Christian Walker capped a wild night at Daikin Park with a three-run walk-off homer in the 10th inning, lifting the Houston Astros to a 10–7 win over the Seattle Mariners on Friday.
Houston was down to its final out and trailing 7–6 before Jose Altuve and Daulton Varsho delivered consecutive two-strike singles, with Varsho’s hit tying the game. Walker then sent Andrés Muñoz’s slider into the left-field seats for his 23rd home run of the season.
Live by the slider, die by the slider.
It was a dramatic start to a nine-game homestand that could go a long way toward determining Houston’s position in the AL West. The Astros entered Friday with a two-game lead over Texas and having lost seven of their first eight meetings with Seattle this season.
The Mariners jumped out to a 2–0 lead in the first, but Yordan Alvarez quickly answered with his 36th home run of the season, moving back within one of Kyle Schwarber for the Major League lead.
Houston broke through for four runs in the second. Walker singled and scored on Cam Smith’s triple, Jeremy Peña drove in Smith, and after George Kirby intentionally walked Alvarez, Isaac Paredes brought home two more with a single for a 5–2 lead.
Peter Lambert settled down after the first, allowing four hits and two runs over five innings with six strikeouts.
Seattle gradually erased Houston’s lead against the bullpen. Victor Robles drove in a run in the sixth, and the Mariners scored twice against Bryan Abreu in the eighth, with Brock Rodden’s two-out ground-rule double tying the game at 5.
Josh Hader kept the game tied in the ninth, but the Mariners struck for two runs against Enyel De Los Santos in the 10th. Robles tripled home the automatic runner before Rodden’s sacrifice fly made it 7–5.
Then came the comeback.
Alvarez moved automatic runner Peña to third before Paredes singled him home, cutting the deficit to 7–6. Nick Allen pinch-ran for Paredes, but Taylor Trammell struck out, leaving the Astros one out from another loss to Seattle.
Altuve, returning after missing Wednesday’s game with a left foot contusion, fell behind 0–2 before lining a single to right that sent Allen to third. Varsho then fell behind 1–2 before grounding a game-tying single into left.
That brought up Walker.
With two outs and two runners aboard, Walker launched Muñoz’s slider over the left-field wall, ending the game with one swing and sending the Astros pouring out of the dugout to meet him at home plate.
Walker finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs, while Paredes went 2-for-5 and drove in three. Alvarez had two hits, including his 36th homer, and Altuve went 2-for-5 with two stolen bases in his return. Houston finished with 12 hits and went 5-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
The win opened Astros Hall of Fame Weekend at Daikin Park. Alan Ashby and the late Phil Garner will be inducted into the Astros Hall of Fame before Saturday’s game.
The Astros and Mariners continue the series Saturday, with Hayden Wesneski scheduled to face Seattle right-hander Logan Gilbert. First pitch is set for 6:10 p.m. CT.
Houston won’t get another opening this good. The opportunity to take control of the AL West starts Friday night.
