McCullers dominates in Astros win over Mariners
HOUSTON -- Lance McCullers delivered a masterful performance coming off a missed turn in the rotation while George Springer supplied the offense in the Houston Astros 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Monday at Minute Maid Park.
McCullers (4-2) produced his best start of the season, working seven dominant innings in his first start since June 22. He allowed one run on five hits and one walk while matching his season high of 10 strikeouts.
Sidelined by a blister on his right index finger last week against the Angels, McCullers pitched with impressive efficiency against Seattle (43-40). He retired 14 consecutive Mariners during the middle stretch of his outing and also danced around trouble in the first and seventh innings.
The Mariners placed runners at third base with no outs against McCullers twice yet came away empty both times. Leonys Martin smoked a leadoff triple to center field in the first inning yet ran into a 2-3-1 double play while trying to score while Astros catcher Jason Castro threw to first base to complete the strikeout on Robinson Cano. Marwin Gonzalez followed with a throw home to McCullers, who applied the tag.
McCullers allowed the first three batters to reach base in the seventh inning before wiggling his way out of danger to protect his one-run lead. Dae-Ho Lee, whose RBI single in the second inning scored Kyle Seager and accounted for the lone run against McCullers, hit a sharp grounder back to the mound that McCullers fielded before throwing home to start a 1-2-3 double play.
McCullers then induced a lineout from Adam Lind.
The Astros (44-39) struck quickly off Mariners left-hander Wade Miley (6-5) in the bottom of the first, with Springer stroking a leadoff double to left-center field and later scoring when third baseman Luis Valbuena lifted a sacrifice fly to Martin in center field with the bases loaded.
Miley surrendered five hard-hit balls in the first but just one run and he settled in soon thereafter, allowing just three runners over the ensuing three innings before Springer stepped to the plate in the fifth.
Ahead 1-0 in the count, Springer drilled his 19th home run to left-center to push the Astros back in front. Miley surrendered two more hits but pitched effectively before departing with two outs in the seventh, allowing two runs on seven hits, two walks with two strikeouts.
Astros right-handers Luke Gregerson and Will Harris retired the Mariners in order in the eighth and ninth innings, with Harris recording his eighth save.
NOTES: Simone Biles, a four-time U.S. all-around gymnastics champion and native of Houston suburb Spring, tossed a ceremonial first pitch prior to the game. Biles will represent the United States in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio next month. ... Mariners RHP Felix Hernandez will throw a simulated game on Wednesday. Hernandez, placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 1 with a right calf strain, is scheduled to work three 15-pitch innings before the series finale against the Astros. ... Mariners RHP Taijuan Walker, scheduled to start on Tuesday, remains under close observation as he continues to deal with right foot tendinitis. Walker pitched effectively against the Orioles on June 30 in his first outing since having his spot in the rotation skipped. ... The Astros took batting practice on Monday, a rarity for a day game.