ASTROS WIN THE FINALE

Arrighetti deals, Astros defeat Mariners to avoid series sweep

Arrighetti deals, Astros defeat Mariners to avoid series sweep
Astros defeat the Mariners, 4-0. Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images.

Spencer Arrighetti allowed two hits over six shutout innings to help the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 4-0 on Thursday and avoid a four-game series sweep.

Alex Bregman hit a two-run homer in the fourth against Mariners starter Logan Gilbert (3-3). Kyle Tucker led off the inning with a single and Bregman put Houston up by a pair of runs with the shot that barely cleared the left-field wall.

Bregman added a triple in the sixth inning that just escaped the grasp of a leaping Julio Rodríguez in center field, and scored on a groundball to second base from Victor Caratini to give Houston a four-run lead.

Caratini also hit a solo homer in the fifth against Gilbert, who allowed four earned runs and eight hits over six innings of work.

While the Astros found success against Gilbert, the Mariners offense couldn’t do much against Arrighetti (3-5), who allowed just a pair of singles while walking three and striking out a career-high eight Seattle hitters.

Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford had a highlight-reel play in the seventh when he dove for a groundball off the bat of Mauricio Dubón and flipped it with his glove to second baseman Dylan Moore, who threw to first for the out.

Rafael Montero, Ryan Pressly, and Josh Hader each pitched one scoreless inning in relief for the Astros.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros manager Joe Espada said the team will have an update on injured starting pitchers José Urquidy and Cristian Javier when the team returns to Houston on Friday. Both pitchers were recently put on the injured list with right forearm discomfort. … Mariners OF Luke Raley was out of the lineup on Thursday because of lat soreness.

UP NEXT

Houston: RHP Ronel Blanco (5-0, 1.99 ERA) will pitch Friday for the Astros in the series home opener against the Twins, as he tries to keep his perfect record in his 10th start of the season.

Mariners: RHP Bryan Woo (2-0, 1.66 ERA) gets the ball for Seattle on Friday against the LA Angels.

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Cam Akers is going back to Minnesota. Composite Getty Image.

The Minnesota Vikings have acquired running back Cam Akers in a trade for the second straight year, agreeing Tuesday to send a late draft pick to the Houston Texans for more depth at the position.

The deal, which was contingent on Akers passing a physical exam, has the Vikings sending a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2026 draft to the Texans for Akers and a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2026 draft.

Akers, who was a second-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 when current Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell was the offensive coordinator there, came to the Vikings in a deal with the Rams on Sept. 20, 2023. He had 138 rushing yards and 70 receiving yards in six games before suffering a season-ending Achilles tendon tear.

Akers signed with the Texans this year after considering a return to the Vikings. He had 147 rushing yards and 16 receiving yards in five games, helping fill in for the injured Joe Mixon.

Akers has 1,728 rushing yards and 336 receiving yards in five NFL seasons. He led the league with 67 rushing attempts during the 2021 postseason while helping the Rams to a Super Bowl title.

The Vikings could be without starting running back Aaron Jones Sr. this week after he hurt his hip in the previous game. Ty Chandler is next in line.

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