*Photo from the San Francisco Chronicle*
Revenge sure is sweet, just ask Ramon Laureano. One month after getting suspended for charging the Houston Astros bench, Laureano hit a walkoff single in the 9th inning to beat the Astros by a 3-2 score. ultimately getting the last laugh. The walkoff win also increases Oakland's lead over the second place Astros in the AL West by 5 1/2 games, the widest margin in baseball.
It was the Astros who got the scoring started, in the first inning, when George Springer hit a leadoff solo homer to center field, making it 1-0 Houston. It stayed that way until the 6th inning, when Yuli Gurriel made it 2-0 Astros on a solo homer to left field. In the 7th inning, Oakland tied the game on a Tommy La Stella two run double, also getting Oakland on the scoreboard. It stayed that way until the 9th, when Laureano hit the walkoff single to right, scoring La Stella and sending Oakland home happy.
Oakland had been experiencing a quiet night at the plate until the 7th, when La Stella broke through with the game tying two run double, and then again until the 9th, before Laureano hit the walkoff single. Oakland manager Bob Melvin addressed that issue after the game, saying that ''That's kind of been the theme for us this year. We'll look stagnant offensively for a while then have just enough for the end, we always have a good feeling when we're home and we have our last at-bat.''
Closer Liam Hendriks picked up the win for Oakland, making his record 3-0. Hendriks pitched a scoreless 9th, not allowing a baserunner and striking out two hitters. Jesus Luzardo started for Oakland, and got the no decision, keeping his record at 2-2. Luzardo threw 7 innings, allowing two runs on 4 hits and one walk, striking out 7 hitters. Joakim Soria also pitched for Oakland, throwing a scoreless 8th inning.
The Astros had a great pitching effort, only for it to be wasted in the end, with 3 runs scored by Oakland in the final 3 innings. Astros manager Dusty Baker was unhappy about it, saying after the game that ''It's totally debilitating because they live off walks. The last few innings we had walks, we're pitching Murphy like it's Johnny Bench or something. ... We just gave that game away to them.''
Ryan Pressly took the loss for the Astros, getting two outs in the 9th before giving up Laureano's walkoff single. Luis Garcia got the start for the Astros, getting the no decision, keeping his record 0-0. Garcia threw 5 innings, allowing no runs on one hit and two walks, striking out 4 hitters. Andre Scrubb, Cionel Perez, Josh James, and Enoli Paredes also pitched for Houston, with James being responsible for the two run double by La Stella.
The series concludes on Thursday, where the Astros will look to get a win when Jose Urquidy gets the start. Lefty Sean Manaea goes for Oakland.
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