Jose Altuve and Victor Caratini hit three-run home runs in a seven-run sixth inning, and the Houston Astros had a season-high 20 hits in an 11-4 victory over the Athletics on Wednesday night. Framber Valdez (8-4) limited the A's to two runs and five hits in six innings to help the Astros win for the seventh time in eight games.

Jose Altuve and Victor Caratini hit three-run home runs in a seven-run sixth inning and the Houston Astros had a season-high 20 hits in an 11-4 victory over the Athletics on Wednesday night. Framber Valdez (8-4) limited the A's to two runs and five hits in six innings to help the Astros win for the seventh time in eight games. Cam Smith and Jake Meyers had three hits apiece, and Yandy Diaz and Mauricio Dubón each added two.

Series finale tomorrow

Astros at Athletics Preview

The Athletics are poised to be sellers at the MLB trade deadline, and these are two players they should deal before then.

A trade proposal would move Athletics reliever Mason Miller to the Boston Red Sox.

Houston Astros (42-31, first in the AL West) vs. Athletics (30-45, fifth in the AL West) West Sacramento, California; Wednesday, 10:05 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Framber Valdez (7-4, 3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 96 strikeouts); Athletics: Luis Severino (2-6, 4.47 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 61 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -162, Athletics +136; over/under is 9 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros play the Athletics after Cam Smith's four-hit game on Tuesday. The Athletics have a 30-45 record overall and a 13-24 record in home games. The Athletics rank seventh in the majors with 92 total home runs, averaging 1.2 per game. Houston is 42-31 overall and 15-18 on the road. The Astros have a 33-13

Cam Smith hit two of Houston's five home runs and finished with four hits as the Astros routed the Athletics 13-3 on Tuesday night to halt their four-game winning streak. Jason Alexander, claimed off waivers from the Athletics last month, pitched six shutout innings for Houston before tiring in the seventh. Mauricio Dubón, Christian Walker and Cooper Hummel also homered for the Astros.

The Houston Astros made a quiet but calculated move during their series on the road against the Athletics in West Sacramento, acquiring power-hitting first baseman Wes Clarke from the Milwaukee Brewers. The trade adds minor league depth as Houston continues to navigate a competitive AL West playoff race that might come down to the last game. The timing of the trade with the Brewers came just four days after Milwaukee picked up first baseman Andrew Vaughn, which created a roster logjam at Triple-A Nashville.

Nick Kurtz made a little Athletics history on Tuesday night with his towering walk-off home run to beat the Astros.

Nick Kurtz homered in the ninth inning for the second straight day and the Athletics beat the Houston Astros 3-1 on Monday night. Brent Rooker drew a leadoff walk against Bryan Abreu (1-3) to open the ninth and reach safely in 12 straight home games. Kurtz, who graduated from Baylor, followed with his seventh home run of the season 447 feet over the right-field wall. Kurtz also hit a ninth-inning homer on Sunday to rally the Athletics to a 3-2 win and a three-game sweep at Kansas City.

Nick Kurtz homered in the ninth inning for the second straight day and the Athletics beat the Houston Astros 3-1 on Monday night. Brent Rooker drew a leadoff walk against Bryan Abreu (1-3) to open the ninth and reach safely in 12 straight home games. Kurtz, who graduated from Baylor, followed with his seventh home run of the season 447 feet over the right-field wall. Kurtz also hit a ninth-inning homer on Sunday to rally the Athletics to a 3-2 win and a three-game sweep at Kansas City.

Astros at Athletics Preview

Nick Kurtz had already showed off his signature power tool in the big leagues, but he was yet to put it on display when it mattered most. The Athletics rookie certainly ticked off that box Monday night. Locked in a 1-1 tie with the Houston Astros, it was up to Kurtz to deliver in the bottom of the ninth. Kurtz made the most of the moment, tossing his bat towards the dugout as he yelled and backpedaled down the first base line.

Ahead of Monday's game against the Athletics in West Sacramento, the Houston Astros had to place Lance McCullers Jr. on the IL with a right foot sprain, retroactive to June 13. Gusto was originally slated to pitch on Tuesday, but with him moving up a day, the corresponding move the Astros made with the McCullers injury was to bring up former Athletics righty Jason Alexander to make his debut with his new club.

Nick Kurtz’s walk-off homer lifts the Athletics over the Astros, extending Oakland’s win streak to four with a clutch blast.

Nick Kurtz homered in the ninth inning for the second straight day and the Athletics beat the Houston Astros 3-1 on Monday night. Brent Rooker drew a leadoff walk against Bryan Abreu (1-3) to open the ninth and reach safely in 12 straight home games. Kurtz followed with his seventh home run of the season 447 feet over the right-field wall.

The Houston Astros placed right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. on the 15-day injured list with a sprained right foot Monday before his scheduled start against the Athletics. The move, which is retroactive to Friday, comes after McCullers made seven starts this year in his return after missing two full seasons with various arm injuries. Rookie right-hander Ryan Gusto will start in his place Monday as the AL West-leading Astros open a four-game series against the Athletics.

Astros at Athletics Preview

Mark Mulder's baseball career was cut short far too soon due to rotator cuff injuries that drastically hurt his overall performance. Now a competitive golfer and a full-time dad, Mulder received an email that he wasn't expecting. Mulder took 15 minutes of his time and spoke with Chris Townsend of "A's Cast Live" to discuss what it means to be honored by the team he spent his best years with. "I don't remember exactly what it said, but the subject said something about A's Hall of Fame, and I went, 'Huh?'" Mulder said.