OAKLAND, Calif. – Hogan Harris and three relievers combined for an eight-hit game, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Houston Astros 4-0 on Monday night.
Harris (2-3) allowed seven hits in 6 2/3 innings and matched his career-high seven strikeouts. The win was his first since June 18 and came after he spent the All-Star break working to slow down his performance.
“Just redefining it and making it simpler,” Harris said. “Even though we had people on base, I felt a lot more confident in being able to repeat, still being able to throw when I wanted. That helped a lot.”
Harris has been stingy all season, especially during night games. The lefty has allowed three runs or less in all nine starts this season and has a 1.55 ERA in night games.
“I thought Hogan took a step in the right direction tonight,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “It was a great night. He turned double plays when he needed to, made pitches when he needed to. He pitched tonight. When he got in trouble tonight, he didn’t panic, he didn’t try to make a better pitch. He just made pitches.”
The game lasted 2 hours and 7 minutes and was played in front of an announced crowd of 4,517.
JJ Bleday had three hits, while Lawrence Butler and Max Schuemann scored two each to lead the A’s to their second win in eight games against the Astros.
Houston leads the AL West by percentage points over Seattle.
“Harris threw the ball really well and we know that once they get the lead, they have some guys down the stretch that can get the job done,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “And that’s what they did. Sometimes you just tip your hat to the other side.”
Austin Adams followed Harris and retired Alex Bregman on a strikeout, ending a two-on, two-out threat in the seventh.
Lucas Erceg retired three batters and Mason Miller pitched 1-2-3 in the ninth to end the game.
Oakland has the fifth-most errors (61) in the majors, but has turned three double plays to tie St. Louis for the most in baseball (103).
Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez doubled in four appearances after hitting for the cycle against Seattle on Sunday. Jose Altuve and Jeremy Pena each had two hits for Houston.
The A’s began their onslaught from the start, rattling off four consecutive hits against Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti in the third.
Miguel Andujar doubled in a run with a shot down the left field line, and a second run scored when Astros left fielder Mauricio Dubón fumbled the ball trying to retrieve it. Bleday followed with an RBI double to put the A’s ahead 3-0.
Schuemann singled home Zack Gelof for the fourth goal to make it 4-0.
Arrighetti (4-8) allowed seven hits and four runs in six innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: Former All-Star INF Aledmys Díaz was called up from the Florida Complex League and added to the roster. Díaz, who began the season with Oakland before being released on July 5, played first base and went 0 for 3. … C Victor Caratini (hip) was activated from the 10-day injured list. INF Greg Kessinger and C César Salazar were acquired by Triple-A Sugar Land. INF David Hensley was designated for assignment.
NEXT
Astros rookie RHP Jake Bloss (0-0, 4.70 ERA) faces Oakland in his third career start on Tuesday. The A’s plan is to go with RHP Osvaldo Bido (1-1, 3.44), who will make his second start of the season after a stellar stint in the bullpen.
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