05/16/24 10:33:00
Printable Page
05/16 22:32 CDT Loperfido hits first MLB homer, Javier solid as Astros beat A's
8-1 to complete sweep
Loperfido hits first MLB homer, Javier solid as Astros beat A's 8-1 to complete
sweep
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON (AP) --- Rookie Joey Loperfido hit his first major league home run and
Cristian Javier pitched six scoreless innings Thursday night to help the
Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 8-1 and complete a four-game sweep.
The victory extended Houston's winning streak to a season-high five games. The
Astros have won seven of their last eight.
"The biggest thing is just everybody is executing better," third baseman Alex
Bregman said. "We're playing better as a team now."
Yainer Diaz hit a three-run double and Loperfido added his two-run shot off
Joey Estes (1-1) in a six-run third inning that gave the Astros a big lead
early.
"Those are the big hits that we need to open the game up," manager Joe Espada
said. "That's the kind of offense that we know that we're capable of."
Javier (3-1) bounced back from a terrible performance in his prior outing to
allow just two hits with eight strikeouts. The right-hander gave up seven runs
in just 1 1/3 innings in his last start after returning from an 18-game absence
with neck discomfort.
"The biggest adjustment for me is just trying to stay as focused as possible
and attack the strike zone as quickly as I can and try to throw my pitches
inside the strike zone," Javier said in Spanish through a translator.
Severe thunderstorms roared through downtown Houston Thursday night, causing
rain to get through a section of the retractable roof at Minute Maid Park and
pour into the bullpen in right-center field as Javier warmed up.
"It didn't really affect me, but yeah there was a lot of water in there, which
is something I hadn't seen before," he said. "So I was a little bit confused
there."
Abraham Toro doubled and Zack Gelof hit an RBI single in the seventh for
Oakland, which lost its season-high fifth straight.
Estes yielded eight hits, eight runs and four walks --- all career highs --- in
his second start this season and fourth of his career.
"If you don't locate you can't get good hitters out and that was an example
tonight," manager Mark Kotsay said.
His struggles continued a horrid stretch for the A's where they've given up 86
runs combined in their last 12 games.
There were two outs in third inning when Jon Singleton walked to load the
bases. Diaz then lined a double into center field to clear the bases and make
it 3-0.
Jake Meyers followed with a double to left field to score Diaz and make it 4-0.
Loperfido's shot to the seats in right field came next to extend it to 6-0.
Kyle Tucker walked to start the fourth before Alex Bregman hit a two-out
double. Tucker scored on a sacrifice fly by Jeremy Pea to chase Estes. He was
replaced by Hogan Harris and his balk allowed Singleton to score to leave
Houston up 8-0.
TRAINER'S ROOM
LHP Ken Waldichuk had reconstructive surgery on his troublesome pitching elbow
and will be sidelined all season.
UP NEXT
Athletics: Oakland hadn't announced its starter for the first of three games at
Kansas City Friday night.
Astros: RHP Hunter Brown (0-4, 7.79) starts for Houston against RHP Freddy
Peralta (3-1, 3.63) in the opener of a three-game series with Milwaukee.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
|