Athletics at Astros
The American League West-leading Oakland Athletics look to continue their dominance over the host Houston Astros when the division rivals meet for the second contest of their three-game set Tuesday. Oakland improved to 10-0 against Houston this season and 15-1 in the all-time series when it rallied for a 4-3 victory Monday. Josh Reddick completed the comeback from a 3-0 deficit with a two-run homer in the eighth inning as the Athletics maintained their three-game lead over Texas.
Houston fell 24 1/2 games behind Oakland as it suffered its sixth consecutive loss. The Astros (33-65), who own the worst record in the major leagues, have dropped 10 of 11 at home and nine of 10 overall. The club parted ways with Carlos Pena (eight homers, 25 RBIs) and Ronny Cedeno (one homer, 12 RBIs), designating both veterans for assignment Monday.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, CSN California (Oakland), CSN Houston
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Jarrod Parker (6-6, 3.95 ERA) vs. Astros RH Jarred Cosart (1-0, 0.00)
Parker has gone four straight starts without a decision despite allowing three runs or fewer in each outing. The 24-year-old is 4-0 in his last nine turns and has not yielded more than three runs since May 6 - a span of 12 starts. Parker, who never has faced the Astros, is 3-3 with a 3.58 ERA in nine road outings this season.
Cosart was brilliant in winning his major-league debut July 12, limiting the Rays to a pair of singles and three walks over eight-plus scoreless innings at Tampa Bay. The 23-year-old, who struck out two, carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning but had it broken up when Ben Zobrist produced a one-out single. Cosart went 7-4 with a 3.29 ERA and one complete game in 18 contests (17 starts) for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
WALK-OFFS
1. Houston SS Jonathan Villar made his major-league debut Monday, going 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored.
2. Oakland LF Yoenis Cespedes has missed four straight games with a sore left wrist.
3. The Athletics have won 12 straight meetings with the Astros.