HOUSTON ASTROS REPORT | Astros get bitten late by Mariners’ comeback

The homestanding Seattle Mariners needed just about everything they had to beat Houston Tuesday night.

But whatever it takes, right?

In a wild bottom half of the eighth inning, Seattle’s Mitch Haniger led off with a double, and on came Jonatan Clase as a courtesy runner. Clase went to third on a wild pitch and then scored on an RBI double by Josh Rojas, tying the game.

Julio Rodriguez then followed with an infield single that scored Rojas, putting the Mariners – who lead the American League West, somewhat surprisingly – in front, 4-2, the eventual final score.

A sickening fact for Astros fans: prior to the late-game rally, Houston (24-31 on the season) had retired 15 consecutive Mariners batters before the double by Haniger. Houston starter Hunter Brown went six innings, allowing just one run on four hits and had nine strikeouts before giving way to reliever Ryan Pressly, who would take the loss.

It was Seattle’s third straight win.

Houston and Seattle meet again on Wednesday night at 8:40 p.m. Justin Verlander starts on the mound for the Astros – he’s 3-2 on the season. George Kirby (4-5) gets the start for Seattle.

On Thursday, it’s a 3:10 p.m. start, again in Seattle, and then Houston is home Friday for a 7:10 p.m. first pitch against the Minnesota Twins.

Houston had a 2-1 lead prior to the eighth-inning heroics by Seattle, on the strength of a two-run home run by Alex Bregman in the fourth inning that also scored Jeremy Pena.

The Astros had five hits in the game: Bregman and Yordan Alvarez each had two, and Jose Altuve had the other.