By JANIE McCAULEY
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) _ Sean Murphy homered and hit a two-run single to help Chris Bassitt snap a three-start winless stretch, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Houston Astros 6-0 with both teams missing star players. Tony Kemp added an RBI double for the AL West-leading A’s (24-14) against his former club in the first of five games over four days between the division rivals. Ramon Laureano provided insurance with a seventh-inning sacrifice fly and Stephen Piscotty singled home a run in the eighth.