Graveman exits early, then Houston rolls
Astros outfielder Josh Reddick delivered the lineup card to home plate before Friday night’s game in Oakland. Then Reddick delivered four hard-hit balls in his return to the Coliseum, without any reward.
But if Reddick was frustrated, his former team knows the feeling.
The A’s, after a solid opening 10 games, fell prey to Dallas Keuchel’s hypnotizing changeup. They managed little offense, made two costly mistakes on defense and lost 7-2 before a chilly crowd of 15,385.
Kendall Graveman, the budding ace of Oakland’s rotation, raised concern among A’s fans when he left the game after five strong innings. After earning wins in his first two starts, Graveman pitched well again — but he departed in favor of Ryan Madson despite throwing only 74 pitches.
“He just didn’t feel great,” manager Bob Melvin said. “It was one of those nights where he couldn’t get loose. He just wasn’t 100 percent, and it’s not worth the risk. He’s too important.”
Melvin and Graveman both expect the pitcher to make his next start. The cool weather probably was a factor, with the temperature dropping into the mid-50s during the middle innings.
Graveman told Melvin and pitching coach Curt Young about his discomfort, but he tried to continue. Melvin removed him, Graveman suggested, because his pitches weren’t sinking as much and the Astros began making harder contact.
“I felt good (warming up), but as the game went on it was a little bit harder to stay loose,” Graveman said. “It’s nothing that should raise any doubts or questions. I feel fine. …
“It’s just frustrating not being able to stay in the game for your club. That’s something I’ve got to work on and be better at.”
Oakland seized the early lead on Khris Davis’ home run leading off the second inning. Davis launched a low, searing rocket to straightaway center field, reminiscent of some Jose Canseco shots.
Graveman escaped a bumpy fourth inning, inducing two popouts after the Astros loaded the bases with one out. But then Houston leaned on an unlikely source, No. 9 hitter Nori Aoki, to tie the game 1-1 in the fifth.
Before the game, Melvin referred to the Astros’ lineup as “probably one of the best in all of baseball.” Aoki arrived Friday night with a .286 career average, but he isn’t a big power threat — and then he lofted a solo homer down the right-field line off Graveman.
It was the 29th homer of Aoki’s major-league career, in his sixth season. He hit only four last year in 467 plate appearances.
Aoki hurt the A’s again in the sixth inning, this time in a more logical way. He legged out an infield single to score Brian McCann from third base, pushing the Astros ahead 2-1.
The A’s then hurt themselves with all-too-familiar, sloppy defense. Oakland entered Friday night’s game with 11 errors, most in the majors, and soon added Nos. 12 and 13.
“It’s an area of concern,” Melvin said. “We can’t give away runs and extra outs to a team like that.”
In the seventh, Houston’s Jose Altuve doubled down the right-field line to reach base for the 10th consecutive plate appearance (he later stretched the streak to 11). Carlos Correa followed with a chopper to third baseman Trevor Plouffe, whose off-balance throw skipped away from Ryon Healy at first.
Altuve scooted around third and scored easily, giving the Astros a 3-1 lead. They extended the advantage to 5-1 on McCann’s two-run double and then 6-1 on another Plouffe throwing error.
Consider this a trivial footnote if you will, but Friday night’s loss meant the A’s squandered a chance to forge a three-way tie for first place in the American League West. Hey, even in mid-April, that would have merited mention.