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Danny Valencia homered twice, including a go-ahead two-run shot in the eighth inning, to help the Oakland Athletics to a 4-3 victory Friday night that sent the scuffling Houston Astros to their fifth straight loss.
The recent skid has allowed the first-place Texas Rangers to move 2 1-2 games ahead of the Astros in the AL West.
Oakland trailed by a run with one out and one on in the eighth when Valencia launched a pitch from Pat Neshek (3-6) into the seats in left field to make it 4-3. Valencia had a solo shot in the fourth inning, his second career multihomer game and the first since 2010.
The Astros had a 3-0 lead after three innings thanks to two RBIs from Jed Lowrie and a home run by Chris Carter.
Josh Reddick and Valencia hit back-to-back homers to start the fourth and cut the lead to 3-2.
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