HOUSTON -- The Astros opened their final homestand of the season on Friday night at Minute Maid Park with a disappointing 4-2 defeat to the D-backs. Two late runs off Hector Rondon proved to be the difference, giving Houston only its second loss in 12 September games.
More importantly for the Astros, their lead in the American League West was reduced to 2 1/2 games over the A's, who recorded a 2-1, 10-inning win against the Rays in St. Petersburg.
The D-backs broke a tie game with a pair of two-out runs in the eighth.