Astros hit four homers en route to a 10-4 win over the A’s to clinch ALDS home-field advantage

The Astros are trying to get their offense going before the start of the postseason. On Saturday night, they smashed the Athletics with four home runs to defeat them 10-4 and to secure home-field advantage for the American League Division Series, which starts on Thursday at Minute Maid Park against the White Sox.

The night didn’t begin as planned for them, though, with starter Jake Odorizzi allowing two runs on what ended up as another short outing for the veteran righty. Thanks to two extra-base hits, the A’s scored twice in the first inning, but the Astros took the lead immediately with a three-run bomb from Yordan Álvarez for his 33rd long ball of the year.

The ‘Stros kept in love with the four-baggers as Jason Castro hit one out (8) in the second inning to make it 4-2 and Yuli Gurriel sent it over the fence, too, for his 15th shot of the season in the third frame. Houston was already up on the board 6-2.

Talking both offensively and defensively, the sixth episode was a key one for Houston. First, Kyle Tucker robbed a home run jumping through the wall to catch a Tony Kemp fly ball that would have tied the game at six. Second, Michael Brantley recorded his third triple of the campaign to drive in Jake Meyers and José Altuve with the Astros’ seventh and eighth runs of the game.

To add to the Astros’ lead, Tucker launched his 29th home run of the year and his seventh dinger of September to make it 10-3.

It was also a good night for José Altuve, who went 4-for-5 with two scored runs and had his first multi-hit performance in his last 10 games.

Even though Odorizzi lasted only 4 2/3 innings on the mound, Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek, Brooks Raley, Kendall Graveman, and Ryan Pressly did a good job coming out of the pen to secure the important 94th win of the season.

The Astros will play a meaningless game on the final day of the regular campaign, on Sunday against Oakland (2:10 pm CT) with José Urquidy on the hill. Then, they will give the team some rest until Thursday, when they’ll host the White Sox to begin the ALDS.

VIDEOS AND BOX SCORE HERE.