Mariners rally late to stun Astros and beat them 4-2

Luis Castillo has another strong outing and Julio Rodriguez continues to improve, as the Seattle Mariners secure at least a series split.

When the Seattle Mariners were on their recent season-high four-game losing streak, fans could be forgiven for having a sinking feeling. All facets of the ball club was struggling, as they fell to 27-26 on the season.

However, the Mariners managed to break the losing streak by avoiding a series sweep versus the Washington Nationals. The 9-5 win seemed to provide the necessary boost, and since then they have won their first two contests of a four-game home series against the Houston Astros.

Around the same time that the Mariners started winning again, Julio Rodríguez seemed to finally rediscover his bat. In his past four games he has eight hits, two homers and seven overall RBI.

This included two hits and a couple of RBI on Tuesday night, highlighted by driving in the go-ahead run with a single. The Mariners would add an insurance score during the same sequence thanks to a throwing error by the Astros, as the home side’s three runs in the bottom of the eighth secured a comeback 4-2 win.

Rojas also has a good night

The other main Mariners bat on the night was Josh Rojas, who similarly had two hits and tied the game at 2-2 in the eighth with a RBI double. Overall the Mariners had just seven hits and one walk, but it proved to be enough.

Speaking to the media postgame, Rojas explained the mindset of the players despite trailing until late on. He said:

“You can’t panic out there. And I think tonight was another case of that. Being down a run for majority of the game, it felt like, but there was no sense of panic. I think everybody knew, we’ve just got to put together one good inning.”

Rojas also discussed what was going on during his crucial at-bat, which tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth, He said:

“I was just trying to beat (Ryan Pressly’s) spin to the spot. He threw a well-located cutter and (it didn’t go) exactly where I wanted to hit it. I was trying to get it to stay in the air to right center on the spin coming towards me. He located it well down and in, (but) luckily I got it by (Jose) Abreu.”

The Mariners had taken an early lead in the bottom of the first, thanks to Rodríguez’s first RBI of the night. However, they fell behind in the top of the fourth after a two-run blast by Alex Bregman, who would go on make the fateful throwing error late on in the game.

Castillo continues to pitch well for the Mariners

That the Astros only scored two runs, was in large part thanks to another excellent outing from Luis Castillo. Including Tuesday night, he has now gone eight consecutive starts allowing two or less earned runs, after beginning the 2024 season giving up four earned runs in three straight appearances.

Mariners manager Scott Servais was full of praise for his staff ace. He said:

“He gives us a chance. He just keeps us in the game, keeps grinding and as the game gets going along, his stuff gets a little bit better and better.”

Castillo preferred to focus on the Mariners’ success as a whole, rather than just his own. Speaking through his interpreter postgame, he said:

“What can I say about the team? That eighth inning came, and it felt like the whole team just said, ‘OK, now it’s time to win.'”

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Once Castillo left the game, the Mariners’ bullpen more than did its part to keep the ball club in the game. Austin Voth, Tayler Saucedo and Ryne Stanek all pitched one scoreless inning and didn’t even allow a hit between them, as they combined for four strikeouts and just one walk.

Servais is understandably relieved his players have been able to overcome their recent struggles and get back on the winning track. He said:

“We’re on a good roll here. You know, after having a rough little end of the road trip there, it’s nice to see guys get back going again, confidence coming and again, it’s how we win games. We pitch really well, you play good defense, and you get some big hits and big at-bats late in the game.”

With the win the Mariners improved to 30-26 on the season and held a 3.5 lead over the Texas Rangers following Tuesday night’s slate of action. They will now send George Kirby to the mound on Wednesday night, as they aim to win their series versus the Astros with a game to spare.

What has impressed you most so far during the Mariners’ series versus the Astros? How confident are you they will at least win one more game and secure the series against their AL West rivals? Let us know in the comments section below.