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Laird's big afternoon leads Astros past Mariners

Apr 24, 2013 - 11:23 PM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Brandon Laird went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run to go along with four RBI and Ronny Cedeno had three hits including a three-run shot as the Houston Astros eased past the Seattle Mariners, 10-3, on Wednesday in the rubber match of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park.

Chris Carter hit a solo homer, while Matt Dominguez had two hits and drove in a pair of runs for the Astros, who have won two straight. Lucas Harrell (2-2) fanned five batters and gave up one run on six hits over seven innings in the victory.

The Astros also picked up their second series win of the young season, although four of the team's seven overall victories have come versus Seattle. Houston placed starting center fielder Justin Maxwell on the disabled list following Tuesday's 3-2 win after being hit by a pitch in the third inning and braking his hand.

"That felt like a complete game," Houston manager Bo Porter said. "We pitched well, we hit well. We made all the plays, and we came up with a couple big hits."

Jeff Smoak hit a solo home run and Robert Andino had one RBI for the Mariners, losers in five of their last six games. Starter Joe Saunders (1-3) struggled through five innings, allowing eight runs on 11 hits to go along with two walks in the setback.

"Forget it easily," Saunders said. "That's it. Bad days happen."

Facing a full count in the second inning, Carter launched Saunders' offering to left for a moon shot home run to put Houston ahead, 1-0.

The hosts struck again in the fourth with one out. Carter drew a walk and Carlos Corporan singled to right to put runners on first and second. Cedeno then hit a three-run bomb to left to make it 4-0.

In the fifth, Robbie Grossman, who replaced Maxwell in the starting lineup, doubled to lead off the frame. Laird answered with his own double to left just one batter later, plating Grossman to make it 5-0.

Seattle finally reached the scoreboard in the sixth, as Kendrys Morales grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, but scored Endy Chavez to cut the deficit to four. That's the closest it got, however, as Houston put the game out of reach in the bottom of the inning with five runs.

Dominguez's single to left drove in Corporan and Cedeno to make it 7-1. Blake Beavan then relieved Saunders and looked to get out of the jam with two outs and runners on second and third, but Laird deposited his 1-1 pitch well over the left field wall to make it 10-1.

Game Notes

Seattle's Seager has hit safely in a career-best 13 games ... Harrell became the first Houston starter in the last eight games to make it through six-plus innings ... Grossman finished with two doubles, becoming the second Astro to hit two doubles in his Major League debut ... Andino's RBI single in the ninth scored Dustin Ackley to account for the final run, while Smoak hit his solo homer earlier in the frame.