{"id":408611,"date":"2026-08-17T03:30:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T03:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/408611\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T03:30:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T03:30:10","slug":"houston-astros-fall-to-seattle-mariners-in-finale-of-key-al-west-serie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/408611\/","title":{"rendered":"Houston Astros fall to Seattle Mariners in finale of key AL West serie"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img alt=\"Nick Allen's homer drew the Astros within a run, but they couldn't complete the comeback against the Mariners in Sunday night's series finale.\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:4 \/ 3\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-gray200 mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Nick Allen&#8217;s homer drew the Astros within a run, but they couldn&#8217;t complete the comeback against the Mariners in Sunday night&#8217;s series finale.<\/p>\n<p>Karen Warren\/AP Photo\/Karen Warren<\/p>\n<p>A sign of this mid-August game\u2019s significance arose in the eighth inning. Yordan Alvarez lined a two-out single and arrived at first base the potential tying run. Manager Joe Espada sent Cam Smith in to pinch-run for his slugger, removing the majors\u2019 OPS leader with at least four outs left in a one-run game.<\/p>\n<p>Facing a nemesis, one still lurking in a feeble division, elicited the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/sports\/astros\/\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/sports\/astros\/\" class=\"\">Houston Astros<\/a>\u2019 urgency. A season is entering its final six weeks. The Seattle Mariners may be foundering, but no opponent has flummoxed the Astros recently in similar fashion. No team is more aware than Houston that a threat persists.<\/p>\n<p>So, Smith took Alvarez\u2019s place at first base. Isaac Paredes lined a single that moved him to second. Dan Wilson emerged from Seattle\u2019s dugout and called for a right-hander to face Jose Altuve. As Seranthony Dom\u00ednguez warmed, Altuve made his way to the Astros\u2019 dugout.<\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p>There, he craned over an iPad, flanked by hitting coach Victor Rodriguez and Carlos Correa, the latter in an orange T-shirt and baseball pants. Altuve stepped in to take his at-bat, saw one pitch and popped it up. Dominguez pursued it and tripped. The baseball fell for in infield single, loading the bases.<\/p>\n<p>A simmering crowd at Daikin Park swelled as Daulton Varsho pulled a first-pitch line drive, but it landed foul. Four pitches later, Varsho swung over a splitter for strike three. And Andr\u00e9s Mu\u00f1oz, against whom the Astros had mounted a furious comeback Friday, closed the door for Seattle in the ninth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou saw what we did in game one against Mu\u00f1oz, and we were so close there in the eighth that I thought if we could keep us in the game, we could get that boost and get us through the finish line,\u201d Espada said. \u201cBut just couldn\u2019t get it done.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With a 3-2 defeat, the Astros lost for the ninth time in 11 meetings against the Mariners this season.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/sports\/astros\/article\/houston-seattle-mariners-score-22388204.php\" data-link=\"native\" title=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/sports\/astros\/article\/houston-seattle-mariners-score-22388204.php\" class=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">A walk-off Friday<\/a>\u00a0prevented a sweep this weekend, but Seattle still gained ground in an open AL West.<\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p>Houston holds a two-game lead in the division over the Rangers. The Mariners hover four games back, already with the tiebreaker over the Astros. The teams will meet once more, for a two-game series in Seattle, in the final week of the regular season.<\/p>\n<p>A starting matchup between 2025 All-Stars proved relatively brief. Hunter Brown lasted five innings for the second consecutive start, allowing two runs and struggling at times to harness his command. Bryan Woo breezed through his first five innings on 60 pitches, allowing only a solo home run by Jeremy Pe\u00f1a.<\/p>\n<p>Houston turned to its bullpen in the sixth. Bennett Sousa surrendered a solo homer to Cal Raleigh, the 13th of the season for the catcher who swatted 60 last year, on a 327-foot fly ball to the first row of the Crawford Boxes. Statcast deemed it a home run in one of 30 major-league ballparks. It proved decisive.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe know that (Brown) can give us more, but he kept us in the game, our bullpen did a nice job keeping us in the game,\u201d Espada said. \u201cWe just couldn\u2019t get big hits. Pretty good pitching from their side.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p>Seattle<br \/>\nAB<br \/>\nR<br \/>\nH<br \/>\nBI<br \/>\nBB<br \/>\nSO<br \/>\nAvg.