Marmolejos, Mariners score 4 in 9th, avoid sweep by Astros
PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 04: José Marmolejos #26 of the Seattle Mariners hits a double during the fourth inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacksat Chase Field on September 4, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Image
SEATTLE - José Marmolejos hit a tiebreaking, two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning and J.P. Crawford padded the lead with two-run homer as the Seattle Mariners avoided a sweep with an 8-5 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday.
Houston won the series opener Monday 11-2 and rallied Tuesday night for a 5-4 victory in 10 innings.
With the score 4-all, Luis Torrens singled with one out in the Seattle ninth and was replaced by pinch-runner Dylan Moore. Jarred Kelenic walked and both runners advanced on a wild pitch by closer Ryan Pressly (5-2).
Marmolejos grounded a single to center to put the Mariners ahead. Blake Taylor relieved and Crawford connected for a drive to right field.
The Mariners trailed most of the game before tying it at 4 on a two-run double by Kelenic with two outs in the seventh.
Diego Castillo (3-5) struck out the side in the eighth for the win. Paul Sewald gave up a solo homer to Alex Bregman in the ninth before retiring the next three batters to end it.
Recently signed Marwin Gonzalez hit a two-run homer and Jose Altuve had a solo shot for the AL West-leading Astros.
Houston starter José Urquidy permitted four hits and two runs in three innings in his second start since coming off the injured list.
Seattle’s Tyler Anderson allowed seven hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Mitch Haniger, Kyle Seager and Ty France hit consecutive singles to load the bases with one out in the first. Abraham Toro followed with a double to right field to score two runs.
Yordan Alvarez opened the Houston second with a single and the Astros cut it to 2-1 when he slid in just before the tag to score on a double by Kyle Tucker with one out. There were two outs when Gonzalez homered into the seats in left field for a 3-2 lead.
Seager walked to open the fifth before center fielder Jake Meyers made a nifty grab for the second out of the inning to rob Toro of extra bases. Meyers stretched out at the end of a long sprint to grab Toro’s flyball and send Seager scrambling back to first.
Altuve’s 27th home run this season extended the lead to 4-2 in the fifth. The Astros had a chance to pad the lead when they loaded the bases with two outs after Anderson walked Tucker. He was replaced by Casey Sadler, who retired Meyers to leave everyone stranded.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: RHP Rafael Montero (right shoulder discomfort) has started a throwing program but there is no timetable for his return. ... C Jason Castro (right knee discomfort) ran on the field Tuesday but still isn’t ready to return after last playing Aug. 25.
UP NEXT
Mariners: Seattle is off Thursday and has yet to announce its rotation for a three-game series against Arizona that begins Friday night.
Astros: Houston also has a day off Thursday before Framber Valdez (9-5, 3.08 ERA) will start in the opener of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.
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