Mariners Take AL West Lead with 4-0 Win Over Astros

The Seattle Mariners have surged to first place in the AL West with an 85-69 record, winning 11 of their last 12 games, including a 4-0 victory over the Houston Astros where Eugenio Suárez hit his 47th home run. Bryan Woo pitched effectively for five innings, striking out seven before an unexpected early exit, helping to limit the Astros' offense and lower his ERA to 2.94. Other Mariners homers came from Julio Rodriguez, Victor Robles, and Josh Naylor, while Hunter Brown contributed six innings with two runs allowed and nine strikeouts. Despite Suárez's recent slump after joining Seattle, where his hitting statistics have declined significantly compared to his time with Arizona, the Mariners' overall strong pitching and timely hitting have propelled their success late in the season. In another game, Luis Castillo pitched six scoreless innings leading Seattle to a 2-0 shutout over the Kansas City Royals, highlighting the team's pitching depth and resilience. The Mariners' combination of solid pitching and clutch offensive performances positions them well for the postseason, though a resurgence from Suárez would further bolster their lineup.