Feldman takes blame despite shaky defense early from Astros

HOUSTON -- Astros starting pitcher Scott Feldman did an adequate job of falling on the sword Monday, saying he just simply didn't do a good enough job executing pitches in an 8-1 loss to the A's at Minute Maid Park.

Feldman wasn't going to blame a pair of first-inning errors by shortstop Jonathan Villar for getting him off on a bad foot. He gave up three runs in the first, but later surrendered three homers, including a three-run blast by Billy Butler in the fifth that made it 8-1.

"That was one of those days that maybe come along once a year or something like that," Feldman said. "Hopefully, I can put it behind me and come back out ready to go."

Feldman (0-2) allowed eight runs (seven earned) and 10 hits and didn't strike out any batters in five innings. He gave up homers to Brett Lawrie in the second and Marcus Semien in the fifth in addition to Butler's 426-foot blast over the railroad tracks.

"They came out aggressive," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "Scott throws strikes, and they were going to come out swinging, and when they got pitches to hit they weren't going to miss them. After the first inning being down by three, that doesn't faze him. I didn't expect it to. They just continued to pour it on as the game got along."

Feldman got a routine ground ball off the bat of Sam Fuld to start the game, but Villar booted it. Mark Canha and Ben Zobrist followed with back-to-back RBI doubles, but Feldman wasn't going to blame anything on the first of two errors in the inning by Villar.

"No matter what happens, when I let the ball go I have to worry about making pitches, and I didn't do a good job of that tonight," he said.