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OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Houston Astros are no strangers to nerve-wracking wild-card playoff races.Last year, they didnt clinch the American Leagues second wild-card berth until the final day of the regular season, finishing one game ahead of the Los Angeles Angels.This year, the Astros are in what shapes up to be an even tougher wild-card race.The Astros are three games behind the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles, who are tied atop the wild-card standings. Detroit trails by 2 1/2 games, and Seattle is tied with Houston.Houston needed a come-from-behind, 4-2 victory against the Oakland As on Monday night to prevent losing ground. The Astros will face the As again Tuesday night at the Oakland Coliseum.I think our guys are comfortable playing in important game, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. We played an entire month in September last year and into October where it was very similar to this year, where every game was magnified, every detail within the game is magnified.Most of these guys are very comfortable in their own skin to play in these type of games. I think it has to help. It certainly doesnt hurt. Weve been there before. Weve seen the schedule have to play out all the way to the last game before we clinched last year, and well have to play even better down the stretch this season to factor in.The Astros are facing a young As team that has been eliminated from playoff contention but showed how dangerous it can be by going 6-1 on its recent road trip against Kansas City and Texas. The As batted .318 and scored 65 runs, sweeping four games from the Royals and going 2-1 against the Rangers.Rookies such as third baseman Ryon Healy, second baseman Joey Wendle and catcher Bruce Maxwell have helped energize the As. Healy and Maxwell each hit a solo home run Monday.Anytime youre winning the vibes going to be upbeat, Wendle said. Thats the goal every game, to come out and win and compete. Its been really fun for me to be part of this, kind of joining some of my teammates from (Triple-A) Nashville and then the guys that have been here for a while. Some of the veterans have just been great. Theyre really leading the younger guys and kind of showing us the ropes. Its been fun.Hinch said the As are playing loose, which makes them dangerous.This time of the year when you play a team thats out of contention, thats got some new blood in their lineup, it can be a little bit of a challenge, because they dont have a ton of anxiety around them, Hinch said.Theyve got some guys that are trying to make a case to make their team next season or become interesting over the offseason, and there are a lot of new names. It doesnt surprise me that (As manager) Bob (Melvin) keeps it loose and keeps them playing hard. Theyre hungry to do some things. If youre not going to be in it, you want to beat the teams that are.As left-hander Sean Manaea will face Astros right-hander Joe Musgrove in a battle of rookies.Musgrove (3-4, 4.71) pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings in a 6-0 victory against Manaea (6-9, 4.23) and the As on Aug. 29. Manaea left the game after 3 1/3 innings because of a strained upper back, but returned to action Wednesday and pitched five scoreless innings in an 8-0 victory at Kansas City.Musgrove will make his 10th career major league appearance and ninth career start since being recalled from Triple-A Fresno. In his last start on Wednesday, he allowed three runs over 6 1/3 innings in an 8-4 victory against Texas. He struck out seven and walked two.Ive had moments up here of joy and happiness and Ive had some real tough ones as well, Musgrove said. Adapting and learning and making the little adjustments that are necessary. Hydro Flask Outlet . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. Cheap Hydro Flask Sale . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. http://www.cheaphydroflasksale.com/ . Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4. Hydro Flask Clearance . Jane Virtanen scored two, and Alex Roach and Elliott Peterson rounded out the offence for the Hitmen (40-15-6). Brady Brassart chipped in with three assists. Colton McCarthy scored twice, Brayden Point had a goal and two assists, and Jack Rodewald also scored for the Warriors (15-35-9), who were 2 for 5 on the power play. Discount Hydro Flask . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. WEST POINT, N.Y. -- A West Point football player from New York City died in a car accident hours after helping Army win its second straight game.Cadet Brandon Jackson, a 20-year-old sophomore from Queens, died in a single-car accident at around 1:50 a.m. Sunday in Westchester County, north of New York City, according to police and the U.S. Military Academy.Police in Croton-on-Hudson said Jackson was driving by himself when he hit a guardrail. The accident is under investigation. Police and academy officials did not provide information on where Jackson was headed when his vehicle crashed about 20 miles (32.19 kilometers) south of West Point, across the Hudson River from the academy.Jackson was a starting defensive back and recordeed two solo tackles and one assist in Armys 31-14 win Saturday over Rice.dddddddddddd. Army is 2-0.We will honor his life as we mourn the untimely death of a young man who had a promising future as a leader in service to our nation, said West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr. Brandon internalized our watch words: duty, honor, country.Caslen said Jackson was following the example of his mother, an Iraq War veteran.Head coach Jeff Monken called Jackson a beloved teammate.Words cannot describe the grief that our team is feeling over the loss of our brother and friend Brandon, Monken said. ' ' '