Astros out to escape Mariners series with split
Late heroics provided by the battery of Hector Nerris and Martin Maldonado proved welcome Houston Astroswho won 3-2 at home on Saturday seattle marinerssetting the table for Astros to earn a split of the four-match series on Sunday
Nerris survived a bases-loaded, no-out pickle in the top of the eighth inning before Maldonado broke an 0-for-21 slump with a solo home run in the bottom of the frame, clinching the margin of victory. . Despite battling injuries in the first half, the Astros Closed to within two games of the division-leading Texas Rangers in the American League West
“We desperately needed it,” Astros said manager Dusty Baker. “We were 1-4 (against) mariners) going into (Saturday), and the fact that we wanted to pick up a game or two this weekend. And the fact that Texas lost.
Right-hander Brandon Bilak (4-4, 3.81 ERA) has been assigned the starting assignment for Houston on Sunday. He recorded the longest scoreless appearance of his career on Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies when he pitched a career-high seven innings while allowing two hits and four walks with four strikeouts in the 4–1 victory.
Is 1-1 with one save in eight career games (one start) against Bielack. mariners, In his first start of the season, Bilak gave up three runs (two earned) on 10 hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings while taking the loss, 3–1. mariners on 7th may
Right-hander Logan Gilbert (6-5, 3.82) is slated to start the series finale for Seattle. He recorded his first career complete game in his most recent outing, recording five hits and seven strikeouts in a 6-0 shutout at the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.
It marked the sixth start of the season with at least seven strikeouts for Gilbert, who has alternated wins and losses in his last seven decisions with a 4–3 record and 3.83 ERA during that span.
Gilbert is 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA in seven career starts against Astros, In his previous outing against Houston, he pitched six innings with six strikeouts while allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while not counting the decision in a 4–2 road loss on July 28, 2022.
by facing Astros left-hander Framber Valdez on Saturday mariners The game is limited in extension against four of the top five starters in groundball rate: Logan Webb and Alex Cobb of the San Francisco Giants, who are first and third, as well as Houston’s Hunter Brown and Valdez, who are fifth and fourth, respectively. are in place. ,
While Seattle only scored two runs on Valdez in six innings, they raised his pitch count to 105 pitches and avoided a double play, Valdez’s calling card. Those results spoke of a good outlook at the plate.
“We have done better against some than others,” mariners manager Scott Servais said. “I think whenever you have a guy with a good sinker or a breaking ball who can hit the ball hard enough on the ground, you really have to be inside the ball. You have to hit the ball another way. Those guys, make you ground ball by pulling the ball
“The path of your bat is very important when you’re facing those guys. If you hit the ball or pop out and go around, it’s a groundball fest and that doesn’t bode well for us.” “
–Field Level Media
