Altuve, Springer blast off
HOUSTON — Jose Altuve and George Springer both hit two-run homers to back up another solid start by Justin Verlander and give the Astros a 4-2 win over the Athletics on Wednesday.
The Astros bounced back after Tuesday’s 4-3 loss in 11 innings snapped a six-game winning streak and improved to 9-2 against the Athletics this season.
Verlander (13-4) allowed two singles and one run, which was unearned, while striking out 11 in six innings for his third straight win. Will Harris pitched a scoreless seventh and Ryan Pressly allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth after not pitching since Thursday because of a sore knee.
Roberto Osuna allowed two hits and a run in the ninth before striking out Chris Herrmann for his 23rd save.
Athletics starter Chris Bassitt (7-5) yielded five hits and four runs in six innings for the loss after winning his previous two starts.
Bassitt was rolling early and retired the first seven batters he faced, striking out the first five, before Robinson Chirinos doubled with one out in the third. Springer’s two-strike home run came with two outs to put the Astros up 2-1. Springer has 23 home runs in 71 games this season after hitting 22 in 140 games last year.
Verlander had sat down nine straight when he walked Jurickson Profar with two outs in the fifth. Profar stole second base, but was left stranded when Verlander struck out Marcus Semien.
Bassitt plunked Chirinos on the hand to start the Astros’ fifth before Altuve homered to straightaway center field with two outs to extend the lead to 4-1.