Seattle Mariners Game Recap: M’s Avoid Sweep with 3-2 Win

Apr 22, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Fernando Rodney (56, right) and first baseman Logan Morrison (20) celebrate following the final out of a 3-2 victory against the Houston Astros at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Mariners (6-9) found their groove on Wednesday night at Safeco Field, winning 3-2 over the Houston Astros (8-7) in the series finale. The M’s avoided being swept at home with tonight’s win. J.A. Happ (1-1, 2.61 ERA) was dominant tonight, picking up his first win in a Mariners’ uniform. Roberto Hernandez (0-2, 3.57 ERA) pitched well, but came up on the losing end in tonight’s contest. Fernando Rodney worked out of a jam in the final frame for the save.

The M’s got the scoring started in the bottom of the 1st inning on Wednesday night. Austin Jackson stroked a 1-out single to right field. AJ got himself into scoring position by swiping second base. Nelson Cruz drove in Jackson on a hard hit line drive to left field. The reigning American League Player of the week gave the M’s an early 1-0 lead.

Seattle doubled their lead in the home half of the 3rd inning. Mike Zunino deposited a 3-2 Roberto Hernandez fastball into the seats down the left field line. Zunino has now homered in 2 of his last 4 games, and the M’s held a 2-0 lead after 3 innings tonight.

The Mariners added yet another run in the bottom of the 4th inning. Logan Morrison worked a 2-out walk, and Dustin Ackley followed with a single on a sharp ground ball to right field. The Ack-Attack put runners on the corners with 2 out. Brad Miller extended his hitting streak to 6 games with a single to center field. Crazy Legs’ single plated LoMo, and gave Seattle a 3-0 lead.

The Astros cut into the M’s lead in the top of the 5th inning. Colby Rasmus sparked the ‘Stros offense by yanking a 1-out double down the right field line. Jose Altuve won the batting title in 2014, and the diminutive second baseman came through with an RBI single to right field in the 5th. Altuve’s single made it a 2 run ballgame.

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The Astros cut the Mariners’ lead in half in the top of the 7th inning. Chris Carter led off the frame by clobbering a J.A. Happ fastball deep to center field for a solo home run. Carter is one of the premier power threats in the game, but tonight’s homer was just his first of the season. Carter’s big fly shrunk the M’s lead to just 1 run.

Fernando Rodney was summoned in the top of the 9th inning, and as per always, nail biting ensued. Rodney managed to work out of a first and third situation with only 1 out to record the save. Rodney is never easy on the nerves, but tonight he got the job done. Tonight’s save was his 4th of the season.

The full box score can be found here.

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