Cano’s 1st big game since return lifts M’s
Robinson Cano hit his first home run since returning from an 80-game suspension, a three-run shot in the eighth inning and lifted the Mariners to a 7-4 win over Houston in Seattle on Monday night.
Seattle won its fifth straight against the Astros, thanks to a huge night from Cano. He doubled twice earlier in the game — his first two extra-base hits since coming back from his suspension for violating baseball’s joint drug policy. Those were precursors to his drive to left-center field off Houston’s Collin McHugh (5-2) with one out in the eighth.
It was Cano’s fifth home run of the season and his first since May 12 against Detroit. Seattle pulled 3½ games back of Houston in the division race. The Astros fell back into a tie with the A’s for the top spot in the AL West.
Alex Colome (4-5) pitched a perfect eighth and Edwin Diaz closed out the ninth for his 48th save.
Seattle finally produced with runners in scoring position after going 1-for-12 through the first seven innings, the only hit being Mitch Haniger’s RBI single in the sixth inning that pulled the Mariners even at 4-4.
Dee Gordon reached on an infield single with one out in the eighth — with manager Scott Servais ejected during the at-bat — and Haniger followed with a walk. Cano got a fastball on the outside part of the plate and drove it over the wall.