Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) – Evan Gattis and the Houston Astros are
scorching hot right now.
Gattis hit a tiebreaking home run in the bottom of the eighth to lift the
Astros to their 10th straight win, a 7-6 decision over the Seattle Mariners on
Sunday afternoon at Minute Maid Park.
Houston has won 10 games in a row for the first time since a franchise-record
12-game run from Aug. 27-Sept. 8, 2004 and, at 18-7, set a club mark for the
best start through 25 games.
It looked as though the Astros would cruise to their 10th win in a row, but
they saw a 6-1 lead evaporate as the Mariners tied it in the seventh.
Gattis put Houston back on top with a liner into the Crawford Boxes in left
field for his second homer of day. He homered in each of the last three games
in this four-game set.
Luke Gregerson pitched around a walk in the ninth to earn his sixth save. Pat
Neshek (2-0) got the win after retiring the Mariners in order in the eighth.
Houston starter Roberto Hernandez was tagged for five runs — four earned —
on eight hits and two walks in six-plus innings.
Seth Smith had three hits and scored a run for the Mariners, who were swept by
the Astros in four games for the first time. Seattle starter J.A. Happ allowed
six runs on seven hits and walked three over six innings.
Carson Smith (0-1) surrendered the eighth-inning home run to Gattis to absorb
the loss. It was the first run the right-hander ever allowed in the majors. He
had thrown 19 1/3 innings without giving up a run.
“We were well aware that Carson Smith hadn’t given up a run, so we knew it was
going to be difficult,” said Houston manager A.J. Hinch. “But we found a
little different way to win today. Good character builder, good win.”
The Astros jumped to an early lead on Gattis’ three-run blast in the first
inning, and went up 5-1 on a two-run homer by Chris Carter in the third.
Seattle got on the board in the top of the third on an RBI triple by Brad
Miller, who was tagged out trying to score on a flyout. Miller was originally
ruled safe, but the Astros challenged and the call was overturned.
Marwin Gonzalez singled home Jason Castro in the fourth to give Houston a
five-run lead.
The Mariners’ comeback began in the sixth, when Seth Smith hit a one-out
triple and scored on a Gonzalez’s errant throw to third on the relay.
Seattle then scored four runs in the seventh to draw even. Hernandez was
removed after giving up three consecutive hits to start the inning, including
an RBI double by Mike Zunino.
Pinch-hitter Rickie Weeks hit a two-run double off reliever Tony Sipp and
scored the tying run on an error. Weeks was caught between second and third
after a pitch in the dirt, but third baseman Jonathan Villar failed to catch a
throw by the catcher Castro.
Game Notes
Houston has won 14 of its last 15 games … Mariners pitchers allowed 11 home
runs in the last three games … Astros center fielder Jake Marisnick extended
his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games, while Houston second baseman
Jose Altuve had his hitting streak end at 11 games … Seattle center fielder
Austin Jackson left the game in the third inning with a sprained right ankle.
