HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros didnt hang their heads after a five-run ninth inning allowed the Oakland Athletics to take a two-

Posted in IYH Forums by jokergreen0220 at 10:39, Feb 14 2020

HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros didnt hang their heads after a five-run ninth inning allowed the Oakland Athletics to take a two-run lead Friday night.They were confident they could rally with the heart of their order due up in the bottom of the inning.Luis Valbuena drove in four runs, highlighted by a three-run homer with one out in the ninth, to lift the Astros to a wild 10-9 victory over the Athletics.Oakland took the lead with the big ninth before Jose Altuve singled with one out in the bottom of the inning. Carlos Correa struck out, but reached on a wild pitch before Valbuena connected off Ryan Madson (3-3) for his third homer in four games to give Houston the win.That inning, the way you draw it up is were in the good part of our order that we feel really comfortable with, manager A.J. Hinch said.Valbuena knew it was gone the moment he made contact.I was looking for a good pitch, he said. Trying to get the pitch I wanted and I (didnt) miss the pitch. You see what happened?Oakland manager Bob Melvin felt confident with Madson on the mound in the ninth before things went awry.I feel good whenever he takes the mound and we have the lead whether its one or two runs, Melvin said. I didnt have negative thoughts going into that inning. I fully believed we were going to win the game.Houston led by three runs entering the ninth before Yonder Alonso connected off closer Will Harris with no outs to cut the lead to 7-6. Pinch-hitter Jake Smolinski singled with one out before a double by Jed Lowrie chased Harris.He was replaced by Michael Feliz (6-1) who was greeted by the double from Davis that put the As up 8-7.Josh Reddick added a run with an RBI single to make it 9-7.Stephen Vogt had an RBI triple and Marcus Semien hit a solo homer to help Oakland take a 3-0 lead in the fourth.Correa hit a two-run homer in the fourth before the Astros went on top with a four-run fifth.Houston trailed by one run with no outs and the bases loaded in the fifth when Marwin Gonzalez singled off starter Daniel Mengden to tie it. The Astros took the lead on an RBI groundout by Altuve. Correa followed with a run-scoring single to push the lead to 5-3 and chase Mengden, who had remained in the game despite being struck in the chest by a comebacker an inning before.Correa got in a rundown trying to stretch his hit into a double and Altuve broke for home on the play. Semien threw home in time to tag out Altuve and allow Correa to reach second.Marc Rzepczynski took over and allowed an RBI single from Valbuena to make it 6-3.Houston starter Collin McHugh allowed eight hits and four runs in six innings and remains winless since May 30.Mengden, a rookie who is from Houston and attended nearby Texas A&M, yielded six hits and a season-high six runs in a season-low 4 2/3 innings.Altuve singled with no outs in the fourth for Houstons first hit before Correas 14th homer cut the lead to 3-2. It was the 35th home run of his career to tie him with Adam Everett for most home runs by a shortstop in franchise history.Mengden was shaken up later in that inning when a hit by Carlos Gomez bounced off his glove and hit him in the chest before dropping to the ground. He picked the ball up and got it to first for the out before being tended to by a trainer. It took him a minute to catch his breath before he threw a couple of warmup pitches and remained in the game.I think it is one of those things that scared me more than it hurt, Mengden said. Those are always nerve-wracking.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: OF Colby Rasmus was out of the lineup with an ear infection. Hinch said he hopes Rasmus will feel better and be back in the lineup on Saturday.NO COCOOakland OF Coco Crisp served a one-game suspension on Friday night for intentionally throwing his bat toward home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn the night before. The bat hit Reyburns foot after Crisp struck out to end the fifth inning of Oaklands 3-1 victory at Houston. Crisp apologized after the game and said he didnt mean for the bat to end up so close to Reyburn.UP NEXTAthletics: Kendall Graveman (4-6, 4.57) will start for Oakland on Saturday. Graveman has bounced back from a tough start to the season to go 3-0 with a 3.63 ERA in his last seven starts, and his three-game winning streak ties a career high.Astros: Lance McCullers (4-2, 3.57) is scheduled to start for Houston on Saturday. McCullers allowed five hits and one run with 10 strikeouts in seven innings of a 2-1 win over the Mariners in his last start. Brian Hoyer Jersey .