Mariners at Astros
The Houston Astros on Thursday recorded seven of their 11 hits for extra bases as they improved to 7-0-2 in their last nine series. The Astros, who became the first American League team to 70 wins, attempt to take a step toward extending that streak when they host the Seattle Mariners on Friday for the opener of their three-game set.
George Springer homered, drew three walks and scored three times while Alex Bregman went 3-for-3 with a pair of walks, a solo blast and two RBIs as Houston rolled to a 7-1 victory at Cleveland on Thursday to boost its series record to 4-0-2 since the All-Star break. Three-time batting champion Jose Altuve went 2-for-4 for his fourth multi-hit performance during his five-game hitting streak for the Astros, who own an eight-game lead over second-place Oakland in the AL West. Seattle had its season high-tying six-game winning streak halted Wednesday as it fell 9-7 at Texas in a contest that featured 27 hits. Austin Nola homered in his second straight three-hit performance and has gone 8-for-16 with four RBIs over his last four contests.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Yusei Kikuchi (4-7, 5.21 ERA) vs. Astros LH Wade Miley (9-4, 3.06)
Kikuchi has been inconsistent during his first season in the major leagues, allowing four or more runs in eight of his 22 starts, two or fewer on six occasions and three in eight of his starts. The 28-year-old native of Japan has won only one of his last 11 turns but pitched well in a no-decision against Detroit last Friday as he gave up two runs over 6 2/3 innings. Kikuchi received a no-decision at Houston on June 29, when he yielded five runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks over five frames.
Miley carries a seven-start unbeaten streak into August after going 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA in five turns last month, including a victory at St. Louis on Sunday in which he scattered five hits over as many scoreless innings. The 32-year-old native of Louisiana has lost once since the beginning of June as he has allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine of his 10 outings in that span. Miley is 2-1 with a 3.48 ERA in six career starts against Seattle, including three no-decisions this season in which he surrendered seven runs over 15 frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Bregman is four homers shy of matching the career high of 31 he set last season after ending his nine-game drought Thursday.
2. Seattle OF Keon Broxton has gone 3-for-9 with a homer and two RBIs in two games since being claimed off waivers from Baltimore.
3. Houston OF Jake Marisnick returned to the team Thursday after serving a two-game suspension and went 0-for-2 after entering as a defensive replacement for Josh Reddick, who was ejected in the sixth inning.