HOUSTON _ A day that began with the A's getting bombarded with bad news enough to demoralize any team ended with them showing off that gritty resilience that's been a major reason they've hung on this long in a playoff race in the first place.
Learning that No. 1 starter Sean Manaea may not return this season and Brett Anderson was heading to the disabled list did not affect the A's on the field. They battled all night with the Astros until the offense finally broke through late in Tuesday's 4-3 victory, bringing them within 1{ games of Houston for first place in the AL West.
Edwin Jackson looked sharp through the first three innings with a cutter that was frustrating Astros early on, including George Springer, who slammed his bat and helmet on the ground after swinging through it for strike three to end the third inning. With Matt Olson providing some early support in the form of a three-run homer off Charlie Morton in the top half of the third, the A's had hoped for Jackson to get them through at least five innings before going to their lights out bullpen.
But of course those Astros struck back.
Third time through the order proved to be costly for Jackson. With two outs and two runners on in the fifth, Jackson battled with Springer, who fouled off a couple of tough pitches in a seven-pitch at-bat that resulted in a walk to load the bases for Alex Bregman. Jackson held Bregman hitless in his first two at-bats, but the Astros star third baseman came through this time with a two-run double to tie the game 3-3, also ending Jackson's night as he was pulled for Shawn Kelley.
Kelley got Jose Altuve to ground out and limit the damage, beginning a night of 41/3 scoreless innings by the A's bullpen to keep them in the game long enough for the comeback.
Ramon Laureano, who made a fabulous play in the eighth to gun down Springer trying to go first to third on a single by Bregman, drew a walk with one out in the ninth against closer Roberto Osuna. After Jonathan Lucroy singled to put runners on first and second, Nick Martini blasted a ball over the head of Springer that bounced over the wall in center for a ground-rule double that brought home Laureano for the go-ahead run.
Blake Treinen came on in the ninth, and retired the Astros in order to seal the deal for his 33rd save of the year.
