Zach Cole's Walk-Off Single in the 10th Ends Seattle's Nightmare Against Houston

The Mariners walked into Daikin Park on Wednesday night and left with nothing but regret. Zach Cole delivered a walk-off single in the 10th inning to lift the Astros to a 4-3 victory, and it stung even more because Houston had been absolutely brutal against Seattle lately. The Astros snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Mariners with their first walk-off win of the season, and they did it in the most painful way possible.

Cole Finishes What the Astros Started

Here's how it went down in that 10th: Brice Matthews was already at second base when he advanced to third on a wild pitch from Mariners reliever Alex Hoppe. Cole, who had already collected three hits on the night, stepped up and ripped a single to right. Game over. Houston reliever Bryan Abreu (2-2) kept it clean in the top of the inning, and that was all the Astros needed. Cole capped off a brutal night for Seattle with the dagger.

The Mariners Couldn't Cash In When It Mattered

Seattle put runners in scoring position 13 times and managed just one hit in those situations. They left 11 runners on base. That's not how you win baseball games, especially not in close ones. The Astros weren't much better (2-for-12 with runners in scoring position, 14 left on base), but Houston made the one swing that counted.

Julio Rodriguez worked a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning that tied the game at 3-3 after Rob Refsnyder scored. It felt like the Mariners were about to steal this one. But Cole had other ideas. Jose Altuve also hurt Seattle early, drawing a bases-loaded walk off reliever Cooper Criswell in the sixth to tie things at 2-2, then delivering a sacrifice fly in the eighth that put Houston up 3-2.

Miller's Debut Shows Promise, But Wasn't Enough

Bryce Miller made his 2026 season debut after missing time with an oblique injury, and he kept the Mariners in control through most of the night. He threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing just two runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out three. He escaped trouble in the fifth when he struck out Altuve with two runners in scoring position.

But in the sixth, Christian Walker smacked a leadoff homer that cut Seattle's lead in half. After a lengthy delay when plate umpire Roberto Ortiz took a foul ball off the mask, back-to-back hits set up Altuve's tying walk.

J.P. Crawford and Luke Raley got Seattle rolling early. Crawford went deep off Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. in the first inning, and Raley extended the lead with a solo shot to left in the sixth that made it 2-0. McCullers lasted 5 1/3 innings despite some labored stretches, allowing seven hits and two walks while striking out six.

The Mariners had their chances. This one's going to sting on the flight home.

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