HOUSTON — In seasons past, this game would’ve ended with the Astros celebrating an improbable walk-off victory.
The ninth-inning tension of trying to close out a win against their American League West nemesis was simply overwhelming for teams of Mariners past.
When the deafening noise at Minute Maid Park — both real and manufactured — reached earsplitting levels and drama began to build, the mistakes would snowball into defeat.
The Mariners seemed destined for disappointment in the bottom of the ninth.
When they failed to turn a sure double play on a ground ball and then allowed Yordan Alvarez to reach on an infield single Friday night, the bad feelings started to return for the Mariners and Andres Munoz.
But Munoz got Yainer Diaz to hit a ground ball up the middle that second baseman Josh Rojas turned into a game-ending double play for a 2-0 victory that moved the Mariners into the third and final American League wild-card spot by a half-game over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Never a doubt?
The Mariners rode a solid start from rookie Bryce Miller and got solo homers from Julio Rodriguez and Mike Ford for their two runs.
There could have been so much more. But they went a stunning 0 for 17 with runners in scoring position, including nine strikeouts.
Rodriguez had another monster game, going 4 for 5 with two stolen bases. The only time he didn’t get a hit was when Jeremy Pena dropped a soft liner for an error.
He came into the game with hits in six straight plate appearances and tied a club record when he got hits in his first three of the game.
Born in Mount Pleasant and pitching for New Braunfels High School, which is little over two hours straight west of Houston depending on how fast you drive your pickup truck, Miller grew up an Astros fan.
In the offseason, Miller spends most of his time in College Station, the home of his alma mater, Texas A&M, which is about an hour and half north of Houston.
Miller delivered a stellar outing in a place and against a team that have been cruel to rookie pitchers.
Using his four-seam and two-seam fastball and staying ahead of Houston hitters, Miller pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits with a walk and two strikeouts. He was removed from the game with one out in the seventh inning after Jose Caballero booted a ground ball off the bat of Yainer Diaz. With his pitch count at 82, Miller lobbied manager Scott Servais unsuccessfully to stay in the game. Justin Topa entered and retired the next two batters with ease.
