Zach Cole's Walk-Off Single Ends Nine-Game Seattle Skid in the 10th

The Mariners had them right where they wanted them in the ninth inning. A bases-loaded walk to Julio Rodriguez forced in Rob Refsnyder and tied the game at 3-3. Everything was set up for Seattle to steal one in Houston. Then Zach Cole had other ideas.

Cole stepped up in the 10th and ripped a single to right that sent Brice Matthews home, giving the Astros a 4-3 walk-off win Wednesday night at Daikin Park. It was Houston's first walk-off victory of the season and snapped a brutal nine-game losing streak against the Mariners that nobody saw ending like this.

Miller's Return Gutted by Late Collapse

Bryce Miller made his season debut after missing time with an oblique injury, and he was mostly sharp when it mattered. He allowed just two runs across 5 1/3 innings, struck out three, and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fifth with a strikeout of Jose Altuve with two runners in scoring position. The problem? Everything fell apart late.

A leadoff home run by Christian Walker in the sixth cut Seattle's lead to 2-1. Then came a lengthy delay after plate umpire Roberto Ortiz took a foul ball off the mask and had to leave the game. When play resumed, back-to-back hits set the table for Altuve, who worked a bases-loaded walk against reliever Cooper Criswell that tied it at 2-2.

Two innings later, Altuve added a sacrifice fly that plated Matthews and gave Houston the 3-2 lead the Mariners had to chase in the ninth.

Mariners Left Too Many Runners Out There

Here's the brutal stat: Seattle finished 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base. That's not how you win close games in May.

J.P. Crawford smacked a leadoff home run off Lance McCullers Jr. in the first to give the Mariners an early 1-0 edge. Luke Raley extended that to 2-0 with a solo shot to left in the sixth, chasing McCullers after 5 1/3 innings. Julio Rodriguez worked that crucial bases-loaded walk late, but the damage was already done by then. Rodriguez also went 1-for-3 with a strikeout and left a runner stranded at second after doubling in the third.

Bryan Abreu pitched a scoreless top of the 10th for Houston, and Alex Hoppe (0-1) couldn't get out of the 10th frame. The Astros went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position themselves but made their chances count when it mattered most.

The Mariners head back to T-Mobile Park knowing they had this one. Cole's single stung, but letting runners die on base when you've got a lead stung worse.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.