HOUSTON -- Astros manager A.J. Hinch joked that his team's improbable 4-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday was premeditated.
"We had it all mapped out that way," Hinch said. "We were going to get multiple triples and a wild pitch strikeout. Exactly how we drew it up for the sweep."
Evan Gattis hit an RBI single to cap a three-run rally in the eighth inning keyed by a wild pitch on a strikeout.
Reliever Liam Hendriks (0-3) got two quick outs in the eighth before George Springer tripled. Alex Bregman then struck out, but the ball got away on a wild pitch.
Catcher Bruce Maxwell chased it to the backstop and made a desperation throw to first, but Bregman was safe by a step and Springer scored.
Jose Altuve tripled home the tying run and Gattis singled for the lead.
"Every win is big, but this one was big for us," Altuve said. "It keeps our momentum going. We're really playing really good ball. We've got to keep going."
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The Astros began the day two games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild-card slot. Houston swept the three-game series and next opens a three-game set at AL West-leading Texas.
A's starter Ross Detwiler gave up three hits and left after the seventh with a 3-1 lead.
Michael Feliz (8-1) pitched a scoreless eighth. Ken Giles closed for his seventh save.
The Athletics have lost 12 of their last 18 games.
Detwiler had given up 14 runs and 23 hits in his previous three starts. He shut down Houston, striking out seven. Carlos Correa hit an RBI double for the only run off Detwiler.
"He had good stuff today, man," Gattis said. "He pitched in today well and had a good changeup. We just couldn't get anything going with him."
The A's got all three of their runs in the second off Mike Fiers. Jake Smolinski hit a two-run triple and Bruce Maxwell had a sacrifice fly.
