Seattle Mariners Fall in George Kirby's Season Debut, Lose 9-2 to Houston Astros

Moore's home run was the last score of the game for Seattle and the final inning it had an advantage.

Isaac Paredes grounded into a force out to score Cam Smith and Mauricio Dubon scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Jose Altuve, both in the bottom of the third, to knot up the contest 2-2.

Houston broke the seal and took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth. Dubon hit an RBI single and Jeremy Pena hit a two-score triple to give the Astros a 5-2 lead.

Kirby, who was on a pitch count of 75-80, was pulled in the fourth after 72 pitches. He threw 3.2 innings, struck out four, walked one, hit two and allowed five earned runs on six hits.

"I thought the (velocity) was and he was attacking," Wilson said. "They were able to get some base runners. He did break a couple bats in the process. Seeing George out there and him attacking with his stuff is what you love to see, and definitely something to build on."

Altuve scored three more runs with a solo home run in the fifth and a two-run homer in sixth to bolster Houston's lead to 8-2. Victor Caratini capped off a 3-for-4 day with an RBI single, also in the sixth, for the eventual final of 9-2.

The Mariners were without franchise superstar Julio Rodriguez, who was a late-game scratch due to back tightness. The club had several chances to add to the scoreboard throughout the game but came up short several times. They left two stranded in the second, left them loaded in the fifth, two on in the seventh and another pair in the eighth. Seattle finished the game 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners stranded.

The Mariners will try and even the four-game series at 5:10 p.m. PT on Friday. Emerson Hancock will start for Seattle and Ryan Gusto will start for the Astros.