The Houston Astros had their chances Sunday night. They just couldn’t cash them in.
Houston fell 3-2 to the Seattle Mariners at Daikin Park, dropping the rubber match of the three-game series despite putting the tying run 90 feet away in the eighth inning.
Seattle struck first when Randy Arozarena launched a solo home run off Hunter Brown in the opening inning. The Mariners made it 2-0 in the third after Brown issued back-to-back walks to Brock Rodden and Brendan Donovan. Rodden eventually scored on a two-out single by Dominic Canzone.
Jeremy Peña cut the deficit in half in the fourth, sending his 14th home run of the season to right field.
Brown kept the Astros within striking distance despite struggling with his command. The right-hander allowed two runs on three hits over five innings, striking out five and walking five.
Seattle added what proved to be the deciding run against Bennett Sousa in the sixth when Cal Raleigh hit a solo homer to left. Nick Allen answered in the bottom of the inning with his second home run of the season, again pulling Houston within a run at 3-2.
The Astros’ best opportunity came in the eighth. With two outs, Yordan Alvarez singled before Isaac Paredes followed with another hit. Jose Altuve then singled to load the bases, bringing Daulton Varsho to the plate with a chance to tie the game or put Houston ahead. Varsho struck out swinging, leaving all three runners stranded.
Josh Hader worked a scoreless ninth to keep the deficit at one, but Houston could not mount one final rally against Andrés Muñoz. LaMonte Wade Jr. drew a one-out walk before Yainer Diaz and pinch-hitter Taylor Trammell struck out to end the game.
Houston finished with seven hits but managed just two runs, both on solo homers from Peña and Allen. The loss drops the Astros to 63-62 and 4-6 over their last 10 games.
Texas also lost Sunday, allowing Houston to maintain its two-game lead in the AL West.
The Astros have Monday off before opening a three-game series against the Angels on Tuesday at Daikin Park.
