This story was originally published by Dead Spin
The Houston Astros are back in their customary spot atop the American League West.
If only by the slimmest of margins.
The Astros returned from the All-Star break with a 3-0 victory at Seattle on Friday. The teams are even in the games-back category in the standings, but Houston moved one percentage point ahead of the Mariners.
The Astros are 51-46 (.526) while Seattle is 52-47 (.525) entering the middle game of the series Saturday night.
“It was a very important win, and I just want to start out by saying how proud I am of this group,” said Astros manager Joe Espada, whose team was 10 games back in the division race on June 18 before going on an 18-6 run.
“We have clawed our way through a very difficult stretch early in the season and finally finding ourselves tied in first place. Just proud of this group. They never stopped fighting. They never stopped believing. This is far from over.”
Houston’s Hunter Brown pitched six scoreless innings in the series opener and Bryan Abreu, Ryan Pressly and Josh Hader each added a perfect inning in relief. Yainer Diaz hit a two-RBI single as the Astros scored all of their runs in the top of the third.
“Coming off the break, you want to start off hot,” Brown said, “and keeping their offense to zero runs is definitely a good way to do that.”
The offensively challenged Mariners have lost four games in a row and 16 of their past 24 to watch their double-digit advantage disappear. They have scored three or fewer runs in 15 of those games and managed just four hits Friday, none after Victor Robles’ bunt single in the fifth inning, as their season average remained an MLB-worst .218.
“Our group understands where we’re at,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “Offense has been a struggle for us, trying different things to unlock it and get it going. Just not happening right now.”
The Astros are set to send left-hander Framber Valdez (8-5, 3.66 ERA), who has won his past three decisions, to the mound Saturday against Seattle right-hander George Kirby (7-7, 3.29).
Valdez is 5-3 with a 3.49 ERA in 14 career appearances against Seattle, with 12 starts. But two of those losses have come this season. On May 4 at Seattle, Valdez gave up five runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 5-0 defeat. On May 27 in Houston, he allowed three runs over six innings in a 3-2 setback.
Kirby is 2-0 with a 1.57 ERA in five previous starts against the Astros, with two no-decisions this season. On May 3 at Houston, Kirby allowed one run over six innings but the bullpen gave up four runs in the seventh of a 5-3 loss. He again allowed one run in six innings on May 29 at home in a game the Mariners won 2-1 in 10 innings.
–Field Level Media
