Marte’s double in 9th lifts A’s 2-1, stalls Astros

Starling Marte hit a game-ending double with one out within the backside of the ninth inning, lifting the Oakland Athletics previous the Houston Astros 2-1 on Saturday.

The A’s are 4 video games behind AL wild card co-leaders Boston and New York, with Seattle and Toronto additionally of their manner.

“There’s a component of desperation,” A’s supervisor Bob Melvin mentioned. “You must win. That’s what permeates our dugout proper now.”

Houston’s magic quantity to clinch the AL West remained at three over Seattle.

Elvis Andrus singled off Ryan Pressly (5-3) to start the Oakland ninth. After Josh Harrison struck out swinging, Marte lined an 0-1 pitch into the hole in right-center for his five hundredth profession RBI.

“I used to be simply making an attempt to search for a very good pitch I might drive into the hole,” Marte mentioned by way of an interpreter. “Yan Gomes helped me, gave me some assist, one thing to search for and it turned out OK for us.”

Andrus scored with no throw when heart fielder Jose Siri’s throw again to the infield was low. That was vital as a result of Andrus sustained an undisclosed left ankle damage rounding third base and was helped off the sphere after stumbling throughout house plate.

Melvin mentioned Andrus felt a pop in his ankle and was taken for X-rays.

“We gained a recreation, that’s good, (however) we could lose certainly one of our hardest guys,” Melvin mentioned. “We’ve obtained our fingers crossed that it’s not one thing vital.”

Andrew Chafin (2-3) retired three batters to win.

Harrison had an RBI single and Andrus singled twice for the A’s.

Kyle Tucker homered for Houston’s lone run. Jose Altuve doubled to increase his hitting streak to 13 video games.

“Marte’s been a ache in our facet and a ache in my facet no matter group he’s been on,” Astros supervisor Dusty Baker mentioned. “They did a very good job of pitching to us. You don’t prefer it however generally that’s how it’s. We’re nonetheless in good place. We simply must muster up a pair wins right here.”

The sport was largely a pitcher’s duel between starters Oakland’s Sean Manaea and Framber Valdez.

Manaea struck out eight whereas pitching seven innings of three-hit ball. The A’s lefty retired 19 of 21 after permitting Altuve’s double on his first pitch.

“They only pitched rather well the final couple of days,” Tucker mentioned. “It’s powerful after they’re dwelling on the corners and never throwing it over the plate lots.”

Valdez gave up one run and three hits in 6 2/3 innings. He walked 4 and struck out three.

Tucker struck out swinging in his first two at-bats earlier than sending a towering, solo drive off Manaea within the seventh for the Astros’ second hit.

Oakland tied it within the backside half on Harrison’s two-out bloop single off Kendall Graveman that fell in simply over the top of shortstop Carlos Correa. Graveman, the previous A’s starter, had simply changed Valdez.

SHORT HOPS

Tucker is batting .369 (38-for-103) in 30 video games since getting back from the injured listing on Aug. 24. … Oakland’s Matt Chapman, who tied a franchise report with 5 strikeouts on Friday, was in a ten for 63 (.159) stoop when he drew a one-out stroll off Graveman to load the bases within the eighth … Tony Kemp struck out wanting as a pinch-hitter, ending a streak of 88 consecutive plate appearances with out hanging out. It was the longest streak by an A’s participant since 1974.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: RHP Pedro Baez (shoulder soreness) is continuous his rehab project with Triple-A Sugar Land and was scheduled to pitch Saturday night time.

Athletics: Harrison was again within the lineup after being pressured out of Friday night time’s recreation when he fouled two balls off his decrease left leg in the identical at-bat.

UP NEXT

Astros RHP Jake Odorizzi (6-7, 4.22 ERA) is predicted to be activated off the 10-day injured listing to begin the collection finale Sunday. Athletics RHP Paul Blackburn (1-3, 5.17) has allowed 13 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings in his two profession appearances in opposition to Houston.

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