Altuve, Astros race past Mariners for comeback win
Jose Altuve had three hits and scored three times, and Carlos Beltran drove in three runs as the Houston Astros shook off a shaky start to beat the Mariners 10-5 at Safeco Field in Seattle.
Altuve scored his third run on a two-run double by Beltran in the eighth for the final margin as the Astros totaled 16 hits (13 singles) and overcame a 5-0 third-inning deficit.
Houston reached double digits in hits for the second game in a row.
Seattle got off to a fast start but blew a big lead again. The Mariners also blew a seven-run lead Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels.
Six different Mariners had base hits in the first three innings, and starter Yovani Gallardo allowed only two baserunners as Seattle jumped out to a big lead. However, Gallardo allowed four runs on six hits with three walks over the next two innings as the Astros cut the Seattle lead to 5-4.
It was all Astros after that.
Houston scored three times in the top of the seventh to take a 7-5 lead.
After Josh Reddick scored his third run of the night to tie it, Alex Bregman doubled in a run, and shortstop Carlos Correa scored on a wild pitch by Mariners reliever Dan Altavilla (1-1).
Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision.
Houston's Mike Fiers struggled from the outset, as the Mariners scored in each of the first three innings. Fiers gave up all five Seattle runs in four innings.
However, the Astros' bullpen was strong, allowing only three hits over five scoreless innings. Brad Peacock (2-0) pitched two innings, giving up one run, for the win.
Gallardo lasted five innings and allowed four runs on seven hits.
The Mariners took a 2-0 lead when Robinson Cano singled in Jarrod Dyson and scored on a fielding error by Correa.
Mike Freeman hit his first major league home run over the wall in right-center in the second inning to make it 3-0 Seattle. Taylor Motter made it 5-0 with a two-run home run in the third.
After Gallardo struck out Beltran and Bregman, he issued a bases-loaded walk to McCann for the Astros' first run.
Houston cut Seattle's lead to 5-2 when Yulieski Gurriel's ground ball deflected off Gallardo, allowing Altuve to score.
The Astros picked up two more runs on four singles in the fifth.
NOTES: Seattle activated OF Boog Powell from the suspended list on Wednesday. Powell, who had served an 80-game suspension for a failed drug test, was added to the 40-man roster. RHP Casey Fien was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma to make room for Powell, and RHP Evan Marshall was called up from the Rainiers to replace Fien on the 25-man roster. ... Mariners RHP Tony Zych (shoulder) threw a simulated game at Safeco Field before Wednesday's game. ... Houston manager A.J. Hinch altered his lineup for Thursday's game, moving left-handed-hitting RF Josh Reddick to the No. 2 spot to break up what has been a righty-dominated top of the order.