WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Interstat) — The Athletics, defying pregame projections and their own sluggish start to the season, erupted for six runs in a decisive fourth inning to rout the Houston Astros 11-4 on Friday night at Sutter Health Park.

A crowd of 12,410 watched as the Athletics, who entered the game with a 1-5 record and were significant underdogs, battered Astros starter Cristian Javier and the Houston bullpen for 13 hits. The offensive outburst provided ample support for a committee of pitchers, led by winner Jeffrey Springs, and handed the Astros their third loss against five wins.

The game’s complexion changed utterly in the bottom of the fourth. Entering the inning trailing 4-1, the Astros had just drawn even in the top half on a sacrifice fly by Yordan Alvarez. Javier, however, immediately lost his command in the bottom of the frame, walking Denzel Clarke and Nick Kurtz to open the inning. Although Shea Langeliers grounded into a double play, Tyler Soderstrom kept the inning alive with a bizarre pop-up single that fell in front of first baseman Christian Walker, scoring Clarke.

Javier then walked Brent Rooker, ending his night. Reliever J.T. Ginn was greeted rudely by Jacob Wilson, who singled home Soderstrom. Then, with two men on, Lawrence Butler launched the defining blow of the evening: a three-run homer to left field, his first of the season, to give a 9-1 lead. The onslaught continued as Max Muncy followed with a solo shot, his second, to cap the six-run inning and push the advantage to 10-1.

The offensive explosion rendered the rest of the game a formality. The Athletics had earlier taken a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI single by Clarke and broke the game open initially with a three-run third, highlighted by Muncy’s two-run double.

Houston’s offense, which had averaged over six runs per game during a recent hot streak, was stifled. They managed just six hits against five pitchers. Springs earned the victory in relief, working 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Javier took the loss for Houston, his record falling to 0-1 after surrendering six runs on five hits and four walks over 3 2/3 innings.

The Astros scratched across single runs in the seventh and two in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Jake Meyers and an RBI double by Yainer Diaz, but the outcome was never in doubt after the fourth-inning barrage.

The result was a stark reversal of expectations. Statistical models had heavily favored the Astros, projecting an 8-2 Houston victory and giving them a 55.6% probability to win. The 15 total runs sailed over the pregame over/under line of 10.

For Oakland, Butler’s homer was the centerpiece of a strong night that also included a single, three RBIs and two runs scored. Muncy drove in three runs with his double and homer. Clarke reached base twice and scored a run, while Rooker walked three times and scored twice.

For Houston, Alvarez’s sacrifice fly accounted for his lone RBI, and Diaz finished with two hits, including the ninth-inning double.

The Athletics improved to 2-5 with the win, while the Astros fell to 5-3. The two teams continue their three-game series Saturday in West Sacramento.