The sequence distilled a 7-1 loss for the Astros and a four-game sweep at the hands of the A's, the last-place team in the AL West. Houston mustered seven runs over four games against the A's at Daikin Park, shrinking its division lead and highlighting the short-handed state of its lineup.

Nick Kurtz became the first major league rookie to hit four homers in a game, leading the Athletics to a 15-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night.