Brett Lawrie’s grand slam powers A’s win at Texas

With Houston’s loss, the last place A’s trimmed their deficit in the AL West back to a single digit, moving nine games behind the Astros.

Lawrie’s first-inning grand slam off Rodriguez was the big blow for the A’s on Wednesday, and it came right after a mound visit from pitching coach Mike Maddux.

Lawrie hadn’t faced Rodriguez before, but, he said, he knew from his pregame preparation that Rodriguez throws three pitches for strikes.

Josh Phegley also went deep in the second, hitting a two-run shot, his second homer in two nights; he’s batting .349 over his past 20 games.

Stephen Vogt, back after missing one game because of a cortisone shot for a flexor tendon strain, had three hits and scored two runs.

Melvin believes the cortisone made a difference for the All-Star candidate, saying before the shot, It looked to me at times there were some balls away he would feel for more, when he had to extend.

The first inning, he goes the other way and doubles in a run, so you could tell there was a little more freedom in his swing and consistently.

Lawrie’s second hit of the game was a line drive in the fourth that struck second-base umpire Dale Scott in the left thigh.