WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Interstat) — The Houston Astros’ late-season slide reached a critical point Tuesday night as their offense fell silent in a 5-1 loss to the Athletics at Sutter Health Park.

Struggling to generate any momentum, the Astros mustered only three hits against Athletics starter Jeffrey Springs and a trio of relievers, dropping their fourth consecutive game. The loss knocked Houston (84-73) out of a playoff position, leaving them four games behind the American League West-leading Seattle Mariners and one game behind the Detroit Tigers for the final AL wild-card spot.

The Athletics (74-83), playing the role of spoilers, methodically built their lead, scoring in four different innings while their pitching staff dominated a reeling Houston lineup.

Springs was the catalyst for Oakland, earning his 11th win of the season against 11 losses. The left-hander worked five solid innings, allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out three. He effectively navigated trouble, with Houston’s only run coming on a sacrifice fly in the second inning.

The Astros’ offense, which had shown life in the second and third innings, was completely shut down after Springs departed. The bullpen combination of Tyler Ferguson, Justin Sterner and Michael Kelly pitched four perfect, hitless innings of relief to seal the victory. Ferguson was particularly sharp, striking out two over two innings.

Houston’s frustration began early. The Athletics took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning without the benefit of a hit. After a double by Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker reached on a fielding error by Astros starter Cristian Javier, allowing Kurtz to score.

The Astros answered in the top of the second. Consecutive singles by Christian Walker and Yainer Diaz, followed by a walk to Jake Meyers, loaded the bases with no outs. Springs limited the damage, however, striking out Zach Cole before Cam Smith lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to tie the game. Springs escaped further trouble by striking out Mauricio Dubón to end the threat.

Houston threatened again in the third, putting two runners on with two outs, but Yainer Diaz popped out to second base, squandering another opportunity. It would be the last significant threat the Astros mounted all evening.

The Athletics reclaimed the lead for good in the fourth inning against Javier. Jacob Wilson doubled and later scored on a two-out single by Darell Hernaiz, making it 2-1.

Oakland broke the game open with a two-run fifth inning. Brett Harris led off with a double and scored on a double by Tyler Soderstrom. After a walk to Rooker, Wilson delivered an RBI single to center, scoring Soderstrom and chasing Javier from the game.

Javier, the losing pitcher, fell to 2-4 on the season after surrendering three runs, all earned, on six hits over 4 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out four.

The Athletics added an insurance run in the eighth inning against Houston reliever Enyel De Los Santos. Wilson walked, advanced to third on a single by Lawrence Butler, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Cortes.

Wilson was a standout performer for Oakland, reaching base safely in all four plate appearances, going 2 for 2 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. Soderstrom also contributed two hits and an RBI.

For the Astros, Walker had two of the team’s three hits, both singles. The loss continued a troubling trend for Houston, which has now been outscored 22-8 during its four-game skid, a stretch that began with a three-game sweep by the Mariners over the weekend.

The defeat also extended Houston’s struggles against this season. The Athletics have now won six of the last seven meetings between the two AL West rivals, including a four-game sweep in Houston in late July.

The game, played in front of an announced crowd of 9,465, lasted 2 hours and 29 minutes. The result was an upset according to pregame projections; Interstat’s ELO system had given the Astros a 53.3 percent probability to win, and Houston was installed as a 1.5-run favorite. The combined six total runs fell well under the over/under line of 10.

The two teams will continue their three-game series Wednesday night as the Astros look to stop their slide and re-enter the wild-card chase. Houston will then travel to Anaheim for a three-game set against the Los Angeles Angels to conclude the regular season. The Athletics will remain at home to host the Kansas City Royals for three games following the conclusion of their series with Houston.