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Mariners Win Fourth Straight, Stay in First Place

By Ben Renner

May 4, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) and shortstop Ketel Marte (4) and left fielder Norichika Aoki (8) and designated hitter Franklin Gutierrez (21) celebrate after the end of the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum. The Seattle Mariners won 9-8. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) and shortstop Ketel Marte (4) and left fielder Norichika Aoki (8) and designated hitter Franklin Gutierrez (21) celebrate after the end of the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum. The Seattle Mariners won 9-8. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Mariners swept the Oakland A’s this week and took the first game of four in Houston against the Astros to stay in first place.

The Mariners are in first place in the AL West thanks to 15 wins in their past 20 games, including four straight. Last night, second baseman Robinson Cano doubled over Houston center fielder Carlos Gomez‘s head with the bases loaded in the ninth to send the Mariners to their fourth consecutive win, 6-3 against the Astros at Minute Maid Park. The bases-clearing double gave Cano 30 RBIs for the season, the most in the American League. Starter Wade Miley pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits, including a monster home run that landed in the street by Houston second baseman Jose Altuve, who went 4-for-4.

Altuve’s home run caused me to tweet this:

But Mariners fans know their opponents:

Seriously, how do you pitch to this guy? Altuve slashed .313/.353/.459 and led the league in stolen bases with 38 last year and is currently tied for the league lead with Cano in home runs with nine. The dude is 5’6″ and leads the league in slugging percentage in 2016. He also leads the league in steals. Again. Ridiculous. And I didn’t draft him for my fantasy team. 

The Mariners swept the Oakland A’s before coming to Houston. They scored 21 runs in the series and beat the A’s 9-8 in the finale during a wild, back and forth affair topped by first baseman Dae-Ho Lee’s home run in the seventh inning, his second of the game. The Mariners are second in the league in home runs behind Houston, their bullpen has performed well, picking up starter Felix Hernandez in the final game in Oakland after he uncharacteristically allowed eight runs (four earned, although a fielding error by the King himself allowed several runs), and are coming up with clutch hits. That’s how you win games, folks.

Next: Seatttle City Council Blocks Hansen's Arena Plan

Also in Oakland, Nelson Cruz did this to a baseball. Mike Blowers and Dave Sims still can’t believe it. I’d be willing to bet they talk more about it in tonight’s telecast beginning at five.

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