Houston Astros Ease Past Seattle Mariners; Win 2-1

I was hoping the our Houston Astros would fare better in tonight’s game and they definitely did so.

This game was definitely the utmost in strategy as if it were an eye-blinking contest to see who would blink first.

It’s apparent that the Seattle Mariners did.

This is icing to the cake in addition to the fact that the Astros will not lose more than 100 games this season.

The theme for September could be respectability as the team looks to capitalize with each win they earn from their opponents.

It would be ideal if they did because it would be an excellent way to close out this final month of the season.

Let’s get to it…

The first three innings involved a series of ground outs, line outs and strikeouts as each team dueled to make something happen but to no avail.

At the top of the 4th, Jon Singleton popped what looked like a homer to right but the umpire ruled it as a double.

After further review that took place by the umpires, the call was upheld so that means Singleton was credited with the double and that play also scored Jake Marisnick.  Singleton also was able to advance to 3rd because of the length of time on the throw.  Astros 1, Mariners 0

Marisnick had previously gotten on base on a force out grounder to short stop putting Chris Carter out at 2nd base.

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It sure looked like a home run from a distance but as the replay camera indicated, the ball fell short of the top of the wall to create just enough of a ricochet to call it off.

There was an interesting development at the top of the 6th, where Singleton hit to right and it was a literally a footrace between Roenis Elias and Singleton — Singleton trying to get on base and Elias trying to get the tag — the initial call on the field was that Singleton was safe and Carter got the score.

This was the 2nd play in the game where Singleton’s actions required a review and he lost the 2nd time as well.

You can’t blame him for trying to make something happen!

The replay camera indicated that Elias just barely got his foot on the base before Singleton ruling it a successful tag with him being credited with the out and the run taken off the board for the Astros.

It was quite intriguing to see it happen in regular motion but in slow-mo, it was even more of an eye-opener.

Jun 30, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher

(31) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

At the bottom of the 8th, Logan Morrison solo-homered to right. This was an indication that Collin McHugh was getting tired as he was approaching the century mark as far as pitch count.  Mariners 1, Astros 1

Jonathan Villar made an incredible throw off an Austin Jackson ground out to Singleton.  That was just an amazing defensive effort — boy, did he have some gas on that throw and that ended the 8th with the third recorded out!

At the top of the 9th, Villar made the game-winning play by singling to right scoring Jon Singleton and advancing Matt Dominguez to 2nd base.  An RBI single!  Robinson Cano made a valiant effort to catch it but that baby was smoking — it was too hot for his hand!  Astros 2, Mariners 1

Josh Fields was sent in to close the game out and he did well getting a strikeout on Jackson, a fly out by Brad Miller and finally a ground out by Endy Chavez, sealing the deal.

The bullpen did not blow it tonight — amazing!

Villar was obviously the star of this show — he went 2-for-4 with the key RBI single he had and a double.

McHugh pitched wonderfully allowing only two hits, one earned run, not walking a batter, fanning four and allowing that one home run by Morrison.  He had just thrown his 100th pitch after finishing up the 8th inning.

What an encouraging win that was totally resolute!

The Astros will finish up the final game of the series tomorrow night and I’m sure they’re looking to get another to put them in the victor’s chair for this set.

The first pitch is scheduled for 9:10 p.m. CDT.  OKC RedHawks’ ace Nick Tropeano, who had been called up after finishing the Triple-A season, is on the mound facing Hisashi Iwakuma.

Go ‘Stros!