Tony Kemp homers, hits 2-run 2B as A's beat streaking Astros
OAKLAND, Calif. — Tony Kemp homered and hit a two-run double, Skye Bolt added a two-run shot, and the Oakland Athletics held off the red-hot Houston Astros 7-5 on Monday night.
Elvis Andrus added an insurance RBI single in the eighth for Oakland before closer Lou Trivino surrendered a solo homer to Chas McCormick, then finished for his ninth save by striking out Jeremy Peña with runners on first and second.
AL West-leading Houston took its first defeat after a 5-0 start since the All-Star break. The Astros are an AL-best 28-10 dating to June 12 and are now 32-17 against the AL West.
Peña homered in the first for Houston before Kemp's tying drive leading off the third against right-hander Jake Odorizzi (4-3), who had been 4-0 over his previous seven starts.
Yordan Alvarez came home on a double-steal in the sixth and Peña doubled and scored on pitcher Domingo Acevedo's throwing error on a pickoff attempt as Houston pulled within 6-4.
A's right-hander Adam Oller (1-3) struck out four over five innings, allowing four runs — three earned — on four hits.
Oakland's Chad Pinder made his third career start at first base and first since 2019.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: LF Michael Brantley, sidelined since June 27 with right shoulder discomfort, continues baseball activity but it's unclear when he will begin swinging again. "Michael's a pro," manager Dusty Baker said. "Michael would be out there if he could, but he's being smart about this. I don't know what the timetable is. ... I've never seen a guy work harder." ... All-Star DH Alvarez returned to the lineup after sitting out Sunday's series finale with a sore right hand. Baker hopes to get him in the outfield again soon.
Athletics: RHP Dany Jiménez, who went on the 15-day injured list June 21 with a strained pitching shoulder, will throw about 20 pitches in live batting practice Tuesday. ... INF Jonah Bride came off the 10-day injured list and 1B/OF Seth Brown was placed on the paternity list. ... Oakland also recalled LHP Sam Selman from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned RHP David McKay to Las Vegas.
DRAFT PICKS
A's second-round draft pick Henry Bolte was in uniform and took batting practice a day before reporting to Arizona to begin his minor league career. Manager Mark Kotsay likes his swagger already at just 18.
"As a big A's guy, Rickey Henderson was stealing bases all the time. I might not be as fast as him, he's a little special, but playing that type of way, I'm going to run out a hard 90 (feet), I'm going to steal bags," Bolte said. "Most of the time I'm going back in the locker room with a dirty jersey, that's how I like to play."
The Astros signed first- and second-round draft pick outfielders Drew Gilbert and Jacob Melton along with ninth-round selection right-hander Brett Gillis.
UP NEXT
Astros RHP Luis Garcia (8-5, 3.65 ERA) looks to win his sixth straight decision in the middle game of the series Tuesday.
A's RHP Frankie Montas (3-9, 3.16) makes what could be his final start in an Oakland uniform ahead of the Aug. 2 trade deadline. Montas should be at full strength after being limited to three innings in his previous start, which came after he missed two outings with inflammation in his pitching shoulder.
