Astros win 4-1 to sweep A's

OAKLAND - Any questions the Houston Astros had about Gerrit Cole’s ability to bounce back from his first career shutout were answered when the right-hander pumped a 99.4 mph fastball past Matt Chapman for a strikeout.

And that was on Cole’s final pitch of the afternoon.

Cole struck out nine to raise his major league-leading total to 86, and the Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 4-1 Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.

“I kind of left it all out there,” Cole said. “I was a little sluggish today for a bunch of different variables. Found enough command, which was what was really suffering the most, and I was able to navigate through it.”

Cole (4-1) allowed one run, four hits and three walks in six innings. His 1.43 ERA is second in the major leagues behind the 1.17 of teammate Justin Verlander.

It wasn’t as crisp as Cole’s previous start, when he struck out a career-high 16 and threw 114 pitches in a one-hitter Arizona. Cole pitched through the lulls and came up big when he needed to, especially before he was removed.

“He knows when the end of his outing is coming, he knows he’s got runners on base and he’s going to empty his tank there,” Houston manager A.J. Hinch said.

“That’s why he’s really good. He’s got the ability to stay competitive in the mid-90s and then reach back for the high 90s,” Hinch said. “There’s a single digit on your hand (for) how many guys can do that.”

Max Stassi and Derek Fisher hit consecutive home runs with two outs in the seventh off Daniel Mengden (2-4) for a 2-1 lead, and Yuli Gurriel added a two-run double against Yusmiero Petit that extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

Houston has won 10 of its last 12 road games. Oakland was outscored 25-5 in the series and outhit 42-18.

“It’s always good to win before the off day, let alone sweep,” Stassi said.