Oakland A’s, starring Brent Rooker, beat Houston Astros

JP Sears #38 of the Oakland Athletics throws against the Houston Astros in the top of the first inning on May 25, 2024 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

OAKLAND — JP Sears allowed an unearned run and two hits in six strong innings, Brent Rooker hit a two-run double in the first and the Oakland Athletics beat the Houston Astros 3-1 on Saturday.

It was the A’s first win over the Astros this season after losing the first five games.

With a win on Sunday, Oakland could earn its second straight series victory. The A’s had lost four straight series before winning two of three against Colorado earlier this week.

Sears (4-3) bounced back from a loss at Kansas City in his last start by stopping the Astros in a 68-pitch performance that included a strikeout and a walk. Mason Miller struck out the side in the ninth for his 10th save, capping three shutout innings by the Oakland bullpen.

Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti (2-5) calmed down after allowing the first three batters to reach. But Rooker’s double down the left field line scored both Abraham Toro and JJ Bleday to provide enough offense for the A’s.

Arrighetti allowed three runs and five hits in five innings. He struck out seven and walked three.

Daz Cameron added an RBI single in the sixth after Houston scored an unearned run in the top half of the inning.

The A’s, who will leave Oakland after this season, reported 10,617 fans in attendance Saturday as the team celebrated Taiwanese Heritage Day with Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson in attendance.

Saturday’s attendance marked the team’s third-largest home crowd of the season, after 13,522 people showed up for the opening night game against Cleveland on March 28, and a crowd of 12,212 people were announced for a May 5 game against Miami on Youth Baseball and Softball Day. .

TRAINERS ROOM

Athletics: RHP Austin Adams left in the seventh with a neck strain after facing two batters. … RHP Ross Stripling, who started Friday, was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained right elbow. …RHP Brandon Bielak was designated for assignment…The A’s called up LHP Jack O’Loughlin and RHP Tyler Ferguson from Triple-A Las Vegas.

FOLLOWING

RHP Aaron Brooks (0-1, 4.15 ERA) will pitch for the A’s against the Astros’ Ronel Blanco (4-0, 2.09 ERA) to conclude the series. Blanco is expected to return from a 10-game suspension for having a foreign substance in his glove during a start against the A’s last week in Houston.