The Houston Astros, no longer in sole possession of first place in the American League West, stumble into a three-game series against the Braves that begins Friday in Atlanta.

Houston held a four-game division lead over the Seattle Mariners after beating the New York Yankees 8-7 on Sept. 3.

Since then, the Astros (79-68) are 2-5, and the Mariners grabbed a share of first place Thursday night with a 7-6, 12-inning victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

The Astros had been alone atop the division since Aug. 13. They haven't been out of first place since June 1.

Houston fell 6-0 in the decisive game of a three-game set at Toronto on Thursday, as Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman threw a two-hitter.

"We need to find more consistency in our at-bats game-to-game," Astros manager Joe Espada

See Full Page