<\/p>\n<p>Totals<br \/>\n33<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n8<\/p>\n<p>Donovan 3b<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n.254<\/p>\n<p>Arozarena lf<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n.276<\/p>\n<p>Canzone rf<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n.260<\/p>\n<p>Rodr\u00edguez cf<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n.258<\/p>\n<p>Naylor 1b<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n.267<\/p>\n<p>Young 2b<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n.260<\/p>\n<p>Raleigh c<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n.158<\/p>\n<p>Wilson dh<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n.200<\/p>\n<p>Rodden ss<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n.300<\/p>\n<p>Houston<br \/>\nAB<br \/>\nR<br \/>\nH<br \/>\nBI<br \/>\nBB<br \/>\nSO<br \/>\nAvg.<\/p>\n<p>Totals<br \/>\n33<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n9<\/p>\n<p>Pe\u00f1a ss<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n.288<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez lf<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n.321<\/p>\n<p>1-Smith pr-rf<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n.223<\/p>\n<p>Paredes 3b<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n.260<\/p>\n<p>Altuve dh-2b<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n.245<\/p>\n<p>Varsho cf<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n.231<\/p>\n<p>Walker 1b<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n.234<\/p>\n<p>Wade rf-lf<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n.222<\/p>\n<p>Diaz c<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n.251<\/p>\n<p>Allen 2b<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n.259<\/p>\n<p>a-Vel\u00e1zquez ph<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n.205<\/p>\n<p>Hader p<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n&#8212;<\/p>\n<p>b-Trammell ph<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n.223<\/p>\n<p>Seattle<br \/>\n101<br \/>\n001<br \/>\n000_3<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n0<\/p>\n<p>Houston<br \/>\n000<br \/>\n101<br \/>\n000_2<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n0<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-ind\">a-flied out for Allen in the 8th. b-struck out for Hader in the 9th.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-ind\">1-ran for Alvarez in the 8th.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-ind\">LOB_Seattle 11, Houston 7. 2B_Canzone (19), Rodr\u00edguez (18), Arozarena (26). HR_Arozarena (17), off Brown; Raleigh (13), off Sousa; Pe\u00f1a (14), off Woo; Allen (2), off Woo. RBIs_Arozarena (53), Canzone (52), Raleigh (44), Pe\u00f1a (40), Allen (13). SB_Naylor (24). CS_Arozarena (7), Naylor (7).<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-ind\">Runners left in scoring position_Seattle 7 (Raleigh 2, Donovan 3, Naylor 2); Houston 2 (Varsho 2). RISP_Seattle 1 for 11; Houston 1 for 2.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-ind\">Runners moved up_Rodr\u00edguez 2. GIDP_Allen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-ind\">DP_Seattle 1 (Young, Naylor).<\/p>\n<p>IP<\/p>\n<p>H<br \/>\nR<br \/>\nER<br \/>\nBB<br \/>\nSO<br \/>\nNP<br \/>\nERA<\/p>\n<p>6<\/p>\n<p>3<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n75<br \/>\n4.10<\/p>\n<p>1<\/p>\n<p>1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n16<br \/>\n3.05<\/p>\n<p>2<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n13<br \/>\n2.78<\/p>\n<p>1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n4.60<\/p>\n<p>1<\/p>\n<p>0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n18<br \/>\n4.37<\/p>\n<p>IP<\/p>\n<p>H<br \/>\nR<br \/>\nER<br \/>\nBB<br \/>\nSO<br \/>\nNP<br \/>\nERA<\/p>\n<p>5<\/p>\n<p>3<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n90<br \/>\n3.67<\/p>\n<p>1<\/p>\n<p>3<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n24<br \/>\n3.86<\/p>\n<p>1<\/p>\n<p>1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n22<br \/>\n4.40<\/p>\n<p>1<\/p>\n<p>0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n11<br \/>\n2.04<\/p>\n<p>1<\/p>\n<p>1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n13<br \/>\n0.90<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-ind\">Inherited runners-scored_Dom\u00ednguez 2-0. HBP_Woo (Paredes), Abreu (Young).<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-ind\">ABS Challenge_Walker (Strike-Confirmed); Raleigh (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Arozarena (Strike-Confirmed); Mu\u00f1oz (Ball-Confirmed); Diaz (Strike-Confirmed).<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-ind\">Umpires_Home, Tripp Gibson; First, Marvin Hudson; Second, Alex MacKay; Third, Austin Jones.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-ind\">T_2:55. A_27,971 (41,000).<\/p>\n<p>Nick Allen, the light-hitting infielder, provided an unlikely answer in the bottom of the sixth, crushing a fastball from Woo an estimated 387 feet. It was Allen\u2019s fourth homer in 924 career plate appearances against right-handed pitching and pared the Astros\u2019 deficit to 3-2.