HOUSTON -- Houston Astros closer Ken Giles continued what has been a strong individual second half on Friday night by striking out the side in the ninth inning en route to his 24th save. What was equally noteworthy were the two outs that Giles recorded in the eighth inning.

For the second time this week Giles was asked to record a multi-inning save, and on Friday night against the Oakland Athletics he accomplished the task with the same ease he did on Sunday at Texas. After inheriting baserunners against the Rangers and escaping unscathed to preserve a 2-1 win five days ago, Giles cleaned up the mess left by right-hander Chris Devenski with a double-play grounder before finishing off a 3-1 victory in Friday's opener of a three-game series.

"I've said that the last six weeks are going to be all hands on deck," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "I don't want to make too much of a habit too early of using Giles in that way but when the game dictates it, it's every bit his responsibility to come in and get the outs.