Houston has lost three in a row

Astros drop third straight with extra-inning loss to Twins

Astros' Jose Alutve
Houston's offense couldn't get it done in extra innings on Friday night in the loss to the Twins. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

Houston's offense couldn't get it done in extra innings on Friday night in the loss to the Twins.

Losers of back-to-back games, the Astros tried to right the ship on Friday night at home against the Twins in the second of this four-game set. After a couple of early home runs had them looking in prime position, the game would ultimately go to extra innings, where Minnesota would complete the comeback.

Final Score (11 innings): Twins 5, Astros 4

Astros' Record: 65-45, first in the AL West

Winning Pitcher: Juan Minaya (2-0)

Losing Pitcher: Rafael Montero (5-4)

Jones and McCormick homer Houston to a lead

After a scoreless first inning on both sides, Houston put a runner in scoring position with a two-out double in the bottom of the second, setting up Taylor Jones for a two-run homer to start the scoring and give the Astros a 2-0 advantage. Then, in the bottom of the fourth, Chas McCormick extended the lead by another run with a solo blast, making it 5-0, heading to the fifth.

Greinke cruises early, then gets dinged

After cruising through the first four innings, the Twins were able to get to Zack Greinke in the top of the fifth. A leadoff solo home run cut the lead to two runs, then back-to-back singles followed to set up an RBI groundout later in the inning, making it a one-run game. They kept the pressure on Greinke in the next inning, leading the top of the sixth with a double, then tying the game with a one-out RBI single, knocking him out of winning position. His final line: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 82 P.

Astros lose in extras

It was then on the Houston bullpen to give their offense a chance to get back in front. Ryne Stanek was first, tossing a scoreless seventh, followed by a 1-2-3 eighth by Kendall Graveman. Still gridlocked in the ninth, Ryan Pressly returned to the mound from his paternity leave and maintained the stalemate with a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts. After going down in order in the bottom of the ninth, the Astros moved on to Phil Maton in the top of the tenth to try and keep the Twins off the board by erasing the free runner on second. Instead, Minnesota would get their first lead of the game with a single to move the runner to third and a sac fly to break the tie, 4-3.

Houston responded, getting a productive out by Michael Brantley to move Jose Altuve, the free runner, to third to start the bottom of the tenth. Yordan Alvarez re-tied things in the next at-bat with an RBI single, but they would again come up short of a walk-off. Rafael Montero was Houston's next reliever but would allow an RBI single to begin the eleventh, putting the Twins back on top 5-4 before he would finish the frame. Minnesota held on to that lead, finishing off the win in the bottom of the eleventh to hand Houston their third-straight defeat.

Up Next: The third game of this series will get underway at 6:10 PM Central on Saturday. Houston will try to end their losing skid and get back into this series with Luis Garcia (7-6, 3.49 ERA) on the mound, while the Twins will try to secure the series win with Michael Pineda (4-6, 3.89 ERA).

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Framer Valdez recorded six strikeouts. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

Jason Heyward hit a two-run homer early and Jon Singleton had three hits, capped by a tiebreaking RBI single in Houston’s four-run eighth inning, and the Astros got a 6-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday.

Brent Rooker homered off Ryan Pressly (2-3) with one out in the eighth to tie it at 2-all.

Yainer Diaz and Kyle Tucker hit consecutive singles with one out in the eighth to chase T.J. McFarland (2-3) and bring on Grant Holman. There were two outs in the inning when Singleton’s single to center field scored Diaz to put the Astros on top.

Jake Meyers followed with a run-scoring double before the Athletics intentionally walked Heyward to load the bases. Mauricio DubĂłn singled on a ground ball to left field to score two more, pushing the lead to 6-2.

Tyler Nevin hit a solo homer off Josh Hader with one out in the ninth before the closer retired the next two batters to end it.

Houston’s Framber Valdez allowed five hits and a run with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings to help the Astros avoid a three-game sweep and snap a three-game skid with the victory.

Oakland starter Mitch Spence permitted seven hits and two runs in seven innings.

Singleton hit a ground-rule double with one out in the second before Heyward smacked a line drive into the second row in right field for his first home run as an Astro to make it 2-0.

It was the third hit in 12 games with Houston for Heyward, who signed with the Astros Aug. 29 after being released by the Dodgers.

Jacob Wilson doubled to open the seventh and moved to third on a ground out by Nevin. The Athletics cut the lead to 1 when Wilson scored on a single by Daz Cameron that chased Valdez.

Bryan Abreu took over and pinch-hitter Seth Brown grounded into a double play on his second pitch to preserve the lead.

Lawrence Butler doubled with one out in the third to extend his career-long hitting streak to 20 games.

Singleton doubled again to start Houston’s fourth before Spence sat down the next 11 Astros. Houston’s next base runner came on a double by Dubón with two outs in the seventh and Alex Bregman grounded out to leave him stranded.

Trainer’s Room

Athletics: 1B Tyler Soderstrom (left wrist injury) is scheduled to come off the injured list Friday for the start of a series against the White Sox.

Astros: 2B Jose Altuve was out of the lineup Thursday, a day after leaving in the fifth inning with discomfort in his right side. Manager Joe Espada said he was feeling better Thursday and that he is listed as day to day.

Up Next

Athletics: LHP Brady Basso (0-0, 1.93 ERA) will start for Oakland against LHP Garrett Crochet (6-11, 3.83) in the opener of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox Friday night.

Astros: Houston LHP Yusei Kikuchi (8-9, 4.31) opposes LHP Samuel Aldegheri (1-1, 2.45) in the first of three games against the Los Angeles Angels Friday night.

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