Keuchel lowers ERA to 0.62 despite 'spotty' command

OAKLAND -- Astros southpaw Dallas Keuchel might have started off Friday's wild 5-4 extra-inning win over the A's with nine scoreless innings, but he couldn't get his mind off of the two walks he issued.

Keuchel has developed a reputation of being something of a perfectionist on the mound, and he offered a glimpse of his high standards after the contest.

"It was just real spotty command," Keuchel said. "I'd like to kind of clean that up early in the game. That's not my M.O. That's when I was telling [catcher Hank] Conger, 'Just bear with me and we'll get through this.' Sure enough, we did."

Keuchel allowed a walk in the first inning and then a walk to Mark Canha in the third. After that, Canha was retired on a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Ben Zobrist, starting a string of 19 straight batters that Keuchel retired to end his evening. For the year, he's sporting a 0.62 ERA.

Video: HOU@OAK: Keuchel induces a double play to end a jam

The 27-year-old finished nine innings for the fifth time in his career, giving up two hits while striking out four. Despite throwing 106 pitches, Keuchel said he didn't want to come out of the game.

"It was extremely hard," Keuchel said. "I don't want to come out of any game, if I'm throwing 140 pitches or what not. But that's just my mentality."

Manager A.J. Hinch said he considered sending Keuchel back out to the mound for the 10th, but he elected to go to his well-rested bullpen, which entered the game with a 1.94 ERA. Even though Houston's relievers were tagged for four runs in two frames, the offense picked them up with two big rallies.

"This Coliseum never really disappoints in late-inning drama," Keuchel said.