By Jordan Godwin
The Associated Press
HOUSTON — Kyle Tucker hit a game-ending homer in the ninth inning, and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 3-2 on Sunday for their fourth straight win.
Tucker drove a 96-mph fastball from Erik Swanson (0-2) deep to right for his first career game-ending homer.
“It was more of a relief for me,” Tucker said. “I put a good swing on the ball and hit the ball well for the first time in a while, it seems like. Hopefully, I can build off of that.”
Tucker entered Sunday hitting .192 with just one home run in 73 at-bats.
Houston also got a terrific effort from its bullpen in its fifth win in six games overall. The Astros won for the 24th time in their last 26 games against the Mariners.
Andre Scrubb, Enoli Paredes, Blake Taylor and Ryan Pressly (1-0) combined for 3 1/3 innings of one-hit ball in relief of Lance McCullers Jr.
Seattle wasted a solid performance by Justus Sheffield, who allowed one earned run and six hits in six innings. Kyle Lewis had two hits and drove in a run.
“Disappointing end to a well-pitched game,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “Sheffield pitched a great game. Got some great innings out of the bullpen, but the pitch at the end costs us. We couldn’t get much going offensively.”
Houston jumped in front when George Springer drove in Abraham Toro with an opposite-field single in the second.
Seattle responded with two in the third. Joseph Odom got his first career hit with an RBI single just under the glove of first baseman Yuli Gurriel, driving in Evan White. Odom scored on Lewis’ single.
Astros catcher Martín Maldonado, who turned 34 on Sunday, singled in Tucker in the fourth, tying it at 2.
McCullers allowed three hits and walked three in 5 2/3 innings. He has allowed just two runs and four hits over 12 1/3 innings in his last two starts after being tagged for eight runs in 3 1/3 innings in a shaky performance at Arizona.
Houston third baseman Alex Bregman reached for the 21st straight game with a single in the first. Dating to last season, his on-base streak of 37 games is the MLB’s longest active streak.
The Mariners have lost five straight.
Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts, ending his 21-game streak of reaching safely.
Birthday steal
After his single in the fourth, Maldonado swiped second for his first steal since 2016 and his third career stolen base in 735 games. He also cut down White when he attempted to steal second in the seventh.
“He’s a pleasant guy to be around and he loves playing,” manager Dusty Baker said. “That was a heck of a birthday present he gave himself and gave us.”
Trainer’s Room
Mariners: LHP Yusei Kikuchi, who was scratched from his scheduled start on Friday with neck spasms, is feeling much better and likely will make his next start in the rotation rather than rush back and risk additional injury, Servais said.
Astros: DH Yordan Alvarez was scratched with right knee discomfort. Alvarez made his 2020 debut on Friday after recovering from COVID-19, homering in his first at-bat. … After placing OF Michael Brantley (right quad) on the 10-day injured list, the Astros recalled INF Jack Mayfield from their alternate training site.
Up Next
Mariners: RHP Justin Dunn (1-1, 4.85 ERA) is scheduled to make his fourth start of the year today against the Dodgers, who start Ross Stripling (3-1, 3.97).
Astros: RHP Brandon Bielak (2-0, 1.76 ERA) will start Monday against Colorado. The rookie has allowed just three earned runs in the first 14 1/3 innings of his career.
