Astros at Athletics (Game 1)
The Houston Astros look to avenge their only loss this month when they visit the Oakland Athletics for a doubleheader on Saturday. Houston won its first six games of September and seven straight overall before dropping a 9-8 decision on Friday.
Former Athletic Josh Reddick drove in four runs while reaching base five times for the Astros, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and a homer while drawing a pair of walks. Jose Altuve ended his three-game hitless streak, going 2-for-5 with a homer to raise his major league leading batting average to .352 as Houston remained 14 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels for first place in the American League West. Oakland scored four times in the seventh inning Friday on Marcus Semien's grand slam to erase a 7-3 deficit and Blake Treinen allowed an RBI double by Reddick in the top of the ninth before the Athletics plated two in the bottom half on Boog Powell's homer and Jed Lowrie's RBI single. It was the second straight victory for Oakland, which had lost eight in a row.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), NBCSN California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Charlie Morton (11-6, 3.87 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Daniel Gossett (3-8, 5.32)
Morton is coming off a victory over the New York Mets last Saturday in which he allowed two runs and six hits while recording nine strikeouts over five innings. The 33-year-old native of New Jersey served up a home run in the triumph, marking just the second time he has been taken deep in his last six turns. Morton made his only career start against Oakland on April 28, when he registered 12 strikeouts while giving up four runs in seven innings of a victory.
Gossett has not started at home since July 28, when he yielded five runs and nine hits over 3 2/3 innings of a loss to Minnesota. The 24-year-old native of South Carolina has gone 1-2 in four turns on the road since, including a loss at Seattle on Sunday in which he surrendered three runs on seven hits and five walks over 3 2/3 frames. Gossett has yet to defeat Houston in his brief career, allowing seven runs over 11 2/3 innings in losing a pair of starts in June.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Astros are expected to activate C Evan Gattis (wrist) from the disabled list on Sunday.
2. Oakland had five players produce multi-hit performances on Friday, with Ryon Healy and Matt Chapman recording three apiece.
3. Houston activated RHP Michael Feliz (shoulder), who has gone 4-2 with a 5.04 ERA in 42 relief appearances, from the 10-day DL on Friday.