Seattle, WA – Chris Carter clubbed a go-ahead two-run double as part of a six-run ninth inning that vaulted the Houston Astros to a 6-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners in the finale of a three-game series at Safeco Field.
Nick Franklin's two-out RBI single in the eighth gave Seattle a 1-0 lead, but the Astros, who mustered just three hits over the first eight frames against Seattle starter Jeremy Bonderman, broke through in a big way in the ninth against Mariners closer Tom Wilhelmsen.
"Tom is one of the best in the game so I don't have any problem with that move at all," Bonderman said of being removed to start the ninth. "99 percent of the time he's probably going to seal it down. It's just part of the game."
Wilhelmsen (0-2) served up consecutive singles to start the frame before Carlos Corporan's sacrifice bunt moved both runners up a base.
Wilhelmsen then intentionally walked Carlos Pena to load the bases for Carter, who scorched a double to left to plate a pair for a 2-1 lead.
Another intentional walk re-packed the bags before Brandon Barnes lined a single off the glove of Jason Bay in left to score another run.
After Marwin Gonzalez fanned, Jose Altuve laced a single just past the glove of a diving Brendan Ryan at shortstop to push two more runs across.
Charlie Furbush took over on the mound and issued consecutive walks, with the second scoring Barnes to give Houston a 6-1 cushion.
Paul Clemens (4-2) was credited with the win after recording the final out in the eighth and retiring the Mariners in order in the ninth.
"We scored six in the ninth and we just haven't had the offense lately," Carter said. "That just shows we can do it and in a big situation like that, it's good for the team."
Houston, which snapped a six-game slide with the victory, got a stellar start from Jordan Lyles, who struck out a career-high 10 batters and gave up just three hits and two walks over seven scoreless frames.
The M's finally broke through in the eighth against Hector Ambriz, as Endy Chavez smacked a leadoff single and moved to second when shortstop Gonzalez was unable to handle Ambriz's throw to second on Bay's bunt.
Travis Blackley took over on the hill and retired the next two hitters, but Franklin came through with a two-out single to right to score Chavez for a 1-0 lead.
Game Notes
Seattle wrapped up a 10-game homestand at 5-5 and failed to complete its first series sweep of the season ... Bonderman struck out five and scattered three hits and two walks over eight efficient innings ... Seattle catcher Mike Zunino, the third overall pick in last year's MLB Draft, made his major league debut and went 1-for-4 ... Houston had lost its first 38 games this season when trailing after eight innings.
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