.RARE AIRPurdue is 12-14 when facing a defending na

OAKLAND, Calif. - Two days after homering in the eighth inning to break up Yu Darvishs no-hitter, Houstons Carlos Corporan came up with another timely late hit. Just like that, the Astros have a winning streak and their first series win in nearly two months. Corporan hit an RBI double off reliever Sean Doolittle in the 11th inning to drive in Jose Altuve, lifting Houston to a 2-1 win over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. "I was ready for the fastball and he threw it," Corporan said. "As soon as I hit it I thought its either a homer or a double and were going to score." Corporans hit came after Oakland nearly won the game in the bottom of the 10th when Houston left fielder Robbie Grossman made a leaping grab of Chris Youngs deep fly at the fence. Its the first time the Astros have had back-to-back wins since June 15-16 when they took three of four from the Chicago White Sox. Thats also the last time Houston won a series. "That was a big hit by Corporan," Astros manager Bo Porter said. "Hes actually got big hits all year. You look at the year (catcher Jason) Castros having, a lot of that credit goes to Corporan being a great backup and giving him opportunities to take days off." Jose Altuve singled with one out Doolittle (3-4) and was headed for third on Corporans double to left-centre when Young bobbled the ball. Altuve alertly rounded third and scored the tiebreaking run while Corporan was caught in a rundown between second and third. Corporan had entered the game as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the ninth. "Weve been playing pretty good," Corporan said. "Things are going our way now. Its our turn." Chris Carter homered and Jonathan Villar added two hits for the Astros. Houston has won the first two games of this series after dropping 11 of the first 12 between the two division rivals. Lucas Harrell (6-13) pitched one inning for the win while Josh Fields earned his second save. Yoenis Cespedes singled and scored Oaklands run. The As have dropped nine of 13 and fell two games behind first-place Texas in the West. "It just seemed like it was frustrating from the beginning and got more frustrating as the game went on," said As manager Bob Melvin, who was ejected in the eighth inning after arguing a close play at third base. "You have to try and put that away and keep your wits about you and not get frustrated." Houston won despite Oakland getting the tying run on base in the bottom of the 11th. Eric Sogard hit a leadoff double but Fields struck out Alberto Callaspo, Jed Lowrie and Josh Reddick to end it. Carter, the former As first baseman, homered off As starter Jarrod Parker leading off the seventh. Its Carters third in his last five games. Brandon Mosss RBI double in the seventh off Houston reliever Phil Humber tied it. Both starting pitchers were stellar but left with no decision. Houstons Jarred Cosart, the first pitcher in franchise history to begin his career with five consecutive starts of five-plus innings while allowing two or fewer runs, kept the As silent early. He allowed only one runner past first base through six innings and didnt give up a fly ball out until Josh Donaldsons sinking liner to centre leading off the fifth. The Astros also backed him with solid defence. Houston turned a double play to end the third, and centre fielder Brandon Barnes made a running catch near the wall to rob Seth Smith of extra bases in the sixth. Parker pitched a career-best 8 1-3 innings for Oakland and had six strikeouts. The right-hander faced just two over the minimum through the fifth and made his only mistake came in the seventh when he gave up Carters team-leading 22nd home run of the season. Melvin was ejected in the eighth after arguing a call by third base umpire Doug Eddings. Sogard doubled leading off the inning but was thrown out on a close play trying to advance on Nate Freimans deep fly to centre. Melvin scampered out of the dugout to dispute the call before getting tossed. NOTES: Castros single in the ninth extended his hitting streak to a career-best 12 games. ... Carters home run was his first against his former club. He was traded to Houston in the off-season as part of Oaklands deal to acquire Lowrie. ... As C John Jaso still has not been cleared to resume baseball activities but the team is hopeful he can return this season. Jaso met with a concussion specialist in Pittsburgh earlier this week. ... CF Coco Crisp was held out of the lineup after getting a cortisone injection in his wrist on Tuesday. ... The Astros called up INF Marwin Gonzalez from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned RHP Jorge DeLeon down. ... Houston traded minor league LHP Travis Blackley to Texas in exchange for a player to be named later and cash considerations. Blue Jays Jerseys 2020 .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Toronto Blue Jays Pro Shop . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/ . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Toronto Blue Jays Gear . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead. Stitched Blue Jays Jerseys . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- No. 15 Purdue kept making No. 3 Villanova hold its breath Monday night.Josh Hart made sure the Wildcats followed the same old beat.The preseason All-America guard scored 24 points, made big shot after big shot and calmly sank the final four free throws of the game to help the defending national champions hang on for a 79-76 victory.Josh just said to me at the beginning of the second half that `we got this, Wildcats coach Jay Wright said. Thats the real strength of this team -- the leadership. I think thats what you saw the start of the second half.Villanova (2-0) has won eight straight games, including the six NCAA Tournament wins that led to last seasons national championship. And as far as early-season victories go, this was about as big as they come.Purdue had won nine straight on its home court and had only lost one previous November game since Matt Painter took over as coach in 2006-07.The difference was Villanova had Hart, who finished three points short of his career high, and the Boilermakers didnt have an answer.We had to do a better job on Josh Hart, Painter said. Their overall toughness is among the best in the country.Purdue sure didnt make it easy on the Wildcats, who made their first seven shots of the second half and charged to a 56-45 lead.The Boilermakers rallied behind Isaac Haas and Caleb Swanigan, who combined for five straight baskets during a flurry that pulled Purdue to 61-60. Haas scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half, and Swanigan had 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists.But with Harts shooting and the Wildcats stout defense, the Boilermakers never took the lead, never tied the score and couldnt make either 3-pointer that could have forced overtime in the waning seconds.This game was huge for us, playing a great team, a very disciplined team in that crazy environment, Hart said.Darryl Reynolds had 12 points and eeight rebounds for Villanova.dddddddddddd.BIG PICTUREVillanova: The Wildcats passed their biggest test of November -- barely. Now theyve got five games over the next 15 days, three more by Sunday, to get everything in sync.Purdue: This early test showed the Boilermakers can play with the big boys. Beating them might still be a challenge if they dont find more perimeter shooting.COUNT ITThe Boilermakers erased a 39-34 deficit in the final 40 seconds of the first half with a layup from Swanigan and after Vince Edwards scooped up a loose ball and got it to guard P.J. Thompson, who banked in a buzzer-beating 3 from midcourt to tie it. The crowd went wild long before a replay review confirmed the original call that it counted.RARE AIRPurdue is 12-14 when facing a defending national champ. But having one from outside the Big Ten visit West Lafayette is a rarity. Since hosting UCLA for the opening game on Dec. 2 1967, it had happened only one other time before Monday: Against Louisville on Jan. 18, 1987. UCLA won the first game 73-71, but the Boilermakers beat Louisville 88-73.POLL IMPLCATIONSVillanova: The Wildcats proved theyre worthy of a high ranking with a quality road victory but will be hard-pressed to move up unless No. 1 Duke or No. 2 Kentucky lose.Purdue: The Boilermakers arent likely to slide much, if at all, after coming within a basket or two of upsetting a top-5 team.UP NEXTVillanova: On Thursday, the Wildcats face Western Michigan in Charleston, South Carolina, as they begin chasing a fourth straight in-season tourney title.Purdue: Hosts Georgia State on Friday, marking the return of former IUPUI coach Ron Hunter. The Boilermakers are 24-2 at Mackey Arena over the last 26 games.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '