{"id":662784,"date":"2026-04-04T13:51:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T13:51:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/662784\/"},"modified":"2026-04-04T13:51:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T13:51:16","slug":"after-blowout-win-athletics-look-to-unleash-even-more-power-vs-astros-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/662784\/","title":{"rendered":"After blowout win, Athletics look to unleash even more power vs. Astros – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Athletics didn\u2019t look potent when they scored 17 total runs while losing five of their first six games.<\/p>\n

But Lawrence Butler said the real version of the A\u2019s are the team that scored 11 runs on Friday night.<\/p>\n

The Athletics will shoot for another highly productive outing on Saturday afternoon when they face the Houston Astros in the middle contest of a three-game series at West Sacramento, Calif.<\/p>\n

Butler was one of the heroes of an easy 11-4 victory that came in the A\u2019s home opener. He went 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs and said afterward that the A\u2019s weren\u2019t feeling the anxiety that outsiders were about the team\u2019s start to the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone around us might panic, but we\u2019re not panicking at all,\u201d Butler said. We\u2019re going to stay within ourselves and be the players we can be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Max Muncy was 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs as the Athletics racked up 13 hits. All 11 runs scored with two outs as the A\u2019s went 6-for-13 with runners in scoring position.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt felt like a regular day at the office,\u201d Butler said. \u201cWe know what kind of team we are, and we showed it (Friday night).<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody has been panicking in the clubhouse despite our 1-5 record. But we know we\u2019re a good team and that eventually we\u2019ll show the league we\u2019re a good team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Muncy said the offense had a \u201ccontagious\u201d feeling.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we knew it was going to happen,\u201d he said. \u201cI know these guys can all hit. We were waiting to break through, and hopefully we can keep it going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the breakout performance, reigning American League Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz continued to struggle.<\/p>\n

Kurtz was hitless in four at-bats to drop to 1-for-21 (.048) on the season. He has struck out 13 times and has yet to go deep after hitting 36 homers last season.<\/p>\n

The Astros had won five straight games before the shaky outing.<\/p>\n

Houston was trailing by three with two outs in the fourth inning when a misplay allowed the Athletics to score six runs.<\/p>\n

Desmond Clarke was on third when Tyler Soderstrom hit an infield pop-up. Four Astros were in the area and Yainer Diaz, the catcher, back-tracked into fair territory, and the ball fell in for an infield single and Clarke scored to give the A\u2019s a 5-1 lead. Five more runs scored before Houston retired the side.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t give this team extra outs,\u201d Astros manager Joe Espada said.<\/p>\n

He said his team\u2019s pitching will need to be much better for the rest of the series.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to pitch ahead of this lineup,\u201d Espada said. \u201cThis is a really good lineup. You\u2019ve got to establish your stuff from the very get-go. If you want to get them to chase and you want to get some bad swings, you need to come with your \u2018A\u2019 stuff from pitch No. 1.\u201d<\/p>\n

Houston will send right-hander Tatsuya Imai (0-0, 13.50 ERA) to the mound for his second start. The 27-year-old pitched the previous eight seasons in his native Japan.<\/p>\n

His first big-league outing didn\u2019t go well as he allowed four runs, three hits and three walks in 2 2\/3 innings during a no-decision against the visiting Los Angeles Angels last Sunday. He struck out four in a contest the Astros won 9-7.<\/p>\n

Right-hander Luis Morales (0-1, 10.38 ERA) will start for the Athletics and will attempt to bounce back from a shaky season debut.<\/p>\n

Morales served up three homers in 4 1\/3 innings during Sunday\u2019s 5-2 loss to the host Toronto Blue Jays. He gave up five runs and five hits over 4 1\/3 innings.<\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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