WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Jose Altuve and Victor Caratini hit three-run home runs in a seven-run sixth inning and the Houston Astros had a season-high 20 hits in an 11-4 victory over the Athletics on Wednesday night.
Framber Valdez (8-4) limited the A’s to two runs and five hits in six innings to help the Astros win for the seventh time in eight games.
Altuve, Caratini. Jeremy Peña. Cam Smith and Jake Meyers had three hits apiece, and Yandy Diaz and Mauricio Dubón each added two.
Nick Kurtz hit a double and scored on a single by Austin Wynns to give the Athletics a 1-0 lead in the second. The 22-year-old rookie had a solo homer in the ninth.
Dubón hit a leadoff homer in the third inning and Peña’s RBI single off starter Luis Severino (2-7) in the fourth made it 2-1.
The Athletics had a four-game win streak snapped Tuesday with a 13-3 loss to Houston.
Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve hits a three run home run against the Athletics during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
Tyler Ferguson replaced Severino to start the sixth and gave up a single to Meyers before Dubón grounded into a 4-6-3 double play but Peña followed with a single, Isaac Paredes followed with a walk and Altuve’s three-run shot sparked Houston’s seven-run sixth that made it 9-1.
The Athletics gave up three home runs and have yielded a major league-leading 113 this season, sixth most before the All-Star break in franchise history. The A’s are on pace to allow 247 homers this season and shatter the franchise record of 220 set by the 1964 Kansas City A´s.
Houston’s Colton Gordon (2-1, 4.70 ERA) was scheduled to pitch Thursday against Jacob Lopez (1-4, 4.80) to wrap up the four-game series.
Houston Astros’ Cam Smith, middle, gestures after hitting a double that’s scores a run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
Houston Astros’ Victor Caratini, right, celebrates with Mauricio Dubón (14) after hitting a three run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
Athletics’ Jacob Wilson (5) reacts after striking out during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve flexes in the dugout after hitting a three run home run against the Athletics during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
