Scott Kazmir was dominant in the win over the Astros. (Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)
HOUSTON — Left-hander Scott Kazmir pitched masterfully and was backed by a power-laden offensive attack as the Oakland Athletics claimed the opener of their three-game series with the Houston Astros 8-1 on Monday night at Minute Maid Park.
Kazmir (2-0) allowed just one run on three hits and three walks with eight strikeouts over six innings. Astros second baseman Jose Altuve smacked a leadoff home run in the fourth inning to initiate a rally with Houston trailing 4-0, but Kazmir responded by inducing timely ground-ball outs off the bat of Astros first baseman Chris Carter and designated hitter Evan Gattis to counter a pair of walks following the Altuve homer.
Kazmir logged seven scoreless innings in his first start of the season, a 10-0 win over the Texas Rangers on April 8. He wasn’t as sharp against Houston (3-4), yet improved to 3-1 lifetime against his hometown team.
Kazmir is 6-0 with a 1.75 ERA over eight April starts with Oakland.
Left fielder Mark Canha (2-for-5), second baseman Ben Zobrist (3-for-5, two runs) and shortstop Marcus Semien (2-for-4) recorded multi-hit games for the Athletics (4-4), who posted five extra-base hits.
Astros right-hander Scott Feldman didn’t get much time to settle in, let alone continue the momentum he established with his strong start last week against the Cleveland Indians. The first three Athletics reached against Feldman in the top of the first, with Astros shortstop Jonathan Villar contributing to the early carnage with two errors as Oakland jumped to a 3-0 lead.
Canha, Zobrist and first baseman Ike Davis delivered run-scoring hits, with Canha and Zobrist doing so in succession via RBI doubles. Feldman needed a double-play grounder to escape the first inning, but by the time Oakland catcher Stephen Vogt hit into his second inning-ending double play in the fifth, the Athletics had added three home runs to their bloated ledger.
Third baseman Brett Lawrie and Semien stroked leadoff home runs in the second and fifth innings, but Athletics designated hitter Billy Butler landed the biggest blow off Feldman: a three-run bomb out of stadium with one out in the fifth. That upped the Oakland lead to 8-1, and by the close of that frame, Feldman was done.
Feldman allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits, including three homers, and a walk without striking out a batter over five innings.
NOTES: Astros manager A.J. Hinch shared a lunch with slumping slugger Evan Gattis, who closed the opening week of the season 0-for-20 with 12 strikeouts. Gattis, acquired from the Atlanta Braves during the offseason, batted fifth and was assured by Hinch that he hasn’t fallen out of favor due to his early struggles. … Astros RHP Josh Fields was scheduled to pitch Monday and Tuesday for Triple-A Fresno as he rehabs the right groin strain that landed him on the 15-day disabled list. … Athletics RHP Jarrod Parker worked three 15-pitch innings in a simulated game Monday in Arizona, allowing one run on three hits and one walk with a strikeout. His fastball averaged 92 mph and ranged from 89-94 mph. Parker is rehabbing following a second Tommy John surgery last spring. He is targeting a June return.
