Mariners’ futility streak at 21
SEATTLE — Wade Miller pitched the Houston Astros to their second straight shutout of the Seattle Mariners, combining with three relievers for a 3-0 victory Wednesday night.
Jeff Kent blooped a single to center in the eighth inning, extending his career-best hitting streak to 24 games and tying the Astros’ record set by Tony Eusebio in 2000.
But again the story was Houston’s pitching. One night after Roger Clemens beat Seattle 1-0 for his 319th career win, the Astros earned their fifth shutout of the season.
The Mariners were blanked for the seventh time, most in the A.L.
The last time Houston threw consecutive shutouts was July 10-11, 1997, at Pittsburgh.
The Mariners, who have not scored in 21 innings, also were shut out two games in a row Sept. 3-4 at Tampa Bay last season.
Miller (6-6), who had lost three of his last four starts, gave up six hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked two.
Dan Miceli, Brad Lidge and Octavio Dotel each worked one inning to finish the seven-hitter. Dotel got his second save in two nights and 11th in 13 opportunities this season.
Freddy Garcia (3-5) was the hard-luck loser. He pitched eight innings, giving up three runs on seven hits and three walks, with a season-high nine strikeouts.
The Astros scored their runs in the third on RBI doubles by Jeff Bagwell and Lance Berkman, and Richard Hidalgo’s RBI single.
Mariners center fielder Randy Winn robbed Hidalgo of a home run in the sixth when he leaped over the fence to snare a long drive.
Seattle manager Bob Melvin was ejected in the seventh by third base umpire Dale Scott after Scott initially ruled Rich Aurilia’s fly ball into the second deck of the left-field corner was a two-run homer. But the other umpires overruled Scott and a heated argument ensured.
Center field spark
Hiram Bocachica says he loves center field at Safeco Field, and it became evident this week that Mariners fans love watching him play there.
The speedy outfielder, called up from Class AAA Tacoma on June 2, brought the crowd to its feet after two spectacular catches Tuesday night. He leaped against the center field wall to catch a fly in the seventh inning, then made a diving catch of a bloop in shallow center in the eighth.
His aggressive play made it obvious that center field is his natural position and the spaciousness of the outfield at Safeco fits his style.
“You can run forever,” he said. “I just see the ball and start running. There’s a lot of ground to cover and I love it.”
The fans also gave him a standing ovation in the bottom of the seventh when he slid hard at second base and upended the Astros’ Jose Vizcaino to break up a double play attempt.
“He’s very aggressive. He’s got some energy out there,” manager Bob Melvin said. That aggressiveness landed Bocachica on the bench until at least Friday because of a sore left wrist, which he hurt on the diving catch in the seventh.
Bocachica said Wednsday that he was fine, but Melvin wasn’t taking any chances and didn’t write him into the lineup.
Notes
Astros pitcher Andy Pettitte, on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his left forearm, threw off the mound in the Astros’ bullpen before the game. But he isn’t expected to be activated Friday, when he is eligible to come off the DL. … The Astros still haven’t decided who will start for them Sunday at Milwaukee; Brandon Duckworth or Pete Munro. Duckworth started and went only one-third of an inning in a 5-0 loss to Seattle on Monday night. … The Mariners were shut out 10 times last season. The team record is 15, shared by three teams; in 1978, 1983 and 1990. … Kent is tied with Carlos Lee of the Chicago White Sox for the longest hitting streak in the majors this season.