Athletics at Astros
The Oakland Athletics look to complete a sweep of the three-game series when they visit the Houston Astros for the finale on Wednesday. After matching its season total by belting three home runs en route to an 8-1 triumph in the opener, Oakland received a strong effort from its pitching staff on Tuesday to post a 4-0 victory.
Kendall Graveman notched his first win in his second career start, scattering four hits and four walks over 5 1/3 innings, while four relievers combined to allow four hits over the final 3 2/3 frames. Billy Butler delivered an RBI double in the sixth inning to extend his season-opening hitting streak to nine games for the Athletics, who improved to 28-12 in the all-time series since the Astros joined the American League West prior to the 2013 campaign. Houston, which was limited to five hits in the series opener, registered eight on Tuesday - all singles. The loss was the third in four games for the Astros, who have scored a total of three runs in the defeats.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Drew Pomeranz (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Astros RH Collin McHugh (1-0, 1.50)
Pomeranz was superb in his season debut Friday, striking out six while allowing two hits over seven scoreless innings against Seattle. It marked just the third time in 41 career starts the 26-year-old worked seven frames, with all three instances coming over his last six turns. Pomeranz has yet to defeat Houston in his career, going 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in two starts and one relief appearance.
McHugh picked up right where he left off last season, limiting Texas to one run over six innings Friday in his 2015 debut. The 27-year-old won his final seven decisions last year to finish his first campaign with the Astros with an 11-9 record. McHugh was victorious in his only career start against the Athletics, yielding one run and two hits with seven strikeouts while coming within one out of his first major-league complete game on April 27, 2014.
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros SS Jed Lowrie went 1-for-3 on Tuesday in his first game against the team with which he spent the previous two seasons.
2. Oakland LF Mark Canha was 0-for-3 after beginning his major-league career with a six-game hitting streak.
3. McHugh is the first Houston pitcher to win eight consecutive decisions since Roy Oswalt captured nine in a row from Aug. 23, 2006-April 17, 2007.