Astros 6 - 2 Mariners
Final
  for this game

Astros avoid sweep with win over Mariners

Jun 22, 2015 - 12:06 AM Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - Colby Rasmus hit a two-run homer to help the Houston Astros avoid a three-game sweep with a 6-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.

Evan Gattis and Luis Valbuena each hit RBI singles and George Springer added a solo shot among his three hits for the Astros, who ended a brief two-game skid.

Vincent Velasquez gave up one run on two hits and four walks with five strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings in his third career start.

Will Harris (4-0) earned the win in relief and was part of a strong bullpen effort that combined to allow just one more run and two hits over the final 5 2/3 frames.

"Just an overall good win," Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. "A lot of contributions, especially from the bullpen."

Logan Morrison scored twice, while Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano each drove in a run apiece for the Mariners, who had starter J.A. Happ (4-5) give up three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits over five frames to lose his third straight start.

"We couldn't get the big hit to put us over the hump," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said.

Springer opened the game with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch, took third on a groundout and came home on Gattis' base hit to left for an early Astros lead.

In the home half, Morrison and Cano walked before Cruz hit a one-out RBI single to left for a tied game.

Houston reclaimed the lead in the second after Rasmus led off with a ground- rule double and scored two batters later on Valbuena's base knock up the middle.

Seth Smith hit a one-out double in the fourth and Brad Miller followed with a walk. Tony Sipp relieved Velasquez and got James Jones to ground into a force out and Jesus Sucre to fly out to end the frame.

The Astros added a run in the fifth for a 3-1 advantage. Jason Castro and Springer each got aboard with one-out base hits and Castro raced home two batters later when Miller misplayed Gattis' grounder. Happ walked Chris Carter to fill the bags, but fanned Rasmus to limit the damage.

Morrison doubled to start the bottom fifth, advanced to third on a groundout and got the Mariners within a run on Cano's sacrifice fly.

Rasmus crushed a fastball to right-center field in the seventh for a two run- blast and Springer hit a solo shot off Vidal Nuno in the ninth to account for the final score.

Game Notes

Houston extended their franchise record of games with two-or-more home runs to eight ... Springer extended his hitting streak to a career-long 14 games and Gonzalez to seven ... The Mariners went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left eight on base.






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