HOUSTON — Yordan Alvarez doubled twice and drove in two runs to lead the Houston Astros to a 4-0 victory over the Athletics on Friday night.
The AL West leaders bounced back after an embarrassing 18-3 loss to the Angels on Thursday night behind the strong game from Alvarez, who leads the American League in batting average (.321), home runs (36) and RBIs (90).
His first double made it 2-0 in the fifth and his 28th double of the season, which bounced off the wall in left field, extended it to 4-0 in the seventh.
Houston starter Hayden Wesneski (3-1) allowed one hit and struck out four in five innings and four relievers completed the three-hitter.
J.T. Ginn (8-8) yielded six hits and three runs while walking two in five innings as the A’s lost their fifth straight.
Isaac Paredes walked to open Houston’s fourth before a double by Daulton Varsho. The Astros took a 1-0 lead when Paredes scored on a sacrifice fly by Christian Walker.
Nick Allen was on first with two outs in the fifth when Alvarez doubled to center field and Allen slid home just in front of the tag to make it 2-0.
Paredes then singled on a grounder to right field to score Alvarez and push the lead to 3-0.
Donovan Walton singled to give the Athletics their first hit with one out in the third and Henry Bolte walked with two outs in the inning.
Walton walked with two outs in the fifth but the A’s didn’t get another hit until a double by Jeff McNeil with one out in the sixth. There were two outs in the inning when Carlos Cortes singled, but Bennett Sousa struck out Lawrence Butler for the third out.
The Athletics plan to move to Las Vegas in 2028, when they are scheduled to open play at a new ballpark on the Strip.
Wilson on 10-day IL
Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday because of a dislocated left shoulder.
The A’s also announced first baseman Nick Kurtz was moved to the 60-day IL with a strained right thumb. Outfielder Tyler Soderstrom, already out for the season because of a left hip injury, underwent surgery in Vail, Colorado.
Infielder Michael Stefanic and right-hander Kade Morris were called up from Triple-A and right-hander Taylor Rashi was optioned to Las Vegas.
Wilson is on the IL for the third time this season. He has a 115-game streak without committing an error, a major league record for a shortstop. Wilson, an All-Star last year, is hitting .266 with 37 RBIs in 80 games.
Kurtz, the 2025 AL Rookie of the Year, was placed on the 10-day IL on Aug. 4. He was batting .256 with 21 home runs and 69 RBIs in 99 games.
Soderstrom was hitting .245 with 19 homers and 56 RBIs in 109 games.
Up next
Houston RHP Hunter Brown (3-3, 3.67 ERA) opposes LHP Jacob Lopez (5-4, 5.22) when the series continues Saturday night.