<\/p>\n<p>Bryan Abreu maintained it with an escape in the seventh. Yordan Alvarez, drawing his first start in left field in two weeks, could not corral a Julio Rodr\u00edguez fly ball that caromed off the wall for a double to leave runners on second and third with one out.<\/p>\n<p>Josh Naylor scorched a line out right at first baseman Christian Walker. Abreu clipped Cole Young on a two-strike cutter, loading the bases, but induced a pop-up from Raleigh. Woo, despite being at just 75 pitches, did not return for the seventh for the Mariners.<\/p>\n<p>Espada operated with urgency.\u00a0Abreu and Steven Okert, the Astros\u2019 top set-up men, threw the seventh and eighth innings with Houston trailing by a run. Closer Josh Hader warmed while the Astros batted in the bottom of the eighth, trailing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p>After their rally fizzled, Hader worked a scoreless ninth, in which Houston gave up its DH, moving Jose Altuve from DH to second base and inserting Hader in the ninth lineup spot, another aggressive ploy.<\/p>\n<p>Hader\u2019s spot in the lineup came up with two outs in the ninth and a runner on base. Taylor Trammell pinch-hit for him. Mu\u00f1oz struck him out on three pitches, getting Trammell to wave at a changeup to finish the game.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Houston Astros' Jeremy Pena (3) celebrates after his home run off Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/Karen Warren)\" loading=\"eager\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Houston Astros&#8217; Jeremy Pena (3) celebrates after his home run off Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/Karen Warren)<\/p>\n<p>Karen Warren\/AP Photo\/Karen Warren<img alt=\"Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown delivers to Seattle Mariners' Brendan Donovan during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/Karen Warren)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown delivers to Seattle Mariners&#8217; Brendan Donovan during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/Karen Warren)<\/p>\n<p>Karen Warren\/AP Photo\/Karen Warren<img alt=\"Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo winds up to deliver to Houston Astros' Jeremy Pena during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/Karen Warren)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofct bgsct block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo winds up to deliver to Houston Astros&#8217; Jeremy Pena during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/Karen Warren)<\/p>\n<p>Karen Warren\/AP Photo\/Karen Warren<img alt=\"Houston Astros' Nick Allen reacts toward the dugout after his home run off Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/Karen Warren)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofct bgsct block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Houston Astros&#8217; Nick Allen reacts toward the dugout after his home run off Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/Karen Warren)<\/p>\n<p>Karen Warren\/AP Photo\/Karen Warren<img alt=\"Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown, right, reacts during a mound visit with catcher Yainer Diaz, left, after walking Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/Karen Warren)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofct bgsct block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown, right, reacts during a mound visit with catcher Yainer Diaz, left, after walking Seattle Mariners&#8217; Cal Raleigh during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/Karen Warren)<\/p>\n<p>Karen Warren\/AP Photo\/Karen Warren<img alt=\"Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez, right, sprinkles Cal Raleigh, left, with sunflower seeds after Raleigh's solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/Karen Warren)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofct bgsct block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Seattle Mariners&#8217; Julio Rodriguez, right, sprinkles Cal Raleigh, left, with sunflower seeds after Raleigh&#8217;s solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/Karen Warren)<\/p>\n<p>Karen Warren\/AP Photo\/Karen Warren<img alt=\"Houston Astros' Isaac Paredes is hit by a pitch from Seattle Mariners' Bryan Woo during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/Karen Warren)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofct bgsct block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Houston Astros&#8217; Isaac Paredes is hit by a pitch from Seattle Mariners&#8217; Bryan Woo during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/Karen Warren)<\/p>\n<p>Karen Warren\/AP Photo\/Karen Warren<img alt=\"Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown reacts after walking Seattle Mariners' Weston Wilson during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/Karen Warren)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofct bgsct block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown reacts after walking Seattle Mariners&#8217; Weston Wilson during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/Karen Warren)<\/p>\n<p>Karen Warren\/AP Photo\/Karen Warren<\/p>\n<p>How did Hunter Brown pitch?