HOUSTON — Houston reliever Dan Wheeler blew a save, then shoved starter Chris Sampson in the dugout on Wednesday night, an ugly twist to the Astros’ frustrating season.

Wheeler left after giving up three runs in the eighth inning Wednesday night, and the Oakland Athletics got a rare home run from Jason Kendall in the sixth and rallied for a 7-3 win.

Wheeler (0-4) struck out the first two A’s he faced in the eighth before Kendall and Marco Scutaro singled. Scutaro pinch-hit for Oakland starter Joe Blanton (6-4).

Mark Kotsay then drove a double into the left-field corner to score Kendall and tie the game, and Mark Ellis lined Wheeler’s next pitch off the left-field wall to bring home Scutaro and Kotsay.

Trever Miller relieved Wheeler, but Eric Chavez added a two-run single later in the five-run eighth as the A’s came back to win after trailing through seven innings for the second straight night. Chavez also homered for the A’s, who have won nine of their last 11.

Kendall’s leadoff homer in the sixth off the facade in left-center was his first home run since May 31, 2006, a span of 157 games and 619 at-bats. It ended the second-longest drought in the majors among active players.

Kendall wasn’t sure if the ball was going out until the moment it hit the wall.

“I don’t know that feeling,” said Kendall, who has just 69 homers in 11 seasons. “I just hit it and ran.”

Blanton won for just the second time in five starts, despite giving up eight hits — six of them doubles.

“It seems like when they bring in the reliever, we turn it on a bit,” Blanton said.