HOUSTON — Cristian Javier combined with two relievers on a two-hitter, and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 2-0 on Tuesday night to get above .500 as they bounced back from a long skid.
Javier (3-0) allowed two hits in seven innings — both by Kyle Seager — struck out six and walked three. He extended his scoreless streak to 17 innings over three starts and lowered his season ERA to 0.87.
Brooks Raley and Ryan Pressly each pitched a perfect inning, with Pressly getting his third save.
Seattle did not move a runner past second.
Houston has won five of six to reach 12-11, a spurt that followed nine losses in 10 games.
Seattle has lost three in a row.
Yordan Álvarez had a sacrifice fly and Kyle Tucker an RBI single in a two-run fourth off Marco Gonzales (1-3), who allowed five hits in six innings with four strikeouts. Gonzales has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last three starts.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: INF Shed Long, Jr. (right shin stress fracture) was transferred from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL. … Seattle claimed INF Jack Mayfield off waivers from the Angels and optioned him to the alternate training site.
Astros: RHP Pedro Báez (right shoulder soreness) was transferred to the 60-day IL on Monday. “He had a setback where he had some tenderness in his shoulder, and … he’s been on not quite 30 days and doesn’t look like he would be back prior to the 60 (days), and we needed the spot,” manager Dusty Baker said. … LHP Framber Valdéz (left index finger fracture) is ahead of schedule on his rehab, according to pitching coach Brent Strom, but Strom would not give a timetable for when Valdéz might return.
UP NEXT
Houston RHP Zack Greinke (2-1, 2.76 ERA) will start against Seattle RHP Justin Dunn (1-0, 3.68) in the third game of the four-game series on Wednesday night.
