Astros catcher Jason Castro threw out pinch-runner Arismendy Alcantara at second base on a caught stealing to end the game. The A's scored a run in the ninth on a two-out ground ball off the bat of Stephen Vogt that went through the legs of second baseman Jose Altuve for an error to cut the lead to 6-5, but the caught stealing, which went to a crew-chief review, stood to end the game.
The Astros, who have won six of their last seven games, began play Wednesday two games behind the Orioles for the second Wild Card spot in the American League, with the Tigers only a half-game ahead of Houston.