McHugh, Rasmus help Astros beat Diamondbacks 6-2

Arizona Diamondbacks’ Rubby De La Rosa shows his dismay after giving up three runs to the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, October 2, 2015, in Phoenix.

Astros: McHugh (18-7), the second half of Houston’s potent 1-2 pitching duo, tries to clinch at least a tie for the second wild card.

Houston Astros’ Luis Valbuena dives in vain for a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks’ Jamie Romak for a double during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, October 2, 2015, in Phoenix.

“You can say a lot of things about this team, but one thing they’re going to say forever: We’re a … playoff team”, Hinch told them while standing in puddles of beer and champagne.

Washington seemingly threw in their towel last week and let it boil over last Sunday with the dugout stewing of disruptive closer Jonathan Papelbon and he confronted team superstar Bryce Harper about his effort on a groundball out.

“It’s not really how we drew it up”, Chase Headley said.

Dallas Keuchel became the AL’s first 20-game victor and the Astros routed the Diamondbacks 21-5.

“I don’t want to play the National League style at the end of the season because I want the DH”, he said, “but this game is insane”.

“I’m not going to lie to you, it feels good to get 200 hits”, Altuve said, “but I just wanted to help my team win”.

Ben Revere, Edwin Encarnacion and Russell Martin combined for eight hits, three runs scored, two home runs and four RBIs in the Blue Jays’ 8-4 win against the Rays. Altuve doubled to left to lead off the game, went to third on a single by George Springer and came home on Carlos Correa’s sacrifice fly for a 1-0 Houston lead.

Astros: Houston will face the Yankees in the AL wild card Tuesday in New York.

Arizona committed a season-worst four errors that led to five unearned runs. Highlighted by a grand slam, Hank Conger hit two of his 11 home runs this season off Hellickson in that contest.

“That was one of the few bright spots”, Hale said.

Houston (86-76) qualified when the Texas Rangers beat the Angels to claim the AL West title and eliminate Los Angeles from playoff contention. Including Friday night’s drubbing, the Astros have won five of their last six games and are finally getting their mojo back.

It was Pollock’s 20th of the season, making him and Goldschmidt the first Arizona teammates to have 20 homers and 20 steals in the same season since Justin Upton and Chris Young in 2011. “Mixed his pitches, threw that breaking ball a bunch, that changeup and again stayed off their barrel a lot”. Diamondbacks LF David Peralta was held out of the lineup Sunday after straining his right wrist Thursday.

Paul Goldschmidt homered and Jeremy Hellickson (9-12) suffered his fourth straight loss for the Diamondbacks.