HOUSTON – A season that began with World Series aspirations ended in massive disappointment for the Astros, who were swept out of the American League Wild Card Series in two games by the Tigers on Wednesday afternoon.

The Tigers ended the Astros’ season by rallying for four runs in the eighth inning against Ryan Pressly and closer Josh Hader to steal a 5-2 victory in Game 2 at Minute Maid Park -- Houston’s seventh consecutive home postseason loss.

The Astros will fall short of advancing to the AL Championship Series for the first time since 2016, ending a remarkable seven-year stretch of deep October runs. The Tigers, led by former Astros manager A.J. Hinch, will advance to the AL Division Series to meet the Guardians.

In what could have been the final home game for Astros third baseman Alex Bregman -- a veteran of 99 playoff games with the organization -- Houston couldn’t get anything going against Hinch’s “pitching chaos,” as the Tigers mixed and matched relief pitchers to keep the Astros off balance.

The Astros finally rallied in the seventh inning when they loaded the bases, but they managed only two runs on a fielder’s choice by Jon Singleton and a sac fly by Jose Altuve. The inability to get a clutch hit proved to be costly.

Astros reliever Ryan Pressly bounced a wild pitch in the eighth inning, allowing Kerry Carpenter to score from third with the tying run. Pressly was 14-for-14 in save opportunities in his postseason career before blowing the save Wednesday.

The Tigers weren’t done. Pressly was pulled with runners at first and third and two outs, and Hader walked the bases loaded for pinch-hitter Andy Ibáñez, who ripped a three-run double into the left-field corner to put Detroit ahead, 5-2.

Hunter Brown was terrific in his first career postseason start, striking out nine batters and giving up two hits and one run -- a leadoff homer by Parker Meadows in the sixth inning that clanked off the right-field foul pole. It was the most strikeouts by an Astros pitcher in his postseason debut since Mike Scott had 14 in Game 1 of the 1986 National League Championship Series.

Brown was left with no margin for error, though, as the Astros struggled to get anything going against the Tigers for the second game in a row. The only run Houston scored in the first 15 innings of the series was in the ninth inning of Game 1.

The Astros’ lack of clutch hitting haunted them throughout the season and ultimately helped send them home for the winter.