Oakland got back in the win column on Saturday evening, defeating the Houston Astros 4-1 on a beautiful evening at the Coliseum.
This was a pitching duel for the first half of the game. Oakland starter Paul Blackburn fell into some trouble in the first with a second and third situation but escaped unscored upon. Last year’s Oakland All-Star allowed only one hit (and a pair of walks) for the next four innings, bouncing back after a rough previous start earlier in the week. With the trade deadline coming up there is a slight possibility tonight was his final one for the A’s and if it was then he’s ending his Oakland tenure on a high note.