Fiers spins Astros’ second straight gem

SEATTLE — The Astros’ starting rotation is coming up big at the right time.

After posting a 7.17 ERA in the team’s first 14 games in September, Astros starters Collin McHugh and Mike Fiers combined to throw 13 scoreless innings in the first two games of a crucial series against the Mariners, with Fiers coming up with six scoreless in Saturday night’s 2-1 win at Safeco Field.

McHugh and Fiers became the first Astros pitchers to have consecutive scoreless outings of at least six innings since Scott Feldman and Dallas Keuchel on Aug. 24-25, 2015, against the Yankees in New York.

“We needed all the good pitching we could get, based on how their guy [James Paxton] was throwing,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “It was another good outing by our starters, and if we can get that, we’re a pretty interesting team. We usually find a way. I like the tone our starters have set the last couple of days.”

Fiers retired 17 of the final 19 batters he faced after allowing a pair of singles to start the game, and he didn’t allow a runner to reach third base all night. He …

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