Athletics get solid start from Aaron Brooks, but can’t solve Houston’s Framber Valdez

Remember when the Athletics were a .500 team? It wasn’t that long ago, May 4 to be exact, after a win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Now it’s a distant memory, and one that isn’t likely to be reached again in 2024. The Athletics were shut down by Framber Valdez and Seth Martinez Wednesday night, losing 3-0 at Minute Maid Park.

The A’s lost again despite an encouraging start from veteran right-hander Aaron Brooks, who at the very least earned himself another start although manager Mark...