| Sea |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
| Hou |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
X |
3 |
Date of game: 4/23/2013
|
Recap: Houston vs. Seattle
Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Marwin Gonzalez homered and the Astros bullpen allowed just one hit over four innings as Houston downed the Seattle Mariners, 3-2, on Tuesday night.
Bud Norris (3-2) lasted just five innings but surrendered just one run for Houston, which snapped a three-game losing streak. Jose Veras pitched a perfect ninth for his second save of the year.
"I didn't really get my groove for awhile, didn't really have the night, but that's going to happen," said Norris. "So, to get through five and keep it a one-run ball is what it's all about and to get the win is huge."
Matt Dominguez sprayed two hits for the Astros, who won despite striking out a combined 15 times.
Hisashi Iwakuma (2-1) was brilliant in the losing effort, striking out a season-best 11 batters. Iwakuma did yield six hits and three runs -- two earned -- in five innings of work.
Kendry Morales had two hits, including his third home run of the season, while Justin Smoak and Michael Morse each went 2-for-4.
"Had guys on and hit balls hard," said Smoak. "Just things didn't go our way tonight."
Seattle threatened to get things started in the first inning, but after loading the bases, Norris got Raul Ibanez to ground to Gonzalez to end the threat.
Ibanez then muffed a ball in left field in the bottom of the frame, allowing Jason Castro to come around to score, giving Houston the early 1-0 advantage.
The Mariners tied things up next inning on Endy Chavez's two-out double to right-center field. Dustin Ackley crossed the plate before Chavez got greedy trying to stretch out a triple. He was tagged out between second and third.
Houston added its final two runs in the third inning. Gonzalez led off with a home run to right on a 2-0 count. After allowing singles to Jose Altuve and Fernando Martinez, Iwakuma struck out the next two hitters he faced. Carlos Pena was then intentionally walked to load the bases, but Iwakuma hit Justin Maxwell to force in what would become the decisive run.
Morales went yard in the seventh inning off Travis Blackley to round out the margin.
Game NotesCastro stole the first base of his career ... Houston hit 0-for-14 with
runners in scoring position ... Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager is on a 12-
game hitting streak ... Prior to the game, the Mariners placed Franklin
Gutierrez on the 15-day DL with a strained right hamstring.
