In Seattle on Saturday night, Jake Meyers hit a decisive two-run homer off former Houston reliever Ryne Stanek in the seventh inning, leading the Astros to a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners. This win allowed the Astros to claim the AL West lead for the first time this season.
After spending the first 3½ months of the season trailing, Houston has surged to the top, winning six of their last eight games.
“It’s great to hear, but it’s like being down 10 or 12 games earlier in the season,” Meyers commented. “We’ve kept the same mindset: just keep winning and playing as a team, and we’re strong when we do that.”
The Mariners, who have now lost five games in a row, fell out of first place for the first time since May 11. Mariners manager Scott Servais acknowledged the team’s struggles, noting that the season has been challenging and that the Astros are currently playing very well.
Meyers’ home run came on a 1-2 pitch from Stanek (6-3) and was his 11th of the season. Stanek had walked Jeremy Peña to start the inning, and Meyers’ homer prevented George Kirby from earning a win despite a strong six-inning performance.
Yainer Diaz added a solo homer in the eighth inning off Trent Thornton, hitting it off the top of the wall.
Julio Rodríguez ended Seattle’s 14-inning scoreless streak with a two-run homer off Framber Valdez in the sixth, putting the Mariners ahead 2-1. Rodríguez nearly hit another home run in the eighth, but Trey Cabbage made a leaping catch at the wall. Cabbage even mimicked Rodríguez’s signature “no fly” gesture in response.
The Astros made two crucial defensive plays in the eighth inning: Joey Loperfido’s diving catch of Mitch Garver’s drive and a play by Cabbage, who made a remarkable catch. Meyers praised these plays as vital.
Valdez pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up three hits, four walks, and striking out six. Tayler Scott (7-3) secured the last out of the sixth, and Bryan Abreu, Ryan Pressly, and Josh Hader completed the game, with Hader earning his 20th save.
Valdez felt he threw mostly well, with the only mistake being the pitch Rodríguez hit out.
Kirby allowed four hits, struck out six, and his only run allowed was an infield single by Peña that scored Alex Bregman.
In an unusual moment, Houston’s Yordan Alvarez struck out at the end of the first inning due to a pitch-clock violation for not being ready in the box.
For the Astros, pitchers Justin Verlander (neck discomfort) and Luis Garcia (Tommy John surgery) threw bullpens, with Verlander increasing his intensity and Garcia throwing 15 pitches. Both are expected to throw again early next week. Catcher Victor Caratini, recovering from a hip issue, was set to catch again for Double-A Corpus Christi.
Next, the Astros will have Ronel Blanco (9-4, 2.56 ERA) on the mound, who has allowed three or fewer earned runs in his last seven starts but lost his previous outing before the All-Star break. The Mariners will start Bryan Woo (3-1, 2.45 ERA), making his second start since June 24 after allowing four runs in his last outing on July 12.
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