None of that mattered once the Astros started stacking innings. A run in the 4th, two more in the 5th and one in the 7th was plenty against an Athletics offense that's been in freefall, and Houston's bullpen made sure it stayed that way.
This is about as low as it gets for Oakland's — sorry, Sacramento's — Athletics. They're 49-79, they've lost 4 straight, and their injured list reads like a full lineup card: Nick Kurtz, Tyler Soderstrom, Jacob Wilson, Denzel Clarke, Shea Langeliers and Brent Rooker are all out, most of them for the year. This roster has been stripped down to whatever's left standing, and Saturday it showed — 3 hits, 0 runs, game over early.
The Astros aren't exactly whole either. Jeremy Pena's still dealing with a sore hand after getting drilled by a 100 mph sinker earlier in the week, and Houston had just been embarrassed 18-3 by the Angels the night before. But a shutout is a shutout, and against a team this banged up, it's the kind of win that steadies a club that's been treading water at .500 all month.
The Astros are still fighting for their playoff lives in a crowded AL, and nights like this — cheap, clean, no drama — are exactly what a .500 team needs against a team with nothing left to play for but pride.