HOUSTON – Jason Heyward hit a two-run home run to lead off the game and put together an impressive defensive effort as the Houston Astros defeated the Seattle Mariners 4-3 on Tuesday night to clinch their fourth consecutive AL West title.
Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker each hit a solo home run for the Astros, who are advancing to the postseason for the eighth consecutive year.
The Astros were down by one in the fifth inning with no outs when Victor Caratini hit a single before advancing to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Jeremy Peña.
Heyward, who shone on defense at the beginning of the inning, hit his home run against Logan Gilbert (8-12) to the second deck in right field, giving Houston a 4-3 lead.
Heyward, who signed with the Astros last month after being released by the Dodgers, is filling in for Yordan Alvarez, who is out with a knee sprain.
The Mariners had runners on first and third base with one out in the eighth inning before Ryan Pressly took Mitch Garver out of the game with a fly ball. Josh Hader took over and struck out JP Crawford to preserve the lead.
Hader returned for the ninth and retired pinch hitter Luis Urías before striking out Victor Robles and Julio Rodríguez for his 34th save.
Framber Valdez (15-7) allowed eight hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings to take the win.
Jorge Polanco had one of his four hits of the season and had two RBIs for the Mariners, who lost 2 1/2 games in a tough race for the American League’s final wild card spot that also includes Detroit, Kansas City and Minnesota.
Justin Turner and Polanco opened the sixth with singles, but Mitch Garver was grounded out before Valdez Crawford struck out to end his outing.
Bryan Abreu came in and pinch hitter Luke Raley was grounded out as Houston got out of trouble.
Gilbert allowed five hits and four runs and hit a season-high three home runs in six innings.
There were two outs in the first inning when Bregman sent a Gilbert fastball over the center field fence, making the game 1-0.
Polanco tied the game when he hit a home run to left after Valdez’s second pitch in the second inning.
Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh singled to open the third before the Mariners took a 2-1 lead on an RBI double by Randy Arozarena. There was one out when Polanco scored on a single to score Rodríguez, making it 3-1.
Tucker’s shot early in Houston’s fourth quarter sailed over the short wall in right field, cutting the lead to 3-2.
Heyward robbed Raleigh of extra bases with a diving catch in left field for the second out in the fifth inning. Heyward crashed into the metal scoreboard on the wall after the play, knocking out a board with his left hand.
He was shaken by the collision and fell to the ground, writhing in pain. Heyward was examined by an athletic trainer but stayed in the game before hitting his home run in the bottom half.
TRAINING ROOM
Astros: Alvarez was feeling better after spraining his right knee in a slide on Sunday, but he wasn’t sure when he would return. “I really can’t do much right now,” he said. “The inflammation is obviously still there and I can’t even rotate my knee right now.”
Next
The Mariners had not yet announced their starter for Wednesday’s series finale. LHP Yusei Kikuchi (9-9, 4.19 ERA) will pitch for Houston.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
