The Athletics spent the first four innings Sunday looking buried. By the seventh, they had completed one of their better comebacks of the season.
Brian Serven launched a three-run homer to ignite a six-run fifth, and Max Muncy completed the rally with a go-ahead homer. The A’s beat Houston 7-6 at Daikin Park to take two of three from the Astros.
The win improved the Athletics to 51-80. It also moved them out of baseball’s worst record, a half-game ahead of Colorado, while leaving them one game behind the Angels in the AL West.
Meanwhile, Houston fell to 65-66 and into a tie with Texas atop the division.
Six down, six back
Brady Basso lasted only one inning, and Houston jumped on him immediately.
Jeremy Peña and Yordan Alvarez opened with singles before Isaac Paredes drove in the first run on a sacrifice fly. Then Jose Altuve hit a two-run homer, giving Houston a 3-0 lead.
Jack Perkins took over in the second and initially struggled with his command. He walked three batters, including Altuve with the bases loaded, as Houston pushed the lead to 4-0.
However, Perkins settled in from there.
Paredes hit a two-run homer in the fourth after Peña reached on an error, stretching the lead to 6-0. Still, those were the final runs Houston would score.
Then the Athletics erupted.
Donovan Walton singled and Darell Hernaiz walked to open the fifth. Serven followed with a three-run homer to left-center, cutting the deficit in half.
Soon after, Henry Bolte singled and Zack Gelof was hit by a pitch. Lawrence Butler doubled home Bolte, then Tommy White singled home Gelof and Butler to tie the game 6-6.
Six runs had disappeared in one inning.
Perkins gives them five
Perkins deserves much of the credit for giving the offense enough time to recover.
The right-hander worked five innings in relief, allowing three runs on three hits. Only one run was earned. He walked five, struck out six and earned the win to improve to 3-9.
Notably, Perkins stranded Houston threats after the fourth. He worked around a double and intentional walk in the sixth, getting Paredes to fly out before Altuve lined out.
Then the A’s finally moved ahead.
With two outs in the seventh, Muncy drove Steven Okert’s fastball 409 feet to center. His seventh homer of the season gave the Athletics their first lead at 7-6.
Bullpen makes it stand
This time, there was no late collapse.
Scott Blewett worked a perfect seventh before Luis Medina handled the eighth. Medina allowed a leadoff single and intentionally walked Alvarez, but struck out Yainer Diaz and Peña before retiring Paredes.
Then Hogan Harris delivered a clean ninth. He struck out Altuve, retired Daulton Varsho on a fly ball and fanned Christian Walker to finish his 13th save.
Bolte finished 3-for-5 with a double, while Serven went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. White drove in two, and Butler added an RBI double.
The A’s had 10 hits despite striking out 16 times.
Another series in the books
After dropping Friday’s opener, the Athletics rallied late Saturday and came all the way back Sunday to win the series.
Now they return home with consecutive wins and another series victory secured.
The A’s open a three-game set against Minnesota on Monday at Sutter Health Park. Jeffrey Springs is scheduled to start for the Athletics.
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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.
