Astros Take Sole Possession of AL West Lead with Win Over Mariners

The Houston Astros have taken sole possession of the AL West lead for the first time this season, thanks to a 4-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night. Jake Meyers hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning, and the Astros have now won six of their last eight games.

Meyers’ homer came off former Astros reliever Ryne Stanek, and it cost George Kirby the chance at a victory after he allowed one run in six innings. Yainer Diaz added a solo homer in the eighth off reliever Trent Thornton, and the Astros’ bullpen shut the door from there.

The Mariners, meanwhile, have lost five straight and fallen out of first place for the first time since May 11. They were led by Julio Rodríguez, who snapped a 14-inning scoreless drought with a two-run homer off Framber Valdez in the sixth.

Valdez pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and four walks while striking out six. The Astros’ bullpen, which included Bryan Abreu, Ryan Pressly, and Josh Hader, closed out the final three innings and earned Hader his 20th save.

The win marked the Astros’ first time in first place since May 2, and they will look to build on their momentum with a series against the Texas Rangers next week. The Mariners, meanwhile, will try to get back on track with a series against the Los Angeles Angels.

Notes

• Astros RHPs Justin Verlander (neck discomfort) and Luis Garcia (Tommy John surgery) threw bullpens on Saturday, with Verlander throwing about 40 pitches with increased intensity.
• C Victor Caratini (hip) was expected to catch for a second straight day at Double-A Corpus Christi.
• The Astros will send RHP Ronel Blanco (9-4, 2.56 ERA) to the mound on Sunday, while the Mariners will start RHP Bryan Woo (3-1, 2.45) in the series finale.