HOUSTON (AP) \u2014 Jose Altuve homered twice and drove in a season-high four runs and Jeremy Pe\u00f1a tripled for his 500th career hit to help the Houston Astros to a 9-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
It was tied with two outs in the fourth when Jake Meyers singled off George Kirby (0-1) before Cam Smith walked. Mauricio Dub\u00f3n\u2019s single on a grounder to right field scored Meyers to put Houston on top 3-2.<\/p>\n
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Pe\u00f1a then sent two more home with his triple off the wall in left-center to make it 5-2 and chase Kirby.<\/p>\n
Altuve\u2019s solo shot came with no outs in the fifth to push the lead to 6-2. He connected again with one on and two outs in the sixth to make it 8-2 and give him his 12th career multihomer game.<\/p>\n
Houston\u2019s Lance McCullers Jr. allowed five hits and two runs with a season-high eight strikeouts in 4 1\/3 innings in his longest start this season. Shawn Dubin (1-0) got the last two outs of the fifth for the win.<\/p>\n
Kirby allowed six hits and five runs with four strikeouts in 3 2\/3 innings in his season debut after sitting out with inflammation in his throwing shoulder.<\/p>\n
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Seattle played without Julio Rodr\u00edguez after the center fielder was scratched from the lineup about 30 minutes before the first pitch. The team didn\u2019t give a reason for him being taken out of the lineup, but said there would be an update after the game.<\/p>\n
Dylan Moore homered and Rowdy Tellez had two hits and an RBI on a night the AL West-leading Mariners went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position.<\/p>\n
Tellez gave the Mariners an early lead with an RBI single with two outs in the first. Seattle made it 2-0 when Moore homered to open the second inning.<\/p>\n
Altuve hit a sacrifice fly to tie it in Houston\u2019s two-run second.<\/p>\n
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Key moment<\/p>\n
Pe\u00f1a\u2019s triple in the fourth padded the Astros’ lead and ended Kirby\u2019s night.<\/p>\n
Key stat<\/p>\n
Pe\u00f1a is the fifth player in franchise history to reach 500 hits while playing shortstop, joining Roger Metzger (839), Carlos Correa (778), Craig Reynolds (767) and Adam Everett (530).<\/p>\n
Up next<\/p>\n
Houston RHP Ryan Gusto (3-2, 4.85 ERA) opposes RHP Emerson Hancock (1-2, 6.21) when the series continues Friday night.<\/p>\n
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