The Houston Astros are Major League Baseball's hottest team, and Evan Gattis is the Astros' hottest hitter. On Sunday, Gattis blasted two home runs and drove in four runs as the Astros won their 10th straight game with a 7-6 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
With the score tied in the bottom of the eighth, Gattis blsated the 0-1 pitch from Carson Smith into the Crawford boxes at Minute Maid Park for the eventual game-winning home run (6) to extend the winning streak.
Gattis preceded that blast in the first inning with a three-run shot (5) that also scored Marwin Gonzalez and George Springer to give the Astros a 3-0 lead.
Houston built a 6-1 lead by the sixth before Seattle started a comeback that included a four-run rally that eventually tied the game in the top of the seventh. Chris Carter homered (3) in the bottom of the third with Gattis on base. Then in the fourth, Gonzalez singled to right field. Seth Smith threw home in attempt to nail Jason Castro at the plate. Castro was easily safe, and the replay challenge at third base confirmed the call of out on Jose Altuve at third base to end the inning.
Seattle began its comeback with a single run (Brad Miller RBI triple) in the second to make the score 3-1. After falling behind 6-1, Seattle added another in the sixth on Smith's triple and a throwing error by Gonzalez on the play.
Seattle then rallied for four runs to tie the game at 6-6 in the seventh. Mike Zunino and Rickie Weeks each had run-scoring doubles with Weeks getting two RBI on his. Weeks then scored the tying run after a missed catch from Jonathan Villar. That run tied the score at 6-6 until Gattis came to bat in the eighth.
Pat Neshek (W: 2-0, 4.35) benefited from Gattis's heroics to get the win in relief. He struck out two in his one inning of work in the top of the eighth. Houston starter Roberto Hernandez pitched six innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits. He walked two and struck out one.
Carson Smith (L: 0-1, 0.79) allowed his first run of the season (Gattis' second home run) in taking the loss. He pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing just the one hit and one run while striking out three. Mariners starter J.A. Happ lasted six innings, allowing six earned runs on seven hits (two home runs) while walking three and fanning six.
On Monday, the Astros begin a three-game series with the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park while Seattle travels to Anaheim to face the Los Angeles Angels.