Athletics rally with a 3-run 8th inning to beat the Astros 4-3, snapping a 5-game skid

HOUSTON (AP) — Donovan Walton homered and Tommy White had three hits as the Athletics used a big eighth inning to rally for a 4-3 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night and snap a five-game skid.

The A’s trailed 3-1 and had runners on second and third with one out in the eighth when they scored on a wild pitch by Bennett Sousa (1-2).

Lawrence Butler singled on a grounder to right field to tie it at 3-3. White doubled, and Butler scored on a groundout by Jonah Heim to put the Athletics on top.

Elvis Alvarado pitched the ninth for his third save.

Daulton Varsho’s homer off Luis Medina (5-3) put the Astros ahead in the seventh and a two-out RBI single by Jeremy Peña extended the lead to 3-1.

Houston starter Hunter Brown allowed seven hits and a run in 5 2/3 innings.

Jacob Lopez struck out nine, allowing one run on three hits in six innings for the Athletics.

Walton opened the third inning with his shot near the bullpen in right-center to put the Athletics up 1-0.

Houston tied it on an RBI double by Yainer Diaz with two outs in the fourth.

The Athletics had runners on first and second with two outs in the sixth when Houston manager Joe Espada pointed toward right field as he ran out of the dugout. He apparently was not pointing toward the bullpen and wanted a timeout to talk to Brown and leave him in the game.

But the umpires thought otherwise and forced him to pull Brown. Espada talked with the umpires for a bit before play resumed. AJ Blubaugh took over and retired Heim.