HOUSTON -- With one more loss on what initially appeared to be a fortuitously scheduled and perfectly timed homestand, the Astros inched closer to elimination from the postseason and the realization of a golden opportunity squandered.

With their 4-3, extra-inning setback, the Astros (82-75) dropped to 1-4 on their seven-game homestand against the Angels and Mariners (83-73), who moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the Astros in the American League wild-card race and two games behind the idle Orioles (85-71) for the second available slot. Houston capped a 5-1 road trip through Seattle and Oakland before returning home with high hopes.

"Obviously, we came off of a really hot road trip feeling pretty good," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "We've played extra innings games, we've played really close games, and they haven't gone our way. That's the way the games go sometimes. It's not as if we're out there not giving our best or not coming prepared -- we're just not executing at the most critical times. But we're going to keep fighting these last five games and see where it takes us, but certainly, it's disappointing."