The Houston Astros had a chance to be in full control of the American League West race with two games to go but the division title remains up for grabs.

It's also guaranteed that the division winner won't boast a winning record as the Astros and Texas Rangers are tied with 79-81 marks as Houston enters Saturday's game against the Athletics at West Sacramento, Calif.

Houston lost 6-5 to the Athletics on Friday night after the Rangers were thumped by the Minnesota Twins earlier in the day.

The winner of the AL West will become the first division winner since Major League Baseball's Division Era began in 1969 to finish .500 or lower. The 2005 San Diego Padres (82-80) currently hold the mark for the worst record by a division winner.

One positive note for the Astros is that they hold the tiebreaker over the Rangers after beating them nine of 13 times this season.

Still, the loss to the lowly A's was a missed opportunity as Houston lost for the ninth time in 13 games.

"We have to really turn the corner here and turn the page on this one and get ready for (Saturday)," Houston manager Joe Espada said afterward. "We still control our destiny."

What hurt the Astros on Friday was allowing the A's to send 10 batters to the plate during a six-run sixth inning. One harmful play early in the frame came when second baseman Jose Altuve dropped a throw from shortstop Jeremy Pena on a grounder.

The error came on the second batter of the inning. The floodgates opened afterward, with the costly hits including Michael Stefanic's two-run, pinch-hit single and Henry Bolte's two-run triple.

"I felt terrible in the moment and right after when they scored all those runs," Altuve told reporters. "Not a good feeling. But somehow I've got to turn the page around and be 100 percent ready for (Saturday)."

Friday's victory was just the third in the past 10 games for the Athletics (64-96).

Hogan Harris recorded his 17th save, retiring Pena on a double-play grounder to end it.

"You really enjoy the chance to battle late in the season in games that are meaningful like this one," Harris said, "even though we didn't have the year we would have liked due to so many injuries."

Stefanic, a 30-year-old journeyman, is batting .346 in 26 at-bats for the Athletics.

"At this level, the relief pitchers are high quality," Stefanic told reporters. "You have to be ready from the very first pitch. I saw a good pitch to hit and managed to put a good swing on it."

The Astros are turning to right-hander Hayden Wesneski (5-2, 3.50 ERA) on Saturday.

Wesneski pitched five innings of one-hit scoreless ball when Houston beat the Athletics 4-0 on Aug. 21. Overall, he is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in two career starts against the A's.

Jeff McNeil is 1-for-3 with a homer against Wesneski.

In his last turn, Wesneski received a no-decision against the Atlanta Braves when he gave up one run and four hits over 5 1/3 innings on Sept. 19.

Right-hander Jack Perkins (3-12, 5.90) will start for the Athletics. He defeated Houston on Aug. 23 as the Athletics' second pitcher when he gave up three runs (one earned) and three hits over five innings.

Perkins lost to the Astros on June 5 when he gave up five runs and five hits over four-plus innings. Overall, he is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA against the Astros in three appearances (one start).

Isaac Paredes is 2-for-3 with two homers and six RBIs against Perkins.

Perkins, 26, lost 1-0 to the Cleveland Guardians last Sunday when he gave up one run and five hits over six innings.

--Field Level Media