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. Marcell Harris Jersey . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. http://www.custom49ersjersey.com/ . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. Billy Wilson Jersey . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. Larry Schreiber Jersey . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. CHICAGO -- Minnesota manager Paul Molitor acknowledged he cant wait until the season is over. And that was before having to watch Carlos Rodon tie an AL record by striking out the first seven Twins and Tim Anderson flirt with the cycle for the White Sox.I think a lot of people are looking for a chance to kind of put this one to rest, he said.Hours later, after the Chicago White Sox cruised to a 7-3 victory Friday night, the Twins had their most losses since the franchise moved to Minnesota: 103.You kind of get what you deserve, a subdued Molitor said.The Twins couldnt hit Rodon to start and couldnt get Anderson out while fuming at his home run celebration. Its the most losses for the franchise since the Washington Senators went 50-104 in 1949. The Twins, who moved to Minnesota in 1960, are 57-103 with two games left.Thats tough to swallow, right-hander Tyler Duffey said. But its part of the game, part of learning and part of getting better.Duffey (9-12) gave up five runs in two-plus innings to ensure Minnesota wont have a 10-game winner in their miserable season.Rodon quickly set the tone for Minnesotas dubious night that topped the 102-loss Twins of 1982.The 23-year-old lefty fanned Brian Dozier, Jorge Polanco and Robbie Grossman on sliders in the first. He got Miguel Sano on a fastball, Kennys Vargas on a changeup and saw Eduardo Escobar chase a slider in the dirt in the second.When John Ryan Murphy was caught looking at a 97 mph fastball to lead off the third, Rodon tied the AL record for strikeouts to start a game set by Joe Cowley of the White Sox on May 28, 1986, at Texas.Youve just got to throw strikes, go right at them, Rodon said.Logan Schafers ensuing double left Rodon one strikeout shy of the major league record to start a game shared by the Astros Jim Deshaies and the Mets Jacob deGrom.Rodons strikeout streak was 10 when figuring in the final three hitters he faced while fanning 11 in a victory Sunday at Cleveland. The last pitcher to strike out 10 in a row was Eric Gagne of the Dodgers over four ggames in May 2003.ddddddddddddDuffey gave up six hits while getting six outs. Omar Narvaez hit his first career homer in the fourth off Pat Dean as the White Sox built a 7-0 lead.Anderson, a rookie, finished a double shy of the cycle and irritated Duffey after hitting a two-run homer in the third inning.I mean he backpedaled out of the box. Stood there and enjoyed it, Duffey said. Its just one of those things. Its one thing to hit a homer. I gave up a 500-foot homer to Nelson Cruz and he jogs around the bases.Ryan ORourke threw behind Anderson in the eighth and both benches were warned. Anderson then grounded to third to end his chances at the cycle. He tripled and scored in the first and singled in the sixth.I wanted to hit a double. I did it in Double-A, Anderson said. When everything is clicking for you, I feel real great.Rodon (9-10) was dominant until a 31-pitch sixth inning when he gave up three runs -- two earned -- to end his night. He allowed three hits and three walks while striking out 10 in Chicagos sixth win in seven games.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: 1B Joe Mauer (quadriceps) remained out. ... Molitor said veteran C Kurt Suzuki has taken a beating and wont catch again this season. Suzuki is in the last year of his contract. Its probably been as awkward a month for him as anybody in that clubhouse when youre potentially playing out into your free agency as a catcher in your early 30s, Molitor said.White Sox: Tests showed 2B Tyler Saladino has a herniated disk. He had an epidural Monday and doesnt believe hell need surgery. It was kind of crippling for a little bit, he said.DOZIER BACKReturning from his first off day since May 24, Dozier extended his slump to 1 for 32 before singling and scoring in the sixth. He remained at 42 homers and 99 RBI.UP NEXTWhite Sox RHP James Shields (6-18, 5.82 ERA) closes a tough season Saturday night against Twins LHP Hector Santiago (12-10, 4.87). ' ' '