HOUSTON -- Earlier this week, it was the Los Angeles Angels who came to town looking to prove to the defending World Series champions that the pursuit for the American League West pennant would be hotly contested. This weekend, the Oakland Athletics seek to do the same.
The Athletics (14-12) claimed the opener of their series with the Astros on Friday night, 8-1, behind ace left-hander Sean Manaea, who extended his hitless innings streak to a club-record 14 and surrendered just one unearned run over seven innings while lowering his AL-leading ERA to 1.