The Houston Astros claim exclusive hold of first place for the first time this season after defeating the Seattle Mariners with the signing from Red Sox
Jake Meyers hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning against Ryne Stanek, a former Astros pitcher, giving Houston a 4-2 lead over the Seattle Mariners. This victory put the Astros in first place in the AL West for the first time this season.
Houston had been behind for the first part of the season but has now won six of their last eight games to move into the top spot by themselves.
Meyers commented, “It’s great to hear that we’re in first place, but our mindset hasn’t changed since the beginning of the season when we were behind. We focus on winning each game and playing as a team, and that’s when we’re at our best.”
Seattle, on the other hand, lost their fifth consecutive game, their longest losing streak since May 2022, and dropped out of first place for the first time since May 11.
Mariners manager Scott Servais acknowledged, “Our team is facing challenges right now, which is part of the ups and downs of a season. Some players are struggling to find their form, and they’re aware of it. Meanwhile, the Astros are playing very well.”
Meyers’ home run came after a walk to Jeremy Peña, spoiling a potential win for George Kirby, who had allowed only one run in six innings.
Yainer Diaz added another home run in the eighth inning against reliever Trent Thornton, with the ball bouncing off the top of the wall.
Seattle’s Julio Rodríguez broke their 14-inning scoreless streak with a two-run homer off Framber Valdez in the sixth inning, his 11th of the season. He nearly hit a second homer in the eighth, but Trey Cabbage made a spectacular catch at the wall in right field, mimicking Rodríguez’s celebratory gesture.
The Astros closed out the symbolic first half of the season with a pair of losses to the Texas Rangers in Minute Maid Park. Fortunately, the Mariners also stumbled into the All-Star break leaving the Astros just one game back in the division with a head-to-head series in Seattle next week after the week off.
With the All-Star break this week and the trade deadline looming just weeks away, the Astros, who have had a near complete reversal of fortunes after their rocky start, have plenty of questions to be answered as they get deeper into the summer. Here are five key decisions they will need to make in the next month.
