By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON (AP) - Colby Rasmus homered twice and George Springer added a two-run shot to back a solid start by Collin McHugh and help the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 5-1 Sunday.
The Astros won their second in a row following a five-game skid that knocked them out of first place in the AL West. They entered the day 2 1/2 games behind Texas for first place, but had a 1 ½-game edge over the Angels for the second wild-card spot.
McHugh (17-7) allowed four hits and one run in eight innings, striking out eight in his fourth straight win.
The game was tied at 1 in the fifth before Springer's two-out homer. It was the 14th home run this season for Springer, who has reached base safely in all 15 games since coming off the disabled list but hadn't homered in his return.
Rasmus hit a solo homer in the second and a two-run drive off Barry Zito in the eighth. Zito pitched in the majors for the first time since 2013.
Aaron Brooks (2-4) took the loss.
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