Mariners Shut Out Astros in AL West Opener; Houston Drops

The Houston Astros’ playoff hopes took a hit Friday night. They dropped the opener of a crucial AL West series against the Seattle Mariners, losing 4-0 at T-Mobile Park.

Seattle’s pitching and timely power completely shut down Houston’s offense. The Astros fell one game back in the division race as their bats never got going.

Hunter Brown gave Houston another quality start and hit a big career milestone. Still, the Mariners’ home runs and relentless pitching just proved too much.

Seattle Strikes Early and Often

The Mariners didn’t waste any time. Julio Rodríguez smashed a solo homer in the first inning, making it clear Seattle’s hitters meant business.

Brown kept fighting, but in the fourth, Eugenio Suárez blasted another solo shot to double the lead. Both homers came with two outs, which just shows how dangerous Seattle can be when you think you’re almost out of trouble.

Power by Committee

Seattle’s offense didn’t lean on just one guy. Four different Mariners hit solo homers, which really speaks to their lineup depth.

This spread-out power meant Houston’s pitchers couldn’t just avoid one batter. The pressure never let up.

Hunter Brown’s Milestone Overshadowed

There was at least one bright spot for Houston. Hunter Brown struck out nine Mariners over six innings, racking up his 21st quality start of the season and reaching the 200-strikeout milestone.

That puts him as just the 18th pitcher in Astros history to hit 200 Ks—pretty impressive for a young arm still learning the ropes.

When Quality Isn’t Enough

Brown’s line—six innings, two earned runs, nine strikeouts—should’ve given the Astros a shot. But with zero run support, his outing just wasn’t enough.

Both homers he allowed ended up being decisive. Houston couldn’t answer back against Seattle’s pitching, and that was that.

Mariners’ Pitching Seals the Deal

Seattle’s win came down to dominant pitching. Rookie Bryan Woo retired the first 10 Astros and gave up just one hit over five innings before leaving with pectoral tightness.

Houston couldn’t take advantage of his early exit, which honestly feels like a missed opportunity.

Lights-Out Bullpen Work

The Mariners’ bullpen—Eduardo Bazardo, Matt Brash, and Andrés Muñoz—handled the last four innings perfectly. They didn’t allow a single hit after the sixth.

The Astros didn’t even come close to threatening a rally.

Offensive Struggles Continue for Houston

It was another rough night for Houston’s hitters. They managed just three hits and never got a runner past second base.

This was their 11th shutout loss of the season, which is starting to look like a real problem for a team with October dreams.

Missed Opportunities Hurt

The Astros had a shot in the top of the fourth. Rookie Zach Cole, filling in for the injured Yordan Alvarez, came up with a runner on.

Cole struck out, and the chance fizzled. Houston’s left wondering what might’ve happened if they’d cashed in right there.

What’s Next in the Series

The loss ramps up the pressure for Houston in this pivotal series. On Saturday, Framber Valdez gets the start against Seattle’s George Kirby.

This one feels like a must-win. If Houston pulls it off, the series evens up and the Astros stay within reach.

But if they drop it, the Mariners snag a huge edge in the race—and probably the tiebreaker, too.

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Here is the source article for this story: Astros shut out in opener of key AL West series vs. Mariners to drop to second