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 He made the most of it.
Elias, a 26-year-old Cuban left-hander, allowed just four hits and
two earned runs over seven innings to beat the Astros 5-2 on Friday
night.
"I thought he would be determined, particularly after the way he
threw in Houston," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He's a tough
cookie. He came over on a boat. I don't think these guys are going
to intimidate him."
Second baseman Robinson Cano returned to the Seattle lineup after
missing one game with a stiff back and helped lead the Mariners by
going 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while right fielder
Mark Trumbo drove in three runs as the Mariners (31-37) beat Houston
for only the third time in 11 head-to-head meetings this season.
The Astros (40-29) had their five-game winning streak snapped with
the loss.
"We didn't control the game nearly as well as we usually do,"
Houston manager A.J. Hinch said.
Elias, who got tagged for eight runs in a 13-0 loss to the Astros on
Sunday, gave up solo homers on his first and final pitch, his 96th
of Friday night's game, but allowed just two hits in between. Elias
(4-4) struck out 10 without issuing a walk.
Rookie reliever Carson Smith, who has been filling in for struggling
closer Fernando Rodney recently, came on to earn his fifth save of
the season with a scoreless ninth.
The Mariners, after scoring just four runs over their previous three
games combined, piled up eight hits while chasing Houston starter
Lance McCullers in the fifth.
Trumbo, who had driven in just one run in his first 12 games since
being dealt from Arizona, had RBIs on each of his first three
at-bats Friday. He brought in runs with two groundouts and a
third-inning single while leading Seattle to a 5-1 lead through the
fifth.
"It felt really good, especially to contribute in a win," Trumbo
said. "Not all of those (RBIs) were the prettiest way to get them
in, but they're every bit as effective."
Seattle scored five unanswered runs after Houston center fielder
George Springer opened the game with a solo homer on the first
pitch. Springer's 11th home run of the season gave the Astros a 1-0
lead before Elias settled down.
"It probably ticked him off a little bit, probably made him even
more determined," McClendon said of the Springer homer to lead off
the game.
Seattle tied the score 1-1 on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of
the first, after a strange sequence of events put three Mariners
runners on for designated hitter Nelson Cruz.
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Leadoff hitter Logan Morrison popped to shallow left field and was
awarded a single when Houston third baseman Luis Valbuena lost sight
of the ball, then Morrison got picked off leading off first base --
only to have that call reversed by a replay challenge. Center
fielder Austin Jackson, the No. 2 hitter, walked before an error on
second baseman Marwin Gonzalez loaded the bases for Cruz. The walk
tied the score, then Trumbo's RBI groundout one batter later scored
Jackson from third and gave Seattle a 2-1 lead.
The Mariners went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position during
the first inning but still managed to score two runs.
Trumbo added another RBI in the third inning, giving the Mariners a
3-1 lead. Third baseman Kyle Seager, with an RBI single, and Trumbo
each drove in runs as Seattle took a 5-1 lead and chased McCullers
in the fifth.
McCullers, who pitched five innings without giving up a hit or a run
against Seattle last Sunday, lasted only 4 1/3 innings in Friday's
rematch. He allowed six hits and five runs, three of which were
earned.
"Just a really frustrating night," McCullers said.
NOTES: Before the game, the Astros activated OF Colby Rasmus from
the bereavement list and placed OF Jake Marisnick on the 15-day
disabled list with a strained hamstring. ... The Mariners got back
2B Robinson Cano (stiff back) and 3B Kyle Seager (flu-like symptoms)
after the pair missed Thursday's game. ... Going into Friday's game,
the Astros had won eight of their past 10 meetings with the
Mariners. ... Houston starter Lance McCullers was facing Seattle for
the second time in six days. McCullers tossed five shutout innings
in a 13-0 home win over the Mariners last Sunday. ... Houston 2B
Jose Altuve (hamstring) was not in the lineup for the second game in
a row Friday. ... Astros RHP Collin McHugh turned 28 on Friday. He
shares a birthday with Seattle rapper Macklemore, who celebrated 32
years. ... Astros CF George Springer's home run on the first pitch
of Friday's game was the first leadoff homer of his career and
extended his hitting streak to a career-best 12 games.
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