Dylan Moore hit a grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Seattle Mariners overcame a seven-run deficit to defeat the visiting Houston Astros 11-8 on Monday night.
Kyle Seager added a three-run homer and rookie Cal Raleigh had a three-run double as the Mariners won their fourth consecutive game and pulled within a game of idle Oakland for the American League’s second and final wild-card playoff spot. The A.L. West-leading Astros had a three-game winning streak snapped.
Right-hander Kendall Graveman (4-0) got the victory with a scoreless inning of relief, and Paul Sewald worked the ninth for his fourth save of the season.
Astros right-hander Ryne Stanek (1-2) got two outs in the eighth but also allowed a hit and a walk. Lefty Brooks Raley came on and walked Tom Murphy to load the bases for Moore, who homered halfway up the second deck in left field at T-Mobile Park.
Raley was ejected from the game after hitting the next batter, J.P. Crawford, high on the shoulder with a pitch.
Kyle Tucker hit a three-run homer and Abraham Toro followed with a solo shot in a six-run first inning for the Astros. Martin Maldonado led off the fourth with a homer to make it 7-0.
Raleigh’s bases-loaded double in the bottom of the inning sparked the Mariners’ comeback.
The Astros added a run in the fifth as Carlos Correa led off with a double and scored on a two-out single by Maldonado.
Seager’s three-run shot to right in the bottom of the inning pulled Seattle within 8-6.
The Mariners made it 8-7 in the sixth as Luis Torrens walked with one out, reached second on a wild pitch and scored on Shed Long Jr.’s single to center.
Mariners right-hander Darren McCaughan, making his second major league appearance and his first start, settled down after the first inning. He gave up seven runs on eight hits in four innings, with one walk and two strikeouts. He allowed all three Houston homers.
Astros right-hander Luis Garcia couldn’t make it through the fifth despite being staked to the big lead. Garcia gave up six runs — five earned — on six hits in 4 2/3 innings, with one walk and a career-high nine strikeouts.
–Field Level Media