Mariners 4, Astros 3 (11): Cano snuffs out Astros playoff chances

The Houston Astros needed to be perfect this week to have a chance at the 2016 playoffs. But like much of the 2016 season, the Astros failed at their first step.

A ninth inning comeback was dampened by a Robinson Cano home run in the 11th inning to lift the Mariners to a 4-3 win. Houston is now 3.5 games back in the AL Wild Card with five games to go — essentially out of it.

Collin McHugh was solid as he pitched seven innings allowing two runs on six hits. But it was James Hoyt that gave the Mariners the key third run when he threw wildly to first base on a sacrifice bunt from Ben Gamel.

The offense was sparked in the ninth for the comeback with a single from George Springer and Marwin Gonzalez — Gonzalez had already picked up a RBI double Monday.

A first-and-third force out by Jose Altuve plated one run and a RBI single from Correa tied the game.t

But Cano’s home run proved to be the winner as he blasted a 1-2 slider deep into the right field stands off Luke Gregerson.