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Cano’s 2 HRs put Seattle 2 back in Wild Card
- Updated: September 27, 2016
HOUSTON — Robinson Cano continued his assault on Astros pitching, edging the Mariners closer in the American League Wild Card chase in the process while pushing Houston closer to elimination.
Cano clubbed two home runs, including a long solo shot down the right-field line off Luke Gregerson in the 11th inning, to send the Mariners to a key, 4-3 win over the Astros in the series opener Monday night at Minute Maid Park.
The win pushed the Mariners to within two games of the Orioles, who were off Monday, and even with the Tigers in the race for the second AL Wild Card spot. The Astros dropped 3 1/2 games out with five games remaining. Houston has lost four of five games on its season-ending homestand.
The Astros rallied in the bottom of the ninth after the Mariners used a throwing error by pitcher James Hoyt to take a 3-1 lead moments earlier. Jose Altuve drove in a run with a fielder’s choice, stole second base and scored on a single by Carlos Correa to tie the game against rookie closer Edwin Diaz.
Behind six strong innings from Hisashi Iwakuma and a solo homer by Cano in the second, the Mariners took a 2-1 lead to the ninth inning. Astros starter Collin McHugh, who was 4-0 with a 1.08 ERA in four starts against the Mariners this year, allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings.
MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDCareer high for Cano: It was fitting that Cano set a new career mark for home runs with his 34th and 35th blasts of the year, given the Mariners second baseman has built a good portion of his success this year just against the Astros. Cano is 17-for-33 (.515) with six homers and 11 RBIs in eight games at Minute Maid Park and 22 of his 94 RBIs on the season have come in 17 …
