Álvarez Hits 2 Hrs, Drives In 5 Runs As Astros Beat A's, 9-6
HOUSTON (AP) — Yordan Álvarez hit two homers and drove in five runs, José Altuve drove in the go-ahead run with a single, and the Houston Astros rallied to beat the Oakland Athletics 9-6 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight win.
Álvarez, who was activated off the paternity list on Monday, hit a two-run homer to center in the first and had a three-run blast to left in the fifth, tying the game at 6-all and ending the night for Oakland starter Chris Bassitt.
It was the second multi-homer game of the season for Álvarez, whose last game against the New York Yankees on May 6.
The Astros took the lead with a three-run outburst in the sixth inning. Altuve gave the Astros their first lead with a two-run single, and Yuli Gurriel added an RBI groundout.
Myles Straw had an RBI single in the fourth.
Oakland tagged Houston starter Framber Valdez for three runs in the first and second innings.
Matt Olson and Chad Pinder hit RBI singles, and Jed Lowrie hit an RBI double in the first. In the second, Elvis Andrus hit an RBI single, and Ramón Laureano scored on an error by Martín Maldonado on a double steal. Olson had an RBI groundout to extend the lead to 6-2.
Valdez surrendered a season-high six runs — five earned — on 10 hits with six strikeouts in five innings.
Bryan Abreu (3-3) threw two scoreless innings for the win. He was activated off the injured list prior to the game. Ryne Stanek threw a perfect eighth, and Ryan Pressly pitched the ninth for his 15th save.
Bassitt yielded a season-high six runs on eight hits with six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
J.B. Wendelken (1-1) allowed two runs in one inning and took the loss. Oakland has lost four of the last five games.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: OF Mark Canha (hip) hit in the cage, was playing catch and doing other baseball activities in Oakland, manager Bob Melvin said. … DH Mitch Moreland would likely be out past the All-Star break, Melvin said. Moreland was placed on the injured list on Sunday without an explanation.
Astros: IF Aledmys Díaz (fractured left hand) was catching a tennis ball and has been hitting off a tee and playing soft toss, but he's still a couple weeks away, manager Dusty Baker said. … RHP Joe Smith (right elbow soreness) could be activated off the IL some time this week, Baker said.
PETTIS RETURNS
Houston 3B coach Gary Pettis rejoined the Astros on Tuesday after being away from the team since September recovering from multiple myeloma. Prior to the game, the Astros played a video welcoming him back, and Pettis also took out the lineup card.
UP NEXT
RHP Luis Garcia (6-5, 3.14 ERA) takes the mound Wednesday for the Astros opposite LHP Sean Manaea (6-5, 3.13).
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