Astros 7, Athletics 6: Dexter Fowler homered and later drove in the go-ahead run in a four-run eighth as Houston held on to defeat visiting Oakland to end a three-game skid.

Chris Carter added a two-run homer and the Astros received a strong start from left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who bounced back from a long first frame to last 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and six hits. Jerome Williams (1-1) pitched out of trouble in the seventh and gave up a three-run homer to Brandon Moss in the ninth before Raul Valdes struck out the final two batters to earn his first save for Houston, which was outscored 22-6 in the first two contests of the four-game series.

Moss, Josh Reddick, Derek Norris and Nick Punto had two hits apiece for the Athletics, who were looking for their sixth straight win against the Astros this season. Oakland starter Dan Straily also went 6 1/3 innings, giving up three runs and four hits before left-hander Sean Doolittle (0-2) was touched for four runs in the eighth.

With the score tied 3-3 to start the bottom of the eighth, the Astros greeted Doolittle with four consecutive singles, the last two by Fowler and Jason Castro to drive in runs. Luke Gregerson relieved Doolittle and gave up a pair of run-scoring groundouts sandwiched around a wild pitch to give Houston a 7-3 lead.

The game started rough for Keuchel, who surrendered a double, three singles and walk in the two-run first inning by Oakland, but he settled in and retired 17 of the next 18 batters, including 10 on groundouts and five on strikeouts. The Astros moved ahead 3-2 on the home runs by Fowler and Carter in the first two innings.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Athletics OF Yoenis Cespedes sat out his second straight game after leaving Thursday’s series opener with tightness in his left hamstring but he ran before the game with no setbacks and was available to come off the bench. …. The eighth-inning runs by the Astros ended a 9 2/3 inning scoreless streak by the Oakland bullpen … Norris has 11 hits in his last 22 at-bats but gave way to pinch-hitter John Jaso in the seventh and he struck out both times up.