HOUSTON (AP) – The Houston Astros clinched the NL wild card on the final day of the regular season – just like they did last year.

Roy Oswalt became the first pitcher since 2001-02 with consecutive 20-win seasons, throwing six innings and driving in a run Sunday in a 6-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Houston (89-73) will play at Atlanta starting Wednesday in a rematch of last year’s NL division series, won by the Astros in five games for their first postseason series victory. By winning their regular season finale, the Astros avoided a tie with Philadelphia for the wild card, and having to go on the road for a one-game tiebreaker.

The Phillies (88-74) won 9-3 at Washington on Sunday to finish a game back.

Houston trailed 4-3 when Oswalt (20-12) threw his last pitch in the sixth.

The game was tied by time Jeff Bagwell pinch hit for him in the bottom of the inning. Jason Lane’s 26th homer, on the second pitch of the sixth, tied the game at 4-all.

That came after the Cubs had scored twice in the top of the inning on several bloop hits.

Adam Everett had a one-out single before Bagwell, limited to pinch-hitting duties since missing 115 games because of shoulder surgery, hit a grounder.

Shortstop Neifi Perez’s throw to second was wide of the base, allowing Everett to score the go-ahead run and Bagwell to go all the way to third.

Rollins stretches hitting streak to 36 games

WASHINGTON – Jimmy Rollins stretched his hitting streak to 36 games Sunday in Philadelphia’s regular-season finale against Washington .

His fourth-inning single just went by diving second baseman Jamey Carroll’s glove.

Copy the Story Link