Christian Walker hit a three-run home run, Yordan Alvarez launched a two-run homer and Isaac Paredes added a solo shot as the visiting Houston Astros slugged their way to a 7-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday.
Jose Altuve, Yainer Diaz, Alvarez and Paredes each collected two hits for the Astros (78-79), who pulled into a first-place tie with the Texas Rangers in the American League West. Houston owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Texas, so would win the division if the teams remain tied at the end of the season.
Five Astros pitchers combined to throw a four-hit shutout. Miguel Ullola (1-0) earned his first major league win, allowing one hit and striking out two over two innings.
Julio Rodriguez notched two hits for Seattle (73-84). The Mariners went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine.
Jeremy Pena led off the game with an infield single to shortstop, stole second, and scored on Alvarez’s single to right. It marked the 100th RBI of the season for Alvarez, the second time in his career he’s reached that milestone. Paredes and Altuve followed with singles, loading the bases with no outs.
Seattle starter Logan Gilbert (12-11) escaped the first-inning jam when Diaz struck out looking before Walker and Taylor Trammell flied out.
Altuve and Diaz opened the third with back-to-back singles before Walker launched his 26th home run of the season and the 200th of his career, a three-run shot to deep left, giving the Astros a 4-0 lead.
In the fifth, J.P. Crawford drew a one-out walk. After Randy Arozarena struck out swinging, Dominic Canzone singled to center. Crawford advanced to third, but Cal Raleigh struck out to end the inning.
Houston’s advantage increased to 5-0 on Paredes’ solo homer in the sixth.
With one out in the eighth, Pena was hit by a pitch, and Alvarez belted a slider over the wall in right for his 41st home run of the season, extending Houston’s lead to 7-0.
Houston starter Cristian Javier tossed two shutout innings, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out two. The Astros announced Javier exited the game with groin tightness.
Gilbert gave up four runs on 10 hits over four innings, walking two and striking out three.
