Athletics 7 - 4 Astros
Final
  for this game

A's score six in 9th inning, beat Astros

Jul 30, 2014 - 6:46 AM Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Brandon Moss hit a go-ahead RBI single as part of a six-run top of the ninth inning and the Oakland Athletics rallied past the Houston Astros, 7-4, in the middle test of a three-game set.

Oakland trailed 4-1 heading into the ninth before sending 11 batters to the plate in the final frame.

Derek Norris singled and Josh Reddick doubled to put runners on second and third against Chad Qualls (1-2) to begin the ninth. Pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo ripped a base hit to center to plate Norris and Reddick. Pinch-runner Billy Burns came on for Callaspo, but he was out at second on a force play when John Jaso grounded one to first.

Jed Lowrie walked after a wild pitch moved Jaso to second. Yoenis Cespedes stepped up next and fisted a single to right to bring home the tying-run Jaso. Tony Sipp replaced Qualls and served up the go-ahead single to Moss, who whacked a one-hop liner through the shift on the right side of the infield to plate Lowrie for a 5-4 Oakland edge.

Jose Veras then took over for Sipp and Josh Donaldson greeted him by launching a double onto Tal's Hill in center to push across Cespedes and Moss to make it 7-4.

Evan Scribner (1-0) was credited with the win following a scoreless eighth, while Sean Doolittle fired a 1-2-3 home half of the ninth to notch his 16th save of the season.

"Give the Oakland A's credit, they battled back and beat our best guys. You just have to tip your hat to them," Houston manager Bo Porter said.

Josh Reddick smacked a solo homer among his two hits, while Oakland starter Jeff Samardzija allowed four runs on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings.

"Every pitch is important and every run's important and the closer you can keep our offense within striking distance, you have a better chance to win the game because these guys don't quit," Samardzija said.

The AL West leaders have won five of their last seven games.

Marwin Gonzalez cracked a solo shot and Astros starter Scott Feldman surrendered a run on five hits and three walks over seven frames.

Houston opened the scoring in the first when Gonzalez banged his one-out homer off the foul pole down the right-field line, but Reddick tied it in the fifth when he led off by lacing a liner that barely cleared the wall in right.

The Astros plated two runs in the fifth and another in the seventh to go ahead. Robbie Grossman hit a one-out single, stole second and came home on Enrique Hernandez's triple to left-center. Jose Altuve pushed across Hernandez with a single to left.

Jon Singleton worked a leadoff walk in the seventh, moved to second on a Matt Dominguez groundout, scampered to third on a wild pitch and scored when Hernandez laced a double down the left-field line two batters later for the Astros' 4-1 advantage.

Game Notes

The A's were 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position, while Houston finished 3-for-7 ... Reddick's blast was his sixth of the year, while Gonzalez's was his fifth ... Oakland leads the season series, 8-4.






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