'Catalyst' J.P. Crawford, Mariners go for another win over Astros

The Seattle Mariners might want to consider keeping J.P. Crawford in the leadoff spot.

Because good things happen to them when he's there.

Crawford singled home the winning run with one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning of an 8-7 victory against the struggling Houston Astros on Saturday.

The four-game series will continue Sunday afternoon in Seattle.

Batting atop the order for a second straight night with Brendan Donovan out due to an illness, Crawford went 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs.

"He's been a catalyst for us," said Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who homered after Crawford drew a walk in the first inning.

The Mariners have 17 runs over the past two games, more than they had in the previous eight combined.

They rallied from a five-run deficit Saturday, scoring five times in the fifth to tie the score. Julio Rodriguez, whose first-inning double was his initial extra-base hit of the season, homered to straightaway center to make it 7-7.

Astros reliever Bryan Abreu walked three batters in a row in the ninth before Crawford lined an 0-2 fastball to left to win it. It was his seventh walk-off hit for the Mariners, tying Jim Presley's franchise record.

"Even down 0-2 (in the count), you know he's going to make the most of it," Mariners manager Dan Wilson said of Crawford. "We talk about it, when you're tied or down a run, go back up the middle or go the other way. That at-bat was awesome."

Crawford started the season on the injured list with right shoulder soreness but returned after just one rehab game with Triple-A Tacoma.

"He's a gamer, what can you say?" Wilson said. "He came back as quick as he could. Not only did he want to get back in the lineup, but to contribute in a meaningful way."

The Astros loaded the bases in the ninth off Mariners closer Andres Munoz, but he got Yordan Alvarez -- who had homered each of the past two nights -- to fly out to shallow left to get out of the jam.

"That's the right guy we want in that spot, and you know, good closer made good pitches and we couldn't get that big hit," Astros manager Joe Espada said.

The Astros, who have lost six games in a row, added to their injury woes when shortstop Jeremy Pena left midway through the fourth inning Saturday with right posterior knee tightness. He is scheduled to undergo further testing Sunday.

Pena acknowledged he first started feeling the tightness on Friday.

"I didn't tell anyone, which I probably should have," he said. "I woke up (Saturday) feeling pretty good and went into the game feeling really good, and then it tightened up on me. I think it's best to stay on top of it."

In addition, the Astros sent right-hander Tatsuya Imai, who pitched just one-third of an inning in Friday's start, back to Houston to be re-evaluated for fatigue in his pitching arm.

Houston placed fellow starters Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier on the 15-day injured list with shoulder strains earlier in the week.

Not surprisingly, the Astros have yet to name a starter for Sunday's game.

The Mariners are set to send right-hander Logan Gilbert (0-2, 5.40 ERA) to the mound. He is coming off a 2-1 loss Monday at Texas, where he allowed two runs over six innings.

Gilbert is 6-4 with a 3.33 ERA in 14 career starts against the Astros.

-Field Level Media