Jed Lowrie hit an RBI double off Edward Mujica with two outs in the 10th inning to make up for a costly error, and the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 5-4 on Thursday night.
Carlos Correa launched a go-ahead homer in a three-run eighth that gave the Astros a 4-2 lead. But the AL West leaders had to rally again after the A’s scored two unearned runs off closer Luke Gregerson in the ninth.
Lowrie aided the Oakland comeback with a throwing error at third base. But the former Oakland shortstop, who drove in Houston’s first run with a sacrifice fly, came through an inning later.
Jose Altuve led off the 10th with his third hit. He stole second on a pitchout and was sacrificed to third by Carlos Gomez. Mujica (2-4) retired Correa on a popup before Lowrie doubled to left field.
Gregerson (5-1) was credited with the win after his fourth blown save in 26 chances. Will Harris got three outs for his first major league save, helped by a fine play from Altuve at second base.
It was the fourth time this season Houston won when trailing going into the eighth.
Stephen Vogt and Brett Lawrie homered for Oakland, which wasted a strong outing by rookie Aaron Brooks.
Both teams blew late leads.
The A’s were up 2-1 heading into the eighth before Correa hit a two-run homer off reliever Felix Rodriguez.
It was Correa’s second home run in four days and sixth in the last 10 games. The 20-year-old rookie is the youngest position player in the majors and the only shortstop in the last century to hit 14 home runs in his first 51 games.
After Correa’s drive gave Houston a 3-2 lead, Lowrie walked and scored when Colby Rasmus singled softy to left-center and the ball got past Billy Burns for an error.
Gregerson couldn’t make it hold up.
He issued a leadoff walk before Lowrie’s throwing error put runners at the corners with none out. Ike Davis hit an RBI single, and Burns drove in the tying run when he barely beat out a potential double-play grounder.
Brooks, part of the July 28 trade that sent Ben Zobrist to Toronto, gave up four hits and had a career-high seven strikeouts in seven innings. He allowed only two runners over his final five innings and left with a 2-1 lead.
Vogt homered off Houston starter Scott Feldman in the second. Feldman gave up two runs and five hits in six innings.
Lawrie homered leading off the fifth.