HOUSTON -- Khris Davis provided what little spark the A's could generate on Friday, driving in all four runs for a team that has lost five straight games following a 9-4 loss to the Astros at Minute Maid Park.
Davis took over the American League lead with his eighth and ninth home runs of the season, homering in his first two at-bats off Houston starter Charlie Morton.
"My plan was to be aggressive and get a good one," said Davis, whose three-run homer in the first staked the A's to a 3-0 lead. His third-inning homer put the A's up 4-3.
It is Davis' 13th multi-home run of his career and second of the season. Davis homered twice on Opening Day against the Angels.
"We need him, he's a big part of our lineup," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "You don't want to put too much pressure on one guy, but certainly a lot revolves around the middle of your order and he's the guy in the middle of the order. You get guys on with him and that's the guy you expect to do the most damage."
Davis' first-inning home run landed in the Astros' bullpen in right-center field, scoring Matt Joyce and Jed Lowrie. The homer was a projected 423 feet according to Statcast™, which tied his longest homer of the season. His second home run came off a 95.6 mph pitch, the fastest pitch he's taken deep this year, and landed in the lower deck in right field for an opposite-field home run.
"I thought I got them good enough," said Davis, who was 2-for-4 with two runs. "I was just going up there and try to get a good pitch to hit. Put a good swing on it and whatever happens, happens.
"We wanted to come out swinging and that was the goal, to jump on them early."
Davis' first-inning blast had a 104 mph exit velocity. His third-inning home run, projected at 395 feet, had an exit velocity of 105.9 mph.
"Tough out," Morton said of Davis. "Just a good approach against me, too. It's a good matchup for him if he can stay inside, which he is doing. He stays inside the ball and he's strong, which makes him dangerous."