Yordan Alvarez had already made his point in the Astros’ clubhouse after Houston was swept by the Braves on Sunday. On Tuesday night at T-Mobile Park, he delivered the louder version from the batter’s box.
Alvarez homered for the 41st time, drove in three runs and reached 102 RBIs for the season as the Astros blanked the Mariners, 7-0. The victory stopped a three-game Houston skid and put the club back into a tie with Texas atop the American League West at 78-79. The Rangers fell 6-3 to the Mets, and Houston holds the season tiebreaker over Texas with five regular-season games left.
There was an immediate response against Seattle starter Logan Gilbert. Houston opened the first inning with four straight singles, with Alvarez’s base hit bringing home a run and pushing him to 100 RBIs on the year. The Astros added a more decisive swing in the third, when Jose Altuve and Yainer Diaz singled before Christian Walker drove a three-run homer to left field for a 4-0 lead.
The night did not unfold cleanly on the pitching side. Starter Cristian Javier exited after two scoreless innings because of tightness in his right groin, leaving Houston to cover the final seven frames with its bullpen. Rookie Miguel Ullola handled the third and fourth innings, and left-hander Bennett Sousa worked the fifth and sixth as the relief group kept Seattle off the board.
Alvarez supplies the finishing punch
Isaac Paredes added to the cushion in the sixth, turning on a José A. Ferrer pitch for his 23rd homer of the season and a 5-0 advantage. Alvarez then closed the scoring in the eighth, sending a two-run drive to right field.
It was another polished entry in a season that has placed Alvarez firmly in the American League MVP conversation. More immediately, it gave Houston the kind of performance it needed after its weekend stumble: the player who challenged the room leading the charge, the bullpen covering an unexpected early departure, and a division race once again resting in the Astros’ hands.
