Ryon Healy grand slam leads A’s over powerful Astros.
Third baseman’s first career grand slam helps secure a rare victory over the first-place Astros
HOUSTON » Ryon Healy greeted Houston reliever James Hoyt with his first career grand slam, breaking a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning, leading to a rare win over the first-place Astros, 6-4, Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park.
Healy’s 18th home run of the season, to right-center, came on a 3-2 count and two outs and lifted the A’s to their fourth straight win.
“Winning is always important, especially against a club like this,” said Healy, who gave the A’s their second grand slam of the year and was excited about his slam. “I tried to keep my composure while I was on the field, but in the dugout it was a lot of emotion.”
Added A’s manager Bob Melvin: “He about broke my hand, I should have known (it was his first).”
The A’s withstood a three-run ninth-inning home run by George Springer off Liam Hendriks, who failed to retire any of the three batters he faced.
“Thank goodness we had a little cushion,” Melvin said.
Oakland reliever Ryan Madson fared better than Hoyt did facing his first batter. Madson came into the game in the sixth with two on and two outs and Springer at the plate. Madson struck out Springer on a four-seam 96-mph fastball to end the threat, preserving a fourrun lead.
Battered and bruised, Sean Manaea (7-4) pitched efficient
enough to get the win for the A’s, who won for only the second time in 10 games against Houston this season after dropping 15 of the previous 16 games to their division rival. Manaea gave up nine hits over 5 2/3 innings. Bruce Maxwell had three of the A’s nine hits – seven coming in innings 6-8.
• Matt Chapman will resume baseball activity on Friday, but will not be taken off the disabled list at that time, Melvin said. Melvin will decide if Chapman (left knee infection) will then go on a rehab assignment, depending on how the rookie third baseman will feel following Friday’s workout at Oakland Alameda Coliseum.
Melvin updated the A’s injury situation, saying right-hander Chris Bassitt, who had Tommy John surgery last year, is scheduled to throw an inning on Wednesday in Double-A Stockton and that Kendall Graveman (strained right shoulder) and Ryan Dull (strained right knee) both threw from flat ground on Tuesday while Bobby Wahl (strained right shoulder) played catch.
Infielder Marcus Semien is expected to get 35-50 atbats at Stockton before heading to Triple-A Nashville.
Thursday’s scheduled starter against the Astros, right-hander Jharel Cotton, is dealing with a bister and threw long toss on Tuesday. “We’ll make a decision whether he pitches Thursday or we push him back,” Melvin said.
• Jed Lowrie, who twisted his right knee batting on Friday against the White Sox, started on Tuesday at second base after an MRI on Monday came up clean.
“I asked him what he felt and he said, ‘Put me in at second.’ I would never have thought that would have been the case,” Melvin said. “He’s made good strides in a short period of time. We knew once Jed was able to play in the field again that Franklin (Barreto) would be at short.”
• Right-hander Jesse Hahn lasted only two innings in his previous start, allowing 10 runs – nine earned – with six hits allowed in a home loss to the Astros last Thursday.
“I put that one behind me,” said Hahn, Wednesday’s scheduled starter who is 1-4 with a career 9.28 ERA against Houston. “So I’m going out there with the same approach, except I got to execute this time. That day, I didn’t have any good stuff.
“We’re going out there with some motivation, we want to take these guys down. They’ve been giving it to us all year. It’s time for us to start beating them.”