Astros 9-2 Athletics (May 13, 2024) Game Recap

HOUSTON — — Alex Bregman hit two home runs and had a season-high four RBIs to lead the Houston Astros to a 9-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Monday night.

Bregman homered against Oakland starter Ross Stripling (1-7) in the fourth inning, reminiscent of the home run he hit against Stripling in the 2018 All-Star Game. Bregman homered again in the seventh against Mitch Spence. Bregman entered Monday with just one home run in 144 at-bats this season, but caught fire and had his sixth career multihomer game.

“That’s what you do when you don’t swing it well, is find a way to swing it well,” Bregman said. “I actually didn’t feel very good this morning, so I worked on a lot of things and ended up going back to the old faithful – just pass the ball. It kind of clicked. I felt good at BP today and I hope to continue tomorrow.

Bregman then added a double in the eighth that scored Trey Cabbage and Jeremy Peña to give Houston a 7-2 lead. He entered Monday with a .167 average in May and .201 this season.

“It feels good to see him having success because he hits the ball hard,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “I’m really happy for him. He works very hard and never stops.

The Astros have now won four of their last five games, including a series victory in Detroit. Oakland has lost four of five.

“They have very good credentials,” Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said. “Bregman is a guy who hits 30 home runs. It was a mistake, he took a big swing, and those were big runs. These are races that we have been able to avoid for the most part this season, but in recent days we have not done so.

Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti (1-4) allowed two runs on five hits in five innings, while striking out five. Arrighetti has now pitched at least five innings in three straight starts after failing to get out of the fifth in his first three career starts.

The Astros took a 2-0 lead in the third inning after Kyle Tucker doubled to score José Altuve, who had reached base with two outs after Stripling hit him in the back of the thigh with a 0 sinker -2.

“I felt like I threw the ball well, but everything they hit found a hole and nothing went my way,” Stripling said. “They have very good training. We all know the Astros’ record, but it doesn’t seem to be due to their offense. I may have poked the bear a bit with Bregman and hope I didn’t start him.

Altuve added an RBI single in the seventh to give Houston a 5-2 lead. Victor Caratini followed Bregman’s double in the eighth inning with a two-run double to make it 9-2.

“It’s a huge job for us – we play a lot of divisional games,” Bregman said. “The cream always rises to the top, and I feel like this team is the cream of the crop. It’s time to go.”

MAKING HISTORY

For the first time in the regular season, Monday night’s home and road broadcasts featured two play-by-play announcers, Jenny Cavnar on the Oakland side and Julia Morales on the Houston side.

MIDDLE OF THE ORDER

After being relegated to sixth place in the rankings, much lower than where he spent much of his career, Bregman could soon return near the top of the rankings if he stays hot.

“He’s not going to be there very long once we start seeing the Bregman we know,” Espada said.

TRAINERS ROOM

Athletics: RHP Paul Blackburn (right foot stress reaction) was placed on injured reserve Monday, and Oakland recalled LHP Easton Lucas for his second stint with the club this year.

Astros: RHP Jose Urquidy, who has not pitched this season because of an elbow injury, made his first start while rehabbing at Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, throwing 2 2/3 innings and 46 pitches. … OF Chas McCormick (right hamstring discomfort) also began DH rehab, scoring 2 out of 5 with a double.

FOLLOWING

RHP JP Sears (3-2, 4.20 ERA) will start Game 2 of the Athletics’ series against Houston on Tuesday night. Sears is 1-1 with a 4.79 ERA in four career appearances, including three starts, against Houston. RHP Ronel Blanco (4-0, 3.64) faces Oakland for the first time in his career.

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