Jul 7, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Rich Hill (18) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
HOUSTON — Rich Hill worked six strong innings and the Oakland Athletics turned one modest uprising into a 3-1 win over the Houston Astros on Thursday night at Minute Maid Park.
While Hill (9-3) turned in a special effort in just his second start since coming off the disabled list, the Athletics (37-49) made the most of their second-inning rally against Astros right-hander Doug Fister (8-6).
Oakland first baseman Yonder Alonso recorded the lone RBI in the second inning with a double to left field that scored Khris Davis. Danny Valencia and Davis singled in succession off Fister, who followed by loading the bases with his walk of catcher Stephen Vogt. Marcus Semien hit into a double play to score Valencia before Alonso delivered his hit.
Alonso added an insurance run in the ninth inning with a broken-bat infield single that scored right fielder Josh Reddick, who reached on a throwing error by Astros shortstop Carlos Correa leading off the inning.
Fister pitched exceptionally after the second, allowing just two baserunners (both walks) over the following six frames. He closed the night allowing two runs on three hits and three walks in eight innings.
The Astros (46-40) went quietly in the ninth inning against Athletics closer Ryan Madson, who recorded his 17th save with a perfect frame.
What was a promising start for the Astros against Hill proved to be an illusion, with right fielder George Springer blasting a leadoff triple to straightaway center field before scoring one batter later when first baseman Marwin Gonzalez hit a grounder to the right side of the infield.
Hill followed by retiring 13 of the next 14 batters, baffling the Astros with his ability to both spot his curveball for strikes and induce swings and misses on elevated fastballs. Left fielder Jake Marisnick snapped that string with a two-out single to center field in the fifth inning but Hill recovered to strike out Jason Castro and preserve his one-run lead.
When the Astros sandwiched a pair of walks around two strikeouts in the sixth, Hill passes his final test by striking out Carlos Gomez on an elevated fastball to end their seven-pitch confrontation. Hill closed his ledger allowing just three hits, two walks and one run while matching his season high of 10 strikeouts achieved twice in the opening month.
NOTES: Astros RF George Springer remains in second place behind Blue Jays OF Michael Saunders after nearly two full days of fan balloting in the 2016 MLB All-Star Game Final Vote. While Saunders has passed 11 million votes in the race for the final AL roster spot, Springer has received the most mobile text ballot votes of any of the 10 players. … Athletics LF Jake Smolinski was in the lineup despite the Astros starting RHP Doug Fister. Smolinski is batting just .250 (10-for-40) against right-handers this season compared to .389 (14-for-36) against southpaws. However, Smolinski hit .400 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in 19 games last month. … OF Daz Cameron, selected by the Astros in the first round of the 2015 draft, was diagnosed with a broken left index finger after being hit by a pitch in the first inning on Wednesday night with Class A short-season Tri-City. Cameron is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
