The Astros capped their six-game homestand 3-3 and a 13-game stretch against stiff competition with a 6-7 mark. The Mariners had their five-game winning streak snapped despite rallying to the lead in the top of the seventh against Houston starter Lance McCullers.
McCullers looked strong through five innings, allowing a solo home run to Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz, his 11th, with one out in the fourth inning but entering the sixth with a 3-1 lead.
Jean Segura, Mitch Haniger and Cruz then strung together ground-ball hits to left field in succession, with Cruz plating Segura to cut the deficit to one run. That margin vanished on the first pitch of the seventh when left fielder Denard Span homered to right field off McCullers.
Following a five-pitch walk to Guillermo Heredia, McCullers was lifted in favor of Chris Devenski (2-1), whose error on a pickoff attempt enabled Heredia to take third base. Segura later delivered a single to eluded both Devenski and second baseman Jose Altuve to plate Heredia.
Trailing by one run for the second time, the Astros responded against Mariners right-hander Juan Nicasio (1-3) with Tony Kemp (single), George Springer (double), Alex Bregman (single), and Altuve (single) all reaching in succession. Bregman and Altuve drove home Kemp and Springer, respectively, with their run-scoring hits as Houston reclaimed a 5-4 lead.
Gurriel added a seeing-eye single to center off Dan Altavilla that stretched the advantage to three runs.
Kyle Seager belted the Mariners' third home run of the game with a solo shot, his 11th, off Joe Smith in the eighth. Hector Rondon recorded the final four outs for his first save.
Segura finished 3-for-5. Evan Gattis smacked his ninth home run for Houston in the fourth inning and recorded a multi-hit game along with Springer, Bregman, and Kemp (3-for-4).
Astros shortstop Carlos Correa departed with discomfort in his right side between the seventh and eighth innings. He was 1-for-3 before being replaced by Marwin Gonzalez.
--Field Level Media
Seattle | Houston | |
Wade LeBlanc | Player | Lance McCullers Jr. |
No Decision | W/L | No Decision |
4.0 | IP | 6.0 |
3 | Strikeouts | 4 |
7 | Hits | 7 |
6.75 | ERA | 4.50 |
Seattle | Houston | |
Jean Segura | Player | Tony Kemp |
3 | Hits | 3 |
1 | RBI | 0 |
0 | HR | 0 |
3 | TB | 4 |
.600 | Avg | .750 |