WASHINGTON, (AFP) - Brandon Backe allowed two runs in five-plus innings, as Houston seized Major League Baseball's final playoff spot with a 5-3 triumph over the Colorado Rockies.
Backe pitched after six-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens was scratched due to a virus. Clemens can pitch game one of the Astros National League Division Series.
With its 18th consecutive home win and 36th in 46 games overall, Houston completed a superb final two months and secured a berth against the Atlanta in the National League Division Series. The series will begin Wednesday.
Backe kept Colorado off the scoreboard through five innings. Houston pieced together a bullpen effort until their closer Brad Lidge came on to get the final four outs - all via strikeout.
"(Roger) gave me some good advice and I was ready to go," Backe said.
"I didn't get caught up in the moment. Who knows if I'd found out the night before that I was gonna start?
"This is an unbelievable feeling. This is a dream I've been wanting to have all my life. Just to be part of this team is unbelievable."
With the win, the Astros (92-70) did not need to worry about the result of the San Francisco and Los Angeles game.
Had Houston lost, the Giants (91-71) could have forced a one-game playoff for the NL wild card with a win.
The Giants were stung by a devastating 7-3 loss to the Dodgers on Saturday.
Steve Finley's grand slam capped a thrilling seven-run ninth inning rally as the Dodgers captured their first division title since 1995.
The Dodgers (93-69) are the third seed in the NL and will face the St. Louis Cardinals (105-57) in the opening round.
"They're a solid team," Dodgers Shawn Green said of St. Louis.
"They're similar to us, but we're a little thinner in the lineup. We are two teams that cover all aspects of the game."
Anaheim (92-70) clinched the American League West Division with their second straight victory over the Oakland on Saturday.
Anaheim will meet the Boston Red Sox (98-64), the AL wild card winner, in the first round.
The New York Yankees (101-61) clinched their seventh straight AL East title Thursday with a 6-4 win over the AL Central champion Twins (92-70), their first-round opponent.
The playoffs begin Tuesday with two best-of-five series in each league.
As a result of the AL's victory in the all-star game, it will have home-field advantage in the World Series for the third consecutive year.