<p>OAKLAND, Calif. — Alex Bregman hit a three-run homer for his second longball in two games, and the Houston Astros slugged past the Oakland Athletics 9-5 on Friday night.</p>
<p>Yuli Gurriel also connected and Michael Brantley added a run-scoring double as Houston jumped out to a big lead again — a night after the Astros won the opener 8-1 behind Zack Greinke’s six shutout innings.</p>
<p>Kyle Tucker hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh as Houston added an insurance run — and it was an important one, as Chad Pinder connected for a two-run homer in the bottom half.</p>
<p>Houston’s José Altuve reached base in all five of his plate appearances, with three hits and two walks. The Astros have scored 17 runs in their first two games.</p>
<p>Left-hander Jesús Luzardo (0-1) struck out eight with one walk over five innings, surrendering the two homers among his eight hits and five runs. </p>
<p>Astros righty Cristian Javier, a five-game winner last year in his first big league season, didn’t allow a hit until Mark Cahna’s infield single before Ramón Laureano followed with an RBI triple to put Oakland on the board.</p>
<p>Bryan Abreu (1-0) pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for the win.</p>
<p>Mitch Moreland added a sacrifice fly for his first RBI since joining the A’s on a $2.25 million, one-year contract.</p>
<p>MELVIN FUTURE</p>
<p>A’s manager Bob Melvin has a contract option for 2022 and, no surprise, insists he wants to stay put.</p>
<p>“I have no desire to go anywhere else,” Melvin said. “I’m perfectly happy here and my bosses have taken good care of me here. So that’s where I stand on it. It’s not my job to pick up an option, it’s the people above me, but I’m really happy here.”</p>
<p>This week, general manager David Forst said: “His option at this point is more a function of what he wants to do rather than what we want."</p>
<p>TRAINER’S ROOM</p>
<p>Astros: C Jason Castro will earn a start behind the plate Sunday as Martin Maldonado gets a rest day. “Maldy needs a break before we go to Anaheim,” said manager Dusty Baker, who noted Maldonado has ample experience with Saturday starter Lance McCullers Jr. </p>
<p>Athletics: RHP Frankie Montas is on track to start Monday against the World Series champion Dodgers after leaving his final spring training start March 25 with a ripped cuticle on his right middle finger. He was scheduled to throw one more bullpen session Friday. “Everything’s looking as a go," Melvin said. "… I looked at the nail, I’m not a doctor, but it looks good to me so I think we’re a full go on him.” … RHP Mike Fiers, on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Monday with a lower back strain, is likely to do his next throwing session soon at the team’s Stockton alternate site.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>RHP McCullers pitches for the Astros on Saturday opposite LHP Cole Irvin making his A’s debut after pitching the past two seasons for the Phillies. </p>
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