OAKLAND, Calif. — The harder contact seemed to come against Sonny Gray in the duel of aces and potential Cy Young winners at O.co Coliseum, when the A’s righty squared off with Astros lefty Dallas Keuchel on Friday night. The trouble with the sport most defined by failure and random outcomes is that the team that squares up the ball the most often doesn’t always win.
Plus, that Gray kid is really darn good.
Luis Valbuena’s team-leading 21st home run Friday in the fifth inning was the Astros’ only scoring in a 3-1 loss to the A’s, the Astros fourth loss in their last five games.