Defending champion Astros clinch playoff berth
The defending World Series champion Houston Astros are headed back to the postseason after clinching a spot by virtue of their 11-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday.
#AstrosWin 11-3! Postseason spot CLINCHED! pic.twitter.com/8cEx5g4R9F
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 22, 2018
This is the fourth time in franchise history that the Astros have reached the playoffs in consecutive seasons, and the first since 2004-05 when they still played in the National League.
Houston's victory was highlighted by Yuli Gurriel's multi-homer game - on the same day his little brother Lourdes did the same in Toronto - while George Springer launched a titanic blast in the eighth that landed on Minute Maid Park's train tracks.
Choo choo! pic.twitter.com/VN2NbFgBFX
— MLB (@MLB) September 22, 2018
With the win, the Astros' magic number to win the AL West dropped to six. The second-place Oakland Athletics sit four games behind, pending the result of their game against the Minnesota Twins.
At 96-57, the Astros still have a chance to either match or surpass the franchise's best ever win total of 102 set back in 1998.