Alex Bregman had a tiebreaking two-run double in Houston’s four-run seventh inning and Dallas Keuchel pitched effectively into the eighth to lead the Astros to their fifth straight win.
The first two rounds of the 8-team playoffs are single elimination. The top two seeds, Minnesota and Los Angeles, are already into the semifinals.
Seattle rallied to take a 79-78 lead with 3:11 left as Jewell Loyd’s open 3-pointer from the corner capped a 9-0 run.
Albers, acquired from Atlanta on Aug. 11, did not allow a hit until Matt Olson opened the sixth with his 12th home run to make it 3-1.
The former University of Washington and Skyline High School star was released by the Seahawks Saturday, despite leading the team in receptions and yardage during the preseason.
Oregon puts 77 points in rout of Southern Utah, while USC survives scare from Western Michigan.
Falk completed his first 20 passes of the game as Washington State won a season opener for the first time under sixth-year coach Mike Leach.
Edwin Diaz (3-5) worked the ninth to get the victory.
The decision to release Boykin means Seattle will go into the season with just veteran Austin Davis as the backup QB to Russell Wilson.
Texas Tech opened what could be a crucial season for coach Kliff Kingsbury with a 56-10 win over Eastern Washington on Saturday.
