HOUSTON -- Lost in the shuffle of the up-and-down, back-and-forth nature of the A's 4-3 win in 11 innings on Tuesday night were Mike Fiers' numerous contributions, which extended his string of solid starts.
Fiers was not the pitcher of record, nor was he still in the game when the A's flipped the narrative from suffering a shutout loss because of an unflappable Wade Miley to pulling off an improbable and triumphant win. But Fiers controlled the game from the third inning on, a scenario that seemed unlikely after he got through a second inning that included eight Astros coming to the plate, with one logging an inside-the-park home run.
The inning was messy, with Houston baserunners galore. But Fiers ended up pitching into the eighth, holding the Astros to a Michael Brantley double and two base hits after that frame. Fiers' ability to hold the Astros to only two runs proved huge, when Matt Olson took Roberto Osuna deep for a go-ahead three-run homer in the ninth.
"They're still human, they're going to get themselves out," Fiers said of Houston's hitters, following the comeback win. "Just trusting my stuff. Go after them. Obviously, getting out of that [second] inning, that was huge. I give up another hit there, who knows if we come back and win this game.
"I know with this lineup it's all about just keeping it close and we're going to score, eventually."
Fiers is having a solid season for an A's team that at times has had to piece together a rotation. The veteran right-hander hasn't lost a start since May 1 in Boston, and in his next start, he threw his second career no-hitter. That began a 13-start stretch that produced a 7-0 record and a 2.25 ERA, heading into his Tuesday outing vs. Houston.
Fiers also hasn't allowed a home run that has left the ballpark in 52 innings, the longest active streak in the Majors.
Piscotty nearing rehab assignment
Outfielder Stephen Piscotty will return to Oakland with the A's upon conclusion of their road trip, and he will continue to work out with the team until it is determined he's ready to leave on a rehab assignment.
That day is coming soon, but it's not quite time yet.
"He'll go home with us and spend a couple more days taking BP, going through a full complement before the game," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "It's going to be the baserunning part of it that determines when he goes out on a rehab assignment. We're just not there yet."
Piscotty, rehabbing from a right knee sprain, ran the bases and went through BP sessions with the A's during their three-day series in Houston, and Melvin was happy with the progress the outfielder made on that front.
"That's why we brought him here," Melvin said. "The last thing you want to do is send somebody out on a rehab assignment when they're not ready for it. I don't think he's ready for it yet."