A’s prove they belong with first-place Astros
OAKLAND – “So far, so good,” was manager Bob Melvin’s low-key reaction to the A’s wins in their first three games against the Houston Astros.
The A’s now trail the two-time American League champs by just 6 1/2 games in the West after Saturday’s 8-4 win in front of 21,428 fans at the Coliseum.
“Everybody’s happy, excited, tired,” said Matt Chapman, who had a single, two doubles, scored twice, drove in a run and reached base five times. “Good to come out with that win (Friday) night and come back quick and get another one.
“We’re definitely confident and excited to get back at it again (Sunday).”
The A’s will send Brett Anderson (10-8) against Zach Grienke (12-4) as they try to execute their first four-game sweep of the Astros since September 2017.
They likely will play without Sunday right fielder Stephen Piscotty, who rolled his left ankle trying to get back to second base on a pickoff try in the seventh inning and left the game. Both Melvin and Piscotty said the injury doesn’t appear serious.
The A’s haven’t won a season series vs. Houston since 2014 and, entering this weekend were a combined 22-46 against the Astros since the start of the 2016 campaign.
Starter Chris Bassitt (9-5) believes the A’s have found the right approach to competing against them.
“I think we kind of approached the Astros the wrong way as a whole. Giving them too much credit, to me personally, has been a problem,” Bassitt said. “Are they a great team, yeah? Are they a top two or three team in all of baseball, yeah.
“But when you give them more credit than they deserve, everything snowballs on you. When you go on the attack, it makes life a whole lot easier.”