The game was close until the seventh inning. That was when the Houston Astros took control of the game. After a strong start by Gerrit Cole who went seven innings, the Astros scored six runs in the bottom of the inning to make sure Cole stayed undefeated on the season. All six runs came in to score with less than two outs in the inning.
The scoring began when Marwin Gonzalez hit a single that scored Yuli Gurriel. Then with no one out, Evan Gattis reached on a fielding error to score Marwin Gonzalez. Then with one out, George Springer hit a two-run double.
Springer came in to score next when Carlos Correa hit a one-out single. In the ninth Collin McHugh came in to get the last three outs, the last two being strikeouts of Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager to end the game.
Players of the game - Below are my three picks for player of the game:
1) Gerrit Cole
- Stats: Seven IP, five H, 0 ER, two BB, five SO
- Big moment: Big double play to get out of the 3third inning only allowing the Mariners to score 1 run.
Gerrit Cole didn't strike out a ton of batters in this start but he definitely got the job done. He did not allow an earned run in the game and he was able to get out of the third inning with minimal damage. Gerrit Cole continues to pitch at a high level proving that the Astros made the right move trading for him.
2) George Springer
- Stats: two for four with two RBI's and a run scored
- Big moment: Double in the seventh that scored two.
George Springer gets a vote because he had a key hit in the big seventh inning to give the Astros some breathing room. Although his batting average on the season is only .227, I expect to see it rise if he keeps this up.
Batting in the leadoff spot is a big responsibility and really sets the tone for a team as well. Springer is a high-quality batter who is famous for hitting leadoff home runs to begin a game.
3) Marwin Gonzalez
- Stats: Two for four with two RBI's and two runs scored
- Big Moment: Game winning single in the seventh that led to the Astros win
Marwin Gonzalez batted in the game-winning runs in the seventh en route to a six-run inning that helped the Astros get the much-needed win.
Gonzalez is another guy in the Astros lineup who has a low batting average this year (.186) and let's hope this is just a sign of him waking up. At the number six spot in the lineup, it would be huge if the Astros could get him hitting again so he can have more game winners.
Notable mentions
Other batters with multiple hits in the game were Jose Altuve (two for five, .320 BA), Carlos Correa (2 for 5, .297 BA), and Brian McCann (two for four, .351 BA).
