The Seattle Mariners cruised to a 7-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday night, escalating their pursuit for the AL West title. J.P. Crawford delivered a pivotal grand slam, while Cal Raleigh added to his impressive season with his 58th homer, boosting the Mariners’ hopes. This win not only completed a three-game sweep of the Astros but also extended the Mariners’ lead over them to three games in the division, with just six games left in the regular season.
As the Mariners achieved their fourth consecutive win and 14th in the last 15 games, they solidified their position as the second seed in the American League, trailing two games behind AL Central leaders, the Detroit Tigers. Seattle aims to clinch the AL West for the first time since 2001, ending the season series against the Astros with an 8-5 advantage.
Meanwhile, the Astros find themselves in a tight race, currently tied with Cleveland for the final AL Wild Card spot. The game started favorably for Seattle, as Jason Alexander struggled early, allowing bases-loaded situations and leading to Crawford’s decisive grand slam. Raleigh continued his hot streak with a solo home run, following a single by Randy Arozarena. This homer was particularly memorable as it came just a day after Raleigh surpassed Ken Griffey Jr.’s franchise record of 57 homers in a single season.
The Mariners’ pitcher, Logan Gilbert, put on an impressive performance, surrendering just three hits and one run while striking out four over six innings. For the Astros, Zach Cole and Isaac Paredes provided some offense with solo home runs, but it was not enough to challenge Seattle’s lead.
Key to Seattle’s success was their ability to capitalize on early opportunities, exemplified by Crawford’s grand slam. The Astros struggled throughout the series, notably missing key chances with runners in scoring position, hitting just 2 for 20 in such scenarios.
Looking forward, both teams have a day of rest before resuming action on Tuesday. The Astros will face the Athletics in a road series, while the Mariners welcome the Colorado Rockies for the start of their next series.
With momentum firmly on their side, the Mariners continue their strong push for the postseason, hoping to replicate their early 2000s success and capture a long-coveted division title.