Arozarena hits 1st home run of season, Mariners end 5-game skid with 9-6 win against Astros

SEATTLE (AP) — Randy Arozarena hit his first home run of the season and drove in three runs as the Seattle Mariners beat the Houston Astros 9-6 on Friday night to snap a five-game losing streak.

Houston, meanwhile, dropped its fifth straight game and sixth out of seven.

With the game tied 3-3 in the fifth inning, Arozarena turned on an elevated fastball from Houston reliever Ryan Weiss (0-1) and hit it to left field for a two-run shot. It traveled 426 feet, and was Arozarena’s first regular-season home run since Sept. 9.

Seattle increased its advantage with a four-run seventh inning, which included a run-scoring double by Dominic Canzone and an RBI single by J.P. Crawford. It was the first run Crawford drove in this season after starting the year injured.

The Mariners took their first lead of the game in the opening inning as Astros starter Tatsuya Imai struggled to find the strike zone. Imai, who signed a three-year, $54 million contract this offseason after spending eight seasons with the Pacific League’s Seibu Lions, made it through just one-third of an inning against Seattle.

Houston had two big innings against Mariners starter Emerson Hancock (2-1) and the rest of Seattle’s bullpen. Astros catcher Christian Vázquez, who slotted into the No. 9 hole in the lineup, hit a two-out, bases-loaded double off Hancock that scored three runs. Left fielder Yordan Alvarez added a three-run home run in the eighth inning off right-hander Cole Wilcox.

Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz walked two hitters and allowed the tying run to come to the plate, but induced a game-ending groundout by Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña to secure his first save of the season.

Mariners RHP Luis Castillo (0-0, 2.79 ERA) faces Astros RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (1-0, 3.27) on Saturday in the second game of the four-game series.

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Seattle Mariners' Leo Rivas hits a single against the Houston Astros during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Houston Astros relief pitcher Ryan Weiss throws against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Randy Arozarena (56) celebrates his two-run home run with Julio Rodríguez, facing against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai walks back to the dugout after being taken out of the game during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Randy Arozarena reacts while crossing home after hitting a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

NEW YORK (AP) — Jeff McNeil had two hits in his return to Citi Field, including a run-scoring single in a three-run ninth inning that helped the Athletics beat the New York Mets 4-0 on Friday night as their pitchers extended a scoreless streak to 26 innings.

Mets starter Clay Holmes left after 5 1/3 innings with left hamstring tightness. New York has three runs and 20 hits during a three-game losing streak.

McNeil, traded to the A's in December after spending his first eight big league seasons with the Mets, received a warm ovation before his first at-bat and tipped the bill of his helmet twice. The 2022 NL batting champion doubled in the fourth and at second base robbed Carson Benge of a hit to end the fifth.

Shea Langeliers had an RBI single in the third off Holmes (2-1) and Denzel Clarke hit a two-run single in the ninth for the Athletics, who have pitched 25 straight scoreless innings against the Mets and Yankees dating to Tuesday night.

Jack Perkins (1-0), the third of five pitchers, allowed three hits over 2 1/3 innings in relief of J.T. Ginn, who gave up one hit over four innings in his first start this season.

With runners at the corners with no outs in the sixth, A's first baseman Nick Kurtz fielded Jared Young’s grounder and threw to third to nab Francisco Lindor, who broke back to the bag after taking off for home. Perkins then got Luis Robert Jr. to hit into a double play.

Holmes (2-1) allowed five hits.

Athletics LHP Jacob Lopez (0-1, 6.48 ERA) faces Mets RHP Kodai Senga (0-1, 3.09 ERA) on Saturday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor, right, and Francisco Alvarez, left, encourae pitcher Tobias Myers (32) before he leaves during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Friday, April 10, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor (12) reacts after being thrown out at first base during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Friday, April 10, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Athletics' Jeff McNeil (22) throws out New York Mets' Luis Robert Jr. at first base after forcing out New York Mets' Jared Young (29) for a double play during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Athletics' Jeff McNeil (22) runs to first base for an RBI single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, April 10, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Athletics' Jeff McNeil follows through on a double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, April 10, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)