Game #140: Oakland A's drop slugfest to Astros 11-5

In a high-scoring affair, the Oakland Athletics could not stop the bleeding against the Houston Astros, losing 11-5. Both starters were out of this one early, with Oakland's Aaron Brooks lasting just four inning plus one batter, and Collin McHugh allowing five runs in 5⅓ innings himself. Each of Oakland's five relievers in this game allowed a run apiece, save Pat Venditte, who allowed two.

Billy Butler, however, continued to stay hot, hitting his 11th home run to lead off the fifth inning and adding a run-scoring single in the sixth. His night brings his wRC+ to 101 (100 is league average) and his hitting streak to 10 games. Josh Reddick had a two-run home run of his own in the fifth inning on the night he brought back "Careless Whisper" as his walk up music.

Reddick on Careless Whisper: "Then I hit a home run with it and now it will stick the final six games."

— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) September 10, 2015

★★★

Houston opened the scoring in the second when Colby Rasmus hit a no-doubt solo home run into the section 200/201 stairwell. The Astros then batted seven in the fourth inning, scoring three on a series of singles and doubles to make it 4-0. Houston jumped out to a 7-0 lead after Pat Venditte could only record two outs taking over from Aaron Brooks, and Billy Burns saved it from being more with yet another great catch at the center field wall:

Oakland began to crawl back into this one in the bottom of the fifth, first with Billy Butler's solo home run, and then on singles from Marcus Semien and Billy Burns. Josh Reddick drove home Burns on his two-run home run to make it 7-4.

But alas, the score dictated that the backend of the bullpen work tonight. Pat Venditte, R.J. Alvarez, and Fernando Abad joined starter Aaron Brooks in conceding a home run tonight:

Tonight is the 8th time in Oakland #Athletics history that 4 different pitchers have allowed at least 1 home run. Never had 5.

— David Feldman (@dfeldy) September 10, 2015

The Astros line score resembled the Coliseum outfield wall and it's jagged edge, even with a break for the State Farm sign: 0|1|0|3|3|1|1|1|1. Thanks to Houston's offensive output, Collin McHugh picked up his 16th win tonight.

★★★

The A's have an off day Thursday to travel to Arlington, Texas for three-games against the Texas Rangers. The first game is Friday at 5:05 PM Pacific Time. The Rangers trail the Astros by two games following tonight's contest.

So tonight from Oakland, it was the A's 5, the Astros 11.