McCullers and 4 Astros relievers combine on 2-hitter - Monitor

McCullers and four relievers combined for a two-hitter, Evan Gattis tied a career high with four hits and the Astros cruised to a 13-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners. “We pitch to win ball games and to get this team down the road into the playoffs and to pitch in the playoffs,” McCullers said. The win gives Houston five straight series wins against Seattle, which marks the first time they've won five in a row over one opponent since 2010 when they did it against the Cubs. McCullers (3-1) struck out four through five, but he needed 90 pitches to get through those innings because of four walks. “It's not really a negotiation so I told Lance, ‘You're done,’ and he said, ‘OK,’” Hinch said. It's always one extra inning or one extra out or one extra batter and that's what you want from your guys, but he was done when he was done. He was replaced by Tony Sipp for the sixth inning and Austin Jackson doubled with one out in the inning. Colby Rasmus had three RBIs as the Astros built a 10-0 lead by the fourth inning on a day where all but one player in the starting lineup had a hit. Seattle starter Roenis Elias (3-4) was roughed up for seven hits and a career-high eight runs in 3 1-3 innings in his shortest start of the season. Source: www.themonitor.com