OAKLAND -- The Astros turned the tables on the A's on Sunday afternoon, delivering some late-inning magic of their own.
A day after giving up three runs in the ninth inning in a stinging defeat, the Astros scored twice in the ninth on Sunday -- without the benefit of a base hit -- and stole a 4-3 victory over the A's to win the series at O.com Coliseum.
With their sixth win in their last seven games, the Astros (63-80) assured themselves of not losing 100 games for the first time since 2010.
 
Astros walk all over A's with ninth-inning rally
 
The Astros trailed, 3-2, entering the ninth and loaded the bases with no outs against Ryan Cook, who walked three of first four batters he faced. Jake Marisnick tied the game with a sac fly, and -- after Jose Altuve was intentionally walked -- Dexter Fowler drew a walk to score pinch-runner L.J. Hoes with the winning run.
Astros starter Dallas Keuchel, who hasn't won since July 30 when he threw a complete game against the A's, pitched well once again. He allowed three runs (two earned) and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.
After scoring twice in the top of the seventh to take a 2-1 lead, the Astros watched Nate Freiman hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning to give the A's the lead, 3-2.
The Astros were held scoreless for six innings by A's starter Jason Hammel before rallying in the seventh.
Chris Carter got things going with a double high off the wall in right-center field, narrowly missing a home run. Jason Castro followed with a walk, and Marwin Gonzalez pushed the runners into scoring position with a sac bunt.
Jon Singleton grounded out to second to score Carter and tie the game, and Gregorio Petit lined a single up the middle to score Castro and put the Astros ahead, 2-1.
Keuchel retired the first nine batters he faced and didn't allow a ball to be hit out of the infield until Josh Donaldson flied out to center for the second out of the fourth inning. He gave up two consecutive hits to start the fifth but was buoyed by double-play grounder.
The lefty allowed an unearned run in the sixth, an inning that began when Gonzalez misplayed a grounder at third off the bat of Andy Parrino. Keuchel intentionally walked Donaldson to load the bases with one out for Derek Norris, who hit a grounder that was corralled on a diving stop by Altuve at second base.
Altuve, unable to get his balance, briefly considered throwing to second to start a potential inning-ending double play before settling for an out at first as Parrino crossed the plate.
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com
 

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