Injury bug continues — now it’s Manaea
HOUSTON — As if the A’s starting-pitching woes weren’t difficult enough, rookie Sean Manaea left early in Monday’s 6-0 loss to the Astros at Minute Maid Park.
Manaea (5-9) left after 31⁄3 innings with a left rhomboid strain. He fielded a comebacker from Yulieski Gurriel to start the fourth, then threw one pitch to Marwin Gonzalez before manager Bob Melvin and the trainer headed to the mound. The left-hander was replaced by Chris Smith.
Manaea said he was uncertain whether he would miss his next start. He is listed as day-to-day.
“Just frustrating from where I’m at,” Manaea said. “Already been on the (disabled list) once, and to me, it just feels like I’m letting everyone down.
“I hate being hurt and just getting taken out early, especially with a close game like that just bothered me. It is what it is. I just have to make sure going forward I get everything done and try not to have this problem again.”
The Astros drew two basesloaded walks off Manaea in the second inning, by Jake Marisnick and George Springer, to score their first runs. Jose Altuve homered and rookie starter Joe Musgrove bounced back after two horrible outings to combine with three relievers on a four-hitter.
Musgrove (2-2) struck out seven, walked three and allowed three hits over 51⁄3 innings after allowing 13 runs over his previous two starts.
“I have to be the guy who goes as hard as he can as long as he can,” Musgrove said. “The last couple of outings, I found myself trying to pace myself trying to get to the seventh. I did a lot of work this week making mechanical adjustments and told myself to go out there and give it everything you have as long as you can and let the bullpen take over from there.”
Musgrove retired 11 of the first 13 batters before Khris Davis singled with two outs in the fourth for the A’s first hit.
Houston closed to two games back of the second AL wild-card spot with the win and Baltimore’s loss.
Altuve hit his second homer in two games to lead off the sixth and extend Houston’s lead to 3-0. Alex Bregman hit a two-run single and Carlos Correa had an RBI single as part of a three-run seventh.
Marcus Semien had two of Oakland’s hits. Briefly: Billy Butler was reinstated from the seven-day concussion list. To make room on the roster, infielder Arismendy Alcantara was optioned to Class A Stockton . ... Sean Doolittle (left shoulder strain) will continue a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville . ... Right-hander Henderson Alvarez (right shoulder surgery) is set to start a rehab assignment Tuesday in Stockton . ... Righty Jesse Hahn (right shoulder strain) will pitch Wednesday for Nashville.