HOUSTON - The 100th pitch Charlie Morton threw Friday night was a 95-mph fastball that A's outfielder Jaff Decker could only foul off. Morton struck out Decker swinging on an 82-mph curveball on his next pitch, capping a strong performance from the Astros right-hander.
Despite giving up two homers to Khris Davis -- a three-run homer in the first and a solo homer in the third -- Morton came up with his best start in a couple of years by striking out a career-high 12 batters against no walks in a season-high seven innings in the Astros' 9-4 win at Minute Maid Park.