Seattle @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 22, 2013 ) Seattle 7, Houston 1

The Seattle Mariners found some offense in their bats in the series opener and would like to visit home plate often again in Tuesday’s second contest of a three-game series against the host Houston Astros. Seattle had scored eight runs in a six-game span before smacking three homers among 12 hits in Monday’s 7-1 victory. Houston has lost eight of nine games and its 5-14 record is second-worst in franchise history.

The only worse start for the Astros was a 4-20 beginning to the 1969 campaign. Houston is playing its first season as a member of the American League West and has been taking repeated lumps. “It’s tough,” Astros first baseman Carlos Pena told reporters after Monday’s contest. “We take pride in what we do, and every time we lose it eats away a little piece of us – there’s no doubt about that.” Seattle ace Felix Hernandez recorded his 100th career victory in Monday’s opener when Kyle Seager, Jesus Montero and Kendrys Morales all hit homers.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Seattle), Comcast SportsNet Houston

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Hisashi Iwakuma (2-0, 1.69 ERA) vs. Astros RH Bud Norris (2-2, 4.74)

Iwakuma has been outstanding by allowing 12 hits and two walks in 26 2/3 innings. The one problem area is that he has given up four homers, which has accounted for all five runs off him. Iwakuma has struck out 18 and has allowed four or fewer hits in each of his four outings. Pena and Chris Carter – both 0-for-2 – are the only Houston batters who have faced him.

Norris didn’t make it out of the first inning in his last outing when he gave up six runs in two-thirds of an inning in a loss to Oakland. The poor outing came five days after he blanked the Los Angeles Angels on three hits over seven innings. Norris gave up more earned runs against Oakland than in his first previous three starts combined (four). Raul Ibanez (3-for-12, three RBIs) is the only Seattle player with more than five career at-bats against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Seager is 7-for-12 over the past three games and has a career-best 11-game hitting streak.

2. Houston OF Rick Ankiel hit his team-high fifth homer in the series opener.

3. Mariners OF Franklin Gutierrez (hamstring) left after four innings and will be re-evaluated Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Mariners 5, Astros 1