Jose Altuve produced his 12th career multi-homer game as the Houston Astros topped the Seattle Mariners 9-2 on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series.
Altuve slugged a leadoff home run in the fifth inning before belting a two-run shot in the Astros’ three-run sixth. After going homerless since April 28, he increased his season total to six long balls.
When Altuve drilled a first-pitch sinker from Mariners reliever Jesse Hahn out to left field in the sixth, it marked his first multi-homer game since April 14, 2024, against the Texas Rangers.
The sixth-inning shot was part of a two-out rally. Isaac Paredes reached via a hit by pitch before Altuve extended the lead to 8-2. Three batters later, Victor Caratini slapped his third single of the contest to left to plate Yainer Diaz, who had walked following the Altuve dinger.
Houston executed a similar rally in the fourth inning against Mariners right-hander George Kirby, who made his season debut after spending two months on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation. Kirby surrendered a two-run lead in the third when Altuve followed Paredes’ RBI fielder’s choice with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Mauricio Dubon.
Kirby dispatched the first two batters of the fourth before Jake Meyers (single) and Cam Smith (walk) reached in succession. Dubon then poked an opposite-field grounder to right that plated Meyers and lifted the Astros to a 3-2 lead.
Jeremy Pena chased Kirby with a two-run triple to left-center for his 500th career hit, driving home Smith and Dubon and extending the advantage to 5-2.
Kirby (0-1) allowed five runs on six hits and one walk with four strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings.
Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. continued his gradual return to form from a two-plus-season injury absence. He lasted a season-high 4 1/3 innings on a season-high 91 pitches, but consecutive one-out singles from Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena prevented him from completing the fifth and recording the victory.
McCullers gave up two runs on five hits, including a homer by Dylan Moore leading off the second, while recording eight strikeouts and three walks.
Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez was a late scratch, though no announcement was made regarding the reason.
