Win Streak Ends at Ten as A’s Split Two-Game Series with Astros

Just as they say, all good things must come to an end. The Athletics finally notched their first win over the Astros in 2019, splitting this two-game series in Oakland and bringing a close to the Astros’ ten-game win streak.

Just a day after Houston broke out for a lopsided nine runs, the team looked much more lost at the plate, totaling just four singles, three walks, and an HBP. And not only was there not nearly as much offense, but the ‘Stros couldn’t do much to link any of it together; outside of a six-batter sixth inning and a five-batter ninth, every single inning ended in four batters or fewer. Even that relatively-eventful sixth, where Houston scored their lone run of the night, was just comprised of a pair of walks and a Michael Brantley RBI single.

In the end, there just wasn’t much to be done against a sharp-looking Frankie Montas, who struck out six in 6.1 innings and paved the way to shutdown outings from Lou Trivino and Blake Treinen.

To be fair, the A’s lineup didn’t exactly look fearsome tonight, either. Wade Miley earned a quality start, allowing just four hits, a walk, and an HBP over six one-strikeout innings, with Will Harris and Brad Peacock adding in two more scoreless (and strikeoutless) innings with just a walk between them. Unfortunately, there was just no room for mistakes, and Miley made a couple that turned into a massive Matt Chapman home run to left and a Jurickson Profar RBI double down the line that not even Alex Bregman could stop in time.

We all knew the winning streak would have to come to an end eventually, and there are still positives here. The suffering wasn’t exactly prolonged, with the game ending in just a hair under two-and-a-half hours. As mentioned, the Astros have gotten the better of the A’s several times this year already, so it won’t cost them much in the standings. And Seattle even lost, meaning the Astros get to keep their new half-game lead in the AL West. Houston will try to start a new ten-game win-streak this Friday as they travel to Arlington, with Justin Verlander facing off against Drew Smyly and the Rangers.