A's rally in 9th, walk off in 10 vs. Astros
OAKLAND -- Josh Reddick hit a walk-off single against Astros reliever Tony Sipp in the 10th inning, spoiling a four-hit night from Jose Altuve and helping the A's secure a series-clinching 4-3 victory at the Coliseum on Tuesday night.
The A's tied the game in the ninth inning against Houston closer Will Harris, getting back-to-back doubles from Stephen Vogt and Coco Crisp, who was tagged out on the basepaths on the play for the second out to help the Astros send the game into extras.
A two-out single from Marcus Semien sparked the 10th-inning rally, as Yonder Alonso followed with a walk ahead of Reddick's infield base hit between third and shortstop, with Semien scoring from second as Carlos Correa's throw on the run went off line.
"I was wondering why he was going and being sent in the first place," Reddick said. "Then I saw the throw and I was like, 'Thank you, thank you, thank you.' I think he'd agree he had no business going. But sometimes you have to push the issue, and it worked."
Astros lefty Dallas Kuechel continued his recent run of success and outfielder George Springer blasted his 21st home run, while Altuve finished a homer shy of the cycle.
Altuve singled, doubled and tripled in consecutive at-bats, scoring twice in support of Keuchel, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner who limited Oakland to two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings.
The A's were held scoreless through the first six innings before rookie third baseman Ryon Healy delivered a double off reliever Ken Giles to allow two of Keuchel's runners to score.
Called up from Triple-A Nashville earlier in the day, A's starter Dillon Overton went 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on nine hits, including Springer's solo shot in the fifth.
"Definitely a winnable game," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "We had a rough game out of the 'pen. Not too many of our guys came in and had clean innings. It wasn't their night. When that happens, especially in this ballpark, bad things happen. They put up some good at-bats, we had some ill-timed walks, a few seeing-eye hits, and we walk out of here feeling like we should have won a game."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Altuve stays hot: Altuve had his third consecutive multi-hit game, and singled in the 10th for his sixth four-hit game of the season and 18th of his career. He's 10-for-14 in his past three games, and has reached base in 34 consecutive road games, including 18 in a row with a hit (hitting .514 in that span).
"He is our everything," Hinch said. "It's incredible to watch the kind of run he's been on for four months now. This isn't a hitting streak, this isn't a good series, this is a terrific player."
Crisp runs into critical out: Though Crisp was responsible for driving in the tying run in the ninth inning, the veteran made a head-scratching mistake on the basepaths on the same play, running into an out as he rounded second base because he thought it was a home run.
"I was running around the bases like it was a home run," Crisp said. "It's just bad baserunning, I guess, when it's all said and done. I didn't see it and thought it was a home run until I realized it wasn't. Thankfully we won the game, because that could've been a big play. It was a big play regardless. It did get the run in and it kept us playing."
Beard is back: Keuchel, working for the first time since July 10, appears to have recaptured his Cy Young form by throwing well once again. He carried a shutout into the seventh inning and was in line to get the win before the A's tied it. Still, he has a 2.79 ERA in his last six starts and has thrown six consecutive quality starts.
"Dallas was great," Hinch said. "He had dominated until the end and then was one pitch away from maybe a double play, and he ends up giving up a double and they nicked him for a couple of runs when they came in, but really quality outing by him."
Overton impresses: The lefty made good on his most recent promotion, turning in a performance that proved much more effective than his last -- a three-inning, eight-run shelling against the Giants on June 30 that resulted in a trip back to Triple-A. Overton racked up six strikeouts and walked none in his return, stranding five baserunners to limit the damage and keep the A's within striking distance.
"I thought he was great," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "We needed him to go deep in the game. I'm not sure he knew that. But it's the most pitches he's thrown this year, too, at the Major or Minor League level. Against a lineup like that, that was really good. I think he takes a lot from this outing and feels really good about himself."
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
After throwing out Jake Smolinsky in the fifth inning, Evan Gattis has now thrown out six of nine potential basestealers in his last 19 games and seven of 15 on the season (47 percent).
WHAT'S NEXT
Astros: Right-hander Doug Fister, who kicked off the second half of the season Friday in Seattle by allowing three runs in five innings for his ninth win, gets the start in Wednesday's 2:35 p.m. CT series finale. In eight starts since June 3, he's 5-3 with a 3.38 ERA.
A's: Right-hander Daniel Mengden gets the start against his hometown Astros club in Wednesday's 12:35 p.m. PT series finale at the Coliseum. The rookie faced Houston on July 8, allowing six runs in 4 2/3 innings in a road loss.
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Jane Lee has covered the A's for MLB.com since 2010. Follow her on Twitter @JaneMLB.
Brian McTaggart has covered the Astros since 2004, and for MLB.com since 2009. Follow @brianmctaggart on Twitter and listen to his podcast.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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