Astros, Verlander, continue mastery over Athletics

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OAKLAND — The Athletics have a problem, and it’s Houston.

Behind dominant pitching from starter Justin Verlander, the Astros beat the Athletics 5-1 Saturday night at the Coliseum before a crowd of 20,425. After going 7-12 against the National League West champions a year ago, the Athletics (29-29) are now 1-6 this season, in third place and 9 1/2 games behind the Astros (39-20).

Josh Reddick hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning, his second in two nights, and Alex Bregman contributed a run-scoring single to right in the fifth inning or Houston. It was Reddick’s sixth home run of the season.

Verlander (9-2) quieted an Athletics rally in the eighth inning after Chad Pinder doubled and Matt Chapman walked with two out. Matt Olson, representing the lead run, was Verlander’s eighth strikeout victim to end the inning. With Verlander having thrown 114 pitches, Will Harris pitched a scoreless ninth for the Astros.

The Athletics continued to have trouble with late-inning relief, as Robinson Chirinos hit a two-run home run of Joakim Soria in the top of the ninth, his seventh of the season.

Stephen Piscotty homered in the second inning for the Athletics, his seventh of the season.

Brett Anderson (6-4) started for the Athletics and gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings before leaving with an undisclosed injury in favor of Yusmeiro Petit.

Houston took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning when Reddick homered, this one a drive to right center, to bring home Yuli Gurriel and give Verlander the lead.

The Astros added a run in the fifth in two balls that weren’t necessarily guaranteed to be hits off the bat. The first was a drive to right center by Jake Marisnick that Ramon Laureano appeared to have in his sights. He made a leap at the fence — a play he’s made more than once this year — but this time the ball hit toward the bottom of the fence and went for a double.

With two out,  Bregman lofted a pop up into short right field. First baseman Matt Olson gave chase, but then pulled up, apparently believing Piscotty had a chance at the ball. It fell for a single, bringing home Marisnick. It’s conceivable Olson wouldn’t have got to the ball anyway, and the Astros led 3-1.

Piscotty’s first-pitch home run in the second inning went over the right field fence to give the Athletics a 1-0 lead.

Against a pitcher as good as Verlander, the Athletics needed a break, and they couldn’t get one in the fifth inning when Marcus Semien’s bid for a bloop double to right was ruled a foul ball.

With two out and Ramon Laureano and Josh Phegley aboard with singles, Semien reached out and hit one toward the foul line near the Houston bullpen. Josh Reddick couldn’t come up with it on a dive and it was ruled foul.

Replays indicated it was extremely close — and perhaps fair — which would have meant one or possibly both runners would have scored. Instead, on replay, it was ruled foul. Melvin went out to argue and Semien was ejected by first base umpire Alan Porter.

Designated hitter Khris Davis, on the injured list since May 22 with a left hip contusion, was 0-for-4 in his return with three fly outs to right and a strikeout.