(SportsRadio 610) - The Astros are going into the All-Star break nine games above .500, but on a bit of a slump after losing three of four games to the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park.
Mariners starter Logan Gilbert led Seattle by giving up just one earned run (Martín Maldonado's solo shot) on three hits with six strikeouts and no walks seven innings of work.
The Astros scored two runs on four hits in their final 16 at bats this weekend. José Abreu struck out while representing the tying run today, perhaps a fitting way to end the first half, as noted by SportsRadio 610's Adam Spolane.
"They pitched the heck out of us," Astros manager Dusty Baker said of the Mariners, who held the Astros to just one run in each of Houston's three losses. The Astros won Saturday's game 3-2.
Mauricio Dubón, who's filled in admirably at second base in José Altuve's absence and as the Astros' utility player, acknowledged the difficulty of being without players like Altuve, Yordan Álvarez and Michael Brantley.
The clubhouse remained confident after Sunday's loss, Dubón said.
"There's always room for improvement. ... I think we've got dogs in the clubhouse," Dubón added. "I think that everybody here is capable."
Baker seemed just as optimistic, saying the Astros' best days should still be ahead of them.
"It's been very difficult, actually," Baker said. "But we found a way to still win 50 games. ... I'm proud of these guys to this point. But as a manager, you always want more. Whether you get more or not, you always want more."
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