SEATTLE — George Kirby escaped a bases-loaded predicament and finished six scoreless innings for the Seattle Mariners, who took advantage of three errors by the Houston Astros to win 6-2 on Tuesday and snap a four-game losing streak.
Seattle came within a half game of the Astros themselves in the fight for the final wild card spot in the American League playoffs. They are two games behind the Toronto Blue Jays, who lost at home to the New York Yankees.
The Mariners also moved one game closer to Texas, leader of the American League West Division. The Rangers lost to the Angels.
Houston didn’t help its cause by committing three errors, matching its season-high total. Two of the mistakes directly affected the races.
A bad throw by Venezuelan José Altuve in the third inning allowed Mike Ford to score. In the fifth, Kyle Tucker launched from right field but the ball went past third baseman Alex Bregman and into the Houston dugout.
This allowed Dominican Julio Rodríguez to score.
Kirby (12-10) allowed five hits and struck out four. In the first inning, Houston loaded the bases with one out but did not score.
The victory went to the Dominican Cristian Javier (9-5).
For the Astros, Venezuelan Altuve was 3-for-5 with an RBI. The Cubans Yordan Álvarez 5-0, José Abreu 4-0. Dominicans Yainer Díaz 3-0 with one scored, Jeremy Peña 4-3. Puerto Rican Martín Maldonado 2-0. Honduran Mauricio Dubón 1-0.
For the Mariners, Dominicans Rodríguez was 0 for 2 with a run scored and an RBI, Teoscar Hernández was 1 for 4 with an RBI. Venezuelan Eugenio Suárez 3-0.
