SEATTLE — A two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning provided the necessary separator for the Seattle Mariners in a 9-6 win against the Houston Astros on Friday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
The win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Mariners (5-9). It was arguably the most complete offensive showing of the season for the M's, who entered Friday dead-last in the majors in OPS (.581).
"It was just a great night, all around," Seattle manager Dan Wilson said in a postgame interview Friday. " ... Guys really felt the energy from pitch one and kept rolling from there. ... Offensively, doing more of what we do. We push them. We took our walks tonight, we had some hits, up and down the lineup, driving guys in. ... Definitely a ball game we can build on."
The fifth-inning homer came courtesy of Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena. It was his first of the season — a 426-foot shot — and gave Seattle a 5-3 lead.
"I was just super happy and excited," Arozarena said via translator Kate Leahy after the game. "To give the team the lead and then to have my first home run of the season just was very exciting to me at that point. ... Obviously we're coming off of a tough road trip, so I think to have this moment puts us in a good place moving forward."
Call that ball Artemis because it went to the moon and back 🚀 pic.twitter.com/lJxxZohvWT
Arozarena's homer came after an eventful first two innings in which the Mariners quickly chased off Astros starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai.
Seattle's entire lineup registered a plate appearance in the bottom of the first inning. Shortstop J.P. Crawford scored on a wild pitch, Arozarena was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded — which brought home catcher Cal Raleigh — and center fielder Julio Rodriguez scored on a groundout hit by right fielder Luke Raley.
The Mariners led 3-0 through the first. Imai, coming off a nine-strikeout performance against the Athletics, finished his night with four walks, one hit batter, a wild pitch and three earned runs allowed on one hit in 0.1 inning pitched.
The lead didn't last long. With two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the second, Houston catcher Christian Vazquez hit a three-RBI double that knotted the game 3-3.
Seattle starting pitcher Emerson Hancock was able to hunker down after his three-run second inning. He finished his outing with five strikeouts, two walks, one wild pitch and three earned runs allowed on four hits in five innings of work.
Hancock was credited with the win due to Arozarena's home run. The Mariners didn't concede the last after that point.
Hancock's velocity increased throughout the game, registering at a top velocity of 97 miles per hour after hovering in the 94-95 mph range in the first two innings.
"You kind of have to pitch the game how it's going, with how it's feeling coming out of your hand at times," Hancock said after the game. "For me, it's not something I really pay attention to. It's something — I just want to stay within myself and continue to try and execute with what you got."
Seattle tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the seventh. Designated hitter Dominic Canzone roped an RBI double to the center field wall, second baseman Cole Young scored on a wild pitch, Crawford connected for an RBI single and Raleigh hit an RBI groundout that brought home third baseman Leo Rivas.
Keep 'em coming. #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/P4kp1DZUE6
With a six-run lead in the eighth, the Mariners opted to go with multi-inning reliever Cole Wilcox to preserve the back end of the bullpen.
Astros left fielder Yordan Alvarez put a stop to those plans and hit a three-run homer that cut Seattle's lead to 9-6 in the top of the eighth. Matt Brash entered the game three batters later and induced an inning-ending double play.
Two-time All-Star closer Andres Munoz entered in the ninth and, despite issuing two walks, closed the game out to earn his first save of the season.
Every Mariners hitter scored one run apiece in the win.