Final Score (7 innings): Astros 4, A's 2.

Record: 18-14, second in the AL West.

Winning pitcher: Lance McCullers Jr. (3-2, 5.06 ERA).

Losing pitcher: Chris Bassitt (2-2, 3.72 ERA).

Astros jump ahead early against Bassitt

After a quick top of the first by Lance McCullers Jr. on the mound, the Astros put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning. It started with a walk by Michael Branley, followed by a double by Yuli Gurriel. That put two runners on base, which Kyle Tucker would take advantage of, hitting a three-run home run to give Houston the early 3-0 lead.

Oakland would get on the board in the top of the fourth, getting runners on the corners with no outs after a double and single to start the frame. McCullers Jr. did well to limit the damage to one run, allowing just an RBI-groundout as he would get the next three batters in order, holding on to the lead at 3-1. Josh Reddick got the run back immediately in the bottom of the inning, leading it off with a solo home run to make it a three-run game once again. The next two batters reached base, chasing Chris Bassitt out of the game after just three innings pitched.

McCullers Jr. gets the win as Houston gains a game in the division

Other than allowing the run in the fourth, McCullers Jr. was doing well through five innings and returned for the sixth. He fielded a one-out groundball in that inning, but an errant throw to first would allow the runner to reach and advance to third. That turned into an RBI-single later in the frame, cutting the lead to 4-2. He would finish the inning, ending his day as Houston went to their closer in the seventh. McCullers Jr.'s final line: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 0 HR, 93 P.

Ryan Pressly took over in the top of the seventh to close the game out. He did so, retiring Oakland in order as Houston trimmed a game off Oakland's division lead, with a chance at another less than an hour later.

Game 2

Final Score (7 innings): Astros 6, A's 3.

Record: 19-14, second in the AL West.

Winning pitcher: Zack Greinke (2-0, 2.68 ERA).

Losing pitcher: Frankie Montas (2-3, 6.06 ERA).

Oakland scores first, but Houston responds

The A's would counter the Astros and get on the scoreboard first in game two, getting a solo home run by Ramon Laureano in the first at-bat of the game against Zack Grienke. Kyle Tucker would once again be the difference-maker in Houston's half of the first, bringing in three runs on a bases-clearing triple to give the Astros a 3-1 lead.

In the bottom of the second, they extended the lead on a home run by George Springer that flew out so quickly and far that statcast couldn't even estimate it. That made it a 5-1 game, but Oakland would chip away over the next few innings.

A's trim down the lead against Greinke

After the leadoff homer in the first, Zack Greinke was able to settle in and keep Oakland from scoring any further in the first three innings. Matt Chapman would change that with a solo home run to start the fourth, then back-to-back one-out hits by Oakland in the fifth would set up an RBI-groundout to cut Houston's lead to two runs at 5-3.

Greinke would finish the fifth, but with his pitch count at 96, would not go any further. His final line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 2 HR, 96 P.

Houston's bullpen completes the doubleheader sweep

Blake Taylor would take over for Greinke to start the top of the sixth. He would complete the inning, erasing a leadoff walk with a strikeout and double play to put Houston three outs away from the win. In the bottom of the inning, Martin Maldonado led off with a single, then would eventually score as two more singles moved him to third to set up a sac-fly by Yuli Gurriel to make it 6-3.

Ryan Pressly, who was able to get the save in the first game on just eight pitches, was able to enter for a second save in the top of the seventh. He completed the impressive feat, giving Houston the doubleheader sweep and gaining two games in the AL West standings, putting them 2.5 games behind Oakland for the division lead.