Mariners lose to injury-prone Astros, 5-2

Tonight was not the night to be a Mariners fan.

Fans filled Safeco Field with anticipation Tuesday night. With both 2B Jose Altuve and SS Carlos Correa on the disabled list, the Mariners looked to take advantage of a Houston team on a 5-game losing skid. After an exciting 2-0 win the night before, Mariners fans were confident in their hometown team.

Long story short, Tuesday night was not the night for Seattle. Despite Houston’s struggles, scoring just 2 runs in a game makes it hard to win. Jean Segura’s home run and an RBI single by Mitch Haniger provided the lone runs for the Seattle offense.

Mike Leake took the bump for Seattle to face Houston’s Charlie Morton. Morton came into Seattle with a strong 2018 campaign. Though his 11-2 record and 2.89 ERA outperforms Leake’s 8-6 record and 4.15 ERA, both pitchers were locked in. Morton threw 6 innings, allowing just 2 runs on 6 hits. Leake only gave up three runs in 6 innings of his own but was handed the loss with little run support from a slumping Mariners offense.

Jean Segura started Tuesday night’s scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the 4th, which gave Seattle a 1-0 lead. The lead was short-lived as Houston’s Josh Reddick drove a 2-out, 0-2 pitch into right field to score outfielder Tony Kemp the following inning.

The boom-or-bust swing of Astros’ DH Evan Gattis paid off as he took Mike Leake deep in the 6th inning to give Houston a 3-1 lead. Although the Mariners answered with an RBI single to bring Houston’s lead within one, it would be the last run of the night for Seattle.

Two relievers made their Mariners debut Tuesday night. Sam Tuivailala threw 1.2 innings of impressive shutout ball and kept the deficit at one.

Zach Duke came into the game in the top of the 9th inning. Down 3-2, he attempted to replicate Tuivailala’s success. A glimmer of optimism in the recent acquisition of Duke was the fact he had yet to allow a home run on the season. But, in classic Mariner fashion, gave up a 2-run shot to Josh Reddick that virtually sealed the game at a score of 5-2.

A 1-2-3 9th inning for the Seattle offense sealed their fate as they dropped game 2 of their three-game set with the Astros. In addition, Oakland defeated Toronto tonight, bringing Seattle’s wild-card lead to just one game. Don’t worry, though – be nervous once the Mariners are on the outside looking in (if it ever happens).

Wade Leblanc will take the mound for the rubber match against the Astros on Wednesday afternoon at 1:10pm.