Martinez Tribune The website of the Martinez Tribune.
BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER
Starling Marte’s walk-off ninth inning double gave the A’s a thrilling yet potentially heartbreaking 2-1 win over the Houston Astros Saturday afternoon at the Coliseum to keep their slim postseason hopes alive.
Starling Marte receives congratulations from his teammates after his game-winning ninth inning double gave the A’s a 2-1 win over the Houston Astros at the Coliseum Saturday afternoon.
Marte’s drive to right off Ryan Pressly (5-3, 2.32) ended a pitchers duel and set off a wild celebration on the middle of the diamond near second base. But the joy quickly turned to concern when it was realized that Elvis Andrus, who had hustled around the bases to score the winning run all the way from first after leading off with a single, was face down at home plate, having collapsed after passing third.
After remaining down for a few minutes, Andrus needed to be helped off the field by Matt Chapman and and a member of Oakland’s training staff. A’s manager Bob Melvin said Andrus heard a pop in his left ankle while rounding third. X-rays were scheduled to determine the magnitude of the injury, but it’s possible that with only eight games remaining on the schedule that his season might be over.
“Look, we won a game. That’s good. But we may lose one of our toughest guys,” Melvin said. “This is one tough player. We got our fingers crossed that it’s not something significant, but for him to be in that much pain… Like I said, he’s one of the tougher guys we have.”
Elvis Andrus (center) is helped off the field by Matt Chapman and a member of the A’s training staff after injuring himself while scoring the winning run in the ninth inning of Oakland’s 2-1 win over the Astros Saturday afternoon.
What started out as a fast-paced game featuring a pitcher’s duel between Sean Manaea and Houston’s Framber Valdez turned into a bullpen game after seven innings. Nearly matching each other frame-by-frame, Manaea only allowed a run on three hits, including a solo home run to Kyle Tucker in the seventh, while striking out eight. Meanwhile, Valdez was also holding the A’s to a run on three hits thru 6 2/3 innings before giving way to Kendall Graveman.
“Another day going through this lineup and giving us seven innings,” Melvin said. “Just the one pitch that ends up being a run. He was absolutely fantastic. Big performance on a day we needed him.”
Marte, a free agent after the season, is now batting a combined .315 on the year with the Marlins and the A’s. He also has 45 stolen bases, just two short of his career high in 2016 with the Pirates. Through a translator, Marte said “I told myself to look for a good pitch, I was able to make adjustments and drive the ball. It’s been emotional to win these two games against the team in first place. We have a chance to sweep them tomorrow and get more comfortable. Every day, every game counts.”
Having taken the first two games of the series, Oakland will close out their home schedule with a Sunday afternoon finale tomorrow. Paul Blackburn (1-3, 5.17) is scheduled to take the mound for the A’s against Houston’s Jake Odorizzi (6-7, 4.22) at 1:05PM.
