The Houston Astros defeated the Seattle Mariners Tuesday night, 4-3. In doing so, they clinched the American League West division for the fourth consecutive season.
They are the first team to accomplish that feat since the Oakland Athletics won five straight from 1971 to 1975. That Oakland team won three consecutive World Series titles in 1972, 1973, and 1974.
Although the Astros cannot match that feat, they have put together quite the run themselves.
The Astros have won the AL West seven of the past eight seasons and have won two World Series in 2017 and 2022.
Of all of the success over the last eight years, this season might have been the most surprising.
Houston trailed the Mariners by 10 games in the division on June 18. Yet, it took only 24 games to erase that deficit. That is the shortest timeframe to overcome a double-digit deficit to take a division lead in Major League Baseball history, per Elias.
Following Tuesday's win, Astros manager Joe Espada explained what he told his team in June.
"'We got this,'" Espada recalled. "'We are a good team. We've just got to go on a hot streak, and we'll turn this around.'"
"I never lost hope," said Espada. "But when it comes to winning, you know how to win, and you've got the right ingredients to win, you don't mess that up. You've got to protect it, and that's what we've done."
With another division title under their belt, they will turn their attention to the Wild Card round. If they want to make another deep run, though, they will need their slugger back in the lineup.
Yordan Alvarez left Sunday's game with a knee injury. However, an MRI revealed Tuesday there is no major damage, and Alvarez is expected to return for the playoffs.
More MLB: Cubs suggested to sign projected $182 million former Brewer for 'revenge'
