Athletics at Astros
The Houston Astros put on a record-setting performance in the series opener and strive to keep up their offensive assault when they host the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday for the second contest of their four-game set. Houston set a major-league record with six homers in the first two innings and finished with a club record-tying seven blasts as it steamrolled Oakland 15-0 on Monday.
Yordan Alvarez hit two homers to raise his season total to 23 and break the franchise rookie record set in 2015 by Carlos Correa, who went on to win American League Rookie of the Year honors. Robinson Chirinos belted two shots and equaled his career best of six RBIs while Jose Altuve went 3-for-3 with a blast as Houston set a club record by scoring 36 runs over its last two games after Sunday's 21-1 demolition of Seattle. The Astros hold a 10 1/2-game lead over Oakland in the AL West and are tied with the New York Yankees (95-50) for the best record in the major leagues after notching five straight wins while the Athletics are one-half game ahead of Cleveland for the second wild card. Oakland registered only three hits in the series opener while hitting into three double plays.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Sports (Oakland), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Tanner Roark (9-8, 3.86 ERA) vs. Astros LH Wade Miley (13-4, 3.35)
Roark shut down the Los Angeles Angels in his last turn as he scattered five hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory. The 32-year-old is 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 33 strikeouts against eight walks in six starts since being acquired from Cincinnati. Roark gave up two runs and six hits over six frames in a no-decision against the Astros on Aug. 16 and is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in three career starts versus the club.
Miley has won seven consecutive decisions but is coming off a dreadful outing in which he didn't retire a batter. The 32-year-old surrendered five runs on five hits and one walk against the Mariners before exiting but escaped with a no-decision as Houston pulled out an 11-9 victory. Miley was solid against Oakland in a no-decision on July 23, allowing two runs and four hits over eight innings, and is 5-2 with a 1.71 ERA in eight career starts versus the team.
WALK-OFFS
1. Athletics CF Ramon Laureano has sat out back-to-back games due to leg cramps.
2. Houston 1B Yuli Gurriel (hamstring) has missed three consecutive contests.
3. Oakland recalled LHP Jesus Luzardo and RHP Daniel Mengden from Triple-A Las Vegas and placed OF Luis Barrera (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list to open a spot on the 40-man roster for the former.