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Astros set franchise record by reaching 50 wins in 74 games

Erik Williams / Reuters

The Houston Astros became the first team in baseball to win 50 games on Thursday, doing so in just 74 games, which is the fastest they've reached the 50-victory mark in club history, according to a league announcement.

Houston's previous best start was established in 1979, when it took the Astros 81 games to hit the half-century mark.

The Astros scored 10 runs in the first two innings against Oakland Athletics starter Jesse Hahn before they were forced to fend off the scrappy Bay Area club in the late innings to secure a 12-9 victory.

At this point last year, the Astros had 37 victories to their credit, and didn't win game No. 50 until July 17. Houston ended up missing the postseason by one game.

The Astros' turnaround season has been sparked by incredible offensive years from Jose Altuve, Marwin Gonzalez, Carlos Correa, and George Springer, while Dallas Keuchel has returned to his Cy Young form of 2015.

PLAYER 2017 STATS
Jose Altuve .322/394/.518 10 HR 34 RBI
Marwin Gonzalez .310/.400/.577 12 HR 37 RBI
Carlos Correa .301/378/.521 14 HR 46 RBI
George Springer .277/.349/.555 21 HR 46 RBI
Dallas Keuchel 9-0 1.67 ERA 0.87 WHIP

Houston's 2005 squad, which lost the World Series in four games to the Chicago White Sox, didn't win their 50th game until July 22, and the 1998 team which finished the season with 102 wins didn't claim No. 50 until June 30.

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