SEATTLE — Jake Meyers had the last of three singles as part of Houston’s eighth-inning rally against former teammate Joe Smith, scoring Kyle Tucker with the go-ahead run and sending the Astros over the Seattle Mariners 4-3 on Monday night.
Dylan Moore had a pinch-hit, two-run homer for Seattle in the sixth for a 3-2 lead. But that was erased in the eighth as Smith (2-3) couldn’t get outs against his former team and Seattle made a pair of defensive miscues.
Yuli Gurriel led off with a single and advanced to second when J.P. Crawford failed to make a clean catch on the throw from the outfield.
Tucker followed with a hitt to score Gurriel and in four pitches Seattle’s lead was gone. Tucker stole second with one out and Meyers capped the comeback with a single to left field off Smith. Moore double-clutched and failed make a throw to home plate even after Tucker stumbled momentarily between second and third.
Houston reliever Ryne Stanek struck out the side in the eighth and Ryan Pressly worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth for his 22nd save.
Houston has won five of six and its rally was another blow to Seattle’s waffling playoff hopes. The Mariners have lost four of five on their current homestand, dropped 8½ back of the Astros in the AL West and failed to make up a game on Boston in the wild card.
Moore provided Seattle a needed jolt when he homered off Houston reliever Brooks Raley for the second time this season. It was Moore’s first homer since July 26 when he hit an eighth-inning grand slam off Raley to cap Seattle’s rally for an 11-8 victory.
Jose Marmolejos also homered for Seattle after being selected from Triple-A Tacoma earlier in the day.
Houston scored twice in the first against Chris Flexen but failed to add on despite plenty of base runners. Yordan Alvarez’s RBI single and Tucker’s sacrifice fly gave Houston the early lead.
Starting off
Flexen allowed eight hits but kept Houston from getting a key hit with runners in scoring position. Flexen has allowed three earned runs or less in 20 of his 25 starts this season.
Houston starter Luis Garcia pitched into the sixth and allowed five hits and two earned runs. He struck out six.
Roster moves
Houston recalled RHP Brandon Bielak from Triple-A Sugar Land. RHP Bryan Abreu was optioned to Sugar Land after Sunday’s game. … Seattle designated RHP Jimmy Yacabonis for assignment to clear a spot for Marmolejos.
Trainer’s room
Mariners: Manager Scott Servais was hopeful OF Kyle Lewis (knee) won’t go out on a rehab assignment early this week. Lewis reported general soreness from an extensive workout on Sunday and his timeline for a rehab assignment was being evaluated.
Up next
Astros: RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (10-4, 3.32) is 2-0 this season against the Mariners.
Mariners: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (7-7, 4.33) was rocked for seven runs in 2 2/3 innings on Aug. 20 against the Astros.
