A’s lose second straight to Astros

OAKLAND >> Jesús Luzardo has a litany of personal goals he’d like to achieve this year. He chose not to share the list with media when asked the day before his first start the 2021 season against the Houston Astros on Friday. A game the A’s would lose 9-5.

At least he let one slip: Luzardo wants to make all his starts this year. Because he’s been in the roster conversation for upwards of three seasons, it almost feels like the the 23-year-old lefthanded pitcher is a veteran of this A’s team.

Truth is, he’s going through his most important growing pains on the biggest stage. Something the A’s are comfortable with given the efficacy of his offerings. But after dealing with Tommy John and shoulder surgery through most of his minor league career, Luzardo only dealt 31 innings above Double-A and in 46 total minor league games over three seasons.

Luzardo’s line on Friday tells the tale of his growth. He gave up five runs, including two home runs, with eight strikeouts through five innings with one walks. His slider/curveball was filthy throughout. Three of his eight strikeouts came off

Luzardo

his curveball, his most dazzling pitch of the night, and one on a changeup. The rest came on his fastball, which he was located precisely in the first inning. He can be one of baseball’s strongest pitchers, and he showed it.

Then the Astros started seeing the fastball they wanted, up in the zone. Alex Bregman’s three-run jack in the third inning came off a high fastball, as did Michael Brantley’s double to set it up. As did Yuli Gurriel’s solo blast in the fourth inning. Luzardo couldn’t make the adjustment before his start spiraled against one of baseball’s best lineups.

The A’s put up a fight against starter Cristian Javier and the Astros bullpen despite the early deficit. Ramón Laureano tripled in a run. Chad Pinder hit a pinch-hit two-run home run, the team’s first home run of the season so far — another reason Pinder may see increased playing time and more starts.

But the bullpen couldn’t keep the lead tight. Jake Diekman loaded the bases in the eighth inning, and with the infield in, Elvis Andrus couldn’t handle a sharp ground ball and two runs leaked in. Those two runs matched the total Diekman allowed in all of the 2020 regular season.