Final
Carter powers Astros past slumping A's
Sep 6, 2014 - 6:44 AM Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Chris Carter hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs to help the visiting Houston Astros beat the slumping Oakland Athletics 4-3."I'm always excited to play here. This is where I played my first game," Carter said.
Jose Altuve had two hits with two runs scored and Jon Singleton added a solo homer for the Astros, winners of five straight.
The A's, meanwhile, have dropped three games in a row and seven of eight overall. They now trail the AL West-leading Angels by six games and are only two games ahead of Seattle for the AL's first wild-card spot. Detroit is a half-game behind the Mariners.
"You can't continue to put pressure on our pitching like this," Melvin said of the struggling offense.
Oakland starter Jeff Samardzija (4-5) retired the first seven batters before Singleton homered to right-center field.
The A's scored three runs in the bottom of the third after loading the bases with one out against Houston starter Brett Oberholtzer (5-10). Derek Norris tied the game with an RBI single, and a second runner scored on Jake Marisnick's fielding error. Adam Dunn later supplied a run-producing single.
Oakland had a chance again with the bases loaded, this time with no outs, in the fourth and Oberholtzer managed to escape the jam. Craig Gentry hit a grounder to third baseman Matt Dominguez and he threw home for the force out. Josh Donaldson then grounded into an inning-ending double play.
The Astros grabbed the lead in the sixth. Carter, who singled home Altuve in the fourth, plated him again with a two-out drive to left-center field.
Tony Sipp tossed the final two innings to earn his third save.
Game Notes
Altuve extended his hitting streak to 12 games, tying a career high ... Oakland was 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position ... Oberholtzer gave up seven hits and walked two in 6 1/3 innings ... Samardzija struck out nine with no walks and allowed six hits over seven innings.
- HOUSTON: 4
OAKLAND: 3
Final
Sep 6 1:15 AM - Chris Carter two-out, two-run Home Run (36) to left center scored Jose Altuve. Jason Castro due up.
Astros 4, Athletics 3 Top 6, 2 OutsSep 5 11:56 PM - Chris Carter single to center scored Jose Altuve with one out. Runner on first and Jason Castro due up.
Astros 2, Athletics 3 Top 4, 1 OutSep 5 11:19 PM - Adam Dunn single to second scored Josh Donaldson with two outs. On the play, Derek Norris advances to second. Runners on first and second and Jed Lowrie due up.
Astros 1, Athletics 3 Bot 3, 2 OutsSep 5 11:08 PM - Derek Norris single to right scored Alberto Callaspo and Craig Gentry with one out. On the play, fielding error on Jake Marisnick. Runners on first and third with one out and Jonny Gomes due up.
Astros 1, Athletics 2 Bot 3, 1 OutSep 5 11:05 PM - Jonathan Singleton one-out, solo Home Run (13) to right center. Jake Marisnick due up.
Astros 1, Athletics 0 Top 3, 1 OutSep 5 10:44 PM - HOUSTON: 0
OAKLAND: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Sep 5 10:07 PM
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