Hogan Harris and three relief pitchers combined to throw a shutout, as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Houston Astros 4-0 on Monday night.
Harris (2-3) gave up seven hits over 6 2/3 innings and tied his career-high with seven strikeouts. This win was his first since June 18, and he credited adjustments made during the All-Star break for his improved performance.
“I focused on simplifying my delivery,” Harris explained. “Even with runners on base, I felt more confident and able to execute my pitches effectively.”
Throughout the season, Harris has been consistently strong, particularly in night games. He has started nine games and has not allowed more than three runs in any of them, boasting a 1.55 ERA in evening matchups.
“A step in the right direction,” commented A’s manager Mark Kotsay on Harris’ performance. “He handled key situations well tonight, getting crucial double plays and making pitches when needed.”
The game lasted just 2 hours and 7 minutes and was attended by 4,517 fans.
JJ Bleday led the A’s offense with three hits, while Lawrence Butler and Max Schuemann contributed two hits each. This victory was Oakland’s second in eight games against the Astros, who currently lead the AL West by a slim margin over Seattle.
“Harris pitched exceptionally well,” acknowledged Astros manager Joe Espada. “Once they took the lead, their bullpen finished strong. Sometimes you have to credit the opposition.”
Following Harris, Austin Adams struck out Alex Bregman to escape a seventh-inning jam with two runners on base. Lucas Erceg and Mason Miller then closed out the game with solid relief outings in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively.
