WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Lucas Spence hit the first three home runs of his major league career, Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes also homered, and the Houston Astros outlasted the Athletics 7-5 on Thursday night.

Houston (79-80) remains tied with the Texas Rangers for the AL West lead with three games left in the regular season for both teams. The Astros have the tiebreaker with a 9-4 record against Texas this year.

Spence hit his second home run of the game in the seventh inning 387 feet to give Houston a 5-4 lead.

Spence capped the scoring with his third of the game in the ninth. Spence, called up on Wednesday, had just 40 major league at-bats prior to the game.

The Athletics’ Jeff McNeil hit a three-run homer in the third to tie the game and Zack Gelof added a solo shot to give the Athletics a 4-3 lead in the next at-bat. Gelof’s second home run of the game in the eighth pulled the Athletics within a run.

Up next

Athletics’ LHP Jacob Lopez (6-5, 5.68 ERA) starts game two against the Astros on Friday.