Mariners salvage final game of series by beating Astros 3-2

SEATTLE – J.A. Happ delivered the strong start the Mariners so desperately needed Wednesday night and the bullpen nursed a 3-2 lead through taut moments in a victory over Houston at Safeco Field.

So the Mariners salvaged the final game of the three-game series before heading into today’s open date.

Happ (1-1) gave up two runs and eight hits in 7 1/3 innings, which marked his third straight quality start and lowered his ERA to 2.61. He struck out five and didn’t walk anyone.

It was enough … but just barely.

Fernando Rodney worked around a first-and-third threat with one out in the ninth inning after Yoervis Medina walked the bases loaded in the eighth inning before escaping.

The Mariners also produced just enough offense against Houston starter Roberto Hernandez, the former Fausto Carmona: Three runs in seven innings.

Hernandez dropped to 0-2. Rodney got his fourth save in five chances.

Happ carried s 3-1 lead into the seventh inning but surrendered a leadoff homer to Chris Carter – Carter’s first homer of the season after slugging 37 a year ago.

Colby Rasmus followed with a sharp single to right, but a double-play grounder helped Happ get through the inning with no further problems.

Happ got one out in the eighth before manager Lloyd McClendon went to the bullpen for Medina for right-on-right matchups against George Springer and Evan Gattis.

And, boy, then it got interesting.

Medina walked Springer on four pitches, and Gattis sent right fielder Nelson Cruz to the wall for a leaping catch. Springer then stole second before Jed Lowrie, who had three hits against Happ, drew a walk.

Another four-pitch walk, to Jason Castro, loaded the bases before Medina steadied and stranded all three runners by striking out Carter on three pitches.

The Mariners, as they did Tuesday, grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

Austin Jackson sliced a one-out single to right and stole second. He held when Rasmus ran down Robinson Cano’s fly to deep left but scored easily when Cruz lined a two-out single to left.

That was Cruz’s 17th RBI, which pulled him into a tie with Kansas City catcher Salvy Perez for the American League lead.

The Mariners extended their lead to 2-0 in the third inning when Mike Zunino turned on a full-count sinker from Hernandez that stayed up in the zone. Zunino hooked the ball to left but kept it fair for his second homer.

Logan Morrison’s walk ignited a two-out rally in the fourth.

Dustin Ackley and Brad Miller followed with singles, which pushed the lead to 3-0. The Mariners had a chance for more, but Zunino flied to left with runners at first and third.