For every break the A’s needed in tonight’s game, the umpires seemed like they were taking it away and giving it to the Astros.
It started in the top of the 4th inning, with the A’s up 1-0 after a Stephen Piscotty home run a couple innings earlier. Brett Anderson, who had only given up a walk and a single so far, stood in a 3-2 count against Michael Brantley. Without hesitation, Anderson threw a perfect 81 mph slider that started in the middle and crossed the plate right at the edge. Ball. A bad call in the moment, a terrible call a few minutes later.