Astros stay hot, rally past Mariners on late HR
Jul 20, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners left fielder Victor Robles (10) steals second base against Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: John Froschauer-USA TODAY Sports Jake Meyers hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning as the Houston Astros took a one-game lead in the American League West with a 4-2 victory against the host Seattle Mariners on Saturday night.
Yainer Diaz also went deep for the Astros, who improved to 19-6 in their past 25 games, erasing a 10-game deficit to the Mariners in the division race. Houston's 3-0 win in Friday's series opener pushed the club into first place over Seattle by one percentage point.
Julio Rodriguez homered for the Mariners, who have lost five in a row and 17 of 25.
Astros reliever Tayler Scott (7-3) got the victory and Josh Hader worked the ninth for his 20th save of the season.
With Houston trailing 2-1, Jeremy Pena led off the seventh by drawing a walk off reliever Ryne Stanek (6-3). Meyers hit a 1-2 fastball just over the 380-foot sign in right-center field to put the Astros ahead with his 11th homer of 2024.
Diaz added a solo shot to left, his eighth homer of the season, off Trent Thornton with two outs in the eighth to provide an insurance run.
Houston right fielder Trey Cabbage robbed Rodriguez of a second homer with a leaping catch at the wall in the eighth.
The Astros broke a scoreless tie in the fourth. Alex Bregman was hit by a pitch and Diaz lined a one-out single to right, sending Bregman to second. With two outs, Bregman stole third and scored on Pena's infield single on a high chopper to third baseman Dylan Moore.
The Mariners, who were blanked 3-0 in the series opener Friday, took the lead in the sixth. Victor Robles drew a leadoff walk and Rodriguez hammered a two-run shot down the left-field line on a 2-2 curveball, his 11th homer of the season.
Both starters pitched well but neither factored into the decision.
Astros left-hander Framber Valdez allowed two runs on three hits in 5 2/3 innings, with four walks and six strikeouts.
Mariners right-hander George Kirby gave up one run on four hits over six innings. Kirby didn't walk a batter and fanned six.
--Field Level Media
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