WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Nick Kurtz hit a two-run homer off closer Josh Hader in the 10th inning to give the Athletics a 6-4 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday night. Willie McIver launched his first major league homer and drove in two runs for the Athletics.

Nick Kurtz hit a two-run homer off closer Josh Hader in the 10th inning to give the Athletics a 6-4 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday night. Willie McIver launched his first major league homer and drove in two runs for the Athletics. Lawrence Butler and Jacob Wilson also connected on solo shots as the A’s won their fifth in seven games.

The Athletics are in last place in the American League West and have had trouble filling the minor league stadium that is their temporary home in Sacramento. The move to Las Vegas is coming soon, which should mean a rejuvenated fan base. On Thursday night, the Athletics jumped out to a 4-1 lead over the Houston Astros. In the process, Jacob Wilson continued his strong play.

The Athletics are in last place in the American League West and have had trouble filling the minor league stadium that is their temporary home in Sacramento. The move to Las Vegas is coming soon, which should mean a rejuvenated fan base. On Thursday night, the Athletics jumped out to a 4-1 lead over the Houston Astros. In the process, Jacob Wilson continued his strong play.

As the Houston Astros (43-31) gain more separation in the American League West — led the Seattle Mariners by five and a half games entering Thursday night's matchup versus the Athletics, it is becoming easier to overlook their depleted pitching staff. And that cannot happen. Although Joe Espada's club continues to excel with more than half a dozen hurlers on the injured list, sustaining success in this state is hard to fathom. Reinforcements are essential. Fortunately, one player just made critical progress. Astros right-handed pitcher Cristian Javier, who underwent Tommy John surgery last June, threw in his first live batting practice , according to the Houston Chronicle's Matt Kawahara. He

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.