A’s Bounce Back, Take Second Game From Astros 6-5

Taking the ball for the final time this season, left-hander Jacob Lopez entered tonight coming off of easily his worst career outing of his career (2 2/3 IP, 10 ER). That's put a bit of a damper on what has otherwise been a successful second half for Lopez, who as we all know lost his roster spot for a time before his recent reemergence. Ideally he wanted to end his season on a high note with a strong final outing at home in Sacramento against a division rival.

That's just what the A's got tonight. The lefty held Houston's formidable lineup down tonight, allowing just a couple of hits and a couple walks. Houston put two on in the second but Lopez squashed that rally before it began. The only damage done against him this evening was a solo home run off the bat of Houston first baseman Christian Walker in the fourth. Other than that the Astros couldn't push anything more across against a pitcher leaving it all on the mound before offseason.

That's a fantastic way to end a season. Lopez came into tonight coming off the worst outing of his career and bounced back with one of his best of the season. He officially ends his season with a 5.47 ERA, though that doesn't do justice to how well he pitched in the second half. Baseball is a game of two halves though. It'll be interesting to see how the A's view Lopez over the offseason and heading into spring. Something to monitor this winter.