The Astros sweep Seattle extending win streak to nine

The Houston Astros start their eight-game road trip in fine fashion keeping their win streak alive and sweeping the Seattle Mariners.

Some streaks ended for the Astros but the most important one continues, nine straight wins, and counting. George Springer started the season reaching base in each of the first fifteen games and Jose Altuve had hit home runs in the last five games. Both of those streaks ended today, but their winning ways keep rolling on.

Gerrit Cole had a forgetful beginning to the final game of the series, giving up a lead-off home run to CF Mitch Haniger to start the game. Then in the third inning, Haniger added to the damage, collecting a double off of Cole and scoring on Domingo Santana‘s double next batter up. Seattle up 2-0.

From that point on, it was lights out for the Seattle bats. The Astros’ pitching staff didn’t allow one more base runner the rest of the game. Cole cruised through the next three innings completing his day after six innings of work and 11 strikeouts.

The Astros’ would come alive in the sixth inning with Tony Kemp leading off the inning with a single. Following Springer’s strikeout, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Michael Brantley hit three straight singles with Kemp and Altuve scoring the tying runs. Aledmys Diaz put the Astros ahead for good with a lead-off homer in the seventh.

Hector Rondon, Ryan Pressly, and Roberto Osuna did what they’ve been doing all season, securing a Houston lead. Each pitcher mowed down their opponents 1-2-3 in the final three innings. Cole was credited with his first win of the season and Osuna got his seventh save in as many tries.

The Astros will take a day off tomorrow and then head to Oakland for a quick two-game series. After yet another day off they will return to Texas for a three-game series against the Rangers to finish off the road trip.