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Astros top Felix to climb in Wild Card chase
- Updated: September 17, 2016
SEATTLE — Collin McHugh continued his mastery of the Mariners with seven scoreless innings on Friday as the Astros snapped Seattle’s eight-game winning streak with a 6-0 victory over Felix Hernandez in the series opener at Safeco Field.
The loss leaves the Mariners three games behind the Orioles and 2 1/2 back of the Blue Jays — who were still playing the Angels on Friday night — in the chase for the American League’s two Wild Card spots at 78-69 with 15 games remaining, while the Astros moved into a tie with the Yankees and to one game behind the Mariners and Tigers at 77-70.
New York and Detroit also lost on Friday.
McHugh allowed just two hits with two walks and six strikeouts and is 4-0 with a 1.08 ERA in four starts against Seattle. The Astros have won nine of 14 against their AL West rivals, with five games still to go in the final two weeks.
Hernandez lasted just 4 1/3 innings in his second-shortest start of the year, as he surrendered eight hits and six runs (five earned) in falling to 11-6 with a 3.79 ERA. The Astros knocked Hernandez out in the fifth with solo home runs by Evan Gattis and Marwin Gonzalez.
MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDMcHugh comes through: McHugh gave the Astros’ struggling rotation a huge lift with his performance, while giving the bullpen some much-needed rest as well. It was the longest outing by an Astros starter since Dallas Keuchel went eight innings on Aug. 21 against Baltimore. Astros starters had a 7.17 ERA in 13 starts in the …