<\/p>\n<p>Though he allowed just two runs, Brown needed 90 pitches to finish five innings of another laborious outing. Action arose in the Houston bullpen as early as the fourth, when Brown\u2019s command lapsed, a sight that has recurred on occasion since his return from a shoulder strain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust not getting the four-seam in the zone really at all,\u201d Brown said. \u201cSo yeah, it\u2019s making it tough to throw some bulk innings for the team. But just trying to do my best to grind it out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Brown threw 50 of 90 pitches for strikes, walked five batters and struck out five. He allowed just three hits, but one cleared the wall, a solo home run by Randy Arozarena on an elevated four-seamer in the first inning. Dominic Canzone added a two-out RBI single in the third.<\/p>\n<p>Brown walked his first two batters in the third inning. He nearly escaped anyway. Arozarena squibbed a fielder\u2019s choice groundball, then was thrown out trying to steal second by catcher Yainer Diaz. Canzone, though, lined a slider into right-center field to give Seattle a 2-0 lead.<\/p>\n<p>The Mariners did no other damage against Brown, but a fourth-inning sequence shortened his evening. With two out, Brown issued three straight walks to the bottom of Seattle\u2019s order, throwing 11 balls in a row at one point. A 3-0 strike to Brock Rodden elicited a sarcastic cheer.<\/p>\n<p>Brown struck out Brendan Donovan to strand the bases loaded, but he ended the fourth at 78 pitches. He finished his outing with strikeouts of Canzone and Julio Rodr\u00edguez. Brown has a 3.67 ERA across 68 \u2154 innings.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cObviously want to help propel us to a series win,\u201d Brown said. \u201cWoo over there, I know what he can do and he\u2019s been throwing the ball pretty well. So wanted to give us a chance to win. We had some good opportunities, but yeah, you don\u2019t want to five and dive the boys. Clearly not the outing I would have loved to have. But was able to battle and turn it over in the sixth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bryan Woo stays effective in Houston<\/p>\n<p>Woo owned a 1.96 ERA in four starts at Daikin Park before Sunday. He entered this outing having not allowed a run over his previous two starts against the Yankees and Tigers. He looked strong early.<\/p>\n<p>Woo retired his first seven batters in a row. Yainer Diaz lined a one-out single in the third inning. Woo promptly erased him by getting Allen to ground into a double play. He notched his first nine outs with just 27 pitches.<\/p>\n<p>An inside-out swing from Pe\u00f1a on a fastball produced a homer into the right-field seats to lead off the fourth. Woo faced 12 more batters and allowed one hit, Allen\u2019s drive to begin the sixth. It marked only the fifth time in 24 starts this season Woo has allowed multiple home runs.<\/p>\n<p>Woo relied on his two fastballs, his four-seamer generating seven whiffs on 19 swings and his sinker getting four outs on four put into play. The Astros averaged a 90.8 mph exit velocity against Woo but without much to show for it. He allowed three hits across six innings.<\/p>\n<p>Walks an issue for Hunter Brown<\/p>\n<p>Sunday\u2019s outing continued Brown\u2019s season-long struggle with walks. It was the fifth time in 13 starts that Brown has walked at least four batters. He did that just three times in 31 starts last season.<\/p>\n<p>Brown\u2019s walk rate has nearly doubled from 7.8% last season to 13.7% this year. One factor is a lower chase rate. Brown entered Sunday inducing a 26.3% chase rate, down from 29.4% last season. His in-zone rate was down 2.5% and hitters\u2019 swing rate against him was down 3.4%.<\/p>\n<p>Among pitchers with at least 50 innings this season, Brown entered Sunday generating the fourth-lowest swing rate, per Baseball Savant, at 41.4%. Only Ryan Zeferjahn, JR Ritchie and Aaron Ashby had recorded a lower overall swing rate against their pitches.<\/p>\n<p>That passivity is entwined with Brown\u2019s walk numbers. The Mariners swung at 30 of 90 pitches he threw Sunday. Brown, meanwhile, induced just five whiffs on those 30 swings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Nick Allen&#8217;s homer drew the Astros within a run, but they couldn&#8217;t complete the comeback against the Mariners&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":408612,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[56,58,57],"class_list":["post-408611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-houston","tag-houston","tag-houston-headlines","tag-houston-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408611","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=408611"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408611\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/408612"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=408611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=408611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=408611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}