A's rebound from being routed by dealing a rout

*Photo from the Mercury News*

   What's the best way to rebound from losing 15-0 in embarrassing fashion? Why, explode on offense and embarrass your opponent. One day after losing 15-0 to the Houston Astros, the Oakland Athletics responded in kind by flat out dominating en route to a 21-7 victory last night. Matt Olson and and Sean Murphy homered twice, and Oakland jumped on starter Wade Miley for a 7 run first inning and never looked back. Olson said that ''It's awesome to respond to - there's no other way to put it - the butt kicking that we got yesterday, to be able to come back. We always know we can compete against these guys, and to do it in the fashion that we did today was nice.''

   The A's tied a franchise record with 25 hits in the game, and didn't record a single extra base hit in their 7 run first. They did hit 6 homers, tying a season high. Khris Davis hit the first homer in the second inning, Olson homered in the 3rd and again in the 4th, Marcus Semien homered in the 4th, as well as Murphy, who added another homer in the 5th inning. The A's also set a franchise record for runs scored in the first 4 innings.

   Houston manager AJ Hinch said that ''They executed pretty flawlessly, and they crushed the ball later in the game." The Astros did still get production, getting two homers from both George Springer and Martin Maldonado. They now have 252 homers this year, a franchise record. Miley only got one out for the Astros as he left with Oakland ahead 6-0. He allowed 7 singles and one walk in his outing. This was his first loss since June 17. 

   Tonight, Oakland will send LHP Brett Anderson to the hill against Houston's Jose Urquidy. Anderson is 11-9 on the season with a 4.19 ERA, and allowed 5 runs in 5 innings in his last start against the Los Angeles Angels. Urquidy is 1-1 with a 5.33 ERA on the season.