Astros' Error Fuels Athletics' Six-Run Sixth in 6-5 Loss, AL West Tied
The short version
- Astros lost 6-5 to the Athletics after a dropped throw keyed a six-run sixth inning
- Houston (79-81) is tied with Texas (79-81) in the AL West with two games left
- Astros can clinch Saturday with a win plus a Rangers loss
- Houston managed five hits total; Jacob Lopez allowed two over six innings
A dropped throw by Jose Altuve opened the door for a six-run inning as Houston fell to Sacramento and stayed tied with Texas atop the AL West with two games left.
Jose Altuve dropped a potential double-play throw in the sixth inning Friday night, and the Athletics turned the opening into a six-run frame that carried them to a 6-5 win over the Houston Astros at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California.
With the loss, the Astros remained tied with the Texas Rangers at 79-81 atop the American League West with two games remaining. Houston had a chance to reduce its magic number to one; instead, the club ensured it will finish no better than .500, and the division will produce MLB's first full-season division winner with a non-winning record in the divisional era.
Hunter Brown took a 1-0 lead into the sixth. Jeff McNeil singled leading off, and Zack Gelof's chopper drew a throw from shortstop Jeremy Peña that Altuve could not handle, leaving runners on first and second with nobody out. A bunt moved both runners up before manager Joe Espada removed Brown at 100 pitches.
The inning unraveled from there. Bennett Sousa, appearing for the third time in four days, gave up singles to all three hitters he faced. AJ Blubaugh entered and surrendered a two-run triple to Henry Bolte off the right-field wall. With the infield in, Bolte scored on a chopper to first baseman Christian Walker, whose throw home was off target. Ten batters came to the plate in the inning.
Brown was charged with two runs, one earned, and held the Athletics scoreless through five. He worked around a walk in each of his first four innings and escaped a third-inning jam created by a walk and an Isaac Paredes error. Coming off consecutive 10-strikeout starts, he induced seven swings-and-misses on 40 swings.
Houston's offense was quiet against Athletics left-hander Jacob Lopez, who entered with a 5.68 ERA but a strong history against the Astros. Christian Walker's solo homer, his 28th of the season, and a Yainer Diaz double were the only hits Lopez allowed in six innings. He struck out four and walked two.
The Astros made it interesting in the eighth, scoring four runs and putting the tying run at third and the go-ahead run at second before Luis Medina struck out Cam Smith to end the threat. Houston finished with five hits, three of them before the eighth, including solo home runs from Walker and Smith.
Houston can still clinch the AL West on Saturday, but it needs a win over the Athletics combined with a Rangers loss. The Rangers fell to the Twins on Friday night. If either result does not go Houston's way, the race goes to the season's final day.
The Astros and Athletics meet again Saturday, September 26, at 9:40 PM EDT at Sutter Health Park, with the game available on MLB.TV, NBC Sports CA, and Space City Home Network.
