Oakland, California: Evan Gattis hit a two-run double in the ninth inning and the AL West-leading Houston Astros completed their first sweep of the Oakland Athletics with a 7-6 win Sunday.
Gattis matched a career high with four RBIs. His go-ahead double with one out came after the A’s intentionally walked Jed Lowrie to load the bases.
Gattis lined a 1-2 pitch from Tyler Clippard (0-2) to the deepest part of the field at O.co Coliseum, and centre fielder Sam Fuld stumbled while chasing the ball in the air.
Jose Altuve extended his hitting streak against the A’s to 29 games. Altuve and Jake Marisnick, who homered earlier, scored on Gattis’ deciding hit.
Brett Lawrie drove in three runs for Oakland, which dropped three to Houston and has lost a season-high four straight overall.
Tony Sipp (2-0) retired four batters for the win. Former A’s reliever Luke Gregerson pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
Oakland had taken a 6-5 lead on Marcus Semien’s single in the seventh. A’s manager Bob Melvin was ejected in the top of the fourth by plate umpire Quinn Wolcott, who also ejected Melvin from a game last June. Melvin was in the dugout when he was tossed after a pitch thrown by starter Drew Pomeranz to Jason Castro was called a ball.
Castro eventually walked and scored on Marisnick’s second home run of the season, putting the Astros up 5-2.
The A’s, who scored only seven runs in their previous three games, seemed to get a spark from their manager’s ejection.
Oakland tied it with four hits off Houston starter Asher Wojciechowski in the bottom of the frame. Lawrie had a two-run single and Craig Gentry - who went into the game batting .040 - also drove in a run.
Wojciechowski lasted just four innings in his third career start. He allowed five hits and five runs with two walks and four strikeouts.
