Astros 7 - 2 Mariners
Final
  for this game

Mariners send King Felix to hill versus Astros

Apr 21, 2014 - 2:37 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Not much has gone right for the Houston Astros this season. That likely won't change on Monday when they start a three-game series against Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

Hernandez has been brilliant in four starts for the Mariners, going 3-0 with a 1.91 ERA. He didn't get a decision on Wednesday in Texas, though, through no fault of his own, as Hernandez struck out nine and allowed just one run in seven innings of his team's 3-2 loss.

"After he turns in that outing right there, you want to seal the deal for him," said Mariners catcher Mike Zunino. "He did everything in his power to get us to that spot and it's unfortunate we couldn't. Hopefully next time he has a start like that, we can turn it in for him."

Hernandez, who hasn't won four straight decisions to start a season since 2009, is 2-1 in three starts versus the Astros with a 2.00 ERA.

Seattle lost its sixth straight game on Sunday, falling to Miami, 3-2. Corey Hart hit two doubles and Dustin Ackley and Justin Smoak each drove in a run for the Mariners, who have lost eight of nine.

"The only way we're going to come out of this, is our guys have to step up and perform a little better. It was a great game but we had opportunities to get some things done and we didn't do it," said Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon.

Tom Wilhelmsen (0-1) pitched one inning and allowed one run, while walking two and picking up his second blown save.

As bad as Seattle has been of late, Houston has been even worse and comes into Monday's opener having lost seven in a row after a 4-1 loss to Oakland on Sunday.

Marwin Gonzalez provided all the offense for Houston going 2-for-4 with a solo home run. Jose Altuve added a double for the only other extra base hit for the Astros, who are a miserable 4-15 on the year..

"We have an underperforming team right now, and when you underperform and make the mistakes that we make this is going to be the result," Astros manager Bo Porter said.

The Astros will hand the ball to lefty Dallas Keuchel, who is 1-1 with a 3.50 ERA. Keuchel did not get a decision on Wednesday against Kansas City, but pitched well, as he surrendered a pair of runs and six hits in six innings. He also struck out five and walked a batter in his team's 6-4 loss.

Keuchel is 0-2 in three games (2 starts) versus the Mariners with a 2.40 ERA.

Seattle was 10-9 against the Astros a year ago.






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