Athletics 4, Astros 3
HOUSTON -- Danny Valencia hit two home runs, including a two-run blast in the eighth inning that delivered the Oakland Athletics a 4-3 win over the reeling Houston Astros on Friday night at Minute Maid Park.
Valencia turned a 3-2 deficit into a one-run lead with his one-out shot to left field off Houston right-hander Pat Neshek (3-6), his 15th home run, to continue his torturing of the Astros (77-71) this season.
Valencia, selected off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 3, finished 3-for-3 with a walk, two runs and three RBIs and is batting .452 (14-for-31) with four homers and 11 RBIs against the Astros in 2015.
Left-hander Drew Pomeranz (5-5) worked a perfect seventh inning, as the Athletics (64-84) held the Astros hitless over final five innings. Oakland left-hander Felix Doubront started that run by retiring the final seven batters he faced before departing after six solid innings of work.
The Astros dropped their fifth consecutive game following a 2-8 road trip. They remain 2 1/2 games behind the Texas Rangers in the American League West, who dropped a 3-1 decision to the Mariners.
For a spell, the Astros found the productive at-bats that deserted them on their discouraging 10-game road trip, manufacturing runs in the first and third innings to complement a solo home run from first baseman Chris Carter, his 20th, with one out in the second.
As usual, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was the linchpin, working a leadoff walk in the first before advancing one base over the ensuing two plate appearances -- a George Springer sacrifice bunt and a groundout to the right side of the infield from shortstop Carlos Correa.
Altuve gave the Astros a 1-0 lead when he scored on an RBI single from third baseman Jed Lowrie.
In the third, Altuve scored again, this time on a daring tag from third base when Lowrie lifted a fly ball into right-field foul territory. Athletics right fielder Josh Reddick delivered a strong throw home, but Altuve beat the tag of catcher Carson Blair, taking out home plate umpire Toby Basner with his slide in the process.
Mike Fiers, who surrendered three solo homers in his start at Anaheim last week, allowed two in succession in the fourth, enabling the Athletics to slice the deficit to 3-2. Reddick bashed a 2-2 fastball off the facade of the right-field upper deck for his 19th homer before Valencia drilled a full-count fastball out to left. It came one pitch after Valencia left the batter's box thinking he had worked a walk.
Fiers recovered to retire the next three batters to keep his lead, but the tenor of the game changed.
NOTES: Astros INF Marwin Gonzalez remained sidelined as he continues to deal with multiple hand issues. Gonzalez missed two games during the road trip with a left index finger injury before injuring his left thumb attempting to field a ground ball on Wednesday night. ... Athletics OF Billy Burns missed his eighth consecutive start with right hamstring soreness, but Oakland manager Bob Melvin anticipates Burns returning to the starting lineup on Saturday. ... Astros RHP Luke Gregerson is expected to rejoin the team on Saturday following the Wednesday birth of his first child, Logan John Gregerson, in Orlando, Fla. Gregerson last appeared on Sunday, earning his 27th save against the Angels.