HOUSTON _ In a search for positives from an inning where there seemed to be none, the best thing you could say about the Seattle Mariners' failures in the game-changing top of the seventh was perhaps this: "It could have been worse, they could have hit into a triple play."
After mustering all of one run and striking out 10 times in the first six innings against Astros starter Lance McCullers, the Mariners seemed poised to rally from a one-run deficit in the top of seventh and at least tie the game, if not take the lead. Seattle had loaded the bases on a single from Robinson Cano, a walk from Nelson Cruz and another single from Kyle Seager to start the frame.
Instead, they came away with nothing other than an eventual 2-1 loss to Houston on Monday at Minute Maid Park.
How did it all go so wrong in the seventh?
Well, Dae-Ho Lee, an obvious double play candidate anytime there are runners on base, managed to hit into the one of the few double plays that couldn't possibly score a run. Lee's hard comebacker to the mound was gloved by McCullers, who fired to catcher Jason Castro for the first out. Castro didn't even have to hurry on the second throw, stepping out from home and comfortably firing to first to get Lee by a dozen steps.
With two outs and runners on second and third, Adam Lind sliced a sinking liner to left that was easily caught by Colby Rasmus to end the inning.
"I thought we had (McCullers) on the ropes there," Servais said. "Unfortunately, we didn't get it done. Tough game. Tight game. The seventh inning was really our shot."
It was their shot, but not their only blown scoring opportunity. The Mariners actually started the game with a leadoff triple to deep center by Leonys Martin and came away with nothing. Seth Smith struck out and Robinson Cano also struck out on a ball in the dirt that skipped away from catcher Jason Castro. Martin made the unwise decision to try and score when Castro had to throw to first on the play. First baseman Marwin Gonzalez fired the ball to home and Martin was out without evening attempting a slide.
"We got a little bit too aggressive on the ball in the dirt with the third strike call," Servais said. "It happens. It's unfortunate because we had our four-hole hitter (Nelson Cruz) coming up."
Servais tried to remain diplomatic on Martin taking such a gamble that early in the game with Cruz in the on-deck circle.
"In talking to him about it, if he would've taken off the moment the catch picked up the ball and spun to throw, but he didn't waited until the ball almost out of the catcher's hand then he went," Servais said. "Would it have made a difference? It very well could have. It's an aggressive play, but with our four-hole hitter coming up, it's a little tough to handle."
Martin believes a better jump would have led to a run.
"I was late," he said. "If I get an opportunity, I would do it again. I'm not afraid. I'd leave a little sooner because he wasn't even paying attention to me."
The lack of run support wasted a rare quality start from Wade Miley, though there was little indication of that possible result in his first inning of work.
Houston took a 1-0 lead after loading the bases on Miley with one out. But all three outs in the inning, including Luis Valbuena's sac fly to the base of Tal's Hill in center field, were absolute rockets off the bat.
"The first inning I was feeling for some stuff," Miley said. "I kind of got lucky to get out of the inning only giving up one. I just told myself to trust your stuff and stop trying to think too much and compete."
Miley managed to quiet the loud contact off the Astros' bats and limited the run-scoring opportunities for the remainder of his start, aided by a few double plays.
His only other run allowed came in the fifth inning. With two outs, Miley left a sinker over the middle of the plate to George Springer. The mistake was redirected off the signage high above the wall in left-center for Springer's 19th homer of the season and a 2-1 lead.
"He started locating better," Servais said. "He got the ball down. I thought his off-speed pitches were better. For me, I thought the ball was coming out of his hand good and his stuff was much crisper."
Miley pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up the two runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
After pitching more than five innings in just one of his previous five starts, the latest outing for Miley offered some hope for future starts. His work on his mechanics with pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre seems to be helping.
"It definitely felt a lot better," he said. "There's still more work to be done. But it's a start in the right direction."
McCullers pitched seven innings, giving up a run on five hits to improve to 4-2. Using a hard-biting curveball with two strikes, he racked up 10 strikeouts in the process.
The Mariners' lone run against McCullers came in the second inning. Seager doubled to right field with one out and scored on Lee's single off the wall in right-center to tie the game at 1.
McCullers then retired 14 straight batters, leading up to the decisive seventh inning.
"He had a good curve," Cano said. "He was putting wherever he wanted it. Don't get me wrong, I don't think he was unhitabble. We were chasing a lot of bad pitches, including myself."
