Sunday wasn’t a must-win game for the Astros, but it was close. A three-game sweep at the hands of the Mariners would have seen their lead atop the American League West division dwindle to two games.

Christian Walker hit a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning and the Houston Astros went on to rout the host Seattle Mariners 11-3 Sunday afternoon.

Seattle has closed Houston's lead in the AL West to three games with consecutive wins. Hunter Brown pitches for Astros in finale.

The Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners play the middle contest of a 3-game series Saturday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

Bryan Woo turning in a five-pitch, three-easy-groundball inning between the outbursts only added to the feeling that the Mariners might just pull off a sweep of the Astros and pull within two games in the AL West.

The Brewers claimed sole possession of first place in the National League Central last night with a 6-0 shutout of the Mariners. Brandon Woodruff allowed just two hits over six scoreless innings to earn his second win of the season.

Don’t let that trouncing get you down if you’re a Mariners fan. Sunday’s 11-3 loss to the Houston Astros was the first drop of rain this otherwise sunkissed

The Astros looked like they were destined to leave Seattle with their tails between their legs, having just frittered a seven-game AL West lead down to two games. They started the game with enough injuries to fill a small hospital,