Laureano delivers victory for A’s in 11th
HOUSTON >> Ramon Laureano had what looked like a game-deciding blunder in the second inning. But he redeemed himself a few hours later with a go-ahead RBI double in the 11th to secure a 4-3 win on Tuesday night in Houston.
The hit initially scored two runs, but the double down the third-base line lodged in the padding under the fence in left field. The crew chief review determined that Mark Canha had to go back to third base.
Wade Miley — who took a perfect game into the sixth inning before Josh Phegley broke it up with a single — walked Marcus Semien to start the ninth. Matt Chapman singled, and Miley got the boot. Astros closer Roberto Osuna offered Olson an 0-2 fastball up in the zone that the A’s first baseman parked into the right-field bleachers for a 3-2 lead in the ninth.
But the Astros tied it up against Joakim Soria in the bottom half. Yuli Gurriel and Josh Reddick hit back-to-back singles, and Aledmys Diaz tied the game with a sacrifice fly.
It was the first action Minute Maid Park had seen since the second inning.
Laureano tried to make a play on Gurriel’s single, but it bounced over the center fielder all the way to the wall, plating Michael Brantley and allowing Gurriel the perfect windowfor an inside-thepark home run for the Astros’ two runs. Laureano would get one of those back later.
The blip marred Mike Fiers’ solid return to Minute Maid Park. He held the Astros to six hits, striking out three with two walks.
• One scoreless inning, including a strikeout, from full-time outfielder and now part-time re
liever Nick Martini wasn’t enough to preserve the A’s bullpen for the rest of this series in Houston.
Before Tuesday’s game, Martini was optioned, and Tanner Anderson was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas.
“Martini being unable to give us three innings today,” Melvin joked. “We used longer guys yesterday, so you have to be prepared for that. Tanner being a starter is able to do that, so that’s why he’s here.”
Anderson was exploring the Las Vegas Strip on a rare off day, but checked on the score in Houston every once and a while. Once he saw the Astros racking up runs and the early bullpen usage, he had a feeling he’d be getting a call soon.
Anderson will be a key right-handed long relief option after Ryan Schlitter and Wei-Chung Wang combined for five innings (Martini made it six).
• Stephen Piscotty is working on his rehab with the team in Houston.
“We’re trying to take stock on how he’s doing,” Melvin said.
Piscotty only just started making turns while running last week. This week he started running the bases and took batting practice at Minute Maid Park.
There is still no set start date for Piscotty’s rehab assignment, but he’s aiming for some time after this trip.
• Sean Manaea is moving from Class A Stockton to Las Vegas as he makes his way to his 2019 A’s debut. He’ll be making a rehab start with the Aviators today.
A.J. Puk will be joining Manaea in Las Vegas as well to make a rehab ap