Cal Raleigh set the franchise single-season record with his 57th home run, and right-hander George Kirby twirled six scoreless innings as the visiting Seattle Mariners clinched this crucial three-game series with a 6-4 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday.
The Mariners (86-69) secured both a two-game lead over the Astros (84-71) in the American League West and the tiebreaker by claiming the season series.
After entering Thursday a half-game ahead of Seattle in the division, the Astros dropped into a tie with the Cleveland Guardians for the third wild card after the Guardians swept a doubleheader from the Minnesota Twins and the Boston Red Sox topped the Tampa Bay Rays. Cleveland owns the tiebreaker.
Seattle won for the 13th time in 14 games by pouncing on Astros left-hander Framber Valdez (12-11). The Mariners tallied solo runs in the top of the first, second and third innings against Valdez, who dropped his fourth consecutive decision and allowed five runs over 4 2/3 innings.
Eugenio Suarez produced a two-out, RBI double in the first that plated Julio Rodriguez, who walked and swiped second base to set the table for Suarez. Josh Naylor opened the second with a flare single to shallow left field. He stole second base, advanced to third on a flyball out to center, and scored the Mariners’ second run when he came home on Victor Robles’ sacrifice fly.
With one out in the third, Raleigh blasted an 0-2 sinker from Valdez the opposite way into the home bullpen in right-center to spot the Mariners a 3-0 lead. He surpassed Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. who clubbed 56 homers for the Mariners in 1997 and ‘98.
Naylor chased Valdez with a bases-loaded walk that scored Raleigh in the fifth before Dominic Canzone added a pinch-single that plated Rodriguez. Seattle extended to a 6-0 lead when Jorge Polanco drove home Suarez in the seventh. The Astros rallied in the bottom of the frame.
Jeremy Pena hit his first career grand slam with two outs in the seventh. All four runs were charged to Mariners reliever Carlos Vargas. The Astros had runners in scoring position with two outs in the eighth, but Gabe Speier struck out pinch-hitter Christian Walker to end that threat.
Mariners closer Andres Munoz notched his 37th save when Robles made a spectacular driving catch of a sinking liner from Carlos Correa in right-center before doubling off Jake Meyers at second base.
Kirby (10-7) allowed five hits and struck out seven.
