Houston, TX — Christian Walker delivered when the Houston Astros needed him most, launching a three-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to cap a wild comeback and give Houston a 10-7 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.
The Astros appeared to be headed for a frustrating loss after Seattle grabbed a two-run advantage in the top of the 10th. Instead, Houston’s offense erupted in the bottom half, scoring four times to turn the game around.
Walker ended the night in dramatic fashion, driving an off-speed offering from Andrés Muñoz deep into left field and onto the train tracks for the game-winning blast.
The victory highlighted another productive night from Houston’s middle of the order.
Yordan Alvarez opened the scoring with his American League-leading 36th home run of the season, a solo shot in the first inning. Isaac Paredes added two hits and drove in three runs, including the first of Houston’s late-inning scores.
Seattle struck first in extra innings when Victor Robles tripled home the automatic runner against Enyel De Los Santos. Brock Rodden followed with a sacrifice fly, giving the Mariners a 7-5 advantage.
Houston refused to go quietly.
Paredes brought the Astros within one with an RBI single. With two outs, Jose Altuve kept the inning alive with a base hit before Daulton Varsho delivered another RBI single to tie the game.
That set the stage for Walker.
Muñoz fell behind, and Walker took advantage, sending the decisive pitch soaring into left field and setting off a celebration at Minute Maid Park.
Robles finished with three hits and two RBIs for Seattle, which had several opportunities to put the game away.
Rodden, making his major league debut, collected his first career hit earlier in the game when he doubled off the wall in the eighth inning. The 26-year-old later added a sacrifice fly in the 10th.
Houston built an early advantage after Seattle starter George Kirby ran into trouble in the second inning.
Walker singled with two outs before Cam Smith followed with a triple to bring Walker home and tie the game at 2.
Christian Vázquez then worked a walk, and Jeremy Peña followed with an RBI single to put Houston ahead.
Kirby intentionally walked Alvarez to load the bases, but Paredes kept the inning going with an infield single that brought home two more runs and pushed Houston’s advantage to 5-2.
Alvarez’s first-inning homer had initially given Houston an early lead, but Seattle continued to battle and eventually forced the game into extra innings.
Instead, Walker’s dramatic three-run homer provided the final blow in a game that featured momentum swings from start to finish.
Up Next:
The series continues Saturday night, with Seattle right-hander Emerson Hancock (6-7, 3.35 ERA) scheduled to face Houston right-hander Hayden Wesneski (2-0, 3.86 ERA).
