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Seattle Mariners Beat Astros With Michael Saunders Speed

By Dan Hughes

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A little bit of home-cooking is just what the doctor ordered. On Sriracha night at Safeco Field, the offense could’ve used the spiciness. The Mariners were held to only six hits, but they made them count as they went on to beat the Houston Astros 3-1 Thursday.

Jose Altuve hit the first pitch of the game off Roenis Elias for a home run and Mariners fans all went, “So that’s the kind of day it’s gonna be.” But Elias settled in, allowing only two more hits, walking four and striking out six in 5.1 IP.

Robinson Cano‘s sac fly in the bottom of the 1st tied the game at 1-1 and then it was a pitcher’s dual.

In a game of anything you can do, I can do better, Elias, Dominic Leone and Astros starter Jarred Cosart took the game to the 7th, tied at 1-1.

In the bottom of the 7th, Dustin Ackley and Stefen Romero led off with singles and Nick Franklin walked to load the bases. Mike Zunino struck out and Cosart gave way to reliever Tony Sipp.

Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Sipp got Cole Gillespie – pinch-hitting for James Jones in one of the most questionable moves made by Lloyd McClendon to date – popped out and it appeared that the Mariners were going to find ways to avoid scoring.

Michael Saunders hit a dribbler to first that should’ve ended the inning, but Saunders raced down the line and just beat Sipp to the bag. After a review of the instant replay, the call was confirmed that Saunders was safe and the Mariners took a 3-1 lead. Both Ackley and Romero scored on an infield single.

Yoervis Medina and Fernando Rodney came in for perfect 8th and 9th innings as the Mariners found a way to beat the Astros at home.

The M’s can go back over .500 yet again with a win tonight. Felix Hernandez takes the mound for Seattle.

BOX SCORE

Batting

Houston

 
ABRHRBIHRBBKSBLOBAVG
José Altuve2B412110012.310
Dexter FowlerCF200002001.264
Matt Domínguez3B401000201.254
Jason CastroC400000303.230
Chris CarterDH300001303.185
Jesús Guzmán1B301000103.209
Marc KraussPH100000000.180
L.J. HoesLF200001101.219
Marwin GonzálezPH100000000.261
Jonathan VillarSS400000002.215
Alex PresleyRF300000102.202
Totals311411411118

Batting

HR – J Altuve (2, 1st inning off R Elias 0 on, 0 Out)

RBI – J Altuve (15)

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out – J Altuve 1, D Fowler 1, J Guzman 1

Team LOB – 7

Running

SB – J Altuve (16, 2nd base off D Leone/M Zunino)

Fielding

DP – 1 (J Cosart-J Villar-J Guzman)

Seattle

 
ABRHRBIHRBBKSBLOBAVG
James JonesCF211001000.321
Cole GillespiePH-RF100000003.250
Michael SaundersRF-CF402200101.271
Robinson Canó2B200101100.322
Kyle Seager3B200002003.234
Justin Smoak1B400000202.226
Dustin AckleyLF411000001.259
Stefen RomeroDH312001001.225
Nick FranklinSS300001302.154
Mike ZuninoC300000104.234
Totals28363068017

Batting

SF – R Cano

RBI – M Saunders 2 (15), R Cano (28)

2-out RBI – M Saunders 2

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out – K Seager 2, J Smoak 1

GIDP – M Saunders

Team LOB – 8

Pitching

Houston

 
IPHRERBBKHRWHIPERA
Jarred Cosart(L, 3-4)6.15334601.394.39
Tony Sipp0.21001000.270.00
Josh Fields1.00001201.718.82

Seattle

 
IPHRERBBKHRWHIPERA
Roenis Elías5.13114611.333.68
Dominic Leone(W, 1-0)1.21000201.141.40
Yoervis Medina(HLD, 8)1.00000301.373.79
Fernando Rodney(SV, 12)1.00000001.582.95

WP – J Cosart, T Sipp

IBB – R Cano (by T Sipp)

Pitches-strikes – J Cosart 105-59; T Sipp 18-8; J Fields 18-13; R Elias 100-53; D Leone 21-17; Y Medina 12-9; F Rodney 13-7

Ground balls-fly balls – J Cosart 9-6; T Sipp 1-2; J Fields 1-0; R Elias 3-5; D Leone 3-0; Y Medina 0-0; F Rodney 3-0

Batters faced – J Cosart 27; T Sipp 4; J Fields 4; R Elias 23; D Leone 6; Y Medina 3; F Rodney 3

Game Details

Game Time: 3:09.

Umpires: HP–Paul Nauert. 1B–Eric Cooper. 2B–Sean Barber. 3B–Tom Hallion.

Weather: 71 degrees, Cloudy.

Wind: 0 mph, No Wind Direction.

Attendance: 13,836.

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