In a pivotal clash for American League wild-card playoff positioning, Justin Verlander delivered a vintage performance, taking a shutout into the ninth inning, as the Houston Astros triumphed over the Seattle Mariners with a final score of 5-1 on Monday night. The victory halted the Astros’ three-game losing streak and extended their lead in the race for the AL’s third and final wild-card spot.
Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker provided the offensive firepower for the Astros (86-71) with their home runs. Houston now boasts a 1 1/2-game lead over the Mariners (84-72), who suffered their fourth consecutive loss. This matchup marked the beginning of a critical three-game series between the two teams.
While the Astros remain 2 1/2 games behind the AL West-leading Texas Rangers (88-68), who secured a 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels, they strengthened their position in the wild-card race with this crucial victory.
Justin Verlander (12-8), the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, delivered a masterful performance. The 40-year-old right-hander held the Mariners at bay for most of the game, retiring the side in order seven times. He allowed just one run on three hits and a single walk in eight-plus innings while striking out eight, narrowly missing his season-high strikeout count.
Seattle’s lone run came in the ninth inning when Josh Rojas led off with a double into the right-field corner, breaking up Verlander’s bid for his first complete game since September 1, 2019. Reliever Bryan Abreu came in and, after allowing Rojas to advance to third, induced a sacrifice fly from Julio Rodriguez and struck out Cal Raleigh to secure the win.
Mariners ace Luis Castillo (14-8), who had previously won eight consecutive decisions, suffered his first loss since July 14. The 30-year-old right-hander yielded five runs on eight hits across six innings, recording one walk and eight strikeouts.
The Astros initiated the scoring with a three-run surge in the second inning. Jose Abreu led off with a triple to right-center field, and a series of plays, including Chas McCormick’s groundout and Jeremy Pena’s strikeout, led to Mauricio Dubon’s line-drive single, allowing Abreu to score. Martin Maldonado then contributed an RBI double, while Jose Altuve delivered a run-scoring single to create a 3-0 lead.
In the third inning, Yordan Alvarez set the tone by leading off with a deep home run to right-center, marking his 30th homer of the season.
The Mariners threatened in the bottom of the third, loading the bases for Julio Rodriguez, but Verlander masterfully induced a double play to escape the jam. He went on to retire 15 consecutive batters before Rojas’ ninth-inning double.
Kyle Tucker added to the Astros’ lead with a towering sixth-inning home run that struck the windows of the Hit It Here Cafe on the second deck in right field, his 29th homer of the season.
With this significant victory, the Astros took a step closer to securing their wild-card playoff spot, while the Mariners face an uphill battle in their quest for postseason contention.
