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After last night’s offensive breakout, it looked like the Stros had reverted to the offensive doldrums so characteristic of their feast and famine offensive performance this year.
Before the ninth inning, the Astros managed only two runs and were 1 - 12 with runners in scoring position.
That is, before the Breggie bomb to tie the game in the ninth, and the lead-off, walk-off double by Carlos Correa in the tenth.
The Astros scored their only runs before Bregman’s blast in the third inning starting with a two-out, solo homer by Jose Altuve, his 26th, and first since late July. His homer was followed by a Michael Brantley single and an Alex Bregman RBI double.
FREE CHICKEN‼️#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/a98SPk7YCI
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 8, 2021
After four scoreless innings against Astros starter Jake Odorizzi, the Mariners finally got on the board with two runs in the fifth. They opened the inning with a single and a double to put runners on second and third with no out. But Odorizzi induced two short fly-outs to keep the runners on base. However, J.P. Crawford’s double tied the score for the M’s.
Kyle Seager gave the Mariners the lead with a solo homer off reliever Yimi Garcia in the sixth.
And, (of course) Abraham Toro got his belt in against his former team by doubling in the ninth against Ryan Pressly and scoring on a Luis Torrens single that seemingly put the game out of reach for the Stros.
But Mariners reliever Paul Sewald walked Jose Altuve in the bottom of the ninth, setting the stage for the Alex Bregman homer, his first since returning from IL.
BRAND. NEW. GAME.#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/C1I8yn5vUq
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 8, 2021
Astros reliever Ryne Stanek shut down the Mariners in the tenth inning, with a little help from his friend, Kyle Tucker, who robbed Crawford of an RBI double with a miraculous running catch at the bullpen fence in right field.
Which set up the Carlos Correa walk-off ground-rule double scoring Yuli Gurriel to win the game and the series for the Astros, and pushing the Mariners to 6.5 games behind the Stros.
Jose Urquidy goes for the sweep tomorrow. Game time 1:10 CDT.