Brett Anderson (0-1, 2.57) vs Lucas Harrell (0-1, 1.50)
Not a good day for Lucas Harrell; not a good day for the Astros. With all of the attention being given to the Angels and Rangers, most seem to have forgotten that the A's are the defending AL West champs. Oakland came to town 2-2 but left looking every bit like a playoff team, completing their sweep of the Astros with a 9-3 final.
On the Mound:
*Lucas Harrell was the tough-luck loser in his first start, when he faced off against near-perfect Yu Darvish. Today, however, he would have lost to almost anyone, serving up homers in three consecutive innings before Bo Porter sent him to the showers. Lucas' losing line: 4.1 IP / 7 H / 8 R / 8 ER / 5 BB / 2 K.
*Xavier Cedeno got the chance to redeem himself of his disastrous Friday night and did well enough, giving up only a single, a walk, and a HBP in 2.2 innings scoreless.
*Hector Ambriz pitched a perfect 8th with a K.
*Jose Veras hasn't had a SVO yet this season, but he worked the 9th this afternoon anyway, surrendering a trio of singles to account for Oakland's final run.
At the Plate:
*After a one-game reprieve, the Strikeout Kings were back at it again, as Houston fanned 14 times today. Brett Wallace (2 K today, 13 K overall), Chris Carter (1 K today, 11 K overall), and Rick Ankiel (1 K today, 10 K overall) extended their leads as 1-2-3 in MLB.
*Justin Maxwell continued hitting well, going 2 for 3 with a run scored.
*J.D. Martinez was rewarded for his good game last night with another start, and he responded by going 1 for 4 with a R and a K, plus a great sliding catch on defense.
*Chris Carter got his first extra-base hit of the season, tripling in the 8th and finishing 1 for 3 with a walk, a run scored, and a K.
*Carlos Corporan had Houston's only RBI (as their other two runs scored on a Dickie Thon Jed Lowrie error), going 1 for 4 with 2 K.
*Brandon Barnes also got his first hit of the season, starting and going 1 for 3 with 2 K.
*Jose Altuve took his first 0-fer of 2013, but still reached base once, going 0 for 4 with 2 K and a walk.
Turning Point:
After a scoreless 1st, Lucas Harrell began the 2nd by getting Jed Lowrie to fly out, but he followed that with a pair of walks and a double by Seth Smith that gave Oakland a 2-0 lead. That was the start of four straight innings that the A's would score against Harrell, digging Houston a hole they would never climb out of.
Man of the Match:
Justin Maxwell. He's one of the Astros' few offensive bright spots so far, raising his average today to .381.
Goat of the Game:
Lucas William Bradley Harrell. Not your day today, son.
