Astros 7 - 6 Athletics
Final
  for this game

Gattis helps Astros down A's

Apr 27, 2015 - 1:50 AM Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Evan Gattis' two-run double in the ninth inning lifted the Houston Astros to a 7-6 win over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday, giving Houston its first sweep over Oakland in team history.

"I'm glad to finally contribute to a win, to come through with the hit that puts us ahead," said Gattis.

Jake Marisnick hit a two-run home run, stole two bases and scored three times, and Jose Altuve also tallied two hits and two steals.

Astros starter Asher Wojciechowski allowed five runs in four innings, but three relievers combined to allow just one over the final five frames. Tony Sipp (2-0) worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings, and Luke Gregerson recorded his fourth save.

Oakland called on Tyler Clippard (0-2) to record a four-out save, but he was unable to do so when he allowed Gattis' double with the bases loaded. Drew Pomeranz started and allowed five runs -- three earned -- in five innings.

Brett Lawrie drove in three runs for the A's.

With runners on the corners and two outs in the eighth, Clippard was summoned from the bullpen to protect Oakland's 6-5 lead. He got out of that jam by getting Jason Castro to fly out to right field.

In the next inning, Marisnick singled Clippard's first pitch into center field, and the A's could not get an out on Altuve's hit-and-run attempt. Marisnick and Altuve then executed a double steal to put the tying and go- ahead runs in scoring position.

George Springer struck out, and Oakland chose to walk Jed Lowrie to set up a double-play opportunity with Gattis coming up. Clippard buried Gattis in an 0-2 count, but Gattis battled back and lined a pitch over Sam Fuld's head to score two runs and give Houston a 7-6 lead.

"That's the toughest ball, a line drive hit right at you," said A's manager Bob Melvin. "To tell you the truth, even if he breaks straight back, it's still questionable whether he catches that ball or not."

Clippard avoided further damage and got out of the inning, and Gregerson recorded a 1-2-3 ninth to wrap up the game.

Oakland grabbed the lead in the second inning when Josh Reddick's triple scored Ike Davis, and Lawrie followed with a sacrifice fly to put the A's up by two.

The Astros took advantage of some breaks in the third inning to go up 3-2. A Davis error allowed Marisnick to reach base to start the inning, and Altuve's line drive that ricocheted off Pomeranz's back put runners on the corners with no outs. After Altuve stole second and Lowrie walked, Gattis drove in his first two runs with a single to right field. Colby Rasmus' two- out single scored Lowrie.

Pomeranz's struggles continued in the fourth. While he was pitching to Castro, Melvin was tossed by Quinn Wolcott for arguing balls and strikes. Castro walked, and Marisnick followed with a two-run home run that put the Astros up 5-2.

Wojciechowski was unable to hold a lead as well. With two runners in scoring position, he got Reddick to pop out for the second out of the inning, but Lawrie's single scored two runs. Consecutive hits by Eric Sogard and Craig Gentry helped tie the game up.

The bullpens settled the game down over the next few innings, but the A's retook the lead in the seventh against Sam Deduno. He walked Gentry to start the inning, and Fuld's sacrifice bunt moved him into scoring position. Marcus Semien hit a line drive over Lowrie's head to give the A's a 6-5 advantage.

Game Notes

Oakland fell to 0-7 in day games and is the only team in the league without a win in a daytime game ... The A's are 0-8 in games decided by one or two runs ... Altuve has a hit in 29 straight games against Oakland ... The Astros are 10-0 when scoring 4-plus runs ... After a day off, the A's host the Angels in a three-game series while the Astros start a three-game set in San Diego on Monday.






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