SEATTLE - Once again, right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. proved too much for the Mariners and, in doing so, helped pull the Astros out of a three-game skid with a 4-1 victory on Tuesday night at Safeco Field.
McCullers (2-1) retired 19 of 20 batters after yielding a two-out homer in the first inning to Robinson Cano. It was a strong bounce-back effort after McCullers allowed a career-high eight runs over four innings at Minnesota in his previous start.
The Astros broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth on Brian McCann's two-run homer against reliever Dan Altavilla (1-2) after squandering numerous scoring chances against Mariners starter Ariel Miranda over the first five innings.