Cano-doubter stuns Astros in extras

HOUSTON — Robinson Cano continued his torrid start with two home runs on Saturday night — including the go-ahead shot in the top of the 10th off reliever Tony Sipp — as the Mariners topped the Astros, 3-2, at Minute Maid Park.

Luis Valbuena ripped a leadoff homer off Mariners closer Steve Cishek to tie the game, 2-2, in the ninth, but Cano answered with his American League-leading 11th homer of the year as the surprising Mariners improved to 13-5 on the road and 18-12 overall, 1 1/2 games ahead of Texas atop the AL West.

Kyle Seager and Cano each hit solo homers off Dallas Keuchel in the first three innings, and Mariners right-hander Nathan Karns turned a 2-1 lead over to his bullpen after allowing one run and six hits with nine strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings..

The no-decision leaves Karns at 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA. Cano went 4-for-5 and Seager was 3-for-4, adding a triple in the eighth. Mariners relievers Nick Vincent and Joel Peralta each stranded runners in scoring position in the seventh and eighth innings. Cishek couldn’t close the door as he took his first blown save in 10 chances, but he came back to pitch a scoreless 10th and earn the win.

Keuchel only allowed the two runs in seven innings, with eight hits and eight strikeouts as his record remains 2-4 with a 4.70 ERA. The loss dropped the Astros to 11-20.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDCano’s quest continues: The Mariners’ second baseman has been a man on a mission this year, and much of that has come at the Astros’ expense. Cano’s two homers hiked his MLB-leading RBI total to 32. He’s racked up four homers and a whopping 16 RBIs in six games against Houston while going 13-for-26. His homer off Keuchel in the third was a high moonshot to right that Statcast™ projected at 399 feet, while his game-winner measured 359 feet to left. Cano has been on fire the past week. His four-hit …

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