The Astros' ninth-inning rally fell short in a 4-3 loss to the Mariners on July 19. Despite a Jose Altuve homer, Houston couldn't overcome a key Cal Raleigh HR.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a game of inches and what-ifs. The Houston Astros fought until the very last out on Saturday night at T-Mobile Park, but a ninth-inning rally sputtered with the tying run on base, sealing a tense 4-3 defeat to the Seattle Mariners. The loss snapped a brief winning streak and tightened the AL West race, leaving fans to ponder a game that felt just out of reach.
The Astros left the tying run on base in the ninth.
The game was a classic pitcher's duel that slowly tilted in Seattle's favor. Lance McCullers Jr., still working to find his form this season, battled through 5.2 innings. He was ultimately tagged for four runs, with the big blow coming from a two-run homer by Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. On the offensive side, Jose Altuve did his part, launching his 17th home run of the season. But the turning point came in the eighth inning when a promising Astros rally was extinguished by a critical, inning-ending double play turned by the Mariners' infield. Despite Josh Hader's scoreless relief appearance, the hole was just a little too deep to climb out of.
Let's take a deep breath. Despite the sting of this loss, the Astros are still the team to beat in the division, holding a 56-41 record and first place in the AL West. The offensive engine continues to be powered by Isaac Paredes (19 HR, 49 RBI) and the impossibly consistent Jeremy Peña, whose .322 average and near-.380 OBP are elite. As a whole, the team's .258 batting average and stellar 3.61 staff ERA (fifth in all of baseball) show this is a squad built for the long haul, not just one game.
In a sign of stability, Saturday was a quiet day for the front office. There were no new injury updates, transactions, or roster shuffles to report. Manager Joe Espada and GM Dana Brown remain steady at the helm, navigating the club through the marathon season. The current roster is the one they're riding with for now, as top farmhands like Cam Smith and Juán Bello continue to develop in the minors. For now, the focus is entirely on the players on the field in Seattle.
One loss, however frustrating, doesn't define a season. The Astros have a chance to bounce back immediately and take the series against their closest division rival. A win tomorrow would not only be a morale booster but would reassert their dominance in the AL West. All eyes will be on the rubber match to see if Houston can leave Seattle with their division lead firmly intact.
