Light-hitting Mariners taking advantage of Astros' shaky pitching

Every year, generally come playoff time, the question is asked: Does good pitching beat good hitting?

The current series between the Houston Astros and host Seattle Mariners poses a different query: Does bad hitting beat bad pitching?

The answer, thus far, is yes.

The Mariners, who entered the four-game series that concludes Monday with the worst offense in the majors and now are batting .198, have won the first three games against the visiting Astros, whose pitching ranks last in MLB (6.49 ERA).

That includes a 6-1 victory Sunday that probably could've been more lopsided considering the Mariners went 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 on the bases.

"We're starting to do the things that we do as a team and starting to see it come together here a little bit," Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. "It's a matter of guys feeling more comfortable at the plate, more confident at the plate, being a little bit more patient and waiting to get their pitch."

In the first three games of the series, the Mariners have 24 hits and have drawn 26 walks while scoring 23 runs.

"Definitely been a lot better these last (three) days," Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh said. "I think just relaxing a little bit -- sometimes you want to succeed so badly that you know you can tense up. Everybody in that lineup wants to do good and wants to be the guy to get that big hit for us, and sometimes you just need to relax and let the game come to you."

For the third time in the past four games, the Astros had their starting pitcher fail to make it through two innings because of an injury.

Sunday, it was spot starter Cody Bolton who left with upper-back tightness after walking the first three batters in the second.

"It was that area where (Bolton) got hit with the line drive (in his previous outing)," Astros manager Joe Espada said. "It just tightened up on him. I went out there and asked him because I saw him moving his shoulder and he just said the area was tightening up on him."

The Astros have lost seven games in a row and are 1-8 on their 10-game trip that mercifully concludes Monday.

It's not only the Astros' pitching staff that has been beset by injuries. Shortstop Jeremy Pena (right posterior knee tightness) and third baseman Carlos Correa (lingering illness) both sat out Sunday.

"Tomorrow's another day," Espada said. "We've got to continue to fight."

The Astros plan to send Mike Burrows (1-2, 5.63 ERA) to the mound for Monday's matinee to face Seattle's George Kirby (1-2, 3.60) in a matchup of right-handers.

Burrows lost his last start 5-1 Tuesday at Colorado when he allowed three runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings. Burrows pitched five scoreless innings in his only previous start against Seattle while with Pittsburgh in 2025 but didn't get a decision.

Kirby went eight innings in a 3-2 loss Tuesday at Texas, giving up three runs on six hits. He's 3-1 with a 2.15 ERA in nine career starts against the Astros.

--Field Level Media