Field Level Media
Aug 18, 2019
Right-hander Zack Greinke earned his 200th career victory, and the visiting Houston Astros avoided a series sweep with a 4-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics.
Alex Bregman went 4-for-4 and belted his 30th home run of the season, a three-run shot in the fifth inning that erased a 1-0 deficit and allowed the Astros, who had lost the first three games of the series, to snap a five-game losing streak.
Greinke (13-4) held the A's to one run and four hits in seven innings en route to his third consecutive win since joining the Astros in a trade last month.
The 35-year-old improved to 4-1 in his career in Oakland and, coupled with his 6-0 record in San Francisco against the Giants, 10-1 in his big-league career in the Bay Area.
He walked three and struck out six, giving up his only run on a Marcus Semien leadoff homer in the fourth inning that temporarily put Oakland on top 1-0.
Greinke had retired the first nine A's in order before serving up Semien's 21st homer of the year.
The Astros rebounded immediately from their one-run deficit when Josh Reddick and George Springer led off the fifth with consecutive singles off Athletics left-hander Brett Anderson (10-9).
Anderson got two outs, but with the baserunners at second and third, he got taken deep by Bregman for a 3-1 Astros' advantage.
The 30th homer for the 25-year-old is one shy of his career-high, set last season.
The Astros increased their lead to 4-1 in the sixth when Carlos Correa walked and Yuli Gurriel drove him home with a double.
Ryan Pressly and Roberto Osuna completed a six-hitter with a shutout inning apiece. Osuna was credited with his 27th save.
Remaining winless in three starts against the Astros this season, Anderson went five innings, allowing four runs and seven hits. He walked four and struck out three.
Bregman finished with two singles, a double and his home run for Houston, which completed a 4-6 trip.
Matt Olson had two hits for the A's, who saw a four-game winning streak come to an end.
--Field Level Media