WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Interstat) — Shea Langeliers was a perfect 4 for 4 with a home run and a double, Luis Severino combined with two relievers on a five-hit shutout, and the Athletics blanked the Houston Astros 6-0 on Wednesday night at Sutter Health Park.

The loss was the fifth straight for the Astros, whose postseason hopes grew dimmer with just four games remaining in the regular season. Having won the last four American League West titles and seven of the last eight, Houston now trails the Detroit Tigers by one game for the final AL wild-card spot. The Seattle Mariners officially clinched the division crown earlier in the day.

Severino (8-11) was dominant, silencing the Houston bats over 6 1/3 innings. He allowed only three hits, walked none and struck out five to earn the victory. Hogan Harris followed with 1 2/3 perfect innings, striking out two, and Elvis Alvarado worked around two hits in the ninth, striking out two to seal the win before an announced crowd of 9,753. The game time was 2 hours, 20 minutes.

The Athletics provided all the offense needed against Houston starter Hunter Brown (12-9). broke a scoreless tie with a single run in the third inning. After two quick outs, Nick Kurtz worked a walk and Langeliers beat out an infield single to shortstop. Tyler Soderstrom then laced a ground-rule double down the left-field line, scoring Kurtz.

Oakland broke the game open with a three-run fifth inning. Brett Harris reached on a single and advanced to second on a fielding error by Houston left fielder Jesús Sánchez. After Kurtz walked, Langeliers drove a ground-rule double to right field, scoring Harris. Following a strikeout, Brent Rooker delivered a two-run single to left, plating both Kurtz and Langeliers to extend the lead to 4-0.

The Athletics capped the scoring with a powerful display in the seventh. After two quick outs, Langeliers launched a solo home run, his 31st of the season, deep to left field. Soderstrom followed by connecting on the very next pitch from reliever Bryan King, sending his 25th homer to right-center field for back-to-back shots and the final 6-0 margin.

Brown took the loss for Houston, lasting five innings and surrendering four runs, all earned, on six hits. He walked two and struck out five. Astros relievers Nick Hernandez and Steven Okert each contributed a scoreless inning of relief.

Offensively, the Astros managed just five hits and never seriously threatened. They put two runners in scoring position in the ninth inning after a single by Jose Altuve and a ground-rule double by Carlos Correa, but Alvarado struck out Christian Walker and got Victor Caratini to look at a called third strike to end the game. Correa was a bright spot for Houston, going 2 for 4 with a double.

The Athletics improved to 75-83 with the victory, while the Astros fell to 84-74. The result defied pregame projections from Interstat, which had given Houston a 52.4% probability to win and projected a higher-scoring affair, simulating a 7-5 victory. The combined six runs fell well under the posted over/under line of 9.

The two teams conclude their four-game series on Thursday afternoon. Houston will then travel to Anaheim for a critical three-game set against the Los Angeles Angels to close the regular season. will remain home to host the Kansas City Royals for a three-game weekend series.