SEATTLE (AP) — Randy Arozarena hit a solo home run and Luis Castillo threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings as the Seattle Mariners beat the Houston Astros 6-1 on Friday night.
Arozarena hit an elevated fastball from Astros left-hander Brandon Walter (1-3) out . In the process, Arozarena became only the second player in the majors this season with 10 or more home runs over a 14-game stretch.
Designated hitter Mitch Garver doubled the Mariners’ lead in the seventh inning when he
Seattle broke things open with a four-run eighth inning on RBI singles from J.P. Crawford and Cal Raleigh, a sacrifice fly from Donovan Solano and a wild pitch.
Castillo (7-5), in his first start after the All-Star break, struck out seven and yielded only three hits — all singles — before departing in the seventh inning.
The Astros could have taken an early lead in the third inning when two runners were in scoring position for Jose Altuve. The nine-time All Star struck out swinging, though, to end the threat.
Raleigh — who became the first catcher and switch hitter to on Monday night — is the only other player in the major leagues this season with 10 or more home runs over a 14-game stretch besides Arozarena.
Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (2-4, 6.48 ERA) starts Saturday. Mariners right-hander Logan Evans (3-3, 3.75) gets the ball for Seattle in the second game of the three-game set.
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