The Athletics arrived in Houston after getting swept in four games at Kansas City. Friday offered no relief.
The A’s managed just three hits in a 4-0 loss to the Astros at Daikin Park, extending their losing streak to five games. J.T. Ginn kept the game within reach for five innings, but the offense never gave him a run.
The loss dropped the Athletics to 49-80 and into sole possession of last place in the AL West. Houston improved to 65-64 and moved one game ahead of Texas atop a division in which the Astros are the only team above .500.
Ginn hangs in without support
Ginn worked out of immediate trouble in the first after José Altuve singled and Yordan Alvarez was hit by a pitch. He struck out Daulton Varsho and Christian Walker to escape without damage.
Houston finally broke through in the fourth. Isaac Paredes walked, Varsho doubled and Walker lifted a sacrifice fly to center for the first run.
Then the Astros added two with two outs in the fifth. Nick Allen walked before Alvarez doubled him home, and Paredes followed with another RBI double.
That ended the scoring against Ginn, who allowed three runs on six hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out four while throwing 94 pitches.
Ginn fell to 8-8 with a 3.60 ERA.
Meanwhile, the A’s gave him almost nothing to work with.
Three hits, no answers
Donovan Walton produced the Athletics’ first hit with a third-inning single, but the lineup could not generate anything around it.
Houston starter Hayden Wesneski allowed one hit across five scoreless innings. He walked three and struck out four.
The A’s mounted their best chance in the sixth against Bennett Sousa. Jeff McNeil singled with one out, and Carlos Cortes added another single with two outs.
However, Lawrence Butler struck out to end the inning.
The Athletics put two runners aboard again in the seventh when Jonah Heim and Walton walked. Max Muncy struck out, then Henry Bolte grounded out to strand both.
In all, the A’s finished 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base. They struck out nine times.
McNeil, Cortes and Walton accounted for all three hits.
Astros add insurance, A’s shuffle roster
Elvis Alvarado worked a scoreless sixth before Houston added another run against Drew Rom in the seventh.
Raynel Delgado walked and advanced to third before Alvarez doubled him home for his second RBI of the night. Alvarez finished 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs.
The loss continued a rough stretch for an Athletics team coming off a four-game sweep in Kansas City.
There was also significant roster movement Friday. The A’s transferred Nick Kurtz to the 60-day injured list and placed Jacob Wilson on the 10-day IL.
The club also selected infielder Michael Stefanic from Las Vegas, recalled right-hander Kade Morris and claimed outfielder Johnathan Rodríguez off waivers from Pittsburgh.
Up next
The Athletics continue the series Saturday in Houston.
Jacob Lopez starts for the A’s at 5-4 with a 5.22 ERA and 81 strikeouts. Houston counters with Hunter Brown, who enters at 3-3 with a 3.67 ERA.
First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. PT.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
