MLB Scores: Astros 5, Mariners 2 - A recap with a curious baseball fan

I live in suburban Harrisburg as one of the few Astros fans located in Pennsylvania. It also means I'm three hours ahead of the Astros when they take road trips to the West Coast. Nevertheless, I volunteered for tonight's recap.

Also unsurprisingly, with both of us having a night off from work, my girlfriend, Sam, wasn't too happy when I told her I was going to watch an Astros game 'til 1 am. However, she was a trooper and watched the game with me.

And by watched the game I mean occasionally paid attention for a few minutes here or there. Before dating me, Sam wasn't much of a baseball fan. She has a working knowledge of the game, but the questions and comments are usually overflowing as you'd expect.

Sam provided some solid commentary to what was another solid Astros' win. Nick Tropeano was impressive in his Astros' debut as he pitched into the sixth inning, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out five.

The right hander changed speeds well with his Oklahoma City battery mate, Max Stassi, and aside from a hanging slider to Mike Zunino, easily controlled the Mariners.

Sam made her first appearance in the top of the second inning. She's a huge fan of the young stud known as George Springer.

When is Springer proposing to me?

I guess I'm not good enough.

Why don't the pitchers wear helmets? They could get hit by the ball too.

That's quite a long conversation that will be hard to explain. They have made padded hats, but the players aren't too fond of them.

After they get a concussion, don't come crying to me.

Well, you're not a doctor, anyway.

But Sam did have good timing. In the second, Astros jumped on top with a two-run single from Max Stassi followed by an RBI double from Jonathan Villar to make it 3-0, good guys.

Seattle cut the Houston lead to 3-2 in the bottom half of the second, but an RBI double roped down the left field line by Jose Altuve pushed the Houston lead to two in the fifth. The 41st double of the season was hit 199 of the season for Altuve, followed later by his 200th, a single in the seventh.

Your thoughts on Altuve, Sam?

He's perfect. He's just so little, but I think he's like the best player on the team. I always see he's doing good stuff on Instagram!

#Analysis

Then came the questions:

Are there coaches at every base?

A second base coach would certainly be very interesting.

Who's that guy that looks like a 17-year old?

That would be Matt Dominguez.

Where can I get one of those sweatshirts?

Are you paying?

Darin Downs was outstanding in his two innings of relief as he did not allow a hit and struck out two. Jose Veras followed with two punch outs of his own in a scoreless eighth inning.

The Astros added another tally in the eighth as Chris Carter singled and stole second (where is this speed coming from?). Alex Presley followed three batters later with an RBI single that scored the speedy Carter from second.

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy!!

Yay, indeed, Sam.

Tony Sipp worked a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his fourth save of the season and the Astros have won four of the first six on this West Coast swing. Houston has also won 11 of 15 and will have an off day tomorrow before heading back to California to take on the Angels.

I'm tired. I thought this game was ending at one.

It's a work in progress, but I think we've added another poor soul to support our Houston Astros.