Astros 6, A's 4
HOUSTON -- Roberto Hernandez took advantage of an early lead and recorded his fifth quality start, and the Houston Astros held on for a 6-4 win over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park.
Hernandez (2-3) worked six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts. He pitched effectively while ahead, holding on to 2-0 and 3-1 leads to get the Astros (26-14) back on track.
Houston bashed three more home runs to add to its major-league-leading total, which now stands at 60. Left fielder Colby Rasmus provided critical insurance with a two-run shot to right field off Athletics left-hander Fernando Abad in the bottom of the eighth. Two batters later, catcher Jason Castro cranked his fifth home run for a four-run lead.
Oakland (14-27) cut the deficit to one run on two occasions but couldn't get over the hump in support of right-hander Sonny Gray (4-2), who allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks with four strikeouts over five innings.
The Athletics threatened in the ninth inning, scoring twice to chase Astros closer Luke Gregerson from the mound. Houston right-hander Pat Neshek struck out center fielder Billy Burns, representing the tying run, on three pitches to earn his first save of the season.
The Athletics squandered an opportunity to break the scoreless tie with two instances of overaggressive baserunning in the second inning as first baseman Max Muncy was thrown out trying to scoring from first on a one-out double by Brett Lawrie. The Oakland third baseman was then thrown out trying from second to score on an infield single by Sam Fuld.
The original call on Lawrie was reviewed and upheld, and the Astros struck to take a lead.
Houston first baseman Chris Carter followed a leadoff double from Rasmus with a two-run blast to left field off Gray. Carter's seventh home run supplied the Astros a 2-0 lead, but Oakland sliced that deficit in half when right fielder Josh Reddick doubled home shortstop Marcus Semien in the third.
After the Astros reclaimed their two-run lead on RBI single by designated hitter Evan Gattis in the fifth, Oakland replied in the sixth when Muncy cranked a two-out solo homer.
NOTES: Astros manager A.J. Hinch announced that RHP Lance McCullers will make a second career start Saturday against the Tigers in Detroit. McCullers made his major league debut Monday night against the Athletics, allowing one run, three hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. ... Athletics LHP Drew Pomeranz will return to Oakland on Wednesday for additional evaluation of his ailing left shoulder. Pomeranz departed his start Monday night with shoulder tightness in the middle of an at-bat in the fifth inning. There is a possibility that Pomeranz could land on the disabled list, depending upon the results of the examination. ... The Astros on Monday traded minor league LHP Chris Lee to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for slots 46 and 76 for the 2014-15 international pool.