The Houston Astros defeated the Seattle Mariners 10-7 in extra innings in game one of this AL West Matchup in Daikin Park. Houston improves to 63-60 on the year and extended their lead in the divisional standings to 2.5 games.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Peter Lambert got the start for the Astros but did not come out with his best stuff. After getting the first out, back-to-back base hits from Randy Arozarena and Dominic Canzone gave Seattle a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the first.
George Kirby started opposite Lambert for Seattle. He fared a little better, but Yordan Alvarez got to him with a towering solo home run to left field, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
Houston tied the game in the second. With two outs, Christian Walker singled to right field before Cam Smith beat the shift with a triple down the third-base line, scoring Walker from first.
The Astros added three more runs later in the inning. A Kirby balk brought home one run before Isaac Paredes followed with a two-RBI infield single to give Houston a 5-2 lead.
Things settled down for Kirby after that, but his night came to an end in the fifth at 99 pitches after putting runners on first and third with two outs.
Michael Rucker came in out of the bullpen and stranded both runners to end the inning.
Lambert’s night came to an end in the following frame as Bennett Sousa took over. Lambert struggled early but battled through his 19th start of the season, working at least five innings.
Seattle cut into the lead in the sixth after Sousa allowed a two-out RBI single to Victor Robles, making it 5-3.
Bryan Abreu took the mound for Houston in the eighth. After allowing a leadoff walk, Abreu came back with back-to-back outs. He then surrendered a single before Brock Rodden stepped up and delivered a two-RBI ground-rule double for the first hit of his professional career, tying the game at 5-5.
Each side put up a zero in the ninth, sending the game to extra innings.
Seattle broke the deadlock in the 10th with back-to-back RBI hits to take a 7-5 lead.
Houston answered in the bottom half. Paredes and Daulton Varsho each drove in a run to tie the game before Christian Walker demolished a slider to left field for a three-run walk-off home run.
BIG NUMBER: 5
After starting the game with four runs, the Astros went eight straight innings without a run, then the offense exploded in the 10th with five runs to cap off the night.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Christian Walker
Walker didn’t have his best night at the plate; he was 1 for 4 heading into the 10th, but he delivered the big hit when his team needed it. His walk-off home run was his 23rd of the year, and his second career walk-off against the Mariners.
UP NEXT: Houston & Seattle will meet again tomorrow, August 15th, for game two of this series at 6:10 PM in Daikin Park. You can listen to the game on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles.