By Morris Phillips

Call it an out-of body experience.  The last place A’s have transformed themselves—at least for the weekend—from a bottom dweller to a factor in the American League playoff chase.

For the second day in a row, the A’s knocked of AL West-leading Houston, with pitching and defense superior to the Astros, beating their top two starters who have combined for 26 wins thus far this season.

The win moved the A’s a half-game ahead of the Red Sox and out of the American League cellar.  The Astros saw their lead trimmed to a game over the Angels in the race for the AL West top spot.

On Saturday, it was Jesse Chavez rebounding from a horrible start Monday to best the Astros and 13-game winner Collin McHugh in a 2-1 win.  Newly-acquired Danny Valencia knocked in a pair of runs with a first-inning double, then saw Chavez and the A’s defense make his big hit stand up.

“It’s a good confidence builder after what happened last time,” the victorious Chavez said.  “Something that I’ll just go back to work on and build off of.”

Chavez couldn’t get out of the fourth inning on Monday in a 9-2 loss to the Orioles.  On Saturday, the right hander wore his high socks proudly, cruising through seven innings, scattering six hits and four walks.  Chavez hadn’t won since July 19 and he hadn’t thrown seven innings since June 17, a stretch of nine starts.

McHugh wasn’t bad, but started badly, walking the first two A’s batters of the game.  Both would score when Valencia doubled with one out.  Looking to become the first 14-game winner in either league, McHugh would go on to strike out eight and pitch the next five innings scoreless.  But he never had his best stuff,  and threw too many balls in a 121-pitch effort that only got him through the first six innings.

“It took a little while to find a feel for my pitches,” McHugh said.  “I really didn’t have a very good curveball all day.”

Valencia was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays after hitting .296 with seven homers in limited duty.  The A’s claimed Valencia earlier this week, and on Saturday, the 30-year old found himself the designated hitter in the cleanup spot in Bob Melvin’s batting order.  Expected to be a platoon player that would spell Brett Lawrie at third base against lefties, Valencia could be up for extended duty after racking up five hits in his first three games as an Athletic.

“We want to give him some opportunities here against righties,” Melvin said of Valencia.  “We gave him a big one today, and he came through for us.”

Edwin Mujica pitched a perfect ninth to earn his first save.  Mujica needed just nine pitches to retire pinch-hitter Jake Marinsick, Chris Carter and Hank Conger after Drew Pomeranz walked Jed Lowrie to leadoff the inning.

On Sunday, the A’s attempt to take three of four from the division leaders with Chris Bassitt facing Houston’s newly-acquired Mike Fiers at 1:05pm.