Gustave gets big double play, nets first big league win

Jandel Gustave’s first major league win didn’t come without some anticipation.

Pitching 11⁄3 innings over the sixth and seventh Tuesday night, the hardthrowing righthander had a long break in the middle of his outing as the Astros batted around in the bottom of the sixth while rallying to an 8-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

Gustave replaced Kevin Chapman with one out and two on in the top of the sixth and induced a double play to escape the jam. The Astros then sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom half, scoring six runs and chasing Mariners ace Felix Hernandez.

“We wanted to squeeze as many outs out of guys as we could, which is dangerous this time of year,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “A four-run lead feels like a one-run lead this time of year, and obviously, our bullpen’s been beat up a little bit.”

Gustave sandwiched two outs around a walk in the seventh, nearly getting a second double play before Hinch called for Chris Devenski. The 23-year-old Dominican has three scoreless outings in his last four appearances.

“It’s feel really exciting,” Gustave said. “I’ve battled for that and been working to throw the ball good.”

Said Hinch: “Gustave did a nice job of coming in, getting the double-play ball, sitting for what felt like half an hour and going back out there and getting

a couple more outs before Devo came in and did what he does.”

Gurriel adjusts to majors’ rigors

Yulieski Gurriel was back in the Astros’ lineup Tuesday, moving down to sixth in the order after hitting second in his 10 previous starts in place of Alex Bregman.

The 32-year-old Cuban infielder didn’t start in Monday’s 4-3 loss to the Mariners but made the final out as a pinch hitter in the 11th inning.

Gurriel has played in 25 consecutive games. During

his 15 seasons in Cuba, the schedule featured games on three consecutive days followed by an off day. The schedule was more demanding during his one season in Japan but not to the extent of the major leagues.

Gurriel hit .338 with nine RBIs in his first 21 games with the Astros. In his 12 games since then, he has just six hits in 49 at-bats (.122) after going 0-for-4 on Tuesday. On Sunday, he hit into a clubrecord four double plays.

“Here, there’s not a lot of rest. You’re always on the go,” Gurriel said through a translator before Tuesday’s game. “I try to relax any chance I get, prepare my body, (get a) massage. But really, there’s not a whole lot of off time once you’re playing every day.”

The everyday nature ramped up once Bregman went down Sept. 14

“It has to be the most games he’s played in a row, which to most people would sound odd — that someone wouldn’t be able to handle it,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “But this guy’s played 15 seasons in a different country that hasn’t had the rigorous schedule that he’s had.

“The bat gets a little bit heavier. The feet get a little bit sore. The body starts to ache a little bit. We’ve going the best we can with him to ease off some of the physical aspects of it, as well with our other guys.”

Odds and ends

Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa are the American League’s first middleinfield combination with at least 95 RBIs apiece since shortstop Vern Stephens (144) and second baseman Bobby Doerr (120) of the 1950 Red Sox. … The Minute Maid Park roof was open Tuesday for the first time since May 20. It was the 12th time for the season. … The Astros held a moment of silence before the game for groundskeeper Michael Richardson, who died Monday. He spent 15 seasons with the team.