Fister’s tough start dooms Astros
HOUSTON—Another bad start by Doug Fister doomed the Houston Astros on Wednesday.
Robinson Cano hit a three-run homer in the first inning, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Astros 12-4 to keep pressure on the other AL wild-card contenders.
Kyle Seager added another three-run drive in the eighth, his 30th home run this season, as Seattle pulled within 1½ games of Baltimore for the second AL wild card. Houston dropped three games back as its magic number for elimination was cut to two. The Orioles were at Toronto on Wednesday night.
Fister gave up five runs and five hits over 1 1/3 innings in the shortest start of his big league career.
"It's pretty frustrating," he said. "I let the team down. The last couple of starts haven't gone what I would call my way at all."
Fister has lost five straight decisions, and Houston has lost his last seven starts—all five innings or fewer.
"Getting into the game was very difficult for him," manager A.J. Hinch said. "His command wasn't great. He didn't execute the way he does when he's good."
Cano's career-best 36th home run, a drive off Fister (12-13), landed in the first row of the Crawford Boxes in left field. Cano has nine homers and 25 RBIs in 19 games against Houston this season.
Seattle doubled its lead in the second on Nori Aoki's RBI single and Seth Smith's two-run single. Ketel Marte made it 7-0 with a run-scoring infield single in the third.
James Paxton (6-7) allowed three runs and six hits in five innings, striking out eight.
George Springer hit a solo home run in the third for the Astros, who closed it to 7-4 in the sixth on Evan Gattis' solo homer.