Olson’s Go-Ahead Blast Leads A’s Past Astros
Sep 10, 2020, 4:00 PM | Updated: 4:00 pm
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Oakland has a commanding 6.5 game lead over Houston with 18 games remaining
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth-inning, Oakland Athletics slugging first-baseman Matt Olson stepped up to the plate with one on and one two outs.
Olson took a first-pitch fastball from Houston Astros starter Jose Urquidy deep to right-field, well over the fence to give the A’s a 2-1 lead.
Oakland would tack on an insurance run in the seventh to increase their lead to the eventual final score 3-1, securing the fourth-win out of five games over the second-place Astros.
With the win, the A’s increased their lead over Houston to 6.5 games–the biggest division lead in all of Major League Baseball.
Athletics starter Sean Manaea was perfect through six-innings on Thursday, allowing a lead-off double to Astros outfielder Josh Reddick to break up the perfect-game bid.
Manaea (4-2) finished with four strikeouts over seven-innings while allowing just two hits and one run.
Olson hit his 12th home run of the season in the win, also driving in his 30th and 31st runs in on the shortened season. Mark Canha picked up two hits in the winning effort.
The A’s will look to keep their momentum going on Friday night when they travel to Texas to face the Rangers.
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