WEST SACRAMENTO -- With the season on the line, Astros left-hander Framber Valdez delivered in the clutch Thursday afternoon, with some help from an offense that finally started showing signs of urgency.

Valdez, who had won one game in his previous 10 starts, struck out 10 batters in seven one-run innings, and the Astros scored more than they had in their previous five games to blast the A’s, 11-5 , at Sutter Health Park. That snapped Houston’s five-game losing streak and kept its playoff hopes alive entering the final weekend of the season.

The Astros (85-74) moved to within one-half game of the Tigers for the final Wild Card spot in the American League . Detroit, which is playing Cleveland on Thursday evening, has the tiebreaker over the Astros, who finish the regular season with

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