Athletics 5 - 4 Astros
Final
  for this game

A's rally past Astros to win series

Aug 28, 2014 - 5:36 AM Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Sam Fuld's homer in the ninth capped a three-run inning as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Houston Astros, 5-4, in the rubber match of a three-game set on Wednesday.

Jonny Gomes led off the ninth with a bloop single to left off Houston closer Chad Qualls (1-4), was lifted for a pinch-runner, then Craig Gentry stole second to move into scoring position. Gentry advanced to third on a groundout by Alberto Callaspo before Eric Sogard sprayed a single out to left that knotted the game at 3-3. Following a groundout by Coco Crisp, Fuld pounded a hanging sinker into the seats in right to give Oakland the lead.

"You don't expect him to hit home runs to put you ahead, but he's a great fit for us," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said of Fuld.

Dan Otero (8-1) earned the win after working out of a bases loaded jam in the eighth to keep it a one-run game and Eric O'Flaherty allowed a homer to Chris Carter in the ninth, but still managed to nail down the first save of his career.

The A's trail Los Angeles by one game in the AL West with a four-game set in Anaheim starting on Thursday.

Oakland starter Drew Pomeranz tossed 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts in his first action since June 16th due to a broken right hand.

Brad Peacock also went 5 1/3 innings for Houston, yielding one run on four hits and five walks in the no-decision.

"They've got good players and tonight they came back and got us," Houston manager Bo Porter said of the A's.

Runs were tough to come by early on as neither team scored until the sixth, when both plated a run. Josh Donaldson led off the inning with a walk for Oakland, then moved to third on Brandon Moss' double to right. Peacock was chased after he walked Derek Norris to load the bases and a pinch-hitting Gomes got the visitors on the board with a sacrifice fly to center.

Jose Altuve reached on an error by Sogard at shortstop with one out in the home half. Carter followed with a single to center that ended Oakland starter Pomeranz's night. Ryan Cook came in and struck out Dexter Fowler, then Altuve's hustle produced a run.

The speedy second baseman swiped third, his 48th stolen base of the season, then raced home on Cook's wild pitch. Jon Singleton struck out to end the inning, but the damage was done.

Crisp pushed Oakland back in front, however, with a solo homer in the seventh.

Matt Dominguez opened the home seventh by getting hit by a pitch from Cook, then moved to third on Carlos Corporan's single to center. Fernando Abad struck out pinch-hitter Marwin Gonzalez before Robbie Grossman brought Dominguez home with a base hit. Altuve proceeded to work the count full and stroke a single into center that plated Corporan for a 3-2 edge.

Game Notes

Oakland had lost six of seven on the road and two of its last three overall entering the game ... Carter has homered in five of his last six games against the A's ... Oakland went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, while Houston went 2-for-11.






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