HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) – The Seattle Mariners rocked Astros ace Framber Valdez with eight hits and three earned runs, but Alex Bregman, Jason Heyward and Kyle Tucker hit home runs Tuesday to eliminate Houston’s closest challenger in the American League West and secure the ballclub’s fourth consecutive division title.

The Astros beat the Mariners 4-3 to advance to the postseason, which Houston will begin in the AL Wild Card Series against the team with the third-best wild card record. Houston had a chance at a bye in the AL Division Series and had to lose the remaining games to the second-seeded Cleveland Guardians starting Tuesday. But the AL Central champions beat Cincinnati and did not let the Astros through.

Houston may not know its first playoff opponent until the final day of the regular season. The Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers currently hold the second and third wild-card spots, but the Minnesota Twins, Seattle, Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays are still in the race. Five games separate those teams.

The best-of-three AL Wild Card Series begins Tuesday, October 1. The Astros will host all games in the series, including a winner-take-all third game if necessary. The winner will advance to face the Guardians in the best-of-five AL Division Series, which begins Saturday, October 5 in Cleveland.

SEE PREVIOUS STORY: Astros fail to clinch AL West title on Monday, but get second chance on Tuesday

To conclude the season, the Astros will play their final home game against Seattle on Wednesday afternoon and three away games against Cleveland.

Eyewitness Sports is ready to bring you the celebration of the start of Houston’s road to a third World Series title. Tune into ABC13 all fall to follow the ‘Stros.

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