HOUSTON -- The Mariners, looking to pad their slim lead over the Astros in a tight American League West race, extended their winning streak to five games with a 7-1 win on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park.
Seattle is now two games ahead in the division and can leave town with a three-game advantage with a win in the series finale on Wednesday. Tuesday's win pushed the Mariners (38-22) to 16 games over .500, matching their high-water mark from 11 years ago, when they were 73-57 after game No. 130 in 2007.
A significant portion of the Mariners' wins this season have come in one-run games, so consider Tuesday's contest a breather of sorts for the division leaders.