PHOENIX, Oct. 1 \u2014 A four-run first inning gave the Houston Astros<\/a> a lead they never relinquished as they defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a>, 8\u20131, Sunday afternoon. Combined with the 1\u20130 Seattle Mariners<\/a> victory over the Texas Rangers<\/a>, the result gave the Astros their third consecutive AL West title and sixth in seven seasons, dating back to 2017.<\/p>\n It took two pitches for the Astros to take the lead off left-handed Diamondbacks reliever Kyle Nelson<\/strong><\/a>. Second baseman Jose Altuve<\/a><\/strong> laced the first pitch of the ballgame into left for a single. Third baseman Alex Bregman<\/strong><\/a> clobbered the next pitch into the left-field seats for a two-run home run.<\/p>\n But that wasn\u2019t the end of the first-inning scoring for the defending champions. Nelson struck out right fielder Kyle Tucker<\/a><\/strong> before getting the hook, as planned. In came rookie Bryce Jarvis<\/strong><\/a>, whom the Astros feasted upon. Designated hitter Yordan Alvarez<\/strong><\/a> drew a walk and advanced to second on a single to center by first baseman Jose Abreu<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Sloppy defense reared its head when left fielder Michael Brantley<\/strong><\/a>, up next, hit a grounder to first. Emmanuel Rivera<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 playing in place of Christian Walker<\/a><\/strong>, who was off Sunday \u2014 sailed an errant throw into center field. Instead of a definite force out and possible double play, the Astros had runners on the corners with one out and another run in. After center fielder Chas McCormick<\/strong><\/a> struck out, shortstop Jeremy Pena<\/strong><\/a> drove in Abreu with a single to right. Up came Martin Maldonado<\/strong><\/a>, the ninth Astro to bat in the inning. His fly to left stopped the bleeding, but the Astros held a 4\u20130 lead.<\/p>\n Another run came in the top of the second, when Bregman tripled off the wall in center. That set up Tucker for a sacrifice fly to right. The 5\u20130 lead became 6\u20130 in the top of the fifth on another play by Tucker. He hit a deep drive to right that Jake McCarthy<\/a><\/strong>, charging in hard, overran. It inched over his head and bounced all the way to the fence. McCarthy threw the ball in to cutoff man Jordan Lawlar<\/strong><\/a>. Instead of throwing to the cutoff man in the infield, Lawlar started to run the ball in. Tucker ran a few feet past third and forced Lawlar to make a throwing decision. When the rookie shortstop lobbed it in, Tucker ran home for the easy run. It went down as a triple and fielder\u2019s choice, not an inside-the-park home run.<\/p>\n It became an 8\u20130 game in the top of the seventh after a leadoff book-rule double by Tucker and one-out two-run homer from Abreu, who drove in runs in each game of the weekend series.<\/p>\n The Diamondbacks scored a consolation run in the bottom of the eighth. McCarthy lined a two-out single to left-center. After he advanced to second on defensive indifference, left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr.<\/a><\/strong> plated him with a double to the left-field corner.<\/p>\n Cristian Javier<\/a><\/strong> (10\u20135) earned the win after scattering three hits across six scoreless innings, walking two and striking out four. Kyle Nelson (7\u20134) took the loss.<\/p>\n The Astros (90\u201372) will have the Wild Card round off and will host the winner of the Minnesota Twins<\/a>\/Toronto Blue Jays<\/a> series Saturday. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks (84\u201378) travel to face the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers<\/a> (92\u201370) on the road in the Wild Card series. The teams begin the best-of-three series Tuesday. Game time is still TBA, as is the starting pitcher for each team.<\/p>\nAstros Score Early and Often on Diamondbacks Relievers<\/h3>\n
Astros Capitalize on Miscues<\/h4>\n
Astros Put Game Away<\/h3>\n
Diamondbacks Avoid Shutout as Astros Clinch Division<\/h3>\n
Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n
Main Photo:<\/h4>\n