ESPN MLB

A's 6, Astros 5

HOUSTON (AP) -- Rookie Kurt Suzuki has gotten a lot of help from Jason Kendall since being called up from the minors a few days ago.

On Thursday it was Suzuki who helped Kendall out, getting his first major league hit in the 11th inning to set up Kendall's game-winning RBI-single in Oakland's 6-5 win over the Houston Astros.

"I've watched Jason and how he sets guys up," an excited Suzuki said. "He's definitely been a big help to me with scouting reports and telling me how to set people up. He's given me some good hints and that has really helped."

Suzuki, who was called up from Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday, got his pinch-hit single after a single by Bobby Crosby with one out in the 11th. Kendall's hit was a line drive to left field off Brian Moehler (0-2).

"He's swinging the bat a lot better in the last week or so," A's manager Bob Geren said of Kendall. "He has been working real hard with [hitting coach] Ty Van Burkleo every day and it's starting to show."

Santiago Casilla pitched a perfect 11th for his second save in two tries. He hasn't allowed a run in eight appearances since joining the team from Triple-A on June 3. Alan Embree (1-0) got the win after pitching two scoreless innings.

"I can't say enough about what the bullpen did," Geren said. "We had six relievers who came in and did their job. To throw all those zeros on the scoreboard was just remarkable."

Oakland took the series with the win, and has won five of its last six games and 10 of 12. It was the second 11 inning game in this series for these two teams, after Houston won 5-4 on Tuesday.

It was Houston's fourth loss in five games.

Things went from bad to worse on Thursday for Astros shortstop Adam Everett, who had errors in both the first and second innings before fracturing his right leg in a collision with Carlos Lee in the fourth.

Everett was backpedaling to left field to chase a fly ball when Lee came forward and slid into him, crashing into his right leg and sending him to the ground. Neither player came up with the ball.

Lee got up immediately, but Everett remained on his hands and knees and writhed in pain until trainers reached the outfield. He was picked up, placed on a cart and taken for X-rays which revealed the fracture.

"I didn't want to mention it to anyone out there because I was hoping for the best, but when we collided I heard something snap," Lee said. "So I knew it wasn't good."

Astros manager Phil Garner said Everett will miss four-to-eight weeks.

"It was a bad day no question," Garner said. "It was very frustrating that we couldn't win the ball game. That hurts and losing Adam hurts also."

Brad Lidge pitched a perfect ninth and retired the first two batters in the 10th before a single by Mark Ellis. Lidge intentionally walked Nick Swisher before striking out Eric Chavez to end the inning.

Chris Burke and Craig Biggio both had singles in the 10th inning for Houston, but Swisher caught a long fly ball by Mark Loretta to send it to the 11th.

Oakland had a chance to take the lead in the seventh, but Marco Scutaro grounded to second, and Burke's throw to catcher Eric Munson beat a sliding Bobby Crosby home.

Scutaro's fourth home run of the year off Dave Borkowski landed in the Crawford Boxes in left field and tied it at 5-all in the sixth inning.

Morgan Ensberg's single to left field in the fifth scored Mike Lamb to tie it at 4 and chased starter Chad Gaudin. Luke Scott grounded into a force out and Munson scored to give Houston a 5-4 lead.

Lance Berkman doubled in the third inning and scored on a double by Lee. Houston tied it at 3-all when Mike Lamb's line drive bounced off the glove of first baseman Dan Johnson, sending Lee home.

Ellis had an RBI double and Chavez hit his 11th homer in Oakland's three-run first inning. Ellis scored on a passed ball in the fifth to put Oakland ahead 4-3.

Jason Jennings, who missed 44 games with tendinitis in his throwing elbow, remains winless in six starts this season after leaving after four innings with the score tied at 3. He allowed five hits and three runs with two walks and one strikeout.

Garner said he had planned for Jennings to throw about 80 pitches because he was dealing with tendinitis in his throwing shoulder. He threw 74 pitches.

Lee said Houston's struggles are beginning to wear on him.

"I can't see anything going right for us now," Lee said. "I know they say in this game you've got to do it yourself, but sometimes we need a little bit of luck ... it's been tough."

Gaudin allowed a season-high nine hits and five runs and walked four in 4 1/3 innings.

Game notes

Oakland has not committed an error in its last six games, marking the teams longest streak of the season. ... It was Berkman's first game back after serving a two game suspension for his actions after an ejection last week against Colorado.