HOUSTON -- Chris Carter and Colby Rasmus hit two-run homers and Jason Castro added a solo shot to lead the first-place Astros to their sixth win in seven games with a 6-4 victory over the A's on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park.Astros starter Roberto Hernandez (2-3) worked six innings and allowed two runs and seven hits, giving him seven consecutive starts of at least six innings. He gave up an RBI double to Josh Reddick in the third and a solo homer to Max Muncy in the sixth that cut the lead to 3-2.
Sonny Gray (4-2), pitching at Minute Maid Park for the first time in his career, allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings. 
Houston improved to 26-14, the best 40-game start in franchise history.MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Multiple homers boost Astros: The Astros improved to 17-0 in games in which they've hit multiple home runs, extending Houston's Major League-best lead to 60 home runs. Carter hit a two-run shot off Gray in the second, and Rasmus and Castro -- left-handed hitters -- hit homers in the eighth off lefty reliever Fernando Abad.Baserunning blunders: The A's ran themselves out of the second inning, twice watching one of their own get tagged out at the plate. Muncy, who drew a one-out walk, was given the green light by third-base coach Mike Gallego on a Brett Lawrie double but was easily tagged out. Then Lawrie was called out on a close play at the plate when he attempted going from second to home on Sam Fuld's infield single. The A's challenged the play, but the call stood.In the seventh, Billy Burns attempted his second stolen base of the game but was called out when he slid past second base, ending the inning.SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Castro's home run in the eighth inning was the 42nd of his career as a catcher, pushing him past Brad Ausmus and into third-place on the team's all-time chart for homers by a catcher. Only Alan Ashby and John Bateman have more homers as a catcher.WHAT'S NEXT
Athletics: The A's will turn to right-hander Jesse Hahn in Wednesday's 11:10 a.m. PT matinee at Minute Maid Park. Hahn went 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA over his first three starts but is 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA in his last four, and the A's are 1-6 in his starting assignments. This will be his first career start against the Astros.Astros: Ace Dallas Keuchel takes the ball Wednesday at 1:10 p.m. CT in the series finale for the Astros, the final game of their nine-game homestand. Keuchel (5-0) has won seven consecutive decisions, a career high. That streak ranks fourth among active streaks in the American League. In his last 13 starts (since Aug. 26), he's 7-0 with a 1.93 ERA.
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Houston improved to 26-14, the best 40-game start in franchise history.MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Multiple homers boost Astros: The Astros improved to 17-0 in games in which they've hit multiple home runs, extending Houston's Major League-best lead to 60 home runs. Carter hit a two-run shot off Gray in the second, and Rasmus and Castro -- left-handed hitters -- hit homers in the eighth off lefty reliever Fernando Abad.Baserunning blunders: The A's ran themselves out of the second inning, twice watching one of their own get tagged out at the plate. Muncy, who drew a one-out walk, was given the green light by third-base coach Mike Gallego on a Brett Lawrie double but was easily tagged out. Then Lawrie was called out on a close play at the plate when he attempted going from second to home on Sam Fuld's infield single. The A's challenged the play, but the call stood.In the seventh, Billy Burns attempted his second stolen base of the game but was called out when he slid past second base, ending the inning.SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Castro's home run in the eighth inning was the 42nd of his career as a catcher, pushing him past Brad Ausmus and into third-place on the team's all-time chart for homers by a catcher. Only Alan Ashby and John Bateman have more homers as a catcher.WHAT'S NEXT
Athletics: The A's will turn to right-hander Jesse Hahn in Wednesday's 11:10 a.m. PT matinee at Minute Maid Park. Hahn went 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA over his first three starts but is 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA in his last four, and the A's are 1-6 in his starting assignments. This will be his first career start against the Astros.Astros: Ace Dallas Keuchel takes the ball Wednesday at 1:10 p.m. CT in the series finale for the Astros, the final game of their nine-game homestand. Keuchel (5-0) has won seven consecutive decisions, a career high. That streak ranks fourth among active streaks in the American League. In his last 13 starts (since Aug. 26), he's 7-0 with a 1.93 ERA.
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