With two left-handed hitters due up Friday in the eighth inning after Felix Hernandez gave up a one-out single, Mariners manager Scott Servais played the matchup game and summoned lefty specialist Marc Rzepczynski.
The odds played out. Rzepczynski protected a one-run lead by inducing two ground outs. Edwin Diaz then got the call in the ninth inning and closed out a 2-1 victory over Texas.
Two night earlier, the Mariners held a one-run lead in the seventh inning against Houston as the Astros’ lineup turned over set up a string of potent right-handed hitters.
Servais again played the odds in summoning right-hander Dan Altavilla, who had only allowed one run in 20 previous career appearances.