Mariners 6, Astros 3: Astros bullpen wastes Devenski, Altuve

Jose Altuve hit his sixth leadoff homer, ninth overall, and it wasn't a cheapie -- big bomb that ended up on the tracks. Craig Biggio holds the club record for most leadoff home runs in a season with 8 in 2001. Altuve is already 75% towards Bidge's record and it's only Cinco de Mayo. Jose Altuve is currently your American League leader in home runs and stolen bases. No one is expecting a 40-40 season from Gigante, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that he's on pace for quite a bit better than that at the moment.

Chris Devenski looked good, y'all. Better than most Astros pitchers have looked all year, anyway: 6IP, 6H, 1BB, 6K. Springer had to bail him out with a fabulous snag on a Nelson Cruz liner to end the top of the third that would have scored two runs, but at the end of the day, the only damage done during Devenski's outing was a Robinson Cano single that scored Nori Aoki.

The Astros retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Altuve led off the inning with a single up the middle, followed quickly by a walk to George Springer, bringing Carlos Correa to the plate with two men on and no one out -- just like we drew it up in our fever nightmares during the Dark Ages, circa 2013-14. Unfortunately, instead of hitting a 3 run jack to fulfill the homegrown talent prophecy, Correa grounded into a double play, with Altuve advancing to third. Haters would have expected Evan Gattis to promptly strike out and end the inning, however, El Oso Blanco came through in the clutch with an RBI single, giving the Astros a 2-1 lead.

Ken Giles looked great fielding a bunt and nailing the lead runner at third base in the 7th inning. If you'd like an update on his pitching, I'm sure the #Losenow gang in the comments section would be happy to oblige. Tony Sipp was able to induce a double play to end the inning, unfortunately, it wasn't before both inherited runners scored, putting the Mariners back up 3-2.

Tyler White led off the bottom of the seventh with a great hustle double. I'll be honest, when I saw White make the turn around first and head for second, I cringed, because I did not think homeboy was going to make it. Loved being proved wrong, though. Pinch hitter Preston Tucker struck out, but double pinch hitter Jason Castro drew a walk, giving the Astros men on first and second with one out. Did you know that Castro's OBP is currently a robust .347? I had no idea. I was under the impression that he was only allowed to frame pitches these days, not contribute offensively. Altuve up next hit an absolute shot to centerfield that landed all the way up on Tal's Hill. That ball is a home run in 29 Major League parks, but at Minute Maid, we ended up with an RBI double, Castro getting gunned down at the plate, and Altuve advancing to third. Tie ballgame. Springer flied out to right center to end the inning.

Will Harris pitched the 8th inning. There was a hit or something, but nothing really happened.

Correa led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk, but Gattis hit into a double play - the Mariners' second turned in three innings - and Carlos Gomez struck out to end it. Man, top to bottom the 8th inning was super boring.

Robinson Cano hit a three run double off of Luke Gregerson in the top of the ninth. The events that led up to this don't really matter, right? Cano has 14 RBI in four games against the Astros in 2016 -- almost exactly half of his 30 total RBI on the year.

The Astros did not rally in the 9th inning and now sit 7.5 games back of the division leading Mariners.

Obligatory Orbit Update:

Orbit was dressed up in traditional Cinco de Mayo garb... or something. Hardest working mascot in baseball, folks.

The cotton candyman made a helluva one handed catch on a caroming foul ball in the stands down the first base line in the second inning. Didn't even drop the cotton candy. Someone get that man a contract.