By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, September 20, 2015

Houston came up with a much needed victory in its quest to remain in the playoff race as the Astros defeated Oakland 5-1 Sunday at Minute Maid Park.

Combined with Texas’s loss to Seattle, the Astros pulled back to within 1 ½ games of first place in the AL West, and hold a 2 1/2-game lead over Minnesota and the Los Angeles Angels for the second AL Wild Card berth.

The Astros used the long ball to get the job done. Colby Rasmus homered in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 1-1, and George Springer belted a two-run home run in the fifth to put Houston ahead to stay at 3-1.

Rasmus hit his second home run of the day in the eighth off reliever Barry Zito to tack on the last two Astros runs.

Oakland led 1-0 in the top of the second Danny Valencia led off with a single and scored on Marcus Semien’s RBI double.

Collin McHugh (17-7) scattered four hits, struck out eight and walked two in eight innings for the win. Aaron Brooks (2-4) went seven innings for Oakland, giving up the first two Houston home runs among seven hits.

After taking Monday off, the Athletics host a three-game series against Texas.