Trailing 6-0 after four innings, Sunday's game in Houston is one that we've seen the A's take one of two routes this season. The first is that they would go through the motions at the plate and see the deficit grow larger inning by inning, ultimately turning into something more like an 11-0 loss.

The second route has been that the offense would wake up in the seventh or eighth inning and score a few runs, bringing the tying run to the plate, but ultimately remain unable to collect the big hit.

On Sunday, the A's fell behind early and immediately came all the way back in the top of the fifth, scoring six runs and tying the game. Backup catcher Brian Serven started things off with a three-run shot, and then the A's offense turned into one that resembled the Astros teams that have tormented the A's over the past decade.

Henry Bolte singled following the homer, and with one out Zack Gelof was hit by a pitch, putting the A's right back in business. Lawrence Butler doubled, bringing home a run, and Tommy White shot a two-run single through the right side to tie the game. 

None of those balls were struck particularly hard, with Bolte's hit leading the way with a 98.9 mph exit velocity but traveling just 41 feet. Butler's double went just 144 feet, but much like White's single through the infield, the placement is what secured the hit and kept the line moving. 

Max Muncy hit the game-winning homer in the seventh inning to put the A's up 7-6.

The A's are a team missing two-thirds of their Opening Day lineup, with only Butler, Jeff McNeil, and Muncy remaining. They were the A's six through eight hitters on Opening Day. 

And yet, the A's were still able to take two of three from the Astros — in Houston — while they are fighting for a postseason berth. They did the same thing to the Texas Rangers last weekend, who are currently tied with Houston atop the AL West. 

After opener Brady Basso surrendered three runs in the first inning, Jack Perkins came on in the second and walked the bases loaded. He then walked in another run, putting the A's down 4-0.

Perkins gave up a two-run homer in the fourth inning, but overall he had a decent outing, giving up three runs (one earned) across five innings, walking five and striking out six. 

As Kotsay said recently, the next step in Perkins' development is going to be not allowing the previous at-bat to impact the current at-bat. While the walks were an issue in his first inning, he was able to limit the damage in this one, which is a step in the right direction.

The same goes for Luis Medina, who has struggled with allowing innings to get away from him at times. Earlier this week, Medina's inability to shut down the eighth inning forced Hogan Harris to come in early and the A's ended up losing that game against the Royals, and then the following one with Medina and Harris throwing too many pitches. 

On Saturday night, Medina gave up a two-run homer to cut the A's lead to 4-3, but the club was able to hold on. On Sunday afternoon, Medina was back in a big situation in the eighth inning. He allowed a leadoff single to Taylor Trammell, then struck out the next two batters before intentionally walking Yordan Alvarez. 

Medina ended the inning with Isaac Paredes flying out to center. 

This is a role that the A's desperately want Medina to fill, and stepping up against a pesky team like the Astros is a great confidence boost to build upon. 

Credit to manager Mark Kotsay for not only chasing the win in that situation, but also putting Medina's development for next season at the forefront. Getting that production from Medina in a big spot, along with Perkins going five innings, is certainly a step in the right direction while also ending with a big win on the road. 

"I think today was one of the better wins for this club in a long time," Kotsay said after the game in his office as the team cheered loudly in the background from the clubhouse.