MLB GAME RECAP

Astros 3, Athletics 2 (12 innings)

The Sports Xchange

July 23, 2014 at 2:34 am.

Hoes ripped left-handed reliever Fernando Abad's first pitch to left field for his third home run of the season. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

OAKLAND, Calif. — Left fielder L.J. Hoes lined a tie-breaking solo home run with one out in the top of the 12th inning, and the Houston Astros held on for a 3-2 victory Tuesday night against the Oakland A’s at the O.co Coliseum.

Hoes ripped left-handed reliever Fernando Abad’s first pitch to left field for his third home run of the season. He entered the game batting .176 and went hitless in his first four at-bats before homering off Abad (2-4), who took the loss. It was his first home run since May 13 against the Rangers.

Hoes, who was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Jun 26, made just his 32nd start of the season.

Astros right-hander Chad Qualls pitched a perfect 12th for his 11th save of the season.

The Astros beat the A’s for the third straight time, a franchise first. Last year the Astros were 34-66 after 100 games. This year they’re 42-58. Since May 11, they’ve gone 31-32.

The first-place A’s (61-38) remained two games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels in the American League West.

Astros left-hander Brett Oberholtzer allowed just two runs on seven hits over seven innings but didn’t figure in the decision. He walked two and had zero strikeouts in a start for the first time in his career. Oberholtzer went 0-1 with a 1.54 ERA in his first two career starts at the Coliseum and made it three straight gems at Oakland without a victory.

A’s left-hander Scott Kazmir allowed two runs — only one of them earned — on seven hits over seven innings but got a no-decision. Kazmir struck out six, walked one and left the game after throwing 106 pitches with the score tied 2-2 against his hometown team. Kazmir, an American League All-Star, allowed one or fewer earned runs for the fourth straight start. He lowered his ERA to 2.32, third best in the AL.

Astros first baseman Chris Carter, who was traded by Oakland to Houston after the 2012 season, went 3-for-5 with two doubles and drove in two runs with a third-inning single.

The Astros led 2-1 through five innings, but the A’s pulled even with a run in the sixth. Third baseman Josh Donaldson doubled with one out off the left field fence, moved to third on catcher Derek Norris’ sharp single and scored on shortstop Jed Lowrie’s sacrifice fly.

After Kazmir and Oberholtzer exited, the game turned into a battle of the bullpens.

Astros right-hander Josh Fields, who struck out 16 of the previous 24 batters he faced before Tuesday, struck out two more in two scoreless innings. In the bottom of the 10th, Astros left-hander Tony Sipp gave up a one-out single to second baseman Nick Punto, who took second on a wild pitch with two outs. Sipp retired right fielder Josh Reddick on a ground ball to first base.

Houston reliever Jose Veras retired the first two batters he faced in the 11th but gave up a single to pinch hitter John Jason then walked Lowrie. Left-hander Darin Downs (2-1) came on to retire first baseman Brandon Moss and earned the win.

A’s right-hander Luke Gregerson pitched a perfect eighth and lefty Sean Doolittle a scoreless ninth. Dan Otero pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings before left-hander Fernando Abad retired catcher Jason Castro on a ground ball for the final out of the 11th, stranding a runner.

The Astros scored first, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez lined a leadoff single to center off Kazmir. Second baseman Jose Altuve hit a hard comebacker for a single that ricocheted off Kazmir’s left hip to Donaldson, who threw wildly to first for an error, putting runners on second and third.

With one out, Carter singled sharply to center, driving in Gonzalez and Altuve.

The A’s cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the third. Center fielder Craig Gentry lined a leadoff single off Oberholtzer, stole second and third and scored on Donaldson’s fielder’s choice ground ball.

NOTES: Oakland RF Josh Reddick (strained right knee) was activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game. Reddick, who was out since June 29, had a five-game rehab stint with Class A Stockton. INF/OF Andy Parrino was sent down to Triple-A Sacramento on Monday, opening a spot on the 25-man roster for Reddick. … Astros CF George Springer (sore right knee, quadriceps) missed his second consecutive game. He remains day-to-day. … Astros 1B Jose Guzman, a late scratch Sunday against the Chicago White Sox due to back discomfort, was in the lineup Tuesday.