Astros win in walk-off fashion, cut magic number to 1

HOUSTON – The Houston Astros edged closer to clinching their division title, and they did so in dramatic fashion.

Houston defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 with a walk-off, bases-loaded walk by Jason Castro in the bottom of the ninth inning. That capped off a comeback from a 3-2 deficit and followed a bases-loaded walk just one at-bat earlier by Chas McCormick that had brought in the game-tying run.

This came after Randy Arozarena had hit a go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth inning of the Astros’ Phil Maton to give Tampa the 3-2 lead.

The Astros had trailed most of the game after being no-hit in the first five innings by Rays starting pitcher Michael Wacha. Houston would breakthrough in the sixth inning with an Alex Bregman solo home run, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Jose Altuve tied the game 2-2 in the eighth inning with his 31st homer of the season before Arozarena hit his home run and before the Astros closed things out with back-to-back bases-loaded walks for the win.

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Houston now reduces their magic number to 1, leaving open the possibility of clinching the American League West division late Tuesday night if the Mariners lose to the Athletics.