HOUSTON — Houston manager A.J. Hinch didn’t even take a second to think about it when he was asked about how well Josh Reddick has been playing lately.
“We should talk more about how good a baseball player Josh Reddick is,” Hinch said. “He is really good at virtually everything … he does something to help you win every night.”
That was on display Wednesday night when Reddick and George Springer had three hits each and combined for five RBIs as the Astros used a five-run third inning to take the lead and hold on for an 11-8 victory over the Oakland Athletics.
Reddick has three doubles, one triple, two homers and seven RBIs in his last seven games since coming off the 7-day concussion list.
“He can flat-out play and I’m glad he’s hitting behind us and I’m glad he’s on our team now,” Springer said of Reddick, who spent five seasons with the Athletics.
Houston rookie David Paulino allowed seven hits with a season-high seven runs in four-plus innings and Michael Feliz (4-1) struck out two in a scoreless fifth for the win. Ken Giles struck out two in the ninth for his 18th save.
Houston was down one after a four-run third by the A’s before Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran hit consecutive singles to chase Jesse Hahn with no outs in the bottom of the inning. Josh Smith came in to face Marwin Gonzalez whose RBI double tied it at 5-5. The Astros took the lead when Beltran scored on a groundout by Yuli Gurriel before Springer’s run-scoring double with two outs pushed the lead to 7-5.
Reddick, who drove in three runs, hit an RBI single and Carlos Correa drove home another run with a single to make it 9-5.
The Athletics hit a season-high five homers with two from Khris Davis and one each from Ryon Healy, Matt Olson and Jed Lowrie, but they struck out 17 times to end a four-game winning streak.
Oakland starter Jesse Hahn (3-6) allowed a season-high nine hits and six runs in two-plus innings.
“His stuff hasn’t been as good the last two times out so he’s going to have to make adjustments,” manager Bob Melvin said. “That’s what pitching is all about. There’s something he’s going to have to tighten up a little bit.”
The solo shot by Olson cut the lead to 9-7 in the fifth, but the Astros added a run on a sacrifice fly by McCann in the sixth to extend the lead. Lowrie’s home run came in the seventh before another RBI single from Reddick in the bottom of the inning pushed the lead back to three.
Springer hit a leadoff homer in Houston’s two-run first inning before the first home run by Davis made it 2-1 in the top of the second. The Astros added two runs in the second to extend their lead to 4-1.
Lowrie had an RBI single in the third inning before a three-run shot by Davis put Oakland up 5-4.
Healy, who hit his first career grand slam on Tuesday night, had a solo shot to start the fourth inning and Olson began the fifth with a home run to cut the lead to 9-7 and end Paulino’s night.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: 1B Yonder Alonso left the game in the eighth inning after fouling a ball off his right knee. Melvin said he didn’t need X-rays and that it was bruised. … RHP Kendall Graveman (shoulder) and reliever Ryan Dull (knee) will both throw bullpen sessions this weekend, Melvin said. Both threw from flat ground on Tuesday. Both pitchers have been sidelined since a May 19 win over Boston.
Astros: Hinch said they’re unsure if RHP Charlie Morton (strained back muscle) will need another rehabilitation start or if he’ll come off the DL to make his next start in Houston. Morton threw four scoreless innings in his second rehabilitation start for Triple-A Fresno on Tuesday night.
LEADING OFF
Springer set a franchise record with his ninth leadoff home run this season. The previous mark of eight was set by Springer last season and Hall of Famer Craig Biggio in 2001. Nine leadoff homers before July 1 are the most in major league history and the most by an American League player in a season since Alfonso Soriano set a major league record by finishing with 13 in 2003.
UP NEXT
Athletics: Rookie RHP Daniel Gossett (1-2) will start in place of RHP Jharel Cotton (blister) on Thursday in the series finale. Melvin said Cotton threw a routine bullpen session on Wednesday and is on track to make a Saturday start against Atlanta.
Astros: RHP Brad Peacock (4-1, 2.82 ERA) is scheduled to start on Thursday for Houston. Peacock, who was reinstated from the paternity list on Tuesday after the birth of his first child, allowed four hits and one run in 5 2/3 innings for the win against Oakland in his last start.
