Athletics 12, Astros 5
Daric Barton’s two-run single in the top of the ninth broke a 5-5 tie and visiting Oakland went on to take the second game of the four-game series.
Barton had two hits, Jed Lowrie also finished with two hits and two RBIs and Josh Donaldson hit his seventh home run of the season for the Athletics. Oakland starter Jesse Chavez pitched the first five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) and eight hits before Dan Otero, Sean Doolittle, Luke Gregerson (1-1) and Fernando Abad shut out Houston the rest of the way.
Jose Altuve had three hits in the leadoff spot for the Astros and Chris Carter had two hits and a run scored. Houston starter Brad Peacock also went five innings, allowing five runs (three earned) and five hits while also walking six before Josh Fields (0-2) was roughed up for five of the seven runs in the ninth.
Brandon Moss was hit by a pitch from Fields to start the ninth and Alberto Callaspo followed with a single up the middle on a 3-2 pitch. Craig Gentry reached on a bunt single to load the bases for Barton, who delivered his two-run single, and another run came home on the play on a throwing error by right fielder George Springer.
Peacock walked his third batter of the game to start the second inning and Callaspo came home on a triple to center by Josh Reddick, who then scored on an error by shortstop Jonathan Villar on a grounder off the bat of Barton. Following a single by a Eric Sogard and another walk by Peacock, Lowrie laced a single to right to drive in two more runs and give the Athletics a 4-0 lead, but the Astros would twice rally from four-run deficits to tie the score at 5.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Athletics RHP A.J. Griffin will reportedly undergo Tommy John surgery next week. … Oakland OF Yoenis Cespedes was not in the lineup after leaving Thursday's game against the Astros with hamstring tightness. … The Astros made seven errors in the first 22 games of the season and have eight in the last two, including three miscues in this one.