HOUSTON (AP) — Jason Heyward hit a go-ahead, two-run homer and made a dazzling defensive play as the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 on Tuesday night to clinch their fourth consecutive AL West championship.
Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker each added a solo home run for the Astros, who are headed to the postseason for the eighth year in a row.
The Astros trailed by one with no outs in the fifth inning when Victor Caratini singled before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jeremy Peña.
Heyward, who wowed on defense in the top of the inning, launched his home run to the second deck in right field off Logan Gilbert (8-12) to put Houston on top 4-3.
Heyward, who signed with the Astros last month after his release by the Dodgers, is filling in for Yordan Alvarez, who is out with a knee sprain.
“What an opportunity,” Heyward said. “You never know where you’re going to be. It’s a different journey than most to get here, but it’s really cool that the game allows that to happen. And to come into a winning clubhouse, with a winning culture, that says a lot about what people think of me and it’s fun to give that back to them.”
The Mariners had runners on first and third with one out in the eighth before Ryan Pressly retired Mitch Garver on a flyball. Josh Hader took over and struck out J.P. Crawford to preserve the lead.
Hader returned for the ninth and retired pinch-hitter Luis Urías before striking out Victor Robles and Julio Rodríguez to earn his 34th save.
First-year Astros manager Joe Espada was overwhelmed as the final out was recorded.
“Oh my God. Unbelievable,” he said. “Tears came out of my eyes. I’m emotional because I care about this team. I love this team, and the fact that we are in a position to compete for another World Series is special.”
Framber Valdez (15-7) permitted eight hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings for the win.
Jorge Polanco homered among his season-high four hits and had two RBIs for the Mariners, who dropped 2 1/2 games below the postseason cutoff in a crowded race for the final two American League wild cards.
“It’s always hard when you watch a team celebrate,” Seattle manager Dan Wilson said. “But I think the message here is that there’s a lot of different scenarios that could still take place. And we keep fighting … and turn around and see what happens.”
Justin Turner and Polanco singled to open the sixth, but Garver grounded out before Valdez struck out Crawford to end his outing.
Bryan Abreu came in and pinch-hitter Luke Raley grounded out as Houston escaped the jam.
Gilbert allowed five hits, four runs and tied a season high by giving up three homers in six innings.
There were two outs in the first when Bregman sent a fastball from Gilbert over the fence in center field to make it 1-0.
Polanco tied it when homered to left on Valdez’s second pitch of the second inning.
Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh singled to open the third before the Mariners took a 2-1 lead on an RBI double by Randy Arozarena. There was one out when Polanco singled to score Rodríguez and make it 3-1.
Tucker’s shot to start the Houston fourth sailed over the short wall in right field to cut the lead to 3-2.
Heyward robbed Raleigh of extra bases with a leaping catch in left field for the second out of the fifth. Heyward crashed into the metal scoreboard on the wall after making the play, knocking out a panel with his left hand.
He was shaken up by the collision and fell to the ground writhing in pain. Heyward was checked by an athletic trainer but remained in the game before hitting his homer in the bottom half.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: Alvarez was feeling better after spraining his right knee Sunday on a slide, but wasn’t sure when he’ll return. “I really can’t do much right now,” he said. “Inflammation obviously is still there and I can’t even turn my knee right now.”
UP NEXT
The Mariners hadn’t announced their starter for Wednesday’s series finale. LHP Yusei Kikuchi (9-9, 4.19 ERA) will pitch for Houston.
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