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A's rally in ninth to overcome Astros

Sep 7, 2014 - 4:37 AM Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Jed Lowrie's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth capped a three-run rally and lifted the Oakland Athletics to a 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros in the second test of a three-game series.

Houston starter Scott Feldman was pulled with runners on the corners and one out in the ninth, ahead 3-1. Chad Qualls (1-5) was summoned, only to give up a game-tying, two-run double to center from Josh Reddick and the winning hit from Lowrie that allowed Reddick to score just ahead of the throw to the plate.

"This has been happening all year and I'm tired of it," Qualls said. "Four of my five losses are against them. Four of my five blown saves are against them. I'm over it."

Luke Gregerson (4-3) tossed a scoreless top of the ninth.

Coco Crisp added two hits and Brandon Moss knocked in the other run for the Athletics, who snapped a three-game losing streak and won for the second time in their last nine outings.

"It hasn't been a great feeling, we haven't looked like we had the fight that we normally do," Melvin said of the A's rough stretch. "Hopefully a game like this can spur something."

Scott Kazmir cruised through the first five innings, but was yanked after 6 1/3 frames after being charged with three runs on as many hits with a season- high five walks and eight strikeouts.

Jose Altuve collected a two-run double and Robbie Grossman added an RBI for the Astros, who saw their five-game win streak evaporate in the span of a few batters.

Feldman ended up allowing three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits while fanning six in 8 1/3 frames.

Oakland loaded the bases in the home third on an error, bunt and base hit, then picked up the game's first run on a Moss sacrifice fly to left.

Kazmir failed to allow a hit through five, but Carlos Corporan made solid contact on a single to right to start the sixth. Jonathan Villar bunted for a hit, Grossman sacrificed them into scoring position and Altuve's double down the left-field line made it 2-1 Houston.

Kazmir opened the seventh by walking three of the first four batters he faced, and departed for Dan Otero. Grossman followed with a sac fly to right which put the Astros up by two before Altuve grounded into a fielder's choice.

Game Notes

Oakland has taken 11 of the 18 meetings from Houston this season -- including six of eight in the East Bay -- with the series and season finale set for Sunday ... Altuve extended his hit streak to a career-best 13 games ... The Athletics have posted nine walk-off victories this season ... Feldman has pitched at least seven innings in three straight starts.