Astros squander Brown's 10-K gem as playoff hopes take a hit

HOUSTON -- The Astros’ late-season swoon continued on Sunday afternoon at Daikin Park, where the Braves used a three-run homer in the sixth inning from Mike Yastrzemski to polish off a three-game sweep with a 4-2 victory, dealing another blow to Houston’s playoff chances.

The Astros (77-79) lost for the 10th time in their past 14 games, which includes sweeps at the hands of the Rays last week and now the Braves. They finished with a losing record (39-42) at home and head out on a season-ending six-game road trip to the Mariners and the A’s with little room for error.

Houston began Sunday in second place in the American League West, one game behind the Rangers (the Astros have the tiebreaker).

Sunday’s script was reminiscent of Saturday’s loss, when Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning to put Atlanta ahead. The Astros’ led, 1-0, through five on Sunday before Bryan King allowed all four batters he faced to reach, capped by Yastrzemski’s go-ahead homer.

The Astros went 0-for-3 with the bases loaded and did little to back starting pitcher Hunter Brown who struck out 10 batters in five scoreless innings. Brown also walked three batters and was pulled after throwing 98 pitches, but Houston’s battered bullpen couldn’t hold the lead for the second game in a row.

Yainer Diaz’s 13th homer of the season in the eighth inning made it 4-2.