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Springer hits two homers as Astros beat Mariners

May 25, 2014 - 7:03 AM Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - George Springer's first career multi-homer game lifted the Houston Astros over the Seattle Mariners, 9-4, in the third test of a four-game series.

Springer hit a pair of two-run homers and ended with five RBI for the Astros, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Jose Altuve, Marc Krauss and Jonathan Villar each knocked in a run.

Houston starter Brett Oberholtzer (1-6) picked up his first win of the season after allowing three runs -- two earned -- on six hits over six innings. He had eight strikeouts and one walk.

"I haven't had fun in a while pitching, and tonight I definitely had fun," Oberholtzer said.

Michael Saunders, John Buck and Kyle Seager each had an RBI for the Mariners, who saw starter Brandon Maurer (1-3) give up six runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings.

The Astros jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Altuve led off with a walk and scored on Springer's homer to right.

The Mariners responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half. Stefen Romero walked and Robinson Cano and Justin Smoak singled to load the bases with one out. Seager followed with a grounder to first baseman Krauss, whose throw to second ended up in the outfield. A pair of runs scored on the play.

Houston took control with a five-run fifth. Chris Carter led off with a double, moved to third on Alex Presley's single and crossed the plate when Villar grounded into a fielder's choice. Altuve added an RBI single before Springer's second homer of the game. Tom Wilhelmsen took over for Maurer and eventually gave up an RBI single to Krauss.

The Astros tacked on two more runs in the sixth. With the bases loaded and no outs, Wilhelmsen threw a wild pitch to force in a run. Springer's RBI groundout made it a 9-2 contest.

Seattle got a run back in the bottom half when a run scored on a fielder's choice.

Buck's RBI groundout in the eighth accounted for the final margin.

"That wasn't much of a game," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. "We didn't give ourselves much of an opportunity. We've had our share of close games this year, and that's a little tough to handle. Nobody ever wants that type of game, but when it happens, it happens. You move on and get ready for the next one."

Game Notes

Springer missed the first two games of the series with a sore hip flexor ... Oberholtzer was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City before the game ... Cano extended his career-best streak of games reaching base to 31 with a 2- for-4 night. It is the longest streak by a Mariners player since Ichiro Suzuki reached in 43 straight games in 2009 ... Seattle outfielder James Jones extended his hitting streak to 14 games ... Wilhelmsen gave up three runs on two hits over 1 2/3 innings.