Jon Singleton leads Astros past A’s with clutch hit

HOUSTON — Jon Singleton broke an eighth-inning tie with a two-out RBI single to cap a three-hit day and send the Astros to a 6-3 win over the A’s in the series finale Thursday afternoon at Minute Maid Park.

The Astros, who began the day with a 3 1/2-game lead over the Mariners in the American League West, snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 78-68 with 16 games remaining.

The game was tied at 2 in the eighth when Singleton scored Yainer Diaz from second base with a single to right. Jake Meyers followed with an RBI double and — after Jason Heyward was intentionally walked — Mauricio Dubón roped a two-run single to left field for a 6-2 lead.

Astros starter Framber Valdez carried a shutout into the seventh inning before giving up a leadoff double to Jacob Wilson, who scored one out later on an RBI single by Daz Cameron. He threw 65 of 96 pitches for strikes and lowered his ERA to 2.91 in 163 2/3 innings this year.

The A’s tied the game with one out in the eighth on a solo homer by Brent Rooker off reliever Ryan Pressly.

Heyward, signed by the Astros on Aug. 29, broke an 0-for-9 slump in the second inning with a two-out, two-run homer to right field off A’s starter Mitch Spence. Heyward was 2-for-18 in an Astros uniform prior to his seventh homer of the season (he hit six with the Dodgers).