Mariners 4 - 5 Astros
Final/11
  for this game

Springer's infield hit lifts Astros past Mariners in 11 innings

May 3, 2014 - 4:50 AM Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - George Springer's infield single in the 11th inning lifted the Houston Astros to a 5-4 win over the Seattle Mariners in the first matchup of a three-game set.

Jose Altuve singled to lead off the 11th and Dexter Fowler followed with a bunt single. Carlos Corporan then reached on a fielder's choice when his sacrifice bunt was fielded by pitcher Charlie Furbush (0-3), who fired to third but Altuve slid in safely to load the bases.

Springer, who entered the at-bat 0-for-5 with four strikeouts, hit a high chopper to third that Kyle Seager was unable to field cleanly as Altuve raced home for the win.

Anthony Bass (1-0) didn't allow a base runner in two innings of relief to earn the win.

"The bullpen was absolutely outstanding tonight," said Houston manager Bo Porter. "That's a good team win there."

The Astros' bullpen allowed just two hits in five innings of work.

Marc Krauss knocked in a pair of runs for the Astros, while Altuve had three hits and Jonathan Villar added an RBI.

Mike Zunino slammed his fourth homer of the season, knocking in two and Kyle Seager had two RBI for Seattle, which had its three-game winning streak snapped.

Seattle starter Felix Hernandez labored through five innings, allowing three runs -- two earned -- on five hits while walking three to go along with six strikeouts.

"Felix was under the weather tonight," Seattle Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He battled and gave us five innings."

Houston got on the board in the third inning with an ill-advised error from Mariners center fielder Abraham Almonte. Following back-to-back singles from Altuve and Fowler, Jason Castro poked a pitch to deep center where Almonte misplayed the ball, allowing Altuve to cross home.

Krauss brought Fowler home two batters later with a single to give the Astros a 2-0 lead after three frames.

Zunino tied the game in the top half of the fifth after he waited on a 2-2 breaking ball from Houston starter Brad Peacock and crushed it over the short porch in left for a two-run homer.

Krauss added an RBI single in the bottom half to help Houston retake the lead at 3-2.

The margin didn't last long, as Seager delivered a one-out, two-run double with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth to push Seattle in front by one.

Justin Smoak followed with a strikeout and Peacock got out of the jam with a groundout off the bat of Dustin Ackley.

Peacock pitched six innings and was charged with four runs on six hits while striking out six in the no-decision.

Yoervis Medina entered in the eighth and struck out Jesus Guzman to open the home half. Alex Presley drew a walk before Matt Dominguez singled to put runners at the corners. Presley scored to tie the game on an RBI groundout by Villar.

Game Notes

Hisashi Iwakuma (finger strain) is slated to make his first start of the season on Saturday in the middle game of the set for Seattle. Iwakuma was 14-6 with a 2.66 ERA in 2013 ... The Mariners were 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base ... Houston was 3-for-17 with RISP and stranded 14 ... Altuve stole his 10th base of the season ... Almonte added another error in the sixth inning.






Related News