HOUSTON -- Seemingly on the brink of collapse following a pair of interleague home losses to the St. Louis Cardinals last week, the Houston Astros rebounded with a successful swing through Baltimore and Pittsburgh and set the table to remain in the thick of the American League wild card chase with a six-game homestand opening Friday.The Astros (66-61) finished 5-2 during their seven-game stretch against the Orioles and Pirates and are 9-5 over their last 14 road games. Once 10 games above .500, the Astros slipped to 61-60 after dropping the opener in Baltimore on Aug. 18. And while they remain are four games behind the Orioles for the second wild card spot, the Astros recent road run breathed new life into their postseason hopes.Its one that we needed, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said following a 5-4 victory over Pittsburgh in Wednesdays series finale. We played two good teams and came away 5-2. Im really proud of our guys. We have a small margin of error these days and weve responded by playing well.If the Astros are to surpass Baltimore, Detroit and Seattle in the wild card picture, they will need to take full advantage of their upcoming schedule. Houston hosts the Rays (54-72) and Athletics during their upcoming homestand, two teams well below .500 and long since realistically eliminated from playoff contention.Right-hander Mike Fiers (9-6, 4.41 ERA) starts the opener for the Astros seeking to win consecutive decisions for the first time since he defeated the Rays and Reds on June 11 and June 19. Fiers allowed two runs on five hits and one walk with three strikeouts over seven innings while beating the Rays in his first career start against them.Fiers is 2-1 over his last three starts but has posted a 4.86 ERA while surrendering six home runs over 16 2/3 innings, a hallmark of his inconsistency. While he is 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA this month, opposing batters are slugging .494 against Fiers during August and he has alternated wins and losses over his last seven decisions.Left-hander Drew Smyly (6-11, 4.88 ERA) looks to continue his exceptional run of pitching for the Rays. He is 4-0 with a 2.79 ERA over his last six starts and the Rays have claimed victory in each of his previous five appearances. Smyly has lowered his season ERA by 0.76 runs over his last six outings, with 30 strikeouts against nine walks over 38 2/3 innings while limiting opponents to a .577 OPS.Smyly is 1-2 with a 6.10 ERA over four appearances (two starts) against the Astros.The Rays completed their most successful homestand of the season Thursday with a 2-1 victory over the Red Sox, winning consecutive games to split the four-game series. Tampa Bay finished 7-3 against the Padres, Rangers and Red Sox.We needed a lot of things to come together for us to get that win, Rays manager Kevin Cash told MLB.com. 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The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. Iman Marshall Jersey .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. TORONTO -- After a pregame players meeting provided a jolt of positive energy, J.A. Happ helped the Toronto Blue Jays to rebound.Happ got his 18th win, Melvin Upton Jr. hit a two-run homer and the Blue Jays stopped a four-game losing streak by beating Boston 3-2 on Saturday.Toronto closed within one game of the AL East-leading Red Sox.It was a big win, no doubt, Happ said. We had better energy than weve had in a while today. From first pitch to last it seemed like our dugout was really into this one.Toronto, whose players met behind closed doors for about an hour before the game, avoided matching its longest skid this season.It was just nice to get everybody together and talk about it and get back on the same page, catcher Russell Martin said. I think it was just to reassure, to make sure that everybody is in a good mindset and focusing on what they need to focus on. Happ declined to discuss specifics but said the meeting was overwhelmingly positive.Upton and Devon Travis both made costly errors in Fridays 13-3 loss but followed with good days at the plate Saturday. Travis had three hits for the Blue Jays and is 6 for 9 in the first two games of the series. Upton hit his 20th homer, a two-run drive in the second off Eduardo Rodruguez (2-7).Two guys who took a lot of heat last night came through for us, manager John Gibbons said.Upton has 25 stolen bases and reached the 20-20 mark for the fourth time.Happ (18-4) allowed two runs and four hits in six-plus innings to win for the first time since Aug. 17 at the New York Yankees, ending a three-start winless streak. He didnt allow a hit until Chris Youngs one-out single to center in the fifth.Many, many times weve shown the ability to put up a quality offensive game, Red Sox manager John Farrell said. He shut us down today.Jose Bautista made it 3-0 in the third with an RBI bloop single just beyond the reach of shortstop Xander Bogaerts.Dustin Pedroia homered leading off the sixth andd has a 28-game hitting streak against the Blue Jays.dddddddddddd.Still, Pedroia said it was a struggle facing Happ.Hes tough, Pedroia said. His fastball gets on you, he locates real well, hes got late movement on his offspeed stuff. It just wasnt our day.Happ left after back-to-back singles by Hanley Ramirez and Aaron Hill put runners at the corners in the seventh. Joaquin Benoit gave up a sacrifice fly to Jackie Bradley Jr., then struck out pinch-hitter Travis Shaw.Jason Grilli pitched the eighth, and Roberto Osuna finished for his 31st save in 34 chances, striking out Bradley with a man on for the final out.Rodriguez allowed three runs -- two earned -- and four hits in six innings. He is winless in nine starts but has allowed more than three earned runs just once in that stretch.WET AND DRYA light rain was still falling as the dome opened before the game, forcing some fans to shelter under umbrellas. The skies soon cleared and it was dry the rest of the day.WHAT A RELIEFBoston relievers have not allowed an earned run over 14 2/3 innings in September.TRAINERS ROOMRed Sox: OF Andrew Benintendi (left knee) is to try sliding in a simulated game Tuesday at Fenway Park, Farrell said. It is expected to be Benintendis final test before coming off the DL.Blue Jays: Martin returned after leaving Wednesdays game and sitting out Friday with a sore left knee. Martin leaped into the Red Sox dugout in search of a foul popup in the fifth, nearly colliding with Farrell. I couldnt believe he jumped, to be honest with you, Farrell said.UP NEXTRHP Clay Buchholz (6-10) starts Sundays series finale for Boston and RHP Aaron Sanchez (13-2) for Toronto. Buchholz is 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA in his past four starts. Sanchez allowed two home runs Tuesday in a 7-6 loss at the Yankees, matching the total in his previous 10 outings. ' ' '