Alvarez hits 2-run homer, Mariners lose to Houston again
Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suárez dives toward home plate in the fourth inning of Seattle’s 4-2 loss to the Houston Astros on Thursday.
AP PHOTO/DAVID J. PHILLIP
HOUSTON — Two days after stealing Game 1 on a walk-off, three-run home run on Tuesday, Houston outfielder Yordan Alvarez once again delivered on a home run that the Seattle Mariners were unable to recover from.
Alvarez’s two-run shot to left field gave the Astros a 3-2 lead over the Mariners on Thursday, which they would eventually ride out to a 4-2 win in Game 2 of the American League Divisional Series.
Houston outfielder Kyle Tucker opened the scoring with a solo home run to right field off of Seattle starting pitcher Luis Castillo in the bottom of the second. The Mariners tied the game when Eugenio Suárez scored on an error following Carlos Santana’s ground ball to third base in the fourth inning, and took the lead in the same inning on an RBI single by Dylan Moore.
Castillo remained on the mound for seven innings, surrendering five hits and three earned runs and striking out seven batters. The second home run of the afternoon on a Castillo pitch was by Alvarez in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Since 2019, Alvarez has 47 hits, 11 home runs, 47 RBIs and 27 runs scored in 40 regular season games against the Mariners. He’s added an additional four hits, three runs, seven RBIs and two home runs this playoff series.
Andrés Muñoz then took the mound in the eighth inning for the Mariners, surrendering one hit and earning one run in the process. Muñoz walked Jeremy Peña, then intentionally walked Alvarez with Peña already on base. An RBI single by Alex Bregman sent Peña home and pushed the Houston lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning.
It was do-or-die time for Seattle in the top of the ninth, down by two runs and a soon-to-be two-game deficit in the ALDS. Houston reliever Ryan Pressly walked Adam Frazier, and J.P. Crawford stepped into the batter’s box with the tying run on. Crawford lined out to first base, which turned into a double play to get Frazier out.
Julio Rodríguez’s double through the gap sent the rookie into scoring position, but Ty France struck out to end the game in defeat for the Mariners.
With an off day on Friday, Seattle will host its first playoff game in 21 years on Saturday when the Astros come to town. Down 2-0 in the ALDS, the Mariners will need to win on Saturday to avoid elimination. First pitch is at 1:07 p.m. at T-Mobile Park on Saturday.
Ian Bivona can be reached via email at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.