Athletics at Astros
The Oakland Athletics have turned the tables on a season of disappointment away from home, outscoring their foes by a 24-9 margin en route to winning the first four contests of their six-game road trip. The cellar-dwelling Athletics aim to continue their ascent against the first-place Houston Astros on Wednesday when the American League West rivals play the second contest of their three-game series at Minute Maid Park.
Ryon Healy launched his first career grand slam to power Oakland to a 6-4 victory on Tuesday, giving him five hits on the road trip after going 1-for-14 with six strikeouts in a four-game series versus Houston last week. Bruce Maxwell has provided a jolt after the team designated former All-Star catcher Stephen Vogt for assignment, going 10-for-18 with four runs scored in his last five contests. While Oakland is just 13-25 on the road this season, Houston's home mark has fallen to 23-17 after losing 11 of its last 20 games at Minute Maid Park. Jose Altuve has hit safely in six straight and 10 of his last 11 contests, but he's just 2-for-9 in his career versus Wednesday starter Jesse Hahn.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, NBCSN California (Oakland), ROOT Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Jesse Hahn (3-5, 3.66 ERA) vs. Astros RH David Paulino (2-0, 5.04)
Hahn is looking to redeem himself after allowing two homers and a career-high 10 runs in just two innings of Thursday's 12-9 loss to Houston. "I really don't have an answer for it," the 27-year-old said. "I just didn't have good stuff. I think it was one of those starts where no matter what I did, no matter how much I battled I couldn't find anything." Hahn, who owns a 1-4 mark with a 9.28 ERA in five career starts versus the Astros, also took the loss against the club on April 30 after permitting four runs in six frames.
Hahn's troubles in his last outing resulted in an early 10-run lead for Paulino, who won his second straight start after allowing three runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. "I thought he did a good job of competing and using all of his pitches, even though he had a 10-run lead," said Astros manager A.J. Hinch, who also credited the development of the 23-year-old Dominican's breaking ball and changeup. Paulino kept the ball in the park for the first time after surrendering one homer in each of his previous four starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Houston OF Jake Marisnick is 8-for-20 with two homers, seven RBIs and six runs scored against Oakland this season.
2. Athletics LF Khris Davis, who had an RBI double in the opener to extend his hitting streak to five games, is 12-for-38 with five homers, nine RBIs and as many runs scored against the Astros in 2017.
3. Houston SS Carlos Correa has hit safely in seven straight and is riding a 15-game on-base streak.