off five seasons as a starter with the St.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Chris Carter hit his 36th homer and drove in three runs against his former team to help the Houston Astros beat the slumping Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Friday night. Carter added an RBI single, Jon Singleton also homered and Jose Altuve had two hits for Houston, unbeaten in three games since firing manager Bo Porter on Monday. It was the Astros fifth straight win overall, two shy of their season high. The loss dropped Oakland six games behind the first-place Los Angeles Angels in the AL West. Owners of the best record in the majors on Aug. 9, the As have gone 7-17 since. Oaklands anemic offence managed seven hits but stranded eight runners and failed to score after loading the bases with none out in the fourth. Brett Oberholtzer (5-10) allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings to end his two-game losing streak. The left-hander struck out one and walked two. Jose Veras retired two batters and Tony Sipp pitched two scoreless innings for his third save. Carter has routinely beaten up on As pitching since being dealt to the Astros as part of a multiplayer trade in 2013. His home run was his seventh against Oakland this year and eighth overall. His 20 RBIs against the As are his most against any club this season. Jeff Samardzija took the loss, his fourth in five starts. Samardzija (4-5) fanned nine and did not walk a batter for the eighth time this season. The right-hander retired his first seven batters before giving up Singletons solo home run in the third. The As came back with three runs in the bottom half. Derek Norris singled in Alberto Callaspo with the bases loaded, and Craig Gentry scored on the same play when the ball skipped past right fielder Jake Marisnick for an error. Adam Dunns RBI single to right beat the defensive shift by the Astros infield and made it 3-1. Oakland loaded the bases again in the fourth with no outs, but Gentry hit into a forceout before Josh Donaldson grounded into a 5-2-3 double play. TRAINERS ROOM Astros: Interim manager Tom Lawless said the team hopes to get OF George Springer back for the final six games of the season. Springer has missed 43 games due to a left quadriceps strain. Athletics: Stephen Vogt (left ankle sprain) will not play in the series against the Astros. ... LHP Sean Doolittle (strained intercostal) is scheduled to throw on flat ground Saturday. If all goes well for the Oakland closer, the next step will be throwing off a mound. UP NEXT Astros: RHP Scott Feldman (8-10) is coming off his second career shutout, a three-hitter against Texas. He has beaten Oakland only once in five career starts. Athletics: LHP Scott Kazmir (14-7) had a 7.80 ERA over his six starts in August. Nike Shoes Black Friday Discount . -- Phil Mickelson will be watching the final two rounds of the Masters from home for the first time in 17 years. Nike Shoes Black Friday China . -- Theres nothing like winning to bring hope for a struggling team. http://www.nikeshoesblackfriday.com/. Thaddeus Young scored seven of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, Evan Turner added 22 points, and the 76ers hung on for their first road win since Nov. 1, beating the depleted Los Angeles Lakers 111-104 on Sunday night. Nike Shoes Black Friday Sale . Nainggolan scored his first Italian league goal at Bologna, in October 2010, and he also opened his Roma account there following his January move from Cagliari. The Belgium midfielder volleyed home Miralem Pjanics cross from close range eight minutes from time. Nike Shoes Black Friday Online . -- During a players meeting following the All-Star break, Jermaine ONeal promised his teammates to play the rest of the regular season like he would never play again -- because he very well might not.As free agency officially opened in the NFL on Tuesday at 4 pm et., TSN.ca presents the top ten free-agent busts of all-time in the league. 10. RB Ahman Green – Houston Texans What they saw: Green was coming off a 1,000 yard season, his sixth in seven years, entered free agency in 2007. He showed terrific downhill running ability playing with Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. What They Got: Needing a feature running back, the Texans handed Green a four-year $23 million contract. Plagued by injuries Green had just 260 rushing yards in his first season with the Texans and 294 in his second. He was cut after two seasons with the team. 9. CB Larry Brown – Oakland Raiders What they saw: Brown and the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17 in Super Bowl XXX. Brown had two interceptions for the Cowboys and was the first corner ever to be named Super Bowl MVP. What they got: After the Super Bowl, Brown hit the open market and was given a five-year $12 million deal from the Raiders. Brown was released after just two seasons with the team, he had just one interception in 12 games. 8. WR David Boston – San Diego Chargers What they saw: Boston missed half of the 2002 season, but had posted a 1,500 yard season in 2001, which was enough to create a market for him in free-agency. What they got: The Chargers signed Boston to a seven-year $47 million contract in 2003. In his first season with the team he caught 70 balls for 880 yards and seven touchdowns. Despite decent production, Boston clashed with his coaching staff and traded to Miami prior to the 2004 season. He lasted two seasons with the Dolphins. 