Athletics beat Astros 5-0 behind two homers and scoreless start

Nick Kurtz and Brent Rooker homered and Gage Jump pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings as the Athletics defeated the Houston Astros 5-0 on Sunday to avoid a series sweep. Kurtz opened the scoring in the third inning with his 12th home run of the season, a 389-foot line drive to right-center that scored Alika Williams for a 2-0 lead.

Brent Rooker followed later in the inning with an RBI double that scored Shea Langeliers and extended the advantage to 3-0.

Scoring plays Zack Gelof scored in the fourth inning on a fielding error by shortstop Jeremy Peña. Rooker added a 397-foot solo home run to left field in the fifth to complete the scoring. Gage Jump allowed three hits and three walks while striking out three.

The 23-year-old left-hander has permitted just one run over his last 13 1/3 innings. Houston starter Mike Burrows gave up all five runs on eight hits in five innings. Burrows has surrendered 17 home runs in 13 starts this season, 11 of them on his four-seam fastball, and carries a 5.77 ERA over 73 1/3 innings.

The Astros managed only four hits in their fifth shutout loss of the season.

Injury update Houston second baseman Nick Allen exited in the third inning with left hamstring discomfort after running to first base. Taylor Trammell replaced him as a pinch-runner. Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs is scheduled to start Monday against Brewers left-hander Kyle Harrison. Astros right-hander Spencer Arrighetti will face the Angels on Monday.