The Houston Astros continue to dominate the Oakland Athletics

Oakland Athletics’ Tyler Soderstrom, right, watches his RBI single with Houston Astros catcher Victor Caratini during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 13, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

The Oakland Athletics arrived in Houston in an unfamiliar position Monday night with a three-game lead over the struggling fourth-place Astros.

The end result was all too familiar, with Houston getting two home runs and a two-run double from Alex Bregman and beating the A’s 9-2 at Minute Maid Park.

Houston, American League West champion six of the last seven years, improved to 16-25, with the A’s improving to 19-24 after the first game of a four-game series.

The Astros, who scored six runs in the seventh and eighth innings, have won 11 of their last 14 games against the A’s in Houston and 17 of their last 21 overall against Oakland.

“They’ve had some extra runs that, for the most part, we’ve been able to prevent this season and the last few days we haven’t been able to avoid it,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay told reporters. “These guys are professional hitters, they have a complete lineup and when you make a mistake you get punished.”

Bregman hit a solo homer in the fourth inning, his second of the season, and added his third against reliever Mitch Spence in the seventh to make it 4-2.

Houston opened the game with four runs in the eighth inning, with Bregman hitting a two-run double against reliever Easton Lucas and Victor Caritini adding another two-run double down the left field line.

The A’s helped set the table for Houston in the inning with a walk by Lucas and an infield error by shortstop Max Schuemann.

Houston scored in the seventh to make it 5-2 when Jose Altuve singled against Jake Meyers, who walked, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Shea Langeliers.

Starter Ross Stripling (1-7) pitched five innings, allowing four hits and three runs – two earned – with two walks and a strikeout. Counterpart Spencer Arrighetti (1-4) also pitched five innings, allowing five hits and two runs, both earned with two walks and five strikeouts.

“We’re familiar with the Astros’ record, but it doesn’t seem to be due to their offense,” Stripling said. “We poked the bear a little bit with Bregman and hopefully we didn’t move him too much today.”

Houston, who scored in the second on a Jon Singleton RBI groundout and in the third on a Kyle Tucker double, added another in the third on a Bregman solo homer off Stripling for a 3-1 lead in the fourth .

The Athletics broke through against Arighetti in the top of the fourth when Brent Rooker doubled down the line in left and scored on a single to left center by Tyler Soderstrom. In the fifth, the A’s closed to within 3-2 when JJ Bleday doubled Abraham Toro, who had walked and stolen second base.

The A’s brought the tying run to the plate in the eighth after Soderstrom doubled Rooker at third with two outs, but Ryan Pressly, who was falling behind 3-1, came back to strike out Seth Brown.