Houston Astros make Seattle Mariners pay for missed opportunities

SEATTLE — Seven. That’s the number of consecutive quality starts Seattle Mariners starter George Kirby had before Saturday’s game against the Houston Astros. He eventually extended that number to eight. Unfortunately for him (and the Mariners), seven was also the number of runners Seattle left on base in a 4-2 loss to Houston.

The loss dropped the Mariners to 52-48 and propelled the Astros into first place in the American League West.

“(A hundred) games,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said in a postgame interview Saturday. “We’ve been all over the place so far this season. Tonight’s game — again — outstanding starting pitchers. … I can’t say enough about the work that (Kirby) continues to put in and the season he’s putting together. … This club goes through a lot. It happens throughout the season. We’ve got guys that are struggling right now to get up to speed and get going. And they know it. They feel it.”

Kirby led off the game for six innings and, as is often the case with Mariners starters, kept the game in his team’s hands. His only blemish was an RBI single to Jeremy Pena in the top of the fourth inning. He also out-pitched Houston starter Framber Valdez (5.2 innings pitched).

For the rest of his career, Valdez matched Kirby’s efforts on the mound. Valdez held Seattle scoreless for five innings and extended the Mariners’ scoreless streak to 16 innings.

Seattle ended that streak in the bottom of the sixth inning, giving up a two-run home run to left field by Kirby that landed just above the “Edgars” sign — courtesy of Julio Rodriguez. The hit gave the Mariners a 2-1 lead.

After Servais took the ball from Kirby, the Astros found their opportunity and reached the Seattle bullpen.

Jake Meyers first hit a two-run home run off Ryne Stanek in the top of the seventh inning. Yainer Diaz then hit a solo home run to left field an inning later off Trent Thornton to make it 4-2.

As is often the case in these close losses, the Mariners had plenty of opportunities to take control. They left runners stranded on the corners in the first inning and left two more in the first and second innings.

Seattle had a chance to come out of this series with a four-game lead in the American League West. The best they can hope for now is a tie. That’s a far cry from the 10-game lead the Mariners had in May.

Bryan Woo will begin the series finale at 1:10 p.m. PST on Sunday.

ASTROS CLOSE THE SAILORS: The Houston Astros tied the Seattle Mariners in the American League West with a 3-0 shutout Friday at T-Mobile Park. CLICK HERE

SAILORS REINTEGRATE KEY OPERATION: The Seattle Mariners reinstated relief pitcher Gabe Speier from the 15-day injured list Friday and designated reliever Mike Baumann for assignment in a corresponding roster move. CLICK HERE

MARINERS’ CITY CONNECT UNITED LOSING THEIR CHARM: The Seattle Mariners lost their first game in City Connect uniforms this season with a 3-0 defeat to the Houston Astros on Friday. CLICK HERE

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