7. CB/KR Deion Sanders – Washington Redskins What they saw: One of the most exciting players in football. Primetime was a shutdown corner and ace kick/ punt returner with the Cowboys, he even spent time at wide receiver. Sanders Dallas highlight reel is as diverse as any player of you will ever see. What they got: The Redskins signed Sanders to a seven- year $56 million contract with an $8 million signing bonus in 2000. What they got was the 33-year-old version Sanders, who was a shell of his former electric self. Sanders had four interceptions on defence and no return touchdowns in 16 games. After the season Primetime announced his retirement (he would later return in 2004 with the Baltimore Ravens, but thats a different story). 6. QB Neil ODonnell - New York Jets What they saw: ODonnell appeared to be a solid starter with the Steelers, he posted 37-16 record in his previous four seasons and 17 touchdowns to seven interceptions in his final season with the club. What they got: The Jets released Boomer Esiason after the 1995 season and went after their next franchise quarterback, ODonnell. They signed him to a five-year $25 million deal. Things didnt go well for ODonnell in his first season with the Jets, he went 0-6 with four touchdowns and seven interceptions. He went 8-6 the next season with 17 touchdowns and seven picks, however the Jets decided he wasnt their man and cut him after just two years. 5. WR Javon Walker – Oakland Raiders What they saw: A wide receiver, who, when healthy, could create mismatches and get deep for their divisional rival, Denver Broncos. What they got: The Raiders believed signing Walker to a six-year $55 million contract in 2008 was a win-win; he boosted their passing attack and weakened the Broncos. Walker, however didnt add much to their passing attack, appearing in eight games Walker caught 15 passes for 196 yards and one touchdown. Walker appeared in just three games for the Raiders in the following season, catching no passes.dddddddddddd He was released after that abysmal season. 4. WR Andre Rison - Cleveland Browns What they saw: Rison entered free agency with 5,633 receiving yards and 56 touchdowns in his last five seasons, he was seen a proven receiver. What they got: “Bad moon” Rison, one of the greatest nicknames of all-time, which, apparently, was worth $17 million over five years. Rison had just 47 catches for 701 yards in first season and the relocating-Browns released the wide receiver. He registered a 1,000 yard season just once in his final five NFL seasons. 3. QB Jake Delhomme - Carolina Panthers/ Cleveland Browns What the Panthers saw: In 2008, Delhomme went 12-4 with 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in the regular season. However, Delhomme had a brutal playoff performance against the Arizona Cardinals, when he threw five interceptions and just one touchdown as the Panthers were blown out 33-13. What they got: Despite not being a free-agent, the Panthers were sure Delhomme was their man and decided to prove it with a five-year $42 million contract with $20 million guaranteed. Unfortunately the Delhomme the Panthers saw in the playoffs was there to stay. He threw eight touchdowns and 18 interceptions in 11 games in 2009, he was benched and eventually released after the season. Browns tenure: Despite seeing Delhommes struggles in Carolina, the Browns decided to sign the quarterback in free agency in 2010. The Browns signed Delhomme to a two-year deal, worth $7 million in his first season. In that season, Delhomme battled an ankle injury and went 2-2 appearing in just five games. He threw two touchdowns and seven interceptions that season. Once the season was finished the Browns cut Delhomme. Between the money owed to him by the Panthers and money made from the Browns, Delhomme made $19.7 million in 2010. 2. S Adam Archuleta – Washington Redskins What they saw: Archuleta was coming off five seasons as a starter with the St. Louis Rams where he had 13 sacks, three interceptions and 304 tackles. What they got: The Redskins signed Archuleta to a seven-year $35 million contract with $10 million guaranteed in 2006, he instantly became the highest paid safety in the NFL. Unfortunately for the Redskins, Archuleta was not the playmaker they had hoped for. He only started seven games for the Redskins in 2006, not because he wasnt healthy, because he benched. After the season the Redskins traded him for a sixth-round pick and, an agreement to restructure his contract. 1. DT Albert Haynesworth – Washington Redskins What they saw: Haynesworth was one of the most dominant defenders in the NFL when he hit free agency in 2009. He was coming off two straight All-Pro team selections and was due for a monster deal. What they got: He got that deal from the Redskins. Haynesworth signed a seven-year $100 million contract with $41 million guaranteed. Haynesworth was a major disappointment in his first season, he registered just four sacks and was suspended by the team for the final month of the season. In 2010, Haynesworth showed up to training camp out of shape played in just eight games, starting none. He registered a career-low 13 tackles and just 2.5 sacks. After the season the Redskins traded Haynesworth to the New England Patriots for a fifth-round pick. The Patriots waived him during the season. After his time with the Redskins, head coach Mike Shannahan said Haynesworth was "lazy, lacking character and lacking passion." ' ' '