Astros at Athletics (Game 2)
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: 7:35 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), NBCSN California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Brad Peacock (10-2, 3.05 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Daniel Mengden (0-1, 10.13)
Peacock is winless in his last five starts despite allowing just one earned run in four of the outings. The 29-year-old Floridian settled for a no-decision against the New York Mets last Saturday despite giving up one run and three hits over 5 1/3 innings. Peacock fell to 3-5 lifetime versus Oakland on Aug. 20, when he yielded three runs - one earned - and seven hits over 5 1/3 frames.
Mengden is back from Triple-A Nashville to make his third start of the season and first since June 3, when he escaped with a no-decision against Washington after surrendering four runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old Texan made nine starts for Nashville this year, going 2-4 with a 4.17 ERA. Mengden got pounded in three turns against Houston last season, yielding 13 runs and 17 hits in 15 1/3 frames en route to an 0-2 record.
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 hits 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.