BASEBALL: George Kirby once again pitches Mariners past Astros

George Kirby delivered a strong outing with a season-high seven strikeouts, and Julio Rodríguez provided the decisive power with a home run as the Seattle Mariners opened a four-game series with a 3-1 win over the Houston Astros on Monday.

Kirby (5-2) continued his consistent success against Houston. In his 11th career regular-season start against the Astros, he entered with a 5-1 record and a 2.17 ERA. Although he worked just five innings, his shortest outing of the season, he remained effective throughout.

Houston collected seven hits off Kirby, all singles. Jose Altuve recorded two hits, but was erased on a double play in the first inning when Yordan Alvarez grounded into a twin killing.

Isaac Paredes went 3-for-3 against Kirby and drove in Houston’s lone run with an RBI single in the fifth that scored Altuve. Kirby, however, limited damage by striking out Christian Walker with runners on in the first and third innings. He also induced two fielder’s-choice grounders during a fifth-inning threat after Altuve, Alvarez and Paredes strung together consecutive one-out singles.

Kirby threw 99 pitches, matching his season high, and did not allow the Astros to go down in order in any of his five innings. He gave up one run, walked two and kept Houston from mounting a bigger rally.

Astros right-hander Peter Lambert (2-3) matched his career high by pitching seven innings for the second straight start. However, Seattle broke through in the second inning. Dominic Canzone and Cole Young, batting eighth and ninth, delivered back-to-back two-out RBI singles that brought home Randy Arozarena and Luke Raley for a 2-0 lead.

Rodríguez then extended the advantage in the third inning. After narrowly missing a home run in his first at-bat, he launched an 0-2 fastball from Lambert 414 feet to left field for his seventh homer of the season, pushing the Mariners ahead 3-0.

Seattle closer Andrés Muñoz, the fourth reliever used by the Mariners, earned his eighth save. He sealed the victory by striking out Alvarez and inducing Altuve, who finished 3-for-5, to ground out with a runner on base.

— Field Level Media/Reuters