Field Level Media
Apr 6, 2019
George Springer, Michael Brantley and Robinson Chirinos clubbed home runs in support of left-hander Wade Miley, who pitched effectively in his home debut as the Houston Astros clinched their weekend series against the Oakland Athletics with a 6-0 victory on Saturday at Minute Maid Park.
Miley, an offseason free-agent acquisition, earned his first victory with Houston by working 5 2/3 scoreless innings. He surrendered four hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Miley (1-1) did not allow a runner to reach third base during his stint on the mound, stranding six baserunners while producing his 18th consecutive start holding the opposition to three earned runs or fewer.
Oakland right fielder Stephen Piscotty finished 2-for-2 with a walk against Miley, who in turn retired cleanup hitter Khris Davis on a trio of fly balls to the outfield. First baseman Kendrys Morales reached base safely in both of his plate appearances against Miley, but Mark Cahna and Ramon Laureano, who finished 4-for-4 in the opener, finished a combined 0-for-4 off Miley.
Miley recorded an equal number of called and swinging strikes: 14. Of his 95 pitches, 42 were cutters.
The Astros stranded three baserunners over their first three innings against Athletics right-hander Aaron Brooks (1-1), but first baseman Yuli Gurriel broke through with an RBI double with one out in the fourth inning that scored Brantley from first base. Three batters after Springer drove home Jake Marisnick with his third home run, a 375-foot shot to left in the fifth, Brantley plated Alex Bregman with his second homer, a 396-foot drive to the upper deck in right.
Brooks, who worked six scoreless innings in his season debut against Boston, allowed five runs on nine hits and one walk with two strikeouts over five innings. Chirinos, a free-agent signing like Miley, socked his first home run with one out in the sixth off right-hander Yusmeiro Petit.
Gurriel finished 3-for-4 with a career-high three doubles. Springer, Bregman and Brantley recorded two hits apiece as Houston won consecutive games for the first time this season.
--Field Level Media