Published on September 28, 2023
SEATTLE – The Houston Astros made a strong push toward their seventh consecutive postseason appearance by defeating the Seattle Mariners 8-3 on Wednesday night. The Astros (87-72) claimed two out of three games in this pivotal series, placing them 1 1/2 games ahead of the Mariners (85-73) in the race for the American League’s third and final wild-card playoff spot.
The game showcased several key moments that ultimately shaped the outcome. Mariners’ leadoff hitter J.P. Crawford homered in the bottom of the first inning, setting the tone for the evening. Astros’ rookie Bryce Miller, who had previously not allowed a run in two starts against Houston, continued his scoreless streak, extending it to 15 1/3 innings. However, the Astros turned the tide in the fourth inning.
Yordan Alvarez led off the fourth with a deep homer to right-center field, breaking Miller’s impressive scoreless streak against them. Jose Abreu and Michael Brantley, who returned after missing eight games due to right shoulder soreness, followed with consecutive singles to center. Mauricio Dubon then delivered a critical blow with a three-run home run over the left-center field wall, putting the Astros ahead 4-1.
The Mariners quickly responded in the bottom of the fourth. Cal Raleigh and Sam Haggerty ignited the rally with back-to-back singles, and Jose Caballero’s forceout left runners at the corners. A walk to Crawford loaded the bases, and Eugenio Suarez lined a two-run single to left, narrowing the gap to 4-3.
The sixth inning saw tensions flare as the benches cleared after Astros reliever Hector Neris struck out Julio Rodriguez. Words were exchanged between Neris and Rodriguez, leading to a confrontation near the third-base line before order was restored.
The Astros capitalized on this momentum shift, scoring three runs in the seventh inning and adding another in the eighth to secure their victory. Kyle Tucker’s run-scoring double, along with RBI singles from Alex Bregman, Abreu, and Brantley, solidified their offensive prowess.
Martin Maldonado contributed to the Astros’ commanding lead with a towering home run into the bullpen in left field during the eighth inning.
Houston’s Kendall Graveman (5-6) earned the win, with Astros relievers combining for five scoreless innings to shut down the Mariners’ offense. On the other side, Bryce Miller (8-7) shouldered the loss for the Mariners, allowing four runs in four innings.
The Astros’ victory enhances their postseason aspirations, while the Mariners face increased pressure to secure their spot in the playoffs. With only a few games remaining, the race for the final wild-card spot promises to be a thrilling and closely contested battle.
