Bregman sparks Astros win vs. Seattle
HOUSTON -- Rookie Alex Bregman delivered a game-tying pinch-hit with two outs in the sixth inning to ignite a six-run frame that pushed the Astros to a 8-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park.
Bregman, sidelined by right hamstring discomfort since Sept. 15, dumped an RBI single into center field off Mariners right-hander Felix Hernandez (11-7) to even the score at 4-4. The floodgates opened from there, with George Springer and Marwin Gonzalez driving in two runs each to chase Hernandez and complete the onslaught.
The Astros (83-75) pulled within 21/2 games of the second American League wild card spot with the win. Baltimore (85-72) lost 5-1 to the Blue Jays (87-70) and saw its lead over the Tigers (84-73), who defeated Cleveland, cut to one game.
Hernandez had surrendered just one hit between Evan Gattis' infield single with one out in the first inning and the Astros rally in the sixth. Bregman followed a two-out walk from fellow rookie Tony Kemp and preceded Jake Marisnick reaching on the Mariners' second error of the inning. Springer and Gonzalez doubled and singles as Houston became the first team to score six-plus run off Hernandez, who allowed eight runs (four earned) on 10 hits and two walks, in three consecutive games.
The Mariners (83-74) fell to 16-16 over their last 32 games. Right-hander Jandel Gustave (1-0) earned the win in relief for the Astros.
For a second consecutive outing, Fiers was plagued by a slow start, surrendering eight hits over his first 15 batters faced. The Mariners strung together three consecutive hits in the first inning, with Cruz following a Cano double with an RBI single to center field.
With one out in the second, Jesus Sucre and Ketel Marte produced back-to-back singles to set the table to the top of the Mariners order. Nori Aoki dropped a run-scoring double over the head of Astros right fielder George Springer before Seth Smith followed with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Marte, who scampered to third base on the Aoki double.
Fiers allowed one more hit, an RBI double to Adam Lind with one out in the third, before closing his outing with a flourish by retiring the final seven batters he faced.
Fiers allowed four runs on eight hits with five strikeouts.
NOTES: After not factoring in the decision Monday thanks to a two-run, ninth-inning rally, Astros RHP Collin McHugh remains undefeated in 13 September starts since 2014. McHugh is 11-0 with a 3.05 ERA in September with the Astros, including 3-0 with a 3.10 ERA this month. ... The Mariners trio of 2B Robinson Cano, DH Nelson Cruz and 3B Kyle Seager are in contention to become the first American League teammates to record 30-plus doubles, 30-plus home runs and 100-plus RBIs since the 2001 Athletics (Eric Chavez, Jason Giambi, Miguel Tejada). ... Astros 3B Alex Bregman was a full participant in batting practice and could return to the lineup before the end of the regular season. Bregman took also batting practice Monday and deemed himself fit to continue working on his return from the right hamstring discomfort that has sidelined him since Sept. 15.