HOUSTON — Jose Altuve hit a three-run homer and Kyle Tucker’s tiebreaking solo shot in the seventh inning lifted the Houston Astros to a 4-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night.
The victory is Houston’s sixth straight and moves the team to a season-high 21 games above .500 at 54-33.
Altuve’s home run gave the Astros the lead in the third, but the A’s scored two in the sixth to tie it.
There was one out in the seventh when Tucker connected off Sean Manaea (6-6) on his home run to right-center to put Houston on top again.
Blake Taylor (2-2) wriggled out of a a jam in a scoreless seventh for the win. Ryan Pressly pitched a perfect ninth to collect his 16th save and lower his ERA to 1.46.
Matt Olson and Elvis Andrus had solo homers for the Athletics, who lost for the fifth time in six games.
Manaea permitted four hits and four runs — three earned — in 6 2/3 innings to extend his losing streak to a career-long four decisions.
Oakland had a chance to take the lead in the seventh after a pair of errors by Altuve and a wild pitch by Taylor left the Athletics with runners on second and third with no outs. But Taylor retired Andrus and Olson to end the threat.
Houston starter Luis Garcia allowed two hits and a run with seven strikeouts in five innings.
Cristian Javier replaced him to start the sixth and was greeted by the home run from Andrus, which bounced high off the wall above the seats in left field to cut the lead to 3-2.
There were two on and no outs when Jed Lowrie tied it on an RBI single to right field. The A’s tied it on a wild pitch by Javier.
Sean Murphy then hit a fly ball to left field which Michael Brantley caught before throwing home just in time for catcher Martín Maldonado to tag Ramon Laureano as he slid into him.
There were two outs in the first when Olson smacked his 21st homer of the season into the seats in right field to give the A’s an early lead.
Abraham Toro reached and advanced to second to start Houston’s third on an error by third baseman Chad Pinder before a single by Myles Straw.
Altuve hit his homer to left field with one out in the inning to put the Astros on top 3-1.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: Manager Bob Melvin announced Wednesday that closer Trevor Rosenthal will have season-ending surgery for a torn hip labrum. Melvin said Rosenthal will have the surgery in Colorado on Tuesday. Rosenthal signed a one-year, $11 million deal with the Athletics this offseason, but hasn’t played all year after having thoracic outlet surgery in April.
Astros: RHP Joe Smith was activated from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. … 3B Alex Bregman (strained left quadriceps) took batting practice on the field before Wednesday’s game and could be ready for a rehabilitation assignment soon.
UP NEXT
Houston’s Lance McCullers Jr. (6-1, 2.97 ERA) will oppose Frankie Montas (7-7, 4.63) when the Astros look to complete the sweep on Thursday.
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