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Grossman powers Astros past A's in 11th

Apr 25, 2015 - 6:17 AM Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Robbie Grossman's two-run single and George Springer's RBI single in the 11th inning helped the Houston Astros to a 5-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics in the opener of a three-game set.

In the 11th, Chris Carter and Colby Rasmus each worked walks off Eric O'Flahery (0-2) to start the frame, moved up a base on Hank Conger's sacrifice bunt and scored on Grossman's grounder through the hole in left for a 4-2 game.

Grossman moved to second on the throw home and Jose Altuve was intentionally walked. Two batters later, Springer chopped a liner into shallow left for an RBI single.

Marcus Semien's two-run blast to left off Pat Neshak made it a 5-4 game. Ike Davis followed with a pinch-hit single and moved up to second on a wild pitch. Neshak retired Billy Butler and Ben Zobrist. After Tony Sipp walked Sam Fuld, Chad Qualls got Brett Lawrie to fly out to deep center for his second save of the season.

"There were some big hitting at the right time on both sides, but we walked away with the win," Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. "I think our guys are tired a little bit, but it's a little boost of adrenaline."

The game was scoreless heading into the ninth courtesy of a pitchers' duel between Houston's Dallas Keuchel and Oakland's Scott Kazmir.

Keuchel was brilliant in a no-decision. He tossed nine scoreless innings, conceding just two hits and two walks with four strikeouts and retiring the final 19 batters he faced.

Kazmir was also solid, allowing just five hits and three walks with seven strikeouts over seven frames.

"Went from a starting pitching duel to a little bit of a slugfest later," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "We continued to fight every pitch of the game even though it looked bleak."

Springer cracked a two-out double to right and Dan Otero intentionally walked Jed Lowrie in the 10th. Gonzalez plated both runners when his liner to center dropped in for a double, scoring the first two runs of the game.

Luke Gregerson (1-0) earned the win despite a tumultuous bottom of the 10th. He gave up a one-out single to Fuld in the bottom half, but struck out Lawrie. Stephen Vogt kept the A's alive after hitting a grounder to second and beating Altuve's high throw to first.

Reddick tied the game by hitting a liner to the warning track in center for a two-run double. He moved to third on the throw home and after Conger was unable to catch the throw at home, hustled home. Gregerson retrieved the ball and threw out Reddick to end the frame.

Game Notes

Keuchel has 12 consecutive quality start, dating back to Aug. 15, 2014 ... Altuve finished 2-for-4 with two walks and extended his hitting streak against Oakland to 27 games ... Houston's 9-7 record matches their best start since 2007 ... The A's are 0-7 in games decided by two runs or fewer.