ASTROS FALL IN EXTRAS
Astros can't quite close the door in Seattle
Jul 20, 2025, 3:31 am
The Mariners beat the Astros, 7-6. Composite Getty Image.
Rookie second baseman Cole Young hit a walk-off single in the 11th inning to give the Seattle Mariners a 7-6 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.
Young — who also delivered a game-ending fielder’s choice in the 11th inning of his major league debut — provided some more late-night theatrics in the Emerald City. Just a couple weeks shy of his 22nd birthday, Young went below the zone to drive a splitter from reliever Hector Neris (3-2) into right field, scoring automatic runner Dominic Canzone from third base.
Though the Mariners jumped out to a 4-1 lead after just three innings, their advantage disappeared once Seattle reliever Carlos Vargas lost control of his sinker in the sixth.
He plunked two batters, first Brice Matthews and then Zack Short, which led to warnings being issued to both benches. Jose Altuve, Victor Caratini and Christian Walker all added RBI singles shortly afterward to put the Astros up 5-4.
The Mariners evened it in the eighth thanks to a fortuitous bounce. Astros reliever Bryan Abreu spiked a slider, allowing Randy Arozarena to score with ease from third base on the wild pitch and ultimately force extra innings.
The teams traded runs in the 10th before Eduard Bazardo (4-0) tossed a scoreless inning to set the stage for Young.
Key moment
Ahead of Young’s game-winning single, Miles Mastrobuoni laid down a terrific sacrifice bunt to advance Canzone to third. Mastrobuoni and teammate Jorge Polanco both executed textbook sacrifice bunts in extra innings.
Key stat
Young is the first Mariners player 21 or younger with a walk-off hit since Alex Rodriguez on March 31, 1996, against the Chicago White Sox.
Up next
Astros right-hander Hunter Brown (9-4, 2.43 ERA) starts Sunday against right-hander Bryan Woo (8-4, 2.75) in the finale of the three-game set.
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The Bronx is never short on baseball drama, but this weekend’s meeting between the Astros and Yankees comes with layers of intrigue.
This is a matchup that’s felt bigger than just another August series for years, and with both teams trying to firm up their postseason footing, this one’s no exception. The Seattle Mariners are gaining ground, with the Astros now holding only a 1.5 game lead in the division.
Houston (64-51) sends All-Star right-hander Hunter Brown (9-5, 2.47 ERA) to the mound Friday night to open the three-game set. The Yankees counter with Cam Schlittler (1-2, 4.58), who will make just his fourth big league start. The Yankees, third in the AL East, are fighting to stay locked in to a wild card spot — and doing it under the spotlight of Aaron Judge’s return.
Judge came off the 10-day injured list on August 5, he's been dealing with a flexor strain in his right elbow. He’s just 1-for-6 in his first two games back, but the reigning AL MVP’s presence changes the shape of New York’s lineup instantly.
The Astros’ order has gotten a jolt of its own. Carlos Correa’s return at the trade deadline brought more than nostalgia — it’s brought production. The former No. 1 pick is slashing .346/.393/.538 with a .931 OPS through his first six games back in Houston.
Jose Altuve keeps setting the tone (19 HR, .458 slugging), while Yainer Diaz is riding a hot stretch — 12-for-35 with three homers and 10 RBIs over his last 10.
Both teams come in 4-6 over their last 10 games, but the Yankees have struggled to score, hitting just .214 in that span. The Astros, meanwhile, have quietly posted a .267 team average in their last 10 while outscoring opponents by two runs.
Friday marks the start of a stretch that could carry October implications for both clubs — and it begins under the lights in the Bronx, where the stakes feel a little higher than usual.
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -120, Yankees +101; over/under is 8 runs
Astros lineup takeaways
How will Joe Espada try to beat the Yankees? He'll start with Jeremy Pena back in the leadoff spot, followed by Jesus Sanchez who will be coving left field. Altuve will DH and hit third with Carlos Correa hitting cleanup and playing third base.
Battle in the Bronx.
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Christian Walker will play first base and hit fifth, he's followed by Yainer Diaz (C), Taylor Trammell (CF), Mauricio Dubon (2B), and finally Cam Smith. Interesting to see Smith this far down the lineup. Hopefully he can break out of his slump in this series against the Yankees.
Pretty darn good lineup if you ask me.
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