A’s climb steep hill, tie Astros for 1st

OAKLAND, Calif. — The A’s were an average team two months ago, a dozen games behind the Astros and closer to the bottom of the AL West than the top. Look at them now.

Trevor Cahill pitched one-hit ball for seven shutout innings and the A’s kept up their unlikely turnaround, tying the Astros for the division lead by beating them 7-1 Saturday.

“It’s been a nice run for sure,” manager Bob Melvin said.

Khris Davis, Matt Olson, Josh Phegley and Stephen Piscotty each doubled twice as the A’s tied a team record with eight doubles and won for the sixth time in seven games.

The A’s trailed the defending World Series champions by 12 games June 18 and were still 10 out July 10.

Cahill allowed only an infield single by Yuli Gurriel. The righthander struck out seven, walked one and retired 14 straight during one stretch. Tony Kemp homered in the ninth for the Astros’ only other hit.

“I was able to attack the zone and got some quick outs,” Cahill said. “The offense came through and made it a lot easier.”

Cahill improved to 4-0 over his last six starts, his longest winning streak in five years.

“He dominated us,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “He was clearly doing whatever he wanted with the ball. He controlled the game.”

The A’s are 25 games over .500 for the first time since Aug. 14, 2014. They’re also 15-1-2 over their last 18 series.

Matt Chapman went 0-for-4, ending his 14-game hitting streak and 30-game on-base streak.

The Astros have lost seven of eight and dropped 12 of 19 since owning a six-game lead July 24. The next day, reigning MVP Jose Altuve went on the disabled list.