7/8/23

Astros 3, Mariners 2

(Houston, TX) After two big wins in Houston over the defending champions, the Seattle Mariners had a great shot to take the first three games of the four-game series and give themselves a chance for a massive sweep. The offense has been much better over the last week, but they reverted to the frustrating lineup we have seen so much of this season which is due in large part to Houston ace Framber Valdez showcasing his fantastic skills. Seattle still had a chance to win later, but ended up doing the opposite and giving up a late homer to drop game three to Houston 3-2.

Bryan Woo did not get off to a very good start for Seattle on Saturday. In the bottom of the 1st, Kyle Tucker would drive in Jeremy Peña with his 20th double of the season. Tucker would then end up reaching third on the play due to a throwing error by Dylan Moore in right field. With only one out, Houston didn’t need a base hit to score Tucker but they got one anyway. Alex Bregman lined one off the top of the glove of Eugenio Suarez and into left field. Tucker trotted home and Houston had taken the early 2-0 advantage.

In the top of the 3rd the on-base menace known as Jose Caballero practically stole a run for the Mariners. After leading off the inning with a single, Caballero stole both second and third for his 14th and 15th stolen bases of the season. With the runner on third and nobody out, J.P. Crawford would get the job done with a flare into shallow left field for a base hit. Caballero scored and Seattle was on the board trailing 2-1.

That score would change once again in the top of the 4th. Leading off the inning for the Mariners was Teoscar Hernandez and he put himself in scoring position with his 14th double of the year. Eugenio Suarez joined him on base with a walk but Framber Valdez was able to retire both AJ Pollock and Tom Murphy without the runners moving up. With two outs and Jose Caballero at the plate, Teoscar Hernandez got bold and it paid off. Teo would steal third for his fifth stolen base of the year but with two outs, Seattle still needed a hit to tie the game. Caballero came through again for the M’s with a base hit to center field to score Hernandez and tie the game back up at 2-2.

Bryan Woo and Framber Valdez both got better as the game moved along and the score remained tied going into the top of the 8th. Houston reliever Hector Neris would hit Ty France and then walk Teoscar Hernandez and Eugenio Suarez to load the bases with nobody out. Unfortunately, that is when the not so good Mariners showed up. Cal Raleigh would pinch hit but couldn’t get the job done as he struck out swinging. Mike Ford’s pinch hit at-bat didn’t go much better as he popped out to Alex Bregman at third for the second out. That put all the pressure on Jose Caballero but this time he couldn’t come through. Neris struck out Caballero looking and once again the Mariners had squandered an opportunity with the bases loaded and nobody out in a tied game.

Normally Andres Muñoz is as good of a reliever as the Mariners have. Unfortunately, a mistake would turn out to be the difference in this one. A hanging slider to Martin Maldonado in the bottom of the 8th changed the game completely. Maldonado smacked his sixth home run of the season into the Crawford Boxes in left field. That solo shot not only gave Houston the 3-2 lead, but also the 3-2 win after Ryan Pressly pitched a scoreless 9th for Houston to finish off the ballgame.

For the final time before the All-Star break, the Seattle Mariners (44-44) will take the field on Sunday at 11:10am with a chance to still take three of four in Houston. Coming off of his first career complete game shutout, Logan Gilbert (6-5, 3.82 ERA) will try to finish the first half of the season as strong as any pitcher in the MLB if he can have strong outing on Sunday. The Houston Astros (50-40) will give the ball to Brandon Bielak (4-4, 3.81 ERA) for the finale. Bielak gave up 10 hits and three runs in a loss to the Mariners back in May but went seven innings of two hit ball against Colorado after being recalled from Triple-A his last time out.

Notable Performances

Mariners

• Jose Caballero- 2-4, RBI, R, 2 SB
• Teoscar Hernandez- 1-3, 2B, R, BB, SB
• Bryan Woo (ND)- 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO

Astros

• Martin Maldonado- 1-3, HR, RBI, R
• Kyle Tucker- 1-3, 2B, RBI, R, BB
• Framber Valdez (ND)- 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO

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