HOUSTON _ On a night when they scored five runs off all-star pitcher Lance McCullers, a right-hander that has tied them in knots and shut them down in recent outings, the Seattle Mariners still appeared destined for yet another loss at Minute Maid Park _ their personal house of horrors and misfortunes.
The Houston Astros, the American League's best team, looked every bit the part, erasing the Mariners' leads and crushing their hopes with each opportunity.
But two brilliant defensive plays by shortstop Jean Segura in the bottom of the ninth staved off a seemingly inevitable walk-off victory, and back-to-back solo homers from Kyle Seager and Danny Valencia in the top of the 10th sent the Mariners to a stunning 9-7 victory over the Astros.
Of course, given how the game had gone, there was no guarantee that the bottom of the 10th would be simple. Closer Edwin Diaz was pitching in his fourth game in four days _ always a dicey proposition.
But the young closer made it look simple, working a 1-2-3 10th for his 17th save and closing the Mariners' best win of the season.
With all of his setup men having been used while trying to win the game in regulation, manager Scott Servais turned the ball over to long reliever Yovani Gallardo to start the bottom of the ninth. Gallardo would either pitch until the Mariners had a lead or until the Astros won the game.
It looked as though the latter would happen first and quite quickly. Jose Reddick led off the inning with a double to right field. Defeat seemed imminent for the Mariners. But Segura simply wouldn't allow it. He got the first out of the inning with a tough stop and off balance throw to get Marwin Gonzalez for the first out. The Mariners intentionally walked Yuli Gurriel, bringing Nori Aoki to the plate. The former Mariner hit a ground ball to Segura, who fired home to get Reddick at the plate. Seattle then intentionally walked Brian McCann to load the bases.
Alex Bregman then hit a ground ball deep into the hole at shortstop. It appeared headed for the game-winning hit, but Segura made a diving stop and fired to second for the force out to end the inning.
Seager started the top of the 10th off with a towering solo blast to right. He has homered in each of his last three games. Valencia provided some cushion.
On a night when the game seemed destined to slip away, the Mariners went out and won it.
It started by roughing up McCullers.
They hadn't scored more than one run in each of their last four meetings against McCullers.
The Mariners chased McCullers with two outs in the fifth after Seager scored Ben Gamel from third with an infield single to the left side to make it 5-2.
Seattle ended McCullers' streak of 27 consecutive starts of allowing three runs or less at home to start a career.
