Oakland @ Houston preview

Oakland at Houston

Last Meeting ( Apr 6, 2013 ) Oakland 6, Houston 3

One big inning for the Oakland Athletics in each of the first two games has allowed them to extend the misery of the Houston Astros. They’ll attempt to prolong the Astros’ woes a bit longer when they eye a series sweep on the road Sunday. In Friday’s series opener, Oakland broke open a one-run game in the fifth with a seven-run inning in an 8-3 victory. One day later, the Athletics turned to ex-Astro Jed Lowrie to spark a four-run sixth with a solo homer in a 6-3 victory.

Houston’s offense hasn’t held up its end of the deal, scoring six runs during its four-game losing streak. The Astros collected hits in eight of their 34 at-bats Saturday, which improved their batting average to .183 in that span. Houston’s Nos. 1-4 hitters have managed five hits in 32 at-bats against Oakland while the bottom of the order has gone 12-for-38.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland), Comcast SportsNet (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Brett Anderson (0-1, 2.57 ERA) vs. Astros RH Lucas Harrell (0-1, 1.50)

Anderson was the hard-luck loser in Monday’s 2-0 home loss to the Seattle Mariners, allowing both runs and four hits over seven frames. The Midland, Texas, native did not allow an extra-base hit, but walked four and struck out six in his head-to-head duel with Mariners’ ace Felix Hernandez. Carlos Pena (3-for-8, two homers) is the only Houston hitter that has faced the injury-plagued Anderson, who was limited to 19 starts in the previous two seasons.

Like Anderson, Harrell was on the wrong end of a pitching gem, taking the loss in Tuesday’s 7-0 setback against the Texas Rangers. The right-hander yielded one run and six hits over six innings, but watched Yu Darvish strike out 14 and finish one out shy of tossing a perfect game. The 27-year-old, who went 11-11 with a 3.76 ERA last year, notched his first career win in his major league debut on July 30, 2010, in his only start against Oakland.

WALK-OFFS

1. Despite recording only four strikeouts Saturday, Houston batters have struck out 60 times - the most by a team through five games since 1921.

2. Saturday marked the third time in team history Oakland has used six different starting pitchers in the first six games of the season.

3. Castro’s homer was the first for the Astros since Rick Ankiel hit one in their season-opening win last Sunday.

PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Astros 3