ASTROS-A’S IN 2020

Two walk-off victories at the Coliseum, two Kyle Tuckersparked wins in Houston and an unfortunate incident highlight the 10-game season series between the Astros and Oakland Athletics. Here’s a rundown of the series, in which the Astros went 3-7:

Aug. 7 at Oakland: After Houston scores a run in the top of the 13th, the A’s get two-out RBI singles from Austin Allen and Marcus Semien to prevail 3-2. Aug. 8 at Oakland: Semien homers leading off the bottom of the first, and Frankie Montas throws seven innings of two-hit shutout ball as the A’s win 3-1. Aug. 9 at Oakland: The A’s complete a three-game sweep and extend their winning streak to nine with a 7-2 romp. Those facts get overshadowed by A’s center fielder Ramon Laureano’s charging the Astros dugout to go after hitting coach Alex Cintron, who had taunted Laureano. Cintron would be suspended for 20 games, Laureano for four.

Aug. 29 doubleheader at Houston: Because the scheduled game Aug. 28 was postponed to raise awareness of racial inequality, the teams play two seven-inning games on the 29th. The Astros take both, 4-2 in the opener as Tucker hits a three-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning and 6-3 in the second game as Tucker hits a three-run triple off Montas in the first. Sept. 7 at Oakland: Catcher Sean Murphy homers and drives in three runs, and Bassitt works seven strong innings as the A’s roll 6-0.

Sept. 8 doubleheader at Oakland: After the scheduled Aug. 30 game in Houston was postponed because A’s pitcher Daniel Mengden tested positive for the coronavirus, the teams play another doubleheader with seven-inning games. Khris Davis homers and drives in two runs off Zack Greinke in the A’s 4-2 victory in the opener. The Astros overcome a 4-0 deficit to earn a split with a 5-4 win in the second game. Sept. 9 at Oakland: Jesus Luzardo holds Houston to two runs on four hits in seven innings, and the A’s pull out a 3-2 thriller on Laureano’s two-out RBI single in the ninth.

Sept. 10 at Oakland: Matt Olson hits a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning, and Sean Manaea breezes through seven two-hit innings on 61 pitches as the Athletics make it four wins in the five-game series with a 3-1 victory.