MLB - Oakland Athletics

HOUSTON – Dan Straily had a tough spring, and he probably will pay the price for it by being sent to Sacramento today when the A's activate Bartolo Colon for the second game of Oakland's series with the Houston Astros.

Coco Crisp went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, three RBI and two runs scored as the Oakland Athletics took an 8-3 win over the Houston Astros to open a three-game series.

The Oakland Athletics acquired catcher Stephen Vogt from the Tampa Bay Rays for a player to be named later or cash considerations on Friday.

Having plated 14 runs over their past two days, the Oakland Athletics hope to stay hot when they visit Minute Maid Park on Friday to open a three-game series against new American League West foe Houston.

The Houston Astros acquired left-handed pitcher Travis Blackley from the Oakland Athletics Thursday in exchange for minor league outfielder Jake Goebbert.

Jed Lowrie provided the Oakland Athletics with the jolt they needed after struggling over the first two games.

If the A's first win of 2013 required a title, it would definitely be "Night of the Newbies," at least at the plate.

Tim Lincecum's official return to the rotation after his bullpen dalliance last postseason was anything but smooth.

The Oakland Athletics were the surprise of the baseball world a year ago. Lefty Tommy Milone was a big reason why. Milone starts his 2013 campaign on Wednesday when the A's continue their four-game series with the Seattle Mariners at O.co Coliseum.

It was a tough spring for Jarrod Parker, and based on his first game of the regular season, things haven't gotten much better for the second-year A's starter.

Michael Morse crushed his first two home runs of the season while Kyle Seager went 3-for-3 with two runs scored as the Seattle Mariners remained perfect on the year with a 7-1 win over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night.

The A's set an unwanted American League record with their ninth straight Opening Day loss Monday, a sour stat on an otherwise festive evening that was dampened by a world-class nemesis.

Felix Hernandez, who signed a big contract in the offseason, tossed 7 2/3 scoreless innings to help the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics, 2-0, in the season opener for both teams on Monday.

The Oakland Athletics were the surprise of the American League a season ago. The Seattle Mariners are hoping to find themselves in a similar situation this year, as the AL West foes begin their 2013 seasons on Monday at O.co Coliseum.

Oakland starter Dan Straily tossed five innings of shutout ball and the Athletics earned a 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants in the teams' final spring training tune-up before Opening Day.

Barry Zito pitched into the sixth inning as the San Francisco Giants edged the Oakland Athletics, 3-1, in spring training.

The Oakland Athletics will be without relief pitcher Fernando Rodriguez for the entire 2013 season after the right-hander underwent successful Tommy John surgery on Thursday.

A court order unsealed Wednesday requires Yoenis Cespedes to pay 22 percent of the value of the contract he signed with the A's to the former agent who helped him secure the deal.

Rockies manager Walt Weiss hopes he gets more out of Jhoulys Chacin on Opening Day than he did with the right-hander's final start of spring training.

Nate Freiman and Jeremy Barfield each went 2- for-3 and combined for three RBI in the Oakland Athletics' 6-5 spring-training win over the Colorado Rockies.

The A's infield situation became a bit less jumbled Tuesday when utilityman Adam Rosales was placed on the disabled list because of a strained left ribcage muscle and shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima strained his left hamstring.

Brett Anderson is ready for the season to start.

Daric Barton drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning, and the Oakland Athletics held on for a 7-6 spring training win over the Cleveland Indians.

A's general manager Billy Beane was once again responsible for turning his expensive assets into valuable young players, just like he did in trades of Mark Mulder and Dan Haren in the past.