HOUSTON -- The Astros' offense, known for spontaneous eruption, broke out in the ninth inning for three runs on five consecutive hits -- including a three-run homer by George Springer -- to cut the Athletics' lead to two before falling, 6-4, at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday.
"We're never out of it, and we know that," said shortstop Carlos Correa. "In the dugout the atmosphere is always, 'We can get back and score six, eight runs in this one inning.' We just tried to compete out there. We fell short, but it was fun, and we got the crowd back into it."
Following Springer's homer, Jose Altuve and Correa hit back-to-back singles, setting the stage with no outs. But Josh Reddick popped out to third, and Brian McCann hit into a game-ending double play.

Houston left 10 men on base and went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, missing "a ton" of early opportunities versus Oakland starter Sean Manaea, manager A.J. Hinch said.
Manaea's one-run, nine-hit performance gave him his first career win vs. the Astros and helped Oakland snap its five-game losing streak to Houston, a skid dating back to April 30.
"The first six innings are really the story of the opportunities," Hinch said. "I think we left ... nine of 10 guys on base in those innings alone. We did a great job of getting guys on base, getting guys in scoring position and having them in two-out at-bats. We couldn't really win any of those at-bats. It seemed to be every inning we would be right on the cusp of breaking through against Manaea. We couldn't quite pull it off."
With no outs in the fifth inning, designated hitter Evan Gattis hit into a double play with the bases loaded, tying the score at 1.

McCann grounded out on the next pitch, extinguishing Houston's offensive threat once again.
"He's good," Springer said of Manaea. "Sometimes you have to tip your cap to him. He made some big pitches in some big spots that kept us off the board."
"We had the right matchups, had the right guys in there, just fell a little short," Hinch said.