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Astros resume set with M's aiming for series victory

Sep 10, 2013 - 2:47 PM (Sports Network) - The Houston Astros shoot for a series win when they resume a three-game set against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

The Astros last won a series from Aug. 23-25 versus the Toronto Blue Jays and recorded a 6-4 triumph in Monday's opener in the Emerald City. Jonathan Villar highlighted a four-run top of the ninth inning with a two-run single and Jose Altuve registered three hits in the win.

"We strung together good at-bat after good at-bat. That was really good to see," Houston manager Bo Porter said of the ninth inning.

Houston also received two runs batted in from Jimmy Paredes and Kevin Chapman picked up the victory in relief with a scoreless eighth inning. Jarred Cosart started and held the Mariners to an unearned run in five innings. Cosart, though, had control problems and walked six batters.

The Astros ended a three-game losing streak and won for only the fourth time in the last 14 tries.

Jordan Lyles gets the nod Tuesday for Houston and owns a 6-7 record to go along with a 5.08 ERA in 24 games (22 starts). The right-handed Lyles has allowed three runs in each of his last two outings and is 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA in three career starts against the Mariners.

Seattle suffered its sixth loss in nine tries on Monday. Brad Miller and Abraham Almonte combined for four hits, four runs scored and three RBI for the Mariners, who put young starter Taijuan Walker to work for the final time.

Walker will rest for the remainder of the season to save his innings and allowed two runs in five frames, striking out eight and walking one in the no- decision. Danny Farquhar had a rough ninth inning and was dealt the loss for yielding four runs -- three earned. He walked two batters as well.

Marc Krauss and Carlos Corporan worked back-to-back one-out walks before Paredes followed with a single to right.

"The two walks, that was the difference there," Seattle manager Eric Wedge said of Farquhar's control issues.

Taking the mound for Wedge's club Tuesday will be Joe Saunders, who is 11-13 with a 4.95 ERA in 29 starts. Saunders is coming off a no-decision at Kansas City on Thursday and was reached for three runs and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings of a 7-6 loss.

The left-hander is 2-5 in his last seven decisions and 3-1 with a 4.63 ERA in six career starts against the Astros.

Seattle has won 10 of 17 matchups with Houston this season and had a six-game winning streak in this series stopped on Sept. 1 at Minute Maid Park.