OAKLAND, Calif. -- Normally reliable Houston reliever Chris Devenski allowed two runs in the seventh inning, including Chad Pinder's tiebreaking homer with two outs, and the Astros lost 11-4 as the Oakland Athletics completed a doubleheader sweep Saturday.
Houston's third straight loss to the last-place A's loss dropped manager A.J. Hinch's ballclub into a tie with streaking Cleveland for the best record in the American League at 86-56. The Indians have won 17 straight.
The Astros' magic number for winning the AL West remained at eight, pending the Los Angeles Angels' game at Seattle later.