The Sports Xchange
Jun 25, 2017
SEATTLE -- George Springer, Yuli Gurriel and Evan Gattis hit tape-measure home runs as the Houston Astros defeated the Seattle Mariners 8-2 on Sunday afternoon at Safeco Field.
Four Astros relievers -- Michael Feliz, Chris Devenski, Will Harris and Luke Gregerson -- combined for seven scoreless innings of three-hit relief. Houston took the three-game series by winning the final two games.
Feliz (3-1) got the victory with two hitless innings in which he struck out four.
Springer and Gurriel both homered in a four-run fourth inning against Seattle starter Ariel Miranda (6-4) as the Astros erased a 2-0 deficit.
Springer led off the inning with his 22nd home run, a 456-foot blast to straightaway center field that hit nearly halfway up the black batter's eye beyond the fence. It was the longest home run hit at Safeco Field this season.
Jose Altuve then hit a chopper down the third-base line that Miranda fielded, but he threw the ball errantly past first in his rush to get the speedy runner. Altuve was credited with an infield single and advanced to second on the error.
Carlos Correa doubled into the gap in right-center field to score Altuve with the tying run.
Two outs later, Gurriel hit his eighth homer of the season, a two-run shot into the upper deck in left field that was estimated at 420 feet.
That was the only inning in which the Astros threatened against Miranda. In 7 1/3 innings, the Cuban left-hander allowed five hits -- four of those in the fourth.
Gattis hit a two-run shot into the upper deck in left field in the ninth off Mariners reliever James Pazos. The 426-foot blast was Gattis' fifth homer of the season and made it 6-2.
The Astros added two more runs in the ninth, on Josh Reddick's RBI single and a bases-loaded walk to Altuve.
Houston right-hander Francis Martes, a 21-year-old rookie, started in place of Brad Peacock (paternity list) but didn't last long because of control issues.
Martes went two innings, allowing two runs on two hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Of his 63 pitches, only 34 were for strikes as he loaded the bases in the first on three walks and in the second on an infield single, a walk and a hit batter.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the second, Robinson Cano hit a double into left-center field.
Two runs scored, but Mitch Haniger was thrown out at the plate on a strong relay throw from shortstop Correa.
Mariners manager Scott Servais challenged home-plate umpire Lance Barksdale's call, believing Haniger had touched home plate with his hand before catcher Gattis applied the tag.
After a review of two minutes, 41 seconds, first-base umpire Angel Hernandez, the crew chief, put both hands out to his sides in what appeared to be a safe call, drawing applause from the crowd of 33,010 and bringing Astros manager A.J. Hinch halfway out to the mound to make a pitching change.
But Hernandez apparently was trying to indicate the call stood.
That led Hinch to return to the dugout, the crowd to boo lustily and Servais to come out of the dugout to confront Hernandez.
NOTES: The Astros went 6-1 on their seven-game trip. They're 29-9 on the road. ... Houston and Seattle are both off Monday. The Astros open a three-game series Tuesday at home against Oakland. RHP Mike Fiers (5-2, 3.81 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Astros against A's LHP Sean Manaea (6-4, 4.05). The Mariners wrap up their nine-game homestand with a two-game series against Philadelphia beginning Tuesday. Left-hander James Paxton (5-2, 3.39) is set to face Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (4-5, 4.32).