OAKLAND, Calif. – Ronel Blanco held Oakland in check for seven innings in his return from suspension and Kyle Tucker hit a two-run homer to lead the Houston Astros to a 5-2 victory over the Athletics on Sunday.
“Just like he didn’t miss a beat,” coach Joe Espada said of Blanco. “We were trying to be smart with his shots, but he was too efficient. He was attacking the zone. His stuff was so good. It was hard not to let him come back and continue to save our bullpen. … Blanco, I can’t say enough about how good he’s been for us.
Jose Altuve added a two-run single before an announced crowd of 10,927 to help the Astros win the series and improve to 18-4 against the A’s over the past two seasons.
Blanco (5-0) looked strong in his return from a 10-game suspension for having a foreign substance on his glove during the game against Oakland in Houston last week.
“I really wasn’t focused on that,” Blanco said through an interpreter. “I was mostly focused on coming out here and doing my job, trying to shoot my shots and help my team win.”
He struck out five of his first eight batters and allowed just four hits, including a solo home run by Max Schuemann, before throwing the game to the bullpen. Houston improved to 8-1 in games started this season under Blanco, who allowed just 33 hits in 54 1/3 innings.
“Another phenomenal start,” said Espada. “We needed him to go deep into the game and he did. He had all his arguments working. Amazing how he hits his zone. He stays aggressive, induces ground balls when he needs to, gets strikes and misses. Just a very strong performance.
Shea Langeliers added a solo home run in the ninth for Oakland off Josh Hader.
Oakland starter Aaron Brooks (0-2) created trouble in the first three innings, inducing double-play grounders in the first and second and then striking out Alex Bregman on top, leaving the bases loaded in the third.
Brooks appeared to be on his way out of the fourth, allowing just one run before a pair of Schuemann errors at shortstop led to a big inning for Houston.
Schuemann hit a Mauricio Dubon grounder for an error and then threw wildly to second base for his second error of the play, allowing runners to advance to second and third.
Altuve followed with a two-run single and Tucker hit his 18th home run to give the Astros a 5-0 lead.
“After that play happens, you wish you could make the next play,” coach Mark Kotsay said. “We kind of let the game get away from us.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: RHP Cristian Javier did not opt out of his scheduled pregame bullpen session because of “a little discomfort in his forearm,” Espada said. Javier is day to day. … 1B José Abreu, who accepted a minor league assignment after a slow start to the season, is expected to return to the lineup Monday at Seattle after going 0 for 7 with one walk in two rehab games with Sugar Land .
Athletics: RHP Ross Stripling was scheduled to see a doctor on Sunday to determine the severity of his right elbow strain.
NEXT
Astros: LHP Framber Valdez (3-2, 4.32) is set to start the opener of a four-game series at Seattle on Monday.
Athletics: Oakland is off for Memorial Day and will begin a three-game series at Tampa Bay on Tuesday, with RHP Mitch Spence (3-2, 4.09) expected to start the opener.
___
APMLB:
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
