Álvarez powers Astros to third straight victory, series win in Oakland

Photo courtesy of Jeff Chin/Associated Press

The Astros continue to roll in their opponent's home.

Houston scored nine runs for the second straight game on Saturday afternoon, demolishing the A's by a score of 9-1 at the Coliseum.

The Astros once again wasted no time in scoring, getting themselves on the board in the first inning. After Michael Brantley was hit by a pitch and Aledmys Díaz doubled, a single from Kyle Tucker would plate Brantley for the game's first run.

Brantley would later be removed from the game, however, after his wrist seemed to be causing him pain. He was replaced by rookie outfielder Chas McCormick in left field.

Worries only compounded when Astros' starter Lance McCullers Jr., in his first start of the season (and his first start since signing an extension with the Astros), didn't get off to a riveting start. McCullers walked the first two batters before a single from Mitch Moreland tied the game at one apiece. It took him more than 30 pitches to escape the first inning.

The Astros quickly retaliated, by way of a José Altuve bases-loaded single in the second inning.

Though Lance continued to struggle with his command for the rest of his start, he managed to limit the damage to only a single run allowed in his outing. Oakland threatened again in the third, but McCullers would work out of it.

McCullers would finish with a line of 5.0 IP, two hits, three walks, and an impressive seven K's to go with the one run. He threw 95 pitches, only 54 of them being strikes.

McCullers received a massive pick-me-up in the fifth from an equally massive man. Young phenom Yordan Álvarez managed to grab ahold of a Lou Trivino fastball low in the zone that he drove to left centerfield for a three-run homer.

It was smooth sailing from there for Houston -- Ryne Stanek and Brooks Raley, the latter of which exited yesterday's game with back soreness, would shoulder most of the bullpen work to finish off the A's, combining for 3.2 innings pitched, four strikeouts, and zero hits for Oakland.

A four-run ninth inning for Houston sealed the deal. McCormick would nab his first major league hit, RBI, and run scored in the final frame.

Lance McCullers would earn the win, his first of the season. Through three games, Houston has managed to reach 36 hits and outscore Oakland 26-7 to begin the year.

Dusty Baker offered an encouraging word for Brantley, who revealed no structural damage to his wrist in an MRI. Baker said that Brantley was "doing good."

"Evidently, Michael must have been drinking his milk."

The Astros will head into Sunday with a series win under their belt to start the year, while also looking for the four-game sweep of their division rivals in Oakland. José Urquidy will take the bump for Houston, while the A's will send out left-handed Sean Manaea to try and prevent the sweep.

First pitch is scheduled for 3 PM CT.