Mariners 6, Astros 3
HOUSTON -- Robinson Cano delivered a bases-clearing double in the ninth inning as the Seattle Mariners twice rallied against the Houston Astros' bullpen for a 6-3 win on Thursday night at Minute Maid Park.
Houston closer Luke Gregerson (0-1) staggered throughout the ninth, allowing two singles and a walk in advance of his facing Cano. One cutter later, Seattle (17-11) extended its winning streak to four games.
Cano finished 3-for-5 with four RBIs. His clutch hit followed one by right fielder Seth Smith two innings earlier, with Smith lacing a two-run single off Astros left-hander Tony Sipp to lift the Mariners to a 3-2 lead.
Houston (10-19) turned to its bullpen after rookie right-hander Chris Devenski departed with a 2-1 lead. But Ken Giles allowed the two baserunners that scored in the seventh before Gregerson faltered later.
Astros second baseman Jose Altuve erased the 3-2 deficit with his RBI double in the bottom of the seventh, but Houston squandered an opportunity to reclaim the lead when third base coach waved home slow-footed catcher Jason Castro on the Altuve drive to center field.
Castro was on first when Altuve delivered his hit off Nick Franklin (2-1) and was easily erased at the plate for the second out of the inning. Mariners closer Steve Cishek notched his ninth save on the season.
For a second consecutive start, Devenski was good enough to earn the victory only for that decision to prove elusive. When he made his first career start at Oakland, his offense betrayed him, and while the Astros didn't exactly light up the scoreboard against Mariners left-hander Wade Miley, Devenski left with a lead following six quality innings.
Devenski labored, retiring the Mariners in order only once (the fourth inning) while dodging significant threats in the second, fifth and sixth.
Even in the third inning when he allowed an RBI single to Robinson Cano that tied the game at 1-1, Devenski needed a fabulous defensive play from George Springer in right field to limit the damage. Springer made a diving, rolling grab of Nelson Cruz's line drive to preserve the tie as Devenski stranded a pair of base runners to conclude that threat.
Despite the drama, the Astros did enough against Miley to lead heading into the seventh.
Altuve belted his sixth leadoff home run this season -- two off the club record -- to give Houston a 1-0 lead. He scored the second run when Evan Gattis delivered a two-out RBI single in the sixth, an inning-salvaging hit after Altuve and Springer reached with no outs.
NOTES: Astros LF Jake Marisnick was recalled from Triple-A Fresno and batted ninth in the order. With Colby Rasmus slumping and the Astros in need of another right-handed bat to balance their roster, Marisnick ended his short stint with the Grizzlies having compiled only 28 plate appearances. ... Mariners RHP Tony Zych underwent an examination of his right shoulder and the results revealed inflammation but no structural damage. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list May 3 with right rotator cuff tendinitis and will be sidelined for at least four weeks. ... Astros 2B Jose Altuve was leading the major leagues in steals (10) and doubles (13). The last player to lead the majors in both categories for a full season was Cardinals OF Lou Brock (62 steals, 46 doubles) in 1968.