García, Maldonado lift Astros to first place! Houston beats Oakland 8-4 to win series

The Astros needed to win this series, and they did. With another good performance by Luis García and a stellar Martín Maldonado, Houston defeated the Athletics with an 8-4 score to assault first place in the AL West. Now the team has won eight of its last nine games, a good stretch that allows the Astros to be at the top of the division for the first time since April 10.

García began the game allowing a lead-off home run to Mark Canha in the second pitch of the game, but then he put things together, attacking hitters and dominating.