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

The loss was the fifth straight for the Astros, whose hopes for a fifth consecutive American League West title were extinguished earlier in the day when the Seattle Mariners clinched the division. More critically, Houston remained one game behind the Detroit Tigers for the final AL wild-card spot with just four games remaining in the regular season. The Astros fell to 84-74, while the Athletics improved to 75-83.

Severino was the story on the mound, dominating over 6 1/3 innings to earn the win and improve to 8-11. He allowed only three hits, walked one and struck out five, effectively neutralizing a Houston lineup that mustered little offense. Hogan Harris followed with 1 2/3 perfect innings, striking out two, and Elvis Alvarado closed it out in the ninth despite allowing two hits.

The Athletics broke a scoreless tie in the third inning against Houston starter Hunter Brown. After two strikeouts, Nick Kurtz worked a walk and Langeliers beat out an infield single. Tyler Soderstrom then drove a ground-rule double down the left-field line, scoring Kurtz for a 1-0 lead.

Oakland broke the game open with a three-run fifth. Brett Harris reached on a single and a fielding error by left fielder Jesús Sánchez, and Kurtz walked again to set the table. Langeliers followed with his second hit of the night, a ground-rule double to right field that scored Brett Harris. After a strikeout, Brent Rooker delivered a two-run single to left, plating both Kurtz and Langeliers to extend the advantage to 4-0.

The Athletics added two final runs in the seventh in emphatic fashion. With two outs, Langeliers launched a solo home run to left field, his 31st of the season. On the very next pitch from reliever Bryan King, Soderstrom connected for his 25th homer, a shot to right-center field to cap the scoring at 6-0.

Brown took the loss for Houston, falling to 12-9. He was charged with four runs, all earned, on six hits over five innings, walking two and striking out five. Houston relievers Nick Hernandez and Steven Okert each contributed a scoreless inning of relief.

The Astros threatened only once, loading the bases with one out in the ninth inning against Alvarado on a single by Jose Altuve and a ground-rule double by Carlos Correa. However, Alvarado struck out Christian Walker and got pinch-hitter Victor Caratini to look at a called third strike to end the game.

Langeliers led the Athletics’ eight-hit attack, adding a single in the first inning to his double and home run. Soderstrom went 2 for 4 with the double and homer, driving in two runs. Correa was a bright spot for the Astros, going 2 for 4 with a double.

The announced attendance was 9,753, and the game time was 2 hours, 20 minutes.

The result continued a recent trend of Athletics dominance in the season series, handing Houston its second straight loss in West Sacramento after a 5-1 defeat on Tuesday. The teams conclude their four-game series on Thursday before Houston travels to Anaheim for a critical three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels. The Athletics will host the Kansas City Royals for three games to finish their season.