Astros pitching shines in extra-innings win over Mariners

ASTROS EVEN SERIES

Astros pitching shines in extra-innings win over Mariners
Josh Hader pitched two scoreless innings in relief. Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images.

Victor Caratini hit the winning RBI single in the top of the 12th inning, as the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Caratini came into the game as a pinch hitter in the 10th and struck out, but against reliever Jesse Hahn (0-1), took a curveball the opposite way that plated Brendan Rodgers, who advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Chas McCormick.

The game was tied at one after eight until Caratini's single. The Astros had the bases loaded in the 11th, but a double play ended the rally.

It was a scoreless contest through six innings. Houston rookie Cam Smith hit an RBI triple down the third-base line in the seventh to give the Astros a 1-0 lead.

Starting pitcher Framber Valdez struck out eight in six innings and No. 9 hitter Jake Meyers had two hits. Ryan Gusto (1-0) pitching an inning of relief for the win and Steven Okert earned his first save.

Seattle’s Luke Raley tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with a run-scoring single. The Mariners finished with just five hits. Luis M. Castillo finished his five-inning outing with six strikeouts in over 100 pitches.

Despite going 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position, Houston has a shot to win the series on Wednesday.

Key Moment

Closer Josh Hader pitched the ninth and 10th innings and didn’t allow a hit to keep the game tied. The lefty used his sinker-slider combo on 21 of his 22 pitches.

Key Stat

Houston’s bullpen finished with 11 combined strikeouts and only allowed one hit.

Up Next

Houston will throw right-hander Hunter Brown (1-1, 3.00 ERA) in Wednesday’s series finale while Seattle will counter with Luis F. Castillo (0-0, 9.00).

houston astrosastros

Most Popular

Astros’ pitching holds firm in nail-biter versus Phillies

The Astros beat the Phillies, 1-0. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

Cooper Hummel hit a solo home run in the eighth inning and Framber Valdez and two relievers combined for a four-hitter in the Houston Astros' 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.

There was one out in the eighth when Hummel connected off Ranger Suárez (6-2) on his opposite field shot to the bullpen in right-center field.

Valdez (9-4) scattered four hits across seven scoreless innings.

Bryan Abreu struck out one in the eighth and Josh Hader struck out two in the ninth for his 20th save.

The Phillies had a chance to get on the board in the sixth. J.T. Realmuto reached on a throwing error by third baseman Isaac Paredes with one out in the inning and stole second base. Valdez walked Otto Kemp but Edmundo Sosa grounded into a double play to end the inning.

The Astros were hitless until Yainer Diaz singled on a grounder to right field to start Houston’s sixth and Hummel followed with a single to right field. Mauricio Dubón grounded into a double play that left Diaz at third before Suárez walked Jeremy Peña. But Suárez struck out Paredes to escape the jam.

Suárez yielded four hits and a run with seven strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.

Key moment

The home run by Hummel was his second since he was selected from Triple-A Sugar Land on June 14.

Julia Morales caught up with Hummel after the big win!

Key stat

Suárez is the first Philadelphia starter to earn nine straight quality starts in his first 10 starts of the season since Aaron Harang did so in 2015, according to stats provided by the Phillies from the Elias Sport Bureau.

Up next

Philadelphia RHP Zack Wheeler (7-2, 2.81 ERA) opposes LHP Colton Gordon (2-1, 4.54) when the series continues Wednesday night.

astroshouston astros

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM