HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- Justin Verlander didn't duplicate Sunday's no-hitter in Toronto, but he did limit the Seattle Mariners to one run over seven innings in the Astros 2-1 win Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.
Verlander held the Mariners without a hit for two innings, but that run ended when Shed Long led off the third with a single. Then, with one out, the Mariners grabbed the lead when Dee Gordon tripled, but that's all Seattle mustered against Verlander, who allowed just two more hits the rest of the night. He struck out seven and earning his 18th win of the season, and in doing so, eclipsed the 200 inning mark for the 12th time in his career, still he trailed for much of the night, as Mariner starter Yusei Kikuchi held the Astros scoreless, but that didn't last.
Alex Bregman drew the Astros even when he sent a 1-0 slider from Kikuchi on to the train tracks for his 34th homer of the season, and after Verlander tossed a scoreless seventh, the Astros grabbed the lead with Kikuchi out of the game.
Kyle Tucker led off the last of the seventh with a double off Austin Adams. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Josh Reddick's sacrifice fly.
Josh James took over for Verlander and ran into some trouble in the eighth, surrendering a pair of hits that put the go-ahead run in scoring position, but he found a way out of trouble by striking out Dylan Moore and Mallex Smith. Will Harris earned his second save of the season by striking out a pair in a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Gordon had three hits for the Mariners, who have now lost five in a row, while no Astro finished with a multi-hit game. Aledmys Diaz did reach base three times, thanks to a hit and two walks.
The win improves the Astros to 93-50 on the season, 15-1 against the Mariners, and they remain in a tie with the New York Yankees for the best record in the American League.
Gerrit Cole will take the mound for the Astros on Sunday as they go for the sweep of their 4-game weekend series with Seattle. Felix Hernandez takes the ball for the Mariners.
