Rookie Jake Meyers’ go-ahead single in the eighth inning helped the visiting Houston Astros rally for a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.
With Houston down 3-2 in the eighth, Kyle Tucker tied the game via an RBI single, his second hit of the night. He stole second base and scored on Meyers’ single to left-center field, capping the two-run frame for the AL West-leading Astros, who have won eight of 11.
Houston’s Ryan Pressly walked the first batter of the ninth, then got the next three for his 22nd save of the season.
Meyers, who had two hits, has been a welcomed surprise for Houston, batting .333 with 16 RBIs in 22 games since making his major league debut on Aug. 1.
Jose Marmolejos hit a solo homer and Dylan Moore added a pinch-hit, two-run shot gave the Mariners that 3-2 lead in the sixth. However, Seattle was unable to hold on and lost for the fourth time in five games.
The Astros got to Seattle starter Chris Flexen early, scoring two times in the first. With two on and one out, Yordan Alvarez’s deep drive that center fielder Jarred Kelenic couldn’t coral went for an RBI double. Tucker followed with a sacrifice fly.
Recalled from the minors prior to this contest, Marmolejos lined his fourth homer of the season just over the right field wall in the second to cut Houston’s lead in half.
Despite the busy first inning, Flexen regrouped to last 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four.
Astros starter Luis Garcia was charged with two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six in five-plus innings.
The Astros were up 2-1 with runners on first and second when Garcia was pulled in the sixth. After Abraham Toro grounded into a double play against reliever Brooks Raley, Moore went deep over the left-center-field wall for his 11th homer of the season.
On July 26, Moore clubbed a go-ahead grand slam off Raley in the eighth inning of the Mariners’ 11-8 home win over Houston.
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–Field Level Media