A’s barely avoid no-hitter, but suffer their 100th loss of season

A’S

Michael Brantley of the Houston Astros scores past A’s catcher Shea Langeliers in the fifth inning of the 100th loss of the season for Oakland. CARMEN MANDATO — GETTY IMAGES

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HOUSTON >> The A’s suffered their second consecutive 100-loss seasons since the 1960s on Wednesday. They nearly suffered another ignominious statistic — Oakland was no-hit for 8 2/3 innings by the Houston Astros.

Hunter Brown and some Houston relievers held Oakland hitless unless Ryan Noda’s one-out single in the ninth inning of a 6-2 Astros victory.

Brown pitched five innings, Rafael Montero, Héctor Neris and Bryan Abreu followed with perfect innings each as AL West-leading Houston retired 11 straight batters.

Ryan Pressly retired Tony Kemp on a grounder leading off the ninth, then walked Zach Gelof. Nola grounded a changeup past Pressly and into center field for a single.

Seth Brown’s single and Shea Langeliers’ sacrifice fly drove in runs before Pressly finished the two-hitter by throwing a called third strike past Brent Rooker.

Oakland was held to two hits or fewer for the eighth time.Jordan Alvarez hit a three-run homer and Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker had solo shots for the Astros, who maintained a one-game lead over second place Texas, with Seattle another half-game back. Tucker’s home run was the 100th of his big league career.

Brown (11-11) struck out seven in five innings, walked two and hit a batter, throwing 78 pitches. He had allowed 11 runs over his last two starts spanning 8 1/3 innings.

The A’s had not lost 100 games in back-to-back seasons since 1964-65 in Kansas City. After going 60-102 last season, the A’s joined their Kansas City replacement, the Royals, as 100-game losers this season.

Paul Blackburn (4-5) allowed four runs, four hits and three walks in three innings, dropping to 0-5 with a 9.74 ERA in eight appearances against the Astros.

Alvarez and Bregman homered in a four-run third and Tucker went deep in the seventh against Easton Lucas. Yainer Diaz had an RBI double in the fifth..

UP NEXT >> Athletics: LHP Sean Newcomb (1-0, 0.75 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday in the first of a three game series against the San Diego Padres and former A’s manager Bob Melvin at home. Newcomb will be making his seventh appearance and second start with the A’s after begin acquired from the Giants on Aug. 21.

Astros: RHP Cristian Javier (9-3, 4.78 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday against the Royals in the first game of a three-game series in Kansas City. Javier has allowed at least three runs in each of his last five starts.