OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Justin Verlander pitched five-hit ball over seven innings and the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 7-3 Thursday afternoon for their eighth straight win.
Brian McCann homered for the first time in nearly a month. Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve and Josh Reddick were among five players with two hits apiece as Houston completed the three-game sweep.
Evan Gattis, who set a franchise record with five RBIs in each of the first two games of the series, went 1 for 5.
The winning streak is the Astros longest since they won 11 straight May 25-June 5 last season on the way to their first World Series championship. Houston also improved to 8-1 against Oakland this season.
Khris Davis and Matt Olson homered for the A's. It was Davis' third home run in three consecutive at-bats after going deep in his final two plate appearances Wednesday.
Both home runs came off Verlander, who went into the day leading the majors with a 1.45 ERA.
Still, Verlander (9-2) was sharp in his first appearance against the A's since 2016 and faced three over the minimum before Oakland scored twice in the seventh. The six-time All-Star had seven strikeouts, allowed three runs and didn't walk a batter while earning his fifth consecutive win.
The Astros outscored the A's 26-11 in the series. They also got some help from Oakland third baseman Matt Chapman, who committed a pair of errors that led to a pair of unearned runs in the sixth.
A's starter Frankie Montas (3-1) allowed five earned runs and 11 hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked four.
ROSTER JUGGLE
RHP Trevor Cahill (Achilles strain) was placed by Oakland on the 10-day disabled list for the second time this season. Right-handers Chris Bassitt and Carlos Ramirez were called up from Triple-A Nashville. Reliever Danny Coulombe was optioned down.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: Third baseman Alex Bregman was back in the lineup after getting a rest day Wednesday.
Athletics: Cahill is nursing a strained right Achilles and is wearing a walking boot. He hasn't responded to treatment and there is no timetable for his return. . Matt Joyce (lumbar strain) will take full batting practice Friday and begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Monday.
UP NEXT
Astros: RHP Charlie Morton (7-1, 2.82 ERA) attempts to become Houston's fourth starter with eight wins or more when he pitches in Kansas City on Friday night.
Athletics: RHP Chris Bassitt (0-1, 1.29), who was called up from Triple-A Nashville, will pitch against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. Bassitt is taking Cahill's spot in the rotation.
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