TOUGH LOSS

Houston Astros can't hold on as Polanco's late hit lifts Mariners

Houston Astros can't hold on as Polanco's late hit lifts Mariners
Mariners defeat the Astros, 4-3. Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images.

Jorge Polanco hit a two-run single in the eighth inning, and the Seattle Mariners stopped a three-game slide by topping the Houston Astros 4-3 on Monday night.

Polanco's winning single hit Houston reliever Bryan Abreu on its way to center field. The Astros had taken a 3-2 lead with two unearned runs in the top half of the inning.

Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert struck out seven while pitching 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball. Gregory Santos (1-1) got the win, and Andrés Muñoz handled the ninth for his fourth save.

Jose Altuve connected for a one-out solo drive in the sixth inning for Houston's first hit of the game.

 

Seattle had taken a 2-0 lead on Ryan Bliss' first homer of the season, a two-run shot to left-center with two out in the fifth.

Houston loaded the bases with two out in the eighth. Christian Walker's grounder was misplayed by Seattle third baseman Dylan Moore, allowing two runs to score.

 

Hayden Wesneski pitched seven effective innings for Houston. He was charged with two runs and three hits.

Tayler Scott (0-1) got the loss.

The Mariners shook up their starting lineup after Victor Robles dislocated his shoulder making a ninth-inning catch against the Giants on Sunday. Luke Raley replaced him in right and Julio Rodríguez led off for Seattle.

Astros right-hander Spencer Arrighetti was hit by a line drive while playing catch in the outfield before the game and broke his right thumb.

Key moment

Houston's Isaac Paredes reached on an error in the fourth. But Gilbert struck out Yordan Alvarez, Walker and Jeremy Pena, all swinging.

Key stat

The teams combined for six hits.

Up next

Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo (1-1, 3.00 ERA) faces Astros left-hander Framber Valdez (1-1. 3.75 ERA) on Tuesday night.

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Houston Astros get a reminder, and maybe a wake-up call

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Jake Meyers is the latest Astro to be rushed back from injury too soon. Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.

Houston center fielder Jake Meyers was removed from Wednesday night’s game against Cleveland during pregame warmups because of right calf tightness.

Meyers, who had missed the last two games with a right calf injury, jogged onto the field before the game but soon summoned the training staff, who joined him on the field to tend to him. He remained on the field on one knee as manager Joe Espada joined the group. After a couple minutes, Meyers got up and was helped off the field and to the tunnel in right field by a trainer.

Mauricio Dubón moved from shortstop to center field and Zack Short entered the game to replace Dubón at shortstop.

Meyers is batting .308 with three homers and 21 RBIs this season.

After the game, Meyers met with the media and spoke about the injury. Meyers declined to answer when asked if the latest injury feels worse than the one he sustained Sunday. Wow, that is not a good sign.

 

Lack of imaging strikes again!

The Athletic's Chandler Rome reported on Thursday that the Astros didn't do any imaging on Meyers after the initial injury. You can't make this stuff up. This is exactly the kind of thing that has the Astros return-to-play policy under constant scrutiny.

The All-Star break is right around the corner, why take the risk in playing Meyers after missing just two games with calf discomfort? The guy literally fell to the ground running out to his position before the game started. The people that make these risk vs. reward assessments clearly are making some serious mistakes.

The question remains: will the Astros finally do something about it?


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