Verlander’s 200th prevents sweep

OAKLAND, Calif. — Once they got into the clubhouse, the Astros showered Justin Verlander with champagne.

No, it wasn’t for helping them avoid a sweep at the Coliseum. But that was a nice benefit, too.

Verlander pitched just well enough to earn his 200th career win and the Astros hit five home runs, beating the Athletics 9-4 on Sunday to retake sole possession of the American League West lead.

“That was one of the tougher wins I had to get this season,” Verlander said. “Our boys swung the bats and that made for a great day.”

The surging A’s had won the first two games at the Coliseum to tie shaky the Astros atop the division. But Yuli Gurriel hit a three-run homer in the third inning and Evan Gattis, Alex Bregman, Marwin Gonzalez and Martin Maldonado later homered for the defending World Series champions. Maldonado also tripled and doubled.

“What a great way to get Verlander his 200th,” Bregman said. “We hand the ball to JV and he wins. He got us going in the right direction. He battled his head off for us.”

Verlander (12-8), who has not given up more than four runs in any of his 20 career games against the A’s, entered the day with a major league-leading 1.74 ERA on the road. Matt Chapman and Khris Davis hit solo homers off Verlander in the first inning, and Davis added his 36th homer, a two-run drive, in the third that made it 4-4.

Gattis put the Astros ahead for good in the fourth with his 24th home run.

“I’m guessing this won’t be (Verlander’s) last win,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “You just look at his numbers. He’s something special.”