Athletics 5, Astros 4
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Third baseman Danny Valencia hit a solo home run in the fourth inning and a walk-off single with two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth, leading the Oakland Athletics to a 5-4 victory against the Houston Astros on Sunday at the O.co Coliseum.
The walk-off hit was Valencia's fifth of his career.
The Astros had rallied to take a 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth on right fielder Colby Rasmus' three-run homer off A's closer Edward Mujica.
Oakland answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning against Astros closer Luke Gregerson, a former Athletic.
First baseman Mark Canha led off with an infield single then moved to third on catcher Josh Phegley's single to right. Gregerson struck out shortstop Marcus Semien. But after falling behind 3-0 to center fielder Billy Burns he issued an intentional walk, loading the bases.
With two outs, right fielder Josh Reddick hit a comebacker that bounced off of Gregerson for an RBI single, driving in Canha to tie the game 4-4 and bringing Valencia to the plate.
Valencia got ahead 2-1 in the count and drilled a single down the left field line, bringing Phegley home.
The A's beat the first-place Astros for the third straight time and took three of four games in the series. The A's moved to within 10 games of Houston in the American League West, their smallest deficit since July20.
A's right-hander Chris Bassitt allowed just one run on three hits over 6 2/3 innings, struck out a career-high 10 and threw a career-high 112 pitches but got a no-decision.
Bassistt threw his seventh straight gem since being recalled July 25 from Triple-A Nashville for the fourth time this season. He allowed 11 runs during that stretch, striking out 36 and walking seven but going 1-4. He received five runs support in his previous start, a 5-0 victory against Baltimore, but a combined six runs in his other six starts since being recalled.
Valencia hit a solo home run in the fourth inning for Oakland. It was his ninth blast of the season and second since being claimed off waivers from Toronto on Aug. 3. The red-hot Valencia made his third straight start and hit fourth for the straight game. Since coming to the A's he's gone 9-for-18 with three doubles, two home runs and seven RBIs.
Oakland had rallied for two runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 3-1 lead, but Mujica got into trouble quickly in the ninth. Center fielder Carlos Gomez hit a leadoff single to left and moved to third on third baseman Jed Lowrie's single, bringing Rasmus to the plate. He launched Mujica's 91 mph fastball high and deep into the right field seats.
Astros right-hander Mike Fiers made his first start for the Astros since coming to Houston from Milwaukee on July 30 in a trade and held the A's to one run on five hits over 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision. He struck out four and walked one.
With the game tied 1-1, the A's rallied to score twice in the eighth inning.
Phegley worked a leadoff walk against right-handed reliever Will Harris and moved to third when Semien lined an opposite field single to right. Burns brought Phegley home with a sharp single to left, giving Oakland a 2-1 lead, and Harris left without recording an out.
Astros left-hander Tony Sipp came on and retired the first batter he faced, but Reddick sliced an RBI double to left, making it 3-1.
Valencia broke a scoreless tie with a home run with two outs off Fiers. Ahead in the count 3-1, Valencia got a high, inside fastball and crushed it into the left field seats.
The Rangers pulled even with a run in the sixth off Bassitt. Altuve lined a one-out single to center. Then with two outs, shortstop Carlos Correa doubled to left-center, and Altuve scored all the way from first.
NOTES: Astros LHP Oliver Perez, who was acquired from Arizona on Friday night in a trade, was activated Sunday, giving Houston a second left-handed reliever, joining Tony Sipp. ... Houston 1B Chris Carter made his second straight start, this one at DH. He went 1-for-4 Saturday with two hard outs to left field in a 2-1 loss to Oakland. "He was a small fraction of an inch from changing the whole complexion of that game a couple different times," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "That's why he's back in there today." Carter entered the game batting .181. ... Oakland LF Coco Crisp, who left Saturday's game following the second inning after having a nauseous reaction to medication, was in the lineup again Sunday. "He felt a little better after the game yesterday," A's manager Bob Melvin said. ... A's LHP Sean Doolittle (strained left shoulder) threw a bullpen session in Oakland on Sunday and will make his second rehab appearance on Tuesday, this time for Triple-A Nashville. He pitched a scoreless inning Friday for Class A Stockton. "He'll have a few outings there and then we'll see how he's doing and at the right time we'll bring him back," Melvin said.