5-run first inning dooms A's in 8-4 loss to Astros

OAKLAND - George Springer hit a leadoff homer to spark a five-run first inning and the Houston Astros once again made themselves at home in Oakland with an 8-4 win against the Athletics on Tuesday night.

Brian McCann and Yuli Gurriel each added an RBI double, and Alex Bregman hit a two-run single in the first against Sonny Gray (2-3) to give the Astros their eighth consecutive win at the Coliseum and 13th in the past 14 meetings with the A's overall.

Francis Martes (2-0) was the beneficiary of the early outburst and won his second consecutive start to begin his career. Houston's heralded prospect allowed three runs and six hits in 5? innings.

Chad Pinder hit a solo homer and Khris Davis and Jaycob Brugman added RBI hits for the A's, who cut the deficit to one but couldn't climb out of the early hole.

Carlos Correa gave the Astros some insurance with a two-run single in the eighth, and Carlos Beltran added a solo homer in the ninth.

Martes got plenty of support from his hitters, most notably Springer, who homered for the third game in a row to give him 21 on the season. Springer hit a 3-1 pitch from Gray over the wall in left field for his eighth leadoff homer of the season, tying the franchise record held by Craig Biggio (2001) and Springer (last season).

The next two Astros reached before Gray got Correa to hit into a double.

Gray struggled to get that third out, allowing three hits, one walk and a batter to reach on an error before finally escaping the inning.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Athletics: 3B Matt Chapman sat for a second day in a row with a left knee infection but could be back on the field Thursday.

ROUGH FIRST

Gray had been a fast starter this season, allowing just two total runs in the first two innings of his initial nine starts. That all changed with a five-run first against the Astros that was the worst opening inning in Gray's 106 career starts. He settled down after that and didn't allow another run before leaving after five innings.