Astros’ loss leaves AL West race level with two games remaining
Oakland scored six runs in the sixth inning to beat Houston 6-5. The Astros need a win and a Rangers loss on Saturday to clinch the division.
The Oakland Athletics beat the Houston Astros 6-5 on Friday, leaving the teams tied with the Texas Rangers at 79-81 in the American League West with two games remaining.
Houston led 1-0 entering the sixth, when a missed throw by Jose Altuve on a potential double play helped keep Oakland’s rally alive. The Athletics scored six runs in the inning to take control.
The Astros cut the deficit with four runs in the eighth and brought the potential tying run to third base, but Luis Medina struck out Cam Smith to end the threat. Houston finished with five hits.
The loss leaves Houston unable to finish above .500. The team can clinch the division on Saturday only if it beats Oakland and the Rangers lose to the Twins. If either result goes the other way, the race will continue to the final day.
The game account from Yahoo Sports, citing the Houston Chronicle, said the AL West would have its first division winner with a non-winning record in a full-length season in the divisional era.
