Musgrove’s struggles continue in rout

SEATTLE — The state of the Astros’ rotation could buy Joe Musgrove another turn or two to work through his struggles.

But if not now, his spot is in jeopardy when rehabbing starters Dallas Keuchel and Charlie Morton return.

Musgrove was lit up for nine runs over 32⁄3 innings in the Astros’ 13-3 loss Friday night at Safeco Field.

The Seattle Mariners teed off on the 24-year-old righthander for three home runs, a double and eight singles before Astros manager A.J. Hinch finally pulled the plug. Musgrove’s ERA inflated from 5.09 to 6.01.

Musgrove became the first Astros pitcher to allow nine earned runs and complete fewer than four innings since Bud Norris on May 31, 2012, at Colorado’s Coors Field. The start was his second since he missed two turns because of inflammation in his pitching shoulder. He allowed five runs in 52⁄3 innings to Boston on Sunday.

The Astros (50-25) must now decide whether Musgrove will make his next turn Thursday against Oakland. Neither of their two closest rehabbing starters, Keuchel (pinched nerve in neck) and Morton (lat strain) will be ready by then.

Lance McCullers Jr.’s return from the disabled list Saturday affords the Astros the option of keeping Francis Martes and David Paulino in the rotation, though Martes would be needed Sunday if Brad Peacock goes on paternity leave.

Musgrove has minor league options available if the Astros decide he’s best served working through his struggles in Class AAA. He has allowed 79 hits in 662⁄3 innings and completed six innings in four of his 13 starts.

Friday’s second inning portended an off night but not the nightmarish one that loomed. Musgrove allowed a run on two singles and a Jarrod Dyson double but stranded a runner on third with a strikeout followed by a ground out.

In the third, Musgrove yielded singles to four of the first six batters he faced. He also hit Kyle Seager with an errant fastball. With two outs came the big swing, a three-run blast by Mike Zunino to left-center field on a first-pitch fastball over the plate. The six-run inning put the Mariners lefthander Reymin Guduan.

The 13 runs the Astros surrendered marked a season-high. James Hoyt allowed three, each of which scored on a pair of wild pitches in the seventh inning.

Elaine Thompson / Associated Press Joe Musgrove shows his frustration as Mariners catcher Mike Zunino rounds the bases after belting a three-run homer during the third inning Friday night in Seattle. Musgrove allowed nine runs on 12 hits in 32⁄3 innings, inflating his ERA to 6.01 this...