the first, Jeremy Pena and Yordan Alvarez started things with back-to-back singles. Isaac Parades would bring home Pena on a deep sac fly to score the game’s first run. Jose Altuve then came up and cleared the bases with a two-run HR. It was 3-0.
The Astros would increase their lead further the very next inning. Cam Smith, Yordan Alvarez and Isaac Paredes each drew walks loading the bases. Parades walk was generated by a pitch clock violation of all things. Then Altuve followed suit and walked as well for good measure which brought in Cam Smith. After two innings of baseball, it was 4-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, Isaac Paredes homered to left field, with Pena on base from a throwing error, and that 2 run blast made things 6-0. From there the unthinkable happened.
Cristian Javier was rolling through 4 innings, striking out 8. Then the roof caved in during the 5th. Donovan Walton led off the frame with a single, Darell Harnaiz walked and then Brian Serven would serve us a 3-run home run. That sequence gave the A’s life and chased Cristian Javier from the game in favor of Enyel De Los Santos.
Henry Bolte would then single, Zach Gelof would reach on a hit pitch, and Lawrence Butler would get in on the act with an RBI Double. The bleeding wouldn’t stop. Tommy White singled to shallow right and two more runs would cross the plate, chasing De Los Santon for Kai-Wei Teng. Just like that, the ballgame was tied 6-6.
Javier’s final line was 4 IP, with 3 ER and 4 hits, a pair of walks and the aforementioned 8 K’s. De Los Santos was charged with 3 ER on 3 H in 0.1 IP.
From that moment on, the Astros would once again call upon their bullpen to attempt to save the day as they’ve done so often. Today Steven Okert, who has been among the most reliable Astros pitchers all season, couldn’t hold the line. He would surrender a solo HR to Max Muncy to give the A’s a 7-6 lead they would not relinquish.
Josh Hader did come on in the 9th and struck out a pair in a perfect 9th, but one questions “why” Hader continues to pitch in games in which the Astros are losing late.
Hogan Harris came in to record his 13th save of the year for the A’s.
Odds & Ends
Yordan Alvarez officially passed Jeff Bagwell with his 28th intentional walk of the season. He was intentionally walked three times on Sunday.
Omar Lopez managed Sunday’s contest in Joe Espada’s absence due to a family emergency.
The Astros now travel to New York for a 6-game stretch against the Yankees and Mets. The Yankees have named Will Warren as their game one starter for Tuesday Night.
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