The Astros take game one against the Mariners

With two straight wins over the Texas Rangers the Mariners seem to finally be getting back on the winning track. Much of that can be contributed to Nelson Cruz with his hot hitting of lately that has been sparking the offense. Mr. Cruz got off to a slow start with only a couple of hits in the first series for the Mariners. Since that time he has gone on a terror that has him batting .354 with 8 homeruns in 12 games. Some of the other players that seem to be starting to heat up are Kyle Seager, Robinson Cano and Mike Zunino.

The biggest downside for the Mariners so far has been their pitching. It has been an strange sight since the core of the pitching staff is still intact and have been the strength of the team the last few years. Of those pitchers one of the biggest disappointments so far has been tonight's starter Hisashi Iwakuma with an ERA of over 6. Tonight the Mariners are hoping he will finally bounce back to be one of baseballs top pitchers again.

As the game gets ready to start Hisashi Iwakuma climb onto the pitching mound to face the Houston Astros. The first opposing batter will be Jose Altuve as he hits a fly ball to Robinson Cano for an out. Luis Valbuana is the next man up and hits a homerun. That brings up George Springer as he hits a ground ball to KyleSeager for out two. Evan Gattis will try to keep the inning going as he strikes out to end the top of the inning. In the bottom of the inning Asher Wojciehowski takes the pitching mound for the Astros. His first opponent will be Austin Jackson as he strikes out. Dustin Ackley is the next batter and he singles. That brings Robison Cano to the plate and he doubles as Ackley goes to third. With two on here comes Nelson Cruz and he strikes out. It is up to Kyle Seager to keep the inning going and he flies out to Marisnick to end the 1^st inning. 1-0 Astros.

Jed Lowrie will start the 2^nd inning with a pop up to Kyle Seager for an out. Jason Castro is the next man to the plate and he grounds out to Brad Miller. That brings up Marwin Gonzalez and he singles. Colby Rasmus will try to keep the inning going and he strikes out to end the top of the inning. Seth Smith will start the bottom of the inning with a double. Mike Zunino is the second batter as he strikes out. That brings Logan Morrison to the plate and he flies out to Marisnick. Brad Miller will try to keep the inning alive with a single and Seth Smith scores. Back to the top of the order for Austin Jackson who strikes out to end the 2^nd inning. Game tied at 1.

Jake Marisnick will start the 3^rd inning with a double. Back to the top of the order for Jose Altuve and he has a sacrifice bunt. Luis Valbuana comes up to the plate and he has a sacrifice fly to bring Marisnick home. George Springer will try to keep the inning going as he strikes out to end the top of the inning. Dustin Ackley will start the Mariners half of the inning with a fly ball to Jake Marisnick for an out. Robinson Cano is the next man to the plate and he doubles. That brings Nelson Cruz to the plate, Cano to third on a wild pitch, and he has an infield hit as Robinson Cano scores. Kyle Seager steps up to the ;plate and he doubles. With two on and one out it is Seth Smith's turn and he walks. With the sacks full Mike Zunino comes to the plate and he strikes out. Logan Morrison will try to keep the inning going as he flies out to Marisnick to end the 3^rd inning. Game tied at 2.

Evan Gattis will start the 4^th inning with a ground out to Kyle Seager. Jed Lowrie is next to the plate and he grounds out to Robinson Cano. That brings Jason Castro to the plate and he grounds out to Brad Miller to end the top of the inning. Brad Miller steps up to start the bottosm of the inning with a strike out. Back to the top of the order for Austin Jackson who flies out to George Springer. Dustin Ackley will try to keep the inning going and he grounds out to the pitcher to end the 4^th inning.

Marwin Gonzalez will step up first in the 5^th inning and he flies out to Austin Jackson. Colby Rasmus steps up and he hits a homerun. That brings Jake Marisnick to the plate and he grounds out to Logan Morrison. Back to the top of the order for Jose Altuve as he grounds out to Kyle Seager to end the top of the inning. Robinson Cano will get the bottom of the inning going as he walks Nelson Cruz is the next man to the plate, Cano advances on an error by the pitcher, and he doubles as Cano scores. Joe Thatcher takes over the pitching duties for the Astros. That brings Kyle Seager to the plate and he singles as Cruz scores. With no outs Seth Smith comes to the plate, Seager steals second, and he grounds out to Jed Lowrie and Seager to third. Mike Zunino walks up to the plate and he has a sacrifice fly to score Seager. Logan Morrison comes to the plate and he singles. Brad Miller steps up with a man on base and he grounds out to Jose Altuve to end the 5^th inning. 5-3 Mariners.

Luis Valbuana will start the 6^th inning and he flies out to Nelson Cruz. George Springer steps up and he doubles. Yoervis Medina will take over the pitching duties for the Mariners. That brings up Evan Gattis and Kyle Seager has an error as Springer scores. Jed Lowrie comes to the plate and he singles as Evan Gattis scores. Charlie Furbush takes over the pitching duties for the Mariners. Jason Castro walks into the batter's box and he flies out to Dustin Ackley. Chris Carter, hitting for Gonzalez, steps up to the plate, runner advances on a wild pitch, and he strikes out to end the top of the inning. Will Harris will take over the pitching duties for the Astros. Austin Jackson will start the bottom of the inning with a strikes out. Dustin Ackley steps up to the plate and he strikes out. That brings Robinson Cano to the plate and he strikes out to end the 6^th inning. Game tied at 5.

Colby Rasmus will start the 7^th inning with a strikes out. Danny Farquhar will take over the pitching duties for the Mariners. Jake Marisnick walks up to the plate and he strikes out. Back to the top of the order for Jose Altuve flies out to Nelson Cruz to end the top of the inning. Nelson Cruz will start the bottom of the inning and he flies out to Colby Rasmus. Kyle Seager is the next man to the plate and he walks. Seth Smith is up at the plate and he hits into a fielder's choice as Seager goes to second. That brings Mike Zunino to the plate and he walks. Tony Sipp will take over the pitching duties for the Astros. With two on and two out Logan Morrison is up to the plate and he pops up to Valbuana to end the 7^th inning.

Luis Valuana will start the 8^th inning with a homerun. George Springer comes to the plate and he strikes out. That brings Evan Gattis to the plate and he doubles. Jonathan Villar goes in to run for Gattis. Jed Lowrie comes to the plate and he singles as Villar scores. Jason Castro comes up and hits a ground ball to Robinson Cano who starts a double play to end the top of the inning. Brad Miller will start the bottom of the inning with a ground ball to Chris Carter for an out. Back to the top of the order for Austin Jackson who flies out to George Springer. That brings Dustin Ackley to the plate and he grounds out to Jose Altuve to end the 8^th. 7-5 Astros.

Carson Smith will take over the pitching duties for the Mariners. Chris Carter will start the 9^th inning with a strike out. Colby Rasmus is up to the plate and he grounds out to Robinson Cano. Jake Marisnick will try to keep the inning going as he walks. Back to the top of the order for Jose Altuve, Marisnick steals second, who strikes out to end the top of the inning. Luke Gregerson takes over the pitching duties for the Astros. Robinson Cano will start the bottom half of the inning with a ground out the pitcher. Nelson Cruz comes to the plate and he flies out to Springer. That brings Kyle Seager up to try an keep the game going as he walks. Seth Smith will come to the plate and he strikes out to end the game. 7-5 Astros.