JP Sears pitches 6 strong innings to help Athletics slip up against Astros with 3-1 win

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — JP Sears allowed an unearned run and two hits in six solid innings, Brent Rooker hit a two-run double in the first and the Oakland Athletics beat the Houston Astros 3- 1 Saturday.

It was the A’s first win over the Astros this season after losing the first five games. With a win on Sunday, Oakland could earn its second straight series victory. The A’s had lost four straight series before winning two of three against Colorado earlier this week.

Sears (4-3) bounced back from a loss at Kansas City in his last start by stopping the Astros in a 68-pitch performance that included a strikeout and a walk. Mason Miller struck out the side in the ninth for his 10th save, capping three shutout innings by the Oakland bullpen.

Sears retired the first batter in each inning after the first, and his slider and sinker were both working effectively.

“Just a good, efficient day,” Sears said.

Sears was the only pitcher to spend the entire season in the rotation last year, and he is currently the team’s only healthy regular starter. He felt like he could have pitched longer Saturday, but he understood that manager Mark Kotsay didn’t want to push him.

“A lot of the season is just trying to be available as much as possible,” Sears said.

Kotsay said he has faith in the bullpen to pick up where Sears left off and that the team will continue to rely on the 28-year-old’s durability.

“Until April we had five players in the rotation and in May we lost four out of five,” Kotsay said. “So for JP, testimony to his resilience. He’s coming off a year where he made all 32 (starts), and I know he’s determined to do it again. It’s his state of mind.

Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti (2-5) calmed down after allowing the first three batters to reach. But Rooker’s double down the left field line scored both Abraham Toro and JJ Bleday to provide enough offense for the A’s.

Arrighetti allowed three runs and five hits in five innings. He struck out seven and walked three.

Houston couldn’t do much against the A’s pitchers, shortstop Jeremy Peña said.

“He was just causing withdrawals,” Peña said of Sears. “We put the ball in play, weak contacts everywhere. But that’s what pitchers do.

Daz Cameron added an RBI single in the sixth after Houston scored an unearned run in the top half of the inning.

The A’s, who are leaving Oakland after this season, reported 10,617 fans in attendance Saturday.

TRAINERS ROOM

Astros: RHP Jose Urquidy, who was removed from rehab Friday with Triple-A Sugar Land because of right forearm discomfort, was expected to see a doctor Saturday. Urquidy is on injured reserve with inflammation in his throwing shoulder. … 1B Jose Abreu, who accepted a minor league assignment after a slow start to the season, is expected to play another rehab game with Sugar Land after going 0 for 3 with a walk Friday. He could join the club on Monday in Seattle.

Athletics: RHP Austin Adams left in the seventh with a neck strain after facing two batters. Kotsay said Adams was considered every day. …RHP Ross Stripling, who started Friday, was placed on the 15-day injured list with a straight right elbow. …RHP Brandon Bielak was designated for assignment…The A’s called up LHP Jack O’Loughlin and RHP Tyler Ferguson from Triple-A Las Vegas.

FOLLOWING

RHP Aaron Brooks (0-1, 4.15 ERA) will pitch for the A’s against the Astros’ Ronel Blanco (4-0, 2.09 ERA) to conclude the series. Blanco is expected to return from a 10-game suspension for having a foreign substance in his glove during a start against the A’s last week in Houston.

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