OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Sonny Gray outpitched close friend Scott Kazmir, and the Athletics spoiled the former Oakland lefty's return to the Coliseum mound with a 4-0 win against the AL West-leading Houston Astros on Tuesday night.
Mark Canha hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning after Billy Burns' earlier solo shot to back Gray (13-7). The All-Star right-hander ended a four-start winless stretch and got the best of mentor Kazmir, traded by the A's to his hometown Astros on July 23.
Kazmir had been back to the Bay Area with Houston but didn't pitch against his old team during that trip in early August. He faced A's for the first time since Aug. 18, 2013, with the Indians.
The Astros began the day with a two-game division lead over Texas.