Packed Minute Maid Park freaks out as Astros clinch AL West (Video)

Minute Maid Park was electric after the Houston Astros clinched the AL West title on Thursday with a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Houston Astros winning the AL West title was an automatic in recent years. In the 60-game truncated season last year, the Astros made it to the playoffs, but with the Oakland Athletics clinching the title. In 2021, Houston got the title back.

On Thursday night, the Astros defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 to officially clinch the AL West title for the fourth time in five years. To say that Minute Maid Park was electric is an understatement, as you can see in the tweet below.

Astros win AL West title for fourth time in five years

All three runs scored by Houston came in the bottom of the fourth inning courtesy of shortstop and impending free agent Carlos Correa. After Yuli Gurriel singled and Kyle Tucker walked, Correa sent a 78.5-mph cutter by Rays reliever Ryan Yarbrough to the left field stands to give the team a 3-0 lead.

There was some drama in the top of the sixth after Brandon Lowe hit a two-run homer off Astros pitcher Lance McCullers to cut Houston’s lead to 3-2.

Houston held on for the remainder of the game, with Ryan Pressly forcing Yandy Diaz to ground out to officially clinch the victory.

Even though the division is clinched, there is still work left to do. Houston is slated to face off against the Chicago White Sox in the ALDS, but it is still unknown who will have home-field advantage. The Astros (93-66) have a two more wins than the White Sox (91-68), and will look to clinch home-field at some point in their weekend series against the Athletics.