Houston gets the win in Seattle
Astros use timely offense to take opener from Mariners
Aug 31, 2021, 12:47 am
Houston gets the win in Seattle
Houston's offense plated some timely runs late in Monday's game to beat the Mariners.
After taking two of three in Arlington against the Rangers, the Astros started the second of this three-leg road trip with an opener against the Mariners in Seattle on Monday night. They would grab and hold on to a late one-run lead, taking the first of the three-game set.
Final Score: Astros 4, Mariners 3
Astros' Record: 78-53, first in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Phil Maton (4-0)
Losing Pitcher: Joe Smith (2-3)
Things looked up for the Astros in the top of the first inning, as they would seven batters to the plate, scoring the game's first two runs. The first came on an RBI single by Yordan Alvarez, followed later by a sac fly by Kyle Tucker, putting Houston on top 2-0 before the Mariners had a chance to get to the plate themselves.
The offensive momentum shifted Seattle's way after that, as they would cut the lead in half against Luis Garcia with a solo homer in the second. Garcia did well otherwise, dealing with some traffic but holding the one-run lead through his first five innings. He returned in the top of the sixth, but after a leadoff walk followed by a single, he would not get an out in the inning before being removed. Brooks Raley came in to try and strand the inherited runners, but after a double play would allow a go-ahead two-run homer, finalizing Garcia's line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 78 P.
Raley would finish the sixth, then Phil Maton would come in as Houston's next reliever in the bottom of the seventh. He kept it a one-run game, working around a two-out walk and error to send the 3-2 game to the top of the eighth. That inning, the Astros would score their first runs since the top of the first, getting a leadoff single by Yuli Gurriel, who scored on a Kyle Tucker RBI single, his second RBI of the game. Tucker would also come in to score, putting Houston back in front on a go-ahead single by Jake Meyers to make it a 4-3 lead.
Jake continues to rake!#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/5bGf6t1V1C
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 31, 2021
Ryne Stanek would take over on the mound in the bottom of the eighth for the Astros, tossing a 1-2-3 frame by striking out all three Mariners he faced. With the lead still one run in the bottom of the ninth, Houston turned to their closer Ryan Pressly. Although he struggled to find the zone early in the inning, issuing a leadoff walk, he would rebound to retire the next three batters to wrap up the win.
Up Next: The middle of this three-game set will be another 9:10 PM Central start on Tuesday. Lance McCullers Jr. (10-4, 3.32 ERA) will take the mound for the Astros, with the Mariners set to start Yusei Kikuchi (7-7, 4.33 ERA).
Nick Chubb didn’t expect to be a Houston Texan. At least, not until he got the call on a quiet Saturday at home and was on a flight the next day. It happened fast — too fast, even, for the four-time Pro Bowler to fully process what it all meant. But now that he’s here, it’s clear this wasn’t a random landing spot. This was a calculated leap, one Chubb had been quietly considering from afar.
The reasons he chose Houston speak volumes not only about where Chubb is in his own career, but where the Texans are as a franchise.
For one, Chubb saw what the rest of the league saw the last two seasons: a young team turning the corner. He admired the Texans from a distance — the culture shift under head coach DeMeco Ryans, the explosive rise of C.J. Stroud, and the physical tone set by players like Joe Mixon. That identity clicked with Chubb. He’d been a fan of Ryans for years, and once he got in the building, everything aligned.
“I came here and saw a bunch of guys who like to work and not talk,” Chubb said. “And I realized I'm a perfect fit.”
As for his health, Chubb isn’t running from the injuries that cost him parts of the past two seasons, he’s owning them. But now, he says, they’re behind him. After a full offseason of training the way he always has — hitting his speed and strength benchmarks — Chubb says he’s feeling the best he has in years. He’s quick to remind people that bouncing back from major injuries, especially the one he suffered in 2023, is rarely a one-year journey. It takes time. He’s given it time.
Then there’s his fit with Mixon. The two aren’t just stylistic complements, they go way back. Same recruiting class, same reputation for running hard, same respect for each other’s games. Chubb remembers dreading matchups against the Bengals in Cleveland, worrying Mixon would take over the game. Now, he sees the opportunity in pairing up. “It’ll be us kinda doing that back-to-back against other defenses,” he said.
He’s also well aware of what C.J. Stroud brings to the table. Chubb watched Stroud nearly dismantle Georgia in the College Football Playoff. Then he saw it again, up close, when Stroud lit up the Browns in the postseason. “He torched us again,” Chubb said. Now, he gets to run alongside him, not against him.
Stroud made a point to welcome Chubb, exchanging numbers and offering support. It may seem like a small thing, but it’s the kind of leadership that helped sell Chubb on the Texans as more than just a good football fit — it’s a good locker room fit, too.
It appears the decision to come to Houston wasn’t part of some master plan. But in retrospect, it makes perfect sense. Chubb is a player with a no-nonsense work ethic, recovering from adversity, looking to write the next chapter of a career that’s far from over. And the Texans? They’re a team on the rise, built around guys who want to do the same.
You can watch the full interview in the video below.
And for those wondering how Joe Mixon feels about Nick Chubb, check out this video from last season. Let's just say he's a fan.
I’ve seen some speculation indicating that Joe Mixon may not be happy the Texans signed Nick Chubb. If that is what you believe, watch this clip from an interview with @greenlight pod last year & get back to me. pic.twitter.com/3vaip85esj
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) June 11, 2025
*ChatGPT assisted.
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