Astros’ Gattis glad to contribute
Struggling DH swings big bat in win over A’s
OAKLAND, Calif. — Designated hitter Evan Gattis was batting .136 and had one RBI entering Sunday’s series finale against the Oakland Athletics, hardly the numbers the Houston Astros expected when they landed him from Atlanta in an offseason trade.
Gattis broke out of his slump in a big way, hitting a two-run double in the ninth inning and driving in four runs overall as the Astros rallied for a 7-6 victory Sunday and their first series sweep of the A’s in franchise history.
“Glad to finally contribute to a win,” said Gattis, who went 2-for5. “It’s good to come through and come through with a two-RBI hit that put us ahead.”
The Astros trailed 6-5 entering the ninth inning, but center fielder Jake Marisnick lined a leadoff sin- gle off A’s closer Tyler Clippard, igniting a two-run rally.
With Marisnick running, second baseman Jose Altuve hit a ground ball to third baseman Brett Lawrie. Lawrie threw to second, but the speedy Marisnick easily beat his throw. Marisnick and Altuve then pulled off a double steal on their own.
“The reins are off and they’re letting us run around,” Marisnick said. “Until we prove we can’t, it’s fun. It lets us be free and easy out there.”
After right fielder George Springer struck out, Clippard walked shortstop Jed Lowrie intentionally, loading the bases.
Gattis then lined a two-run double over the head of center fielder Sam Fuld, who appeared to break in then stumble as he ran back. Facing a 1-2 count, Gattis thought Clippard would throw him a change-up, but he got a fastball above his shoulders, and he hammered it to center.
“I’m so happy for him, proud of him to keep his cool in that situation,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “He wants to do so well. He’s been grinding through a really rough few weeks and so a lot of guys in there are pretty happy for him that he was the guy that tomahawks a ball that’s almost over his head for the game winner.”
Marisnick had a huge day, too, for the first-place Astros, who improved to 11-7. He went 2-for4 with a two-run homer, scored three times and stole two bases.